The Once and Future Heir

Chapter 6

"Are you sure?" Arthur asked.

Merlin nodded stiffly. "It was her alright. How could you forget that face?"

Arthur shuddered. He reached out his arm and Gwen snuggled into his chest.

"Who's Morgana?" Alex asked, holding her arms behind her back.

Gaius turned to her and smiled grimly. "Be lucky you didn't know her. She was Uther Pendragon's ward who turned out to be his daughter. When she discovered this and that she had magic, she has been overeager to overthrow Arthur and Gwen and take the throne.

"She knows that there is an heir, but she doesn't know where she is. If Morgana gets ahold of her, who knows what she'll do."

Merlin and Gaius shared a look that made Alex a little suspicious. Before she could open her mouth, a rumble shook the castle, sending larger rocks spiraling down.

"I need to go. They need me outside," Arthur said.

Alex stopped him. "Sire, there is something you need to know. When Merlin said that there was a fake army, it got me thinking. The only way they could make them would be with hay, which is flammable."

This got Arthur's attention. "Go on."

"There is a chance that we could somehow take down one of the launchers and set it all on fire."

Merlin interjected. "The only problem with that is that they aren't hay. They are living, breathing people. I say that they aren't a real army because all they are is simple townfolk hired by Cenred and Morgana to stand there and look scary. But in reality, they haven't the first clue on how to fight or even hold a javelin."

Alex looked down, ashamed. Arthur out a firm hand on her shoulder. "Its okay, Alexandria. No need to feel emberassed. I like your tactical thinking, though," Arthur said with a wink.

With that, he kissed his wife and jogged out the front entrance. Gwen looked at him longingly, then turned and went back to work on a patient. Alex smiled to herself. She longs for a love like Gwen and Arthur's.

A bone rattling boom echoed throughout the castle, shaking the walls so violently that large cracks began to appear in the ceiling. Merlin looked up and grabbed Alex's hand. She looked down at him and saw the urgency on his face.

"Another hit like that could have the ceiling crashing down on us. We need to evacuate all of the knights and staff out into another room."

Alex nodded then repeated the words to Gwen. She immediately took action and started shouting orders to the able bodied manservants to start helping the injured into the corridor.

As they did so, more rumbling told the frightened maids and manservants that they needed to hurry the process up a little bit. Merlin saw them struggling and slowly lifted himself into a sitting position. The pain in his side was excruciating, even so that he started seeing black dots in his vision. Gaius tried to lay him back down but he stopped him. Merlin was determined to help out, even if it meant hurting himself.

Gwen and Alexandria were rushing patients in and out of the room, rolling them on water carts if necessary.

The amount of men in the sick room was agonizing for the army outside. If this kept up, there wouldn't be an army to fight with. Gwen noticed this and stopped everyone in their tracks.

"Everyone listen up!" she shouted over the moans of pain. "I know this is asking a lot of you, and I'm very sorry. We need all knights with injuries that are not restricing to your mobility to go back out and fight. They need as many men out there as possible."

There was silence for a few moments before she got a reaction. Slowly, knights began to shuffle and limp back out into the battle that was not looking to good for Camelot. Alex grinned at Gwen, who was now helping those who couldn't fight out into the large, spacious corridor.

There wasn't as many injured knights as there was before, so it was easier for servants to move around and tend to any serious injuries. Gwen stood back for a moment and smiled. It made her happy that she had such loyal, helpful supporters that would stand by her in dark times. She caught Alex's eye and her smile grew even more.

Alex smiled back, happy to be of service to the queen. She went back to her work and noticed something that made her giggle a little.

Merlin was limping beside a severely injured knight, called Gwaine, helping him to the corridor. It was funny to watch the small bodied Merlin against a strong, bulky body of Gwaine. Alex rushed over to them when she saw Merlin stumble and lose his footing, causing them both to crash onto the cold rock floor. She helped them both up and carried Gwaine on one shoulder and Merlin on the other over to the doors.

Gwens eyes were as wide as platters as she watched this thin and seemingly weak girl support the weight of one knight plus Merlin.

After Alex had set them down, Merlin told Alex something that made her both sad and happy.

"I had to send Toby to Ealdor to stay with my- our mother. He is safe and we can visit anytime."

Then, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Lets just say Arthur doesn't really like dogs."

Alex smiled and fought off tears that were threatening to spill down her cheeks.

Unfortunately, her time of sorrow was cut short when another deafening crash echoed around the empty room.

The ceiling shook furiously. More cracks begain appearing and Alex realized what was happening before it even started to happen.

Remembering her task from earlier, her wild blue eyes searched for the queen. She finally spotted her helping Gaius to the corridor. It was obvious that he had fallen and was hurt in his leg.

Crackling and shifting told Alex all she needed to hear before she was running towards the two vulnerable figures.

She dodged falling debris, trying to reach the queen and Gaius before the biggest piece of rock fell.

Some movement distracted her momentarily as she ran. She looked over and saw Arthur, surrounded by knights, bolt into the littered room. His eyes grew fearful as he watched this wife and trusted friend struggle to move.

In the distance, Alex could hear Merlin shouting her name through tears the size of horses. A manservant held him from running after her, and she could tell that the servant was struggling with it.

Alex was so close to Gwen and Gaius. A few more steps and she was there. She thought she could make it until she saw the mountain of rock's falling right where they stood. Alex had no other choice but to use magic. On Gaius.

Her eyes glowed gold and Gaius flung to the side, out of the zone of falling rock's. Alexs then flung herself at the queen, taking her to the ground and covering Gwens body with her own. Alex transmitted one last thing to Merlin before the crushing rock's hit her.

I'm doing what you said. I am protecting the Queen with my life.

Then, there was nothing but long, endless black.

Hey guys!

Please don't be mad at me for the cliffhanger... I promise I'll write more.
Happy reading!
-Hammie