Rated M for graphic and lemon scenes. Arthur x OC and Merlin x OC.

We don't own BBC's Merlin, only our OCs and the ways the plot of the series is affected by their presence.

***There is lemon in this chapter***

In a land of myth, and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy; his name: Merlin...

-x-

Time swept by like a lone leaf in the wind, twisting and twirling in the gentle gales. A soft breeze swept through the streets in the early hours of the day where the sun just peered over the far horizon, casting the navy sky with pinks and yellows like the petals of the flowers in the royal garden. The nightingales retired for the day, their nightly serenade going with them, and the larks woke from their nests and sang merrily to the yellow rays of the morning sun.

Her fingers danced down his glossy back and down the toned muscles that made her insides twist in delight. His lips caressed her silky skin and kissed her flesh that trembled with excitement and a wild sensation that let a soft moan escape from her lips with each of his strong motions. Her thighs rubbed up against him like two sheets of damask, teasing him. The blankets were resting at their ankles, ruffled from the night's work.

Hollow sounds boomed through the chamber as a plated hand rasped against the door. "Prince Arthur," a husky voice said, "your hunting party awaits you at the front gates."

"I'll be there in a moment..." Arthur's voice was muffled as Azura stole his lips with her own, tracing his bottom lip with her tongue before he swept it away as he pushed forward.

"They grow impatient..." the voice mumbled disappointed and vanished with an echo of heavy footsteps.

Azura sighed depressingly and sat up quickly, forcing Arthur to do the same, and threw her head back as a soft moan escaped her luscious lips. They remained one as Arthur coiled his captivating arms around her, pulling her to his bare chest where she rested her head. His body was hot and trembling, craving more of her as she shifted slightly in his grasp.

Their gaze met and a familiar tickle blossomed in her stomach as Azura saw the eagerness in his eyes to take her again; her eyes no doubt reflected the same wild emotions and she saw how quick his fire was doused when she averted her eyes. "Go on, you," Azura said playfully and kissed him tenderly as she pulled free from his strong embrace and broke their connection. A sudden chill sent shivers up and down her spine when she was out of his grasp and Azura reached from the wrinkled blankets, wrapping them around her to quickly replenish the warmth.

Sighing deeply, Arthur crawled off the bed, shivering as his bare feet touched the cold floor along with the bitter draft. He pulled on his trousers, adjusting them to fit well around his waist, and draped a brown tunic over his broad shoulders, patting out the wrinkles, and pulled a leather vest on. Taking his belt and boots from the table, he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Arthur smiled as Azura rested her chin against his shoulder, watching sleepily with her breaths were warm on the back of his neck.

Arthur pulled on his boots and secured his belt around his waist, enduring the temptation that breathed against his neck. His hands were delicate as they caught Azura's face and he crushed his lips onto hers. "You could come with us, you know," Arthur said, taking his lips reluctantly away and caressed her cheeks with his fingers. He smiled.

"No thank you." Azura shook her head and combed her fingers through his blonde hair that she played with all through the night; it fascinated her and she smiled delightfully. "Killing things is no sport and none that interests me," she stated firmly.

"You'd be more help than Merlin," Arthur grumbled under his breath. He reached up and caught Azura's hands, holding them in his.

When she laughed in her own, cute way, Arthur caught his breath, holding it until he was force to exhale. "Well, you'll just have to make do," she smiled, pecking him on the lips. Arthur did not want to part with her; but he had to endure the loneliness for only a few hours and during those hours, she would be in his thoughts. "I'm crawling under the covers and sleeping 'til the morrow." She yawned and brushed the back of her hand against his cheek before she kissed him there softly, lingering for a moment. "Now, best not keep them waiting much longer."

As she lay back against the flatten pillow, Arthur felt the loneliness settle in underneath his skin and even as he gazed at her, she entered his thoughts. He laughed and rose to his feet. Watching her bend her legs back and snuggle close to the pillow, Arthur smiled even as he felt a pain in his chest as her bright, blue eyes were concealed from him.

-x-

The trees stood silent with a thick, grey mist snaking between the wide trunks, hiding the still surroundings. Hunters stalked through the fog, staying low to the ground as their sight was impaired. Arthur crouched low in the front like the alpha of his own pack of wolves. Beside him holding his spear and game trembled Merlin with his teeth chattering.

A rumbling growl boomed through the fog, shaking the leaves from the crooked tree limbs. Arthur held up a hand and his pack stopped dead in their tread. "Spear," the prince whispered with his gaze fixed before him, searching for the dark silhouette of the beast.

The warlock trembled in his boots as he stared ahead of him. Merlin dropped the spear by Arthur's side as he slowly processed the prince's order.

Slowly, the fog faded around them and the green brush came into sight, glistening with tiny droplets of water the mist had left on its leaves. Arthur scowled and hastily picked up his spear. "Whatever it is, it's probably more afraid of you than you are it," he growled, glaring at Merlin; the servant shook more at the prince's dark glare for it seeped beneath his skin.

Behind the prince and his servant, the knights froze and their loaded crossbows descended to their sides. Their eyes were wide and their mouths were gaping holes on their faces.

Hhhhiiiissss.

The chilling sneer forced Arthur to grip his spear tighter. He turned around and had to double-take the sight to check his eyes for lying. The beast was tall on all fours with a muscular body cloaked in yellow fur and brown spots; his heart thumped heavily in his chest. The beast's neck narrowed and grew wider to shape its flat face. The spotted fur morphed into olive-green scales that glistened with the remnants of the mist. Large green serpentine eyes stared down at him and his hunting party with hunger parting its black drawn lips. As the beast drew back its black lips, it bared its long fangs that were as large as the prince's chest.

Arthur felt his heart lurk and skipped a beat. He dropped his spear and turned from the towering monster whose split tongue rasped over its lips.

They broke through the trees running as fast as they could, their breaths fast and sharp and their hearts racing alongside them. The beast chased them with its paws spreading its furred toes to dig its dark, curved claws into the soil. The air was filled with the horrors of the beast's haunting snarls.

Merlin tripped over his boots and stared into the monster's dark eyes as he lay on his back unable to find his footing. Its majestic, sadistic pupils pierced through his petrified heart. The beast rose onto its haunches, lashing the air with its front legs and letting free a bloodcurdling hiss. It reached for him with deathly claws.

Arthur reached down and grasped Merlin by the arm, heaving him to his clumsy feet and pushing him forward. He could hear the screech the monster's claws made against the wind, but he did not linger a second more.

A knight charged forward, his sword lashing through the air in a single, silver flash. He waited until Arthur was a safe distance away before he turned, only to be grasped in the monster's claws.

Arthur stopped and spun around, counting his panting men around him as he exhaled rapidly in exhaustion. "Who are we missing?" he asked frantically; for the first time he was glad that he had not convinced Azura to come. Panic surged through him as his bold eyes swept across the face of his men; the knight who had jumped in front of the beast was no among the tired circle. "Where's Sir Bedievere?"

Slowly, the mist expanded around the trees, veiling the thick, brown trunks from their sights. A pain-filled shriek echoed through the fog, loud enough to have shattered glass. Then, as the shriek faded into oblivion, the monster let loose a noise that sent the birds in the trees flying to the sky. Sir Bedievere was dead.

-x-

The corridors of the palace were barren as the princess roamed aimlessly with the skirt of dress skimming across the floor. Kadian was garbed in an ice-blue damask gown sashed with royal blue. The shirred, trailing sleeves were adorned with black lace. Overall, she looked stunning and bold like she was prepared for a celebration. There was an itch to hear someone else's voice, someone to stop the rambling on her thoughts. However anxious she was for Merlin to return, Kadian was relaxed from sleeping soundly that night, free of the terrible nightmares that had mired her dreams for weeks.

Morgana, the king's ward, had suffered from her own nightmare that night; otherwise Kadian would have sought her for company. The terror left Morgana speechless and trembling in her maidservant's arms.

Her name was called from down the hall and hope swam through her veins when she thought it was Merlin. But as she turned, her gleeful expression turned into that of disappointment. It had been only a servant she had seen numerous times roaming throughout the palace. He ran up to her, gasping for breath. "My lady," he greeted, dipping his head and averting her disappointed gaze, "the king requests you and the Lady Azura in the council chamber immediately."

"What's happened?" Kadian asked; she knew that the merry mood of the city was too good to be true.

"I know little, my lady. Arthur returned from his hunting trip." He fumbled over his words and continued to avert her eyes as he dipped his head again. He raced down the corridor.

Sighing deeply, Kadian spun and journeyed to collect Azura from the mess of Arthur's chamber; she had not heard Azura return to her chamber last night. When she arrived and pulled open the door, Kadian stopped and gazed around in shock. The chamber was spotless without a single object out of place; the bed was made; and a small fire crackled in the fireplace. Azura sat on the windowsill with her legs to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She gazed at the blue sky and the two puffy, white clouds that slowly crawled their way across with the wind. She wore an ivory gown, edged with gold and bedecked with shimmering gemstones. The dress contemplated her figure, each seductive curve.

"I half-expected you to be sound asleep," Kadian laughed and turned to shut the door. She swept her sight across the chamber again. "Did you do all this?"

Azura nodded her head and smiled brightly. However cheerful her smile was, Kadian could see that lost gleam in Azura's bright eyes that stared out the window. "I couldn't sleep after a while. Then, I got bored..." She paused and an amused grin curved her crimson lips further. "And I had trouble finding some things."

"So, you decided to clean the entire chamber?" Kadian laughed and raised a curious eyebrow. Azura turned her eyes onto Kadian, meeting her gaze that shifted to concern. "Something has come up. We were sent for."

"Ooh," Azura said gaily and jumped to her feet. "Finally, something trying to destroy Camelot! Never thought I'd miss the thrill so much!"

-x-

The council chamber was full of arguing, disputing men that barely glanced up when Azura and Kadian entered with curious expressions. Uther stood before Arthur, his red cloak ruffled from pacing around in an angry rage. The court physician, Gaius, stepped forward with his hands folded before him. "The creature you describe has all the characteristics of the Questing Beast," he stated knowingly as he looked at Arthur.

Azura's head tilted at the beast's name; she had heard it before in one of her readings.

"Surely, that's a myth," Arthur replied sceptically.

"According the old books," Azura stated softly, silencing the bickering in the chamber, and stared at Gaius. After reading what the physician's eyes said, Azura met Arthur's gaze and found herself blushing with a weak smile as she continued, "The appearance of the Questing Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval. I've read several of the books myself. They are fascinating."

"That's an old wives' tale," Uther said in a grim voice as he stopped beside his son. The king was concerned with the safety of his people, let alone his own hide; he swept his cold gaze across Azura's face and then looked to the physician who bowed his head respectively in retreat.

Arthur met Azura's gaze and knew by the glimmer in her eyes that she spoke the truth. "Look, whatever it is," he said. His eyes lingered on Azura's face, he wanted to catch it in his hands and kiss her lips, but he forced his attention to his father. "It's spreading panic. People fear that it'll enter the city."

"Then we must kill it," Uther said as he gazed down on his hand that rested upon the dark-wood table. Slowly, he lifted his sight from his hand and set it upon his son; if anyone could defeat this beast, the Questing Beast, it would be Arthur and his knights for they were the strongest warriors in Albion. "Arthur, gather the guard together. You ride at dawn."

No one within the chamber said a word against the king's order. Many left to return to their duties or prepare to ride out at dawn as part of the guard. Arthur took Azura's hand and led her from the chamber where he asked about her readings on the beast; he wanted to have a tactical advantage against it.

Kadian passed slowly by the two guards that were stationed at the door. Her steps grew slower and she listened as Gaius begged Uther to see reason. The physician said the beast was an omen and the last time the Questing Beast was seen near Camelot was the night Uther' wife, Ygraine, had passed away. Kadian vanished out of sight when Uther snapped and demanded Gaius to never speak of the night again; her father's outburst made her snicker beneath the cover of her breath. His ignorance was amusing.

