Night had fallen by the time they entered the village, and Leon walked slowly, feeling every hair on his body standing up. The village was silent, too silent. A door creaked, loud and slow, and they whole party froze stiff, staring with swords drawn until a goat bleated and walked out of the building.
The party split into pairs, and Leon walked with Elyan, each stepping cautiously to avoid causing any stir. A sudden crunching sound caused everyone to startle, but when Leon turned, he saw that Gwaine had taken a large bite out of an apple.
"Sorry," Gwaine said through the mouthful.
"Here!" Elyan called, having continued forward without Leon.
Gwaine dropped the apple, and they all hurried to Elyan to see what he'd found. In the house, Elyan had found corpses, strangely frosted, although it was too warm for them to have frozen to death. And ice didn't attack.
Something strange, faceless, even without a body whipped passed behind them, and everyone turned to try to get a better look at it.
"You saw it?" Arthur said.
"We are literally chasing shadows," Gwaine said darkly.
"Come on," Arthur said.
They quickly made torches, leaving the house to continue their search of the village. Leon stayed close to Elyan, and that feeling of his hair sticking up had returned to the forefront of his mind. He'd felt it for a moment recently, he realized, just before Krysia collapsed at the feast. Was it possible that she had felt…whatever this was from so far away? And if she had, what did that say about her potential?
There was a horrible screaming sound, and they ran toward it, finding Merlin shaking and Lancelot standing over him, not precisely afraid, but certainly shaken.
"There's something out there!" Lancelot said.
"You saw it?" Arthur said.
"When it saw the light, it fled."
"It scared the horses," Gwaine said.
Merlin, trembling, said, "It's not something you can chase or something you can kill."
Arthur didn't directly answer this, but he certain looked like he agreed with the statement as he said, "We need to get out of here."
No one argued. They hurried back to their horses on the hill as fast as they could go, and they didn't stop to rest all the way back to Camelot.
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Krysia was helping Gaius in the morgue when Merlin returned, so many were the dead. Guards were removing bodies as quickly as they could, and it still wasn't enough.
"Gaius," Merlin said, looking pale.
"Merlin," Gaius said. He hesitated. "You saw them."
Merlin nodded, and Gaius returned largely what he was doing.
"They've taken hold quickly," Krysia said.
"Here, help me," Gaius said. "Give me some more sheets."
Merlin, though, seemed to not hear him, shaking, staring at a body without really seeing it.
"Merlin?" Gaius said, looking up when no one did as he asked.
"You've felt it too," Krysia whispered, and Merlin looked at her eyes. "I was with Gwen when it broke into the castle. It's like it drains everything from you."
Merlin nodded and said, "Magic is useless against them. I tried. I have never felt so powerless. Something deep inside…" He shuddered and said, "When it came for me, I felt this emptiness. I couldn't breathe…. I'm scared."
"Merlin, it's alright," Gaius said, hurrying to comfort Merlin. "It's not your fault."
The trouble was, if Merlin and Krysia were both unable to fight them, what was to be done?
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First thing in the morning, Arthur called Krysia and Gaius to Agravaine's chambers to discuss the nature and extent of the threat. Krysia sat at the table, looking up at the men, feeling ridiculously out-of-place in a fine, pale gown. With people dying at such a rate, there was no need for her to look like she was about to go to a feast, but Enid reminded her there was value in continuing on as usual, if only for morale.
"We've suffered fifty dead, maybe more," Agravaine said. "Mainly in the lower town."
"And there's no way of fighting them?" Arthur said.
"Not that we've found," Krysia said. "The torches are the best method, but it just repels them."
"What are they?" Arthur said.
"The Dorocha, sire," Gaius said firmly, and Krysia's chest squeezed with fear as Gaius confirmed what she'd suspected since the feast of Samhain. "The spirits of the dead," Gaius explained. "On Samhain's eve in the time of the Old Religion, the High Priestesses would perform a blood sacrifice and release them."
