A/N:

I'm really super sorry about the delay to this last part - not only was it a huge chapter, but I had other things to deal with! Ah well, it's here, and that's all that matters!

Thanks to Cori for being absolutely fantastic, and to all you readers who read and review!

The next part, Last Night on Earth, will be up and started in the next few days!

Enjoy!

IT'S TIME

Arthur's shock at what he had just witnessed didn't stop his body from tingling all over from the power that he now felt emanating from the stairway — the direction that Merlin had gone. Excalibur hung on his left hip, and Arthur's right hand went to the hilt, the soft leather wrapped around it feeling hot to the touch. Blue eyes looked at the Great Dragon, and a pang of uncertainty jabbed at Arthur's heart, as though there was something hidden in the inscrutable, reptilian face. Something in the way that Merlin had spoken to the Great Dragon. You're paranoid, his inner voice cried out, almost in desperation. Why are you trying to find trouble when you've got enough knocking at your door? Yet Arthur wanted to know what he wasn't being told, so he stepped towards the Great Dragon and raised his chin with authority.

"I know there's something that you and Merlin aren't telling me," Arthur began and the Great Dragon settled himself down comfortably.

"What transpires between Merlin and me is none of your concern..."

"It is my concern when he is my lover and the fate of my kingdom rests on his shoulders," Arthur snapped, and the Great Dragon's eyes flared with anger. "And do not dare to look at me in that way, not when you treat me as a child who should be seen and not heard. I want to know what the two of you know that I do not."

The Great Dragon fixed his eyes on Arthur. He should have felt intimidated, but he stood defiantly and stared the great beast down. Shaking his leathery head, the Great Dragon let out a breath.

"You care extremely deeply for Merlin, and he cares for you in exactly the same way, Arthur. I cannot tell you what Merlin is planning, because I know only a fraction of what happens before it is supposed to happen. All I can tell you is that no matter what happens, Merlin has not made his decision lightly." Arthur thought that he heard sadness in the Great Dragon's voice, and he stepped closer, the tips of his toes now hanging over the edge of the ledge.

"Please, tell me. Tell me, so I can help Merlin in every way I can."

"Arthur. The destinies that the two of you share are deeply entwined, so much so that what I told Merlin in his dream may not apply now, so powerful are each of you in each other's existence. Yet you two are connected, and where one goes, I have no doubt that the other will follow willingly." Arthur frowned at the cryptic reply, and the Great Dragon offered a smile. "If you want to help him, there are two things that you can do."

"Name them."

Arthur felt his heart race at the thought that he would be able to help Merlin in some small way to keep him safe.

"First, protect him, Arthur Pendragon. Protect him as though your life depends on it," the Great Dragon answered and as Arthur quickly nodded, the Great Dragon smiled a little too knowingly. "Without him and the magic that he now has access too, all else is lost. Do you understand, Arthur? Without Merlin, Camelot will be lost."

"I understand, and I swear, I shall make sure no harm comes to him," Arthur spoke firmly and his hand tightened on Excalibur's hilt, the heat from within the sword threatening to burn his hand. "And the second?"

"Free me."

It was said so simply, so matter of fact, that Arthur was momentarily taken aback by the suddenness of it. He blinked slowly and then narrowed his eyes, jaw setting in the stubborn way that usually ended with the offender running the other way. Alarm bells started ringing in Arthur's head and his thoughts were going back and forth between agreeing and laughing at the absurdity of the idea. The Great Dragon moved forward swiftly, bringing his face dangerously close to Arthur's, his rancid, rotten breath washing over the king's body.

"Free me, Arthur Pendragon. Free me, now, and I'll help in the battle."

Arthur thought a moment and then spoke "Tell me, Great Dragon. Why would a powerful beast such as yourself risk your very life against three powerful warlocks as they rage death and destruction on Camelot? Surely it would be safer for you to be down here, chained and out of harm's way, while the city burned around you?"

The Great Dragon narrowed his own eyes now and a tiny smile tugged at Arthur's lips.

"I know that Merlin is now more than strong enough to fight these warlocks. I also know that I can act as a conduit, and he can harness even more power than he already has, so there must be an ulterior motive behind your sudden act of kindness."

"I can't simply want to help keep Merlin safe?"

Arthur laughed gently and narrowed his eyes once again. "Let me make something clear. I know that there's something you're not telling me, something that must involve Merlin or me in some way. I don't take kindly to things being kept from me, but at this very moment in time, there are more important things that I need to focus on. If any harm comes to Merlin, and you could have prevented it, I will hunt you down myself. Clear?"

Without waiting for an answer, Arthur stepped down the stone steps with Excalibur in hand, the light from the blade illuminating Arthur's path. Small shards of white, about the size of Arthur's hand, littered the floor and they gave a bone chilling crunch when Arthur stepped on them. The large, metal chain that wrapped itself around the large island the Great Dragon sat atop glistened in the light from Excalibur, dark red stains dotted intermittently down the length. At the bottom of the steps, Arthur followed a narrow path around to the side, where he now saw the base of the chain that held the great beast in place. Taking a breath, Arthur lifted Excalibur above his head. Words came to him and he said them without thinking. The chain burned a bright, hot red. In one swift and fluid movement, Arthur brought Excalibur down and cut cleanly through the chain.

Lifting his head up just as the chain whipped upwards, Arthur saw the Great Dragon beat its large wings, the downdraught flicking Arthur's hair against his head. The Great Dragon flew higher and higher, and Arthur prayed that he had done the right thing as the beast disappeared from view. For a few moments, Arthur waited to hear the sound of the roof being smashed open, which would have signalled the departure of the beast. Yet the sound never came, and rather than wait around, Arthur made his way upwards and outwards in search of Merlin.

As Arthur exited the cavern, Excalibur now sheathed once more, he began to feel the sensation of being pulled, almost as though someone had a hold of his hand and was tugging him forward. Nothing was visibly there with him, and no sound of footsteps filled his ears, yet Arthur knew what was pulling him forwards, almost leading him to his lover. The bond between Merlin and he was more than just amplified, more than before, it was as though every fibre of his being knew where Merlin was and that at this moment in time, Arthur knew he was safe. But where exactly was he?

Stepping out of the dungeons, Arthur walked a few paces before stopping in his tracks. Something was different, and he couldn't figure out what that was. The corridor itself was the same as all of the others within the castle, smooth stone expertly aligned to create the grand surroundings. Wall tapestries, depicting epic battles and triumph, hung in all of the alcoves behind the suits of armour...

"What on earth?"

Stepping forward, Arthur couldn't believe his eyes. The corridor, from the southern corner of the castle to the northern corner, had over forty suits of armour spaced evenly on display. His father had wanted to have visiting dignitaries and guests amazed at the collection, and Arthur had always felt out of sorts around them. It wasn't that Arthur didn't like the armour, not exactly, it was just that Arthur always felt as though dead eyes looked out from beneath the visors. Add to the mix that each suit of armour had its own sword, axe or club, and Arthur felt as though he would be attacked every time he walked down the corridor. Or down the other three corridors that look exactly the same, Arthur thought as he turned around slowly and saw that all of the suits of armour were gone.

Returning back to his original starting position, Arthur heard a faint clinking of metal from somewhere towards the northern end of the castle. It was so faint that Arthur doubted at first that he had heard it, but when the clinking sound continued, Arthur tightened his hand on Excalibur. Stepping lightly, Arthur worked his way down the corridor, stopping at the end to listen again. His eyes took in his surroundings and saw that the armour stands in front of him were also empty, just like the ones behind him. The clinking of the metal sounded louder now, but Arthur guessed that it was still a short distance from him. Sighing and taking Excalibur out from its sheath, Arthur walked on.

