The keys turned in the locks of the prison cell doors and opened to reveal not Nimueh, but ghosts. Those that were awake thought at first that they were imagining things, but very quickly it became apparent that the two Pendragons lived on. With no sign of Nimueh, Gaius knew immediately that they were freed. Waking those that slept, the prisoners were soon motivated and began to move, glad to see that their King and Prince still lived. Morgana was especially happy and would have hugged them both there and then had it not been for the large number of people trying to get to the stairs. Smiling instead, she helped the children out of the cells and up to the main castle.

"Nimueh is gone then I presume?" she asked Arthur. The Prince scratched the back of his neck.

"Well…Not quite."

"She's not defeated?" As if in answer to her question, there was a crunching sound from the Great Hall and Morgana glared at Arthur. Looking over the people gathered together, she saw no sign of Gwen, Alethea or Merlin.

"No… You haven't… Please tell me you haven't…"

"Merlin and Alethea can take care of themselves. Gwen isn't there. She's Nimueh's servant."

"What?" Morgana asked in disbelief as they turned a corner. "No, she can't be. It can't be true." But as they reached the courtyard, they came across Gwen, who, upon seeing the prisoners being released by the remaining Knights of Camelot, began to run to the sorceress. The Prince knew that if they were to stay out in the open that they were easy targets and Gwen had to be stopped. Turning to Morgana, he knew what he had to do.

"Take them to safety and keep them together. Be as quick as you can."

"But Arthur…"

"I'll be back soon. There's something I have to do." He said before sprinting after the maid servant. He had no idea how to break the spell but if he could buy his people time then so be it.

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"Into the lion's den." Alethea whispered softly as they opened the oak doors to the Great Hall. She couldn't really think of any happy times she'd spent here and she knew that now was definitely not going to be fun. Looking around, she and Merlin quickly spotted Nimueh who was sat in Uther's throne, her feet resting carelessly on the large table. She applauded the two of them as they came in.

"So he sent you two to fight his battles and try and void our promise then, did he? His two traitors." The sorceress purred. Side by side, Merlin and Alethea faced her, ready for what was to come. They knew that the fate of Camelot rested on their shoulders and if it meant paying the ultimate price then they would.

"Traitors? Nah, I don't think so." said Alethea. "And we chose to be here. It's about time we got rid of you once and for all."

"Oh? And how are you going to do that then girly? With a few childish tricks from your magician friend? I doubt it."

"Tricks? If anyone knows about tricks then its you, isn't it Nimueh? You had us all fooled pretending to be Alethea, but we saw through you in the end." said Merlin, stepping closer.

"Too late though, wasn't it?" She laughed. "Now, where is your Prince?"

"That is not for you to know." Alethea smiled.

"Liar. You told me that he was dead and he wasn't. Now, I'm asking you nicely, where is he?"

"Not here." The student answered with a slight smile on her lips. It didn't last for long as she suddenly crumpled to the floor, grimacing in pain. Eyes shut and fists clenched, she felt Merlin's touch and told him that she'd be fine. Merlin, on the other hand, didn't believe her and sent a few spells Nimueh's way but none of them touched her. With every bolt of magic that he sent in the sorceress' direction, two more were sent Alethea's way. The poor student had been weak enough after her plight as Nimueh's prisoner. Now she was even worse.

Doing everything that he could to try and defeat Nimueh, Merlin knew that they needed to buy time for the prisoners to escape and used every single spell that he knew.

"We could be great together Merlin, you and I. We could easily rule the world."

"And what makes you think I'll work with you Nimueh? You come here, destroy my friends, ruin my home and then think that I'll work with you? It'll never happen."

"Join me and I'll return everything to normal. Alethea will be back in full health and I'll leave her and Camelot alone. We could bring back magic and the old religion. You wouldn't need to be an outcast Merlin. You could be worshipped and adored."

"No."

"You would be popular."

"That doesn't matter. I never asked to be this way but I know that magic should only be used for good. I will not take over the world."

"You will not join me?" Nimueh asked and in reply Merlin sent her another bolt of energy. Nimueh got to her feet then and, with a flick of the wrist, made Alethea worse. Merlin got angry and his hands fizzed as magic gathered in them but as he got ready to give Nimueh a taste of her own medicine, the Prince came into the room.

"Ah, the Prince himself. You know what I said yesterday?"

"You have no prisoners left Nimueh." He said with a smile. That was until he saw Alethea curled up in a ball and Merlin stood in front of her.

"No prisoners? Then who are these two?" she pointed out. Arthur's hand rested on his sword and was about to draw it when she spoke again. "I wouldn't bother if I were you Arthur. That's the price you pay for sending a girl to fight your battles."

"She volunteered Nimueh and besides, I'm here now."

"I know and I'm going to give you a choice."

"Oh? And what may that be?" The Prince asked out of curiosity.

"Who dies first: Merlin? Or Alethea?"

"Neither." Arthur answered

"They've both betrayed you though Arthur. Should they not be punished?" The Prince looked confused as he looked to Alethea and Merlin who didn't meet his eyes.

"How?"

"Your servant is a warlock who has been practising magic right under your nose. How else do you think I managed to disappear when he appeared?" she paused. "And your dear beloved has known of this all along and never cared to mention. So who shall die first?"

"I've already told you. Neither of them shall die."

"And why not?"

