Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter forty: War plans and visions.

The war council had gathered in the main hall, they were beginning to prepare for war. The spy they had working for Mordred had given them valuable information on the state of his army and some of the battle plans he was going to use in the up coming battle. He was going to attack in waves, unlike what many believed he would do. When Mordred had last gone to war his whole army had attacked as one, but this time he had split his army groups. It was a good plan, designed to weaken their defences and destroy them completely.

It was a well though out battle plan, it would allow Mordred to work out how strong they were and where their weakest point was, once he knew where the weakest point was he would focus all his attacks on that area. But Mordred failed to notice, they would be fighting from the air as well as the ground. This would only give them a moment of surprise, due to the fact Mordred a small army which was due to attack from the air, which would hopeful prove no match for the great dragon and his years of experience.

Alator sighed as he stood beside Iseldir at one end of the table, he was not pleased Merlin had managed to give his guards the slip. The Catha had trained those men and Merlin had slipped away from them, without even using magic! Alator shook his head, he should have known it was pointless... Merlin could escape from just about anything when he had to.

Beside Alator, Iseldir stood smiling slightly, he had received word that Merlin and Freya had married. It was great news for the druids, just the pleasant news they needed before they went to war. Hopefully if Merlin returned before the war started, they could hold a druid wedding and crowning. Many sorcerers would be pleased at the news too. Everyone enjoyed a wedding and druid weddings were well known for their celebrations.

"We," A councilman speaks up. "Will use Dinas Sicrhau, as an infirmary. The fort has been standing for hundreds of years and no one has ever been able to breach its walls, it is the safest place for the injured."

A second councilman nodes. "The rest of the army will have camps set up high in the mountains, out of the range of Mordred's army. We are relying on the druids to provide protection charms for those camps, just in case any of his army make it into the mountains. With the camps hidden and protected, they should not be easy targets from the air or the ground."

"We are already working on protection charms. But I regret to inform you many of the charms will not be able to be created until we reach the mountains," Iseldir answers. "The charms we will be using will be basic, but strong and fast to create…. Mordred will not waste his time or magic trying to destroy the camps, I fear his main focus will be on Dinas Sicrhau."

The second councilman nodes. "The fort will hold, but protection charms will have to be placed on upon it too. We still have no idea how strong Mordred truly is."

"From the plans we have from Mordred, most of the battle is going to be fought on the plain," A third councilman speaks up. "We will have to slit the army into sections, each section will be made up of men and women of similar powers and strength. This will hopefully allow us to fight the battle in a similar way to Mordred and keep our defences tight."

A fourth councilman shakes his. "No, if one area is made up of a weaker group of people Mordred will aim all his attacks there. It is better the powers and strengths are mixed, so all areas are made up of the same strength and skills."

"No, No, No," The third councilman argues. "That would weaken our defence. Mordred is going to attack in waves. Strongest first, weakest last. We must divide our army so our power can match that."

"I disagree." A fifth councilman speaks up.

"I agree." A sixth councilman yells.

Alator sighed this was going to be a long meeting, until they had decided how to arrange the army, no further plans could be made. The Catha were warriors and would be able to fight when ever and where ever. All had strong magic and a good knowledge of battle magic, but even they needed a battle plan and it took the Catha many days to come up with battle plans…. And they were only one magical group!

This was going to be one long war council meeting indeed.

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Merlin flipped a page over in the book he was reading, he had been in Avalon for almost a month now. A couple of days after he and Freya had married the Sidhe had delivered him some books, copies of the books he had been given back at the tower. This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about magic before he went back to mortal realm and a kingdom soon to be at war, if it wasn't at war already. Freya had learnt with him, her magic was quite strong but she hardly knew anything about magic, only basic druid teachings.

Merlin sighed…. Freya. He and Freya had, had their first argument and Freya was still refusing to talk to him. They had both been under a lot of stress, the Sidhe had taken it upon themselves to train them in the ways of the court. He knew most of it already, he had worked for Arthur for close to four years. But Freya had no idea about any of it, she found it quite confusing and Merlin couldn't blame her. Royals were trained from birth and she had a mouth and day before she returned with him.

