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?

26. A Vengeance Like No Other

Ok, first things first. I promised one of my reviewers, who just so happens to be one of my mates in real life, that I would post his review for my last chapter at the top of this one so he could ask you guys a question. Take what he says with a grain of salt because, well, we got a whole love/hate thing goin' on that some simply don't find pleasant. Not that I blame them. Ok, here we go:

See? This is exactly what I'm talking about. Your chapters aren't chapters from a book their episodes from a TV show. In fact I want you to post this review at the top of your next chapter because all this supposed brilliance is getting out of hand.

AHEM

People, I would like to inform you as to why his chapters are both so long and lets face it, brilliant, and then ask you a question. I have unfortunately known him since we were kids and he had always been obsessed with great scifi to the point where it became a little unhealthy. Fortunately he now writes these in his spare time, and every chapter is like every series he has ever watched rolled into one big story and in the end I signed up just so I could leave reviews. He didn't tell me you could do it without that. In real life he is a very bad man who the spanish have named Omoola meaning bringer of STD's. I joke. But we have had a bit of a disagreement regarding the following question, and I would enjoy all of your opinions.

The question is: Are his chapters more like episodes from a TV show than chapters from a book? Please either do that pm thing or leave your answer in the next review. Peace out.

P.S - CoLdBlAdE is a douche. There. That's for all the times you leapt out at me when we were kids clutching a giant shoe horn and screaming "Whore" at the top of your lungs. Didn't I tell you? Bad man.

There we have it and I can only apologize.

I recommend that you listen to the music "Scully's theme" by Mark Snow whilst reading this chapter. It's from the X-Files and just helped me so much when writing. Seriously search it on youtube if you want to find it. I wrote this whole chapter whilst listening to it if you want to give it a go.

Anyways as I read your reviews I got a tad emotional which is very rare. I really don't get emotional. I'm a male and straight and that's how we roll. But some of you are just so damned kind that I did, with all your as always kind words but especially your response to the news that I'm going to become a father soon. There were just so many of you that I decided to add the thanks into the Authors note instead of thanking you all individually. With all my heart I thank you sincerely. So on to your reviews.

GuessWho: Lol Thanks. I don't know about sublime but I'm glad you found it funny. That's what I was going for so all good. Thanks again.

FirstM8ofJumpinJill: Yeah it was long, and I think this one is even longer actually. Anyways thanks so much as usual, couldn't be happier that you found it so enjoyable, but trust me I am most definitely not an Author. But thanks :P

No name: You actually call yourself no name now don't you lol. Glad you found it so enjoyable and hope to hear from you again.

Kingleycrab: Lol your favourite Author ever huh? What do you say to that other than may I marry and impregnate you? Apparently I'm very good at the latter. Yeah I like to change the chapters tone as I go. If all your chapters are long and drawn out with nothing but death and crying then that's not only showing one side of the characters but also kinda boring I think. However you should probably stop calling me God lol for legal reasons. Thanks again.

Mergana: Lol sorry for making you seem foolish for laughing out loud. Actual LOLing huh? That's bad news especially in your school library. I am glad that you found it so funny though as I really did want to make people laugh given the drama in the last one. As always thank you and would love to hear from you again.

CoLdBlAdE Fan No.1: Hey ho again! Once more great name :P I don't think I can write for anything but obviously it means a lot when someone says you can. I'll always be the pessimist. Yeah decided to add some more Mergana moments as they were starting to lack. Lol yeah raped by ghosts, didn't you know that?

Seddie lover: I'll reply to both your reviews as one of that's alright? I appreciate you coming back and doing the second one after reading the Authors note especially and thank you so much for the congrats lol It's a very frightening prospect becoming a parent let me tell you and it's even more worrying when one of your first thoughts is "Oh cool, now I'll be able to understand Merlin and Morgana more in my story!". Yes! A sequel! I always wanted to do it and thought since I'm going to be spending so much time at home in the next few months, having finished with my first year Doctorate until late September and with the baby coming, that I will. I can't tell you the plot (though I have it all figured out now by the way) as it will ruin the ending for this but I'm already really excited by it :P Certainly now it made the best day of your life lol Oh and good luck with your internet connection. Is there anything more annoying than when your comp starts messing up? Never be sorry for giving a late review. The very fact that you take the time to review in the first place especially with your comp acting up makes me go all tingly…in strange places…yeah. I couldn't be happier that you found it so funny and I think I agree with you about the order in which you found it most funny. I LOVED writing servant Arthur with a passion. And with Imogen trying to seduce Lancelot it kinda just popped into my head about what would Imi consider awful when it was removed, as well as providing Gwaine with something to mock. Where did I get the idea about making James afraid of everything? Well I just had this image of the characters becoming the complete opposite of what they are. So James isn't afraid of anything so he screams in fear at everything, Imi is compassionate so I make her not care about anything, Gwen is quiet and shy so I make her a bold warrior and with Arthur, well, it speaks for itself. Did you not know the truth about convulsions? Yeah your just getting butt raped by spirits. I work in a hospital. Trust me :P I'm glad you understand why I change the tone of the chapters so much, to make sure people don't get bored with the constant drama since I certainly would, and yes the plot in the this chapter really goes up a bit so I had to. Plus their super fun. Anyways as always I ADORE hearing from you, with all my heart I thank you, and hope you like this chapter just as much. It's a lot of James but he deserves his own chapter now and again lol.

AoiTatsu: Hello! Great name by the way, does it mean anything? And thanks so much. I love you for reviewing, trust me. Lol a touching review? Believe me whenever I see that someone such as yourself has taken the time to leave a review I'm touched, and I really mean that. I completely agree with you about stories with OC's. Usually there just a way of allowing the Author to put themselves into the story and I find that slightly self-indulgent and extremely annoying, plus because of this they always make them perfect without a single flaw or something. With James, Imi and Anna I put them in because I thought they could honestly help the story and that you seem to think that as well really does mean a lot. It's more special when people like your characters for some reason lol Thanks for the respect :P It's a new sensation on me, but yeah I think it's important to change the chapters over-all tone. Otherwise I don't know about you but I'd get extremely bored if it was just all drama or all Mergana. As for having great fantasy thank you :P I always get uncomfortable when complimented, but I think the whole imagination thing stems from being an only child and spending a lot of time on my own growing up because of it. =D Thanks about the baby thing. Trust me, for as long as you can, wait until you have any kids, because I am not that old (22) and I am MESSING myself even as we speak. Seriously I'm shouting at people in streets and kicking puppies, it's not good. Anyways thank you so much for your review. As it turned out it was really touching :P so I thank you and I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest.

AttitudeQueen5287: First of all, as always, thank you for far too kind words. Second, that is a fantastic idea about what I should have done with breaking up the chapters…where the hell have you been! Lol You read it for two days non-stop? Wow really? And I'm glad you decided to pause for the small thinks like eating, showering and sleeping. I hear they're important. Yeah I love writing the banter between Arthur and Merlin. That's probably the only part that comes easy to me, because that's what men do. We tease each other, put each other down and are then there to help if there is any trouble. It's kinda strange when you think about it. Soz about making you seem strange when you were laughing whilst reading it on your phone lol sounds more like I'm hurting you by writing this story. Takin' over your life for two days and then making you an outcast to society :P And I agree with you about Lancelot being out of character in this story. I put him in thinking I could write for him and then rather nastily found I couldn't lol but he's there now and I don't include him much. For the life of me I just can't relate to him and I've really tried. Thanks about James though. It's always a double surprise when people like one of your O.C's…although David Thewlis? I mean if that's how you like him then I don't want to take that away from you lol He hasn't got a bad voice though I'll give you that. And no I'm pretty sure there isn't a name for it though, although as a psychologist *ahem* trainee *ahem* I can tell you it's because your brain is always trying to find patterns and then will forever associate whatever it discovers with that thing. There was probably one sentence that made you think of him and then you stuck with it. Ah now I like Jonny Depp with captain Jack sparrow a lot. Very fitting :P As for thinking that replying to all my reviewers individually is generous, to be honest it does take a while (a couple of hours sometimes) but you all completely deserve it. Every review means the world to me and I can't think of another way to show it other than this so that's why. I agree with you about what they did to the ArMor as you put it romance by the way. I mean I like Merlin and Morgana, but I did like them as well, and I can't stand the Arthur/Gwen romance. It BORES me to tears, so you'll notice not that much is in here about them. I also agree that sometimes this story can become quite a bit about James and Imogen. It's just one of those things you do without realizing, and I'm sorry because this chapter is all about James really, but I am aware of it and trying to sort it out as best I can. Lol thanks so so much for the congrats. And yeah I know I couldn't believe it. I write that Morgana becomes pregnant and a few months later I'm told I'm gonna be a dad. What's kind sad is that one of my first thoughts was now can understand them better, and yeah Merlin handled the news a lot better than I did but to be fair his girlfriend a an effin princess (sort of) whereas my fiancé is still getting her masters in law. Not quite the same. Know I've already said it, and I hope I haven't gone on too much, but thank you so so SO much and really hope you like this chapter.

Paladinobr: First of thanks for the congrats. You've all been really kind about my news. Malum against Merlin, now that will happen I assure you. In fact I'm looking forward to it. One of the things I love about Merlin, and writing for Merlin, is that whatever he does he will succeed because of who he is. And he'll do it and just do it in the best way possible. Yeah I like writing the bits where Morgana just takes him by the collar and simply controls him with a bat of her eyelids because I could honestly see that happening in the show. Glad you liked Arthur being a servant because I certainly enjoyed writing it lol one of those rare bits that are just easy to write because we would all like to see it. Anyways as always thank you so much for yet ANOTHER brilliant review. I love to see your name and thanks again.

Pheolix: Hey, don't worry about not leaving a review for the last chapter. It's called life and it gets in the way, trust me I understand :P Yeah I know I loved Anna too, but I was always going to have Malum kill her because James reaction (as you will see in this chapter) will move the plot along massively. Yeah I really wanted a lighter chapter after the darkness of the last one, because the last thing I want to do is start depressing people or worse, bore them. I thoroughly enjoyed writing Arthur and James in the last chapter I must admit lol Who wouldn't want to see Arthur like that for a bit? And thank you, I'll be a little sad when I finish writing it, but as you've seen I am going to write a sequel. I'm going to be home a lot in the coming months with the time off and pregnant fiancé and junk so I really need to lol It also means I'll update quicker than before as well (this being the example). How many chapters are left? I can't say for sure, but the rough estimate would be about three or four – most likely four – but remember that is a rough estimate. Lol thanks for the congrats. I'm messing myself a little over it but I hear that's natural. I should probably stop eating soil though right? Anyways as always thank you so much for yet another brilliant review and I hope you like this chapter as much as the last.

Morgana101: Hey hey! How goes it? And yeah thanks :P Got a munchkin on the way. Haven't given myself too much time to think about it yet but I'm sure it will all come swooping in any second. At least I'll be able to understand how Merlin and Morgana feel now right? No I am NOT going to name it either James or Imi lol Seriously? In fact I don't think I'll be allowed to name it at all. There was an incident with a cat once…I was drunk…well let's leave it there. Yeah it was kind of obvious, but it wasn't meant to be subtle mainly because I'm not very good at it :P I hope your sniffles have gone now though. Dreadful things. Lmao woah angry much? Have I done bad? Nah it was the last weird chapter, the rest from now on are going to be rather dramatic including this one. Yeah a vengeance like no other, I wanted to make it rather dramatic because he's gonna do some bad things in this chapter. Kind of very bad things actually. I'm very sorry, they'll be a bit of Jimi or whatever I'm calling these days in this chapter and quite a bit in the next. I'll throw it in just for you so you can learn to trust again :P I do love me some cliffhangers it has to be said, but if it helps this chapter doesn't really have one, other than the promise of another chapter after it. Anyways as I say your one of my favourite names to see on the review list and I always love to reply to yours no matter how much I've wronged you :P I hope this chapter makes your day as well as the others. It's very James centric but the other characters are in it a lot.

Whitepurity: Hello! And thanks so much. Yeah I was kind of worried people wouldn't understand what was happening in the beginning and realised I should have said the beginning was four hours in the future or something. Lol sorry, didn't mean to embarrass you with the shout out…of course now I'm slightly tempted to do it again… :P I won't don't worry. And thanks, yeah I got a munchkin on the way. Although I don't think it's hit me yet and I still manage to burst into a sweat whenever someone mentions it. Anyways as always I love to hear from you and hope this chapter is alright as well.

