Thank you for reading. Hope you are still enjoying the story.

AndreKl: Hope the pay off works.

godric 777: thank you.

Though his face remained mostly emotionless, his eyes clearly showed guilt. The dagger hurt more as it was pulled from her back then it did going in. His free arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her standing. Her eyes locked on to his, trying to understand. Behind her she heard a low cruel laugh. Morgana didn't give Nimueh the satisfaction on turning to face her. Instead she tried to show Gilli that she didn't blame him. That she knew he had no control over what he had just done. That she forgave him.

Wanting to twist the knife in even further Nimueh walked forward. Stopping just behind Morgana she spoke in a low voice just above a whisper. "Dose it hurt more the second time. Being killed by a friend."

Morgana turned from Gilli, who still helped her stay standing to face Nimueh. "You really think this can kill me." She tried not to let the pain show in her voice.

Nimueh's flawless face pulled into a cold grin. "No, just hurt you. " Pulling free from Gilli's support Morgana turned to fully face Nimueh. "Your not arguing that he is your friend."

Morgana inwardly flinched at her slip. Though had literally just stabbed her in the back, she felt guilty that she had involuntary given his betrayal away. "You sent him to Camelot to talk to me, I sent him away. I would hardly call us friends. Even I have higher standards than that." She tried to smile, but was stopped by a sharp pain that shout up her side from her wound, as she tried to moved.

Nimueh let out an exaggerated sigh as she placed a patronizing hand on Morgana's shoulder. The extra weight made her legs almost give out under her. She could feel the blood begin to drip down her dress. It was more than she expected. It must have been a deeper cut then she had thought. She was starting to feel a little lightheaded, as a low humming sound drowned out the sounds of the forest around them. What little color she had slowly drained from her face as her blood drained form her wound.

"Then why are you wearing his ring." Nimueh mocked. A smug look settling on her normally blank face.

Morgana was not able to hide her shock this time from showing on her face. She had almost forgotten that she was wearing the ring. When he had refused to take it back she had put it on, so not to use it. Then had forgotten all about it. So much else had happened since then. Panic spread through her body, numbing the pain that had been growing from her wound. Though she didn't turn round, that would have been admitting that Nimueh was correct. She did lean back a little into Gilli. Half for support and half to try and shield him from Nimueh's wrath. The witch would not kill her, she wanted to toy with her more before she did that. Gilli on the other hand, she didn't need him. He was expendable to her. She would kill him, just to cause her more pain and guilt.

He didn't want to show any sign of weakness. He was a marked man now. Had been for a very long time it seemed and he hadn't even known it. If he was going to die, he was not going to let her have the satisfaction of letting her know she had got to him. He would not react to her goading. He had little free will when it came to Nimueh, but what he did have he would hold onto as strongly as he could. Definitely he placed his arm around Morgana, helping her keep standing. Making it clear whos side he was on. There was little he could do but he wanted to make this point crystal clear.

"Did you really think you could go behind my back like that and I wouldn't find out."

"You seemed to have more important things on your mind." Gilli retorted. A slight grin growing on his face. "Things like-"

lifting her right hand clenching her hand tightly Nimueh silenced him. "You've said enough don't you think." The smallest hint of fear in her voice. While she had the utmost confidence in her plan. That it had all fallen into place, there was nothing anyone could do to stop it now. She still did not want the surprise spoiled. Half the fun would be watching the lock on all of their faces when they realized they were going to die and there was nothing they could do to stop it. Gilli was not going to ruin that for her.

While he could say no more Gilli kept his eyes locked on Nimueh. He would not back down. He would not let her think she had broken him.

"Nothing you do now will change anything." The priestess meet his eyes. "You can't save her or yourself. Anybody else for that matter. You are just a expendable tool. One that I have no further need for."

Morgana gather her strength and pulled herself up to her full height. Which was a little taller than the older women. "You're wrong."

Nimueh scoffed. "You truly do trust Merlin and your brother." She added, saying it like it was a insult.

"No, I just know that you will lose."

"Seen it in a dream." Nimueh mocked further.

