Albion: The Beginning of the End (A Merlin fanfic) - Book 2

A Broken Hope

The bright light that emanated from the castle began to fade. The warriors of Camelot and their enemy looked on in confusion but then they saw it.

The sun rays broke through the thick blanket of darkness that overshadowed the sun. The light could not be hidden forever, for the light always conquers the darkness no matter how thick it is.

Leon turned his face towards the sun, its warmth and light bringing hope back into his heart. He turned towards the enemy his face shining with sweat. He cried in a loud voice, a voice of hope to the knights of Camelot, "On me!"

The knights rallied to their leader as the sun continued to break through.

However, as the sun brought hope to those of the light, so did it bring fear upon those who lived in the shadows. Murrin's men saw the darkness defeated by the light which caused fear and panic to arise. They saw the renewed strength and hope in the knights and they became afraid.

The enemy began to grow hesitant and backed away.

"Retreat! Retreat!" an enemy soldier cried out in panic.

The horn sounded the retreat signal and the men turned and ran off into the distance some stumbling and falling in their haste.

The knights of Camelot saw the dishevel and distress of their enemy and they took advantage of it. Their swords gleamed in the sun as they pursued their enemy out of Camelot and into the forest.

Leon and his men rejoiced as the last remnant of the enemy disappeared into the shadows of the forest. Once again, Camelot claimed its victory.

The soldiers came back bringing some of the people who were able to escape into the forest. They helped the injured and led them towards their homes.

Leon and Percival assessed their situation.

The aftermath of a battle was never something the knights looked forward to but it was the reality that they needed to face no matter how exhausted they were. They sighed in relief as they went about to repair that which was damaged.

Leon saw an old person trying to get up. He ran up to them helping them to stand.

"Are you alright?" he asked trying to look into their face.

"Y-yes thank you, kind knight," the person said shakily. They turned to face him but when he saw the face, his heart froze in fear.

Morgana smirked, "You may think you've won but you'd know better than that." She turned and ran off into the forest.

Leon was still in his state of shock when Percival came up to him. "Leon? What's wrong?" asked his fellow knight.

Leon turned to face Percival, "She's back."

The knights of Camelot were stunned in silence, the reality sinking in.

This was not the end.

******

The young knight groaned, the splicing pain in his head making it hard to focus. He was finally able to gather his wits but then he realised with a frightening start where he was and what he was supposed to be doing.

Axel sprung up in shock but a pain shot through his head making him groan again. He steadied himself on the wall that he was bashed up against. He looked up and saw Gaius lying out cold on the floor, the blood trickling down from the wall behind him.

The knight took wobbly steps towards the old man but then he heard a groan which drew his attention to the bed. He looked up and saw the queen tossing and moaning. She was waking up.

Torn between helping the physician and the queen, he felt a little overwhelmed at first, but then he remembered the promise he made to the king and his mind was made up.

Feeling guilty to leave an old man unattended, he headed towards the bed supporting himself on the walls and other pieces of furniture as he approached the queen.

Guinevere's eyes were closed but a frown was etched on her forehead as she kept murmuring incoherent phrases.

"Your Majesty?" Axel whispered. He daren't touch her not wanting to risk the wrath of the king but he had to try to wake her.

"Your Majesty, wake up. It's alright," he said a little louder.

The queen's eyes flew open wide with panic. She sat up but groaned falling back down. She covered her face with her forearms. "What happened?" she asked tiredly.

Guinevere knew that something out of the ordinary had happened. Living in a world where magic existed as well as having it meddled with her life, she knew that something must have happened.

Axel drew in a long breath and replied, "Your Majesty, you have been kept under a time seal. The king said that you were attacked so you needed to be protected, you and your child from any complications."

At the mention of her child, Guinevere's hand flew to her stomach. She exhaled in relief when she felt the bump, however something in her heart stirred and it wasn't good.

"My baby," she said softly looking under the covers seeing the bloody stain still on her night-dress.

"It's alright, your Majesty," Axel assured her. "Your child is safe. You're safe."

The queen looked at him in alarm, her eyes filling with tears.

"My baby." She began to sob.
"I can't feel my child. My child is not moving!" Guinevere let out an anguished cry which filled the room.

"My baby!"

Her heart-wrenching scream struck fear in the knight's heart as she collapsed on the bed, her body wracked in sobs of distraught and despair.