"She's not doing well, I can't heal her." Sam said frustrated.
"Get her out of here! I'll distract them." Hank shouted.
"I can't leave you." Sam replied.
"You have to, I know what I'm doing." Hank replied sending a demon flying. "You know as well as I that it's our only option. They've found a way past our defenses, my Brother's are dead, and they wont stop till they destroy her."
"She'll be safe, I promise. I wont let him get to her." Sam vowed.
"Joyce, you need to go with Sam." Hank began smoothing a hand over her hair.
"I wont leave you." She said determinedly. "I can't do this alone." She cried.
"Yes you can. I love you Joyce. You have to go. The future of good magic is depending on us." Hank replied tearfully. "We can't protect her from him anymore."
"I love you Hank." She said unable to stop the tears from falling down her face. "I just..." she trailed off sobbing.
"I know, ." Hank said taking a deep breath and turning to Sam. "Ready?" Sam nodded taking Joyce's hand. Hank threw the door open throwing potions as Sam orbed away.
Manor:
"Phoebe if you don't hurry up I'm going to." Piper yelled up the stairs stopping as at the sound of a crash in the next room.
"Calm down, no need to blow up the house." Phoebe said bounding down the stairs.
"Wasn't me." Piper said worriedly as they rushed into the sun room.
"Paige." Sam said relived as they orbed in.
"Dad?" Paige said confused.
"What the hell is going on?" Piper demanded hurrying in with Phoebe.
"Please, we don't have much time." Sam began as Joyce screamed.
"She's in labor." Piper realized.
"Don't let him get my baby." Joyce begged.
"Who?" Phoebe asked.
"Merlin, please, he wont stop till he kills her." Joyce explained.
"I'll explain later." Sam said at their confused looks. "We need to deliver this baby before she dies."
"Dies, what's going on." Piper demanded.
"I promise I'll explain later." Sam said hurriedly. "Hank wont be able to hold off the demons much longer."
"Leo!" Piper yelled.
"What Piper I was...Sam? What are you doing here? Oh my god that's." Leo exclaimed.
"Yes, we don't have much time." Sam replied holding his hand over her.
"What can I do?" Leo asked concerned.
"I can't heal her." Sam explained. "If she dies before the child's born..."
"I understand, maybe if we tried together." Leo replied.
"Don't worry about me, save the baby." Joyce cried as another contraction hit.
"Demon." Phoebe shouted kicking it across the room. Piper spun blowing it up.
"Paige behind you." Piper shouted.
"Energy ball." Paige shouted throwing it back a the demon.
"I can see the head." Sam said. "Your doing fine, just push."
"I can't, I'm so tired." Joyce replied struggling to keep her eyes open.
"Joyce!" Sam shouted as her eyes began closing. "Stay with us, you have to do this, were all counting on you. One last push."
"Where the hell are they all coming from!" Piper shouted as she blew up another demon.
"I don't know. Athame." Paige called. Everyone froze as the room was filled with a bright light killing the demons followed by the cry of a baby.
"You did it Joyce, look she's perfect." Sam said handing her the baby.
"You are perfect aren't you." Joyce said groggily. "I love you so much. You know that right, so did your father." She added a tear rolling down her cheek. "The world is counting on you. But, all we ever wanted was for you to be happy and safe. And you will be my sweet little girl."
"You did it Joyce, Hank would be proud." Sam said smiling sadly.
"No, I haven't. He's coming for her, he'll be here any minute." Joyce said quietly struggling to stay alert.
"Don't worry, we wont let anything happen to her." Paige promised but her word brought Joyce little comfort as she struggled to stay alive.
"Damn it I still can't heal you." Sam said frustrated.
"Let me try." Leo said holding out his hand but, he had no luck. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok, Sam, you didn't fail us." Joyce said wearily placing a hand on his arm. "This was our destiny."
"As it's mine to destroy her." A man declared appearing in the room with a loud bang.
"Who the hell are you?" Piper demanded.
