Darkness

Darkness and Light

They stood looking across the open space between their encampment and Morgana's. Merlin's magic was reacting adversely to the threat to his home. Arthur and the Knights had all tried to approach him and reassure him, but it was no good. Merlin met with Leon alone, and the pair had a very short, very quiet conversation. As evening drew near, and night started to fall, the cook fires were lit, and the Knights and various soldiers began their evening tasks. Arthur was sitting by a fire with Gwaine, Elyan, and Percival, when Leon approached with a few guards Arthur didn't recognize.

"Sir Leon." Arthur said, hoping his First Knight would explain. Leon inclined his head and cleared his throat.

"Sire. These are Agents Carroway and Litar." Leon introduced. "They are here to assume their roles."

"Roles?" Arthur asked, confused.

"You're joking." Gwaine said, deadly serious.

"Not at all." Agent Litar said moving forward.

"Where is he?" Gwaine stood quickly, but Agent Carroway was there pushing him back down on his seat, though no one had seen him move.

"When it becomes clear what the outcome will be, you will either be released and not see them again, or you will be ushered to a predetermined location where you will meet with another Agent that will guide you and William elsewhere." Leon stated. Gwaine growled at him.

"You cannot keep me from this fight."

"We can and we will." Leon said definitively. "The outcome should be fairly obvious in the next few hours. Possibly the next hour."

"Sir Leon. What authority are you basing these decisions on?" Arthur asked, genuinely curious.

"The authority granted to me as the assistant to the Spymaster." Leon answered.

"And who is the Spymaster? I never even appointed one." Arthur watched Leon's face.

"If you can believe it, your father appointed him. He was at the advantage of being able to go unnoticed and unobserved the easiest. Can you not guess?" Arthur let out a sigh.

"Merlin. Of course it would be Merlin." Arthur swiped a hand over his face. "And you are acting under his orders?" Leon nodded. "Where is he?" Arthur asked, gritting his teeth. Leon stood straighter, ready to defend the warlock.

"There is a ridge ahead that we can use to observe. He should have reached the middle of the field by now."

"Sir Percival, you and Sir Elyan, gather the troops to the ridge. We will stand with him and await his word to intervene." Arthur directed and stood, sheathing his sword. The agents stayed right by Gwaine, which clearly irritated the man to no end, but Arthur was thankful. It meant that no matter what happened, William would still have at least one parent. Arthur nodded at Leon, sure his gratitude came across. Especially when the Knight gave a small grin.

They stood at the ridge, all of Camelot's forces that Arthur had brought. It was enough that they would be able to prevent the dark army from reaching Camelot, but he doubted that it would be enough to deter his sister. The opposing army lined behind Morgana in a similar fashion. Arthur had never been a praying man, but at the moment, he was praying to every entity he could imagine.

////////

Merlin knew that it was a risky move, sending Leon with the agents to intercept Arthur and Gwaine. But he needed it done. Leon was the one who had worked with Merlin in the early days, getting established in the spy world. He'd never been on missions in visiting kingdoms, but he had his hands full with the protection detail for the Prince, then King. When the former Spy Master had been killed during the immortal army attack, Uther had already appointed Merlin as the next in line. Leon served as his second, as he himself had served before. Leon had no taste for the spy world, but he knew the importance of the tasks. When he had been told of the details surrounding Merlin's true heritage and impending departure, plans were put into play that had not been used in some time. Merlin had passed on a majority of his information and tasks to Leon. Leon had acquired himself a lieutenant, well two. And they were currently upholding their assigned tasks by guarding and protecting Gwaine. Arthur was never meant to know that Merlin was the Spy Master. The role was to remain a secret to all but a select few. No going back now.