Leon and Elyan led the patrol of the Plains of Denaria, a typically empty pathway, and they were surprised to see a woman in a cloak pulling along a horse cart without any horse.
"Halt!" Leon called, and the woman stopped. "Stay where you are."
She set down the handles, and the knights dismounted, and Leon approached.
"Where are you headed?" Leon said.
"The Seas of Meredor," the woman's voice answered.
"What's in the cart?" Leon said, and the woman did not answer, still not showing her face. Leon gestured for Bertrand and Montague to check the cart. When the moved forward, the woman turned, and Leon recognized her instantly.
"Lady Morgana," he said, reaching for his sword, ready to make her pay for her crimes, thinking immediately of Krysia's near-death.
Before he could finish unsheathing his sword, she threw the knights back with magic, and Leon quickly lost consciousness.
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Gwaine and Percival squatted next to the grate Krysia had casually mentioned to Gwaine the night before. Percival had mentioned how opposed to eating between meals their persnickety head cook was, and Gwaine thought it was a good time to take advantage of Krysia's superior knowledge. They could smell the roasting chicken, and Percival produced the string and hook as promised.
"Do you think we'll be able to get it up?" Percival whispered.
"You just need to be quick with the grate," Gwaine said. "I'll do the rest."
Miraculously, Merlin passed under them just as Gwaine was ready to lower the string, and Gwaine grinned, lowering the hook quickly. Merlin startled when he saw it, then looked up at the grate. Gwaine and Percival grinned at him, and Gwaine pressed a finger to his lips, and Merlin chuckled. He looked around, then attached the hook to a chicken and tugged lightly on the string.
Gwaine pulled it up quickly and gave Percival the signal to move the grate.
There was a yelp from the cook below, but Merlin had done a good job of securing the hook and they retrieved the chicken, replaced the grate, and were on the run for a quiet place to snack before they could be caught.
"I don't think that's going to work twice," Percival said breathlessly when they settled in Gwaine's chambers.
"Sure it will," Gwaine said, watching his friend carve up the chicken. "We just have to wait long enough for her to become complacent again."
Percival handed Gwaine a chicken thigh, Gwaine's favorite part, and Gwaine held it up, waiting for Percival to lift the other. They touched them together like glasses and then began to feast on their prize.
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Uther sat still, barely aware that there was anyone around. He could hear people speaking, and he took a few sips from his goblet, his hand shaking so violently he could barely hold the goblet. He set it down, then stared at the wall as the tray was taken away.
He wasn't sure how long had passed. Months, a year, who knew? Arthur would casually mention wedding preparations for Krysia every time he came, as if the upcoming nuptials would stir Uther to life again. But Uther could barely stir himself out of bed.
Krysia sat beside Arthur in the council chamber, decked in a new gown Arthur had gifted to her as a late birthday gift, in a rich green with black lace. She could feel the attention of his uncle, Lord Agravaine Du Bois, on her, but she tried to ignore him as Leon and Elyan gave their report.
"The reports are true, sire," Leon was saying. "We caught up with Morgana on the Plains of Denaria."
"Was she alone?" Arthur said.
"Was she armed?" Krysia whispered.
Elyan shook his head and said, "No, and there was someone else."
Arthur looked at Krysia, then back to Leon and Elyan, and said, "Morgause?"
"Who else?" Krysia said, sitting back.
"I couldn't be sure," Elyan said.
"Where was Morgana heading?" Agravaine said from the far end of the table.
"How did she get away?" Krysia said softly.
Leon's face contracted slightly as he looked at her.
"The Seas of Meredor," Leon said.
"Isle of the Blessed," Gaius said.
"What business would she have there after so long?" Krysia asked Gaius, but Agravaine sat forward.
"I will send out patrols at first light," he said.
"Thank you, Agravaine," Arthur said.
"I'll ask again," Krysia said, pressing her hand on the table flat, drawing the attention of every man in the room with the firmness in her voice. "How did she get away?"
Again, Leon hesitated, then he said, "Sire, you should know her powers have grown. Sir Bertrand and Sir Montague are both dead."
A silence fell over the chamber, and Krysia nodded slowly. It was fortunate that Leon and Elyan had survived to tell the tale, but it was still galling that they had her so close and she escaped again.
"Keep me informed of any developments," Arthur said softly.
