The Gates to Avalon

"Sophia is very pretty, isn't she?" I was kind of pleased when I noticed we were still in his chambers. I was afraid we would be in the ones next door, which would have been quite embarrassing, for him and for me.
"She is beautiful. " Arthur seemed distracted, he stared at the door like she could come in at any time.
And for some reason, I really did not like that. "Beware of her", I said sharply causing him to turn around, frowning.
"Why? Are you here because of her?"
"She is not what she seems.", I pointed out and Arthur folded his arms.
"Why bother warning me? Even though I can't imagine what is suppose to be dangerous about her, I will be powerless and Merlin is going to save me in some big dramatic turn of events, am I right?"
Wow. That came out grumpy. If he were a woman I would have gone cliché and asked if he had his period. Instead I focused on something else. "He does not need a big turn of events to save your ass." I folded my arms. I was pissed. Maybe I got my period.
"What is that suppose to mean?" He came closer, staring daringly down to me. I gave him a mocking grin and made a mirror appear. We were standing next to each other, our folded arms almost touched.

We were seeing the middle of the fight Arthur had this morning to save Sophia. He just broke a man's nose with his elbow, who then fell to the ground. Arthur turned around to face another one of the group. While he was focused on that fight, Merlin stood at the side, watching every move. That is why he saw the man get up again, ready to strike Arthur down. Merlin looked frantically for an opportunity to stop him and he found it in a thick branch, hanging just above the man's head. Two words and a golden flash later that branch cracked and fell down, knocking him out. Arthur killed the one attacking him and turned to the last. The man fled in the woods and the fight was over.

"Struck of luck my ass", I mumbled when the mirror cleared up.
Arthur stared at the surface like he did almost every time, like his eyes didn't believe what they just saw.
"Face it. Merlin is your very own guardian angel. And you just give him crap."
Arthur gave me a death glare and turned his back on me. "Yeah? Well, how am I suppose to know?"
I moaned. "Are you still not over that topic?" We glared at each other, both pissed for more or less known reasons. "All I say is that you should take Morgana seriously", I explained, already getting ready to end the connection.
"Morgana? What does she have to do with it?"
"You'll see. Have fun with your date." That one came out sarcastic again and I ended the meeting. I had to figure out why I was so angry.

"I told you to take Morgana seriously. Instead you were being a ass. Congratulations."
Arthur turned to me. We were still in his chambers, thank God, and I figured out why I was so pissed before. And I didn't like what I found out. Arthur came closer and closer, causing me to take a step back.
"Yes, I suppose I was. And that was, because I had no other explanation, than for her to be jealous. But you told me, that there is actually something to her, which raised a different question." He had a wide grin on his face, a grin I would much like to punch away. "You are always warning me about different threats. And yet there is someone, as pretty as Sophia and I obviously like her. And suddenly you are all grumpy."
I hit the wall and had to stop. He put his hands left and right to my head, his blue eyes piercing through mine.
"So... why exactly are you... jealous?" He tasted the word like a sweet strawberry, melting on his tongue. Oh, I wanted to smack him so badly.
"I am not jealous!" An obvious lie. "I'm just annoyed by the fact that you 'like' her, but you have no idea who or what she is. But that is not important, just put on a pretty face and Arthur Pendragon will come to the rescue." I flashed up to him with anger and the confident grin on his face vanished slowly as he studied my face. Staring longer and longer at my lips. After I while I couldn't take it anymore and pushed him. Way harder than I intended to, causing him to fall and end our connection. Well, maybe that was not a bad thing.

When I tried to establish our connection, I barely made it in. His whole mind was enchanted, the walls of Sophias spell were thick and tight. When I managed to materialize next to Arthur, I was already strained and I moaned in frustration as soon as I looked at him. His eyes were burning red and he stared into the distance. Great. I had to do this another way.

"Ugh, my head hurts." I was standing in a very well known darkness. There was nothing but black around me. Except for Arthur, whose hand I was holding, and he was the one who talked. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
"Where the hell am I?" He didn't seem to notice me, so I slightly squeezed his hand. His head turned around so fast I almost thought it would break. "Cassandra? Cassie?"
I was bummed for a second. I believed that was the very first time he said my name. "Yes, I am here." It seemed like he couldn't see me and I corrected that. As soon as I was there, he tried to free his hand but my grip hardened.
"Not yet. You would be sucked back."
"Back? Back where?"
"Back to your mind. Because welcome, this is mine."
"This is your mind? All that darkness?"
I sighed. "Yes."
"I thought your mind would look like the place you wanted to be the most."
"Yeah, that is right. But I also told you, that you couldn't see anything in your mind that you haven't already seen with your body. And apparently, I never set foot into the place I want to be the most." I sighed again.
"That is possible?"
"Obviously. And no, I have no idea what and where this place is suppose to be. I can't see anything. If it is inside or outside, how big it is or anything. And it never changes. This is my mind, every time I visit."
Arthur studied me and he must have seen the exhaustion on my face, his voice was a lot softer when he asked: "And what are we doing here?"
"I actually did not want to bring you exactly here, give me a minute."

