As the shimmering air in front of her slowly coalesced into a humanoid shape, Eve pulled her sword soundlessly from its scabbard. Her body went into a fighting stance, and she waited to see what she'd be facing.

When the apparition solidified and became recognizable, Eve almost dropped her sword in shock. The person she faced was herself.

What was the test here, she wondered. Was it to see if she was strong enough to kill herself? Her hand tightened on the grip, and she scowled to show her double she was not afraid.

Though it was cleaner and wore robes of a startling white, it was a perfect copy in every other way except one. When Eve looked into its eyes, she didn't see anything. They were as blank as a doll's.

"That's a good trick," Eve said, trying to get some expression to come to its face.

It ignored her words and made a lunge, its own sword seeming to come from thin air. Startled, Eve quickly parried. The move was messy, but she managed to deflect the other sword.

There was no hesitation before it slashed at her again. Eve met the blow a little better than the first one, and the sound of metal on metal rang through the cavern. She pulled back and made a tentative slash of her own.

The double met it easily and countered with a blow that almost took off her right arm. Eve blocked it but missed the follow up, which luckily just grazed her side. It stung a little, and she felt blood began to trickle. She didn't dare to look down, but there wasn't enough pain for it to be a serious wound.

"As if my shirt wasn't ragged enough," she growled, meeting the double's next thrust clumsily and kicking at its knee. The knee gave way, and it stumbled. Feeling more in familiar territory, Eve used that bit of weakness to bring her sword down hard enough to knock the double's from its hand. The sword clanked as it hit the ground.

Relieved, Eve sheathed her sword and stepped in to punch the double in the face. Hitting it was not like hitting flesh, and the alien feeling made her skin crawl. It staggered with the blow, and Eve followed with another punch.

When that knocked it to the ground, Eve stood over it, waiting for it to make another move. All it did for a few seconds was look up at her expressionlessly. Eve was surprised when it reached a hand towards her, not in threat but as a request for help.

She almost refused, but something told her this was part of the test. Warily, she reached down and clutched the double's hand. When it did nothing ominous, Eve helped it to its feet, repressing a shudder at the feel of its skin.

Wordlessly, it went to the boat and motioned Eve to follow. Confused by the double's complete reversal, she hesitated. When she did, the thing finally spoke. Its voice was soft and melodious, nothing like her own.

"Do not be afraid, Eve Baird," it said. "It is only when you stop fighting yourself that you can achieve your heart's desires."

Still suspicious, she went up to the double and stared into its blank blue eyes. Somehow, she knew the words had not been its own.

There was nothing to do after coming this far but get in the boat. It rocked a little at her weight, but the double steadied it so it wouldn't tip.

"This is weird, even for this job," she told it, but, of course, it didn't answer.

Once she was seated with the oars in her hands, the double gave the boat a small push to get it in the water. It then shimmered and disappeared, much as it had appeared.

Not wanting to think too much about the fact that she'd been fighting herself and almost lost, Eve picked up the oars and began to row. As she crossed the lake, heading for the island, she wondered what Jacob was doing and what he'd thought about her disappearing.

Eve rowed hard, making good time as she crossed the glowing lake. She stopped when she heard the boat scrape the bottom. Carefully, she stood and turned to see the island clearly for the first time. It was covered with grass and colorful flowers and dominated by the statue of the lithe woman in loose fitting robes. The carving was exquisite, and she looked real enough to blink her eyes at any second.

Eve carefully got out of the boat, splashing a little as she put her feet into the surprisingly warm water. Bringing the boat with her, she waded the short distance to the shore.

As she pulled the boat up onto the grass, there was a twinge in her side. Remembering her cut, she looked down to assess the damage. Her poor shirt had been split up the side to her armpit, exposing the whole of her ribs. She touched them gingerly. They slowly oozed blood and burned, but the wound didn't look too bad. It just needed to be washed and bandaged. There was at least one of those she could take care of right away.

Not having a clean cloth, she stepped back into the water and washed her hands. When they were clean, she knelt to wash the cut thoroughly. While she washed, it began to tingle. The feeling was so unexpected that Eve stopped, and she watched in surprise as her skin began to knit back together. In only seconds, it was as if she'd never had a cut at all.

"My lake has healing properties."

