Chapter 7- Mist
Author's Note: Thanks for your patience! This chapter is called Mist and is from Freya's POV. It is really long, and I'm sorry about that, but it is a very dramatic chapter!
The first scene is inspired somewhat by a recentish film, any ideas which one?
The Triskellion is a real Druid symbol that many characters have on Merlin, so I've decided to include it here. You may also find certain depths to Logan Hyerock's character, I hope I have done a decent job.
This is a very action packed and tense chapter where the gang hatch an escape plan, so there will be some violence and maybe even a bit of death. I promise that the next chapter will be much shorter and I will upload as soon as I can.
Enjoy! Let me know your thoughts.
FREYA
"Leave us!" Logan Hyerock barked. The three pirates exited the cabin, leaving Freya frozen as Hyerock sat down on his chair in his quarters. Part of the roof was caving in, with a pike from the mast impaling through. A small ray of sunlight struggled in to what was otherwise a dreary room filled with one lamp.
"Courtesy of your friend, my lady," Hyerock grinned. "Sit down."
Freya slowly lowered herself into the chair opposite Hyerock's desk. He pulled up a flagon and poured into a cup.
"May I tempt you with some wine?"
Freya shook her head, trying not to dwell on what he was trying to do, or the number of pirates who had drank from the same cup.
"I haven't poisoned this, you know!" Hyerock laughed, before taking a sip. He pushed the cup on the desk and towards Freya. "So, I will ask again, may I tempt you with some wine?" Behind the thin disguise it was not an offer or question. Freya thought of Merlin's bleeding and bruised face and decided it best she didn't anger Hyerock. She reached for the cup and took a small sip. There was no sweetness to enjoy when the man offering was your captor. If Halig had given me wine, none of it would undo the fact he was giving it to me through a cage.
"See, that's not so bad is it?" Hyerock said.
Freya didn't respond.
"When I speak to you, do not ignore me, you bitch!" he snarled, grabbing her hair. Freya cried out and moved her fingernails to his arm, ready to dig in. He looked into her eyes and challenged her. "Go on then, show me what you can do!"
Freya's heart raced in her chest, fear prevented her from breaking down. He's toying with me, he has to be! She took a deep breath and kept still. Her eyes fell on the tattoo of the three spirals joined by a central stem that was embodied on Hyerock's arm- the Triskellion, the one that she had on her own arm!
He caught her looking and eased back, releasing her hair. "You've seen this before, haven't you?"
Freya nodded.
"Show me," Hyerock ordered.
Slowly Freya pulled up her sleeve and watched Hyerock's eyes glint.
"You're a Druid?"
"I was one of the Druids," she corrected bitterly.
"You were?"
"Until they betrayed me."
Hyerock smiled. "My brother was the tribal leader- he was good man, but he was weak. Uther Pendragon murdered him and most of our settlement, I beseeched King Cenred for his help." Hyerock stood up and his eyes darkened. "I was a guest under his hospitality, yet he sold me to the highest bidder."
"I'm sorry," Freya whispered. Her mind cast back to Vielda and her curse, how Freya asked the Druids for their help and how Nirva had betrayed her to Halig, just like Cenred had done. No, wait, he's saying this to win your trust!
"That was his mistake, because he sold me to Euron when he should have given me to Uther. Mark my words, Freya, I will sail back to Albion and exact my vengeance on Uther, Cenred and all my enemies. Do you understand the thirst for revenge, Freya, are there people who you want to kill?"
There may well be, but none I want to share with you! "I don't know," Freya replied.
"I'm sure you do," he laughed. "Every night before I sleep, I say the names of the people that I am going to kill- Uther Pendragon…. Arthur Pendragon…. King Cenred…. Prince Lot….. Essetir….. Carleon… Father Julian….. Euron Greyjoy…."
Freya's eyes widened in shock, as Hyerock's smile returned. "Ah, you thought I was his man through and through, didn't you?"
"Why are you telling me this?" Freya asked.
"Because no one will believe you if you tell them," Hyerock smirked. "Because, people with our gifts- they're either meat or the butchers. The prey or the hunters."
"You and I are alike, Freya."
"We are nothing alike!" Freya said angrily. "Nothing… I have never raided a ship, enslaved people…..."
"But you have killed, haven't you?" Hyerock said, leaning against his desk.
"I-I….. it's not like that!" Freya protested, panic creeping over her. How could you possibly know that?
"You are a killer, aren't you, sometimes you've killed because you were just defending yourself, other times because you need to!" he rasped. She looked away, yet he roughly pulled her chin back to look into his blue eyes, the same colour eyes as Merlin's. Her body froze again, as tears fell down her face.
"What…. Do you want from me?"
"I want you to see the truth, my girl," Hyerock whispered. "Your lover, he doesn't have what it takes to protect you, or our kind, he's too weak."
"He's. Not. Weak!" Freya snapped angrily, wanting to dig her nails into his face, into his eyes- she would have had it not meant retribution for herself and the others.
"He's too soft, just like my brother was, he will let you down. There were many times when he could have roasted Victarion Greyjoy in his armour and killed every pirate on our ships, yet he decided to hold back. Would you be here if he was man enough?"
"He is man enough!" Freya growled, clenching her fist, her eyes momentarily darting to a letter opener on the desk.
