A/N: The song used in this chapter is Ascension by BrunuhVille.

Chapter IX

"Found him!" Prince Charming yells over his shoulder to the others.

"Mind not yelling. You really are still such a clotpole. Sound echoes in caves and now all I can hear is ringing," complains the pale-skinned man as he wipes the sleep from his eyes. "Wait a second, you're not him. You're not my clotpole."

Navarre lets out a screech from the cave's entrance. The soft feathered falcon swoops inside to land on one of the jumble of threadbare blankets cluttering up the floor. His head swivels as he observes the dark-haired man almost hidden by the heap of clothing and rubbish. He blinks his golden beady eyes and gives one soft squawk of greeting before stretching out his wings and taking flight to crash into the stranger's shoulder. His wings remain outstretched as Navarre regains his balance; his sharp talons cutting through the thin clothes the young man wears, but gaining no response from the man the bird is perched upon.

"It's a mess in here," growls Lily, glaring at the junk littering the cave floor.

"Has he gone mad?" asks Maleficent, staring intently at the rumpled clothing and unblinking sorrowful blue eyes.

"Are you sure this is the sorcerer?" frowns Robin as he too clambers into the cave. "Navarre recognises him, but he recognised the others from Camelot too. Regina, are you coming?"

"No. It's filthy in there. I can see perfectly well from here. He's dressed as a peasant. He doesn't look like the mighty Merlin."

"Merlin. Yes that's what he called me. The dollophead. Do you know him? I lost him. Where's he gone?" cries the young man.

"Blast it his wits are certainly addled. What use is he to us like this?!" screams Killian, charging into the cave and pushing aside the others to pull the warlock to his feet. "We've come to get your help. The Darkness escaped Rumplestiltskin and is now inside Emma Swan, the Saviour. We need you to get it out of her."

"Oh no. That shan't be happening. Can't be doing it. Can't be done," he chimes, jumping to his feet resulting in Navarre giving a caw of annoyance before taking flight once more and leaving the cave.

"He really has lost his marbles. Though living like this, who wouldn't," comments Lily, spinning round and surveying the dank dark hole and missing her mother's flinch.

"Places like this aren't so bad. You get used to them after a while," Maleficent murmurs.

"You will help us if I have to beat it out of you!" declares Killian through gritted teeth.

"Killian this isn't the way," David tells him earnestly and tries to place a comforting hand on the pirate's shoulder.

Killian moves out of the way simultaneously clenching his fist. He draws back his arm to hit the sorcerer he still holds pinned to the rough limestone wall of the cavern. His hook pricks deeper through the thin shoddy material of the man's peasant clothes but just as the tip of it begins to pierce skin the man disappears. Killian whirls and glares about him, searching for the young man who waves from the entrance of the cave. Robin and David make attempts to stop the captain but Maleficent uses her magic on them to blast the two men out of Killian's way. The pirate doesn't stop to thank the dragoness but continues stalking after his prey.

"I knew we couldn't trust you," spits David as he manages to get to his feet and draws his sword.

"Freya said it'll be difficult to gain Merlin's help so I very much doubt your diplomatic skills and silver tongue is the way to get it. Now are we all just going to stand around here all day, or will we follow them?"

They scramble out of the cave after barely a moment's pause and find Regina lying unconscious on the ground outside, Freya at her side using magic to help waken her; Navarre surveying all from his new-found perch on the branch of a nearby tree. Once awake - and after several curses sent in Merlin's direction - Regina gets to her feet supported by Robin and the group head towards the pirate and his prey. Upon reaching the ridge of the hill the cave is located in they see the pirate yank out his sword and swing it at the unarmed raven-haired man.

"Killian!" screams Freya in fright before a whirl of smoke envelops her and transports her between the two men just in time for the bolt of lightning the young warlock had been about to fire at Killian hit Freya squarely in the chest. "Merlin, enough larking about," she groans out as she falls to her knees in agony.

"Freya!" several voices call out.

A pair of leather clad arms tenderly wrap around her from behind and slowly lower the redhead to lie down upon the soft luscious grass. The morning dew sparkles in the sunlight and the wind makes the blades of grass brush and tickle against Freya's exposed skin. Goosebumps rise up all over her bare flesh and she begins to shiver uncontrollably as the pinkness in her cheeks, from the exertion of climbing the hill just moments before, slowly begins to fade away. A deathly pallor takes over her previously glowing pale skin. Her breathing is laboured and she finds it harder and harder to keep her eyes open, no matter how many times the beautiful and agonised voice begs her to stay with them and to stay awake.

