Thank you for reading. I really hope that you are still enjoying the story. That the slight change to the style is working alright. That is if you can even notice that there is a change at all.

By the time Lancelot and Gwaine had made it to the village they could make out more the ships on the horizon. Lancelot tried to count them but quickly gave up. Coming to the village inn they rushed through the door and loudly asked the patronnes who was willing to lend them two horses. They were met with a stony silence. Until they revealed who they were. It still took a little time for a middle aged man to offer them his and his sons horses. After all as he said he now knew where they lived. With a few coins in his hand to make the parting a little easier the man also offered them a water skin filled fully for the journey.

They thought about telling the village of what was on the horizon but knew that would only lead to panic. It might also lead to some people believing that they had to make a stand against the possible invaders and end up loosing their lives because they would be hopelessly outnumbered and armed only with weapons that wouldn't make much of an impact. Looking out to sea again they sae that the ships had not moved any closer. Most likely they would send out a scouting party to land first and get the lay of the land. They further hoped that if the force drawing closer was a hostile one and when they did land they would not attack first and reveal themselves. Instead land undercover of night and keep a low profile. They ultimate goal had to be Camelot itself. It was the only thing that made sense. Why else would they choose to focus on the small area of coastline that Camelot had.

During the wedding celebrations many of the lords and kings whose kingdoms had a true coastline. Unlike the few miles made up of two separate areas that Camelot had, had informed Arthur that they had seen and heard of sightings of what seemed to be large scouting ships. There had also been rumblings of the Saxons that lived across the water had started to send out scouting parties on land to, with the end goal clearly being expanding their land.

As the man that was lending them his horses made to return to the inn he looked out to sea. He didn't seem that concerned about what he saw. Mattering his irritation with the sight under his breath as he left. His lack of interest after he voiced his annoyance reassured the knights that the village was in no immediate danger and they began their more rushed journey home.

Of course the two knights of the round table that now speed across the kingdom on borrowed horses didn't know for sure what they has seen on the horizon line of the sea of Meredoch. They could only make a educated guess. Do what they felt was best. Getting back and informing Arthur and Gwen what they had seen was the best choice.

They didn't stop to rest or get any food. While they tried to be optimistic they still didn't want to waste time if it could be of the essence. The journey to reach their destination had taken around two days. That had been on foot and stopping about five or sixes times as well as stopping at an inn for the night. Now if they could keep up a steady pace and the horses managed they should reach the city a little before the sun began to set and darkness crept in. The countryside rushed by them as they speed across it. The pounding of the horses hooves matched their betting hearts and echoed in their ears. Becoming the soundtrack to the journey.

Quicker than they had expected when the sun had only just began to lowered they say the city coming into view in front of them. Sharing a brief glance at each other as they reached the top of a hill that overlooked the city, sharing their pleasant surprise at how quickly they had made their journey. With one final push the pressed the horses on.

When they reached the city they headed straight for the stables. Not stopping to talk to the stable boys. Once they reached the castle they slowed down and walked as fast as they could with breaking into a run again. Not wanting to seem panicked and possibly provoke anxiety when they weren't entirely sure there was anything to be anxious about.

Gwen had noticed them running and then slowing down as the entered the castle. It was this abrupt slowing down that worried her more than the running that preceded it. Them trying to seem calm immediately made them seem less calm and that made the queen worry. If Lancelot and Gwaine were concerned about something she felt sure it was something that she should be worried about too. Like the knights she tried to walk at a steady pace as not to draw attention or provoke fear. It was a harder task than she expected.

As she made her way up the narrow staircase she could hear the sounds of two heavy footsteps running up the winding staircase ahead of her. When she heard a door being opened above her she knew they had reached their distinction. It took no time for her to realise they had left the staircase on the same floor as Arthur's official office. The door slammed shut before her just as she reached the floor. Bursting into the main corridor of the second floor she heard the loud slam of Arthur's main office door, ahead of her again. This second door being literally slammed in her face felt like a psychical attack. Her next breath was hard to get. Once she did she kept moving forward.

