Camelot

November, 507 AD

Arthur hovered above me while sporting a worried look on his handsome face as his pretty cerulean eyes ran up and down my face.

"'Sup?" I greeted with a lazy grin.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt?" he inquired quickly. Then he took a rapid glance at Merlin, who lay near me, and raised an eyebrow. "You two look like you have been up half the night."

My brother and I turned to look at each other. We very well can't tell him what we were doing... "We were. We could not sleep," he responded, sitting up and rubbing his eyes as he did so.

Arthur moved away slightly and he gallantly offered a hand to help me to sit up as well, then he gently kissed my cheek.

"Then I guess we fell asleep at some point," I added in a mumble.

"I thought you said you had faith in me," Arthur stated stoically. My breath hitched and my eyes widened as they fixed on his face. I relaxed when a playful grin formed on his soft lips. He's just messing with us, not doubting himself again. Good.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Merlin shot back teasingly. 'He scared me for a second,' I then heard him in my mind.

'Oh, cool, this is still working.'

'It appears so.'

'How much longer?'

'I have no idea. I had never done it before.'

We linked arms and began walking towards the campfire, where a couple of civilian women and Gwen were serving food. I noticed Arthur following us with his gaze, a confused look forming upon his stunning face, but he didn't say anything before moving towards Percival and Leon.

'It's crazy, though, isn't it? We might've been able to save ourselves a lot of trouble if we'd tried it years ago,' I commented.

'Possibly.'

I smirked as I watched Merlin kiss Gwen's cheek before she passed us each a plate. I could feel, in my mind, the happiness he felt and it's totally adorable!

'Shut up, Astra,' he glared at me.

I chuckled and we moved to sit down together on a log so that we could eat our porridge.

My eyes located Arthur as he was speaking to Tristan and Isolde. I couldn't hear what they were saying from this distance, but looking at him was enough to fill my heart with contentment. Especially now that he's back to feeling worthy and capable of being king. Seeing the determined glint in his eyes and the confident way in which he carries himself means the world to me.

'Wow. That is so nauseatingly sweet,' Merlin commented in my mind. I felt my cheeks get warm. 'Hey! Why are you thinking about hitting me!?'

I laughed, but said nothing as my eyes remained fixed on my King.

Tristan said something that caused Arthur to look down sadly. I clenched my fist around my spoon, wishing that I could use it to carve his eyeballs out.

'Too violent, Astra!' Merlin exclaimed.

'Sorry.'

I watched as Arthur's eyes got teary and a smile formed on his lips at something that Isolde said. My heart performed happy backflips in my chest as he responded with something that caused them to smile as well.

'You're way too stupidly in love with him,' my brother claimed. I rolled my eyes and turned to look at him. 'I mean, what do you even see in him?' A parade of images of Merlin doing laundry, polishing armour, and getting mocking faces from Arthur flashed through my mind.

I quirked an eyebrow and shuddered at the mental images. 'I dunno. I'll let you know when I do.'

'Oh, crap!' I thought when I saw Arthur approaching me while carrying a bunch of armour stuff. I turned to Merlin, mentally asking for help.

He shrugged in response. 'You were wearing it in your dream.'

'It wasn't uncomfortable in my dream!'

'Tough luck.'

"Y'know, I'll be able to fight better if you don't constrain me to that crap," I pointed out with a grin when Arthur reached me. Perhaps I can charm him into letting the matter go, since Merlin is being a poopy friend and doesn't wanna help me.

'Hey!' my brother protested in my mind.

'Just stating facts!'

"They will be able to kill you better if I do not," Arthur responded. I took a step backwards to get away from him, he took one forwards and gave me a stern look.

Well, maybe, but I have a magical friend who wouldn't let me die.

'You have too much faith in me, Astra,' Merlin noted through the link.

My back crashed against a tree and I grunted. Arthur raised an eyebrow at me as he said, "Would you stop being so stubborn?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"No, she will not," Merlin responded for me with an amused grin playing on his lips.

"Astra?" a third voice entered the scene. I let my expression soften as I looked over Arthur's shoulder to find Gwen walking up to us, carrying a heavy-looking bag. "I was able to sneak this out of the castle when we escaped," she said as she let the bag down and gave me a small smile.

My eyes widened in realisation and I darted around Arthur and towards her. My hands scrambled to open the bag and a big smile formed on my lips when my hypothesis was confirmed – this is the armour that Prince Cynebald had made for me after I beat him in the dart-throwing contest!