I concentrated and left my mind. I felt how Arthur got pulled back but I overcame that and suddenly we were standing inside my home. I let go of his hand and sat down next to my body.
"Where... is this your home?" Arthur looked around. It was a pretty big room, similar to Arthurs own chambers. In a corner not far away a small fire burned the wood I fed it with right before I went to bed. My small trunk was standing at the wall, closed. A badly crafted table was standing on the other wall, a few books on it. My bed dominated the room, it was pretty big and my body was lying on it, sleeping peacefully. Maybe it should have been strange, seeing myself light that, but I was used to it. Moonlight lit up the room because I pulled the curtain of roots and ivy aside before. A quiet burble of the near stream came from the dark hole across the entrance were the cave continued to go on. Summer was sitting on a pole near the entrance, also sleeping.

I was somehow nervous when I watched Arthur who looked at everything.
"There is a second room a bit more inside. I got all my food and the other stuff there, I mainly cook there." I just wanted to say anything because I wasn't sure I could bear the silence anymore.
"Have you always lived like this?" Arthur was standing by the entrance now, curiously watching Summer.
"Not always, but very long. My parents and I... didn't really get along."
He turned around but the look on my face prevented him from saying anything. Instead he turned to my body, and very gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I shivered. I could feel his touch what he seemed to notice.
"You can feel it?" Yup, he noticed.
"Yes. I am the powerhouse of our connection. That is why you can touch my body. And why I can feel your touch." I got quieter while I talked and looked to the ground. Arthur looked at me thoughtfully but changed the topic.
"So you didn't move?"
I needed a moment to know what he was referring to, but then I shook my head. "Not yet. This place is pretty ideal for everything I need. I would really like to stay here."
He acknowledged my answer with a slight nod. "Why are we here? I thought you would keep your distance. Isn't it dangerous for you to show me all this?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. I guess I have to rely on my magic. And on your good will. But I had to bring you here. We couldn't talk in your mind."
"Why not?", Arthur interrupted me.
"Because you are completely enchanted. I barely managed it to pull your soul out and bring it with me."
"My soul?" He sounded surprised.
"Yes, your soul, not your spirit. You can imagine it as different levels. To enchant the body is extremely easy, one wave and you learn how to fly. To enchant the mind is just slightly more difficult. But magic that messes with your soul? Very difficult. Very hard to learn. The soul is the very essence of a person. Almost nothing can actually touch and/or harm it."
"And because my mind was out of order you pulled my soul out of my body? Isn't that dangerous?"
I was very serious. "Yes. It can be. I used my powers to go to your mind, extract your soul and pull it through my mind out here. If I wanted to really harm you, there are quite a few things I could do now, each with disastrous consequences, for you and for me. So let's not do that, okay?" I smiled. He was concerned but I actually admired his ability to get his priorities in order and we moved on.

"You say my mind is enchanted? Shouldn't I know about that?"
"I don't actually know. It is the first time something like that happened. But you can be very sure about it. It was really creepy."
"Creepy?"
I nodded and got up. "Let me show you how your mind looks like right now." I stepped towards him and noticed gladly that I couldn't see any sign of him wanting to flinch or something like that. I grabbed his hand again and closed my eyes. Then I send him a bunch of images, the pink underline of his mind, the thick walls that made it a maze and a prison and at last a picture of him, with burning red eyes. He flinched, hard, taking a few steps back and looked at me, horrified.
"That is me?"
I nodded. "Your body also has red eyes. Sometimes at least."
Arthur ran a hand through his face. "I can barely remember. I was with Sophia and she started to say something I didn't understand. And then everything gets blurry."
"You will remember it better once the spell is lifted. But for now I can tell you, that she took control over your heart. You will do anything she asks. And she asked for you to go to Uther and ask permission to marry her."
"What?!" Arthur came closer again. "I do not want to marry her! Have... a little fun maybe, but nothing permanent!"
I grinned. "Completely honourable intentions, right?"
He mumbled something that sounded a lot like "Shut up." He sighed and sat on my bed, carefully watching that he didn't disturbed my sleeping body.

