The Royal Scandal *Book Two*

The Prophecy Foretold S2 E13

It was not a good idea. Far from it actually, if it was on a scale from good to bad... it would be on the other side of the room let alone the other side of the scale. It was probably the biggest screw up of my entire life. How big of a screw up you might wonder... well, let's just say that at least a couple dozen innocent civilians have died because of mine and Merlin's sheer stupidity. And for two days and nights, this had been happening but it was not going to stop, not until we did something about it.

Fire blazed down on Camelot, buildings collapsing all around us. The constant screams of terror fill the night sky. But we weren't going to stop. So after much persuasion, I ran out with Arthur, wearing one of his spare pieces of armour that fit surprisingly well, into the danger. A dozen knights and Merlin followed just behind us as we ran across the courtyard.

"I know you are tired, but make one last effort for me," Arthur requested, panting from how quick we were all running. "Every shot must count!"

Walking onto the battlements, I readjusted the bow on my back, flipping my plaited hair over my shoulder as I did so. Before this had all started, Merlin had given me one of his favourite red neck bandanas to tie around the bottom of my bow. No one else would've noticed where I had gotten it from but both Merlin and I were hoping that it would give us at least some sort of luck.

"I'm sorry you're having to do this," Merlin apologised to Arthur, as I looked down guiltily, knowing this was as much my fault as it was his.

"Why? You're not to blame," Arthur replied, taking the crossbow off Merlin. Oh, if only he knew.

Looking over at me, Merlin gave me a sad smile of comfort, trying to get us to both ignore just how wrong Arthur really was. Because it was entirely our fault. The burning houses that were once filled with happy memories, the screaming civilians running for their lives, the crying children left alone without their parents... it was all our fault. Giant wings flapping ahead of us caught my attention and then I saw him. Kilgharrah was flying towards us, roaring loudly in the distance.

"Flame up!" Arthur instructed. Lighting up a flame, I turned to Leon who was by my side and lit his bolt up before lighting my own. "Stay strong! Tonight is not your night to die, I'll make sure of that." Kilgharrah flew closer to us and beside me, I could see Leon trying to hide his shake. "Hold firm!" Kilgharrah was still flying closer. "Hold! Hold!" And closer... and closer. He was right on top of us! "NOW!"

Releasing the flaming arrow in my bow, I watched as Kilgharrah easily dodged everything that was thrown at him. Damn it! We barely had any time to react before everyone ducked down as more flames came burning down on us. This was going to be a long battle and I didn't know just how we were all going to make it through it alive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arm slung over my shoulder, I helped an injured knight into the medical wing where Gaius had set up camp with Gwen as his assistant. I lowered the knight onto a bed as carefully as I could just as one of the other helpers came over to attend to him. Only once I was sure that he was comfortable and well looked after did I leave to go and find either Gwen or Gaius to see if they wanted me to stay and help but as I did so, a small hand grabbed onto mine, stopping me from going very far. Turning to the hand, my eyes widened when I saw little Leo holding onto my hand tightly, his clothing, hair and face all covered in soot and smelling strongly of smoke.

"Leo, are you okay?" I immediately asked, crouching down in front of him only to notice he had tears streaming down his face.

"I can't find her," Leo cried, and I needed no other explanation to know who he was talking about. "They won't let me go, they said it's too dangerous. They're going to leave her out there."