The knights bowed and the council exited, apart from Agravaine and Krysia, who stared at each other. He hadn't specifically said anything, but she had a strong feeling that he didn't trust her, and frankly there something about him that she didn't trust, either.
"For months, nothing," Arthur said. "Why now?"
"Indeed," Krysia whispered. "And I don't believe it's coincidence that she's gone to the Isle of the Blessed, Arthur. It's been empty for years, and there's no reason for her to return where we might think to look for her."
"We knew she couldn't stay hidden forever," Agravaine said. "Today, tomorrow, does it matter? We mustn't live in fear, Arthur. Camelot is strong. If Morgana were to act, we'd be ready for her."
Krysia narrowed her eyes, not sure she agreed. Even a year on, in many ways Camelot was still recovering from the damage left in Morgana's wake, and if she had grown stronger…
"You're right, of course," Arthur said. "I don't know how I'd have got through these last few months without you. Thank you, Uncle."
Krysia bit her tongue, knowing that Arthur's difficulties were more of confidence than of capability. She believed if he'd leaned on her and Gaius instead, Agravaine could have stayed away totally unmissed, but she knew better than to say so out loud.
"I made a promise to your mother," Agravaine said. "I'll always be there for you."
Krysia raised her eyebrows at him, wondering whether that promise was made before or after he turned tale and ran when his brother died at Uther's hand, but again, she knew better than to say such a thing where Arthur might hear.
Arthur nodded, smiled, and left the room. When Agravaine and Krysia were alone, they stared at each other from across the table for a long moment before he bowed slightly and said, "My lady. Is that what you're wearing for Samhain?"
"Of course," she said, standing in one fluid motion. "Is that what you're wearing, my lord?"
He narrowed his eyes before looking down at his clothes, then back up at her. He forced a small twitch of a smile before he strolled out of the room. Her own smile fell as soon as his back was turned, and she left to ready herself for Samhain.
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Gwaine stared up at the head table, where Krysia sat beside Arthur. She looked resplendent with emeralds laced through her hair and adorning her neck. His eye was regularly drawn to the bare shoulders she displayed, and he smiled to himself, recalling kissing and nipping lines along those shoulders as she'd dressed that morning.
It was strange to see the empty chair in the center for the king, with Arthur and Agravaine on either side of it, but Gwaine knew Arthur always held out hope that his father would recover and return to his place ruling the kingdom. Krysia had admitted to Gwaine that it seemed unlikely, if not impossible, especially after so long, but Arthur was not willing to give up hope.
He stood, and the voices in the hall quieted to silence quickly. He began to speak, looking a bit solemn.
"Samhain," he said. "It is the time of year when we feel closest to the spirits of our ancestors. TI is a time to remember those we have lost, and to celebrate their passing."
He raised his glass and said, "To the king."
The rest of the banquet hall stood to join the toast, and a gong chimed.
Krysia looked a bit pale as she stood, and Gaius and Agravaine echoed the toast, which the knights and the rest of court then followed.
A jug clattered to the ground and the whole hall went quiet and looked at him. Merlin then fainted. Lancelot, one of the closest, rushed to him, and Arthur rolled his eyes, but then Krysia collapsed, and he only just set his glass down quickly enough to catch her. Gwaine dropped his goblet without thinking and hurried to carry her to Gaius's chambers himself.
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Lancelot laid Merlin on his bed, and Gwaine gently placed Krysia on the cot for invalids just outside Merlin's room. Gwaine held her hand as Gaius examined her.
"What happened?" Lancelot said.
"I don't know," Gaius said, moving to Merlin to compare. "I've never felt anyone so cold before."
"They feel dead," Gwaine whispered, and Gaius looked over his shoulder silently at Gwaine.
"Will they be alright?" Lancelot said.
Gaius again didn't directly answer, but instead said, "I'll need Hawthorne to improve the blood flow…and blankets. Lots of blankets."
Gwaine and Lancelot exchanged a fearful look, and they both agreed that they would fetch as many blankets as they could find.
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Krysia watched Gaius grind an herb as she woke, exhausted, and Merlin came out of his bedroom, clearly part-way through an explanation of what they'd seen.
"When she spoke, her voice…" Merlin hesitated, looking at Krysia. He was shivering, and she drew her own blankets closer, staying on the cot. "It was as though it came from the depths of the Earth, and her eyes…they were so sad. So much pain in them. Who is she?"
"The Cailleach…" Gaius said. "The gatekeeper to the spirit world."