A shiver ran down Krysia's spine as she said, "A horrific thing to do, even if such a thing were controlled."
"But who would do such a thing now?" Agravaine said.
"Morgana," Gaius said.
"She certainly does fancy herself a High Priestess," Krysia said, looking up at Arthur. "She said as much when she held Camelot. She used the symbols of the Old Religion on her banner."
Arthur nodded, then turned to Gaius and said, "You see her hand in this?"
"We know she was travelling to the Isle of the Blessed," Gaius said. "And as Krysia said then, what other reason to go to such a place at such a time?"
"But surely she cannot control them, either," Krysia said, frowning. "It seems a poor plan."
"Maybe so, but it's doing damage," Arthur said. "How do we defeat these creatures?"
"I don't know, sire," Gaius said. "No mortal has ever survived their touch."
Krysia had feared as much, which meant the only way to rid themselves of it was to close the veil, and Krysia didn't know how they could approach such a thing without a willing sacrifice. But who?
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Gwaine pulled on his gloves and frowned as Krysia sat down on his bed. What he wouldn't give just to lie beside her, a healthy blaze in the fireplace, just forgetting about the world for a while.
"I have to go light fires," he said.
"Did you think I was going to ask you not to?" she said, forcing a smile. "I'll be here when you finish, darling. Just be careful."
Gwaine crossed to her and pulled her into a long, slow kiss. She kissed him back, tracing her thumb along his jaw.
"Just promise me," she whispered against his lips, "that you'll be back in one piece."
"Are you joking?" he said with a weak grin. "I'm finally getting to marry you in a fortnight. I'm not about to die before I get to call you my wife."
She wasn't laughing when he stood, stepping back from him, but he had to smile. If he didn't smile, he'd be too afraid to function, and Krysia seemed to have enough fear for both of them, and she was somehow doing her job. He couldn't afford to let go of his smile.
"I'll be back," he said. "As soon as I can, lovely. I promise."
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Krysia woke in Gwaine's bed to the feeling of his fingers tracing her back. She stretched a little, smiling as he kissed her neck and pulled her close.
"What time is it?" she said.
"That doesn't matter," he whispered against her neck.
She opened her eyes, frowning. That meant she'd overslept for certain. She sat up and he whined, probably as much for her letting in the cool air as for her leaving the bed, but it couldn't be helped. She pulled on his dressing gown, and he sat up, pouting as she went to the window to see how long she'd overslept.
"Oh gods," she whispered, seeing the line of refugees desperately snaking through the square, displaced from all over the kingdom.
"What is it?" Gwaine said.
She scrambled to find her clothes and said, "I've got to get to the council chamber, and quickly."
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Leon stood at the top of the castle steps, watching the masses of refugees queuing under directions of the guard. Geraint clapped Leon's shoulder to announce his presence, and the two stood aside. Elyan was arranging the aid efforts, and he looked exhausted after their long night keeping fires going in the city.
"I just saw Lady Krysia on her way into the council," Geraint said. "She looked pale again. I asked if she had any guesses about what we're meant to do with the refugees."
Leon hummed, then asked what she said.
"She said we'd figure something out," Geraint said. "I don't know what, bad as things already are here—"
"They're worse elsewhere, Geraint," Leon whispered. "She didn't even see that village, but I'm sure she understands that villages can't keep their fires going, don't have the resources to do what we are doing here."
"Maybe so, but we can't light fires forever," Geraint said.
Leon was willing to try, but he knew his friend was right. At the rate things were going, they would all be dead within the month.
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Krysia sat across from Agravaine at the council table, and they discussed the refugee crisis. Gaius, in particular, was active in describing the situation, as he had been up since before dawn advising the guards.
"They're coming from across the kingdom," Gaius said. "They're looking to Camelot for protection."
"And we will give it to them," Arthur said.