As Arthur walked, his body began to tingle and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up while goosebumps crawled up his arms. The more empty armour stands that Arthur saw, the greater his unease... Just then, at the junction of the main stairs, he saw Merlin a few steps up, surrounded by all forty suits of armour. There was something... powerful... about Merlin, almost as though the newly given powers had unlocked some hidden strength in the young man. From where he stood, at the edge of the armour army, Arthur wondered how he could safely get to Merlin without having to look at the eyeless visors. Almost as though his thoughts had been spoken out aloud, the loud sound of clinking metal filled the small space and one by one, the suits of armour began to move.

Arthur watched as the suits turned inwards, creating a passageway with their bodies. Slowly, Merlin walked through the passage and the suits of armour fell in behind him, closing up ranks and forming a solid metal mass once again. When Merlin stood in front of him, Arthur sheathed Excalibur and took hold of Merlin's hands.

"Don't tell me you've found another knight to replace me."

Merlin smiled at the small joke. "That's a tempting idea, especially when they don't answer back, make me do chores, or expect me to be at their beck and call." Arthur quickly jabbed Merlin none too gently in the ribs. "Ow! They don't hurt me either!"

Arthur looked around at the suits of armour and shivered when the black void where the eyes should be stared out at him. "Why are these suits of armour moving, Merlin?"

"I thought we could use the extra help," Merlin answered simply and gestured widely with his arm, "None of them will fall in battle, no magic can destroy them save for mine. Alexander and his siblings are going to throw everything they have at Camelot, and well, I thought unbeatable suits of armour would be a good thing to have in our arsenal."

Arthur considered this for a moment. "I guess they could, but what good are forty suits of armour against the demons that will fall upon us?"

"Forty?" Merlin gave a gentle laugh. "All two hundred suits of armour are making their way to this spot, Arthur. We'll have most of them on the front line, so that they take the brunt of the attack while we focus our efforts elsewhere. The rest of them will be guarding the tunnels and exits to the underground tunnels, protecting the women and children. I just need to get the others."

"Others?"

Arthur never received an answer because Merlin took him by the hand and led him away from the suits of armour, which remained standing in the same place, facing forward. The sound of more metal clinking filtered through to Arthur's ears and as he stared ahead of Merlin, a small group of ten suits of armour appeared down the corridor and then marched past them. Arthur turned his head to follow them with his eyes, and bumped into Merlin, who had stopped at the top of a set of stairs. A set of stairs that Arthur knew all too well.

"What are we doing here, Merlin?"

Merlin looked from the darkened entrance that led downwards, back to Arthur, and then back at the stairs. Merlin took a breath and Arthur felt a sense of dread wash over him. He can't be thinking of...

"There's no other choice, Arthur. We need as much help as possible," Merlin implored. "Those two hundred suits of armour will be good, more than good, but it's not enough. We need them, Arthur, Camelot needs them."

"But you can't seriously be thinking of disturbing them?"

Merlin nodded. "In under a day's time, all hell is going to break loose, and I don't want to see Camelot fall..."

"Camelot's never fallen, Merlin. Please don't..."

"...so I need to do this, we need their help. They're some of the greatest warriors to have graced this land, and with their invincibility, we stand a greater chance at succeeding. Well, less people dying at least."

Tears welled up in Arthur's eyes. He knew that everything that Merlin had just said was true, that any help that prevented lives from being lost was valuable, but could he let that happen? Could he let Merlin do what needed to be done? Merlin pulled Arthur close to him, their bodies slotting together perfectly. Arthur looked up into Merlin's eyes.

"Please, Arthur. Understand that I need to do this, that I'm only doing it to protect everyone. That I'm protecting you," Merlin whispered and placed a chaste kiss on Arthur's lips. Heat spread through Arthur's body and he was the first to pull away, nodding his head slowly. "I promise, everything will be all right."

Arthur watched as Merlin walked down the stone stairs towards the royal crypt slowly, a soft white glow lighting his way. Suits of armour being magically brought to life gave Arthur the creeps, but he could live with that. But what Merlin wanted to do now... to the men who lay resting below in stony tombs... it just unnerved Arthur more than he would ever admit. Liar, his inner voice whispered, it's because it involves bringing Father back, only for him to be taken away at the end all over again.

Not wanting his thoughts to run away with him, Arthur followed behind Merlin with heavy footsteps. The air rapidly grew chillier as Arthur descended and the craggy walls cast eerie shadows, almost as though those at rest below knew what was going to happen. Merlin was waiting for him at the bottom of the steps and as Arthur stepped off the last stair, Merlin turned and walked the short distance to the door of the crypt. Arthur hesitated only for a moment before he followed, burning torches illuminating him in a soft glow. He stood in front of the door, took a breath, and opened it wide.

As soon as Arthur stepped into the crypt, torches suddenly flared to life with a strong gust of wind. Arthur turned his head and saw that Merlin had closed the door, before dropping the torch to the floor. Merlin walked past him quickly and indicated that Arthur should stay where he was, then started to draw symbols in the dirt. Arthur looked around and said a silent prayer to each of the men that lay within their stone houses. Arthur's eyes finally fell on the stone urn that housed the ashes and remains of his father, Uther Pendragon.

"Arthur?" The sound of Merlin's voice got Arthur's attention. He looked over at Merlin, who now held a long, wooden staff in his hands, with a large, clear crystal at the top. "Are you ready?"

Arthur swallowed hard before nodding.

"I'm not really sure what's going to happen, but I think you should be prepared for anything," Merlin stated and offered a weak smile. " Are you ready?"

Again, Arthur nodded. He went to stand beside one of the stone columns and leant against it. His hand went to Excalibur's hilt and in a swift motion, unsheathed the sword, for no particular reason other than because it made him feel better. With another nod of his head, Arthur watched Merlin work his magic.

As Merlin raised the staff upwards, the crystal began to glow a bright white, as pure as winter snow. The torches in the crypt suddenly went out, and the room was plunged into darkness, all except for the glowing crystal on the end of the staff. Arthur thought that he could feel an immense heat coming from Merlin, and sweat began to build across his brow as the heat increased. Looking at Merlin, Arthur saw a bright golden glow replace the blue eyes that Arthur could spend hours staring into. He could also see Merlin's mouth moving, yet he heard no words fall from his lips. Opening his mouth to ask Merlin if everything was going to plan, Arthur began to feel a pulling sensation within his body and realised that Merlin was using Arthur's conduit ability. Then, Arthur began to hear the words.

"Kings of Camelot, hear our cry. The city and land that you love is in danger, from an evil so vile that it taints everything it touches. You gave your lives protecting this city and land. I ask you; I beseech you. Rise from your heavenly sleep and protect this city again."

With eyes fixed firmly on Merlin, Arthur watched as his lover brought down the staff with a plangent slam onto the floor. The symbols that were on the floor instantly flared with blue fire and an icy wind blew through the chamber. Arthur began to shiver the instant that the wind erupted, and the sweat that had been on his brow a moment before evaporated. The ground began to tremble and parts of the ceiling fell down, so great were the reverberations. Arthur watched as huge cracks began to form and his eyes followed them to the stone tombs, which began to crack as well, only for bright white light to fill the interiors. Unwillingly, Arthur's eyes turned to the plinth where Uther's urn stood. But it was gone, fallen to the floor where it lay broken and bathed in the same light as the stone tombs.