"I've seen much in my dreams, but never you." Morgana took as small step forward as she went on. "Not when you first tried to kill Arthur. Not when you died or when you pulled yourself back together. Not during any of your planning and scheming. Nothing at all. You were never important enough. Never matter enough. To me or anyone, the world. If anyone is expendable its you"

As she went on Morgana could see her words cutting deep. Her fellow high priestess did a very impressive job at not showing outward sign of being affected by her goading. Morgana knew better though. She had seen her in mind, her memories. She knew how deeply the idea that she was insignificant, unimportant would hurt Nimueh. She believed herself to be the last true high priestess, she had to stand for all of them now. All those that were gone. Morgana even started to feel sorry for her, just a little. It was hard to admit, seeing it from this side, but Morgana knew that she and the witch in front of her were more alike than she was comfortable with. As much as Nimueh wanted to watch Camelot burn to ash and be blown away with the wind. There was a large hart of her, that she tried to hide, push aside, that wanted to simply feel connected to the world again. She had lived like a shadow for years. She wanted to make her presence felt however she could.

"You don't have to do this." Morgana added in a much gentler voice.

"To think people think you are a threat." Nimueh derided her. Getting some of her resolve back. The chink in her armor covered. "How quickly your determination wavers." Her blank mask back in place.

"I'm still determined-"

"You are siding with someone that killed you and the son of the man that started this."

"There is no other way." As soon as the words left her mouth she hated herself a little for saying them. "You think I haven't tried, you know I've tried."

"But you gave up."

"Because I'm not prepared to lose anymore."

"You think you haven't lost already. You live alone in a hovel. No family, no friends. Just those that would rather see you dead if they could."

Morgana shock her head slightly. "Destroying everything wont chance anything. It won't make you feel any better."

"Please spare me the platitudes. We both now you don't believe that."

It wasn't worth it to argue the point. Nimueh was right after all. She didn't believe what she was saying. It wasn't surprising that this tact hadn't worked on Nimueh. It never worked on her. Only losing everything had made her change. Even then she hadn't really changed that much. She still wanted to see Uther pay for what he had done. Crush the life from the witch in front of her and the Sarrum. She just wasn't prepared to risk losing what little she cared for anymore. Nimueh didn't have anything left that she cared for. Morgana did feel sympathy for her, but the larger part of her wanted to see her fail. Trying to reason with her was a gut reaction. Something she felt she had to do, not something she wanted to do. Even if she did convince Nimueh to stop whatever she was planning, she would still kill her. Maybe not right now but she would kill her and she would take great pleasure in it. After what she had done to Aithusa, Nimueh deserved what was coming to her.

"I thought I should at least give you fair warning."

"I appreciate that." It was a act, but Morgana was sure she heard maybe some faint appreciation in her voice. "So I'll give you one chance. Will you help me burn Camelot to the ground."

It longer than Morgana expected for form her response. "There is nothing I want more than to watch Camelot burn." Nimueh began to smile. "Than to watch you burn with it."

Turning her attention back to Gilli, Nimueh took a step closer to him and Morgana. He knew that look, it was never a good look.

"You're a nothing but a bitter, hollow shell of a person." He was able to force out.

For a second a flash of begrudging respect crossed the high priestesses face. She still had a strong influence over the young man, but to be able to break past her control and speak deserved some recognition. Once she had done that she stepped closer to the pair still.

"I have one last task for you."

lifting up her hand, words on the tip of her Nimueh prepared to put an end to this pointless waste of time.

Before she had a chance to speak a single syllable Gilli stepped forward, taking a hold of Morgana by her shoulders. Building up all of his strength, magic he threw her to the ground, out of Nimueh's reach, as he rushed out ancient words in a pained voice. Morgana vanished from sight before she hit the ground. Relief washed over Gilli as he looked at the empty space that the witch should have landed on.

He knew what was going to happen next. He made peace with it. It was always how he expected things would end. Even when he hoped for better. Taking his eyes form the twigs and leaves that littered the ground he looked back up at Nimueh. The look of respect was back on her face.