"There it is, the desire to kill!" Hyerock taunted. "But seriously, tell me if your precious Merlin had roasted the Valyrian Fury and Intimidator as I'm sure he is capable of, would you be here or free and on your merry way to…. mainland Westeros?"
An uncomfortable feeling stabbed Freya, could they be safe had Merlin done that? You can't know that for sure, maybe the crew would have turned in on us! "You think you know more that you actually do, Captain Logan," she mustered. "I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work, I promise!"
Hyerock's grin widened but his eyes showed no amusement. "So it's going to be like that, is it?" He pushed a hand to her head and she fell back on the chair. She tried to scream but no sound came out, she tried to move but was was completely bonded by invisible ropes that dug into her wrists. She felt his fingers tighten on her head like a claw of a beast.
"Ah, I see," Hyerock began.
Freya felt as if her skull was being cracked open like glass- she saw Koven trying to grab her hair and she was screaming at him, fighting to get him off. The eyes of Vielda now looked back at her, as she held a spike in one hand and a bandaged doll in another. "You vile murderer! How dare you take my son from me, his blood is on your hands! I will make sure you never forget what you are, you murdering whore!"
Freya screamed and tried to protest that it was an accident, that she was only trying to protect herself, but the woman was having none of it. She was in a foreign village, the houses glared at her and shamed her, joining in with Vielda as she chanted a spell. She brought the spike onto the doll's heart, and Freya fell to the hard ground clutching her own chest.
The scene changed and she was now screaming in pain and terror as her hands became paws and her bones cracked and morphed inside her making her sick, but too afraid to throw up. No, no, you have no right to see this, you have no right! No one has the right! Get out, get out, get OUT of MY HEAD!
She suddenly remembered Tamara telling her something the other day, when she asked the older woman how she could see into souls of others.
Tamara had thought for a moment, before explaining that to understand that she would have to understand how the enchantments work. "The source of this magic, if that's what you want to call it that, is the Ruhm. The Ruhm is basically energy that flows through and from all living things, including yourself, myself, from plants and animals. The Ruhm also flows through water, air, earth and even fire, it binds everything in the world together. We are all affected by it to some extent, sometimes without even realising it- when we suddenly remember something or get a strong instinct about something- that is the Ruhm communicating to our souls. I will not pretend to know everything about the Ruhm- there are countless books and stories on it and how it should and can be used. But if you quieten your mind, listen and train to lose yourself- you can use the Ruhm to unleash your hidden potential or hidden gifts. In my case, it involves seeing into souls. I say involves because it is possible to have many gifts and abilities but to never unlock most of them."
Freya had been terrified when she had pushed Koven into a pond and frozen the water, drowning the life out of him, because her mind was screaming at her that he was going to get back up and continue his assault. Similarly, she had been scared for Merlin as he had dueled Hyerock on the Winter Winds and for one moment only, she was able to expel a very cold jet of water to stun Hyerock and give Merlin the chance to push him overboard.
She pushed the forced memories from her mind and felt as if a torrent of waves came crashing from the back of her head and at Hyerock's watchful eye that was invading her mind. It pushed him back like a wall, and she even felt him flinch back
Suddenly, she was in another village that burned, as the red flag of House Pendragon towered above them all on a cavalry unit that came crashing through her, with knights in full helms swiping down with axes, pole arms and impaling villagers with lanes.
"You caused this!" The scene faded to a hill further away, where a boy cried and cursed at Logan Hyerock. "This…. Is all on you….. not my father….. you!"
Hyerock was getting more and more agitated as he curled his hand into a fist.
Suddenly Freya felt like she was being thrown back into her seat and her head seared with pain, she gasped for air like she had come out of the sea.
"Enough!" Hyerock snarled, slapping her hard across the face. It was only then she realised that she had been crying.
Hyerock marched away from her and turned his back to the door and her, leaning with his hands against the wall, he too gasping for breath.
"You haven't been honest, have you?" he said softly. "Not even with Merlin?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Freya snapped.
"Yes, you do," Hyerock turned back to her. "We will continue this conversation, Freya. You will then see that I am right.
"If you ever do anything to escape, I will have Merlin killed on sight, do you understand me?"
Freya nodded.
"Good, Herrik! Get her out of my sight!" he yelled. Within moments, a bald pirate was roughly pulling Freya to her feet and was now dragging her away from that chamber and onto the rest of the ship.
The lingering gaze of the pirates interrupted their sawing, hammering and labouring for a moment.
"Move it!" a gruff voice ordered, and for a second Freya's terror fell on her like a mountain, as she thought it was Halig who was next to her, about to lock her back into that cage.
"Are you not hearing me, girl?" the man called Herrik demanded, shoving her. Although he had the same colour hair and similar dark clothes, he was thinner than Halig, which was only a small measure of comfort.
For what seemed like a long minute, she was dragged into a cabin with a neatly made hay bed with a hammock in the corner, which would have reminded of her cabin on the Winter Winds, but for the clear bolting of the door from the outside.
The minute she was alone, Freya dropped to the floor, refusing to touch the bed or hammock. The floor was hard and rough, but she did not trust the bed to protect her from crawling lice or spiders, nor the hammock to chaff her skin while pretending to soothe her. The room was silent except for the blowing of the wind that edged in from a window that was too high and let too little sunlight in.
Freya exhaled and let a tear fall from her eyes. She wanted to see Merlin, to make sure he was all right, remembering the beating he had taken from a man he should have killed.
