Chapter 12: Time Is Running Out

A/N: Yes I'm skipping the Queen of Hearts episode as Elaine would be only pleading with Uther for the majority of the time so I've skipped to The Coming of Arthur part one. :)

Everyone in the great hall listened to Arthur as he gave details of the latest attack from Cenred. "It was Cenred who did this, you're certain of it?" Uther asked calmly.

"Yes, My Lord. His messenger has only this minute departed Camelot. Cenred said that the patrol trespassed on his land and an example had to be made." Arthur spoke slowly.

"How many dead?" Uther turned to face Arthur.

Arthur paused before he spoke. "All of them, Sire. Every last man." Gasps filled the hall.

"The knights?" Uther asked, possibly knew the answer already but he needed to hear it from Arthur.

"All lost. Edric, Oldof, Osric, and Sir Leon." When Arthur listed the knights a sense of dread and shock filled the room but when Arthur named Sir Leon, everyone was particularly shocked as Leon was a well loved knight to all, especially to the King and Prince Arthur.

Soon after Sir Leon returned, alive and well, Arthur disappeared and no one knew except the King, who was refusing to tell anybody. Elaine remained with the King as much as she could but she was finding herself becoming more and more tired as she became closer to her time to give birth. Morgana would be helpful and make excuses for her whenever she could not make it to dinner or to any meetings that required Elaine to be present. The days dragged by and there was still no sign of Arthur.

Night had fallen when a vast number of men were approaching the castle. They broke into the lower town and the knights and guards tried to fend them off but it was impossible to stop them. The screams were unbearable as the town below was attacked by the army. From Elaine's view there seemed to be more of Camelot's people falling than the opposing army. "They won't die." Elaine spun around to see Morgana standing in the middle of her chambers.

"Who do they fight for?" Elaine asked as she turned back to look out of the window as the army advanced further into the town and closer to the castle. Looking over her shoulder at Morgana, who was walking slowly towards her.

"They were Cenred's army but they are now mine." Morgana smiled slightly as she moved closer to Elaine.

"What?" Elaine gasped as she turned to face Morgana. "They're your army?"

"Yes." Morgana smirked as she moved to stand in front of the window. Elaine watched her in shock. "It is time for a new rule. A rule... With magic." Morgana turned to face her. "Are you with me or do you go against me?"

Elaine stepped back, her eyes wide in fright. "I'm against you. I serve only the King. No other." Moving away from Morgana and rushed towards the door but she found her way blocked by soldiers, who stood in her way with no emotion and silently.

"Fight them and they will kill you without a second thought." Morgana walked up behind her and grabbed her upper arm. "Join me and you will be safe but defy me and you will be taken to the dungeons. You don't want that for you and your child." The grip on Elaine's upper arm grew tighter. "What do you choose?"

"I do not support you!" Elaine hissed at her and tried to pull her arm out of Morgana's grip but Morgana had her hand tight around Elaine's arm. "I'll go to the dungeons where I'd rather be a supporter of the King than a friend of yours!" Morgana gave a nod to the soldiers, let go of Elaine's arm and the soldiers stood either side of Elaine and gripped her arms, dragging her from her chambers. "You'll pay for this Morgana." She shouted over her shoulder as the silent soldiers dragged her through the corridors. Servants, who remained loyal for their own safety, saw Elaine being dragged through the corridor but they had a clear view of her very rounded stomach.

She hadn't been in the dank dungeons for long when the iron door opened. Elaine's afraid expression turned to a glare as Morgana, along with Morgause. "What do you want?" Keeping far from them as possible but the two women moved inside further.

Morgana continued to step forward. "I come to you again to ask you to reconsider your decision. If you support me and you will be taken back to your chambers."

Elaine remained silent and Morgause stepped forward. "Well, we can see your answer." She stood in front of Elaine and placed her pale hand on Elaine's stomach. "Not long now." Pressing her hand harder onto her stomach and letting go as she turned and left.

"You will not harm my son!" Elaine shouted at them and started to charge towards them but her chains stopped her from getting too close to them both. "You will never harm him!"

