The winter of Arthur's death became the spring of chaos. Like Merlin had predicted, many men fought and vied for the control of the young king. However, he was too much like his mother. Gareth wouldn't allow anyone to control him, making surprisingly wise decisions on laws and regulations. Some were saying that Arthur had been succeeded the Orkney prince most like him.

However, Gareth was still no Arthur. When Mordred's troops rallied Gareth's were dealt a crushing blow in a string of defeats. Still, the young man struggled on, despite having to change castles almost every day for a year. Upon the return of winter he sallied out with his troops once more, and won a glorious victory.

He wasted no time in routing the rebel troops and laying siege to any castle that owed Mordred loyalty. His penalties on the defectors were harsh; their castles were raised, their families stripped of their titles and lands, and the leader executed. Still, no matter what his methods they were effective in getting many rebels to surrender, after which they were treated much more leniently than those that didn't.

It was also a busy time for the Apprentices of Merlin. Secretly Morgana had been attracting followers in the sorcerer community and used them ruthlessly in her battles. Few were the times that they were sent out together, more often they were sent out separately or in pairs to deal with one or more of the sorcerers.

Some villages, frightened of forces beyond their comprehension, became hostile towards all sorcerers. Several abbeys and monasteries were denouncing them as the Devil's children. Many young sorcerers, just barely receiving their rings and Incantuses, were burned before they could learn to save themselves.

Once more Horvath was made to travel to Rome to get a Papal Bull encouraging peace. This time though things did not go so well and he returned empty-handed, the throne of St. Peter too divided to take up the issue of magic. It was then up to Gareth, who already had his hands full, to publish laws against the burning of sorcerers. However, no matter what the King, Merlin, or his apprentices tried, they continued on a smaller and more secretive scale.

Fears of sorcerers in the disruptive times were also reaching all-time highs in the court. However, many of them still respected Merlin for what he had done for both them and their fathers. Quick to divide the evil from the good, they began calling Merlin and all sorcerers who worked with him for the greater good Merlinians. Morganian was the disgusted term they coined for Morgana and her followers.

And so another year passed in this fashion, the struggles becoming less and less. Soon it appeared that Mordred was most likely going to fade into obscurity. A shaky stability settled over Gareth's new domains, and to cement it he quickly made an alliance with the German Emperor Otto, by marrying his daughter Betrice.

Because of her knowledge of languages and her gender Veronica was assigned to teach English to the new Queen. Betrice proved to be a quick learner and soon endeared herself to both her new husband the court with her good English. She also bore him a healthy son within the first year of their marriage that they named Henry, strengthening the alliance and Gareth's position on the throne.

However, still the newly-christened Morganians continued to attack. Whenever the Merlinians, and many sorcerers were pressed into the service of the crown, struck one down another took their place. Constantly this village or hamlet pleaded for assistance and one of the royal sorcerers would ride out.

Veronica and Balthazar were given only the briefest moments together during those turbulent years. She was mindful, however, that she should be grateful for what she had. With each month the year that would begin their search for the Prime Merlinian drew nearer. As the start of the fourth anniversary since Arthur's death drew near a small part of her knew that whatever pain and suffering Nimue had predicted for her was fast approaching.

It was, in fact, the night after the New Year came that part of her sunk into a deep melancholy. The library, being arguably the warmest room, had always been the retreat of the apprentices during that time of the year. When Veronica found that she was unable to sleep that night she had wrapped a robe and gone downstairs for some late night reading of her Incantus.

Surprisingly she found that Horvath was already there. This surprised her, because when she had initially gone to bed he hadn't arrived back from his latest mission yet. She had given him a cordial greeting and he had nodded in return, but hadn't done much else since she had come in.

So she had gone, gotten her Incantus, and settled down to read. It hadn't helped at all though, not making her drowsy in the slightest. Instead she stared down at the same page of text, rereading the same sentence again and again. From where he was Horvath noticed this and remarked casually;

"I'm sure you must've memorized the first step of the transformation spell by now."

She laughed a little tensely and shut the Incantus. Perhaps it would be better if she were at least in her own room trying to get to sleep.

"My mind seems to be elsewhere these days," she said.

"Don't see how reading's going to help, but perhaps this is a night where no one can sleep," Horvath said, "Merlin's up too now."

"Master," Veronica corrected.

"Oh yes, all-powerful Master," Horvath answered sarcastically, "And we're the ever eager apprentices."

Frowning Veronica got up and turned around.

"What's wrong Horvath?" she said, "We've been his apprentices since we were ten."

"Yes, and for me twenty-one years have passed since then," he said sharply, "Most people complete their apprenticeships in eight years. We know more than most Masters, so why are we still the apprentices?"

"Master says one never stops learning," she said, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Horvath snorted and returned to his perusal of the shelves. Veronica looked at him and repressed a sigh. Ever since her refusal of him around five years earlier Horvath had never been quite the same. He was a good deal sharper and more sarcastic, and in many ways a good deal angrier. She wished she knew what was poisoning him like this, but every time she tried to get to the root of the matter he pulled away.

Honestly she couldn't blame him. While his actions the day she had refused him had scared her, they were most likely motivated by shock and pain. They were never going to be friends like they had been again; she had been right when she had told Morgause that. However, she had been happy to see that his bitterness, if nothing else, had appeared to have abated a good deal with the passage of time.

"Veronica, Horvath."

The two of them turned to see Merlin in the doorway.

"You're both up. Good, makes things easier."

He jerked his head to the side, a clear command to follow him. Horvath rolled his eyes irritably but put his book down and headed out the door. Veronica followed after him, unsure as to what was going on. When they entered the main hall she saw Balthazar leaning against the fireplace.

