A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry about the wait, but WE LOST WI-FI (stupid storm)! It was a horrifying experience. However I have recovered and I'm here with a new chapter of Nightmares, which I suppose is kinda obvious. Now, this chapter is not much action, however it is the set up for something big! Sorry about the lack of action, but I wouldn't to get this up before I went on my trip tomorrow, because it's time you guys had more of this story. The trips only for a few days, then I'll return with a more exciting chapter.
Thanks so so so so so much to all those who followed, favorite, and reviewed! I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are really the best!
Thanks again to those who reviewed: WordsAreLife Bibliophile (another Trekkie! Awesome! And your wish has been granted, you'll get a glimpse at the enemies), Hannaly (yes, I really don't like the whole 'nice Mordred' thing, he is just always evil in my mind, and thanks for the kind review, your reviews always make me smile), agent curly (I'm so glad you love it, and it'll be interesting to see how it all comes together!), DeathGoddesses (I made sure to mention him in this chapter, thanks for pointing that out!), mints and magic (Guest) (awesomer is totally a word, right next to amazingful in the dictionary, and Gwaine definitely deserves a squeal), saroura92 (wow, that would be hilarious but I'm not sure it would totally work out with this story but maybe I'll include it in something else, it's a good idea), Compliment Giver (I don't like him either), Guest (here he is and glad you're enjoying), and don't-even-ask1 (here's the update, I hope you like!)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just a few OCs here and there. It's depressing, I know.
Nightmares
"They're all dead sire." Sir Percival said. "The Resistance has been eradicated."
"Good." Arthur said. "I would be forever fearful if I knew they were still out in my kingdom, hurting my people."
Arthur sat on his throne and wearily put his head in his hands. The fighting in the courtyard had gone on for a long time, even after the Resistance members were dead, for riots still occurred between scared citizens. Eventually things settled down enough for people to go back to their homes and Arthur to his throne. They were all standing in the throne room now; Arthur and all his knights involved in restraining the "Resistance". Well, all knights except 3.
"Tell me," Arthur said, raising his head up as he remembered something important, "Has anyone seen Sir Leon lately?"
"I'm not sure, sire." Sir Percival said. "I don't believe so."
"And what about Sir Elyan? Or Sir Gwaine?" the King asked.
"We-" Sir Percival began to say, but was rudely cut off by two very loud knights barging through the door.
"I'm telling you Sir Leon, I do not know what happened." Sir Elyan said angrily to his loud counterpart. "I was making sure no one from the Resistance escaped through the dungeons, and I found you lying on the floor, unconscious."
"And you didn't see anybody?" Sir Leon said, confused and annoyed and deeply flustered at being found in such a predicament.
"No, I already told you. I did not see anyone." Sir Elyan said, his voice rising.
"Are you sure? Because I-"
"ENOUGH!" Arthur yelled, already at his breaking point even before the two loud and annoying knights came barging in. "Now somebody better explain to me what the hell is going on here or so help me, someone will lose their head!"
The room immediately fell silent.
"Well you see sire," Sir Elyan began, being the first one brave enough to break the silence, "I was walking down to the dungeons to make sure none of the Resistance members escaped that way, as you probably just heard."
"I did Sir Elyan and I can assure you that none of them did, they have all been killed." Arthur said, and then nodded his head for Sir Elyan to go on.
"Very good, sire. Anyway, so I was in the dungeons when I passed the cell where Gaius was locked up, and I notice something strange. There was a knight in a red cloak on the floor behind the bars. Naturally I was curious and wanted to make sure that my fellow knight was unharmed, so I entered the cell and to my surprise Sir Leon, for he was the knight on the ground, woke up as soon as I came in. He looked very confused and I tried to calm him down but he was frantic. Said he couldn't remember how he had gotten there, or what had happened. I have to say, I feared for his sanity, he didn't seem normal. Still doesn't in fact."
"Hey, I'm standing right here." said a mortified Sir Leon, as Arthur drowned him out with "Anything else?"
"Yes, sire." Sir Elyan answered. "It's Gaius."
Arthur nodded, knowing what was coming next. However, the execution of Gaius just had to be done. He was lucky Leon got to do it before, well whatever happened. It was a very important-
"He's not there." Sir Elyan finished.
"What?!" Arthur said, not expecting that response.
"He's gone, vanished." Sir Elyan finished. "I never saw him while I was down there, he must have left before then."
"He probably used the Resistance as a distraction for him to escape." Sir Kay said from the back of the room.
Arthur was shocked. So Sir Leon hadn't killed Gaius after all. "Are you sure you saw nothing having to do with Gaius down there?"