The voice made Eve spin sharply, splashing water. Behind her, standing next to the statue, stood a woman who could have been its twin. Her hair was pale and her eyes matched the waters of her lake.

Eve reached for her sword, but the woman said, "Weapons are not needed here. I am Niviane."

Eve warily made her way back to the grass. She kept her eyes on the woman, alert for any signs of animosity. Niviane's face remained serene.

"It was your voice that came from the double of me," Eve guessed.

"Yes. You passed the last test. You survived the earth and the air; you survived the water and the fire. All to reach me and breach the prison I have built."

"Then you know why I'm here."

"There's only one reason to enter my domain. You wish to free Merlin."

"Yes."

Niviane shook her head. "You cannot have him."

"The world needs him." She strode up to Niviane, who was much shorter. Eve looked down at her, hoping the witch could see the desperation in her eyes. "He's the only one who can save it."

"You would not say this if you knew what he was."

"Niviane, listen to me. People can't help who their parents are. Believe me, I know, but that doesn't mean they can't be more than that. Once Merlin trapped most of the wild magic in the world to make it manageable and to keep it from hurting innocent people, but now it's loose, and people are dying."

Niviane thought this over before shaking her head again. "That may be true, but the world must be saved without him."

"Why?"

"Because a beast who is half-human and half-demon is an anathema. His very soul is black."

Eve frowned. "I thought they fixed that with Holy Water."

"Not enough. Not nearly enough." The Lady of the Lake turned away.

"Wait," Eve said. "If you think he's evil, why are you still here?"

This caught the witch's attention. She turned back to ask, "What do you mean?"

"Over a thousand years, and you've been here the whole time. With him. There must be a reason."

"I am guarding him."

"I don't think so. You could have locked him somewhere without a key. You could have left an impenetrable trap and been far away from here. Something made you keep him alive in a prison that could be unlocked. Part of you must have wanted him to eventually be free."

Nivian's pale skin colored. "You are mistaken."

"No. I'm not." When the witch just stared at her, she continued, "There's no better time than this. We need him. Without him, the world will die. Everything will die."

"Including the man you love."

"What?" Eve took a step back.

"You have passed all my tests, but you did not come here alone. You are a Guardian for the Library, and you've come with a Librarian, but he is not your Librarian."

"Jacob."

"I can see that you love him."

"I've only known him a week," she protested. Of course, that didn't count the two months between their two meetings.

"Time does not matter to the heart."

Eve wasn't sure if what she felt for Jacob was love. She hadn't even let herself really acknowledge it until she discovered he cared for her, too. Whatever she felt, it was still a very private thing. Uncomfortable, she pressed on. "And your heart? What does it say?."

"My heart tells me you are a good person, Eve Baird. It tells me that you have died once in this world and once in another, and yet you are still alive. You wish to protect the world from the evil that threatens. Not just this world but the other as well. My heart tells me that you truly believe that Merlin's release is what is best."

"I also think that you want to let him go. Not just to keep the world together but because you want to see him again. There must be a reason you've stayed near him all this time, and it's not because you hate him."

Niviane searched Eve's face, and Eve wondered what she saw. She remained quiet, waiting for Niviane to speak. Eve's request hung heavy in the air.

Finally, Niviane gave a short nod and stepped to the statue. She reached up and took a necklace from its neck and held it out to Eve.

"Thank you," Eve said, taking it with gentle fingers.

"You must hurry, Eve Baird. My son knows you are here, and his aim is to kill the Librarian."

"Your son?"

"The world now knows him as Dulaque, and he will stop at nothing to keep magic in the world. You must go and go quickly."

Eve clutched the key. "How do I get back?"

"I will help you. I will not fight my son, but I will get you where you need to be to save your love."

"I appreciate this."

"You're running out of time. You can thank me later, once the Librarian is safe."

She turned back to the statue and ran her hand from its forehead down the front of its body. White light started emanating from it, following her fingers.

"What is that?"

"It's a portal. Hurry."

Deciding to continue trusting Niviane, Eve went to the statue. The doorway it made would be a tight fit, since it was only slightly larger than Niviane, but Eve was sure she could force herself through it, especially if it meant rescuing Jake and saving the world.

The transition from the cavern to the garden was instantaneous. She was in one place and then she was in another without the usual moment of disorientation she was used to.

