The next day, the Knight's of Camelot were busy preparing for whatever may come next. They had locked themselves Merlin's office, and were currently taking stock of what weapons they had at their disposal. Unfortunately up until now the Druids had been a pretty peaceful gang, and what weapons they did have were outdated and barely used. Most of the people in the room had no clue how to fire a gun, let alone reload it. For the whole day, Arthur and Leon taught the others how to shoot, while Percival and Gaius talked strategy.
"I think it best to barricade ourselves in the dance hall," Percival was saying quietly. "There are few access points, and most of the windows are on the second floor. It's a sturdy building to say the least. We'd have your men up in the windows here, and a few men on the ground protecting the doors."
"I agree, but the Druids are fewer and harder to find these days. It will be hard to get allies," warned Gaius.
Merlin looked over his shoulder from where he was practicing with a gun. "I'll get them," he said grimly. "They'll answer my call."
"Are you sure that's wise?" asked Gwen. "Leading our friends to their deaths?"
"What other choice have we got? It's not like I'm happy that I'm about to lead them into a massacre, but we can't bloody well just lie down and wait for death," Merlin said angrily, raising the gun. "It's us or them."
The sound of the gunshot rang eerily through the silent room. Merlin set down the gun and turned to his friends. "I don't know about you guys, but I choose us."
Arthur watched with a sense of pride as the others rallied to Merlin. They might just be able to succeed.
There was a knock on the door, causing the cheering to stop.
"Mr. Emrys, sir?" Merlin's assistant stuck her head through the crack of the opened door. "I have some bad news. They've found a body."
"What?" Merlin asked stepping forward. "Who?"
The woman swallowed, looking nervously from face to face.
"C'mon old bird. Tell us who's died," Gwaine said with as light a tone as he could manage.
The woman's eyes dropped to the ground before looking at Merlin directly in the face. "It's your ward sir. Freya."
Merlin recoiled as if he had been slapped. "What did you say?"
"Freya's been found dead, sir," the woman repeated softly.
Merlin felt as if time had stopped. This couldn't be true. There was no way she was dead...she couldn't just be gone.
"Dear Lord in Heaven," mumbled Gaius looking up. He made an ancient gesture to ward off evil.
"How did it happen?" Merlin asked through clenched teeth.
"Merlin-" Gwen started.
"Silence, Gwen. I want to know how it happened," Merlin said clenching his fists and jaw.
The secretary looked down at her notepad. "She was discovered on the sidewalk, after going grocery shopping...she was shot, sir."
Merlin scrunched his eyes closed, trying to take it all in. His breathing was ragged, and when he spoke his voice was raw. "Who did it?"
The secretary lowered her gaze. "I'm afraid no one knows, sir. There were no witnesses, at least no one who is willing to come forward."
Merlin punched his desk in frustration. "How can that be? How could no one notice an innocent girl being shot in broad daylight!? Anyone know? Does anyone have an answer for me?"
"Merlin," Gwen said, concern filling her voice. "You'll make yourself sick. Sit down please."
"I don't want to 'sit down'," Merlin screamed pulling away. "I want Freya back!"
"She's right, Merlin. You must calm down," Gaius said approaching Merlin.
Merlin looked up at the old man. "You. You knew this would happen, didn't you? You and Kilgharrah always messing with my future, making sure that your precious little destiny stays in tact. While out in the real world an innocent child is shot! Is your future really worth Freya's death?"
"Merlin," Gaius started patiently. "There are things at play here that you wouldn't understand."
"Try me." Merlin glared at all the people surrounding him.
"I-I can't," the old man faltered.
Merlin scoffed. "I thought as much."
"Merlin," Gwaine began. "We all loved Freya, but we can't let this distract us-"
Merlin turned his murderous gaze upon his friend. "Distract us? Are you really so concerned with what might happen if we lost? Because we already have! We have lost so many people, first to the Syndicate and now to the police. It doesn't even matter anymore."
"Merlin, you know that's not true," Arthur said quietly. "Of course it matters."
"Oh that's rich coming from you, Mr. Prince of Camelot," Merlin said scathingly. "You were deceptive to me and my people. You lied to my face, and with one apology you think everything is alright? Ha. Arthur Pendragon, you are nothing more than a coward in disguise. You don't know how my people have suffered at your father's hands. You and your friends probably even killed some of my people, and yet you come here and tell me that life matters. You're a bigger fool than I took you for."
With that Merlin turned on his heel and began to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Elyan asked.
Merlin looked over his shoulder, "to see my ward."
"You can't! By now the police will have gotten custody over the body," protested Gwen.
Merlin shrugged. "So be it."
"Merlin," Gaius reached out to grab the other's wrist. "I'm begging you, don't do this."
Merlin looked into Gaius' eyes, and with a sad smile said, "I have to. I owe it to Freya."
After Merlin left the room was silent. Everyone was busy examining their boots, and generally not making eye contact with one another. The air was heavy as there were no words that could be offered. People didn't know what could be done, and so they remained silent shifting their weight from one foot to the other.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and in stormed Morgana. It had been awhile since anyone had seen her, and in the short span of time much had changed. Her skin had become more paler, if possible. Before, she had always been so well put together, but now there was a wild look in her eyes. Her dress was old and run down, and her hair a rat's nest. Beneath her icy eyes were dark circles, her lips were pale and cracked.
"Emrys, is he here?" she sounded a mix of anxious, worried, hurt, and angry.
"He just left. My god, Morgana, what happened to you?" Gwen said reaching out to her old friend. She flinched. "Morgana, you're so cold! What happened?"
