Chapter 22

                                    

                                          
Fire.
                          
Fire everywhere. The houses and fields are burning brightly in the night. Children crying, mothers running with them, some men clever enough to flee with them, other fighting against an enemy they can't beat. Saxons killing without mercy guided by a woman who started the fire with magic. This is the how it all began.
                          
Merlin's POV
                          
I sit at Arthur's right as he speaks to the council of the Round Table. No one knows about the marriage yet, Arthur decided to announce it today. "And another important thing." He says looking at me. I hold his hand under the table. I still can't believe this is happening, the happiness I feel is indescribable. "I..." He stops when a guard bursts in. "Sire, I'm sorry but people from the outer villages arrived right now, they say they were attacked." He says. "What? By who?" Arthur asks. An attack now? All Albion is living years of peace, Camelot has good rapports with the other kingdoms, who could want to attack us now? I realize the person before I could think about it. Morgana. "I don't know sire." He replies. Arthur looks at me and I nod. "The council is dismissed." 
                          
We reach the Citadel full of people sitting on the stone with raggedy clothes, burns on their faces. Gaius arrives and I follow him to help him. "Fetch some water." He says as I reach him and I return with two buckets of cold water. Gaius, Gwen and who can, help the villagers. I reach Arthur who's helping a woman. "And did you see anything else besides the Saxons?" I hear him asking. "Yes, a woman." She says with a hoarse voice. "You'll be safe here." Arthur says. "Thank you sire, thank you." She replies with gratitude. "I think this is Morgana's fault as I suspected." He whispers to me. "But why now?" I ask him. "From what I heard she allied with the Saxons and I think she's powerful enough to attack Camelot." He says. "Merlin about..." He adds. "I know, don't worry. After we win this endless war we will have our happy ending." I say smiling. "How can you be so sure we will win?" He asks. "Because we have you." Sir Leon interrupts us. "Sire, our patrols informed us that other villages have been attacked." He says. "Thank you, Leon. Find a place for the refugees and if you hear anything new, inform me immediately." Arthur replies. "Yes, sire." He leaves. "Come." Arthur says to me and enters in the castle. He enters in our chambers and takes the maps of Camelot. "So far we know that Morgana has been here, here and here." He points at West of Camelot. "If she keeps going at this rate, she'll reach the White Mountains by night. Camelot is two days far from the Mountains we need to prepare the Knights and to evacuate the castle." He says firmly. "I'll summon the council, wait for me here." He says and immediately leaves without I could even reply. I lay down on the bed. So this is it. The last battle against Morgana. A feeling of fear spreads in my body, what if anything bad happens to Arthur? I can't lose him, I love him, his my entire life. I shake my head, I shouldn't think about this thoughts, he won many battles, sure he won't lose this one. After a while I get bored and leave for a walk.
                          
When Arthur returns from the council it's late evening. "How did it went?" I ask eating. "We've been discussing about... are you eating without me?" He asks looking at me. "Well I was hungry." I say keeping to eat. Then we see a chicken walking through the chamber. "Is that... is that a chicken or am I wrong?" He asks and I giggle. "Oh no you're right." I stand and take the chicken in my arms, stroking her. "Why the hell there's a chicken in our chambers?" He says. "She's not a normal chicken! She's a survivor from the village!" I protest. "Wait what?" Arthur says confused. "Her name is Dodora and she'll live with us, aren't you, you little cutie?" I say in a childish voice and Dodora clucks. "You got to be kidding me!" He says with an ironic smile. "No, I want to keep her!" I say. "Merlin we can't keep a chicken in our chambers!" He replies. "Yes we can! She was so alone." I say. "She managed to live without you for months not even knowing you and I'm sure she'll manage to live without you now too." He says. "But I can't leave her..." I say. "Merlin if you don't leave that chicken, no sex for a month." Arthur snorts. "What? You're not serious." I say. "It's your choice. Bodora or me."  He says crossing his arms. "Fine! I'll find someone who'll look after her. And It's Dodora by the way!" I say giving up and he laughs.
                          
It's dark and the only thing I can hear is the wind outside. The soft sheets are warm and his arm is around me but I can't sleep. "Hey Arthur! Are you sleeping?" I whisper. "No." He says and I turn to face him. "Are you nervous?" I ask. "A little bit." He softly says. "And you?" He adds pulling me closer. "A little bit." I smile. "I'm just worried for you, I don't want anything to happen to you." I say hiding my faces in his neck. "I thought you said we were gonna win." He says. "Yes, I believe that but I'm still worried. I don't wanna lose you." I confess. "You won't Merlin. I'll always be with you till death and beyond." He strokes my head. "Thank you." I say kissing his neck. "Are you still nervous or do you need something?" He gently asks. "Just hold me." I say and he cuddles up with me, holding me with his strong arms and slowly I fall asleep.
                          
The next day everyone prepares for the battle. People gathering their belongings, knights preparing themselves. Arthur is really nervous about it but he never shows it, but I'm there holding his hand. When I did it for the first time everyone looked at us shocked, surprised, astonished. I was about to pull back when he held mine too. The rumors immediately spread to the lower town but to my surprise people were quite alright with it. I thought they would hate me and deny their King instead they were happy for us, or at least most of them. The others who thought it was repugnant they're either too scared to talk about it or tolerant. The knights were the same, some of them such as Lancelot, Gwaine and Elyan were happy for us while others like Leon and Percival were a bit taken by surprise but they never showed any hostile behaviours. They just told me to look after him. 
                          
The last night before the battle was tense, everyone couldn't sleep, the preparations were ready and the castle was evacuated. Tomorrow will be the end of this war. "Merlin if anything happens to me..." He says and I stop him. "Don't." He reaches me. "No listen..." I stop him once again with my finger on his lips. He takes my hand. "If anything happens to me, I want you to be the new King of Camelot." He says giving me the Royal Seal. "I can't accept it! I can't rule a kingdom, not without you!" I say. "Merlin you've proven yourself to be the most kind, fair and brave man I've ever met. If anything happens to me, I want you to rule Camelot." My eyes begin to fill with tears so I hug him. "Hey I didn't want to make you cry... I can call Doroda... dobora... I can remember the name of that stupid chicken ." He says and I laugh crying. "Shut up and hug me back." I feel his arms holding me, giving me a sweet feeling in my heart. A feeling that I cherish fondly.
                          
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A/N: Dear readers like every story, this one is coming to an end and it makes me feel so sad. I'll miss writing it! So stay tuned for the next and last chapter that I'll post by the end of the week!