"Don't worry, I'm not here for you, I just want the child." He replied holding out his hands and murmuring a few words. They watched stunned as the baby floated from Joyce's arms to his. "Your protection is already weakening." He said with an evil grin.
"Paige." Phoebe said quietly. Paige nodded stepping foward.
"Baby." She called holding out her arms. "It's not working."
"It's acute trick witch, but I was more than prepared." He laughed. "Your magic is nowhere near strong enough."
"I wont let you hurt her Merlin." Joyce declared struggling to sit up.
"You can't even save yourself, how do you expect to save her." Merlin asked raising his arm and throwing her across the room.
"Joyce." Sam cried rushing to her side.
"Sam, what do we do?" Leo asked nervously.
"He wont freeze." Piper exclaimed. "I don't even want to try and blow him up as long as he has the baby."
"Why is he still here?" Phoebe asked confused. "I mean he has the baby why hasn't he left?"
"He can't, as long as Joyce is alive she's protected but, as you can see the magic is weakening." Sam explained.
"So what's the plan?" Paige asked as the Baby began to cry.
"What the hell." Phoebe said as the baby orbed out of the mans arms. "Paige."
"Wasn't me." Paige said stunned.
"No, it's not possible." He declared furiously disappearing with a bang.
"Where did she go?" Paige asked confused.
"Piper, where are the boys?" Leo asked nervously.
"Upstairs." Piper replied.
Upstairs:
They orbed into the nursery to find Wyatt with his protective shield around himself, Chris and the baby.
"Give her to me." Merlin demanded pounding on the barrier.
"Get the hell away from my kids." Piper said trying to blow him up but only managing to knock him off his feet.
"You couldn't protect her last time, and you wont be able to this time either." Merlin declared disappearing.
"Your safe now Buffy." Joyce said smiling weakly taking one last breath before she faded before their eyes.
"Ok, for the last time, I want to know what the hell is going on!" Piper demanded.
Magic School:
Once the children were safely placed in the playpen and the adults seated Sam finally began to explain.
"We should be safe here for now. In magic three is a very powerful number." Sam began.
"Not news flash, power of three remember." Paige interrupted.
"Yes, but do you know where it began?" Sam asked. "You've learned over the years through personal experience that fairy tales are quite real especially one about The sword in the stone."
"Wait, that Merlin, he's the Merlin?" Piper asked confused.
"Isn't he supposed to be good?" Phoebe asked.
"You know that evil can take fairy tales and manipulate them. You guys stopped the wicked witch form doing just that before Wyatt was born." Leo replied.
"So evil changed the story of King Arthur?" Paige asked.
"Yes." Sam replied. "They have changed and manipulated it over the years because they fear it above all others."
"Why?" Piper asked.
"Because, Arthur was the once and Future King and as we all know with the birth of your son he has been born again." Sam explained. "Before his death it was foresaw that he'd return again to bring back the golden age of magic."
"So, if the story we've all been told is wrong, what is the real story?" Paige asked.
"The real story of King Arthur, of Camelot and the golden age of magic began with the birth of a boy...
The King had been killed along with his queen and many of his supporter. It was a dark time for good magic, The evil wizard who had slain him claimed his throne and there was noone left to oppose him. Good magic went into hiding. Our only hope was the king's son though many thought he was slain along with his family. But, good magic saved and protected the infant. He was hidden among mortals raised unaware of his great heritage. These were times before magic was so securely hidden from mortals so all lived in fear of the great and terrible king. If found the king would waste no time in destroying Arthur. A select few knew of his true identity and whereabouts but they to went deep into hiding, the only hope they had was that he would grow up and come back to save them all. They devised a plan, first they bound his powers so he could not be detected and then hid him, basically in plain sight. You see Arthur was raised as a servant boy for one of the kings greatest supporters, his own brother.
"That was risky." Paige commented.
"Not really, it was genius." Leo replied. "Why would the King suspect his own brother of harboring him?"