Part of her hated that he had been merciful, and that scared her. These vile pirates had cut Megumi's throat right in front of everyone. Freya had been terrified that they would do the same to her, but more so of what they would do to Merlin, to Tamara, even all the others. She felt helpless- she hated feeling helpless with a passion, when bad people around her seemed to be able to do anything.
She wished for a sign to help her and tell her what to do, she wanted to see the others, work something out. She bit her tongue and refused to cry, even though no one could see her. She knew her captors were outside, probably talking about her, envious of the treatment that Hyerock was showing her- treatment she had never asked for.
For the first time in a long time, Freya wished she could turn into the Bastet and help her friends, only for that purpose, she wished she could take control and be able to control the beast. But that's not how curse's work. That was never how curses work.
Freya closed her eyes and saw Merlin kneeling over a body by what looked like a lake; she couldn't help but smile as she saw a mountain to the East. Although green trees surrounded them like a wall of a house, she somehow knew that Camelot was to the West. She wanted to call out to him, to throw her arms around him, to kiss away the scars of his beating.
"You remembered?" the body said looking at the lake and smiling weakly. Freya suddenly realised that she was looking at herself. Instinctively, she looked down at her hands, feet and body- they were still in tact. She was herself but also the woman on the ground.
"Of course," Merlin replied. He looked at the injured Freya on the ground with utter tenderness. "I am so sorry for what that sorceress did you to you." Freya could sense the tears behind his eyes.
"Merlin, you have nothing to be sorry for."
"There must be something I can do to save you!"
"You've already saved me," her other self smiled weakly. "You made me feel loved."
Simultaneously, Merlin and the Freya who was stood up began to weep, her heart throbbing from watching Merlin so sad.
"I don't want you to go," Merlin pleaded.
"I don't want to go, either," Freya croaked. But you do know this is how it was meant to be,don't you? Please don't despise me from saying this.
"One day," the Freya on the ground said. "I will repay you, I promise." She closed her eyes, as the life drained out of her.
Merlin broke down into a sob as he clutched her body, unable to let go. The rain fell down like their tears, until neither could be sure whether it was the tears or rain that was trickling down their pale skins.
Freya waded towards Merlin like a ghost and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's OK, Merlin, you can let me go." He did not respond and somehow that felt like a kick in the teeth.
"This is how it was meant to always be, you were supposed to mourn over me and go back to your life in Camelot, weren't you?" she whispered. "And I took that from you, that's what this nightmare is trying to show us, isn't it?" Freya found herself hoping that the nightmare would end now, and they would be back in Camelot, where she was destined to be fatally wounded and Merlin would take her to this lake, he would cremate her on that boat that he had just made. Like her body, her dream of escaping him would turn to cinders, his heart would break into thousands of pieces, yet he would go on and live. I wish that this was the reality. I wish none of the others had to die: Albert, Megumi, Edric, Benhim, Victor, Nobunaga, tens of those passengers. I wish I hadn't tried to outrun my fate. I wish….. to die and be free of the curse and to free Merlin.
She wanted to be there to comfort Merlin as he wept over her pyre and to tell him it was OK, to give him strength before he let her go.
"We all feel this from time to time," Tamara's voice echoed. Suddenly, Merlin was gone and Tamara stood next to her by the lake. The older woman gave a small smile. She stretched out a hand and enveloped Freya's, who squeezed back.
"Make patience your shield, your armour and your sword; you must!"
Freya scoffed and withdrew her hand. "So, we're supposed to roll over and take what's given to us and bear it patiently?" An anger was rising within her, when moments ago, she was calmly accepting what her fate had to be, but now Tamara was telling her to bear what they were going through now.
"Ssssh! You hear but you do not listen, Freya!" Tamara cried, seizing her shoulders. "You are not dead, you are not being burned on that pyre, you are alive!
"Patience does not mean to passively endure or accept your fate! It means to be farsighted enough to trust the outcome- it means to look at the dark night and see the dawn, it means to listen!"
Freya was shocked at this sudden outburst, having never seen Tamara angry. "Listen to what?" she asked after a moment.
"Listen!" Tamara repeated and closed her eyes and raised a finger to her lips. "Sssshhh….. listen…..."
Freya tried to do the same- she closed her eyes for a long moment.
"Captain Euron wishes to see girl," a voice could be heard from beyond a door. Freya found herself falling back into her own skin, sitting on the hard floor of the Intimidator; her thighs had gone numb.
"She belongs in the custody of Captain Hyerock, Greencloak," another voice spat.
"Captain Hyerock is in agreement," the previous voice responded.
"Right, so if I were to go up now and check with him, he would say yes?"
Suddenly, there was the sound of someone being struck with a blunt force in the head, and then followed by the drawing of a blade and a cry, and then a muffled struggle. A thud.
Keys rattled and Freya looked around the room for anything to arm herself with. The best she could find was a floorboard which she grazed her fingers trying to pry loose.
"Freya, are you in there?" Merlin's voice sounded.
Her breath froze in her chest.
"Look. Freya, can you just answer him, we don't have much time?" the first voice that had asked for her spoke.
"M-merlin?"
