MamzelleHermy, again, this is because you hoped to see more of what had happen after the deal between Bran, Merlin and the Knights. Originally my plan was jump over this chapter, but then because your feedback I got inspiration. But because it was so long chapter I separeted NOW and THEN to diferent chapters. And it's because the upcoming chapter that I did NOW first and THEN now.

I really hope that you ALL like this chapter. Let me know :)

And really, thank you all of your rewievs. I couldn respond because there is somekind of problems Fanfiction side. And, MerlinFan1996, I think that I have done my job well if I had you in tears ;)

But I have again problem. I don't know if I do epilogue or what kind. There is so many way. I think one thing but I m not happy about it. So, what you want to hear at the end? Tell me that I can get again the inspiration because of you LOL.

Then…

.

.

.

I looked at the compass. It was beautiful. It shone weakly in the dark.

"Open it." Merlin said and I watched me impatiently. And I opened the top.

I hadn't seen a real compass ever in my life, only in pictures. But I knew that this compass was really different from the rest. The machine rose up when the top opened. It reminded me of the spherical figure of a sundial.

"How am I supposed to know how to interpret this?" I asked, looking astonished at the golden shimmering machinery. Merlin stooped down to examine the compass from up close.

"Focus. What do you want to find the most right now?"

"The way out of here?" I asked weakly, and Merlin smiled dimly. I focused on the compass. The arrow in the middle of the ball started rolling wildly until finally showed the arrow pointing forward. Merlin looked at me.

"I guess it's best to follow it."

I nodded.

Merlin picked up his torch, and darkness fell upon the cave again. I felt the need to accelerate my steps and leave the scene as quickly as possible. I followed the compass back to the maze of catacombs. Soon, we were on a different route than by coming. I looked at Merlin who was walking behind me.

"What do you think the others have done?"

"I hope that they have made it out. It would be regrettable to start seeing them stuck somewhere in here. And, I'm not sure they would make it, with the amount of traps this place holds. Could be just luck that we didn't encounter any other worse traps."

I looked down at the compass.

"Should I think about taking the safe route?"

Merlin grinned. "Hardly, but it wouldn't do harm either."

I think that the return trip took a little longer than the last time. I was exhausted, and Merlin seemed to be in a worse condition than I was. I remembered what Arthur and Guinevere had said. Now, after we had walked for hours without food or water, Merlin's condition took a turn for the worse. Eventually, he asked if we could stop and he slumped onto the ground, leaning against a stone wall.

"You are not well." I noted.

Merlin shook his head but didn't said anything.

"Listen. If you stay here and wait until I come back with some water. " I suggested.

"No, it's okay. Only a few moments of rest and I'll be fine."

I watched him with doubt when he clambered up. It didn't take long before his legs betrayed him.

"I'll go ahead and you wait here. It won't take much longer to get out of here and find the others." Merlin was forced to concede, and so I left him behind. I didn't like the idea either, but Merlin was clearly too weak to continue. I was afraid to ask if he was wounded, but it had to be bad because he was still so weak.

My journey didn't last long like I had guessed, and I ran out into the fresh air from the forgotten depths of the cellar. I gasped. I was dizzy. I looked around and realized I was close to our original starting point. I stumbled forward and shouted for the knights. Gwaine was the first one who runs toward me.

"Bran. Damn. Where is Merlin?"

"He is in poor condition. You had all our supplies and we have been without food and drink."

"By the gods. Rest, and then take me to him." Gwaine ordered and sat down with a sigh. He looked at me, still questioning.

"What?"

"So, did you find it? Do you have it?"

Grinning, I took out a compass.

"Glad that we didn't make a useless journey." Gwaine chuckled and began to pack some supplies to take with us.

My strength began to recover rapidly, and soon we were on the move back down into the cellars depths.

Merlin was asleep when we reached him.

Gwaine just looked at him and shook his head. Then he, light as a feather, lifted Merlin into his arms and we started once again, on the return trip. We were nearly there when Merlin muttered something with his face huddled Gwaine's jacket. I didn't hear what he said, but Gwaine chuckled.

"Don't be silly. You'll stay right there and that's it."

Merlin muttered again, and now Gwaine howled with laughter.

"Am I suppose to do something like that?"

Merlin's ambiguous response made Gwaine to hiccup.

I smiled. On the way to the castle, I had already discovered how close Gwaine and Merlin were. They were suspiciously similar, with slightly warped sense of humour, and both were great storytellers. They were loyal and faithful and believed in equality without hesitation. Merlin was perhaps overly sensitive, but only Merlin seemed to put Gwaine in order when he was inspired too much. And, once again, we were out.