"Exactly." Sam replied. "Especially since he had as much to lose if Arthur ever came into power."
"But wait, what about the sword? How did it get into the stone?" Phoebe asked.
"Ah, Excalibur that is a very powerful weapon as you have seen. It was a gift to Arthur upon his birth. Forged in Avalon I don't think there is a more powerful weapon in existence." Sam explained. "Arthur birth while greatly celebrated also brought great unease. He was a very powerful witch, even as a baby. Some thought to powerful."
"Sounds familiar." Piper sighed.
"Many sought to destroy him both good and evil." Sam continued. "But, in the end they only managed to help the Wizard destroy his family and come to power. And after that they realized they needed him, he was the only hope of repairing the damage they'd caused. After the kings death they knew they had to protect the sword from evil as well, some thought it best to return the weapon to Avalon but, that wasn't possible so instead they placed it in the stone with powerful magic making it impossible for anyone but it's true owner to claim it."
"Why couldn't they return it to Avalon?" Phoebe asked confused.
"Because, we have no idea where it is." Leo explained. "Avalon is the birth place of Magic. No mortal has ever set foot on it. It's location is unknown to all except it's inhabitants although they never leave it."
"So then how do we know it even exists." Piper asked.
"Because, Leo is wrong one person left it." Sam explained. "But I'm getting ahead of myself. So, Arthur is living as a servant with the kings brother. While all this is going on there is another key player. Arthur's only cousin, Lancelot is also being raised in hiding. But unlike Arthur is very aware of who he is and his birth right. Many hoped to make him king.
Lancelot befriends a servant boy never realizing that it is his cousin and the future king. They grew close and eventually Lancelot came to trust him enough with his secret. Arthur's greatest hope was that one day Lancelot would become king instead of the King's nephew who treated him so badly. Lancelot would sneak over the castle walls to play with Arthur and one day during their exploring they came across a over grown courtyard and discovered the sword in the stone. While in the grand hall the king announced that His nephew would be the future king little did he know that his legacy was about to end.
"Well, your supposed to be King pull it out." Arthur said after Lancelot explained the importance of the sword.
"I can't, it isn't mine." Lancelot replied.
"But, noone even knows if your cousins alive, so maybe it is yours now." Arthur replied. "Don't tell me your scared."
"Me hah, I'm not scared of anything." Lancelot bragged clearing away the over growth.
"Prove it." Arthur dared.
"You know that's no way to talk to your future king." Lancelot said glancing nervously at the sword. He took a deep breath and grabbed the handle tugging with all his might but it wouldn't budge. "Told you." He said letting go. "You try."
"Oh yeah, because if you can't do it surely I can." Arthur said rolling his eyes. "I'm a servant boy, not a king."
"You never know." Lancelot teased.
"That's me, king of the servant boys." Arthur said grasping the sword. "Prince of the stables, all hail..." He trailed of stunned as the sword slipped easily from the stone.
"King Arthur." Lancelot finished watching in amazement as Arthur held out the sword.
"Take it." Arthur said nervously thrusting it foward. But Lancelot simply shook his head kneeling down before him. "Get up you idiot, I'm not the king, it's a mistake. You're meant to be king."
"No, I'm not. Only the true heir could pull the sword from the stone. Your not a servant boy Arthur, you're the king." Lancelot replied still stunned by the turn of events.
"What do I do now?" Arthur asked the realization finally sinking in.
"Go claim your throne." Lancelot replied.
By pulling the sword Arthur not only discovered his true destiny but, also unbound his powers. With only his cousin beside him he marched into the throne room and demanded with much more courage than a eleven year old boy should posses, what was rightfully his. He avenged his parents deaths and brought good back into power. But, even after the battle was won Arthur had many more ahead of him. He was untrained and although powerful so, it was decided to bring in a powerful Wizard to train him. That is where Merlin comes in.
"I thought he was evil." Piper interrupted.
"No, not at first." Sam explained. "He was a good tutor and would later become one of Arthur's most trusted advisors."
