Another chapter of the story, another step further into the labyrinth of the Old Mother.

Warning: This chapter may contain spoilers for my other other story 'Always'.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only my OCs and this maze-like storyline.

Hope you enjoy.

The Rules of the Labyrinth

Merlin helped Freya to her feet. She was unsteady on her feet, wavering and would've fallen if Merlin hadn't been next to her, ready to catch her. He couldn't take his eyes off her. His mind was struggling to wrap around the fact that she was really here. She was right here in front of him. He wanted to pull her in and hold her, never letting go, never again. He thought he'd never see her again after he set fire to her boat. It was one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do, and he never wanted it to happen again.

The same thing must've been going through Freya's mind as well, because her eyes were locked on his as if that was what was keeping her from falling. They were the only ones in their little world and nothing else mattered. They were frozen in that moment.

Will could see the emotions moving between the two and how fast their minds were racing. It reminded him of the Merlin and Freya from his own timeline. He remembered how they'd sit in silence for hours just happy to be in each other's presence. He had laughed back then, but those were during the happier times. Not for the first time, Will wondered what had happened to his friends after he'd died. Did they win the war? Were they all still together? He hoped his death had not been in vain.

He would've let them stay that way, but their situation wasn't going to allow it. The shadows would soon be upon them if they didn't move quickly. It hurt to have to interrupt their reunion.

He cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have to move."

"It's good to see you, Will." Freya's smile was sad.

"You too, Freya." The memories of their capture ran through Will's mind and he shuddered. "So, we need to figure out how to get out of here. Any ideas?"

"We could try finding the opening I fell through to get here," Merlin suggested.

"Well, it's a start," Will shrugged. "Lead the way."

"I think it was this way." Merlin led the other two down the cold stone hallway, not letting go of Freya's hand for even a second. He was staring up at the ceiling, looking for the opening he had fallen through, hoping that it would still be there.

"Is that it?" Freya pointed to a spot in the ceiling where a number of stones had fallen, now laying smashed on the floor.

"I think so." Merlin hadn't committed what the hole had looked like to memory. "Now we have the problem of how to get up there."

"I can handle that part." A smirk graced Freya's pale face. She let go of Merlin's hand. His instincts told him to reach out and take hers again, but he stopped himself, watching her closely as she went to stand under the opening, stepping around the fallen stones. Her dark dress swept up the dust as it was dragged over the rock. She gasped and hunched over. Merlin stepped forward, wanting to go to her side, but Will stopped him.

Merlin watched wide eyed as Freya began to change, but it wasn't like the first time he'd seen her change into the cat-like monster that had been her curse. This time her transformation wasn't complete. He watched as her hands became claws, and fangs descended from her teeth. Two dark furry wings burst from her back. She roared at the pain.

"Freya!" Merlin reached for her, but Will was still holding him back.

Her dark wings spread out behind her. She gasped, falling to her knees and Will finally released Merlin to run to her. He hesitated before touching her arm.

"Freya?" he whispered gently. She shuddered, finally opening her eyes to reveal slit pupils and yellow irises.

"I'm okay, Merlin," she reassured him, taking deep breaths. "Since coming here I've somehow gotten more control over the change. I can use it to help us."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Merlin was looking at her with deep concern, and it made her smile, reminding her of the short life they'd spent togther.

"I'm sure."

"You're Freya is amazing, she is," Will said. "She fought off the shadows, protecting the rest of us for as long as she could."

"I should've done more." Freya looked up at her friend.

"You did more then enough." Will smiled and then looked up at the hole above them. "Is it big enough to fly through."

"It should be." She looked up as well, nodding.

"Do you have enough strength?"

"I guess we'll have to see." She got to her feet, taking Merlin's wrist tightly in her clawed hand and reaching her free hand towards Will, who took it. "You two better hold on tight."

Merlin felt the wind get knocked out of him as Freya took off from the ground, shooting up towards the opening, flapping her dark wings. The tunnel wasn't as long as they'd expected. Before long, the three of them shot out the other end, hitting the floor on the other side hard. All three of them were gasping for air. Merlin was the first to regain himself, taking in their surroundings. It was dark and it looked like they'd landed in a stone room, almost like a throne room, but there was no throne. Instead there were two stone altars at the centre.

"I don't understand," he coughed. "When I fell through that hole I'd been in a hallway before."

"That's the rule of the labyrinth, nothing is ever the same twice. No door will ever open onto the same room. That's why it's so easy to get lost and trapped in it's twisting hallways." Freya came to stand next to him, slipping her hand into his. Her claws had reseeded, along with her fangs, but her wings were folded on her back and her cat-like eyes were peering around in the dark. "This place is as alive as you and me." Somehow her words made the room feel colder and more sinister.

"How did this place even come into existence?" Merlin looked around.

