Thank you for reading. I really hope that you are going to like the penultimate chapter of the whole story. I truly don't know how I managed to get it finished and that anyone wanted to read it. I'm the most nervous for this chapter more than the last one. Mainly because a lot has to happen here and I'm worried it'll feel rushed. I hope that might work in the stories favour, make it seem more exciting, rather than it not making sense.
I also wanted to say that I have figured out why when I check traffic stats on fanfic it says zero reviews for everything. It seemed I'm not the only one that this is happening too. Other authors say they are getting the same information, but they are getting reviews so they know people are reading their stories. So that means that people might be reading this story on fanfic. But as I have only had six reviews for forty-eight chapter the last being for chapter ten just saying bad fanfiction. So there might be no one reading on fanfic I don't know. If you are, hi.
The snow continued to fall off and on for the next week. The white blanket that it left on the land spread out over almost the entire kingdom. Which continued to add to the unease feeling. Arthur felt it most of all. As there was little else he could do he sent a lot of his time looking out of the window of his office. Out across the city. Not many people left their homes if they could help it, so the only sign of life was the warm glow of candle light from the many windows. At first this sight gave him a feeling of comfort, but over time that feeling dwindled.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Gwen enter the room and walk up behind him.
Unlike the snow Gwen had felt her heart begin to thaw over the last few days. Rationally she knew that it was most likely due to the threat hanging over them. That it as making her think more about the things she didn't want to lose. Her husband being the main one. Though she was angry with him for what he had done, she could understand his thinking. She knew that it didn't make any of it right, but she knew that Arthur was not a cruel person. He was flawed like everyone. He loved his father, despite everything he loved him and felt his lose. Needed to feel that justice had been down, so he could move on.
As she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his stomach, resting her head between his shoulder blades.
"If anything happens to me-" He began as lifted his hands to rest on top of hers.
"Don't. Morgana will see reason and we will be able to move forward. I don't believe that she really wanted to kill us all."
"Not all." Arthur corrected. "One thousand, six hundred and forty-eight."
Twisting his arm around he behind him he wrapped it around Gwen's neck and pulled her around to stand next to him. Her arms still holding him.
"I love you." He said.
"I love you too." She replied.
They held onto each other tighter.
Arthur spoke again after a pause. "I'm sorry that I haven't always treated you-"
"Arthur no." Gwen warned as she pulled back to look up at him.
"Please, let me say this. I need to say it. Even if we get to live for fifty more years, with ten children and more grandchild. I still need to say this, for you to hear it." Gwen nodded. So he carried on. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I wish that I had pulled my head from my ass sooner." She laughed despite herself. "To have noticed how amazing you are early. I hate that we wasted so much time. I'm sorry I kept you waiting. Mainly I didn't feel good enough for someone as loving as you." She lowered her head in embarrassment, but he carried on. "I wish that I had lived up too-"
"Stop." She cut him off, placing her hands on either side of his face. Making her look at him. "You are a good man and a good king."
"I wish I could believe you."
Gwen knew her husband well enough that nothing she said was going to change the way he felt. So she tilted her head to the side and slightly stood on her toe and kissed him. Hoping to show him how much she loved him. He kissed back, but when she gently moved tried to move them away form the window he refused to be moved.
"Promise me, if anything happens to me."
Gwen moved to shack her head, not wanting to hear whatever Arthur had to say, but Arthur gently placed his hands on either side of head to keep it still and to look in his eyes.
"Promise me that you will get yourself to safely."
"Arthur-"
"It doesn't matter. Just be safe, please."
There was nothing else she could do but agree with a small nod. Arthur seemed to relax a little after this. Knowing that he could trust Gwen to keep her promise. Not wanting to or needing to say anything further, Arthur lowered his head and returned to kissing his wife. Who he now allowed to gently need him from this office and into their chambers.
Three days later as they sat at the dinning table in their chambers a young knight knocked at the door. Arthur sighed, but called for him to enter. Just about able to manage to keep his irritation from his voice. He didn't want to make the young knight feel more nervous than he already did.
"Sire, I was returning from the smith farm and...and I saw, I think I saw a...it looked like a large group of men travelling from the south."
"You think or you know." Arthur asked in a calm voice.