-x-

Merlin stood in the centre of the physician's chamber and held Arthur's sword in his hand as he checked the shine of the silver; he did not have long to prepare Arthur's equipment. The sight of the monster still haunted his sight and thoughts and at every sudden creak, he jumped, fearing for his life.

The door shut soundlessly behind Kadian. Her gaze met Merlin's and a faint smile curved her pink lips, a smile that turned Merlin's cheeks red. "The Questing Beast, ever heard the name?" she wondered and took the sword from him; he looked ridiculous holding it. Holding the blade at eye level, Kadian saw the shine was unbalanced and sighed. She took the cloth from Merlin and rubbed it against the steal.

"Once, I never believe it to be real..." Merlin paused and dropped her gaze; shivers went up and down his spine as his hand rubbed against his neck, feeling the slight, repetitive motions of his artery. "Seeing is believing," Merlin shrugged.

Kadian placed her brother's sword onto the table before her. She rested a hand on Merlin's shoulder, turning him to her, but he would not meet her eyes. Their hearts leapt and they flinched as Gaius threw open the door and walked it.

"Oh, good," the physician said and sent a smile toward Kadian. He walked to his shelf of books that were stacked one on top of the other, bending the wood to where Kadian thought it would snap. Without disturbing the idle books, Gaius pulled one free and set it on his bench, flipping open the stiff, aged-yellow pages.

Kadian let her hand fall as her heart beat with the growing suspense in the chamber. She walked toward Gaius, watching as each aged page rose and fell against the others. "This is no ordinary beast," Gaius stated knowingly and leaned back as his hand pressed against the proper page.

"Don't worry," Merlin sighed and lifted Arthur's sword; he was pleased to see that Kadian evened the shine.

"No, you don't understand, Merlin," Gaius scowled, pushing the book toward Kadian when she motioned for it. His voice was low when he spoke again, maybe even chilling, "Uther may not respect the old religion, but it is very real. To defeat a beast such as this, you must know where it came from."

"What do you mean?" Merlin wondered and placed the sword gently on the bench. He walked over to stand behind Kadian and read the tiny print over her shoulder, glancing at the drawing of the beast.

"In the centre of the old religion lies that power of life and death, Merlin..." Kadian said and paused as she relocated her place in the text. Her voice was soft and mono-toned as she read from the passage, "'The Questing Beast carries the power of death...'," She turned at met his dark, wondrous gaze. "'With one bite, its prey will die a prolonged and painful death. There is no cure; it is the bite of Death itself'."

Disbelieving, Merlin lifted the text into his arms and read the passage for himself, fumbling over several long words that he had never heard before. His heart was heavy and still beat rapidly as his panic rose again; when the guard rode out at dawn, there was no cure to save them if anyone was bitten by the monster. Merlin's arms began to tremble as he slowly turned his head to lock gazes with Kadian; her eyes were riddled with worry that matched his own. What if the Questing Beast bit Arthur?

-x-

It was a horrific scene to have dreamed. I made her quake and lunge forward, crying out in fright that woke half the palace. Before her eyes, she saw the venomous fangs of the Questing Beast and the lifeless face of the prince of Camelot as he lay limp on the ground in a pool of his own, crimson blood.

A vision of fire swept across her sight and her quivering lips expelled a loud scream. Her trembling hands clasped against the sides of her head as it shook wildly, trying to escape from the horror she had seen.

Her maidservant threw open the door and ran to her mistress. Guinevere embraced Morgana and held her close. "It's alright, Morgana," she cooed and stoked Morgana's dark curls. "It was just a nightmare."

-x-

Dawn painted the horizon, streaking rays of pink and yellow across the waking sky. Prince Arthur stood before his armed knights. His knights wore shining, silver mail and long, red cloaks that hung limp at their sides. The cavalry seemed small to be hunting such a large, terrifying beast, but they were deemed the best warriors in the land.

From high in the east tower, Kadian peered out of her window. Her hair tumbled onto her shoulders in golden waves and dark circles lingered beneath her blue eyes.

Merlin stood in the square behind Arthur with his hands rubbing together, drenched with nervous sweat. Throughout the night, he and Kadian practised spells he would use if the hunt went south.

Waiting patiently with Merlin was Azura; she wanted to wish Arthur luck before he ventured out. Her gaze was on the ground, memorizing the position of each tiny grain of sand and each pebble. She knew the Questing Beast was dangerous and lethal. She was scared for Arthur and it slowed the pace of her heart to know that he was going to face it with a sword in hand.

"You've seen the foe we face," Arthur stated, sweeping his bold, blue gaze across the stern faces of the Knights of Camelot. His encouraging voice lifted Azura's gaze from the ground. "It's a creature of nightmare. But you are the best knights in the realm. We can and we will kill it, before it harms another citizen of our kingdom." He drew his sword from his waist and lifted the point toward the brightening sky. "For the love of Camelot."

Each knight did the same and held their shimming, silver blades high in the crisp morning air. "For the love of Camelot!" They chanted with their voices proudly ringing throughout the stirring streets.

As their voices faded away, the guard sheathed their blades and waited to depart for the wood. Azura stepped to Arthur who took her hands in his and kissed them softly. When she spoke to him, words only meant for his ears, Arthur felt like he was invincible, nothing could tear him down. "Stay in its blind spot." Her voice was higher now; everyone could hear her soft tones. The sunlight hit her eyes in a way that seemed like they were glowing and Arthur was lost in them. "Hurry home."

Arthur nodded and let her hands fall from his grasp. He was drowning in her eyes, falling into them as they stared up at him. It hurt him to break their gaze, but he kissed the top of her head and caressed her cheeks with his hands. If this was to be his last moment with her, Arthur wanted to savour it and let his heart beat uncontrollably. Deep inside his chest, around his heart, there was a burden he wanted to say, scream out; but as his lips went to form the words that boiled inside him, a voice rang through the courtyard.

"Arthur!" A cry rang from the open doorway leading into the palace. Dressed in her white nightgown and horror-stricken eyes, Morgana appeared in the doorway and ran down the stone staircase.

"Mor-Morgana, what are you doing?" Arthur asked perturbed; he stepped back as Morgana gripped him by the shoulders.

"You cannot face it!" Morgana shouted ominously; her voice was trembling on her lips as she spoke.

Arthur grasped her arms lightly and pulled her off of him. He looked her straight in the eye and the expression his face held soften as her petrified eyes pierced him. "Morgana, go back to bed. There is nothing to be afraid of."

Morgana did not falter as Azura replaced Arthur's hands on her arms. Her voice was begging now and she tried to free her arms, but the attempt was thwarted. "Please, Arthur... I've seen terrible things. You cannot go."

"She probably had another nightmare, Arthur," Azura said softly and pulled Morgana to her, embracing her and combing her fingers through her hair. "I'll take her to see Gaius."

"No! I will not let you go!" Morgana shouted and threw her arms in many directions, hoping to pull herself free from Azura's grasp. Again, Azura's grasp was too strong to pull from and her arms were turning red.

"Please, Azura, get her inside," Arthur sighed and evaded Morgana's frightened eyes. Her pleas were like knives cutting through him, but he had to endure them because he was the prince; Arthur had to go after the Questing Beast.

Azura nodded and let her eyes linger over his face as she pulled Morgana up the stairs; he met her gaze and soundlessly spoke the burden he wanted to release. "Merlin will make sure he's safe," Azura whispered in Morgana's ear as two guards stepped back to allow them passage into the palace.

Morgana thrashed and screamed at the top of her lungs, but there was nothing she could do to escape Azura's grasp. Kadian rushed down the corridor, her nightgown billowing in the air as she ran, and she wrapped her arms around Morgana, holding to her chest. Sending a curious, concerned gaze to Azura, Kadian knew what Morgana had seen: Arthur's death at the claws of the Questing Beast.

"What do you suppose we do?" Kadian wondered softly; she saw the worry in Azura's eyes as she watched the knights turn in unison and march out of the city with Arthur in the lead.

"There is nothing we can do," Azura sighed shakily. She turned her aquamarine eyes onto Kadian; they were filled with a familiar sadness that hit Kadian square, causing her heart to sink to the bottom of her chest. "It will come as..." She gazed over at the guards who had disappeared down the corridor, "as she has seen it. You know that as much as I."

"Surely there's something..." Kadian protested, guiding Morgana in the direction of her chamber

"Merlin."

-x-

The grey haze grew around them, pulsating like exhaled breaths. The knights crept into the depths of the trees that hid the lair of the Questing Beast. Arthur stalked in the front of the guard, with Merlin trailing only a foot or so behind him, holding a crossbow across his arms and trembling in his boots. Sneers and growls of hidden creatures encircled the lot of them, taunting them and warning them of the danger to come.

Merlin could not get Morgana's voice out of his mind, her warning and her nightmare that presaged Arthur's death. He looked ahead of Arthur where a grey mouth opened into the darkness of the underground caves. Dark, depressing caverns, always welcoming, he thought as he and several of the guard lit torches.

Into the dark caves they ventured, the torchlight spewing orange and yellow across the moist, rock walls. From the belly of the caves, the hiss of the Questing Beast could be heard, shaking the pebbles from their places. It grew louder as they proceeded, surrounding them on all sides. Looking about, Arthur motioned for the guard to take the surrounding pathways into the pit of the caves while he and Merlin continued forward.

Merlin stayed close to Arthur, close enough where Arthur kicked him back a few steps to give him some elbow-room. The flames licked up the torch, snapping in the crisp, ominous haze that swerved through their illuminated path. Merlin could hear his heart racing in his chest, hoping to make an escape before the beast grasped it in its powerful jaws and crushed the pulse from it.

They stepped into an open, rock-filled cavern where the sky was cloaked with the emerald roves of the trees. The grey fog was disappearing and revealed a second cave across the way.

Arthur continued forward, sword in hand, and gazed around the cavern. Merlin stopped and glanced about him frantically. A horrible, stomach-churning feeling squeezed his insides tightly. Everything went silent, not even the cracking embers by his ears made a noise.

It happened so quickly, Merlin did not see where the beast had come from.

The Questing Beast leaped down from its perch and reached forward, catching Arthur from behind. Its long, serpentine teeth sunk through Arthur's armour and through his flesh, bone and muscles and lifted him into the air. Arthur's breath was lost and his trusty sword slipped from his fingers; the pain was brutal and his body shook as the beast tossed him away. His head collided with a thick, pile of rubble and he fell flat on his back. The last thing Arthur saw was the monster's split eyes staring ravenously at him.

The torch and crossbow slipped from Merlin's hand; he knew that they were useless against this creature like they were with the Griffin. "HEY!" he shouted, waving his arms in the air; the beast turned its attention onto the young warlock, its eyes piercing through him like a fleet of soaring arrows. Merlin cautiously stepped toward where Arthur lay with a pool of his blood expanding from his wounds.

The beast lashed a paw through the air and Merlin leapt back. His mind was jumbled, jumping from thought to thought, and the fright of his destiny shattering before him summoned an energy, a great power he had never felt before. Merlin's hand extended toward Arthur's idle sword and the young warlock, despite his master lying only a feet away, incanted, "Fleoge. Bregdan anweald gafeluec!"

The blade rose into the air and the point pierced through a barrier that engulfed the steel in beautiful, voracious blue and white tongues of fire. A shrill shriek left the voluminous mouth of the Questing Beast and it threw its skull back. The sword lanced its neck, spilling its dark crimson blood onto the earth. Then, the beast collapsed on its side, leaving its cold, lifeless eyes to stare at Merlin. Rivers of blood streamed down its flank, tainting its green scales and leopard-print fur red with death.

"Arthur!" Merlin shouted and raced over to the prince; his heart was beating heavily as he examined the mortal wounds. He shook the prince by the shoulders, hoping to wake him, but it was useless; Merlin's hands were caked in warm, scarlet blood. "Somebody help me!" His voice echoed through the shadows of the caves hinderingly, and the guard came running with their swords held above their heads.

-x-

The door to the court physician's chamber was thrown open and the king raced in with his eyes wide; his heart was panicking, thumping uncontrollably in his chest. "Where's my son?" He stopped; his gaze fell upon his motionless son who lay across Gaius' work bench. "Arthur!" Dried and fresh blood soaked through the prince's armour. The king leaned over his son and grasped him by the shoulders as if to cradle him. "Do something, Gaius!" Uther begged.

