**Siege of Mud**

Merlin rode hard, making good time on his return to Camelot.  He didn't wait for a formal audience with the king, but went straight to Arthur's study.  He barged right in without knocking.  Merlin was probably the only person, other than the Queen, who could get away with such an intrusion.

"Sire," Merlin said.  "We may yet face a siege.  We must be prepared just in case."

Arthur looked up from his book and calmly questioned him on the details.  "And what of your champion?"

"He has faced the sorceress, but she is not the evil creature we had thought.  She is under Morgan's control," Merlin said.

Arthur was angry at that revelation.  "Evil fairy!" he cursed. 

"There is a little more to this tale, your Majesty," Merlin said delicately.  "The sorceress is Sir Logan's wife."

Arthur pondered that for a moment.  If something like that happened to Gwenevere, he would never be able to harm her, even to defend his country.  "Send word to our allies that we are preparing for a possible attack," Arthur ordered.  "I assume you were not aware of this?"

"No, and neither was Sir Logan," Merlin admitted.

"Your sight is growing foggy, magician," Arthur said with a smile.  "How is Sir Logan handling this situation?"

"He is prepared to stop her, but will try to break Morgan's hold on her first," Merlin said.  "It is not the sorceress that worries me, it is Morgan."

"Her venom is directed at me, yet she continues to loose her evil on anyone who gets in her way, or who can be used to further her will," Arthur said angrily.  "What do you advise?"

"Increase the watch, keep the gates closed," Merlin said nonchalantly.  "The usual."

"Very well," Arthur said.  "How many should we expect?"

"Truthfully, I expect Sir Logan to take care of it," Merlin said with a chuckle as he headed out the door.  "The warning was merely a precaution."

Arthur shook his head and smiled.  If he only had a coin for every time Camelot was saved from disaster by that magician, he would truly be a wealthy king.

*****

"Well, I knew I didn't like her," Dani said.  "She behaved like a real dragon, but good grief!"

"Hey, baby, can you remember how to orb?" Logan asked.

"It's been a while," Dani said hesitantly.

"Put me up on her back," Logan said.

"But…" Dani protested.

Morgan thrashed her tail and roared, snapping her fanged jaws and snorting hot steam.  Jesse didn't think water was going to help, but made a giant fist of water rise out of the lake and hit Morgan square in the back.  It was all the distraction Logan and Dani needed.

"Baby, I trust you, just do it," Logan said.

Logan saw Dani smile at him as the light surrounded him and violet sparks showered over his head.  He found himself on the back of the slimy dragon.  *Snikt!* Logan popped his claws and dug into both sides of Morgan's neck.  There was a strange crunch of broken scales followed by the subtle sound of blades gliding through flesh.  Sticky black blood oozed over his knuckles, and the smell was horrible.  Morgan twisted around and opened her great jaws to bite him, but Dani orbed herself onto her head and released a generous burst of energy. 

The dragon shrieked like a banshee at the attack, and seemed to suddenly be engulfed in green flames.  Dani quickly orbed herself and Logan back to the beach, and watched as Morgan returned to her own form again. 

"This is not over," Morgan panted and then disappeared in a cloud of mist.

Jesse came out of the trees and smiled at Dani.  "Hey there, grandma!"

"Jesse," Dani said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, well you see…" Jesse started to say, but Logan gave him a look.

"Dani, what about Morgan's army?" Logan asked.

"They were supposed to come this way, but Morgan had a back up plan," Dani said.  "There was a ferry, large enough to transport fifty at a time."

"Great!" Jesse said.  "They're already on their way, aren't they?"

"I'm afraid so," Dani admitted.  "But I know how to stop them."

"A little magic, sorceress?" Logan asked with a smile.

"A little water," Dani said as she looked at Jesse.  "They're made from mud, and too much water will return them to their natural form."

"Walking mud pies, eh?" Logan chuckled.  "Didn't Camelot have a good sized moat?"

Jesse smiled broadly.  "Oh, yeah.  I like this plan."

*****

Merlin had called a meeting of the Knights, and was not surprised that Mordred was absent.  He had long suspected that Arthur's illegitimate son was secretly plotting against him.

"Morgan's army is on its way," Sir Gawain said.  "They will be here by dawn."

"Some of the peasants who have seen them say they are strange soldiers," Gaheris added.  "Not like men."

"Morgan's magic," Merlin said.  "They are not truly soldiers, but are conjured creatures."

