A Charmed Story - Part Ten:
An Elder's Tale
Chapter 10

Amy was ready to receive his final blow, when something passed by her hair flying and almost grazing her, something that went straight into Gideon's chest. It was Gareth's sword, he had just stood up and thrown it...
But to his amazement, Gideon only grimaced slightly in pain, stumbled a little bit, and then, smirked as he took the sword out of his body. His bleeding wound was healed at the moment.
"You stupid young man, go to play with your dragons and giants," he said furious, as he threw the sword, telekinetically, against Gareth.
The young man stepped backwards, scared and knowing that he would not be able to do much, when the sword changed its direction and got stuck on the wall by his side, at the very same moment that a blonde man appeared in the middle of those amazing blue lights, similar to those of Amy's. He swallowed, trembling, and then looked at the woman. She had fallen limply to the floor, and had lost her consciousness.
"Who... who are you?" Gideon asked, who was really shocked now, by that man's sudden appearance. When that man came closer, he noticed his Elder robe and he could feel that he was one, too. But he did not know him at all... What if it was a trap?
"I come from the future," he said. "My name's Silas. I come to warn you that you are making the worst mistake of your life."
Gideon blinked, and then smirked. "Why should I believe you?" he asked, looking at Amy out of the corner of his eye. The girl was already very pale, and that weak knight cried as a woman by her side.
"Because..." the Elder said, "I am gonna show you." He could feel Amy's life fading away, but he could not lose his concentration on Gideon or he would attack from behind. He had to act fast. "Take my hand."
Gideon stared at him and then at his hand, and after some seconds he took it reluctantly. Silas was looking at him fiercely, when all those images started to strike the other Elder.
"Amy..." Gareth was mumbling behind them. "You need to hold on, ok??"
Silas felt a thrill at the sound of those words, but kept on looking at Gideon who was seeing very interesting things by now.
The traitor was at that moment in the future. He was seeing himself, with Leo, even if he did not know who he was. But he was going to be the mentor of that young man, his best friend. And then, he saw himself supporting his wedding to a witch. Of course he'll do that... And then... Then he saw the sword. It came back to life. And he was with this Elder, with Silas. He saw a blonde baby, and he felt hatred, so much hatred... And the he saw himself, trying to kill him. The baby's family and another young man tried to stop him, but Gideon fought them back, stabbed the young man to death... Then he took the baby. And with this last picture, the vision finished.
Gideon looked at Silas, startled. "What was that?" he asked.
"That's the future. That baby, that's the true danger, and not the people who came. This is what is going to happen, and I will be with you. You will not tell me the story at first, but later you will. And you asked me to come back here, to stop you from doing a mistake. Because first, the history has to be repeated. You can not touch the sword now. It has to get to his future owner, and then we'll come into action."
Gideon frowned: "I don't understand..."
Silas turned to Amy, unable to bear the situation anymore. At least now, Gideon was interested in something, so he knelt down to the girl, and put his hands on her body, starting to heal her.
Gareth looked at the golden light amazed, his eyes full of tears.
"It's not so difficult to understand. Leave the sword alone. Arthur came to this world to take care of it, and he's the right one to do it. Don't worry about that legend. The sword is safe, and will be safe until our future."
"But... How am I supposed to know when it's the right time?" he asked, still unbelieving.
Silas finished healing Amy, who woke up gasping for air. She saw the strange man over her and frowned, but Gareth did not let her say a word. He hugged the girl with all his strength, crying, and Silas smiled.
Then he turned to Gideon: "You will know, I assure you. And we'll fulfil our task. I promise, we'll save the world from the evil that threatens it." His words were somehow full of hatred, hidden hatred, that Gideon did not notice. However, he was worried about something else. He looked at the young couple on the ground. If the Elders knew that...
"You did this for the greater good, don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
Gideon nodded slightly, still suspicious, but the man was staring at him very intensely. "For the greatest good... Yes," Gideon said, still shocked by what he had just seen. Then he looked at the couple again, and orbed away. He needed to confirm all that. He needed to make sure that it was not a trick. But he had seen the future. He would take care of the real danger...
When he had disappeared, Silas did so, too, and Chris's body took his place. Gareth looked at him surprised and scared, but when Amy turned to him, she smiled widely and letting go off Gareth, jumped to his arms and hugged him tightly. "I knew you'd come..." she said.
"How could I not?" Chris whispered to her ear, hugging her back. He was relieved that she was alright.
Gareth looked annoyed at the couple. Surly he was relieved that she was fine, that he had saved her - in which way ever... But... Maybe it wasn't so special for her being so close to someone, but it had been for him. And now he felt jealous that she was hugging that man. But then he thought: 'Maybe it's better that way... she's such a weird person and all that magic around her...' He sighed, lowering his eyes. Still he felt jealous and that hurt.
Chris had noticed the look of the young knight and couldn't help smiling. Then he pushed Amy softly away and turned to him. Stretching out his hand he said: "Sir Gareth, right? Well... I have to thank you for protecting this young Lady here... Respect, you did a good job!"
The young knight blushed, but took Chris's hand to shake it. Then he turned to Amy: "So... you come from the... the future?" She nodded. He sighed then asked: "I guess you have to go back, right?"
Amy just looked at him, suddenly realising her difficult situation. She didn't want to go back... she wanted to stay with him. But was that possible. Could she stay or would she mess up the time if she would do so...? Her eyes welling up in tears, she looked at Chris beggingly.
The Elder-witch smiled: "Well..." But suddenly he felt dizzy. He frowned, shaking his head in order to clear his vision. But the feeling didn't leave him.
Amy and Gareth looked at him worried. He was suddenly so pale.
Chris felt more and more unsteady... He began to see pictures and hear voices, and they became louder and louder inside him. Holding his head he yelled in pain.
"Chris!" Amy exclaimed worried as the Elder-witch sank to the ground. Gareth rushed to him, even if he didn't know what to do.
"Mer... Mer...lin..." Chris mumbled as the memories of his past lives were overflowing his mind.
"Merlin..." Amy said and looked at the young knight, "we have to find him."

