It felt like they had been walking for hours, but Arthur knew it hadn't been that long. No one said a word as they hurried through the trees. An occasional whimper or sniff from Emma was the only sound. Merlin had offered to carrying Hadley at one point, but Arthur had quickly shook his head. He had her and he wasn't letting her go. He couldn't look down at her, to see her perfect face only to know she was covered in burns. He also wouldn't think about how he hadn't felt one rise of her chest showing she was breathing. She was dead in his arms and he knew it. Only the woman leading him, kept him from falling to his knees in anguish. For some reason he trusted her.

"Just a little farther." Blythe told them, glancing back at Arthur. Their eyes met and the cloud of emotions in the boys blue eyes made her heart hurt. They made it through the trees and standing against the mountain was a small stone building.

"What is this? Merlin quietly asked. As they had walked, he kept hold of Emma's hand trying to give her some comfort. But Emma's eyes were swelled and red from crying.

"A scared place." Was all Blythe said as she opened the door. The heavy door groaned as she pushed it open. "Arthur. Put her on the alter."

Arthur carefully laid Hadley on the stone alter, brushing her hair from her face. "You're going to use magic." He dully asked.

"It's all we have." Blythe put a hand on his arm as she walked around the alter.

"Will it work?" Emma hoarsely asked, wrapping her arms around herself. The place was cold and it felt…creepy.

"We hope." Blythe flicked her hand, lighting the candles that were scattered around the small room.

Arthur jerked in surprise, then relaxed. He had very little dealing with magic. He stepped back next to Merlin, his eyes on Hadley's face.

"But…there is always a price." Merlin spoke up, his eyes going to Blythe. "A life for a life. She's…dead. We know it. To bring her back someone else has to die."

"Smart boy." Blythe gave him a smile as she removed the cape from Hadley. "Do you volunteer?" She asked with a raised brow.

Arthur put an arm in front of Merlin, shoving him back. "I do."

Blythe's sharp eyes cut to Arthur's. "Of course you do. But it's not your time."

"I'll do it." Emma squared her shoulders as she neared the alter. "She's needed here much more than I am."

Blythe smiled warmly at Emma. "So brave. Hadley is very lucky to have such love. But…just trust me." She waved them back. Closing her eyes, she raised her arms to the sky and started to chant.

Xxxxxx

Hadley looked around, confused. Moments ago she had been engulfed in a fire trying to save her loved ones from an evil sorcerer. Now, she was standing in a green field covered in wildflowers. The sun was bright, birds flew overhead singing. The burns and pain were all gone as she looked down at herself. There had been so much pain, she remembered that. Seeing someone in the distance she started to walk towards them, hoping they could help her. As she got closer she realized it was a woman and when the woman turned around she gasped. "Mother!"

Fiona smiled as she watched her daughter run towards her. She opened her arms, catching her. Closing her eyes, she held Hadley tight. "Oh my girl."

Hadley could feel her mother and smell her. She always smelled like apple pies. "Mother? Are you real?"

Fiona's laughter filled the air. "As real as you are."

"But…I don't…what happened?" Hadley questioned, her eyes moving over her mother's beautiful face. "Last I remember I was hurting. I…am dead?" She gasped in horror, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at her mother. "I died. Didn't I?"

"Does that bother you?" Fiona asked, taking her daughter's hands in hers.

"But…but…Emma…"

"Yes. You did leave her behind." Fiona took Hadley's face in her hand. "The worst part in being here…is remembering those you left behind. Those you'll never see again. I thought of you and Emma every single days here. Even though it's paradise and I'm pain free. I remember you."

Hadley stepped back, her hands going to her stomach where she was aching. "But you got to say goodbye to us. I didn't…."

"It happens like that sometime. Come." Fiona took her hand, leading her over to a stone wall that over looked a crystal, blue lake.

"This doesn't feel right." Hadley mumbled as she sat next to her mother.

"Wonder why?" Fiona questioned with a smile.

"I…just feel like I shouldn't be dead." Hadley looked at her mother.

"Does anyone ever feel like they should be?" Fiona asked with a laugh.

Hadley jerked to her feet, a hand to her heart. "It feels like…I'm being torn in two."

"Someone on the other side is trying to pull you back." Fiona told her, watching Hadley double over. "I can send you back. If you want?"

Hadley jerked up to look at her mother. It was beyond wonderful to see her mother, especially to see her well and happy. "You can?"

"Yes, with Blythe on the other end pulling you through I can." Fiona ran a hand down Hadley's hair.

"She's pulling me back?" Hadley groaned as the pain in her arms and legs hit her.

"Do you want to go back?" Fiona asked softly running a hand down her cheek.

"Emma needs me." Hadley whispered, tears filling her eyes.

"She does. She's not the only one." Fiona gave her a sweet smile. "You have a chance at a great love, sweet daughter. Don't be scared of it."

With pain in her eyes she looked at her mother. "It will never work."

"It will. If you let it. Trust me." Fiona placed a kiss on Hadley's forehead and hugged her. "Oh my girl, how proud of you I am. You make my heart so happy."

Hadley buried her face in her mother's neck, taking in the feel and smell of her. "Momma."

Xxxxxx

"It's not working." Emma cried softly, sinking to the ground in front of the alter. Burying her face in her hands she sobbed.

Arthur stood there paralyzed as his eyes hadn't left Hadley's face. The woman was still chanting, but even he could hear the desperation in her voice the longer she went on.

