Alaia Skyhawk: No this isn't two chapters in one day lol. Part 3 of A Sense of Guilt was meant to be up yesterday, but the Document Manager was acting up and I couldn't post it. But anyway, here's part one of an ep I'm looking forward to doing, despite the sad ending it has.

There's just one scene in this part I wish I could have kept, but the fact that Merlin already has a sword means I can't. I wish I could have kept his line "It's very um... swordy." XD

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Music: N/A

"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A

~(-)~

Chapter 55: The Moment of Truth ~Part 1~

After a morning of toting weapons and armour around, being used as a walking target courtesy of a massive wooden shield, and general fetching and carrying, the last thing he wanted to do was more work. After doing all that, and spending the first half of the afternoon racing through scrubbing Arthur's floor and more fetching and carrying, the last thing he'd wanted to do was use the spare time that gave him working himself to ground in a smithy... But that's what he'd had to do.

Merlin fought the urge not to groan, knowing he deserved every last bit of this. Yeah sure, Tom had accepted the money as being enough for the sword, but as consequence for taking it without permission he'd demanded one other thing. He, Merlin, had to spend at least a few hours every week, manning the bellows at the forge. Having someone to do that allowed Tom to get more work done, and so earn more money to support himself and Gwen. It was all fair, Merlin had bought the sword, and now he was effectively helping Tom make more of them.

At least that's what he kept telling himself, although his arms and back needed more convincing.

Merlin sighed, wincing as he tried to ease out his stiff shoulders. At least he had only Arthur's supper to sort out, dirty clothing could be put in a basket to be taken to the laundry tomorrow. Besides that and turning back the covers of the bed, since Arthur seemed incapable of doing it on his own, was all he needed to worry about before he could give in to his desire to find his bed and rest.

He was nearing the castle gates when it happened, a glimpse at the corner of his eye. He turned to look, pausing in surprise, before calling out to the woman who had come into view.

"Mother?"

Hunith's eyes met his, and she rushed to him and pulled him close.

"Merlin!"

She seemed desperate, clearly tired from the road, but that wasn't what made Merlin frown. With her so close, it was impossible not to notice her bruised right eye... Someone had hurt her.

He felt a chill of anger settle over him, as he reached to gently touch the bruise.

"What happened? Who did this to you?"

She hesitated, and taking hold of her bag for her he began to guide her into the castle.

"Let me get you to Gaius. You can tell me what happened when we get there."

She didn't resist, allowing her son to lead her. Few people gave them a second glance, it wasn't after all that surprising for the Court Physician's ward to be seen escorting the sick or injured. It was just as well really, because he didn't feel himself capable of a civil answer right now, given the anger simmering inside him.

Their arrival at his chambers surprised Gaius, who frowned for a moment at seeing his ward back early, only for his eyes to widen in surprise at seeing who was with him.

"Hunith?"

She gave him a wan smile, Merlin bringing her over and sitting her on the first available chair.

"It's good to see you, Gaius. It's been a long time."

The old physician reached out, his expression changing to concern at the sight of her black eye, before he too began to take a grim view on her arrival.

"How did this happen? What brings you all this way to Camelot?"

"Mother?"

Two concerned men watching her, she bowed her head and started to explain.

"A raider, Kanan... Do you remember him, Merlin?"

Merlin nodded, anger surfacing again.

"I do... He stole some of our grain last harvest."

Hunith nodded.

"He did, and he's come back only this time he has far more men... and demanding an increase in food to match. It's more than we can afford to lose." She bit her lip, clearly shaken. "He's given us a week, to gather our food and give him what he wants, or he'll burn the village. King Cenrid isn't interested. We petitioned him a month ago, when Kanan first came to warn us of what he wanted when the harvest was ready, but he doesn't care. I had to come here, there's no one else we can turn to except Camelot."

Gaius moved in closer, now with a cloth and a bottle of ointment in his hands. He nudged Merlin aside, pointing to a stool before proceeding to apply the remedy to Hunith's face.

"Sit down, Merlin, and calm down before you break something. You're making some of my things rattle."

It was only then that mother and son realised several small items in the room were indeed shaking, and at the reminder of his magic, Merlin promptly damped down on it.

"Sorry."

He sat on the stool, watching anxiously as Gaius began to check Hunith for other injuries. In fact he was so distracted by his concern for her that he had completely lost track of the time.

"Merlin! Merlin you lazy dolt, where are you?" The shout made him flinch, even as it proceeded an irritated-looking prince storming in through the door. Arthur glared at his servant. "Do you even know what time it is? How often are you going to be late for every little thing you're supposed to show up for..."

