"if my father were still here, he'd protect ealdor with his dying breath, and i shall do the same."

[1.10 — The Moment of Truth]

"Thanks for helping me get the water," Lia said. She and Merlin had gone to the lower town to collect some water for Gaius. "I didn't want to have to make the trip twice."

"It's no problem," Merlin said, picking up one of the now full buckets of water. "Though I'm sure you could've just bat your eyelashes at a knight and had him help."

"Perhaps, but then I'd spend the whole time trying to ignore the flirtatious comments."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll never tell you you're beautiful," Merlin assured her. "You're revolting to look at."

Lia giggled. "Likewise."

The pair happily moved through the bustling crowds of Camelot once they got all the water. Though they didn't make it far when Merlin spotted a familiar face. It was his mother, carrying very few travel items, looking as if she had only just arrived in the city.

"Mother?" he called, gaining her attention.

As soon as Hunith spotted her son, she rushed towards them. "Merlin! Lia!"

Hunith tried to hug him, but Merlin held her back, inspecting her face. Lia too noticed the bruising around her eye. Merlin held her face gently. "What happened? Who did this to you?" he asked angrily.

Hunith only smiled sadly up at him. There was a lot to discuss.

| | |

Of course, Merlin had gone to Arthur right away to ask for help. The Prince did not waste any time getting Hunith an audience with King Uther to plead her case. They were all gathered in the throne room, and Hunith stood before Uther and the court while Merlin and Lia hovered a few feet behind her.

"The winters are harsh in Ealdor, and there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is, and if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help," Hunith explained.

"Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom," Uther stated. Lia bit her lip and looked to the floor, already knowing where the conversation was heading. "Your safety is his responsibility."

"We've appealed to our King, but he cares little for the outlying regions. You're our only hope," she told him.

The court looked to Uther expectantly, waiting for his answer. The King noted, however, that one of them continued to stare at the floor — Uther had been watching Lia more carefully since he began speculating her origins. "I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth."

"You'll help us?" Hunith asked hopefully.

"I wish I could," Uther said regretfully, and surprisingly, he meant it.

"Surely we can spare a few men?" Arthur asked him, frowning.

"Resources are not the problem," Uther told him.

"Then what is?" Morgana asked.

"Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Essetir. For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war," Uther explained.

Hunith suddenly dropped to her knees before him. "I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you, help us, please," she begged.

"The accord we've struck with Cenred was years in the making. I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help." His decision was final, and none would change his mind.

Morgana glared at the King before joining Hunith's side. She helped her stand before escorting her out. With a nod from Arthur, Merlin was allowed to follow them. The other members of the court began to exit as well, and Lia and Gaius were among them, but they were stopped by Uther.

"Lia, will you remain for a moment?" the King asked.

She shared a surprised look with Gaius before she approached him. Everyone else continued to leave aside from Arthur and the guards stationed. "My Lord?" she asked while bowing to him.

"I am curious as to how long you lived in Ealdor?"

There it was. His first question about her origin. Lia supposed she had been lucky to go a month without him asking about Lórien and her sword. Arthur gave his father a curious look at the odd question, though did not ask why he cared. He was the King and could ask whatever he liked.

"My father and I settled in Ealdor when I was eleven, Sire. Before that, we wandered for two years after our home was destroyed."

Lia knew it was the confirmation that he needed. Surely Uther would be able to do the math and realize that she had been nine at the same time that Lórien was destroyed. And she was right. If Uther had doubted it before, he was certain now that she was from there.

Though he decided against confronting her about it with so many others present. Instead, Uther simply nodded. "Then I am sorry another home may be destroyed."

"You are not to blame, My Lord. You must think of your own people's safety, something that Cenred does not understand, it seems," Lia told him.

The King was surprised at her understanding but did not voice his thoughts. Instead, he simply dismissed her and Gaius.

"Why the sudden interest in Gaius' apprentice?" Arthur could not help but ask as they watched her leave.

"It is none of your concern."

| | |

"So you're leaving as well?"

Lia had been in her chambers and packing all her belongings — well, not all of them. She had acquired several more dresses and decorations which she couldn't carry all the way back to Ealdor. So, she packed her favorites and the things that meant the most; a poetry book that Morgana had gifted her, saying it made the ward think of her, some pressed flowers from Gwen, Leon's red handkerchief from that first day in Camelot that she never actually returned. Perhaps, she thought, if she ever returned to Camelot, she'd get the rest which Gaius would keep safe for her.

That was how Arthur found her, carefully folding her red dress and placing it in her bag. The door had already been open, so he simply knocked on the wall and spoke to announce his presence. Lia looked up, surprised to see him all the way at the physician chambers. Truthfully, she had been debating even seeking him out to say goodbye — saying goodbye to Leon had already been hard enough.

"Yes," Lia answered simply. "If you're looking for Merlin to squeeze some last-minute work out of, I'm afraid Gaius has beat you to it. He's buying some sage for him in the markets."

"No, Merlin's already said his goodbye. I suppose I just wanted to see if you were joining him. And..." he simply gestured to her almost completely packed bag. "He says you aren't coming back."

"No, I don't suppose we are," Lia mumbled. She stared down at her bed, trying not to get emotional. No, she didn't want to leave Camelot, but she had to. They could not let Hunith and everyone back in Ealdor suffer. Where Merlin went, Lia followed. "Don't worry, Sire. You'll find a servant who's just as much fun to pick on. You'll forget all about us."

Lia glanced at the Prince as he stood behind her. Slowly, he ran his thumb over the pink ribbon in her hair, as if committing the moment to memory. "I'd never forget about you."

Lia's chest tightened at the touching moment, but she knew it couldn't go on. Out of everyone in the kingdom, Arthur was probably the only person that could convince her to stay, and she wouldn't allow him the chance, whether he planned to or not. She looked back at her bag and placed her final dress in it before closing it tightly. Then she turned to face him, a sad smile on her face.

"It's been an honor to know you, My Prince. And I may not be here to see it, but you will make a truly great King of Camelot."

| | |

Before they were set to depart, Lia and Merlin went to Gwen's house for weapons. Merlin had never actually had a sword, and Lia's was now sitting at the bottom of a lake, so they needed something to defend themselves against Kanen and his men. But Lia also had a backup weapon — a bow, which was sitting against the wall by the door. She had her quiver of arrows strapped to her back.