"So, why's he turn?" Paige asked.
"I told you there were three." Sam replied.
"Ok, so who's the third." Phoebe asked.
"This is what I was trying to explain, why three is such a powerful number especially in your case. We have Arthur, the king who possessed the ability move objects with his mind. Lancelot, his second in command and greatest protector, who could to freeze time." Sam explained. "Can you guess what the third power is?"
"The power to see the future." Phoebe replied.
"Yes, the royal trinity of powers so to speak. Together they are virtually unstoppable. It is why your collective powers are feared by demons and evil alike." Sam replied. "While Arthur in hiding in our world, in Avalon the youngest daughter of the ruler of the land was chosen to be the next lady of the lake. The lady of the lake is the only person able to travel from Avalon to the outside world. I believe you met her. It is a highly coveted position and a great honor. It is her duty to protect Avalon from the outside world and at the same time use it's resources to help protect the magic that exists in our world. Once chosen she is trained by the current lady of the lake from birth to take over once she dies. But, it is a lonely life forever trapped between two worlds never really belonging to either."
"Well that sucks." Paige said sympathetically.
"Yes but, they aren't forced to take on the role." Sam replied.
"How is a baby supposed top say no?" Piper asked rolling her eyes.
"They can say no any time but, it easier to say yes when you have known no other life." Sam replied. "They simply have to relinquish their position while in training and another is chosen. But, noone ever had. Like I said it was a great honor. The lady of the lake is immortal, but can be killed which is why there is always someone being trained to take over."
"Lucky them." Phoebe said sarcastically.
"She is the only one with the knowledge of how to travel between Avalon and the outside world, She must pass on her knowledge before her death because without her they would be cut off, and magic in our world would be lost." Sam explained. "Avalon is not only the birthplace of magic, but the source of it. You and every other magical being draw your power from it."
"Ok, so it sucks for them but they need to do it." Paige replied. "Now you say noone had ever turned down the position, why do I think this girl was the first?"
"Because she was the first, and only." Sam replied.
"Why did she do it?" Piper asked.
"She fell in love." Sam replied.
"Wait a minute, this girl, it's Lady Guenevere isn't it." Paige exclaimed. Sam nodded.
"It all started when the lady of the lake left her alone one day to attend to some business. She grew tired of waiting for her return and decided to put some of her training into action, testing her powers so to speak." Sam began. "So for the first time she left the shores of Avalon alone and came across as boy, who would one day be king."
Guenevere was lost, she'd been trying for hours to return to Avalon's shores but without the lady of the lake to guide her through it she was having trouble doing so. Tired she climbed up onto the shore of the lake she'd traveled into. There she was discovered by a skinny young boy dressed in rags, struggling to carry a large pail he'd filled with water.
"Are you lost?" Arthur asked unsurely coming across her.
"Where is this place?" She asked eyeing him fearfully.
"England." He replied looking at her strangely.
"Oh, then I wasn't that far off." She exclaimed happily.
"Do you need help finding your way home?" He asked.
"No, well yes but, you can't help. I just need to wait to be found." She replied.
"What?" he asked confused. spinning around when he heard his name being called.
"Hey Arthur, you down here?" Lancelot called running towards him. "What are you doing."
"I was just talking to." He looked over surprised to find the girl gone. "Where did she go?"
"Where did who go?" Lancelot asked.
"The girl, she was just here." Arthur replied.
"I didn't see anyone. Are you sure you didn't imagine her?" Lancelot asked.
"Yes I'm sure, she was rather odd though." Arthur replied glancing out into the lake. "I wonder where she went.
"You shouldn't have talked to that boy." The lady of the lake chastised after Guenevere returned to Avalon and explained her absence.
"Why not? He was nice." Guenevere asked.
"It's not safe for you to go out alone, we aren't meant to become involved in the affairs of mortals." She explained. "You must keep your distance."
