Thank you for your support! xoxoxo There isn't much Arthur in this update. But don't worry, he will be joining us in the next update!

lilnightmare17: I'm happy that you're enjoying it! I just couldn't let them die like that. Here's the update!

Kali ran through the ruins as fast as she could. Sarah just gave her news that Ratka collapsed that morning. Nothing seemed to stay good for the Solargarde for long. Right when they were together again, Ratka fell ill.

She stopped in front of a building that was still intact in the crumbling ruins. The entire Solargarde stood in front of the door patiently. The children grasped at their mother's skirt. Chelsea and Jordyn clung to each other for support. And the rest of the Solargarde were giving support to each other through reassuring words and hugs. Morgause was no where in sight, but Kali wasn't worried about where the High Priestess was. She was more worried about the woman who helped raise her.

Christiane reached for her. Kali quickly fell into her arms. She hung onto the middle-aged woman like Christiane was her lifeline. She smoothed Kali's hair. "It'll be alright. Ratka is strong. She'll pull through." She whispered but Kali could tell that she didn't entirely believe her own words.

"What happened?" Kai choked out. She held back a sob that threatened to be released.

Christiane pulled away from the hug, still holding Kali's hands. "After dinner she was feeling nauseous, so Ratka went to bed. This morning she had trouble breathing, but she still wanted to go for a walk." The woman paled slightly. "I shouldn't have let her out of bed."

Kali tightened her grip on Christiane's hands. "Don't blame yourself. You know that Ratka would've gone for a walk no matter what you said."

She smiled slightly. "Yes, I suppose so. She has been asking for you."

"She has?"

Christiane nodded. "She didn't tell me why, but she wants to see you." She paused. Her lips formed a large frown. "Ratka seems to think that this is her last day... but she's wrong."

Kali choked back several tears. "When has Ratka ever been wrong?" She whispered. Her voice cracked with tears that we about to fall.

"No." Christiane answered sharply. "This time she is wrong. Morgause is searching for a cure right now. If anyone can help Ratka, it's the High Priestess." She wiped her eyes and gently pushed Kali towards the building. "Go on, she's waiting."

Kali mentally prepared herself to see the worst. She hoped that Ratka wasn't as sick as everyone thought, but she knew the Solargarde wouldn't be acting this way if it wasn't serious. Never in her life had she seen Ratka sick. It seemed impossible for it to happen. Ratka always had perfect health. Kali hadn't seen her so much as cough in her life. All those years of seeing a perfectly healthy Ratka convinced Kali that the elderly woman was indestructible. Nothing could possibly happen to her. In one day, all those thoughts came crashing down to a pile of rubble.

She slowly opened the door. There was a fire burning in the fireplace. It casted an amber glow on the room. In the corner of the room there was a bed. Ratka laid there as still as a corpse, covered in blankets that the Solargarde wove several years ago . Kali would've thought that she was dead if it wasn't for the slight rise and fall of her chest. She ran to the elderly woman's side.

Ratka moved her head slightly to look at her. Her thin lips curved in a smile. She grasped the young woman's hands. "Kali, I have been waiting for you."

"I'm here." Kali gasped out. "You're going to get better. Morgause will find something-"

"Hush, child. I know when it's time to go." Ratka interrupted. "But before I leave, I need to speak to you. I need you to know."

Kali wiped several tears that fell down her face. "No! Don't talk this way, you aren't going to leave us!"

Ratka shook her head, but the small movement cost her a lot of energy. "You have to accept it, Kali. It is my time. I have played my part, now it's time for you to play yours."

Her tears blurred her vision. "Please, Ratka. Don't leave us." Kali repeated.

"Death is inevitable. This is not something that can be stopped. As my dying wish, I want you to accept it. Accept my death. Do not dwell on it, and move on. Everyone dies. This is a part of life."

"But I don't want you to." Kai croaked.

Ratka laughed, but it sounded weak. "Neither do I, but I still welcome it. Death will always happen, whether you welcome it with open arms or run away It's easier to accept it than to fight. It saves everyone from unnecessary heartache." The woman reached for a cup of water. Kali helped her with it. Ratka took a long sip, but it wasn't enough to sooth the burning. "Thank you. Now, there was a reason that I asked for you specifically. You need to know the full truth of how we came to be. I need to pass it on before I die, and I want to pass it on to you."

Kali's eyebrows came together in confusion. "The full truth?"

