Here's the next chapter. I was home sick so I got into writing.

Hope you enjoy.

Run

It was early, very early, in the morning when Gaia finally awoke. Pain still swam through her head and her limbs felt like unmovable stone, but somehow she still managed to pull herself out of the bed. She looked around through squinted eyes. Everything seemed to be surrounded in shadows. She knew where she was and she didn't want to be here.

Even though she had been asleep the pain that she felt was proof enough that today was the day. It was the day when everything would end. Whether or not it would end well was another story. No matter what happened that day one thing was for certain. It was her last day. Her fate was sealed and all she could do now was make sure that no one else followed her into the darkness.

As silently as she could in her state, she snuck from the room into the hallway. Using the wall for support, Gaia made her way back to her own room. It took her longer then usual to get the key out of the bag so she could unlock the door. After moments that felt like they lasted forever, Gaia finally managed to open the door and stumble inside.

Gaia fell to her knees once the door was closed. That had taken more energy then she had expected. It hurt. Most of the pain was coming from her head but was starting to move down the rest of her body. Everything seemed to ache, especially her heart. Not just because of the poison but because it was breaking. Her entire world was crumbling around her. She never imagined it would end like this.

Another sharp pain ran through her head, making her shiver. She racked her brain for a spell to make the pain go away. She wanted to scream but that would draw the attention of anyone passing outside. Instead she bit down on her lip until it started to bleed.

Through the pain words began to drift into Gaia's mind. As well as she was able, she picked herself off the ground and searched under her bed for a piece of chalk that she had stolen from Gaius when he wasn't looking. With it Gaia drew a circular symbol on the ground. To make sure that she wasn't interrupted or caught performing her magic she locked the door to her small room.

When that was done Gaia knelt in the middle of the circle, placing her clenched hands on her thighs. Her eyes were closed, as her lips seemed to move against their will. The spell flowed out of her and into the room, swirling around then coming back to its master. Gaia's eyes suddenly flew open to reveal that they were now completely black.

As the spell drew to its end the blackness of her eyes began to run from her down her cheeks and into a puddle on the floor. The liquid kept falling until the whites of her eyes were once again visible.

The puddle on the floor reflected Gaia's face for a moment then hardened and turned to ash. The spell was a success. Gaia would never again feel the sting of physical pain.

She got to her feet. True, pain would never plague her again but it had not driven the poison from her body. Gaia was dying and there was no escape.

The sun had not fully risen yet. Gaia didn't expect Morgana to attack until the afternoon. Now all Gaia had to do was wait but not here, confined between these stonewalls. She needed to be outside.

It wasn't hard to sneak out of the city gate and soon she found herself in a green field. The grass was green and tall. She made her way through the grass towards a tree that stood alone on a small hill in the middle of the field. Cherry blossoms were growing from its branches. They were so beautiful. They marked the beginning of life but for Gaia they would forever remind her of the end.

The pain Gaia had felt was gone but she was still tired. Very, very tired. Gaia knew that if she were to fall asleep she would never open her eyes again. If a battle were not about to begin then this would have been the place she would go to die.

She may not die here but she would spend some of her last moments here lying under the tree. The grass was soft under her head. Wind blew through her short hair. The wind made it sound like someone was calling to her, calling out her name. Was someone trying to find her?

The calling became louder and she realized it wasn't the wind at all. Her head fell to the side to see someone running through the grass towards her. It wasn't hard to figure out who it was. His raven hair gave him away.

When Merlin finally reached her he looked out of breath. He wore a worried expression. This surprised Gaia.

"I looked everywhere for you." Had he really?

"I'm sorry." She felt the need to apologize. They stood in silence for a moment. Well Merlin stood. He opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it.

"I know." She broke the silence. Merlin looked confused. Part of him was probably worried that she meant she knew his secret. "I'm sick." He relaxed a bit but still looked slightly surprised.

"How did you figure it out?" He asked.