"Don't you come near her," warns Maleficent through bared teeth as the messy haired man approaches her friend's prone body.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," whispers the sorcerer as his clothes suddenly change and become much richer and vibrant in colour.

"Why? Why would you do such a foolish thing?" asks Killian when Freya manages to keep her eyes open a little longer than before.

"When I was punished for sending Galahad away through the portal a man came to my lake one day. He'd gotten lost and, hearing the trickle of water, he came to Lake Avalon to quench his thirst. I thought him so handsome even though he wasn't dressed very richly and so far beneath me as some would think. He intrigued me for some reason," she whispers, flinching at the pain a deep breath sends through her entire body.

"Hush, Freya. Don't speak," murmurs Regina tearfully.

"No, I'm explaining," she replies, stubbornly forcing her eyes open to glare at them all gazing down at her. "I watched the man and felt a curious spark burn inside of me when, his thirst slaked, he took out a small well-crafted wooden bowl from his leather satchel and filled it with the water. He then carefully carried the bowl through the grove. The Evergreen Meadow was so beautiful that day with the deciduous trees slowly turning a lovely golden amber. I followed him and looked on as his speed suddenly slowed and his approach became more cautious. At the base of one of the great oaks was an injured fawn bleating for his mother. The kind man got as close to the animal as he could and placed the bowl of water near to his head. I whispered a healing chant as the fawn drank and the man looked around him as if he could sense my being there. Then his looking ceased as he looked on in astonishment at the fawn standing up again and racing off to find his mother again."

"Freya, lass, you're not making much sense. What are you explaining?"

"I looked in the pools that night and asked for the Blue Fairy's help. It all led to the knowledge that he was my true love, but I was unseeable. Don't you understand dear friend? Love is no longer in the cards for me but I'm damned if it won't be for you, or that Regina won't have her true happy ending, or that Mal and Lily won't live and get to know one another."

"There must be something we can do."

"You can look after Regina for me Robin and love her with everything you are," smiles Freya, her gaze turning to the sky where Navarre flies above them issuing a mournful cry for his Mistress.

"You're not dying. Not because of some stupid thing I did," glares Killian before looking up at the thin man watching over them all with such ancient eyes unbefitting of the rest of him. "Help her, please."


"What the hell just happened?" asks Lily shakily.

David's brow furrows as he glances around at their surroundings, vaguely taking notice of the others doing likewise. Instead of being in the open fields and lands he'd come to know so well when pretending to be his twin Prince James, the eight of them are now stood facing a grove of towering trees. Robin on his left side reaches out to touch the rough bark, wrapping an arm around Regina and frowning when he finds the tree to be solid. All around them hundreds of trees appear to have sprouted out of nowhere.

"What did you do?" glares Maleficent her eyes dangerously glinting green.

"There isn't much time to lose. Captain Hook, if you would kindly lift Freya and place her in the lake," commands the raven-haired man in a normal voice, gesturing to behind the group facing him.

"You were mad," says David slowly.

"Not at all. Knew you were coming so thought I'd have a bit of fun," the man beams at them.

"You call that fun?! Pretending to not have your wits, making us think that it had all been for nothing, that we couldn't save Emma?" shouts Killian as he moves his legs from where they're supporting Freya's pliant head.

"That won't help," she croaks out, grasping hold of his coat and using the last of her strength to keep Killian from attacking Merlin again.

"I can save her, if you'll help me get her into the water. Whilst much about me you cannot trust what your eyes show you, you can trust that I'm almost as scrawny as I look."

"And we're meant to trust your word on that?" sneers Regina.

"You all mean so much to her that she's willing to give her life for you. Does she mean enough to you all to give me just enough trust to get her into Lake Avalon?"

"Lake Avalon? This can't be. It doesn't feel or look the same," denies Lily.

"The smell is different too. And the sounds. Usually the lake is teeming with so much life it can be difficult for me to concentrate and focus my magic," adds Maleficent. "You can't fool us."

"Oh god," murmurs Killian, his eyes wide in horror as he looks behind him.

