Chapter 3—Sight

Lara looks up at the bright sun beaming softly into the cave without time. It hasn't moved since she got there hours ago. She rests her hand on her bandaged wound on her arm; its hurt for some time now and though she hasn't had an infected wound since she was thirteen, she fears it will fester in this damp and cold cave.

"Sol semper lucet," Anorra says in Latin, coming behind her while Amira and Khryseis study from a book in old Greek. The sun always shines. But it is always cold. "Semper autem est frigida."

It should be nightfall by now. "Ut iam vesperi." Lara can feel that it should be night but there is not a single hint of moonlight or stars in the sky.

"Non est hic nocte," Anorra says. There is no night here.

How can the child not know? "Quomodo puer ignorat?" Lara asks still looking at the sky above. She must realize that it's been a very long time since her father came for her. "Oportet ergo id quod est pater misit eam cum diutissime incolumem."
Amira believes that she is too innocent in life to realize it, Anorra says in Latin. She hesitates, looking at Lara with her eyes that are as blue as the Mediterranean Sea. …The child is…gifted. Not gifted as her father was but she is certainly gifted.

How so?

Anorra hesitates again and her voice softens to a whisper, the accents of the Latin tongue strong and delicate. When she is happy she is the kindest princess in all the world, she says. But when she is unhappy, only the gods can save us. We are fortunate that time stands still here—we are incapable of any wounds progressing badly. Only the wound that Amira holds of her attempted escape has been retained.

Anorra's eyes drift over to Lara's arm then back up at her eyes. All but you, she says. You are not affected by the caves magical properties.

Lara knows what the Greek servant warrior is asking. I know someone who can help, she says. Can I leave the same way I came in?

Yes, Anorra says, getting excited. But there is a way through the waters. That is how Amira tried to leave and her hand aged.

I will go but you have to tell Khryseis, Lara says surely. You won't be able to leave if she doesn't understand her father will not be on the other side.

Anorra nods vigorously. Yes, of course, she says.

Lara looks upon the waters as Anorra goes to Amira and whispers in her ear. Her twin's eyes go alight and she stands.

Lara pulls off some of her riding leathers and her boots. She straps both of her swords to her back tightly and touches the water with her bare feet; the water is surprisingly warm despite the coldness of the cave's air.

"Quo vadis, Lara?" Khyrseis asks with her pouty lips. Amira and Anorra look at the child cautiously.

Lara smiles, appeasing her slightly. "Revertar princeps," she says kindly. "Noli computare." I will return princess. Do not worry.

Khryseis nods skeptically.

Then Lara takes a few steps forward into the water and dives into it, letting the water envelope her as she swims underneath the hard rush of the waterfall—water is not her favorite thing.

—Merlin is on his side with his back to the knights. He isn't turning restlessly but certainly isn't sleeping. The moon is bright above him and the fire that he had made for himself and the knights burns dimly.

Unable to contain himself anymore Merlin sits up so Gawain, who is on watch looks at him with surprise.

"Hello Merlin," he says quietly.

"I'll go get some firewood," Merlin says as he stands and brushes his clothes off.

"Merlin, you should rest," Gawain protests.

"I'll stay close by," he says. "I'm cold."

Gawain knows it's a lie—it's a rather warm night. "Get some food if you can," he calls after him. "I'm hungry."

Merlin stalks off into the night towards the ruins of the fortress. He stands before the place where Lara disappeared and touches the ground. Gaius was right—it is barely hollow but something is obstructing it. He stands again and raises his hand over it, ready to recite a spell to open it when he hears a rustle and the call of his name.

—Lara propels herself through the smooth water, her eyes wide open and looking for more light. She swims toward a darker piece of the caverns and when she touches the water it glows bright blue like a million cerulean fireflies lighting her way forward.

Lara smiles in spite of herself at the beauty of it and at the end of the glowing tunnel is a surface—the end of the tunnels.

Lara shoots upward and erupts from the waters, inhaling deeply. She blinks the water out of her eyes and adjusts to the strange light before her. Lara turns to see the extent of the cavern and her eyes fall on a golden statue.

Lara frowns deeply and swims over to the statue. As she gets closer, her frown deepens. She stands on the rocky shore and examines the statue. It is very intricate and highly detailed. The eyes of the woman are wide with surprise but a smile is wide on her lovely face. Her hands and arms are outreached as if she is readying herself to embrace someone.

Lara looks at her clothes and sees that she wears clothing very, very similar to the clothes Khryseis wears. She touches the face of the woman when she realizes who she is and what has happened to her.

This isn't a cavern—it's a tomb. A tomb for King Midas' daughter Zoe.

Lara sighs and swallows as she stalks toward the exit where she greets the moon high in the sky.

Lara runs toward where she hears footsteps and the rustle of leaves. She sees Merlin standing above where she fell, his hand raised and ready.

"Merlin—no!" she cries.

Merlin drops his hand and turns to where he heard Lara's voice. He squints through the darkness as she approaches.

"Lara?" he says. As she is close but he cannot see her, Merlin holds out his hand and—without incantation now—a small circle of fire hovers over his palm so Lara's smiling face goes alight.

"Where have you been?" he asks. He sees that she's soaked to the bone. "What happened to you?"

Lara quickly explains her story in a hushed whisper. Then she breathes again.

"Merlin, they need your help," she says.

"What can I do?" Merlin asks seriously.

"Consult Gaius," Lara says. "Or the dragon—maybe they know something about reversing spells like this."

Lara looks over her shoulder as she thinks that she hears a human noise, but turns back to Merlin when he speaks.

"I'll ask Gaius and call upon Kilgharrah," he declares. "Then I'll see what I can do."

Lara nods. "But the child must know," Merlin says surely.

"I know," Lara says. "I'll have to talk to Amira and Anorra but they want to get out of there as soon as possible."
Merlin looks at her cautiously. "Even if I find how to reverse the spell, I'm not sure if they will survive the years when they catch up with them."

"I know," Lara says solemnly. "But I think the child has magic and if that's true then she might survive, if anything. She could be Arthur's ward."

"What would we tell Arthur?" Merlin near scoffs. "That his manservant used his magical powers to release the girl from her cavernous prison?"

"No, of course not," Lara replies. "I'll bring her out of nowhere as a princess of the Mediterranean. If you're around to contain her magic and teach her to use it properly then it could be fine."

Merlin frowns when he sees a dirty bandage around Lara's arm. He moves the fire in his hand toward it so he could see it more clearly. Lara puts her hand on it defensively.

"It's just a scratch," she lies.

"You should have me take a look at that."
"I haven't had an infection for nearly ten years," she says though there is some sweat beading on her forehead she mentally blames on the warmth of the night. "I'm just fine."

Merlin sighs and laughs. "You make everything sound so easy."

"It's easier than it seems." Lara squeezes Merlin's hands and turns to leave. "Be careful."

"You be careful," Merlin says. "Her magic could be dangerous."

Lara smiles and holds her arms out. "Why would that matter to me?" she laughs.

As she leaves Merlin smiles and turns to go back to the camp when he hears a rustle behind him.

"Merlin."

Merlin turns and sees Gawain, sword drawn, face confused and horror-struck all at once. Merlin can tell by the look on his face that he had heard everything.

He's also seen everything.

Including the ball of fire that still hovers like a sun in Merlin's hand.