"I am trying, your majesty," Gaius said tranquilly and dipped his head, eluding the king's eyes as they fell on him.

There was blood and dirt smeared across Merlin's face. He watched the king hover over his son and confidently he stated, "Gaius will find a cure." Merlin took a deep breath. "He will not let him die."

Gaius turned to Merlin and rested a warning stare on him. "I will do everything in my power," Gaius clarified and turned back to the king.

Uther pulled Arthur's dead weight onto him and hoisted him into his arms. His voice was trembling over his lips as he spoke weakly, "I will bring him to his chamber." Perhaps it was the adrenaline of a petrified, poor man that gave Uther the strength to bear Arthur's weight, but nonetheless, Uther carried his son, his only son, out of the physician's chamber with a false attempt to hold back the tears that welled in his cold eyes.

Merlin stood frozen with his eyes dark and absent. Behind him lay closed the magic books he kept hidden in his chamber. The spells upon the tattered, yellow pages were futile and held no effect over Prince Arthur; the Questing Beast had bit him and there was no cure for the monster's deadly venom.

-x-

Uther's arms trembled under the weight of his wounded son; he bore Arthur across the courtyard with a waning expression and cold, glassy eyes. Citizens that mingled in the courtyard stopped to take in the sight curiously; their hands rose to their gaping mouths when they saw the blood that leaked from the prince's limp figure. Uther's knees grew weak beneath him and he dropped onto the stone; his chin fell to his chest as the tears he fought streamed down his cheeks like tiny rivers.

A distressed shriek lifted Merlin and the physician's gaze from the weeping king. "Arthur!" Azura cried and raced down the cold marble steps with her feet bare. Her silk, ivory gown ripped as she dropped to her knees before the king. "Arthur! Speak to me, love. Speak to me!" she sobbed with her voice cracking; she met the king's glossy eyes and her tears dripped from her eyes as her gaze cascaded upon Arthur's unresponsive face.

A knight gently moved her aside and joined several others in lifting the prince from the king's quaking arms. Azura remained on her knees and cried into her hands harder than she had when she knelt before Jaiden's cold body. But her sobs were not alone and rang in unison with the king's.

Kadian stepped back against the wall as the knight's carried her motionless brother. Her pink lips quivered and she raised a shaking hand to them. There was a knot in her chest that prevented her from weeping like her father and Azura; the shock was too great. Once the knights had passed, she stepped into the doorway and gazed across the frozen courtyard. Her father rose to his trembling feet and pulled Azura to him, embracing her tightly and comforting; a way Kadian had never had the pleasure of having.

Slowly, her eyes moved onto Merlin and were transfixed in his absent gaze. His thoughts were readable like they were written across his face; there was no doubt that he could read hers.

Feeling an invisible force upon him, Merlin set his sight onto the king and Azura. Her bright blue eyes stared at him in a sadistic, lamenting manner. Water beaded at the corners of her eyes and slowly descended down her red cheeks. Merlin could see it in her eyes, no needed to translate it into words: she blamed him for this; it had been his job to protect Arthur.

-x-

Merlin raced down the corridor toward the dungeons with Kadian at his heels; she was calling his name but he would not respond. He lit a torch with a quick mutter of an enchantment and grasped hold of the wood. Kadian reach up and folded her hand around his. "Merlin," she said softly; she lock gazed with him, "you need to calm down."

He looked down at her, lifting the torch from his holder on the wall; his dark eyes were mad, filled with panic. "Calm down? You want me to calm down?" Merlin replied hastily, his voice a big slur as his breaths expelled rapidly.

The sound of marching steps echoed throughout the corridor and Kadian spun around only to be grasped by the arms by two soldiers. Merlin stepped forward, resting a protective hand on her shoulder. "Orders of the king," one said through his helmet and pulled Kadian to him. "Princess Kadian is to be put under lock and key."

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Kadian hissed; her eyes widened and she reached out to Merlin as the guards pulled her from his protective grasp. "Merlin!" The guards were forced to lift her into the air; she fought them all the way down the corridor.

Merlin dropped his torch and ran after them, but a third guard was waiting at the top of the stairs and hit him in the gut. He gasped for air and he fell to his knees with his scrawny arms holding his midsection. From the knees, he feebly watched the soldiers force Kadian out of sight; her cries and demands to be let free echoed through his ears and made his blood boil. Their eyes met for a brief moment, staring into the depths of their souls; Merlin was force to break the connection. A strange feeling cooled his boiling blood; he felt his heart twist as he thought, Is this what waits for us... He paused, lifting his gaze to the barren corridor lying before him; the thought sickened him, but his heart ached with the truth. Being torn apart.

Merlin rose to his shaking feet and his balance swayed and his vision spun. Then, as the corridor froze, he spun around and took hold of the blazing torch. He vanished into the depths of the dark dungeons, wishing he had chased the soldiers and freed Kadian from their vicious hands. But no, something compelled him to travel to the caverns beneath the palace; an inevitable thought that he had suppressed for too long.

-x-

The Great Dragon was waiting for him upon his mighty throne of stones that cracked underneath his golden body. The Dragon's shining, gold eyes watched Merlin as he tried to form sentences with the jumping words in his mind. The beast flexed his claws and flared out his wings, folding them at his sides and curling his spiked tail around his scaly paws.

"I've failed Arthur, failed in my destiny," Merlin stated with his voice heavy with guilt; he did not meet the Dragon's jewel-like eyes.

"And yet you would not be here if that were true," the Great Dragon replied and tipped his massive skull.

Merlin lowered his torch and stared up at the last Dragon in the world. His voice was heavy with sorrow and unrelenting guilt as he spoke, "He was bitten by the Questing Beast. He's going to die."

"Does he still breathe?" questioned the Dragon and raised his scaled eyebrows as a puff of grey smoke expelled from his narrow nostrils.

His gaze dropped to the toe of his boot; Merlin regretted the words as he spoke them, "Only just."

Tilting his head to the other side, the Great Dragon stated knowingly, "Then there is still time to heal him."

"I've tried, I cannot save him," Merlin argued; he gazed up at the Dragon, rage tainting his eyes and burned his cheeks red.

The Dragon seemed to grin as he watched the orange firelight dance in the young warlock's eyes. He moved his neck to lower his head. "You do not know how to save him." His voice was calm and riddled with centuries of knowledge.

"But you can tell me how?" Merlin wondered. Hope sparked through the pool of doubt in Merlin's eyes.

"Perhaps," the Dragon said; his yellow teeth reflected the firelight. He eyes narrowed and he lowered his voice. "It will not be easy."

"I will do anything," Merlin stated bluntly and leaned toward the Dragon, intrigued.

"Anything?" The Dragon curiously tilted his head to the opposite side and blinked.

"Please." Merlin begged. "Just tell me what I have to do!"

Nodding his head slowly up and down, the Dragon replied, "Very well." He paused to collect his ancient thoughts. "The Questing Beast is a creature conjured by the powers of the Old Religion. You must use the same ancient magic to save him."

"But the Old Religion died out centuries ago," Merlin replied and raised an eyebrow.

Perturbed by the warlock's lack of knowledge, the Dragon flared out his huge, golden wings and bared his yellow teeth. "The Old Religion is the magic of the earth itself. It is the essence which binds all things together. It will last long beyond the time of men." His large eyes stared down at the warlock who trembled nervously as his voice reached his ears.

"But how can that help me save Arthur?" Merlin asked dumbfounded.

"You must find those who still serve it. Those who hold dominion over life and death," the Dragon instructed and kneaded his throne of rocks.

"Azura?"

A deep cackled boomed from the Dragon's throat and his claws dug into the rocks. "Bah. The elf does not hold the power over life and death, nor will she ever, young warlock. The elves may be the masters of light, but they are not Arthur's salvation." A cloud of thick smoke expelled from his nostrils; it spiralled in the air and vanished moments later.

"Then where?" Merlin asked annoyed; he was frustrated by everyone, even himself. It was his destiny, his job to stop this from ever happening, and he had failed.

The Dragon blinked and took in a long, suspenseful breath. "Go to the place that men call the Isle of the Blessed, where the power of the ancients can still be felt," he said; his voice boomed like thunder throughout the cavern, shaking the hanging rocks until several plummeted into the shadows. "There you will discover Arthur's salvation."

Merlin took a sharp breath and let the Dragon's words sink in; there was hope, more than hope. "Thank you," he said gratefully; he swept his across the Dragon's snout and the teeth that lingered beneath his golden lips, and turned to the cave from which he came. "Thank you."

"And Merlin..." the Dragon called after him; his thunderous voice spun the young warlock around like his words were a spell. The Dragon's voice was grim as he added, "The young Pendragon must live, no matter what the cost."

Merlin nodded and vanished around the rock wall, climbing the steps two at a time. He needed to tell Kadian, tell her that there was still hope to save Arthur from death. He wanted to scream it from the tallest tower of the palace, but yet the Dragon's last words haunted him. He placed the torch in his holder and raced up to the main floor of the castle. What cost would he have to pay? A large sum of gold? Jewels? His life?

He froze in mid-step and stared at the empty corridor that lay before him. A life for a life, he thought gravely and continued on his way.

-x-

When Merlin returned to the court physician's chamber, his journey was not taken lightly by Gaius who had finished preparing a potion that was to ease Arthur's passing. In a series of heated words, the physician warned him that it was a life to be paid to save another. Gaius tried with all his might to convince Merlin otherwise; he did not want to see him die, but Merlin's mind was made up.

As Merlin went to climb the stairs to his chamber, Gaius said quizzically, "What will you tell Kadian, Merlin? That Arthur's life is worth more to you than your relationship with her?"

Merlin stopped dead in his tracks and placed his arm against the wall, resting his head against it. He pictured the guards pulling them away from each other every time he caressed her soft skin, combed his fingers through her white-blonde hair, and kissed her lips tenderly like he had done so many times before. He could not bear to see it happen and he felt that it would be wrong of him to put her through that. "I won't tell her anything."

He disappeared into his chamber to pack his belongings for his long journey across the White Mountains and to the Isle of the Blessed.

-x-

Kadian peered out her window as the dawn light stretched across the waking sky. The streets of the city were buzzing with life as the merchant opened their stands for the public and the day began. In the lively courtyard, Merlin saddled a tan horse and secured his saddlebags. She wondered where he was going and what the Dragon had said to him. As soundly as she slept, she felt restless as she roamed around her chamber, trying the locked door over and over again in hope that a thick guard had unlocked it. Below, Gaius approached Merlin and exchanged words with each other that Kadian longed to hear.

Then, Gaius handed Merlin a map and a small parcel that Kadian could not see from her cage. The physician tried to take it back but Merlin held it protectively against his chest and seemed happy to have been given whatever it was. They embraced warmly and said more words that made Merlin's face droop with a hint of sorrow.

Kadian watched Merlin ride out of Camelot and into the black shadows of the trees; not once did he glance back in hope to catch a glimpse of her.

-x-

Merlin travelled through dense wood and vast plains of emerald grass that swayed to the side as the daunting wind howled from the east. Beyond the White Mountains he went, glancing at the map Gaius had provided him. His horse did not grow weary and cantered and galloped up the high ravines and over the tall mountains. Then, the young warlock passed through the Valley of the Fallen Kings where the flowers were vibrant oranges and pinks, shedding their soft petals as the wind blew.

When it grew cold at night, Merlin hugged his brown jacket around him and pressed the horse onward. He stopped only three times that day to supply the horse with water and to relieve himself.

As twilight set upon the second night, the Great Seas of Meredor were in his sight, reflecting the warm sky on its crystalline surface. He held the horse steady on top of the hill and looked down at the sea, finding himself alone as the breeze swept dust around him, curling the waters over in tiny waves against the shores. He longed for a warm, caring hand to be wrapped around his and a voice to be whispering in his ear to douse the eerie silence that was around him; but there was no one with him. Merlin had to take this journey alone for it was to be his last. Even as he spurred the horse into a slow trot, he wished he had told Kadian where he was going and what was waiting for him after this quest. He did not doubt that she would have gladly ridden with him for days until they found the isle; this costly burden was for him to bear alone.