"Gwennie, you're a genius!" I chirped and I jumped to hug her.

Before I even gave her a chance to react, I was back on the ground analysing the pieces. Unlike the armour produced in Camelot, Gwant has found a way to make the iron lighter and more bearable. Besides that, rather than large pieces of metal, they use smaller ones linked together with cords, providing more flexibility and ventilation.

My entire set is silver in colour, and the breastplate has a pale blue diamond embedded at the centre to mimic Tony Stark's 'arc-reactor'. Just 'cause.

Is it still way more uncomfortable than wearing a riding safety vest and helmet? Absolutely. Is it totally awesome and worth the struggle? Heck yeah!… I hope.

'I have to admit that this is fantastic,' Merlin said in my mind. I turned to grin at him and he returned the gesture.

"Where did you get this?" Arthur inquired. His pupils were slightly dilated as they scanned the items, and his soft, plump, very kissable lips were parted.

'Ew! Stop thinking about his lips, Astra!' my brother whined, making me giggle.

"Gawant," I responded to the King. My King.

'Ugh.'

Arthur's eyes widened. "How much did it cost?!"

"Nothing. Prince Cynebald paid for it," I answered with a shrug.

He frowned. "Why?"

"What happens in Gawant stays in Gawant," Merlin and I said at the same time and I giggled again.

Arthur crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, which jumped among Merlin, Gwen and I for some moments before they stopped on me. "Merlin did not go to Gawant," he pointed out.

"Yeah, but Merls is my brother, I tell him everything," I responded with a small shrug.

"I am to be your husband!" Arthur protested.

"Yes you are, Peaches," I responded with a wink, earning another glare. I skipped over to him and stood on my toes to kiss the side of his jaw before I returned to where the armour lay.

Gwen moved to help me put it on.

I heard Merlin chuckle and I glanced up to watch him locked in a glaring contest with Arthur.

'I fear his head might explode,' my brother said through the telepathic link, causing me to giggle once more.

"I'll be back soon, okay?" I whispered to Dallas while hugging his head to my chest. He was content to let it rest there while I gathered the strength to march off and face the evil witches, knowing that there is a chance I won't come back. "And don't worry, I'll be safe. I would never abandon you."

'Unless you are trying to sacrifice yourself,' Merlin's grumbling voice sounded in my mind. My body jolted and I looked around for him, but I couldn't see him nearby.

'Dude, I love you, but I can't wait 'til this telepathy thing is over,' I said.

'You can say that again.'

'Dude, I love you, but I can't wait 'til this telepathy thing is over,' I repeated and I grinned at my own joke.

'I did not mean that literally.'

'It made you smile, though.'

"Are you all right?" Arthur's voice behind me interrupted the mental banter between Merlin and I. I turned my head to look at him and I instinctively smiled when our eyes connected, my heart skipping a beat.

'Ew, that prat!' Merlin butted in.

'Lol.'

'That's not a word.'

Arthur frowned at me and I quickly realised that I kind of ignored his question in favour of talking to my brother. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just hangin' out with my best boy before we storm the castle," I responded rapidly as I moved my hand to run my fingers through Dallas's mane, returning my gaze to him.

Arthur wrapped his arms around me from behind and I leaned back into his warmth, turning my head slightly so I could breathe in his scent. Which was a mistake because he hasn't showered in, like, a week. Well, to be fair, I haven't, either, since we were in Ealdor. I must smell like crap, too!

'None of us have showered in a long time. Stop whining,' Merlin cut in.

'You may be comfortable living like an animal, but I'm certainly not!'

"Are you sure you are all right? You have been uncharacteristically quiet all day," Arthur commented and he pressed an electrifying kiss to the side of my neck before resting his chin on my shoulder. "Merlin, too," he added in a pensive mumble.

'Oh, no. He is about to come up with a dumb theory,' my brother thought.

I had to bite back a laugh and I turned around in Arthur's arms so that I could hug him properly. "Well, like Merls said, we didn't sleep much," I responded. "But we're ready to kick names and take butts."

"I wish you would stay behind," he whispered while leaning down to rest his forehead against mine.

I narrowed my eyes at him. The audacity of this man! I'm a freaking knight!

'Did you really just think about kneeing your future husband between the legs?' Merlin inquired.

I bit back another laugh when an image of him slapping Arthur's head flashed through my mind.

'Yeah – and you thought about hitting him, too,' I shot back.

