It's been a minute guys, hope Easter was great for those of you who celebrate it 3

Well damn I wasn't planning for the last chapter and this to be so huge haha

I hope you enjoyed the last one, hopefully this can follow properly :)

Not beta'd we going in cold! :)

The Underworld – Lower Levels

Arthur groaned; he opened his eyes to what appeared to a pitch-black sky. No stars, no clouds…just…nothing. Then he looked around and saw a river that looked similar to the Styx flowing not too far from him, ironically being the only real source of light around here due to the glow of the trapped spirits.

Ah yes…he's in the Underworld.

He really needs to stop letting this happen to him.

He noticed Merlin to his right, out cold and in an uncomfortable position. Quickly, Arthur rushed over to him and tried to get him to wake up.

"Merlin! Hey Merlin! Come on, you dolt wake up!"

Finally Merlin groaned…he hasn't felt this weak since…

"Rrrgghhh!" He held his head, the pain from the fall paled in comparison to the one in his mind.

"Take it easy…" Arthur didn't really know what to do here. Morgana usually handled Merlin's outbursts…and she wasn't here.

Hell neither was Mordred. Where are they? Why aren't they with them? They all fell together!

"Morgana!"

Arthur snapped out of his thoughts and saw Merlin on his feet shouting up around them.

"Morgana! Can you hear me?!" Merlin began to circle around in a frenzy.

"Merlin…"

"Morgana!"

"Merlin…!"

"Please! Just send me a sign that you're alright!"

"Merlin!"

"WHAT!" Merlin turned toward Arthur with an enraged face and molten gold in his eyes.

Arthur held his hands up and gently walked up to his friend like one does to a stray dog. "No one else seems to be here. We most likely got separated into different sections of…wherever this is."

Merlin huffed and just decided to move in any direction he thinks can help him reunite with his wife. Eyes turning gold hoping to help him pierce through the shadows.

"Wandering aimlessly won't help us either."

"If you want to stay here forever, be my guest Arthur! But I'm going to find her before Sigan sinks his claws into her!"

"…Merlin, are you sure you saw him?"

"No Arthur! I just knocked myself into a ravine for shits and giggles!" Merlin scoffed. He then lit a small flame in his palm to try to illuminate their surroundings further. He didn't really want to go anywhere near the river.

"…Okay look, can't you just send us back to our bodies? You and Morgana can do that anytime right? So maybe she and Mordred's there right now waiting for you to grow a brain." Arthur pointed out.

Merlin immediately stopped and widened his eyes…of course! Why didn't he think of that?!

"Arthur…for once your annoying tongue has produced fruit." Merlin teased as he tried to clear his mind and get into a meditative trance, ignoring Arthur's rants on how Merlin was the annoying one.

Merlin took deep breaths, in and out. In and out…

Arthur waited, expecting to see Merlin fade away back to his body taking Arthur along with him.

A minute turned into another…and another…and before he knew it the look on Merlin's face began to grow frustrated. Arthur can see Merlin's pupils from behind his eyelids, moving in different directions in a frenzy.

Merlin finally opened his eyes, looking down at his hands as if they were foreign to him.

"Merlin…?"

The man in question slammed his fists onto the ground in a powerful shout.

Arthur had to keep balance when he felt the ground rumble at the impact.

"It's not working! I don't understand!" Merlin's anger came as bright as the sun…extinguished like smoke. He sank his head as his hands gripped his knees in frustration.

"…" Again, Arthur didn't know what to do. Back in the day he'd just tap Merlin's shoulder and crack a joke or just order him to do something to distract him. He isn't good with giving…emotional aid. Gods knew he has his own issues.

"Guinevere would have known what to do." Arthur mourned the fact that his wife and Merlin's relationship had cooled after his death, that was the furthest thing he had wanted. But would his and Merlin's relationship have cooled if Gwen had died instead…? Still it was good to hear that they reconciled shortly before her passing.

The former king sighed and slowly walked up to Merlin who hadn't moved a muscle, nor did he notice Arthur sit down beside him on the cold dark ground.

"Merlin, we'll find her. Have we not gotten through worse things than this before?"

Merlin was silent for a bit before responding "Like what?"

"Well…I'm assuming all that you've done for me, for Camelot."

Merlin lifted his head and Arthur could see the tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I can't sense her down here Arthur. Wherever the fuck this is…I can't sense her at all…" Merlin caught himself before looking away, closing his eyes. "I can't live without her Arthur…I can't live without them …"

Arthur wrapped an arm around his friend, feeling a bit awkward but knowing that his wife would be smiling to see him take this extra step.

"She's immortal though, isn't she? Plus, you protected her body with your magic. I'm sure she and the babies are fine."

Merlin gave him a long look and stared up at the dark abyss. "She is and she isn't. She can never age, she can never die at the hands of mortal weapons. But she can die…and especially our children."

Merlin than abruptly stood and paced around in a fury. "I told her not to come! If she had just listened this wouldn't be happening!"

Arthur stood and grasped his shoulders "If Morgana were true to herself, then she would have simply followed you anyway Merlin. That woman never did anything others told her regardless."

Merlin sighed, "I just want to know if she's alright, I can't do that if I don't even know where we are…"

"About that, why do you think you can't bring us back to our bodies? Surely your knowledge of the Underworld can help us here?" Arthur once more turned back to the only natural source of light here, the river.

Merlin just kept brainstorming answers in his head. "Well..." Merlin looked back at the river and sighed. "Only way to find out I guess, is to follow the river."

Arthur made sure his baton was in place, the shield was cracked…but it's the best he has.

"Let's go then, if we know those two as well as we think. Then they'll be finding their own way to us as well."

Merlin hummed "…If they're alright."

"I'm sure they are."

"You have a lot of faith."

"That surprises you?"

"…I suppose it's been too long since I've allowed myself to have such blind hope."

"It isn't blind at all; Morgana and Mordred were at one point our formidable foes. They can handle themselves surely."

"Not if Sigan has any say in it."

"…Why couldn't we see him if he was there?"

Merlin huffed "I don't know. All I can say is that he was."

"…I believe you."

Merlin looked at him with suspicion before nodding in gratitude. "Let's go."

They trailed alongside the river, hoping that at some point the landscape will change.

"You and Morgana…"

"…?"

Arthur thought of his next words carefully "I never understood at first, hell I'm still trying to understand it now. But you really love each other..."

Merlin glanced at him as they walked, wondering where he was going with this.

"She told us much about your past, both individually and together. But how did you see your relationship as? How did you even come to love her at all? When did it start?"

Merlin debated if this is really a story worth telling, but what else is he going to do while they just walk endlessly? At least Arthur is providing a decent distraction…

"Well…it all started when I first came to Camelot and saw a breathtaking woman with sharp green eyes on a balcony…"

Meanwhile

Morgana opened her eyes to see Mordred looking at her in concern. His bag was on the ground nearby, drone smashed to bits. She groaned as she sat up with Mordred urging her to take it easy.

She saw around them a much darker landscape, a bit of flames everywhere but also another river flowing into the distance.

She felt her belly just to confirm that her worst fears were false…they're okay. "Thank the goddess…" But the Goddess is gone…hell most if not all of the gods are gone. So, who's left to thank?

"Are you alright?" She heard Mordred ask.

"…We're fine."

Mordred felt relief at the confirmation that nothing happened to the twins. He doubted Merlin would have been able to forgive him.

"Where are we?" Morgana asked.

"I'm not sure." Mordred looked around the landscape, the sky above them was pitch black. But beyond that darkness has to be the top of the ravine. "This is some lower portion of the Underworld I assume."

Morgana carefully stood to her feet, wobbling a bit with Mordred keeping her steady.

"Do you need to rest a bit more?"

Morgana shook her head. "No. I want to find Merlin as soon as possible."