"No, he was just gone. Why do you ask?" said Sir Elyan, confused as to where Arthur was going with this.
"No reason." Arthur said firmly. He was the King; he didn't have to answer anyone's questions.
"I saw him." Sir Leon suddenly said.
"You did?" Arthur said, getting up from his throne.
"Why didn't you say that before?" Sir Elyan said.
"No, I mean, I must have. I don't remember a thing about what went on in the dungeons. I don't even remember going down there. The last thing I can recall is killing that witch that was threatening your life, sire." Sir Leon said, it all starting to come together in his mind. "Gaius must have seen this as an easy way out, and used his wicked skills of sorcery to erase my mind and allow him to escape."
"I believe you are correct in your assumption." Arthur said to Sir Leon. "It makes sense and Gaius has never been one to abandon all sense."
Sir Leon knelt down on one knee in front of his King. "I am gravely sorry, my lord." he said as his head faced the stone floor beneath him. "I have failed you. I was not able to stop the sorcerer's escape. You must punish me as you see fit."
"You are not to blame." Arthur said solemnly to the loyal knight. "It is I and I alone who bear this cross. I have let sorcery take over Camelot, and it is I who should be punished."
Sir Leon looked horrified at what he just made the King admit. "No, sire, that is not true. Again and again you have proved yourself-"
But Arthur held up his hand, cutting off the knights' protests. "You may rise Sir Leon, and I appreciate you being honest with me. Now, does anyone know the whereabouts of Sir Gwaine?"
"I do, sire." Sir Elyan said. "He is helping treat the wounded. Many were harmed in the attack and it's much harder work without a trained physician to help. Gwen is there now as well."
"Then I shall leave them be." Arthur said. "I have council matters to attend to."
And with that Arthur stood up and left the throne room, leaving his knights staring at his retreating back.
XXX
"So how are you holding up?" Gwen asked, pulling Merlin over as the others in the Resistance discussed the possibility of another griffin attack.
"Ok, I guess." Merlin said. "It's just quite a lot to take in at the moment."
"Yes, I suppose it is." Gwen said. There seemed to be something on her mind.
"What is it?" Merlin said, noticing Gwen's hesitation.
"It's just-"
But she was cut off as Elyan suddenly ran into the underground cavern.
"Hello everyone." he said. "The coast is clear. I was able to…" but trailed off when he saw Merlin standing among the Resistance.
"Oh my god, is that who I think it is?" Sir Elyan said.
Merlin sheepishly raised his hand and waved at the flabbergasted knight.
"Yup, it's our friend Merlin in the flesh." Sir Gwaine said happily. "He's back from God knows where to help us."
"Wow, that's-that's amazing!" Sir Elyan said. "How did you-"
"So what's the news in Camelot?" Mordred said, brusquely cutting Sir Elyan off. "We can learn about how amazing Merlin is later, right now we have more pressing matters to deal with." He said after everyone in the room shot him mean glares for interrupting.
Apparently being used to Mordred's rude, but sometimes needed, interruptions, the group sat down at the table to listen to what Sir Elyan had to say.
He told them about subduing the "Resistance" (Gwen gave a small gasp on finding out their fate), finding Sir Leon passed out on the floor (there Gwen and Merlin had to interject with a story of their own), and about the happenings in the throne room.
"So my husband is unharmed?" Gwen asked worriedly.
"As far as I know, he did not suffer from any injuries." Sir Elyan said reassuringly.
Gwen put a hand over her heart in relief. "I should go to him. He has had a rough day, and I must be there for him."
And Merlin could tell by the look in her eyes that she was doing this because she loved the King, not for some petty assignment for the Resistance. Merlin had never loved Gwen more than he did at that moment.
Gwen got up to leave the room. "Merlin, stay here for the night. We will figure out what to do in the morning."
Merlin nodded as Sir Elyan got up beside him and said, "Let me accompany you Gwen, keep you safe until we reach Camelot."
Even though Gwen had told Elyan a thousand times that she would be all right walking through the woods, he still insisted on keeping her safe. She smiled as he joined her out the door, Sir Gwaine following close behind.
And behind them, as they walked off into the fading day, came Mordred.
XXX
The black horse went racing through the night, almost throwing Mordred off. However, he held on, even urging it to go faster as he tried to get to his destination.
And that destination was not a happy one, at least it wouldn't be in the eyes of the Resistance. Good thing they didn't know about it, then.
When Mordred finally dismounted from his horse, he entered the dark castle, deserted for years. Or so people thought.
Mordred followed the main hallway into the Great Hall, where he could hear voices raising and lowering as heated discussions took place.
The Resistance weren't the only ones with a secret location.
