AN: Because of my author's note update last week, new chapter emails may not have gone out when I deleted that and reposted chapter 18 so make sure you read that first.

Chapter 19: As One We Fight

With part of the army gone and facing the determined students, Merlin had a little more space to think while he fought. He could see that the others were growing weak and despite the number of bodies on the ground, there were yet more to face. Some fighting directly, others in the distance with crossbows hoping to take them unawares. While Merlin had the energy reserves to continue fighting for a long time, his body would give out eventually and he wasn't too keen to test his ability to do magic unconscious. He had been known to accidentally do some magic in his sleep, but that was usually things like hovering a few inches off his bed or making it snow in his bedroom, he didn't think even he could fight off a magical enemy in his sleep. They needed something that would end this battle and end it soon. He didn't wish to kill them all; most of the enemy were fellow sorcerers, his kin. They had been misled and that was no fault of their own.

Rowena, he asked, knowing that the others would hear as well. Do you know of any spell that can temporarily take someone's magic? I know there are creatures that can and handcuffs that choke it off.

I don't think so, she responded as she hurled a ball of fire and ducked under a crossbow bolt. That would be like cutting someone off from their soul.

I have read some theory on separating a person's soul from their body temporarily, Salazar added. I think it was the Egyptians. He barked out a spell to snap the bowstring of a crossbow.

Yes, Godric exclaimed, disarming a man and thrusting his sword through his heart before whirling to meet the blade of another. I travelled there once and they had shamans who could separate the soul and the body while the person slept to allow them to visit the spirit world for advice. Merlin heard Rowena snort derisively. They knew she didn't put too much stock into mythology, preferring cold, hard fact.

But maybe with a little modification you could use it to separate the magic from the body, Helga mused. I don't know how to modify it but I know it would take a lot of power.

Then the five of us will have to perform it together, Merlin said softly.

Like in the warning! Helga exclaimed in delight. "Five must stand as be as one, only then can the battle be won." This must be what she meant! Excited by this discovery, Helga was caught off-guard and would've gotten an arrow to the heart if Rowena had not paused to look at her friend in pride and cast a quick shield. "Thank you."

Okay, so for me to modify the spell I need to know what you know about the theory of soul separating. Salazar, if you could just think of what you know I can read it from your mind. Salazar nodded and mentally poured his knowledge into Merlin's brain. He took a minute to process this and create a spell that could force the desired effect.

I've got it. I need to you to pull back towards me so that we can be better protected as well as cast this. He heard their agreement and his hands were a constant blur as he fought to make their movement as easy as possible. He couldn't keep it up constantly without completely losing sense of what was going on, but he was slowing down time quite often to be better able to dodge a spell rather than putting the extra energy into countering it. The five of them drew together and Rowena wondered why they hadn't stayed together in the first place. Sure, they were a bigger, more concentrated target, but they were all instinctively working on protecting each other and it was a lot less frantic than it had been mere moments before when they were scattered across the lawn. Knowing they did not have a lot of time, Merlin mentality told them the spell he had created but told them to wait for his signal.

He stabbed the dagger he had acquired through the chest of a sorcerer and then roared out a spell as he dropped into a crouch and slammed his open palms against the earth. Instantly, the shockwave of power blasted back the nearest foes and the ground trembled, causing those further away to stumble and lose their balance. He instantly threw up a shield around the five of them and screamed, "Now!"

While Merlin stood and raised his right hand to the heavens, the founders moved to form a circle and raised their wands. As one they shouted the spell. "Libera animas corporis nostri. Ad magica caede nexus et pone in testa sua relinquat. Vacuam corpus efficiant et revertetur in terram animo. Illic manete donec rediret iubeo."

Five bolts of energy shot upwards and met with a blinding flash before flying outwards. The resulting spell was beautiful. Merlin couldn't help but slow down time to watch the beauty. What he saw made him realise that this spell truly did need all five of them to work. Curiously, the founders' magic matched the colors of their cloaks and he gave a soft smile at fate. His own magic was pure gold and danced around the other colors. As he saw their magic working together in its pure form, he was reminded of a book on magical theory he had read some years ago. It spoke of the elements that made up the world.

Godric's powerful red was fire, Rowena's quick blue was the water, Helga had the calming magic of the air, and Salazar grounded them with the green of the earth. Those were the four elements most commonly noted in books. He had found one, however, that speculated a fifth element that was both of this world and yet outside of it. Magic itself. And being Emrys, it only made sense that his gold was that element.

