Dead.
Dead.
Dead.
They are dead.
All of them.
Arthur.
Merlin.
Lancelot.
Who was that old woman?
Who was that dark haired man?
But they all are dead.
Dead.
So many people.
Dead.
Beside the dark lake.
In front of the old ruined castle.
When the morning came, they were all dead.
Dead.
Dead…
Morgana woke up screaming. She couldn't stop screaming. The vision was too much for her. She couldn't calm down when Gwen came. She didn't hear Gaius' calming voice. When Uther came, she was deep in sleep. Drugged.
"Gaius, you have to tell me what is wrong with her." Uther asked. He looked so worried. Gaius knew that he hadn't slept well either after Arthur left. And now Morgana. Gaius looked at Gwen who covered Morgana carefully under the blanket.
"I think… " He hesitated.
"It's about Morgause." He whispered finally.
()
What they saw was something they saw only in the darkest nightmares. It was something that no one should have to see while they were still alive. Or even in death. It was not a creature of this world, Gwaine thought. This creature had come from somewhere else, where nightmares were born. A world where no living being could not meet it's eye. He felt a desire to run away. He wanted to scream and blind himself of the horrid sight. But he was transfixed with terror. He could not take his eyes off of it. He did not notice his sword was posed in his grasp. Then he heard a low whisper behind him.
"Merlin." Arthur had risen. More blood dripping off him, he passed Gwaine. Gwaine reached his hand toward him, but Arthur just stepped forward. He walked toward the beach, as if in a trance. Deep within his soul, Gwaine felt terror, but when his eyes met what Arthur had already seen, he felt his heart dropped into his stomach. Merlin.
The monster was holding the lifeless body tightly in its tentacles. For some reason, Gwaine felt his inner wrath rear its ugly head and defeated the fear inside of him. Merlin. Harmless Merlin, who didn't hurt anyone. Why did he have to suffer so? Gwaine dimly realized that the Lancelot and Percival were at his side, that they all followed Arthur.
"Merlin!" Arthur roared.
Heather watched, and she saw something she had never seen before. When she had, a year earlier, met those two young men, she was foreseeing something. But now she saw it very clearly. She saw how courageous they were, how willing they were to fight on behalf of each other until the death. But she also knew that without help, they would all be dead and the whole of Albion's fate would be at stake. She could not let these young lives be wasted. Shee could not allow it. Their destiny was elsewhere. They had a destiny to be fulfilled.
Heather lifted up her hands and closed her eyes. She unleashed all of her magic in a series of words from her lips. She had never thought that this could happen. Even though she was one of the greatest high priestess of the old religion, she had never thought to ask for help from the old gods. But this was the doings of the old ones, they would have an obligation to hear her call, and receive her sacrifice.
"Gehīeran mē mihtig Cocidius! Ic, Heather Britannius, ācīgan ēow! Āgiefan ūs helpan hand!Swā þæt wē mæg þās feorhbealu, hwā ēow hwīlum inseglung be hēr! Lǣtan ēower gefeccan gerestan. Lǣtan mīn geoffrian gefeccan sige niman!"
Her voice carried across the land and the waters, reaching out to every forest creature that had covered their ears when they heard the evil rising from the lake. They heard the call and relayed it forward. Until it reached to whom it was intended, and raised him from a long sleep. Heather opened her eyes, feeling someone standing in front of her. Cocidius.
You have called me.
"Please, help us, because he has awakened." Heather said.
The old god turned to look at the lake where time had stopped momentarily.
Who is the dead one?
"Myrddin Emrys." Heathear whispered.
How convenient. You know the price priestess.
"Yes, and I'm accepting it."
The old god studied her momentarily.
Very well. I will lend my power to help him.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
The old god nodded and vanished.
Mother?
Heather turned to see a young man who stretched out his hand toward her.
"Now?"
Yes mother. Now.
Heather smiled and without looking back, she grabbed her son's hand, forgetting the world of living.