AN: Merlin is very much not mine.

Gah. Guys, believe me, I am truly sorry for how short and far between these chapters are. To be honest, I started this on an impulse, and I have no idea where this story is going. But I will keep it up, because I said I'd never abandon a story, and I won't.

"Come on, Mordred. You're both dead now. Can't you let this go?" Freya said. It wasn't in her nature to be so impatient, but, while she felt no hate towards the man in front of her, his actions had caused Merlin grief, a sight that had pained her.

"He killed Kara," he repeated stubbornly. "He knew how I felt...he goes to such lengths to protect his queen, and then kills my love."

Freya sighed. Truthfully, she could understand his anger. He had been in pain. But he needed to snap out of it.

She straightened, filling with some of the confidence that the years of dwelling in the Lake of Avalon had given her. Not having to fear death tended to make one a little more confident - the worst consequence of one's actions had already passed.

"Yes, but Queen Guinevere did not attempt to kill the king, at least not of her own accord. She did not turn down the opportunity to live the king granted her, though her actions were clearly treasonous."
Mordred glowered, but Freya could see his anger was all grief for his love's untimely death. After a while, he would stop becoming so bitter as he realized that, now that everyone was dead and in Avalon with them, old grudges hardly mattered. But she did not want to wait.

She leaned in. "Do you know how I know Merlin, Mordred? Do you know how I came to be in this place?"

He looked at her, curious despite himself.

"I once accidentally killed a man in self-defense. His mother then proceeded to curse me for it. At night, I would turn into a bloodthirsty beast. I would...kill innocent people, without being able to help myself."

She shuddered slightly, remembering her awful transformations. Mordred watched her with wide eyes.

"I was exiled by my druid tribe. I didn't blame them. They couldn't help me, and I just kept killing. Left alone, I was captured by a bounty hunter. I would have been killed. But Merlin rescued me..."

Her mind was transported back to the night she had first laid eyes on Merlin. Her fellow former druid watched her, gaining a sense of where this was going.

"He..he cared for me. He stole food from the prince. He wanted to run away with me, make a new life. I couldn't let him, not with what I was."

Mordred had apparently forgotten his anger, being drawn into the story.

"But I had already attacked Camelot citizens. The prince was out for me. When he left to get supplies, I left. He had no idea what I was."

She swallowed, the memories becoming more painful. "I tried to escape the city, but they caught up with me. I transformed, and they chased me. I was dealt a mortal blow. I limped back to my hiding spot. Merlin was waiting."

She saw, clearly, in her mind's eye, Merlin's face, desperately trying to help her, and her terror that he would reject her for what she was. "I thought he would despise me. But...he didn't. He tried everything in his power to save me, but it wasn't enough. Instead, he took me to the lake."

She snapped her eyes back to Mordred's. "And then you know what he did? He went back to serving the prince, the man who had killed me, without any desire for revenge."

He stared at her incredulously. "He murdered you! And you just...forget it?"

"He thought he was doing what he had to do to save those under his protection. And that was what he was doing when Kara threatened him and his kingdom."

He bristled at her words about Kara, but then seemed to deflate.

"I tried to save her..." he whispered.

She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know you did. But what did your revenge get you? Kara's still dead - I'm assuming you've talked to her already - and so is your king, who you were once so keen to protect. So are your friends who you once pledged to fight alongside. And you, Sir Mordred, are dead with them."

He stared at her, lost in thought, but she could see his resolve wavering. Finally, he let out a long breath.

"Alright," he relented, "I will talk to the king."