"Here," Gwen said while handing Merlin a sword. Lia was already inspecting hers — it was impressive, and Gwen's father had done a wonderful job crafting it, but it wasn't the one she was used to wielding. "Tell me how it feels?"

Merlin held out the blade and moved it around awkwardly. "Yeah. Yeah, that feels - that feels really good. It's very, uh,  you know... swordy," he said.

Gwen raised her eyebrows and looked to Lia, who was biting back a smile. Then she eyes Lia who started counting arrows. "You know, it's surprising how many weapons you know how to use for someone so gentle and kind," she remarked.

"Oh, Lia has perfect aim," Merlin praised. "Her father tried to teach me how to shoot too, but I was rubbish."

"You weren't rubbish. You were lazy," Lia corrected, smiling. "You just didn't want to put in the hours required to learn."

"That too," Merlin muttered, making Gwen giggle.

"I've packed some armor for you," Gwen told them, picking up the bag full of armor.

"We won't be able to carry all that," Merlin protested.

Morgan then entered the house dressed in a pair of trousers and a tunic. She looked ready for a fight. "You won't have to. We're coming with you."

Lia grinned while Merlin looked between the two girls, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You're going to need all the help you can get. I can mend armor and sharpen swords," Gwen told them.

"And I know how to fight," Morgana added.

"But y - you can't," Merlin stuttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "I mean, why would you?"

"If it was the other way around, you'd help us. You already have. You saved my life," Gwen reminded him.

"And you and Lia helped me get the druid boy out of Camelot. We owe it to you," Morgana said. "Both of us."

Lia was happy, of course, that they had such loyal friends. The only problem was that Merlin's whole plan had been to use his magic to take care of Kanen and his men. With Gwen and Morgana tagging along, he likely couldn't get away with it without being spotted. They'd have to figure something else out.

| | |

Their last stop before leaving was the physician chambers. Everything was packed and ready, and Gaius had prepared them food for the short journey to Ealdor — it was only a two days ride. Lia had changed out of her dress and into a tight pair of black trousers and a blue shirt, which she may or may not have stolen from Merlin.

"You got the food I prepared for you?" Gaius asked for probably the third time. He was worried they would forget something.

"Yes," Lia assured him.

"Be careful with the wine, Merlin. You know what you're like. One whiff of a barmaid's apron and you're singing like a sailor," Gaius warned.

"I'll be fine," Merlin said, grinning.

"Are you sure you don't want an extra blanket?" he asked.

"It's okay, really," Merlin said.

"We'll be alright," Lia promised.

"Well, make sure you are. Do whatever it takes," he told them.

Merlin put on his backpack before patting Gaius on the shoulder. Of course, that wasn't enough for the physician. He brought Merlin into a hug, which he gladly returned. As they pulled away, Gaius faced Lia, who was doing her best not to cry.

She threw herself in his arms and hugged him tightly. He rubbed her back comfortingly. "I'm gonna miss you."

"And I, you," he whispered. "It's been an honor to have you as my student, My Lady."

| | |

After riding for most of the day, the five of them found a good spot to set up a camp for the night. Merlin, of course, was the one to offer and watch throughout the night. Lia volunteered to stay up with him for a while, and Hunith joined them. As Gwen and Morgana went to sleep, the three of them caught up and discussed the situation in Ealdor.

"They shouldn't be here," Hunith said, glancing back at the sleeping girls. "Especially the Lady Morgana. Isn't she the King's ward?"

"Not that you'd know it," Merlin said, smiling. "She's the only person I know who isn't frightened of him."

"It won't make any difference to Kanen that they're women," Hunith stated.

"I know. But I couldn't talk them out of coming," Merlin said. Then he eyed the bruise on his mother's face, which was slowly beginning to heal. He gently brushed it and frowned. "I want to make him pay for what he did to you."

"Promise me you'll be careful. No one can find out about you," Hunith whispered, worried for his safety.

"They won't. They never do," he assured her.

"They come pretty close though," Lia said, playfully nudging Merlin's side. "You wouldn't believe the number of times he's saved Arthur, the King, and all of Camelot in our short time."

"My little hero," Hunith said, smiling. She gently kissed Merlin on his forehead before getting up to go lay down. "Get some rest. Both of you. Don't stay up all night talking like when you were kids."

Lia leaned on Merlin's shoulder as they sat in comfortable silence. She watched as he picked up a burning stick from the edge of the campfire and blew some of the embers into the air.

"Draca," he whispered.

Lia watched with wonder as the glowing flecks formed into the shape of the Pendragon crest. Then she smiled sadly. The pair hadn't been gone from Camelot for a full day and were already missing it. It wasn't long before Lia fell asleep on Merlin's shoulder, who he lowered to the ground before covering her with a blanket.

Merlin had just about dozed off himself when he heard the sound of a horse in the distance. He glanced worriedly at the others before grabbing his sword to go and investigate. Honestly, it probably would've been safer to wake Lia up and take her with him, as she could fight much better than him. Nevertheless, he crept through the woods alone in the dark with his sword raised, searching for danger.

His search came to a quick end when he felt the sharp tip of a blade pressed to his back. His breath caught, thinking that he was about to meet his end.

"I'd ask you for money, but I know you don't have any," said a familiar voice.

Merlin sighed in relief. "Arthur!" he exclaimed happily. He whipped around to face the Prince, completely forgetting about the weapon in his hand. Luckily, Arthur ducked just in time to avoid being beheaded.

"Put the sword down, Merlin. You look ridiculous," Arthur said, rolling his eyes. Then he snatched the sword from him and headed towards their camp. Merlin quickly followed him with a hopeful grin on his face.

"How much further is it?" Arthur asked Merlin as he got the campfire going again.

"Uh, maybe a few hours," he replied.

"How many men does Kanen have?" he asked.

"Erm, I'm not sure. I think, from what my mother said, maybe as many as forty," Merlin told him. Arthur frowned, knowing it was far too many. He worriedly glanced at Lia's sleeping form, not wanting her to be harmed. Merlin, while usually oblivious, noticed the Prince's gaze. "Don't worry. Lia can take care of herself. She could probably shoot your eye out from thirty yards out."

Arthur chuckled and shook his head. "Will she ever stop surprising me?"

"Not likely," Merlin muttered, smiling.