The sound of keys rattled some more and the door to her prison was thrust open. If Freya hadn't heard him, she would have thought she was dreaming; Merlin was stood before her in a dull silver gambeson and iron half helm. With tears of joy, she threw her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. He squeezed her back and tenderly touched her chin. Looking into his blue twinkling eyes that sparkled like a star in the black night, that was the bruises underneath his eye socket. He was real, and alive, safe as well, that made her take back everything she had wished for a few minutes ago- to die in the alternative reality and save Merlin from coming on this journey.
She then saw a man in silver chain mail, shoulder length brown hair and thick stubble cleaning a sword with blood on it- Herrik lay before him, with his face down, but the floor below him was turning darker with blood. Next to the mailed man, was a youth with short brown hair and a green surcoat. A sword and dagger were fastened to his belt and he held what appeared to be a damp handkerchief in his right hand and a coil of rope on his shoulder. He smile shyly at her, his face turning red the moment she looked at him.
"Freya, this is Gwaine," Merlin motioned to the chain mailed man. "And Tris of House Botley."
"Can we trust them?" Freya whispered.
"Begging your pardon, Freya, but we just helped Merlin escape out of his cell, we wounded and killed some of Logan Hyerock's crew, meaning if we're caught we will all die, and I don't have a death wish," Gwaine said quickly, in a Hibernian accent, from the West coast of Albion.
"Yes, I think we can," Merlin nodded. "They did risk a lot to break me out, especially, Tris here."
"I used opium water from Surgeon Bonaire's chambers!" Tris declared excitedly. "Just put this around that guy's nose, and he fell down!" He pointed towards another Iron born passed out just metres away; on the far side of the wall, another lay motionless- someone who Merlin must have propelled.
"Why?" Freya asked.
The three looked at her, puzzled.
"Why are you helping us?"
Gwaine looked uncomfortable and his cheery confidence had turned sombre. "I hope one day, I can tell you the long version, but the short version is-"
"Gwaine's a friend," Merlin interjected. Freya saw Gwaine give him a thankful smile. She knew they were hiding something, had she not been afraid of her captors waking up or catching them red handed, she would have demanded to know how these two were friends. Instead, she nodded and smiled.
"Freya, you need to put this on," Merlin reached down and pulled off the gambeson off the one that Tris had subdued; he would have to do. He pulled up a pair of breaches as well.
Freya stared blankly, before taking the clothes. She closed the door and discarded her dress, dying a little inside. That lovely blue dress that Merlin had stolen for her, the dress that she had ripped apart, yet Merlin had repaired. It was frayed, ragged and worn out, the strands were weakening. But it was hers and it felt like she was throwing part of herself away. You're not the dress, woman! She told herself. You are not the dress!
Freya quickly changed into the breeches and the gambeson. After stepping outside, Gwaine handed her a half helm and a short sword. Her hair was tied in front of her chin to resemble a beard. Merlin's mouth twitched ever so slightly, as if he was about to laugh at her; her disapproving look shut him up.
"Right, what now?" she asked.
"We need to move the bodies, now," Merlin said. He and Gwaine moved Herrick and the two men inside the cell, tied the two living ones with a rope that was passed by Tris Botley. Gwaine took his handkerchief and stuffed it inside one of the guards' mouths, while Merlin did the same but with a piece of cloth from the hammock, before stealing their weapons.
"Right, we need to get out of here now!" Gwaine declared. "We need to make off East and get on the mainland as soon as we can."
"What about the others?" Freya asked.
Gwaine sighed, as if he was about to break bad news delicately. "We don't have time to save everyone, Kinia and Zarna are… with Euron's crew a lot, most of the others are in the brig of the Winter Winds, I'm really sorry but we need to move now before Euron decides his little fleet should start reaving again.
"We're not going without them," Freya hissed, looking pleadingly at Merlin. Surely, they couldn't! They had to leave with the others, there had to be a way!
"We can't leave them without trying, Gwaine, that's not who we are," Merlin said firmly, taking hold of Freya's hand. "Besides we'll never make it far in daylight."
Gwaine sighed again. "Merlin, even if we go back for the others, we cannot wait until it gets dark- well we could, but do you not think Hyerock will wonder where half a dozen of his crew are and realised we've subdued or killed them?"
"Will our disguises not hold?" Freya questioned, stroking her hair that made a fake beard. Tris and Merlin both chuckled slightly, whereas Gwaine shook his head seriously.
"He's right," Merlin conceded. "If someone takes a close look, they'll know who you are."
"We could try commandeering the Winter Winds?" Gwaine suggested. "Take it over and steer away?"
"The two ships will chase us, how will things end differently?" Merlin dissented.
"We have no chance of avoiding Euron if he sees us row away."
"We need a diversion," Tris said. "That horn that your gaolers had, is made of a highly flammable material." He pulled out what looked like a small cream coloured horn and gazed at it excitedly.
"What is that?" Freya asked.
"Doesn't matter," Merlin said quickly. "What matters is that we can use it- I can use it to start a fire."
"Giving us the diversion we need!" Gwaine grinned, slapping his hands together. "Actually, this may just work. It's a huge gamble, but it might work, if we're very very lucky!"
Minutes later, they had sealed Freya's cabin shut and stole out as naturally as they could. A few pirates were sparring on deck, while others were sawing away on wood brought in from the island. Half a dozen others were pulling a net full of writhing fish into the ship. Freya couldn't help but feel a bit like these fish, with the threat of one pirate seeing them tightening around her bruised skin like the net on the fish.
