Here is the actual final chapter. Sorry it took me longer then I expected.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
It began with five and ended with one
Everyone in the room was silent. What had Gaia just said? Mother? Merlin's head was swirling with questions as he guessed most people were. Something dark was going on. Something that had started long ago was finally revealing itself.
The woman made up of black smoke smiled evilly. Merlin shuddered. There was something about her that made him want to curl up in a corner and hide. She had an air of darkness. This thing or woman was old, very old, and dangerous.
"Its been a long time since either of you called me that." Her voice was silky smooth and every word sent a vibration through the room, distorting everyone's vision.
"It's been a long time since either of us have seen you." Eris countered. "We would have liked to keep it that way."
"You mean that you didn't want to see your own dear mother?" The woman mocked.
"After the last time, no." Gaia tightened her grip around the unconscious Morgana.
"Oh it wasn't that bad." She cocked her head.
"You almost sent the world into the apocalypse ahead of schedule and you tried to kill us." Eris sneered.
"Wait, the apocalypse?" Arthur was the first to voice his questions.
"Oh keep your trousers on. It won't be in your life time." Eris waved him away.
"It will if I have anything to say about it." The lady grinned. "And it will start here, today. This world does not deserve to go on existing."
Fury came over Eris at those words. Faster then anyone could believe, Eris sped toward her mother, grabbing her by the fabric of her collar.
"Lachesis, don't." Gaia tried to calm her sister.
"Millions died because of you!" Eris, or Lachesis, yelled. "I won't let that happen again. You have been corrupted. You're mad."
"You may not have a choice." Her mother chuckled. "I gave up trying to bring order back to this world. Look around you. This place is the best example of how far this world has fallen. This kingdom will burn for its crimes and you Lachesis, you can still join me. Don't deny that you have considered it."
"No." Lachesis tried to deny. "I'm not like that anymore. I…"
"You've changed? As if." She was trying to worm her way into Lachesis' mind. "You have measured the life threads. Isn't it time they were cut. Especially Uther's."
She moved quickly until she was standing just behind her daughter. "Kill him." She whispered into her ear. "Or not and let him keep inflicting pain." Eris remained silent. "You haven't changed and neither has your sister. Have you, Clotho?"
She strides towards the girl kneeling on the floor with her old friend cradled in her arms but Lachesis steps between them. "You know it is not our place to cut their threads or have you forgotten so easily that my sister and I never did this alone. Do you forget that you gave three of us life? Where is Atropos?" Eris fumed.
"You thought you could hide from me." The mother cackled. "You knew this day would come. Not even those vessels you took could hide your stench. You brought this all on yourself and you brought those two girls into your problems as well."
"We asked them first and they accepted. Unlike you." Lachesis used Eris' lips to explained. "These two girls have willingly let us hide within their minds. They are strong. Stronger then you can ever hope to be."
"Liar!" The woman shrieked.
"You have only ever used force. Since you have turned your power has become nothing." Eris countered. "Look what you did to Morgana. This wasn't what she wanted. She was nothing like you before you corrupted her mind and took control."
"It seems you don't know people very well my child. She wanted power and I gave it to her. Funny her memories never mentioned you but you act as if you knew her." She grinned.
So that is why she didn't remember. Clotho looked down at Morgana's sleeping face with Gaia's eyes. She had been trying to protect them but how had she known. Neither Gaia nor Eris had ever told her that they were not the only ones inside their minds. Or whom they were hiding from. She stroked away a strand of Morgana's hair that had fallen over her face.
"She was our friend. She may have wanted power but not this kind of power. I knew Morgana. She was sweet and kind. It is your fault she is this way." Lachesis accused her mother.
"That is where you are wrong daughter. Uther is the reason I was able to corrupt her so easily. His hatred for her kind drove her into confusion so I took advantage." The woman turned toward the king. "Do you hear that Uther Pendragon? This is your doing."
"Your magic is what did this!" Uther yelled back, the sword still being held to his chest. "You are like all other sorcerers. Evil!"
The woman's grin widened. In the blink of an eye she was standing at the edge of the circle, her hands placed against a wall that no one else could see. Then she began to laugh. It was low at first but then it grew higher. Everyone else in the room was forced to put their hands over their ears to block out the monstrous noise.