Arthur was sitting at his desk, growing bored and thinking about going in search of his wife when he was suddenly interrupted as his door burst open and Lancelot and Gwaine came crashing into the room. The taller knight slamming into the others back. It would normally be comical if Arthur hadn't seen the worry on Lancelot's face.

"What-"

Before Arthur could get another words out Gwen pushed her way into the room past the knights. Her eyes set on them as she moved to stand by her husband. Waiting for the knights to explain what was going on.

"We say something a little further down the coast from where we where sent." Lancelot began in as calm a voice as he could manage.

"An armada." Gwaine clarified.

"An armada." Gwen said her voice rising.

"We think." Lancelot said trying to reassure the queen and the rest of them. "It looked like many ships heading towards the coast."

Arthur moved around his desk as he gave a slight nod. As he took in what he was being told and tried to make sense of it.

"The Saxons." He asked. knowing that they couldn't give him a real answer.

Gwaine shrugged as he answered. "It would make the most sense."

"When have things ever been that simple." Gwen as with irritation as she moved to stand closer to Arthur.

"True my queen, but-"

Gwen cut Gwaine off with a shack of her head. Regretting her slight outburst instantly. "No your right, it dose make the most sense." She agreed.

"And this was a little down the coast from-"

"Where we where heading yes." Lancelot affirmed.

Silence feel for a second as they all tried to digest the information before them.

"They must be hoping to use the cove there as a landing place. It's a small area of land, boarded by two other kingdoms. They would have little resistance. From our people, there being so few in that area or the two nearest kingdoms are allies but they won't want to get involved in a battle if they can help it." Arthur said giving his assessment of the situation. "They would have a clear path to Camelot to us."

"That is if the-"

"We have to proceed as if there is a threat." Arthur cut Gwaine off as his wife had done. The knight decided to keep his mouth shut. The king did give him a look that could almost be called apologetic, but the knight still choose to hold his tongue.

"The looked to be holding back, waiting. The village we borrowed horses from didn't seem to be overly concerned. More irritated than worried." Lancelot clarified. Hoping that it might ease the worry growing in the room. thickening the air around them.

"We have time." Gwen after a brief silence. "We shouldn't waist it."

The men looked at her unsure of what she was implying. Did she think that they should attack first, before they had landed. While all three men could see the logic in this course of action, however slightly. The ships, whoever was aboard them didn't know that they had been spotted by two knight of the round table that had swiftly returned to Camelot to inform the king and queen. They would not be expecting an attack. It was a bold move and it was a good one. It could work, but it was not without risk. While no one wanted to wait to be attacked first, to be taken by surprise like they had been the last time. They could not rush hastily into anything when they didn't have the full picture.

"No, we shouldn't. " Arthur agreed with his wife. "Nemeth is a strong ally to Camelot. They will come to our aid if asked. As we would do for them, but they are weak. They have an aging king and the people are hungry for change. We should not pull them into a conflict that will cost them more greatly than us." Gwen looked at him confused. "They have a large coastline. If they encage with the Saxons, if it is the Saxons, they would be on the frontline of the fighting and suffer greatly. The citizens would suffer."

Though he hid it well Gwaine could see the relief wash across Lancelot's face. He had watched his friends face trying to read his emotions as they talked of Nemeth where he had spend so much time over the last few years. If he could of do so without drawing attention to himself he would have given his friend a pat on the back.

Gwen however looked ever so slightly irritated that Arthur was right. She had no real heart for a fight. To have her people, her husband and brother go into battle. The new queen felt that she was being judged. Not just by the people of Camelot but by the other kingdoms as well. They had smiled and been nice and welcoming at the wedding but she never forgot that she was not like them. Not one of them and never would be. That they thought of her as such too. She didn't want to change, become someone she wasn't. Arthur loved her for who she was. Wanted, needed her as his wife and queen because of who she was. She was proud of that fact, but she did not want to be viewed as weak and soft hearted. So she over compensated and showed herself to be welling to take affirmative action to deal with this possible threat and any other that may come. Once the irritation at being shown her choice to be impetuous at best had worn off, she felt relief. Relief that violence, at lest in such a large scale was not necessary. Pride too in her husband and king.

"Gawant is also a ally." Arthur continued. "But I highly doubt they would come to our aid. Not unless it benefited them."

