AN: Not beta'ed and I'm sorry for the long wait...

Chapter 14: At The Stroke of Midnight

Morgana gasped as she suddenly regained some awareness. But it was hard to focus as her head was pounding horribly. It was almost as if numerous metal plates clashed into each other, again and again and again. She was lying on something soft, a bed no doubt. It was actually quite comfortable if only that insufferable clanging would stop. Slowly she opened her eyes and sat up immediately!

It wasn't in her head!

There were three shields fiercely clashing above her. Morgana put her hands on her ears and frantically looked around.

In front of a fireplace sat Hréonhes. He was contentedly leaning back in a comfortable chair while his bare feet rested on a low table. He was smiling at her and waved his hand around as if he was conducting the shields.

Morgana suspiciously narrowed her eyes. Of course he was controlling them! Leave a deranged man too long alone and odds are he comes up with something like this.

"Stop it!" Morgana yelled but she was barely heard above the noise. Hréonhes stilled his hand for a moment and the clanging stopped momentarily.

"Did I wake you, my dear? I hope you had a pleasant rest." He said amiably and winked purely to taunt her even more. He didn't wait for an answer and merely flicked his hand so the shields started banging into each other again.

Morgana tightened her lips and fumed silently. Calm down, she told herself, don't make him mad again. Just count to ten.

One, two, three...

It was no use. She just wanted to wipe that ridiculous smirk of his face!

Six, seven...

"Stop it!" Morgana couldn't take it anymore and jumped of the bed. Hréonhes brought his other hand to his ear and shrugged his shoulders mouthing 'I can't hear you'. This only infuriated Morgana more. She started to walk towards him but the shields obstructed her progress.

"Hréohnes, you evil necromancying bastard! MAKE THEM STOP!"

"Temper temper, my Lady. Tell me, what is the magic word?"

"Astrice!" Morgana shouted making the three shields crash into the opposite wall. They fell down dented and with a final clang the room became beautifully silent.

Hréonhes smiled, "Not exactly what I had in mind, but effective I'll give you that." Morgana huffed and walked towards to him. He was still leaning back in his chair and looked up at her with much indifference.

"Why am I not dead?"

"Straight to the point, I like that." Hréonhes saluted her. "Causing misery to others is much more enjoyable if you have someone to laugh with." He yawned and lazily motioned his glass to come closer. It floated to him and he thoughtfully took a sip. "Being on top of the world is rather lonely sometimes. So I decided I could use some company if you're interested."

He didn't wait for an answer as he immediately posed another question, "Do you like what I've done with the place?"

They were in a large room, but she couldn't see how big it was. The other side of it was huddled in darkness. She guessed it was at least as big as the ceremony hall in Camelot where she once was crowned. The part that was lit was richly filled with more precious furniture than she had ever owned. The bed was decorated with heavy velvet red and golden drapes and the woodwork was beautifully crafted showing hundreds of miniature dragons that looked so real that she could almost see them move in the candle light. The number of candles baffled her. This part of the room basked in their light. They were fixed on chandeliers that lined the walls, hung from the ceiling or were stacked on top of books. The walls where decorated with tapestries in vibrant colours. Some showed epic battles between men and dragons while others pictured more peaceful images of magical beasts she recognized like unicorns or gryphons. There was a big wooden and glass table that almost collapsed under the weight of dishes it had to carry: piles and piles of different kinds of fruit, roasted meat, bread, wine, vegetables and pies. All of it was again beautifully decorated to enhance one's appetite.

"When did you do all of this?" Morgana took her time to look around. She was impressed to say the least. Hréonhes was well aware of her approval, because he smirked irksomely as he took another sip of wine.

"You've been unconscious for an annoying long time. I was bored and destroying things the same day you built them is dreadful form of decorum. A one day reprieve is only polite. However I did find time to catch up with your enchanting little dragon."

"What did you do to him?" Morgana clenched her fists in a futile attempt to subdue her sudden panic.

