The Reasons for Treason

by CoLdBlAdE

What would happen if Merlin saved Morgana after poisoning her in The Fires of Idirsholas? What would they have to say to each other? And what might unfold from there?

21. My Gates of Hell Part II

Hey ho my loyal readers. Thank you all so much for waiting this long, and know I say this in the knowledge that I have been in your position myself. I really am sorry but in my defence I have been extraordinarily busy. Anyway as I always like to, I'll explain this chapter a little. Recently I've begun picturing my chapters as episodes, meaning I can't stop picturing this story as a series – hence why they seem to be becoming longer. It's becoming quite a problem lol not being able to stop picturing how Merlin turns menacingly begins to grate on your nerves a little. However here we are, and though I am really not sure about half of it, I hope you enjoy it. Oh and feel free to tell me if it gets too confusing in places as though most of it was necessary to the plot, it can get a little confusing.

So on with the well deserved gratitude:

Addie-lala20; FallenSter22; kingleycrab; Firstm8ofJumpinJo; SylarQueen; zammierox; kenron; 500 review guy lol; FireChildSlytherin5; noname; CoLdBlAdE Fan No.1; Mergana; bookgirl 121; firedragonheart; Luke: Thank you so much for your reviews people. You're all incredible and do not think that because I clumped you all together that i think your reviews are less important. Most of you have been with me for day one and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words. Thank you so so much.

ArthursCamelot: Thanks so much for your words and not many people have said anything about wit so thank you very much. I've gone back and re-read stories before so I'm touched that you would want to do that with my story. It's interesting sometimes to go back and spot spoilers that I tried to make more subtle, although it would be hard to spot them at the moment. I hope you like this post as much as you seem to have the others. Thanks so much for reading.

Morgana101: Lol Thank you, buckets of thanks in fact for your kind words. I find it very hard to write these personal thank you's without seeming like an arrogant douche and you're not helping lol but seriously thank you. As for the Gwaine thing I would love to introduce him, but I don't really know how. I'd love to write like a boy's chapter with Merlin, Arthur, Gwaine and James all ripping on each other, so if you have any ideas then let me know. Thanks again.

Griffing07: I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting; really I am and thank you for your kind words. Yeah Lancelot I will come in handy in two chapters, though I may have introduced him a little early. I'm glad you like the Merlin, Morgana and Imogen thing because in this chapter their relationship moves on even more. Anyways hope you like this chapter as well and thanks again.

Aly G/MerlinFanATL: First things first lol you've once again gone out of your way to ensure my head grows by about three miles a word. I never know how to thank you enough, seriously I never do, and now I find this thing called fan pop. A reviewer sent me a PM and gave me a link, and I have to say I couldn't believe my eyes at all the kind things people (especially you) were saying about this story. Hell there were polls! Actual polls on this story and this story was at the top of all of them I couldn't believe it. I thank you so much, so so SO much that frankly it's probably quite unhealthy.

Now I'm not sure if I've ever done this, and if I haven't then I should have done, but is there anything in particular that you would like to see in this story? I think it's about time you had what you wished for and I think I'm at a point now where I can add things in this story. So let me know if there is something.

Anyway onto your review. Lazy? Really? I doubt you ever could be lazy in terms of your review. Even if you only said one word I'd still love you lol and dear god were you really hanging of a cliff? You know most people read sitting down but each to their own right? :P I am so so sorry for keeping you waiting for so long, but hopefully this 14,000 word chapter makes up for a bit and the next chapter will be up soon. As for the Empaths, you'll find out a lot more about them in the chapter following this one where they all loose their memory. I'm already writing that one and enjoying it quite a bit.

Seriously you couldn't see half of the review as you typed? I can barely type three words without looking up and correcting like fifteen mistakes. And so what if your not legal? :P Me and my friends used to hide in woods at night and share one crate of 24 cans between two of us lol we only got caught once by the police over three years. Classic. Anyway the story lol

As I said before you deserve far more than words in these counter-review things, so remember if you want to see something in an upcoming chapter then you let me know and it shall be done. Thank you so so so much and as always, adore hearing from you.

Captain ryder: Always good to hear from you, and this chapter is slightly longer than the last lol Hope it's alright for you. Thanks again.

ChroniclesofNarniaGoTandSJA: I know lol I'm sorry but nothing like a bit of death. I hope this chapter doesn't kill you coz it's kindsa dramatic. About James brothers and sisters, you're right coz it won't unite them. The plan was to make them slightly insane and misguided due to how long they've lived and their past. Thanks I love writing the Merlin and Morgana bits, I get all warm and fuzzy lol and you know a lot of people have said that about James being doctorish and I love it. Honestly it wasn't my intention but he sort of developed that way once he warmed up to the group a bit. I love doctor who since david tenant so maybe subconsciously I did it, either way I'm glad he's like it. Thanks for your kind words and hope this chapter suits you as well.

avatar Achrel: Loving it to the moon and back? Lol thank you so much and I sincerely hope this chapter suits you as well. I've had a lot of people say that they've not read a decent adventure fic recently and it really means so much (which yes I realise I've said already) but it really does. Thank you.

Crisiscase: Hello again! Thank you so much, it's always very touching when people compliment the plot and the O.C's in particular for me and you've done both in the first sentence! So liking you a lot right now as you can imagine lol. I know that the spelling and grammar can sometimes be off, it's a bit of a weakness of mine which I hope to improve especially since I imagine everything as an episode not a piece of writing lol I hope to get better. Wow thanks for saying that this is the best mergana fic you've read on here. That's incredible truly so thank you.

The Empaths? Oh yeah totally inspired by heroes lol I loved that show and Peter Petrelli was by far my favourite character. I also hated it when I had the news that it had been cancelled and I too have every season on DVD. I'm probably alone, but my favourite season was series three the "Villains" volume. It was exciting and I love exciting writing, in fact it was one of my inspiritions for making so many bad but hopefully exciting things happen. As is Buffy btw, brilliant writing on that show.

I love questions actually because your right, brilliant only gets you so far. Yes the masters are all James brothers and sisters by different mothers. Borin is father to all of them. Sometimes I get carried away and skip these things so their good to know. I can always tell when people mean well and please feel free to do it again. I've had people that just want to be negative and put you down because they don't feel you deserve the praise you get for a story, and those people I politely tell to have sex with their own ear lobes lol Your comments on the other hand are totally accurate and I in fact agree with you. Like I said I can get carried away Lol. Thank you so much for your review and by the way, on having Imogen being a Katie McGrath double, it wasn't an accident. :P what can I say? I'm a human male and she's Katie McGrath. It was always going to happen. Lol

Catindahat: As always, thank you for your review. Terrific to hear from you and can I just say if you like long chapters then you are in for a treat with this chapter lol. I'm actually worried I've made things too vague but hope you like it anyway. As for the character interactions in the last chapter thank you so much for noticing them. I just wanted to show how tight they had all gotten and it seems you got that so thank you. Hope to hear from you again.

EbonyK: Thank you, I'm glad to know that the last chapter was one of your favourites it means a lot. Yeah I thought James and Imi deserved a little one on one time to improve their slightly strange relationship. And truly thank you for liking James so much. I love it when people compliment my O.C's lol coz I love them so much. I also love writing Merlin and Morgana so I'm glad you enjoy reading it. I can't stop imagining clips of them individually and together from the show as I write them, so I guess that helps a lot in making them (hopefully) as in character as possible despite all the changes. It really isn't easy sometimes lol so thank you very much. Ah, angry James. Slightly ruthless is he not? It's nice to have a character that would do what we might possibly do if we had such power, so it's always fun to write. Anyways thank you, hope you like this chapter and as always love to hear from you.

Seddie lover: Yeah...sorry about the cliff hanger lol I hate them too and yet I can't seem to stop lol their like a drug. It was also about time Merlin warmed to Imogen a bit more I think, and there's a lot more of that in this chapter. Oh and Anna is a psychopath lol she's basically based on my little cousin who is well aware of how cute she is and uses it to her advantage and believe me, you don't want to cross her. I LOVED reading your long review. Oh yes! And if you like long chapters then you'll love this one as I believe it is the longest one to date. Sorry for keeping you waiting and let me know what you think. Thanks again.

Lily forever: I love the word epic, it's simply...well it's an epic word isn't it. Thank you so so much. Lol I like you very much right now, you're being far too nice. My ego is bad enough as it is you know. And I'm so glad you like James, because he kind of shines in this chapter a bit. Hope you enjoy and as always, love to hear from you.

Glassgift: Wow thank you so much you're actually too kind. I've been royally spoilt with reviews for the last chapter and being told you're an utter genius kind of makes you want to write loads more. I'm so glad you like James and Imogen so much and there will be loads more of them coming up in the chapters to follow, so I hope you can wait for them. As for Lancelot, yes he is being a bit of a douche and I think I brought him in too early – however I think you'll like this chapter quite a bit. *suspicious eyes* You'll just have to read and see, and by the way, your review is the reason the Gwen and Lancelot (Man whore of the century) scene in this chapter happened so I should be thanking you. I did some research after seeing the God and Jesus part of your review and was wondering if Merlin is set B.C or A.D? I have no idea. I did find loads of websites saying Christmas was around during the Arthurian legend, but you know how unreliable they can be just as much as me lol so excuse this chapter in that department and I will do better in chapter 22.

