Author's Note: Just noticed I didn't put any paragraph breaks in chapter 48... Ah well, sorry!

Finally! We here the cry of 'charge!' at last! OK, this is it, the much anticipated battle chapter. So, obviously there's going to be quite a few fighting scenes (well, if there wasn't it wouldn't be a very successful battle would it?) and I hope you enjoy them. I'm really looking forward to seeing how you react to the action in here! So please please please review! I'd really like to see what you think of these action chapters! 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 Fifty

Violent

It was coming up to thirty minutes that Emrys had been sat waiting. Griffin had already gone to sleep beneath him. All the creatures behind him were snorting, snarling and hissing with impatience.

"Where the hell is he? The spell I sent him worked. I'm sure it did," Emrys whispered urgently to Ceira who was anxiously waiting behind him on Kelpie. She shrugged and kept staring ahead, looking terrified. Emrys felt sorry for her, he had dragged her into this whole thing without even asking if she was alright with it. Suddenly a distant thumping reached Emrys' ears. His head snapped round at the sound and he gazed down the hill that they were positioned at the top of. It was as if a huge giant was stomping up towards them, the footsteps were so heavy. Just appearing out of the nearby forest was a vast line of people, then another, and another. There was an uncountable number of them, at least enough to fill the Camelot courtyard. It was only then that Emrys realised the footsteps weren't just from one being, the noise was coming from the collective marching of Arthur's army. Arthur himself was leading the huge throng on a pearly grey horse. His helmet was tucked under one arm and his other hand was clutching the reins. His eyes were drawn up to the top of the hill where Emrys was attentively watching him. Arthur's eyes narrowed and he held up a hand to halt the army. They all obediently came to a standstill and looked straight up, assessing their opponents. Emrys stared down threateningly and squeezed Griffin forwards a little. He heard Ceira also advance protectively behind him. Arthur also spurred on his snowy steed and glared up at Emrys.

"You ready to die Emrys?" yelled Arthur. Emrys laughed to himself and glowered down at him.

"I don't think so. Do you really think that your swords and battle strategies will defeat an army of magic? I have Dragons and you have Knights. I have Vampires and you have guards. Do you see the difference Arthur? There is no way you can win. And there is no way I will let you," Emrys smiled slyly.

The creatures behind him all snorted, snarled and hissed with impatience. Arthur's eyes narrowed and he held up his hand to ready his army. Every one of the men moved in one movement. They took up their swords and pointed them up the hill right at Emrys. Emrys raised an eyebrow and smirked, tilting his head a little. There was a seconds pause in which Arthur's army anxiously eyed up their opponents. Then it was hectic.

"Charge!" Arthur dropped his hand and the whole throng of men all rushed forwards, wielding their swords in front of them. They charged forwards, thrashing their weapons and cutting down the long grass that they dashed through. As soon as they came to the base of the hill, it came apparent to Arthur's army that the hill was steeper than they had anticipated. But they kept going, lead by Arthur, all persevering up the incline. Emrys watched closely, calculating in his mind when he should also give the command to charge. They were about a quarter of the way up the hill now, Arthur's horse cantering furiously. Soon they would be half way up. Soon.

Just a few more steps.

Just a couple more steps.

Just half a step.

Now.

~xox~

Emrys threw out his hand and yelled, "Charge!"

He didn't go immediately. He waited until the majority of the beasts had passed him before spurring Griffin into a canter after them. They surged down the hill, feeling like they were about to fall on top of Arthur's army. Then they collided. The sounds of the clashing of metal and deafening roars filled the air. Wyverns swooped through the skies, diving low and screeching their bloodcurdling cries. Some of them sent ribbons of fire streaking down from the skies and burning up the dry grass. Some rained down flaming balls of fire from their fearsome jaws which exploded when they came into contact with the ground, sending men metres into the air and depositing them harshly on the ground. Inky black streaks darted through the grass at Griffin's feet as they galloped. The Hydra were indeed fast. A couple of them sprang up from beneath Griffin's hooves to take nearby guards by surprise and tackle them to the ground, every one of their heads stabbing their venomous fangs into the men's flesh. As Emrys surveyed the scene in front of him, he noticed the Spectres stationed at random positions around the hill. They just stood, glowing their eerie white in the half-darkness. As Emrys' eyes reached one in particular he saw a guard rush up to it, flailing his sword in front of him and calling some sort of wild battle cry. But as soon as the sword came into contact with the Spectre's figure there was a ear-splitting scream and the guard exploded into shreds with nothing left but a black burn mark on the grass below where he had disappeared. The Spectre carried on staring ahead fixedly as if nothing had happened, silently waiting for its next victim. Emrys returned his gaze to scouring the scene for any sign of Arthur. After a couple of seconds of searching, his eyes locked onto the Prince. His pearly horse was nowhere to be seen and he had lost his helmet in the hustle. He was furiously trying to fight off a Griffin that was relentlessly trying to tear his arm open with its talons. It seemed that the Griffin had the job of distracting Arthur while a stealthy Vampire was trying to sneak round Arthur undetected to reach his neck, even though it was well protected with gleaming armour. But nothing deterred the Vampire. Its thirst for blood was obviously stronger than its discouragement. Emrys could see the needle-like fangs protruding from the icy blue lips. The Vampire's nostrils flared with the scent of Arthur's blood racing with adrenaline beneath his skin. Its crimson eyes were fixed on the skin of his throat, longing to bite into it. Just as the Griffin went to give the deadly blow, Arthur came back unexpectedly and struck it down with his glittering sword and - as it lay helplessly on the ground - stabbed it through the shoulder. It gave one last ear-piercing screech of pain and then was still, dark purple blood starting to seep from the wound. Just as the Vampire behind him was about to sink its fangs into Arthur's throat, Arthur whirled round and thrust his sword towards it. The Vampire hissed and swerved the strike, only just missing the blade. Its scarlet eyes were trained on Arthur, carefully anticipating his next move. Other Griffins were closing in having heard their companion's dying alarm cry. Arthur was struggling to keep his eyes on the surrounding Griffins while still keeping all his attention on the thirsty Vampire that was taking any chance it got to lunge towards his neck. Emrys decided that this wouldn't be a good time to intervene.

~xox~

Author's Note: Not the best ending line, I know…

Please review! I haven't been getting as many lately and I really need to see what you think on these ones to keep me going! x