"Relax, my love, I didn't do a thing. Young dragons should be nurtured and loved, so I told him to fly around until you got up." Hréonhes placated her and motioned to a chair, "Now sit. You still look a bit pale. You should sleep more." Morgana just glared in response and carefully sat down. Hréonhes poured her a glass and she caught it midair as he floated it over to her.

"To self-interest and mayhem." He toasted and Morgana followed the gesture.

"Now, how are you feeling?" He asked suddenly.

"Um my head, it still hurts." Morgana stammered a bit confused about his worried tone. But that disappeared immediately...

"Being thrown against the rocks tends to do that, so don't ever try that again." Hréonhes warned coldly and got up. "I don't react nicely when someone tries to kill me."

He paced in front of the fire for a few moments, clearly angry while Morgana's heart raced. His silhouette became blurred and shifted as the candles in the room all of a sudden spiked. He stopped and turned his head to look at her, "On second thought, scratch my previous comment. I think it's rather cute and otherwise I might get bored."

"You're insane." There she said it. It couldn't be helped. This... all of this was utterly surreal and unpredictable. She hated it.

"Of course, but you shouldn't be so judgemental. I mean, you have a knack for summoning death things. That doesn't bode well for your mental health now does it?" He countered as he plopped down on his chair again.

"What is your plan?" Morgana asked and winced at her own bluntness. She needed to be more subtle. Hréonhes may be more powerful but he's still just a man and men are easily influenced. Aithusa is loyal to me, as long as Hréonhes is preoccupied with conquering the world, it wouldn't be too difficult to snatch it all away from under his nose. As soon as I stop being a threat and become an ally, he'll let his guard down. I've done it before, I'll do it again.

"Mmm plans?" Hréonhes asked distracted as he took another sip, "Plans are doomed to fail. I just do what I want to happen."

"You got locked up the last time." Morgana countered and smiled sweetly. Oh yes, please do that again.

"That was rather inconvenient, so I'll agree to a little bit of planning but first let's feast shall we? I made dinner."

Maybe this night wasn't a complete disaster. Who knows what may happen later...

He was concentrating, honestly he was. He was firmly reading this passage and certainly not thinking about Arthur. He was certainly not thinking about whatever Kilgharrah mentioned. He also wasn't carefully keeping an eye on the door, fearful of any sound that could forewarn his execution.

What am I doing? Tricking myself? Merlin sighed and put the book down. He had been reading here for hours and nothing useful had turned up.

The vaults were designed to feel unwelcoming. They were no windows, no sounds, no air flow. He felt as if he was completely detached from the rest of the castle. Of course he had been here before but he never had time to thoroughly look around. The sheer amount of books and objects that were cramped together in the three adjoining rooms baffled him. He was currently in the biggest room where an enormous table which took up most of the space was completely packed with books and scrolls. The next room was similar but smaller. The last room was the smallest of the three, but Merlin reckoned the more valuable stuff was put in there.

It had been the only room with an additional fortified door. He smirked as he recalled how easy it was to open it.

All the rooms had a line of torches fitted to the wall. The shelves, closets and chests were covered in thick layers of dust, but with a few sweeps of his hand and a few handy spells the rooms were breathable again.

Merlin called it irony and if he hadn't know better he may have called it foresight. For Uther managed to loot and lock a considerable amount of magical objects in the vaults, making it probably the largest magical collection ever known to men. Hidden below the castle the vaults' treasures were now ready to serve once more. Uther's bizarre decision to keep them may now save not only his son's life, but the future of Albion as well.

And maybe my own...

Anyway, he would get nowhere if he didn't manage to focus. Unfortunately the sudden sound of steps halted that plan.

"You blasted the door open." Gwaine's voice was filled with awe and surprise as he carefully wedged the door further open with his foot.

"Sorry." Merlin smiled unsure, "The key wasn't of much use anymore by the time I got here." He pointed to a piece of half melted metal on a pile of books.

"I see you brought food." Merlin said and hurried towards Gwaine taking hold of one of the platters.