Mordred walked in and suddenly all eyes in the room turned to him. And there were a lot of eyes.
The room was full of soldiers. Soldiers looking ready for battle. And at the front of the room sat the commanders of the soldiers, the sworn enemies of the kingdom of Camelot. Everyone who ever hated the Pendragons, everyone who ever wanted to bring Camelot down was in this very room. Mordred was proud to call himself one of them.
Suddenly he caught sight of something, although more like someone, that made his heart stop. It was Robin, the Resistance's greatest sorcerer. And he was in chains at the feet of Odin.
"What? Why is he here?" Mordred said, staring at the boy on the floor. Robin was looking at him in shock. Goodness knows what must be going through his head. Probably something along the lines of, who would ever betray the Resistance?
Maybe I just have larger goals than all of you lot, Mordred thought to himself.
"Well, after that boy Merlin turned me down, I still needed to have a sorcerer to help in our conquest of Camelot." Odin said. "So I found this boy wandering in the woods and decided to take it upon myself to, uh, hire him, whether he likes it or not."
Mordred smiled at that while Robin just looked murderous.
"Speaking of Merlin," Mordred said, addressing the commanders, "I've got some interesting news."
The commanders and their soldiers listened intently as Mordred told the tale of what had transpired in the last 24 hours. When he was done, the commanders all looked extremely pleased.
The lead commander, the one who had organized this whole operation, stood up. "Attention, everyone, attention!" The King of Adoewen said. "As you all know, we have all gathered today as allies, as friends, in the fight against Camelot, the kingdom to rule all kingdoms. We have all signed a treaty to be loyal to one another in this upcoming war for Camelot. Now, based on the news our friend here tells us, Camelot's defenses may be weak. It is the time to strike!"
Everyone cheered, however Mordred did not share in their jubilee. There was still something that worried him. Or better yet, someone.
"But," he said, and the King of Adoewen knelt down to hear him. "What about Merlin? He is back and based on his actions today, he will surely want to protect Arthur."
"That man killed my brother, blew him up into a million different pieces." The King said viscously. "I will stop at nothing until I get his head on a stick. Whatever that takes."
Mordred nodded his head. If there was one thing he understood, it was vengeance. "And why can't I be a sorcerer in the battle? Why must you feel the need to "hire" someone else? I believe myself to be quite good with magic."
"Odin felt the need for another sorcerer. For me, however, I believe you will do quite nicely." The King responded, smiling.
Something in that smile told Mordred that all did not bode well for him, and maybe he should have left well enough alone. Maybe it was even time to leave.
The King suddenly grabbed him by the shirt. "And don't even think about running away." He said menacingly, like he could read Mordred's mind. "Just remember why you agreed to help us in the first place."
Mordred did remember, and he didn't plan on forgetting anytime soon. If this is what it took to see her, then he would gladly fight a thousand armies for this monster in front of him. It had been so long since he'd seen her. He wondered if she'd even-
Suddenly he was broken out of his reverie by Odin yelling, "Prepare the horses and grab your weapons! We leave for Camelot immediately!"
As all the soldiers, and there were so many of them, left the room, Odin turned to the table of commanders. Well, the commanders and Mordred.
"We are marching on Camelot. Someone must go tell her. She will not want to be left out of this." He ordered.
"Can I do it?" Mordred asked. This was his chance, the chance he'd been waiting for.
"Sorry kid, I need you with me." The King of Adoewen said.
"But when will I ever see her? You promised." Mordred knew he must sound like a whiny child, but at this point he did not care.
"All in good time, all in good time." The King said, then strode out of the room with the other commanders as Vortigern got up to send the message to her.
Mordred followed them out.
Camelot's end had just begun.
A/N: Again, sorry about the lack of action but there is some big setup. Please let me know what you think! I am open to suggestions, so if there is something your dying to see happen in this story or upcoming battle, just let me know! Plus I realized that all these knights are called "Sir". Arthur's a knight so I wonder if he was ever called Sir Arthur. Wow, that would be strange, wouldn't it?
Mini idea/rant-Spoilers for Season three, episode 10: So I just rewatched the Queen of Hearts episode, and you know that scene where Uther has Gwen in the throne room being tried for "sorcery" and Arthur tries to come to her defense and goes ballistic when Uther sentences her to death? I just realized, we need that kind of scene with Merlin being excused of treason and sentenced to death and Arthur actually going ballistic with his father, and not joking around! And not really in a Merthur way but in a "You're killing my best friend" kind of way. If u need ideas for writingI would love to read something like that, and I am not the only one! Ok, thank you for letting me have my moment, you may now all carry on with you lives.