Elizabeth's POV

We're in the throne room as Hunith, Merlin's mum tells us of the crisis her village faces. "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" she pleads.

"Ealdor's in Cenred's kingdom. Your safety is his responsibility" father tells her.

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

"I have the deepest sympathy for you and would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth" he tells her.

"You'll help us?" she asks him hopefully.

"I wish I could" he tells her.

"Surely we can spare a few men?" Arthur asks him.

"Resources are not the problem" father states.

"Then what is?" Morgana asks him. My thoughts exactly.

"Ealdor lies beyond the Ridge of Ascetir. For an army of Camelot to enter it would be an act of war" father explains.

"I know you're a good king, a caring man. I'm begging you, help us, please" she begs.

"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" he tells her. Morgana glares at him as we escort Hunith out of the throne room.

(Time skip)

Morgana, Gwen and I decided to save Ealdor ourselves. If father wouldn't send the knights. We'd go. So we are traveling with Merlin and his mother back to Ealdor. Gwen, Morgana and I are wearing trousers and loose shirts. Morgana and I have armor on. I may not be as skilled as Morgana in battle, but I will give my all to defend the innocent. Though I'm sure Morgana and I will be getting a long lecture from my father on our return to Camelot.

Arthur joined us the first night while Morgana, Gwen and I slept. Now all six of us ride for Ealdor together. When we reach Ealdor, we see the bandits attacking again. Arthur throws a sword into the post behind Kanen, rides up, dismounts, fights the bandits. Merlin rides up and dismounts too. Morgana told me to protect Hunith while she joined the fight with Gwen. I did as I was told.

I watch Morgana save Arthur's life and smile. I wish I was as good a fighter as her. Hunith and I dismount our horses. A bandit heads for us and I start to fight him. We never got to see who'd win our battle as Kanen ordered the bandits to retreat. Arthur comes over to me.

"Are you ok?" he asks me.

"I'm fine" I assure him. He nods and goes over to Merlin. "Are you ok Hunith?" I ask and she nods her head. Soon the whole village is gathered and Arthur stands before 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..." he starts to say.

"Am I the only one wondering who the hell this is?" a young man asks.

"I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot" Arthur tells him.

"Yeah, and, er, I'm Prince William of Ealdor" the young man says sarcastically.

"Keep quiet. He's here to help us" Hunith tells 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 declares.

"He saved Matthew's life!" she snaps.

"That's alright, Hunith. This is his village. What would you have us do?" Arthur asks Will.

"We can't fight against Kanen. He has too many men" Will states.

"So what's the alternative?" Arthur asks him.

"Give him what he wants" Will says. The villagers shake their heads. Well at least they are willing to fight.

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

"We'll manage. We'll survive"" Will tells him.

"How?" another villager asks him.

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

"No. You just want the honour 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 snaps.

"Will" Merlin says.

"I'll follow you. If I'm to die, then I want to go out fighting" Hunith declares.

"That goes for me, too" Matthew says. Soon everyone in the village agrees to fight. Aside from Will, of course. Honestly he is such a coward. Hunith allowed us to sleep in her house. There were no beds, so we all slept on the floor.

Arthur started training the men of the village in the morning. Morgana and Gwen started training the women in secret as Arthur refused too. Saying it's to dangerous. He sent Matthew to organize sentry duty. Merlin spent most of his time with Will. While I spent it with Hunith wanting to learn more about how much support and protection they get from their king. Apparently they have hardly any communication with their king. It makes me want to make sure Arthur will be a better king, who will reach out to everyone in Camelot. Ensure the kingdom they'll always have the protection of their king and can come to him with any problems.

The next day Arthur decides we need a plan in place for when Kanen and his men do decide to attack. We're in the common building. "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. If we fight them on their terms, then..." Arthur stops talking when we hear a woman's scream.

We all race outside and see the cause. Matthew is slung over a horse. "Get him down" I order and they do so. The villagers gather around. Arthur reads the note that's on the arrow in his back.

"What does it say?" Merlin asks him.

"Make the most of this day, it will be your last" Arthur reads. As a woman cries over Matthew's body. I comfort her the best I can.

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

"It wasn't his fault" Merlin states.

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

"These men are brave enough to fight for what they believe in, even if you aren't!" Arthur retorts.

"You're sending them to their graves! You killed one man. How many more need to die before you realize this a battle that can't be won? When Kanen comes, you haven't got a chance. You're gonna be slaughtered" Will states and storms off.

"We'll have a funeral organized for sunset, I promise he will be avenged" I assure the woman. She nods her head. We had a simple funeral for Matthew. Now Arthur stands to address the village again.

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

"We're not going anywhere" I tell him.

"I know you want to help. The women can't stay here. It's too dangerous and father would have my head if anything happened to you Elizabeth" he states.

"The women have as much right to fight for their lives as the men do!" Gwen snaps.

"But none of you know how to fight" he states.

"You're wrong. Gwen, Morgana and I know how to fight. And they've been teaching the women" I tell him.

"The more of us there are, the better chance we stand" Gwen adds. The women step forward. Ready to fight for their home. Arthur sighs in defeat.

"This is your home. If you want to fight to defend it, that's your choice. I'd be honoured 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!" Arthur finishes his speech.

"For Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor! Ealdor!" the crowd chant.

"Now get some sleep, have your weapons beside you encase Kanen attacks early" I tell them. They nod and go to their homes. I approach Arthur.

"If anything happens to you" he says.

"I know Arthur" I say resting a hand on his shoulder. "But you and Morgana have taught me well" I state. "I won't hide when the innocent need help. I am no coward" I tell him.

"Just stay close to me, please?" he pleads. I nod my head and hug him tightly. We to call it a night. There was no sneak attack during the night. Gwen made Arthur eat in the morning, it was amusing to hear as Morgana helped me with my armor. I think Gwen and Arthur would make a lovely couple. Though father would never approve, just like he'd never approve of my affection for Lancelot. I hope he is well.

We won the fight. Thanks to a little help from Merlin' magic. Though Will took the blame as he laid dying. In the end, he was a hero and not a coward. He saved Arthur's life and protected Merlin. Arthur killed Kanen. The village was once again safe. We honoured the dead and celebrated our win.

The next day we set out to return to Camelot. After Merlin had said goodbye to his mother. Arthur, Morgana and I got a huge lecture from father. But nothing more. Thank god.

A/N

Picture above of Hunith and picture in chapter of Elizabeth's armor.