"I...I know sire. I only say a part of them, but I could tell there was more."
Arthur asked more questions to get a better idea of what was going on. Gwen didn't hear most of the these or the answers. A cold weight began to grow in the pit of her stomach. Her breath caught in her chest. Just when she began to fear that she might collapse if she didn't get a real breath soon she felt Arthur place a hand over her clenched one. He wasn't looking at her, he was still getting information from the young knight. But he had felt her panic and reached out to comfort her.
A few minuets later the knight was gone and the royal couple were left alone again. Gwen didn't move a muscle. Hoping that if she stayed still then she could make this moment last longer. Drag it out for as long as she could. Arthur did to, but he knew he had to move. He lifted her hand and kissed it. Looking in her eyes for a second he thought she might cry, but she gathered her strength and stood up, quickly kissing her husband, wrapping her arms around him. He pulled her close, hugging her back.
"I love you." He said.
She said it back, but found it hard to get the words out adding I always will.
Eventually they had to pull apart and Arthur had to leave. Gwen stood up and watched him leave. When the door closed behind him she felt her legs way and she sank to the floor. Gripping the table with one had she welled herself to hold back the flood of tear that threatened to fall. She let out a pained sob as they fell freely.
Arthur heard her as she walked along the corridor, he stopped and turned around. He was about to walk back, but a hand came down on his shoulder. He turned back to see Gaius looking sadly at him. He said he would go and see the queen. Arthur looked unsure, but he knew what he had to do. OF he let himself turn back now then he would never move forward. He let out a sigh and carried on.
When Gaius opened the door Gwen was still kneeling on the floor next to the table. He walked over to her and with a great deal off effort and not entirely sure how he was going to be able to get up he sank down next to her and did his best to comfort her as she cried. Cried for the lives that would be lost and for the future that was lost with them.
The old man wished that there was something, anything that he could do. He was tired and did not think that he could face the further loses they were most likely about to suffer. The only thing that he could do now, until the wounded returned, was comfort the young women and help her carry the weight that she now had to bare. They would allow themselves this moment of weakness. Letting their fear and pain wash over them, but then they would stand up and carry on. Gwen had to remain strong for the kingdom for those that looked to her now. Gaius would stay strong for her. Both would pray for the safe return of those they loved and that this would be a end to any hostility and that they could all move on from it. Move on to something better for everyone.
Arthur gathered his knight around him in the great hall to tell them what had been spotted. What that might mean. There was one knight, one of the three remaining original knights of the round table that was not there, who was no longer in the castle or the city.
Just before the sun began to rise Gwaine packed his few possessions and slipped out of the castle. Leaving behind his armour and his sword. He would not be needing either on his new journey.
He didn't know exactly what that was going to be, but for the first time in years he felt his life opening up before him, like the road he walked down in the early morning sun did. He felt guilt of course for leaving the way he did, but he knew that they would understand. He had noticed Lancelot over the past few months looking at him occasionally with concern in his eyes. Once when the two of them were on patrol together the other knight took the opportunity to ask him how he was. Surprisingly he was honest with his fellow knight and told him that he was beginning to feel restless. Lancelot didn't offer an advice, he knew that wouldn't really help. He told him that he understood and felt the same way. That had been enough for Gwaine to keep going, knowing that he was not the same one that felt this way. That was until he found out about Morgana and Merlin's marriage. He was genuinely happy for them and wished then well, but it just was another example of people he cared about moving forwards in life, while he stayed still.
The day that Morgana had made appeared atop the round table Gwaine had returned that night to his room to find that someone was there waiting for him.
"A little forward of you." He said with a charming smile. "Especially for a married women."
Morgana couldn't help but smile back as she stepped out of the dark corner of the room and into the light. "Are you pretending to be respectable now."
"I have to maintain my reputation." He said seriously.
The smile slowly left her face as they had to get to the reason that she was here. In his room just a few hours after she had just stood before them all and threatened the lives of the people of Camelot. She knew that it was the knights flippant nature and the seemingly inability to take anything seriously that stopped him from pulling his sword on her. As he probably should.
"You have to leave." She said.
"Now what would that do to my reputation." He calmly said as he walked further into the room.
