Thanks guys for all of the inspiration so here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any Greek myth, only my OCs.

Hope you enjoy.

Fate and Destiny

The group was silent. Arthur personally felt like punching a wall as many times as it took to make the memory go away, masking pain with pain. Things had been different ever since that day. Nothing was bright anymore. Things still went well with the treaty with Morgana taking over.

In her past she might have liked the thought of having more power, but it was the thought of the person who had done it before her that made her feel that she needed to live up to his image. She could not let Merlin down. He had worked so hard and for so long to make a world where magic could be free. They carried on his work.

The anniversary was coming up, but no one wanted to mention it. Almost a year without him and look what had happened. Camelot was in ruin with no means of escape, no way out. How were they going to pull out of this?

The monsters that now roamed the streets would destroy anyone from the outside that would try to come to their aid. Arthur couldn't bear to pull anyone else into this anyways. He didn't want anyone else to get hurt. He had lost so much and he didn't want anyone else to feel his pain.

Absentmindedly, Arthur took Gwen's hand in his. She was one of the last things he had left. He wanted to keep her close. Though being close to him might put her in more danger then if she were to be sent away, evacuated.

She squeezed his hand lightly. Arthur reminded himself that if she had gone with the others he probably would spend every moment wondering how she was and what she was doing. Without her reassuring presence he might actually go mad.

Two of the original four were gone. Now only two remained. Arthur never dreamed that Merlin would be the first to go. He had thought that it might be Morgana back when they weren't on best terms with each other. Then he thought it might be himself. He hoped in some ways, and then he wouldn't have to bear watching the others go. That didn't really work out did it?

The old crone had used the last of her powers to take control of Merlin's shadow. That was a very difficult magic to master and ended up draining her of the last of her power just to control it for a few seconds. But those seconds had been enough. Merlin's shadow had come to life, running him through.

Why did it have to be Merlin? Why couldn't she had taken his shadow and used it to against him? But her actions did cause the maximum suffering. She had done her job. The old crone was probably laughing beyond the grave at her success. Arthur wished he could kill her all over again.

He sighed. Morgana ended up being the next of them to go and Arthur had to watch then too. He had to watch her body go limp, absent of life. She would never smile again, never laugh. Morgana would never plot to take over Camelot again. Arthur laughed inwardly. He never thought he would miss her evil schemes.

He just wanted her to be here. Out of all of the losses they had suffered because of this invasion hers had hit the hardest. He had spent quite a long time hating her and fighting against her. Now they had been fighting side by side like they used to. There was hope with her by his side but now there was nothing. Camelot would fall and he would fall with it.

Why had Gaius even brought up Merlin? He wasn't here. He couldn't do anything to save them. What was the point of finding all of the "what ifs" in this situation? They wouldn't change anything. There was no point in finding all of the ways these circumstances were irreversible. Ifs don't bring friends back from the dead. It wasn't magic.

Hopes and dreams of the past only made the pain worse because they now knew that they had screwed up. With that information it only concluded that Camelot was doomed. It was beyond the vale and couldn't be pulled back, like Lancelot, another friend gone, and another if to add to the pile.

Arthur was knocked from his thoughts went the castle shook again, more violently this time. All of their hands immediately went to their swords, ready for a fight. Then something burst in through the already broken window. It was a claw.

Gwaine reacted first, lunging at the intruding lim. He lashed at it with his sword, cutting deep into its iron skin. He only managed to pull his sword free before the monster retreated with a howl. The group hurried from the room just as the arm came back, smashing the entire wall.

As they ran down the hallway, Gwaine stole a glance out one of the windows and stopped.

"Sire!" He called to Arthur who came to join him. Together they looked out to see what had caught the knight's eye.

"Who are they?" He asked.

"I have no idea?" Arthur unfortunately admitted.

The castle shook again, forcing them to move. Arthur glanced out the window again to see the two dark figures that had intrigued them. These two were different. Unlike the other monsters they were humanoid. Arthur couldn't get a good look at them from up here.

A loud cry reverberated through the hallway, shattering any glass that might have remained. They all stopped dead in their tracks, covering their ears to spare their eardrums. The shrieking stopped abruptly but it left them disoriented as they stumbled further. They made it as far as the entrance hall where the large doors had been bared to barricade them in and keep what was outside out.

The barricade did nothing though when the doors were suddenly blasted open, wood flying everywhere. The group ducked to avoid as much of it as they could but Gwaine took one to the left shoulder quite hard when he tried to protect Gaius. He heard the crack and pop as it became dislocated.

When everything became still again the two dark figures strode in through the entryway. Stopping just in front of the group.

Arthur recovered first. "Who are you?"

One of the dark figures was tall and slim. The other was rather short and large. Both were cloaked in black, hiding their faces from view.

"What are you doing here?" Arthur tried another question.

The short one lifted a bony finger until it was pointed straight at Arthur's chest. Then she began to laugh. It was horrible. It made him want to go curl up in a corner and hide. But he was the King and he had to stand strong, for his people.

"You are so weak." She cackled. "So vulnerable. I had been expecting a challenge but it seems I am to be disappointed. You are supposed to be the great King Arthur, but here you are in a crumbling castle in a falling city. I am surprised you haven't made a run for it yet."

"Are you the one who caused this?" Arthur felt anger rising inside him.