Arthur eyed her for a few more moments before glancing back at Merlin. "We should get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."

"Thank you," Merlin told him. "I know you didn't have to come."

"Get some sleep," Arthur said, brushing off Merlin's thanks.

He got up from the fire and grabbed his bedroll. Arthur set his things down close to Lia so that she was in his sights. Before he laid down, he gently pulled her blanket up over her shoulder so that she would not get cold. If Merlin noticed the touching gesture, Arthur was glad he kept his mouth shut. Then, the Prince settled in for the night, knowing that when morning came, they'd be faced with several unexpected challenges.

| | |

"You're late," Morgana noted the next morning when they all awoke to see that Arthur had arrived.

"Yes, well, I couldn't let you have all the fun, Morgana," he replied, already saddling his horse. "It's honestly a bit rude that you didn't invite me in the first place."

Once Arthur finished with his own horse, he went to help Lia with hers. She softly smiled at him as he took the saddle from her. "Thank you for coming," she said. "It means more than you know."

Once they were all ready, the group that now consisted of six set out towards Ealdor. They rode swiftly, not wanting to waste any time. As Lia began to recognize the path, she couldn't help but speed up, anxious to reach her old home. Just before they reached the village, they could hear the sound of shouting, meaning that Kanen and his men were already attacking.

When Lia broke through the tree line, she could make out a man standing over another, his axe raised and ready to kill the other. Quicker than the others thought possible, Lia had notched an arrow in her bow which she shot right at the handle of the weapon. The man, who she assumed to be Kanen, lost his grip on the axe, which fell to the ground.

He looked at her, shocked, before seeing that Arthur had dismounted his horse, sword drawn. Lia drew her own as she got off her horse. The bandits certainly hadn't been expecting their arrival, much less a fight with them.

"Kill them!" Kanen ordered.

As Arthur, Lia, Merlin, and Morgana fought the bandits, the villagers did their best to grab the food that Kanen had meant to steal. At first, Arthur tried to watch Lia to make sure she was safe but soon realized that he didn't need to. Merlin hadn't been exaggerating, and the Prince was surprised to learn that she fought almost as well as some of his knights.

As Arthur killed the bandit that he had been fighting, another attacked from behind. However, the blow never came as Morgana blocked it. He watched as she quickly defeated the enemy. She turned to him with a smirk on her face.

"Bring back memories of when I used to beat you?" she asked teasingly.

"That never happened," he denied.

Kanen, seeing that he didn't have enough men for a fight, mounted his horse. "You'll pay for this with your lives! All of you!" he shouted before he and his remaining men ran off.

Arthur quickly looked around at the villagers, making sure that no one was harmed. Then he checked on Lia, who was sheathing her sword. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "I know how to handle myself in a fight."

"Clearly," he said, still a bit impressed. "How did you—"

"LIA!" Merlin had suddenly shouted.

They glanced at him, and Arthur saw him standing next to another boy, waving her over. Once Lia spotted him, a huge grin appeared on her face and she ran over. Arthur watched as she jumped into the boy's arms, hugging him tightly as he lifted her up off the ground slightly.

"Oh, wipe that sour look off your face, Arthur," Morgana said, moving to his side.

"I don't have a sour look," he grumbled, watching as the boy finally let Lia go.

Lia had been so happy to see Will. He was the second friend she made when she moved to Ealdor after Merlin, and she trusted him greatly. After all, he knew not only Merlin's secret but her own.

"I've missed you," she said, pulling away from their hug.

"It's always a pleasure to be in the presence of a princess," he said before jokingly bowing. Lia playfully rolled her eyes and shoved him. Will grinned at his two friends.

"It's good to see you again," Merlin told him.

"How've you been?" Will asked him. "I, er, hear you're skivvying for some prince."

"No. I wouldn't say I'm a skivvy," he denied.

"Oh, I'd say skivvy was pretty accurate," Lia said, giggling.

"Merlin!" Arthur suddenly called. "Gather the villagers. I need to talk to them."

"Yeah, in a minute. I'm just talking—"

"Now, Merlin. There isn't much time," he ordered.

Merlin sighed before rushing off. "Yes, Sire."

"See," Lia said, linking her arm with Will's. "Skivvy."

Will chuckled and they slowly made their way to the middle of the village with everyone else. "So, how's being an apprentice? Or have they already figured out who you are and now you're being waited on hand and foot?"

"Merlin's the only one that waits on me hand and foot, and that's because I throw things at him if he doesn't," she joked. "But it's been wonderful. I've learned so much and helped so many people."

"Well, I can't wait to hear about how exciting Camelot is," he said.

Once everyone in the village had gathered, Lia left Will and joined Merlin's side. Arthur stood on top of a crate so that everyone could see him clearly before addressing them.

"I know Kanen's kind. He'll be back. And when he is, you must be ready for him. First of all, we have to prepare for—"

"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" Will interrupted, moving towards the front of the crowd. Merlin and Lia sighed and shared a knowing look.

"I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot," Arthur replied.

Will scoffed. "Yeah, and, uh, I'm Prince William of Ealdor."

"Will," Lia mumbled, sending him a pleading look which he ignored.

"Keep quiet. He's here to help us," Hunith told him.

"But he's made things worse. Kanen will be back, and when he is, he'll be looking for revenge. You've just signed our death warrants," Will accused.

"He saved Matthew's life!" Hunith said.

"Actually, that'd be Lia's doing," he reminded her.

Hunith opened her mouth to keep arguing, but Arthur stopped her. "That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?"

"We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men," Will told him.

"So what's the alternative?" Arthur asked.

"Give him what he wants," Will muttered. The rest of the village wasn't pleased with his plan.

"Then what?" Arthur asked him. "Those of you who don't starve to death will face him again next harvest! And the harvest after that."

"We'll manage. We'll survive," Will insisted.

"How?" someone in the crowd questioned.

"The only way he can be stopped is if you stand up to him," Arthur stated.

"No. You just want the honor and glory of battle! That's what drives men like you! Look, if you want to fight, then go home and risk the lives of your own people, not ours!" Will said, scowling at Arthur before running off.

"Will!" Lia called. She looked at Merlin helplessly, and he rushed after their friend. She turned back to look at the villagers and saw that Will's words had gotten to some of them.

Sensing this, Matthew caught her eye. "Lia, what would you have us do?"