"We do not wish to harm your son." Morgause smirked as she stepped back in front of Elaine. "We forced you and Lancelot to beget your son, in order for you to be shamed in front of your uncle and the entire people of Camelot." Her hand pressing against Elaine's abdomen, where Elaine's son kicked and moved energetically. "Once you have given birth to him, he will be raised in the Old Religion."

"No!" She gasped and stepped back, slapping away Morgause's hand. "I will die before I let you have my son!" Her hands resting protectively on her stomach.

"You have a week and then you will give birth." Morgause smirked and she and Morgana left Elaine alone, the iron bars slamming shut. It did not take Elaine long before she was weeping. She fell to her knees and her weeping turned to sobs. This was the end and Arthur did not even know about it. Her cousin was missing and he did not know that the kingdom had fallen.

Night fell upon the fallen Camelot once again and that was when Elaine was pulled from her dungeon. "Elaine!" Her uncle called to her as she was dragged passed his dungeon cell.

"Sire!" She cried out as she was pulled away from him. "Uncle!" She screamed for him.

"Elaine!" His voice shouted for her as she was pulled up the many stairs to the surface of the castle. "Leave her alone!" His voice becoming fainter as she was moved further away from the dungeons.

"Please!" She pleaded with her captors as they roughly hauled to the throne room, where the opposing army stood with many people waiting around the throne. She was forced to her knees. Upon looking around she saw that Geoffrey of Monmouth had been forced here against his will. Her gaze was clouded by her tears as the two soldiers kept her on her knees. Behind her, she heard people dragging another person but she realised it was her uncle being pulled towards the throne. "Uncle!"

But he was not given time to speak when Morgause stepped forward. "Well, Uther, how the mighty have fallen." Smirking as she stepped forward. "I don't think you'll be needing this any more." Taking the crown off Uther's head.

"This is unlawful. You cannot do this. You have no right to the throne!" Uther roared at Morgause. Morgause did not even flinch but Elaine jumped in fright at the loud tone of her Uncle's angry voice.

"No, she does not." Morgana's voice came from the right of Morgause. "But I do." Morgana spoke as Morgause stepped aside and let Morgana step in front of the throne and in front of Uther. "I am your daughter, after all. Don't look so surprised. I've known for some time." Elaine looked between her uncle and Morgana, shocked at the recent revelation. Morgana stepped back and sat on the throne.

Geoffrey was forced forward with the crown of the Queen. "By the power vested in me, I crown thee Morgana Pendragon, Queen of Camelot." Placing the crown upon Morgana's head. Silence filled the hall and Uther and Elaine were forced to bow in front of the newly crowned Queen.

Morgana stood up and took one step forward. "My first act as Queen is to expose the traitors to me." She nodded towards Elaine's captors and they dragged her in front of Uther. "Now father. Do you wish to know why your precious niece has barely spent any time in court?" Uther remained silent as he stared up at Elaine, who's face was streamed with tears but she also kept her gaze on the stone floor. "The night of celebration of the victory against Sir Marcus, there was more than one celebration that night." One guard stepped away from Elaine and the other guard held both of Elaine's arms behind her back. "Here is the result." She pressed her hand on the lower part of Elaine's stomach, displaying her large stomach for definite.

Uther gave an audible gasp and still Elaine did not look at her uncle. She was too ashamed. "No." Uther gasped again and gazed at her stomach. "No..."

"Take her away." Morgause said without a hint of care in her voice. "Take her back to the dungeons."

Two guards pulled her around Uther. "No! Uncle! No! Sire!" Elaine screamed as she dragged her out of the hall. Her screams and shouts still heard after she had been taken from the presence. Once they reached the dungeons, the guards pushed her into her dungeons. "Please..." She whispered in fear as they locked the door behind them and leaving Elaine alone. Her slender arms wrapped around her stomach as she fell to her knees. "Somebody..." She sobbed until exhaustion beat her and she slept on the dank, wet floor.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter and for missing the episode Queen of Hearts.

Response from Chapter 11:

Duchess of Lantern Waste: I still haven't decided who she should end up with but a lot of people are saying Lancelot. Vote on my profile and it will help me! :) Love your name too!