"However much I wish I was, no. I am not. Whatever is calling my children here is calling me too." Then she removed her hood. She was old, very, very old. So old that Arthur wondered what was still holding her together. Even her wrinkles had wrinkles.

"Who are you?" He asked again.

"I am Echidna." She grinned a toothy grin. The smile was menacing, every one of her teeth was pointed sharp. "The ones who attack your city are my children."

"How?" Gwaine recovered enough to ask.

Without a word the old woman began to change. Her body grew longer and she rose into the air. Her skin stretched and she took on a much younger appearance. The group stared up at her in horror as she morphed from the little old lady to a monster.

The top half of her body was youthful and human. She was even beautiful. Two angels wings protruded from her back. They were black and scruffy looking. They may have appeared as angel wings but they were placed on a demon body. Her hair was long and flowing. The lower half of her, however, was that of a snake with two tails.

Echidna smiled down at them as she licked her lips. She slithered across the floor until she was standing just in front of Arthur. Her breath smelt of rotting meat and Arthur had to use all of his courage not to back away. He tried to stand tall and confident in front of her but she could see right through him. Her grin widened.

"How do you like me now King?" She mocked. "Still glad that you asked?"

"What are you?" Arthur coughed, trying not to gag. "Half human, half beast?"

"More like half nymph and all goddess." She cackled. "I am the mother of all monsters and you should fear me."

"Why?" Arthur stood defiant.

The question seemed to catch her off guard and she faltered, but only for a moment, the smile quickly returning to her face.

"Courage." She breathed and licked her lips with a forked tongue. "I haven't tasted courage like yours in a long time. I can smell it in the air. It is strong."

The other dark figure moved from his place until he was standing next to the goddess. His face was still shrouded in shadows.

"We are not here to eat them. Not yet." His voice was low and danger laced each one of his words.

Echidna looked disappointed as she reluctantly backed away. She hissed at them for good measure.

"Then what are you here for?" Arthur asked.

"This is a more of a getting to know you visit." He purred. "It wouldn't be polite to kill you since we've only just met."

"Knocking would have been polite." Gwaine sneered. "Who are you?"

"You may call me Atticus for now." He let the name roll off his tongue. "I guess I just wanted to see you alive once before I killed you and destroyed your city once and for all. You wouldn't imagine the line of people who want to see the destruction of this place." As he said this he took a look around the crumbling castle, taking everything in.

"You should have waited your turn." Gwaine spat.

"I've heard so much about this place. In the future it was supposed to become great but it seems that that time will never come." He almost sounded disappointed. "I jumped at the chance to be a part of destroying your wonderful futures."

"I'll take it you aren't behind this either." Arthur frowned.

"Unfortunately not." Atticus walked over and ran his finger along one of the walls, inspecting it afterwards. "Whoever is I must say is a genius. No one else has come this close."

"You don't know who it is?"

"Nope."

"And yet you are following their orders."

"Orders? I don't follow anyone's orders. No. We were all drawn to this place."

"My children are enjoying their meal. This is a gift." Echidna laughed.

"What do you mean you were drawn here?" Arthur was confused.

"Don't expect me to explain it." Atticus threw his hands in the air defensively. "Some things just happen."

"Then how do you know one person is behind this?" Arthur pushed for more information.

"So many questions." Atticus shook his head. "Some things are better left a mystery, at least until later. Why give the game away when it's only just begun?"

"We have been fighting for a month. How can this only be the beginning?"

"You will see, Arthur Pendragon. When the time comes you will understand everything."

"I thought the future of Camelot was prophesized. It hasn't even fulfilled its destiny, it can't end now." Gaius broke in.

"Prophesies?" Atticus laughed loudly. "When were they ever accurate? Those old things are only good for bedtime stories."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.

"I know the tale you speak of old man. It has already unwound you just don't realize it. After all, the Once and Future King cannot complete this destiny without Emrys. It just isn't done."

Their hearts fell. It was true. Emrys was supposed to be here if destiny were to be followed. The loss of the warlock meant that they had lost before they had even started. It was hopeless. But somehow Arthur couldn't quite believe that.

"Destinies can't be changed." He tried to argue.

"Yes they can, just as time can be rewritten. We forge our own paths. Destiny is just what people want you to do. Its your choice whether or not it will happen." Atticus countered.

"It will happen."

"Look around you. Destiny has already fallen." He waved his arm in a gesture around them for emphasis.

"You underestimate fate."

This statement caught Atticus' attention. "Now fate is a competently different matter all together. Don't ever mix fate with destiny."

"Why?"

"Destiny is changeable but fate is eternal. Destiny is in the future. Fate is here and now. The thing you need to think about is what is your fate?" He explained. "When you figure it out, tell me. Then we will see if you really want to play this game."

Atticus turned and walked back to the destroyed door, speaking as he went, "It was nice to meet you Arthur Pendragon."

Echidna followed him, but she turned back just before exiting through the doorway. "Did you know that Emrys means Immortal?" She asked slyly. "Well a lot of good that did him."

Then she was gone, hissing as she went.

Thank you for reading and please don't hesitate to REVIEW!

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Echidna is from Greek mythology and is known as the Mother of All Monsters.

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Special thanks to lordstarlight, MerlinFan1996, and readernurse for your awesome reviews.

Honestly there are just so many remarkable people to write down all your names here. I will do it at some point, I promise, but it is late and my brain is startling to slow down.

Hope you guys keep reading because the adventure has only just started.