With a deafening roar, so loud that Arthur dropped Excalibur and covered his ears, the blue fire suddenly went out, the icy wind ceased, and the ground tremors receded. Slowly, Arthur straightened up and uncovered his ears, only to be met with silence. Before Arthur could call to Merlin, the torches within the chamber began to flicker back to life. Bit by bit, light filled the chamber and Arthur squinted, trying to make out the blackened shapes that stood in front of him. As more light filled the room, Merlin appeared right beside him and the blackened shapes began to advance. Arthur's heart raced as he watched all of the dead kings of Camelot emerge from the darkness, all dressed in highly polished armour with the red uniform bearing the crest of their city. Gleaming weapons were held in their hands, and at the front of them, leading them, stood Uther Pendragon.

All Arthur could do was walk slowly forward, quickening at the last few paces, and throw his arms around Uther's neck.

Small diamonds twinkled from beneath the black curls piled atop her head as , Elizabeth stared out from the edge of the forest to Camelot. She smiled, brown eyes sparkling with the knowledge that in a matter of hours, all of Camelot and the surrounding land would be hers and her brothers for the taking. An icy smile of victory blossomed on her lips as she watched the setting sun disappear behind the citadel. A chilled breeze picked up then, and the long, black riding cape that she wore billowed around her body. She could feel something happening within the city, something of great power. So the little warlock will give us a fight? All the more pleasurable to kill him. Dressed in black breeches, black tunic and snug riding boots, Elizabeth was fully prepared for the battle that was to come.

Turning around, Elizabeth began to walk through the forest. She had much to do, and very little time to see that it all got done. Twigs snapped underfoot and as Elizabeth looked around her, the charred remains of trees cast ghoulish shadows on the ground, stretching out almost as though they wanted to snag any living thing that happened to walk by. Elizabeth felt exhilarated with the knowledge of what was to come, and she began to run through the forest. A laugh spilled from her lips as she weaved her way through the trees. The first beams of moonlight filtered through the ash covered branches, and Elizabeth's laugh grew louder the deeper into the forest she ran. The sound echoed through the forest until she slowed to a stop in the area where her beloved snake demons awaited her.

The demons numbered in the thousands, all lined up in large columns of twenty wide and fifty deep. A deep, rumbling hiss filled Elizabeth's ears as she walked along the front of her army towards her tent. Not one of the demons turned their head as she walked by, and Elizabeth smiled at her creations. The spell that she had used to create them was simple enough, too simple for her liking if she was honest. Elizabeth had always preferred things that clearly showed her skill with magic, and now seemed like a perfect time to demonstrate her ability. Tomorrow wasn't going to be just a battle; it was going to be an annihilation.

Stepping within her tent, Elizabeth walked to her table and sat down behind it. On her table was a single box, carved from deep mahogany with a silver clasp adorning the front. Almost reverently, Elizabeth ran her fingers along the edges of her box. Within it lay items of great importance to her, and she always ensured that a nasty hex was placed on the box whenever she had to leave it out of her sight. Looking around to make sure that she was alone in her tent, Elizabeth flicked open the clasp and lifted the lid.

The inside of the box was lined with blood-red silk and the rim of the box had an inlaid silver pattern of snakes. Taking the first of the box's contents from within its secure home, Elizabeth looked down at a folded piece of parchment. She opened it up and looked down at the delicately scrawled words, tears springing to her eyes as she remembered the man who had given it to her. After her father had been killed by Uther, Elizabeth had wanted to wreak revenge and chaos, and her pain was so great that nothing other than Uther's blood on her hands would satisfy her. Then, she had met a man, James, and he had changed everything. He had been the first man Elizabeth had ever loved, the one man who had shown her that she had just been grieving, and that there was more to life than revenge. Elizabeth watched as two tears dropped down onto the parchment, staining the paper. James had also been of the magical world, and for a year they had lived together, and Elizabeth had never been happier. Then, James had been dragged off to Camelot, after healing a villager's child. That same day, he had managed to write a few last words of love to her. The following morning, James was burnt at the stake while Uther had watched. Elizabeth and her brothers had sworn that day to kill Uther Pendragon, take Camelot, and destroy it so that every last vestige of Uther's regime was obliterated. Folding the parchment up, Elizabeth placed it gently to the side and regained her composure.

"Foolish girl," she chided and wiped at her eyes. "Why cry for those already dead? You can celebrate their memories once you cleanse Camelot."

Picking up things and laying them down on the side with the parchment, she soon had a small collection of sentimental items. There was the first toy that her father and mother had given to her as a small child; the first toy her new father had given to her; the first piece of jewellery that Alexander had made for her when he had mastered the use of elemental magic; the first healing spell for common ailments that Edward had perfected when she had taken sick with a fever. Finally, at the bottom of the box, Elizabeth reached what she had been looking for.

Made of silver and with an amber gemstone set in the middle, the ring had belonged to her father and served to amplify the power of any magical spell the wearer cast. Elizabeth had used the ring a few times before, when she had first begun to animate demons and control them, and each time, the results had improved. Now, she wanted to use the ring one last time to perfect her snake demons. Taking it out and putting it onto her finger, Elizabeth closed her eyes and let the rush of magic wash through her. Opening her eyes, which were now flecked with gold, Elizabeth stood up and quickly placed everything back inside her box before exiting her tent and taking her place at the front of the demons.

Closing her eyes and tilting her head back, Elizabeth levitated into the air. The sound of lightning ripping apart the night sky filled her ears. Rain began to fall, and she opened her mouth, letting the cleansing liquid wet her tongue and lips. Tilting her head forward and opening her eyes, which began to glow, echoing the glow of the amber gemstone, she intoned magic words that carried across the entire army. The snakes all began to hiss loudly, and they writhed as though in extreme pain. Some of them died, smoke billowing up as their bodies were consumed by black flames. When the smoke cleared, it revealed that those who had survived had taken on monstrous new forms — snakelike, yet humanoid as well. The demons now possessed arms and hands. And each hand clutched a sharp sword. Elizabeth floated down and, smiling at her creations, began to walk ahead with her army following behind her.

"March on, demons! You'll soon have the blood that you crave!"

Very quickly, the sound of slick movement filled the night air and the rain fell harder; yet not a drop of it marred Elizabeth's clothes or hair. As she walked, Elizabeth cast glances to her left and right at the bodies of dead wolves and bears that had been killed in the fire, leaving their blackened corpses behind. One by one, the bodies began to move and disjointed bones cracked into place with a sickening, sloppy noise. Heads rotated round to their natural position and anything that didn't reattach itself to the dead bodies fell to the side, forming piles of rotting flesh. Turning her attention back to the front, Elizabeth began to laugh as the animated corpses of the animals joined the ranks of her snake army.

Edward sat with his knees drawn up to his chin under a large tree, staring out at Camelot. The rain fell around him and the light breeze ruffled his hair, whispers on the wind that hinted at the battle to come troubling his thoughts. All around him were flowers, from bluebells to daisies, buttercups and dandelions, each fully grown and stretching upwards for the rainwater. These were the only living things at the edge of Elizabeth's destructive offence, and Edward mourned the loss of the plants that had once stood tall and proud. There was no need for any of this, not at all. A heavy sigh escaped Edward's lips. He was so different from his other siblings. Where Elizabeth was blood thirsty and wanted to wreak havoc on the entire world, Edward wanted to take vengeance on Uther Pendragon and then have done with it. Alexander took the middle ground — he wanted Uther Pendragon to pay, but also wanted the citizens of Camelot to suffer for something they had nothing to do with. Edward didn't want to rule Camelot, not when any survivors would pledge allegiance because of fear, not respect. Edward wanted to have his own farm, a wife and children, and the ability to practice magic without fear of retribution.

