Thanks for all the reviews. I know you were all eagerly anticipating the next chapter seeing as how I left you on a cliffie, so I've updated quickly… In a manner of speaking. Don't be too mad at me for dragging this thing out. I didn't have time to write more today.
There's not much, I'm not sure if it worked, and either way you are most likely going to hate me. I was actually in two minds about whether to split the next part like this, even before I posted the last chapter and I have done despite my reservations. I've probably just made things a lot worse for you.

Chapter 15

The pale rippling glow of sunlight grew fainter and fainter as Merlin sank deeper through the icy green water of the swamp. He struggled, trying to reach the surface and the sweet taste of air as it grew increasingly distant. But his attempts were all futile. It was as if the swamp itself were alive, or at least under the control of a living mind – or perhaps, more likely, a dead one. He could feel the water compressing him, pushing down on him from above. Down and down to the same shadowy depths from which the singing came.

Surely, there must be some form of magic he could use to get himself out of this, but Merlin's oxygen-starved brain was unable to think. As black weeds crept upwards from out of the gloom, twisting painfully around his arms and legs and pulling, Merlin tried instinctively to sever them. He managed one or two, before his magic would no longer come. He could hear his heart thumping in his chest. Its beat had slowed as he entered the cold water, trying to keep him alive as long as possible, but it was little use. His bursting lungs screamed to him that. He only knew one thing; he was going to die. He was dying.

As he begun to accept this, Merlin could see his life trickling away from him; bubbles streaming to the surface towards the distant light. Soon there would be a light for him to follow. Maybe he would see his father again, and Freya.

No, he didn't want to think like that. He was not afraid, but he didn't want to die. He didn't want to die like this.

Drifting downwards, He thought of his mother and of Gaius and wished he could have said goodbye. He thought of kind Gwen and of Morgana, so strong and yet so lost. His betrayal of her trust still tore him up inside. And of course, he thought of Arthur, his coin's other half. Arthur who needed him to wash his socks, clean his room, and save his life time after time because a hero cannot always save himself. Arthur who needed him now.

He couldn't leave them all. Not like this, without reason.

But he could feel himself leaving, as his body gave one last cry for help. He was going. As his mind grew blank and his vision darkened, his last thought was the certainty that he had, in fact, gone.

* * *

Far above him, Arthur lay back, eyes closed. His head was reclined on a pillow of thick brown mud and water softly lapped at his legs. He rested peacefully, blissfully unaware of the horrors around him.

To the rear of his head, his horse lay, struggling pitifully, but with little strength remaining. The poor creature had been overcome by the mysterious black weed, which twisted round its body and every limb, even burrowing into its flesh. It cried out in pain as the plant's limbs recoiled back into the water and the animal was dragged below. Merlin's horse was nowhere to be seen.

Through all of this, Arthur lay breathing, but unresponsive.

Not too far away from him, the crumbling tower stood dolorously, alone in this marshy wasteland. From the roof, a hooded woman looked down over the scene.

* * *

It was dark and cold and wet.

Up from the depths rose the unearthly tinkle of a child's sweet voice.

"When darkness has fallen and shadows have come
And when daytime reaches its end
Close softly your eyes, for to sleep well my dear
My dear
My dear
For the night's little lights are your friends
Oh my love
The night's little lights are your friends."

"And when you hear wailing from beasts in the night
From the monsters the dark, cold night sends
Shut out the scratching and banish the fear
The fear
The fear
For the night's little lights are your friends
Oh my love
The night's little lights are your friends."

The mother leaned over her child's warm head
And a caressing hand she extends
And she left a white candle's warm comforting glow
Warm glow
Warm glow
For the night's little lights were all friends
For her love
The night's lights were all friends.

Her home it was draughty, the candle went out
On its flame she'd begun to depend
So the girl looked outside, seeing lights, hearing song
A song
Strange song
"All the night's little lights are your friends"
Voices sang
"The night's little lights are your friends"

So the girl crept outside in the pale moonlight
Walking barefoot the path to attend
The pretty light's dance at the water's calm edge
Calm edge
Calm edge
For the night's little lights were her friends
And they sang
"The night's little lights are your friends"

The lights drew her deeper away from the shore
For that's what the wisp-fire intends
Luring their victim, then pulling her down
To drown
To drown
But she'd thought the night's lights were her friends
With their song
She'd thought the night's lights were her friends

Merlin's pale body bobbed gently, head lolling and he was tethered to the bottom of the lake by the weeds that bound him.

The water grows heavy, the moonlight grows dim
As breathless she slowly descends
And down in the dark depths she's lurking there still
There still
There still
With the night's little lights as her friends
And she sings
"The night's little lights are my friends"

The white figure smiled and approached Merlin's limp form. She caressed Merlin's cheek with clammy fingers and regarded him curiously, tilting his chin, examining him

"Will you be my friend?" The girl asked.

Merlin opened his eyes.