It was not far now until he would reach the lake of which the Great Dragon had spoken. There he would find the Isle of the Blessed and Arthur's salvation.

-x-

The mourning city, hills, and trees were cast in a thick darkness as twilight reached across the heavens. The vast horizon was painted with navy and amber that greyed the thick clouds that rolled in from the west. The prince's breaths had grown shallower and seemed non-existent. The only sign of life were the occasional groans that escaped his quivering lips as he fought death. Dirty, linen bandages covered his deep wounds, stained crimson with his blood and drenched with his sweat. His right arm was limp at his side, bound tight with a tourniquet and his face held dark bruises that contrasted his pale skin.

Azura sat on the left edge of his bed, the one they shared many nights before. She held his sweaty hand in hers, stroking the back of it soothingly with her thumb. She thought analytically about everything; their nonsensical fights and bickering; their times together; and, most importantly, their times apart. They all seemed to be faint memories like Arthur had already gone.

Sighing heavily, Azura set her sad eyes on his face; it pained her to see him in such pain. But then, his cringing face relaxed as she took away some of his pain and replaced it with energy to live on; a power she had master throughout the years under the teachings of her mother.

There was a knot in her chest that refused to be untied; a lingering guilt that sealed her lips on so many occasions, but as she spoke so softly, it started to pull apart. "There are some things... things I should have told you a long time ago. Some before all this began..." She paused and let her tender voice fade with the silence of the palace; she felt tears well up in her eyes. "I don't recall ever saying this, but I knew that you always knew and longed to hear my voice say the words." She choked on her tears and wiped them away as she glanced around the chamber. Adoringly, she reached up with her hand and brushed his damp hair from his face. "I love you, Arthur Pendragon, more than anyone or anything in the world."

She paused and let his hand fall from her grasp. Nervously, she combed her fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her face and behind her ears. "But, there is something else... something that you should have known such a long time ago." She choked on her words again. "There was never the right moment to tell you... with everything happening." Azura paused as she fought her defences for the words she swore never to speak. "I'm..." Her voice was caught at the initial sounds of her voice. Azura stared straight ahead of her; she saw a large shadow move across the fire-lit wall.

The door creaked behind her and she whipped her head around, startled by the sudden intrusion. When she saw the king standing halfway in the doorway, her heart lurked and skipped a long beat. How long had he been standing there? Had he been listening to her talk?

Uther met her surprised stare and for a moment, he seemed interested in what she was going to say, but it soon faded. "I am sorry," he apologized, dropping her gaze. "You can continue. I'll wait outside."

"No, my lord," Azura replied shakily and slid off the bed to her feet. "I know how much you wish to spend what little time there is with your son. I will go."

The king shook his head and closed the door silently behind him. "Nonsense," he said and walked over to the opposite side of the bed where a chair was resting idly. "Sit."

Obediently, Azura retook her seat at Arthur's side and took up his hand again, holding it on her lap. She refused to meet the king's gaze; it was the same as Arthur's. There was little life in Arthur, Azura could feel with one touch how dim it was; but it still burned and fought the darkness.

Outside in the courtyard, many of the citizens of Camelot stood with their cloaks drawn around them and flickering candles in their hands. The tiny, amber fires reached for the prince's window in a silent good-bye. It had begun the long journey of grief. During the day, the sky would stay grey with thick clouds; and the nights held no stars and the moon was invisible.

"He cared for you a great deal," Uther said softly; his eyes swept across his son's still face and it hurt him to see Arthur this way, slowly walking toward death.

A smile curved her pink lips and Azura glanced at the king. "I know." Her voice held no emotion.

"Did you two ever talk about what would have come if this hadn't happened?" Uther wondered. It had not escaped his attention that they had grown close, nearly inseparable.

"No. There was never the time," Azura stated softly, averting the king's quizzical eyes; her gaze was transfixed on Arthur's grimacing face and quivering lips as pain surged through his wounded body. A soft coo escaped her lips and his face relaxed as he took a deep, shrill breath.

By the way she looked at Arthur now; Uther could see that she was hurting far worse than the king had ever seen. He could relate to the pain. Uther had spent hours holding his dead wife in his arms, begging for life to come back to her. "I want you to know that you will be well looked after," the king stated promisingly, moving his gaze away. "You will always have a home here in Camelot."

"For me, my lord, there is no Camelot without him." Her voice was a mere whisper, barely audible. The chamber fell silent; even Arthur's struggles for breath and life were soundless. Again, Azura took more of Arthur's pain away, feeling it start to spike as the subtle tension grew. A tear fell down Azura's cheek and she wiped it away quickly. "I wish that there was some way... some way I could save him. It would take a miracle..."

"I do not believe in miracles," Uther grumbled lowly and sat back in his chair, rubbing his hand down his son's arm.

Slowly, Azura turned to him with a darkened stare that frightened Uther slightly. "Then, you do not believe there is hope," she spat, rising to his feet. Her fingers lingered on Arthur's hand for a long moment until his hand fell lifelessly against the mattress. Azura bowed her head to the king in decency if nothing else. "Sire."

She rushed from the chamber.

-x-

"No one is allowed to enter the Lady Kadian's chamber," the stationed guard said firmly as Azura approached the seal door and reached for the handle.

Azura scowled at the guard; he was twice her size. "Surely, that doesn't include me," she hissed and continued her reach for the handle. "I wish to speak to her and I shall." When she found the door to be locked, she held out her hand to the guard and flexed her impatient fingers for him to hand over the key.

The guard stayed still and averted her gaze.

Azura wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her face was red from crying. "Do not make this harder than it already is," she said sobbingly and held out her hand again.

Reluctantly, the guard reached for the key on his belt and hastily handed it to her. He turned away as she unlocked the door and stepped inside without a sound.

Kadian jumped from her seat on the windowsill. Her heart skipped a beat as Azura shut the door and locked it, tossing the key onto the table. "Azura," was all Kadian managed to say before she embraced her friend tightly. Azura's arms shakily rose to return the embrace and fell moments later as Kadian stepped back, dropping her arms. "How is he?"

"Not well," Azura sighed and wiped her puffy eyes as she took a seat on the edge of Kadian's bed. "He will not survive for much longer."

Kadian ran a hand through her hair and turned to the window; the grieving light of the candles reached the glass. "Is there anything you can do?"

"I can take his pain, but I cannot cure him. It is out of my power," Azura replied heavily as she bit her bottom lip; she went to weep but all her tears were dry. She had to change the subject and keep her mind from the madness of sorrow. "Have you seen Merlin?"

"He left Camelot two days ago. I haven't spoken to anyone since I was shut away," Kadian stated angrily and crossed her arms at her chest. She turned to Azura. "I don't understand why my father would do this."

Azura shrugged and gradually rose to her feet. "Maybe he wants to make sure that you will live long enough to take your oaths," she said unsurely. Her feet carried her forward and then back again in a dizzying pace.

Kadian watched Azura pace, admiring how her graceful steps made it seem like she was hovering over the ground. "What are you thinking about?" she asked curiously.

"Merlin left two days ago. That means he found a way to save Arthur, or at least try." Azura stopped dead in her gait and stared into Kadian's wondrous eyes; she read the princess' thoughts and found it right to answer them the best she could. "There is an island far from here, the Isle of the Bless-ed."

"Blessed," Kadian corrected laughingly.

"Bless-ed, that's what I said."

Kadian rolled her eyes. "I've heard of it. Gaius was rambling on and it came up some time ago. Isn't it the centre of magic?"

"It's the centre of the Old Religion, yes. I should have thought of it sooner. I'm surprised Merlin had; that boy is much brighter than he looks," Azura complimented tapping her cheek with her index finger. "He didn't tell or send word to you that he was going there? I thought that's what the two of you do, plot together."

"He didn't," Kadian replied softly. The past two days she wondered why he had just packed his bags and rode out of the city without telling her anything. When it came to magic, they did everything together.

"Strange." Azura walked to the window and stared out at the starless sky. Her eyes trailed over to the flickering flames upon the wicks of the candles. There were so many of them, whipping the cold night air.

"What?" Kadian asked, moving to stand behind Azura as she gazed down at the dozens of tiny flames; it was like the flames had taken the places of the stars and constellations of the heavens.

"...To save a life, one must be given."

-x-

At dawn, a faint, blue mist spiralled through the trees as Merlin rode through the wood. There was a musky scent on the air and he knew that he had to be close to the lake. The air was cold and the wind was moist against his face. As the horse trotted through the trees, Merlin looked straight ahead; his eyes widened as he saw the shore of the lake where the wind curled the waves over each other. An old, wooden dock extended into the shallows of the lake and beside it swayed a small wooden boat with a tattered, black flag waving in the wind.

Relieved, Merlin dismounted and patted the horse on his snout as he led it over to a tree were he secured the reins to a low limb. The sky was riddled with thick, grey clouds where only faint rays of sunlight managed to seep through. Taking his bag and blanket with him, Merlin stepped onto the creaking dock and slowly approached the waiting boat. He stepped onto the tiny ship and felt it shift underneath him, but it stayed upright and Merlin placed his pack down at the bow. Raising his right hand over the aged wood, he incanted softly, "Astyre."

Suddenly, the boat jerked forward and Merlin quickly took his seat as the boat was pulled into the rough waters by an invisible force. The boat slowly progressed, piercing through the waves as it went. The mist grew thick across the surface of the deep-blue waters, making it difficult to say what lay ahead.

Hours seemed to pass as the boat drifted forward at a snail's pace. Cold water sprayed onto Merlin's face and he wiped it away.

Then, he saw what he was looking for: the Isle of the Blessed. It towered over the dark waters with its broken stone walls that were as majestic as they would have been when they were first raised. Crooked, emerald vines snaked up the moist walls that held secret passages into the stronghold. The boat entered the isle and the walls narrowed around Merlin with walkways hanging high above the waters that lead into other chambers that had been destroyed with age. There were shadows cast everywhere and some stalked Merlin as the boat pressed onward through the leave-caked waters.

The boat stopped at an open alcove where a single set of stairs led up, into the heart of the isle. Hesitantly, Merlin stepped onto the stone steps and continued to scale the steps until he came to an open courtyard. There was no roof and the pale light beamed down onto the stone table that sat mightily in the centre. Around the table was luscious green grass moist with glossy dew. What once stood as stone pillars encircled the table were cracked and withered. Looking about, Merlin said, "Hello?"

"Hello, Merlin," a feminine voice replied eerily on the wind.

Merlin spun around and gaped at who stood beside the stone table. Her raven locks were pulled back and her deep, ravishing blue eyes stared intriguingly at him. She wore a tattered, wine-red dress that went down to her bare knees.

"You." Merlin gasped.

"Do you know who I am?" the woman questioned, grinning her wine-red lips.

"Nimueh," Merlin replied softly; his mind was swimming with spells to say.

Her grin grew as she watched him shake his head.

"You can't be who the Dragon meant," Merlin stated and leaned away from her.

"And why is that?" Nimueh asked curiously and tilted her head, blinking once.

Merlin stared vengefully into her eyes. "You tried to kill me."

"Before I understood your importance," Nimueh smiled her voice ringing with pride.

Looking away, Merlin whispered, "And Arthur..."

"Arthur was never destined to die at my hand," Nimueh informed loudly, remembering that she told the prince the same thing when she had him trapped in the dark caves inside the Forest of Balor. "And now, it seems I will be his salvation." Her voice was uncanny and haunting.

Merlin stepped forward, intrigued. "So, you know what I've come to ask?"

"Yes," she grinned.

"Will you do it?" He asked hopefully as his heart leapt from his chest; he had to save Arthur, no matter what the cost.

"I do not have the power to mirror life itself and yet get nothing in return," Nimueh stated keeping her gaze fixed on Merlin as he slowly approached her.