A snapping twig marked the arrival of Alexander, and Edward felt his older brother sit beside him. For a while, they sat in silence, staring out over Camelot. Even without words, Edward knew that his brother was in pain, and not from any physical wound. Alexander hurt because of Merlin, the one man who could protect Arthur. A small smile ghosted over Edward's lips. It's not Arthur that we should be worried about, not when Merlin now has the ability to be stronger, faster and smarter than any of us. The smile quickly faded as images of his visions and dreams flashed through his mind, each of them filled with blood, pain and death. Death. A state of existence where nothing mattered any more, where a person could rest peacefully and meet their loved ones in paradise. Will I see Father there? After the wicked things that I've done?

"Penny for your thoughts?"

The sound of Alexander's voice snapped Edward out from his reverie. He turned his head to the side and regarded his older brother.

"You can talk to me, Edward, about anything," Alexander spoke softly, and Edward smiled gently, touched by his older brother's concern.

"I know, Alexander, I know," Edward assured him and returned his attention to Camelot. I wonder what Camelot looks like in the winter, with all of the trees covered in snow...

"Merlin won't be joining with us."

The sentence interrupted Edward's thoughts. He felt bad for Alexander. Alexander was head over heels in love with Merlin, and Edward knew how his brother felt, although maybe not to the same extent. Edward had been in love once, a few years ago when he ran away from his siblings because of the death and destruction that had become their lives due to Elizabeth's personal vendetta. Edward had gone to the coast, where the weather was completely primal in its ferocity and washed away all of the death that clung to him. He had found shelter in a cave at the base of a cliff, with jagged rocks providing shelter from the water and the wind, and it became his home while he was there. After about two weeks, Edward could feel his siblings searching for him with magic, and each day afterwards, Edward had placed a cloaking spell on himself so that he could be on his own. A week later, on a trip into the local fishing village, Edward had been in a rush, hurrying back to his cave before a storm hit, and had bumped into a woman. Oh, how I miss you...

The woman, named Lily, had laughed at Edward's haste and helped to pick up his dropped items. She had tried to make conversation, but so used to his company was Edward that he hadn't realised she had been speaking to him until Lily had begun laughing. Thinking that this woman, dressed in a simple blue farmer's dress, was laughing at his expense, Edward hurriedly took his things and walked away, face stained a bright hue of crimson. Later that same evening, as Edward returned from an invigorating swim, Lily was standing with a small basket at the entrance to his cave. He remembered that Lily had blushed fiercely when she had seen him—wet and barely clothed— and the memory brought back a brief smile as Edward looked over Camelot. She had come to the cave to apologise. The villagers had told her that he kept to himself and that he didn't really speak or socialise with them. Edward remembered staring at her with a certain degree of suspicion, but when Lily took it upon herself to prepare a meal of fish and vegetables, Edward just quietly tidied up his cave and let her get on with it.

And so for a few weeks, Lily would come down to the cave and cook for Edward, or he would cook for her. Lily became Edward's first friend and he looked forward to her company in the evenings, so much so that he didn't realise he was dressing more smartly for her until she mentioned it. That revelation had caused a great debate between the two of them, friendly banter that ended with Edward telling Lily that he found her beautiful, with her long blonde hair, green eyes and womanly figure. He had been so embarrassed at his forwardness that Edward hadn't noticed Lily had stepped right in front of him until she placed her lips onto his. It had been a chaste kiss, but the two of them knew that it marked the beginning of something special. Within a week, Edward had proposed to Lily and she had happily accepted, and within a few days after, they were both wed. Edward remembered their wedding night together almost as though it were only yesterday, so vivid were the details and smells. For nearly six months, Edward and Lily lived in a little cottage in town. At the beginning of the seventh month of their marriage, Lily gave Edward the best news that he had ever heard. They were expecting a child.

Edward had been so happy, so overjoyed that he had gone out the following day and proudly proclaimed that he was to be a father. Each night, Edward would lie in bed with Lily and either his hand or head would rest against her swelling stomach while he spoke to his unborn child,. Yet as perfect as they were together, as happy and good natured to everyone that they were, tragedy struck. On the morning that Lily went into labour, Elizabeth and Alexander turned up on his doorstep. Edward was torn between what to do. He had never told Lily about his siblings or his past, not when it revolved around death and bloodshed. Lily didn't even know that he had magic. So what was Edward to do – tell his siblings to leave and never come back, or allow them in to see the birth of their niece or nephew? Edward couldn't remember how it happened, but Elizabeth and Alexander were soon in the same room as Lily. He tried to stay inside the room, but both the midwife and Elizabeth ushered the men out, leaving them standing outside listening to Lily's screams of pain. It was near midnight when the midwife came out, covered in birthing fluids, with her head down and wringing her fingers. Edward didn't stand around waiting for her to tell him what was wrong. Instead, he went inside the room to find Lily lying deathly still on the bed with a small bundle in her arms. One look from Elizabeth told Edward all that he needed to know and huge sobs racked through his body as he dropped to Lily's side, holding the still forms of his wife and daughter.

"... so what do you think?"

Edward started with a jump at Alexander's voice and he stood up, stretching his arms upwards as he did so. He looked down at Alexander and offered a small smile for an apology.

"You weren't listening, were you?"

Edward offered another smile and Alexander shook his head, smiling back.

"Sorry. I was caught up in some thoughts. What were you saying?"

"I said that I was surprised that Merlin chose Arthur and certain death over having an eternity to change the world as we know it."

Edward thought briefly of Lily and his daughter, and the snakebites that were carefully concealed on both of their bodies. Edward had known within an instant of finding them that they hadn't died from natural causes, but that Elizabeth had killed them. He had almost killed himself, the urge to be with his family was so strong. He remembered confronting Elizabeth about it privately, and she had simply told him that they didn't need complications — that all their concentration needed to be on destroying Camelot.

"When you find that special person, that one person who means more to you than life itself, life means nothing without them in it. I can understand why Merlin would choose Arthur, even if you can't," Edward answered and he turned to look back at Camelot, now that the full moon was well and truly above the city.

"I'm sorry, Edward. About Lily."

Edward nodded quietly and for a few moments, the brothers watched Camelot in silence. Elizabeth had sworn that Alexander had known nothing of what she had done. Edward had sworn that he would get even with Elizabeth, and she had laughed at him, telling him that he didn't have the nerve.

"Do you believe in balance, Alexander? That for every good thing that happens, something bad needs to happen to keep a balance?"

Edward turned around and looked at his older brother, who now had a slight frown on his face as he contemplated the question.

"I do. Why?"

"And do you believe that if you do a good deed for someone, something good will happen to you as repayment? That if you do a bad deed towards someone, then something bad will happen to you as well?"

"Edward, what are you hinting at? Have you seen something in one of your visions, something that threatens our plans?" Alexander asked and Edward offered a small smile, a smile that Alexander knew all too well meant that Edward was hiding something. "What aren't you telling me, Edward? What are you hiding?"

"You don't need to worry, Alexander. What I've got planned has nothing to do with you," Edward answered cryptically and just then, one of his visions assaulted him.

Blood everywhere... women and children screaming... immortal protectors risen and fighting... Arthur searching the night sky... the last dragon coming to Camelot's defence... Arthur with Excalibur cutting the snake army down... Merlin squaring off against Alexander... Elizabeth in a corner, cowering in fear... Alexander lying on the floor covered in blood... the dead dragging Elizabeth to the ground... Edward smiling as he looked up at the night sky, telling Lily that he's finally coming home...