Btw...Gaius riding in on the dragon? By jove (yes by jove) that just may be the greatest Idea i've ever heard. I can actually see it! The dragon floating in with Gaius on its back crying "I don't believe it!" Sorry but it had to be done :P I'm thinking uther gets with another troll, perhaps a troll threesome? Wow can't shake that image. Seriously, Yes, Morgause does have to die. I agree with you there. Justice must be served. And Arthur and Gwen will have some more lovey dovey crap coming up soon lol I promise because perhaps it is time I write more on them. Anyway I actually laughed out loud at your review (especially the Gaius bit lol) so thank you for that, thank you for your incredible words and I sincerely hope this chapter is good for you as well.

Annoynomous: Sorry lol I love Imogen if that's any comfort to you. And she's not dead yet...but yeah she's on her way. Again sorry lol Anna will always be psychopathic lol I think all the characters related to James are a little nuts and kinda dangerous so I fear for her a tad. Cross your fingers she doesn't become a murderer? I'm glad you got that James actually chose to let out the darkness to save Imi, compromising his promise to his mother which he fully intended to honour but gave up for them. Also yes he and Merlin will become partners even without grief because as you say Merlin is the kind of person who looks for good in people and James is warming to them with each step, but the point was to show how deluded the masters were and their need for vengeance blinding them from the truth. Thank you so much for all your kind words, and it's nice to write good morgana as well, but in this chapter there will be a few hints as to how she is in the series. You'll see what I mean. Always love to hear from you.

Whitepurity: Thank you I'm glad you liked it, and if you like drama then this is the chapter for you lol kind of tiring probably to read actually so I apologize in advance. Please don't apologize for not reviewing the last chapter lol we all have lives outside of fanfiction. I hope your exams went well, i know first hand how difficult they can be so I wish you luck and glad this story can provide some respite for you. Anyways thanks so much for your review and hope this chapter is as good as the others.

MaryandMerlin: Your on edge? You just told me your gonna hunt down and stop me lol I couldn't be more glad that you're emotionally invested in the characters, and sorry in advance btw *winces* you'll see what I mean. Thanks so much for another review and hope to hear from you soon. P.S – Sorry to here about your straw lol tell its family I'm sorry for their loss :P

Doctorwhofreak4890: Lol thank you so much and sorry for leaving it so long. I hate cliff hangers, honestly I do, yet I can't seem to stop. As for the doctor who thing yeah he really is like him isn't he? I swear again it was not my initial intention but he sort of just developed that way the more he warmed to the original characters. I'm glad you think so actually because I adore doctor who. Anyways thanks for yet another review and I really am sorry that I left it for so long.

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My Gates of Hell – Part II

Merlin stepped out into the painfully cold night air. The breeze bit at his skin like tiny frozen pins stabbing at him from the darkness. He tried then and there to convince himself that it was this aforementioned temperature that was sending callous shivers up his spin...but he knew it wasn't true. He was afraid. He was afraid of so many things. The most obvious being that he was just about to venture out into the wildest wilderness ever conceived, the second that Imogen could be...hurt and alone. He would not allow himself to think of the alternative. It was far too realistic an option to consider. The third was that, despite everyone else assuming it was impossibility, he actually feared for James well being. The man seemed convinced that he wouldn't survive, and not only did they need him to complete the mission but the young warlock had grown fond of him.

However even with all this, he was also desperately alarmed by Morgana insisting on joining their quest through the deceptively beautiful wood. The black haired beauty had not only breezed over Arthur's, Gwens', Kalladines' and his own protests, but had seemed to have almost taken charge of the event. She was like a woman possessed. She had actually hushed poor Arthur when the King had begun taking control, as he often if not always did, and literally pushed the blonde man out of her way. From that point Merlin dare not upset her. She was a mother seeking her child; everything else was a blur to that aim. It was an instinct Merlin could not have understood until meeting Imi, an instinct that now drove Morgana more than the blood boiling in her veins.

He looked to his right and caught that crumbling vulnerability fluctuating off of her in waves. He suddenly felt a twang of guilt for all the times he had misbehaved for his own mother whilst growing up. If his mother loved him as much as Morgana loved Imi then he had some serious apologising to do to his matriarch once he saw her again. If he saw her again he thought sombrely. It was then when it hit him for the first time since they had started this quest. What if he didn't survive? He wouldn't see Gaius ever again, his mother and all the friends he had made in Camelot. Never again.

It was this option that lead to him extending his arm and integrating his fingers with Morgana's. She sharply looked down at their joined hands before allowing a calming smile to melt over her face. With an easy lift of her head she gazed into his gentle blues with affirmed conviction, once again questioning why it had taken her so long to realize the man of her dreams was right in front of her all along, masking himself in the shadows out of necessity.

It pained her to think of all the times this great man had been forced to lie because of the trolls slime known as Uther Pendragon. Just the thought of him made her heart still burn with hatred at all the pain he had caused, not only to her but to all of them. He had sent her father to his grave and made her fear herself, he had banished magic from the kingdom and so banished Merlin to the shadows to live in fear. He had murdered both James and Anna's mother, killed Gwen's father, exiled Lancelot to a life of degradation and finally sacrificed Arthur's mother as well as his sons' relationship with the love of his life. No wonder they had all found each other. They all had lost so much simply because of one man's hatred and pride, so now here they all were. They now fought against another tyrant who wished to mark the whole world with his cruelty, starting with finding two of their lost cohorts.

"I know it won't mean anything," Merlin began quietly, now looking away from Morgana. "But I think you should stay behind."

Morgana smirked. A cold, bitter smirk that frankly made Merlin attempt to swallow his fear. "Too late," she responded, her tone matching her smirk. Merlin found himself silently questioning it. Where had that come from?

"Morgana, these woods are dangerous-"

"I have to find her Merlin," she interrupted, her eyes scanning the dark hollow wood. The young Warlock sighed. Just as he had thought. "I have this horrible, unshakable feeling that something unspeakable has happened."

Merlin frowned, eyes now fully concentrated on the beauty before him. "What do you mean?"

Morgana shook her head and looked down to the lumpy soil beneath her feet, realising she was still in her white dress. She scoffed at herself. She was letting panic override all the training that rat bastard former king had installed in her, and honestly, who wears a white dress to go searching through the woods? "I don't know. I think I'm allowing fear to get the best of me-"

"I don't." Merlin replied, almost cutting her off before she had even finished. She snapped her head round to look at him, eyes wide and watery. Merlin had to blink to keep up. One second she looked like some cold, bitter fierce woman and the next she morphed into some frightened, vulnerable girl. How was he supposed to keep up with someone who seemed like more than one person in the same body? Almost like she was struggling to find out which one she was.

"Merlin, I don't see you wearing you're white dress and heels to go striding through the woods tonight," she said with an almost shamed smiled.

Merlin pouted, raising his eyebrows. "You're right. I shouldn't have left mine at home."

Morgana couldn't help the snort of laughter that followed soon after his rather strange reply, loving the sound of him laughing alongside her with that cute little chuckle he had. However it wouldn't have been their lives if Arthur's heavy hand hadn't fallen sportingly on Merlin's shoulder.

"Don't worry Merlin," the blonde king said chirpily, happy to be ruining his new advisors fun. "I'm sure they have spares. Although might I suggest a rose to go in your hair?" At Merlin's glare of death Arthur extended his bottom lip. "Daffodil perhaps? Something to bring out your eyes," he snapped his fingers in mock thought. "I've got it! How do you feel about Tulips?"

Merlin stared blankly at him. "Pretty much the same way I feel about you."

"Don't be silly. You can't cherish and respect a tulip."

Merlin nodded. "I know. But you can crush them under your boot...clot pole."

Morgana creased her brow behind him. "What's a clot pole?" The beauty asked puzzled, subconsciously sliding her hand down to her side. Kalladine frowned at the subtle movement.

"Something arrogant, blonde and called King Arthur of Camelot," Merlin answered, eyes transfixed on Arthur. "If you want to see one, you're in luck."

Arthur opened his mouth to retaliate until Kalladine's concerned voice cut him off. "Why are you doing that?" The emperor asked the black haired beauty, only receiving varied looks of confusion from within the group.

"Doing what?" Morgana asked in a small voice, though her hand remained on her side.

Kalladine lifted a finger to point at her hand. "Holding your side, why are you doing that?"

Morgana looked down and frowned once more, not noticing how everyone else was now staring unashamed at her torso. She looked back up to Kalladine, offering him a shrug. "I don't know. Why? Is it important?"

"You did this without thinking?"

"Yes."

"Almost like instinct?"

"Yes," Morgana replied, her tone becoming more and more concerned as the questions kept coming. Kalladine turned to stare at his Empath friends, the five exchange looks of non-verbal anguish. "Why do you ask?" Morgana tried again.

Kalladine turned back to her, a sad glint in his eyes. "There is much we can learn from our instinctual reactions...none more so than with a mother and daughter. Describe the feeling to me?"

Morgana took a weary step toward him. "Feeling? I do not understand what you mean?"

"Yes you do, you just don't realise it," Kalladine responded quickly. "Without thinking quickly tell me the first words that come to you. Quickly tell me now, do not think."

"Err-" Morgana closed her eyes. "Imi – love – Merlin – Uther – stab – dying –"

"Stab dying?" Kalladine halted her, his voice small and weak. Fear reflected in his eyes as he stared at her, replaying her last words in his head.

Merlin stepped up next to an extremely concerned Morgana, now feeling a horrible tightening in his chest. "What does it mean?"

Kalladine looked to him. "One thing you learn as an Empath is that a mother's connection to her child, as I said especially a daughter, is an immensely powerful thing. It transcends physical limitations of sight and sound, of distance and time," Kalladine took in a lungful of air. "This is a bad omen my friends. A very bad omen."