Morgana was not in the mood and did not have the time for the knights attempt to be charming. "Your reputation won't mean anything if your dead."
"Actually it would, it would be all that's left." Gwaine retorted. Proud of his insight.
She gave a slight nod, admitting he was annoyingly correct. With a sigh she then said. "Fine, I won't ask you not to go head first into danger. As you seem to take that as a channel rather than a warning and I would hate for it to be thirst time lucky." Gwaine let out a quiet laugh as he lifted his left hand to wrap around his right wrist. Where he still wore the ladies favor, good luck tokens that Morgana had gifted him. "Just watch your back."
Gwaine took another step closer he reached out to take the witches hand. She flinched but didn't pull away. "Why are you doing this." He asked gently.
Her head that had lowered slight snapped back up. "Do you think I would want to see you dead." She asked sounding hurt.
"I didn't mean why are you here, this moment. But why are you doing any of it." He clarified.
"There can he no equality if there is no balance." She said.
Gwaine nodded as she spoke, she's said this before. "You said that, I want to know why."
Morgana shook her head. "I can't."
Gwaine sighed knowing that he wouldn't be able to get her to say anything further. He was growing increasingly angry about his life being effected so greatly by people making choices for him. Without having the decency to tell him what was going in. Like he was not smart enough or important enough to know fully about the things that influenced his life.
Despite this justified anger he let out another sigh as she crossed the distance between them and pulled Morgana into a hug. He had half expected her to visibly under his touch, to not really be here in front of him. She didn't hug him back but she let him embrace her for a few seconds because she pulled back asked him again to take care of himself. He asked her to do they same. They both knew that they were almost asking the impossible from each other, but they had to say it.
He had waited for the snow to begin to melt before he left, but when after over a week it had not shown any sign of lifting in any significant way he decided to just leave. He had not clear destination in mind so he could fallow the lest treacherous path. He didn't realise that the day that he left would be the day that Arthur and his men would head out themselves in the opposite direction.
He would hear about what happened in drips and drabs for people that heard about it second hand and were passing it on themselves. Most of this was talk in taverns and inn that he stopped in. The speaker was flued by a large amount of ale so he took their words with a pinch of salt. He would listen as they talked but he wouldn't say anything. Wouldn't say that once he had been a knight of the round table. That he had fought with those mean they talked about now. He kept that to himself. No one else needed to know. He knew and that was enough.
Guilt that he had not been there to fight with his brothers occasionally plagued him. He knew that his being there would have changed little. He might have been counted among the dead. He tried to do as much good as he could in the places that he passed through. Help build a fence, break a horse or bring in a harvest. In some cases he got to use the skills he learned as a knight in a village was a target for bandits or raiders. He never felt lonely. he had friends in each place he passed through, just like he always had. He was happy, or at least as happy as it realistic to be.
Merlin had been as silent in the days between Morgana appearance in Camelot and the day he moved out with Arthur and the knights. Arthur had gone to his old rooms with Gaius and found him sitting at the large table. An uneaten breakfast that Gaius had insisted on making for him in front of him. For the most part Arthur had left him alone. He understood that he needed time. so he gave him that. But if they were about to face whatever it was that Morgana was sending to them.
So Merlin left with them and marched out into the snow. heading towards no one knew, hoping he would have a chance to speak to Morgana and fix this. What else could he do. She had made it clear that she didn't want him to find her. She had, but he hadn't so now he felt like he couldn't.
Just over a hour later they found themselves looking at a large cliff about half a mile in front of them. The snow had distorted the landscape and none of them where confident about where they where exactly. They didn't recognise the landmark before them Arthur, out in front raised his hand and everyone came to a stand still.
They waited as they scanned the area. Everything was still and silent. The minuets dragged by as they waited.
Eventually in the distance they could hear something. It took a little longer still for them to be sure what they were hearing. Then to the right, out of a line of trees they saw people beginning to emerge. It was hard to tell at first, a mist had begun to fall over them, but the people were all men dressed in armour and armed. For a second Arthur was confused, then it made sense. Of course Morgana would not have her people or the druids fight were there was a good chance many of them would die. She would out source to sell swords or mercenaries.
Glancing to either side of him Arthur drew his sword. He met Merlin's eyes and they shared a brief look and then took off in different directions.