"Are you well, Edward? What did you see?" Concern and tenderness reached Edward's consciousness as the seer made sense of the disjointed images that had flashed through his mind only moments ago.

"I saw our destiny, brother," Edward answered and patted Alexander's hand.

Just then, Elizabeth emerged from the trees, an army of demons and corpses behind her. The one green patch of grass that Edward had created, with the flowers, wilted and turned to ash at her arrival. The twins gave each other hateful looks before Alexander could see, and then their faces were a mask of smiles and warm welcome. Alexander quickly told Elizabeth of the vision, saying that their destiny was to be fulfilled, and Elizabeth beamed. Looking at his siblings, the quiet man wished that the image of Alexander lying in blood didn't come to pass, or that if it did, then he wished Alexander's end came swiftly and with little pain. At moments like this, where Edward was on the side looking in, he wondered if things would have gone differently if Elizabeth hadn't been around, if she had been the one burnt at the stake all those years ago, and not their father...

"It's time."

Edward turned away from his siblings and began to walk down the hill, new grass sprouting up with every step that Edward took. He knew he was going to die at some point during the battle, but when he did, Edward was going to make sure he didn't go down without a fight. Or without killing Elizabeth.

The feel of his father hugging him back was enough to bring fresh tears to Arthur's eyes, and Arthur could only hold on tighter. Crackling wood from the torches echoed loudly in the stone crypt and as Arthur finally pulled away from Uther, the two Pendragon men stared at each other. Uther, in his bright red uniform with long, flowing cape, shining armour gleaming brightly in the torchlight while his sword hung at his side in its highly polished scabbard. Arthur, in his own matching uniform, stood with Excalibur in hand and golden crown atop his head. Two Kings of Camelot, one from the present and one from the recent past. None of this would have been possible without...

"Merlin!"

Spinning around, Arthur tried to find Merlin amongst all of the other dead kings. There was no sign of Merlin, though, and Arthur turned back to his father. .

"I can't believe he did it," Arthur started incredulously, blue eyes tearing up again. Remembering who it was in front of him, Arthur rubbed at his eyes.

"You don't have to hide your tears," Uther stated, and Arthur looked at him. "I'm just as happy to see you, Arthur, even if I don't shed my own tears. You have no idea how proud I am to see you — king, now, in your own right."

A wave of embarrassment washed over Arthur and his cheeks took on a red hue. "Father..."

"Don't go all sentimental on me, Arthur. I know it has only been a matter of days since my... passing... but I have seen the things that you have done in that short time and I am proud of you. You are a great king."

Arthur wasn't sure how to take the praise, whether his father actually meant it or whether or not Uther was just saying that because it was the right thing to say. Looking into the older man's eyes, Arthur saw the truth.

"But how can you be proud of me, father? Camelot is on the brink of being assaulted by magic so dark, so evil, that complete destruction is highly probable. The only thing standing in the way of that is Merlin and I — and I am the reason Camelot is being attacked in the first place. How can I be a great king, father, when so much destruction is going to be my fault?"

Uther took hold of Arthur by the forearm and guided him to the steps by the door. Arthur sat down, looking up at his father.

"Every king has had his tribulations, Arthur, some more than others. Yet no matter how hard their trials were, no matter how grave their troubles, each king valiantly fought until the end, and made Camelot that little bit greater. You, Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot, are no different. You may have caused all of the trouble that is now befalling Camelot, but the actions you take now will decide the outcome." Uther put his hand on his shoulder. "If you have prepared properly, gotten all of the women and children to safety, armed your men and have used everything at your disposal, you're half way to victory."

"And what guarantees victory, father?"

The older man smiled kindly at the younger.

"You, Arthur, you guarantee victory. How you handle your men in the last few moments before battle will determine everything. For most of them, they know that they won't live to see Camelot again, or their families. Give them hope, Arthur, rally their spirits. Let them know that although they will die, they will live on in history as being the brave men who laid down their lives for a kingdom and king they were proud of," Uther answered and another warm smile blossomed across the man's face. "With your men's spirits high and their hearts filled with pride, you will be able to conquer anything. I guarantee it."

Arthur looked at his father. A large part of Arthur wanted to disregard everything that he had just been told, that a speech right before battle could change the outcome was ridiculous, wasn't it? It's not, a tiny voice whispered in Arthur's head, It's not ridiculous if you believe in the power of your men to rally together.

"Then it appears I have a speech I need to write."

With a smile, Arthur asked his father to sit beside him while he prepared his final speech to his people.

The heated night air didn't touch Merlin's body as he stepped over the wooden drawbridge; the rain falling from the sky did not drench his clothes or body with its moisture. Piercing blue eyes looked straight ahead as he stopped at the edge of the stone wall, peering out across the field that would soon be drenched with blood. For about one hundred paces in front of the wall, the last of the men were trying to get the traps dug hastily, and Merlin wondered if all of their efforts would be enough in the end. Don't give up hope, Merlin heard echo from within his head, only for him to reply with, I just don't want to see all of this go to waste. Focusing his gaze on the trees in the distance, Merlin suddenly felt as though he was being taken out of his body, flying high up above the ground. Looking down, he could see nothing but a writhing, moving mass of serpentine bodies and other creatures mixed with them. The mass seemed to go on for miles, and at the head were the three siblings that wanted to destroy Camelot.

Shivering as he returned to his own body, Merlin turned to the left and placed his hand on the wall. Heat and light blossomed outwards, and Merlin slowly began to walk, never breaking the connection with the smooth marble. In his mind's eye, Merlin could see the intricate weaving of the spell that he was casting, from the very beginning of the spell to the very end. He could sense the power within his body surge as the spell funnelled to its climax, almost as though it were a spider web, starting off wide but ending in a definitive point. Very quickly, almost instantaneously, the white stone began to heat up and change shape, loud, thunderous cracking noises filling the night air. Merlin saw from the corner of his eye that the men who had been digging the traps dropped what they were doing and stared in a mixture of amazement and disbelief. He knew what they saw and smiled as he continued to walk.

Behind him, large stone giants broke away from the outer wall of Camelot. Loose bits of rock fell to the ground as the creatures stepped once, twice, three times away from the wall from whence they came before standing still. The giants stood as tall as the wall itself, with chiselled faces that bore a look of calm that even the most patient of people would find hard to grasp. Chiselled clothes that were replicas Camelot's armour clothed the stone men, and in their hands they held a long sword and tall shield. Although the stone giants were huge, they were agile and strong, and Merlin knew they would serve as a superb first line of defence. From the walls, Merlin knew there would be ten of these stone warriors. Any more than ten, and there would be a risk of the giants smashing each other to pieces in such close combat.

Allowing the spell to continue to work its way around the stone wall, Merlin stepped away from the wall and slowly walked down into the grassy area where the traps had been dug. The men there looked at Merlin cautiously before dropping their tools and running back into the safety of the castle — away from the man who had created those stone giants. Although fully dug, the traps were still simply empty holes — only a minor irritation to the demons. I can certainly fix that. Merlin smiled as he stepped down into the first trap. Holding his hands up in front of him, palms directed outwards to the earthen wall of the trap, Merlin began to whisper ancient words that hadn't been spoken for centuries.