And so they had an argument, it had been two days since then and Merlin had yet to apologize. He though Freya would simply get over it, it hadn't been that big a deal in Merlin's opinion, but it obviously was to Freya. Sighing Merlin tried to think of a way to make it up to her, he could just say he was sorry, but he had a feeling Freya wouldn't listen.

Actions speak louder and words, he remembered Gaius saying that. Maybe he could do something to make it up to her. Merlin sighed but what? He glanced out the window, it wasn't long until dawn. Merlin quickly got to his feet, he could get her breakfast in bed. Rushing out the door, Merlin smiled, he knew this was the perfect way to say he was sorry.

Reaching the kitchen Merlin quickly looked round. He grabbed a tray, a small bowl, a cup and a small vase. He quickly muttered a spell filling the small bowl with strawberries and smiled, he was glad he had practiced that spell for Freya, even if it had taken him months to master. Holding out his hand he muttered a second spell, creating a red rose which he placed in the vase. He filled the cup with water, quickly placed them all on the tray and hurried up to Freya's room.

As he approached Freya's door, Merlin muttered a spell and the door opened with a slight creak. Walking as silently as he could, Merlin placed the tray on the cabinet next to Freya's bed. He glanced at Freya who was still asleep, Merlin smiled, she looked so relaxed and not at all stressed like she had been over the last couple of weeks. Freya shifted in her sleep and Merlin quickly exited the room.

He stopped at the window at the end of the corridor and looked at the land before him. They had been given a small castle by beings of Avalon, it was a bit smaller than the castle of Fyrien and would be where Arthur stayed as he waited to return to the mortal realm, he was after all the once and future king. Merlin sighed, he and Freya would remain in human realm for most of the time and would only be allowed to return to Avalon, once every hundred years.

Merlin learnt his forehead against the cool glass, soon he would be going home, back to the mortal realm…. Back to a kingdom that was at war, back to a place where he would have to lead his people, to what could be their deaths…. All because he failed to kill Morgana and didn't listen to what people warned him about time and time again. And he knew he would fail again, he always saw the good in people and never the bad…. Well at least not until it was too late.

He could have stopped so many things from happening, if he had just let Morgana die after she fell down those steps. Or in the woods, when he battled her in the form of Dragoon, or even that night he sneaked into the castle to cast the spell to stop her magic. There were others too, if he had just killed them or let them die, so many people could have been saved. But it just wasn't his nature to kill people in cold blood.

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Hunith placed three steaming hot cups of tea down on the table, before taking her seat. Alice and Terrance quickly picked up their cups.

Hunith sighed. "When do you think Merlin will be back?"

"Soon," Alice answered. "He was only traveling to Avalon, no harm will come to him, of that I am sure."

"Why has Merlin gone to Avalon?" Terrance asks, glancing at the two of them.

"Because he's getting married," Alice answered. "Didn't he tell you?"

Terrance shakes his head. "When he visited me, yesterday, he was more worried about how I was. And that once I had recovered fully, he would teach me how to make other animals out of fire…. Oh and he gave me a spell book, all about fire spells and enchantment, he said he would teach me to read it and teach me to speak in the old tongue."

Hunith smiled. "Once this war is over, I'm sure Merlin will be able to teach you…."

"Merlin will be fine, Hunith," Alice sipped her tea. "If anyone is to survive this battle, it will be Merlin."

"But I cannot help but worry, he is my only son." Hunith answered. "I know he is immortal, but even immortality can be beaten…."

Alice reached over and gripped Hunith's hand. "Merlin will be fine…. His magic is strong, it will protect him. Gaius tells me, Merlin's magic acts on instinct and your natural instinct is to live…. Merlin may not know the full strength of his magic or how to wield that power, but his magic knows and it knows how to keep him alive."

"If something were to happen to him…."

"Hunith, Merlin has survived many things…. Things that no others have ever survived. He will be fine."

Terrance looks at Alice and Hunith. "When is Merlin coming back?"

"Soon," Hunith answered. "I hope. I don't think he'll stay in Avalon too long, he is needed back here."

Alice nodes. "He'll be back before the battle starts."

Terrance glances at them. "What will you be doing during the battle?"

Hunith smiled. "We will be at the fort, Dinas Sicrhau, I believe it is called."

"What will you be doing there?" Terrance asks.

"We," Alice replies. "Will be healing the injured."

"What about the dead?" Terrance asks.

