Merlin: the secret prince

Days leading upto fighting the tyrant

For two days straight, the knights of Camelot had been pushed to their limits. Training both on the ground and in the air, they learned to move as one — mastering the intricate dance of aerial combat atop their dragons, alongside the brutal efficiency of swordplay and tactics on foot. Merlin watched from the sidelines, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips. Their determination was impressive. He had decided that, after a long morning of drills and sparring, they deserved a break. Most of the day was theirs to rest — but only after the early session.

Arthur had been awake for over an hour, though sleep still clung to him in the form of heavy eyelids and slow breaths. His mind wandered, wondering what Merlin might be doing this morning. Something tugged at his curiosity, and with silent steps, he left his room and headed down the dimly lit corridor toward Merlin's chambers. The castle was waking, distant sounds of servants preparing the day filtering through the stone walls.

But before he could knock, a loud, exasperated voice shattered the quiet:

"Put me down, you buffoon!"

"No!" Merlin's voice whined back in protest, unmistakably annoyed.

Arthur pushed open the door and stopped short.

Inside, chaos reigned. Percival and nearly all the knights of Deria hung upside down, suspended several feet in the air by shimmering threads of magical energy — Merlin's magic. Their armor glinted faintly as they dangled helplessly, some attempting to twist free, others resigned to their predicament.

Arthur blinked, trying to process the scene. "What on earth is going on here?"

Percival craned his neck, frustration etched deep across his face. "We've been trying to wake Merlin for a meeting for the past two hours. He refuses to get out of bed!"

Isaac struggled against the invisible grip that held him aloft, shouting, "Someone get Eli!"

Arthur looked around, puzzled. "Why do you need Sir Elijah to wake Merlin?"

Noah, leaning lazily against the doorframe with a mischievous grin, explained, "Elijah's the only one who can rouse him in the mornings. Even Liliana sometimes fails."

Arthur chuckled softly at their misery.

"Noah!" the knights chorused.

"ELIJAH!" Noah called louder, his voice carrying through the chamber.

A moment later, the door burst open and Sir Elijah strode in, his presence calm and commanding. "Yes, Sire?" he asked.

"You know what to do," Noah said, nodding toward Merlin's bed.

Sir Elijah suppressed a smile as he moved among the floating knights, gently freeing them from Merlin's magical bonds. Then he turned to Arthur and sighed heavily, grasping the prince's arm and pulling him off the bed. "You do this every time, clotpole."

Arthur laughed outright, unable to keep the amusement from his voice. Merlin and Elijah exchanged light-hearted barbs as they stood face to face.

"Shut it, dollophead!" Merlin snapped at Arthur, which only made the prince laugh harder. Percival chuckled beside them, the tension broken.

"You got it, idiot," Arthur retorted.

"CLOTPOLE!" Merlin shot back, grinning widely.

"Boys, enough," Gwen called, entering with a purposeful stride after hearing the commotion. "Hunith, Lady Lilliana, and the princess want to see everyone."

"Gwen, stop being so formal!" Merlin shouted from behind a nearby screen as he dressed.

"Why?" the queen asked, genuinely puzzled. She had forgotten the countless times Merlin had reminded everyone of their dislike for titles.

Merlin stepped out, now fully adorned in his royal attire and crown. "How many times have I told you—we all hate being called by our titles."

Gwen smiled gently, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Merlin. But why? Isn't it a formality? I still sometimes have to remind myself that I'm queen, but you've been royal your whole life."

Merlin's gaze softened as he answered. "Here in Deria, titles are earned, not simply inherited. That's why Elijah became a knight. People say my siblings, Lilliana, and I deserve our titles, and perhaps we do—but no one here stands above another. We're equals, though some may be more fortunate."

Percival stepped forward, voice earnest. "That's how we were raised. A nobleman can become a servant, and a servant can rise to be a knight, fighting among the best armies in the land. Merlin's claim to his title is the strongest of all. We've watched him grow into the man he is today. He lost his kingdom to someone he trusted more than anyone outside his family, and now he's ready to face that betrayal again because he can't bear to see his people suffer."

"He's a warrior every boy and girl looks up to—the kind of leader Deria desperately needs. Even those who lived under King Balinor believed Merlin would be a better ruler than his father," Percival added with conviction.

Noah nodded in agreement. "All true. But Mother must be waiting. Shall we?"

They made their way to the council hall, the heavy wooden doors closing behind them with a sense of gravity. Merlin took his place beside his mother. His knights and trusted advisors arranged themselves carefully around the chamber.

"Mother, you called us?" Merlin asked once everyone had settled.

"We've received troubling news about your uncle," Hunith said, her voice cautious.

Merlin's eyes flashed. "He's not my uncle!" he growled.

"Stefano found out you're alive and back home. He's gathering troops. We received word last night that he will attack in two days," Amelia explained.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Merlin's voice sharpened, frustration creeping in.

"You were training the knights from Camelot!" Liliana argued gently.

"But this is more important!" Merlin snapped.

The knights from Camelot shrank back, while Deria's bowed their heads apologetically.

"We need to finalize our plan soon, Merlin. We cannot waste energy," Percival reminded firmly.

"Fine," Merlin said, voice softening but determined.

Noah stepped forward. "We know our troop numbers and assignments. Now we need to plan the approach to the throne room—where Stefano will most likely be."

Merlin laid out the strategy with precision. "The Knights of the Round Table, Morgana, and Elijah will ride with me on dragons before entering the castle. Lilliana will lead a knight and the magic users into the forest to eliminate scouts before advancing into Lowertown. Amelia will command the swordsmen into the citadel. William will assist her with ground archers from Deria and half of Camelot's archers. Noah, you take the dragon riders and remaining archers."

He turned to Gwen. "You stay here with Mother, assisting Uncle Gaius and Luca, our court physician."

"Lilliana, after clearing Lowertown, set up a force field at the entrance to block Stefano's troops."

"Gwen, once that's done, I'll send you a message to evacuate the commoners still trapped there and ensure they're safe."

Merlin faced Gaius and Luca. "Can you keep the injured alive until Noah, Lilliana, and I return?"

Gaius sighed heavily. "We'll do our best, but we can't guarantee how many or for how long."

Luca added quietly, "Please come back safely, Sire."

Merlin placed a reassuring hand on Luca's shoulder. "When we return, we'll perform the healing spell together. Meanwhile, can you manage basic healing?"

They both nodded, determination in their eyes.

The meeting ended, and the room emptied, leaving Merlin alone with his thoughts for a moment. He looked to the window, watching the first hints of twilight paint the sky.

Two days remained.

Two days until war.

Two days to prepare.