"Then you can stop them," Lancelot said.  "Break the spell and they will fall…"

"Nay, good knight," Merlin said.  "I would need to know what was done before I could undo it."

"What of Sir Logan?" Sir Bedevere asked.

"He was busy rescuing his wife from Morgan," Merlin said.  "I expect he will return to help us if he can."  He'll come back if he wants to get home, Merlin thought.

*****

Logan led them down the path that would bring them back to Camelot.  Dani sat behind him on the great war horse, and Jesse rode beside them.  Dani leaned her head against Logan's back and held him tightly around the waist.  Logan put his hand over hers and spurred his horse on.  They needed to reach the castle before Morgan's goons did.  Logan was still really pissed about being brought here without his permission, but finding Dani made it all worth it. 

Logan just didn't know how he was going to tell her she's been gone for two and a half centuries.  She missed out on watching her daughter grow up.  She missed out on her first grandchild, and great grandchild.  She had no more friends, other than Jesse.  Logan was worried about how she would handle finding out that all she had left that was familiar was a husband.  Time and loss change people.  He was not the man she remembered.  He wondered if she would still love him once she got to know him again.  She had been declared dead, so technically, they were no longer married.  In his mind she would always be his wife, but he didn't know if she could accept all these changes. 

Logan felt a sudden painful tightness in his chest when he remembered the last time he had seen her.  He had gone back in time with Jett to bring Jesse home, and she came to see him.  It took all of his will power to keep his hands to himself when he hugged her.  Seeing her then was agonizing, but he knew she was where she belonged.  But where does she belong now?  Should she go home to the year she was taken?  Will she die if she goes back?  Could she return with him and Jesse?  Would she want to?

Logan sighed heavily.  He was gradually slowing their pace as he was lost in thought.  He looked over at Jesse who had been discreetly quiet.

"Maybe we should ask Dani to orb us there, or at least closer," Jesse said.

Logan grunted. He didn't want to wear her out.  Electricity was in short supply in this century.  "No," Logan said firmly.  "We'll make it."

"All right, but I can see they've already come this way," Jesse said.  "See all the dirt clods all over the road?"

Logan had seen them.  He had hoped that the long march would wear them down a little, literally.  He still liked their plan of washing the soldiers away like big mud pies.  It just sounded like the stupidest thing he'd ever heard of to make soldiers out of dirt.

"I don't get her plan," Logan said thoughtfully.  "Why make soldiers out of mud?"

"They cannot be killed by arrows or swords, unless their heads are cut off," Dani explained.  "They would be nearly unstoppable."

"And you made them?" Logan asked.

"I'm not a sorceress," Dani said sleepily.  "Morgan used my energy to amplify her own power.  She made it seem like I was doing it, but I wasn't."

Logan just grunted at that.  "Hang on," he said.  "We're going to speed up a bit."

Logan and Jesse spurred their horses into a full gallop.  Logan had a feeling they would arrive after the army.  He wanted to get there as fast as he could, to keep them from breaching their defenses.

*****

Froderick stood at his post in the early morning hours.  He liked this watch, giving him the chance to see the sunrise over the treetops of the King's forest just to the east of the castle.  The sky was starting to brighten as the stars faded, but the sun had yet to show his shining face.  He turned briefly back toward the road to see if anyone was approaching, and he saw them, an army. 

They were bizarre looking men, dressed in green armor and bearing swords.  They appeared to be dark skinned men, like the moors of the east, but strangely different.  Froderick quickly alerted the runners to carry a message to the king that the enemy was advancing on them from the woods.  As the soldiers came closer, he realized why they looked dark.  They were filthy, as though they swam through the mud before going to war.  Then he saw their leader seated on a fine black horse.  It was Sir Mordred, and he was leading his dirty soldiers with all the righteous smugness everyone had come to expect from him.

Froderick knew they were in for a siege when he saw the battering ram and ladders the filthy soldiers carried.  He suddenly wished he had kept the night watch instead of the morning watch.  He would be safely tucked in bed now, and besides, he liked sunsets too…

*****

The castle was just around that bend, and it was obvious, the mud pies got there first.  Logan and Jesse exchanged looks as they heard the shouts and pounding noises up ahead. 

"Damn," Logan growled.  "Let's tie up the horses here, and Dani can set us up wherever you think would be best."

"As long as I can see the water and the target, I'm good," Jesse said with a smile.