"I didn't. I suppose you know what caused it though." He nodded.

"Was someone trying to assassinate the king?" He asked.

"Yes." Gaia answered simply. "The prince as well."

"Morgana." He had figured it out. "How long have you known?"

"That I am dying?" He seemed to flinch at her words. "Since I first touched the poisonous leaves in the prince's chambers. Since I was already infected it didn't seem like a big deal to go and get the ones under the king's pillow." Gaia sat up and rapped her arms around her knees, hugging them tightly to her.

"I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm sorry you got involved." Merlin bent his head as if it were his fault.

"You have no need to apologize. It was my choice. If I could do it all again I would have still chosen the same path." She smiled at him.

Merlin lifted his head. He was surprised at how calm she was about the situation. More then ever he wished there were something he could do to save her but Gaius had been perfectly clear. There was nothing they could do for her.

Gaia looked away and up at the sky. The sun was higher in the sky now, showing the bright blue that the clouds were swimming across. She closed her eyes and let the wind sweep across her eyelids. It was a beautiful day to go but she wished it weren't. She wished it were raining.

Merlin sat down behind her with his back to her. He too found his eyes wandering up to the sky. Without a word they both lied down on the soft grass with their heads next to each other but their feet pointing in the opposite direction of the other person.

One of Merlin's feet bobbed up and down in the silence. Gaia appreciated the company. Yes, she had originally come out here to be alone without any reminders of what she was leaving behind. But there was a part of her that wished there was someone there with her that someone would come looking for her. She was glad it was Merlin. There was something about him, something comforting. He had a way of getting you to trust him even though you had only properly talked to him once.

"You don't have to hold it in you know." His voice broke her thoughts. "You don't have to act. Just let it out." Gaia wanted to cry. She wanted to scream and yell that it wasn't fair but she didn't. She never could, not even when Eris had been around. She had learnt the hard way that speaking out was only going to get you hurt. She preferred to remain a mystery, even today.

"There is no one here. Its just you and me." He continued. "I know what today is. It will hurt more if you never say it." He was right. He was always right. He had been right about Morgana and everything else.

"The sky is smiling." She finally said. "But I'm not." The smile she had given Merlin only moments ago was a distant memory now. "I know that I act strong like it doesn't bother me that I'm going to die. Like I don't care that today is my last. You're right. It is all an act."

Merlin nodded at her words, happy that he finally broke her shell. So this was the real Gaia. Not the quiet one that just does what she's told. No, this one had feelings. Everyone had hopes and dreams, even Gaia. Though that didn't really matter anymore. Gaia's future was gone and she knew it. Merlin too wanted to scream and yell that it wasn't fare.

"I'm not afraid to die." She opened up. "I am convinced that it is not the fear of death, of our lives ending that haunts our sleep so much as the fear… that as far as the world is concerned, we might as well never have lived."*

She had done so much for this kingdom. She had sacrificed everything and now she was giving up her very life for the cause. But that didn't matter. The only thing she regretted was loosing Eris' friendship. There was another thing that she had had to give up. If today didn't go according to plan then it all would have been for nothing. Even if it did all work out, Gaia would not be here to see it. Someone else would have to complete her work and she hoped it would be Merlin.

"Is there anyone in particular that you want to say goodbye to?" Merlin asked.

"There is one but I know I won't get the chance." A cloud in the shape of a flower blew by.

"Are they far away?" He wanted to know more about this person.

"For now but she won't be for long." Gaia hinted at the coming day's events.

"Then why won't you get the chance?"

"Because even if I did she wouldn't hear it. She won't hear anything I have to say anymore. She is too far gone." She explained.

"What do you mean?" He was confused.

"You will see soon enough." Was all she said.

Merlin's head was about to explode. What did she mean? She was as bad as the dragon, always speaking in riddles.

"What will I see?" He wanted a straight answer.

"So many questions." Gaia laughed but it was half hearted. The day was too grim for her to truly feel like she was laughing. She would give anything to feel the heart pounding sensation of a good laugh. But anything wasn't good enough. Not this time.