"I know that a price will be asked," Merlin acknowledged, stopping about two feet before her.

"To save a life, there must be a death. The balance of the world must be restored," Nimueh stated threateningly.

Merlin thought for a brief moment. Throughout his journey to the isle he was preparing himself to say these seven words. "I willingly give my life for Arthur's."

Nimueh grinned brightly as his words rang through her ears. "How brave you are, Merlin," she smiled grimly. "If only it were that simple."

"What do you mean?" Merlin raised an eyebrow.

"Once you enter this bargain," Nimueh stated; she kept her blue eyes fixed on Merlin as her head turned away, "it cannot be undone."

Merlin stepped forward. "Whatever I have to do, I will do it," Merlin stated fiercely. "His life is worth a hundred of mine."

Intrigued, Nimueh lifted her hand and reached over the stone table. Then, as she brought her hand toward Merlin, her fingers gripped a golden chalice, one that had not been on the table before. "The Cup of Life," she informed, her voice booming through the isle, "blessed by centuries of powerful sorcery so that it contains the very secret of life itself. If Arthur drinks water from the cup... he will live."

Cautiously, Merlin stepped forward and curled his fingers around the Cup of Life. From that moment, he knew that he was going to die once he returned to Camelot and Arthur's life was redeemed. Kadian would cry; he knew it and he could picture her sobbing above his grave like he was a ghost standing beside her. With a heavy heart, Merlin took the chalice from Nimueh and held it with both hands.

Suddenly, Nimueh lifted her thin arms and sight to the sky as her red lips formed her enchantment, "Tidrenas!" Her voice rang through the Isle of the Blessed like an orchestra of bells, calling forth the dark clouds that rolled over the light-grey puffs in the sky. Thunder clapped and it began to rain. Water pooled in the Cup of Life and as the tiny droplets hit the gold, they bounced over the rim. The pool of water was pure and transparent, glistening in the flash of violet lightning that streaked across the darkened sky.

The rain ceased and the dark clouds tumbled away, returning the sky to its depressing grey. Nimueh lowered her arms and took the chalice from Merlin as a silver flask appeared in her hand. Gently and wordlessly, the priestess poured the rain-water from the Cup of Life and into the silver holder, flicking the clasp shut when it was finished. Nimueh held the container out to Merlin and he grasped it firmly, ready to take it and make the long journey to Camelot and death.

Their fingers met and Nimueh grinned and spoke so softly, "The bargain has been struck."

As Merlin turned away with his wet hair plastered to his face as his jacket and tunic soaked, Nimueh grasped his arm, turning him to her once more. "I hope it pleases you," she grinned and relaxed her grip.

Merlin eyes lingered over her dark, beautiful face until it was physically impossible to gaze at her any longer.

-x-

Kadian hunched over with her hand to her chest as a clap of thunder echoed through Camelot after a purple streak of lightening streaked across the grey sky. Her breath had escaped her and her heart had skipped a beat. Her lost breath took its time returning, but her head felt odd and her vision blurred and focused. Something dark had happened far, far away. Evil trickery, perhaps, but the princess was unsure.

Slowly, Kadian straightened herself and gazed out the window; the storm had passed as quickly as it had come. Her reflection stared back at her from its silhouette on the glass. The irises of her eyes were a blue-silver and yet she felt no magic swimming through her veins. It was like she was caught somewhere between using her magic and not. Kadian could not make any sense of it, only that she felt wounded.

-x-

It was the third night since the Questing Beast bit Arthur. The prince's breaths were weak and trembled on his lips before expelling into the air. His pain was great and his head thrashed back and forth as he moaned and groaned, hoping that he would be free from this torture. Beside him with her head resting on her arms was Azura. She twitched in her weak sleep, feeling a disturbance in the balance of the world. It was the first time that she had slept since the attack, but she could not stay awake any longer, no matter how much she desired to continue her vigil.

The door to the prince's chamber creaked open slowly and the king stepped inside, checking in on his dying son. Uther had been cautious to give Azura her time and space when she was with Arthur; he knew how great she was hurting and it hurt him to see her in such a state. Quietly, he walked over and placed and soothing, warm hand on her shoulder, waking her from her light sleep instantly and with a start. "Go, get some rest. I will stay with him," Uther said assuring.

"No... I can't," Azura protested, looking up at the king with a red face and weary, puffy eyes.

Uther, for some reason, smiled at her. "Yes, you can," he said encouragingly and lifted her gently to her feet. "Go. I will watch over him."

Azura looked down at her bare feet as she felt sleepiness try to take over her again. "My lord, you don't understand..." She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "I am used to falling asleep in his embrace."

Uther slowly nodded, but still, he guided her toward the door. "Go to bed. I will watch over him. If there is any change, you will be the first to wake." It felt like she had pierced him through the heart with the look in her eyes when she gazed up at him. Her bright eyes were puffy and red, glossed with her dry tears, full of hope.

-x-

Merlin rode through the night and into the next day without sleep, food or water. His horse did the same and galloped all the way through the White Mountains and the Valley of the Fallen Kings, whose flowers were old and grey when they passed. The trees were doused with daunting shadows that hung across each branch like spider webs waiting to consume him. An eerie haze swerved through the dense trees before him, blocking his gaze of what lay ahead, but he knew that the fog could not conceal his fate from him.

The horse's hooves kicked up the leaves as he made a sharp turn and dashed ahead. Upon the high hill before them sat Camelot, its high walls basking in the grey light that poured in through the thick, grey clouds. As Merlin neared the gates, his eyes went up to a single window on the palace tower, only to be dropped moments later when he remembered that he could not say anything.

Merlin dismounted the horse in the centre of the courtyard, leaving the horse to stand with his bag and supplies still secured to the saddle. He ran up the grand steps and entered the castle, looking both was frantically before racing down the corridor, up a small flight of stairs and passed through a door that was labelled "Court Physician".

Inside, Gaius jumped when his chamber door swung open and banged uproariously against the wall, knocking a shelf over. His eyes widened to see Merlin standing there with a silver container clenched so tightly in his hand it was turning red.

The young warlock stepped forward, part of his hair sticking in the air from being blown back by the window constantly as he travelled. His eyes were wide and above dark circles. Water still soaked his tunic for there was a small shower early that morning. Merlin stepped toward Gaius and handed him the container forcibly. "We need to give this to Arthur," Merlin said rapidly and breathlessly, forcing the container into the physician's hand.

"What is it?" Gaius asked, curiously examining the intricate designs that formed the silver of the container. There was a crooked, winged-beast underneath the clasp.

"Water, drawn from the Cup of Life. If Arthur drinks from it, he will recover. Please hurry!" Merlin exclaimed, pushing the physician toward the open door.

But as the physician neared the door, he stopped.

"What are you waiting for?" Merlin exclaimed frustrated with Gaius' procrastination.

Gaius spun around and pointed at Merlin with a trembling index finger. "Whose life did you bargain?" the physician asked in a dark, nagging tone.

"We don't have time!" Merlin shouted irritated and stormed passed the physician.

-x-

She had seen him return to Camelot and rush into the palace like he was being chased by the immortal army that stormed through the gates of Camelot some time ago. Kadian sighed, half-wishing that Merlin would run into her chamber, after skilfully taking out the demented guard, and embrace her so tightly and kissed her so tenderly that she would forget why she was angry with him. But, no one entered her chamber and the only sound from the corridor was the guard cough and yawning as he tried his hardest to stay awake.

"Please, Merlin, have a cure," she spoke to herself, watching her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes had not returned to the deep blue they always had been. They were mired with silver and she wanted to know why; she wanted to charge into the dungeons and demand an explanation from the Great Dragon.

There was something else behind the magic used to give Ygraine, Uther's late wife, a son. Whatever magic used had touched her had given Kadian her power. There had to be a reason why. This was no accident.

"Please, let me inside!" A voice shouted angrily from the hallway. "I'm warning you. Let me into her chamber!"

Kadian jumped as the door to her chamber swung inward. Morgana rushed into the chamber hysterical with wide eyes and a panicked expression. She took hold of Kadian's shoulders and brought her close. "I've seen terrible... terrible things!" Morgana cried in a wounded voice. "Kadian... there is worse to come."

"Morgana, tell me what you saw," Kadian said, reaching up and embracing her as she walked Morgana over to the bed.

As she waited for Morgana to speak, Kadian glanced over at the open door and the guard that peered inside, anxiously waiting for Morgana to take her leave before his head was put on the chopping block. The door was open; she could make a run for it.

"I saw people dying... I heard people screaming for their lives. There was blood and fire and... and... Kadian, I'm scared..." Morgana started to weep and fell into Kadian's lap. "There's a powerful storm coming to Camelot. I-It will not relent. There's so much darkness, so much hate. No one will be able to escape its jaws... And you..."

Kadian combed her docile fingers through Morgana's raven locks. "Shh... what about me?" she asked softly, glancing over at the guard whose eyes were bugging out of their sockets.

"You... you were talking with the raven... they were dying around you. Uther, Azura, Gaius and the others... Their eyes were like glass, pulling me in to death too. I-I'm scared, Kadian!" the ward cried, gripping the fabric of Kadian's gown and wrinkling it in her tight grasp.

"Shh... Morgana, it was just a nightmare."

-x-

Gaius lurked in the prince's chamber, waiting for the effects of the water to cure the prince. The king was half-asleep with his head resting on his crossed arms; Uther refused to leave Arthur's side. The physician wondered how the king managed to get Azura away from Arthur's side; he thought that it was her doing that kept the prince alive all this time. The candles flickered from their perches around the chamber, brightening the shadowed walls. Already, Gaius noted, colour had returned to the prince's face and his breathing had improved significantly.

Arthur took a deep, long breath and rolled his head to the side as his eyelids slowly pulled back and he gazed up at the ceiling. His mind was a haze and he could not remember or recognize where he was. The last thing he recalled was stalking in the dark caves after the Questing Beast.

"Arthur!" a voice exclaimed and the prince turned his head to see that his father was beside him. Uther glanced over at his shoulder at the physician, "Wake Azura... it's a miracle!"

The prince gazed at his father and at the physician (who bowed his head and left), hoping that something would trigger a memory of what happened. But then, he felt a stinging, burning pain in his chest, side and arm; it was like nothing he had ever felt. Resting his head back against the near-flat pillow, Arthur shut his eyes and took another deep breath, letting the pain slipped away. The fight was over and he was alive.

-x-

As the physician strolled at his merry pace down the corridor, Gaius instructed a guard to wake Azura and tell her that Prince Arthur lived. The corridors were so full a life now; it seemed strange to the physician. Shadows no longer seemed to linger overhead and the torchlight dominated over the corridors, burning as bright as the stars in the night sky. The grey clouds had receded and did not haunt the city.

Slowly, he pulled open the door to his chamber and stepped inside, seeing Merlin look up from his seat. With the door shutting silently behind him, Gaius stared at Merlin who was anxiously waiting to hear one sentence. "The prince lives," Gaius said lowly.

Merlin smiled and combed his fingers through his dark hair as he rose to his feet. On the outside, he was happy and ecstatic, but deep down, Merlin feared what was to come next. He could hear his heart pounding in his chest like it was before his ears. This was it, his last day, maybe his last breath. Was he going to drop dead at any moment?

Gaius walked over to him and rested a firm hand on his shoulder. "Merlin, you know what you should do," he said in a low whisper. "You need to tell Kadian."

"Gaius, I can't face her, not now," Merlin protested, shaking his head.

"Merlin."

-x-

A guard no longer stood before her chamber; the door was wide open, swaying slightly with the gentle breeze that swept in through the open window. Kadian sat before the large, gilt mirror, combing through her hair as she prepared for bed. She counted each time she blinked, hoping that her irises would revert to their normal state and hide her magic; but every time her eyelids pulled back, she stared into the brilliance of silver-blue.

A powerful, doom-stricken force swept through her chamber against the gentle breeze. He stood ghastly in the doorway with his arms trembling at his sides and his eyes watching her hand freeze where it was. There were dark circles lurking underneath his sad eyes. His hair was a wild animal, clawing at the air with sharp curls.