Michelle W: Lol yeah it is pretty long and I'm not sure this chapter helps that really. Although you actually went back and read bits? Wow that's pretty cool. You see bits of Doctor who? Yeah it's all in there somewhere. I do it without realizing with a whole bunch of shows that I love, and I'm pretty sure James is based on him lol Again not on purpose but I think it's sort of undeniable. Anyways thank you so much and I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest of it

Merlinftw: Thanks :P And thanks for taking the time to leave a review. They all mean the world to me. Hope you like this chapter just as much.

EbonyK: Wow you people are kind. Seriously it makes my head spin when I read reviews like yours. And I have to admit it would be cool to see James or Imi in the show. Actually I'm pretty sure I'd die happy. Yeah one of the original purposes of James was to bring out their cocky side so to speak, and I figured with the girls they had always relied upon the blokes to save the day when they themselves are pretty awesome. I must admit I enjoyed writing those four so out of character, in fact the complete opposite of what they normally are. My favourite though was writing Arthur slap himself lol really did enjoy that. I also thought it was time to have a bit more Merlin and Morgana as they had drifted away from the story a little. They'll be coming back in full force though in the upcoming chapters. Got some great ideas for them. YES THANK YOU! I'm always saying Mordred is the creepiest character but no one agrees with me! I mean he's kid with freaky eyes who always speaks with his mind I mean what the hell? Yeah poor James, though you might change your mind about that in this chapter, cause he's kinda pissed and doesn't really have any boundries. Anyways hope you like this chapter. It's kind of dramatic but it was needed. I adore hearing from you and thank you so so much.

Virus: Hey ho there! Am I going to make Merlin and James face off? Well wait and see :P Yeah I know poor Anna, and no one really realizes how much pain she's in, but she won't show it because of her guilt. Yes! Imi is a Dragon Lady! It suddenly hit me that Merlin had died in the future and he was her father, so that power would have come down to her as it had with Merlin himself. Plus it's super cool :P Hope this chapter is alright. It's quite James centric but the others are in it probably more than him lol if that makes any sense. Yes I'm gonna be a Daddy, as all the women in my life keep saying lol Nah I don't think it's hit me yet, although I do break out in a sweat whenever talking about it…that's normal right? And thanks again for the good luck. I promise to let you know how it goes especially since writing it means I don't have to say it and freak out :P is he joking? Ha ha! But no I'm not…Wow medicine huh? I thought about doing that but I'm not a patient man. Anyways thank you so much for your brilliant review and hope you like this chapter just as much.

Awed by awesomeness: There's that name again! Haha! Yeah I should grow up, and fast for obvious reasons. Thanks so much for the congrats on the baby. I haven't given myself proper time to freak out yet but I can feel it brewing :P Yeah thanks for that guerrilla warfare line by the way. To be honest I'm more worried about all this supposed love part…maybe I can write that into the story. See how it works? Ha! And yes it is true, awesomeness is not the dictionary, but apparently neither is gullable so people tell me :P Thank you so much for your far too kind words. Seriously far too kind. Half of this stuff is just off the top of my head so I'm not sure I deserve the praise. Enjoy the servant Arthur did ya? I must admit I did enjoy writing that. I just started thinking it might be quite funny if people become the opposites, i.e. Fearless James becomes afraid of everything, compassionate Imi doesn't give a crap about anything anymore, King Arthur the arrogant servant and humble Gwen the mighty warrior. I hope your brother doesn't call the white coats on you, and if he does, pretend you actually ARE crazy because the drugs are amazing. Glad you like the sequel idea. Since I posted that I've actually planned out the plot and everything, though I can't tell you what it is as it would ruin the ending to this. Can I tell you who it would be focused on? No lol But why don't you tell me what you wouldn't mind seeing as the sequel and I'll give you some hints. Best I can do. Oh yes my vegetation says hi by the way, and asks you to stop me eating the soil. It's a bad habit. Anyways I really adore, and I really do, seeing your name and smile whenever I read your reviews. Hope this chapter meets up with the rest of them, oh and a tip in case you fancy it. I wrote this whole chapter listening to the music from X-Files called "Scully's theme" by Mark snow and someone else. Might improve it for you. Thanks again!

What the Badger: Good god you people have good names, weird and wonderful. Firstly though thanks so much and I love that you seem to like James so much. It's incredible when someone enjoys one of your O.C's and I must say he has become a favourite amongst a lot of readers which is fantastic. Damn it! I totally should have done the shaggy Scooby thing. Crap. I just didn't think of it. Lol yeah, Morgana is a bit of a manipulator let's face it. She was backed into a corner so she used what she had, and why the hell not. Aha! Mr Hugs! That is what he shall be called, that darn scary puppy. Wow thanks so much for your amazing review. Every single word of that just made me want to do even better, and I sincerely hope this chapter is as pleasing to you as the rest.

Sabine8195: Lol thanks. I hope you like this chapter as much as the others as it's becoming increasingly difficult I must say :P Anyways really from the bottom of my heart thank you, especially for coming back and re-reading it which boggles my mind. Thank you.

LM Quin: Heeeeeeeey yourself :P Lol if you've been looking forward to it so much I hope it doesn't let you down too much. You should, and this is just advice, probably ease up on the self-torturing. I hear it's bad for you and perhaps even worse can give convulsions WHICH after you've read chapter 25 is not pleasant for obvious reasons. Lol yeah you're reviews are intoxicating to read. Their brilliant, inspiring and just an incy bit odd which I love. I'm gonna be a Grandaddy? Aha! I see! Because you're married to the fic I get it but there is something you must know…I think it's been seeing other readers *Gasps* Now I'm sure you crazy kids can work through it but I thought you should know my story is a whore. A foul, bed-wetting, disease spreading whore :P And don't be silly, of course you have strange yet powerful influences over me. I'm pretty sure I'd jump off a cliff if you told me to lol Whatever you do just don't call my grandson goofy…name him after another well-loved but perhaps less clumsy disney character such as Donald. Ah I love that duck. Anyways hope you enjoyed the last one and hope you enjoy this one even more. I LOVE hearing from you.

MaryandMerlin: Hello thar! Always great to – wait WHAT! You thought I was a girl? Dude what the… Oh the becoming a father did it for you huh? Yeah it'll do that lol Nah I've done that before with authors it's no biggie. Plus I've always got along well with women so you can't be blamed since most blokes don't. It's my natural charm what can I say :P Thanks for the congrats, and you hope it has my writing ability? Lol Yeah I can see it now "The Womb" by baby CoLdBlAde and P.S – I've gone and crapped myself again. Yeah the sequel! Since I posted that I was going to write it I've mapped out the main two plots and yes, even have a title. I won't be telling you it though :P Sorry, but it would ruin the ending for this. So you want the longest review reply thing huh? Well it shall be yours! And I believe I'm doing remjeyy next so you can compare if you wish. I'm glad you like the cliff hangers a little because I was starting to feel guilty about them…I so wasn't! Ha! Sorry but I am a bad person all round in real life. Gee I wonder how James got so mean? :P Your 56th in line to inherit the warbuttons bread? You will marry me and it will happen immediately, it's official. I mean yes I have a fiancé and a kid on the way but come on! I love that bread in a very unhealthy way so we're doing this and yes I will help you kill them all. Yeah sorry again about little Anna. I have a little cousin too, though her names not Anna its Caitlin, but that's who Anna was based on. Their the same age and everything so what you see James do in this chapter is very personal lol I took it personally what can I say? And I love that you like the long chapters so much because I think this is quite possibly the longest one yet, certainly for a while, and it is very dramatic. I absolutely DESPISE Jedward! I'm not even kidding! I would actually punch them if they were on fire and that is how you know you hate someone :P Thanks so much, I couldn't be happier that you found it funny because I really wasn't sure about most of it. You liked Arthur as a servant huh? I must admit I did enjoy writing that a little as I do love Arthur…in a completely hedero way of course…ahem, anyway yes! The Imi thing is a scary thought when you think about it. Can you imagine feeling no fear or consciounce or regret? Actually it sounds pretty awesome when said like that lol Yeah James really has completely lost it in this chapter and I do mean seriously lost it. Oh and it's ok to be possessive over him because as my mum used to say "He needs the love of a good woman." Seriously whenever she would see a murderer or just a bloke with an attitude problem then she would say it every time. Oh yeah Arthur totally wore dresses, you can really tell he's in touch with his feminine side. With Morgana being able to seduce Merlin so easily, well, it was kind of a given really I just wrote it down. Poor Merlin never had a chance. Yeah James did instantly love the Adult Anna the moment he saw her but at the same time kind of doesn't want to, he's a complicated person :P Lol you liked Arthur calling Merlin intelligent did you? I HAD to do that before I had Merlin wish away his own wishing powers because when was I going to get another opportunity? Yes indeedy as I said James has kind of lost his cool and is just going after everyone who had even the slightest contact with Anna. Total wig out some might say. Don't worry about the update times coz like I said I'm going to home a lot lately with no work and the Mrs wanting to stay in and watch crappy films such as love actually and BLOODY TWILIGHT God damn it do I hate twilight. No offence if you like it but I've seen it like 8 times and I never even wanted to watch it once! I'm going insane! Be nice to my gf and she'll love me forever huh? What about when she's already experiencing mood swings? And cuddling up to my little cousins and refusing to let them go because trust me she's turning odd already at three months. In fact if you have any more advice about what I should do then I honestly beg you to tell me because I need all the help I can get trust me. Your dad sounds like a genius. Be nice to her now and I can blackmail her later I love it! Please thank your dad for me. Well, I hope that was long enough? It took me like 45 minutes Lmao but you are worth every sing solitary second in my eyes and I really mean that. In fact I probably would marry you if I had the chance :P because I love seeing your name and cant help but smile at your reviews. Thank you so so SO much, my awesome reviewer :P

Firedragonheart: Aha! You again. Thanks once more. You must be getting so bored of my thanks by now lol anyways as always brightens my day to see your name. Hope this chapter is to your liking as well.

MorganaElenaLeFay: Lol thanks. Really glad you liked it as I wasn't entirely sure how it would be perceived. Yeah I just made them all the opposite of what they usually were basically. James afraid of everything, Gwen a mighty warrior, Arthur a servant and Imi not caring about anything. Lol did you like the whole Imi seducing Lance thing? I thought that would be nice for her to wake up too. Lol I knew exactly what Merlin would do if he had the power over Arthur. Seriously I've never typed so quick my entire life. Anyways as always I love hearing from you and hope you like this chapter as much as the last one, though it's a tad more dramatic.

Remjeyy: Lol thanks for the congrats. It will sink in eventually. Woah thanks so much. Those are some highly regarded words your throwing out there lol are you sure? And yeah I like to switch it from serious to humorous and then back again which is exactly what I've done with this chapter. Keeps both me and hopefully the readers from getting bored. Jesus Christ I'm scrolling down your review so I can reply to it and I'm just gobsmacked by all your incredible praises I truly am. Thank you so much again lol Yeah I know what you mean by it's a good thing I kept Anna dead. It really annoys me when stories ALWAYS bring them back and I didn't want to be one of them. Yeah James goes nuts in this chapter, like properly of his trolley, completely stricken with grief. Lol I'm glad you like the idea of a sequal but I am sorry I made you stub your toe. I've broken three bones, dislocated my shoulder and still I swear stubbing your toe hurts more. To be honest I don't really know what Merlin is descended from, so I checked out the Arthurian legend a little myself and found all kinds of different things. Like you I read that he was delivered to a nuns by an angel, some said his father was a demon, and some even said he was an immaculate conception which would tie in with the whole god thing. Lmao yeah the Imi "Oh no she didn't moment". It just sort of occurred to me that if she didn't care about anything then why wouldn't she say something like that? Anyways thank you so very much for an amazing review. Really I don't know how to thank you for your incredibly kind words.

So...don't own Merlin; have a dog named Henry; I find Seagulls to be oddly creepy; milkshakes rock my world; I enjoy the occasional prune; one of my legs grow whenever I see a pretty lady; I've been known to sweat laxatives; Doctor Who reminds me of my crazy Jewish uncle; I am one of the rare people to still say swell; I believe in the underpants gnomes; having just re-read this I'm beginning to think I have MAJOR issues; I have suspicions that Stevie Wonder is actually the tooth fairy; I giggle whenever I hear someone sing "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes"; I once saw a three year old girl punch a horse to the ground; I heard Tom Cruise once kidnapped and trained a small Asian child to be a ninja pirate; I'm starting a rumour that Captain Crunch is in rehab recovering from sex addiction; Is it just me guys or does Miley Cyrus both repel and attract you at the same time? In my wallet I carry a picture…of my wallet; Have you ever wondered what cheese says when it gets it's picture taken?; Knock knock, whose there, no one your insane; can you believe the person who wrote all this randomness I going to be a father in six months? And I hear Tom and Jerry have fathered a lovechild named Terry.

