"see what you have done!" merlin blamed the two men, who thanks to their bickering had threatened the success in them ever managing to save Elaina after making it so close. Them ignoring him and their own stupidity had put them in this predicament, and he wandered off where Arthur could not see, when his eyes flashed gold with all his attempts to settle the fog. Nothing worked and again he felt his magic and talent useless when it was most needed. It was like the fog was an entity itself and he was battling with Elaina's wishes so it would not obey him.

Arthur cupped his hands around his mouth calling to the girl, hoping to catch a glimpse of movement that could signal she was close by, "Elaina…Laney please!"

Silence was his only reply and nothing broke the fog.

"we..." Edwin was panicked, and he struggled to find his words, because all he could see and concentrate on was Elaina succumbing to the poison without him there, as if feeling it coursing through his own veins. "we have to scatter, you two try and find the wagon. I'll look for Laney! Here."

A discarded piece of rope had fallen off the wagon and he enchanted it around merlin and Arthur so they would not lose each other, and it would expand or shrink depending on their movements.

Merlin licked his lips, apprehensive to admit what he was thinking because he didn't know how Edwin would react, "does it matter if we find Laney at all. If we three concentrate on the wagon we can just continue-"

A flash of the Edwin they had known before appeared angry at merlin's lack of logic,

"-do you want to travel up a mountain in these conditions! Laney exists to stop us. another scream, cry or negative emotion and the road could fall beneath us if we don't already walk off a precipice ourselves. In any case, we don't know if the wagon will even be found…"

Arthur was wary to leave Edwin entrusted in searching for the girl when he like her had lost control of his emotions. "remember then," he started, "force will not work calm inviting and where we failed before, be honest. Don't take her decision, you'll only push her further away."

Edwin glared at him, but the prince was right. The two occasion he had been with Elaina he had attempted to force into what he wanted. Once to be with him and now to continue on living when she was aware of the price it would take to save her. she thought him reckless to do what he wanted and that it was just his love for her which had helped him make the choice he had easily come to. But it wasn't.

With a nod of good luck, he ventured into the fog.

"Laney, please, I'm sorry I hurt you again. it was never my intention. It's always been the last thing I have ever wanted to do where you're concerned. And somehow what I always manage to do."

Trees appeared from nowhere and he twisted and turned trying to avoid smacking into them. It was a familiar setting, like the forest in Elaina's mind and if he could find her there, then he could find her here as well.

'help me father,'he asked clenching the amulet again to focus his sight, searching the wood for the light. For Elaina's light.

As if she could feel him prodding through the fog, it wasn't the child anymore but the woman herself, whose voice thundered through the fog, deep and mighty like she was a goddess addressing the mere peasant Edwin was against this power.

"that's because my want and will is ignored by you. Everyone seems to think they know what is in my best interest, except me."

He gazed upwardly like it was there she lingered, walking aimlessly still but glad she was willing to talk to him, "you remaining alive, isn't in your best interest?"

She laughed helplessly, "to go back to what I wanted to leave, to endure more betrayal and heartbreak?"

Edwin put aside his grievances and listened to Elaina and agreed whole heartedly that she had gone through so much which just kept coming in waves. Wounded animals were put down as a mercy, yet he was making her carry on with her wounds.

His hand traced his scars and he squared his shoulders, if he could do it so could she. Granted an emotional scar was harder to heal but she still had people left who wanted more than anything to get her through it all. It was a luxury he did not have still to this day. If he blamed Arthur for being blind, then he had to admit it was only fair to blame Elaina for this fault too.

"you have suffered. I know this and I hear what you say Elaina. Truly I do. But just as you must save those you love. You can't deny me wanting to do the same. You're letting yourself be beaten and it's not in your nature to play the victim, it never has been."

His legs were picking up into a run, seems every time she spoke his sight sharpened in on her whereabouts.

"you are asking I let you die for me; the river asks for an exchange. One life for another."

Gasping for breath, he sighed deeply since this was where they had left off in their previous conversation and was the meaning behind Laney and the fog. She was trying to stop him from doing that and it was the only reason he believed she did not want to go to the lake.

He just knew that she did not want to die, because her life thus far had not been one she had wanted for herself and that was why she thought it wasteful. He wouldn't let her go into the beyond until she had what she wanted, so that it was a peaceful entry into the afterlife.

What's more, the guilt over his death in exchange for hers terrified Elaina because she anticipated that it would be what would destroy her by living through days meant for Edwin. It would be such a burden that she thought it would turn her against Arthur, merlin and Albion, becoming that push into Morgause's arms and she would join her sisters in their hellish games.

"well, I refuse that offer."

It was pointless to keep up with the chase. Edwin just had this idea that Laney had gone, so he sat down on the ground and carried on talking like the fog was Elaina, feeling for what exactly Arthur had warned him to be conscious of. His calmness and honesty, inviting her in on a human level because he was used to putting her on a pedestal where she did not want to be, so he would invite her back down to the ground.

"I have done what I can before I came back to Camelot. I left you in that meadow the last time with hope keeping my cold body warm for once. by following your advice, I saw how life carries worth and finally got a taste of it and I keep the memories with me like a fallen star in my pocket. I owe you a debt and it seems the world is making good on it. I've lived the best I can, now it's your turn."

Edwin closed his eyes, feeling something stir around him and he was tempted to look but in case he spooked her, he continued to plead his case.

"there are so many people waiting for you to wake up. A kingdom full and friends you have yet to meet. They will help you become who you were meant to be. Our purpose in life isn't meant to be known but the harder the fight to discover ourselves, the rewards are better appreciated. I am giving to you what you gave to me. A fresh start. Elaina, you will laugh, smile, live and love… after all, I've always believed that love is your true power as well as your courage to follow it."

The cold forest was becoming warm like that first summers sun, a few birds chirped and there wasn't a heaviness anymore.

"I'm following the light and this time it's the call of my parents. I want to go join them Elaina. And I go to them proudly because everything I am now, is because of you. Cry for me if you must, but your strong enough to pull through. I will live on in your memory and I have faith you will attain all you dream..."