The comb slipped from her grasp and clattered against the floor as she rose to her feet. Her thoughts were wild with everything she desired to say a once, but the look of sadness and pain held her lips where they were.

The image of her standing in her trailing, white nightgown burned into his mind. He wanted to remember her as she was in that moment with her hair neatly combed and straight against his smooth shoulders, and her cheeks flushed scarlet as she stood speechless. He wanted to recall the exact way her eyes shone in the flickering candlelight, a strange blue-purple with the hints of her magic. "Kadian." Her name rolled off of his tongue sharply, like a curse he spoke.

"Merlin." Her voice was sweet and withdrawn, trembling with her uncertainty.

The expression on her face became that of pain when he dropped his daunting gaze to the shadow his body cast onto the floor. His shadow reached out to her dark silhouette, embracing her in the only way he could bare. "Someday, you will find your prince..." He paused; the expression his face held hardened as he gradually lifted his eyes off the floor. Something dark haunted his voice as he continued, "Your knight in shining armour, but I can never be him."

His words pierced through her chest sharper than any dagger could. Her step toward him was useless as he retreated into the corridor. "Merlin, what are you saying?" Kadian whispered, her voice trembling on her quaking lips.

"This thing that we want, we have is just a lie. It'll never happen," Merlin exclaimed, meeting her broken gaze that shattered further with his putrid words. He could see how susceptible she was to his voice, but he endured the pain her glossy eyes inflicted him. "They'll keep pulling us apart, Kadian, and I can't take it..." The urge to run to her and pull her to him came to him, stopping his lips from saying his finishing statement. Her heart hung loose on its last string and should have plummeted into darkness as his once-warming voice finished, "I can't put you through it."

Like a pasty-face, petrifying ghost, Merlin vanished before Kadian's lips could form a protest.

Staring at the empty, dark corridor severed her heart's last string, sending the beating muscle into darkness until it shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. It was like someone took hold of Merlin and scribbled out the truth from his mind. Were false hopes and false dreams better than having none at all? She wanted to cry and scream until she shook the palace's foundation; but her desires, dreams, and hopes were swallowed by the endless abyss that was in place of her heart.

-x-

Arthur lay slightly elevated on his bed. The ugly, blood-stained linen bandages were hidden beneath a tunic that was loose against his bruised flesh. His chamber was clear in his sight now, but his head felt woozy and occasionally, the chamber would spin as his blue eyes danced across the familiar objects. The foul-tasting draught Gaius gave him for his stinging pain had consumed him, leaving a tingling sensation throughout his body.

Uther leaned over the side of the bed, gazing down at his son with the admiration and thankfulness that was foreign to him. "I thought we'd lost you," the king said with a grizzly voice as he placed a gentle, comforting hand on his son's shoulder.

"Don't worry, father, I'm not going to die," Arthur replied. Several of his words were slurred together as his voice escaped his odd-feeling lips. The chamber seemed to spin as the king walked away from his bedside and to the foot of the bed where he rested a dark-gloved hand on the bedpost. "I think there's someone watching over me, keeping me from harm," the prince stated assuring.

Uther turned to him. "Maybe you're right," he stated, raising a bushy eyebrow as a certain, sensible thought came to mind. "On your long journey to become king, you'll need a guardian angel." The way the king spoke wisely made Arthur twist with discomfort as he blinked to focus his eyes.

Arthur smiled at his father's last words. Perhaps, the prince thought, feeling Azura's touch on the back of his hand like she was beside him now with a bright smile that could shame the sun, he had found his guardian angel already.

"I shall inform the court that their prince lives," the king smiled and saw the glint in his son's eye that stretched his smile until his lips hurt.

Azura fell into the king's sight as he turned to leave; she was standing in the doorway in her wispy, elegant nightgown with her toes bare against the chill floor. There had never been a moment that she had given up hope and Uther rested a hand on her shoulder that said everything he wanted silently before he stepped into the corridor.

The sensation throughout his body increased as Arthur sat up further, his eyes falling onto the face of the woman who had stolen his thoughts ever since he had woken from the treacherous darkness. Azura leapt onto the bed silently, wrapping her smooth arms around him and pulling him to her. His head rested against her shoulder, feeling the velvet of her nightgown on his forehead as her shoulder rose and fell with each deep, calming breath she took.

"It's alright," Arthur said as he lifted his head off her shoulder. Gazing into her bright eyes, Arthur saw the tears that pooled. "I'm still here."

Though his body fought against him, Arthur reach up and wiped her tears of joy away before they streamed down her cheek. He pulled her to him as her angelic voice said softly, "I could never be happier."

She lay beside him with her head resting on the left-side of his chest, listening to the rhythm of his thumping heart and counting each beat until she fell asleep with his good arm holding her protectively.

-x-

Thunder woke Kadian from her restless slumber. Sweat tricked down the sides of her face, drenching her messy hair, and left a salty taste on the roof of her mouth. Her tainted eyes stared across the shadowed chamber where several candles sparked to life without the princess saying or speaking a single word. The flames flickered from deep red to orange to red again until finally, the flames settled for a dark orange and crackled on the charred wicks.

The window trembled on its hinges as rain poured down of it like millions of tiny nails falling point-first against the glass. Kadian jumped as thunder roared through Camelot.

Another nightmare haunted her mind. The dream was mired with the blood and the screams of the people she cared about deeply and whom she would gladly die for. Morgana's voice echoed through the shadows of the chamber in a never-ending, overlapping orchestra. When Morgana saw the future, the ward was always correct; and for the first time, Kadian was scared for what was to come.

-x-

Outside as the rain poured against the ground, turning the dirt into thick mud, a cloak woman stumbled into the city, holding her hood tight to her face as she passed the posted guards. The guards stepped back as she passed. In the flashes of the purple, crooked lightning, the guards saw what she hid beneath the hood of her tattered cloak.

Through the vacant, wet and dirty streets she went, passed the inn and tavern until she reached the drenched doors of the palace. She climbed the ghastly steps and descended down narrow corridors until she reached a sealed door by which a wooden slate was inscribed with "Court Physician".

She rasped a shaky, deformed hand against the door that pushed open with her rasping. A shrill moan escaped her lips as she stumbled into the dark chamber.

A hollow sound of the woman collapsing woke the court physician from his dreamless sleep.

-x-

Merlin woke with a start the following morning, his fingers grasping the grey rabbit's foot in his right hand. Gaius had given him the charm the morning he journeyed to the Isle of the Blessed. Cold, morning air filled his lungs as his lips parted to take in a deep breath. It took him several moments to realize, but when he did, he leapt to his feet with his heart pounding against his ribs. Rushing from his chamber, Merlin exclaimed with his voice cheerful, "Gaius! I'm alive...!"

The physician was crouched on the floor, hovering over the curled body, shattering Merlin's moment of happiness. "Stay back, Merlin," Gaius warned, glancing over at his nephew; there was no surprise in his eyes to see him alive.

"What happened?" Merlin stalked forward, disregarding the physician's warning. As his eyes fell upon the sight of the boils and coarse skin of the woman who lay on the floor, Merlin's fingers released the rabbit's foot, letting it fall against the dusty floor. Nothing surprised Merlin more than the face that was hidden beneath the repulsing boils. "Mother?" His voice cracked and trembled on his lips.

"Merlin..." Hunith groan weakly as she wheezed and struggled for breath.

-x-

Her soft, delicate hands were folded at her centre as she strolled through the corridor. Occasionally, her fingers were coil around her skirt only to let the fabric fall. Kadian had gone to see her brother that morning, for the first time since he was prey to the Questing Beast. She smiled as she saw him awake and well with Azura curled up beside him, head against his chest and sleeping like an angel. Little words passed between her and her brother.

It was sweet relief to be set free from her prison; there was no longer a need to protect her from any danger and to assure that there was an heir to the throne. It may have been a cowardly, arrogant action by her father, but Kadian was free now. Her mind swam with other matters; Merlin being her main concern. Despite how hard she tried and the headache that beat against her skull, Kadian could not shake his name from her thoughts. He must be dead now, she thought, gripping her skirt again and letting it fall back to the floor where the pieces of her broken heart lay.

The sound of angry footsteps froze her in mid-step and she held her breath as her eyes stared ahead. Merlin raced down a flight of stairs and stormed passed her. Were her eyes deceiving her? "Merlin?" Her voice did not reach his ears over the heavy stomping of his feet and he vanished around the corner.

The door to the court physician's chamber was ajar from being thrown open by Merlin in an outrage. Kadian slipped into the chamber soundlessly and knocked on the wood as she passed through the doorway, wanting to quell the rattling questions in her thoughts. "Gaius?" she called into the chamber, her eyes jumping from object to object in search of the physician's white hair.

The physician looked up from his bench with a start. "Kadian, how can I be of service?" He glanced over at the sealed door that led to Merlin's bedroom.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but..." She paused, meeting Gaius' weary gaze as came from across the chamber. She felt her chest tighten like a poison had closed up her lungs and she fought for the words to come out. "Why isn't Merlin dead?" she asked and crossed her arms at her chest. A moan of agony escaped from Merlin's chamber, drawing Kadian's attention away from the physician who fumbled over his words to answer her. "Who's in there?" She asked.

Slowly, Gaius rose to his elderly feet and walked across the chamber to rest a soft, soothing hand on Kadian's shoulder. His eyes were wounded as he met her gaze. "Hunith," he said grimly, shifting his gaze away. "She is very ill; it is not a normal illness. I cannot cure her. What hap-" He finally noticed the altercation of the colour of her irises. They were exotic with the silver hues mixed with the sapphire shade that she shared with Uther and Arthur.

"Thank you, Gaius..." She took a long breath before she finished, "for everything." With her eyes to the floor, Kadian spun on the balls of her feet and exited the physician's chamber, ridding her ears of the painful moans of the woman who believed Kadian was perfect for her son, Merlin.

The door was wide open, swaying in the wind, and called for her to pass through it; it was the only way to save everyone prophesied to die at her own hand. There was no alternative. Kadian would not waste her time going to seek the Great Dragon for advice like Merlin was; she knew that was where his heavy, angry boots were taking him.

She entered her chamber and gazed around lost for only a moment. From beneath her bed, she retrieved her twin blades; from the cupboard, she backed a fresh tunic and leggings; and from the far corner of her chamber, she grabbed hold of her bag and shoved all items messily into it.

There was only silence in her mind as she looked up from her sloppy pack and turned toward the stationary desk that rested against the opposite wall. She slowly walked to her desk and pulled out a roll of parchment, a quill, and an ink well from the single drawer on the right side. Lifting the white-feathered quill into her hand, Kadian wrote across the parchment with her penmanship scratchy and ridged.

Placing the tip of the quill into the ink well, Kadian sat back in the chair and read the single line she wrote on the parchment over and over again, wondering whether it said what she wanted.

-x-

Merlin raced down the glowing amber steps and into the dark cavern beneath the palace. The Great Dragon had been expecting him; he sat proudly upon his throne of fallen rock with his great wings folded at his sides. His claws gripped the rumbled before him, snapping the rocks like twigs. He stared down at the young warlock, the whipping torchlight swimming in his eyes; he could sense the anger that boiled Merlin's blood.

"You knew this would happen!" Merlin shouted; his eyes fiercely glared at the dragon and he gritted his teeth. "You had me trade my mother's life for Arthur's!"

With his breath harsh and vile, the dragon lifted his massive skull. "You said you would do anything," he said wisely; his lips formed a faint grin.

"Did you know my mother would die?" Merlin said weakly, his voice heavy with pain and betrayal; he pointed the torch accusingly at the dragon.

The dragon moved his head down, looking sternly into the warlock's dark eyes. "I knew the price would be a heavy one."

"But you sent me anyway." Merlin did not move his stare from the dragon; he felt betrayed like the dragon had dug his razor sharp claws into his back.

Justifying his cause, the dragon said calmly, "We need Arthur to live." His amber eyes stayed with Merlin's watching his emotions swim uncontrollably and boil together.