"I do too, but surely he'd be the first to understand if you need another moment or two to gather your bearings." Mordred said.

"Heh he really wouldn't actually."

Mordred looked at her curiously, puzzled by why she thinks that.

"Don't get me wrong, sure Merlin would make the effort to act that way on the outside. On the inside? Well…"

"…"

"…"

"…What is it Morgana?"

"…You must understand, for eons Merlin and I only truly had each other. Even in the early years following the aftermath of Camlann, any mortal friends or acquaintances we made individually or together were fleeting and temporary. We were…are each other's only source of consistency."

Mordred didn't know what to say to that. It's not like he could relate. His love for Kara seemed trivial by comparison. These two had to have truly adored one another to move beyond their past and still he married to this day…

"Some would call it unhealthy, codependency, suffocating…what the fuck do they know…?! They've never walked a meter in our shoes. The fact is, that in our lowest points we were there for each other when no one else was." Morgana stroked her stomach, trying to feel her little ones.

"You and Merlin, I've never seen a relationship like yours before." Mordred hoped this could distract her long enough for them both to gather their bearings.

"In this life of the previous?"

"…Both." Mordred admitted.

"Heh…yeah we're not exactly what most would call conventional."

"I know you said that him saving you in Salem is what sealed the deal but, how did you two manage to maintain that love for each other throughout centuries?"

Morgana blinked at her lap, trying to articulate her thoughts. "It wasn't exactly an easy process. Hence why it took centuries for us to reach that point at all. Or at least…it took me centuries to reach that point. Merlin as I told you before was in his own world at the time. His love for me was always there."

"…"

"I was just so bitter. About everything. Throughout all of my campaigns against Camelot, Merlin was Emrys my apparent destined foe. Oh you know what they say, those you love tend to hurt you the most …well truer words have never been spoken. Of course everything that he did from lying to me about both of our powers, to poisoning me, to foiling my every move, to stabbing me with Excalibur are what kept me from letting go and simply moving on."

"I remember you said that Merlin's…suicidal tendencies are what pushed you towards forgiveness?"

Morgana sighed, rubbing her bump some more. "How could I possibly hate a man worse than he hated himself?" And at times still hates himself… "After I stopped trying to maim him on sight, he always did his best to make me feel like…like I mattered. Like I was important, like despite what our fates were, that I fucking mattered…"

"…Instead of Arthur?"

"…I always came second to him. Everyone in my life at some point or another. Very few people ever put me first, but because the fates love blonde headed idiots I suppose I drew the short end of the stick. Even Morgause only brought me into her circle, because Arthur denied her thanks to Merlin's interference."

"I'm just impressed that you've both manage to remain married to this day, that your love for each other persevered over your animosity. It gives me hope."

"Hmm? With Kara?"

"She gave me her number…before I left the restaurant." Mordred blushed, causing Morgana to give a small chuckle.

"Yeah well, saying my vows on the actual wedding day was easy. It was the years leading up to it that I had struggle with."

"What do you mean?"

"I loved and hated Merlin long before I ever learned he was Emrys. I hated Emrys as soon as I learned of his existence. Then I learned they were one and the same. From you funny enough and thus I hated Merlin as a whole even more then. Then Merlin, after so much time and grinding actually melts my heart to his charms and I love him again…but I remain uncertain about Emrys."

"But I thought you no longer put any stock on what Destiny says?" Mordred asked.

"I don't. But you must understand, for so long I've only ever seen Emrys as some sort of boogeyman. Some entity that could end me if he so truly wanted. I realized at the time that if I loved Merlin, if I wanted to marry him…I'd have to accept Emrys was going to be a part of my life. I made peace with that, it was easy once I looked into the eyes of my lover around a small group of friends…"

"…But?"

"Than the war, Sigan. Fracturing Merlin's soul so severely that he split them into two different identities. It was easier to accept Emrys when he was simply part of Merlin…they were the same soul but now…"

The one they call Emrys will walk in your shadow…

"…Now he's practically a person on his own, without Merlin."

Morgana sighed, "I'm not saying I expect Emrys to suddenly want me dead…I can tell he doesn't. But…and I really hate thinking about it when I'm around Merlin but…I just can never contain my trepidation whenever I see glimpses of Emrys emerge from the depths of Merlin's outbursts. I hate giving the fates power over me, the words of that damned prophecy always seeming to come back to haunt me."

He is your destiny and he is your doom…

"I'm surprised Emrys doesn't sense this about you, I would imagine it'd be simple being able to tell you're discomfort in his presence?"

"Oh I don't doubt it, sometimes I feel as though he holds his own grudge against me because of it. It wasn't like it was easy stopping him the first time around. When Emrys decides on something, he rarely deters from it. I suppose it was a trait that he and Merlin both share. They're unshakable faith in an idea. Not wanting to question if said idea is wrong or could fail…" Morgana remembered those days, how Emrys simply dismissed her pleas and concerns. Only when she appealed to Merlin did the madness stop, if only the mortals knew just how close they were to nuclear annihilation…well actually they did but if they only knew who's fault it really was…

"Is it really that simple though? Even if they're soul is split, it can't he as if they're two completely different people?

"Look, I know that ultimately, they're both the same person. Which does make me wonder how much of what Emrys wants is what Merlin in his entirety wants? They may be split now but they both make up the entirety of who Merlin is as a single entity. Hopefully however I can finally discover the way I can undo Sigan's damage and restore Merlin to his proper self. Putting the terrors of the past behind us forever and look towards the future."

"Your family."

"This was something I had lost hope for Mordred. To say that Merlin and I have tried many times would do it an injustice."

"You fear Emrys would hurt the children?"

"Ironically that's the last thing I believe he would do. Emrys is many things but he never hurt Aithusa, Cynfab or the rest."

"It's just odd to me, for much of my life as a Druid we were taught Emrys was the hope of all magic. Clearly Merlin was a different matter. But to hear that Emrys nearly brought the world to ruin…it just seems so unreal."

Morgana said solemnly "Yeah well, that's what happens after 1500 years. At some point you just break."

"So why haven't you?"

"Oh dear Mordred, I broke long ago. Nothing tops being stuffed into a deep dark ditch with your trusted dragon contemplating if you would ever see the top again."

"Ah yes, Sarrum…" Mordred remembers that tale grimly.

"Morgana, something just tells me that Merlin and Emrys aren't so opposite as you seem to believe."

"Fine. Elaborate."

"Well, judging from all that you've said since I remembered myself, Merlin and Emrys seem to be carrying aspects of who I remember Merlin to be."

"Yes, that's what I said."

"But while you say you know they're the same soul, I can't help but always notice you seem to keep making a clear distinction between Merlin and Emrys, when really it's just Merlin."

"Okay now you've lost me."

"So 'Merlin'" Mordred used finger quotes "Seems to carry all of his more typical aspects. His compassion, his reason, his hope."

"…"

"Whereas 'Emrys' seems to carry all of Merlin's more…shall we say divine aspects. His determination, his intensity, his obsession."

"Hence why I differentiate the two Mordred. Merlin from Camelot only ever displayed those certain traits when he shed his identity as Arthur's serving boy."

"But surely it's not that there's literally now two different Merlin's?"

"I don't know, this is all really just us speculating. All this with Merlin is unprecedented, I've never encountered something like this in any time I've lived. And I worry about what might happen if Merlin's soul is never restored to its proper form."

"…Well, if there's any way I can help, please let me know."

Morgana gave him a brief smile and nodded in gratitude. "Alright, I've humored your attempts at getting me to rest long enough. It's time to move."

"Alright if you're sure. Let's see where they might be." Mordred acquiesced.

Morgana took a deep breath, as she finally felt a bit more energized. She tried to search for an obvious pathway out of here, there wasn't.

