CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH ( iii. )

When night falls on the village of Ealdor, the people have gathered in the largest house in town, huddled around a crackling fire. The morale is low after Matthew's death--no one seems prepared mentally to fight Kanen tomorrow. Calliope twiddles with her dagger as she leans against the wall waiting for Arthur to give his big speech before the hours of battle dawn on them with the morning sun. Low murmurs mingle through the air as Merlin comes to stand at the blonde's side. They both hope that Arthur has one hell of a speech planned; maybe he could even convince Will that fighting is the right action.

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

"They should be given the choice to fight if they want," Calliope pushes herself off the wall, catching the attention of the gathered townspeople. The Prince's gaze flickers across the room to meet her stare.

"None of them know how to fight. It's too dangerous."

Calliope scoffs, "So they should cower in the woods, and let invaders pillage through their homes? The homes they helped build and raise children in? Everyone, no matter who they are, no matter if they are a man or a woman, deserves to make the choice to fight for their village. If they want make a stand against Kanen, then they damn well should be given the chance."

Every woman in the room takes a step closer to the circle of men around the fire; closer to Calliope as she awaits Arthur's answer. All of them have a glint in their eyes, a determination to protect their homes. 

If Uther was here, he'd command them to obey him, but Arthur is not his father.

He gives the women a small nod, "This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honored to stand alongside you," There's a small, unspoken moment between Calliope and Arthur as she gives him a subtle nod. "Kanen attacks tomorrow, and he's brutal. He fights only to kill, which is why he will never defeat us."

It's hard not to admire the way everyone in the room looks at Arthur; with so much respect that isn't demanded, but earned. He's a leader they would chose, and they trust him to take them into battle tomorrow.

"Look around," Arthur says. "In this circle, we are 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," his eyes flicker to where Calliope leans against the wall. "You fight for your families. You fight for your friends. You fight for the right to grow crops in peace. And if you fall, you fall fighting for the nobliest of causes--fighting for your very right to survive. When you're old and grey you'll look back on this day, and you'll know you've earned the right to live every day in between."

There are small moments when Calliope gets a glimpse into what Arthur would be like as King, and as he inspires these people, she can't help the warming of her heart, not only for him, but for the world he could make. The peace and prosperity he could bring to his kingdom. 

"So you fight; for your family, for your friends," Arthur raises his sword. "For Ealdor!"

Everyone in the room stands, holding up their own weapons and chanting proudly.

"For Ealdor! For Ealdor! For Ealdor!"

Calliope shakes her head with a smile. As the people around her continue chanting with conviction, she steps back into the shadows, walking to the back of the house to retrieve her bag.

For a few moments, she fumbles through her belongings before her palm closes around the object she's looking for. A grin lifts her face. She pulls out the clear bottle--there's still plenty of alcohol left, a relic from one of her travels that she has been saving for a special occasion.

Since she is dying in three weeks and will have to fight in a brutal battle tomorrow, she figures this is a proper occasion.

The blonde sits down, leaning her head back against the cool wood as she takes the first sip. The alcohol burns her throat as it goes down, but it's a good sting. She immediately feels herself relax, and she lets out a long sigh of relief.

"Cal?" Calliope turns her head up to see Merlin peeking over the corner. "What are you doing?"

She holds up the bottle, "What does it look like, wizard boy? I'm drowning my sorrows away, and you should join me."

The sorcerer sits down beside Calliope and she passes him the alcohol. He takes a far too eager gulp and starts gagging causing the blonde to let out a string of laughter.

"Bloody hell, that's terrible!" Merlin puts his hand over his mouth. "What even is that?"

"I'm not entirely sure. It's from some Southern island," Calliope replies as she takes another sip. "I've been saving it for a while, and since my time is ticking away, I figured I should drink it."

He glances over at her, "We'll find another way. I know we will."

"I appreciate the optimism, but I just don't see it that way."

A beat of silence overtakes them as Calliope continues to take small sips from the bottle. Merlin glances over his shoulder for a moment before returning his gaze to the blonde.

"My mother thinks that if I told Arthur about my magic, he would accept me, but..." he trails off. "I don't know. Uther's influence on him is pretty strong."

"So, are you going to tell him?"

"It might not matter. If things go south tomorrow, I won't have a choice. I'll have to use my magic, and he'll see everything," Merlin shakes his head, letting out a shaky breath.

"Well," Calliope says. "If he did find out and reacted badly, I might change my mind and just go through with killing him."