"Great," Logan said.  "How about it, Dani, what looks good?"

The trio dismounted under the cover of the trees, and gazed across an open field to Camelot.  It was surrounded by Morgan's army, but the gate was holding.  Dani scanned the base of the castle to see the moat.  It was a good sized moat, and probably deep.  Between the wall and the water was a small piece of ground big enough to stand on, and Dani liked that best.

"There, by the wall," Dani said.  "We can see everything from there."

"Perfect," Jesse said.

"Okay, Dani, do your stuff," Logan said with a smile.

Dani grabbed Jesse's hand and Logan put an arm around her as she orbed them to her chosen vantage point.  Jesse immediately went to work.  He made the water of the moat rise up and washed the soldiers from the bridge that had been using the battering ram.  As soon and they fell into the water, they disappeared.  More soldiers rushed forward to take their place, so Jesse washed them away too.  He smiled when a third wave covered the bridge and he once again washed them right into the moat where they dissolved.

"Oh, this is fun," Jesse said.  "It's like bowling for soldiers."

"Quit talking and keep washing," Logan said.

Dani surveyed the field, and realized that no one had even noticed them standing there.  But they were just mindless drones of mud after all.  It was then that she noticed the man on horseback.

"Logan, who is that?" she asked.  "He's not one of the soldiers."

"Sir Mordred," Logan said as he cast an angry glare at the man.  "It would just about figure he'd be there."  Damned turncoat!

"Want me to zap him for you?" Dani asked with a big grin on her face.

Logan looked at her.  She had a wicked sparkle in her eyes.  It was just like old times, and he loved it.  "Sure, baby," Logan said with a smile.  "But just a little one."

Dani smirked.  She watched Jesse turn all of Morgan's hard work into slimy sludge.  Most of the army was reduced to piles of mud, and Sir Mordred was backing his horse away to retreat.  That was her chance.  She orbed herself to the road by the trees where she wouldn't be seen, and waited. Sir Mordred had turned his horse and headed for the trees at a full gallop.  Dani calmly waited and then hit him with a burst of energy, carefully avoiding his horse.  Sir Mordred fell to the ground, and the horse kept on going.  She walked over, stood over him and just sighed.

"You'll destroy Camelot one day, Sir pain-in-the-ass," Dani said.  She orbed him to the back of Jesse's horse and tied him down.  "But today is not that day."

Dani led the horses back towards the castle gate.  She stopped about a hundred yards from the castle.  There was nothing but river mud everywhere.  She looked over at Jesse and Logan as they headed to the bridge.  She caught Jesse's eye and gave him an annoyed look.

"What's she so steamed about?" Jesse asked Logan.

"You made a mess," Logan said with a chuckle.  "She doesn't want to get her shoes dirty."

Jesse hung his head and sighed.  He climbed up onto the bridge and surveyed the mess.  He made the water in the moat surge its banks and wash the mud from the road.  Then the water split like the red sea and washed across the field in front of the castle, spreading the mud evenly over the ground.  When he saw Dani's satisfied expression, he let the water return to the moat.  Jesse sighed.

"Women," he said thoughtfully.

"Yeah," Logan said.  "But damn if they ain't worth it."

The castle gate opened to receive them as Dani reached the bridge.  Merlin was standing there, along with Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain.

"It was a miracle," Sir Gawain said.

"Nay, good knight," Merlin said as he looked at Jesse.  "It was a water wizard."

Jesse blushed and looked at the ground. 

"Truly you are a great knight," Sir Lancelot said to Jesse.

"And Sir Logan has conquered the Sorceress," Sir Gawain said.

Logan took Dani's hand and led her over to Merlin.  "There was never any sorceress," Logan said.  "This is my wife Danielle."

"Fair Lady, I do think you have some magic in you despite your husband's denial," Merlin said with a knowing smile.  "You have captured a snake who was hidden among our allies, I thank you."

"Well, we kept up our part of the bargain," Logan said as the group headed into the safety of the castle.  "Now send us home."

"But there will be a great feast to honor our heroes," Sir Lancelot said brightly.  "You would not deny our King the chance to thank you for saving the city."

"Nor would you deprive the knights of their chance to gaze upon the lovely lady you have rescued," Sir Gawain added.  "T'would be truly cruel to run off without a proper farewell."