"Walk naturally," Gwaine hissed, taking the lead. "Tris, cover Merlin."
They strode past a pair of Iron born that were smoking a pipe, one of them did give a short glance, which Gwaine took extra care to shield Freya from. Still, she dared not breathe a sigh of relief, until they found Gwaine's boat again and hoisted it down, Merlin and Freya were the first to lower themselves with a grappling hook and rope. Tris followed and then came Gwaine.
Freya turned around, and fifty metres away was docked the Winter Winds, under the dying sun that gave a blood orange spotlight over the captured prize, as if it was alight.
Merlin volunteered to do the rowing, that way Gwaine could direct them. Freya smiled proudly to herself, as she watched the former exert himself, with his arms in a smooth yet sufficient motion. She had no idea that he could do such a thing, although come to think of it, Prince Arthur must have ordered him to row across water once or twice. If their fate wasn't on the edge of a knife, she would have complimented Merlin on his strong arms.
"What's so funny?" he said.
Freya must have blushed. "Oh…. Nothing, I was just wondering why the rower faces away from the destination." Why did the rower face the other way, just out of interest?
"Keep it down, we don't want our cover to be blown," Gwaine muttered.
"If they were on to something, we'd know by now, right?" Tris said, glancing back at the Intimidator.
"I think we would," Gwaine said. They reached the edge of the Winter Winds. Cautiously, they threw their grappling hook over the broadside, Gwaine climbed up first before signaling that the coast was clear. Tris followed, after Merlin and then finally Freya.
She grunted through her chest and struggled to find her footing on the edge of the ship, her muscles tightened as the fear of falling jumped at her. After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to drag herself up over deck, where Tris and Gwaine stood guard, having just moved a two barrels to shield her.
Peering over, she saw a lanky man with dark hair towering over on the front deck with a horn and whip in his hand, before him on the main deck Metros, Fenech, Josep, Kinia and Carroth were beating away at nails on planks of wood, or on bolts of metal as part of a mesh. The overseer gave Gwaine a cursory glance before resuming his duties. Two other Iron born hovered over the workers with batons in their hands.
"That's Vincent," Gwaine said. "He only seems to have those two on patrol, but stay there for a minute, let's be safe than sorry." He had leaned his back on the barrels and took a sip from a rum bag, making it look as if he and Tris, and two other pirates were sharing a leisurely drink. "Don't actually drink, we all need to be sobre for this bit."
"Just because we're nearly done, don't mean you can slack!" barked Vincent, he lashed his whip, and one of the henchmen struck his baton down on Kinia, forcing her to yelp and work faster. Freya's fist clenched. "And you lot can go back below deck where you belong, Captain Euron's allowing you some time off before we start off again, if it were up to me, you'd be working the oars already!"
"See where Vincent is, there's a bell," Gwaine whispered, nodding to a white bell dangling from an arch. "Do not let him sound that, if they do, then we'll all probably die, you understand?"
Freya nodded, she then caught sight of Masanori on the farside being led down the by large man, the former was holding a bucket and sponge before kneeling and scrubbing a cannon. The Greyjoy sigil could be seen flapping in the distance over him like a gauntlet that challenges a duel in those legends Freya loved to read once.
The large man held with him a longsword on one side and Masanori's Eastern disc blade on the other, as if to taunt him.
"Is there someone on the captain's deck?" Merlin hissed.
"Doesn't look like it," Tris said. "There's three on the main deck now."
"The three aren't the problem," Merlin said. "It's the overseer."
"I can distract him," Freya suggested.
"No, he'll realise there's something wrong, even with your disguise," Merlin dissented.
"I could distract him, while someone puts the opium cloth over him?" Tris suggested.
"Are you sure you can do that?" Gwaine said.
"I can, I know I can," Tris insisted.
"I'll subdue him," Freya volunteered. "I can do this," she added with a smile before Merlin could voice any concerns.
"We'll cover you then," Merlin offered instead. "If worse comes to worse… I'll cover you."
Freya smiled slightly, but felt a chill of anticipation as she prayed that her limbs wouldn't fail her when she stood up. Tris poured a liquid from a phial on a cloth and handed it to her before nodding encouragingly. He got up as naturally as possible and walked through the workers and foremen like he owned the ship, which got him a brief look from the thugs with batons. Freya took a deep breath and made to follow his example, to follow him with her eyes and mind, but not with her body.
Tris carried on and ascended the front deck and approached from the far corner of the ship; Freya waited until Vincent had turned around to acknowledge Tris before making her ascension on the nearside stairs.
"What do you want, Botley?" Vincent said with mild annoyance, like he had to babysit a child.
"I think I want to captain my own ship one day, and I want your advice," Tris said.
Vincent gave a snicker. "Oh, really? What are you going to call her? The Frog Prince?" He burst into laughter.
"No, I'll call her….. The Quellon! Maybe I'll let you join the crew."
"You have some balls for someone who couldn't kill a single person when we raided this ship," Vincent scoffed. "You have some real balls, but I like you, so I'll let it pass…. Just this once."
Freya had edged closer and closer, feeling as if there was a heavy hand on her back ready to crush her the moment things went wrong. No, no, don't think like that! Focus, be calm… be calm…..! She took a deep breath and blinked for one second and her heart beat slowed. She didn't quite know what or how the next thing happened but she found herself prowling right behind Vincent!