Both Merlin and Morgana exchanged a look, a look only described as a shared purpose. A shared thought. A shared emotion. Fear wasn't strong enough a word; it was an inadequate phrase, like using the word big to describe the sky. Without even thinking Morgana gracefully slid her hand into his own, seeking his strength as she felt hers pour out of her. What did that mean? Why did Kalladine repeat the last two words she had used? And how was her holding her side randomly of any relevance? She felt she had her answer but didn't want to accept it, like her mind had already decided it was an impossible conclusion.

Merlin swallowed nervously, looking away from Morgana and turning to look at the group of Empaths. "We need to leave before it is too –"

He was interrupted as every single Empath head spun away from him to stare at precisely the same point in the sky, eyes void of everything but shock and concern. Merlin, Morgana and Arthur attempted to follow their gaze in a vain attempt to spot whatever was so important for them to rip their attention away during a conversation. They hardly seemed like rude people, so then what was it?

"Can I ask what is so interesting?" Morgana questioned, lightly offended on Merlin's behalf. How dare they do that to him?

When they didn't reply Arthur stepped forward. "You have been asked a ques-"

"Quiet, Arthur Pendragon!" Kalladine hushed, authority dripping from every word. "Your blood approaches."

Arthur frowned. "My blood?"

"Kal?" Lia questioned, monotone despite her facial features. "Kal what is it?"

"It's like-like fire," Balin muttered. The middle aged man sounded cautious, fearful. Merlin frowned deeply. He didn't seem the type. "Such fire and...and hammering..."

"Wait a moment," Morgana thought out loud, not noticing Merlins head beginning to hang slightly next to her as if falling into a daze. "Like fire, you used the word fire?"

Merlin's head sharply bolted up, his eyes now utterly focused on the exact same position as the Empaths. Morgana jumped at the movement as the warlock simply stared through his eyelids at the position. Arthur turned to his advisor also, noticing how his friends head twitched randomly, as if in such deep concentration that he was entranced by it.

Morgana put a soft hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing it with her fingers. "Merlin?" She questioned delicately. "Merlin, what's wrong?"

"I sense it – them – I can feel it," he answered, not pausing. "The fire and the rage. I can actually feel it."

By now even Arthur was concerned. "What are you babbling about?" He was always good with the words.

"Arthur I'm telling you I can sense him!" Merlin yelled, snapping his head to look at his king. Arthur immediately lost the gaze he usually gave his friend when the younger man spoke such nonsense. Never before had he seen such intensity in a persons eyes. He knew what he was talking about, whatever it was. Merlin slowly turned to look at Kalladine, who was staring at him with utter bewilderment.

"Kal, he's right," Spoke Balin. Everyone now turned to him. "The prince comes with vengeance suffocating his heart, obscuring his mind, hands soaked in blood – blood that should not be but is – is everywhere."

Arthur frowned. "What does that even mean?"

Merlin fell to his knees with a grunt that sounded from his gut, hands clamped fiercely onto his skull, nails digging into the skin. Immediately Morgana and Arthur were by his side, followed quickly by Kalladine, Marian and Howell. "Merlin!" Morgana screamed, her arms falling over his tense back.

Arthur grit his teeth, turning to Kalladine. "You have to help him," he demanded, but the Empaths seemed too wrapped up in their amazement to hear him. "Hello?" the king yelled, finally earning him the privilege of the emperors' stunned gaze. "What's happening to him?"

Kalladine shook his head, as if he knew the answer but like Morgana before him could not seem to accept it. "It...he..."

"It isn't possible," Howell muttered, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself. He turned to his emperor. "Do you think...he can see as we see?"

Arthur seethed, sucking in a lungful of air through his teeth. "What isn't possible?" the king near growled.

"It is..." Kalladine began, having to shake his head to continue. "It is said that the very first of our kind, thousands of years ago, had such compassion for everything and everyone that he could see into the very fabric of all things. He could see things that the eye could not, even from across the world. He could see into the very soul of all beings, their mind and even it was rumoured time itself. He is the one that wrote most of the ancient prophesies that are studied by the Regus throne, and it is also widely believed formed the crystal cave."

"What are you talking about?" Morgana feverishly asked, daring to take her eyes off of her daughters' father for a split second.

"Before he died he decreed one final statement," Kalladine continued. "That one would one day show himself that would break the foundations of all law, both magical and earth bound. That he would be able to, as he had, see into the souls of beings and time itself. That he would be the establishment, the beginning if you will, of a new legend to be remembered forever, and he would be known as Emrys."

Both Arthur and Morgana's eyes absolutely bolted open as the mysterious name left the Emperors chapped lips. That was the name that seemingly everyone, including James, had been calling him since this journey began. Arthur could only gape. "You can't...be serious," he spoke, almost mockingly.

Marian frowned. "What?"

"That's what everyone has been calling him," Morgana answered, now looking so afraid that she could quite possibly turn and run away at any moment. "Mordred, James, Anna, the sorcerer king...even those in Avalon-" she suddenly stopped as she remembered what the grand elder had said to them just before they had left with an unconscious sorcerer prince. Merlin had asked why he had not had any hallucinations in the maze of Avalon, and Antor had explained that he had too compassionate a heart to be corrupted even by fear. That was the very definition of empathy, compassion.

Kalladine nodded, seemingly a little sourly. "Of course, I should have warned you."

Howell sighed. "Did you see those clouds of different coloured smog when you first arrived here?" the young man asked them. At the royals' nods he continued. "They are called soul dust. When you breathe them in over a period of time they can bring on adverse effects. They bring out what you truly are, make you into what you will be or perhaps should be. Whatever the case it finds something deep inside you and brings it out."

"So what does that mean for Merlin?" Arthur queried.

Kalladine looked up at him. "It means your friend Merlin has a lot of power in him, just waiting to be set loose upon the world."

Morgana began stroking Merlin's arched back. "Is there something you can do to help him?"

Kalladine nodded. "Yes, I can channel it...but it may not help. I have never done this with so much power before. All of his abilities are coming to the surface and if what is written about him is true, it may be impossible for someone like me to help. If I fail perhaps the sorcerer prince can do it."

It was then when Merlin grabbed a hold of Kalladine and pulled his fragile self up, still shaking. "She's a person but she is the key, blood on his hands – key – her blood will be the key to save us all," he babbled, not taking a single breath.

"Merlin, please what are you talking about?" Morgana pleaded, feeling the stinging sensation of potential tears. He looked like he was in so much pain and yet there was nothing she could do. She didn't understand this. One moment he was fine and the next he was able to see through all things? How did that make any sense?

"I am here too early I'm not prepared I would of should of been prepared but she – the key – the anomaly of sacred blood – NO! She's a person not a – I'll stop her from leaping I will I will I – AGH!" Merlin dug his nails further into his scalp. "I can see all things I can see what should have been I can see..." He suddenly looked up at Morgana, expression petrified and...from her guess...betrayed. "You - the evil you would have wrought on us all on all of Camelot – sent Gwen to her death – exposure of Arthur – your brother Arthur real brother brother by blood – army of the dead – army of the immortals the cup of life to be Queen but she stopped it – Imogen she stopped it – Balinor dead but he died anyway because the laws they cannot be broken – they find a way – my father died anyway and the knights of a round table – future round table would all help stop the new queen but he will put it all back to how it should be – he the fire and the rage he'll throw us to our fates and...and she is dying..." he trailed off, looking to the sky before slowly looking back in the castle. "...as is she and...and..." He abruptly began violently shaking, as if falling prey to some kind of convulsion.

"Merlin!" Arthur called, trying desperately to get his advisors attention. The King grabbed a firm hold of the other mans brown jacket and shook hard. "Merlin, you have to stay with us."

Merlin suddenly looked up at him, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But I am not ready to have this power – Imogen she brought me here too soon – I am not ready but I have to save her I will save her."

Morgana looked desperately up at Kalladine. "Please just do what you can, please," she begged, now trying to embrace his vibrating skin.

Kalladine nodded firmly and closed his eyes, extending his arm over Merlin. Craning his neck so his head was facing the heavens, he prepared himself to begin...until Merlin began talking again. "Imi she's dying and no one here can save her – no one not even James not even me I can't let her die I can't."

"Wait what?" Morgana near yelled. She grabbed his face and pulled it up to look directly at her. "Merlin, what do you mean Imogen is dying?"

Merlin firmly closed his eyes. "James – he brings her back in vanity – hoping she can be saved – they have the stone – but she cannot be saved not by anyone here – only one and I can...wait I can feel it rising – rising like a fire in my gut. I can't stop it – I – I..."

"No, please no," Morgana tried to keep a hold of him, but he simply slid back down, forehead leaning on the cold soil beneath him. She glanced back up to Kalladine. "James is bringing her back? That's what you can feel coming in the sky?" All three Empaths gave her a simple, sympathetic nod. "Then you can help? You must have a healer somewhere?"

Marian was the first to speak. "I'm sorry, Morgana, but if he could James would have healed her already. This means if he hasn't, then she must have been pierced with an immortal blade. Only the water of Avalon has ever been able to heal such a wound." The woman leaned forward slightly. "I am so sorry. If we could do anything, anything then we-"

"RAAAAAAAGH! DRAGON!" Merlin was suddenly up, on his knees, eyes wide and wild as glared up at the night sky. Arthur physically tumbled away from the roaring man, his own eyes propping open to new widths. "IMARLA! SUBES TENC UMBETA! DASUME BETACES!" And with that he fell, harshly, back down onto the soil – breathing heavily as if he had run for a long distance.