"Where did he go?" she sounded desperate.
"He's gone to see Freya," Gaius said quietly.
"Doesn't that fool know it's a trap?!" Morgana said turning to look at the crowd of pensive faces around her.
"Of course he does," Gwaine said. "But you knew how he cared for her. He won't believe it til he sees her."
"Well I've seen her, and I can confirm she's gone," Morgana growled.
"You were there?" asked Elyan.
Morgana hissed out, "yes. I saw the person who killed her too."
"Who was it?" asked Leon.
Her gaze softened when she saw him. "I-I don't... I don't know how to say this, but it was my sister."
"You never told us you had a sister!" exclaimed Gwen.
Morgana shrugged. All the fire seemed to have left her momentarily. "Morgeuse was always looking out for me, until the day Mordred brought me here. I thought she would be okay with it...but she flipped. I had never seen her so angry. She thought I had betrayed her. I don't think she ever forgave me."
Leon stepped forward pulling Morgana close to him. Her icy form seemed to melt into his arms. "Hush," he whispered into her matted hair. "You're safe now. You'll be okay."
"What about Mordred? Where is he?" asked Elyan, spitting out the other's name.
Morgana pulled away from Leon. "I..I don't know. But whatever he is planning is dangerous. He's going to get himself killed."
"The bloody scamp deserves it," Percival croaked.
"Percy!" Gwen admonished.
"What? I never trusted him," Percival said.
Gwaine silenced him by taking his hand. "You may have distrusted him, but he was one of the loyalest men Emrys' had. I was never fond of him, but I wish him no harm. Morgana, why did you come rushing here, anyway?"
Morgana became rigid, remembering her true purpose. "I have to stop him! I have to go."
"Wait, where are you going?" asked Leon.
"To protect Emrys from my sister. He can't die."
Gaius stepped forward.
"Don't try and stop me Gaius. I've seen the future, and I know what needs to happen." Morgana protested.
Gaius smiled. "Oh my child, how you have grown. Go. But we shall come shortly after."
Morgana bobbed a curtsey before running out the door. She had been delayed, but she couldn't be late. She had to save Merlin, she saw that it was her destiny.
"Wait..what does she mean? She saw the future?" asked Gwen turning to Gaius.
"She has always possesed the gift of prophecy...it's been a long while sins she has been able to use it," Gaius murmured.
"Are we really going to follow her? It'll be a blood bath," Percy said.
"Arthur?"
All eyes turned to the pensive 'prince'. He had been uncharacteristically silent. "Gaius...if we follow her, will Merlin live?"
Gaius bowed his head. "I do not know."
"And if we don't?"
"He surely would not."
Arthur nodded. "I say we go after her."
"But Arthur!" began Percy.
Arthur gave his friend a smile. "I have never known you to be a coward, Percival. But if you choose to not follow me today, I will not hold it against you. I cannot expect you to blindly follow me to death. Any of you, really. If you come with me, it must be of your free will. Am I clear?"
Everyone nodded.
Percy sighed. "I understand. And I will follow you, Arthur Pendragon, into the depths of hell if necessary."
Morgana had gotten a ten minute head start on the rest of them, and was nearly at the morgue. She entered the silent building, her heels clacking ominously against the tiled floor. She made her way down endless flights of stairs until she was greeted with the sounds of sobbing.
"Merlin?" she asked, her voice small in the grand room.
The figure at the end of the table looked up. Tear stained cheeks were the first thing she saw. Then she noticed the body of girl, cold beneath long, mourning fingers.
"Morgana. What are you-"
"It's a trap. You must get out of here," Morgana said, her voice thin and breaking in all the wrong places.
"What? How did-"
"Please, believe me this last time."
Suddenly, from floors above them, they could here shouting and the sound of boots running down the stairs. Merlin's blue eyes met Morgana's. His eyes were wide with panic, but she remained calm.
"Come, there's a secret exit just at the end of this hall. You can make it if you go now."
"What about you?" asked Merlin. "I can't let anyone else die!"
She gave him one of her famous grins, from better times, and said. "Merlin. It would be an honor to die protecting you. I don't want you to remember me like this though. I want you to remember me from the good old days...the days we spent all night dancing and drinking. Remember that girl. Alright? Now go."
With one last glance at her, Merlin ran. He knew they would never meet again, and his heart felt heavy.
Morgana lifted up her chin, and was greeted with men in long coats and even longer guns. Without a moment's pause, the men let bullets fly from their guns until they were stopped by the shrill cry of their leader.
"Morgana! My sister, stop you fools!"
With her sharp elbows Morgeuse made her way to the front. She cradled the dying woman in her arms and whispered tenderly, "Why are you here? Dear sister, why did you come to such a horrid place?"
Morgana looked up at the woman and with all the dignity she had left she said, "I am protecting Merlin. I am protecting Albion."
Disgustedly Morgeuse pushed the form of her sister away. "What a waste."
"What do you mean?" asked Senred, lazily coming forward.
"Centuries ago she would have sided with me. She would have been the one to tear the bricks of Albion down with her own hands until they bled...but Emrys...he changed her. He made her weak, made it so she would sacrifice herself for him. I'll have him killed."
Whenever Morgeuse began talking this way, Senred was forced to just nod. Unlike his partner he couldn't remember the past cycles...or see the future. He had learned to trust Morgeuse, and so like her puppet, he just nodded.
Hope that was good. Let me know, yeah? Sorry for the wait ~T.W.o.W.