"I'm not one of you!" Merlin growled, his voice echoing like thunder through the cavern, rattling the hanging stones with his rage.

The Great Dragon huffed and a cloud of smoke escaped from his golden lips after a series of golden spark licked off his barbed tongue. "We are both creatures of the Old Religion. It is the source of your power," he stated slowly with his voice ringing with the old knowledge he possessed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Merlin was done with listening to riddle after riddle; he wanted the answer to his question, not a path to find it himself.

"Your destiny is to protect the young Pendragon until he claims his crown." The dragon pointed a finely curved claw at Merlin. He flexed his raised paw and rested it against his throne again with the stone crumbling underneath its weight. His split eyes narrowed and his voice was like a hiss as he continued, "And when he does, magic can be returned to the realm." His voice grew with his true reasons and the hiss tainted with his hatred. "Only then can I be free."

Merlin stared at the dragon and slowly his head nodded as his eyes grew wide with the Great Dragon's true intentions. "Oh, I see," he said suspiciously; he turned as if he was to leave, dropping the dragon's intense stare. But, he turned, laughing at his foolishness. "So that's all you cared about. I thought you were my friend."

"It is not me who you should be suspicious of, Merlin," the dragon growled, baring his sharp, yellow teeth. "I am your kin."

"No! The only family I have is my mother, and you had me murder her!" Merlin voice carried his haled rage through the cavern; he paid no mind to the dragon's first words, his brannigan was with the dragon and no one else.

The dragon inhaled a shrill breath that sounded like a soft hiss. "Her life has not been taken in vain." He felt no remorse or sympathy for Merlin's loss, his mind was driven toward his release. The chain on his leg rattled as he spread out his wings as a warning. He leaned toward the warlock, who grimaced at the stench of his breath, "We will achieve great things together, you and I."

"YOU WILL NEVER BE RELEASED!" Merlin shouted, whipping the torch before him; the embers cracked and snapped in the heated air violently. Then, his voice was low and uncanny, dark and sadistic, "For what you've done, I'll make sure you never see the light!"

The dragon's eyebrows crunched together, the spikes flexing his with rage. "MERLIN!" His voice boomed through the cavern, sending the hanging stones plummeting to the darkness below. He took a harsh, hasty breath. He parted his lips and opened his mighty jaw, the rows of his razor teeth glinting scarlet. A raging, golden inferno burst from the depth of his stocky build.

As the voracious tongues of the golden flames came toward him in a fiery fury, Merlin raised a hand and hissed an enchantment that cloaked him in an impenetrable shield. The flames slammed against the shield and Merlin flinched; he almost lost the concentration to hold the shield, but he stood his ground and met the dragon's eyes when the inferno ended in glowing, grey smoke.

Merlin lowered his hand and his shield vanished. He stared up at the dragon; his heart was thumping loudly in his chest and his breaths were heavy with tiredness. "You...won't see me...again," he panted, face illuminated threateningly by the amber torchlight. He turned sharply and walked out of the cavern.

The Great Dragon roared behind him and reached forward with his jaws, only to taste the hot air on his tongue.

-x-

Arthur sat propped up against the headboard of his bed while Azura sat with him. The hearth burned magnificently in the darkness; she had seen it day in and day out as he lay there for days, arm pressed against his torso in a dirty, linen sling, torn apart by the vicious claws of the Questing Beast. He could feel her warmth through his tunic. He smiled and stroked her silky hair with his hand.

"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Arthur asked her softly. The aged timbers creaked as he set himself higher on the bed and adjusted his sling.

Dumbfounded, Azura stared up at him with her bright-blue eyes holding the reflection of the crackling fire. Had he heard her speak? Those words she said had been meant for the dead. "What do you mean?" she stammered.

"I remember hearing your voice, but I can't for the life of me remember what you said..." He paused to wince; his wounds pained him. She rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, and he folded his hand around hers, took a slow, deep breath, and opened his eyes to meet her gaze as he continued softly, "then, you stopped." He felt his heart leap from his chest when her gaze slipped from his and to the burning timbers. "Come on, Azura."

She moved a little, manoeuvring herself to face him completely. Azura met his gaze, examining how the amber firelight danced in his eyes. "I love you," she said softly.

Arthur smiled, watching as her cheeks burned crimson with her embarrassment. Those three tiny words, the same words he had imagined her saying over and over in his dreams, sounded different, possibly insignificant in her voice like there was something deeper she longed to say. He placed his hands on her flushed cheeks, staring deeply into her eyes. His movements stretched his torn flesh, but he did not cringe; he would willingly endure this somatic pain.

"I love you too," he whispered warmly, closing the distance between their faces. Ever so gently, his nose brushed against hers as their lips grew nearer. "Was there something else?" he breathed.

"No." Her soft, alluring voice rolled quickly over her lips and cut the word crisply; there was no room for argument.

There was a certain, awkward silent that fell upon them, but it seemed to fade away like everything else when they stared into each other's eyes. Arthur could count the times her exhale passed over her crimson lips and caressed his flustered face.

Then, he sat back, cupping her cheek in his hand as he whispered, "Don't move." There was something that prevented him from laying his lips on hers, a sole question that held his trembling lips where they were; a burden, perhaps, that lanced him like no spear could. He forced himself to his feet, grimacing at the pain it sent through his body, and reached for something on the night table.

Before Azura could utter a sound protesting his movement, Arthur turned and dropped down to one knee, holding something in his hands that glistened in the amber firelight. It was round, golden band with a stunning, aquamarine stone staring with teardrop diamonds beside its sparkling face. His eyes beamed with his underlying emotions that made his heart want to explode in his chest. His voice was gentle and filled with hope as he released the burden that staked his heart, "Will you marry me?"

-x-

In the morning as the pale dawn light pooled into his bedroom, Merlin woke and stared up at the ceiling; his back ached from sleeping on the floor. His mother was sleeping uneasily in his bed with her breaths shrill wheezes; the sound lanced his ears and his heart lurked as he realized what day it was: it was the day he was to die. Stiffly, he rose to his feet and pulled on his worn boots; they did not warm his frozen toes.

He turned and set his weary eyes on the unsettled face of his mother; his stomach twisted at the wretched sight of the boils and pockets of white puss on her face. Approaching the bedside, Merlin pulled a small trinket from his pocket; it was the grey rabbit's foot Gaius had given to him. He held it tightly between his fingers, feeling the soft fur against his dry skin. Then, he placed the charm in his mother's sickening hand and gently coiled her fingers around it.

His voice was soft and he felt tears well in his eyes and cascade down his cheeks. "I know that the gods will look after me and that one day, I will see you again." Hesitantly, he let her hand fall from his and he wiped away his tears; this was a journey he must face. He took his bag from the corner and exited his chamber with one last glance over his shoulder.

Gaius was sitting before his bench with an owl-feather quill in his hand as he wrote across a sheet of aged parchment. His eyes met Merlin's as he came down the stairs in a gloom like a storm cloud lingered above his head and drenched him with a never-ending downpour. "There's a letter for you," he said calmly and motioned with the feather of his quill to the small table across the way. "It was there when I woke this morning."

Curiously, Merlin approached the small table and lifted the letter into his hands. Across it read Merlin in rigid penmanship. Slowly, he opened the folded parchment. There was a single line inscribed in the centre of the page: I love you.

He stared up with absent eyes, the three words swimming in his forefront of his mind. They were undoubtedly Kadian's words. She had always been there for him when she should not have been; she always let him lean against her and he never refused to hold her in his arms; and now, it seemed, she cared about him far more than she cared for herself or any other.

Merlin's mouth grew dry and his heart slowed until it was weakly giving him life. How could he have been so selfish and naive?

"What is it, Merlin?" Gaius wondered, raising a white eyebrow.

"No." Merlin stated angrily and raced out of the chamber, crumbling the piece of parchment in his hand.

-x-

The journey was a long and quiet with only the serenade of the earth to fill her ears. Kadian drew her cloak around her as a harsh, bitter wind howled; she spurred the horse onward and down the grassy slope. In the stables of Camelot, Kadian did not saddle the horse that belonged to her; she secured the bridle to Starlust, Azura's snow-white mare that she claimed was the fastest horse alive. Starlust was, indeed, the swiftest horse Kadian had ever ridden.

In the far distance, Kadian could see a vast, sapphire lake hidden beneath a thick layer of mist; and jutting from the mist were the ancient ruins of the Isle of the Blessed. It would not be long now.

The trees were thickening around her, drowning in heavy, black shadows that hissed strange, dark words into her ears; Kadian shivered and took a deep breath. When she exhaled, her breath formed a thin, grey cloud before her and caressed her face as Starlust trotted forward.

Eventually, she came to an old, wooden dock that swayed with the rough waters. There was a musky scent of damp moss and clover in the air. After tethering Starlust to a tree, though she realized that she would not come back to collect her, Kadian stepped onto the dock; it creaked eerily underneath her and its aged timbers squealed with stress.

An old, weathered boat rested in the shallows with a tattered, black flag billowing at the bow. Hesitantly, Kadian stepped into the boat and sat quickly as it threatened to roll over. "Astyre." Her voice was soft; she pulled her cloak tightly around her and sat quietly as the boat strolled forward and into the thick mist.

Soon, the high, cracked stone walls of the Isle surrounded her on all sides. A terrace stretched across the leaf-caked water; ivy vines snaked up the crevasses of the dark stones; and the once high towers lay as crumbled and weathered rock. Kadian gripped the edge of her seat as the boat came to a stop beside a narrow alcove. Inhaling the cold air, Kadian stepped into the alcove and climbed the haunting steps.

The wide courtyard lay before her, glistening with fresh water droplets. In the centre sat the stone table, carved with intricate designs along its edges; upon it sat a golden chalice, the Cup of Life. Her heart was racing as her tired, frozen feet carried her further; she did not want to die, but it was the only way to save the lives of the people she loved the most.

"My, my, first the warlock and now his witch," an uncanny voice hissed on the crisp wind. A pair of steel blue eyes stared deep into Kadian's very soul. The slim figure of a woman was before her, dressed in a simple, wine-red gown; Nimueh grinned. "I never thought I'd see you here."

"I'm full of surprises, Nimueh; not unlike you," Kadian breathed; Nimueh's eyes pierced through her like two, double-edged blades. "Merlin intends to trade his life for that of his mother's; I want you to take my life in his place."

Nimueh cackled. "With all my powers of prediction, I would have never have guessed this," she said amused. "But what I do see..." She paused as her eyes went absent and her breath was caught with a shrill inhale. Then, her luscious red lips curved into a grin. "I see Camelot crumbling beneath you. Why would I..."

"Because you took my mother from me, priestess," Kadian sneered; the wind kissed her soft face and she shivered at its cold bite. "I will gladly sacrifice my life for Merlin, for Hunith, and everyone who would suffer. You gave me this power, and you will take it from me."

"So valiant you are, Kadian, but are you sure you wish to die?" Nimueh took a step toward Kadian who nodded. The priestess raised a soft hand and gently caressed Kadian cheek. "You had so much potential, pity."

-x-

Merlin could hear the vile words of Nimueh's enchantment from across the lake; he had ridden without rest through the night and had somehow managed to reach the Isle faster than he had his previous journey.

"Ic, seo heahsacerd, the acwelle strengthe ealdan aewfaestnesse!" Nimueh incanted; her spooky, nerve-racking voice echoed throughout the crumbling walls of the Isle of the Blessed. In her hands was the Cup of Life; she held the shining gold chalice above the motionless, limp Kadian whose cloak was drawn across her face.

"STOP!" Merlin shouted as he burst into the courtyard; his eyes widened and his lips trembled as he saw Kadian lying beside the stone table, unmistakably dead at Nimueh's feet.

Startled, Nimueh turned her steel blue eyes onto Merlin, glaring at him for his rude interruption of her work. She lowered the chalice slowly and rested it upon the flat surface of the table. With graceful strides, she approached Merlin with her eyes beaming in the grey light. "Back so soon, warlock?" she asked grimly; her skirt skimmed across Kadian's body and fell to the grass.

