Merlin belongs to the BBC

I'm back with another chapter~

Chapter 7

Freya watched as the knights shuffled around awkwardly to get a smaller camp ready by the lake, she had apologised that she couldn't go far away from the lake but still felt somewhat guilty. It had been many years since she had last seen Arthur and the night of her death flashed through her mind. She still needed to thank him for what he did, he was the one who gave her the injury that had caused her death. Merlin, the lovable warlock was still in the dark about who caused the injury that had ended her cursed life and gave birth to her new life. Both Arthur and Merlin had saved her, Merlin had shown her love, patience and brought her happiness, Arthur was the one to set her spirit free from her cursed body. She glanced around before her eyes fell onto Mordred. He was the knight rumoured to end Arthur's life, the knight Merlin complained about to her because he was likable but his future could turn dark. Once the camp was ready did Merlin take his spot next to her, she smiled and rested her head on his shoulder and locked their fingers together.

"You're aware that I have to serve them, right?" Merlin whispered to her.

"They're big boys, they can serve themselves," Freya giggled as she looked at the faces of the knights, they looked at her warily and confused to her connection with Merlin. None of them spoke though but their eyes looked between her and Merlin, waiting for one of them to start talking. Arthur was glaring the hardest, trying to put the pieces together for something. Had he really forgotten her? Well, he did only see her for a glimpse before she transformed. "Do you want me to start?" Freya asked Merlin.

"I'll do it, otherwise Arthur might explode," Merlin spoke and paused as she nodded. He turned his attention towards the group and cleared his throat. Freya had been a secret for so many years and it felt weird to suddenly tell a secret he had kept for so long. The knights were watching him and waiting for him.

"Merlin," Arthur nearly growled at his manservant.

"Alright, Freya, that's Arthur who's the King of Camelot. The ginger haired knight is Leon, he's Arthur's second in command with the knights. Next to Leon is Gwaine, he's our resident drunk who often causes trouble. Elyan, son of Camelot's finest blacksmith, he partially runs the forge when he can. The friendly giant is Percival, he's lived with some druids. Mordred, our new knight, next to Mordred is Sir Lancelot, the most noblest of them all. You know me, I'm the worst servant in the whole of Camelot. Everyone, this is Freya. The Lady of the Lake and is…was my secret girlfriend," Merlin introduced everyone in the group.

"Damn Merlin, you've been hiding this pretty one, haven't you?" Gwaine asked with a whistle. Freya blushed while Merlin simply rolled his eyes at Gwaine's actions. He didn't expect anything different from the man.

"You're a Goddess?" Mordred asked Freya.

"I'm flattered you think so, Sir Mordred, but I'm a spirit. I guard the Gates of Avalon and help other souls pass on when their time here has finished." She sat up straight but continued to hold Merlin's hand, she could feel his magic humming in his fingertips and found it rather soothing.

"I've seen you before…" Arthur spoke up and all eyes turned to him. Freya smiled sadly, if he was going to bring it up then there wasn't any point in hiding the truth from Merlin anymore. She just hoped that he wouldn't react badly when he learnt the truth. "You…you turned into that beast…the large cat with wings."

"Yes, in an act of self-defence I became cursed to transform into a Bastet at the stroke of midnight. When we officially met, I was trying to run away from Camelot…to protect Merlin and the other innocent people who lived there," Freya admitted to the group. Merlin's grip on her hand tightened in a comforting way, letting her know that he would stay by her side if given the choice. She shook her head. "I'm sorry for all those I had killed while there…and for making Merlin more suspicious?"

"Merlin's always suspicious…" Arthur grumbled.

"Yet when there are suspicious people, Arthur's oblivious," Merlin whispered to Freya who burst out laughing. Merlin felt his own laughter bubbling before he joined in which her. Both laughs complimented each other, both were rather innocent, pure and none of the knights knew what to do.

"I've only just seen them together like this…and already I want to protect them…" Gwaine admitted before Lancelot chuckled.