Arthur, Morgana, and Gwen were quite surprised when everyone turned to Lia for her opinion. It was odd, how they all looked at her as if she was some sort of leader despite the fact that she hadn't lived in Ealdor for some time now. But Lia held her head high and stepped up on the crate with Arthur, looking as if she was used to addressing crowds.

"I did not come back to cower to Kanen's men. This is our home, and we will not let it fall. If my father were still here, he'd protect Ealdor with his dying breath, and I shall do the same. I will follow Arthur, and I'd have you do the same if you're willing."

The crowd seemed to forget Will's warning altogether. They nodded along in agreement with Lia, taking her words to heart.

"I'll follow him," Hunith said, looking at Arthur. "If I'm to die, then I want to go out fighting."

"That goes for me, too," Matthew decided.

"You can count me in."

"I'm in."

"Me too!"

"Yeah!"

Lia grinned as those she had grown up around agreed to fight. They still had a long and hard road ahead of them, but it was a start. A spark had been lit, she just hoped that it could be fanned into a flame before Kanen and his men returned.

| | |

Once night fell, they had to figure out sleeping arrangements. The small hut that Merlin and Lia grew up in wasn't very large. They all laid out the bedrolls on the floor, trying to get as comfortable as they could in such close quarters.

It took Lia some time to fall asleep. Unfortunately, she had grown rather accustomed to her bed back in Camelot. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to sleep on a cold floor. So, as she stared up at the ceiling, she could easily hear Arthur as he spoke to Merlin.

"Have you always slept on the floor?" he wondered.

"Yeah. The bed I've got in Camelot's luxury by comparison," Merlin told him.

"Must've been hard," he muttered. Arthur couldn't imagine living a life other than his one of luxury.

"Mmm. It's like rock," Merlin said.

Arthur refrained from rolling his eyes. "I didn't mean the ground. I meant, for you and Lia. It must've been difficult."

"Mmm. Not really. It was hard for Lia, but I didn't know any different. Life's simple out here. You eat what you grow and everyone pitches in together. As long as you've got food on the table and a roof over your head, you're happy."

"Sounds... nice."

"You'd hate it," Merlin said, smiling. Lia did her best not to laugh, giving away the fact that she was eavesdropping.

"No doubt," Arthur agreed. "What'd you mean by it was harder for Lia?"

Lia's face fell as Merlin sighed. "Let's just say she led a very different life before coming here. It was a hard adjustment for her to make, but everyone here adores her, so that made it a bit easier. After her father died, she came to live with us."

"I'm glad she had you," Arthur admitted, making Lia and Merlin both smile softly. "Why'd you both leave?"

"Things just... changed," Merlin said vaguely. Of course, everyone in Ealdor knew who Lia and her father were when they arrived. Their identities were one large, well-kept, group secret. But Merlin's magic was a different story. It was far more complicated for him.

"How?" Arthur asked. When Merlin didn't reply right away, he shoved his feet in the servant's face. "Come on, stop pretending to be interesting. Tell me."

"I just didn't fit in anymore," Merlin said after a moment. "I wanted to find somewhere that I did."

"Had any luck?" The Prince was hoping he'd say yes, but he'd never admit it. To admit it was to admit that he actually liked Merlin most of the time.

"I'm not sure yet," Merlin mumbled. "Though I suppose I fit in wherever Lia is."

"Did you ask her to come with you to Camelot, or did she just insist on coming?" Arthur asked. He could picture either scenario but wanted to know how she really ended up there.

"Bit of both. I barely got the question out before she said she was coming. Where one of us goes, the other follows. I suppose it's been like that since we met."

"I'm glad she did follow," Arthur admitted quietly. He glanced at the girl, who he assumed was sleeping. Arthur didn't want to think about her not returning to Camelot with him. He glanced at Merlin once before rolling on his side, deciding that they had talked enough for the night. "We'll start training the men tomorrow. It's gonna be a long day. Get the candle."

| | |

Everyone rested as well as they could and rose early the next morning. There wasn't much for breakfast given the current situation, but Lia still helped Hunith make some porridge with what little grain she had. After everyone ate, they prepared for the day.

"Have you still not learned how to dress yourself?" Morgana asked Arthur, watching as Merlin helped Arthur put his coat on.

"You don't have a dog and fetch the stick yourself," he stated. Then as an afterthought added, "No offense, Merlin."

"None taken," he muttered, used to Arthur's attitude.

"Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast," Hunith said, handing him his forgotten bowl of porridge.

"Didn't I?" he asked, smiling, or rather, grimacing down at the meal.

"Come on, eat up," Morgana said, smirking.

Arthur brought the spoon up to his lips and pretended to eat it until Hunith was out of sight. Then he passed the bowl off to Gwen, who looked rather unimpressed by his actions. Lia frowned but knew it was nothing compared to the large platter of food he ate each morning back in Camelot.

"Right. Let's get going. We need wood, and lots of it," Arthur told Merlin as he headed outside. Morgana quickly followed.

Lia smiled at Gwen, who had shoved a few spoonfuls of food in her mouth before handing the empty bowl back to Hunith. "Arthur said it was lovely," she lied. Hunith saw right through it, of course, but only smiled politely. It was nice of Gwen to cover for his rudeness.

"He must care for you a great deal," Hunith noted once it was just Merlin and Lia left behind.

"Arthur'd do the same for any village. That's just the way he is," Merlin explained.

"It's more than that," she said softly. "He's here for you."

"I'm just his servant," Merlin muttered.

"Give him more credit than that. He likes you," Hunith said, smiling.

Merlin scoffed. "That's because he doesn't know me. And if he did, I'd probably be dead by now."

"You don't really believe that, do you?" she asked.

Merlin only gave her a doubtful look before leaving to go get some wood. Lia remained and helped Hunith clean up after the others.

"One day, Arthur will appreciate Merlin for all that he is," Lia said confidently. "And one day, it won't be so dangerous. He'll be able to be himself without having to fear Uther."

"You know, I don't think I've ever thanked you, Lia."

"For what?"

"For being his friend. For accepting him. I can still remember the day you found out about his magic. He was so scared that you'd want nothing to do with him, but you only embraced that side of him. You've helped him with that part of himself more than I ever could, and I can never repay you for that," Hunith told her, tears welling in her eyes.

