Note: Sorry this has taken me so long. Spring Break has forced me to focus on some "last minute" tests and vacation plans! And I think that had a glitch on my last chapter, because I wasn't sure if it posted or not, and all of my stats for it are ruined, etc etc…so I'm mildly annoyed about that. Lastly, I want to point out that I'm very fickle because I had great motivation at the start of this story, but now it's sort of slowing down. So please review so that I can stop being annoyed and feel empowered again :)

Chapter 4

Merlin didn't go directly to the stables when Arthur proclaimed that he would be accompanying him. He knew that he could get the horses ready in an instant (especially with the help of his magic). Instead, he sneaked off towards Gwen's house. He needed to tell her about this new development of Arthur coming along so that she wouldn't be caught off-guard by Arthur's proclamation of going with him.

As he entered Gwen's house he was greeted with a cry.

"Merlin!" Gwen exclaimed as he bounded through the door unannounced, "You really should learn how to knock."

She was already dressed, and the remnants of breakfast were left on the kitchen table. However, she was no longer at the counter, but hovering over Freya with a damp cloth.

Merlin looked slightly sheepish, but the urgency of the news he had to convey superseded his embarrassment.

"I'm sorry Gwen, but something' s just come up. It's Arthur. He's found out that I'm going to the Sea, and he's insisted he's coming along," Merlin said.

Gwen instantly focused all of her attention onto Merlin as soon as he mentioned Arthur.

"What?" she asked sharply.

"He caught me in the middle of packing, and refused to leave me alone until I told him what I was doing. You need to persuade him not to come with me! It'll be dangerous, and I don't really want to answer all of his annoying questions which I'm sure will come up. Besides, Camelot needs him-you know this Gwen."

She nodded, what Merlin said was true. She needed to go stop him before he risked his life for a girl he barely knew.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to him," Gwen said as she quickly left her humble abode.

As soon as she closed the door, Merlin sprinted over to Freya's side. Although he had been talking with Gwen, and what he had to say was important, his true attention had been focused on his lover ever since he had entered the room.

"Oh Freya," Merlin whispered as he took one of her hands in his and held it to his heart, stroking it softly, "I promise I will make you better."

She stirred slightly in her sleep. Clearly, although her body was-for all intents and purposes-dead to its surroundings, her mind was still aroused when she sensed Merlin's presence.

"I wish you would wake up," Merlin said earnestly, "I wish you could tell me what-or who-did this to you. I wish that I could know that you understand just how much I love you. I wish I knew how you got here, and how you escaped the lake. But most of all I wish that you were better. I want that more than anything. You know I would gladly give my life for yours Freya. A thousand times over if necessary."

Merlin's breathing started to become irregular, and his heart sped up as his emotions ran higher.

"You can't leave me here alone-again-Freya. When you died, although I still breathed you should know that I never lived. I protect Arthur with my life so willingly because without you it means nothing to me. I mean, sure, it could also because I have a destiny which I can't escape, and because I believe in the arrogant prat…but mainly I think it's because life doesn't feel worth living without you."

"Please Freya," Merlin started again after taking a moment to calm down his emotions, "Seeing you this second time has made me feel things I never thought I would be able to again. If I lost you now-I-I don't know what I would do. Freya, I don't think that I'm strong enough to see you die again. Not when I can do something about it."

She twitched slightly in her sleep, her lips mouthing the faintest of words. As she did so Merlin froze-surprised by her movement. Her mouth was tracing the outline of one phrase over and over again-but very faintly. It looked like Freya was painstakingly trying to convey to him a message, which warmed his heart. But he was deeply saddened that she had to take so much trouble to communicate with him. However, the message she was saying was undeniable, and the meaning behind it warmed Merlin's heart like nothing else could.

"I love you Merlin."

That's what she was saying. I love you Merlin. He couldn't stop himself from caressing her face one last time as she mouthed these words. His touch instantly abated the worry lines which had appeared on her brow-it was as if she had been afraid that Merlin wouldn't comprehend or receive her message.

"Silly Freya, I know you do," Merlin murmured in her ear, "And you must know that I love you too."

He stayed by her side for a few more moments-relishing in her simple touch, and basking in the words she had tried to utter. But he knew that it was time to go-so that he could cure her. Thus Merlin regretfully let her hand go, and gently laid it on top of her coverlet. Then he bent over her face, lowering his lips delicately to hers for a feather-light kiss. He paused for another private moment before rising and walking towards the door.