"The question is where rather than whether, sire," Krysia said. "I've instructed Sir Geraint that we'll do our best for the moment, and many in the lower town are willingly opening their homes, but space does not go on forever."
"We cannot house them all," Agravaine said, nodding to her, as if they had said remotely the same thing.
"We have to try," Arthur said.
"Agreed," Krysia said, holding in her sniff, which she so baldly wanted to direct at Agravaine.
"How?" Agravaine said. "We cannot live like this forever, Arthur. We must find a way to vanquish these creatures."
Arthur sighed, then turned to Gaius and said, "Somewhere in all your books, Gaius, there must be something. All I'm asking is for a way to fight them."
Krysia and Gaius exchanged a look, and she decided that it was worth the risk for her to speak up. With Uther not having left his chambers for over a year, the likelihood that she would be arrested was not as dangerous as having the veil torn.
"They can't be fought," Krysia said, "at least not in anything we've found. If the veil between the worlds is truly torn, then the only way to fix what is happening is to repair the veil from the Isle of the Blessed."
Agravaine watched Krysia very closely as she spoke, and she hoped she hadn't over-shown her hand, but Arthur hadn't seemed to connect what she was saying with sorcery.
"And how do I do that?" Arthur said.
Again, Gaius and Krysia looked at each other, and this time Gaius spoke up.
"I'm not sure," he said. "But for the tear to be created, it would have required a blood sacrifice. To seal it…will require another."
"And where we're going to—"
Arthur cut Krysia off before she finished her thought, standing and saying, "We ride before nightfall."
"And who will be the sacrifice?" Gaius said.
Krysia's chest tightened as she realized what he was suggesting, and she shook her head.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said. "The kingdom needs you, Arthur."
"If laying down my life will spare the people of Camelot, then that is what I must do," Arthur said.
He was leaving the council chamber, and she stood, quickly following him out.
"Arthur, what about the throne?" she said. "When Uther dies, if you are not here, there is nothing to stop Morgana from—"
"You will take the throne," Arthur said, forcing a smile. "Krysia, I have no more cousins. I know you're not interested in being a queen, but you would make a good one, regardless. With the extend of Powys and Andor under your command, your line would easily have the best claim. The people know and love you, and Gwaine would be at your side. Rule well—"
"Arthur, please," Krysia said, feeling her chest tighten.
He paused, taking her hands and squeezing them, then kissing them.
"I have every faith in you, old friend," he said, his smile falling away. "Please, you know I would never ask this of you if I thought there were any other way."
She knew that well enough, and she nodded, letting him squeeze and kiss her hands again.
"Agravaine will hold the throne while my father is alive," Arthur whispered, "but then I want you to make your claim. The knights will support you. The people will fall in line. And if it should look like Morgana will try to strike again—"
"I know," Krysia whispered, not realizing she was crying until he wiped a tear from her face. "I know, Arthur."
She pulled him into a hug, and he held her against him even tighter, the two of them holding each other in the castle entryway like he was about to walk directly to his death the moment she let go.
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Gwaine watched Krysia pace as he prepared to ride out with Arthur. The velvet train of her dress was so long, she nearly tripped on it twice in her agitation. The sapphire pendant she often wore bounced off her chest as she turned, then turned again, then again.
"You're making me dizzy, lovely," he said.
She paused, and she looked at him with such a hollow expression, Gwaine almost considered taking her to Gaius, if Gaius weren't so busy.
"Hey," he said, stopping his work and grabbing her hands. "Hey, it's going to be alright. We're going to figure out a way to fix this."
"Yes," Krysia whispered. "Promise me you're going to come home."
"To you?" he said, forcing a smile and lifting her fingers to his lips. "Always, lovely. Always."
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Uther sat still, listening to Arthur with a sense that something was very much not alright.
"There are many things I have to thank you for," Arthur was saying. "You taught me so much. Most of all, you have taught me what it is to be a prince. I hope that this time, you'll be proud of me."