Ratka's eyes grew distant as she remembered a time many, many years ago. "Once there was a woman. She lived in a time before kingdoms. All there was were small villages of people who helped each other to survive. They were normally peaceful, except for the occasional skirmish. That woman was beautiful. Men everywhere wanted her hand in marriage, but she was interested in only one. He was her childhood friend, but he was betrothed to another woman. So one day she prayed to the gods, and one of them listened. The next day, she was greeted by a god. A minor one, but powerful nonetheless."

Ratka laughed slightly. "Now, gods normally don't bother with mortals, but that god saw something in that woman. He saw a spark of life. A spark of magic. The woman pleaded to be with her love, and the god gave her the means to do so. He unleashed the power. The woman was incredibly selfish and blinded by her infatuation with the man. She killed his betrothed and asked him to marry her instead. As you can assume, he refused to and swore that he would hate her for the rest of his mortal life. She was devastated."

"You have to understand that the woman was very clever, but let her emotions run her decision. Her decisions were always rash and never thought about the consequences. She easily destroyed their village and the betrothal's village in revenge. Within a matter of days, the people of the area begged her to stop. They brought gifts like exotic fish from the farthest villages and gold jewelry. They even went as far to offer up their children. The villagers were incredibly desperate. She was very pleased. She accepted the gifts and promised to not attack the villagers anymore if they allowed her to be their ruler. Soon enough, she realized that she could do the same to the other villages. The woman quickly conquered the entire land."

"She grew lonely and wanted someone to join to rule the land. However, she didn't plan on marrying another man. She was still hurt from the man's rejection and she was far too paranoid to hand over a part of her power to another person like that. Instead of marrying, she gave birth to five children out of magic. Three boys and two girls. She raised them to be like her, but they quickly found their own way. Three of them grew to hate the woman with a passion while two remained loyal to their mother."

"What were their names?" Kali asked curiously.

Ratka smiled. Kali thought it was refreshing to see her smile so widely even when Ratka was potentially on her deathbed. "Remember that names were much more complicated and odd back then. Their names were Suelargardiana, Driudista, Trikungo, Chaost, and Lowshrodo. I like to think that the woman wanted to punish them with such terrible names. Anyways, the three children that hated their mother quickly ran away to lands out of her reach. Suelargardiana, Driudista, and Lowshrodo worked for many days and nights and eventually made the Purple Rose. I'm sure you are more than familiar with the effects."

Kali nodded her head. It hasn't worn off completely and she still couldn't do any spells. It really irritated her, but she quickly pushed her own problems aside to focus all her attention on Ratka.

"The three siblings gave the flower to the villages and they had an uprising. They killed the queen. The five children went their own way. They quickly forgave each other and there was peace in the family once again. Suelargardiana, Driudista, Trikungo, Chaost, and Lowshrodo sought to share magic with the rest of the world, which their mother refused to do. They taught people their ways and soon there were five major sects of magic. The names became jumbled around as the years passed. Suelargardiana became Solargardiana, Solargardian, to finally, Solargarde. The others changed to what you know as the Druids, Trikong, Chaosteps, and Lowshroud."

"How do you know all this?" Kali asked. She was completely mesmerized.

Ratka's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Because I am Suelargardiana."

Kali gaped at the old woman. "But... but then you must be thousands of years old!"

"I am."

"How did you live so long?" Kali exclaimed.

"I change forms every so often. I'm sure that you have heard of the last Solargarde leader, Brielle."

Kali nodded her head violently. "I have. She led the Reconquest of the Isles and saved hundreds of magic users during the Great Purge!"

Ratka suppressed a laugh at Kali's behavior. "Yes, that was me." Kali's eyes only grew wider. "And all the past Solargarde leaders were me. I wanted to keep an eye on my sect, on my family." Ratka grinned. "I saw that you put my mother's tiara to use. I'm very proud of you, Kali."

"Thank you." Kali froze. If it was even possible, her eyes grew as wide as the moon. "Only people who are descended from the queen... err your mother can wear the tiara." She stated with a distant expression.

Ratka nodded her head. "Yes. That's true."

Her mind whirled at a million miles per hour. "So... I'm related to... you?"

Ratka's grin grew. "Yes you are. I had two sons and they in turn had many children. I'm not sure which you are descended from, but in some ways you could consider me to be your great-something grandmother." She coughed violently. Kali reached for the cup of water and helped Ratka drink something to soothe her throat.