Morgana just gazed at him, having backed away a little herself. What on the creators great plains was that? His voice had sounded like it could have echoed for miles around, and the way his voice had sounded. It was like something else, some sort of wild dangerous animal, had belched it. It had clearly come from the very bottom of his gut, from his soul, but what was it? She looked up to Arthur to see the blonde king not blinking as he stared at the man he also thought he knew. Would there be no end to the surprises? Would a day go by without something utterly ridiculous making itself known?

"He's a Dragonlord!" Lia asked, suddenly behind them. Speaking of ridiculous. Her tone was not monotone for the very first time. Behind them though came a series of screeches from the different creatures dwelling in the darkness of the forest. They had heard the dragons call, probably felt it vibrating in their guts as they had.

Arthur shook his head, eyes blinking profusely. "Dra-?" He began but found himself in need of swallowing. After completing the action he turned once more to Kalladine. "Dragonlord?" He finally managed.

Kalladine made an odd movement with his eyebrows, a look of concern and fear spreading across his face. "A Dragonlord is a very rare thing Arthur Pendragon," the emperor explained, eyes trained on Merlin. "In fact until this very moment I believed them to be wiped from existence. Emrys, Merlin, is the last of his kind left in the entire world that can influence the last great dragon, making him very very special."

Arthur shook his head with a firm close of his eyes. "Merlin?" The king asked. At Kalladines nod Arthur titled his head. "Really?" He asked once more, tone even more disbelieving.

"Arthur shut up," Morgana demanded, causing Arthur to hold his hands up in defeat. "And can someone please tell me what Merlin just did?"

Marian looked the most astounded out of everyone there. "He just commanded the last great dragon to come and save us."

"It's time!" Called Tristan. Everyone looked up just in time for a gush of wind to throw them all to the floor. Morgana fell onto her side, her grasp on Merlin failing as the immense wind left her defenceless ...but she had not missed what had caused it.

Her eyes had picked up the blurred image of the outline of a man, something lying motionless in his arms. Instantly she knew who it was. After all how many people could fly that she knew? How many people could be described as the fire and the rage? Or more importantly, how many people could be lying motionless in his arms?

Her heart vaulted up into her throat, her soul begging it not to be true. It sounded harsh but she almost immediately forgot about Merlin. The man could take care of himself a little better, in fact too well at the moment, compared to what she knew was waiting for her inside the palace. The gush of wind had obviously rushed inside the huge white double doors, the once impenetrable fortress gates now hanging open – inviting her in to face her worst fears.

And yet despite knowing this, despite her blood running cold through her veins, she knew the decision was out of her hands. No matter what she was about to see...she had to see it. So with a crippling fear rippling through her every nerve she forced herself to stand.

"Arthur, bring Merlin in," Her voice was that of strength, confidence. How she wished she was that woman right now. She had been, once, a long time ago. Before discovering who she was – what she was, before Morgause, before Merlin and way before Imi had shown up and just changed everything. It may seem odd but she found it extremely hard to imagine her life without the brassy woman. She found it hard to feel like she used to before her daughter had descended upon them, isolated and constantly afraid. It was because of Imi that she now felt the happiest she had ever been. They all knew who and what she really was and every one of them had just accepted her for it, barely even blinking in fact. Sure Arthur had had some reservations but as she remembered it, only because her and Merlin had hidden it from him. The actual fact that they were sorcerers, as well as Imi, had seemed incredibly easy for him to digest. He had been brought up to detest all things magical – and yet he had accepted her, Merlin and Imi, the latter before he had even known her.

Imi, her mind reminded.

Her little girl. Well not so little anymore but she enjoyed thinking of her that way. It sent a warm wave flowing down through her body, comfortable and settling. She could do with all the help she could get right now. With a steadying, yet shaky, breath she took her first step. She quickly followed it with another, and suddenly she found herself running toward those inviting, foreboding doors. Her white dress was constricting her movement but she didn't care. In actual fact she didn't care that she was rather abruptly finding it hard to breath. All she cared about was what was waiting for her on the other side of those ever growing doors.

So that was why it hit her hard when Lancelot burst through them from the other side, eyes looking like he was on the verge of crying. "Help us."

---

INSIDE THE PALACE MOMENTS BEFORE...

"So..." Lancelot finally snapped the unbearable fog of tension that threatened to engulf both himself and Gwen. He had opted to wait for her to get ready, a subtle way to try and get her on her own. She stared up at him with eyes of apprehension. She was no fool. She could see through the subtle escapade, but also thought it was finally time for them to spend some time alone. "You're engaged."

She turned away from him as she began walking toward the white double doors to meet up with the rest of the group. "I am," she agreed gently. The moment was finally here.

They continued walking in silent ambiguity. The awkwardness was astounding as both simply continued to tread ever further. The silence was becoming deafening to her ears, and soon she found herself trying to stamp her feet so they would make more noise as she walked.

"I still love you," His words hit her with such impact that not only did she freeze in her movements but she almost vomited as well.

"I – I – Lancelot I –" She stuttered. Her arms flailed around her as if she were trying to fly, head snapping in all directions as she searched for a particular blonde head until finally her eyes landed on Lancelot pleading orbs. She sighed in her frustration. "What do you want me to say?"

Lancelot smiled that charming smile that she found utterly charming. "What do I want you to say?" He asked amused. "I want you to say you love me just as much as I worship you. Then I would like you to declare your desperation to run away with me so we can go and live a peaceful life in the mountains, have bundles of children until it becomes ridiculous before death takes us both in our sleep at the exact same time."

She couldn't help the breath she blew out as she laughed, giving her head a little shake. "The mountains?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded reverently. "The highest in the world, where the air is so clean you would sacrifice your first born just to inhale the slightest amount of smoke," he joked, revelling in the rush of giggles that escaped her. "Oh, and it's Christmas everyday and there is always a rainbow in the sky."

"Well that does sound nice," she agreed. However her smile faded as she looked at him, her expression darkening to a much more serious level. "And I do love you Lancelot."

He smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. He had heard the words he so desperately craved, so then why did his heart feel like a boulder falling into a never ending pit of despair? "But?"

She smiled mournfully, eyes glistening in the knowledge of what she was about to do. "But...I also love Arthur," she watched as she could visibly see his heart break. "I am truly, truly sorry. I love everything that he is. I love how treats people despite his status, I love how he does everything he can to do what is right and just, I even love it when he acts like a total buffoon with Merlin because it shows how much he cares in the only way he knows how. When he found out his servant was a sorcerer, the thing every fibre of him had been raised to hate, he accepted him and even promoted him to be his magical advisor," She sighed once more when Lancelot looked down to the ground with an almighty swallow. "He is going to do great things, Lancelot, and I have to be with him when he does because if I don't...I will regret it for the rest of my life."

He nodded glumly. He knew that was coming, and yet it had still hurt more than any sword. "I know, and I agree. He's a great man with great taste in company," the two shared a sad smile. To say she felt awful would be an understatement.

However that was when it happened. The huge double doors they were just about to exit through burst open, as if having been rammed with a gigantic log. Gwen spun around, her back having been to the disruption, only to be thrown back as a gush of wind threw her off her feet. Lancelot barely had time to register what was happening before he had to catch the tumbling woman.

"Gwen?" He asked panicked when the woman seemed to have had the wind knocked out of her. "Gwen are you alright?"

She nodded as quickly as she could. "Yeah I –" Her hands covering her mouth interrupted her own gasp. The sight before her was enough to give her the wind back she had lost and take it away again. James was hovering slowly down from his position levitating in mid air, Imogen convulsing in his arms. Blood dripped down from her gut freely like water from a fountain, exploding out from her lungs in violent coughs. "Oh my God," Gwen whispered, horror struck. Leaping to her feet she ran over to the sorcerer prince as he landed. "What-?"

"Stabbed with an immortal blade by my one of the masters," James answered, gently lowering her onto the increasing blood smeared marble floor.

Lancelot looked shell shocked. "Masters?"

"My brothers and sisters taking refuge here in Zao – I need something hot – HOT!" The prince yelled. Gwen jumped startled at his concerned yell before nodding and running off.

Lancelot watched her leave before turning back to the scene. "Is she going to be okay?"

James grabbed the bridge of his nose and squinted his eyes. "She received an immortal blade, which I cannot heal, straight to the the abdomen just below the umbilical. It's pierced her transverse colon which is what is causing her to bleed out. If we do not close the wound and some how heal her innards then her lungs will just keep filling up with blood, once that happens then she is going to die and there is nothing anyone can do even in my world and where the HELL is everyone!"

Lancelot gulped. "They went looking for you."

"Well then go and get them!" He yelled, eyes dancing with fire as he looked up at the once knight. Lancelot gave him a shaky nod before running to the doors. "And get me Kalladine! If she doesn't get a healer in the next minute then she is dead – no question about it."

At this Lancelot turned and ran for the door just as Gwen came back, a red hot iron bar in her hands, with over a dozen Empaths right running along right behind her. She threw herself to the ground and extended her arm to the prince. "Will this do?"

"It will have to," he replied, barely looking at the terrified woman as he snatched it from her. He looked mournfully into Imogens crying eyes, knowing that so much blood had filled her lungs that she could not speak. "Imi," he started in a much softer tone. "This is going to hurt more than anything you will ever experience again...but it will help stop you loosing blood. Are you ready?" A whimper was her only response. He nodded. "I'm so sorry," he muttered. Gwen looked up from her confused to stare up at James.

"What are you going to do?" She asked, her tone more high pitched than she could ever remember it being.

James bounced his eyebrows. "Burn the wound closed – why? What are you doing this evening?"

"But that's awful," Gwen whispered.