Hunith and Alice share a look. And Alice finally answers. "After the battle is over, the dead will be laid to rest and the families will be able to say farewell to their loved ones."

"So you won't destroy the bodies like Uthur had done to my parents? He said no sorcerers should have marked graves and should just be destroyed."

Hunith sighed. "Everyone deserves to rest in peace, even the most evil of men."

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Freya opened her eyes as the pale light of dawn made it through her window, the sun had just risen and there was a slight chill in the air. Freya sighed as she slowly sat up, it had been a couple of days now since she and Merlin had argued and she still hadn't spoken to him. She hadn't meant to be that angry, she was just so stressed out and Merlin wasn't much better.

He said he would enjoy his time here while it lasted and he had been enjoying himself. But the fear he would be returning to a kingdom destroyed by Mordred, all because he was there to lead his people into battle or protect his family, still remained at the back of his mind. He was worried and frightened for the wellbeing of those he cared about. They were both under a lot of stress, but Freya couldn't just forgive him, even though she really wanted to. Her mother had always said she was stubborn at times.

Suddenly the scent of freshly picked strawberries filled her nose and she could also smell a hint of rose. Turning she found a bowl of strawberries, a single red rose in a vase and cup of water on a tray, on the cabinet beside her bed. She couldn't stop the smile that formed, even if she wanted too, she knew this was Merlin's way of saying sorry. She quickly got out of bed grabbed her cloths and quickly hurried behind a screen and changed.

Making her way back over to the cabinet beside her bed, she picked up the tray and walked over to the table near the window. Sitting down, she picked up one of the strawberries and took a bite. Whenever Merlin created strawberries with magic, they always tasted slightly different to naturally grown ones. Magic as much as it was a force of nature, the life blood of the earth, it just couldn't make things taste like true earth grown foods.

She glanced out the window, in a few days' time, she and Merlin would be returning to the mortal realm and she would become queen of the druids. Merlin had told her it was nothing to worry about, you simply had to care about the people and make the best decisions you could. But she was nervous, for most of her life before she meet Merlin people had run away from her…. Even the druids had cast her out and now she was to become their queen.

She traced the druid symbol on her fore arm and smiled slightly, her mother had a symbol much like it on her shoulder, but she always kept in hidden. Her family…. She was sure they would have loved Merlin and she knew her father would have given them his blessing. She just wished that her family were here to witness it. She glanced towards the door, Merlin had lost people too, people he cared about, people who had died to protect him, much like her mother had done for her. Freya picked up a second strawberry, it was the first time in a long time, that she felt like she truly belonged.

Suddenly there was a large crash from the corridor outside her room, Freya jumped to her feet so fast she knocked her chair to the floor. She picked up a long knife Merlin had given to her, he had told her when they returned to the mortal realm they would be at war and nowhere was safe, not even the tower. Slowly make her way over to the door, she listened for any further noise from the corridor, but there wasn't even the slightest whisper.

Pulling the door open, Freya slowly stepped out into the corridor and peered round. At the far end of the corridor below the window and inches from the steps that lead to the floor below, a figure was slumped against the wall. As Freya edged closer, she noticed in the pale light, that the person was breathing in slow, short, shallow breaths and their skin was far too pale to be healthy. Her heart stopped for a moment as she noticed whom the figure was.

"Merlin!" She gasped, dropping her long knife and running forward.

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Gilli walked towards the training grounds, his sword in one hand and a water skin in his other. Beside him walked Daegal, a medical bag slung over one shoulder and a set of throwing knives in his hands.

"I wonder where Merlin is." Daegal mutters. "I heard he slipped past the guards the Catha gave him, this morning and he hasn't been seen since."

Gilli glanced at the sky. "It must have been something important…. Maybe something happened in Camelot."

"Then why would he slip past the guards?" Daegal asks. "If something had happened in Camelot, he would have just taken them with him."

Gilli shakes his head. "Merlin would never endanger their lives like that…. Where ever he has gone it must be dangerous or he would have taken people with him."

"How can you be so sure?" Daegal replies.

"I've known Merlin for just over a year now and I have never known him to risk anyone life but his own…. He would face a whole army on his own, if it would stop others from getting hurt."

Daegal nodes. "So where ever he has gone he is in danger?"

"More than likely." Gilli replies.

"Aren't you worried?"