Merlin shook his head and grabbed Balthazar by the shoulder.

"I know it's cold, but not there," he said, repositioning him to a corner of the room, "Here."

He did the same with the other two apprentices until he was satisfied.

"Now that we're all together," Merlin said, sitting down heavily, "Those of you who have done the arithmetic might have noticed that this is the year that the search for the Prime Merlinian shall begin."

Veronica felt an awful, sinking sensation in her stomach.

"I have brought you here to freeze your ages," he said, "I've been working on the spell for several weeks now, and it should be full proof. Once you have found the Prime Merlinian, you will begin to age again, to live out a normal life. Until then you shall all depend upon each other."

She breathed out slowly as Merlin got to his feet. Centuries with the man she loved and the man she had once considered to be her best friend? It certainly didn't sound as bad as all that, and she wouldn't worry at all if he hadn't told her about Nimue's prophecy.

"Now, I know that not all of you would prefer to stay the age that you are now for what very well could be several centuries," Merlin continued, "However, waiting until you're say…my age…"

He gave a wry smile. Then he cleared his throat and straightened.

"Maxim Horvath," he said, "both the eldest and the first apprentice I took."

Horvath nodded; his expression unreadable. With a great effort Merlin got to his feet and raised his hand. Green fire erupted around them, the symbols of Merlin's circle etched into the hall. Only then did Veronica see that they were all positioned inside a different inner circle bearing a different symbol.

Stepping forward Merlin placed his fingers on Maxim's forehead.

"May aevum quod vos gero subsisto vobis insquequo meus heir est instituo, tunc may vos ago sicco vestri annus ut a remuneror," he chanted.

The jewel in Merlin's ring glowed brightly. There was a blinding flash of light, then Horvath blinked. Nodding to himself Merlin moved on to Balthazar. "Balthazar Blakeson, both the second eldest and the second apprentice I took."

The fire flared a little more. Placing his fingers on his forehead he repeated;

"May aevum quod vos gero subsisto vobis insquequo meus heir est instituo, tunc may vos ago sicco vestri annus ut a remuneror."

Again there was the glowing of the ring, the flash, and the momentary confusion on Balthazar's face. Looking tired now, Merlin walked towards Veronica.

"Veronica Hunt, youngest of my apprentices and the last."

She felt an odd sensation starting in her stomach. His withered fingers brushed her forehead before he said for the third and final time;

"May aevum quod vos gero subsisto vobis insquequo meus heir est instituo, tunc may vos ago sicco vestri annus ut a remuneror."

For a moment Veronica felt as if she were floating, as if the world had been ripped away from her feet. Nothing was solid, nothing at all except herself. Then everything returned in sudden clarity and she took a deep breath in, momentarily disoriented. Nodding to himself Merlin waved his hand and the circle disappeared.

"Now," he said tiredly, "It's late. You should all be in bed."

Without another word he turned and left the room. Horvath gripped Balthazar's shoulders and began to exchange a few pleasantries. They hadn't seen each other in awhile after all. Feeling somewhat disconnected Veronica withdrew from their company and strode to a window. Outside snow was falling, already a good foot or so thick in some places.

"On her choice the world will be saved, by her pain and sacrifice shall we see the future."

She breathed out. It was all starting. Veronica had long wondered what exactly it had meant by 'pain and sacrifice'. She had thought it meant that she might die for some cause or another or perhaps by saving someone. While dying when she had finally gained her love would be highly ironic, she had long believed that this was how she was to die even before she heard the prophecy.

Of course, sacrifice could mean many things. It could mean that she was going to lose something other than her life. Veronica had very few people she cared about, but she had a feeling that sacrifice would mean, in this sense, ultimate sacrifice. If the sacrifice was to be in that sense, then there was one thing she did value above all else. Part of her had already figured out that she was going to somehow lose Balthazar.

.

.

.

"Good to see you back," Balthazar said to Horvath as the latter when off to bed.

Balthazar watched him go, trying to be sneaky about it but not overmuch. When he was sure that his friend was well on his way to his room he strode over to Veronica. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her body instinctively stiffen before relaxing. Leaning down he brushed his lips against her ear and whispered jokingly;

"Miss me since this evening?"

Her body abruptly jerked away from his. He was about to ask what had happened before she turned herself around in his arms, crashing her face onto his, kissing him. Surprised he returned it in the few minutes before she pulled away. Her hand stroked the side of his face and he grinned before saying;

"Is that a yes then?"

Her fingers moved from the side of his face to trace his lips. He couldn't help but notice how cool she was against his warm skin, and how completely wonderful the contact felt. Giving him a small smile she said softly;

"I used to want so many things; a normal life, a house somewhere, a good future, and the world to make sense to me."

She pulled him down into another crushing kiss. Balthazar, still surprised, held onto her tightly until she pulled away, both their breathing ragged. He noticed then that she was only in her chemise under the robe and felt his ears grow hot. Either not noticing this reaction or not caring she leaned into the crook of his neck.

"Everything's changed," Veronica said, "I've changed, and my wants have become so very different and…"

Her soft fingertips brushed over his brow.

"Now…you're the only thing in the world that I truly want for myself."

Sighing she said;

"I want you to know that," she said, "No matter what happens, I want you to know that."

"Do you think something's going to happen?" he asked, moving his head so he could look at her and feeling a little worried.

"Perhaps," she answered.

"I wouldn't let anything happen to you," he said, frowning now.

"I'm not worried about me," she laughed dryly.

Balthazar smiled.

"I can take care of myself," he answered.

Kissing the base of his neck she breathed out;

"You'd better."