CHAPTER FORTY THREE,
episode one, the darkest hour, part one.

ONE YEAR had passed. one whole year of morgana's betrayal. one whole year of estella's death. isabella was now twenty two, and it had been three years since she moved to camelot.

how had so much had happened in such little time?

it was bittersweet—isabella adored her home, however everything about camelot was a constant reminder of morgana and estella. if isabella wanted to go to her chambers, after the staircase, immediately she was faced with morgana's door, isabella's being opposite.

and whenever she walked into her own room, estella was not there waiting for her. she always hated the evenings and the mornings. going to bed without estella and morgana being there to wish her goodnight, and have their weekly sleepovers.

guinevere had replaced estella as isabella's handmaiden. isabella loved gwen with everything in her, but she couldn't help but feel lonely. the quartet of girls was now only a duo.

･ ｡ﾟ☆ princess isabella had returned from visiting estella marilyn's grave in silence. her grave was so lonely. the flowers she had placed a few weeks ago had died, and the new ones didn't look as lifeless as they did when she picked them at a stall in camelot's village. isabella often traveled to and from camelot and devlin, devlin being where estella's grave was as that was where she grew up, however isabella's home was camelot now.

uther pendragon had not moved from his position in the chair of his chambers ever since he escaped the dungeons and morgana fled camelot with morgause's body. his heart was broken, and his spirit was gone. the only word's he had spoken to isabella was when he found out estella had died, and he looked up at her, and said. "i have failed you, and i am so sorry." underneath his breath.

so quiet isabella almost hadn't heard him.

but he hasn't spoken since.

isabella tried to stay her usual cheerful self when around the others, she didn't want them to have to not be their happy selves just because she as upset. plus, the knights and people around her always cheered her up.

like now, for example.

merlin held onto isabella's arm as they rushed through the kitchen, which was being decorated for celebrations of samhain, which was on the first day of november, celebrated by all as a festival marking the beginning of winter or the 'darker half' of the year, which was normally associated with death.

giggles filled the air as the two of them ran through. "oi!" the cook bellowed, "get out of my kitch—oh, i am sorry, your grace." she bowed dramatically after seeing isabella.

isabella laughed with merlin, before composing herself. "it is not a bother, miss fiona." merlin enjoyed these moments, because it distracted both him and her from the painful memories of estella. he too would sit awake at night talking to the stars, begging them to bring her back to him.

"so what are you doing in here?" fiona turned to merlin, raising a spatula at him as a threat.

"the princes' shirt!" he defended, grabbing isabella again and running to where arthur's shirt was hanging up over something in a pot, which was steamy.

somebody cleared their throat, and isabella glanced up to see sir percival and sir gwaine slowly lowering down a rope through the small gap in the ceiling. she raised a brow, and gwaine hushed her and pointed to the freshly made pies. isabella giggled and wrapped the rope around the tray, sending the boys a thumbs up.

"oi!" fiona screamed, isabella jumped and grabbed merlin, the two of them running out of the kitchen and through the castle.

the two of them dodged all of the servants who were decorating the castle for samhain, but because merlin was so clumsy, he bumped into someone who was holding a large jug of red wine. "you imbecile." isabella sighed in disappointment, smacking merlin's neck.

"you could try a bit of salt." sir lancelot suggested from out of nowhere.

"arthur is going to kill me." merlin complained, making isabella laugh quietly to herself.

"let us see." lancelot said, eyeing the shirt before widening his eyes and breaking out into laughter. "you have faced far worse, merlin, i'm sure of it." he patted his back, turning to walk past them.

"he needs it for tonight!" merlin called out after the knight who turned back to face them.

"i'm sure a man of your talents can think of something." he smirked knowingly at them, turning back.

merlin looked around and subtly whispered an incantation, and within seconds, the shirt looked brand new again. isabella smiled and high fived the tall boy, both turning back to lancelot with proud smiles and holding up the shirt.

lancelot grinned at them in response, making isabella smile at him, before turning around and heading off to her chambers to get ready for the celebrations.

it seemed the steps to her chambers got colder and darker every time she went there, but she had gotten pretty good at ignoring morgana's door.

arthur had locked it shut after isabella had a manic episode, where she would go into morgana's room and 'speak' to her, sit on her bed, or eat dinner at the table and tell her about her day...however it would always end up with isabella destroying the things in there, smashing her mirrors, ripping down the curtains and she even went as far as throwing a chair out of the window once.

no one other than arthur, merlin and gwen had known. it was gwen that found her crying in morgana's bed, cuts and scrapes on her skin due to the smashed window.

it would cause a major scandal if arthur were to stay with isabella at night since they were not married, however even without her knowing sometimes, he would always sit outside of her room until the sun rose to ensure she would sleep through the night.

he had slowly stopped doing this after a few months, only doing it every so often when he himself felt lonely.