As if she was possessed, her right hand swept up and clasped around the overseer's mouth. He fell with his back on top off her; her first emotion was shock, then excitement, followed by a stinging pain of a fully grown man crashing on her. She winced and cried out ever so slightly.
"Vincent!" cried a voice, followed by a cry of pain. Through the fence of the front deck, Freya saw Merlin blast one of the foremen to the ground unconscious while Gwaine skewered the other with his sword.
The large man by the cannons drew his Ironborn sword. "Traitors!" he spat. Before he or anyone could react, Masanori had already pulled his own blade from the scabbard that was clumsily attached to the pirate's belt. With one swift motion, the Napponi had decapitated the pirate, whose blood was now painting the deck like Master Nobunaga's and Megumi's had hours before.
Freya breathed a sigh of relief and pushed Vincent's unconscious body off herself. Tris helped her to her feet.
"Merlin, am I glad to see you?" Metros gave a chuckle and pulled him into a hug.
"Come on, we don't have time for that," Gwaine said shortly.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't take your head right now!" snapped Masanori, pulling himself to his full height and armed with his sword, which radiated an air of new found confidence.
"Masanori, no, get down!" Freya commanded. "Everyone get low!"
"Do as she says," Merlin ordered, and everyone- Masanori included went to their knees.
The Napponi looked behind himself at the Greyjoy ship in the distance, seemingly pacified for the time being. "I don't trust him," he said, pointing at Gwaine. "He was there while all those people were murdered. He was there, he was part of them, I want to know why he's helping us now."
"Masanori, we don't have time for that conversation now," Merlin hissed, edging closer. "I trust this man with my life, he helped Freya and I escape and risked his own death. If we get out of here, maybe he'll tell you his story, but right now we all need to escape."
Freya prayed silently that no one had heard them. With Tris behind her, she prowled down the stairs, this time on the far side and looked at Masanori with a pleading look. "We need to work together if we're going to escape," she beseeched. "Otherwise, the deaths of Albert, your Master, Megumi….. it would all be for nothing." Masanori looked at her with what could be mistaken for held back frustration and anger, but his eyes did not share the same fire. He looked away from Freya's gaze at once.
"If Merlin says we can trust him, I trust him," Metros declared. "I'm not being funny, but we really need to move now."
"Josep, do you know where the life boats are?" Merlin asked.
Josep looked confused but then nodded.
"Go to the brig and get everyone out," Merlin commanded. "Gwaine and I will need to set a diversion."
"Merlin, you can't be serious?" Fenech said.
"No, we know what we're doing!" the young warlock hissed. "We don't have time to argue. If we're not back in ten minutes, get everyone to the life boats and sail East for the mainland."
"And hide those bodies before someone sees," Gwaine added. With that they disappeared through a door on the other side of the ship. The rest of them quickly got to work with moving the dead behind crates and barrels, while Tris and Masanori tied and gagged Vincent. The Napponi placed a hand on Tris' arm as if to decline any more assistance. He heaved Vincent on his shoulder and threw him overboard, causing a splash followed by silence.
"You didn't see him do what I saw him do," he said to Freya abruptly.
She shook her head, not that she disapproved of what he did, but the anger and bitterness in his voice betrayed him. "Let's go to the brig and get the others."
Masanori smiled at that slightly and nodded.
Stealing some of the weapons from the fallen pirates, the survivors of the Winter Winds, rushed down the steps to below deck, with Metros and Fenech leading the way, the latter wielding Vincent's whip in one hand and a baton in the other.
They trooped forwards, with Freya advancing with Kinia and Carroth alongside her, while Tris and Josep reinforced the middle and Masanori covered them from the back. Carroth refused to make eye contact with her, while Kinia offered a small thankful smile. Hyerock was wrong, despite what Carroth had done, Freya would not spend any time hating him- they all needed each other, and she would be there for them all until they had escaped. A burst of content spread through Freya's heart at this very small victory.
Reaching the brig, Metros pounded a pirate guard in the head with his baton and grabbed the keys around his belt before Masanori and Fenech picked him up and moved him.
Quietly they all huddled inside the brig and Mertos attacked the padlock with the keys. Two figures stood in apprehension- a boy and a woman, but another was sat on the floor with a headdress covering her like a hood, as if in a serene trance.
Tamara smiled at them warmly, pulling back her scarf, rising and stepped in front of Zarna and Milton. "I see we have a newcomer or two to our merry family," she beamed, nodding towards Tris.
Kinia rushed to the bars and held out a hand for her mother, while Carroth stood with a vacant expression on his face.
"What do you mean?" Metros asked. "How do you know there are two?"
"I know about Gwaine and Tris, two very brave and good men," Tamara replied.
"Seriously, are you a witch or something?" Metros laughed. "How can you possibly know that?"
"Let's focus on getting out of here, and then we can tell each other who is what," Tamara grinned.
Suddenly footsteps beat the ground behind them. Masanori and Freya turned around with a sword raised, ready to face any challenge.
"Hold it, only us!" Gwaine declared, he was followed by Merlin, who had a relieved yet determined look on his face. They both carried a few extra swords, daggers, bows and quivers full of arrows. "We thought we should raid the armoury while we could."
"We did it, there's a fire starting near the captain's quarters. We'll use that as our diversion and slip out, head East to the mainland, make for the Rills, agreed?"