"You have bought her time, nothing more." He nodded as she stepped closer. "Mercifully for you, you won't live to see that. Before that, I have a different last task for you."

He didn't flinch as she placed her cold hand on his forehead.

The nearest village was not far ahead of them. It could just be seen appearing out of the trees ahead of them. If they stayed on this path it would take them right through it. The sun was still in the sky, but it was beginning to lower. They would have to make a choice about where to stop for the night soon. Kara never really liked to stop in or even near a village. She didn't trust other people very much. Even now, as they walked in comfortable silence hand in hand, feeling like they were the only two people in the world, he still wasn't sure she fully trusted him. It had taken a very long time for Mordred to gain her trust as it was. Many long almost entirely one-sided conversations. Which was difficult for him, not being much of a talker himself. To get her to open up even a little to him. He still didn't know the details about her family. All he knew was that her parents were dead. Died when she was young. On one occasion Kara made a comment in passing, that she tried to brush over as soon as she said it. That let him think that she may have a sister. Older or younger he didn't know, alive or died he didn't know either. She never made any allusions to a sister ever again and he never pressed her on it. He didn't want to risk damaging the closeness they had built up.

He tried a few times. When they had been starting to get to know each other and he was more willing to push her a little to get any idea of how she was feeling. She just seemed to dig her heals in further and get defensive. It frustrated him, but she would say something or do something and he found himself forgiving her. She had a playful nature and a good sense of humor. Despite the pain she had clearly suffered in the past and her coldness when asked about it, she was one of the most positive people he knew. Not optimistic. He knew that she had little hope for the future, but she did choice to make the most of each day and was grateful for the freedom she had. He wanted to be more like that.

He denied that she was the major factor in his choice to no longer use his magic, to repress it. That wasn't true, but not in the way everyone else seemed to think. she had magic too. She was not overly skilled or powerful. Had no interest in mastering it like himself. Resented it in a way, like he too did. That something she had no control over had such an impact on her life. While she didn't repress or distance herself from her magic, like he did she never tried to expand on it, learn more about it. Once she had said to him that she didn't want to let it have more control over her life than it already did. He felt the exact same way. It did more to warm his heart toward her than it already was to have someone feel exactly the same way he did about something so complex.

"We need to think about where to stop for the night." Mordred sad in an offhanded way.

Kara was not fooled. She knew him to well for that. As much as he valued his freedom, he still wanted to connect with people, with society as a whole. She could understand that, deep deep down she felt a little similar. She had been hurt to much in the past to let herself get attached to people. Mordred was different though. Even before they spoke she noticed him. He had a calm aura about him that she couldn't help but gravitate towards. She had tried to keep him at a distance, but was unable to d0 so for very long. So here she was walking hand in hand with him. Knowing that deep down he wanted nothing more than to go to the village in front of them. Eventually find a place somewhere for them to settle down. He knew though that that was not want she wanted. She wanted, needed to keep moving. While he didn't fully understand this need, he accepted it. That was enough for now. It had to be, she just hoped it would be enough years from now.

"We can go one a little further." Through their held hands she felt his shoulders deflate. "There's a stream not far for here. I thinks its about time we do some laundry."

Mordred didn't say anything, but he smiled and nodded. Kara took in a deep breath and smiled a little too. Grateful to have been able to avoid an argument.

"Your right." He finally said. "It is getting little hard to stand up wind of you." He added.

Kara let out a shocked breath before she used her free hand to lightly punch his free arm. "You don't smell like roses yourself.

Mordred smiled widely, as he held her hand a little tighter. "Never said I did."

Kara just smiled back. Forgetting all about the tension she had felt a minute ago. It never lasted long, but they both hated any conflict between them. Luckily they both were willing to compromise and listen to each other and move past it.