"What happened?" Gwaine was still shocked. He sat down across Merlin and waited patiently for the warlock to swallow the piece of chicken.

"I was angry I think." Merlin shrugged and turned his concentration towards his food. He didn't realise he was this hungry, being too preoccupied with exploring this newfound treasure he guessed.

"You think? Remind me never to get on your bad side, Merlin. Geez, this is completely unusable!" Gwaine carefully examined the lump of metal as he leaned back in his chair, "You're many things Merlin, but I never considered you being the dramatic type. Why on earth did you dare Arthur to kill you?"

Merlin stopped chewing for a moment, "You were eavesdropping?"

"And that surprises you? But you're dodging my question. 'Take a swing', really?" Gwaine smirked when Merlin flushed. Yeah, that had been pretty dramatic. But actually it was completely warranted considering the circumstances, wasn't it? Only Gwaine didn't know the whole story...

"Process of elimination" He replied without thinking. Of course Gwaine looked puzzled, you idiot, he mentally berated himself and quickly added, "Never mind, I guess I had a flair for drama hidden somewhere."

"Now not that I'm not grateful for bringing food and company, but what exactly are you doing here? Shouldn't you be helping Galahad?"

"The boy can manage on his own, he doesn't need my help. Besides it's late, training has ended hours ago. Now where do you keep the exciting books?"

"Oh, you're here to help me?" Merlin suddenly panicked. Just great, of all the knowledgeable friends I have, Gwaine's here to help. It's going to be a long night.

"What are you doing?" Morgana hissed dangerously when Hréonhes gently coaxed Aithusa to stay still. "Stop it!"

She couldn't move. He did something, some spell and she felt as if her feet frozen solid on the ground. They were standing on the other side of the room and Morgana cursed her own curiosity.

She should have expected something like this but Hréonhes kept surprising her. Dinner had been almost agreeable. The conversation was awkward with her trying to influence him and him trying to rile her up, but the food was delicious. Everything was fine until Aithusa flew in. Something Hréonhes had clearly been waiting for.

"Don't be like that. I need a bit of blood for our plans to work." Hréonhes carefully cut an inch deep wound in the dragon's paw. Aithusa yelped weakly but couldn't get away.

Morgana, help me!

I'm so sorry, Aithusa.

"We didn't make any plans!" Morgana protested and watched how this monster, this poor excuse of a dragonlord collected the dragon's blood on the dagger and almost gleefully skipped towards a white marble block of stone. On top of this unusual table laid a silver basin.

"Did I say that I meant you?" Hréonhes asked with his back turned. He tipped his knife making a few drops of blood fall into the silver scale. The blood immediately started to circle around the bottom forming a intertwining spiral. The edges began to glow in a red foggy light.

"Almost midnight, one shift away. They danced you know, in auburn dresses. The fire couldn't get them. I proved them wrong, I proved everyone wrong..."

"What are you doing!" Morgana yelled and struggled once more against the invisible bonds around her legs.

"Cursing royalty is considered entertaining and the conversation we had was a tad boring, don't you agree. Now where exactly do we start?" Hréonhes mused and stared into the basin as the light faded and made place for the image of a castle.

"The west is promising but so is the south, time to redirect the Dragon's mouth." He hummed happily.

"Percival, Percival." Someone said anxiously. The knight groaned and he took a few seconds to fully open his eyes. Elyan was standing besides his bed and looked very agitated.

"Finally." Elyan sighed relieved and quickly stepped back towards the door. He took a moment to gaze into the hallway. Percival rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"What's happening?" He asked loudly as he noticed Elyan's unsheathed sword.

"Sssst!" Elyan hissed as he turned around after he carefully locking the door again.

Now that was completely unreasonable, Percival thought, first he wakes me, then I have to shut up…

"Get dressed and grab your sword. The castle is under attack."