"Well, this river has to lead somewhere, doesn't it?"

Mordred looked at the ectoplasmic colored river. "I guess…"

Her mouth felt so dry, made it a bit uncomfortable to swallow.

"I'd be scared to ask if the river is drinkable…but we can't eat or drink anything here."

"I don't think that's a good idea regardless…" Mordred looked a bit green himself looking at the glowing green river.

"There's something unusual about this place…"

Mordred turned to her, seeing her concerned expression as she narrowed her eyes looking around them.

She continued "Until now, I've always felt a feint connection to my body in the physical plane. Now? It's as if I'm cut off."

"…So we're stuck here." Well that certainly put a damper on his mood.

"I'm not going to wait here and find out."

"Good to start walking?"

"Yes, let's follow the river. Hopefully wherever Merlin and Arthur are, they'll be doing something similar."

The two walked alongside the river, as the howling's of the spirits filled their ears. At some point it became background noise, as they were determined not to let this distract them.

It was easier said than done of course.

Ultimately everything just looked the same the more they put one foot ahead of the other.

"Is this a curse?! Why the fuck are we still here?!" Morgana raged as she coughed, her dry mouth even worse now.

She wasn't the only one, Mordred refrained from talking too much in an effort to control his thirst. "I can't lie…that river looks very appealing right now."

"We can't drink…"

"I know…"

At this point she didn't know if they would find the others in time before their thirst becomes unbearable.

Suddenly the voices of the river began to get louder in Mordred's ear, his pupils having a green tint to them as he stared at the running liquid.

"Mordred? What is it?"

He ignored her however; he slowly began walking to the river in question as if in a trance.

Maybe he is?

"Hey! Stop what are you doing?! Back away from there!"

To the former Druid, Morgana could have easily have been hundreds of miles away. The voices of the spirits seducing him to come closer, to make his way into the waters-!

His arm was yanked back by Morgana. "Snap out of it you fool! They're just trying to trap you here forever!"

Mordred's gaze returned to its previous clarity as he blinked, wondering how he got here and feeling his now wet legs.

"What? How did this-"

"You nearly took a dip in the river, which would have meant you inevitably getting tons of creepy spirit water down your gullet."

"…Thanks."

She sighed and glared down at the river, wanting nothing more than to boil it.

She felt Mordred tapping her shoulder. "Umm Morgana…"

"Not now Mordred I need a minute." Morgana said, seriously contemplating serious harm to this annoying body of ghoulish water.

"There's a ghost right in front of us."

Quickly Morgana followed his gaze to their right, low and behold up ahead was a small little spirit…a boy from ages ago from the looks of his chiton.

Immediately she aimed her palm at the ghost in an effort to try and attack it. However, without a rune circle it's pointless. Doesn't mean she's going down without a fight…

"Wait Morgana don't attack!"

"Has that river given you leave of your senses?!" Morgana shouted, turning back to the boy in question.

"But he isn't attacking! I think…I think he wants us to follow him…?"

Morgana rolled her eyes with gritted teeth. "That's a laugh Mordred, ha ha."

"I'm serious, look again." Mordred pointed towards the child ghost, this time Morgana reluctantly humoring the former Druid.

Low and behold…the spirit was pointing them in a direction and floating ahead of them.

"Believe me now?! We should follow him!"

Morgana weighed their options, not liking how limited they are.

"He could lead us to Merlin."

Well that settles it she supposes. Morgana sighed and relented, at the very least this will give her more time to replenish her powers in the event that she was right after all.

The spirit boy led them to what appeared to be a simple wall of obsidian that went high and beyond the pitch-black sky above them.

"This is a dead end; ugh I knew this was a waste of time!" Morgana huffed.

Mordred bit his lip, surely there was something here?!

The ghost simply phased right through the structure, giving them pause.

"Hmm…" Morgana squinted, carefully touching the rocky wall only to be shocked when her hand went right through it.

"Uhh…?" Mordred looked a bit freaked out. Morgana however tentatively walked forward, being swallowed up until she appeared on the other side.

Mordred bit his lip and took a deep breath before rushing in to follow her to a…dungeon?

At least he thinks it's a dungeon.

Torture devices on walls, racks, cells you name it.

"Well…at least we have a change of scenery…?"

Morgana snorted, she spotted the spirit by the entrance to a stairway. "I guess we're finally going up."

"Why is there a dungeon here though? Wouldn't souls just be sent to Tartarus or something?" Mordred asked as they followed the ghost up what appeared to be never ending stairs.

"Honestly? I think we're underneath Hades' palace."

Mordred looked intrigued by the thought. "How do you figure?"

Morgana nudged her arm towards the wall material "It's the same as the palace up on top was made of. And the aura emanating from them feels the same. It could be that this is where Hades keeps unwanted visitors. Maybe he held Orpheus here at some point?"

"I really hope this doesn't mean that we have to walk all the way back up…"

Morgana rolled her eyes but honestly…she didn't want to either. She was so bloody thirsty…

"So how are we going to find Merlin and Arthur? Should we stay here and look some more?" Mordred asked.

"I think going back on top and searching from there could be more beneficial, I tried to sense him earlier but something's blocking my magic. Hades has designed this place well, which leads me to believe many visitors who haven't died have made their way here to free their dead loved ones…"

"…Are we at least confident he isn't leading us to a trap?"

Morgana followed his finger pointing to the child spirit. "Weren't you the one who told me to give him a chance?"

"I know. I know. But now it just all seems a bit too convenient, it's too easy."

"Maybe. But we're running out of time. And quite frankly I'm glad to get as much distance from that damn river as possible in this damned place."

"I guess…"

Finally the stairs stopped and they entered a room.

"This isn't the top at all, hell I don't know what this room could be?" Morgana cursed as she glared at the ghost who just floated towards a drawn circle on the floor in the center of this large empty room.

The one caveat?

Blood stains, all over the circle.

"No…"

Mordred turned to the witch in confusion. "What is it?"

"That's a magical circle used to traverse through whichever realms you desire…" Morgana aimlessly explained.

"Okay…? Then shouldn't we use it? Maybe it'll help us find the others and get out of here?"

"One problem with that."

"What?"

"Blood magic."

Mordred looked shocked at the information.

"In order to use it you must offer blood…I'm assuming whatever prisoners Hades or whoever kept down here were used for that purpose…" Morgana turned to the ghost. "Is this why you've led us here? Will this lead us to our friends?"

The boy's apparition obviously couldn't speak, yet it still only stared back at her blankly.

Morgana groaned as she turned her back at the sight of the ritualistic circle.

"Morgana, I know you and Merlin don't exactly like Blood Magic…but if we can't escape back to the physical world from here, what choice do we have?"

"Look Mordred, Merlin and I made a pact with each other that we would never resort to the art of Blood Magic." Morgana stated firmly, still not looking the boy in the eye, glaring at the floor.

"I know but if you don't we're stuck here!"

"There are consequences to meddling with this!"

"Well I can't do it Morgana in case you've forgotten!"

Morgana gritted her teeth, trying to contemplate what to do!

Meanwhile

"All those times sneaking into her chambers, neither my father nor myself ever catching wind of them."

"You weren't exactly the most aware person in Camelot." Merlin teased.

Arthur scoffed "Sometimes I still wish this was all a dream. That I would wake up, Guinevere would be right next to me. You'd be obnoxiously waking me up at the crack of dawn. Even Morgana would be there, long before our lives took a turn for the worse."

"Hmm…I noticed you didn't include Uther."

"…My father had his time. I'm only sorry that I hurt you in the process of understanding that."

Merlin looked at Arthur and gave him a small smile as they kept walking close to the river.

"I don't really know what would have happened if we were caught. I'd imagine your father at the very least would have banished me if he were feeling merciful."

Arthur hummed "Of course at the time no one but he knew that Morgana was his daughter."