"Merlin's friendship is payment enough," Lia said, smiling. "He's the best thing in my life, even if he does drag me into trouble every now and then in Camelot."

Hunith chuckled, thinking of some of the stories Merlin had told her during their journey. She then glanced out the window and saw Arthur gathering the men. "You know, he's not just here for Merlin. He's here for you too."

"I know." Lia wasn't as shy as Merlin was to admit it. "And if he were King, he would've sent a whole group of knights with us, no matter the effect it had on the treaty with Cenred."

"I know why Merlin hasn't told him about his magic, but why haven't you told him who you are?" Hunith couldn't help but ask. "No one in the village would risk saying anything, but surely there's no harm in him knowing."

Lia shook her head and stared down at the dishes that she was drying. "You know it's dangerous. If Arthur were to tell his father then all of Camelot would know. Not only would everything change, but it wouldn't be long before he found me."

"I understand," Hunith said, frowning. "I just wish you could have the life you deserve."

Lia looked out the window and spotted all of her friends, ones she never imagined she'd have. If Lia had never come to Ealdor, she wouldn't have met Merlin. She wouldn't know Gaius, Gwen, Morgana, or Arthur. Lia had been through many tragedies in her life, but at least she was not alone.

"I quite like the life I have now."

| | |

The whole day was spent preparing for Kanen's men to return. Arthur took charge of training the men, using the same techniques when he was training new knights. As he did that, Lia, Morgana, and Gwen found as many weapons as they could and sharpened them. As the girls worked, they eyed the men of the village, who were only making a little bit of progress.

"There is no way they're going to be able to hold Kanen off," Morgana noted.

"Men aren't the only ones who can fight," Gwen said, looking at the sword in her hand.

Lia chuckled and shook her head. "As if Arthur would ever allow the women to fight."

"Well, perhaps if you asked him," Morgana suggested, smiling hopefully at her.

"He'd probably just tell me it was too dangerous and walk away," Lia said, shaking her head. "You know how he is."

Morgana and Gwen understood, but that didn't stop them from approaching Arthur once he allowed the men a moment to rest. The villagers looked exhausted, never having worked so hard before. Most of them had never even picked up a sword before, much less battled against someone. The girls met Arthur by the well, where he was getting something to drink.

"Looks like the battle's already fought and lost," Morgana observed.

"They'll toughen up," Arthur said, though they could hear the doubt in his voice.

"They need to," Gwen said.

"How are we doing for weapons?" Arthur asked them, not wanting to talk about the state of the men anymore.

"There isn't much, but we should be able to scrape together what you need," Morgana told him.

"It's not the weapons that worry us. It's having enough people to use them," Gwen said. Then she glanced at Morgana and Lia. "We think the women should be allowed to fight."

"You haven't enough men," Morgana said softly. "If they were trained soldiers, maybe you'd stand a chance, but they're not."

Arthur shook his head, not wanting to hear it. "It's too dangerous." He picked his sword up once again and walked over to the resting men, ordering them to get back on their feet.

Lia sighed before heading over to the pile of swords that needed to be sharpened. "Told you so."

| | |

Usually, Gwen was never a nosy person. She didn't sneak around or search through people's personal belongings. The other reason she had opened the rather small chest in the back corner of Lia and Merlin's old room was that she was searching for somewhere to put away the blankets she had just folded for Hunith. She quickly knew upon opening it that it was the wrong place, but curiosity got the better of her when she realized just what she was looking at.

There was an assortment of things, all of which made no sense for Hunith to own. Gently, Gwen reached for the first thing that drew her eye — a golden crown that resembled the one King Uther wore. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that the sapphires on it were real. There was another crown too, a small coronet meant for a Princess. With shaking hands, she put the crown down and then grabbed a wax stamp for sealing letters and a matching signet ring. She couldn't recall ever hearing about a crest with a unicorn on it. Though, based on the ornate crowns, she could only assume it to be a royal one. At the bottom was a stack of documents, but she didn't have time to rifle through them.

"Hey, Gwen, we've finished up all the swords and—" Lia cut herself off as she entered her old room and saw Gwen kneeling over a familiar chest. Gwen's head snapped around and looked at her with wide, guilty eyes while Lia paled considerably.

"I - I didn't mean to," Gwen said, putting down the seal and quickly standing. "I was trying to find somewhere to put the blankets and I thought, well, a - and then I found them. I didn't mean to search through Hunith's things."

Lia nervously bit her lip and avoided Gwen's gaze as she rushed over and shut the lid to the chest. "They aren't Hunith's things."

"Lia," Gwen said a bit hesitantly. "Where did you get those crowns and a royal seal from?"

"Uh, I... stole them," Lia muttered out. She couldn't help but wince at how easy it was to tell she was lying. Gwen simply raised an eyebrow and gave her a doubtful look. Lia sighed and looked at the chest. "The crown is my father's, the coronet is mine, and the seal is my family's crest."

"I don't understand," Gwen admitted, frowning.

"Before I came to Ealdor, I was from the kingdom Lórien. My kingdom."

"Are you telling me that you're a - a princess?" Gwen asked in disbelief. "I remember my father talking about how Lórien was destroyed when I was a child. The entire kingdom was dead in a night."

"Was a princess," Lia corrected. "A sorcerer destroyed the kingdom. He left no one alive. My father and I were the only ones who managed to survive the attack with the aid of a Druid."

"Why haven't you told anyone? If you brought these things to Uther, surely he'd—"

"You can't tell anyone, Gwen!" Lia interrupted. Gwen could see the panic in her eyes as Lia grabbed her hands. "Not Uther, not Arthur, not even Morgana. You must keep this to yourself."

"But why?" she asked, still not understanding. "If Uther knew who you were, you wouldn't have to work as an apprentice."

"It's dangerous for people to know that I am alive. And besides, I like working for Gaius," she explained.

"But you're a princess."

"My entire kingdom is dead, Gwen, and a princess is nothing without her people to lead. You must keep this secret for me," Lia begged.

Gwen couldn't believe it. She couldn't count the number of times she had dreamt of being born into a noble family so that she didn't have to work as a servant. Yet here Lia was, choosing the life of a lowborn to stay in hiding.

