When the light faded away, the situation was made clear.
King Uther had dropped his sword, and had fallen to the ground beside Athena, sobbing into his hands.
Athena too, was crying, and she wiped her tears from Arthur's face.
Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to her Prince's forehead.
"Did you really mean it?"
She opened her eyes in shock, sitting up and looking down at Arthur.
"Did you mean that song, Athena?" His voice was weak, and filled with pain. Uther had come to realize that his son was alive, and unknowingly sparing Athena the embarrassment of answering the question, Uther stood up and pulled her up too, gently.
Uther looked at her, and said nothing but,
"Help me get him inside."
Athena nodded, and slung one of Arthur's arms around her shoulders, and the crowd cheered in joy as they saw their Prince was alive.
Merlin followed them, not bothering to worry about being thrown in a cell again.
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Once they got to Arthur's room, they lay him on the bed, and Gaius immediately got to work… What?
As they stood there and watched, the gaping wound on Arthur's right arm closed itself up, along with the one upon his chest.
When they were done, they all looked at her. Gaius, Merlin, Uther, Morgana, and Gwen. Arthur had thankfully passed out.
Athena did what she thought was right.
"I'll surrender myself to the guards, King Uther. When you decide to execute me for witchcraft is up to you."
Her voice was strong, despite the fact that her heart was beating in her throat.
Uther looked at her, and the despair that was in her eyes made his heart hurt.
This girl was his best friend's daughter. This girl didn't want to die, but she was willing to do so for his son.
This girl saved his son, using the only way she knew how, and his son would never forgive him if he killed her.
Uther walked towards Athena, and she resisted the urge to back up. Uther placed both of his hands on Athena's shoulders.
"Athena. You saved my son. It doesn't matter the means you used to do it. Your father will be sent word that the wedding is off. I don't want to force you two to do something neither of you want."
Athena nodded, and she knew Arthur would be ecstatic about that.
She looked at the man laying on the bed, and she had to hold back her tears yet again. She just hoped he would be fine.
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Word had been sent to her father, and in a weeks' time he would be here to pick her up.
But that isn't what worried her.
Arthur still hadn't woken up. It had been a week, and the only response they have gotten from him were moving eyelids. She was weak, for she hadn't eaten in days because of her fear.
What if she didn't do the right thing? What if she made everything worse, oh god, what if he was like this forever?
She ran to Gaiuses chambers, and burst in, her chest heaving.
"Gaius. What if what's wrong with Arthur isn't physical, but magical? I need books. Books about Gargoyles. Please, Gaius."
She was pleading, and she looked at him with such desperation, he didn't even bother questioning her.
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Athena spent hours upon hours reading, until she finished evry book he had handed her.
"Gaius!" She called, and he immediately came to her.
"There's… There's nothing, Gaius. Nothing." Her words were shaking, and she looked at him, a mixture of fear and sadness radiating off of her.
"I think it's time for us to visit Kilgharrah." Said Gaius, a melancholy tone to his words.
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Athena made her slow decent below the castle, where the Great Dragon was kept. She was nervous, and not her usual witty self, and when she reached the cavern, all she could muster was a weak call.
"Kilgharrah, m-may I have a word with you?" She was so quiet, she was afraid he wouldn't hear her, but soon enough, the dragon was perched in front of her.
"I assume you've come to talk to me about the Prince?" Kilgharrah seemed to be mocking her, and she tried to keep her temper down.
"Yes, I have. He was bitten by a Gargoyle under Cornelius's control. I don't know how, but I was able to save Arthur, even after his heart stopped beating. How did I do that, Kilgharrah? How?" She was desperate for answers, and the dragon, for once, gave them.
"To gain a life through magic, a life must be taken. The body that Sigan had possessed had died the same night Arthur was saved, did he not?"
"W-Well, yes, he did." She responded, glad that some light was being shed on the situation.
"Now, to wake up Arthur, there is only one thing that can happen."
Kilgharrah seemed to be smirking, and she looked at him, confused.
"His true love must confess their feelings for him."
"But Arthur loves nobody but himself!" Athena cried, her torch burning alarmingly high.
"I think you'll find that to be alarmingly untrue." Replied the dragon. He said no more, and raised himself up on his wings.
"Wait! Who is it?!"
The dragon responded only with a laugh.
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When Athena returned to Gaiuses' chambers, she looked sad, worn-out, and dejected.
"Well, what did he say?" Gaiuses question was hopeful, and she sighed, angry at herself.
"He says that his one true love must confess their feeling for him. But Arthur loves only himself." Her sentence was ended with a scornful laugh
"Well, Athena. That might be untrue. There is one person that I'm certain he would do anything for."
She looked up, hopeful.
"Well, who is it? We need to find them, as quick as possible!"
'She's so oblivious.'
Thought Gaius, smiling and chuckling softly.
"It's you, my Dear."
"No, Gaius. It's not. That man hates me, and I know it. Everyone knows it. I'm sorry, but it isn't me." And with those words, Athena left the chambers, and went to her own, looking for the solace of a deep nights rest.