Everyone except Carroth nodded in assent. Finally the youth spoke.
"I-I can't," he squeaked. "Th-they'll kill us all, we'll never make it!"
"Son, why do you talk like that?" Zarna said.
"What do you suggest we do, hand ourselves in?" snapped Fenech.
A flurry of hushed whispers tried to motivate Carroth into at least trying, but Masanori barged in and grabbed the young Druid by the shoulders.
"Listen to me, man! Do you know what these scum have been doing to your mother and sister?" the Napponi hissed. "Do you? Your father and your brother are dead because of those pirates, so now it's your job to protect them- do you understand?"
Carroth nodded, avoiding any eye contact.
"Look at me!" Masanori demanded. "Are you going to be a man and work with us and get everyone out, or not?"
"It's OK, Car," Kinia said, touching her brother's cheek and then hugging him. "It will be OK. You can do this, I know you can."
Carroth was visibly crying, but he nodded, as if some life had returned to the ghost that he was.
"Well, that's settled then," Josep said. "Now come on, let's get to those life boats and get out of here!"
The companions then made their way through the labyrinth of the Winter Winds below deck. An uneasy de-ja-vu fell on Freya, as she held Merlin's hand as they ventured into the belly of the ships like they had decided to do many hours ago, or was it a day, two, or more? Luckily this time, there were no hot pursuits, there were no falling ceilings or pirates holding any one of their own hostage. There was no one coming out of the adjacent cabins to impede them. The belly of the ship seemed deserted like a ghost town.
Merlin squeezed her hand encouragingly, even though the ship grew darker and darker, as it became obvious there was no life down the part where they ventured through. Freya's breath was heavy and her mouth dry. They had made it this far, they had evaded the Knights of Camelot, the Kingdoms of Essetir and Mercia, and even Logan Hyerock's crew after being taken captive- it must be written for them to make it out on the other side together, surely?
It took them a few minutes, but Josep finally brought them to a room that looked like a hangar. He rushed to what looked like a wall, but began fiddling with a few clogs and levers, before kicking the wall with his boot. The red sunset light rushed inside through an opening the size of a double door, forcing Freya to smile but shield her eyes at the brightness. She let out a small chuckle and looked at Merlin, who grinned back.
"Well, don't just stand there," Josep said. "Help me get these life boats out." He motioned to what looked like at least half a dozen small boats with enough room for approximately four to five people per boat, with oars fastened on the inside like swords and sails hugging their small masts, like a blanket, but when left to flutter in the wind, Freya was sure it would fly proudly like a grand banner of a very important family.
Masanori, Tris and Gwaine picked up the first boat and gave it a little nudge until it plopped onto the surface of the sea, while the anchor was used to steady the boat. Freya could see they were probably somewhere at the front of the ship, facing the island. A distinct smell of burning wood filled Freya's nostrils, and then this was followed by shouting and blowing of horns.
"See there," Gwaine said, peering outside. "Unless I'm very much mistaken, there's the Intimidator pulled up towards the back of the ship, trying to put out that fire. Which means we need to slip out now.
"Carroth, my friend, take your mother and sister and jump in the first boat."
The three didn't have much to jump down from, and easily boarded, even Carroth, who at once took a pair of the oars.
Merlin, Fenech, and Metros heaved the second boat out next. Freya put a hand on Tamara and beckoned her on.
"No, no, you first, darling," the older woman said with a smile.
"It's OK, you should go," Freya insisted, to which Tamara motioned for Milton to board. Fenech and Josep took their seat along with Kinia, Carroth and Zarna. Masanori and Gwaine shoved out the third boat, which Tris and Milton eased themselves into.
"And where do you think you're going?" a voice barked. To their horror, Victarion Greyjoy came marching towards them at a steady yet intimidating pace. "Don't make me kill you all, I don't want to, but if you row out then I will have no choice!" He seemed unaccompanied for now.
Merlin, Masanori and Gwaine made to draw their swords.
"No, stand down!" Tamara ordered, to the surprise of them all. She turned to Freya and Merlin. "No matter what happens, get everyone out."
"Tamara, what are you doing?" Gwaine asked the question they were all wondering.
"Tamara….." Freya shook her head.
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing, if we fight him, it will draw the others," Tamara reasoned.
Freya did not like this one bit, and from looking at the others nor did they, but Tamara had already started approaching and discarded her dagger on the floor.
"Look at me, Victarion, I am unarmed."
"What are you doing?" Victarion demanded, raising his axe.
"You seem to be afraid of me," Tamara sighed.
What ARE you doing, insulting him is not the way to go here! Freya thought.
"But I think you're more afraid of what it means for you." Tamara was at conversational range from him, if he had wanted he could put that axe in her skull.
"I don't know what you're talking about, woman!" Victarion spat, but did not make any move.
"You're not an evil man to the core, I know you despise wanton cruelty, I know your talents with your axe are wasted here." Victarion simply stared back at her, not saying or doing anything.
"I know you worry about your wife… Faora is that her name?"
"How…. do you know that?" the large man croaked.
"I can see that you care for her and that her name is on your mind, Tamara replied gently, daring to move forwards. "You worry about what your brother might do to her, you want to protect her, I know you do." Freya held her breath as Tamara's hand moved to touch Victarion's cheek, the Druid girl winced at that moment as if she was watching Tamara put her hand on molten rock.