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Chapter 26 – A Vengeance Like No Other

"What is this obsession with James and his stupid vengeance?" Merlin stampeded up to Anna in a tidal wave of confusion. The sorcerer princess was still crying, so in hindsight he probably should have been more understanding in his approach. But to be honest he was becoming quite angry himself at the whole idea. Everyone kept warning him of the so called danger of the sorcerer king but he still didn't know why. Yes he knew the man was powerful but he was sure there was no need for all the hype. The Dragon was running, the Empaths were afraid to go near him and now Anna was in floods of tears over it. Something he imagined didn't happen very often.

"What's the obsession?" Anna responded in disbelief.

Merlin looked around at all the faces around them to see if he was on his own. "Yes," he exclaimed, turning back to Anna. "I realise he's powerful but together we could stop him, of that I'm sure."

She shook her head, disappointed with the warlock she had always looked up to. "You really don't understand do you? You think you've seen what he's capable of? Everything, everything you've seen him do so far has been restrained because of some morality or personal loyalty to you. Now he has no such restrictions, and whatever you do he will see coming days before you do it because he's just that smart. Imagine the plans of a man who brought your daughter back from hell, who can send thousands of Faery running with a speech, who knows almost everything there is to know about everything. Now you tell me why we're so obsessed," she spat the last phrase.

The sound of screams echoed through the halls of the palace of purity, igniting their attention and interrupting Merlin's shame. The young Warlock turned back to look at Arthur through default. The two secret friends shared a non-verbal look of panic, before both men charged toward the door, The rest of the group followed with a sense of unease. After all what could cause such a riot from within such a well-guarded facility? Merlin reached the doors first and threw them open before immediately stopping dead in his tracks. Hordes of Empaths were charging in the same direction, panicked gasps and furious chatter overcoming the noise their stampeding feet were creating.

Without giving it another thought the young warlock pushed his way into the crowd, much to the protests of an anxious Morgana. Needless to say perhaps he should have listened to her. Several times he nearly got trampled by the most peaceful people in the world, spooking him further into wondering just what had caused such a reaction. Finally, and having some rather dangerous close calls, he reached what appeared to be the reason for all the rush…and his eyes began to water at the sight before him. Eventually the others caught up. First Arthur with Morgana, then Anna, and finally Gwen, Lancelot and Gwaine. All of them recoiled at the horror, stepping over crying women who had fallen to the floor and shielding their children.

The forest before them had erupted in flames that stretched out to every corner of the island, spitting and hissing at them like some uncontrollable animal. However that wasn't what was causing the extreme response from the Empaths. Just before the entrance to the trees, in a huge get wrenching pile, lay what must have been every single creature from the pit of Zao. Mermaids, Borgan, Déora and the Adrenness all laid broken and lifeless before their very eyes. They may not have been the friendliest of creatures, but Merlin could understand a little why the Empaths were so upset. After all they had spent their lives with them, but surely this was a slight over-reaction. However that was when his eyes picked up something else hidden within the flames, something that confused him and made him wonder how he had missed it. There was an absolutely massive area that was not covered in flames in the shape of a symbol. A symbol he did not recognise.

He looked up the row of people to spot Kalladine gazing at the spectacle with hauntingly stoic look. With one last glance to the flames he made his way to him, passing a grown man who was rocking back and forward on his knees. "Vengeance," he whispered to himself repeatedly. Merlin could only scowl harder as he reached the Emperor of the Empaths.

"You know, it's funny," Kalladine said in a soft voice. "Before you people came here our biggest problem was making sure no one was out after dark. Now the creatures are dead, my wife is in hell, strange spells plague our home, an innocent child has been murdered and now the most feared prophecies are coming true."

Merlin sighed. It was a selfish realization to recognise he had not even thought of the danger they had brought on such peaceful people. "We are sorry Kalladine. You do not deserve this."

"I only meant to demonstrate the sorrow I feel for you and you're friends if this is your life," The emperor explained, making Merlin feel even more guilty. "And to think the sorcerer king did all this in a matter of moments, and yet I am not surprised. I told you before that we can feel the emotions of others am I right?" Merlin nodded. "Well we can feel James Regus as well, and I am not ashamed to admit that it scares me. It scares me a lot."

Merlin sent the man a sympathetic look. "It must be difficult-"

"Difficult does not even begin to describe it," Kalladine cut him off, his voice quivering. "You cannot fathom the pure wrenching pain that shatters his heart with every step he takes. Merlin," Kalladine turned to him, Merlin noticing how he was switching between names rather fluently. "It's a rage I dared not know existed, a rage feeding his power and believe me he has not even begun yet. This is just a warning to you and us! All this destruction and death is just a warning so we will not follow him! Can you believe it?"

Merlin felt tears sting his eyes as he began to understand what had the Empaths so freaked. "Kalladine, what does that symbol mean?"

The Emperor looked away from him, his chin tensing in an effort to halt his own tears. "It's a symbol that refers to an ancient and guarded text, written by the seers of old thousands of years ago. They predicted, using crystals similar to that of the crystal of Neahtid, that a cloud would descend upon the world when the blood of an innocent is spilled over a furious heart. There was a lymric written along with it as it was back in those days that spoke of a man, a good man, who would bring this apocalypse about. A man that would one day be known as the fire and the rage."

Merlin's eyes shot open at the title, his ears not believing the information received. "Are you saying that ancient seers predicted this moment thousands of years ago? That they predicted James reaction to Anna's death?"

"Yes," Kalladine confirmed with sad eyes. "Despite your daughters and Anna's interruptions in time, true prophecy cannot be broken. It even mentions the name Malum. We Empaths know it well. Far, far too well. Would you like to hear it?"

Merlin swallowed. "Honestly, I'm not sure."

"You are a wise man Merlin, but I think it necessary that you do," The Emperor sighed.

"Upon the time of great sorrow,

An Innocent shall be slain,

A good man will unleash his fury,

And make us feel his pain,"

A Vengeance like no other,

Malum, what have you done?

The seventh crowned King we speak of,

For his revenge has begun,

A storm of wrath and hate,

Hidden behind a smile,

A danger you don't even realize,

Until you lay slain in a pile,

The assassins three ran, feet pounding against the soil beneath them. Tears streaked down from their terrified eyes. Their pants coming in frenzied gasps. Glimpses, flashes, crossed their vision of the man they knew as their king. His shadow dashed across the tall trees of the forest. It taunted them, teased them, warning them that he was close.

His sister is dead,
His world now so bleak,
No power left inside him,
Not even for him to speak,

Hurt so many times,
But never truly healed,
So now you will see them,
His scars no longer sealed,

Night drenched their vision, the darkness concealing their threat to the point of madness. He was doing it on purpose. Using fear to lead them to a location as of yet unknown. He could have them already if he wanted, but that is not his plan. He was angry, the tales of his fury having reached even their ears. No. His plan wasn't to just wipe them out, he wanted them to know their death was upon them just like his sister had. They knew he was aware it was not by their hand little Anna had died, but they had once tried to kidnap her. The faint connection was clearly enough.

Sometimes they will ask him,
Has he always been this way?
It breaks his heart to answer,
But it is the truth that he will say,

No he hath not always,
But probably will always be,
The darkness that dwells inside him,
Now the only living part of he,

Both Shallot and Kay ceased their scurrying as a scream filled their ears. It was a scream of their sister, Belak, who had somehow disappeared from their side. They both gulped and shared a look equal in horror. He was taking them one by one. Shallots eyes drifted down to the gold bracelet around Kay's wrist with shimmering eyes, a thought clearly occurring to her. Kay caught the look and shook her head before grabbing her wrist to begin their furious escape again.

He'd kept it in for so long,
So much fury never let out,
Struggled with every tantrum,
Suppressing the urge to shout,

But the turning point was now,
Will you see your demise?
For he will uplift his rage,
And spring to your surprise,

Shallot ran, eyes darting to every shadow and crevice in the wood. Her idea was trampling through her head almost as swiftly as she herself was through the trees. The gold bracelet was their only defence against their hidden enemy. She twisted her neck to look at her partner to find a void of empty space. She skidded to a halt, twisting and turning until she was satisfied that she was now all alone. She swallowed as her lower lip began to tremble, eyes refusing to blink. Her pants for breath became hushed as if afraid she might wake him.

No longer will you hurt him,
No more pain will he feel,
This day will end his sorrows,
And break that holy seal,

His emotions flow with hate,
And death you will meet,
Through this day of reckoning he has realized,
Revenge through fire is sweet,

A raven shot out of the bushes behind her, jolting the red headed woman and causing her knees to buckle. She went crashing to the floor in a heap of sobs, mud covering her skin. Her eyes followed the black bird, her omen of death, into the night sky until its scathing black feathers crossed paths with the hooded figure of her nightmares. Her breathing halted, her neck craned up to the tall slope before her. For there, with his hood cascading over his face, was the silhouette of James Regus himself. His features were hidden by the light of the moon behind him, his hooded robe fluttering off in every direction due to the light breeze. She dug down deep to find the strength to move. Eventually she buried her heels in the damp soil and pushed herself to her feet, turned…and immediately fell onto her back again. He was there. She didn't know how, but he was there, emerald eyes shining in the haunting pale glow of the moonlight.

She shook her head, shifting backwards on her rear end and palms. "No…," she begged with a shaky voice as he casually descended upon her, his hood covering all but the bottom of his chin and his eyes in shadows. "Please, I didn't do anything! I'm sorry about your sister but I never – AGH!" She screamed when he threw his hand out to his side, deep scratches clawing across her face as he did. She flipped around onto her front at the sheer force of the blow, her face burying in the mud. She coughed in a vain attempt to clear her lungs of the dirt but felt his strong hand grasp the back of her dress. Before she knew what she was doing she felt herself slam into a tree, her eyes eventually looking up to see him pressing her against the trunk.

Her own green orbs scanned his before she let them mercifully fall. In his she found no compassion, no mercy or love nor the whispers of humour that could usually always be found glowing within them. This was not the man she had encountered before. He fluctuated power and rage, the darkness having obviously consumed his soul.

"What-?" Her own cough interrupted her. "What do you want from me?"

His smirk was his only reply, but it wasn't the cheeky sort he was known for. It was empty. It was malicious. It was simply devoid of all humour and fun. It was the smirk of a man about to kill. His hand rose along with her heartbeat to reveal the gold bracelet her sister Kay had been wearing, splatters of still moist blood dripping from it. Shallot's breathing rapidly increased at the sight. He knew about their secret weapon, and she now knew her life was over.

"Mummy!"

Shallot's green eyes snapped in the direction that the child's voice had come from, instinct recognising it. There she saw her small daughter running toward her with a panicked look on her face, behind her a small village the assassin had come to view as home. Now she knew true fear. Now she could honestly say she could stare evil in the eyes as she gazed back at her once adoptive brother, James Regus. Not even her sisters in death knew of this place or her daughter, and yet somehow he must have teleported them here without her even realising. His eyes gleamed coldly at her. No. No, he wouldn't. He was a good man deep down. He wasn't capable of doing the horrors that flashed across her mind.

"You wouldn't," she gasped, utterly lost in a void of aching terror. "You're better than this. You would never…surely you could never-" His leather gloved finger pressing against her quivering lips silenced her revolted rambling, a handsome yet terrifying grin spreading across his face. When he neither said or did anything she re-opened her mouth to speak again, only this time he slammed her back hard against the firm bark of the tree. The wind was instantly knocked out of her. However he did not give her time to recover when he forcefully grabbed her throat, lifted her off the ground and grazed his lips across her ear.

"I'm going to make you watch," his voice was so weak, so soft and calm that for one blissful moment she didn't register what he had said. At least not until he continued. "I'm going to make you watch as everything you love burns…then I'm going to kill you," he placed a tender kiss to her clammy cheek. "As you watch I want you to remember what a mistake you made when you decided to choose my father and Malum over me – I want you to know how I felt when I saw my sister dead, and just so you know…the less you scream, the more brutal my vengeance will become," he sighed, relishing in the exquisite sickness on her face. "Enjoy."

For he is power, he is pain,

Wild and unleashed from his cage,

For he is danger, he is thunder,

He is simply, the fire and the rage."

Morgana shivered, having overheard the chilling parable of centuries past. An ancient parable that had half the world scared to death. The only problem she had was accepting that this had all been caused by the man they knew, James Regus. Over the past months she in particular had come to care for the troubled royal. This was the man she told off countless times, slapped round the head as if he were a child and teased completely unafraid. She just couldn't see what all the drama was about. It just seemed over the top to describe the man that told joke after joke, the cousin of her half-brother, the man her daughter loved.

