Time for some action don't ya think

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(Merlin's POV)

The next day is hectic to say the least. Arthur and I could barely talk about the... eventful night before. By mid morning our army was ready and tension was high.

Hope lead her group to the North side of the castle. It was a tearful goodbye, but it had to be done.

I lead my smaller group to the west side of the castle, where there was the least defences. We went on foot so to not draw attention to ourselves.

Gwaine was complaining as per usual trying to lighten the mood slightly. Not that it worked but it was a valiant effort.

I kept myself to myself, not engaging with a single person. I can't risk distracting myself. Not today.

"Relax. You will be fine." I smile inwardly but carry on walking ahead of the others. I don't want Arthur to see me like this.

"If worst comes to worst you can just poof up a storm" That makes me snort with laughter, a little to loudly as everyone stops and stares at me.

I shoot Arthur a look and continue walking as if nothing happened. How does he do that? Change my mood in a split second.

"Because I know you."

"Stay out my head. I thought you didn't like it when I do that to you."

"Yeah when you do it to me!" I roll my eyes and makes sure Arthur can hear me sigh.

Our journey takes up half the day, only stopping twice to rest. The castle comes into view around late afternoon. There are audible shouts and clashes of swords and my stomach drops.

Aithusa's flames burn high, creating a large wall of fire between our army and my aunt's.

We must hurry if our plan is to succeed.

"See that door. Behind it is a corridor, with a staircase either end. One leads to the watch tower, Gwaine, Elyan and Leon will take that way. The rest will follow me down to the dungeons, where we can work our way up to the main hall."

Everyone nods silently and we run to the door, careful to stay in the shadows to avoid guards. Upon reaching the door, I unsheath my sword and kick open the door. It swings open and reveals a small group of Knights waiting for us.

There appears to be around six or seven. With a slight incline of my head they are all on the floor and we run past them.

Gwaine, Elyan and Leon break off to secure the watch tower. More Knights run towards us and Arthur looks to me with a glint in his eye. This is the kind of thing he lives for. Thrilling battles with powerful enemies. I don't blame him for being moderately excited for the fight ahead.

He runs forward and serves the first blow, closely followed by myself and our small band of Knights.

I use my magic freely, switching effortlessly between hand to hand combat and sorcery. Arthur constricts his use of magic, but I can feel the power radiating of his, enhancing his every movement to be twice as powerful.

We push through until the last knight is down, then book it to the stair well and begin our decent.

We claim every floor from the dungeons to the fourth floor, leaving our enemies littering the corridors. Excalibur cut through flesh like a knife through butter, allowing me to take down my enemies faster than the others.

I sprint ahead letting instinct take over whilst I use my magic to pin point Agatha.

I know I told everyone that it will be a waiting game. That we will take a hold of the main floors and flush them out. But I just can't sit around and wait for them to drop dead. I need to see the light leave her eyes.

I need to avenge my parents.

My magic locks onto her position and guides me through the castle expertly. I reach the ornate double doors of the throne room and throw them open. Splinters of golden wood spray everywhere, causing the few Knights standing guard to take cover.

Agatha didn't flinch. She sat on my throne and smirked at me. Such a simple thing but it made my blood boil with fury.

A knight recovered from his initial shock and ran towards me. I swept my arm across my body and a shimmering shield appeared. When the man touched it he disintergrated to ashes. The other Knights didn't dare attack.

"I was wondering when you would visit, dear nephew. I have missed your dramatic flare." Agatha giggled manically.

"Cut the crap Agatha. Surrender or die." I was well past breaking point and her act was not helping.

"Temper temper. Your father taught you better than that." Tendrils of gold shot out and grabbed her by the throat, holding her at least three feet of the ground.

"Don't speak of my father. You have no right after what you did to him and mother." I spat, walking closer to the woman. My shield still held, so no one attacked.

"I don't regret a thing." Agatha choked out, not even bothering to fight back. Suddenly this all seemed too easy. Why wasn't she fighting back.

"What are you-" I was cut of my a piercing cackle. Agatha faded from within the tendrils of magic, instead replaced with Hope.

She cried and struggled against the magic. The cackling continued, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere.

"What have you done Merlin. Mistaken your own sister for you dear old aunt. How unfortunate."

Hope thrashed her legs, screaming at me to let go but I couldn't.

"This is a trick. Your trying to fool me but it won't work. Even you aren't powerful enough for this kind of magic."

"Don't underestimate me boy." The voice spat. Hope's movements began to slow making my panic rise.

What am I doing? What if this is real? No it can't be real. Hope is outside being watched by Aithusa. There is no way she could have taken her.

Well there is one way to find out. I walk close enough for the forcefield to touch the copies foot, and as I suspected she vanished.

This isn't Hope. This spell only deflects attackers, much like the spell that guards Fort Omaria. If this was the really Hope she would be able to walk right through the shimmering shield.

"You coward. Come out and face me." I scream.

A swirling dark mass catches my eye and I ball my fist. Agatha materializes in the corner of the room, looking terrified.

"How? How did you know?" She whispered, voice shaking.

"Know what? That you planted that God damn vision in my head? Or that you made Arthur see it too just to scare me? You tried to do everything in your power to send me down the wrong path. I knew you wanted me to keep Hope at my side, to ensure that the vision never happened. You may act all high and mighty, Agatha, but you are way to predictable."

Agatha now cowered in the corner of the room, throwing everything she could at me. Every spell bounced of and turned on her with twice the power.

"Give up or die." I spit towering over her.

"Never."

"Then you have chosen death." I raise my sword and plunge it through her chest, twisting it sharply until I could hear the bones cracking.

Arthur came running in as I pulled the sword out. He gasped at the state of the corpse at my feet, shocked that I could have caused such a sight. I didn't care.

I had won.

My Kingdom was free at last.