Logan cringed.  He hated parties in any century.  He looked over at Dani, and he knew she liked the idea.  She didn't say a word, and neither did Jesse, but they were dying to go to a banquet at the court of King Arthur.  He had to admit, the opportunity didn't come up every day…

"We'd love to attend," Logan conceded.  "But then you send us home," he added to Merlin with a stern look.

"Of course," Merlin said with a sly smile.

Logan frowned as they headed into the keep.  He trusted this Merlin about as much as he trusted Magneto.

*****

Logan and Dani were given their own bedchamber next to Jesse's to rest until the feast later that evening.  Servants had brought in a large tub and were running in and out with buckets of hot water.  Dani eyed the tub longingly.  She would much rather have a shower, but the medieval equivalent would do just fine.

Logan stood by the window looking out into the courtyard.  He hadn't been alone in a bedroom with Dani for two hundred and fifty years and he was nervous.  He ached to hold her, but refused to rush this reunion.  They were both different people, though she was not aware of it.  The man she married changed forever the day the sentinels attacked the school.  She had no idea who he was anymore. 

"It's a big tub," Dani said.  "You want to share?"

Logan turned to face her as the last servant placed clean clothes on the bed for them and then left.  Dani closed and locked the door and turned to meet his gaze.  She was confused by his hesitation.  He was not acting like himself.

"Logan, what's wrong?" Dani asked.  "You look at me like I was a stranger.  Have I been gone that long?"

"Dani, I need to tell you something," Logan began nervously.  "I am not who you think I am."

"Logan, you're scaring me," Dani said softly.

Logan crossed the room and took her hands.  He looked down into those big violet eyes and sighed.  "There's no easy way to say this," Logan began.

"Just say it," Dani said as she looked into his eyes expectantly.  His eyes seemed different.  They were filled with pain and loss, and longing.  His love for her was there, but it was overshadowed by a nervous lack of confidence.  He was uncertain about their relationship and it scared her.

"Dani, when the sentinels came, we lost you.  We thought you were killed in an explosion," Logan said.

Dani started to open her mouth to speak, but Logan interrupted.

"Just…wait," he said.  "There's more.  I didn't know you were taken, so I didn't come looking for you.  Jesse and I ended up here the same way you did, Merlin brought us.  I didn't know you were alive until I saw you cross the lake that first time."

"Oh God, Logan," she said trying to hold back the tears.  "I'm so sorry."

"No, baby, it's not your fault," Logan said as he hugged her.  "But you need to understand, you've been gone a long time."  He held her tight, waiting for the courage to finish the story.

"Logan, please tell me; how long?"

"You were taken in 2008, but Jesse and I were brought here from 2258," Logan said shakily.  "I've been alone for two hundred and fifty years."

Dani couldn't stop the tears after that.  She clung to him and sobbed, and he just held her.  It reminded him of the first few days he'd known her.  He'd been there to comfort her then, too.  He felt a flood of contentment wash over him as he held her.  He was back in her arms, where he belonged.  She finally quieted down, but didn't let go.

"You were alone all that time?" Dani asked, completely bewildered.  "You never found anyone else?"

"I didn't want anyone else.  Besides, I had the grandkids to watch out for," he said with a chuckle.

"Oh, god! Andi," Dani said sadly.  "I've missed so much."

"She was a wonderful girl, Dani," Logan said proudly.  "You would have been so proud."

Dani sniffled and sighed.  "So where does that leave us?" Dani asked.

"Oh, baby, I want us to be together," Logan said as he leaned back to look into her eyes.  "I just don't want to rush you; I'm not the same man I was then."

Dani looked into his eyes for what seemed like hours.  Logan held his breath when she started to speak.  "Oh yes you are," Dani said with a smile.  "Love like ours is timeless, Logan."

"Oh, Dani, I love you so much!" Logan said and then kissed her.  He crushed her body against his.  It was so wonderful to kiss her again he was almost afraid it was a dream, but her tiny hands reached up and she laced her fingers in his hair.  She kissed him with more passion than he remembered and it was intoxicating.  He tried to take this slow, but they were both desperate for this caress.  When Logan finally broke the kiss so they could catch their breath, Dani's eyes were on fire.

"So, about that bath…" Dani said playfully.

Logan growled sensually and picked her up.  He cradled her in his arms and kissed her again.  "I'll scrub your back if you scrub mine," Logan offered.

"Only if you promise to bring your rubber ducky," Dani said giggling.

Logan nibbled at her neck.  "God, baby, I missed you…" he whispered.