"Oh yes!" James yelled before slamming the red hot iron bar down onto Imogen's open wound. The poor girl from the future bolted up, her shrieks muted by the blood filling in her lungs. Her arms desperately batted away at the man she loved as he burning into her very skin. Tears fell from her eyes heavier than ever, her mouth hung soundlessly open and shook, almost as if violent shrills should be emanating from it. "Gwen! Hold her down!" James yelled.

Gwen shook her head and backed off. "But I-"

"Now Gwen or she's going to die!" He ordered, watching as the once maid allowed herself to gaze horrified at the scene before lunging forwards. With firm resolve she wrapped her arms around the convulsing beauty to hold her steady, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Are any of you healers? Or do you know of one within the kingdom?" James asked the Empaths standing around them helplessly.

"There is no healer who can defy an immortal blade prince-"

"Imi!" Came such a shrill from the door that it even startled James into looking up. Their eyes landed on Morgana, who was staring transfixed on James currently burning her daughter.

James winced. "Oh boy..."

"Get your filthy, insane hands off my girl!" The black haired beauty demanded with such fire that he actually did as he was told.

"Should be enough anyway," he muttered. He turned to Morgana. "Now granted this looks bad. You know you walk in, I'm burning your daughter –"

"Get out of my way!" Morgana screamed at him as she pushed him out the way. She fell to her knees beside her daughter and began stroking the girls' forehead just as Imi's eyes rolled to the back of her head. "Oh my...Imi! Imi wake up! Please please wake up! Merlin!"

Merlin stammered in, arm slung over Arthur's broad shoulders. "He's coming!" The young warlock called back weakly, spare palm pressed against his forehead.

James frowned. "Who is coming?" His eyes landed on Kalladine. "Kal, do you have a healer in the castle? I've managed to buy her some time by burning the wound but without a healer she's going to die."

Kalladine shook his head, heaving a heavy sigh as he did so. "We have no one here who can heal any wound inflicted with an immortal blade," the emperor looked sadly down at Morgana. A curse and gift of the empaths was that they could feel the pain of others as if they themselves were going through it, and right now their soul was being ripped in two. "I am truly sorry, but there is nothing we can do to save her."

Morgana's blood ran cold and sent a shiver through her body. There was nothing they could do save her...Imogen was going to die...there was nothing she could do other than watch her daughter die. She not only felt powerless, but also the need to rip her own heart out to stop it tearing itself apart. That was when her eyes shot open as an idea hit her.

She spun around, eyes wide to stare at the sorcerer prince. "You," she whispered. "You can do something." He merely looked back at her, hands in pockets. Tears fell from her face as she studied his features. No humour. No spark. Just that look that told her he wasn't going to do anything, because he couldn't.

He looked away from her desperate gaze. "I'm sorry-"

"Stop telling me you're sorry and do something!" Her voice cracked and turned horse. She was tired of people telling her they were sorry. "Start talking quickly and put things together, the whole clever thing that you do! Smirk! Smile! I don't care just please do something!"

"Morgana," He sighed.

"No," she whimpered, bottom lip shaking in her hysterics. His tone was absolute, defeated. Without hesitation she rose to her feet only to throw herself at his, fiercely grabbing at his shirt. "Please, just one more time, be amazing. I promise I won't ask again but please, be the man you were when you stood up to Morgause and the assassins three. Be the man who stood up to thousands of Faery and sent them running in fear. Show me why your name is feared throughout the world," tears streamed from her eyes as she stared up at him from the floor, eyes penetrating his own, compelling him to help her with every atom of her existence. He firmly closed his eyes, unable to look at her anymore. "I'm begging you, whatever it takes, please just do something...anything...just save her...please."

He opened his eyes, full of sorrow and helplessness. James crouched down to be level with her, reaching forward and grabbing her hands. "Morgana," he began softly. Her eyes were full of such hope as she looked at him that it broke his heart. "You should spend time with your daughter while you can," he whispered it gently, but it caused her whole world to come crashing down. She lowered her head. Her throat constricted, her breathing struggling, and she actually wished that whatever divine power there was would just take her now and save her the destruction of her heart. Save her from watching her daughter die. "Because pretty soon she's gonna be awake."

She snapped her head up to look at the sorcerer prince, eyes wide and mouth agape. "What?" she asked sharply. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him smirk.

"Well I don't know about you but I would be pretty annoyed if my mother spent all the time I was dying talking to some idiot no matter how pretty he is," His smile stretched all the way across his face as he held out his hand, compelling her to take it. Still confused she took it, allowing him to lead her back on to her feet. "But first she'll be thanking me, do you know why blue?" Morgana shook her head gormlessly. "Because I'm going to save her."

Morgana felt her blood boil as hope surged up once more deep within her. Was he serious? "Are you serious?" She asked, voicing her thoughts.

"Morgana," he began once more, his serious expression back. "I am the sorcerer prince. I am the omega of this planet. I am part God, I'm immortal and I have never been beaten - not ever. Basically, I'm better than Christmas and it's about time you people realised just how lucky you are to be within my presence. So I promise you, your daughter will live a long unnatural life with her terrific taste in men in tact BUT do you know what I'm going to do first?"

Morgana's smile threatened to crack her face in two. "What?"

"I'm going to go save my little sister from the Empress of the Empaths with your big eared boyfriend assisting me because if I don't you'll see a vengeance unlike any this world has ever known before, and I deem it fit to save not only my sanity but all of your lives as well." He finished, turning to a still huddled Merlin.

Kalladine frowned. "What are you talking abou-?"

"I'm talking about you're wife Kal," James was suddenly in front of the Emperor, nose to nose. "Your wife is none other than one of my kin – one of the masters themselves sent to penetrate your once magnificent empire – and right now even as we speak she is preparing herself to soullessly slaughter an innocent six year old girl – MY six year old girl so if I was you I would SHUT your mouth, open those ears and eyes that only detect whatever they wish and do exactly as I say before I completely lose control am I being clear?" James threatened in a low voice. "Because if my princess has even a scratch on her I will slaughter and mutilate your wife beyond recognition, I will rip her bones from her flesh and feed them to devils henchman before I even realise what I have done. That little girl, she keeps me grounded, and if she goes then so does my soul. So you better pray, you had better beg that she breaths because trust me...you don't even know, you cannot comprehend what I will do."

Silence seemed to almost echo in the hall as everyone now stared with horrified interest at the sorcerer prince smiling calmly at the Emperor of the Empaths, who seemed to say the least was a little shocked. Finally, Kalladine opened his mouth. "My wife?"

"I'm sorry, I am but I don't have time for your heart to break as well. Imi is dying, my little Anna is about to be murdered and I have a warlock with a substantial headache to rescue," He stepped if possible, even closer to the Emperor. "Now where is your wife, Kal?"

Kalladine couldn't say a word. His wife, the woman he had spent the last twenty years of his life with was a member of the Regus throne all along. Luckily for all present Lia stepped forward. "She's in the throne room."

James looked to her. "Thank you. Merlin," he called, eyes travelling to Merlin. The young warlock managed to look up at him, eyes watering. "Time to go to work," He raised his fingers and snapped them.

Morgana watched with amazement as Merlin suddenly straightened. His eyes shot up toward the ceiling and his whole body went rigid until finally he released a heavy breath. His body relaxed, his headache dissipating into nothingness. He couldn't believe it but all that pain, all that tension had disappeared at the snap of James fingers. "It's gone," he whispered relieved. A laugh escaped him. "The visions have gone-"

"You can burst into song later," James interrupted with a wave of his hand. "Unless you want your daughter to die, we need to get moving, as in now."

Merlin lost his smile as he took in the scenario fully around him. He had been so lost in his visions that he had not entirely registered what was happening. Imogen almost dead on the floor sent a direct message to his brain that she needed to be saved. "What do we do?"

"Simple. I'm going to run off and save my sister, you're going to wait here and tell the dragon when he arrives to save Imogen, or at least give you the power to do so because I offer mine willingly," Merlin brought his head back in confusion at his words. "Gwen I need you to go get supplies to keep her temperature down because trust me when I say it is not going to be pleasant coming out of a coma like this for her, our Empath friends will supply you with all you need. Lancelot I need you to set up a patrol outside the doors because when Kilgarrah arrives he will draw in the beasts from the darkness waiting in the forest outside. Morgana you need to keep talking to Imi, keep her grounded to this dimension with your voice. Arthur you're with me."

Arthur nodded solemnly. "Fine, what do we do?"

James smiled. "We run," even his voice sounded insane.

"I'm sorry run?" Arthur questioned, one eyebrow rising.

James sighed. "Arthur you completely ruined this moment for me – yes run! As in move you're legs quickly in order to gain distance faster. Imagine what you would do if you saw your brain crossing the road to get back in your head."

"Wow," Arthur replied, crossing his arms. "That seemed unnecessary."

"Now Pendragon!" James yelled, suddenly sprinting past him and up the stairs. Arthur soon followed, only halting behind James when the prince turned to face the frozen group. "Blue," he called, earning him Morgana's attention. "She's going to be fine, I promise you, and never feel guilty for what's about to happen. It was my choice."

Morgana's smile faded slightly as she looked at him. His wild smile had gone. His smirk had long since disappeared. Instead his smile seemed almost...sad, defeated and resigned. She turned her head to the side slightly, eyes turning suspicious as she looked at him. "James...what are you going to do?"

Everyone was staring at the prince now, all of them deeply suspicious. Merlin allowed his eyebrows to crease, eyes travelling between a still convulsing Imogen and James. His mind thought back to the Maze of Avalon, when that apparition of his father had given him a choice to either save his mother or him. The prince had stabbed himself in the gut in order to save him. Merlin's eyes shot open. "Oh no," he muttered to himself. He looked back to James just in time to see the sorcerer prince wink at him.

