Disclaimer: I own nobody, but the characterization of Vivien, Lady of the Lake. She belongs to someone, though.

Rating: PG
Summary: Dagonet dies and finds a strange woman waiting for him. (A companion piece to the 'Forest of Eternal Slumber') ENJOY!

Feedback: Welcome (extremely welcome!)

The Dead Lands

When Dagonet woke all was mist, entirely. No sky above him, no ground below him, and all that surrounded the brave Sarmatian was the mysterious haze. "Arthur!" Dagonet called, his voice echoing, answering his own cries. "Do you hear me!"

Far off, so very far off, there could be heard shouts and cries. Bors' cries, calling for Dagonet, calling for war. Standing, Dagonet shook out of his slight stupor and moved forward, the mist making a path for him.

Running quickly, before the vapor could return, Dagonet passed through the haze, searching for his comrades. "Bors!" Dagonet shouted. "Lancelot! I'm coming!"

"Dagonet…"

Pausing, Dagonet turned back, the mist had already covered his tracks, but that voice…it was so familiar and so distant. Arthur and the men needed him. Just as Dagonet began to go afoot once more, the voice came again. "Dagonet…"

A woman's sweet tone, it faded into the mist, was as soft as the haze itself and as mysterious.

Becoming impatient, Dagonet swallowed back sweat and fear, stopping in his tracks and calling out to the one who called his name. "I am Dagonet!" The knight cried. "Servant of Rome! Knight of Artorius! I am the man you seek!"

"Dagonet…" a whisper of a voice, coming ever closer, "I am Vivien, Lady of the Lake. Will you have no ears for me?"

The tales as a boy warned Dagonet of this woman, her trickery. Vivien came from the black depths, a lonesome soul in a lonesome world, blessing her children with hair as black as her soul. The Mother of the sea, the woman of the water; she could bring pain and suffering or peace and kindness.

Frigid, Dagonet tried to warm his arms in this icy cold, but found no solace in the chilling grip of the mist. "Lady," Dagonet replied, his voice quivering only slightly, "forgive my foolish haste, but I have duties to attend to—a vow to uphold."

At first all Dagonet could see was an odd shape moving in the mist, coming closer and closer, making his heart beat faster and faster. "Stay there!" Dagonet commanded, reaching for his sword, drawing it from its sheath, making the sword shriek. "I order you to stay back!"

"I have given you no cause to fear me, Dagonet," the murky voice replied, "why are you threatened?"

Dagonet saw her appear, a maid in twisted, dark green robes, her skin a grayish tint, her hair black and sea-weed like. A formidable creature, like some sort of sea-human. The woman's eyes were like wet obsidian, her lips completely white and wrinkled. "You came to me, Dagonet," Vivien said, her head tilting to the left slightly, "what is it you wish, Sarmatian?"

"How do you know my name?"

The lady smiled, her form becoming paler, her hair drying to become the ebony locks of normal human hair. "I know all of my children, Dagonet," Vivien said, "I hear your name on the wind, your kind sprouted from my womb and you have returned sooner than I hoped. Tell me, descendant, what is it you seek?"

Dagonet paused, he could hear no more shouting. Were Arthur and his men in danger? What in heaven's name was going on? "Where am I?"

"Within my realm." Vivien replied, her lips and cheeks gaining rouge, her dress becoming white. "You gave your life for those you loved, Dagonet—a brave deed you did…and then you came to my embrace, beneath the ice."

"No…" Dagonet stepped back, but feared she might fade from his view, so he moved closer, "is this the afterlife, Lady Vivien? I must know, tell me."

"I may keep those I wish." Vivien replied. "And for so many years I have watched you…my eye for Lancelot is keener, but you came into my grasp so swiftly. I could have given you away, let you pass on, but will you not choose to stay here, with me?"

Dagonet could hardly believe what this woman was saying. She was beautiful now, her eyes the color of her dark hair, lying against her blanched, pale skin and robes to match, while her lips became the color of the reddest rose. "Milady, I mean not to intrude," Dagonet said forcefully, "but my men need me."

Vivien gazed at him thoughtfully, at first a little playful, and then she just laughed. "You came to me, Dagonet, you belong to me." Vivien replied, her eyes boldly looking into his without pity. "How can I return that which has so freely visited me?"

"You must understand…" Dagonet insisted, "I am indebted to Arthur, to his men—"

"And you gave your life for his!" Vivien snapped crisply, her voice suddenly like shards of ice, a cold wind rippling past Dagonet, chilling him. "It was your choice, Dagonet! You are mine!"

Suddenly Vivien calmed, a rumbling sound could be heard far off, and she held herself tightly, moving toward Dagonet. "Oh forgive me, my child," she embraced the tall man gently, her frigid body pressed to his, "I have been far too alone for far too long…I have forgotten that which is so important to you mortals…love."

"No, milady," Dagonet comforted the woman tentatively, feeling her chilly exterior make him shiver, "I had no right to ask it of you…I should have served you with the respect you deserve."

"No heart beat likes yours, Dagonet," Vivien whispered and pulled away, smiling up at him, "no man's sword could break your loyalty. When your vow is broken with the Romans, Sarmatian, I will be waiting for you."

Dagonet stared at the woman, confused as she took his hands in hers and kissed them. "Bless you, my darling Dagonet."

A searing pain, the cold sweat, the burning on his chest. "Dag!" Bors' voice, warm hands on his face. "Dag look at me!"

Blinking, Dagonet fought against the icicles holding his eyes together and gasped. "Bors!"

"The cold kept you alive, old boy!" Bors laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. "And the heat sealed your wounds!"

"Is it over?" Dagonet asked, his chest heaving.

"Yeah," Bors nodded and patted the man's forehead, "it's over, Dag."

A tiny hand entwined in Dagonet's and went he glanced up he smiled seeing two familiar blue eyes and shaggy blonde hair. "Lucan…" Dagonet sighed.

"You'll be all right, now," Lucan replied, patting his hand, "do not be frightened."