"So I doubt he would have felt merciful."

"…So you would have done what?"

"Well, at the time leaving Camelot would have been out of the question for me. I suppose I would have 'left' and turned myself into another form."

"Another form? Like Dragoon?"

"Yes. Or Dolma. Whichever tickled my fancy." Shrugged Merlin.

"…I still can't believe you turned yourself into an old woman. I mean I know I always called you a girl but that's just ridiculous…" Arthur snorted.

"I mean, it wasn't the only time of course."

"You seriously turned into a woman more than once?"

"Do you know how easy it is to lure people in with a smile and some wine? It was really useful to get people to diverge their secrets. Especially when you act exactly as they expect."

"Such as?"

"Well like how you always consider them to be, airy dairy damsels."

"I don't—"

"You do."

"Maybe a little but come on! The only serious women I had to worry about were either Queens or Sorceresses!" Arthur ranted.

"Sheesh, Mordred's done a good job bringing you up to speed on modern social standards."

"Oh bugger off! Why would you have needed to do those things anyway?"

"Well, during my expeditions I craved advancing my knowledge. Studying the local tales and histories of each foreign land I visited required some…persuasion. For example, the Dragons."

"The Dragons? The ones that you found in the east?"

"Indeed, they proved a challenge to find on my own, so a little spell here, some tits there, and a whole bottle of whichever the strongest alcoholic beverage was available at the time and I had those secrets prying out of the lips from all the monks out in the east."

"...I'm almost scared to ask."

"Hmm? Ask what?"

"Did you…and they…ever…?"

"Oh? No. It never got that far, nor would I have allowed it to. I always laced the drinks with a truth spell, not so severe that they'll notice something was odd but enough that they'll think it was just the alcohol loosening their tongues. I needed to be sure that they weren't spouting off nonsense after all."

"I see…"

"What is it now Arthur?"

Arthur thought about his question as they kept walking forward, not a change in scenery at all. If anything perhaps the river was glowing brighter.

"Morgana indicated that you in all your years alive, never really…mingled? Is she really the only one you've ever…made love to?"

Merlin looked a bit weirded out by the question…who wouldn't be? "She actually told you that? Goodness, does that woman have nothing else to gossip about but me?" "What's the point of being on the internet all day if not to catch up on the latest gossip or trends?" Merlin will never understand.

"…So it's true?"

"I mean…yes? Why would I do so with anyone else?" Merlin huffed.

"I mean…1500 years is a pretty long time, Morgana herself stated that she had in her words 'flings'…I just assumed that…"

"Arthur, I get that there have been secrets between us…but when have I ever shown myself to be interested whatsoever in sex?"

Arthur kept his mouth shut, blushing as he turned away from Merlin and to the river. "Well that's why I'm asking now is it?"

"Arthur, I take matters of the heart very seriously. Even if I were interested in 'mingling' as you put it. I'm a bastard in case you've forgotten. While my father never left because he wanted to, still my mother was perceived as a whore by the villagers and I ostracized as a result of that. The last thing I wanted to do was sleep with whoever was out there, and ruin their lives as well." Merlin stated firmly.

"I didn't think of it that way, it makes sense I suppose."

"Well how many women did you lie with before Gwen?"

"Huh? None!"

"Because?"

"What do you mean because? You know why!"

"Humor me."

"Ugh! Because I wanted to only be with the one I love!" Arthur never felt so embarrassed like this….wait a minute….

Oh….

"I see."

"Understand now?" Merlin asked in jest.

"All those years Merlin, and you actually believed that you and Morgana would become something more than you were?"

"Not exactly. I didn't think anything. I just knew that in my heart I would always love her. No one else compared, and thus no one else was worthy. I can't simply force myself to engage with someone when my heart simply isn't in it. I'm not Gwaine."

"Heh, heaven forbid."

"Indeed."

This felt nice, the longest they've gone since Arthur's return without either side shouting at the other. Almost like a return to form barring the obvious differences. There were still many things left unsaid, but this was good.

Now if they can just find a way out of this damn endless schism!

"You know what Tik Tok is?"

Arthur blinked at the random question.

"What the hell is that?"

"THANK YOU! Ugh I swear every other month or so for the past 30 something years have been a nightmare! The internet really can be frustrating, Morgana never leaves the annoying thing alone for longer than an hour." Merlin huffed.

Arthur finally understood what was happening, judging from Merlin's tense posture he was trying to maintain his nerve by giving out non stop distractions.

In fairness though…Arthur really doesn't know what Tik Tok is.

"I mean, while I can see how there are some benefits…I truly don't understand how people can just sit there and stare at something in their hands all day. Truly the world has gotten lazy." Arthur felt the need to point out.

Merlin smiled victoriously at his former King, nodding profusely. "I know! For the love of the gods they're hopeless, they wouldn't know the first thing about anything to do with your hands. Try taking someone from this generation to hunt. Nine times out of ten you'll find none of them know anything."

Arthur's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "What?! That's outrageous! Even the lowliest of peasants know how to pick berries let alone hunting a rabbit!"

"That's not all, they also cry over the amount of distance they need to walk. Boo hoo, I have to actually use my legs? Remind me again Arthur did we or did we not walk countless miles of forest to get to our destinations?"

"Our armies did it all the time during war." Arthur nodded.

"Hell I walked all the way from Ealdor just to reach Camelot."

"Still I would be remiss not to say that I do actually like phones. If only we had those communications back then. So much could have been a lot easier."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Actual phones? Sure. Phones, with added internet? Well if you're trying to get people lazy and useless go for it."

"I truly don't see how Morgana of all people turned out to like all these innovations." Arthur inquired.

"It's her need to be on top of everything. Imagine my shock in the 19th century and I returned home to find that she added electricity. A light bulb. 'Oh it's amazing Merlin' 'Give it a rest Merlin' 'No it isn't the start of something Merlin calm down' Wrong. Next came the cars, then the telephone, the radio, the bloody internet."

"I commend your choice to house yourself in the wilderness. I've been here for nearly a year and the city is very…suffocating."

Merlin looked at him in understanding, knowing the feeling. "It was the one thing we both agreed on wholeheartedly in the modern age of technology. She embraced them, but that didn't mean she neglected the tranquility of nature."

"...By the way, when did you learn to dance?"

Merlin turned away and coughed, before walking ahead. "Okay we're done."

"Come on Mer-lin you've been holding out on me. Had I known this I'd have had you perform in my feasts." Arthur laughed as he followed the now grumbling Warlock.

Merlin abruptly stopped, sensing something appearing…hmm so he can sense anything within this schism just not above. That answers his earlier question. This must be a prison of some kind.

"What is it?" Arthur asked as he looked around for something.

"Something's happening, I can't explain what exactly but…"

Merlin was interrupted when a flaming circle appeared in front of them.

A portal?

As the image in the circle cleared they felt relief at seeing Mordred and Morgana on the other side, the former beckoning them to come through with arm gestures.

"How did they do this?" Merlin wondered.

"Who cares, let's just leave already!" Arthur marched forward, a bit cautious once nearing the portal before finally stepping through.

Merlin tried to uncover what this spell was, it gave him a bit of a dirty feeling…

Oh well, later.

As he reached the other side, he saw Arthur and Mordred speaking to each other, trying to catch up on how the others were fairing.

He spotted his wife off to the side, with what looked to be a spirit of a child?

She didn't appear troubled by it, that's the only reason he isn't attacking it now. But her expression seems down nonetheless.

Morgana looked up, as she heard footsteps coming toward her, it was Merlin.

"Mer–"

Her face was grabbed as the Warlock kissed her breath away. It felt like they hadn't seen each other in years. She grabbed the back of his neck and pushed his mouth closer and she took command.

Idly she heard Arthur gagging, to which she quickly gave him a very recognizable finger gesture.

