When Edwin opened his eyes he had been right in thinking the fog would be gone and was instead replaced by a slight mist, which unlike before didn't stop him from seeing his own hand in front of him thankfully. Elaina was not lurking anywhere in the forest, nor was Laney and he came away at the call of merlin and Arthur.

Triumphant in finding the wagon, Edwin had rushed in to embrace Elaina repeating the freezing spell over and over until it worked for the final time. He pressed her cold body against him throwing his cloak around her, like they were in their own shell. If this was to be his last moments, he wanted it to be justhim and her. He was glad that the scent of her hair was just the same as he always remembered it, sweet and floral and he inhaled it as tears began to fall, so whatever came after the scent would stick in his memory.

Of course, merlin and Arthur had been full of questions about what had happened and all he could answer with was that he heeded the prince's advice, taking away Elaina's fear because someone had faith in all that she had yet to become.

Finally, as they got to the top the road became stone stairs and since he hadn't let her go, Edwin was the one to carry Elaina as the men mounted them one at a time. Everything seemed still up there and they were the only disturbance; not even a wind blew.

The lake itself was like a bowl, a perfect circle containing the water with the steps they stood on descending into its depths and on either side were marble pillars depicting the triple goddess.

Oddly, the men felt safe there as though nothing bad could touch them and all their burdens fell away to make them feel lighter than air. it was a place to ease the soul and you could feel why so many did come to pray at the lake, and it was their asking of forgiveness, strength, redemption and their undying belief, that left a mark of purity within the open space.

Even Arthur himself with no keeping of the old religion could not deny the presence of something greater than he. Not many outsiders like himself would be granted this privilege and he was admittedly humbled by it, finding that he wasn't hesitant to trust in whatever secret was hidden here.

With a deep sigh Arthur asked, "now what?"

Merlin followed Arthur's lead, speaking in whispers as anything louder seemed almost blasphemes if it disturbed the tranquillity here, "we bathe her in the water right Edwin?"

When Edwin had been here before, the company were well experienced in their visits here. They had nothing but high regards for the sacred lake, feeling as close to the goddess as the high priestesses and jut as special as one of her children. However, what had struck him as odd, was that they were happy to only spend hours making it no further than the steps. The water remained undisturbed, to which he discovered then that it could not be sullied unless for dire need. If any well man dipped so much as a toe within, the goddess would be slighted at the audacity as if the lake were an extension of herself and drain them of their life, as though they had toyed with the gift it could provide with frivolous play.

So it validated his stern warning, "do not touch the waters," even if they did not understand why.

Arthur and merlin mimicked the same look of confusion he once had when told the same and now there was a need for clarity as there would be no hiding this part, as he had done from them.

"true, the water has healing properties; but with a price as much does where magic is concerned. Power like this always comes with a price."

The Handmaid had done well in tidying her mistress's hair and it was still perfected in an updo, showing off Elaina's bone structure. That signature jawline, again his fingertip followed it prepared to be cut, but she was so smooth and soft. The same hand released her hair and it fell like a thick wild mane, the tendrils like silk.

He was not scared of the water, he had been drowning in eyes of emerald since a boy and nothing was more sublimely suffocating than being captured in those depths, so a lake was nothing to him.

"she is going to need you both," Edwin swallowed not breaking his stare from Elaina, as he would not have her in his arms like this ever again, "I deliver her into your care and all you have said and thought since she has been like this, then share it so she can hear. she needs to know her worth. please, Be patient with Elaina she feels things deeply and i do not know how long it will take for her to emotionally recover."

There was a finality in edwin's manner and person that alarmed Merlin as he had seen Edwin a slave to his emotions and exactly what it is he is willing to do when surrendering to them. Now that they were here, merlin couldn't help but think that maybe this was all an intricate plan to lure them out into the open and when saving Elaina for himself, Edwin will finally strike Uther where it hurts in harming his son.

The sorcerer could see the caution from the young servant boy and he needed to soothe the distrust, since he didn't want to part the world with that still lingering.

"in order to appeal to the goddess, a death still is needed to maintain balance," Edwin's voice was husk, nervous as to how they would react. He cleared his throat and continued, "how it works is all the years I have left to live will be given to Elaina, while I will take her place."

Edwin watched as it sunk in and since a knight was always keen to be the hero, Arthur was the first to be against the whole idea.

He stormed up to Edwin and Elaina taking her tainted hand, with the blame for everything still pressing him down. bad enough it should be him in elaina's place, but now the opportunity to set things right was being taken from him too.

"No, this should be me! I was the one meant for that dagger!"

Edwin had blamed Arthur enough and morgana, in the end he was starting to think like Elaina, that fate was a thickle thing and that maybe all of this was meant to happen, as those who survive great suffering come out stronger from it. Elaina had that capacity to do that and this will aid in her seeing things anew. Even for the prince this might bring about a change in him Edwin hoped, since he an enemy was someone who still could do good and no one was as clear cut as good and evil only.

"I am not going to fight my corner; I have done enough of that with Elaina."

"Edwin…" Merlin pleaded, taken aback and in all honesty guilty to have thought the worse in him when he was about to do something so brave.

Edwin gave a tight smile on his burnt skin, "for what it's worth. I'm thankful, to you both. I'm choosing to believe that great things will be accomplished that will make this world better than how I leave it."

As a child confronted by those flames and now confronted by water, it never had been a question of whether he was willing to go into deaths embrace. Preserving a pure heart like his parents and Elaina was all that had mattered to him. Finally, he was getting the chance again and this time he would save the person he loved if he couldn't with his parents and this will be his redemption for all the sins he had committed.

The water sloshed as he waded through it, the steps disappearing under his feet and then he chanted in the old tongue a summons before he and Elaina dived into the mercy of the goddess.