Arthur was crying, Uther realized, he was saying goodbye. Arthur stood, cupping Uther's chin, and he kissed Uther's forehead. Arthur was about to leave, and Uther grabbed his arm with all the strength he had.
"Don't leave me," Uther said.
"I have to, father."
"Please."
Arthur squeezed Uther's hand, and he wiped his face and said, "Krysia will look after you while I'm away."
Uther had no strength left to squeeze with, and he had to let go, but as Arthur walked away, Uther felt a panic like he couldn't remember. Perhaps not since Krysia lay dying in bed, but this seemed worse somehow. Perhaps…perhaps not since he lost Ygraine.
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The knights readied their horses, and Leon noticed that Gwaine wasn't his usual sparkling self. That was to be expected, but even given what they were facing, Gwaine walked like a man half-dead.
"Are you alright?" Percival asked him.
"Fine," Gwaine said.
When everyone stared at him, silent, Gwaine said, "Krysia's not well."
"Perhaps the prince would let you stay behind," Leon said. "He would understand—"
"No, no," Gwaine said, forcing a smile. "She wouldn't let me, anyway. Sooner we've left, the sooner we can come home, right?"
Leon wished it were that simple, and knowing that Krysia was still suffering, he felt even more uncertain about leaving.
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Krysia stood with Arthur and Agravaine in the latter's chambers, and Arthur was handing his ring to his uncle.
"You have to take this," he said softly. "It bears the royal seal. In my absence, responsibility to the kingdom rests with you."
"What about your father?" Agravaine said.
"Should the worst befall the king," Krysia said, feeling her throat raw and tight, "Arthur has asked me to…to assert a claim on the throne."
Agravaine's eyebrows twitched, and she could tell he wasn't expecting that. Perhaps he thought he would be asked, as the last relative of the royal family.
"Arthur," Agravaine said.
"You're the only people I trust, uncle," Arthur said. "The knights will support Krysia, and she knows Morgana's mind better than anyone else. If anyone can keep her at bay and keep the kingdom together, it is Krysia."
"We'll see," Krysia whispered, frowning.
"I beg you," Agravaine said, "for the sake of the kingdom, there must be another way."
He tried to press the ring back into Arthur's hand, but Arthur shook his hand and set it down on the table.
"My mind is made up," Arthur said. "I'm just grateful you're here."
He kissed Krysia's cheek on his way out, and Agravaine and Krysia stared at each other.
"You'll make a beautiful queen, certainly," Agravaine said softly, "but you have much yet to learn, my lady. If you're lucky, the king will have a long life ahead of him."
"If I'm lucky," she said, "another path will present itself and I won't have to take the throne at all. But I don't stand around holding my breath over it. Come, my lord. We have a great deal of work to do. Camelot does not pause because the prince is riding out."
Agravaine looked at the ring like it might bite him, but he picked it up, tucking it in his pocket rather than putting it on. Krysia raised an eyebrow at him, and he said softly, "It doesn't feel right. I'm not a Pendragon."
"Just so long as you don't lose it," she said, about to sweep out of the room.
She had just set her hand on the door when Agravaine said, "It would be a shame, wouldn't it, if your fiancé didn't make it home either."
She turned slowly, looking at him, feeling like there was a tone of threat in his voice. His smile was almost too wide as he said, "Based on the preparations, I am so looking forward to the wedding."
A chill ran over her spine, and she left the room before she could show any cracks in her resolve. She would not let a man like Agravaine break her down, whatever his game.
A/N:
To fantasy.92: Happy Christmas to you too! Gwaine will learn about Krysia's magic in Part 7. They reach a point where she can no longer get away with hiding it.
It's actually looking like this two-part may cover more like 4-5 chapters instead of 3-4…We'll see!
So, Arthur's asked Krysia to take the throne when the Pendragon line ends, Agravaine and Krysia distrust each other, and on the other side of the catastrophe lies a wedding.
-C