Merlin recovered slowly, and Percival growled something about stubborn servants. Gwaine bombarded him with small stones until Elyan intervened. When peace finally came in the night, I found Merlin sitting in the castle courtyard at the foot of a tree. It looked dead, but I noticed a small white flower blossoming in the upper branches. Perhaps there was still hope.

Merlin glanced at me.

"Are you going tomorrow?"

"The compass shows east." I sat down with him. "Why did you do it Merlin?"

He just shook his head and didn't answer. For some reason I couldn't get an answer out of him.

"I will restore the compass on time." I said. Merlin nodded.

There we sat, and Merlin dozed. I stared at the starry sky wondering about the dragons.

In the morning, I said my good-byes to the castle and our small group, and left.

()

Finding Will took me longer that what I had expected. He was far away, and his rescue took its toll on me. The return journey was rocky and slow, and the ever-worsening winter weather hindered us. Eventually we were at our kingdom's border and I left Will there to continue the journey with our own Knights. I had sent a message to my father earlier, telling him that we were coming back, and now, I send a message to Camelot. I knew that I hadn't the time to get myself back to Bartimeus by the date I promised, but I had to see Merlin. Winter still slowed my journey. I started to get desperate when I finally reached Camelot's border. But I was still three days' journey to the castle, and I began to suspect that I couldn't reach it in time.

I was camped for the night in a forest clearing and the snow blew around me when I saw someone coming out of the forest. I stood up and sought my sword.

"I am not here with evil intentions. I am here to help Merlin." A quiet voice said.

I watched, amazed, as a woman who was wrapped with a light red cape and hood stepped into my view.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Freya. One of the guardians of the lake of Avalon. I'm here because you need to hurry Bran Fendigaidd."

"I know, but the snow slows down my journey." I said desperately. Freya smiled to me.

"That's why I have come to help you. There is someone who has promised to take you to the city. She comes soon. And when she comes you have to remember three rules."

"Anything if it will help me reach Camelot faster."

Freya nodded with satisfaction.

"First, your helper is woman. A woman, whose beauty is enchanting, but deadly. So do not speak to her, do not ask her name, do not touch her, and do not in any way look into her eyes. If you do it, you are forever hers. Secondly, when you step onto her sled, hide yourself and your head under the blankets. Do not look out, wait until you have stopped. You'll die if you do, so watch out, because the cold during the trip can kill you. Third, when you leave the sled, keep your eyes on the ground, bow and thank her. If she speaks to you, perhaps, respond only if she asks for something directly, but keep your eyes on the ground at all time. Otherwise, do not speak to her."

I wondered about what she had said, but I accepted, I had no choice after all. Freya disappeared back into the woods and I was left to wait. I didn't have to wait long. The air suddenly felt even colder and the fire began to fade no matter how I tried to stoke it. I gave up. Perhaps it was better because the next moment a gust of wind caused me shudder with only the protection of my own body heat. When the wind finally abated I looked around in amazement and in a bright white light which had shone through the clearing, I saw the sleigh. The sled and two white reindeer in front of it. And the sleigh driver was a woman dressed with a white fur coat. She was the likes of which I had never seen. She had long white hair and silver matte skin. Her beauty struck my eyes, and only at the last-minute did I remember that I couldn't look her in the eye. It broke my heart.

This woman was no earthly creature. She was one of the gods, perhaps one of the oldest. I packed my belongings and quickly climbed into the sleigh. I hid under the blankets to able to avoid death. I heard the whip swish through the air and the sleigh started. I felt the sled lean and jerk, so much that I feared that I would still drop out of the sled, but then it straightened. Then I heard only the wind and frost crackle. Our journey too little time, but it still seemed like an eternity. An eternity of that beauty, and often I came close cutting off my hands, so that I wouldn't peek out. I breathed the hot muggy air under the blankets, and when I finally felt that I couldn't take any more, the sled leaned back. We were slowing down. A subdued knock of the runners and we hit the snow and slid forward slowly. Eventually, we stopped. I crawled out and desperately tried to hold my gaze on the ground.

"I thank you." I said, and bowed.

And her voice was like a crystal mountain stream, as she was talking.

"Tell him Bran Fendigaidd, that someday he must come visit my palace in the North. If he comes out of this alive. He owes me for this service, as request from his bride. Good luck, Rider."

I heard the whip ring, and the reindeer took a few steps forward. The sleigh started its journey once more. Soon, I couldn't hear anything anymore. I lifted my eyes up. She was gone. I sighed. I knew I would miss her, for the rest of my life, without being able to forget her even for a moment. The price I paid for the journey, but I didn't feel sorrow.

And when I turned I saw it.

Finally.

The Camelot.