Krysia swallowed uncomfortably and whispered, "Why could we see her?"
"It was on the stroke of midnight of Samhain's eve," Gaius said. "The moment when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. It cannot be a coincidence."
"Why were we the only ones to see her?" Merlin said.
"Because," Krysia whispered, "we have uncommon power. Visions aren't out of the ordinary for—"
"No, Krysia," Merlin said firmly. "It wasn't a vision. She knew us, she knew who I was, she called me Emrys, she called Krysia a High Priestess."
Gaius was silent, and Krysia waited for him to answer, but he didn't.
"What is it?" Merlin pressed. "What does it mean?"
Gaius hesitated, looking at Krysia, who finally whispered, "It could mean many things, but I don't think any of them are good. But if the veil is torn, we are in for true nightmares."
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Krysia and Agravaine had argued for some time before Leon was able to get them to agree that the prince should be fetched to deal with the refugee. He'd had to ask Geraint to actually come and sit between Agravaine and Krysia, who seemed ready to stick each other with knives over the matter.
He knocked with some urgency on Arthur's door and waited. He heard some speaking inside, and decided he couldn't wait to wonder if he'd been invited in. He opened the door.
"Excuse me, sire," Leon said, seeing that Arthur had still not gotten out of bed. "You're needed in the Council Chambers as a matter of urgency."
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When the council was gathered around the girl, Krysia stood near her as she sobbed. Leon watched Krysia comfort the girl as best she could, although the girl was skittish.
"What's happened to her?" Arthur said softly to Agravaine.
"Her village was attacked," Agravaine said.
"No other survivors," Krysia whispered.
Arthur paled slightly and said, "By who?"
"It's not entirely clear, sire," Agravaine said.
Arthur frowned, nodding to Krysia, who smiled at the girl and said, "There now, darling, why don't you introduce yourself?"
The girl looked up and said softly, "Drea."
Arthur took a step forward, and Drea tensed. Arthur put a gentle hand on her shoulder and spoke softly, as with a startled horse.
"Drea," he said. She looked up, nervous. "I'm Arthur. Don't be frightened. Tell me what happened."
"My mother," the girl said, "my father, my little sister, they're…"
The girl broke down into weeping again, and Leon held his breath, unable to think of anything but Krysia as a child pulled fresh from the forest, trembling on the floor of the council chamber, dirty and crying as she insisted she didn't know anything.
"It's alright, darling," Krysia said gently to Drea. The black sleeves of her dress billowed around the girl as she braced the girl's other shoulder. "You were saying something about them being attacked?"
Drea nodded.
"Who?" Arthur said.
"There was no one, just…shapes."
And this was where Krysia and Agravaine had come to a dispute about how best to proceed, but Arthur hadn't seemed to grasp the situation yet.
"You didn't see their faces?"
"They had no faces."
Arthur looked around at the councilmen, and Leon noticed that the moment Merlin turned like something was behind him, Krysia startled, tensing like she, too, heard something that Leon couldn't hear.
"I…I keep telling you," Drea said. "They were there, but…they weren't there. They moved so quickly… It was as if they weren't real, but…they must've been. I could hear the people screaming. And then…silence. They were all…dead."
Krysia, who had gone a bit pale, squeezed Drea's shoulder slightly as the girl began to sob, and she said, "Hey, no, Drea, you've done very well. You've been very brave. Gaius, can you…?"
Gaius stepped forward, taking Drea's hand and letting her cry on his shoulder as he led her out for examination.
"Where is this village?" Arthur said.
"Hawden," Agravaine said. "To the east of the White Mountains, no more than half a day's hard ride."
"Arthur, please," Krysia said softly, but Arthur had already made up his mind.
"Ready the men," he said, and Krysia paled again.
Leon hesitated, knowing that whatever had given her and Merlin the turn the night before might be back. Some people were inherently more sensitive to the mysteries of the world, his mother had told him that from childhood, and Krysia seemed to be one of those people. He just hoped that Agravaine or others who crossed her didn't see such things as an opportunity to accuse her of magic. One unexplained thing could mean her execution.
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The knights road out so quickly, Gwaine barely had a moment to kiss Krysia goodbye, and he couldn't help noticing that she was paler when he left than when she'd come to his bed the night before straight from Gaius's quarters.
"What's on your mind?" Percival said as they road.
"It's probably nothing," Gwaine said.