Percival hurried but then he frowned. He had been in a siege before. The most overwhelming thing about it wasn't seeing the enemies pound the gates. It was hearing them. The noise drowned everything else out, every sane thought every ounce of focus. Only training or luck can break a man's stupor once the sound of hundreds of ironclad knights, screams, drums, bells, running, screaming and breaking takes hold of a castle.

So something wasn't adding up here.

"Elyan, I don't hear a thing."

"Exactly."

Merlin suddenly sighed and put the book down again. He looked directly at Gwaine and waited patiently until the knight noticed that the warlock was watching him.

"What?" Gwaine asked a bit unsettled under his friend's steady gaze.

"You aren't acting like you're supposed to, both you and Leon. I'm still waiting for something to – I don't know happen like shouting or stabbing or..." Merlin quickly trailed off and looked away. "I mean, aren't you mad?"

"Not really, I'm just a little disappointed you didn't tell me sooner. Just imagine all the fun times we could have had." Gwaine closed his eyes with a dreamy expression. He smirked and walked up to his friend holding out his hand, "Merlin, I feel as if you owe me a decent magic trick."

Merlin eyed him up suspiciously as he slowly took his hand.

"Deal, but I'll decide if it's appropriate or not."

"Okay" Gwaine agreed reluctantly.

"Also, I never 'told' anyone who didn't practice magic themselves about me. Gaius, Lancelot, they all found out on their own. And to be honest, I wouldn't have told you because well you're Gwaine, you get drunk, you get into trouble, you…"

"Never Merlin." Gwaine seemed genuinely hurt for a moment, "Besides even if I did most of my drunken tales are weirder than you having magic. Have I ever told you about the time when I went fishing jellyfish in the moonlight? Or when I used whitewash to 'creatively' improve our training grounds? "

"Yes Gwaine and I'm still denying any involvement in the last one." Merlin rolled his eyes at the memory. "And no that would be inappropriate." He quickly added when Gwaine was about to open his mouth again.

"How did you…? Oh, you're a mind reader too!" Gwaine pointed excitedly towards his head, "What am I thinking right now?"

"No sane person would ever try to read your mind."

"You came to Camelot with magic," Gwaine countered as he waved his fingers through the air and nonchalantly strolled towards a shelf, "so I wouldn't put it passed you." Merlin smirked and returned to his book.

The knight hummed and picked up a crystal, "Mate, what do you think this does?"

"Gwaine! Don't touch that." Merlin dropped the book and cried in horror as he saw his friend juggle the Crystal of Neatid.

Yep, it's going to be a long night.

The corridors were deserted and although the two men were quiet their footsteps echoed across the eerie hallway.

"I was walking towards my room when one of the guards just vanished before my eyes." Elyan whispered and he carefully looked around the corner. It was void with life and noise. He shivered, just retelling what happened rekindled his fear. The man had flickered in a cloud of black smoke before the shadows swallowed him up. He wasn't an idiot. After being on magic's bad side time after time he knew the signs. Magic was at work here and it had an unholy purpose.

"I hear you. There's something creeping around here that makes my blood run cold."

Elyan suddenly halted and pulled Percival in a dark alcove. No at moment too soon as a shadow glided past them. Both knights held their breath.

"I hope the others get the horses saddled quickly." Elyan prayed as they resumed their way. He had sent his fellow knight to the stables. He was a realist, he knew they had to leave as soon as possible if they valued their life.

"I hope there someone still alive here. Not really feel like dying for nothing." Percival muttered when they quickly crossed another deserted hallway.

"Ssst! Do you hear that?" Elyan paused and motioned at another dark corridor. Almost all the torches were out making every dark corner, every squeak suspicious. If Gwaine were with him he would surely break the silence with some annoying comment about 'creepy castles', frankly his friend wouldn't be mistaken. While Caerleon's castle wasn't that different than Camelot's it wasn't home.

Percival listened intently. It was coming closer.

Footsteps!

They almost rounded the corner…

"That's a windumær. I've read about them, but haven't actually seen one before." Merlin replied excited at Gwaine's questioning glance as the knight held up a couple of stones.