"If she wants to rule over Camelot that is the wrong way. My father would never allow this, even if I asked."
"You are right, but that is not what she wants. She knows Uther won't allow it."
"Then what is her angle?"
"She will convince you to elope with her. You will follow wherever she goes, do whatever she says. That is what she wants. Everyone else will think you will live somewhere with her."
Arthur stared at me for quite a while before he said: "That doesn't make any sense. I will be powerless, can't offer her anything."
"Actually you can. A lot. But you still think that Sophia is human. With human needs and wishes."
Arthur got pale. "She is not human?"
I shook my head. "She and her father were cast out of their people. The Sidhe of Avalon."
He continued to stare. "I have never heard of them.", he finally stated.
"Some people think Avalon is the land of the dead. But that is not important. Important is, that Sophia wants back in. And the only way to accomplish that, is to sacrifice the heart and soul of a mortal prince."
Surprisingly, Arthur remained silent and I sat down on the floor before him. He looked down to me.
"She will kill me. If my soul is now separate from my body, can't you keep it this way? To thwart her plans?"
I smiled. "She surely plans to kill you, yes. And I am afraid I do not have the strength to keep your soul, besides the fact that your body isn't able to function without it. But you should have more faith in your guardian angel."

"Merlin? He was helping me to meet her. He even ended up in the stocks because of that."
I grinned. "Twice, I know. But he also has help. Gaius got suspicious after Morgana told him about her dream and he recognized the runes on the staff Sophia and Aulfric have. While we are talking right now the two of them have figured out what they are dealing with. Merlin followed the father and saw the Sidhe. They already know what Sophia is up to."
Arthur seemed a bit relieved but frowned nonetheless. "Morganas dream?"
I sighed and let my head rest on my hand. "That is a very different topic. Something we better talk later about. Instead I will answer another question."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You asked me once why I didn't stop the griffin from hurting me. Remember?"
He nodded. "You say you would come back to it."
"And given the circumstances I will do now. Your mind was influenced with magic and I had to go to great lengths to get you here. But the griffin was a magical creature. His mind was full with magic, build with it. The answer why I couldn't influence him is actually very simple. I am not strong enough. I could never take over a mind of a creature like that. Animals are easy, humans too. But only normal humans. Would I try what I do with you with Merlin..." I shook my head and shrugged. "Maybe I would get in, but I could never keep the control. He would have it and he could probably kick me out whenever he wants. And there wouldn't be any messing with his memory."
"Merlin is stronger than you?"
I stared at him. "Didn't you listen last time? Greatest warlock to ever walk the earth? I could do nothing Merlin doesn't want me to. He is far more powerful than me. Even though his magic is different than mine. He can also be enchanted and he probably can't do what I do, but if I would let him in... I would be at his mercy."

Which was a pretty terrifying thought to be honest. Sure, Merlin was a sweet and gentle man, but I had no idea what he would think of me messing with Arthur. He had more than one reason to completely disapprove. And if he ever found out, he could probably shield Arthur from me. So I have to be very careful. Arthur looked like he read my mind, lost in his own thoughts.
"Not that I want to disturb you, but I should sent you back. I am pretty tired."
He got ripped from his thoughts and followed me with his eyes when I got up.
"How can you be tired? You are sleeping."
I smiled. "I just said it was very difficult to get you here. And I have to shield you from the pull back to your body the entire time. It is actually pretty exhausting. I will probably sleep all day to regain my strength."
Arthur got up. Since I sat right before him, we were very close. Once again. "This is challenging for you?"
I smiled at him. "Surprised?"
He tilted his head. "A bit, yes. All of this is costing you quite a lot and I have no idea what exactly it is you are gaining. It doesn't fit the pattern."
I didn't know if I should be flattered or offended. "You should already know that I am not the bad guy in this story." That came out a bit more hurt than I intended. Arthur hesitated, but then he lifted his hand and touched my cheek.
"I know that. Really, I do."
I smiled and he smiled back. It wasn't the first time he smiled or grinned in my company but it was different this time. How we were standing, his hand still on my face, it was kind of intimate. And I enjoyed his warm palm on my face. More than I hoped he could see.
Get ready. I do not exactly have to do something this time, I will just give up my spiritual grip on your soul. You won't notice it, but you will be pulled back with quite a force."
He seemed nervous, but nodded. "I'm ready."
I smiled again and closed my eyes. When I opened them, he and his gentle touch were gone.