A clatter made Freya jump and grab Merlin's hand again, but as the echo within her subsided, she was relieved to know it was Victarion's cruel axe, that he had used to butcher the Winter Winds with, that had fallen to the ground.
"You deserve better than this, you deserve to fight for something worth being proud of, you can protect others and use your skill for good!"
"I deserve nothing….." Victarion snapped averting his gaze but not reacting aggressively. "I deserve nothing!"
"I beg to differ, my son," Tamara whispered. "You can start by letting all this go; let us go, go home to your wife, be the man she and your children need you to be, do that for me, please." She moved to his side, keeping her eyes on the Kraken Beast, whose eyes were downcast, as the red setting sun glazed over his hard face.
"Yes, Victarion, let them go, become a pussy and victim, rather than taking what you want like a true Iron born!" the voice of Logan Hyerock mocked.
No, no, no, no! Freya wanted to scream, but her throat was dry, as the figures of Hyerock, Euron and a handful of their henchmen ascended into view.
"Have you gone soft and weak, Victarion?" Euron smirked holding out his arms, causing his brother to turn around.
"People, we need to get going! Now!" yelled Metros
"You. Deserve. Better!" Tamara repeated. She was now looking straight at Freya, Merlin, Masanori and Gwaine. She then gave a sad and encouraging smile that sent chills through Freya's spine, and it was as if time had frozen still into a single second.
No, no, please no! Don't do this! Freya prayed desperately.
As if she was watching the scene unfold in a mummer's play, Victarion pulled out a dagger from his belt and thrust it straight at Tamara, though it hardly registered what had happened until a spurt of blood came out of the older woman's mouth.
"NOOOOO!" Freya screamed, feeling as if it was her who was being stabbed.
"COWARD!" Merlin bellowed. He sent a blast of energy that struck Victarion in the back, who then thrust Tamara away.
"She was HELPING you, but you've gone too far!" snarled the Warlock. He drew his sword and emitted a torrent of fire, which Victarion had to pick up his shield to block. The whole ship shook with tears, as Merlin's flames blazed the ceiling and pushed Victarion slowly back, as if it was one of those mythical eternal struggles. His cursing and bellowing were incomprehensible alongside the uproar.
Josep had pulled himself back up from the boat, he charged with his sword raised at Logan Hyerock, who drew his longsword to parry just in time. On the other side of the shield burning beam, Euron taunted Gwaine. "I'm really and utterly disappointed in you, did you really think that we would just let you walk out?"
Gwaine was clearly having none of it, as he rushed to meet Euron's sword.
All Freya could think about was Tamara, who was dragging herself through the fighting, clutching her wound- she had to reach her!
The ship quaked as Merlin, with a powerful blast, threw Victarion Greyjoy at the roof, the burning shield shattered the wood into hundreds of splinters, causing smoke and debris to fly everywhere.
Josep quickly found himself being impaled through the heart by Hyerock's sword. Gwaine and Euron had resorted to pounding each other with their fists and pommel guards. The splinters from the ceiling, cut into the back of Gwaine's knee, allowing Euron to get in a lucky strike to the face before pinning him down and gripping his throat like a kraken cornering his prey.
Freya finally reached Tamara and pulled her up and away from the fighting, weeping with anger and determination, begging her to keep going. The older woman's body felt light and warm, more so than it should have. Realising that they were being chased by two pirates forced her bring herself and Tamara to the ground in order to draw her own blade, silently apologising to her as Tamara let out a cry of pain.
However Masanori, came to her aid and yelled as his sword cut through her attackers. "Get out of here, now!" he bellowed, and Freya heard his voice echo in her head, as if she were a hollow mountain.
"I'm so sorry!" she sobbed towards the older woman. Did you know this was going to happen? You didn't deserve to die, not here, you were going back to your home!
Tamara grabbed her hand, blood seeping from her mouth and wound. "Go now, Freya. Give what there is to give," she croaked, her brown eyes glistening, as she touched Freya's tear soaked face.
Tamara's body turned into a bright flash of light that stung Freya's eyes, leaving her with the older woman's robes, but her flesh was nowhere to be seen. The light, as if it were a sentient beast pounced on Hyerock and Euron making them shield their eyes, before spreading upwards on the deck, causing rounds of yelled confusion above deck.
Freya saw Gwaine jabbing a chunk of wood at Euron, whilst the latter pinned him down. That swiftly changed, as the Greyjoy Captain screamed profanities and was kicked hard in the stomach by the Hibernian.
"Freya, come on, let's go!" Merlin was by her side again, offering her his hand. The echoing and the dull pain in her head seized, the moment she heard his reassuring voice. Clutching Tamara's robes bloodstained robes, she grabbed his strong hand back and allowed him to lead her to the edge of the Winter Winds- the ship they had arrived in Westeros in, but which was quaking and burning as they abandoned it. Having boarded the ship together, they were holding each other's hands and were going to leave it together and take a leap of faith into the cold sea.
They jumped.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for that! Long chapter I know, hope it was action packed enough to justify the length. How many of you were expecting that to happen?
The next chapter will be much shorter and will be called: "The Wolfswood" and will feature the reappearance of certain characters from both fandoms, and that includes one character who has been mentioned in the previous chapters. Any guess as to who?
Please leave a review. :)
