Ancient Help (A Harry Potter and Merlin Crossover)

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Fall of Camelot

The Feast of Beltane – Hermione's eyes widened in delight, taking in the celebration that was happening in front of her.

This particular feast was never celebrated back in the Wizarding World. Samhain or Halloween was the only thing that they had adapted from medieval rituals and cultures. Once again, the history fanatic inside her was rejoicing over the fact that she was celebrating a nonexistent feast with the people of Camelot.

Merry laughter boomed all throughout the Banquet Hall and she could not help but smile. Although her work was tiresome, she did not mind pouring more wine and changing more plates. The fact that the people were in a festive mood was infectious; nothing, she thought, could dampen her mood today.

At the very front of the Hall sat a strangely silent King Arthur. His Knights were nowhere in sight. They were probably traipsing around, flirting with fair maidens who could steal their heart with pretty smiles. From her position, she could see a sorely disappointed Sir Percival after being blatantly rejected by a beautiful lady.

The ever-loyal Merlin stood silently beside his master. It was obvious that Arthur was not in the mood to celebrate, but for the sake of Camelot's tradition, he had no choice but to throw a feast.

The reason for his downtrodden mood was obvious. A week had already passed ever since Princess Mithian's departure and strangely, Arthur's mood had drastically changed. People would often see him silently sitting on his throne in the Throne Room, staring longing at what Hermione soon perceived as Guinevere's engagement ring.

He missed her so, and it was breaking her heart. Looking around the Banquet Hall, she could count a number of beautiful ladies parading around, showing off their flawless looks and beatific smiles. But Arthur did not notice... His heart, albeit broken from Gwen's betrayal, still sought for her simple beauty.

The brunette sighed and shook her head. 'No, I must be happy,' she said, urging herself to grin brightly once again.

Just then, the sudden sound of the warning bells resounded in the whole hall. Hermione was surprised, the jug of wine slipped off from her grasp and landed with a loud thud on the floor. Gasps of astonishment and fear also filled the halls and people were instantly on their feet.

The doors then were open and Hermione could hear the muffled shrieks and terrified moans from outside. Her blood ran cold and dread filled her heart. Could it possibly...?

Sir Gwaine then entered, his face grave and serious. With his booming voice, he announced, "Camelot is under attack!"

The whole hall went abuzz. Hermione turned her frightened eyes towards Arthur's place and saw the determination and hardness that settled on his features.

She had a feeling today was going to be a long night.

__________

"Are you all right?" Merlin breathlessly asked as he held one of Hermione's hands. The brunette tiredly sighed and nodded her head.

"I'm fine," she replied back.

Outside, the screams of terror of the people of Camelot were loudly heard. Knights, together with wounded civilians, would constantly burst into their temporary infirmary before running off to the chaos outside once again to fight off the powerful Southrons.

She could not believe that the attack that they were anticipating was finally at hand. She had spotted Morgana a while ago, together with Helios, the Southron warlord. His soldiers were quite powerful, almost rivalling the late Cenred's immortal knights. Nonetheless, their mortality was an advantage for the Knights of Camelot; although powerful, they were still able to kill them with the use of their swords and flaming arrows.