Quickly, she took in the scene in front of her. The entire garden was silent as if even the birds and the bees were interested in what was happening. Dulaque was standing over Jacob with a sword to his throat. Lamia, looking pale and nauseated, stood nearby. Eve zeroed in on the sword and noted the trickle of blood on Jacob's neck.

Fear, anger, regret, and horror mingled inside of her as she realized that she'd almost been too late. With a clarity she'd lacked since her arrival in this world, she saw what she'd be losing if she failed.

"Dulaque!" she yelled, and the ancient leader of the Brotherhood looked up. In his moment of inattention, Jacob batted the blade and rolled away. Eve rushed forward, dropping the key and drawing her own sword, not waiting to see what Dulaque would do. She had no hope of beating him in fair combat, but she wasn't against a little dirty fighting—not if it kept everyone alive.

Dulaque came forward more quickly than a man showing as much age as he was should be able to. His sword was ready and hit hers with a loud clang. He was stronger than she expected, and she staggered back a step. He followed with another move, and she was barely able to get her blade up in time to stop it. Absently, she noticed Jacob getting to his feet, a strange mixture of emotions on his face.

As if he could feel Jacob's movement, Dulaque paused. Seeing her opportunity, Eve slashed at him. He caught her blade deftly on his and deflected it. In the same movement, he turned his body slightly and stuck his free hand into the opposite side of his suit jacket. His hand was a blur as he flung something behind him. Jacob staggered, clutching his leg. The long handle of a dagger stuck out through his fingers.. Eve's stomach jumped as he fell. Goosebumps broke out along her skin, and she almost didn't parry Dulaque's next blow in time.

"You're a hard woman to kill," Dulaque snarled, "but this time you'll stay dead."

Eve didn't take time to answer him. She was too busy trying to stay alive.

Dulaque made three quick strokes, which Eve somehow managed to meet, but she didn't think she could continue deflecting them for much longer.

"Not bad, Guardian," Dulaque said. "You're lasting longer than I expected."

His blows slowed down, and he smiled at her ghoulishly. Eve hated being toyed with. She scowled at him and wondered if trying to punch him in the face would get her killed.

A loud cracking noise distracted her, and she narrowly missed losing her hand as she danced out of the way of Dulaque's sword at the last second. The ground shook.

"What the hell was that?" Dulaque asked, finally stopping his attack.

"Earthquake?" she suggested.

Now that there was a pause in the fighting, she saw that Jacob had used the tree to pull himself up. He stood there, pale-faced and staring at the trunk in shock. There was a huge crack in the bark, starting from the roots and stretching up until it was lost in the branches.

"What? What is it?" Dulaque must have read something in her face. He spun around. "You stupid, stupid girl! What have you done?"

Lamia was standing near the tree with the necklace Niviane had given Eve in her hand. She looked as pale as Jacob.

"It looks like you're too late, Dulaque," Eve told him.

"No! Not if you're all dead." He surprised her with a lunge.

She heard Jacob desperately call her name as she spun away, bringing up her own sword. Dulaque was already making another lunge. It seemed he was done playing.

Eve had difficulty meeting the increasingly quick blows, and she knew it wouldn't be long until she missed.

"Somno." A voice rang through the garden, so loud it echoed inside her head.

Eve dropped her sword and clutched her forehead. She closed her eyes, wincing at the pain. When she opened them, Dulaque was crumpled on the ground.

"What the hell?"

She looked from him to Lamia and Jacob, who had been joined by a second man. He seemed young, maybe twenty-five, and he had shaggy, sandy hair and the stubble of a slightly darker beard. He was about her height and rail thin. Though he wasn't what Eve would call handsome, he had an interesting face. A kind one.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" He spoke with an English accent, cultured and more modern than Eve would have expected.

"Merlin?" Lamia asked, her voice hushed and respectful.

"Yes. What year is this?"

"2015."

Jacob swayed on his feet, clutching the tree, and Eve forgot all about the wizard. She hurried forward, supporting Jacob before he could fall.

"Eve," he whispered, touching her face with bloody fingers.

Through the pain, there was something else in his expression, something almost heartbreaking.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I thought you were dead. Dulaque said he'd killed you."

"First rule of the Library, the Brotherhood lies."

"Why have you released me?" Merlin asked, interrupting them.

Eve lowered Jacob gently to the ground. "I know why we released you. The question is, 'Why did Lamia release you?'"