"Ok! Everyone get moving! Come on lets go!" James yelled. Everyone jumped into action, everyone except Merlin. James turned to Arthur. "Alright cousin, follow me," He finished and sprinted up the stairs, taking two at a time.

Arthur followed, almost a little grudgingly. "I live to serve you," the king added sarcastically.

"How about a little less back chat princess," James called back over his shoulder.

Merlin watched as the two reached the top of the stairs. "Says the man who keeps calling himself pretty," Arthurs faint voice reached his ears just before the royal cousins disappeared from view. Merlin hung his head as everyone bustled around him, all doing their part in James plan. He wasn't sure what James was going to do, but he did know that he turned down Morgana twice before eventually helping her.

Whatever it was it made his stomach churn. He would pretend that all those visions he saw had been wiped from his memory, but the truth was he remembered every single one. He, alone, knew how all of this was going to end. This entire journey was coming to an end soon, and it was not going to end well. However what disturbed him even more than what was to come, was what would have happened had Imogen never come back.

He had seen everything. He had seen Morgana betray her friends, kill innocent men, send Gwen of all people to her death because she wanted to be queen. It seemed impossible to even imagine, but he had seen it all. She would have taken over Camelot with an army of immortals, and he, Arthur and all their warrior friends would have had to stop her.

He looked down at her now to see her fussing over their daughter like a truly concerned mother would. How could she have ever done such horrendous things? Perhaps he had been hallucinating? Perhaps amidst all the headaches he had imagined it all? He sighed, mentally mocking himself at his attempt to convince himself. Everything he had seen was real and he knew it. What he had to do now was live with who she had become...well at least until it all came to an end.

He remembered what he had seen earlier, how the end was going to happen. Time was going to find a way to put everything right.

---

Anorah gazed at the little girl staring out the window and into the darkness that surrounded them. It was time, finally, to do what she had been sent here to do over twenty years ago by her brothers and sisters. Her fingers caressed the handle of the immortal blade hidden beneath a fold in her dress. Her brow creased. What was taking her so long? She knew what she had to do. The death of the princess would unite the two most powerful sorcerers of all time.

But she was only a child. What good could come from heartlessly ending an innocent's life? No. She had a job to do. She had been personally chosen by the majority an account of her willingness to do what needed to be done. This was her moment to shine for the cause. After all despite the evil she was about to do, and despite all outward appearances, the sorcerer king loved his latest two children far more than he had loved any of the others. He could have thrown them to their deaths like all of them, but he hadn't. He had kept them, raised them, and even after his blessed children turned against them he still refused to kill them. She hadn't even heard of them being harmed by his orders.

Jealously ran cold in her veins. Just what the hell was so special about them? What made them better than the countless before them? Her nostrils flared. Anger was good. Anger was her friend right now. It was what spurred her on after she had been abandoned by the man she called father, it was what drove her to do the deeds she had done in the past.

This had to happen. She had spent twenty years waiting for her glory and today was that day. Without another moments hesitation she ripped out the dagger from her folds, holding it above her head. Now was her moment. Adrenaline surged through her body as she took one step toward the unsuspecting child's back. This was it. Her time to show her father just what his unworthy daughter could do.

It was then when the doors burst open to reveal James Regus and Arthur Pendragon. Anorah froze in her step, one step away from completing her mission. Twenty years of waiting and she was a mere step away from it. Anna turned toward her brother and cousin.

"James! You're back!" She cried in her glee, her eyes travelling to Arthur. Her smile grew. Her two favourite men had come to pick her up.

"Anorah," James said calmly, making his way slowly toward his misguided sister. "Your mission is over."

Anorah didn't move a muscle; her face remaining unchanged from its stoke expression. "No it is not," she replied just as calmly.

Anna turned to view the empress, her eyes instantly recognising the blade of the immortals. She fell back in her fear, back crashing against the window she was just leaning on. "What are you doing?" the little girl asked, her bottom lip quivering as she stared up from the floor at the woman she had trusted. She feverishly looked between her brother and cousin and her older half sister, who looked like she was ready to kill her. "Have I been bad?" the little girl asked, her voice shivering.

"It's not your fault Anna," Anorah tried to soothe; obviously forgetting the dagger in her hand contrasted her noble cause.

"James!" Anna cried as she clumsily pushed herself up against the window in a vain attempt to get away from her older sister.

"You've been terrific princess don't listen to her," James soothed his little sister.

"We're giving you one chance," Arthur said stepping in. "The masters now serve James, your mission is over. Put down the dagger and we can fight your father, my uncle, together. We can do this the right way, without anyone else dying."

"James!" Anna called for the second time.

"Spare me the ethics King Arthur," Anorah exclaimed. "Once you have lived for as long as I have you begin to question such things-"

"Listen to him Anorah," James tried. "Listen and think just for a moment. Understand your situation and then examine your surroundings," Both James and Arthur moved to their right, watching as Anorah frowned at her brothers words. "Then I want you to ask yourself this. Was my cousin here asking you to spare Anna's life...or yours?"

"What are you talking about? As usual your arrogance in your abilities blinds you," Anorah scoffed.

"Have you given any thought as to how you're going to escape once you've finished?" Arthur asked now, turning her attention on him. "You're surrounded by hundreds of Empaths who have turned against you, the masters as I said now serve James, Merlin is just downstairs and has apparently called some dragon to assist us, the sorcerer prince himself is standing three feet away from you and I am King of Camelot-"

"The greatest warrior Camelot has ever produced, by the way," James added.

Arthur smiled. "Thank you."

"You're most welcome."

"It's nice to receive a compliment for once."

"Oh no I hear you."

Anna frowned. "James!" she called for the third time. James looked at her with a heavy frown. She had called his name three times now.

"The point being," Arthur finally continued. "Is that there is no escape. Perhaps you should re-evaluate your tactics."

James stepped forward. "He's right. It's over. You know all too well that I can stop you before you get anywhere near Anna. It's time you gave me the dagger, and join me."

Anorah allowed her eyes to water. "Borin needs to pay for what he did to us!" She shrieked. "For years, I thought something was wrong with me! I thought I wasn't good enough because that monster threw me away like something he stepped in!"

"I know," James responded. He really did know. "Trust me Anorah I know. That man made me believe I had killed my own mother; he made me detest everything about myself so he could manipulate me to do his bidding. I know he has to pay," he outstretched his hand for her to take. "Come with me and I promise, I promise, we will all confront him together. We will each get our fair share at vengeance – but take some time to look at yourself. You're holding a knife to a six year old girl Anorah for God sake."

"But – but it will unite you and Emrys-"

"No it won't," James interrupted. "If you take her away from me then there will be nothing left of me. That frightened little girl is everything, just everything to me and if you take her away I'll lose everything I am. Emrys will have no one because a man without a soul is simply a vessel dying slowly each day. Please Anorah, take my hand and I will lead you to the happiness you deserve. I'll lead all our brothers and sisters and deliver you something bloodshed could never bring. I'll deliver you peace."

---

"Here he comes!" Lancelot yelled inside the doors. Everyone turned to the huge double doors to see Lancelot, along with Lia, Howell, Marian, Balin and Tristan, opening the doors. Merlin turned back from his crouched position on the floor to stare down at Imogen, her hand firmly within his. He wasn't entirely sure what he was going to have to do, but he did know that everything seemed to be happening at once.

Whatever James had done with the burning iron bar had bought Imogen some time, but any moment that light in her eyes was going to extinguish. What if this plan didn't save her? What if he had to watch another woman he loved die? Could he do that again? His mind raced with questions as he looked down at the quivering mess of blood that was his daughter.

He had been nothing but closed off to her since the moment she arrived. Everyone had accepted her. Morgana had done with open arms, Arthur had done despite her being a sorceress, Gwen had easily just allowed her to be part of their tight little group, Anna accepted everyone with a smile unless their name was Merlin and James had even with her making accusations about how in love they were in her time.

Everyone accept him.

Was it fear that stopped him? Perhaps a fear of actually loving someone so much incase...incase he lost them like he had Freya. But that moment was here, and he barely knew who she was. He had been fighting his natural feelings for the girl from day one. Feelings of pride in who she was, respect because of the impossible decision she made to come back to this time, and a frankly unwarranted level of love which had literally just appeared from nowhere. He felt her every pain and found himself wishing, yearning, to take her place. Well if it was fear stopping him from accepting her into his life then it stopped. It stopped right here. Right now.

He knelt down even further and placed an arm round the back of her neck. "I have absolutely no idea if you can hear me Imi," He whispered. "But you are...you are my daughter and I need you to know that I am not going to let this happen to you. I am not going to loose you like I have with others before you, because you're special and more than anything else in the entire world...I love you."

Morgana sat on the other side of the girl from the future. Dried tears found themselves moist once more and trickled down her red cheeks made rosy from all the crying. What she was witnessing was single handed the most beautiful thing she had lay eyes upon, Merlin's ever growing watery smile only making her heart bleed all that more.

"I love you," he laughed quietly. It felt liberating to finally say it, to admit it not only to himself but out loud. "I love your hair," He continued with a stupid smile on his face. "I love your nose. I love your eyes, but most of all I love your morals, I love your heart and I love the way you wrap an arm around your stomach sometimes when you talk-"

"Merlin!" Lancelot called from the finally open doors. Merlin craned his neck to look back at them. "Time to do what you do!"

