Disclaimer: I own nothing. Don't sue me. You won't get anything.

I have updated once again and so I will acknowledge my wonderful reviewers.

Meraculas and Natalie: Welcome to the Party! I hope it suits your liking. There is much still to be read.

HGandRHForever: If enough people ask for everyday updates, I will do so on everyday, not a weekend. I have bigger fish to fry on Saturdays and Sundays, namely my boyfriend and my sister.

ZELINIA: You darling angel, you! I could kiss you for your loyalty. I hope you like where I'm going with this. And….there's a huge twist at the end of this chapter.

I'll see you all on Monday. ;)

Chapter Twenty-One

Nightfall found them away from Marius Honorius' home. Marius, his wife -the Lady Diane, and their son -Alecto, the Pope's favorite godchild and pupil- were sleeping, tucked away in their carriage. Dagonet was sleeping at the base of a tree with the young boy they had rescued from Marius' torture chamber silent and slumbering next to him. Dagonet had set his broken arm, treating him much as Bors treated his own sons. The two were already good friends and inseparable.

The Woad woman, Guinevere, had also been rescued, though she did not sleep. Her dislocated fingers had been set by Arthur himself, but there was something heartbreakingly familiar about her. Her defiance and strength reminded him much of the Woad child he had adopted as his sister so many years ago, and despite his attraction to her, he could not let himself get too close to her.

Galahad and Gawain were attempting to sleep, though thoughts of Morgaine -and the fate of Galahad's child- made this impossible, while Bors sat alone at the fire, drinking quietly to pass the time. Tristan was out scouting, keeping an eye on the approaching Saxons as they camped for the night. Lancelot sat alone in the light of the fire, keeping an eye on Arthur who slept at the base of a tree, outside the firelight. "Arthur," came that familiar voice behind Arthur, causing him to wake.

Looking around, he saw Guinevere moving away from camp. Equal parts suspicious and curious, he grabbed his sword and followed her. She stopped, a ways from the camp. He approached her, the two of them smiling at each other. But then, her eyes looked away and Arthur lunged backward, sword at the ready. Merlin stood there in the dark, illuminated by the crack of the lightning overhead. Turning back to Guinevere, Arthur accused, "You betrayed me!"

"He means you no harm," Guinevere insisted, staying where she was.

"Peace between us this night, Arthur Castus." Merlin called, getting a good look at the man who had loved his daughter as his sister. Coming down the hill, he spoke softly. "So Rome is leaving. The Saxon is come. The world we have known and fought for is ended. Now we must make a new world."

Arthur's eyes glared at him, some part of him irrationally blaming Merlin for the death of Morgaine. "Your world, Merlin, not mine. I shall be in Rome," he insisted, tacking on a silent, away from you and the memories of Morgaine.

"To find peace? The Saxon will come to Rome."

"My Knights trust me not to betray them to their enemy."

"Rome was my enemy, not Arthur. You know this, Arthur, Morgaine told you this many times. We have no fight between us now."

"You tell that to the Knights you killed before my eyes. Whose bone are buried in this earth. Tell that to Morgaine, who disappeared after I entrusted her to your safekeeping."

Guinevere turned to look at Merlin, confused. Merlin shook his head at her and sighed deeply, "We have all lost brothers."

Something in his tone infuriated Arthur. "You know nothing of the loss I speak. Not only was there Morgaine, but there was another as well. Shall I help you remember? An attack on a village. The screams of an innocent woman." He paused, seeing the attack, his burning home and his mother trapped inside. "I ran to the burial ground of my father to free her. To kill you. I feel the heat of that fire on my face even now."

"I did not wish her dead. She was of our blood, as are you."

Guinevere spoke then, deciding to remain silent about Morgaine as Merlin had silently implied. "If you were so determined to leave us to slaughter, why did you save so many?"

Merlin picked up then, "My men are strong, but they have need of a true leader. They believe you can do anything. To defeat the Saxons, we need a master of war. Why do you think I spared you in the forest?"

Arthur spoke softly. "Galahad had thought that you spared those of us that are left in Morgaine's memory, seeing as though most of us who are left loved her best."

Merlin flinched slightly. "That sword you carry is made of iron from this earth, forged in the fires of Britain. It was love of your mother that freed the sword, not hatred of me. Love, Arthur."

Guinevere spoke, entreating him. "It is your destiny."

"There is no destiny. Only free will."

"And what of the free will of your Knights? Did they die in vain?"

Arthur stopped at that, before moving away in pain. Guinevere looked up at Merlin, questioning, "Morgaine? But she es…."

"Do not worry about that. All Arthur needs is a token of my good will. She will arrive in the morning."