The other turn as one to see what's wrong and simultaneously gasp in horror. The lake that had once bathed in golden light now sits completely still in growing darkness. The far bank is so black the group can't even make it out. The water, whilst unmoving as always, no longer gives off the subtle thrum of life but rather the icy cold grasp of impending death. The rowan tree, the same one that had grown back after Cora used it to create the time bubble when the first curse was activated, is brittle looking and the colour of ash. Deep crevasses sit throughout the bark and as they watch two such gaps join and the branch snaps like a twig and plummets with an echoing splash to the depths of the blackening lake. Circling the dying tree is Navarre, continuing his plaintive cries.

"Quickly now!" Merlin commands them urgently.

Killian and David kneel and together carefully carry Freya over to the lake. At Merlin's insistence they stay back from the water and lay her gently down on the dying grassy slopes before stepping back. Freya's head turns to gaze at her island, the same one the chain had been attached to when she went to the other world all those years ago. Her mind fogs and drifts to Galahad; both when he was a boy in Camelot and as an elderly man in the other world.

"Ah that's better," grins Merlin after slapping Freya on the cheek several times to bring her back from her memories. "The lake can restore you but for it's powers to work it will forever bind you to Lake Avalon. There will be no other Lady of the Lake from now until the end of time, just you. My power can begin the process but you have to accept it. Do you understand?"

Freya shakes her head and shuts her eyes; the light seeping through the clouds above hurting them.

"Do something," orders David.

"Freya you have to let the power of the lake cascade over you. You cannot die."

"I can. And I will," Freya tells the most powerful sorcerer with a glare.

"Freya, no! You have to live," demands Maleficent, falling to her knees and taking hold of her friend's cold clammy hand. "I won't let you die for this."

"Unless," she continues with a gasp, moaning at the pain it causes. "Unless you go with them and help Emma."

"Why would you ask for such a thing? She's nothing to you," declares Merlin, his voice unsure.

"Because Killian loves her and she loves him. The Darkness took his happy ending away once when Rumple was the Dark One. I won't let him lose another love to that entity."

Merlin sighs and kneels beside her shuddering body, his head bowed and eyes closed as if in prayer. His lips move silently and Lily and Regina pull Maleficent back just as a thin band of gold and silver shoots out from the lake and wraps around Freya's right wrist. The entangled thread splits and dances in the air until it spins around Merlin's right wrist. The magic compresses minutely against their skin for a moment and then fizzles into nothingness. Freya manages to glance down in awe at the red chain burn left upon her skin and the matching burn on Merlin's wrist.

"As you wish, my Lady," murmurs Merlin, his blue eyes old and sad. "Accept the lake's power," he whispers as he stands and throws both his hands out at the water, one palm atop the other.

A single panpipe with accompanying piano begins to echo around them making the others all glance around. From the far bank of the lake a single candlelight burns. The pan flute and piano are soon joined by the soft strum of a guitar. An ethereal choir of voices harmonises along with the music and then the beat quickens, the panpipe disappears and in its place the fast powerful notes of a violin blasts through with a harsh drumbeat at the same time as the single candlelight igniting and becoming a wall of fire. The fire shoots high up into the sky, burning away the clouds obscuring the sun. The others all jump back and throw their arms up against their faces as a searing heat blasts back.

As soon as the glittering rays from the sun touch Freya she sighs blissfully and slowly pushes herself to her feet. Merlin uses an invisible barrier to hold her friends back from trying to assist her in any way and so they watch on, unable to do anything else. While walking shakily into the lake the darkness abates. Tendrils of water climb out of the surface of the water and reach out to her, shimmering in the light of the fading sun. The penetrating and silvery sound of a flute floats out from the fire and dances around them until the drumbeat ends and only the flute, with the continued soft strumming of the guitar, remains.

The blood red light of sunset fills the entire copse of trees and the lake, casting Freya in an eerie glow as the water envelops her. The tendrils crash together forming a ball and begins to swirl, just like the spheres she used to search for Merlin only two days previous. Maleficent gasps in fear as the globe of water begins to sink beneath the surface of the water that now has waves on it. As soon as all of the sphere is beneath the stormy surface of the lake a bright blue glow surround the water ball, so bright the onlookers have to look away when it begins spinning much quicker before suddenly coming to a halt and rising slowly.