She looked at Imi to see the girl wringing her hands, clearly not knowing what to do with herself. She drew in her lips into a tight line as she thought. They needed a plan. It was beyond clear that the sorcerer king did not want to be followed, but surely if they had a chance to talk to him he would see reason. He couldn't be that far gone. Her eyes fell on Anna who staring out across the once beautiful landscape that now drowned in flames, and an idea hit her. If this was all because little Anna had died then surely James would listen to her future self. All they had to do was work out where the furious immortal would reek havoc next and meet him there. And she thought she knew where.

---

Malum casually strode through the doors of the Venemagus throne room. He had just come back from his recruitment trip, and right now the Venemagus kingdom was overflowing with thousands of Faery and scum from across the world. He had been using the sorcerer kings castle as a home, after all he had been the original sorcerer king himself. It was his first. However a sight hit him as he entered that seemed alter from his own opinion.

His face tightened a little as he spotted his protégé, Mordred, hanging from the wall over the throne. His small hands had wooden spikes through them to keep him hanging, although that seemed to be his only support. The young boy was still very much alive if his gasps were anything to go by. Malum snarled at that. It meant that he had been left here as a threat, a warning, and there was only one person alive who would dare show he was capable of sneaking in and out of his kingdom as and when he wished.

The Demon Lords lips twitched a little. "Impressive, Regus."

---

"Morgana I do not like this," Merlin's voice annoyingly reached her ears once again. The black haired beauty rolled her eyes, wondering if she could pull a muscle in them she had done it so much lately.

They had been silently skulking through the tunnels of the masters den for what felt like an eternity, sneaking through the shadows proving harder with a large group. Behind her crept Merlin, Arthur, Imi, Anna and Gwaine, Lancelot and Gwen having been left behind to help the Empaths should the sorcerer king return to question them.

"I agree Mum," Imi spoke up from the darkness. "The masters are dangerous. Are you forgetting that they stabbed me little under a week ago?"

Morgana spun wildly around to face her daughter. "No, Imogen, I have not," the mother replied in a heated whisper. "For as long as I live I will never forget that moment, and if you remember that was the very reason I wanted you to stay behind in the first place. It's your fault for being so stubborn." Both Arthur and Merlin scoffed behind her, earning the two men her blazing glare. "Something funny?"

Merlin and Arthur shared a look of equal panic. "No, no nothing at all. Arthur?"

"Nope. Just clearing my throat."

"See? Nothing," Merlin was eager to please. "Imi, stop being so stubborn. It's bad for you."

"And his guardian is a physician," Arthur added, also it seems fearing his sisters wrath. "So…you know…stop it."

Gwaine sighed, sounding tired. "Could someone remind me why I am here?"

"Because you're trying to get me into your bed," Anna answered without thinking, casting an uncomfortable silence over the group.

Gwaine cleared his throat. "Right. Forgot you people could read minds for a moment there."

"I can't read minds," Anna responded and simultaneously sent chills up the warriors spine. "But thanks for admitting that to the majority of my family."

"I'd keep it away from James though if I were you," said Arthur from the front.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Gwaine asked genuinely curious.

"Because, right now, even I want to slit your throat for saying that to my little cousin. I'm pretty sure James would be a lot more imaginative," The kings' tone did not sound remotely humorous, causing Gwaine to smile a little awkwardly.

Merlin had to hold back a laugh. It was strange, but somewhere along this journey they had all become really quite close despite their enormous differences. Perhaps that was why they had formed such a bond in the first place, because of how different they were. "Leave him alone Arthur. Imi, how much further? And bare in mind Gwaine's life may hang in the balance."

"Uncle Arthur you can't kill Gwaine until he's told me how he gets his hair like that. Mum tell him," Imogen threw in with a big old grin in her mothers' direction.

"Arthur leave him alone," Morgana ordered in a distracted manner, eyes roaming the darkness for any sign of life. "Actually how do you do it? Is it a combination of things? You can't tell us you just wake up like that."

"What is your obsession with my hair?" Gwaine protested a little indignantly. "Look all I do is…wait, what's that?" Gwaine's eyes flickered over to a small door with a faint golden glow breaking free through the crack at the bottom.

Imi's grin faded from her face, her expression turning stern. "That's it. That's the entrance door," she stated and withdrew her two immortal daggers with experienced finesse. Arthur, Morgana and Gwaine withdrew their new immortal swords the Empaths had supplied, whilst Merlin and Anna mentally prepared themselves for a fight. With careful, weary strides Merlin and Arthur lead the way to the door, eyes peeled for any form of movement no matter how small. The actual door itself was so well hidden in the shadows and so unassuming that had it not been for the light they might now have even noticed it. Edging Merlin began reaching out to push the stone entrance, refusing to blink in case the subtle movement be used as a distraction by the dozens of immortal sorcerers that were sure to be on the others side.

However with a snap the heavy seeming archway was thrown open of its own accord. The intruding six all burst into a defence strategy they hadn't even needed to organize, peril coming as quite the regular visitor in their world. Merlin stood still as Anna slid up next to him, Arthur and Gwaine spreading themselves out to the wings whilst Morgana and Imi prepared themselves for an ambush from behind. Merlin lifted his outstretched palm and aimed it at the door, just waiting to see the almost definite horde of blood thirsty masters, but instead seeing something his eyes were not ready for.

"Hi," chirped a little blonde girl, no older than little Anna had been, with an almighty smile on her face.

Merlin immediately dropped his hand, as if afraid he might attack the child by accident. "He…hello?" He greeted, though he sounded incredibly unsure.

"Are you Emrys?" She asked whilst still smiling.

Merlin pouted confused, turning to Anna next to him before turning back to the child. "Yes?"

The little girl beamed. "Oh goodie!" She yelped, storming out of the archway to stand before him. "My name is Camilla and for my whole life I've wanted to meet you. My Daddy said you would be the greatest sorcerer ever someday," she continued excitedly, her little head having to crane all the way back so her giant green eyes could gaze up at him in wonderment.

Merlin seemed disturbed to say the least. "Oh…well…nice to meet you Camilla."

"I told all the grown up masters you were coming," Camilla stated, bouncing on her heels. "I told them you would come and save us from the bad man but they didn't believe me. Adults are so stupid."

The intruding six all gathered beside him to stare down at the child. "The bad man?" Morgana asked in her softest voice.

Camilla's wonderful gaze turned sad at the mention of him and nodded. "James Regus," She said in a small scared voice. "He's coming for us, and he's angry. So very, very angry. I've heard all my aunts and Uncles talking when they thought I wasn't listening, saying things like he's going to hurt all of us until we know his pain, but Emrys can save us," The little girl seemed happy once more. "I knew you wouldn't let him hurt me."

They all stood shocked for a moment, digesting her words and the heart breaking sadness within them. Clearly the child was the offspring of one of the masters but was she right? Had James become the new bad man? Imi shook her head and knelt down in front of her, offering the girl a friendly smile. "Camilla, I don't know what you've heard, but James Regus is not a bad man. In fact he's actually quite a nice man, he's just a little upset at the moment because his little sister was taken from him."

Camilla shook her head almost immediately. "No he's not. He's a bad man. He makes us see him in our dreams doing horrible things. The last one showed him burning all the creatures of Zao just because he could, and then he was killing the assassins three and…and…" The little girl had to wipe her eyes as big tears threatened to fall. "And then there was this little girl burning in a small village with Shallot screaming-"

"Camilla," Imi interrupted the frantic girl. "I have no doubt you saw those things, but James couldn't have done them. I know him, I love him, and he's not capable of that."

Camilla simply gazed at her for a while before leaning in closer to her face. "You seem really nice," she whispered in a kind voice. "That's why I'm sorry that you're wrong."

---

"Grand Elder!" A young elf cried as he stormed into Antor's chambers. The grand elder of Avalon spun around as quickly as his old bones would allow to view the young elf. "Grand Elder! You must see this!"

"What is it, child?" He asked concerned. This sort of behaviour was not normal in Avalon.

The young elf panted, trying to catch his breath. "He is here, Chief."

Antor merely gazed at him. He didn't have to ask who the young male was talking about. "Show me," he demanded. Moments later he was exiting his crystal fortress and cutting through the crowds that had gathered, all there to see if the stories they had heard were true. The grand elder eventually reached the front, lifted his line of vision and froze on the spot. Standing just in front of their golden gates stood the silhouette of a dark hooded figure, his robe billowing playfully behind him in the breeze.

"What does he want?" A woman asked from beside him, her voice shaking.

"Oh Malum…what have you done?" Antor forced out a long, sad breath to make himself breathe again. The sorcerer king merely continued to remain frozen as if he were a monument. A monument of death. "He has come to collect, my dear," the grand elder finally managed. "He wishes to recruit us."

The woman's eyebrows reached her hairline, her forehead creasing with panic. "Recruit us? For what?"

Antor summoned all his strength before answering. "For vengeance."

---

Merlin, Morgana, Arthur, Imi, Anna and Gwaine stepped through the archway and were instantly greeted by dozens of faces. Morgana nearly gasped as she studied them, Camilla leading them down the pathway they had lined out. These were the masters? She questioned herself. She had built up this image that they were all evil, frowning monsters after discovering what they had done to her daughter…but these people looked far from all of that. In fact if she had to label them as anything it would be as victims. They all looked so tired and afraid, which even though she was no expert prompted her in to realising immortals should not look so pathetic.

She looked down to the end of the path little Camilla was leading them down to see a young woman with curly brunette hair and a warm smile on her face. The black haired beauty chanced a glance at her companions, seeing that they were all just as confused as she was.

"Welcome," The curly haired girl greeted as soon as they had reached them. "My name is Lynette, and I am the new leader of our group."

"New leader?" Merlin questioned sceptically, watching as little Camilla ran over to one of the men and hugged him.

"Yes Emrys," Lynette answered. "After the sorcerer kings and Imogen's last visit James was very adamant about a change of leadership. And since he killed our former leader Cara we didn't have much of a choice as it was anyway," She added kindly. Merlin looked around noticing that they had now been surrounded, and turned scowling back to her. She smiled in response. "You have nothing to fear from us any longer Emrys. Whilst it is true that some of our ranks still have not warmed to intruders I have convinced them that you are our allies. We must work side by side if we are to defeat Malum."

Merlin, with a great deal of difficulty, nodded in agreement. "And I hear you want my help."

"Help?" Lynette frowned before looking to little Camilla. "Ah, I see. Young Camilla has always been very taken with your legend Emrys. You can't blame her for casting you as our saviour during such fearful times."

Morgana stepped forward. "Well we did not come here to help you. After what you did to my daughter I have no qualms with James having his way with you," she spat venomously.

"However we did come to talk to James and bring him with us," Arthur commented. "Though I happen to agree with Morgana."

Lynette nodded in understanding. "Of course. I would apologize if I did not know how it feels when faced with losing someone you love so much, but I hope you realise I am there leader now. I do not share the same views as our former leader. I never have," she seemed to reluctantly wish to add something before continuing. "However I also hope that you appreciate certain traditions."

"Traditions?" Morgana snapped, subconsciously stepping in front of Imogen.

Lynette noticed it. "Yes, traditions. We have a lot of enemies and must be careful. You must stay here until we tell you to leave."

"You will do no such thing," Anna stated, stepping forward.

Lynette frowned at the other woman, clearly a little confused. "I am sorry but I don't recognize you-"

"I am your princess, Anna Regus," she hastily replied. Instantly frantic conversation started from all the masters around them, coming at them from every angle. Based on this Anna continued. "I'm from the future, the same future that Imogen is from, and I demand that you abandon this ancient tradition."

"Sweet mercy…" Lynette gasped. "Is it truly you? Little Anna all grown up?" Anna nodded. "Then there must indeed be a divine power, and I'm sorry, but we cannot abandon such traditions that have kept us safe for hundreds of years on the order of an anomaly no matter who she may be."

"If you do not let us leave as we wish then we will make our own way," Merlin was quick to respond, growing tired of all this. As he did Arthur, Morgana, Imi and Gwaine all withdrew their individual weapons to demonstrate their agreement. "It's your choice."

Lynette seemed deeply saddened by this. "Please, I beg of you. I have done everything I can to ensure your safety but you must abide by our laws or I cannot protect you."

"We do not follow your laws," Morgana spat, noticing Brutus send off Camilla who ran off and disappeared through one of the doors.