"The only person who knows anymore is the Old Mother herself." Merlin felt Freya's grip tighten on his hand. "That is, if she really is a person. No one knows what she looks like."

"I've heard she has a hundred eyes, each one looking a different direction so no one can ever sneak up on her." Will came up next to them. "Others say she is the house, but I don't think that one's true."

"Kevia said she's only half human, and the other half is a spider." Freya lowered her eyes.

"Kev always did like her stories." Will span in a circle to get a better look at the room.

"I don't know. She seemed pretty sure."

"She also said she knew a woman completely made up of plants. How many of those have you seen?"

"Do you guys see any doors?" Merlin interrupted their conversation as he looked around for a way out. Something about this place made him want to get away as fast as he could. It felt too familiar and it tugged at his heartstrings.

"I don't see any," Will said. "Maybe there's a clue over there." He headed for the two stone altars at the centre of the room.

"Will, wait!" Merlin called after him, but either Will hadn't heard him or he was ignoring his warning. It hurt Merlin how much that was like his own Will. Merlin didn't have to call him again, because he'd already stopped just a few feet before the altars.

As Freya and Merlin got closer, they saw what had stopped Will dead in his tracks. What they'd originally thought were altars had round glass covers over them that they hadn't been able to see from afar, and under the two glass covers were two bodies, perfectly preserved. This was a tomb.

Merlin looked closer at the bodies of the two girls. There was only a small space between them, just enough for one person to walk through. The girl on his right had short brown hair and a jagged scar running under her right eye. She was wearing a patchy green dress and a long coat overtop. The fabric looked rough and old, torn in places as if it had seen many a battle. Her small hands her clasped over her stomach.

The girl on his left was taller, maybe a little older then the other girl. This one had dark wavy black hair, almost like Morgana's. Her dress and coat were similar to the girl next to her, except it was violet. One of her hands rested on her stomach, but the other had fallen next to her, partially open. It looked like she was holding something. Merlin looked closer, peering through the glass. It looked like a crumpled piece of paper.

"Eris." Freya read the name carved into the stone at the feet of the girl with the violet dress. "And Gaia." That was the girl with the green dress' name. "They both say Always under their names." She traced the shape of a pentagon that had been carved next to their names as well.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Will gasped as Merlin lifted the glass cover over Eris' body. Merlin didn't answer him as he took the crumpled piece of paper from her pale hand, but her hand didn't feel cold when he touched it. It was warm. He looked closer, and then looked back at Gaia's body.

"They're breathing." His eyes widened and he slowly lowered the glass cover over Eris again.

"What?" Freya looked at Eris and Gaia again. Merlin was right. The movement was small, but their chests were rising and falling.

"Are they sleeping?" Will asked.

"I think so."

"Can we wake them up?"

"If the Old Mother left their souls here asleep, then I don't think she wants them awake." Freya looked down at Gaia's peaceful face. "Maybe she's scared of them."

"The Old Mother, scared of something? I don't think so," Will scoffed, shaking his head.

"There must've been some reason why she didn't want them awake. Maybe she didn't want them interfering. Or there's someone she has trapped here that she doesn't want them going near," Merlin guessed. "One of her plans they would mess up."

"What's that?" Will pointed to the paper in Merlin's hand.

"They may be asleep, but I think they're still trying to help." Merlin smoothed out the crumpled paper, peering down at the words that had been hurriedly scribbled across it. He looked confused.

"What is it?" Freya asked, peering over his shoulder.

"It's a spell," he said. "I know this spell. It animates pictures and statues. I used it to bring a stone dog to life once."

"I would've liked to see that, but why would she be holding that spell?" Will thought. "What is she trying to tell us?"

"I don't know," Merlin admitted. "But I think we're supposed to use it at some point."

"When?"

"We're just going to have to find out. It's just one piece to the puzzle, or one part of the riddle."

"I was never good at riddles," Will shrugged.

"Neither was I."

"Merlin." Freya tugged on his sleeve to get his attention and then pointed at something past Will. They turned to see a door standing not too far away. It wasn't a part of the wall. It was just standing in the middle of the floor.

"Well, it's the only door we have." Merlin took Freya's hand and the three of them headed for the door. Will hesitated for a moment before opening the door, remembering what Freya had said. There was no way of knowing where this door would lead them, but there was no where else to go. Going back down the hole was out of the question. So Will shoved the door open, falling through, soon followed by his friends.

All roads in a labyrinth lead to the centre. There is no such thing as a dead end. Our heroes aren't lost; they are going exactly where the labyrinth wants them to go.

Thanks for reading and a REVIEW would be much appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who has managed to hold on this long. I know my slow chapter updates is annoying.

Hope you keep following, because getting into the labyrinth is easy, but in the end, will our heroes make it back out.

See you next time.