Chapter 15: Tears Part IV: Invasion
Cenred was leading the army to Camelot. Beside his horse, was Morgause's. Behind the two of them, rode Merlin and Morgana side by side. They had been mentally preparing themselves for what they were about to do—take back their homes in the name of magic. The two of them thought of nothing but that. All of them had been in silence for a long time. It was finally broken when a scout reported, "The city is already prepared for a siege."
Morgause smiled, looked at Morgana, and said, "That will make no difference, not when they are attacked both from within and from without." Merlin and Morgana both nodded. They had prepared themselves for this. They could do it. Morgana had both the staff and Excalibur. And Merlin, of course, was ready to help in any way he could to aid the assault.
Morgause said, "It'll take us a few more hours to reach Camelot. Morgana, you should teleport now so that you have your magic when we need it." Morgana said, "I haven't teleported before." Morgause said, "Just picture the place in your head, and say the words." Merlin said with a curious look, "Does that mean you have to have been to the place you're teleporting to?" Morgause replied, "Yes. Morgana?" Morgana replied, "Of course, I've been to the burial vaults."
Meanwhile, in Camelot, Aredian was busying himself by trying to see what had caused Uther's sudden illness. Considering who was about to attack them, it was all but certain that the king's insanity was a result of magic. He found a root underneath the king's bed. It could but be one thing, a mandrake root, enchanted to drive the king to insanity.
He immediately proceeded to inform Arthur. Arthur asked, "How do we combat this enchantment?" Aredian replied, "That's rather simple. We merely have to burn it in fire." He then paused before continuing, "The bigger question is if we should just do nothing and let the king perish. It would be best for the fight against sorcery to be led by a man such as you."
Arthur said, "I understand where you're coming from. But he is my father, and he has committed no wrong. With this attack by Merlin and Morgana, it will become clear to him exactly who the enemy is and with what ruthlessness they must be combated." He then added, "I hope." Aredian said, "Well, then, I will burn the mandrake root immediately. He should recover in a few hours."
As night fell, Cenred's army arrived at Camelot. Immediately, the siege began, the trebuchets began firing, and his army clashed with that of Arthur's. Arthur was surprised to see that no magic was used in their assault. It appeared this would be a conventional conflict. That, he could easily win. No army had ever taken Camelot, and he would ensure that no army ever would.
But then, his father arrived at the fight. When Aredian said he'd be fully recovered, he did not expect him to be back in fighting shape. Regardless, he would make no difference. Then a stray arrow hit him. He was tempted to leave him there, let him bleed out, and assume the throne, something he wished for more and more. Aredian would probably be proud of him if he did so.
But he was his father, despite his flaws. He couldn't just let him die. So he ran over to him and started to drag him backward. As he did so, he noticed the barricade crumbling, so he ordered, "Fall back! Retreat!" His knights followed his orders, but then his retreating knights were engulfed in fire, and he could see the one man who could do such a thing stare at him with hate in his eyes, Merlin.
He was almost tempted to drop his father and fight him. But he knew doing so without the aid of Aredian would be suicide. So he kept on his feet and took his father to the main square. Uther said, "You must get back to the battle; we're losing the lower town." Arthur said, "It's already lost, father." Uther asked, "And the citadel?" Arthur replied, "Safe for now." Uther said, "It must stay that way."
Arthur said sternly, "You have to trust me, father. I know what I'm doing." Then he pulled out the arrow, which was still stuck to his father. He then said, "You must rest. When you're well again, we will still have a kingdom. I promise you that," emphasizing the word 'we'. He then quickly left to go fight.
After a short while, Aredian catches up to Arthur and is promptly asked by him, "Where the hell have you been?" Aredian quickly replied, "Checking for any magical threats." Arthur asked, "And?" Aredian replied, "None I've found so far." Arthur was about to say something when Aredian said, "Move," and pushed Arthur. Arthur turned around to see a skeleton with a sword. Arthur fought it and remarked, "There's your magical threat, Aredian."
Aredian said, "Don't fight it, Arthur. It's pointless. You can't kill what is already dead." Arthur asked, "Then what are we to do?" Aredian said, "Such a powerful spell involving the dead can only be triggered from the burial vaults beneath Camelot." Arthur asked, "Then what are we waiting for?" He then promptly stopped fighting the skeleton and ran with Aredian to the burial vaults.
Merlin was aiding Cenred's forces with his magic for a while. But Morgana had not teleported back. Something must be wrong. They were already winning. His absence shouldn't make too much of a difference. He needed to check up on her, so he said, "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard" and suddenly he was in the burial vaults. He turned to see Morgana and asked, "Why haven't you teleported out yet?"