"So then," Sounded a male voice from the shadows, hidden amongst the darkness. Merlin's eyes shot open at the familiar voice behind them. Lynette spun wildly around at the voice she had been dreading upon hearing the news, the news of James Regus beloved baby sister's unfortunate death. Her eyes landed on him, James Regus himself, casually strolling into their golden chambers with his brilliant green eyes darting all around him. He finally reached them, barely remaining on the boundries of Lynette's personal space, his cold gaze sending tremors of fear through her entire being. "It's you," he whispered, his voice disturbingly smooth.

"Thank the maker," Morgana breathed a sigh of relief.

Anna's expression hadn't changed though. "Don't thank him yet."

Lynette swallowed her fear in hopes of finding her voice. "Hello, Sire," she croaked out, unable to tear her eyes away from the new sorcerer king.

"I see you have been selected to lead this group Lynette," He said in much the same tone as before until eventually giving them a slow, careful nod. "Good," Lynette released a heavy sigh of relief. "I would have picked you…just remember who you report to, hmm?"

She feverishly nodded her head. "Of course, my Lord."

"Thank you," He smirked at her before looking around. Every single person within the room was looking at him with expressions varying between different levels of fear, which is also when he noticed Merlin, Morgana, Arthur, Imi, Anna and Gwaine giving him similar looks. His smirk was slowly wiped from his face. "Well, I suppose I should have known you would follow me but I guess I was distracted. Have you come to discipline or stop me? Because I would strongly advise against either."

Arthur took a bold step forward and was instantly halted when Merlin snatched his arm. The fair haired king shrugged him off with a weird look. "We've come to bring you back," he stated, fearless. Like most of them there with the exception of Imi and Anna he had no idea how dangerous his cousin really was.

"Uncle Arthur, don't," Imi now snatched his arm and pulled him back, placing a protective hand on her Uncle's chest. Unlike with Merlin though he didn't shrug her off. Apparently his niece was allowed to touch him, Merlin thought with an inward smile. "You can't picture him as the same man we know at the moment," she whispered in his ear. "Wait for the joke."

"The joke?" Arthur furrowed his brow at her.

Anna arrived on his other side and whispered in his other ear. "When he starts making jokes, then we talk."

Arthur looked at his two female relations, idly noticing how he was related to every woman in the room within their group, with a confused pout. He turned his blue eyes to look up at James who was staring straight at them with his bloodshot green eyes. He didn't get it. He couldn't feel anything different from his cousin. However Merlin could see it. He could sense it. His head twitched weirdly, bouncing around on his neck. The rage, the power and the utterly heart-wrenching pain radiating off of James in almost physical waves of energy. "Arthur, listen to her."

"My King," Lynette interrupted before the intruding six could tell him what was happening just moments before his arrival. "We danced with joy when we heard of your triumph over our father, and were deeply saddened by the loss of little Anna," A lengthy, dangerous silence followed her condolences as he kept his back to her. Anna hung her head. "Brother…we are so sorry," she said softly, her own eyes gathering with tears.

Morgana studied the sorcerer kings face. His eyes glistened, his jaw tensed and he sniffed. All the signs of a man doing everything he could not to cry, and just like that she forgot all of her previous protests against his behaviour. Instead she found herself imagining what she would do if Imi was ripped away from her as Anna had been torn away from him, and if she had the powers of a God as he did. She shook her head to clear such thoughts. They were making her feel too emotional at a time when she needed her wits about her, and more importantly when she did she could physically feel the aura of agony surrounding the man. It was like an aura of humidity that made her sweat when getting too close. She looked away from him as quick as she could, not wishing to feel his anguish any longer. How could he stand it?

James slowly turned to face Lynette, eyes still glistening and jaw still tense. "Do not presume I have forgotten that you all wanted her dead not so long ago," he warned, dark robe billowing behind him as he charged over to her. "Plus Imogen delivered the final blow to our father and as far as I'm concerned I only have…had one sibling, and now she's dead, so do not call me brother," he smirked as he walked around them room, circling a desk in the middle of the room and tracing his fingers along the wood. "Now I would like to know where the man who murdered my sister is please, because I know he has been here. I can see him now, peeing on the walls to mark his territory and giving a select few of you a nice refreshing golden shower. Am I wrong?" He asked with a toothy grin. Anna and Imi shared a look. His first joke. "So then, where is the old codger?" His voice was calm. So very calm.

"James?" Anna's small voice immediately earned her brothers attention, almost as if it were instinctual. "I thought you'd come here to save us?"

The atmosphere shifted in the room as James eyes narrowed at her. "Save you?" He asked confused, now sauntering over toward them. "I didn't realise you needed saving, but of course I should have realised. It's all I seem to do recently is save you – quite frankly I'm surprised you're all still here making me feel like I'm supposed to be thankful you cared so much to come and get me despite the fact I neither want or need you to do so. Now I realise I've been acting out a little truly I do. Burning the creatures of Zao alive, giving the Assassins three heart attacks, crucifying Mordred and not five moments ago I walked past a bald man selling wigs without making a single joke BUT keep in mind the facts. I don't need you, I have never needed you, and I seriously absolutely most definitely will never need you. Not one of you – having said that," he quickly whirled around on his heels, away from Imi's deeply wounded expression, to face Lynette. "I can only assume you're keeping them here hostage – it's tradition I understand – but let me warn you of just how annoying they can be. Truly they are, particularly the blonde one and the warlock. Always bickering like some old married couple, asking you to save them and not caring if you're busy, expecting you to do impossible things every time the sun sets and rises I mean jeeze you know? Oh and one other thing – miniscule in fact – but I was hoping by now that you would understand what happens to the individuals who wish to harm THE PEOPLE I LOVE!" He roared, his face morphing from casual to outright ferocious in the blink of an eye.

Lynette brought her head back, her bottom lip quivering in a vain attempt to hold back her tears. All the masters took a subconscious step away from the intruding six, terror etched into their faces. Silence rung through the room like a high pitched noise as James stared, unblinkingly, at his half-sister Lynette – eyes shining with raw fury. The group watched in anticipation from behind him, both oddly complimented and alarmed that the sorcerer king was finally showing them just how much wrath was lurking just underneath the surface.

But then without warning James smiled at the now crying Lynette. "Thank you Lynette – lovely Lynette is what I shall call you. A nice nickname for a woman of whom I was entertaining the idea of decapitating for a little while there don't you think?" Her eyes widened, if possible, even wider as she nodded without thinking. More than anything she wished to appease the legendary fury of her brother. However before she could voice her agreement James suddenly spun round, lifted his arm and pointed at one of his brothers amongst the crowd. "You, Brutus, do you have a problem with letting my friends go?"

All eyes snapped over to Brutus, who looked completely shaken to suddenly be called out. "I'm sorry my lord?"

"Do not my lord me," he soothed. "You're having thoughts of such conquest Brutus. Thoughts about leaping out and performing a surprise attack on me, trying to figure out how you will justify my death to my sister so you could still marry her and take my crown – your own half-sister you freakish little worm. Oh and of course how you believe anyone who isn't a member of the Regus throne to be unworthy of the life they cling to, and are thinking about all the wonderful ways you could kill my friends."

Brutus looked around in his panic. He had forgotten his brother could read minds. "No, P-please…I don't…they were just thoughts I-"

"How's Camilla?" Brutus instantly ceased his babbling at James question, finding it hard to breathe all of a sudden. "She must be almost eight by now correct? Aw, but she's still Daddy's little girl I wager. I bet she still runs up and embraces you when you walk through the door, I bet she still likes to have you read to her when she goes to sleep – regaling her with tales of wonder and magic."

A tear fell from the very macho looking Brutus eye as he stared into his brothers' soulless green orbs. "Please…please…leave my daughter alone-"

"I had that with my sister, you know?" James nodded a little as he recalled the memories. "I remember once, when she was four years of age, I found her crying in her chambers because one of our fathers' men had beaten her for not being able to perform a spell properly – just four years old. So I let her stay in my room and held her in my arms, singing her favourite lullaby until she got to sleep, right up until the sun rose the next morning." Anna put her hand to her mouth as tears streamed down her face. She could just about remember that night. It was simply one of the many times her big brother had tried to shield her from their vile childhood, as always sacrificing everything so she might find even a moments peace.

"I am genuinely sorry," Brutus apologized softly. He actually meant every word.

James nodded, now biting his bottom lip as tears filled the bottom of his eyes, begging to break free. "My mother told me right before she was executed that she wanted me to raise her as if she were my own, that it was her dying wish that I would love her as much as she did…and I did. I loved her more than I thought it at all possible. The kind of love you hear parents talk about and think their lying or exaggerating. When she cried my heart broke, when she laughed it leapt and when she smiled my whole world just lit up like the sun on the first day of summer. But now she…now she has been taken from me with a wave of Malums hand and it's as if she never even mattered, like some fly on the wall. So now I find myself in this whole new world, standing before you numb like some pitiful stone. All I can feel is rage, such rage, that it's consuming me. I can't think of anything else, and it's physically killing me. Then I hear your thoughts about bedding her future self and all I want to do is make you understand how it feels when a part of you, the best part of you, dies before your very eyes and is replaced by such evil that you no longer know what you are."

Brutus nodded, now feeling incredible guilt at his previous thoughts that it was astounding. "I cannot imagine how you must feel sire. Frankly I don't want to."

"Thank you for your honesty," James replied in a soft voice. "And as thanks I'm not going to kill you."

Brutus breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh thank you sire, thank you so much."

James smiled at him. "Instead I'm going to spread the word that you alone were responsible for the massacre our brothers and sisters committed on all those innocent people and children a few years ago," Brutus' big smile fell like a rock from a mountain. "Remember the one? It was when you were trying to show our father that you were willing to fight back against him. The one that had made everyone hate you all so much that the masters were forced into hiding for eternity. So for the rest of yours and your daughters' immortal life you will both be greeted with suspicion and hatred. Your daughter will never have any friends, you will never be given the joy of grandchildren and more importantly you might just learn TO RESPECT THE THINGS I HOLD DEAR! AM I COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD!"

"Ye-ye-yes," Brutus stammered out.

James aggressively thrust his face into his brothers, ruthlessly seizing his throat with his right hand. "YES WHAT!"

"Yes sire!" Brutus choked out, his eyes beginning to roll to the back of his head. But James kept his hand there anyway, his teeth clenched and chin shaking in his thundering wrath. Finally, and with one hand, he easily threw his brother across the room and sent him crashing into the golden wall. Gwaine winced as he heard the mans' bones crack on impact.

James threw out his arms wide on either side of him and slowly spun around. "ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TEST ME!" When no one came forward he ferociously beat his chest with his fist. "COME ON! I'M JUST ONE MAN SO WHAT'S STOPPING YOU! WHO CARES IF I CAN SEND THOUSANDS OF FAERY RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES WITH A WORD! WHO CARES THAT I CAN SLAUGHTER TWENTY DRAGONS AT A TIME! WHO CARES IF I COULD CRUSH YOUR BRAIN WITHOUT EVEN BLINKING – BRING IT ON!" No-one moved. In fact everyone including the group seemed too afraid to breathe. Morgana swallowed slowly. So this was the fire and the rage they had all been warned about so many times. But of course, once again, an abrupt smile appeared on his face that frankly terrified all of them now they knew what it was masking. Now they knew what was hiding just underneath it, the fury of the sorcerer king.

"Righty-dokey!" James said cheerfully, turning to Lynette. "Now that's out of the way I'd like you to call Malum if you would?"

"Call him?" Lynette's eyebrows twitched. It would seem it was the only part of her face that could move. "Wh-what do you mean call him?"

James offered her a tight lipped smile. "Do you think I went after the Zao wilderness, Mordred and the assassins three out of blind rage? No. I KILLED most of them in my blind rage but that's not the reason I was there. I was gathering information on his recent activities since it was clearly obvious he was trying to distract us by placing a wishing charm on Merlin over there, so I decided to find out why. Turns out our great ancestor has been recruiting talented individuals to work for him, promising them that he will spare their lives should they decide to accept and let's face it, lovely Lynette, there's no way you had the stones to decline his offer," He smirked when she gulped. "So having accepted his oh so generous proposal he would have supplied you with a bracelet in which to summon him," He dashed toward her and lifted her silver sleeve, revealing none other than a gold bracelet. She gasped as she felt his fingers touch her skin, her mind running over all the possibilities of what someone with James powers could do to her arm. "Sometimes people want to touch me after I've been this impressive so feel free. Now if you would please call him now," He supplied her terrified features with a big old toothy grin. Merlin actually felt sorry for the poor woman. She was obviously so afraid that she couldn't even move. James licked his lips. "CALL HIM!"