"And they are not poisonous, I hope?" Gwaine asked blankly and quickly put the rocks on the table. Merlin snorted.

"They're Echo's." Merlin explained patiently and wasn't even trying to suppress a smile. Gwaine may not be the most skilled assistant, but he sure was amusing to watch. "Windumaere were a form of speech that allowed a sorcerer to correspond with another person without having to be there at the same time. It's like sending a letter. Because it doesn't require very difficult magic and the recipient didn't need to use magic themselves they were quite popular a few decades ago."

"It looks like a ordinary pebble." Gwaine frowned and poked the stones.

"Most magical objects don't need to be conspicuous, but some kind of sorcerers prefer them that way."

"Which sorcerers?"

"The arrogant kind." Merlin deadpanned, "But you're right, these are just pebbles." He grabbed a couple of the stones and threw them away. Gwaine took the other stones and weighed them thoughtfully.

"So do I put them on the useful, the 'it's so pathetic it's laughable' or the 'I've no idea so I'll look into it later' pile?"

"Sir Elyan, I sure hope you're not lost." Lord Linwood sneered as he watched the two knights lower their swords in surprise.

"Lord Linwood, I reckon it's too late for a casual stroll." Both men glared at each other until Percival forcefully cleared his throat.

"Magical attack." He reminded them. Both at least had the decency to looked embarrassed.

"My servant disappeared. She just vanished into thin air and when I yelled for the guard no one came. I've already been to the kitchen. Everyone's gone."

"We've noticed." Elyan sighed and motioned around the hallway, "We're on our way to the Queen. I suggest you join us or cower back to your chambers."

Linwood glared but followed them as they continued their journey through the abandoned castle. When they finally reached the Queen's chamber Elyan wasn't surprised. The guards were missing. He slowly raised his fist and knocked on the door. The sound resonated eerily in the silence.

The door opened and Elyan hurriedly pushed it further. The three of them stumbled into the room and stood face to face with Sir Brickem and an angry Queen.

"I pray you have a very good reason for this disturbance." Annis said coldly as she rose from her seat.

"I'm thrilled you're not above damaging yourself after what you did to Aithusa." Morgana sneered as she paced in front of the marble table. Hréonhes had taken the knife and cut some rune on the back of his hand. He was mumbling some words Morgana didn't quite catch and watched how blood welled up and fell into the basin.

Hréonhes snorted when he finally looked up.

"Geez, are you still going on about that? It was just a scratch, it's healed and your precious dragon is fine." He motioned towards the rest of the hall. Aithusa was fine, but as soon as they both could move again Morgana send him away. She didn't want the dragonlord anywhere near her dragon ever again.

"You hurt him!" Morgana yelled again.

"It's not because I'm a dragonlord that I care about them. They're a weapon, nothing more and like any other weapon they can be used against you. You would do well to remember that." Hréonhes warned coldly. He did that sometimes. It send chills down her spine.

"Why don't you just heal that?" She suddenly asked when he wrapped a piece of cloth around his hand and tied it up.

The dragonlord shrugged, "Some wounds are meant to bleed."

"You're telling me that everyone disappeared except you three and your fellow knights? That all my citizens vanished like smoke?"

"I'm afraid so my Queen. Magic is at work here."

"I don't believe you." Annis said and turned towards the open door that led to her personal sleeping chambers, "Mary? Come out of there and prove these delusional knights they're wrong." Her personal servant had entered the room not longer than half hour ago, she was still dutifully preparing the chamber to receive its sovereign.

There was no answer and the doorway remained empty.

"Mary?" Annis carefully made her way towards the room. Sir Brickem faithfully followed her and Elyan and Percival instinctively unsheathed their swords again. She looked into the room but it was empty. A couple of clothes were sprawled on the ground, clothes that weren't there before. Mary would never leave without cleaning up this mess and she hadn't exited the room, Annis was sure of it. The queen stepped aside to let Sir Brickem pass as he searched the chamber more thoroughly but she already knew. Annis looked back at the three men.