"Sorry, handsome. You're stuck with me," I replied to Arthur and I gave him a little grin.

Arthur smiled back and he promptly kissed me. I couldn't help but melt in his arms as my heart jumped with happiness and I raised a hand to rest it on the side of his pretty face. I took note of the residual taste of mint on his lips and I grinned a little again.

This is why you always pack toothpaste, friends!

'Astra! Stop! Please stop!' Merlin suddenly cried through the mind link. 'I do not want to know what it is like to kiss Arthur!'

I instantly pushed away from the King and bursted out laughing.

He looked absolutely puzzled as he stared down at me, his eyes wide.

'Oh, crap! I need a quick excuse! Any ideas, Merls?!'

An image of Sam and Dean Winchester getting caught in a morgue while posing as mental hospital patients flashed through my mind. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't my original thought.

'Crazy works,' Merlin responded, causing me to laugh harder for a few moments.

"Sorry. I just thought of something funny that happened in a dream I had," I told Arthur once I was composed enough to speak and my mind returned to the dream that Merlin and I shared.

It still sucks that we didn't get to save Bucky.

'Really? That's your concern right now?!'

'Don't act surprised.'

Arthur tilted his head. "Was I in that dream?"

'Say 'yes' or he will be upset that you were kissing him and thinking of something else,' Merlin wisely pointed out.

"Yeah," I responded to the King.

He grinned and leaned in to kiss me again, but I turned my head out of consideration for Merlin and his lips fell on my cheek instead.

"Anyway, we should get going," I told him, deciding to ignore the painful sad frown he gave me. "Witches won't hunt themselves."

Arthur kept giving me a strange look as I moved towards Dallas and I placed one last kiss on his muzzle before moving to grab my bow and quiver. Then I returned to my King and slipped my hand into his with an innocent grin, earning a pretty smile in return.

The drizzling rain that poured from the grey sky and the slight fog that covered the forest ground made for a nice, if faint, layer of camouflage as Camelot's army and friends creeped towards the backside of the invaded castle at the King's command.

Perhaps the daunting task of helping to take back what's rightfully Arthur's should've been approached with a lot more seriousness on my behalf. But if you're ever put in my position, you might find that seriousness is nearly impossible to achieve when you've got a telepathic link with your platonic soulmate.

I will spare you the details, or this might never end, but know that we couldn't, for the life of us, keep straight faces as we kept making sarcastic remarks and dumb jokes that we could never make aloud; or exchanging funny mental images. The link isn't so bad, after all!

When we reached the outer wall of the castle, the army split into three groups so that we could cover more ground and attack from different fronts. The large group of knights was led by Leon, Percival teamed up with Tristan and Isolde, and finally there's the dream team made up of Arthur, Merlin, Gwen and I. We need to be more discreet if we want to get a relatively easy passage to the council room – where we're hoping to find Madame Mim and her teenage side-kick – while our army fights off the enemy soldiers.

Merlin and Gwen stayed at the bottom of a slope that leads up to the inner wall while Arthur and I climbed it rapidly (not without a small slip that caused my brother to tease me mentally) and we took on about six guards that stood atop the natural formation.

'Careful!... Behind you!... Swing left!... Wait, right!' Merlin thought while I fought two men simultaneously.

'Dude, stop, you're distracting me!' I scolded. I kicked one of the guards down the slope and he rolled like a dumb pencil until he got to the bottom, where Gwen finished him off with a kick to the head.

'How can a pencil be dumb?' my brother questioned.

'It's a metaphor!'

'A nonsensical one.'

Arthur motioned for Merlin and Gwen to climb the slope once it was safe to do so, then he jogged off without waiting.

'Go with him, we will catch up,' my brother thought to me. I nodded at him and sprinted after the King.

We were just reaching one of the entrances to the bottom storey when the annoying sound of the warning bells started to shake the castle.

Arthur grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a door as four guards marched by, then he nodded at me and we attacked them from behind, easily disabling them.

I looked back the way we came from to see if Merlin and Gwen might be catching up.

"Come on," Arthur said and he grabbed my hand this time as he took off running down the corridor, forcing me to follow.

'You two okay?' I asked my brother. 'Art's not stopping.'

'We are fine, keep going. We will meet you there.'

I let out a relieved sigh and pushed my legs to move faster now that I know that Merlin and Gwen are still safe.