"I never knew you were capable of giving a complement." She jeered. "But you are wrong. I am not like all other sorcerers because I am not a sorcerer at all. My children and I are much more then that. Do you really not recognize me king?"
"Should I?"
"I am hurt. We were so close after all." She continued to laugh; no one else understood what was so funny. "Well I didn't look like this back then though." She looks down at her swirling figure, straining to keep this form.
"Who were you?" Uther asked, curiosity overcoming him.
"Here is a clue. I took over that poor girls mind and then I killed your wife." She laughed even louder.
Uther's eyes widened and fury over took him. "Nimueh?" He growled out the question.
"Not quite. After all she had no control. But yes I guess that is what you called me. I tried to create order in that body but ended up creating chaos instead but then someone had to go releasing her from my control when they mercifully killed her." Her eyes swiveled through the crowd looking for the one. Merlin held his breath, trying not to draw her gaze.
"Who are you really?" Roderick's question got her attention before she could spot Merlin.
Uther took advantage of this distraction. He kicked Roderick hard in the chest, sending him flying. Uther picked up the sword he dropped. He pointed it menacingly at the young boy's heart. He pulled his arm back to strike.
"No!" Lachesis screamed.
Uther's blade never met its target. He looked up to see who had caught his arm. He gasped. "Arthur?"
"Don't father." He implored him. "Killing him won't do anything. It is time to stop."
"No, Arthur. Let him kill the boy." The woman pressed closer to the wall, trying to get inside the prince's head.
"Don't you see? This is what she wants. She wants this chaos. If you kill him you will only strengthen her control. Please father."
But Uther wasn't one to give up easily. He pulled his arm away from his son and charged the defenseless sorcerer. The woman watched with glee, her black forked tongue licking her lips. Uther was just about to plunge his sword down when Arthur tackled him from the side. He managed to knock the sword from his father's hands.
"What are you doing?" Uther growled.
"Stopping you from making a mistake." Arthur wrestled with Uther. "I'm sorry father." Then he knocked Uther unconscious, his body going limp.
"No!" The woman shrieked. "Just when it was getting to the best part. Arthur wouldn't it have been better to just kill your father? Daughters, I thought this was what you wanted. You wanted order between the magic and the mortals and yet you stand in my way. Uther must die to bring order."
"You are so selfish. And you wondered why we ran away all those times?" Clotho looked up at her mother who now looked at her with anger written all over her face.
"But you could never run for long." Her hair whipped around her head faster. "I will always find you."
"But we aren't running anymore." Lachesis went to stand by her sister. "It is our turn to become the predators."
"It's a shame you won't be able to run." Clotho placed Morgana gently down on the floor and stood. "I would have so loved the chase."
Fear took over the woman's features as she realized her predicament. She tried to step away but the circle prevented her. Seeing that she wouldn't be able to get away she raised her hands, ready to fight.
"You won't be able to beat me. The children cannot defeat their mother." She tried to sound confident.
"But the children have surpassed their mother. Or maybe we should call you by your real name, Themis. I don't think mother suits you anymore." Lachesis taunted, stepping forward.
So that was her real name. She deceived everyone for so long that she looked rather surprised to be called by her real name as if she expecting everyone to have forgotten by now.
Themis looked around once more in hopes of finding a way out but there was none. Then she saw Morgana, still out cold. She grinned and lunged. They would never hurt their precious Morgana.
Lachesis saw what she was planning to do. The darkness that occupied her eyes too lunged forward and the true form of the Lachesis was revealed. She looked similar to her mother but younger. Her hair was long and wavy. It swam around her head as she sprang forward to stop her mother, just managing to catch her arm before she got too close.
Her grip was tight around Themis' arm, unwilling to let her go any further. Themis struggled in her daughter's grasp but Lachesis did not back down for even a second. Clotho burst from her vessel to come to her sister's aid, latching onto her mother's other arm.
Eris and Gaia wobbled slightly at the sudden loss of the ones they had considered part of themselves for so long. For a moment they felt empty and weak, almost forcing them into unconsciousness like Morgana. But they stayed upright, fighting drowsiness. They watched as the daughters fought their mother.