Merlin tightened his lips and took a deep breath through his nose. It was up to him now. As gently as he could he lay down the now unconscious girl back on the floor, then without thinking burst forward and slammed his lips down onto Morgana's. Initially surprised her eyes remained wide open until she fell into it. Her eyes slowly closed as she gently brushed her nails along the side of his head, sliding them through his healthy jet black strands one by one. Their lips lightly traced the others, Merlin's hand tenderly coming up to rest on her cheek.

Begrudgingly they parted to gaze at the other, so much excitement vibrating through them both that neither somehow managed to notice as gigantic wings whooshed down by the entrance of the doors. Kilgharrah landed, his eminent presence silencing the once chaotic bustling room. It was this silence, along with the unmistakable thud that each step Kilgharrah took, that alerted the duo of his arrival.

Merlin turned, a hard set frown etched into his features. He rose slowly from the ground to stare down the last great dragon. Kilgharrah lowered his head ever so slightly, suspicion reflecting in his yellow eyes. "Why do you summon me Merlin?" The dragon asked as he tasted the panic as well as the sight of Imogen smothered in her own blood.

"I need your help," Merlin answered weakly.

What appeared to be an eyebrow was raised unsurprised by the dragon. "I thought as much," he replied, almost sounding bored. "It would seem you have discovered your lineage despite the meddling in time this girl has wrought on us. I should have known better than to enjoy my freedom for the first time in two decades-"

"Sálnesbitan esnum delaces," Merlin angrily intercepted his words, his voice once more mutilating into a deep, raspy powerful tone. Kilgharrah brought his head back in surprise. "I am a dragonlord and you will do as I command."

A low grumble escaped from the bottom of the dragons' long neck. "How dare you treat me such! I know why you summon me and you could not possibly conceive what it takes to complete a task such as this. The girls' soul is readying to enter the gates of another dimension; I believe you know as hell."

Morgana leapt up to her feet. "What?" She shrieked.

"The girls' soul is an anomaly," The dragon continued as if Morgana wasn't even there. "Her soul is therefore unique in its substance, split between three different dimensions of this time, her own time and the realm of the dead. To bring her back would involve someone with a soul with an equal magnitude in life to offer there own willingly."

Merlin looked to the side, brows creased in concentration. "Then take mine," he said softly, eyes travelling back up to the dragon.

The dragon smiled warmly down at him. "Noble as your sacrifice may be Merlin; your soul is not as unique as you might believe. You will need someone-"

"Like me," Everyone snapped their heads in the direction of the stair case to see James, holding Anna snugly in his arms, with Arthur at his side. The prince reached the last step and travelled over to them. "Someone like an immortal."

Everyone froze as the ramifications settled in. Merlin's memory flashed back to moments ago, remembering that last thing James had told him before he and Arthur had run off. "I'm going to run off and save my sister, you're going to wait here and tell the dragon when he arrives to save Imogen, or at least give you the power to do so because I offer mine willingly,"

Merlin's eyes shot open. "Oh no...no James you-"

"Merlin, you want your daughter back or not?" James interrupted. Merlin just continued to stare, like some idiot, at the sorcerer prince with a frozen tongue.

Morgana stepped forward. "We want her back more than anything," she answered. "But we need you, Anna needs you and you're brothers and sisters need you to lead them. We can't ask you to give up all of that-"

"Then it's a good thing you're not asking isn't it blue," James interrupted yet again. He liked doing it. "Besides what is prophecy for if it's not going to come true. Let's just say there's a reason I have been avoiding the pit of Zao." He smiled sadly down at Anna, knowing she didn't really understand what was going on. "The scriptures I read growing up spoke of this moment. The moment where I would have to make a choice, and that choice would determine whether I lived or died," he shrugged. "I guess today is that day. Gwen?"

The former hand maiden looked up at the mention of her name. She had only just walked back in but had caught what was going on. "Yes?"

"Keep those supplies close; when Imi comes out of that coma she's going to be hysterical. Kilgharrah, I need you to cast a protection charm – everyone other than Lancelot, Gwen and family needs to leave. Dragon, you'll need to leave after helping me open the gate."

Kilgharrah bowed his head. "Of course, my prince."

James turned to a still shocked Kalladine. "Kal, your wife is fine and healthy. Her only crime was being misguided, but I need your help," he waited until he received a nod from the Empath emperor. "You need to go out and hold off the creatures in the forest. I can feel them, running. They feed on energy and right now we have three immortals, Emrys, the last great dragon and we are about to open the gates of hell which frankly spells trouble. Take as many as you can and do not come back in unless you absolutely have to am I making myself perfectly clear?"

Kalladine blankly nodded, turning slowly to his sister Lia. "Lia, organise the troops for patrol alpha thirteen situated around the entire castle. No one is to enter this room until instructed."

Lia smirked and quickly withdrew two swords out from nowhere. "Absolutely big brother," She turned to every Empath in the room. "Everyone...spread the word and move out! It's time to fight! Let's march!"

Every Empath in the room, excluding Kalladine, vacated the large room within seconds. The Emperor himself merely trudged up the stairs brokenly. James turned back to the dragon and nodded, signifying that he was ready before turning back to the rest of the group. "Now this is going to sting a little, but it's necessary because of the side effects of the protection charm."

The whole group had absolutely no idea what to say. Morgana hadn't even fully registered what he had even said. "Side...side effects?" Morgana questioned shell shocked. Was James really going to die so Imogen could live? What about her dream of seeing a man with green eyes flying into a volcano? She supposed that man was the sorcerer king after all. The man also liked to wear black, could fly and had the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen.

"Your names are going to be seared into your skin," this snapped them all out of their trance. "Yeah thought that might get your attention – look, one of the side effects of being so close to the gates of hell is memory loss. When our scaly friend froggy here casts the protection spell over us it will sear all our names into our forearms. It will sting a little but is necessary, trust me. Now this is important so listen carefully, as soon as I walk into the gates they will close...and when that happens you will all temporarily receive a short burst of amnesia."

"Amnesia?" Merlin asked, a little worried.

"Temporary so long as you get your name seared into your forearm," James said with a smile. "Hey, try and enjoy yourself at least you get to live."

The group went back to being silent, unable to tear their eyes off of him. Morgana was the first to speak. "Are you really going?" She asked in such a small voice James barely heard it.

He gave them a big smile. "'fraid so," his smile faded though as he examined their faces. "Arthur, can I ask a favour...well from all of you actually."

Arthur stepped forward so he stood in front of his cousin. "Anything."

"Can you..." The prince looked to the ground. "Can you take Anna as your ward? I mean I know she's a handful in the behaviour section but she has a good heart and at least I know she'll be safe. It will give me some comfort while I'm...you know."

Arthur gave him a small quirk of his lips. "It would be my honour," the king answered genuinely. "If she's half the hero you are, I'm sure she'll come in handy anyway."

James laughed a natural laugh, eyes unable to leave Anna's wide confused eyes. "It's about time one of you made me laugh for a change."

"Are you going somewhere?" Anna questioned as her head rested casually on his shoulder, eyes penetrating his own.

He found the strength to tear his eyes away from the little girl he had raised as his own and quickly handed her over to Arthur before turning his back on her. "Dragon," he called, his voice actually cracking a little in the middle. "It's time," he stated bluntly.

Kilgharrah nodded and sucked in a lungful of air, stretching his long neck to its full capacity. The group watched on with weary eyes, all except Anna who kept her focus on her brothers back. "Where are you going?" The little girl asked dejectedly. James kept his back to her, and before everyone knew what he was going to say fire erupted from the dragons' mouth.

That was when everything happened at once. Everyone covered their eyes as a wave of fire washed over them before grabbing their forearms in pain. A low but powerful thud rippled the ground beneath them as an explosion of light emerged behind them.

"Kilgharrah! Go!" James voice could be heard from within the fire and blinding light, followed swiftly by the unmistakable sound of wings. Merlin reached out to grab Morgana's hand, initially panicking when his hand gripped thin air. He continued to flail around until he finally caught. His muscles relaxed a little just at the feel of her skin, knowing she was ok bringing more peace than he thought possible at this moment. Eventually the fire dissipated, leaving only one light left.

Merlin squinted his eyes at the sight before him. They had not yet recovered from the immense burst of combined light to fully register it, but what he saw was incredible. It was like a doorway of light stood before them with a shadow standing in front of it. He gave his head a shake in an attempt to clear his vision, but even though it worked he still couldn't believe it.

"James!" Anna called, her voice shaking everyone to the core. The sound of an innocent child in pain was not one that they wished to hear ever again.

James however heard a different voice. The voice of his death. He craned his neck to look back at his little sister, more like his daughter than just a sister, with a small smirk on his face. "She will call four times..." he trailed off with a small snort. "Well what do you know?" Morgana buried her face in Merlin's shoulder. She couldn't watch this, wouldn't watch this. "Princess, I want you to do everything your cousin, Gwen, Merlin and Morgana tell you ok?"

Tears began streaming down the six year olds face as she finally clocked on. Her big brother was saying goodbye. "When are you coming back?" she cried, trying to break free of Arthur's hold on her. The king held on to her struggling form. He wanted nothing more than to let her go, but he had no idea what would happen if she got close to the door of light.

The sorcerer prince turned to her fully. "I'm not," he answered quietly. Gwen almost gasped when she saw a tear fall from his eye. "I love you. Always know that ok?"

Anna deflated in Arthurs arms, defeated in the knowledge that she was not getting free anytime soon. "I don't understand," she whimpered, watching as her brother turned away from her to stare into the light.

"You will some day," he muttered under his breath, before opening his arms wide at either side of him. "Well come on then!" he called into the light. "I, James Regus, offer my soul in exchange for the anomaly Imogen! Immortal and just damn shining with brilliance I personally think I should get a two for the price of one offer! But I'll just take the girl!" Still nothing happened. "Come on people how early do you go to bed these days let's go!"