"You take me instead." he told her, daring to meet the sorceress' gaze and prove to her that he was deadly serious.

"Arthur, no!" Alethea shouted from where she was, steadily getting to her feet. She didn't dare move from that spot and stayed where she was, willing Nimueh not to listen to him. She couldn't bare to watch him die in front of her and lose him again. Not now. Not after everything they'd been through.

"That's no fun. Take your pick sire. Both have betrayed your trust."

"If you kill them then who will miss them? No one really. Kill me and you take away the hearts of the Kingdom. That's the choice you have Nimueh." The Prince explained, hoping that death would be swift and painless.

"What's to stop me killing you all?"

"Erm…" Arthur hadn't thought of that, which was kind of stupid of him really.

"Rhetorical question." Nimueh smiled, before sending three spells in three different directions in quick succession. Two of them hit their mark whilst the third just missed. Seeing who was left standing, the sorceress cackled.

Alethea stood her ground, and seeing as she was the last one standing, she knew that she had to do something. She had no idea if the prisoners had gotten to safety, nor if Arthur and Merlin still breathed. All she knew was that she was Camelot's last hope and she wouldn't give up easily. Looking at the bodies of her friends lying on the floor and then at the sorceress, she knew that this could be her last battle but she didn't care. She knew that she had to do something and all of her hatred bubbled to the surface as she remembered everything that Nimueh had done to her. She wouldn't win this time, and Alethea would make sure of it. Looking around the room, she saw what was needed but it would be hard to get to. Quickly thinking up of a way to get it, she faced Nimueh and met her gaze.

"And so only the weak little girly is left. No prizes as to guessing who will win this one."

"You wanna bet?" Alethea asked, one eyebrow raised. "You killed my friends and took me from my own time. I've not seen my parents for months and you've used me to destroy one of the greatest kingdoms that ever was. Don't you think I may not be a little bit angry for all of this?"

"You're too weak. No match for a sorceress like me."

"No match? Ha!" Alethea laughed. "Just because I don't use magic does not mean that I'm not your match. If only you knew of what horrors people can do without magic… It's amazing really."

"Why bother without it if you've got the power?"

"Power? Coward. It's easy to use magic to maim and to kill. It takes more courage to face an enemy unarmed and know that you could die. In this case, I know I will more than likely die, but at least it'll be worth it."

"Why? Because you'll have died for Camelot? You won't be remembered Alethea. I'll make sure of that."

"I don't wish to be remembered. Oh, but Nimueh, you really shouldn't torment your prey before you kill them." Alethea smirked as she moved back a bit.

"And why is that?"

"It may be more fun, but you give them chance to weigh up their options. You know, you may have had me under your control for so long, but in truth you gave me the advantage. That's why you wanted to get rid of me but you underestimated the power of love. I would have thought that a great sorceress like you would have realised that mere mortals can do the greatest of things for someone they love but it seems you haven't." Alethea smiled before dodging a blast of energy. However, she felt pins and needles in her legs as she made her way to the opposite end of the hall. The pain got worse the further she moved but it didn't stop her. She knew that she had to buy time for the survivors and also get rid of one of the worst people who could ever rule Camelot. Dodging everything that Nimueh threw at her, Alethea could feel herself weaken. Pushing herself on and refusing to give in, she stumbled just as she was within reach of the metal with pain threatening to overwhelm her. The sorceress slowly made her way towards her victim, ready for the kill whilst Alethea edged her way backwards. If only Merlin was awake then he could help her, but he wasn't. He probably was already dead, as was Arthur. It seemed Alethea had failed. Camelot was Nimueh's to rule and ruin and there was nothing Alethea could do to stop her. The three people who had come to defeat her had failed in their mission, and now Camelot would no longer be a place of legend and it was all Alethea's fault.

"Say goodbye Alethea." Nimueh smirked as she stood above the girl, a look of triumph in her eyes.

"Never!" She said, closing her eyes and bracing herself for death.

"Suit yourself." the sorceress laughed before using her magic to dispatch the girl…

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The flash of light could be seen by the escapees who were sat in the woods with blankets wrapped around them. Most families had been reunited with fathers, husbands and sons, but not all had been so lucky. Consolations were given whilst Morgana and Uther stood talking about what had happened. Arguing as to whether they should go after the Prince, they both saw the flash of light in the window and immediately their worst fears were realised. Nimueh had won and now Camelot was left without an heir. Gaius knew that the kingdom had also lost protection and very soon it would all fall to pieces. Tending to one of his patients, he looked at Uther and Morgana before turning back to the others. It seemed that they had nowhere left to turn and no hope of freedom left.

It hadn't taken them long to reach the forest and some of the men had gone to find food and firewood when they had reached the relative safety of the trees. The children lay in their parents arms but the babes were too weak even to cry with hunger. Even if Nimueh had been defeated, she would have won. The cost was too high for one persons revenge and some people felt contempt for their King's actions twenty years ago. It was because of them that they were in this situation now, they reckoned, and he wasn't fit to be King. Arguing broke out but it was soon settled by a few words from Morgana and Gaius. However, when they saw the light from Camelot, they all knew what it meant. What hopes they had left of returning home were now demolished and torn to tiny pieces, so much so that the group fell silent, mourning for the three young people who had given their lives for their freedom and paid the ultimate price for Camelot.