They held her there as she writhed. Their dark swirling forms looked back at their vessels one last time. Their bright white eyes looked sad. Then they returned their blinding eyes to Themis.
"I have woven the threads of this world's lives. I have put my blood and sweat into making them who they are today. You will not destroy everything we have worked so hard for. Destiny won't allow it." Clotho raged, then she looked to her. "I'm sorry we caused you so much trouble."
"But you haven't." Gaia protested.
"You have been so good to us." The swirling form of Lachesis sighed. "But now it is time to say goodbye."
"Why do you have to go?" Eris asked.
"Goodbye." The sisters didn't elaborate as they moved their eyes back to their struggling mother.
"You have plagued this world long enough. Your time here is over." They spoke in unison, holding out one of their hands towards a spot in the floor. The floor cracked open to reveal a pit filled with swirling darkness.
"No!" Themis screeched. "You can't!"
"We do not belong in this world mother." Clotho said soothingly.
"It is time to go back to where we belong. We must return to our own realm." Lachesis explained.
Themis screamed and tried to run but her daughters dragged her toward the pit and she could do nothing about it. The sisters looked up one last time. "Thank you. May Athropos spare you." They mouthed to the friends who had protected them. Then they jumped, dragging the wailing Themis down with them.
Gaia and Eris rushed forward but it was too late. The crack in the floor closed. Gaia clawed at the disappearing crack, trying to open it again to pull her friends out but it was no use. They were gone. She slumped back in defeat.
Then Morgana gasped, sitting up. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. "Get out!" She yelled to the people in the room. "You all have to get out. This place is going to collapse. That was her plan. She wanted Camelot to fall, literally."
As if on cue the room shook. Pieces of the ceiling came tumbling down, just missing the room's occupants. Without the need to give orders everyone rushed to the doors. The knights directed people out and made sure no one was trampled or left behind. A few of them carried the sleeping body of Uther from the room.
The barrier that the circle had created disappeared. Gaia helped Morgana to her feet. Merlin and Arthur ran over. "Get her out of here." Gaia commanded, pushing Morgana towards her half brother.
"The castle is crumbling too quickly. We won't make it out in time." Eris noticed, her eyes wide.
A large cracking sound came from above them. The group looked up to see a large piece of the ceiling falling towards them at a deathly pace. Gaia stepped into the path of the shadow cast by the falling stone, stretching out her arms on either side of her. The stone stopped just inches from their heads. Sweat poured down her face. Her time was almost up.
Merlin was supporting Morgana who was still feeling weak. The group stared up at the large piece of ceiling in awe of Gaia's strangth, especially Merlin. He was the only one there who knew of her fate. He was surprised she was still able to stand but not for much longer. She was using the last of her power, the last of her time; to save the people she cared so much for.
"Go!" Gaia commanded.
"What about you?" Morgana asked, trying to steady herself.
"I will hold it back as long as I can. It should give you enough time to get out." Gaia panted.
"But Gaia you won't be able to get out." Eris realized what her friend was doing. "I will take your place."
"No." It came out harsher then Gaia had intended. "You have to get them out Eris."
"And leave you here?" Eris stepped forward toward Gaia. "Fat chance."
The castle shook around them.
"I'm not leaving you here alone. If I can't convince you to come then I guess I have no choice but to stay here with you." Eris stretched her arms out; her eyes flashed gold as she took some of the weight from Gaia's shoulders.
"Eris no." Gaia protested.
"You can't hold it on your own." Eris said with finality and Gaia understood that nothing she could say would change her friend's mind. Once Eris decided on something there was no chance that she would back down.
They looked to the three people staring at them.
"What are you waiting for? Get out of here." Eris yelled over the rumbling of the castle coming apart.
"Why?" Arthur had to ask. "Why are you doing this for us? You have magic. Shouldn't you despise us?"
"We never despised you Arthur. Clotho told me that you had a great destiny. You must live to fulfill it." Her eyes flickered to Merlin, but only for a moment. She was saying these things as much to him as she was to Arthur. Merlin nodded. He understood.