Well recognizable to anyone not Arthur she supposed. Poor Mordred had to explain it to him, to which Arthur huffed.

The two finally disengaged as Merlin stared deeply into her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"Thirsty as hell."

"Did you drink?"

"No. Mordred nearly did though."

"Sounds like you've had it worse than."

"...In a way I guess."

"How did you manage to summon a portal here? It must have taken all your power." Merlin caressed her belly as he tried to feel if their children were doing well. Feint auras, what a relief.

"..."

"Morgana? What's wrong?"

The witch simply sighed as lifted her right sleeve, a fresh cut.

Merlin blinked then turned to the circle and saw all the blood stains around it, some dry, and some fresh.

"...I see."

"I'm sorry, I know we promised each other we would never resort to blood magic. I really tried to find another way but we were running out of time and I-"

Merlin placed a finger on her lips, halting her words.

"Are you okay?"

"What?"

"Are you hearing any demons trying to pierce your mind?"

"No. No I haven't."

"Fascinating…"

Huh? "What? Aren't you angry?"

"Angry?"

"Yes! The way you were angry at Camelot for drowning in it!"

"My dear, I was angry at them because they held no regard for themselves and others. Always indulging the temptations of any demonic entity so they can get ahead. I wanted us to make the pact because I feared what could happen if we gave in. Why would I ever be angry at you for resisting a demon's empty promises?"

"...But I didn't."

"...?"

"I never heard them at all Merlin, I just did it."

Merlin now looked as startled and confused as she felt. How is this possible?

The spirit however began to butt in, its astral hand stopping just a bit before Morgana's belly.

"You mean they stopped it?" Merlin asked the spirit. Morgana's eyes bulged, not only at the insulation that their children prevented Demons from tempting her…but is Merlin actually talking to this ghost?

"Really?! Incredible!" Merlin kneeled down to the child's level but the spirit didn't actually say anything.

"...Is he alright?" Arthur asked.

Oh right Arthur and Mordred are here too, Morgana turned to them and shrugged.

"Hmm, I have much to ponder on, my friend. Thank you dear boy." Merlin smiled at the spirit who then floated off to a section of the room.

"...Um Merlin?" She asked tentatively.

"Hmm?"

"You want to explain why in the world you're talking to a ghost that can't talk back?" Arthur barked.

"Huh?" Merlin looked back at all of them confused. "What are you on about? He literally just spoke."

"What?!" All three shouted.

"Are you all daft in the head or something?" Merlin muttered, earning himself a smack to the arm by Morgana.

"Merlin we didn't hear anything, I literally tried talking to that kid earlier and all I got was blank." She explained.

Merlin crossed his arms and looked genuinely surprised by this. "So none of you can hear him speak?"

"No you idiot! That's why we're asking how you can." Arthur rolled his eyes.

"How should I know? I can simply understand him, I don't have an explanation for it." Merlin huffed.

"So, the spirit who attacked us earlier…you understood them too? They spoke to you?" Mordred asked curiously.

"They had some really colorful language." Merlin nodded.

"Damnit Merlin! All this time you could speak to ghosts?! Don't you think that would have been useful to know?!" Arthur barked.

"Again you prat! How was I supposed to know you couldn't understand them?! All along I simply assumed everyone could hear them. It's not my fault they like me more! Sheesh it's like if I asked you how do you breathe! You just do!" Merlin looked pretty childish at this moment Morgana had to admit. Still the news that Merlin can commune with spirits can finally work to their advantage.

"Soooo what exactly did you two talk about?" Morgana had to know how no demons pestered her.

Merlin smiled beautifully at…her belly? "It's them. They protected you."

"...Really?" Morgana held her midsection as she felt their tiny auras deep within her. Her children kept her safe?

"The child said that children's souls are innocent, far too pure for any demon to be near let alone try to possess." Merlin explained.

"So if I weren't pregnant…?"

"I'm afraid your experience would have been quite different…still I like to think you would have persevered. You're far too brilliant to be swayed by some gremlin looking to wear your body like a new suit of clothes." Merlin bragged.

Morgana laughed, goodness he was something else sometimes.

"Great, no need to fight demons. But how do we get out of here?" Arthur groaned.

"Oh, our friend there is right by our exit route." Merlin pointed to the spirit, still floating in his little corner of the room.

"Does he actually have a name?" Mordred asked as they made their way to the spirit.

Merlin looked sad as he denied it. "Unfortunately spirits rarely if ever recall their true identities when they were alive. This boy is one of them. All he recalls are his two friends, one made in life, the other in death."

Morgana had to agree, that was sad. Did that apply for all who were dead in every religion's version of the afterlife? She knew that those who made it across the veil still retained some knowledge. But did that still apply?

If she were to ever commune with Morgause's spirit would she even remember her own name?

Merlin once more looked to the spirit to which nodded affirmatively, enabling Merlin to place his hand on a certain spot in the wall and push forward. A mechanism activated thus revealing a hidden room with yet another portal. This time a purplish flame, inside the portal's center it appeared to be the front of Hades' palace.

"Well, right back to where we started." Arthur said.

"..." Merlin's silence was deafening to the others, remembering his freak-out earlier.

Back to Cornelius Sigan.

If only they understood that he wasn't hallucinating…

Or was he…?

Hades Palace Exterior

They made it out of the portal in one piece with the spirit among them. Merlin and Morgana both relished in feeling their connections to their physical bodies once more out in the physical plane.

"Goodness, I thought we'd never escape from there." Mordred wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"I think I actually miss McDonalds…" Arthur muttered, making Mordred snicker.

Merlin was extending his senses to search the surrounding area for any trace of Sigan. That bastard had to still be here! How long were they even unconscious down there?!

He felt Morgana's hand on his shoulder. "Look I know what you're thinking…but it wasn't just wind that knocked us down into the schism Morgana. It was Sigan. I know it was."

Morgana bit her lip, she can't deny she felt something ominous at the time. But she also didn't know if that automatically meant it was Cornelius Sigan. For all she knew it was simply some kind of defense left behind by Hades. "Well look, even if he was here, we still have a job to do. Let's see if he still isn't inside, that pitchfork needs to be secured."

Merlin steadied his breathing. Fine. These damn memories are always going to pester him it seems. He just has to try and push through them and not let them overwhelm him when the time comes.

The spirit floated through the massive door, clearly telling them to follow.

"Alright, well I guess we could always spell our way in?" Morgana suggested.

Merlin shook his head "Conserve your power, let's just do this the old fashioned way."

"Why Merlin are you suggesting you'll be pushing the door open? With those arms?" Arthur teased.

"No. We will."

That took the wind out of the King's sails. "...Are you sure you can't just…" Arthur wiggled his fingers, clearly implying using magic.

"No Arthur, Morgana's magical prowess is already being tested due to her pregnancy…and my own is…" Merlin stopped before he said too much…not wanting to think about it now.

"Alright well, we're wasting time. If we're doing this let's get to it already." Morgana along with Mordred went to the door and began to push with Arthur and Merlin following.

"Bloody hell…it's like pushing a mountain…!" Arthur groaned.

"You…pushed a…mountain before?!" Mordred asked.

"...Shut up!"

"Can you…BOTH shut up…?!" Morgana grunted as finally the damn door began to open, their combined strength forcing their way through.

The inside seemed vastly bigger than the exterior of the palace. No doubt some work of Divine Magic holdovers from Hades.

Their little ghost friend floated there, awaiting them as the made their way further inside.

Nothing so extravagant as one would expect from a God's place of power. Not too dissimilar from your typical Greek Temple. Black flames lit the entire temple, right in the center of the main floor a bronze statue of what must have been what the real Hades looked like.

"Well…he at least looks the part of a god…" Mordred mumbled.