Gilli shakes his head. "No, I didn't find out that long ago, but Merlin is the last dragon lord. Where ever he is, he has the aid of the dragons…. He'll be perfectly safe."

Tyr suddenly appeared beside them, making both Daegal and Gilli jump.

Tyr smiled. "Have you heard? Merlin's gone to Avalon!"

"What!?" Gilli exclaimed. "Only the dead go to Avalon!"

"Merlin's dead!" Daegal yelled.

Tyr glances round before speaking. "I think its best Sefa tells you. Her father is part of the druid council and knows all about what happened to Merlin."

"What has happened to Merlin?" Gilli asks, cautiously.

"He got married." Tyr answers.

"What!?" Both Daegal and Gilli exclaim.

"Why didn't he tells us?" Gilli demands.

"Sefa said it was quite short notice." Tyr explained. "That's why Merlin went to Avalon, to get married."

Gilli nodes. "I think its best Sefa explains, because right not this is making no sense…. Only the dead can travel to Avalon and Merlin isn't dead."

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One moment he had been standing looking out a window, the next he was falling and his word went black before he hit the ground. Merlin took a step back as he looked around, he was in the middle of a battle field…. Well what was once a battle field. It reminded him of his dream, but it wasn't the same. Mordred the dark's crest hung on many of the flags, but on others were the crest of the druids.

This battle hadn't happened yet, or maybe it had Merlin realised, he had no idea how long he had been gone from the mortal realm. This could be the state of the realm in which he had left and he hadn't been there to lead his people to war. He sunk to his knees, he should never have come to Avalon, he should have waited until the battle was over. Freya wouldn't have known any different and nor would he.

"Do not fret, Emrys." A voice behind him speaks. "This is what will come to pass, if you fail to heed my warning."

Merlin looked round, a women stood not far from him, dressed in armour. "Who are you?"

"I am Abnoba, Emrys."

"As in the goddess Abnoba?"

Abnoba smiled. "Correct."

"Why are you here?" Merlin finally asked.

"To warn you of things that are yet to come to pass," Abnoba waves a hand at the world around them. "This will come to pass, if you fail to understand the importance of the things I am about to show you."

Merlin stood thinking for a moment. "I have seen the future before and nothing good came from knowing…. I tried to stop the future and I caused it to happen, what if this is the same?"

"It is not," Abnoba answers. "This is what will happen, not matter what power you use, if you fail to understand what I am to show you…. I am not showing you the future, I am showing you what you need to know in order to win and save your people, your kin and your friends."

Before Merlin can answer the world around them fades away, but is soon replaced by image of a mountain, Merlin glanced round, behind him was a narrow cannon, no doubt the path to this place and before him was door way leading into the mountain, strange runes carved into the stone above the entrance.

Then suddenly Merlin was standing, in a large underground city, the place was long dead and there was no life here.

Shivering Merlin, found himself in a narrow passage and glanced up and almost fell backwards, hundreds of skulls hung on ropes and in the darkness seemed to glow a pale grey.

It was soon replaced by what could easily be mistaken for a Greek temple, above the entrance a crest was carved into the stone…. The crest of Mordred the dark.

Suddenly he was in a mighty hall of dark stone with a grey stone table in the centre. The table is covered in dried blood, the chains that lie on the floor beside it were old and rusting.

Once again the images change, a large crimson coloured stone comes into view, mounted in a staff of black wood, Merlin could feel the power radiating off it and the power was corrupted.

The images changed again, this time Mordred was using the staff to raise his army, from the depths of the earth, the magic from the stone giving them life and power.

And then there was only darkness.

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Sefa sat down beside Kara, as they watched Eira train with Bercilak. Eira was quite good with a sword, much better than most thought she was, but not many could beat Bercilak with a sword and Eira was no exception.

Kara turned to Sefa. "I heard from Tyr this morning that you had told him Merlin has gone to Avalon, I thought mortals could only go to Avalon when they died?"

Sefa nodes. "Mortals do only go to Avalon when they're dead, there is no mortal gateway. But Merlin's magic means he's not a true mortal…. He's a creature of the old religion, creatures of the old religion are not truly mortal."

"So why did he go to Avalon?" Kara asks.

"Yeah," Eira agrees. "Why did he go?"