As scary as the whole situation is, considering that any of us could die, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as Arthur and I blazed through the castle, disabling guards left and right in great synchronicity without ever taking our minds off the prize – Morgana. Well, and Thanata, too; but she's just a kid. Whatever. The point is that my heart warmed at the thought of how great of a team we make. Well, that, and I feel like a superhero!

'You are confusing reality with fantasy again, Astra,' Merlin said in my mind.

'The line that divides them has been brutally demolished, dear brother.'

"Hey! This is brand new and custom made!" I growled at an attacking guard who dared to slash his sword at my new armour, leaving a scratch mark.

'Priorities, Astra!' Merlin scolded.

I huffed. Then I kicked the guard in the stomach and Arthur ran him through with a swift, almost automatic move.

'Should I be worried that he's able to kill so easily?' I wondered.

'Maybe,' my brother responded.

I grinned widely when we reunited with Gwen and Merlin at the end of the corridor, just before the turn to the council room, and they were now joined by Tristan and Isolde.

Guarding the doors stood six enemy soldiers. They instantly drew their swords and began marching our way at an eerily slow pace.

"Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?" I taunted as a proud smirk formed on my lips.

'Really?' Merlin asked in my mind. 'I dare you to go a full hour without quoting Marvel movies.'

'Where's the fun in that?' I replied and sent him a wink a second before Arthur led the charge towards the guards.

"A kick for you," I said as I kicked one guard in the crotch, causing him to double over in pain. "Sword for you," I slashed at a man's legs, making him fall on his face with a grunt. "And a kick and a sword for you," I kneed a guy on the back of his legs, then I slashed at his shoulder.

"Astra, behind you!" Merlin cried.

I turned my head just in time to watch Gwen use the hilt of her borrowed sword to knock out a guy who was creeping up behind me. My eyes widened as they followed his falling figure, then I looked up at my friend and smirked. "Much handier than a water pitcher, aye?" I said, effectively cutting the tension in the atmosphere for a few moments as she and Merlin chuckled.

"You know, this thing is not bad," Arthur commented as he looked over Excalibur with a pleased look.

Merlin and I shared a triumphant smirk and then he replied to Arthur, "Astra and I thought you might like it."

The King nodded and he gave me a quick kiss before moving towards the door. He pressed his ear against it for a few moments. Then he stepped back and turned to look around at the bunch of us. "Ready?"

"I can do this all day," I responded with a grin.

'You are unbelievable,' Merlin grumbled.

Arthur nodded and he smiled a little before charging towards the door while yelling, "For the love of Camelot!" which the rest of the party echoed.

They must've discussed that war cry at some point without me, because my mouth spewed out "Wakanda forever!" instead, earning another unimpressed glance from Merlin.

Battle cries aside, we were now inside the room; and I don't think I was the only one shocked to find that it was only Morgana, Thanata, and a random guy inside – where we'd been expecting to find a reasonably-sized army.

'I guess the two foolish witches are expecting their powers to work,' I thought to my brother.

'That is the plan,' he responded as we shared a smug look.

"Welcome, dear brother. It has been far too long," Madame Mim greeted as she stood up from her unearned seat on the throne.

It was hard to read Arthur's expression as I looked up at him. He seemed to be experiencing a tumultuous mixture of emotions as he breathed heavily. His eyes became stormy, replacing his earlier look of adrenaline-fuelled determination, and a slight frown formed upon his handsome features.

"I apologise if you had a difficult reception. It is hard to know who to trust these days," Morgana continued as she slowly moved closer to him.

Arthur glanced down at me for a second before he walked up to the witch, meeting her halfway. He sheathed his sword in a puzzling demonstration that he means no harm. He's too good for this world.

'Good thing he has us,' Merlin noted and I nodded.

"What happened to you Morgana?" Arthur asked softly. A flash of something akin to remorse or pain flashed through her otherwise hardened glare as she made eye-contact with him. "I thought we were friends."

I shared a troubled look with my brother and moved closer to him.

"As did I," the witch replied, her voice trembling ever-so-slightly.

She still has feelings! She's not completely soulless! Maybe we can save her!

'She is not like Loki or Sam Winchester, Astra,' Merlin reminded me, causing me to let out a sigh.

"But alas, we were both wrong," Morgana continued, her voice now rough as she clenched her jaw.

"You cannot blame me for my father's sins," Arthur stated, his voice almost a whisper.

"It is a little late for that," the witch replied, her voice breaking a little bit. "You have made it perfectly clear how you feel about me and my kind. You are not as different from Uther as you would like to think."