"This isn't goodbye. It's just a temporary parting." Merlin said as he reached the threshold, turning around to face Freya for one last time.

Then with that he closed the door and headed off towards the stables.

….

"Arthur!" a melodious voice rang out across the courtyard, teeming with concern.

The blonde haired man stopped from his path towards the stables, and turned around. His eyes were graced with the sight of Guinevere running down the palace steps in a pretty blue dress.

"Guinevere," Arthur smiled warmly.

He had noted the worry in her voice, though, and knew what was going to come next.

"How on earth can you be gallivanting out on this crazy quest?" she inquired as she approached him.

"Guinevere, you know that normally I wouldn't go, but you know how helpless Merlin is without me. He'd be dead before nightfall," Arthur stated evenly.

He knew he didn't have to cover up his bond with Merlin with sarcastic remarks to Gwen. She knew how much the young man meant to Arthur.

"Besides, I thought that this quest was to help a mutual friend of yours?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Well, it is! But-I mean-you don't have to-" Gwen began to falter.

She had promised Merlin to convince Arthur not to go. However, she was also not supposed to reveal to Arthur who Freya really was. She and Merlin had agreed to say that she was a mutual friend of theirs the earlier that day. It wasn't a far stretch of Gwen's imagination-she was deeply concerned for the girl's health, and could imagine getting along quite easily with someone that Merlin had fallen for. However, none of her promises entailing Arthur and Freya changed the fact that she hardly knew the young lady. And if it was a choice between sacrificing Freya, or Arthur and Merlin, Gwen knew who she would-sadly and a little bit regrettably, but no doubt unmistakably-choose. Not that she would ever tell Merlin.

"I don't have to go on this journey? You know I have to. If nothing else, I am doing this for Merlin. He obviously cares about this 'friend' of his quite a lot. And if I don't go and help him, who knows what kind of trouble he'll get into! I know that I'm the prince regent, but I've arranged with Sir Leon to take care of everything in my absence. And I'm sure that you will do everything in your power to assist him if needed. Trust me Guinevere, I know that I am leaving the kingdom in good hands. Besides, I'm sure that our quest won't take longer than a week-five days tops," Arthur said.

Guinevere bit her bottom lip, obviously still conflicted between her loyalties to Arthur and Merlin. However, she also knew that once Arthur made up his mind about something there was no changing it. And it was true that they were most likely not going to be gone for longer than a week.

Finally, she managed to get out the words, "Well then just promise me you'll be careful."

Arthur took a small step towards her, and took her chin, capturing her face in his large hands. Then he tenderly bent down and gave her a small kiss.

"Don't worry, I will be."

And with a final smile Arthur went to the stables to get ready for the journey ahead.

….

Merlin had gotten Arthur's horse ready just in case Gwen couldn't persuade him to leave well enough alone. He knew that Arthur was stubborn, and once he decided to do something he did it-without hesitation. However, he also hoped to be fast enough out of the stables to leave Arthur behind. Although it proved to be a futile dream, as the royal walked into the stables just as Merlin was going to take off.

"Merlin!" Arthur boomed in greeting, "Not about to take off without me, eh?"

"No of course not sire," Merlin said in a clipped voice. Irritation practically radiated from the young man's body.

Merlin slightly resented Arthur's strong will sometimes. It was a great quality to have in a leader-to have someone so confident and ready to take charge was essential to a prosperous future in Camelot. However, it was times like these when this particular trait turned into something Merlin preferred to deem "pig-headedness". He was annoyed that Arthur had arrived before he could set off, and that he had still insisted on going on this quest. He was even more exasperated by the fact that Arthur had immediately "taken charge" over his mission to save Freya. But mostly, he was irritated by the fact that Arthur was dead set on coming with him to save a girl who he technically killed. The irony of the situation was not lost on Merlin.

Arthur checked over the horses

"Right, well it seems like everything is in order then, let's set off," Arthur proclaimed, oblivious to the surrounding tension.

"Yes sire," Merlin responded, adopting a cold exterior once he realized Arthur's naivety to the situation.

Arthur gave him a slightly quizzical look. Merlin was not usually this short with him, nor was he so emotionless. Nevertheless, he simply chalked it up to Merlin just being Merlin. So with those final words Arthur led them out through the doors, into the courtyard, and off into the woods.