°°°°°°°°°°

When Lancelot returned, he looked at Gawain and Michael confused. Chris was nowhere to see. "What happened?" he asked.
"He's gone," Gawain said grumpy, "he disappeared."
Michael swallowed. Even if he knew that Gawain was friendly to them, he still couldn't help fearing him, when he was in a bad mood like that... especially when his eyes were focused on him, whenever something weird happened.
"So... don't you think we should follow him?" Lancelot asked the other knight.
"He said, we should wait here," Michael remarked hesitating and Gawain nodded.
"But maybe he needs our help," Lancelot said and turning to Michael he asked: "He can feel where we are, right? That's how you found us again in the woods." Michael looked at him kind of shocked, then he nodded.
"So, that means, he will find us, when he wants to..." Lancelot reasoned, "that means... I'll go back to the room of the round table, I guess he's there... Maybe he'll need us." With that he went ahead. Gawain and Michael looked at each other, then they followed Lancelot.

°°°°°°°°°°

Angela looked at her watch and sighed. It was already half past eleven. "Are you sure this is right?" she asked.
"Yeah... I think so..." Bianca said and also Piper nodded. She had returned to the others after her talk with Cole.
Angela sighed again: "But Michael is just human... what if something happens to him...?"
"Nothing will happen to him," Cole said, "I'm sure he's fine. And he has Chris on his side, he will protect him."
Phoebe looked at Wyatt who had fallen asleep on her lap. She caressed his hair softly and smiled. But then she was thrown into a premonition.
She saw Chris in the new sunroom. He was caring Wyatt under his arm, playfully... The child of maybe seven or eight was laughing heartily. And Christopher and Hope were there too, following them, before they jumped onto Chris to tickle him.
And then she saw Michael sitting in one of those chairs observing his friend smiling, holding a new born baby lovingly. Next to him, she saw Angela with the tired but satisfied look of a recently became mother. And she saw the kids approaching them and looking at the small piece of life in Michael's arms.
"Was I that small, too?" Hope asked childishly. Chris just nodded smiling.
"When she's growing up, I'll marry her," Wyatt stated determined and the adults started to laugh.
Then Phoebe was back.
"What happened?" Bianca asked, who sat besides her.
Phoebe was a little confused, but then smiled widely... "Nothing... I just saw a picture of a very weird but happy family," she explained and her eyes turned a little glassy. "They will be fine... both of them..."
At that moment bluish orbing lights filled the room. Angela and Bianca rose their eyes full of hope, but it had been only Silas and Odin.
"Anything new?" they both asked just to see all the heads shaking softly. Odin sighed: "Up there it's the same."
"So what are you doing here?" Leo asked.
Silas shrugged: "We did all we could... actually we felt a little like... I don't know... We just thought we could also wait here till they are back..."
"Yeah," Odin said nodding, "we just thought it's easier not to wait alone. That is, if we don't disturb you." He sighed. He had still a bad feeling about all that since he remembered those small pieces of the past. But he wouldn't tell them, he didn't want them to worry...
Piper sighed and rose: "Well... so welcome here... do you like some tea?" Both Elders nodded.
While Piper went to the kitchen Phoebe noticed that Wyatt's sleep became a little uneasy, but then he calmed down again. Bianca had noticed that, too. And she remembered what had happened earlier that day, but she wouldn't say anything.