'Fork, she's kinda got a point.'

'Stop trying to empathise with her, Astra! She wants to kill Arthur!' my brother exclaimed mentally.

'Maybe empathy is what she needs to step back from the dark side!' I responded while sending him a quick glare.

"Nor are you," Arthur shot back at her.

What little softness Morgana had shown vanished in an instance as her features became entirely enraged.

Nice going, Peaches!

"I am going to enjoy killing you, Arthur Pendragon," she snarled as she backed away from the King. "Not even Emrys and his shadow can save you now."

Yeah, about that…

Arthur drew his sword and the rest of us followed suit. Μy heart began to pound against my chest in anticipation. Merlin and I's little midnight escapade better prove fruitful.

'It will work,' Merlin assured me.

Morgana shared a chuckle with Thanata, who stepped up beside her with a smirk. "Your blades cannot stop us," the former said.

Madame Mim said a couple of magic words... and nothing happened. I bit back the urge to giggle at her misfortune as I shared an amused look with my brother, who was also trying hard not to laugh.

'Are we awesome, or what?' I said through the telepathic link.

'Yes, we are,' he responded, a faintly smug look claiming his features again.

Morgana shared a look of confusion with the younger witch and then she tried again, but she still didn't find success.

'I wish I had popcorn,' I commented.

'You are incorrigible,' Merlin thought back and he nudged my side gently.

Morgana raised her hand and she tried the spell again. And still, nothing came.

'Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh.' I couldn't quite tell if the looped thought was mine or Merlin's. Perhaps it was shared.

Thanata gulped beside the elder witch and she hesitantly gave it a shot, too. But Merlin really is an awesome genius.

"Not so powerful now," Arthur noted, his voice still soft.

Man, I can't imagine how much all this must suck for him.

The witches shared a mortified look and Thanata unsheathed a sword as she stepped in front of Morgana. The pair started to back away towards another entrance to the room. The random guy that was with them stepped towards the King while also drawing a sword.

In a flash, the witches took off running.

"I'm on them!" I called out and nudged my brother's side as I took off sprinting after them. He followed without hesitation, and Gwen chased after us as well. Arthur, Tristan and Isolde remained behind to deal with the random man and a bunch of other enemy soldiers who stormed into the room.

"They're heading for the knight's quarters. I'll cut 'em off below, you guys keep goin'," I instructed my friends before changing course and heading for the main staircase.

'Be careful,' Merlin said in my mind.

'Always.'

I rushed down the stairs, taking some two or three steps at a time, and I leaped over the last four when I reached the bottom. I stumbled for a moment when I landed and I accelerated down the corridor towards the archway that leads to the staircase to the knight's quarters.

'They split up. Morgana is heading down,' my brother thought.

'I can take her. Keep going after Thanata,' I responded.

'Are you sure?'

'Her magic's disabled, I'll be fine.'

The images of me dying that flashed through his mind (and, therefore, mine) told me that he wasn't happy with the plan, but he didn't fight me on it.

Sure enough, I almost ran into Morgana as she reached the bottom of the staircase. I caught myself before I could crash against her and I quickly raised my sword to meet a strike she sent with her own, effectively saving my new armour from getting another scratch. Willful as ever, she tried again and again, but she couldn't match a knight of Camelot and I began to back her up towards a wall.

"Dude, I get your beef with Art, but what's your deal with me?" I asked in between fast-paced swings. I really don't wanna have to kill her! "We were friends, weren't we?"

"I always thought you were one of the best people I ever met," she responded. I faltered for a second as I felt her words crash against me like a subway train blazing through Berlin while one is fighting Mysterio. Big mistake on my behalf, for she kicked me backwards and I fell on my butt with a grunt. "But I cannot allow you to be queen!"

Her sword was pointed at my throat and my whole life flashed before my eyes as my breath hitched. The car crash. The hospital. Moving in with my uncle and aunt. Caspian. Galileah. Skylo. Dallas. The time-machine. Merlin. Camelot. Arthur.

'Merls, help!' I called out in my mind. Morgana thrusted the blade forwards and I barely stopped it by gripping it, ignoring how it cut into my palms as I tried to keep it from piercing my neck. No response came. 'Merls, I'm gonna die,' I tried again. 'Like, for reals.'

The searing pain in my hands as the blade cut through my flesh started to become unbearable and Morgana seemed to know it as a small smirk formed on her lips while I grew weary, black spots starting to cloud my vision.