"Damn it, Fiona. Let the girl go!" Blythe yelled up into the sky. "We need her here more than you do!"

Merlin leaned back against the cold, stone wall tears falling down his cheek. Emma was still sobbing quietly into her hands as Arthur slowly moved towards the alter. Merlin squeezed his eyes shut when he saw Arthur's face.

Blythe started to lower her arms, her body exhausted. She watched as Arthur ran a shaking finger down Hadley's cheek. She was for sure Fiona would send her back. Arthur bent, putting a soft kiss on Hadley's forehead, and Blythe close her eyes in defeat.

Xxxx

The first thing she felt was pain. The pain was horrible as she rushed back into her body. With a loud gasp she jerked up, crying out.

"Hadley…." Arthur rasped as she jerked again. She cried out again. "Be still. You're hurt."

"Oh, Hadley." Emma cried, going to the alter. When her sisters eyes fluttered open she cried out in joy. "You're alive! Oh my god!"

Merlin was there too, looking in wonder as Hadley struggled to stay awake.

"It's about time. I'm going to have to talk to my dear sister about this one." Blythe sighed, her own tears filling her blue eyes. "Now…she needs medicine. Arthur."

"This is going to hurt, love." Arthur whispered to Hadley as he carefully picked her. She whimpered as he got her in his arms. "Merlin."

Merlin was there with the cape, gently tucking it around her, but every time she winced he did too. "There."

The group left the alter, heading back into the woods. It felt like forever getting there, but it really seemed they would never reached Camelot. Arthur tried to be as careful as he could but every whimper she made cut him through. "Not much farther."

"I…I'm…s…sorry." Hadley stuttered out.

"Shh…rest." Arthur ordered softly. She had floated in and out of consciousness. Arthur would prefer her to just be out since he could only imagine how much she hurt. "I see the castle. We're almost there."

"This is where I'll leave you." Blythe told them, pulling her hood up.

"But-"Arthur started.

"It's better if I do." Blythe went to Hadley, placing a kiss on her head. "Take care of her."

"I will." Arthur promised, eyeing the woman. There was something very familiar about her. "Who are you?"

Blythe smiled at him, stepping away. "Tell her I'll see her soon." She turned to Emma giving her a smile.

"Wait!" Emma called out, but Blythe disappeared. "I…know her…I just can't…."

Arthur practically ran the rest of the way into Camelot. "Get Gaius. I'm putting her in her old room." He told Merlin as he made it inside the castle. On the way he came across his father.

"Where have you been?" Uther demanded, only to stop to see what he was carrying. "What happened?"

"No time." Arthur rushed by him, Emma hot on his heels. They made it to the room, Emma jumping ahead to pull the covers back.

"I'll get water and rags." Emma ran out of the room. She had been with Gaius enough to know what he would need.

Arthur carefully laid Hadley on the bed, making her whimper. 'Shh…it's okay. Gaius is on the way."

Uther stood behind him and gasped when Arthur moved the cape off the girl. "What happened?"

"She saved my life." Arthur simply said as he tried not to panic as he looked at her. Surely now that she had been brought back she would be fine. They just had to take care of her burns.

Merlin and Gaius came running in. Gaius put a bag on the bed next to Hadley. "Merlin filled me in." Emma came back in with water and rags. "Emma. Stay. Everyone else out."

Arthur felt the tug on his shoulder as he was reluctantly pulled back. "I…"

"Don't worry, sire." Gaius told him. "I'll take care of her."

Arthur nodded and let his father pull him the rest of the way out. Once in the hall, he looked down at himself and then at Merlin. They were covered in black soot and sweat and Arthur noticed specks of what he realized was Hadley's blood.

"Go clean yourself up." Uther told him, seeing the exhaustion in his son's eyes. "Rest." He nodded at Merlin who nodded back.

"Come on, sire." Merlin took Arthur by the collar and drug him away.

Xxxx

Arthur felt marginally better after a quick bath and clean clothes. He was bone tired, but wasn't going to be resting anytime soon. He picked up a piece of ham and a roll on his way out the door. He was taking a big bite when Merlin appeared around the corner, clean himself.

"Gaius is done." Merlin told him. "He said we can come in."

Arthur shoved the rest of the food in his mouth as he walked with Merlin to Hadley's room. Walking in, his eyes went straight to the bed. She had been changed into a clean nightdress and covered up. Emma was hovering nearby.

"I've covered her burns in a salve, which should help with infection and pain. I've also given her something to let her rest while she heals. She's still in a great deal of pain." Gaius informed him as he put things back into his bag. 'She just needs lots of rest so her body can heal."

"Will she be scarred?" Merlin asked.

Gaius held his gaze for a moment before saying. "Normally, I would say yes, but Hadley…has always been different."

Merlin nodded, hearing what Gaius couldn't say in front of the prince. Hadley would be able to heal herself when she was better.

"It doesn't matter. As long as she's alive." Arthur muttered, going to the side of the bed. He carefully picked up her hand, holding it. He smiled a little when she turned her head his way.

"Absolutely." Emma beamed, bending to kiss Hadley's head. "Since you're here to sit with her, I'd really like to clean up. Sleep for like…a week."

Arthur smiled at Emma. "Go ahead."

"You need to rest to, sire." Gaius told him softly.

"I will. Later." Arthur's eyes went back to Hadley. He heard everyone leave the room, the door closing softly behind them. Careful not to jostle her, he laid down next to her and fell asleep still holding tight to her hand.