･ ｡ﾟ☆ isabella arrived into the throne room and took her seat next to arthur, who immediately took hold of her hand and kissed her knuckles. "how was estella's grave?" he asked her, noticing her distant look.

isabella smiled distantly, "i brought her fresh flowers...only myself, her family and my father and aurora even visit her grave. that's what pains me. nobody else even knew her. they did not know what a diamond she was to this world." she whispered, and took a sip of her wine, shaking away her thoughts.

"you look unwell, your grace. is everything okay?" agravain, arthur's uncle by his mother asked from beside the king's empty throne. the princess turned to him with a small smile.

"my apologies, sir. i only returned from estella's grave this morning, so i am feeling a little sensitive at the moment. thank you for joining us at the celebrations." she excused, sending him a polite smile.

"of course," agravain smiled apologetically, "let me know if there is anything i can do for you, your grace."

isabella nodded with a smile, "thank you, agravain. that is most kind." and arthur stood up to announce everyone. "samhain, it is the time of hear when we feel closest to the spirits of our ancestors. it is a time to remember those we have lost, to celebrate their passing." he began to speak, raising his glass.

isabella looked down at her bracelet, remembering estella. she kept her promise and never took it off. she couldn't. "to the king!" arthur toasted as the bell tolled, signalling midnight.

isabella suddenly let out a slight cry in pain, clutching her head with both hands. to her, everything was muffled and slow, all she could hear was the loud screams of a creature in her mind, so loud she could barely think.

a woman appeared in front of her, she wore a black cloak which covered everything but her face. she was pale, with dark around her eyes. "agate...agate...agate." she said in an eerily quiet tone.

arthur noticed her beginning to shiver, her lips turning blue from the cold which no one else but the sorcerers felt. isabella's fear stricken eyes met merlin's who had the same expression his face.

and then, everything went black.

PRINCESS ISABELLA woke up to arthur and gaius stood over her in a panic, she was back in her chambers. she sat up slowly, her eyes adjusting to the sudden light. "are you feeling alright, your grace?"

isabella squinted her eyes at the older man, and she nodded slowly. "i think i had too much wine." she frowned to herself, blinking slowly.

"you can say the same for merlin. he dramatically collapsed onto the floor." arthur joked, making isabella glance at gaius, who subtly nodded.

"i am sorry to have ruined the celebrations." she rested against the headboard.

"it was getting boring anyway." arthur shrugged with a small smile, relieved that she was well again. "but...isabella there is something you should know."

"what is it?" she asked nervously, fear overcoming her suddenly.

"it's about—"

"morgana?" she asked, a subtle hint of hope in her eyes which arthur didn't fail to notice.

he slowly nodded. "she was sighted on a journey to the isle of the blessed yesterday morning. there was someone with her in a carriage. we are unsure of who. agravain has dispatched some knights to go and check it out."

isabella's face fell slightly, and she nodded. "thank you for telling me."

arthur smiled at her, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. gaius soon left, but arthur stayed, holding onto isabella's hand. "i don't even remember you having that much to drink." he joked.

she let out a nervous chuckle, "i started having a headache a few minutes prior, i guess the loud noises just got too overwhelming." she smiled.

sir leon suddenly burst through the door, making both of them jump slightly. "please accept my apology. however, you are needed in the council chambers as a matter of urgency."

since the king was out of action, isabella and arthur were mainly in charge of camelot. however, arthur's uncle, agravain had come to live with them to help them make their decisions and support them.

arthur sighed and nodded, getting up to leave. isabella tried to get up, but arthur shook his head. "stay. you need to rest, i will explain everything to you."

she grumbled slightly, but nodded.