"What have you done?" Merlin stated in a low, grizzly voice; he felt his heart shattered as he lifted his eyes from Kadian and stared into the dark, tainted soul of Nimueh.

"You mother is safe," Nimueh stated; she met Merlin's dark stare and returned it with that of her own. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

There seemed to be a lump stuck in Merlin's throat as he choked over his words, "Have you killed her?" He tried to hide the pain the words inflicted him, but he felt his eyes swelling with water; he could have prevented this.

"It was her wish." Nimueh stopped her approached and cocked her head to the side, watching as Merlin turned away. A hole had replaced her heart ages before; she felt no pity for what she had done.

Merlin stared down at the emerald grass beside his worn boots; his lips were quivering and his heart's rataplan was heavy and roaring inside his chest. He looked up at Nimueh; his eyes were cloaked in sombre shadows and were without hue. As sad as he was, his bottled anger took control of his limbs and his mind. "How could you take her life? I bargained MY life for Arthur's, not Kadian's!" He growled fiercely and clenched fists at his sides.

"The Old Religion does not care who lives or dies! Only that the balance of the world is restored!" Nimueh spat; the creases of her face darkened as her lips formed her heated words. She softened her voice and let her words flow over her crimson lips calmly. "To save a life, a life must be taken." She turned her head away and glanced over at Kadian with a grin. "Kadian knew this and yet she did not care. So much for true love."

Merlin gritted his teeth and his eyebrows scrunched together. "You have done this, not the Old Religion! You took something you so despised and erased it! Bring her back!" He yelled, nearly pleading; the shadows over his eyes darkened and his nostrils flared like an angry bull.

She grinned darkly and set her eyes on Merlin again, piecing him apart. "Come, now. We are too valuable to each other to be enemies." Her voice was slow and indifferent, twisting around every syllable to persuade Merlin to go against himself.

"NO!" Merlin growled, throwing his arms into the air. He stalked forward two steps; his breaths were heated and weighted, fiercely exhaling over his burning lips.

"With my help, Arthur will become King," Nimueh said with her voice slowly rolling off her vile tongue. Her white teeth shone through her heinous grin and her eyes beamed beneath her thin, brown eyebrows.

"I will make Arthur King," Merlin shot back viciously; he grinned and let his anger swim through his veins alongside his boiling blood. He stared venomously at Nimueh as his voice said softly and assuring, "But you will never see that day." Raising his right hand swiftly, he threw a wild stream of amber lightning with a single, hasty enchantment, "Astrice!"

Nimueh raised her left hand in a flash and Merlin's attack vanished as the jagged bolts of lightning met her hand. "Your childish tricks are useless against me, Merlin," Nimueh sneered; she moved her fine hand in a circle and amber embers snapped before her flesh, forming an orb of voracious, whipping tongues of fire. "I am a priestess of the Old Religion. Forbearne!" She threw the orb forward with a strong, swift thrust of her arm.

Merlin had no choice but to dive out of the way; the orb was soaring through the air too rapidly for him to think of a counter-spell. The orb crashed against a stone wall, crushing the rock and sending small bits into the air ablaze. Merlin landed roughly on the ground; a fiery projectile barely missed the top of his head while several others scorched his brown jacket. He pushed himself to his feet and stared intensely at Nimueh.

Then, his eyes fell upon the lifeless Kadian beside the stone table; he missed the words that Nimueh spoke to him, showing him a courteous mercy that she gave to few. In his mind, he could hear Kadian's cute laugh that always made him smile, no matter his mood; he could taste her in his mouth like he had just kissed her tenderly; and right then, he longed to have her lying in his arms with her head resting against his chest listening to his soothing heartbeat.

Nimueh gripped Merlin's attention once more with the words, "You should join me."

"NEVER!" Merlin growled.

"So be it. Akwele!" Nimueh launched a second orb of fire at Merlin.

There was less time to reaction; this orb had the intent to kill. As he went to jump out of the way, the orb hit him square in the chest with a hollow thud that boomed through the isle like thunder. He collapsed onto his back with his tunic burned through to his skin; the wound stung and he could feel his blood drip down the sides of his torso.

His eyelids came together over his dark blue eyes; he fought to endure the pain, but it was too much for a mere servant to handle. The pain in his face subsided and his head lobbed to the side until he was seemingly dead without a single, involuntary motion; his fingers stood stiff in the position they had been with palms toward the sky; the wind tossed his feet to the side and carried away the smoke that rose from the singed tunic.

Nimueh moved to tower above him, her eyes swimming with utter disappointment. "Pity," she said softly. "Together, we could have ruled the world." She turned, sweeping her bold eyes across Merlin, and walked away to finish what needed to be done.

Merlin took a soft breath; his eyelids parted suddenly and he stared up at the grey sky, cast in dreary clouds that lingered before the sun. He rose to his feet silently, watching as Nimueh sauntered over to Kadian, his Kadian. Rage was scribbled across his face; shadows were cast over his eyes by his furrowed brow; and his lips were curved into a disgruntled frown. "You should not have killed her," he snarled uncannily. He raised his right hand to the sky.

Nimueh slowly turned at the sound of his dark, mysterious voice; she thought him to be dead. The clouds began to tumble over each other, darkening to an ominous black; thunder bellowed across the sky and echoed hollowly through the Isle; and lightning snapped across the clouds in a magnificent flash of very soft, periwinkle. Her eyes widened in awe.

Merlin gradually lowered his outstretched hand and pointed it at Nimueh; a long, crooked streak of lightning fell from the clouds, piercing Nimueh in the chest. She twisted and twitched as the electricity swam through her; her head was thrown back and her raven locks lashed the air for the last time. With her hands raised to the sky, Nimueh exploded. And as her magic died with her flying pieces, a high-pitched screech squealed.

Turning away, Merlin shielded his eyes with his arm for the light was too bright for his eyes to watch Nimueh die. Once the screeching died with Nimueh, Merlin stood straight and lowered his arm. It began to pour and thunder clapped above his head.

His heart began to thump wildly; he ran to Kadian, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. Her cloak had fallen from her face, it looked like porcelain in the flashes of light; her eyes were closed, hiding her beautiful irises from him; and her once warm, pink lips were cold as ice and turning blue. "Kadian!" he cried weakly as the rain beat upon his neck like nails.

Tears swam down his eyes, mingling with the streaming rain; he choked on his breaths and his heart lurked in a strange pain. All he had wanted was to protect her, save her from the pain that would come; but he had failed miserably for he held her, dead, in his arms. He stroked her wet hair and brushed it away from her delicate face.

Everything he stood for meant nothing to him now. He wished that Nimueh's orbs had killed him; save him the torture of the guilt he would live with for all eternity. His life was pointless now, he thought; even his great destiny was nothing. Oh, what he would give to see that bright smile and the glimmer in her eyes as the sunlight kissed her face. He sobbed hard, burying his face into her hair that still held a faint scent.

"Merlin..." a faint voice croaked through the heavy beat of the rain. Merlin..."

Merlin lifted his head and stared dumbfounded at Kadian's soft face. "Kadian?" he whispered, sniffling.

There was colour in her face, faint as it was, but there nonetheless; her cheeks were branded crimson and her soft, alluring lips were a lush pink. Her chest rose and fell with a deep breath that was warm against Merlin's cold, damp tunic. "Merlin." Her voice slowly crawled over her thawing lips.

"Kadian, it's me," he said as he sniffled and shivered at the touch of the rain. "I'm here, Kadian. I'm here."

"Wha..." She took a slow breath. "What did y-you do?" She stammered; her body shivered and her lips trembled violently.

Merlin tightened his hold on her; he tried to pull his jacket around her, but it was only meant for one person. Kissing her temple and rubbing his hands up and down her thin, numb arms, Merlin smiled and whispered. "Nimueh's dead."

He reached up with a gentle hand and caressed her cold cheek, wiping away the rain as it beaded against her pale skin. With his hand warm against her face, Kadian opened her eyes and saw nothing but the sleeve of his soaked jacket. Merlin smiled when she lifted her eyes to his face, inadvertently moving out of his warming hold. "The balance of the world is restored," he said softly, nearly breathless as he met her absent gaze; he noticed the change in her eyes, the faint, yet conspicuous silver mingling with her sapphire irises. "Kadian?"

All she could do was stare up at him, his face dripping with little droplets of cold rain and his hair black as night against his brow. There was no recognition of where she was or what she had been doing; it was all a complete, fuzzy blur. Lying beside him in his captivating arms that gave her seldom warmth made her curious; she remembered their quarrel and little else. How long ago had that been? Hours? Days? Weeks?

"Kadian?" Merlin repeated loudly as he stared intensely into her eyes; she knew what he saw.

"Nimueh..." Kadian drifted away and was swept off in her thoughts again. She tried hard to recollect her missing memories, but she had no luck. The balance of the world... she thought wondrously, averting his stare. Life and death. "You? You mastered the power over life and death?" Her voice was normal, possibly sarcastic in a humorous way that made him smile and chuckle.

"There's hope for me yet." He kissed her lips softly.

Kadian heart raced a million miles a minute. She shivered as the rain water slid smoothly down her back. Reluctance came over her lips and he sensed it and withdrew, watching her curiously. Dumbfounded, Kadian blinked and stammered, "M-Merlin."

A heavy sigh parted his lips and the exhale was hot against her frozen nose. "I'm sorry," he breathed. "Sorry for everything. What I did was unforgivable. I can only imagine what it did to you..." he paused; his gaze met her altered eyes again and he felt his heart get lanced when she slipped her eyes from his. "I didn't want..." The train of thought vanished through a dark, never-ending tunnel and he was lost for words. "I couldn't..." He frowned and sunk his shoulders, giving up for he knew it was a lost cause.

"Merlin."

"No, no, wait. You're the princess and I'm just... I'm just a servant."

"Merlin."

"Alright, I'm not just a servant, perhaps an in-disguised all-powerful warlock... who can't get one thing straight. Here I go again, brain all-faulty and... and..." His babbling made a grin appear on Kadian's face; he was the same old Merlin.

He took a deep, slow breath. He found as the days went by since they first met, that day in the bazaar after Arthur had swept him, literally, into the street, that every time he tried to tell her how he felt, the feeling was but one, simple phrase he never dared to speak. Perhaps it was his guilty conscience that gave him the courage; or was it stupidity? "I love you."

Kadian did not know if it was the bitter touch of the rain or that she was caught off-guard. Whatever it was, it made her voice fumble and struggle to come up with something to reply. Those three words were the same words she had used to say goodbye; she remembered now, why she had come to the Isle of the Blessed, to sacrifice herself in his place. However, she could not help but wonder if there had been another reason. Nonetheless, it was the power of unity that kept them together, for better or for worse.

She could not manage to get her tongue to form the same three words, but she managed to make eight that basically said the same thing, but in her own, roundabout way. "Can you stop the rain?" Kadian asked, treating him to a short peck on the lips before saying, "My 'all-powerful' warlock."

He smiled.

-x-

A beautiful dawn illuminated the sky when they returned to Camelot. The sky was the colour of newly-blossomed pink carnations; the clouds were pale tangerine; and the sun was peering over the horizon, pooling gold over the trees and far hills. There was darkness on this magnificent morning, and it waited for Merlin and Kadian impatiently at the tall gates.

Uther Pendragon, the King of Camelot, stood with his guard; his eyes were dark and his brow was furrowed. The vein on his neck was bulging against his burning face. "Seize them."

-x-

The Great Dragon roared into the darkness of his cavern, whipping out his massive wings. Violent gales slammed against the rock walls and shook the hanging stones from the ceiling. His talons lashed the air and a fiery inferno escaped his powerful jaws, burning the cold air.

-x-

Morgana woke with a start. A shrill cry escaped her startled lips. Her raven hair fell before her face giving her a dark, sinister appearance. The Dragon's roar reached her chamber, but that was not what woke her. There was worse to come, she saw it for the utmost time; and the worst was rapidly approaching and would blind-side them all. Death and despair was written all across her chamber walls, the ceiling, everything. Dreams are not for the faint hearted, she thought grimly.

-x-

THE END