But she didn't and that was the first of many adventures Guenevere took. She befriended Arthur and later Lancelot never telling them of her true identity. Until the lady of the lake discovered her secret and forbade her from continuing to see them. So she returned to fulfil her duty disappearing from the boys lives. Though she continued to watch them never allowing them to see her.
"What does this have to do with Merlin turning evil?" Paige asked.
"As Arthur grew into a man the pressure started for him to marry, produce an heir." Sam explained. "Merlin had a daughter, Marilyn, he hoped to marry off to Arthur, further solidifying his place in power. From an early age Merlin had begun grooming Marilyn to be the future queen and she may have been except."
"Let me guess, Guenevere." Paige replied.
"Exactly." Sam replied...
It was declared that Arthur would choose his bride by months end, at the grand ball celebrating his defeat of the evil king. Kings from all over offered their daughters hand, every eligible girl in the kingdom was paraded through court but, To most it always seemed that Marilyn was to be the future queen.
"Have you made your decision?' Lancelot asked.
"I suppose." Arthur replied sadly. "I mean she's beautiful, powerful, the people all love her it's just..."
"You don't." Lancelot finished.
"I don't." Arthur sighed. "I like Marilyn well enough. I just can't stop think about her."
"We've searched for years, she's gone." Lancelot reminded.
"I know, sometimes I suspect she wasn't even real to begin with." Arthur said with a small smile.
But Lancelot took off that day intent on finding her before the ball, and he did. She finally admitted the truth, about who she was and he returned to Camelot. He told Arthur and he resigned himself to the fact that they could never be.
"But, wait they end up together." Paige interrupted.
"Yes they do." Sam replied. "Apparently the Lady of the Lake wasn't as blind to her side excursions as Guenevere thought. She summoned her and gave her a choice. She could leave, be with the man she loved but, she could never come back if she did so. She would be giving up Avalon and immorality."
"And she did." Piper replied.
"Yes, she showed up at the ball and Arthur choose her, it was that day Marilyn swore her revenge. From that day on she and her father strived to bring her and those they thought betrayed hem down." Sam explained. "Marilyn cursed her so she would never be able to carry Arthur's child in hopes the country would turn against her when no heir was conceived but, she was beloved. Eventually after years of fighting she and Guenevere faced off in one final battle of which she didn't win. It was then that Merlin swore he would never rest until She was punished for killing his only daughter. But, he never got the Chance."
"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked.
"She died before he could kill her." He replied.
"How did she die?" Piper asked.
"She was killed." Sam replied reluctantly. "By Arthur and Lancelot."
"They killed her!" Paige exclaimed.
"Not on purpose, they were trying to kill each other." Sam explained.
"Oh much better." Piper said rolling her eyes.
"Why?" Phoebe asked.
"We don't know." Sam replied.
"Wait a minute. I was reading up on this stuff after we found the Sword. Didn't Guenevere and Lancelot have an affair?" Paige asked.
"You see this is when the history gets foggy. Some of what you'll read today is true and some pure fiction because we just don't know." Sam tried to explain. "Though a lot of people have said that She and Lancelot were secretly in love we can't be sure. Many say that's what tore them all apart, brought down the greatest power of good ever."
"A love triangle." Piper asked suspiciously.
"Love is the greatest power there is." Leo replied.
"So why would people say she cheated?' Paige asked.
"Because, when she died, she was pregnant." Sam replied.
"And Arthur couldn't be the father." Phoebe realized.
"We don't know, maybe the curse was broken and maybe it was another man's child." Sam shrugged. "Noone knows. But, we do know she died in Arthur's arms. But, just before she did she had one final vision. That they would all be reborn, to be together again. And today that vision came true."
"My head hurts." Piper said laying her head back.
"What does this mean for us, for Wyatt and Chris?" Phoebe asked.
"It means, there destiny is tied into hers. We must find a way to protect her before Merlin takes the opportunity to destroy her." Sam replied.
"So we protect her." Paige shrugged.