"Well now where do you think he stored his weapons?" Morgana wondered.

"Well judging from the way the apparition is looking towards beyond the statue, I'd wager it's about there." Arthur pointed to the spirit.

"Nice usage of common sense Arthur."

"Jealous?"

"Of you? Maybe if I've lost all self respect."

"What makes you think you had any to begin with?"

"W—"

"-Children please!"

Both siblings turned to Mordred who pointed to Merlin who was making his way towards the spirit, heading to a small hallway not far from behind Hades' statue.

"Can we finally move already?" Mordred was really unimpressed.

If both Pendragon's blushed they certainly didn't admit it, nor both of them huffing and marching onwards trying to get ahead of the other to Merlin.

Mordred sighed, why does he have to be the responsible one? HE'S the youngest!

Merlin was simply focusing his senses throughout the entire palace. Over, under, forward, back, this plane and another. Anything to indicate if Sigan is still here. He senses his power…but isn't sure about the madman himself.

Turning to his spiritual companion to his left he asked "So the place you're leading us to, is that where we'll find Sigan?"

The boy turned back and Merlin felt his response.

"I see. Well I can't be surprised you don't know who I'm talking about, of course you wouldn't…" He feels like each time he closes in, Sigan just jumps out of reach.

Not even the commotion he hears behind him can lighten his mood.

"What are they even arguing about? Is now really the time for this?" Merlin snorted when he kept hearing the back and forth between his wife and Arthur. It's somewhat baffling how they managed to find themselves into a similar rhythm to their early years prior to Morgause's interference. Let alone the fates.

He felt Mordred walk in lockstep with him as he turned to the old druid in curiosity. To which Mordred just shook his head and rolled his eyes. At least he wasn't alone in his thinking.

As they moved Merlin noticed how the walls and floor looked damaged and filthy. Dark magic oozing out from the crevices and cracks. Well at least that answered Merlin's earlier question, Sigan is still here.

Morgana stopped her berating of Arthur when she felt a chill, her arms getting goosebumps. "I don't like this feeling…I really hope your new best friend knows what he's doing Merlin…"

Merlin looked again at the ghost in question who pointed ahead of them.

Hades' throne room.

But wow, it certainly hasn't lasted the test of time. The only thing that still firmly stood was the throne of skulls.

They also weren't alone here.

"Merlin…you could have mentioned there was a giant three headed dog here…" Arthur whispered not wanting to attract said beast who was laying on the floor not paying them any mind.

"Cerberus…" Merlin said in awe, the fabled hound of Hades. He survived…or is it they? Are they all different heads or do they share a soul?

"But who's that?" Mordred pointed to the hound's right.

Morgana squinted as she saw the boy spirit float toward the beast, as they looked closer they finally saw yet another spirit by the hounds' side. A girl who appeared to have been wearing a tunic during her life, with her right arm and shoulder left bare. Signal of a slave.

Merlin moved closer as the two spirits hugged, gazing at each other before turning to Merlin, gesturing him over. The Warlock made his way over to them with his companions on his trail, crouching down to them his eyes seemed to loosen from their hard edges as he got the message.

"Cerberus is their friend. They've played with him ever since Hades faded from this realm." Merlin told them.

Morgana looked at the two spiritual children in a look that can only be described as somewhat hypnotic. "Who's the girl?"

"Neither of them remember her name either. They've just stuck together ever since they first met in Elysium."

Arthur didn't particularly care about these dead kids so much as he was hoping this…very large dog wouldn't burst forth and devour them. "So why do we care? Why did they bring us here?"

Merlin gazed upon the creature again, Cerberus looked so muzzled. As if he weren't comfortable in his own skin… "…They want us to set him free."

The others stared at Merlin like he was daft. Which okay fair enough, suggesting bringing that three headed monstrosity back with them to the physical world probably doesn't sound very sane…

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that please?"

"Uhh Merlin maybe we shouldn't?"

"…" Morgana was hardly paying any attention, still focusing on the spirits. A boy and a girl, the fates must think they're so hilarious. She held her belly firmly, wondering if her children will be the type to befriend extraordinary creatures such as Cerberus?

Then again they'll have Dragon siblings…

"Did they at least say what's keeping him here?" Mordred asked.

Merlin shook his head "They say he's never been the same since Hades kicked the bucket. And that unless his essence is free from what tethers him here he cannot leave the Underworld."

"Are you really going to do this? Where are you going to keep him?"

Merlin hummed as he laid his hand on one of Cerberus' snouts. The downtrodden beast blinked as it stared at Merlin. Sniffing his hand before leaning in further, Merlin's calming aura soothing all of its heads.

"Ah so each head does have its own personality? Fascinating."

The other two heads peered down and tried to force their way into being petted as well.

"Yes, yes I'll free you my friends. You've all been here long enough."

?

"Has the string shown us the way?"

"Indeed it has Sister."

"The pieces are in place."

"The Dark One knows his role."

"Unlike others."

"Now then—"

"Let the punishment commence."

Three pairs of eyes glowed as their will manifested…

Hades' Throne Room

Merlin's head began to throb as he gripped both sides of it, clenching his eyes shut as he groaned at the pain.

Cerberus felt the shift and began to growl as the heads sniffed around.

"Merlin?!" He could hear the others calling him, but when he opens his eyes he can only focus on what's in front of him.

Sitting on Hades' throne was none other than Cornelius Sigan himself, looking at him with that smug smirk on his face.

"Merlin?!" Arthur shouted.

"…" Merlin tried to tough out the pounding but it was easier said than done!

"Grrrrr!" Merlin turned wide eyed at Cerberus who was barking at the maniacal sorcerer.

"What's going on with him?!" Morgana didn't know if she should be worried about having to fight this outrageously large hound or not.

"Cerberus…you see him too?" Merlin's voice was full of hope. Hope that he truly hasn't gone mad.

The others however just grew alert at his words.

"See who?" Arthur barked.

"You see him again?" Mordred deduced.

Cerberus wasn't the only one however, the spiritual children also took positions beside Merlin. Both looked at Sigan's form with a certain bravery that inspired the old Warlock. The pounding ceased, he took a deep breath and steadied his resolve.

Glaring at the object of all that went wrong with him this past century, he's ready for whatever tricks he'll pull.

"Look you three, you may not be able to see him as we can. But he's here. I promise you he's here! He's here and if we don't stop him now we'll suffer for it later!"

Morgana bit her lip, she definitely feels that same ominous presence from earlier. This time however she's just going to have trust in her gut...and in Merlin.

"We won't." She got in closer and prepared herself, grateful to have recovered some more of her reserves of magic.

Arthur and Mordred felt like they were out of their depth, for the former how can he fight someone he can't see? The latter, without his magic and gadgets busted how can he be useful here?

Cornelius simply maintained his nonchalant attitude as he sneered at Merlin, looking like this was all a joke. The Dark One stood from the Throne and turned his gaze to Cerberus whose barking intensified.

The three headed dog looked ready to leap forward.

"Cornelius, I've felt like I've been chasing after riddles following in your footsteps...I don't know why the Conjunction matters to you nor why you even bothered trying to salvage whatever it is you found here…but it won't matter once I put an end to your madness!" Merlin's eyes turned from blue to gold as he tried to gather his power.

Morgana coughed "We. We will put an end to your madness."

"Heh, yeah."

This knocked the non mages of the team out of their loop as they simply looked around for any weapon, there were some spears and daggers around the floor, looked damaged but those would have to do.

Cornelius Sigan ignored their words however as his smirk turned into an toothy grin. He rose from the throne and from there, Merlin can see it - plain as day - hanging from his waist by some bindings.

It wasn't Hades' Pitchfork at all, or any weapon of the old God's...

"…Pandora's Pithos…"

Everyone stared at Merlin in confusion.