There is no sound as the waves stop, the surface becoming calm once more. Not a single noise as the sphere, with Freya still inside, breaks the surface and the light spreads. Only the music of a single guitar and the dancing notes of the flute. Robin glances over his shoulder and stares in wonder as the previously dying trees slowly come back to life as soon as the light touches them. Leaves sprout and unfurl from the branches and the cracked bark regrows. The sounds of nature fill the air once more. Fingers thread through his and Regina presses herself against him, a gentle smile on her painted lips and unshed tears sparkling in her beautiful eyes. He glances at the others and sees they can all feel the change, the return of nature. All around them life is being breathed back into Avalon. The ethereal and classic sounds of the piano and the harmonising choir cry out once more.

Splashing water returns their gazes to Freya as the water creating the sphere gently cascades back into the lake, revealing Freya hovering above the crystal lake; her arms spread out from her sides and her chin touching her chest. Deep echoing horns of the trumpets blow and the drumbeat returns as fast and harsh as ever. Her dress is different. She now wears a long flowing sweetheart dress made from emerald green chiffon. The train is three inches long and there is a single slit that reaches to mid-thigh. The dress is quite plain with no embroidery and a built in corset with leather thongs. The last of the sun's rays flicker around her, a warm glow seemingly burning from inside of her as she slowly spins above her lake. The light finally disperses, the last bits of orange on the horizon fading to pale blue, and she languidly falls back down until her feet rest upon the surface of Lake Avalon. Freya's head tilts up, almost as if she were a puppet being pulling by a string, and peace shines all over her face. Her eyes open and a rich shining gold light shimmers from them. Like when her eyes change to the colour of lapis lazuli, all of her eyes are now the burning colour of molten gold.

Soft and delicate a single squeaky violin fills Lake Avalon. The others look on awestruck as Freya steps across the water as if she were dancing on the lake's surface, leaving golden ripples in her wake before coming to a stop on the shore. The drums crashing and the choir calling out until it comes to an echoing end. With those final chords filling the air, the golden shimmering light in her eyes and return to their normal jade green once more.

Regina and Maleficent glance at one another without moving as the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. They are the first to feel it but soon all the others stand straighter and in amazement of the visible buzz of magic they can sense hovering around Freya like a mist. The only one staring nonchalantly is Merlin who slightly bows his head in acknowledgement of the Lady of the Lake. Freya raises a single eyebrow at the most power warlock to ever live before bending and using one of her hands to splash him.

"Freya!" splutters Merlin as she continues to hit him with water, her laugh sparkling like the water.

"That's for hijacking my pools and showing me that cottage. We searched for hours for you. We found the cottage in the afternoon and then I saw your riddle. You were in the cave the entire time, weren't you?"

"Perhaps," shrugs Merlin before hugging the redhead and whispering in her ear, "Scour the near future when we have left."

Freya nods, her eyes serious as she silently bids farewell to the old man in such a young body. By this time the feeling of Freya's power has diminished a little and become more bearable for the others. They all smile at her recovery and congratulate her. It is after Prince David properly introduces himself to Merlin that the happiness of the moment is burst.

"You should all get going. Leaving Emma any longer to fight against the Darkness on her own is cruel," murmurs Freya with a small smile.

"What do you mean? You make it sound like you're not coming with us," glowers Regina.

"That's because I'm not. The ritual Merlin and I just did binds me to this place and this realm. I cannot leave it. This is the price that must be paid."

"You knew all along," states Maleficent angrily.

"Not the exact price, no. Just that it would be a heavy one, and one that I would have to pay."

"Freya, lass, no. This isn't right!"

"It is, Killian. This is how it should be. Now go rescue your princess and love her with all that you are," the redhead smiles brightly before kissing each of her friends, both old and new alike, upon the cheek.

"Let us go then," sighs Merlin heavily raising a single hand only to be stopped by Freya's hand on his arm.

"Can't you feel the portal already open? It isn't that long of a trip by sea, you'll be fine," she assures him before lightly shoving him away in the direction of the moored Jolly Roger.

The others say another round of goodbyes before slowly departing for their way home. Killian, Maleficent and Regina are the last to leave, giving their old friend more hugs and goodbyes before turning to go. Freya stops them with a single whispered warning before urging them to go. They do not see the tears she finally lets fall as her friends are swallowed by the shrubbery, leaving her alone but for her faithful Navarre. Only her warning follows after them on their heels as they quicken their pace to catch up with the others.

"Something is going to happen. I don't know what and I don't think I can know until you're gone. When the time comes though I'll send one of you a sign, telling you what to do. I'm sorry I cannot do more. Trust Merlin though; he swore upon the Goddess to save Emma and so his word binds him. Be safe and be happy my friends."