Merlin shoves her playfully, "You wouldn't."

"Oh, I definitely would. No one messes with you on my watch, wizard boy. Well, except me."

The sorcerer gives her an appreciative smile before reaching for the bottle, "Considering the day we have ahead of us, I think I need more of that."

"Knock yourself out."

Merlin takes the bottle from her, and almost chokes again at the taste. Their eyes meet for a second before they burst out into laughter.

And Calliope really did mean what she said. No one hurts Merlin on her watch. No one.

Not even Prince Arthur.

♛ ♛ ♛

The morning air is thick with the awaiting tensions of battle. This will either be remembered as the day Ealdor broke free from their oppression, or the day the village fell. Calliope knows Kanen will not want to spare anyone; he will have ordered his men to cut down every soul in their path, no matter who they may be. If he gets his way, every man, woman, and child will be dead.

When Morgana brings news that Kanen and his men have crossed the river, Calliope prepares herself for the fight. Her sword and dagger hang from their sheaths attached to her belt, and her light hair is braided back away from her face.

She steps outside, glancing over the men and women that are gathered in a row against the house, hidden out of sight. A trap of fire has been planted around the village that will force Kanen and his men to fight in an enclosed area. It's up to Morgana and Gwen to get the fire lit when Kanen enters the village

Calliope presses her back against the house as Arthur and Merlin come into her field of vision. The prince shakes hands with some of the men, giving them a few final words of encouragement.

"For Ealdor," he says as he reaches the last man.

The blonde walks behind him to the small wooden gate at the edge of the house. She and Merlin peek around towards the woods with Arthur, and she hears the sound of pounding hooves coming closer and closer.

Then, horses break through the tree line, their riders letting out bloodthirsty cries. As they descend onto the village, Calliope retreats back to the others with Arthur and Merlin so they can stay out of sight for a moment longer.

The men enter the quiet village, their eyes scanning over the oddly empty houses and dirt paths. Calliope grips the handle of her sword, ready to jump forward and take out as many of Kanen's men as she can.

"Hold," Arthur says quietly. They have to wait for Gwen and Morgana to get the trap lit. "No one moves until I give the signal."

They watch the men plunder through houses in search of the villagers with anxious eyes. Kanen instructs his men to keep searching; he knows they're still there.

"Hold," the prince whispers.

"Come out, come out wherever you are," Kanen taunts from his tall, black horse.

Arthur peeks through the gate, shaking his head, "Now, Morgana. What are you waiting for?"

The fire should be lit by now. Calliope glances between Arthur and Merlin.

"Something's gone wrong."

Without warning, Merlin sprints away from the group. He can use his magic to get the fire started if something isn't working, so as Arthur turns to call out for him, Calliope places her hand on his shoulder.

"Merlin-!"

"Just let him go."

However, the young warlock isn't able to get to the other side of the village without being seen. One of Kanen's men spots him running.

"There's one! Kill him!"

Arrows fly at Merlin. He ducks and dodges and finally makes it around a brick house where Morgana is trying to light the fire.

A few more moments pass, "Come on, Merlin," Calliope says under her beath.

Finally, a string of fire consumes the hay laid out for it, trapping Kanen's men in a ring of heat with no escape. Their horses go into a state of panic, creating the perfect opportunity for attack.

"Turn around! Go the other way!"

After a few more seconds of anticipation, Arthur yells out, "Now!"

The villagers let our their battle cry as they siege Kanen's men, some with swords and others with long wooden staffs or even brooms--whatever they could get their hands on.

A few men beginning pulling riders down from their horses as Calliope's sword collides with the metal of another. Her movements are swift as she brings the man's sword down, slicing her own blade across his stomach.

Out of the corner of her eye, she notices one of Kanen's men about to bring his sword down on a young woman. Calliope's hand bolts to her belt. She grabs her dagger and send it soaring through the air. The blade lands right in the man's hand and brings it back against the wood of the house behind him. He cries out in agony, and Calliope rushes to him. She pulls the dagger out of his hand and plunges it into the side of his neck, coating the ground with his blood.

The young woman gives her a nod of thanks before picking her wooden staff up and knocking a man in the head with it.

Calliope's eyes narrow on her next victim; a man riding a horse and cutting down villagers in his path. The blonde runs to him, slicing through a few of Kanen's men on her way.

She uses her momentum as she grabs onto the saddle to jump up and send her feet soaring into the man's chest. He gasps, his breath knocked out of him his as he falls to the dirt. One of the villagers nearby finishes the job by bashing his head in with the end of a heavy shovel.