"Are you alright?" Kali asked her fearfully.

Ratka placed a hand on Kali's cheek and completely ignored Kali's question. "I told you that story so that you could pass on the truth. Our legacy. My siblings died long before they could tell their children. And when I die, you will be the only person on earth that knows what truly happened all those years ago."

Kali shook her head. "You're not dying! Can't you... have another form?"

Ratka smiled sadly. "No. I have lived this long because I was waiting for someone, but now that wait is over."

"Who were you waiting for?"

The elderly woman removed her hand from Kali's face. She folded her hands together on her stomach. "I was waiting for someone who will help bring peace to the land. She will bring back magic and unite the land under one peaceful rule. She and her husband will build a kingdom worth fighting for." Ratka sighed, hoping that she didn't say too much. "Will you please send in Christiane? I need to speak to her."

"I can do that." Kali whispered. She kissed Ratka's forehead. "Thank you for taking care of me." She murmured, hoping that those weren't the last words that she ever said to Ratka. But if they were, then Kali was satisfied with the closure it gave her. She promised herself that she would try to accept Ratka's death like she asked her to, but Kali still hung on to the hope that she would pull through. Kali left the room without looking back, because if she looked back, she wouldn't be able to leave Ratka's side. She walked up to Christiane. "She wants to talk to you." She said quietly.

Christiane paled. "Me?" Kali nodded. Christiane slowly walked into the room like she was underwater. Ratka' sickness was taking its toll on her. It was obvious to everyone. When Ratka died, Christiane would most likely take over. She was the most experienced int he Solargarde and had been by Ratka's side the longest. Kali realized that when Ratka died, Christiane would be the first Solargarde leader that wasn't just another form of Suelargardiana.

Madelena sobbed and gripped her brother's hand. Abram held to Nizana's hand with an emotionless face. The two children seemed to know more of what was going on that the rest of the Solargarde who were in denial of Ratka's state of health. Kali had to get away. She had to escape from the emotions. So, she left.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Kali found a tower in the back of the Isles. Half of it was crumbling to ruins, but it still stood proudly. She climbed to the top and found that she was able to see the entire Isle of the Blessed from her spot. Kali was so high in the air that she felt like she left all her problems back on the ground. Nothing could touch her while she was up there. Nothing could bother her except for the chilly wind.

She jumped when she felt a fabric wrapped around her. Morgause sat next to her on the ledge. "I saw you come up here. I thought that maybe you would like some company." Morgause explained.

Kali tugged the blanket so that it covered her better. "Before you ask, I'm fine."

The blonde nodded but didn't look like she believed her. "It's alright to grieve." Kali didn't respond. "Would you like to talk about it?" Morgause asked.

Kali whipped her head to look at the High Priestess. "Shouldn't you be looking for a cure? Shouldn't you be trying to help Ratka?"

Morgause paused. Her eyes widened slightly at Kali's outburst. She hadn't expected that question. "There's no use. She is a lost cause." She answered simply.

Kali glared at the High Priestess. "A lost cause? You are talking about Ratka! She is definitely not a lost cause!" She yelled.

The High Priestess calmly placed her hands in her lap. She had to be careful to not anger Kali more than she already was. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"You did." Kali spat. She tore her eyes off the woman and focused on the horizon. The sun was high in the sky but it was covered with clouds. Everything was gloomy. It was as if the earth was crying for Ratka.

Morgause placed a hand on Kali's shoulder, but she jerked away. "If there is anyone to be angry at, it should be Uther."

Kali blinked once in confusion. "Uther? Why?"

The High Priestess nearly smirked. She had Kali's attention. "Ratka became sick in the cells of Camelot. They are not a pleasant place to be. They're cold and breeding grounds for disease. Uther put her in there. He's the reason that Ratka is sick."

She shifted in her spot on the ledge. "But he couldn't possibly have known that she would've gotten sick."

Morgause's lips curled in disgust. "He didn't have to. Did you forget what he tried to do to the entire Solargarde? He wanted to have her burned on the pyre. Uther wanted her dead, and he's going to get it." She took in a deep breath to calm herself. "Aren't you angry at him for doing this to your family?"

"Of course." Kali answered quietly. "But he's blinded by his ignorance. I feel sorry for him. He doesn't-"

Morgause scoffed at her. "Uther knows the consequences. Don't try to justify his actions!" She sneered.