Slowly, the far wall of the trap began to crumble, dark brown earthen lumps cascading over one another as they fell forward. One by one, all of the traps became one long, winding moat all the way around Camelot. As Merlin stepped forward, the walls of the traps began to become as smooth as a sword blade and gleamed as though they were highly polished. A gurgling sound came to Merlin's ears, and he turned around briefly to see the trap begin filling up with tar, the black viscous liquid shimmering under the moonlight. Merlin walked around the length of the trap area and the tar filled up space behind him. After about twenty minutes of slowly walking around the entire length of the new moat, Merlin finally finished in front of the wooden drawbridge that he had started at earlier.

Looking from left to right, Merlin saw that the stone giants stood as silently as when they had first broken away from the wall, and looking in front of him, Merlin decided that a plain tar pit wasn't nearly as destructive as he wanted it to be. He wanted it to be a thorn in the side of the siblings, a thorn that itched and gnawed away at them because Camelot wasn't going to just allow them to take it without a fight. Smiling wickedly, Merlin felt the ground beneath him begin to tremble violently, yet neither he nor the giants moved a millimetre. Large wooden spears suddenly jutted out of the tar pits, pointed tips looking dangerously perilous. As quickly as the trembling began, it was just as quickly replaced with a large whoosh of fire suddenly igniting the tar, flames rising high into the air before suddenly disappearing. Although the fire was gone for now, Merlin had enchanted the area so that as soon as one snake demon fell into the trap in any area, the flames would be back and would serve as a defensive ring keeping things out. Hopefully.

Pleased that he had done all that he could there, Merlin turned and walked back towards the drawbridge, soft leather riding boots making hardly any sound on the wood. As he neared the end of the drawbridge and the entrance to the main gate, goosebumps started to erupt on Merlin's arms and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. A sickly feeling blossomed in Merlin's stomach, from the very pit of it to the inside of Merlin's mouth. Twisting his body around slowly, Merlin gazed out towards the trees, and his blood ran cold. Once again, he felt himself lifted out of his body, able to see clearly the three figures standing at the edge of the trees He could see that Elizabeth was standing at the very front with Alexander, talking quietly. At the back and to the side, surrounded by bluebells and dandelions, was another man, and Merlin guessed that this was Edward.

Returning to his own body, Merlin glared out towards the trees. The icy fear that had gripped his body now melted away and dissolved into anger. Anger that they were there, looking at Camelot as an easy target. Anger that Merlin had even spent a second thinking that he should accept their offer to save Arthur. Anger that the three of them even thought they had a chance that they would succeed. Letting that anger fill him, Merlin held his right hand up towards the sky and an electric blue bolt shot out towards the clouds. The blue bolt disappeared within the clouds and within an instant, the rain ceased, the clouds cleared and the blackness of the night sky was illuminated by the full moon. Without warning, three loud booms were heard in the sky, and Merlin looked back towards the trees just as three loud explosions erupted where the siblings were standing. Merlin didn't know what he had just caused, but he knew that all three were unharmed. He had just given them a taste of what was to come, that was all.

Smiling to himself, Merlin turned and began to walk down the streets of the lower town. In the distance, the echoing sound of metal striking metal wafted to Merlin's ears on the gathering breeze. There was only one person Merlin knew who could still be working. Galwaine had been busy in the smithy workshop since the moment everyone sprang into action, and it appeared that even now, hours before the battle, Galwaine was the only smithy still working actively to make as many weapons as possible. As Merlin walked past vacated homes and eerily quiet taverns, more magical weaves filtered off from his body and quickly snagged onto inanimate objects, creating hidden traps should their enemies breach the wall and outer defences. Turning up the main street, Merlin was greeted with a sight that stunned him.

Men of all ages, sizes and class lined the main street on both sides, creating a throng of bustling commotion as they began to don their armour. . As Merlin pushed his way through the throng, people around him went silent. Hushed whispers of stone giants and flaming pits reached Merlin's ears, and he felt hundreds of eyes on him as he walked through them. The crowd parted and as Merlin reached the top of the street, he was greeted with the sight of Jack, helping some of the younger boys into their suits of armour. Emerald green eyes looked past the young man he was helping and a smile bloomed across Jack's face. The young man saw Merlin, heard the whispers and darted away into the throng.

"You really know how to draw attention to yourself," Jack said, giving Merlin a hug.

"I try not to," Merlin replied with a grin and pulled away from the royal tailor. He frowned. "Where's your armour?"

"I gave it to the young man who scampered off as soon as he saw you," Jack answered and turned to walk towards the smithy area. "I'm going to see if Galwaine has any spare pieces."

"And if he doesn't?"

Without missing a beat, Jack answered quietly, "I've lived a happy life, Merlin. Perhaps it's my time."

Merlin was taken aback by the statement and stubbed his toe on the edge of a water trough as they turned a corner. Quickening his pace so as to catch Jack up, Merlin grabbed hold of Jack by the elbow.

Jack stopped, looking at him. "What's wrong?"

"You're really ready to die, Jack? As simple as that?" Merlin asked and the green eyes stared at him in contemplation.

"Things are never simple, Merlin, far from it. I don't think I've ever met anyone who has been ready to die, and I certainly don't want to... I've got so many things that I want to do," Jack began and offered a small smile. "But everyone dies, Merlin, when their time has come. And if my time is tomorrow... well, I can die defending the city and people that I love."

"But you can't die, Jack, you just can't!"

Merlin grabbed hold of Jack in a tight hug and almost immediately, fine strands of magic began to weave and wrap themselves around Jack. The words and symbols that flashed through Merlin's mind were of strength, protection and a ward against the evil that would soon be flooding through his magical defences. What Merlin cast over Jack was a spell which would prevent any injury, harm or spell from ever touching his friend, now or till the day he died. A small smile spread across Merlin's lips. You're not going to die, Jack, Merlin thought. At least, not unless it's death from old age. Pulling away when he felt the magical strands knot themselves together, Merlin smiled at Jack. Jack frowned, slight suspicion touching the corners of his eyes.

"Why are you suddenly smiling?"

Merlin only smiled a little bit wider, shrugging as he did so. "Can't I just smile?"

"No, not when only a few moments ago you were on the verge of shaking me because I've accepted that I could die." Jack eyed Merlin up and down carefully for a few moments. "Thank you. For whatever it is that you've done."

Merlin gave a playful smile and clapped Jack across the back.

"You're welcome. Now, let's see if we can get you any armour from Galwaine."

The two friends walked with each other towards the smithy yard, and all the while, Merlin continued to lay hidden traps that would only be triggered by the demons and black magic. An eerie silence had begun to fall over Camelot, and with each step he took, Merlin felt as though one more voice was stilled. Turning a corner with Jack, the two men bumped into a large, solid mass of metal weapons. Stumbling backwards, Merlin was about to reach out with magic until William suddenly darted forward.

"Merlin! Jack! Are you all right?" William asked as he scrambled to take some of the weapons, revealing Galwaine behind them.

"They're fine, William," Galwaine soothed and offered a large grin for Merlin and Jack. The blacksmith looked as though the weight of the weapons was nothing strenuous, whereas poor William looked as though he would buckle under his share.

Jack smiled back at the two men and took some of the weapons from William. "Where were you going in such a hurry?"

Before Galwaine or William could answer, Merlin spoke up.

"Where's your armour? Why aren't you wearing armour?"

Surprisingly, it was Galwaine who fidgeted as though caught doing something wrong, while William looked calm and serene as he volunteered an answer.

"We had armour, Merlin, but there were two boys... they weren't older than fifteen summers, and well, they have their whole lives ahead of them..."

"So do you!" Merlin exclaimed, and he stepped closer towards his friends. Why is it everyone I meet or talk to at the moment wants to die? Merlin pondered, only for his mind to answer with, You can do to them what you've done for Jack.