Her palm closes around the handle of her sword again and she finds herself beside Arthur. The two of them are back-to-back as they fight, and Calliope shows no mercy as she cuts through Kanen's men like pieces of wood.

But no matter how many men she and Arthur seem to take out, the villagers cannot get the upper hand. Calliope glances around at the men on horseback. There's too many of them.

Merlin, now would be a great time for one of your magic tricks, Calliope thinks as her blade enters another man's chest.

And as if the sorcerer can read her thoughts, Calliope feels a roaring wind begin to pick up. She and Arthur stop fighting as the final man around them falls. Her eyes snap to the prince as he sees Merlin and Will standing by the source of the wind. His eyebrows furrow; he knows what's going on.

Ferociously, the tornado Merlin created whips through Kanen's men, sending hay and debris flying. The men who are not blown away begin fleeing, giving the villagers the push they need to finish off the last ones left fighting,

A chorus of victorious cheers encircles the village. Calliope lets out a breath of relief through a wide smile. They did it; they actually won.

"Pendragon!" Of course Kanen will not give up. He appears in front of them, wielding his large ax with his eyes drilling into the prince.

Calliope steps forward, "Let me kill this dickface."

"No," Arthur puts his hand in front of her as Kanen takes off his helmet and throws it away. "I'll handle him."

In one hand Arthur holds his red shield with his sword in the other, and Kanen attacks him ruthlessly with impulsive swings. Arthur is able to block his attacks, disarming him easily, but Kanen hurries over to a dead man with a sword in his chest, and he pulls it out to stop Arthur's next swing.

They struggle against each other for a few moments; Kanen shoves his shoulder into Arthur's chest, sending him back a few feet. Calliope has the urge to step in, but she knows the prince can win.

Artur's sword collides with his, sending out a loud ring of metal, before he finally brings his blade back and shoves it into Kanen's stomach.

His eyes widen; death flashing before his face, and he crumples to the ground, his body unmoving.

As soon as Kanen is dead, Arthur turns around, his eyes shooting between Merlin and Will, not even taking a second to acknowledge his victory.

"Who did that?" Oh, shit.

Calliope grabs his arm, "Arthur--"

"Wind like that doesn't just appear from nowhere," he says, stopping in front of them. "I know magic when I see it. One of you made it happen."

Merlin's eyes travel from the ground up to the prince, "Arthur," he says cautiously, ready to confess his big secret, no matter the outcome.

But before any truths can be told, only Will notices Kanen sitting up, grabbing a crossbow and aiming it right for the prince of Camelot--one final act of cruelty.

"Look out!"

Heroically, he pushes Prince Arthur out of the way from a deathly arrow. Instead, it lands in his own chest, and Kanen falls back lifeless.

"Will!" Merlin rushes to him with Calliope and Arthur close behind.

Arthur looks at him in disbelief, "You saved my life."

"Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking."

"Come on, get him inside!"

Two men come to Will's side and help Arthur and Merin carry him into the nearest house. Calliope quickly clears off the table so they can set him down.

He gasps for breath, his eyes fading. Calliope knows the arrow is in a fatal spot; there's nothing they can do.

"That's twice I've saved you," Will lets out through strained breaths.

"Twice?" Arthur asks.

He nods, "It was me. I'm the one that used magic."

Merlin and Calliope share a quick glance.

"Will, don't--"

"It's alright, Merlin. I won't be alive long enough for anyone to do anything to me. I did it," Will struggles to hang on. " I saw how desperate things we becoming. I had to do something."

"You're a sorcerer?"

A small chuckle leaves his lips, "Yeah. What are you gonna do? Kill me?"

The prince looks up at Merlin, his eyes softening, "No, of course not," he puts his hand on his shoulder before glancing at Merlin. "Do what you can for him."

As everyone begins leaving to allow Merlin to say goodbye to his friend, Calliope offers him a small touch of comfort. His hand closes around hers as tears fall down his cheeks.

The blonde turns to Will, "I was wrong about you, Will. You're brave, and you're a real hero."

And then, she leaves Merlin alone with him for his last dying moments.

♛ ♛ ♛

i am cranking out as many chapters as i can while my foot is broken bc once i go back to work it will also be time for classes to start again, and i will have no time for wattpad except maybe on weekends.

anyway, as always, remember to vote and leave your thoughts in the comments ;)