A VILLAGE in the east of the white mountains named howden had been attacked by unknown beings. the young girl, drea, had lost her entire family to these...things. she described them to be shapes that a screamed so very loud.

isabella prepared herself to ride out to the village with the knights, merlin and arthur to see what had happened. the new knights of camelot had learnt to just accept the fact isabella would most likely join on almost every mission of theirs, and they learnt not to argue. plus, she kept them company and they made her happy.

it took almost a day to get to the village beyond the mountains, and it was a terrible sight. and there was silence. not a single sound could be heard for miles. it was also deserted. isabella walked behind arthur but in front of all of the knights as they searched through the village.

"spread out." elyan spoke up, making isabella roll her eyes but agree. she walked behind lancelot, when all of a sudden a loud crunch could be heard.

the whole group jumped and raised their swords, only to find gwaine muching on an apple. "sorry." he muttered. they all rolled their eyes at him.

"here!" elyan called out from behind a barn. gwaine dropped the apple and the group all ran over to where elyan was stood.

a man laid against the wall, frozen in spot. his face was so pale it was almost blue, and frost covered his face and clothes. isabella stared at him in shock, gently moving to feel his forehead, which was as cold as ice.

each of them flinched slightly hearing a faint shriek in the distance, isabella's heart rate picked up as she gulped and glanced at merlin who looked equally as scared. they hadn't had the chance to speak of what had happened the night of samhain.

"we are literally chasing shadows." gwaine grinned sarcastically, covering up the fact he was terrified himself.

"don't be such girls. come on." isabella rolled her eyes, acting as if she wasn't almost about to pass out at the sight of the frozen man. the knights blinked awkwardly and followed the princess out of the barn and through the village.

"you are always the first to scold us when we insult someone using their sex." sir elyan said jokingly, making isabella shrug.

"because unlike you, i am actually funny."

"fair point."

they continued exploring the village and split up. sir gwaine and sir percival went together and sir lancelot and merlin went together, and then the rest of the group went together. isabella heard the faint screaming again and looked up at the sky, and then behind her to see if she could spot anything.

she heard the scream again, and she too let out a slight shriek at the sight of some sort of skull—which was made out of smoke chasing towards her. "bella!" sir lancelot shouted, gently pushing her to the side.

"are you alright?" arthur asked, making the girl nod slowly.

"is it just me, or is it suddenly so cold." she shivered, making the knights glance at her worriedly.

"it is a little chilly."

"that's because you're the only one with your arms out, percival."

"we need to get out of here." arthur announced, and isabella nodded in agreement. the shrieking continued as they ran through the village to find the horses.

they arrived in camelot early the next morning to find almost a hundred people dead. or frozen. the rooms in the castle were filled with bodies, isabella felt her throat tighten as she pushed past the busy hallways to find guinevere, not even responding to the guards and knights asking if she was okay.

"bella?" a relieved voice spoke from on top of the stairs. isabella sighed in relief and rushed up the steps, bringing gwen in for a tight hug.

"i was so worried." she sighed.

"the fire and light seems to hold them off for short periods of time." gwen told her, making isabella nod and thank her for the information.

isabella made her way to the king's chambers, knocking before entering, as if he would call out to say come in. she slowly walked in front of his chair, and curtsied, before taking a seat opposite him. "i hope you are well, your majesty...i regret to inform you that the kingdom has a threat again." she began, filling up his cup with water. "ghost like beings who retreat with light—they have killed just over a hundred of our people."

he stared at the jug in front of him, his eyes showing no signs of life. she sent him a sympathetic smile, and leant in to hold his hand, closing her eyes. "long live the king." she whispered, before turning to leave.

she would always say it when she visited him. despite how awful he treated morgana, arthur, and herself at times, he was the king of camelot. and if it wasn't for him, she most likely would have never met arthur. or loved him at all.

arthur had filled isabella in on his conversation with gaius. to defeat the dorocha, they needed to journey to the isle of the blessed, and the balance of the two worlds it. gaius wasn't sure how it would be done, but for the tear between the spirit world and the human world to be created, it would have required a blood sacrifice. so to seal it, it would require another.

isabella and arthur had put agravain in charge of camelot and left straight away. merlin looked over at isabella who was riding just behind arthur, and caught up to her. "why are you coming, bella?" merlin asked quietly, watching as her small frown turned into amusement.

she chuckled, "come now, merlin. you should know after all these years what i would do for him." she whispered, looking up at merlin slowly. "i will gladly die knowing he can be the greatest king the world has ever known, and albion shall live. i understand his life is more important than mine."

