The next morning Arthur, Morgana and Gwaine went down to the dungeons to let out Freya. But as they should have expected she wasn't there. Merlin had let them both out hours before. They eventually found them outside enjoying the sun. As Morgana and the King approached the couple stood up. Merlin was the first to speak.
"We don't need to go through with this now. All we need to do is do what we did last night." Merlin was determined not to risk Freya.
"No Merlin I can't live with that every night, I want to be free of the curse." Freya protested.
"She's right Merlin, how can you life like that, you would never be able to have a family or any sort of normal life." Morgana told him. "It will work I know it will."
Arthur joined in the conversation "Merlin I have to agree with Freya and Morgana in this, it would be no life for either of you, don't be a fool. Anyway what would Freya do if anything happened to you?"
Merlin glared at them all "I don't like it" he shouted.
Freya went up close to Merlin and kissed him "I know my love, but it's what I want. Please don't fight this"
Merlin hugged Freya before slowly nodding "Ok lets go." He had admitted defeat.
Once Arthur and Gwaine had collected Sir William from his cell and Morgana and Merlin had collected the cup of life from its hiding place in the caverns under the castle. Then they all set off on horseback to the Isle of the Blessed. It took them most of the morning, with Sir William protesting all the way, but he had been condemned by his King so they ignored him. Gwaine was in charge of the prisoner so he had no chance to escape. Gaius had made sure Sir William's wound was cared for, and didn't cause the man to die before he had served his purpose. Once at the Isle Morgana wasted no time and got Freya to lie on the central stone. With the others on the outskirts of the Isle, Morgana asked Freya once more if she was happy to go ahead. Then the High Priestess took out a dagger and plunged into Freya heart. Merlin couldn't watch he clung onto Arthur and pushed his face to the Kings chest. Arthur put his arms round the young man and was grateful he had never had to take such a decision with Guinevere's life, he wasn't sure he could have done.
Once Morgana was satisfied that Freya was dead, Merlin moved forward with Sir William, who the warlock had put a spell on so he couldn't move. Merlin had insisted on being the one to hold onto Sir William in case anything went wrong, not that he told them the reason, that way he would die and not any of his friends.
Morgana then picked up the cup of life and looked up to the heavens chanting as she did so "Ic seo heahsacerd the acweel strengthe william aewfaestnesse"
The rain poured down and Morgana collected some in the cup, then carefully placed the cup against Freya's lips, whilst she supported the young woman in her arms. As the water flowed into Freya's open mouth Sir William fell to the floor. Morgana looked down at the wound on Freya's chest to see it closing. At the same time Merlin checked Sir William, he was dead. Merlin ran to Freya's side and took he took her in his arms and kissed her, relief flooding his body. Once the rain stopped and everyone had recovered from watching such a spectacle Arthur spoke up asking what they all wondered.
"How do we know the curse has gone?"
"Tonight Freya will stay in the cell once more, if she doesn't change at midnight we will know." Morgana told him "But I have no doubt it has worked."
They all went back to the castle, removing Sir Williams's body from the sacred site and burying him in the woods. Once back at the castle Merlin and Freya went off arm and arm together. Arthur had no doubt in his mind that the two would soon marry and despite their young age, he was happy for them. Their courtship had been fast but he had never seen a couple so in love.
That night Freya and Merlin spent their second night together in the dungeon, and just before midnight the King, Queen and Morgana went down to see if the curse had truly been lifted. As midnight came and went Freya didn't transform, they knew the curse had been removed and Freya was safe once more. There was much relief and cheering.
The next day King Baynard signed the treaty with Camelot, deciding that with such power at his disposal Arthur was better a friend than enemy. He did have one last question for the Court Warlock and High Priestess.
"Why, Court Warlock and High Priestess, have you with your joint powers of magic, and yours Lady Morgana as a seer, has Camelot not already taken over the other kingdoms, and why have you not both taken power for yourselves?"
Morgana looked at Merlin and waited for him to reply. "We don't seek power; we seek peace for all peoples. King Arthur is a great King and we follow him. If we took power for ourselves we would be no better than all the other power hungry people out there, both magical and non magical. Neither of us believes that we have anymore right to power than anyone else."
Morgana then spoke "Being a Seer is, in its own way, a curse. I have found if I have seen the future and I try to stop an event occurring, that very interference can cause the event to happen where it might not have. I have learnt not to act on what I see, but let destiny decide. We are both creatures of magic and destiny and it's our place to be by King Arthur's side. We have watched two High Priestess's go down the path of seeking power for powers sake, and watched the lives they destroyed. It is not our path."
King Baynard looked at the two powerful people in front of him "I think I understand. I also feel that King Arthur is wise enough to use you well."
He then looked at Arthur "I wish you luck in your dealings with Sarrum, I know he is the last leader of the five kingdoms to deal with, but beware, he hates magic as much as your father did, but Sarrum may well want the power you hold in these two for himself. Sometimes power is a drug so strong it overcomes all else in its path."