"She's gone."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Elyan said. He truly wished he'd been mistaken.

"Oh no!" Annis suddenly exclaimed and rushed towards the other door that led to the hallway, "Lothian!"

Sir Brickem cursed as he dashed after the queen, the rest followed hurriedly as they crossed the corridor. Annis pushed the door open and franticly looked around. One sole torch barely lit the room, but there was more than enough light to make out the still form lying in the four-poster bed.

"Lothian!" Annis yelled again and ran to his side.

"W-what? I'm sleeping Aunt…" Lothian mumbled and turned around.

"Aunt!" The boy exclaimed horrified when she suddenly enveloped him in a hug. He looked around the room and saw the four men standing in his room.

"What's going on?" He asked confused when his aunt finally released him. The prince looked at her for answers but Elyan spoke up.

"Your Majesty, I don't know what the reason is behind this and frankly I don't care. We can't fight this. Whoever did this had ill intentions. I'm leaving for Camelot tonight. My King needs to be informed and I pray Camelot hasn't befallen a similar fate. I would ease my heart if you would join us."

"Do tell, Sir Elyan, would Arthur leave if he was in my place?"

Elyan sadly shook his head, "He wouldn't but we would get him out nevertheless, even if it's against his will. His safety means more to me than being in his good graces."

"My Queen, I strongly advise you to go along with Sir Elyan's suggestion. Your knights aren't that different from King Arthur's and if I'm the only one left…" Sir Brickem left the last part unspoken, but Annis understood. Her gaze lingered on her bewildered nephew for a moment.

"Very well." The queen took a deep breath but resolve strengthened her words as she looked upon the four men, "Sir Brickem and Sir Percival, you will come with me and help me collect some valuables that can't ever fall into enemies hands." She was already mentally going over all the things she couldn't leave behind, like the plans of the castle or her secret correspondence. "Sir Elyan and Lord Linwood, get the Prince ready to leave. We'll ride out in ten minutes."

No one noticed how she absentmindedly scratched the back of her hand as she gave her orders.

"I still don't understand. Why did you choose Caerleon? Why not Camelot?" Morgana was still pacing and barely restrained herself from cursing him, "Was that just to spite me?"

"Don't be absurd, I make loud noises for that." The dragonlord smirked, "No dear, I'm just warming up. Camelot is where it all comes together."

"What? Hréonhes, you're not making any sense."

"That's the point. You yourself made an excellent one about planning. So that's what I'm doing. I'm spinning a web." Hréonhes turned around to face her fully and asked, "Why simply attack Camelot? Let's complicate things a bit and create a few dilemma's big enough to make ordinary men lose their minds. I always like to play with my food before devouring it."

"You're disgusting."

"And you argue as a five-year old." Hréonhes countered.

Morgana sighed, "And what happens now?"

"Now?" Hréonhes smirked gleefully as he rubbed his hands together, "Now I'm going to knock on Emrys' door."

"But you don't know who he is."

"Buckets of bugs blood, Morgana! Think!" Hréonhes shouted and grabbed his hair in frustration, "What's the quickest way to get his attention?"

"Merlin! Your system is failing." Gwaine complained glum when one of the piles almost collapsed.

Merlin sighed and rolled his eyes. He'd been reading the same passage over and over again because Gwaine kept interrupting him. The knight didn't do it on purpose, but it was driving the warlock mad. He took a deep breath and looked at his friend.

"Gwaine, I know you're here to help, but this is becoming ridiculous. It's the middle of the night and I've been sitting here for the last hour trying to find something useful in this book which for a chance looks promising and isn't smudged with soot or something else. I'm bone tired, cranky and about to blast your system into smithereens, so for the love of-"

But he didn't got a chance to finish his empty threat when Galahad suddenly burst into the vaults. The door banged against the wall, Gwaine's pile collapsed and the young knight barely missed a crash with the hard wooden table.

"Merlin!" He panted bent over trying to breathe without gasping, "You... now... Arthur, there is something wrong!"

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