°°°°°°°°°°

Gareth immediately walked to the door to go and find the sorcerer but Amy took him by the arm: "Please, stay with Chris... I think I can find Merlin faster, you know?" The young night nodded and when Amy disappeared in those blue lights, he went back to Chris.
The Elder-witch winced in pain. He was still caught in flashbacks, it felt like there were hundreds of needles in his head.
Gareth stood there, not knowing what to do. Then he knelt down next to him and tried to calm him down.
Moments later Michael, Lancelot and Gawain entered the room. The huge door, which Gawain closed, gave such a bang that the young knight startled. But seeing who had entered, he awkwardly rose.
When Michael saw his friend sitting there in so much pain, he went over to him in shock: "Chris? CHRIS!"
Gawain went to his little brother. He was so annoyed by all that, he almost shouted when he asked: "What happened here!?!"
Gareth hesitated and stared at the floor. What should he say, he didn't know what happened... He could only say what he had seen, and that was not much... "This man, Chris, he talked to the one we saw in the stables, he made him leave. He saved Amy's life, too. Then he..."
Before he could say more bluish orbing lights filled the room. It was Amy who came orbing in with Merlin on her side. The sorcerer immediately went to Chris and started to examine him. But he already knew what was going on... the secondary effects of the potion. It was made for bringing back lost memories, but the more there is that was lost, the more the person has to suffer by the impact. Less did he know, that Chris had the memories of more than on life to deal with. But Merlin did notice his serious condition. He had to give him the antidote. Only there was a little problem.
"He needs an antidote, but I don't have it," he announced.
"Well, then you have to make some," Michael said frustrated.
Merlin nodded: "I know, but I can't. The potion needs to be made in the light of the full moon."
Michael looked confused, not understanding what the sorcerer wanted to say. Hesitating he asked: "So where's the problem?"
But Lancelot understood and turned to him with a worried look: "The next full moon is in another week."
"WHAT??" Michael exclaimed, unable to believe his ears. He turned to Chris with his heart shrunk. He was suffering too much... And he wasn't even sure why.
The Elder-witch was sitting on the floor, bent on his stomach and holding his head, pressing his temples with all his strength, gritting his teeth trying not to cry... But tears were running down his cheeks. He gasped in pain...
Those secondary effects... He hadn't cared about it, when Merlin had tried to warn him. He just wanted to save the sword. And he had had those memories before, so he knew what to expect. They had been painful the first time, yes, but in another sense, not that literary. However, the fact that all of them had come back at once might be hitting his mind with a new force. He let go a groan almost unaware of it.
Gareth was still looking amazed at Chris, unable to understand what was going on; more or less like all the others. Amy had stepped backwards to him and he held her tight, with the hope that someone had a better solution.
"A week???!!!" Michael was still saying, while he knelt down next to his friend.
Lancelot had squatted by his side and pressed his shoulder in the attempt to help him calm down without success. He could not understand either what had happened to the young sorcerer, and was suffering for him.
"We don't have a week for God's sake, look at him! He doesn't even have a day..." Michael went on, pointing at his friend who was completely defeated by agony.
Chris's pain was not only physical, of course, but also psychological. All those memories had come back at the same time, as a stroke of lightning. He was seeing all that pain again. All that suffering. He was seeing how he had died once and again in all those deleted timelines. Gideon stabbing him to death... His father by his side, telling him to hold on. But he could not hold on... Wyatt coming from his time and killing him, piercing him with Excalibur. Bianca's death... So much pain... So much... He had taken that potion to forget all that, to stop that magic, to free his little self from that horrible legacy. But he had had to bring those memories back. He had had to remember just to save the world... Again.
Chris could hear the voices around him... how Lancelot tried to make him calm down, how Michael was freaking out, and Merlin explaining something about a full moon, and Gawain was asking questions, and Amy... she had been trying to help. Oh, he hated that so much. Making all them worry about him...
"It's... It's...ok... Mik... Mike..." he stuttered, grabbing Lancelot's hand. But he could not say more. The pain was too strong. He did not even hear what Merlin said at that moment, sadly.
"We can find a way, but he can not go on like that..." Opening a little bottle he had hanging on his chest, he made Chris drink before the attentive look of the others.
Chris drank almost without noticing. It was bitter, but suddenly... Suddenly nothing.
Lancelot saw in horror how his friend fell limply in his arms, and held him tightly.
"What have you done, Merlin?" Michael asked, terrified. Had Chris died??
"Chris..." was Amy's scared and almost inaudible voice. Gareth pressed her hand strongly, feeling that she would faint. He had felt so jealous of that... witch, or whatever. But seeing him in pain was not good. He hated that. And he hated the idea that he was dying because of them.
But Merlin immediately shook his head: "He's just sleeping. We need time to find a way to create that antidote. He will sleep for about two hours... Don't worry."
Michael had taken his friend's hand. "Won't he have nightmares?" he asked, feeling his pulse untrustingly.
Merlin shook his head again: "The potion he just took will prevent him from having any kind of dream. It's like a lethargic state. And now... We need a full moon before those two hours." Silence grew among them, after those words.
Lancelot swallowed and took Chris's body, raising up. "I guess he'll need to be comfortable, at least..." he said, ready to take him to some room.
Amy took a step forward and grabbed his arm: "I can take you both in a faster way..."