"It has been an honor to meet the Once and Future King." Eris bowed her head to Arthur. That was all she could do without letting go of the rock that would kill them all.
"The what?" Arthur didn't understand.
"You will understand one day. For today, all you must do is live." Gaia smiled weakly.
"Wait!" Morgana launched towards them, wrapping her arms around her friends one last time. "I have only just remembered you again. You saved my life. You can't go. There must be something I can do."
"Oh Morgana." Eris smiled down at her. "You have already done so much. You protected us from Themis and you gave us something worth fighting for."
"You can't leave me here alone." Morgana protested. "I will stay and help you." She tried to use her magic but one look from Eris made her hesitate.
"You are not alone Morgana." Gaia soothed. "I'm sorry my friend but you cannot stay here with us. Our time here is up but yours is just beginning. You must live for us Morgana."
"I don't understand." She wept.
"You are our legacy." Eris explained. "You keep us alive just by living yourself. You are the evidence that we existed. Just don't forget us again alright."
"I won't." Morgana nodded.
"You are the last of us." Gaia continued. "There once were five but now there is one. It was always meant to be this way. I'm glad it is you Gana. I'm glad you will be the one to carry on our legacy. Don't be afraid of what you are. Practice like we used to. Teach the way we taught you."
"I will." She hugged her friends tightly, not wanting to let them go but knowing that she had to.
Arthur pulled his sister away and towards the door. Merlin followed but looked back one last time. He looked at the girl he had run with. The girl he had laughed with.
"Don't ever stop running." Gaia called after him. "Keep going forward and don't look back. I wish I could have been there with you the whole way through but it seems our paths must part here. I won't be able to protect you anymore but I know you are strong enough to hold your own now."
"When I run I will think of you." Merlin called back. "I will take you with me the whole way. It doesn't end here."
"We will see you all again one day young Warlock." Eris grinned for the last time. Arthur and Morgana were out of ear shot for this conversation.
"I will be waiting." Then he ran out the door.
The friends looked to each other. They breathed deeply and let their magic spread through the castle. The rumbling stopped. Everything stood utterly still. They heard the footsteps of their friends running to safety.
"I'm glad you got my message." Gaia said.
"I can't believe you kept that old handkerchief." Eris looked down for a moment, not able to meet her friend's eyes. "For a moment I gave up. I really believed you had betrayed me."
"You should know better." Gaia smiled at her.
"We are both finally standing on the same side." Eris sighed. "I just wish this weren't our last battle."
"Not even Atropos can save us now. Our threads cannot be altered. Clotho couldn't have known. I wouldn't ask her to weave our lives any other way. Will you miss it?" Gaia asked. "The fight?"
"Yes. It made me feel alive. It made me feel wanted." Eris razed her eyes to look at Gaia.
"You were always wanted my friend. I will stand by your side beyond the end." They were loyal and nothing would ever be able to break that bond. Not even death.
Eris thought back to the conversation they had had in the woods a week before. Who thought, after that, that they would end up here?
Gaia shivered and her shoulders slumped slightly. "Our friends are safe." She announced. "I'm so glad." Then she fell, finally giving into the poison. Eris caught her before she could hit the ground.
The friends held each other in their last moments. They would never let go.
"Gaia?" Eris whispered, knowing that her friend was slowly fading away. She sensed the poison running through her small body and she knew that time was short.
"Yes?" Gaia strained to answer.
"We'll always be friends right?" Eris buried her head in Gaia's short hair.
"Always." Gaia spoke for the last time.
The last of their magic running through the castle disappeared and Camelot fell.
Thank you for reading and please REVIEW!
Should I write an epilogue or just leave it like this?
Themis was one of the original Titans from Greek mythology. She had the power of Law and her name means Order. Some say she was the mother of the Fates: Clotho (she spun the thread of life), Lachesis (she measured the thread of life), and Atropos (she cut the thread of life).
Gaia's namesake is the mother of all Titans and who was also known as Mother Earth.
Eris' namesake is the goddess of discord.
I am hoping to bring a few of these characters back in another story that I will be writing.
Thank you readernurse, Stellato, and nibby9 for reviewing.