"Not being invaded would benefit them." Gwaine couldn't help but voice the frustration that they all felt.

Arthur gave a nod letting Gwaine know that he felt the same way, but there was nothing that any of them could do about it.

"We don't want to escalate things. If we can help it." Arthur said in a even, slightly defeated tone. It was the right choice, the smart choice. He still hated waiting for others to act. Only feeling able to react.

"We still don't have to sit here and wait." Gwen spoke. "We can't waist the time we have to act first without them knowing." She had started of forcing her voice to sound more sure than she felt. As she spoke, as she saw the looks of agreement in the three men's eyes it stopped being an act and she felt strong and sure.

"What do you suggest we do." Arthur asked after a brief silence. His tone had no hint of condescension that those words, in that very order were normally spoken with.

"We make sure they can't land." She answered firmly. It was a simple answer for a complex issue.

"They would just find somewhere else to land." Lancelot regretfully pointed out.

"Somewhere less equipped to deal with them." Gwaine explained seeing confusion on his queens face.

"So we let them attack us because we can best take it." Her voice rising as she spoke.

Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder. Forcing her to turn and face him. "Not exactly. But Camelot is better placed to deal with such a threat."

"Than what are we going to do." Gwen bit back.

Before the knights and king could answer the queen someone else did.

"We should contact Morgana."

Everyone in the room turned to look at Merlin as he walked through the door. Gwaine and Arthur giving him questing looks. Asking without words how he knew they were all gathered here and what they were discussing.

"You are neither subtle or quite." He answered as he walked further into the room to join the circle.

"Gwen's right we have to strike when we can, but we have to be smart about it." He said in agreement with Arthur and Lancelot.

"And asking Morgana to return and save us all with magic is the smart choice." Gwaine said an uncharacteristically cold tone. It and the look Gwaine gave him sent a chill through him.

He was not very keen on contacting Morgana after only a few months to come back and use her magic and possibly her new people to help them protect a kingdom that had made it a crime to be who they were. He also had many conflicting feeling about it, but he didn't see a better option.

"Unlike anything we can do magic can be used subtly." Merlin clarified. "I agree it doesn't feel like the right choice." He got out before Gwaine gave a nod. He understood. He was no stranger to battle and tactics. He understood why this made the most sense. Just like Merlin though he had conflicting feelings about it. As he was sure Arthur did as well. For very different reasons, but still the same clashing emotions.

"Working with magic visibly to protect the kingdom could do a lot to change the fear that still surrounds magic in Camelot." Gwen said. Having no confused feelings about her sister in law returning and was therefore able to see the situation more clearly the most people in the room. Maybe more optimistically than she should, but it was still a insightful point.

For a moment there was silence again, then the king nodded and spoke "Mordred can communicate with her."

"I'll get him." Gwaine said and quickly left. Glad to have something to do finally.

Arthur asked Lancelot to inform the rest of the knights that there was to be a meeting in an hour in the great hall. The knight quickly left to do as he was asked. The three left let silence fall over them as they waited for Gwaine to return with Mordred. Gwen moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with her husband. lacing her fingers with his. She felt for him. Just when he was starting to feel secure in his position as king. Felt that his kingdom was safe something else came out of the woodwork and threatened that security.

Quicker than they had expected Gwaine returned with Mordred. Who he had filled in on what was happening. He had his half of the stone in his hands. Which were ever so slightly shacking. He was nervous about using magic in front of anyone from Camelot. He also worried that he was not going to be strong enough to work the stone. It had been so long since he had used magic at all he wouldn't be surprised if he could no longer use it. Merlin would be there though and if he needed help he felt sure Merlin would find a way to help him. No one noticed his shacking hands as he held the stone out in front of himself.

His eyes focused only on the stone and white noise drowned out every other sound in the room. Then just as suddenly as it had began the white noise stopped and all he could here was the beating of his own heart. He opened his mouth to speak but it didn't open. The sound, to his surprise did. He heard himself speaking.

"Morgana" He said louder the second time.

The voice came through muffled, but she knew who it was and could tell the edge to their voice.

"Mordred." She said trying to keep her voice from breaking or showing her own fear. Even though she still didn't know yet what was happening, she knew for sure that it was not good.