°°°°°°°°°°

"My Lady..." it was Arthur's voice.
Guinevere startled but then she composed herself very fast and turned her face to smile at her husband: "My Lord... I have missed you today..." Arthur smiled back with a hint of sadness in his countenance, and took some steps towards her. She was so beautiful... So beautiful... He almost caressed her with his look, only that.
She chuckled a little bit. "Is everything fine, Arthur?" she asked.
He nodded: "Whenever I see you it's as if everything was alright. You have that power over me, my queen..."
She smiled sadly and shook her head with a sigh as she stood up and went to her husband, placing her arms around his neck. "But there's something wrong..." she stated.
The king just kept staring at her, at her beautiful big eyes, her skin, her smile. Then he said: "Things will be fine soon. I know. That young man that came from the future... He has the solution to all of our problems." He answered, dreamily.
But her smile turned sadder. "To all of them..." she almost muttered.
Arthur understood immediately. Or at least, he thought he had understood: "We'll have that heir, Guinevere. Some day. Just be patient and God will bless us with his gift."
Guinevere listened to him with sadness, but there was something else in her mind. Arthur kissed her softly, not letting her say a word at that respect. But she kept her eyes open and did not move for a while. Then she did; she kissed him back, but a single tear ran down her cheek as she touched her neck, her chest, in search of something that was not there; that would not be there anymore... And Arthur was kissing her passionately. He loved her so much... So much.