From the top of the cliff that looked down on the approaching forces Morgana and Mordred watched. They watched as the men of Camelot approached the cliff, exactly as they had planned. Also they had watched as the men from Amata drew closer.
It was so easy to get the men of Amata, a kingdom that hated magic all most as much as Camelot, to take up arms against Camelot. If they were lead to believe that Camelot was truly embracing magic. All it took was a few words in the right ears and their prejudice would fuel then forward. Bringing out the absolute worst in them. It was so easy that it took all the fun out of it.
The men of Camelot took a second before they charged forward. A part of Morgana felt a little hurt at this. It showed that Arthur and Merlin, who were meant to know her better than anyone thought she would actually have the druids and those on Avalon risk their lives for any reason.
As the two forces clashed below them both sets of eyes searched for the same person. They found him were they expected in the thick of the fighting. With an idea of Arthur's location, they looked now for Merlin. They had seen no sign of magic being used. They expected him to be close by Arthur, protecting him, but they couldn't see him.
Lancelot had drew his sword and charged forward with everyone else. When his sword clashed with his first opponent he recognised the colours of his cloak. There were not druids, they were the same mean that had laid siege to Camelot with a catapult. Something was going on, something was not right.
Three nights ago Lancelot had returned to his room to find a folded piece of paper propped up against his pillow. His name written on it in black ink. It said that if things looked bleak, then he should take Gwen and go to Nemeth where she would be safe.
He didn't tell anyone else about the letter. He felt very sure that Morgana had written it. He had seen both Arthur and Merlin's handwriting before and neither of them had written it. The only other person he could think it could be was Morgana and now he was sure.
As Lancelot lunged forward to block a attack, for a second he lost his footing. His foot slid forward. When he glanced down at his foot he saw that he was standing on ice. Ice covered by snow. They where all standing on a frozen lake. That was why no one could place exactly where they where.
He yelled out a warning to everyone. Then began to run back towards the tree line. To sold ground.
A few men heard his warning and followed his lead. Most, including Arthur and Leon did not. It was unclear if they had simply not heard Lancelot or if they did, but remained.
Morgana looked to Mordred and they lifted their arms and spoke in unison.
The ice began to break under the fighting mean. Most didn't notice until the were plunged into the frigid water.
Arthur Felt his legs being pulled out from under him. He looked down to see the ice cracking between his feet. He looked up at the sky as he fell into the water.
Mordred lowered his hands a wide smile crossing his face. Kara had been avenged. He felt a calm washing over him. For the first time since he had lost Kara he didn't feel that his whole body, every nerve and muscle was on fire.
He looked to Morgana. She gave a flicker of a smile for second. She too felt that some justice had been done, but it could never make up for all the lives lost or ruined. She could also not relax when they didn't know where Merlin was.
As if on que she heard a all to familiar voce calling out her name.
Turning around she watched Merlin running towards her. Her hand lifted as did his.
The force of their magic clashing knocked all three of them off their feet. Merlin hit a tree and when he opened his eyes he could only see Mordred laying on the ground at the edge of the cliff. He couldn't see Morgana anywhere. His heart beat so fast it felt like it was burst right out of his chest. As fast as he could on unsteady feet he run towards the edge screaming her name.
Thank you all again so much for reading. I really hope that you liked it. That this was a good ending for a lot of the characters. That I made Arthur a little if not like able then at least not a horrible person. Also Gwaine. I really hope that he doesn't come across as a coward. I didn't want to kill him off like the show, but I didn't want him to be fighting against Morgana. I wanted him to just be choosing to leave because he doesn't fully believe in what he was in service to and he had lost most of those closest to him already. I hope this is a fitting ending for him. Returning to his nomadic ways. I'm not in love with it, but it was the best I could come up with. Lancelot too I didn't want to kill him or have him fight on Camelot's side. Sorry to bore your with it again, but I don't feel very comfortable writing actions. So I hope that the action here was alright. That it wasn't a let down. I feel more confident about the next chapter.
Happy holidays to all of you whatever you celebrate. I hope however or whatever you celebrate you have a great few days.
As always and for the last time basically, any comments, feedback or ideas that you have are very welcome.