Imogen suddenly bolted up with a fierce, demanding gasp for air. Merlin and Morgana snapped their heads toward their daughter, Morgana gasping herself whereas Merlin just let his mouth hang open. He had done it. James had actually done it. He had brought their daughter back from the dead.

Without wasting another second the two rushed over, along with Gwen with the supplies, to the gasping girls' side. Morgana searched desperately for her voice, to try and find the right words to display her glee...but there were none. She wanted to scream her thanks to the sorcerer prince but no words seemed big enough. Still she needed to try while she could. She looked up to see James smiling at them, his features barely visible due to the immense light shining behind him. Her smile fell. Her daughter was back, yes, but at what cost? He wasn't just giving up his life...he was giving up his eternal soul.

"What – What –" Imogen's voice was dry and raspy, her head spinning. Confusion rocked her every sense as her blood shot eyes feverishly glanced around. She felt sick, her hold body in some sort of fever that she could not fight. Her eyes looked to her left to see her father looking down at her with his own bloodshot gaze. "Daddy?" she fought out.

Merlin's smile grew even stupider. "That's me. Welcome back."

Imogen frowned even harder. Back? Where had she...the masters. Her mind suddenly recalled it. She was with James in the temple of immortals, she had been stabbed and James couldn't heal her. Oh God, had she died? She turned to her mother. "Mum?"

Morgana was staring at some light in front of them, but at the sound of the new name she had adopted she turned to her with a watery smile. "Good to have you back, sweetheart," the mother finished quietly, stroking her hair. Imogen couldn't be more confused. Her mother looked both happy and sad. She sighed. Maybe James was right, women just were too complicated.

"Took your time," sounded a deeper voice. She looked up to see James silhouette standing in front of a door of light. A smile broke out on her face in spite of her racing heart...until he saluted her. "Good bye," he added with a smirk.

"Good bye?" she repeated, now becoming annoyed at how no one was giving her answers.

"And good luck. Oh and Merlin? Now remember in the realm of Faery when I declared that I was in your debt?" When Merlin nodded he continued. "Consider us even," he finished and with that, the sorcerer prince sprung backwards into the door of light. Merlin closed his eyes tight, Morgana tightened her grip on Imogen's shoulder, Gwen covered her mouth with her hands as tears broke free from her eyes and Lancelot just looked astounded.

"No!" Anna absolutely shrieked in Arthur's arms, gripping at her big cousins' shirt and pulling as she tried to break free. "Bring him back! Bring him back!" The little screamed so loud her voice became hoarse. "Please bring him back,"

Arthur just maintained his hold over her, his features remaining expressionless the entire time. "I can't."

Imogen shook her head after perusing the room. She didn't understand what was going on. Why was everyone acting like the prince had died? "Where did he go?" she asked her mother and father in a small voice. Both Merlin and Morgana turned to her at the exact same time, faces pale. "What's going on?"

"Imi..." Morgana began, ready to let her know that the man she loved was never coming back. However she couldn't finish the sentence. Judging by her daughters eyes she was figuring it out anyway.

"Mum, how am I alive?" The girl asked slowly, suspicion etched into her tone. When her mother seemed to lose her voice she turned to Merlin. "Daddy, tell me how I survived being stabbed?" Merlin seemed to conjure the same problem, but he did look to the door of light. Imogen followed his gaze and finally, and horribly, it all clicked. "Oh no...no no not again. No not again!" Imogen shrilled, suddenly bolting up toward the door. Merlin only just managed to catch her in time to hold her back. "Please not again!"

"I'm sorry," Merlin said quietly, bringing her into a hug. Her sobs shook her whole body and once again he wished he could be in her place.

"Please bring him back," Anna's voice sounded, a lot weaker than before.

Arthur closed his eyes. "I'm sorry Anna, but we can't bring him back."

"Actually," The group all turned to the stair case where the woman's voice had sounded, spotting Anorah in tears. "I can bring him back."

Imogen froze in her attempts free herself from her father, as did Anna in hers to break free of Arthur. "You can bring back James?" the little girl questioned, but before she could get her answer Imogen was already in front of the other immortal.

"How?" the girl from the future quizzed intensely.

Anorah blinked. "Well, I am immortal, and though I don't as much as my little brother about such things from what I've heard I might be able to offer my soul in exchange for his."

The group, for the millionth time stood shocked. Lancelot however sighed. "This is getting confusing-"

"Shut up Lance," Imogen scolded harshly. She was in no mood for any form of humour right now. Lancelot gulped nervously and took a step behind Morgana. "Why would you do such a thing?" Imogen demanded of the other immortal.

Anorah broke her gaze. "My brother has a lot more to live for than I. He has my people to lead, a kingdom to heal and he has all of you to save the world with. Be honest, can you save the world without him-?"

"No," Morgana answered straight away, abruptly appearing next to her girl from the future. "We need him."

Anorah frowned at the other woman. "And yet you let him sacrifice himself so your anomaly daughter could live?" Morgana tensed her jaw. "Essentially, you chose her over the world. All of you, and now I have to die to right your wrongs."

Merlin hung his head. She was right. They had just sat back and watched as James threw himself through the gates of hell. He shook his head as a thought came to him. "We wouldn't have had to do anything if your brothers and sisters could see reason," the young warlock fought back, pleasantly surprised by the immortals humble nod. "None of us are innocent in this."

"Nevertheless, I believe it's time to get our prince back," Anorah finished, taking a long steadying breath. She turned to Anna, who recoiled slightly into Arthur's chest. "I'm sorry for everything Anna," the immortal said genuinely before turning to the shinning door. "I hope this makes up for everything I've done," she finished, and just like that she ran into the golden gate of hell itself.

The group watched in stubborn turmoil, every single one of them hoping against hope that sorcerer prince would step out next. Imogen turned to Arthur and took Anna from him, knowing the king needed a rest from all the struggling as well as knowing the little girl wanted him back just as much as she did. "Please," Imogen whispered vehemently, closing her eyes and praying. They had been given an opportunity to resurrect the selfless prince by the grace of the gods, they couldn't fail now. "Please," she tried again, her lips trembling in her need.

Anna followed suit, closing her eyes and begging. "Plea-" An explosion of light blasted from the door, and the man himself came flying out, completing several rolls before slamming into a nearby wall. Anna screamed, Imogen almost fainted, Morgana gave a high pitched yell, Merlin decided he needed to rub his eyes, Arthur grew a weird side smile, Gwen wanted to turn her side inside out by screaming and Lancelot felt his heart stop.

The prince coughed, almost convulsing as waving clouds of smoke rose up from all over his black clad body. No one knew quite what to do other than to stare as the prince, by himself, rose unsteadily from the ground. "That's it!" The prince yelled, ignoring the massive smiles all directed at him. "Enough is enough! When a man dies he dies ok? You do NOT keep bringing him back! It goes against all the laws of nature decreed by the mighty race of dragons and the old religion three thousand years ago and trust me you do not want to piss them off and what the hell are you smiling at! Damn it!"

"You sacrificed yourself...AGAIN!" Imogen suddenly yelled, marching up to the sorcerer prince and proceeding to continually slap him all over his body. "I TOLD you to never do it again no matter how noble and you. Do. It. For. Me! You moron, you stupid stupid stupid STUPID moron!"

James coughed again in between defending his body. "Well nice to see you up and flapping your mouth again – and do not kiss me this time. I know I'm adorable, selfless and all that but please remember your parents."

"Oh no if she doesn't kiss you then I will," Morgana unwelcomely butted in, making James become extremely uncomfortable.

He laughed nervously. "But what about Merlin-"

"No they can both kiss you," Merlin interrupted with that dumb smile on his face. "Arthur?"

Arthur turned to Merlin. "I don't want to kiss him," the king responded, a little disgusted.

"No," Merlin rolled his eyes. "I meant Gwen."

"She can't kiss him either."

"It's either you or her," Merlin added slyly, expecting the look of complete revulsion that came with hating everything 'Merlin' on the blonde kings' face.

"How about you spend a night in the stocks?" Arthur quizzed before turning to James. "Do Empaths have stocks?"

James nodded. "We'll make some," the prince said with an all too evil smirk coming over his face. Merlin gulped. James looked down at Anna and his smirk fell. His little girl had been crying, and though it sounded odd considering her age Anna hardly ever cried. Yet here she was, eyes red raw as she refused take her eyes off of him. "Hi princess-"

"You were going to leave me," Anna stated fiercely.

James winced. "Uh oh..."

"You promised me you would never leave me, ever, and you've tried to twice,"

"Three times for me actually," Imogen threw in. "Before I left my time you did it once as well."

"Well I'm back," James replied calmly, taking the little girl from Imogen and wrapping his arms around her. "I'm back...just ignore the smoke rising from my clothes."

Gwen randomly hugged Merlin in her glee since she seemed unable to actually say anything. Arthur shared a look with Lancelot before shaking his hand and Morgana stood forward and hugged James, forcing the prince to put down his little sister. Over Morgana's shoulder James waved his hand and the next thing Imogen knew she was in a clean red dress.

The girl from the future covered herself up. "Intrusive much?"

They were all so wrapped up in themselves that none of them noticed the door to hell closing behind them until it was too late.

---

So what did you think? Long yes? Lol my way of saying sorry but everything in here was necessary I assure you. I'm not too confident about some of it but I hope you enjoyed it.

In the next chapter which I promise will be up soon (got some time off wahay!): The group all suffer from amnesia; wild assumptions are made and they find themselves blindly trying to escape the palace.