No. This can't be it.

'Merlin, please!'

Fork, the telepathic spell must've worn out. Great timing!

There's still a lot I wanna do. I wanna marry Arthur! I want to watch the dragons grow up! I want to go on more adventures with Dallas!

I squeezed my eyes shut and bit down hard on my bottom lip to try to distract me from the torturous pain in my hands.

Well, at least I'm going out while protecting Camelot. That's pretty cool, right?

Suddenly, a rumbling sound shook the building. The force against which I was struggling faded and I opened my eyes in time to partly watch Morgana fly across the corridor. A chunk of the ceiling collapsed on top of her, leaving her buried underneath it. I let myself fall fully onto my back and I closed my eyes while trying to catch my breath, which was more laboured than ever.

I kept biting on my lip to hold back any cries from the pain.

I heard rushed footsteps.

Oh, no, is Thanata coming to finish me off?

A figure pulled me against its chest, panting while it held me tightly. I opened my eyes slightly to find none other than Merlin and a lazy grin formed on my lips. I clutched his arm, ignoring the pain once more as I tried to find some grounding in his firm grip and comforting presence.

"You're bleeding," he stated the obvious as he pried one of my hands off his arm and he looked at my gravely injured palm, his mouth falling agape. I instantly felt nauseated at the sight that was right out of a gore movie and I squeezed my eyes shut once more.

"N-not my first battle wound," I responded in a weak tone and gave a slight shrug.

He sighed and then he whispered a spell. The pain promptly faded away. I opened my eyes and found that each of my palms now sported only a faint scratch, along with dried blood.

Before I could thank him, a gasp echoed through the building, causing me to freeze for a second or ten as my eyes travelled upwards to find Gwen standing atop the staircase. She looked entirely shocked as she stared at my brother with eyes as wide as plates.

Merlin and I shared a look of mortification.

"You have magic," Gwen whispered.

My brother and I shared another worried look before scrambling to our feet.

"Gwennie..."

"Please, allow me to explain," my brother begged as his eyes glazed over.

I was half expecting her to turn around and run screaming to tell Arthur what she saw, which is why I was entirely surprised when a grin formed on her lips instead.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed.

Merlin and I exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

"What?!" he asked.

"I mean, I was not sure, but I suspected it."

Hesitantly, I began to climb the staircase. "So... you won't tell anyone?" I questioned warily.

Gwen scoffed. "Of course not! But you two have a lot to explain."

Merlin chuckled as he caught up with me and hesitation faded away as we continued moving towards our friend, a wave of relief passing between us as our eyes connected for a moment. "And we will," he promised her.

This is awesome! He won't have to hide his true identity from her anymore! Maybe now they can move into a real relationship!

The girl pulled me into a hug once we reached the top. "Are you all right?" she asked when she pulled back, grabbing one of my forearms and inspecting my blood-covered palm.

"Yeah, I was only almost killed by Madame Mim. No biggie," I responded with a nonchalant shrug.

She gasped again. "Astra!"

"C'mon, I wanna check on Art," I said and I took off sprinting down the corridor, ignoring the horrified looks that my two friends were giving me.

I re-entered the council room to a heart-shattering sight. Tristan sat with his back against a column, cradling a pale Isolde who had a stream of blood oozing from her stomach.

"Astra," Arthur croaked out. I found him leaning against another column, his eyes bloodshot and teary as he barely held himself up. Panic struck at my chest as I rushed towards him. He pushed off the stone pillar to hug me tightly. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and laced my fingers through his golden locks as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his body trembling slightly.

Finding that he seemed relatively healthy, I let my gaze travel back to Tristan and Isolde and my soul twisted with a pain a million times worse than the one that had plagued my hands two minutes ago.

That could've been us. That was almost us. Only worse, 'cause if Morgana had succeeded, we wouldn't have been able to say goodbye. We're very lucky, you see, because we have an angel in Merlin. But Merlin can't save Isolde. Not without revealing his secret to Arthur at a terrible moment.

Unable to keep watching Tristan crumble as Isolde breathed her last, I turned my head around and closed my eyes, letting my tears fall as I tightened my hold on Arthur.

A/N: I don't normally include notes, but this one's important – I hate long time-skips, so I'm going to partly fill the space between seasons four and five, and only a year will pass between them, rather than three like in the series. Given this, a string of 12 entirely original chapters will follow this one. I hope you'll enjoy them, and please consider leaving a review! :D