"No, you can't. The only power of three strong enough to defeat Merlin is over there in the playpen. You can't vanquish him." Sam explained. "You saw today how you were unable to stop him, only Wyatt and Chris could protect her."
"The elders have been trying to figure out what to do." Leo explained.
"Wait, you knew about this." Piper accused."Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because, I couldn't, noone was even sure it would happen this time." Leo explained.
"What do you mean this time?" Piper demanded.
"This isn't the first time they've returned to this world for lack of a better way to say it." Sam explained. "Arthur and Lancelot have both been reborn many times, they have been powerful forces of good but, we've been waiting for all three."
"And now, the prophecy has been fulfilled." A Figure stated capturing their attention.
"Great, here come the elders." Piper groaned.
"What prophecy?" Phoebe asked.
"Lady Guenevere's." He replied.
"We have been preparing for this moment since your births." Another elder explained.
"What do you mean?" Paige asked confused.
"From Daughters come sons and from sons come daughters. The power of three shall set us free." She replied. "We have waited hundreds of years for this moment for them to return."
"Now, we must see if they have come to save or doom us all." Another elder added.
"Doom, what does he mean doom?" Piper asked nervously.
"I'm still not sure what any of this means." Paige replied.
"Haven't you ever wondered why you bore the first males to ever be borne from the Halliwell line?" He asked. "And then a girl borne from the Eldest of three brother's in a line of all men. Two sets of Charmed one's we knew then it was meant to be now."
"And then the sword, it would have never been returned if her arrival wasn't foreseen." Another Elder picked up.
"Foreseen by whom?" Phoebe asked.
"The Lady of the lake, the same lady of the lake who brought the sword to your son's former self, and the same lady of the lake that gave Buffy's, I believe her mother named her, former self a choice, to fulfill her duty or to find true love." He replied.
"So what happens now?" Piper asked.
"Now we must decide what to do with the girl." He replied. "As you can see word of her arrival has spread." He said gesturing to the growing group of magical creatures that had arrived to celebrate the birth.
"Her family is dead, they all gave their lives to see her brought into the world." Another elder began. "And allowing you to take care of her would only endanger them all."
"Perhaps I can be of assistance a voice called. They turned watching amazed as a woman appeared out of a bowl of water.
"Lady, you honor us with your presence." An elder spoke as they all bowed respectfully.
"Avalon offers it's assistance in protecting her, she is after all our favorite daughter." She replied smiling as she gazed down at the small bundle in the playpen. "So you have truly returned my dear sister."
"Sister?" Phoebe asked confused.
"Yes, after all when Gwen gave up her post another had to fil it." She replied. "It seems though that the world is changing, males borne into the Halliwell line, a female into the Summer's line and, it also appears the next 'lady of the Lake' shall be a man."
"What?" An elder exclaimed.
"Yes, we were surprised as well, in fact there are two, a boy and a girl. We are unsure what this all means as of yet, but it is there destiny." She replied.
"What do you mean?" Piper asked.
"This is not a position you simple fill, it is a destiny. Chosen by the highest powers. I am the only one to have ever been chosen after birth. But, until now it has always been a woman. After the Lady of the Lake dies, and her trainee takes over a Child is borne with the mark, but this time two were one of them being male." She explained.
"And you don't know what it means?" Phoebe asked.
"No, but it is not for me to know, it is my duty to train all with the mark." She replied. "Which is why I have come." She said carefully lifting the infant and pulling down a corner of it's blanket revealing a small red mark on her shoulder. "She bears the mark."
"But, why?" Piper asked confused.
"She's destined to be the Lady of the lake again?" Paige asked.
"No, if she was she would have been reborn within our shores." She replied. "But, it is my duty to train all that bear the mark."
"Um, I'm confused." Phoebe said.
"So, your going to take her back to Avalon and train her even though she'll never be the lady of the lake?" Piper asked.
"Yes." She replied. "She will be safe there, when she returns hopefully they will all be prepared to face the evil that hopes to destroy them."