Author's Note: Just reading over this chapter, I think the action scenes get a bit tedious and samey… But that's just my opinion! If you feel the same, review! And if you don't, review! ;D

And to all of those who reviewed saying that they though Ceira was like Freya in 'The Lady of the Lake', well done! Though you're not exactly right, you're pretty close. She's got the wings the same but Ceira's got the body of a wolf J

But I have to say, even before the last chapter came out, I owe a big congrats to 'serial blogger' who guessed that Ceira was a shape shifter straight away! *Gives rosette and cookie* Good show, old boy!

So, we see a bit of what Emrys thinks of this new 'development' in the story here so hope you enjoy that! Also, a bit of an action scene! Though, don't expect much, actions scenes are not my forté :/

Review and let me know just how bad I am at action and fight scenes? x

Disclaimer: I still do not own any characters of Shine and the BBC's TV programme Merlin (wish I did!) but any added characters and plotlines were completely my genius! All mistakes and splelnig errrors are also my own, which are not so genius…

Chapter Forty One

Discovered

Emrys stared up at the huge creature that stood where Ceira had just been crouching. That couldn't be Ceira. What he had just seen hadn't been real. He was in some mad dream or having a strange hallucination and in a moment he would wake up and he would still be in his tree. But this wasn't a dream. Or a hallucination. This was real. The beast that stood before him was Ceira.

She turned to him and gave him a sorrowful look with her big black eyes. Emrys couldn't return anything. He was stunned into a permanent expression of disbelief beneath his hood. The vast, wolf-like creature gave a moan and turned back to the guards who had finally reached the house that they had stalled at, but had stopped in their tracks to gaze up at the monster that blocked their path. Ceira gave a low warning growl. A couple of them took a step back but most of them raised their weapons, showing they were ready to fight, Arthur included. Emrys glanced at Ceira to see what she would do. Surely she wouldn't stand and fight these men? They had been trained for years to battle against anything that stood before them. How could she possibly beat them? Despite this, astonishingly, Ceira stepped forward, accepting the challenge.

Someone suddenly rushed out of the crowd, brandishing their sword wildly. Emrys had to squint past Ceira's bushy tail to see who it was. Percival. He should have known. He dashed forward, yelling some sort of battle cry. When he was close enough, Ceira just batted him aside with her shield sized paw. He went hurtling off the edge of the roof and plummeted to the ground. There was a couple of seconds before there was a clatter of a sword then a thump of his body hitting the ground, a muffled crunch also audible. Emrys flinched away from the sound. The crowd looked stunned but still willing to fight. A couple more guards stepped forward. Ceira swiped him aside and confronted the other. He swallowed nervously but still held his sword shakily aloft. Ceira snapped at him but he did a forward roll out of the way. Ceira then gave a follow up snap and caught him unaware. He staggered back, clutching the deep wound in his shoulder. The other Knights and guards stared at the blood now trickling from Ceira's fangs. Suddenly the whole crowd advanced on her, wielding their swords at her. Arthur fought his way to the front and held his sword up to the beast's throat. Ceira gave a huge roar, displaying the rows of knife-sharp teeth lining her jaws. She reared up on her back legs, waving her talons in front of her defensively. The Knights and guards backed away at this, obviously not expecting such an uproar. She dropped back down to her feet and glowered at the little people who cowered in front of her. Arthur, seeing that his army had been spooked into backing away, stepped forward and raised his sword above his head.

"Attack!" The whole army charged forward, pointing their weapons directly at her.

Ceira launched most of them off the edge with her paws but there were too many. Emrys could see a couple sneaking out of Ceira's range of view and raising their swords to strike her. Emrys couldn't just stand there. He would have to do something. He threw out his hand towards one of the guards and felt his eyes flash golden as he uttered a spell.

"Fléoge." They were launched off their feet and blasted off the roof over the edge. Emrys then did the same to another guard who was threatening to slice through Ceira's shoulder. Ceira seemed like she couldn't hold the ambush of people away for much longer. She had moved back even further now, backing away from the sea of pointing weapons. She was fighting a losing battle. Emrys would have to go and join the fight. Just as he was about to raise his hand to cast another spell, someone grabbed him from behind and yanked his arms back. Emrys struggled against the iron grip but it was no use. Emrys yelled out in panic and tried to kick out at the person who had sneaked up on him. They kneed him in the back at this which made him double over with pain. But his cry had already been heard. Ceira had swung round to confront the person who was restraining Emrys. The person holding Emrys obviously hadn't expected Ceira to be so protective over him and backed up rapidly, dragging Emrys with them. Ceira glowered down at the person and let out a clearly audible growl. The person's hands were beginning to shake but they still held Emrys tightly. She began to advance on the person, her footsteps surprisingly silent in proportion to her size. The person who held him hurriedly unsheathed his sword and held it up in front of him, still gripping Emrys with a stern hand. Ceira raised one of her clawed paws and swiped at the person, careful not to touch Emrys. The man dodged and wielded his sword again, ready for another attack. Ceira took another swing but he dodged again. Ceira let out a roar and took one final swipe which he dodged yet again. Emrys was surprised the crowd behind Ceira wasn't still attacking while she was distracted. They seemed to be allowing the person holding him to do his part. He must be a good combatant if he had dodged all these blows and if the rest of the Knights were confident enough that he was a good enough fighter to just stand by and let him get on with it. Ceira pounced forward, baring her teeth and sunk them into the person's arm. There was a cry of pain and the person withdrew, doubling over in agony. He stayed there for a couple of seconds, just recovering. Then he rose back up, staring at Ceira. The person suddenly launched themselves forward, loosening their grip on Emrys and thrusting their sword forward. Emrys looked away to see if he could struggle out of the grip. He regretted it straight away. There was a gut wrenching howl of agony from Ceira. Emrys burst free of the grasp of the person and stared up in horror to see what had happened to her. She was limping backwards, holding her left paw off the ground. A gaping, deep wound stood out from her fur, slashing across her shoulder.

"No!" Emrys screamed out, falling to his knees. Ceira staggered back, moaning in pain. Emrys finally saw who had first sight of the person who had been holding him down and who had stabbed Ceira. Arthur. He stood proudly looking at his damage, his bloodied sword lying at his feet. Emrys wanted to rush forward and grab him but Arthur had already turned towards him and was picking up his sword slowly. Emrys crawled backwards along the roof helplessly. Arthur strode right up to his feet and stared triumphantly down at him. He just stared for a moment but them slid his sword over him and pressed it against his chest.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't," Arthur uttered detestably.

"I'm not going to beg to you Arthur. So much arrogance, so much hate for the world. You're just like your father, only I hate you more," Emrys hissed spitefully. Arthur's eyes flinched at this.

"Then so be it. You brought this on yourself, Thief. I will finally get my revenge." Arthur drew his sword up above him and brought it plummeting down towards Emrys' chest. Emrys squeezed his eyes shut. He just hoped it would be quick.

Author's Note: And another big cliff-hanger, sorry! But then, it does keep you wanting more! I'm just that evil, MWAH HA HA, MWAH HA HA HA HA! *Coughs and splutters* Ahem, sorry about that guys…

12Hey I just met you,

And this is crazy.

But I like comments,

So review this maybe?

Lyrical genius at work ;D x