"I promise, Lia. Your secret's safe with me."

| | |

The day before the attack came, Arthur had gathered the men to discuss a battle tactic. Lia — who was doing her best to avoid Gwen and her questions — joined them. Arthur didn't bother arguing with her, knowing she would insist on fighting Kanen's men anyway.

"We're not going to be able to defend Ealdor with sword and sinew alone. We're going to need a plan. We need to find some way of limiting their mobility and drawing them into a trap," Arthur explained. "If we fight them on their terms, then—"

He was cut off by a woman screaming outside. They all rushed to investigate, hoping that Kanen's men hadn't arrived early. Instead, they were met with a horse carrying Matthew's dead body slung over it. There was an arrow in his back, pinning a note to his corpse.

"Get him down from there!" Arthur instructed.

As two men took Matthew and set him on the ground, the rest of the village gathered. They watched as Arthur knelt by his side and read the note.

"What does it say?" Merlin asked.

"Make the most of this day, it will be your last," he read off, frowning.

Matthew's wife then arrived, pushing through the crowd to get to him. "Matthew! No! No!" she sobbed, holding his body close. Arthur stepped away to give her some space.

"You did this! Look what you've done. You've killed him!" Will shouted at Arthur.

"It wasn't his fault," Merlin protested.

"If he hadn't been strutting around, treating us like his own personal army, this would never have happened!" he accused.

"These men are brave enough to fight for what they believe in, even if you aren't," Arthur said, trying not to let Will's anger affect him.

"You're sending them to their graves! You killed one man," Will said. Arthur looked down regretfully at Matthew's body. "How many more need to die before you realize this is a battle that can't be won? When Kanen comes, you haven't got a chance. You're gonna be slaughtered."

"Will!" Lia called as he stalked off. She gave Arthur a sympathetic look before running off after her friend with Merlin swiftly following. They followed him all the way to his house, where he was already packing a bag. Clearly, he wasn't going to stick around.

"Don't bother, Merlin. You either, Lia. I'm not interested," he muttered.

"You should be. Because tomorrow Kanen attacks, and whether you like it or not, we'll have to fight," Merlin told him.

"Not if I'm not here," Will said.

"Well, that's up to you, but the rest of us are staying. Join us, Will. This isn't about Arthur, this is about your friends," Merlin said.

"Are you really going to abandon everyone? Abandon your home?" Lia asked softly.

"What, like you two did?" he asked spitefully.

"We're here now," Merlin said.

"Yeah. Yeah, you are. And you could end this. If you used your magic, then no one else would have to die," Will said angrily.

"You know I can't," Merlin told him.

"Can't or won't? I'm not the one abandoning these people, Merlin. You are," Will accused.

He went outside, leaving Lia by Merlin's side. She saw the upset frown on Merlin's face and she squeezed his hand comfortingly. "He's just upset about Matthew."

Merlin shook his head, frustrated with himself and the stupid laws about magic. "And what if he's right? I'm letting everyone down. I'm letting my mother down."

"Merlin, if your magic was discovered, you would be executed. Imagine the pain that would put your mother through," Lia reminded him. "I know how frustrating this is, but it's too dangerous while Arthur is here."

Merlin slowly nodded, though she could see on his face that he was still contemplating Will's words. After a moment, he cleared his throat and stood straighter. "We should get back to the others."

"I'm sure Arthur's upset over what Will said, though he'd probably never admit it," Lia said as they left Will's house. The pair walked until they found Arthur sitting outside Hunith's home, sharpening his sword. Merlin took a seat next to him while Lia leaned against the side of the house.

"William's father was killed fighting for King Cenred, so he doesn't trust anyone of nobility," Lia said, feeling a need to explain his behavior. "It's not your fault."

"Do you think the villagers believed him?" Arthur asked.

"No," Merlin said, scoffing. "He's always been a troublemaker. They're used to ignoring him."

"And if he's right?" Arthur questioned.

"He isn't," Merlin stated.

Arthur shook his head and looked at the ground. "I'm treating these men like soldiers, and they're not. You've seen them fight. They - they haven't got a clue! You need to tell them all to leave the village before Kanen returns."

"No, we're going to stay," Merlin said. "We're going to fight, and we're going to win."

"Merlin, it can't be done. The odds are too great."

"It can. We're going to make Kanen rue the day he ever came to this village. All you need to do is get the men ready for battle, and the rest will take care of itself." Lia frowned, realizing what Merlin meant. Will really had gotten to him. He was going to use his magic, no matter if Arthur was there or not.

"How?" Arthur asked, scoffing.

"You've just got to believe in them," Lia told him softly. "The minute that you give up hope, the battle will have already been lost."

Arthur took her words to heart, thinking back to when she had said something rather similar when Morgana had fallen ill. He'd never know how Lia managed to stay so optimistic all of the time. She had seen the men fight just as he had, and yet she still had faith in the small village. Oh, how he wished he could see the world the same way that Lia did, but he had seen far too much combat. He feared that Ealdor would fall, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

| | |

The night before Kanen and his men would arrive, all of Ealdor met in the common hall. Arthur was explaining the details of the plan so that nothing would go wrong. Lia stood by Merlin's side, leaning against his shoulder and listening carefully.

"Tomorrow morning, the women and children should gather what belongings they can carry and go to the woods," Arthur instructed.

"We're not going anywhere!" Gwen suddenly exclaimed, pushing to the front of the crowd.

Arthur raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised that she had the courage to speak up — then again, they were no longer behind the walls of Camelot. "I know you want to help. The women can't stay here. It's too dangerous."

"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do," Lia argued, joining Gwen's side.

"But none of them know how to fight like you, Lia," Arthur said, shaking his head.

"And neither does Merlin but you're letting him go out there," Lia said, pointing to him. They actually managed to get a few chuckles out of the villagers. "There's strength in numbers, and you know that."

"The more of us there are, the better chance we stand!" Gwen added.

As one, the women of the village stepped forward. Arthur looked around at them before meeting Lia's eyes. After a moment, he nodded.

"This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honored to stand alongside you. Kanen attacks tomorrow. Kanen's brutal. He fights only to kill, which is why he will never defeat us. Look around. In this circle, we're all equals. You're not fighting because someone's ordering you to, you're fighting for so much more than that. You fight for your homes. You fight for your family. You fight for your friends. You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the noblest of causes: fighting for your very right to survive! And when you're old and grey, you'll look back on this day, and you'll know you earned the right to live every day in between! So you fight! For your family! For your friends! For Ealdor!"