"Yes, Morgana Camelot maybe under threat-"

"Mordred what is going on." She interrupted.

She heard him taking in a deep breath before he would carry on saying what was clearly a prepared speech. Taking a second to try and think of the best way to explain what was going on. He didn't want to worry her unnecessarily. He also wanted to the conversation as quickly as he could. He didn't like being the centre of attention. While he couldn't see them, he could feel the four pairs of on him.

"It's better to speak in person. Will you come."

With a frustrated sigh she agreed. Letting him know she would leave now then she should be back in Camelot by late evening. He said goodbye and she did too. Moving quickly she stood up, her chair screeched across the marble floor as she did. Before she could move around her desk Alba waked into the room. Morgana didn't have to explain what was going on. The other women seemed to know that something was going on. While her age and link to the world around her and beyond the isle of Avalon was strong she could not tell Morgana what lay on the horizon. Did seem to agree that Morgana should return and Luke should go with her. Morgana agreed but did not seem happy about having a companion for the trip. This softened a little once Alba told her of a way that they could travel to Camelot in a fraction of the time it would normally take.

Heading then to her private chambers Morgana began to pull clothes from her wardrobe and tossed them onto the bed. That done she now began to work out what else she needed to take with her. What possible spells, healing herbs and other magical artifacts that may be of use. This line of thought quickly ended as she realised that she didn't even know what was going on.

Moving to the bed to stuff everything she had tossed on it into a satchel she saw a faint glow coming from under a chemise that lay on her bed. It took a second for her to realise that it was her half of the imparting stone, that she had thrown onto the bed as she first entered the room. Once this was clear she flew to it and took it in to her hands.

His job done Mordred left with everyone else apart from the royal couple to get ready for the meeting. Gwaine walked ahead of the others hoping to get something to eat from the kitchen before the meeting. Mordred the last to leave brushed past Merlin as he moved to follow Gwaine. Thrusting the stone into the other warlocks hand.

He didn't need to explain. Merlin understood. The young knight was worried he had not been able to explain things clearly to Morgana. Her voice had sounded so faint and fair away form him, like an echo. He worried she may have not heard him clearly either. Making his way along the corridor as swiftly as he could without drawing attention to himself, he slipped into a alcove and held the stone in both of his hands and closed his eyes.

"Mordred-"

"No, sorry-"

"Merlin." Morgana said accusingly.

"Afraid so, Mordred wasn't sure if you heard him."

"I did. What is going on." She asked for the second time.

Feeling that she could take a moment now to get her breath back and take everything in. Morgana sat on her bed the stone tight in her hand as she waited for Merlin to explain more what was going on. Why she had such a bad feeling about what was going on. While what Merlin told her did little to ease her worry, she did have a better idea what was going on now and that helped a little. Feeling calmer she asked Merlin the question she had wanted to since the stone began to glow.

"How is he. Truly"

Merlin took a second to understand what she was asking before he smiled and answered. Glad he could he the bearer of some good news. "Very well."

Forgetting that he couldn't see her Morgana nodded in response. She tried to decide if she should have told Mordred about Kara, tell her that she was returning to Camelot. Fear had kept her quite so far and as much as she felt conflicted she knew it would continue to keep her quite. She did not pretend that she understood a healthy and loving relationship, but she did feel sure that they both needed time to find their own place in the world. If she said anything she wound case them to act and maybe rush a decision they may regret. So she would stay quite for now.

"Good." She finally said with a smile. Her worry further lessened.

As always thank you for reading. Hope you are still enjoying it. As the next big event and the first of the two big battles/events is a little clearer now I would really like to know if you have any ideas for it. I have a vague outline but would love your ideas. which characters / relationships would you like to see more focus on. Also are there any elements, ideas that I've forgotten about that needs to be resolved or addressed.

I also hope that the long conversations are to boring. I just wanted to set everything up and I haven't learned how to do that without a lot of explosion. I wanted to try and everyone involved have a good idea or insight into what is going on. I didn't want just one person to figure it all out. I hope I didn't make any of the character look bad.

Any comments, feedback or ideas are very welcome.