His tirade petered out at the sight of Hunith, realising now that perhaps there was a good reason for Merlin's tardiness.

Merlin didn't wait for anything else to be said though, lurching to his feet and hurrying towards Arthur and the door, glancing back briefly as he did so.

"Mother, I'll be right back after I've finished my chores."

He was stopped by a gloved hand taking hold of his shoulder, Arthur frowning a little and glancing between the two of them.

"This is your mother?"

Gaius set down what he was holding, intervening in this awkward situation.

"This is Hunith, Sire... Hunith, allow me to introduce you to Prince Arthur. Merlin is his manservant."

She began to rise to her feet, to bow to him.

"Your Highness."

She stopped when Arthur shook his head, the prince gesturing for her to sit. He'd have to be blind not to see the bruise on her face.

"There's no need." He glanced at Merlin. "Finish seeing to your mother. You can bring my supper after that."

He turned and left, Merlin hesitating on the verge of following him. Seeing that, Gaius nodded towards the door.

"Go on, I'll look after her."

Accepting the reassurance, Merlin headed after Arthur before making a detour to the kitchens. He was so brisk about it, grabbing the necessary selection of food and drink, that he arrived at Arthur's chambers almost right on the heels of the prince himself.

Arthur looked surprised to see him, his expression then settling into a frown.

"I thought I told you to see to your mother first."

Merlin was in the process of setting the tray on the table, his expression apologetic.

"She's all right with Gaius, and I should have kept an eye on the time. Sorry."

"There's no need to apologise for worrying about your mother." Merlin paused in what his was doing, as Arthur approached the table and sat down. He eyed his servant questioningly. "So tell me. How was she hurt?"

Merlin's expression darkened, his voice holding a note of quiet fury.

"A raider, called Kanan. He stole food from the village last autumn, and he's come back again. He's threatened Ealdor, to burn it to the ground unless everyone gives into his demands for most of the harvest. If they give in, give him what he wants, they'll starve before the winter is out. King Cenrid isn't interested, he doesn't care about a single small village."

It was Arthur's turn to stiffen in fury, at the injustice of what had just been described. He knew the answer to his question even as he said it.

"And why has she come here?"

"She's come to ask for help."

~(-)~

The early morning light streamed in through the windows of the Great Hall, casting itself upon those assembled there. Several knights and courtiers, Morgana and Gwen. Gaius, Merlin, his mother, and the king... and the prince who had used his influence to arrange for this audience to happen.

Arthur still felt the fury inside him, as he listened once again to the story but this time from Hunith herself. A king was supposed to protect his people, and yet Cenrid would not unless he deemed it worth it.

"The winters are harsh in Ealdor, and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive." Hunith addressed those present, her tone conveying her plea. "We barely have enough food as it is, and if Kanan takes our harvest... our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help."

Uther regarded her from where he sat upon his throne.

"Ealdor is in Cenrid's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility."

Hunith shook her head.

"We've appealed to our king, but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope."

Uther seemed troubled by her words, clearly thinking, his tone solemn when he spoke a few moments later.

"I have the deepest sympathy for you, and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth."

Hope rose in her eyes.

"You'll help us?"

The king's next words crushed that hope.

"I wish I could."

Arthur turned in his position beside his father, speaking to him.

"Surely we could spare a few men."

Uther glanced at his son, still solemn.

"Resources are not the problem."

Morgana, unhappy at the turn this was taking, looked to him.

"Then what is?"

He turned his attention back to Hunith, answering.

"Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Ascetir. For an army of Camelot to enter, it would be an act of war."

Hunith dropped to her knees, pleading, Merlin watching her with growing frustration at Uther.

"I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you. Help us, please."

Uther sighed.

"The accord we've struck with Cenrid, was years in the making. I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help."

Merlin stood there staring coldly at the king, while Morgana went to his mother and helped her to her feet. He should have known better than to expect Uther to do anything, but at the same time he understood why he wouldn't. But that didn't make it hurt any less, to know that Ealdor was being abandoned in its time of need... and all because of a line drawn on a map by men. A line it was the wrong side of.

He turned and followed her out, unaware that another in that hall was thinking the exact same thing. Arthur wanted to curse, this whole thing giving rise to frustration at the boundaries and rules they were tied to. He could only imagine what Merlin was going through right now, but he knew how he'd feel if he were in his shoes and it was his mother begging for help.

He'd be angry, and he do everything he had to to help her.