Merlin took a step forward and grasped one of William's hands as best he could, careful not to slice himself upon the sharpened metal sword blades. Jack had a small, knowing smile across his lips as Merlin took hold of Galwaine's as well. Almost instantly, Merlin felt the same protective and highly powered magic begin to weave its way from Merlin and around his two friends. For the smallest of moments, both Galwaine's and William's eyes widened as the magic took hold, and Merlin wondered if they knew what they had just been given. At least I know the three of them are protected.

"Galwaine? William?" Merlin spoke up as the magic tied itself off, just as it had done with Jack. The two men looked at Merlin, both with a questioning look. "Could you do something really important?"

"What is it?" William asked, and Merlin remembered that his young friend had had the same tone of voice when he had told Arthur he was only a shepherd, no one of importance or worth.

"I want you two to guard the tunnels leading to the infirmary and the women and children," Merlin answered and Galwaine instantly nodded, while William still looked doubtful. "My mother's down there, and so is Gaius. I know that there'll be people that Sir Galahad has chosen himself to protect everyone in the tunnels, but..."

"What Merlin's trying to say, William," Galwaine interrupted when he saw Merlin struggling for the right words, "Is that he wants us down there because we won't be lured away by the demons, that we'll stay right by the entrance of the tunnels and we won't move until Merlin comes to get us. We're the only people, William, who Merlin trusts to protect his mother and Gaius. Isn't that right, Merlin?"

"I couldn't have put it better myself," Merlin agreed. All William's ever wanted is for others to treat him as Galwaine treats him, Merlin acknowledged and squeezed William's hand tightly.

"I don't really want to interrupt this moment," Jack said sheepishly, "but we haven't got that long to go, and we need to get these weapons to the men. Plus, I think Merlin would like to spend his last few moments with Arthur."

Galwaine smiled wolfishly, William blushed and Merlin winked as he led the way to the main courtyard.

It was quiet in the armoury, deathly quiet like the grave. Arthur didn't like this eerie silence that had fallen over Camelot as the last remaining hours ticked by slowly, second by painful second. This was the part of battle that Arthur hated the most, more than the actual act of taking another man's life. Waiting for the enemy to strike, waiting for your first line of defence to launch their attacks, waiting for the first blood to be spilt... there was going to be too much bloodshed in the coming hours, and right now, Arthur didn't want to think about it. Looking around the empty armoury, Arthur's eyes settled on his own suit of armour. Walking slowly over to it, Arthur let his fingers glide ever so softly against the highly polished metal.

For a few hours, Arthur had been in this room with Uther, polishing his armour and sharpening his sword. Arthur had listened to Uther's words of advice about how to give the right speech to his men, about what they would need to hear just before they went into battle. Yet the weight of so many lives rested heavily on Arthur's shoulders, and no words of comfort from his father could change that. So, Arthur had set to sharpening his sword, while Uther delicately polished his son's armour. For a while after, they had sat in silence and the only noise between them was the grating of stone against metal, slow and rhythmic. Then, just as the sky started to lighten, Uther had stood up and said that he needed to go to the other dead kings, as the time for fighting was nearly upon them. Which was how Arthur came to be alone...

"Arthur?"

Turning around, Arthur offered a small smile to his lover as Merlin stepped quietly into the armoury, closing the door behind him. Arthur walked to meet Merlin in the middle and silently embraced the other man, crushing their bodies together. Merlin returned the embrace, head buried in the crook of Arthur's neck so that warm breath tickled Arthur's skin. Arthur was the first to pull away, but only so far as to rest their foreheads together.

"What are you doing here, Merlin?" Arthur asked and brushed his fingers against Merlin's cheek.

"I just wanted to be close, Arthur, and what better way to be close to you than to help you into your armour?"

The warm tickle of Merlin's breath against his lips brought memories back to Arthur, but as quickly as the happiness came, it evaporated. We've had so few intimate moments, Arthur found himself thinking. Please, to whatever higher power that's listening... If we get through this battle, I promise, I'll never question Merlin again. Never.

Arthur had forgotten about the talent of reading each other's minds and as he pulled back to stare up into Merlin's eyes, the taller man ducked his head down and locked lips with Arthur. Inhaling deeply and clasping Merlin's forearms tightly, Arthur allowed himself to melt against his only love. He could feel Merlin's nails digging into his flesh, like the talons of a hawk, tight and unyielding. With their bodies pulled tightly together, their arousal and attraction for each was obvious. A tiny, guilty thought fluttered around in Arthur's mind, like a trapped bird trying to spread its wings in hope of escape. We could run, Merlin. We could take the horses and ride to the ends of the earth without looking back, just so long as we're together...

"But you won't, Arthur Pendragon. Cowardice isn't in your nature, and neither is running away from people in need. No matter how much we hate the price that our loved ones pay," Merlin whispered as he pulled away, lips swollen and a deep red from their thorough kissing.

"Merlin..."

"Hush now, Arthur. It's time to get you ready."

Arthur wanted to question Merlin, to find out what he had meant by the cost loved ones pay, but the look Merlin gave him meant the other man didn't want to talk about it.

With gentle caresses, Merlin untied the laces to Arthur's breeches and slipped them down over hips. Next, Arthur raised his arms upwards as Merlin glided the tunic up and over his head before dropping it to the floor. A feeling of warmth spread through Arthur and although he couldn't really explain it, it felt as though Merlin was trying to magically touch his soul, trying to touch the very deepest parts of his being. Closing his eyes, Arthur tilted his head back as the sensation of lips upon his neck enveloped him, even though Merlin was kneeling on the floor undoing the ties to his riding boots. We are going to have so much fun with your magic, Merlin. Especially if you can do more than one thing to me at any time...

We'll see, Arthur, Merlin responded.

Opening his eyes and staring down at Merlin, Arthur stepped out of his breeches carefully and kicked them to the side with the rest of his discarded garments. He watched with fascination as his undergarments came down without any physical help from Merlin, and his aroused member sprang free and stood proudly. Arthur gave Merlin a sheepish smile, and his lover smiled impishly before taking Arthur into his mouth. It was such an intimate moment, so much so that when he felt his impending climax, Arthur wanted to scream that it was happening too fast, that he needed more time with Merlin so close to him, needed time to explore and pleasure Merlin's body. Yet even as Arthur climaxed and filled Merlin's mouth with his seed, Arthur somehow knew that this was enough, that this was Merlin's gift to him. The thought saddened Arthur, although he wasn't quite sure why.

Realising Merlin was looking at him, Arthur felt tears well up in his eyes and spill down his cheeks. Merlin grasped Arthur's hands tightly and kissed the backs of them, his own eyes filling with tears. It's not fair, Arthur cried. We need more time, Merlin. This feels like it's our last time, but I want to make love to you...

No, Arthur. Now isn't the time, came Merlin's reply. Now it's time for me to get you ready for battle. .

Arthur watched with a sad sense of fascination as his new, clean undergarments floated into Merlin's hands from beside his armour. Merlin kissed Arthur's left leg, starting from the tips of his toes, right up and over his manhood, and down the right leg, each kiss lighter and more heated than the last. A tiny nip on his calf told Arthur to lift his legs up one by one. As Merlin stood up, slender fingers dragged searing trails of heat upwards as Arthur's lower regions were covered completely. Standing face to face, Arthur tried to capture Merlin's lips but was quickly denied as Merlin dropped down again, this time to get brand new, soft black breeches pulled on. Instead of standing up straight away, Merlin tied the breeches up first, before kissing and nipping his way all the way up Arthur's torso, which Arthur found very pleasurable indeed.