Morgana didn't realize what had happened until after she hit the ground. The wind was knocked out of her. After a few seconds she tentatively pulled her upper body up with shaking arms. Looking around she found herself alone in a open forest. Her relief was quickly replaced by sudden panic. She was safe for now thanks to Gilli, but he was not. He had sacrificed his life to save her, or at least tried to. She doubted that Nimueh would kill him right away, she would want to make him suffer as much as she could before she killed him. Her first instinct was to get back there and help him, but knew that that would do little good. They would have moved on by now. If she tried to reach them now there was nothing she could do. All she would end up doing was getting herself killed as well. She wasn't strong enough to face Nimueh, had never been. The binding had worked, more than she expected, but not enough. The last few years had weakened her, psychically and her magic. That wasn't even taking into account her newest wound.

Taking a minute to steady herself on just one arm, she moved her right hand to place over the wound. the blood began to slip threw her fingers, as she put pressure down on it. It didn't hurt much. Instead she felt a hazy, numbness. As Nimueh had said such a wound would not kill her. Not unless she let it continue to bleed so much. She tried to focus her magic into her hand that covered the injury. Like trying to light a fire, her magic sparked for a second then went out. Her vision was blurring and a white noise rang in her ears. She couldn't focus.

Giving up on healing herself for now, she closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. After a little while, feeling more grounded Morgana opened her eyes. To her great surprise she recognized where she was. A few feet in front of her was the stream she collected water from and washed her clothes in. Not to far up stream was where she and Merlin had spoken to Gilli not long ago. A pained sob escaped her lips. He hand sent her somewhere close to her hovel, but not close enough Nimueh would find it. In a spilt second he had thought of the best place to sent her and done it. She had to help him.

Quickly before she changed her mind, she dug deep down and pulled herself to her feet. Her head spun so she was forced to stay still till she was sure she could take a step without collapsing to the ground again. Quickly it became clear that that was not going to be possible. Her head was spinning more now. The trees looked like they were starting to dance around her.

Just as she was about to give in and let herself fall, in the distance in front of her she could just make out a figure moving towards her. She tried to steady her vision enough so she could see who it was. When she did a pained laugh flew from her mouth and echoed in the early evening quite. She didn't know how or why he was here, but she thought she had never more pleased to see him or anyone.

Seeing her he sped up. As he got closer he noticed her shaking and that all the color seemed to have left her body. Something was very wrong. Suddenly her left leg gave way and she fell down.

In that same second he vanished, to appear right next to her. Catching her in his arm, he legs sunk to the ground.

Merlin called her name, shaking her a little, but she didn't respond. adjusting her in his arm, he tried to get a look at her face. She was paler than normal, but she looked oddly peaceful. Her saw her breathing slowly but steady, so he wasn't overly worried. He moved her again so he could pick her up. The hand he placed around her waist felt wet. Knowing what he was going to find, he slipped her closer so she was resting on his chest. Looking his palm covered in blood for a second, he swiftly picked her up and began to make his way as quickly as possible to her hovel. Feeling relived that he had chosen to go to her and not follow Arthur.

In the distance he could make out a village. Looking up at the sun that was beginning to set in the sky Arthur thought it was best he headed there for the night. Guiding his horse on to a more even path that would lead him directly into the village he saw about half way between him and the village the back of a couple hand in hand heading for the village too it seemed.

They didn't seem to notice him. Too engrossed in their own world he guessed, to hear his horse making steady progress behind them. He envied them. Their freedom. judging by the look of them they carried all they owned in the world on their backs and had little money to spare between them. But they were free. Free to just be. A part of him wished he and Gwen could do what they were doing. Pack what they needed and just take off. Go wherever they wanted to go, wherever they felt like. All they would have to worry about was where to rest their heads at night. It would not be as simple as that he knew. It was still nice to dream.

Like them he became lost in his own thought, pulled form them only by the sound of something moving quickly through the trees to his right. Stopping his horse he searched the forest for any movement. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw it for a second. someone or something moving along the tree line towards the village. He was about to callout to the couple, warn them, when the figure burst through the tree just behind them.

A shine blinded in for a second as the evening sun hit something in the figures hand. Letting out a yell of warning, Arthur demanded his horse speed forward. Hoping he wasn't to late.

Hope you liked it. I hope the Mordred and Kara stuff worked okay. I didn't plan to have Kara in the story when I started writing it, but I have come up with I think something pretty cool planned for them. All feedback and input is very welcome.