Arthur left the Great Hall, wending his way up to the southern wall, the sun still low enough to cast long shadows over the city streets below. It didn't take long for Merlin to find him there, it was after all a spot he went to often when he wanted to think, and Merlin knew him well enough by now to know he'd go there... Just as he knew Merlin well enough to know what he was going to do next.

He glanced at his servant when he arrived beside him, solemn.

"I'm sorry. If it were up to me, we'd be on our way there now."

Merlin sighed, bracing his hands on the wall and looking out over the city.

"Well, you tried. And thank you for getting an audience with the king."

"I wish Camelot was able to help people regardless of how far away they lived."

Silence fell between them, Merlin taking a deep breath and facing him.

"I'm going back to Ealdor."

Arthur nodded.

"Of course."

"...It's been an honour serving you."

That caught his attention, causing him to frown. Going to Ealdor was something he expected, but Merlin sounded like he was... He looked at him, suspecting but not wanting to believe it.

"You'll be coming back."

Merlin's smile was apologetic.

"Well she's my mother. I have got to look after her before anyone else. You understand?"

Arthur lowered his head for a moment, then turning to the sunrise... surprised by how much this hurt.

"I'd do exactly the same." He swallowed back that feeling, forcing himself to put a note of cheer into his words. "Well... You've been terrible. Really, I mean it, the worst servant I have ever had."

Merlin started to laugh at little at that, the smile on his face saying he knew Arthur didn't mean any of that. It was a smile of genuine friendship, friendship that protocol said the prince couldn't return.

"Thank you, Sire."

He turned to walk away, only getting a few strides before Arthur turned and called after him.

"Merlin... Good luck. And make sure you take that set of chainmail that fits you, and your horse. You might need them."

Merlin nodded in thanks, saying nothing else before walking away.

~(-)~

"There's food, water, your armour. Have you got your sleeping gear?"

"Yes, yes, yes, and yes." Merlin sighed, seeing the pile of things building up in Arthur's stable, his horse already saddled and ready to go. The poor creature was already going to have to carry both him and his mother, and the pile of other things just seemed to keep getting bigger. "You know, I don't think I'm going to be able to carry all this."

"You won't have to." A female voice from the stable door caused both him and Gwen to turn, Morgana regarding him firmly even as she glanced at her maid. "Because we're coming with you."

Merlin stared at them both.

"What do you mean?"

Gwen walked past him, picking up a couple of the bags to take them to Morgana's stable.

"You're going to need all the help you can get." She turned and looked back at him. "I can mend armour, and sharpen swords."

Morgana nodded.

"And I know how to fight."

He continued to stare, his horse watching blandly as he started to stammer.

"B-but you... can't... I mean... why would you?"

Two women regarded him flatly, Gwen the one to speak first.

"If it was the other way round, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life, Merlin."

Morgana nodded.

"And you helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you, both of us, so I don't want to hear another word."

In the face of their clear stubborn resolve to go, Merlin sighed in defeat and headed for the stable door.

"Fine, you can come. I just pray Uther doesn't send the knights after you."

Morgana's smug tone followed him out.

"He won't, he thinks I'm going to go visit Sir Leon's family's estate. It's been planned for over a week, and by the time he realises I haven't gone there it will be too late."

Merlin winced, trudging out of the stables and to Gaius' chambers convinced that Morgana's conniving was going to get him into no end of trouble one of these days. Finding Gaius in his chambers, also packing supplies both of food and basic medicines, Merlin felt the weight of saying goodbye to Camelot getting even heavier. It wasn't destiny that was making him hesitate, his mother meant far more to him than it did. No, he was hesitating now because it meant he'd be leaving behind his mentor.

"I've put some wine in here, but be careful with it. One whiff of a barmaid's apron and you're singing like a sailor."

Merlin smiled, accepting the bag that was held out to him.

"I'll be fine."

"Are you sure you don't want an extra blanket?"

"It's fine, really. I'll be all right."

He shouldered the bag, after hefting it confirmed Gaius had also packed the spellbook, the physician regarding him almost sadly.

"Well make sure you are... Do whatever it takes."

When Merlin paused, realising what he'd meant by that, he pulled his ward into a hug and held him tightly in worry. When he let go, the young warlock nodded and headed to his room. Hunith was waiting there, ready to go, and she too hugged Gaius farewell.

Merlin led her to Arthur's stable, entering to find Gwen had tied his bags in place, leaving him nothing more than to belt on his sword, secure his last bag, and help his mother up into the saddle behind him. But when Hunith came close after he'd been led outside, Bitan whickered and flicked an ear uncertainly, until with a glance at his mother Merlin leaned forward to whisper discretely in the horse's ear.