"What the hell are you on about?" Arthur's nerves were acting up as he felt a cold chill in the air.

"Pandora's box..." Morgana muttered.

"But weren't we here for a weapon of Hades?" Mordred asked as the hound kept barking up at the throne.

"We were wrong...I was wrong...and now we're fucked." Merlin knew that hope...the literal emotion was now in Sigan's clutches.

To add to his horror, Sigan's body began to dissipate into black smoke and quickly vanished entirely as the smoke entered Cerberus!

All three heads howled as they're red fur turned dark brown, yellow eyes turning their pupils into slits. Cerberus' very body now oozes with dark magic.

The entire palace was trembling, the sheer ferocity of their howls was going to bring the place down!

"Look out!" Merlin knocked Morgana out of the way, while Arthur grabbed Mordred and moved to the other side of the room, dodging some debris that fell from the crumbling ceiling.

"Are you two alright?!" Mordred shouted, the howling was drumming his ears.

Morgana looked up from the floor as she saw Merlin clutching his arm.

Blood.

"Shit! Merlin you're hit!"

Merlin huffed "It doesn't matter now! We need to subdue Cerberus! Free him from Sigan's control!"

"You think our magic will last long enough without any shenanigans this time?!" Morgana asked frustratingly as she shakingly stood, trying not to let Cerberus' howls affect her too much by shielding her ears with magic.

Merlin gritted his teeth as he tried to brainstorm a plan. As if they felt his frustration the spirits floated towards them, the mages felt their magical reserves replenish.

"You two, what…?" Morgana clenched and unclenched her hands, she felt great. Like she could run a marathon. Two marathons! "How did they…?!" Her bones were regaining their strength against the ferocity of the rumbling.

"They offered a portion of their essence to us…they want us to save Cerberus no matter what!" Merlin used his newfound energy to shield everyone's ears from the noise and bones from the sheer vibrations of Cerberus' howling.

Arthur felt some relief, however now the beast has their sights set on them.

At last the three headed hound ceased his roar, and prepared to pounce. All six eyes however aimed squarely at Merlin, who gritted his teeth as he tried to quickly think of a way to free him from Sigan's influence.

"Merlin! Get back!" Morgana's voice brought him back as she magically pulled him over to her to dodge Cerberus' leap, ground rumbling as he landed.

"Alright, this at least is somewhat familiar!" Arthur gripped his spear and charged at the beast, one of the heads turned his it's way to the once King and growled. Mordred took the chance to regroup with Merlin and Morgana, the former looking inquisitive while the latter was trying her best to aid Arthur from a distance by enchanting his clothing to withstand great force.

"Please tell me you have a plan Merlin?!"

"I think so…" The spirits went to Merlin as they quickly communicated. "I'm going to try and expel Sigan's influence from him, but the second I do Cerberus will undoubtedly do everything in his power to stop me. I need you all to keep him off my back until I'm ready!"

Morgana grunted as she felt Cerberus pushing back against her magic, Arthur performing surprisingly well all things considered. Not having been hit once so far, dodging the hounds' swipes and bites however it remains to be seen how much longer he can hold up. Especially since the spear is barely doing much in terms of damage.

"Fine Merlin! But do make it quick, I'd rather not become minced meat for an overgrown pet!" Morgana spoke an incantatio, bringing forth the debris Cerberus caused to charge right back at him. Saving Arthur from being swatted away with his tail.

"We're counting on you Merlin, do your best!" Mordred then went off to give Arthur some assistance. Though he doesn't know what his lowly dagger can do against this behemoth. Cerberus' other head barked as it noticed him on his way and once again howled, shaking the entire throne room as the roof of the palace was beginning to be nonexistent.

Mordred tripped as he lost his balance, bracing himself for the pain that was to come. When he felt none however, he looked up to see the crumbled stone hovering in the air and launching towards Cerberus. He turned his gaze to Morgana's golden eyes turn his way, nodding at him.

Arthur dragged him up by the elbow "Stay focused, he's coming back for more!"

Mordred clenched his dagger tightly as he got an idea, "Arthur! Listen…!"

Arthur heard Mordred's plan and got in position to execute it, dropping his spear to crouch down while Mordred got behind him, taking Arthur's weapon for himself and waiting for the right moment.

Cerberus' heads roared as they began charging toward them, Morgana's attacks not doing much to slow him down.

"Morgana! I know you can hear me! When you see me make my move! Give me a boost!" Mordred alerted the witch.

Morgana's focused gaze turned towards him and back at Cerberus, indicating she's ready.

"Arrrggghhh!" Cerberus' growling was getting louder as he was nearly about to ram through them.

"Anytime would be lovely!" Arthur shouted.

Mordred took a deep breath and hopped onto Arthur's back, before jumping again as Cerberus got within distance and leaped off into the air. He felt a boost thanks to Morgana's magic lifting him to greater heights as he landed on the hounds back, stabbing it with his spear.

Arthur jumped out of the way as Cerberus ran straight towards the other end of the throne room, trying to shake off Mordred like a pesky flea. Mordred was wondering that perhaps this may not have been the best plan he had…he only seems to be making Cerberus angrier…

All while this was happening, the spirits kept a defensive perimeter around Merlin as he prepared his ritual. " Yr enaid tlawd hwn o'i rwymau a'i rhyddhaodd Evie awr!"

"First things first, I need to sever what tethers him to the Underworld." Merlin's spell then briefly froze Cereberus, halting his assault on Arthur while trying to shake off Mordred.

Morgana felt what Merlin was trying to do, and used this as an opportunity to bring Arthur and Mordred to her. Levitating them over quickly as Merlinfelt something snap free.

The spell keeping Cerberus trapped here for millennia is at last gone.

Now to actually save the damned dog…

"Great Merlin, now how about actually pacifying it?!" Morgana gritted as she felt the boost from their spiritual friends beginning to wane. The longer this dragged on the worse their position is.

"I'm…working…on it…!" Merlin's veins popped on his forehead as his golden eyes remained focused on the three headed hound.

Cerberus' demeanor however seemed less fiery and more cold. Eye glowing red and body emitting shadowy dark gas. He leaped high into the air now devoid of a roof to stop his momentum, and slammed back down. Knocking over everyone but Merlin who was kept in place by the ghostly children. He too felt their boost beginning to lose its potency.

"Damnit!"

Arthur looked a bit dazed as he looked down to see Morgana on top of him, he managed to catch her from falling. Mordred wasn't so lucky but he appeared to be alright. The boy in question used the spear to rise from the ground. Morgana with Arhtur's help got back up.

"Merlin…!" Arthur called out

"I need more time!" Merlin shouted back, focusing on the correct runes that need to be called upon. Glyphs appear in the air around him, all focusing on Merlin's magic.

Morgana glared at the beast, maybe dogs weren't her thing? She can't afford to play it safe anymore.

"Give me some space."

Arthur turned to her as he sidestepped a bit closer toward Mordred, who looked rather beaten from the joyride on Cerberus he took earlier.

Morgana's golden eyes stared at the now composed Cerberus in rage. "Trydanwch y bwystfil hwn â'm holl lid!"

Electricity emerged from her hands as she focused all of her power on hurting the savage creature. Cerberus growls at its impact on its hide, all three heads barking before they slowly began to power through her attack.

"Ugh! I think I'm starting to know how this thing became Hades' favorite pet!" Morgana grunted out.

Arthur turned to Mordred, who looked like he was close to collapsing again and dragged him to the wall. "Rest a moment, you're no use to us this way." Drawing a snort from the former Druid.

Arthur grabbed the spear once more and took aim, hoping his skill at javelin throwing can translate to this. He let loose and tossed it toward his target.

It hit the middle head's left eye…

Cerberus' roar was immense, the electric shocks now starting to seep through at the hounds' momentary breach of defense.