The five different magics weaved together and flew over the lawn with a speed that was hard to follow even in Merlin's private, slowed-down view of the world. He blinked to return to real time and saw the enemy magic-users stumble and many of them collapsed to the ground. He felt a twinge of pity, remembering the awful emptiness he had felt when Morgana had stolen his own magic. But they still had to deal with the mercenaries who didn't have any magic to begin with. If they had felt any difference with their soul slightly adrift from their body, it did not show. Any protection charms or spells of enchancement were gone though and they took no time to dispatch.

The students fighting in the corridors also immediately noticed the effects of the spell. Previously it had taken all of their combined efforts to hold off the battalion sent to infiltrate the castle. The students watched in detached amusement as a few of the stupider mercenaries blindly followed the students as they ran toward the grand staircase and didn't notice that their prey whipped around the corner while they proceeded to run off the small platform and plummet to the cold stone floor with a sickening splat many floors below. Students hid behind tapestries and cast tripping charms that then allowed another friend to deliver a solid whack to the back of a skull with a staff.

A few of the upperclassman had run to the potions room and had searched for some of the more harmful potions that they had brewed over the course of the year. These were enchanted and shot into the mouths of men who bellowed a war cry as they pounded down the hallway

Students that had participated in the sword fighting club rushed to get their weapons when they realised the primary weapons of their foes. Classmates without swords provided ample distractions until one of the budding warriors could come close enough to fully defeat the opponent. But it was still difficult battling against superior strength plus magical protection against the youth. Their strength was really in their numbers and in their speed and even that was sometimes not enough. Many students had long scratches where a blade had caught them unaware and they staggered off to a classroom to recover and attempt to stop the bleeding. But when the enchantment of the five wiped out the magical advantage, the tide turned.

The spells did more damage and the mercenaries stood no chance. Knocked unconscious, ropes were found, weapons were taken away, and the bodies were unceremoniously dragged to the great hall under the instruction of Anders, Kay, Stephen, and Beth who had assumed temporary leadership of the collecting of bodies. These were the students who had already shown great promise in their leadership skills so it was no surprise that the others listened to them in the heat of their battle.

Helga burst in through the great doors and was instantly met with a group of students with raised wands, but thankfully they did not immediately assume the worst and the wand tips were lowered upon seeing their professor. She quickly surveyed the scene with a curt nod of approval and directed the students to bring the bodies outside to be placed with the rest of the invading force.

The students were amazed to see the sheer numbers that had attacked their school. The small force inside the castle had seemed like a small army to them but now they saw the full force all together and they were stunned. Helga directed them to drag the unconscious men to a spot not far from the other unconscious mercenaries before she walked back toward the other four. As the students noticed the small group they realized two things.

First of all, they realised that against this entire army, there were only five who fought them off and succeeded. The second thing they realised, was that they didn't actually recognise the fifth person. He had appeared to them in the Great Hall, but they didn't think too much about it. But this unknown person was standing tall with the founders and looked very powerful in his own right. With nods of consent, Godric lead the group in front of the army. The curious students gathered behind and the remaining two professors who had remained inside stepped out of the masses to stand behind the group of five.

With a strong voice that had been magically amplified, Godric addressed the invading force. "This was not a battle any of us here wanted. We wish only to continue to teach the next generation of magic users in peace and in safety. There is no need to fear us. We do not wish to deny any of you the privilege of teaching your own children the way you see fit. If any of you wish to repent we will accept your vows of protection for our school. Hogwarts is a place of learning and second chances. If this is your desire, step forward." There was no movement for a moment, but then a few from the back of the force stood and walked forward. Kneeling on the grass, they expressed a desire to be forgiven for their misguided attack.

Most of those who came forward were younger and it was understood that seeing the students in front of them had suddenly made them think of their own children or the children they hoped to have in the future. Accepting their pleas, the forgiven were allowed their magic back. Merlin placed his hand on each of their shoulders and muttered, "magia permittere reverti." With a grateful smile, they turned around to gather what belongs they had brought with them and return home. Salazar stepped forward then.

"The rest of you will be sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in Fort Arack. You will be expected to work in the fields and grow your own foods under supervision. Except for Celestia. As leader of this invasion you will be held in a secure prison until you can be put on trial for your crimes and sentenced."

"Sentenced by whom?" she spat. "You five? That hardly seems fair. The students? I don't think they are old enough to pass judgment on something they do not understand."

"By the court of Camelot." That stopped her. Queen Gwenivere was well on her way to uniting the five kingdoms and there would be nowhere to run to escape her judgment. She hung her head in defeat. There would be no escaping her fate.

Spell #1: Body release the souls of our enemies. Sever the connection to the magic and leave the shell behind. Render the body defenseless and return the spirit to the earth. Remain there until I command it to return.

Spell #2: I give permission for the magic to return.