Delaney and Merlin made their way along the trail towards the trees and over the hill of the Fort. Once on the other side of the hill, their enemy was encamped. "Did you have any visions regarding this?" Delaney mumbled, as she gently pushed a branch out of her way.
"No. But I sense something is wrong."
"As do I, and I don't have the sight. Apparently that gift wasn't passed down." She muttered waspishly.
Suddenly their trail was blocked by two men. Identically dressed to the others that Delaney had seen the day before. Merlin spoke to them. Soon both Delaney and Merlin were flanked by the guards and escorted to a small fire. A woman with blonde hair hanging free to her waist looked up. She then rose, clad in the same animal skins as the men. After a few crisp commands everyone had left save Merlin and Delaney. She then motioned for the two of them to take a seat.
Delaney watched the woman, her gut tightening. Something wasn't right. She sat rigid, watching, waiting. The woman's gaze rolled over her then immediately the attention went to Merlin. "So this is our daughter." She stated, her voice husky and low.
"Yes." Was all Merlin said, drawing shapes in the ash from the fire.
The woman rose and stood in front of Delaney, "I am Morgan le Fey. I am the leader of these people."
"So I have been told." Delaney murmured, careful to keep her voice as soft and neutral as possible.
Morgan smiled vilely. She turned and motioned to one of her men who in turn motioned towards yet another man. From a tent two men shoved Lancelot and Tristan to stand at the woman's side. She reached up and caressed Lancelot's cheek, "Which one is your lover, daughter? Which one will you save?"
Delaney's jaw clenched and her eyes grew wide as she stared at the blonde haired vixen. She looked to Merlin who only continued to stare into the fire, drawing with his walking stick in the dirt next to the fire.
Morgan had moved next to Tristan, playing with one of his long braids; twisting it between her fingers. "I haven't decided which one I want to be my play toy. The one is so pretty, but this one," she smirked, "He is a bit of an animal. I want to break him." She turned glacier eyes to Delaney, "I want to break them both. Bend them, make them mine. I want them to know every breath is because I give it to them."
Delaney felt her stomach roll. She swallowed the bile growing in her throat. This was her fault. She had run away and this was the payment. She looked from one to the other of the men then swallowed and spoke, "What if I give you my life for theirs?"
Morgan mocked her, "You think your life is worth anything to me?" She grabbed Delaney by the shoulders and jerked her up, "I can bargain with these men, you mean nothing, child. Nothing!" She shook Delaney like nothing more than a rag doll.
Delaney felt her teeth rattle and tried to keep focused. Morgan was giving her one heck of a headache. Suddenly she felt herself upon the ground. Looking up into the ice of Morgan's eyes. There was suddenly a dagger at her throat, "I saw your death, when you were a babe. If it has to be by my hand so be it. I'm tired. What I didn't tell Merlin was that I saw your death and then mine. I'm tired, daughter. I want to die. I have too much blood on my hands. I want to go to the beyond. But first you must die, so that it will be my time."
Delaney was gasping for air staring up at the woman who's eyes were a bit too wide. Her smile a bit too bright. She had seen the look before; on Brent's face.
"You do not belong here. Not now, not anymore." Morgan whispered as she reached her hand out and gently cupped Delaney's cheek. She then kissed it gently. Delaney tried to not pull away as the dagger was still at her throat. She felt all eyes upon the two of them. Morgan pressed the dagger into Delaney's neck, just enough to draw a droplet of blood. As she did, she waved a hand toward Merlin. Speaking softly yet clearly, "I banish you, old man to be lost in time in the black void between dimensions, I banish you!" Morgan ended with a low growl. Delaney went to move as Merlin suddenly looked, against the horizon and then disappeared.
"And you my daughter," the voice hissed fire, "You do not belong to me. You do not belong to the now. I think I can inflict more pain; not by your death but by something worse." Morgan's smile grew and Delaney gulped, feeling the blood dripping down her neck. "I banish you back to whence you came!" Delaney had a moment to stare at her in utter shock, as an arrow zinged over her shoulder and struck Morgan in the heart. Then her world went black as the Scots suddenly started running from all directions.
Tristan and Lancelot stood, staring at the spot where Delaney moments before had stood. The men guarding them were more concerned with the woman who had just been shot. Arthur had the knights waiting atop the hill. For what, he did not say. The moment Merlin disappeared he had Bors lose an arrow and take out Morgan. Then Arthur, Bors and the rest of the knights came lumbering down the hill at full gallop. Arthur quickly dismounted and untied Lancelot and Tristan. The battle was over within moments. The Scots surrendering once their leader was gone.
Lancelot went to the spot where moments before Delaney had been. The dagger had dropped onto the ground. He picked it up reverently, cradling it in his hands. Her blood still stained the tip of its edge. He knees buckled and he landed in a sitting position upon the log where moments before Delaney had been seated. He slouched, holding the dagger, staring at its blade.
Tristan found Lancelot sitting upon the log where Delaney had sat. He investigated the fire and ashes. Merlin had traced unique shapes into the embers. He didn't know what to say to his friend so he just grasped his shoulder and walked on.
Lancelot sat with his head bent, tears streaming down his face. He couldn't fix this pain. The last thing he remembered of Delaney was how her lips felt against his in the brief kiss they had shared before he betrayed her.
Merlin stood next to Arthur, both staring at the curly haired knight sitting atop the log; shoulders slouched in defeat. "I did what you asked of me old man," Arthur whispered hoarsely. "I betrayed my best friend."
"It is best Arthur."
The commander regarded the the man cooly, "So you say."
"It is the way it had to be."
"Explain that to Lancelot."
"They will meet again."
Arthur turned and looked at the strange man, "When?"
"In Delaney's time."
"But what will happen to him until then?"
"He will heal. This is the price Arthur, I saved him from Death's door once. You promised me that you would grant me anything for that. This is what I am requesting."
"What good does it do Merlin?"
"Everything is right again. My mistake from so long ago is righted."
"Yet my friend suffers for that." Arthur turned on his heel and walked away.
Lancelot had the dagger resting in his lap, his hands knotted in his hair as his elbows balanced upon his knees. His body shook in silent sobs. He felt someone sit beside him and glanced over to find Merlin seated next to him. He lifted his head and grabbed the man's arm, "Send me to her time. Please Merlin."
"I cannot, Lancelot. The time line has been muddled with enough. I can however promise that you will meet her again. Your soul will know hers."
"When?"
"In her time."
"But it won't be me."
"It will be. I can leave the memories of her in your head, to be revealed when the two of you meet."
"But what if we never meet?"
"Have faith Lancelot, the soul knows its mate."
"But what now?"
"Live your life as best you can." He muttered and then rose, going to Tristan by the fire.
"You warded yourself." The scout stated bluntly.
"Yes."
"You knew what would happen.
"Yes."
"So now what?"
"All of you will meet in her time. She needs protection there more than this time. You all are linked in a dance of life. To make sure you know of each other, I will bind the memories to your souls, so that you know each other when you meet. Through all of your souls' reincarnations these memories will stay until she comes into your lives. Then and only then will you remember what has transpired."