°°°°°°°°°°

Amy had orbed Lancelot and Chris, and Michael who wouldn't leave Chris's side, to a small room in the eastern part of the castle. Lancelot's own room to be exact. It was the best place the knight could think of.
While Lancelot laid Chris down on the bed, Michael observed his friend with worry.
A few moments later Merlin entered the room, followed by Gareth, who immediately stepped to Amy's side, and Gawain.
Merlin put a few things, which he brought with him, down on the table next to the bed. Then he turned to Chris to check on him. Luckily he was still deep asleep. At least this potion seemed to work well.
Finally he straightened himself and turned to Amy: "Young lady, could you bring me to my chamber, I will try to find a solution for this..."
"You will leave his side?" Michael asked scared.
"There isn't much I can do while being here, but I have a lot of papers in my chambers..." the sorcerer explained and Michael nodded.
Amy nodded, too: "I'll take you there."
"I'm coming with you," Gareth exclaimed. But Amy hold him back asking him to look after Chris and call her if anything should change. The young knight nodded, visibly unhappy. He didn't want to leave her alone. But on the other hand he couldn't deny her this little request.
So he, his brother, Lancelot and Michael watched as Merlin and Amy orbed away.

°°°°°°°°°°

As soon as they reached the tower Merlin nervously started looking through a shelf full of potions, most of them were very dusty and so was the shelf... there must've been more than four hundred potions on that rack, still it looked like Merlin didn't found what he was looking for. "No! I had hoped there is some vial left, but there isn't!"
"Can't we just try to make a new one?" Amy asked. "I know we need the moon, but can't we at least try? Maybe it works even without it?"
Merlin finally agreed that it was worth to try and started to mix up all the incredents. Amy watched every single move of the sorcerer. Inexperienced as she was, she was very interested in all that stuff.
"Damned!" Merlin cursed suddenly, making Amy startle.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I knew it... I knew it wouldn't work..." the sorcerer said, gesturing wild with his hands, "the potion was supposed to turn into a clear yellow, but it didn't... it will not work!"

°°°°°°°°°°

Almost one and a half hour had passed when Merlin returned with the girl on his tail. Both looked sad, yes, defeated. They had tried everything but it was useless.
Michael who was sitting next to his friend, holding his hand, let his head drop on the side of the bed. He couldn't believe that this was how this story was supposed to end. He just couldn't.
"I'm sorry," Merlin announced to the questioning looks of the knights. Meanwhile Gareth went over to Amy, unsure how to handle this situation, but finally putting an arm around her.
"What do you mean, you're sorry?" Lancelot asked.
"I tried everything," the sorcerer explained, "but I can't find a solution. There is no way to create this potion without the light of the full moon."
Suddenly Amy had an idea. She turned to Lancelot and said: "The moon does not have light."
Lancelot turned to her at the sound of those words. What was she talking about?? "Of course it has, you just need to look at it, it's..." He was laughing sarcastically.
But Michael interrupted him: "She's right... It's difficult to explain, but she's right... The moon just reflects the light of the sun... "
"Which means that what we need is the light of the sun reflected upon a round body like the Moon. A big one, enough to create that kind of light. It must have the same aspect, at least the same colors as the Moon," Amy explained.
But Michael shook his head: "I doubt it's actually the light which we need. I guess it's the tide-thing, the moon-phase's influence on the world." He sighed. "And there is no way to simulate that... damn it!" He threw his fist against the wall in frustration.
Lancelot and Gawain shared some worried looks, while Merlin was still trying to understand what those two had been talking about. Amy looked down ashamed that she hadn't thought about that.
At that moment Chris began to stir. Moaning slightly he started to toss around in the bed. And then he kind of woke up, with a yell so full of pain that everyone was shocked to the bones.

°°°°°°°°°°

When the nothingness left him, the pain returned to Chris's head. First slowly - a few pictures flashing through his brain. But then all the things hit him again with the full strength. He saw himself again - fighting his own brother... killed by him, by Gideon, by Barbas, by other creatures... He even saw himself killed by Cole - that one time he failed to resist his brother's powers. And he saw him fighting with Wyatt... a sword fight. "I should be the owner!" his brother yelled. "You know it's not true, you're not meant to..." Chris shouted back. They were fighting hard with no mercy. They were fighting for their lives...