"no it isn't." he answered immediately, "you really do not get it!" he snapped, knowing something the great dragon had told him a few years ago...something he was forbidden to speak of to her.

"you are equally as important as arthur, if not more." he said seriously, making her frown at him in confusion. "you can not die, isabella. your life and reign is so important for albion, and people like us...and...beside all of that, i could not bare to loose you."

she stared at him, her eyes, and face softening. "...i do not think i have ever loved a friend as much as i love you, merlin. you are like a brother to me...thank you." she told him sincerely, reaching over to squeeze his hand.

merlin forced a smile, tears in his light eyes at the thought of isabella wanting to sacrifice herself. he knew it had to be himself that would be the sacrifice.

it is the only way.

isabella tied her white haired horse up next to the other knights and dismounted it, walking in step with the other knights. "elyan, look after the horses they will need watering. i need someone to get wood—isabella stay with me."

isabella chuckled sarcastically, "of course, your majesty." she teased, curtsying as sir percival, leon and gwaine broke out into laughter at her mocking the prince.

arthur sent her an unamused look before taking her hand to help her walk down the steps. "i'll never understand how you come on these journeys in dresses like these." sir leon said, chuckling at the girl.

"if i am to die, sir leon, i must go out looking like a princess." she said as if it was obvious, making them chuckle again.

they came to some sort of deserted castle, isabella holding arthur's hand tightly as they walked through the courtyard. "pair off, find any wood you can to get the fires burning. merlin, you're with us."

merlin mentally grumbled at the thought of third-wheeling yet again, but followed them.

not much was found, but there was shelter. isabella winced everytime she heard the loud screams of the dorocha, it was haunting. merlin made a fire and they all stood around it to keep warm and light their torches. it wouldn't last through the night, but it would keep the area safe for the moment.

isabella sat while the knights guarded the area, and gwaine finally put the last bit of wood in the fire. "it's the last one...maybe we should draw lots, see who gets some more."

"i'll go." arthur immediately spoke.

"you'll need help." lancelot stood up.

"i'll go with him." merlin cut him off.

they all, minus isabella and lancelot, glanced at merlin in amusement, not believing he would be much help. "are you sure you are the right person?" arthur asked.

isabella tutted, "since when have you known how to collect firewood?"

the knights chuckled, and arthur smiled at her before walking away with merlin.

at the sounds of the screams from the dorocha, the knights grew worried as the two of them should have even back. "they say the darkest hour is just before the dawn." isabella shivered slightly at the screams, making gwaine stand in front of her.

"it's pretty dark now." elyan looked up at the sky.

isabella raised her brows, "it can't be long then." she said hopefully.

a few more minutes past, and isabella stood up in frustration and worry. "im going to find them."

"no!" they all exclaimed, making her raise a brow.

"what?"

"...we'll all go together." sir leon sighed, before waving the knights over to stand around isabella with her in the middle. as a team, they went together to search for them.

it didn't take long to find a small hut in the courtyard, where arthur's screams could be heard. isabella widened her eyes, pushing the knights away so she could get through and sprinted towards it, somehow managing to run faster than all of the knights combined who were literally trained to run fast, but the adrenaline and fear had helped her push through.

she broke down the door to the hut and ran in, stopping when she noticed arthur crouching over something. someone.

"no." she whispered in shock, noticing those very familiar boots. "no, not you..." isabella whispered, tears brimming in her dark eyes,

"he saved me...he jumped in front of them, for me." arthur whispered in slight shock.

she quickly walked over to the boy, crouching down to check his pulse. they all stayed silent as she closed her eyes to somehow hear it better.

"he's breathing, but only just. he does not have long." she sniffled, turning to look at the knights who were horrified.

welcome to season four :(

kinda sad we only have this szn and then one more........but some exciting things are coming soon.

just to let u all know ( lol mainly to remind myself )

isabella is currently twenty two.
arthur is twenty three.

there is a 3 YEAR gap from the end of season four and beginning of five, so

in season four :
isabella : twenty three,
arthur :  twenty four ( after episode 3 ).

in season five,
isabella :  twenty five,
arthur : twenty six.

gosh they're still so young

ok that was mainly for myself but there u go. ily bye

xxx