Lynette jolted back with a high pitch squeal as a small ball of fire hit James in the back of the head, causing the sorcerer king to lean forwards. Everyone sucked in a large gulp of oxygen and refused to release it, watching as James remained perfectly still in his new position. All eyes remained on him when he slowly rose and turned to see Anna with her hand outstretched.

Needless to say his eyes turned feral. "Have you lost your mind?" He seethed, once again travelling over to the future version of his sister.

"You'd think so," Anna shrugged, lowering her hand. "But you see, I just had something hit me."

James bounced his eyebrows. "Oh what a coincidence because so did I."

She smiled at him. "Cute. But I had a bit of a revelation you see, not to mention an entire life's worth of memories. Would you like to know what they are?"

"No."

"Well I'll tell you then," she continued, completely ignoring him. "So basically I've been feeling guilty, crying in any isolated space I could find because I really thought that this was all my fault. I thought I had caused you so much pain by accidently showing the way for Malum to come back to this time and kill the past me…but having watched all of that I should thank you."

James licked his lips and tensed his jaw. "If I were you I would spit whatever it is out really very quickly."

"I'd be happy too, Daddy," She replied quickly, the title just rolling off the tongue.

James eyes flickered for a moment before he regained his aggressive composure. "What did you just call me?"

"Oh I called you Daddy," She answered, looking right into his eyes. "I thought Imi wouldn't have told you. You see in my time I called you Daddy because that is how I saw you. I had always been told by countless people how much you loved me, like a daughter, and how much you had sacrificed for me. I grew up with the famous sorcerer king James Regus as a father, not being taught spells or mind reading techniques or all these things you were taught. You see you took it upon yourself to teach me about love when you were taught to hate, to make sure that I was not subjected to all the things you were as a child. You spent almost every waking moment lecturing me on how to be a good person to the point where it is now engraved into my very soul, where now I can't even consider doing something immoral without seeing your scolding face frowning at me…but I never asked why. I simply assumed it was because that was what a father does and so that's what you became."

James sighed. "It's a nice story. Does it have a point?"

"You need to shut up," she seethed, sending everyone there into deep apprehension. "I spent my entire life just wanting to be like you, and every time I quoted something you had said or I tried to act like you, you got so angry at me," she shook her head at him with obvious disgust. "And now I know why. Because in reality the man I've based my entire life on, the man I idolised, my hero is nothing but an angry cold blooded killer that is no better than Malum himself."

James eyes blazed as fury over took him. "You take that back or you will-"

"I'll be what?" She interrupted, now opening her arms wide on either side of her. "Dead? Shamed? Cast into an eternal void – what? Because trust me, nothing you do is going to hurt more than finally realizing who you truly are. The real reason the past me is dead."

Amazingly her words seem to hurt him more than anger him. "What?" He breathed out, reminding Morgana of a wounded puppy.

"You must know why he killed me?" Anna asked, looking at him through her eyelids. "He killed me because he was afraid of you. He killed your baby sister because he was afraid that you, at least a rational you, would figure out how to kill him. But he knew what you would do if you were blinded by your rage. He knew you would turn on every ally you have, he knew you would sulk whilst your friends suffered under the wish spell he put on Merlin and he knew you would act like this, perhaps even join him. Look at yourself. You're ordering a terrified woman to summon him so you can do what exactly? Bite him? What were you planning on doing when he got here when you know you can't beat him?" She shrugged when he offered her no answer. "He knew James, it was all to get you out of the way. His only competition besides Merlin."

"Anna, what the hell are you doing?" Imi whispered terrified.

Anna shook her head. "Don't worry Imi, he wouldn't hurt me. I'm not even sure he could ever physically bring himself to hurt me," she turned back to face her brother. "So now you know what are you going to do about it?"

James briefly cast his eyes over to Merlin and the group before turning them back upon his sister. He looked like he was actually considering her words, but there was one thing that seemed to stand in his way of accepting it. "I never blamed you for what happened," he said softly.

"I know you didn't," Anna responded quickly. "Strange how you seemed to blame everyone but me wasn't it? The girl who led Malum here so he could kill your baby sister. It's also strange how you didn't blame Merlin or Morgana, or Arthur or Imi or anyone of us despite how we were all there and couldn't stop it. The truth is you knew all along it was you and you just wanted to hurt people, didn't you?"

His gaze darted around in obvious thought, and his expression turned horrified. "Oh…" he breathed out shakily, eyes tearing up once more. "I couldn't…I couldn't see it. You're right, I'm no better than Malum-"

He was interrupted by Anna's cold hand fiercely slapping him across his face. All the occupants in the room sucked in some air through their teeth. "I said that to hurt you you moron – of course you're better than Malum! You have a soul, and even though right now I can feel it shattering it is still there. Do you think Malum could love anything like you love me? Do you think he has friends like you have? Do you think he has a woman who loves him even after discovering him do the things you have done today?" She briefly pointed to Imi, who offered him a watery smile when he looked up at her. "Because the truth is you do need us, don't you? Despite all your power and what you said earlier you need us far more than we need you. You need us to keep you grounded, and I promise we always will."

He just stared at her, looking overwhelmed when he saw Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, Gwaine and Imi all nod in agreement to what Anna had just said. He turned his gaze downward. He had never had friends before, he didn't know there could even be such a thing. "Will you…" he began but cut himself off. What he was about to do he had never, ever done before and frankly it was harder than he thought possible. He took a deep breath to steady his breathing. "Will you be my Mummy?" And with that he outright laughed in her face.

Anna brought her head back with a silent yet revolted gasp. He had been toying with her this whole time, allowing her to believe she was reaching him when really there was nothing to reach for. Her heart broke on the spot. For the first time she was looking into those familiar green orbs of her life-long hero and felt genuine contempt. She took a step back, away from the monster wearing her brothers handsome face. "Who are you?" She whispered.

"Please," he spat, his grin widening. "Did you really think a few heart felt words and the puppy dog eyes would suddenly change my mind?" He laughed before vaulting forwards, pointing a finger in her face and wearing a dangerous scowl. "I am not the one that came all the way back in time, leading the way for Malum, because I couldn't handle the situation I was in!"

Anna's eyes tore up, her spirit shattering. He did blame her. "I came back to save the world-"

"You came back because you were a little girl incapable of accepting the truth!" He yelled. "Maybe it was my fault as well for not killing you when I had the chance but silly me, I loved you. However now I'm free, finally being released from my so called ethics and morals. But you were right about one thing, I do just want to hurt people. So why don't you and your friends leave before I decide to continue with you…hmm?"

Anna sniffed, Imi finally breaking free of the group to place an arm around her friends shoulders. "What is wrong with you?" The daughter of Merlin and Morgana breathed out, her own heart breaking along with her best friends.

"Do you want the long list or the short list my little squirrel pancake?" James cockily added, seductively placing a finger under the black haired beauty's chin. Something flashed very briefly across Imi's eyes before she shared a look with Anna. He leaned in dangerously close to whisper in her ear, lightly pressing his chest to hers. She failed to fight off the shiver that it sent through her entire being. It would appear her attempt at disgust for him hadn't quite gone skin deep yet. "You're free to stay, should you decide to keep me entertained."

Morgana couldn't help but shudder herself. The man was screaming alpha male and even her primitive female instincts recognised it, no matter how revolted she was at the fact. Merlin, however, had no such instincts. The nearly always humble Merlin's nostrils flared as a powerful surge of rile vibrated through him. His knuckles cracked, his shoulders shook and his eyes screamed vehemence. Just who the HELL did he think he was? Not only was he doing this in front of him, not only did he notice how Morgana had reacted to James husky purr, but in that very moment he stopped looking upon the man as a friend. Or more importantly it was the moment he decided he might just kill him.

He threw up his hand, open palm outstretched in the sorcerer kings direction. "Hámfaru!" A clear ball of energy exploded from his hand and blasted into James stomach, sending the new king soaring backwards through the air.

Imogen gasped, bringing a hand up to her mouth. Morgana's eyes grew to imaginable widths, Arthur sent Merlin a scathing look and Gwaine simply nodded and withdrew his sword. Anna though spun around to face her childhood crush. "Merlin! What have you done?"

Morgana sent looks between her new love and the now rising James Regus. Things were spiralling out of control at a rapid rate. Merlin had dealt the first blow, having obviously reacted out of a rampant fatherly instinct, but now that he had all bets were off. James would retaliate and before they knew it people were going to start dying. She quickly ran over and grabbed a firm hold of Imogen's arm, immediately pulling her into a tight embrace.

Imi made an attempt to protest, though her voice was muffled by her mothers' protective arm. "No Mum you don't-"

"Imi I have no interest in what you're about to say, we're leaving right this moment," Morgana interrupted the girl wrapped snugly in her arms. "Arthur, get us out of here."

Arthur shot her a look, only just daring to take his eyes of his cousin. "I can't leave now-"

"Arthur!" Morgana interjected yet again, sounding rather frantic. "You get my little girl out of here right now or you will see what true fury is, am I clear?"

Arthur Pendragon gulped and nodded at his sister. "Yes ma'am."

"No mum please you have to listen to me," Imi begged when her uncle Arthur grabbed her arm.

Morgana turned away from her. "No I don't," she responded stubbornly. She quickly looked up to see James glaring at Merlin through his eyelids. "We're all leaving, just let us go, please."

"Not a chance in hell," The sorcerer king growled, beginning to take slow steps toward the young warlock. He threw his arms down on either side of him, golden blasts appearing in each palm. "I gave you your chance and now he has chosen his fate. Besides I'm finally about to find out whose stronger. The fire and the rage or Emrys."

Merlin stuck out his outstretched palm toward him again. "If you think I would let you get away with talking to my daughter like that, then you're wrong."

James cracked his neck and lifted one of his own palms, golden blast still at the ready…until Anna jumped in the way. Silence abruptly claimed the busy hall as everyone froze dead where they stood. None of them dared to blink, each attempting to keep their heavy breathing as quiet as they could, and for the first time they all got a good look at madness that was happening. Merlin and James were about to face off, Morgana and Arthur were shielding Imogen, Anna had her arms outstretched in between the two most powerful sorcerers in the world, Gwaine had his sword drawn and all the masters had either used the distraction to run away or were too afraid to move.

"I've got to be honest," Gwaine's tired voice pierced the deadly silence. "You people are not fun to be around."

James rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Gwaine, kind of in the middle of something here."

"I noticed!" The warrior exclaimed, lowering his sword. "Now I'm not the sharpest fella in the world but let me see if I've got this straight. You're angry because your little sister died which is completely understandable, so now you're holding some magical golden ball of fire up to her future self, the only part of her you have left…and no one see's anything wrong with that? Am I seriously the only sane one in the room? Because people that does not bode well for anyone."

"Look just keep your bodacious hair out of my business alright? Or you'll be next," James finished through gritted teeth.

Gwaine withdrew his sword by sliding it back into its holster and raised his hands in defeat. "Fine with me, I'm outta here. Who is coming with me?"

They all looked back at James with expectant eyes. He sighed, sounding more than a little exhausted. "Alright! Everyone except Merlin, Anna and Lynette get out," he ordered, eyes never leaving his sister and Merlin. When no one moved his jaw tensed. "GET OUT!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. The masters all bolted toward the exit, not deciding to question their good fortune. Arthur cast a brief glance to Merlin and Anna before he and Gwaine dragged Imi out kicking and screaming. Morgana's eyes darted between James and Merlin, as if debating on whether or not to do as she was told. Morgana was never one to do as she was told no matter who was telling her. With a determined frown she took a step toward Merlin.

"Morgana, no," Merlin protested, halting her advances. "Not this time. For me, please, just wait for me outside."

She gave him a disbelieving look. "But Merlin-"

"Morgana, you have to remember that you are pregnant," Merlin reminded in a hushed voice. "Think of Imi."

She immediately lost her frown. Instead she adopted an expression of concern only a mother, in her infinite compassion for their child, could possibly provide. So with a decisive nod she fled the scene, ready to place her efforts into another vastly important cause. Silence once again filled the once insane area as all simply froze in their places, each one of them prepared to do whatever they had to should the moment finally arrive.

---

Imi thrashed around in her Uncle Arthur's arms, kicking her arms and legs to the point where everyone was forced to keep their distance. Morgana kept looking around, noticing how all the masters that had left with them were now scurrying for the hills. Arthur stumbled a little as Imi dug her heels into the ground and pushed back.

"She's a fighter that one," Gwaine commented with a bounce of his eyebrows.

"Yeah," Sounded Arthur's more than strained voice. "Wonder where she gets that from."

Morgana scowled at him. "Arthur, shut up."