I was standing in the water. I couldn't really feel how wet it was, since I was barely there. I used the fact that my body was sleeping all day to hover behind Arthurs shoulder, watching over his soul. And now was the moment. As soon as Sophia kissed him and his eyes closed, I used my powers to pull as hard as I could. His soul was struggling, being torn between his body that slowly sank into the water and me, standing next to it. I played with this idea since last night where he asked if I could hold on to his soul so it wouldn't be sacrificed. Not that I didn't have enough faith that Merlin would make it in time, but save was save. I finally won over his body's hold, Sophia's hold and Arthurs image materialized next to me.
"What... what is going on?"
"I came as a failsafe", I answered, looking out for Merlin at the edge of the woods.
Arthur looked around frantically, noticing every detail from Sophia, standing with her hand raised, her father at the edge of the lake, still shouting, and his body, barely visible through the dirty water.
"Just watch.", I said, "There is Merlin." I pointed at him as he appeared behind Aulfric and we watched how everything played out together.

Merlin was even faster to register what was going on, and he acted in a matter of seconds. He spotted Sophia's staff, laying on the ground next to her father, and with a few words it flew towards Merlin, unnoticed by everyone else. Merlin caught it and turned its top towards Aulfric who turned around just in time for Merlin to use his magic again and strike him down with a blue lightning. He burst into hundreds of pieces and Sophias high pitched "Father!" cut through the air. She turned around, trying to get out of the lake but Merlin shot her with a second lightning, before she could even make two steps. She exploded the same way, making a repeated "No!" the last words anyone heard of her. Merlin took off his jacket and raced into the lake, yelling "Arthur!" three times before he went diving down to look for him. The first time he came up without him, looking around and going back under. After a felt hour he finally came up again, lifting Arthurs armour-heavy body towards the shore.

"I told you he would make it." We were standing at the shore now, I took Arthurs arm and pulled him outside the water just when Merlin came in.
"What would have happened if he didn't?" Arthur looked a bit shocked, his gaze glued at his own body, laying pale and wet in Merlins arms.
"Then I would have tried to find that moment in time where Sophias ritual would have failed, but were you were still alive. And with a bit of luck I would have been able to give Merlin just enough time to save you after all. If I had failed… you would have died. But since you were not in your body, you at least wouldn't have felt it. And Sophia wouldn't have gotten what she wanted either, because I claimed your soul before the Sidhe could."
Now he looked at me. "You did?"
I shrugged. "You are here with me, aren't you? I would have helped you with your transition. But I knew Merlin would come in time." Said person had just laid Arthur on the ground, checking his breathing.
"Come with me." I took Arthurs hand and kneeled next to his body, pulling him down with me. He followed without resisting. I touched the wet forehead of Arthurs body and closed my eyes.

When I opened them, we were back inside his mind, standing in... my cave? What?
"You brought us to your place? Why?", Arthur asked and looked around.
He flinched when he met my intense gaze. "No, I brought us to your mind. Which is currently looking like my home. Care to explain?"
He folded his arms in a defensive position. "I don't know why we are here. It is not like I really have any control over any of this."
I studied him and he didn't avoid to meet my eyes. I decided to think about his reasons for wanting to be at my place later and focused on the topic.
"And again, bad magic threatened you and good magic saved you.", I stated, relaxing a little and sat down on my trunk.
"Merlin got hit by this lightning, I saw it. Aulfric threw it at him. Why isn't he... exploded?"
"When I remember correctly, normal people do not explode but simply die. But Merlin is not normal, is he?" I blinked and smiled. "Gaius found him after Morgana saw you leave with Sophia. He send Merlin after you, although Merlin was a bit attacked. But he recovered very fast.", I continued to explain.
"And what happens now?" Arthur made himself comfortable on my bed and leaned against the wall.
"As far as I know, you will wake up at home, not able to explain to yourself how any of this happened and what you were thinking. Merlin will tell you that he dragged you back to Camelot."
Arthur started laughing. "Yeah right. Magic or no magic, Merlin couldn't beat me in a fight."
I grinned. "Nope. But he doesn't have to, right? And if he only wanted to beat you, he would never let himself get involved in a 'fight'."

Arthurs laughter faded, I silenced that little voice inside that said 'Too bad' and looked at him.
"No, I guess he wouldn't. But if I can take your word for it, Merlin is not and will never be my enemy. Right?"
I nodded, slowly. "Right. Does that mean you wouldn't tell Uther about him, if I would let you keep your memories now?"
He instantly sat a little straighter. "If I said no, will you let me keep them?" He looked hopefully, but I shook my head.
"No. Too much of a risk. But it is still nice to know." We sat there in silence until Arthur sighed.
"What will my father say about this?"
I had to suppress my grin. "Nothing. Merlin will cover you and be in the stocks a third time. Appreciate it."
Arthur started laughing again, clearly relieved and even a bit hysterical. I joined in and noticed very satisfied that he finally felt free to simply act like he wanted to.

I am so sorry I am late! To apologize, a chapter I originally planned to be much shorter, but hey. The story does what it wants. There are a few hints on something in here that I never planned to do. Maybe you will spot them!