Everyone stood, raising their weapons, moved by Arthur's speech. "For Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!" They all chanted together around the fire. And as everyone banded together, finally as one group, Lia felt like they might actually stand a chance.

| | |

Everyone was nervous the next morning, though they didn't say it out loud. In a matter of hours, Ealdor would either be freed, or they would all be dead. Arthur, with his mind on the upcoming battle, had left Hunith's house rather early to clear his head. Once breakfast was ready, Gwen was the one to seek the Prince out to deliver it to him. She found him watching the horizon, just in case Kanen and his men arrived early.

"Arthur, Hunith made you some food," she said, handing him the bowl.

"Thanks," he muttered as Gwen turned to leave. "I think."

Gwen stopped, having enough with his attitude. Sure, originally she let it slide because he was a prince. It was expected for him to be spoiled, pampered, and rude. But ever since learning of Lia's origin, she couldn't help but compare the two royals. One was patient while the other lacked patience altogether. One was kind, the other rude. One was humble while the other was arrogant. Gwen had started to wish that Camelot was ruled by someone more like Lia than Uther.

"Food is scarce for these people. You shouldn't turn your nose up at it! This is Lia's home, and you should have some respect for it!" she snapped. Then, as Arthur stared at her with an emotionless face, she realized just who she had snapped at. People had been thrown in the stocks for saying much milder things to him. "Oh, no. I - I shouldn't've spoken to you like that. I'm sorry."

Gwen quickly turned to leave and Arthur sighed. "Gwen."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. It won't happen again—"

"Guinevere!" Arthur called, using her full name. Gwen slowly turned to face him, hoping he wouldn't yell at her. "Thank you. You're right, and you were right to speak up. I should've listened to you, Lia, and Morgana. We're going to need all the help we can get.

"We'll be fine," she assured him.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we all have faith in you," she told him honestly.

"Thank you."

| | |

While Merlin and Arthur were putting on their armor, Lia was sitting on the floor and counting her arrows. There were twenty, and she would make each one count before switching to her sword. Given that she had the only bow in the village, she would be stationed on top of one of the huts so that she could shoot from above. A part of Lia felt that Arthur stationed her up there to try and avoid her getting hurt, but she'd be joining the fight anyways once she ran out of arrows.

After getting their chainmail on, Merlin moved to help Arthur with his armor.

"No, not today," Arthur said, taking it from him. "Put on your own."

Lia smiled at the small show of respect. As Arthur got himself ready — something Lia was actually surprised he knew how to do — Merlin slipped on his braces. Lia, noticing how he struggled with doing the buckle, got up to help.

"Thanks," he muttered quietly.

"Now you look like a warrior," she said, smiling at him.

"You ready?" Arthur asked him, clapping him on the shoulder.

"My throat's dry," he said, looking at the floor.

"Me too," Arthur admitted. Then he held out his hand for Merlin to shake. "It's been an honor."

As Arthur turned to grab his sword, Merlin glanced at Lia nervously. "Whatever happens out there today, please don't think any differently of me."

"I won't. It's alright to be scared, Merlin," Arthur said, not understanding just how serious Merlin was being.

"That's not what I meant," he mumbled.

"What is it? If you've got something to say, now's the time to say it."

Arthur turned and looked at Merlin expectantly. He was going to tell him, Lia realized. Merlin was going to tell Arthur about his magic. Perhaps it was the best instead of surprising him on the battlefield. Lia held her breath as Merlin opened his mouth, but they were interrupted.

"Arthur," Morgana said, entering the house. "They've crossed the river."

Arthur quickly followed her. Lia pressed a quick kiss to Merlin's cheek before they exited as well. Arthur began checking on all the villagers, making sure they were prepared for battle. When he reached the end of the line, he stopped in front of Lia.

"Are you frightened?" he asked.

"No," she answered honestly. At least, she wasn't worried about the fight. She was worried about Merlin and his magic being discovered. If Arthur ordered for him to be executed, she didn't know what she'd do — probably something very dangerous to save him.

"Please be careful," he said quietly for only her to hear.

"I ask the same of you, My Prince."

Everyone split up, taking their hiding places. Lia had climbed a ladder to the top of one of the huts and crouched low behind the chimney. She spotted Kanen and his men riding out of the woods and notched an arrow. Once Arthur gave the command, she would let it fly.

The village was seemingly empty to the bandits, which confused them. Once they were all in the village, it was time for them to set off the traps. A hidden gate was pulled up, cutting off some of the riders. Next was supposed to be the line of fire that Morgana was supposed to ignite, but something had stalled her.

And then suddenly, Lia saw Merlin darting across the village towards her, defenseless. The bandits noticed him and one began shooting at him with a crossbow. Without Arthur's signal, Lia quickly released her own arrow. It struck the bandit right in the eye-opening of his helmet, knocking him off his horse and killing him.

They searched for the source of the arrow, so Lia quickly flattened herself against the roof. She had distracted them enough that Merlin had safely made it to Morgana. After a few seconds, the trap went off. A wall of fire blocked the bandits and their horses from escaping. The chaos sent them into a panic, just as Arthur wanted.

"Now!"

The villagers gave a battle cry as they sprung from their hiding places. They attacked everyone that came their way, pulling bandit's from their horses and striking them. Lia walked along the roof, shooting arrows into necks and faces that weren't covered in armor. Her eyes constantly flicked between Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, and Gwen — who was fighting with a broom of all things — and made sure none of Kanen's men could sneak up on them.

A bandit on a horse was coming at Merlin from behind, but before Lia even had a chance to aim in his direction, Will had appeared. He knocked the bandit off the horse, took his mace, and killed him with it. Then he pulled out his own sword and joined Merlin's side. Lia grinned, happy that he had chosen to stay, but focused back on the fight.

It wasn't long before Lia could see that the villagers were losing. She grabbed her last arrow and looked around, worried that it wouldn't make any difference. Then she glanced back at Merlin and Will, who were realizing the same thing.

She watched as Merlin held a hand out to the ground. Even from up above, she could see his eyes glow gold as he chanted a spell. He conjured a windstorm that picked up the dirt all around them. Arthur paused as the wind only seemed to go after the bandits, knocking them from their horses and blowing them away with unbelievable force.