°°°°°°°°°°

After his yell, Chris had sank back to the pillow again. Tossing and sweating he lied there and no one knew how to help him.
"... not true... not meant to..." they heard him mutter.
Michael felt desperate. What should he do? He needed to help him, but he couldn't. If at least one of the family would be there... someone who KNEW about magic. But Michael was not more than a little informed about the things at the surface. At least, that's what he himself thought. Nevertheless he HAD to do something... but what? 'Who could heal Chris form that pain... who could heal... heal...? Elders could... an Elder... and old Elder... ODIN!' Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 'Chris will kill me,' he thought. But still he was sure this would be their only chance. "ODIN!" he screamed with all what was left inside him, hoping that he was already one of them. "ODIN I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING... FOR GOD'S SAKE GET YOU ASS DOWN HERE!!! ANOTHER ELDER NEEDS YOU!!!!"
At that moment the king entered the room. He had heard Chris's yell, probably all the persons in the castle had. And now he heard Michael yell as well. "What's going on here?" he asked.
Lancelot turned to him and whispered: "I guess he's trying to contact someone who could help that young man..."
Then Arthur noticed the state Chris was in. "What happened to him?" he asked while Michael yelled again.
Lancelot shrugged: "I'm not sure... He did something to that Gideon and he left... he..."
"He convinced him that the sword means no danger..." Gareth interrupted him. "My king, I was there when it happened. After that other man was gone, that... Chris broke down, yelling in pain."
"It's a side-effect of the potion," Merlin added.
Arthur sighed: "He risked a lot to save us all... he's a great man."
"ODIN, DAMNED!!! WILL YOU LET HIM DIE JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO COWARDLY TO COME DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES! NO ONE HERE WILL HURT YOU..." Michael's voice became more and more beggingly "PLEASE ODIN!!! PLEEEEAAAASE!"
Suddenly the room was filled with bluish orbing lights and then a man appeared in the middle of them. He looked like an old man - at least for the people from the middle age - wearing a dress made of white and golden cloth and it seemed he was bathed in a magical light.
All the knights and the king took a deep bow when they saw him, and stayed in that position. Michael just stood in front of that Elder, his arms crossed in front of his chest: "That was high time!"

°°°°°°°°°°

The digital clock on the car-radio showed 23:14 when Kyle stopped in front of the manor. Paige sighed.
"You don't want to go in?" he asked.
"No," she admitted.
Kyle smiled: "Because Chris is missing?"
Paige nodded and turned to him: "Everyone in there will be in a bad mood... especially Piper and Bianca, and Angela of course... Because we decided not to fight this time..."
"Difficult situation," Kyle said nodding. Then he asked: "Shall I come with you? I mean... if you need some help... I would like to support you..."
Paige smiled as he caressed her cheek. "You really don't need to do that... And you have to work tomorrow..."
"I've the evening shift tomorrow... So there is no problem. And actually I would like to spend some more time with you."
Paige chuckled and then she drew him into a long kiss. "Ok, if you really want to..." she whispered.
"I do," he said and kissed her back again. Then he left the car and hurried to open the door for the woman he loved so much.
"Thanks," Paige said and took his arm. Smiling they went up the stairs.
When they reached the living room a few moments later, Kyle and the Elders eyed each other surprised.
"Nice to see you again," Kyle greeted. Silas and Odin nodded.
Piper sighed: "Why did you bring him home with you?"
Her youngest sister rolled her eyes: "Because he's my friend... and he said he wanted to be there for me..."
"If this is not my place..." Kyle said hesitating, "I mean... I could..."
"No... stay," Phoebe said, "please." And when Piper saw the warning look of the empath she added: "Yeah... sorry... we're just all a little freaked out at the moment... Do you like a tea?"
Cole couldn't help chuckling. That seemed to be everyone's favourite sentence of the day...