"Not nothing," Percival said, lowering his voice.
Gwaine sighed, then said, "I'm just worried about Krysia. She didn't look well again this morning."
"Did Gaius say what happened?"
"No."
Percival hummed, and they road in silence for a few long minutes before he said, "You know, it could be nothing. She's fair anyway, and if she's recovering from an illness, wearing such a dark-colored gown was bound to emphasize her pallor. I'm sure she's going to be well-recovered when we get back."
"I hope you're right," Gwaine said, although he didn't believe Percival's well-intentioned words.
They road in an even longer extended silence before Merlin startled at the sound of a woodpecker.
"Merlin," Arthur said, "do you need your comfort blanket?"
"What do you mean?" Merlin said.
"You're making me edgy."
Leon's horse whinnied loudly, and Merlin jumped again, higher this time. Was Gwaine imagining it, or was Merlin still quite pale as well?
"That's a horse," Arthur said.
"Maybe it sensed something," Merlin said.
"Yes, that you're a clotpole."
"That's my word."
"Yeah, and it suits you perfectly."
They came to a hilltop and could see the village they were meant to search, and it was indeed deserted, still, as if nothing around was alive. Gwaine wondered what kind of villain could strike so suddenly and so completely.
"It's too quiet," Arthur said softly, and Gwaine silently agreed.
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Krysia sat brushing out her curls while Enid started her fire, and she looked up when there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," she said.
Gaius came in and closed the door behind him. He looked at Enid, who looked up at Krysia hesitantly.
"Why don't you take an early night, Enid?" Krysia said. "I can manage."
Enid paused, then nodded and thanked Krysia, hurrying out with a small curtsy to Gaius. As soon as the door closed behind Enid, Krysia did a quick spell to start the fire and pulled on her heavy dressing gown over the gown she had yet to change out of.
"You're still freezing, aren't you?" Gaius said softly.
"It comes and goes," Krysia said. "Have you learned any more off Drea?"
Gaius shook his head, pacing across to the window.
"As you know well, trauma can play tricks on the memory." Krysia let out a dry laugh. "In Drea's case, it's all too true. We will have to wait for tomorrow to see what the knights and Merlin learn."
"And if it's what we fear?" Krysia whispered. "If Morgana has truly decided to tear the veil between the worlds for some twisted purpose?"
Gaius turned, staring at her with a solemn expression, and he said, "I do not think even magic as strong as yours will do much good, Krysia. We must hope it is something else."
"How can it be?" Krysia said.
Gaius handed her a small bottle of potion for her sleep and said, "Until we know precisely what it is, we cannot be sure what it isn't. Drea has nothing and no one. I fear her options in the world are greatly diminished, and I'm not certain Arthur has a suitable place for her in his—"
"I will hire her," Krysia said, brushing back her hair. "Enid can train her personally. When she's reached majority, she can decide if she wishes to stay in my employ or seek something more prestigious."
Gaius hesitated, then said, "I'm not certain you have need for her—"
Krysia set down her hairbrush and said, "I do not always plan to have Camelot as my permanent home, Gaius. I have properties. I could fill two household staffs. Enid is technically employed by the palace, and while she is loyal to me, she is not mine to bring with me if I ever left. It is only sensible for me to practice training and scrutinizing my own staff."
Gaius nodded, then took her hand and squeezed it gently. He frowned at how cold it was to his touch.
"Be careful, Krysia," he whispered. "When she is recovered a bit more, I will send her to you."
A/N:
To Like-a-Slasher-Film: I can't promise 87, but I'm going to try to have it be as high of a number as possible! I also love Percival. Potentially one of the cutest things in the later part of the show (which got understandably serious and dark), was the hilarious shenanigans of Percival and Gwaine. I do work hard crafting these characters, their relationships, etc. I don't do this for my fan fiction, but for my novels, every character gets at 10-page character sheet, whether that's a main character or an unnamed bus driver. Part of it is to keep myself from adding people who don't need to be there, but part of it is to remind myself that this is a world, and it's populated by people who are the heroes of their own novels, wandering around and living lives that are equally interesting to them, even if it's not the story I'm telling. And honestly, those kinds of secondary/tertiary/guest characters are why we write fan fiction in the first place: we're taken in by the rich unexplored corners of someone else's universe.
After this two-part storyline (I'm thinking 3 or 4 chapters for it), we're going to have one more chapter, and then it's on to Part 7!
-C