It gave the villagers the chance to get the upper hand. The bandits that remained began to flee back towards the woods. Everyone began to cheer, realizing that they had won. Lia was about to slide off the roof and rush down to hug Merlin when Kanen revealed himself. He hadn't run away like his men.

"Pendragon!" he shouted, marching towards the Prince.

Arthur readied his sword once more, ready for the fight. However, when Kanen removed his helmet, Lia saw no reason not to use her last arrow. Just as Arthur raised his sword to attack, an arrow flew through the air and sank into Kanen's neck. They watched as he sank to the floor, choking on his blood, not dying right away.

Arthur glanced up at Lia, who was coming down from the hut. Then he remembered what had happened only moments ago and turned to face Merlin and Will.

"Who did that?" he asked loudly.

"What?" Merlin asked, acting clueless.

"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere. I know magic when I see it. One of you made that happen!" he accused angrily.

Lia rushed to Merlin's side, but he held up a hand, wanting her to stay back. He looked at Arthur and took a deep breath. They were all too focused on Arthur to notice Kanen, who was barely alive, weakly reaching for a crossbow.

"Arthur—"

"Look out!" Will suddenly shouted. He had spotted Kanen aiming the crossbow at Arthur. Without really thinking, he rushed forward and pulled Arthur out of the way. In doing so, the arrow lodged itself in Will's chest.

"Will!" Lia shouted, rushing to his side. She could not take her eyes off the arrow, which was so close to his heart.

"You just saved my life," Arthur told him, still surprised from the attack.

"Yeah. Don't know what I was thinking," Will muttered, groaning in pain.

"Get him inside!" Lia ordered.

The men helped lift Will and place him on his table. Arthur and Merlin watched as Lia's hands hovered over the arrow wound. They knew by the tears in her eyes and the way that her hands shook that there wasn't anything she could do.

"That's twice I've saved you," Will said, looking at Arthur.

"Twice?"

"Yeah, it was me. I'm the one that used the magic," he lied.

"Will, don't," Merlin said.

"It's alright, Merlin. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me," Will told him. "I did it. I saw how desperate things were becoming and I had to do something."

"You're a sorcerer?" Arthur asked in disbelief. Will hadn't been anything like the sorcerers his father described.

"Yeah. What are you gonna do? Kill me?" Will asked. Then he cried out from the pain.

Arthur paused before shaking his head. "No. Of course not." He looked at Lia, who had silent tears already falling. "Do what you can for him."

Lia and Merlin were left alone with Will. "I'm sorry, Will," Lia said, shaking her head as she cried. "Taking it out will only make it worse."

"I'm glad I got to see you again," he told her, forcing a smile. Then he glanced at Merlin. "I was right about him. I told you he was going to get me killed."

"You're not going to die," Merlin whispered.

Will began shaking, and Lia took his hand. "You're a good man, Merlin — a great man. And one day, you're going to be servant to a great king. Now you can still make that happen."

"Thanks to you."

"This place has been boring without you," Will said. "It was good to see you both again."

"Yeah, you too."

"Lia," he choked out. "Lia, I'm scared."

"It's alright to be scared," she said, sniffing. "We're right here. We aren't leaving."

Lia held his hand as he struggled to breathe. He tried to say Merlin's name, but soon, his heart stopped beating. Lia choked on a sob as he grew still. Merlin held her tightly as they cried in each other's arms, mourning the only other friend they had had growing up.

| | |

They held a funeral for Will, who had been the only casualty. Lia stood, feeling like she couldn't possibly cry anymore, and watched the large flames of the pyre. It reminded her of the funeral they had for her father after his death — it hurt just as much to watch too.

"I'm sorry," Arthur said. He was standing next to Merlin and Lia, who were leaning against each other. "I know he was a close friend."

"He still is," Lia said softly.

"You knew he was a sorcerer, didn't you?" Arthur asked. "That's what you were going to tell me?"

"Yes," Merlin lied, keeping his face blank. "It was."

"You know how dangerous magic is. You shouldn't've kept this from me, Merlin," Arthur told him.

Lia couldn't help but scoff at his words. "How dare you? How dare you think less of him for how he was born? He died saving your life, yet you stand at his funeral hating him for that which saved you."

"Lia—" Arthur cut himself off, seeing the hurt on her face. In that moment, he knew there was nothing he could say to fix it. So, he left her and Merlin to mourn as he joined Morgana and Gwen.

Lia slipped her hand into Merlin's and squeezed it tightly, letting him know that she would always be by his side.

It was not long before Hunith replaced Arthur next to Merlin. Slowly, everyone walked away from Will's pyre, the funeral coming to an end.

"You better be going," she said to them. After some convincing, Merlin and Lia had agreed to return to Camelot now that they didn't have to worry about Kanen attacking again.

"I don't have to go," Merlin told her.

"Yes, you do," Hunith insisted.

"If anything were to happen to you—"

"I know where to find you," she assured him. "You have to go, Merlin. You belong at Arthur's side. I've seen how much he needs you. How much you need him. You're like two sides of the same coin."

Merlin chuckled, thinking of when the Great Dragon had told him the same thing. "I've heard someone say that about us before. I'm going to miss you," he said, hugging her tightly.

"I'm going to miss you, too. When you left, you were just a boy. Now, look at you. I'm so proud of you," Hunith said. Once they parted, she hugged Lia just as tightly. "Take care of him," she whispered in her ear.

"Always," she said, smiling.

Hunith glanced over towards Gwen, who was readying the horses. "Guinevere has your chest packed." Lia opened her mouth to protest, but Huntih shook her head. "No. I know you want nothing to do with them, but after what's happened recently, I know they will be safer in Camelot with you. Besides, they might come in handy one day."

"Are you sure you're going to be alright here?" Lia asked, worried about the woman who was the closest thing she had had to a mother in years.

"We'll be just fine," she assured her. Huntih studied Lia's face for a moment and then tucked a blonde curl that had fallen from her ribbon behind her ear. "Your father would be so proud of you. I did not know him long, but I see so much of him in you."

Merlin and Lia once again said goodbye to Ealdor. It wasn't as hard as the first time, they realized. Camelot had become their home in their short few months there. It did weigh heavy on their hearts that they had one less person to say goodbye to. Will wouldn't be forgotten though, not by any of them, not even Arthur.