"I would Morgana but I'm kind of in the middle of the last thing you told me – Oh sweet…" Arthur gasped when the feisty girl from the future's heel slammed itself against his crutch. In fact even Gwaine bit into his fist at the sight. No man deserved that. Arthur's hands slipped from his niece before the rest of him melted into ground beneath him. "…Ouch," breathed the great king Arthur.

Imi turned to her Uncle and winced. "Sorry Uncle Arthur."

"Sure," The soprano king replied.

Morgana rolled her eyes and grabbed her daughters arm, leading her away slightly. "Don't worry about him, he's just an overgrown child."

"Overgrown child?" Gwaine commented in his disbelief. "My Lady I'm not sure you understand."

Morgana did not seem bothered. "Of course I don't, nor do I want to."

Whilst this increasingly usual exchange was going on they failed to notice young Imogen looking around, spotting that all the masters had fled the scene. The girl released a sigh of relief. "Finally. Ok, we need to wait here until they all come out."

Morgana turned to her rather abruptly calm daughter. "Pardon?" She scowled. Only a moment ago she was kicking and screaming, crying out to go back into the masters domain to stop the conflict between her beloved father and the love of her life. "Imogen what's going on? How are you so calm?"

"Oh…right…well," She always knew when she was in trouble when her mother called her Imogen instead of Imi. "There's kind of this thing we do,"

Morgana raised her eyebrows. "Thing?"

"Yes a thing," Imi replied with a weary gleam in her eyes.

"Can someone help me up?" Arthur's weak voice interrupted the moment.

Gwaine pointed to him. "Right," he remembered, going to help him.

"Imi, explain this thing, right now," Morgana commanded.

"Well," Imi began. "It's like this…"

---

"Well go on then." Anna seethed.

James eyes stiffened despite the smirk that grew on his face. "What makes you think I won't just blow you into a thousand fragments right now?"

She snorted, and to Merlin's horror lowered her arms with a deflated casualness. "What? And miss the chance to gloat? Yeah because that sounds like you. Need I remind you of the time you beat me in that race?"

James suddenly lowered his own arm, the ball of golden fire in his palm dissipating as a warm grin crossed his face. "Beat you? No, Anna, I destroyed you."

"I was six years old James!" Anna yelled appalled whilst walking over to him. "You danced circles around me showboating your victory every day for three weeks!" She couldn't help the smile that grew on her face though despite this. She punched him in the chest before wrapping her arms around him in a fierce embrace, he in turn returning the gesture. "By the way nicely done. I think you actually had poor Merlin here believing you were going to kill him."

Merlin, needless to say, watched the brother and sister embrace each other with a look of complete nausea. "What?" He murmured shakily, his voice weak. He shook his head as he lowered his arm. "What!"

"Oh, right – Merlin!" James released his sister and bounded over to the young warlock. "Sorry about all that but it had to be done. By the way nice shot with that hamfuru spell, it really knocked the wind out of me. When all this is over I am definitely training you. How the hell did you learn that in between shovelling horse manure and having a head shaped like a two handled goblet?"

Merlin stood dumbfounded. "…Two handled goblet?"

"I'm afraid so," James placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "It's the ears. They look like handles, Merlin. There's no getting around it now," he patted his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

The young warlock shook his head, trying incredibly hard to understand what was happening. "I don't…what's going on? I need to know what is going on here really very quickly."

"Of course," James said with a smile, spinning on his heel. "It's quite simple really. You see I had been off out and about here and there travelling between A and B trying to get any and all information about Malum and these so called angels in hopes of discovering how to kill them. You see this crazy idea hit me – WILD in fact – back when Malum put that spell on you. I started to wonder why he had done that when he could have just simply popped in for visit, have some crumpets and wipe us all out when it suddenly occurred to me," he whirled around to face Merlin again, his smile still in place. "Malum doesn't know how to kill us, meaning other immortals. Incredibly after all his years he doesn't know about the immortal weapons! So the big question was…what else didn't he know about?"

Merlin swallowed, eyes wide. "Are you telling me this was all fake?"

"Yeppers flappers," James responded cheerfully, showing he was referring once again to his ears by flicking them. "Well, sort of. Any threat or less than honourable thing I said toward any of you was fake. I'm still dangerous and scary," he lifted up his hands in the shape of claws. "Grrr. See? Only dangerous people growl – well, and weirdoes."

"But…but it was all so real," The young warlock murmured. "Everyone was warning us of your revenge, that you had given in to your hate, that you had murdered the assassins three –"

James bounced his eyebrows. "Oh I did," he responded, his smile ever so slowly dropping from his face. "And for the record I didn't just kill them. I made them into different people before I bathed in their flesh – I slaughtered everything they loved and made them watch – I made them SCREAM for a mercy they knew would never arrive – I MADE THEM REGRET THE DAY THEIR MOTHERS HAD EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING A CHILD FOR CHOOSING MALUM AND MY FATHER!" Merlin watched on in astonished confusion as the sorcerer king took a deep calming breath, pulling at his black robe to straighten himself. "See. Dangerous and scary."

"But, the scriptures Kalladine was talking about," Merlin continued. "They said you would be inconsolable, a threat to any friend, a changed man. There was a poem!" He finished incredulously.

James scoffed. "Overly dramatic old men bored one evening. Look, as girly as it sounds I find myself actually caring for you lot even against my better judgement. Having said that, should anyone I don't particularly care for cross me you shall see what is written in those scriptures for your very eyes, but as I said I happen to like you," The sorcerer king shifted uncomfortably. "All of you, a lot," he cleared his throat. "You're the only family I have left."

Merlin reluctantly turned to Anna. "What's happening?"

"Basically he's opening up which is new and saying he would never harm us," Anna informed the warlock. "You remember that he likes to use those rather odd and gross code words? Well squirrel pancake is one of them; it means play along until everyone can get safely away. He couldn't show the other masters that he was deflating or they would simply attack us. They needed to stay afraid."

"And I knew you would attack me for calling your daughter such a name," James added, crossing his arms. "Thereby causing a scene where everyone would want to run. I was not however prepared to be wounded by you. I'm immortal, I shouldn't get wounded. It's in the guide book."

Merlin shook his head. "Does Imi know this?"

"We are both all too familiar with his code words," Anna said, a note of disgust in her voice. "Imi keeps telling us how she wants to change them but he won't have it."

James looked offended. "I like them," he whined like a child.

Lynette, who Merlin had completely forgotten about, took a shaky step forward. "So you aren't angry at me?" She asked in a small voice.

"Not at you Lynette," James responded, turning to her. "I read your mind the moment I arrived and I knew you are the only reason my friends and sister are still alive," he walked over to her with heavy eyes. "Thank you, and I'm sorry I scared you."

An unbelievably relieved smile came over her face, her eyes dancing with reprieve. "It was my pleasure my lord, but I'm not sure you realize just how scary you can be."

He smiled down at her. "Trust me, I was taking it easy on you. However I do want you to summon Malum for me. Right here, right now." The two girls in the room gasped, whereas Merlin couldn't look any more surprised if he tried. The poor warlock was still reeling from the squirrel pancake incident.

"No!" Anna yelled at her brother. "No! You summon him and we are dead. Why can't you just accept that?"

James shrugged. "Because it's not true. We will not be dead because you and Lynette will not be here. Lovely Lynette is going to summon him, leave with you and hand me the bracelet, leaving me and Merlin here to deal with him."

"Um," Merlin spoke up. "What was that last bit?"

"Why does Merlin get to stay?" Anna demanded he answer her with her tone.

Merlin frowned. "Or more importantly why doesn't Merlin get a say in it?"

"Merlin stays because he and I are the biggest threats to Malum and his plans, plus if he has the power within him to wound me then he can wound him. You, Anna, are not staying for my own peace of mind. End of."

Anna looked outraged. "Oh no, no no you're not doing the end of thing."

"End of."

"I can't believe you do this back in this time as well," Anna sighed. "James I am powerful and –"

"End of."

"But I –"

"End of."

"But if I could just –"

"End of."

Anna shrieked and pulled at her hair in her frustration. "Stop it!"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I'm having too much fun."

"ARGH!" She shoved her brother in the chest. "Why can't I stay?"

He finally turned to look at her at this, making her realize he wasn't actually smiling. "Because I will NOT lose you again. Simple as and I mean no arguments Anna. I get that your rebellious – it runs in the blood – but so help me if you die I'm not sure I could ever forgive myself and these people don't deserve what I will do then."

"Really?" She asked, crossing her arms. "Are you done with the clichés?"

He smirked at his sister. "I guess so," He leant forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She frowned at him when he grabbed both sides of her face, his green eyes piercing her own. "I love you, princess," And with that he waved his hand over her eyes. Instantly her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she drifted off into dreamland, her body going limp and making James have to catch her as she fell.

Merlin ran up to them at this point, looking a bit concerned. "I take it she's alright?" The young warlock asked the obvious question.

"At the moment. I get the feeling I won't want to be there when she wakes up though," He looked up at Lynette. "Lynette, I want you to give me your bracelet and then get my sister out of here."

Lynette nodded and made the trade. "Good luck, my Lord, and to you Emrys," She offered them both a nod before slinging the sorcerer princess over her shoulder and walking off.

"Lovely Lynette?" The immortal turned round at the sound of her kings voice, just catching him in time to see him barrelling toward her, his finger pointing accusingly at her. "If any harm comes to her before you find my friends I will hold you personally responsible – Am I understood?" When she nodded he smiled at her. "Good. Now of you go." Once she had left James turned back to Merlin. "You ready?"

"No, I'm not," Merlin responded quickly. "I know you're angry but I don't think this is a good idea."

James shrugged. "Probably not."

"So then why?" The young warlock quizzed desperately.

"Because I need to that's why," James replied. "I understand if you don't want to be here when I do it, that's your choice, but I'm doing it."

Merlin stared at him for a while, every fibre in him screaming to get out while he still could. However he couldn't leave him on his own to confront the demon lord, and so with a heavy sigh hung his head. "Get it over with," he said, defeated.

James grinned. "Alright then. Get ready to plug your rear end up Merlin, because things are about to get tense," James warned before lifting the gold bracelet up to his eye level. Merlin swallowed as his nerves caught up with his brain. This was such a bad idea, so stupid in its urgency that he didn't know why he was still standing here. James eyes fixed on the bracelet. "Ic gebann pe atolum ádlomen NU!"

The bracelet shone an immense gold, shaking in the sorcerer kings' steady hand. Merlin flinched and was forced to shield his eyes from the radiation, the rays beginning to pierce his retinas. A small gush of wind blew against his face and suddenly, suddenly he had the sense that he and James were not the only ones in the room any more. He could feel a new heat against his skin. A presence that hollowed his heart without warning nor regret. His instinct was to keep his eyes shielded, but his mind told him that perhaps that was not such a great idea. So, with a sense of dread he had not been accustomed to since he was a child afraid of the dark, he lowered his arms and gazed in front of him. Indeed, there stood the fake flesh of the demon lord Malum, basking in the glow of his invisible frosty aura.

"Sweet mercy child," The demons voice vibrated into their ears, causing an involuntary cold shiver to descend over Merlin's entire body. "Have you lost your senses?" He asked James, as always in that sickly calm voice. Merlin could feel his body moving away of its own accord, ignoring his higher brain functions completely and almost giving way to forgotten survival instincts.

James though seemed unshakable. "No, I lost something else," he said with a forced, tight lipped smile.

"Why would you bring me here?" Malum somehow managed to demand an answer without changing his tone. "Perhaps you felt the message you left me inadequate, but I do not understand. There can be no reason for this other than insanity."

James scoffed. "Ah you see! That's your problem – well one of your most self-harming ones at least. You are far to assured in your own abilities that it will be your undoing," The sorcerer king straightened his black robe, clearly trying to hold back a dire instinct to attack. "I have brought you here to tell you how I am going to destroy you."

Merlin noticed how Malum's lips were in danger of smiling. "Have you indeed. Now why would you do such a thing?"

"I'll let you ponder on that yourself, Shivers O'Chestnuts. That's my new name for you by the way," James answered, wiping all traces of humour from the demons face. "But have no fear, because I am going to kill you. Perhaps not in the slow, torturous way you deserve due to your excellent survival skills, but I shall. Hey, maybe I'll banish you to whole new dimensional prison? Won't that be fun?"