Morgana replied, "Apparently, this staff can't work unless I'm holding it." Merlin asked, "So you're stuck here?" Morgana replied with a small smile, "At least until Camelot is ours." Merlin smiled at that, but it quickly turned into a frown when he heard in the distance, "So you mean never then," being said by Arthur.
As Arthur and Aredian started charging at them, Morgana threw Excalibur at Merlin, who picked it up and said, "I can't fight with a sword." Morgana retorted, "You don't have your magic, and I can't focus mine on anything but the staff." Merlin sighed and fought Arthur and Aredian. They attacked with such ferocity, especially Arthur, so much so that even the mighty power of Excalibur started yielding.
The sword fell from Merlin's hands. Arthur stared at it for a moment. The sword mesmerized him. He felt that this sword was somehow meant for him. He dropped the sword in his hand, picked up the sword Merlin dropped, and remarked, "Excalibur, did you call it?" Holding the sword infused him with some kind of power, which felt both overwhelming and awesome. He held it with determination and went to attack Morgana as Aredian was taking care of the oh so "poor" defenseless Merlin.
He swung his mighty new sword at Morgana, who dodged it, but his sword hit the staff she was wielding, and it broke in two. Merlin yelled, "No!" Arthur smiled as Morgana ran backwards. Both she and Merlin were out of options. He knew he could kill them right now, and he would be happy. But it would be best for everyone if they were burned at the stake. It would show that there was no hope for the users of magic, for even their best had fallen at his feet.
Merlin was desperate at this point. Clearly, the battle was lost. As for the war, he did not know. All he did know was that the most powerful sword in all of Albion now belonged to Arthur. He recalled what the dragon said to him. That, Excalibur should only be wielded in the hands of Arthur and Arthur alone, and if it were to fall into the wrong hands, it could do great evil. Ironically enough, Arthur's hands were the wrong hands now, and what evil he would do with such a weapon, he could only imagine.
As for right now, his only hope was Morgana. She used her magic to try and push back Arthur and Aredian, but there was something about Aredian which made it so that magic couldn't affect him, and Excalibur protected Arthur from her magic. Clearly, there was nothing either of them could do but escape.
Merlin looked at Morgana, and she understood his meaning. He charged at her when she started to say, "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús," and just when he touched her did she finish by saying,"þanonweard" Suddenly, they were right in front of Cenred and Morgause, who were both sitting on their horses. Because of the position they were in prior to teleporting, she fell down right after she arrived, and he fell on top of her.
Merlin immediately pulled himself off of Morgana. However, she didn't really mind when Merlin was on top of her. She stood up as well to look at the rather baffled Cenred and Morgause. Merlin explained, "I teleported into the burial vaults, and as soon as I did, Arthur attacked." Morgause said, "So he's dead. Excellent!" Morgana looked embarrassed and said, "No, he almost killed us, so we teleported out."
Morgause asked, "How is that possible? He can't survive your magic." Merlin replied shyly, "He has Excalibur." Morgause was furious and said loudly, "How could you let that happen? Do you know how much power it wields?" Merlin replied, "Yes, but there was nothing I could do. The sword fell from my hands, and Arthur picked it up."
Cenred asked, "What about the staff?" Morgana replied, "Arthur destroyed it with Excalibur." Cenred said, "Then this is doomed. I'm calling off the siege." Morgause said, "You can't." Cenred retorted, "I cannot take the city unaided." Merlin said, "He's right. Best to conserve our forces so we can attack again." Morgause sighed angrily and said, "Fine, but I'm going to infiltrate Camelot."
Morgana asked, "How?" Morgause said, "Miht dagan, beþecce me. Adeadaþ þisne gast min freondum ond min feondum" And she turned into an old woman. Merlin said, "That's too risky. The witchfinder is extremely adept." Morgana did not care much for her sister's welfare. She still felt rather suspicious of her. She almost wanted to send Morgause on this foolish mission, but her better nature prevailed, and she said, "He's right, sister."
Morgause said, "It's only for as long as needed. And I can teleport back if I'm in danger." Merlin reluctantly said, "Fine." Morgause said, "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard" and she disappeared. Merlin and Morgana retreated along with Cenred's army, knowing one day they would be back to reclaim their home.
A/N: I decided to add some extra powers to Excalibur. Hope that doesn't bother anyone. I said in my Chapter 4 notes that Aredian's character would be slightly different and this chapter continues with that. Let's just say more revealed about his "tricks". Also, I apologize for uploading the wrong chapter yesterday. Doc Manager is just rather convoluted. Anyway, thanks for reading. Please review if you have any thoughts, positive or negative.