"Heo bith me mathair." Bitan became instantly contrite, Merlin smiling in humour when his mother frowned at his use of those strange words. "He's fussy about who rides him. I just told him you're my mother."

Bitan nudged her shoulder gently with his nose, and she accepted her son's proffered hand to assist her into the saddle behind him. Just a few minutes later and they were riding out of Camelot's gates, out into the woods where Gwen and Morgana waited for them.

Hunith frowned a little when they fell into line, but kept quiet about it throughout the long day. It was only when night had fallen, and the other two women were asleep, that she voiced her concerns to her son by the light of their camp-fire.

"They shouldn't be here. Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the king's ward?"

Merlin poked at the fire with a stick, speaking with irony.

"Not that you'd know it. She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him."

Hunith had no humour in response, only grim certainty.

"It won't make any difference to Kanan that they're women."

Merlin sighed, staring into the fire.

"...I know, but I couldn't talk them out of coming." He looked to her, one hand reaching out to carefully touch the bruise on her face again. "I'm going to make him pay for what he did to you."

"Promise me you'll be careful." His mother leaned close, fear for him in every line of her expression, every part of her voice. "No one can find out about you."

He spoke with resolve, to reassure her.

"They won't... They never do."

Hunith placed a kiss on his forehead, getting up and going to where her blanket was laid out.

"Get some rest."

From there she watched as he blew embers from the end of a stick from the fire, conjuring them into the image of a dragon with a single word. He'd clearly learnt more about his magic in his time at Camelot, he was confident in his abilities, but still she feared for him.

Merlin knew it to, and wished he felt as confident as he'd sounded. Having Gwen and Morgana here complicated things, had they not come he could have used his magic to get rid of the raiders and be done with it. All it would have taken would be to sneak out of the village to their camp, but if he did that now then one of them was sure to notice he was missing. Things would have to be done the hard way so long as the two of them insisted on helping.

He tried his best to get to sleep after that, tossing and turning under his blanket even after the fire had long died down to embers and wisps of smoke. But he just couldn't get comfortable, or maybe he was just nervous about all this, but either way he was awake to hear the sudden sound of a horse pounding through the woods in their direction.

Merlin slipped out from under his blanket, drawing his sword and advancing carefully among the surrounding trees. The horse had stopped, which meant it was likely its rider was now sneaking around somewhere close by. Indeed, when he found it the saddle was empty, and he also found himself staring at a rather familiar horse that quite blandly stared right back at him.

He then felt the point of a sword touch him in the middle of his back, before an also familiar voice spoke.

"I'd ask you for money, except I know you don't have any."

"Arthur!"

Merlin spun round, almost forgetting the sword in his hand until he hastily raised it high even as Arthur ducked.

Arthur looked rather irritated.

"Put the sword away, Merlin. You look ridiculous."

Merlin still couldn't help his smile as he sheathed his sword, unable to deny how overjoyed he was that Arthur was here. When they arrived back in the camp, the prince didn't look surprised to see Morgana and Gwen asleep near the dead fire, merely seating himself beside and stirring the flames back up again.

Merlin sat down beside him, the two of them sitting in silence that was neither comfortable nor tense. They simply sat, saying nothing until finally Arthur broke the quiet.

"So how much further is it?"

Merlin frowned a little.

"Two days, maybe a day and a half if we ride hard. We'll have to work our way around the ridge, to one of the places you can get down it. The village is a little under half a day's ride from there, so if we hurry..."

The prince beside him sighed.

"We should get there at or before the week is up, and Kanan returns to the village... So how many men does Kanan have?"

Merlin grimaced.

"Um, I'm not sure. From what my mother said, maybe as many as forty."

Both of them paused at that, Arthur eventually starting to prod at the fire with a stick, much as Merlin had been doing a few hours ago.

"You should get some rest."

Merlin hesitated, speaking before getting up.

"Thank you... Um, I knew you didn't have to come."

Arthur glanced at him in response, neither of them willing to say anything else awkward despite what both of them knew. Instead he opted for something safe, rising to his feet and retrieving his bedroll from his horse's saddle.

"Get some sleep."

Merlin did as he was told, returning to his blanket. But even as he closed his eyes he felt a sense of relief having Arthur here. Indeed, it would be interesting to see Gwen and Morgana's reaction when they woke up in the morning.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Hee hee, yes, I will be covering at least a summary of their reaction XD