Gaia sighed. Merlin felt like his heart was going to break as he heard it. The thought that any breath she took could be her last was haunting. He knew that she was probably thinking the same thing.

"Is there anything you really want to do today?" If today was going to be her last maybe there was something he could do for her. He could make her last moments happy.

"Talk to you." For a moment he didn't understand. "Right now that's all I really want. I just want to talk to you."

Merlin didn't know what to say. He never imagined that someone's last wish would be to talk to him.

"You're special Merlin." She continued. "I feel like I can trust you."

Merlin wondered that if she really knew who or what he was if she would still feel the same. Would she still trust him? It was the same fear he had with Arthur, if and when he found out. Would he still call him friend? Would Gaia?

"No matter what happens Merlin," She reached her left hand up towards him and he took it in his left hand. "Remember that you are never alone." Merlin wondered if she was really saying this to him or if she was trying to convince herself as well.

"You know there is one thing that I really want to do right now." She decided.

"What is it?" Whatever it was Merlin would make it possible.

"I want to run." She suddenly got to her feet, letting go of Merlin's hand. "I'll race you back to the gates."

Merlin stood up next to her and smiled. "Are you sure you can beat me."

Gaia put her hands on her waste, smiling. "Are you implying that I can't beat you because I'm wearing a dress?"

Merlin laughed slightly. "Maybe."

"Then lets make this more interesting." She grins mischievously. "If I win you have to promise me whatever I want."

"And what if I win?" He asked.

Gaia thought for a moment. "I know. If you win I will give you a kiss."

Merlin blushed slightly. "You're on."

They got ready. Then without warning Gaia yelled, "Go!" They were off, bounding across the field toward the gates.

Gaia could run surprisingly fast in a dress and Merlin found himself actually trying to win. He heard her laughing but it wasn't half hearted this time. The laugh that burst from her lips was real. It made Merlin laugh as well. This brought them both back to their childhoods, to the time when they could run without a care in the world before destiny stepped in and stopped their fun.

Merlin wished that the gates were further away. He wanted to keep running. He wanted Gaia to keep laughing. He wanted this moment to last forever. But no matter how much we wish it everything comes to an end. Just like how this day was bound to come to an end. Just like how the life that ran in front of him was about to come to an end.

Before he realized it they had reached the gates. Gaia stood in front of him victorious and grinning. Merlin put his hands on his knees trying to get his breath back.

Gaia had said that he was special but in truth she was the one who was special. It only took a few minutes of talking to her to know that she was someone that you wouldn't want to loose. She made you feel wanted in the world. He wished more then anything that he had met her before this. He wished they could have become friends sooner so they could spend more times like these together.

He wanted her to live. He didn't want to let her go but he didn't have a say in the matter. He wished there was something more he could do. He wished she had more time. He wished they had more time.

"Alright you win." He admitted. "What do you want me to promise?"

"What do I want you to promise?" Gaia tried to act like she had to think about it even though she had already known even before they had started running. She stepped forward and took his hand in hers.

"I want you to promise to remember me and never forget." She was a little more serious now.

"Always."

He couldn't have answered her any other way. There word just seemed right.

It was the same thing Gaia had said to Eris a week before when she asked if they would always be friends. Like Merlin, Gaia had meant what she said. Even though they were on different sides, Gaia would always consider Eris to be her friend and there was nothing that was going to change that. Not even the battle was about to take place.

Gaia had said that Eris was too far-gone but in reality she would never be able to believe that. Always. That word was eternal, a promise that could never be broken.

Gaia leaned forward on her tiptoes and kissed Merlin on the cheek.

"Always." She repeated.

Thank you for reading.

Please don't hesitate to REVIEW.

This is the first fanfic I started so it is kind of sad to think that the next chapter is the last one. At least I think it is.

How do you think it will end? How do you want it to end?

*quote by Harold Kushner