She was stunned by the High Priestess's words. Kali got off of the ledge and stood on the floor behind it. Something about the conversation felt off to her. It sounded like Morgause was trying to persuade her to think a certain way instead of to offer her support. "I'm not justifying them." Kali responded softly. She handed the blanket back to Morgause. "I just understand why he does these horrible things. He's afraid. And when someone's afraid, they often lash out." She wrapped her arms around herself. Her eyes grew cold. "And don't you dare talk about Ratka like that ever again. I don't care if you're the High Priestess or not, nobody talks about her that way."

Kali left Morgause alone of the tower. She didn't want to be anywhere near that woman. Something about her made Kali feel on edge. She just hoped the she stayed away from her.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Kali watched the sun go down in the horizon. When it fell completely behind the land, the earth shifted into mourning. She didn't have to be told to know that Ratka passed away. Kali felt it in her gut.

Margie ran up to her. She sighed in relief at the sight of the woman. "Kali, we have been looking for you everywhere." Margie gasped out. Her green eyes were lined with red from crying. Margie looked exhausted.

Kali stood up. She engulfed her Solargarde sister in a large hug. "Is she...?"

"Yes." Margie choked out. Kali buried her face in Margie's shoulder. Margie tried to console her anyway that she could. "Ratka named Christiane the new leader. We will have the funeral in the morning."

"How is everyone else?"

"Like you would expect them to be." Margie answered. She paused. "Morgause is talking to them, but I think she's upsetting them more than helping them."

Kali narrowed her eyes. "What is she telling them?"

Margie pursed her lips. "It's not important. Come on, let's join the others."

0o0o0o0o0o0

Uther was furious, again. He asked Arthur why there weren't any guards searching the woods, and Arthur answered truthfully; he didn't send any out. Even after he tried to explain his reasoning, his father refused to listen. The king decided to take things in his own hands and sent out dozens of men, men that were needed to defend Camelot. Arthur thought that it was a rash and unwise decision, but he had already gone against his father too much. Anymore, and Uther just might have him executed.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled.

Merlin groaned at the sight of the prince. "Here to give me more chores? I just finished mucking out the stables, cleaning your entire room, and bathing the royal hunting hounds. I haven't even had dinner yet and that was several hours ago." The servant crossed his arms over his chest.

Arthur glared at Merlin. "And once again you fail to address me as your prince and future king." He replied sarcastically. Arthur sighed. "That's actually not the reason that I need you."

Merlin's eyebrows raised, but he held back any sarcastic comment that was itching to come out.

Arthur tried to choose his words carefully. "Prepare the horses for tomorrow. We will leave before sunrise, so be ready then."

"Why?" Merlin asked.

"Why?" Arthur exclaimed. "Because I'm you prince and I ordered you to!"

Merlin pinched the bridge of his nose. "No! Not 'why should I do what you say', but why as in 'why do you need the horses ready'. Goodness, Arthur. It's times like these that make me question intelligence."

The prince shook his head. "I'm going to ignore that last comment." He looked over his shoulder. The hall was empty. It was only the two. "Because we are going to look for the Solargarde."

"The Solargarde?" Merlin hissed. He also glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "Are you mad? Didn't you just tell your father that you don't want anyone to look for them and that we should just leave them alone?"

Now was the part the Arthur would have to confess. He shuffled uneasily under Merlin's unwavering stare. Normally it was Arthur that made people uncomfortable, and he wasn't particularly pleased for it to happen the other way around. "Merlin, can I trust you?"

His servant's eyebrows came together in confusion, but he nodded. "Of course you can."

Arthur sighed. "I'm going to warn them to get as far away from Camelot as possible before my father tightens the borders and increases the guards in the small villages. If they don't leave now, they might never be able to."

"Why do you care? They kidnapped you."

"Because they are a kind group of people. Not peaceful like the Druids, but..." Arthur paused, trying to find the right words to describe it. "I've never truly had a family. My mother died while giving birth and my father is king. He never had time for me. They're a family and I don't want them to lose that."

Merlin looked incredibly worried. "Do you really think that is the best idea? They are dangerous and you're the only Prince of Camelot."

"They won't hurt us." Arthur told him confidently.

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "How can you be sure?"

The prince's shoulders sagged slightly. "I can't but I know they won't." He turned away to head towards his room. It was going to be a long day and he wanted as much sleep as possible.

Merlin sighed. "That's no reassuring at all." He muttered under his breath before returning to tell Gaius the news. Maybe he will give him some advice on what to do.