"I did it to save you," Lamia said, looking more honest and sincere than the woman in Eve's world ever had. "This time, I wanted to do what was right."

"This time?"

Jacob was leaned back against the tree, his hands on his leg. "She let Dulaque in the Library when he killed Eve."

He didn't sound angry, just sad.

"I didn't know he would kill her, Librarian. I don't want anyone to die; I just want to be able to use magic." She pointed at Merlin. "He uses it and is not evil. It doesn't have to be Librarian or Brotherhood."

"Dulaque has released wild magic," Jacob told Merlin through clenched teeth. "It's destroying the world. We need you to trap it again, like you did with Excalibur and the stone."

He nodded slowly. "I have dreamed of this."

"You have?" Eve asked.

"Yes. Many things came to me during my long slumber. I saw vehicles that ran on their own power and ones that fly through the air. There are things that should be magic but are not. Everything is different but, for all that, not much has changed. I will help you trap the magic...and I will help you find the Library."

"Speaking of help, can you help him?"

Eve knelt by Jacob, worried about the damage the knife was doing every time he moved. She wanted to pull it out but there was a risk of even more damage—and fatal blood loss—if she tried.

Merlin came and knelt beside them, studying the wound. "I'm sorry. I'm not a healer."

"Do not worry, Eve Baird. Your Jacob Stone will not die."

Eve turned to see the Lady of the Lake standing in the same place Eve herself had appeared. She looked different in the garden's light, more real and substantial. Her skin was so pale, it almost matched her robes, and the only color on her body was her very blue eyes.

"Niviane!" Merlin straightened. Several emotions went over his face before it settled on wonder. It appeared he still loved her, even after all she'd done.

"I have come for my son. I will make sure he will not wake until you are far from this place.

"Jacob's been stabbed," Eve told her. "Can you help him?"

A soft smile played over the witch's lips. Instead of answering, she went to Eve and held out her hand. Puzzled, Eve took it to find it held a small vial. She accepted the vial and studied it, noting it glowed slightly blue.

"Is this from your lake?"

"Yes. It will heal him. If you are separated, it will not be by death."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. It is the least I can do for a woman whose strongest wish is to save the world."

"I've missed you, Niviane," Merlin said quietly.

Niviane looked at him, the smile dropping from her face. "You must go into the world, Merlin. You are needed, so I have released you."

"Why did you do it?" he asked, approaching her. "I love you. All I wanted was for you to love me back."

"That will never be," she told him firmly before her face softened, "but maybe, someday, you will find love with another."

When his face fell, she turned from him and knelt by Dulaque.

"What will you do with him?" Lamia asked.

"I will bring him to my island until he wakes."

"He'll be looking for you," Jacob told Lamia. Eve put her hand on his shoulder to keep him from moving too much.

"I know."

Niviane picked up Dulaque as easily as she would have a child. Once he was in her arms, she turned back to say, "Merlin, you would be wise to take on this one as your next apprentice. She loves the magic, and she will not betray you."

"As you did?"

"Yes," she said simply.

Lamia glanced at Merlin. "You would teach me?"

"If you wish."

"It's all I've ever wanted."

Eve watched this exchange and, when it was over, she noticed that Niviane was gone.

Jacob groaned, and Eve forgot all about the Lady of the Lake. Quickly, she pulled the knife from his leg. Blood welled from the wound, soaking his thigh. Using her teeth, she unstoppered the bottle Niviane had given her and poured it evenly through the gash in his pants. Her hand shook, though she tried to keep it steady.

At first, nothing happened, and Eve thought Niviane had played a cruel joke on her. Then Jacob whispered, "It tingles."

His skin began to knit together under the blood. Eve watched it with fascination until it disappeared, leaving a faint scar and the rip in his pants.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I think so." She helped him to his feet, and he stood on his leg tentatively. When it didn't collapse, he lifted his left leg and hopped a couple of times. "Good as new."

"We should be going," Lamia urged. "I don't want to be here if Dulaque awakens."

"That begs the question of how." Eve tore her eyes from Jacob.

"I know a way. How do you think we got here so quickly?"

Eve didn't like that they'd have to rely on Lamia. She didn't completely trust her, no matter what Niviane said. Still, Lamia had released Merlin to save them.

"All right," she replied, slipping her arm around Jacob, though he didn't need it. "Lead us out of here."