Malum's face was horribly plain. No fear, no anger, just nothing. "Or I could end this charade right here and now, and bring an end to the only two people who stand in my way and who were kind enough to bring themselves right to me," His eyes looked between them before pausing strangely on James, proceeding to close his eyes and take a slow but large breath. "I can feel your anger, child. It is impressive how you can will yourself to merely stand there when you wish nothing more than to see me die," the humour came back into his expressionless features, and this time an actual smile broke out onto his face. Merlin gave a look of repulsion. He had never seen such a terrifying smile in all his life. "You cannot kill me, but you can release yourself from this torture. Go on. Let it out-"

"Well you won't just kill us for two reasons," James interrupted the demon. "One, you came back to this time because in the future you already had everything you wanted and grew bored. Second, you don't know how to kill other immortals. Well, you can kill little girls but ones that have taken the elixir that stop us from continuing to age as we live forever you don't have a clue. By the by, my sister informed me of the true reason why you called her past self. You were afraid I would work out how to kill you, being as smart as I am."

Merlin frowned. He had forgotten Imi telling them about the elixir the Regus throne were given to stop them ageing when she first arrived. It wasn't what caused their immortality, but once they took it they remained at that age for eternity. It was how they all grew up and then miraculously stopped ageing in their late teens to remain beautiful forever.

Malum made a noise that sounded a little like scoffing. "You are not capable to destroying me. No matter how riled up you get, child, you will never be capable of-"

"YOU took EVERYTHING from me!" James Regus abruptly yelled, Merlin almost gasping as painfully solid tears begged to be released from James' eyes and scale the sorcerer kings cheeks. How had he stayed so calm when he was holding back such fervent rage? "You killed my sister," he whimpered pathetically with a violent shake of his head.

Malums smile deflated from his cold face, lightly surprised by the sudden outburst from his distant relative. "I never thought you would react like this-"

"I'm going to kill you," James was suddenly in his face, eyes blistering with hate, no fear in him at all. Merlin watched him shudder with the raw fury shooting through his blood. "With everything I am…with everything I hold dear I promise you on my sisters grave that I will destroy you…and I already have bundles of ideas," he backed away slowly, shoving a fierce finger in the demons face. "No weapon can harm you huh? Except one. Because there is a weapon that kill anything, a weapon that can kill the dead, a weapon forged in the flames of a dragons fire."

Merlin shot his stunned gaze to James. Of course. It was so obvious. "I have a sword like that…"

"You what?" Malum's reptilian yellow eyes bulged at the young warlock.

"Hell yes you do Merlin!" James yelled. "A sword of legend that when held in the hands of its owner can kill anything including demon lords from the land of the ugly. They call it Excallibur in the scriptures, created for my cousin Arthur by my good dragon lord friend Merlin using his pet froggy Kilgharrah and you are going down – down – DOWN! BUT! You could beat us to it without a doubt so how about that spell I cast on Morgana and Imogen? Huh? Thought of that? Nothing can happen to those of you who travel back in time because you're anomalies and yet I aged Imi by three years – or what about the platform of time?" Malum, if possible, paled at the phrase. "Yeah, didn't know I knew about that did you? I mean the platform would be a last option but it will always BE an option. We will throw you back into the hole you crawled out of AND THAT is just off the top of my head," he smiled triumphantly at the obvious fear on Malums face, a sight Merlin never thought possible. James stuck his tongue in his cheek, wiping the unshed tears from his eyes. "For I am danger, I am thunder. I am simply…" he snapped his fingers and pointed at Malum.

"…The fire and the rage," The demon lord finished for him.

James toothy grin re-appeared in full force, Merlin watching apprehensively from his side. "I'm coming for you, and I will end you quicker than you ended the innocence OF MY SISTER! The girl who made my heart beat and whose memory will now halt the beats of yours. Can't you just taste the poetry?" He turned to a quiet Merlin beside him. "Any words you want to get off your chest Merlin?"

The young warlock looked stunned at first, but eventually nodded his head. "Actually yes," he stated, turning to Malum. "We all loved Anna. All of us. She must have been the bravest little girl the world had ever known, ever," James was forced into biting his bottom lip behind him at his words. "So now you won't just have to deal with the fury of James Regus. You have me, and King Arthur and all of us who will not stop until you're dead and now we all know how to kill you," He hissed, surprising both immortals a little at his frosty words. James eyebrows hit his hairline. The warlock was always surprising him.

"And I thought I was impressive," James remarked before lifting Malum's golden bracelet in the air. "We'll see you soon chuckles," And with that, the sorcerer king threw the bracelet to the ground. A dramatic explosion occurred and just like that the demon lord was gone, evaporating into thin air. Silence ensued as both James and Merlin stared at the empty space where Malum once stood. A million thoughts raced through their minds at once, each man thinking over their last conversation with the most powerful being in existence.

"I didn't realize you all cared for Anna so much," James soft voice earned him the warlock's attention. "I'm sorry."

Merlin instantly waved it off. "No one expected you to," he replied with a cheery smile, but his eyes were sad. Far too sad. "You've done some bad things in the last day, James. I know you were in pain but the things we heard, they were beyond anything I thought you were capable of." James looked away from him at this with culpable eyes, heavy with guilt. "Is it true you burned children alive? Just to get to Shallot before you killed her?"

"No," James blurted out quickly, but he eventually hung his head once more. "But I almost did," he responded in the weakest voice he'd heard all night. "I had Shallot pinned up against a tree with her daughter standing only a few feet away and I was one thought from doing it," he looked up at the horrified face of Merlin. "As it so happened that thought was you and you're friends. If it wasn't for you I would have gone too far, to a place I never would have come back from. I would have become just like Malum and my father but I knew if I did you would never forgive me," the sorcerer king swallowed nervously. "Can you forgive me?"

If Merlin was honest with himself he wasn't sure if he could have forgiven the royal had he gone through with it. He had been fully prepared to tell the other man that after all this was over he was no longer welcome, especially if he had gone through with it, and especially not around his daughter. But after discovering the truth, and after watching everything he had just witnessed he could just about understand how he had come so close. After all if he ever lost Imi then, well, he didn't want to think about what he might consider doing. Who knows, maybe he wouldn't have had the willpower to stop that level of revenge.

With this in mind he placed a hand on James' shoulder. "We've seen you at your worst and you still held back. I think we can forgive you."

James released a breath he was surprised to find himself holding. He hadn't realized just how much he needed their approval until the past day. "Thank you, Merlin. As always a moral navigator. I'm just glad the day is over."

"Well…" Merlin trailed off, earning him the suspicions of his partner. "Actually there is one more thing I think we have to do."

---

The sunrise the next morning was truly a thing of beauty, it's warm rays spreading over the sea of Zao and causing the waters to sparkle. The tiny waves that washed along the shore of the island of Zao was the only sound amongst the crowded lake. All the Empaths stood just off the side lines, tears streaming down some of their flushed cheeks. The masters and inhabitants of Avalon mixed within them, creating an enormous gathering. An army. Lynette, Antor and Kalladine stood slightly before them with their arms folded over their chest, sombre expressions on their faces. In front of them stood Merlin, Morgana, James, Arthur, Imogen, Gwen, Lancelot, adult Anna and Gwaine. All of their eyes were focused on a solitary boat which contained the lifeless body of little Anna Regus. Morgana sniffed and wrapped her arms around Merlin's middle as she contemplated the body. Such a beautiful innocent creature deserved to live at any cost. Merlin's hand drifted down to her stomach almost instinctually, knowing that a little Imogen was being created just under the surface. Now more than ever he felt extremely protective over the women in his life, and nothing would get in the way of that from here on in.

Gwaine and Lancelot watched with their hands tied together and placed respectively in their middle. Arthur held a flaming torch in his hand, his other grasping Gwen's in a silent plea for help. He still couldn't believe it. Even now whilst watching his little cousins body lay dormant in the simple wooden raft he didn't want to believe it. Imi and Anna stood on either side of a stoic James until finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sorcerer king moved forward toward the raft. No one had wanted to push him, but they had been waiting for him to give the order to begin the ancient ceremony. The immortal turned to Merlin on his small travels to his sister.

"Thank you, Merlin, again," he murmured before reaching the boat. The young warlock merely offered him an emotionless nod in reply.

James gazed down at the small girl he had loved so much with concrete eyes, unreadable and vast like the water itself. After a moment of nothing he gradually squatted down beside and laid a reluctant yet soft hand on his dead sisters cold chest. Everyone else watching daren't even breathe in case they disturb the morbid, horrendous silence that seemed louder than any noise. Much to their surprise a small laugh escaped the sorcerer kings lips as he began fatherly stroking his sisters' once vibrant hair.

"You would have been so cross with me today," he breathed out. Just his voice broke their hearts. It was so soft, so full of love that Imi brushed aside all of her earlier convictions that she wouldn't cry and allowed a few stray tears to slide down her face. The adult Anna slung an arm around her best friend, finding the whole scenario a little strange. After all that was her past self-lying dead in that boat. All the tears around them were for her death and yet here she stood, watching her big brother attempt to be strong before they burnt her dead corpse. Surreal wasn't really a strong enough concept.

"All the things I did, almost did. You would have looked up at me with those brilliant little green eyes, put your hands on your hips just like Mum used to do and given me one hell of a scolding for someone so tiny," James continued before lowering his gaze. "It's a shame you didn't get to grow up you know? You're future self is quite amazing. She knows me far too well, and the only other one to make me that uncomfortable was you. And you would have been beautiful too…not that you weren't already. In every way were you beautiful," he paused, not noticing Anna firmly shut her eyes behind him, and brought his gaze back up to her small form. "God did I love you," he breathed out through clenched teeth. "And I am so sorry princess, for not protecting you like I always promised. I'm sorry I dragged you along with me, I'm sorry I let that soulless son of a bitch anywhere near you…I'm sorry I couldn't save you…but I want you to know that I'll never stop thinking of you. For as long as I live I don't think I'll be able to forget the moment I realised you were gone forever," He had to pause as his lips gave an involuntary uncharacteristic quiver. "I miss you so much," he whispered brokenly, eyes glistening despite his will. "But I promise you…I won't fail you again." And with that he placed one last kiss to her forehead and slowly rose into a standing position once more.

Arthur stepped forward with his flaming torch, halting once he reached his cousins side. The two royals shared a deep look before James gave him the nod to continue. The fair haired king looked down upon his little cousin one last time and carefully lit the leaves surrounded her body. The flames spat and hissed at them, spreading quickly through the small raft until they surrounded little Anna entirely. James raised a surprisingly steady hand and pushed it forward, causing an invisible force to gently drive the raft out onto the water. They all watched in dead silence as the boat swayed off further and further into the horizon, the flames rising with every moment that past until they could no longer make out Anna's small frame.

The Empaths, Masters and Avalonians began to move off, their light footsteps now merging with the rippling water to become the only intrusion into the silence. The group as whole casually made their way to crowd round Arthur and James, who both seemed unable to tear their eyes off the distant boat. Arthur eventually turned though and placed a hand on his cousins' shoulder to show his support, expecting the other royal to not reply in any way.

"I'm sorry," The fair haired king whispered, hoping James could understand just how sorry he truly was.

James turned to him, and one look at those glistening green orbs and Arthur knew he did understand. "Me too," he responded. "You loved her too Arthur. I know that, but if you'll excuse me for a moment I think I need to be alone for a bit." And just like that the sorcerer king made his escape for a few moments of privacy…but fate had other plans. For whatever reason the immortal lost his strength in his legs for but a few seconds and did the unthinkable. He fell to his knees, buried his head in the sand beneath him, and he broke down. It was almost as if he hadn't been able to hide it long enough to even get out of their line of vision, and so he cried. He cried like he never had before. Violent sobs racked his entire body, physically shaking with the immense strain of his broken heart.

Imi allowed a shaky hand to come up to her mouth and rest on her lips. "I've never seen him cry before," she whispered to herself, Anna nodding beside her, both unsure of what to do.

"That's because he never has," the sorcerer princess added. Without waiting for another moment the royal beauty rushed to her brothers side and threw her arms around him, clinging to his vibrating body as if her own life depended on it. He quickly rose to his knees and squeezed her to him in much the same way, his ever important pride having been forgotten, burying his sobbing face in the crook of his sisters neck. The rest of the group could only watch from the side lines, finding slight comfort in each other. None of them had expected that. They had expected the vengeance, they had expected the sadness, but no one had thought they would ever see James Regus break down in a fit of tears. It simply hadn't existed in the realms of possibilities, and it shook them more than they cared to admit.

One thing was for sure though, and that was that Malum had dug his own grave. Because now that they had hope, now that they knew he wasn't invincible, none of them would rest until he had been eradicated from existence.

Together they would save the world.

---

So what did ya think? As always I would love to hear from you. In the next chapter Merlin and Morgana find a quiet place for an important conversation; there is a rather large gathering and a plan is formed to take down Malum.