"You and me both Gwaine."

"I was the one who killed you, wasn't I?" Arthur asked and everything dropped. Merlin and Freya both stopped laughing and everyone stared at Arthur once more.

Freya remained quiet. She knew that lying now would be bad when or if Merlin ever discovered the truth, or she could tell the truth and let the knights deal with the consequence. She couldn't help but glance towards Lancelot and then towards Gwaine, wondering what they would do depending on Merlin's reaction. What would he do? She decided that telling the truth would be the correct course of action to do. Merlin had told her what happened just before he and Arthur had left to go looking for Balinor, how much it hurt finding a truth that had been kept from him for many years. She took a deep breath before speaking. "You were the one who dealt the ending blow. I don't hold it against you though. You saved me from the curse, both you and Merlin did."

Arthur paled. He should have suspected it but when it happened he was killing a beast…now he had killed Merlin's lover. That week after the event Arthur had noticed Merlin's mood had dropped and now he knew why. He wasn't upset because water had been thrown over him he had been upset because he lost someone he loved. Merlin had silently grieved over her loss while no one else did…even now they were close, Merlin's fingers were still tangled up with hers. Arthur's eyes slowly moved to see Merlin, the young man had a sad smile on his face. Freya could have lied but she didn't…yet she said that he also saved her. None of the knights knew what to say or even do to help the situation either.

"Merlin…I…" Arthur started but Merlin held up his free hand, silencing Arthur with that one simple action.

"Please, don't. If Freya doesn't hold it against you then I won't hold it against you either."

Arthur didn't feel any better hearing that from Merlin. If Arthur were in Merlin's shoes then he would have exploded. He would have verbally insulted or even attacked who had stolen his happiness and love away. But this was Merlin. Merlin wouldn't do anything to hurt Arthur or his friends…if it was someone else, a bandit for example, then Merlin might try and take a sword and attack them.

"Damn, I don't think I could have done that…" Elyan commented as he looked between the pair. Freya started to stroke Merlin's hair as the younger man looked upset. It wasn't much of a surprise after hearing what happened.

"You're an incredible man, Emrys," Mordred voiced his comment directly to Merlin.

"Dwell on the past and you'll find yourself unable to see the future," Merlin responded.

"It's getting late…we should get some rest," Leon stood up and looked to see that the others agreed with him.

Arthur never took his eyes from Merlin though, the guilt was clawing at him that he had killed Merlin's lover but she said that he saved her. He wanted to ask more questions but Leon was right, it was getting late and there was always another chance to speak to her. Merlin looked like he was happy to stay here.

"Are you staying here?" Arthur asked Merlin.

"No, I'll go back to camp…sorry Freya," Merlin apologised as he slowly stood up and followed the knights back to their camp. Freya watched them leave before her eyes landed on Mordred.

"Sir Mordred, do you mind staying here? There's something I want to talk to you about."

Mordred turned around to see her, he couldn't very well deny a spirit their request. He glanced at Merlin as he passed before making his way towards Freya. Freya watched as the others moved through the trees before he approached Freya. He had a sneaking suspicion that what they were going to talk about involved Merlin and destiny. Mordred approached Freya and watched as she turned around to face the water, Mordred coming to her side.

"If you're going to talk about the dark future that's been predicted…I don't really want to know," Mordred spoke after a few minutes of silence had passed. Freya chuckled lightly and looked towards him.

"Sir Mordred, I know what you wish to do and everyone you've talked to have said no."

"Are you also going to say no?"

"I've been asked to assist you. The magic you seek requires both parties to have complete trust with each other, something both myself and Merlin have. It works best when he's completely relaxed…sleeping would be best. We will be relying on Emrys' magic as well as the magic gifted to me by the Triple Goddess."

"Do you think it's going to work…?" Mordred asked her.

"I do."

PadrePedro - I'm glad to hear you're okay with long periods of time before uploads, and that the story is good enough.

emrysmorgan - I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Elemental Ninja 1608 - Thank you~