"You did it!" Mordred shouted in glee.

Arthur's frown turned upward a bit before being wiped away just as quickly.

Yeah no…he's mad.

Cerberus now with only 5 eyes and as for the 6th…the spear pulled itself out of the now bloodied eye socket and the eye itself regenerated…

"How…?!" Morgana was so stunned that she halted her attack.

Big mistake.

Cerberus charged forward with a speed far faster than he ever showed before, Arthur was too slow to react as the hound bit his leg and dragged him around, banging him against the walls and floor. Up, down, left, right, it was very fortunate that Morgana blessed Arthur's closes to be protected, for Cererbus' teeth had yet to penetrate through his leg.

"Arthur! Hold on!" Morgana charged up a fire spell and launched a stream just as Cerberus was about to pass across her. Cerberus however then tossed Arthur her direction, causing her to gasp as the fire burnt Arthur's back which destroyed the enchantment protecting his rear.

"Rrggh" Arthur grit his teeth as he bit back a scream.

"Shit! Sorry!" She couldn't afford to mutter a healing spell right now, not with Cerberus staring her down as if it was licking its chops to make her his meal.

From its mouth, it shot forth dark flames and at high speeds. She quickly dodged and kept running around the now destroyed throne room, hoping to find some opening as she saw Mordred back on his feet, getting Arthur out of the action.

"How the hell is he able to use spells?!" Morgana shouted at her very very slow husband!

By now Merlin was surrounded in a circle of runes and glyphs, each different color and each powered up. "It's Sigan's dark magic! He's fighting us through Cerberus!"

"I don't particularly care who it is, only that I really don't like dogs!" Morgana had one idea left, doing so would take what was left of her energy. She concentrated on the ground between her and Cerberus as the beast charged to her.

"Come on…come on…" "Suddwch y bwystfil hwn o dan y llaid!"

Cerberus then stumbled as all its paws were caught on the ground. The stone beneath them now turned into a muddy grainy texture.

Quicksand…

Cerberus' three heads barked as he tried to pull his way out, which only made things worse for the three headed hound.

Morgana was huffing, down to her knees as she tried to refrain from being down for the count. She was starting to feel the dizziness that plagued her earlier return with a vengeance…

"Morgana!"

The witch's eyes widened as she was shoved out of the way. She turned around to see Mordred now unconscious, his shirt now torn and burnt from what appeared to be another use of dark flames from Cerberus.

"Grrrrghghgh!" Cerberus prepared to unleash another blast this time from all three heads.

"Merlin…I really hate you…" Morgana muttered.

The three balls of flames were ready to burst forth until they extinguished with Cerberus freezing, a small whining sound from deep in their throats.

Morgana narrowed her eyes, before realizing what was happening. Confirming her theory, she saw Merlin at last performing the exorcism ritual.

The runes and glyphs around him kept shining intensely as they now flew straight toward Cerberus and encircled him, constantly spinning.

"Diarddel y grym tywyll sy'n gwenwyno ei feddwl ac Evie rhyddhau ei gorff!" Merlin's golden eyes glowed towards the hound as his incantation empowered the symbols and expelled the dark magical influence from Cerberus immediately.

By now Arthur sat up and saw as Morgana the fearsome hounds body ejecting all of Sigan's magic from its pore, its red eyes ceasing their glow and returning to a gentle simmer.

Merlin glared at the foul magic evaporating into nothingness, swearing that he could see Sigan's smug smirk eerily as it dissipated away.

The spirits circled around Cerberus who was still trapped in the quicksand but a quick glance from Merlin freed him.

The warlock fell to his knees, this really was his worst performance yet…

He felt the presence of Morgana in front of him as she joined him on the ground.

"Merlin…your hands!"

Merlin grimaced as he looked at the now charred limbs, they're practically coal now.

"Nothing that won't heal…"

"I don't recall you ever getting hit by any attacks! How did this happen?!" Morgana didn't want to touch them for fear of causing him pain but was she supposed to just leave them like this?! She already spent the last of her reserves to trap Cerberus.

"The ritual…took more effort than I had thought."

"Truly?"

"It makes sense, a literal deity bound Cerberus here. I was quite fortunate to be in a position to even attempt to break the hold let alone actually doing it." Merlin turned to his wife who looked as though she came out of a war. Similar to himself when…

Nevermind.

"...I noticed you were using incantations." She whispered.

"..."

"You rarely ever use incantations for spells…you don't need to."

"...!" Merlin's frustration was building up as he turned away, rising to his feet. He knew that already! But best to bite his tongue less Morgana make a bigger deal out of this than he wants to hear right now.

"Merlin-"

"Not now please, let's just go home."

Morgana looked annoyed at his effort to delay the conversation, but then Cerberus came up to him and all three heads gave him a nice lick. That at the very least brought a smile back to Merlin's face, rubbing the central head affectionately.

Arthur meanwhile carried an unconscious Mordred, though careful to avoid any strain on his back. Hopefully no permanent damage happened…but this only reminded him how close to death he must have come to during the numerous magical foes that had plagued Camelot. Merlin must have been so exhausted defending him in secret…

"I can't be this useless again…I hardly did anything…"

The boy and girl spirit both turned to all of them each showing smiles on their faces. Merlin gave them one in return as he nodded his sight. Morgana looked at them with a melancholic look.

"We'll take care of him…I promise." Merlin swore.

The boy bowed while the girl turned to Morgana's belly and to her face. She nudged the boy and pointed at her, whatever she told him he agreed.

"Yeah, I'll tell her. You both get some rest, you've more than earned it."

The children waved goodbye as their spirits faded back into the domain of all the accomplished souls of the Underworld - Elysium.

"What did they say?" Morgana needed to know.

"Well, first they thanked us for saving Cerberus and to ensure he never feels lonely again."

Morgana looked toward the hound, looking a lot more relaxed with two of its heads sticking their tongues out while the third is sniffing around Merlin and occasionally licking him. Which means Merlin is definitely drenched in dog saliva…

Gross.

Arthur came over with Mordred still out of it. Morgana was grateful for the boy, hopefully it won't be too long before she can heal him. Though now that everything is over she can't help but recall their last discussion…

Telling Merlin how she really feels about Emrys…

Morgana sighed. "Later."

"We failed."

The siblings turned toward Merlin in confusion as he specified "Cornelius has Pandora's Pithos, we arrived too late. Now he's gone, gone to who the hell knows where…with all the world's hope in his hands..."

Morgana grimaced "We still don't even know what his plan is. What the hell does this madman want?" It was frustrating how all this was for nothing in the end.

Arthur grimaced. "We'll have another chance, it's important that we remain vigilant until then. For now we really should be getting back…but how on earth are you going to be hiding this…dog from literally anyone with eyes?"

"A glamour spell of course, nothing like a good ol' illusion to make mortals view him as a normal hound. I'll settle it when we're back in the physical plane."

"...Yeah forget I asked."

Morgana snorted at that. But there was one thing left that Merlin needed to make clear. "What was the other thing they said?"

Merlin stopped as he gave her a soft smile. "That you'll be an amazing mother."

Morgana, with a smile of her own hopes that's true, she really does.

Merlin had them lay a hand on him and Mordred via Arthur, concentrating all of his focus until finally they left the blasted Greek hellscape behind.

Of course hell was already on earth…isn't that the saying?

*Sorry for the long wait, college has been kicking my ass...I hate calculus haha*

Poor Cerberus...but hey at least he'll make a fine pet for the kiddies

But umm yeah...the ramifications of this little adventure will be felt soon

So as you noticed there's artwork...I'm trying stuff out. AI art isn't perfect but it's just to give the general idea. If you prefer me just posting links instead of the images in the actual chapter just let me know :)

Thanks for reading guys! Please leave a comment if you have any thoughts or suggestions :D