Sefa looks up to find both Eira and Bercilak standing before. "I think its best we wait until the others get here, I don't want to have to explain this more than once."

Bercilak nodes. "I have heard Merlin travelled to Avalon to form an alliance, is that true?"

Sefa nodes. "I'll explain once the others get here."

They did have to wait long, as soon as Gilli spotted Sefa he run over, quickly followed by Daegal and Tyr.

"Is it true?" Gilli demands. "Did Merlin go to Avalon?"

Sefa nodes. "It is. Since Merlin restored the kingdom, the Sidhe have wanted to create an alliance. For a long time they have wanted an alliance between the two worlds, but no has ever been powerful enough to create a mortal gateway…. Merlin has that power and so the Sidhe offered an alliance, to which Merlin agreed."

"So that's why Merlin has gone to Avalon to create the mortal gateway and to gain alliance?" Eira asks.

Sefa nodes. "Yes, but after the druids demanded a druid queen, Iseldir travelled to the lake of Avalon and demanded an audience with the Sidhe elders. He asked them to change what they and Merlin agreed, Merlin was to marry a being from Avalon…. The lady of the lake. The Sidhe agreed, so Merlin travelled there this morning."

Kara shock her head. "Merlin doesn't seem the type to marry without love."

Sefa smiled. "The lady of the lake and Merlin Emrys are in love. Her name is Freya, when she died she became the lady of the lake and a being of Avalon."

"But how can Merlin travel there is he isn't dead?" Daegal asks.

"Merlin is a creature of the old religion, he isn't completely mortal…. Also in the druid tongue, Emrys means immortal. Many believe Merlin is immortal."

Bercilak thinks for a moment. "How will Freya become queen of the druids and Merlin's wife if she is dead?"

"The Sidhe," Sefa answers. "Have granted her a mortal body."

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Freya sat beside the bed Merlin was now lying on, since she had found him at the end of the corridor unconscious she had barely left his side. She had used magic to get them both back to their shared bedroom, before she had quickly gone in search of help. Being unable to find anyone, Freya had returned to his side and checked him to see if he was ill. Finding he had a slight fever, she had set about treating it.

She removed the damp cloth from Merlin's forehead and felt to see if the slight fever had gone down. She couldn't help but worry, he had been out cold for hours now and showed no sign of waking. She rested her head on the bed beside Merlin and shut her eyes, she didn't know what else to do…. Merlin had never passed out like this before and she had sensed no magic, so no one had attacked him.

"Please Merlin," she whispered. "If you can hear me, please wake up."

She reached and griped Merlin's hand in both of hers, not even bothering to look up. Merlin had taught her how to see with magic and she could see the bright gold that surrounded him and it was strong. It proved whatever was wrong with him had no effect on his magic and his magic was his very being, so he wasn't dying.

Suddenly Merlin groaned and his hand twitched slightly in Freya's grip. Freya sat up so fast, she almost lost her balance.

"Merlin?" She asks softly.

Merlin's eyes flickered open and he turned to look at her. "Freya?"

"Merlin!" Freya exclaimed pulling him into a hug. "You're okay!"

Merlin smiled slightly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You passed out," Freya explained, pulling back and checking Merlin over quickly. "You been unconscious for hours."

Merlin suddenly went pale, much like he was when Freya first found him. "I remember now."

"Remember what?" Freya asked.

"I had a vision," Merlin explained. "It's the first time I've had one, without using a crystal."

"Why were you unconscious for so long, then?"

"Visions are powerful," Merlin answers. "It is not uncommon for sorcerers to have them, when most have a vision they pass out or have them in their sleep like seers do…. The magic used in visions are closely linked to your natural instincts, which are part of your subconscious."

Freya nodes. "What did you see?"

"I'm not sure," Merlin sighs. "It was just images and none of them seemed to link to each other, yet I know somehow they do and once I work it out, that will be our way to beat Mordred the dark."

"You'll work it out," Freya smiles. "And thank you for breakfast this morning."

Merlin smiles and cups Freya cheek with his hand. "You're welcome and I am sorry, I should never have yelled like I did the other day."

Freya looked down. "I'm sorry too."

Merlin leaned forward and lifted her chin up, before capturing her lips with his own.

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Hey hope you liked that, next up is the coming of Arthur part one and two, it should be up soon, until then,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.