°°°°°°°°°°

Odin had looked furious at that young male human being who had dared to call him like that, with that huge lack of respect. He wasn't even a witch, how could he know about the Elders, how could he know HIM? But when Michael started to explain Odin's eyes grew wider and wider.
"So... you and me are... are friends in your future?" he asked then.
Michael nodded: "Kind of... you're the friend of my friend..." He turned pointing at Chris and added: "Him!"
Meanwhile the other had rose, too. But none of them dared to speak. That man in his rope... 'He looked like God,' Arthur thought. But Merlin knew it better. He knew who that person was, and now he felt it was time for him to speak.
"That man... he has taken a potion which shall bring back surpressed memories. But I know now that he has not only one memory he has lot's of them... all at the same time. That's why he's suffering," he explained, while Odin nodded. "He needs an antidote, but this has to be created in the light of a full moon... which we don't have at the moment."
"We thought about that the light of the moon is only a reflection of the sunlight and..." Michael said, but was suddenly interrupted by Odin's laugh.
Meanwhile Chris was still mumbling words without any sense. Amy felt his forehead, it was burning. "We need to hurry," she announced.
The Elder calmed down and looked at the mortal human being: "You know a lot about the elements in the sky... but what you don't know is that the moon, even if he's not emitting light on his own, has a special effect on all things down here on earth... like the tides for example."
Michael rolled his eyes: "Yeah... I know... I was just going to that point... well whatever... we NEED a full moon and we need it NOW!"
The Elder sighed looking at the young man lying on that bed so weak. He couldn't believe he was an Elder, but still he felt his powers, lots of powers and... he was absolutely alive... yet. 'Amazing,' he thought. Could it really be that in the future they would be friends? 'Well there is only one way to find it out,' he thought to himself and then turned to Merlin and Michael. "I think I know a way to help you... I guess I know a place where the effects of the moon are strong enough... Merlin, grasp all the things you need, and then we make a little journey." The sorcerer nodded and packed his stuff. Meanwhile the Elder said to the one who had called him: "He'll be fine again..."
Michael sighed: "Thanks..."

°°°°°°°°°°

Chris could hear the voices around him... 'was that Odin?' he thought. But the thought was washed away by another painful memory that hit him... his mother's death. Not that he hadn't remembered that before, but not in hundreds of different versions. One time he even saw how his brother stabbed her.
Suddenly he felt something cold on his forehead. He tried to open his eyes, but his vision was blurred. So he couldn't see the sad smile of the queen who had followed her husband, and now tried to help that poor man, who had risked so much for them.
Chris head hurt, his mind hurt... he felt like losing it. But he couldn't give up. "Mickey," he whispered, closing his eyes again. He had to bring him back... he just head to. He had to save him.
Another memory hit him. A dying Bianca, telling him that she was disappointed because he couldn't make their dreams come true. This one version Bianca hated him, he could see it in her eyes. He had failed her, and therefore she hated him. And he felt that he cried again.

°°°°°°°°°°

Odin and Merlin were gone for a couple of minutes now. Amy, who took care of Chris, together with Guinevere, looked at him swallowing. She had nearly killed him, and what has he done? He had saved her, risking his own life.
Gareth went over to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry my lady... I'm sure he will make it."
Amy turned around to him with watery eyes. Then she threw herself to his arms and started to cry.
Gareth felt a little uncomfortable first, because everyone was watching them - especially his brother. But then he relaxed enjoying the feeling that washed over him, and hugged her back tightly to calm her down.
Seeing this, the queen smiled. Then her eyes met those of Lancelot for a second. For a moment there was something sparkling in her look, but then it was away again and she turned to her husband. "My lord, how long will Merlin need to come back?" she asked.
"I don't know," he answered.
Michael looked from him back to Chris: "I hope they will hurry."
The following moments everyone kept silent, submerged in their own thoughts. But the most twisted thoughts were those of Gareth. On one hand he wanted that witch, or whatever, to be fine, because he had saved their lives. But on the other hand... If he would be fine, he would go back to where they come from... And then he would lose the one he loved. He sighed slightly and unnoticed by the still crying girl in his arms. 'I will not let you go,' he thought, 'never.'
A few minutes later Odin and Merlin returned, the latter one with a clear yellow potion in his hands. Under the attentive look of Michael, the sorcerer made Chris drink the potion.
First it seemed that the Elder-witch would relax, and Michael and Lancelot sighed relieved. But then he began to shake uncontrollably, making everyone in the room freak out. That attack lasted less than a minute, then there was silence. The young man wasn't moving anymore.
"Chris... Chris?" his friend said while shaking him. But the Elder-witch didn't respond.

(Chapter 10 written by Belén, Chrissy.W.x and Darklighter)