Arthur growled in frustration when Merlin's lips disappeared from his skin, just long enough to get Arthur's tunic and pull it over Arthur's head. Arthur took the opportunity to dart his head forward and kissed Merlin, just as his arms slid up into the tunic sleeves. The kiss didn't last long because Merlin pulled away and dragged Arthur over to the polished armour. Finally, Merlin tied the last vambrace to his arm and handed Arthur Excalibur. Merlin took a few steps backwards and Arthur felt admiration and pride swell within the other man.

"Now, Arthur. Now you're ready."

Merlin stood at the top of the courtyard stairs and stared out across the sea of men — many of whom would soon sacrifice their lives for Camelot. There was nervous chatter amongst the men, and those on horseback at the very edges of the courtyard tried to heel their skittish mounts into submission. On the top of the stairs, Merlin was flanked by his friends while the dead Kings of Camelot and magically enchanted suits of armour waited in the shadows. To his left, Galwaine and William stood together, the large blacksmith resting his hand on the gentle shepherd. Just behind them, Gaius and Hunith stood, their faces showing signs of weariness and despair at the casualties that would soon be flooding the makeshift infirmary. To his right, Sir Galahad stood proudly with a select few knights of Camelot, all of their armour gleaming and glinting in the early morning sun. The only person missing was Arthur, who was readying himself for the speech he would be giving in a few moments time.

While they waited for Arthur, Merlin surveyed the crowd more closely. There were easily over a thousand men, all squashed and squeezed into the courtyard. He could feel the fear and uncertainty that each man wore upon their faces as though it were his own. If Merlin had been told that there would be a day that both nobility and peasantry would be standing side by side, united by a common cause, he would never have believed it. Now, though, men from every part of the city stood side by side, young and old, experienced and not, united for a common cause, united because of one person — Arthur. Without him, Merlin didn't think they would all be here. A gentle murmuring rose from the crowd, sounding almost like the droning sound of thousands of bees. Although he couldn't make out what was being said, there was no doubt in Merlin's mind that his magic was one of the topics. Merlin just wished that the changes that Arthur would make would last for many years to come, even after Merlin gave up his life this day.

I'm ready, Merlin...

"Noble knights and brave people of Camelot," Merlin began as he stepped forward, "I give you, Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot."

Instantly, the crowd of men hushed and silence fell over them as Arthur stepped out to a silent reception, golden crown atop his head of equally golden hair. A lone cough from someone in the throng echoed out eerily. All eyes looked upon their king and Merlin as the young warlock stood right by Arthur's side, should Arthur need him.

For what seemed like an eternity, Arthur just stood there, staring out across the sea of grim faces, hoping for some divine inspiration. Arthur had rehearsed his speech at least ten times with Merlin, and each time he rehearsed it, it sounded less and less like him and more like a stranger he didn't looked over to Merlin and a familiar sinking feeling grew in the pit of his stomach, as though something terrible was going to happen, either to Merlin or to himself. Blue eyes met blue eyes and for a moment, Arthur focused on Merlin in an attempt to see something that would chase away the feeling of impending doom.

Arthur needs to be protected... love him so much... Arthur, forgive me for what I've got to do... Arthur...

Arthur was completely taken aback by Merlin's broken thoughts and took a few steps towards Merlin and grasped slender hands within his own. Merlin rested his forehead against Arthur's and cupped Arthur's cheek with his ringed hand.

What aren't you telling me, Merlin? What don't I know? Arthur asked, eyes closed and the deafening silence of the crowd crushing his body.

They're waiting for you, Arthur. Merlin pulled away, kissing him on the forehead. And destiny won't wait for anyone, not even for you.

Taking a deep breath, Arthur stepped forward.

"People of Camelot," Arthur began, his strong voice carrying so clearly on the faint breeze that he was sure that Alexander and his siblings would hear him. Another lone cough rang out over the crowd as Arthur stood there, not really sure how to carry on now that he had started. "People of Camelot, in a few hours time, battle will be upon us..."

Arthur's voice trailed off and very quickly, a murmur rose amongst the crowd. Men shifted uneasily on their feet and the gentle clinking of armour resonated throughout the open space.

Be yourself, Arthur. Talk to them from your heart, Arthur. Trust me.

"I had a speech prepared for this moment," Arthur said and looked down at his hands, putting all of his trust in Merlin's unspoken words. He looked up and out over his people. "But I cannot speak those words to you, because telling you something that I don't believe in would be an insult to you all, my brave men. Instead, if you allow me, I will speak to you as simply Arthur Pendragon, a man such as yourselves.

"You all know why you are here, why you have chosen to be here. Soon, darkness will be upon us, the likes of which Camelot has never seen before. Darkness so terrible, so black in the heart that for generations to come, these moments will be forever remembered by word of mouth and by the written word. I cannot even begin to imagine what will come for us, but I do know that it won't be pleasant."

Arthur paused for a few moments to let his words sink in to the now deathly silent crowd.

"It would be foolish of me not to acknowledge that this battle will cost us heavily, not in monetary value or worth, but in lives. I know that for many of us will never live to see another sunrise over Camelot. We will leave behind wives, children, lovers." Arthur turned around to look at Merlin briefly. "If we die before the battle is over, we will never know if our lives were taken away in vain, or the loss of our lives helped the battle to be won. If we die before the battle is over, our loved ones will either survive to remember us, or they will die because we have failed them. So much rests upon our shoulders, more so than ever before, because if we die, if we falter in our path, then our families die with us."

These words Arthur believed with a heavy heart because every word was true. If they fell, then Camelot was lost, and the men needed to hear that Arthur knew what would happen if they failed. I need to hear what will happen if we fail.

"But I tell you," Arthur continued, "Camelot will not be taken today. Camelot will not be taken tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after. When we are dead, Camelot and its survivors will stand tall and proud, a testament to the strength and determination that we as a kingdom have! We will be remembered as the brave, courageous men who stood together, united for a common cause, fighting for our freedom!"

The men began to stir, murmurs and loud, sudden cheers ringing out in the courtyard. Arthur smiled faintly as he stepped forward and down a few steps, wanting to be part of his people.

"Today, we stand here, not to face our deaths, but to welcome our immortality! We will have stories told of us, about how we stared death in the face and did not falter; how we were outnumbered greatly but were still victorious! My friends, our enemy will be the one to quiver and quake in fear, because while we are fighting at the front, sword to sword with the demons, they will be cowering behind their demons at the might of Camelot's men!"

More cheers rang out and the sound of stomping feet reverberated through the ground, drowning out the sound of Arthur's voice momentarily. A sudden tingle ran down his spine and Arthur looked at Merlin and the small smile on his lover's face. Turning back to face the men, Arthur concluded his speech, shouting to be heard, but filled with pride.

"We will not bow to them. We will not cower before them. We will not surrender to them. They will never take Camelot so long as one man is left standing, this I promise you! We will be the victors in this battle! We. Are. Camelot!"

An almighty cheer rang through the courtyard. The first rays of sunlight bathed everyone in a warm glow, which only added to the excitement and courage that all of the men now had. It was short lived though, as huge, black, thunderous clouds suddenly appeared from nowhere, blocking out the sun as an icy wind blew. It's time. Arthur watched as the courtyard emptied out quickly, every man going to his position as Camelot readied for battle. Hands on his shoulders turned Arthur around, and he found himself face to face with Merlin, feeling Merlin's deep love and pride for him. And as Merlin crushed his lips against Arthur's, a large, flaming missile appeared in the sky and arched downwards towards them.

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