Apologies for the slightly delayed update, I'm back at Uni now and term is to start soon so the workload will begin to build up and the updates will be a little slower, but I will try to update at least once a week :) we are nearing the end of the story anyway :(

In the meantime I hope you enjoy this chapter, it start off a little slow but should pick up as you go along :)

Chapter 15

Sacrifice

As soon as Leon left the valley Arthur was desperate to follow him back to Camelot, but everyone could tell that he was in no fit state to travel. No one could bear to tell him this though, however Gwen managed to persuade him to just spend that day and the next resting, and assured him if he did so he would be well enough to start travelling back to Camelot. Merlin was still desperately holding on to hope as the Dragon had instructed him, but he couldn't see how Arthur would be able to return to Camelot, it was a long way to go on foot and the Prince was getting weaker by the hour. Arthur could now feel his skin burning and he was getting headaches again, every movement exhausted him. The curse was finally beginning to consume him.

For that night and the next everyone slept in the valley, Arthur would toss and turn and sometimes even cry out in his sleep. Despite this however he slept through the night without waking, but no one else found that possible. Merlin's mind was full of too many worries to sleep, he could tell that Freya was also lying wide awake beside him and every now and then he heard a choked sob from Gwen. Those times of darkness were the hardest to hold on to hope.

However on the second morning after Leon's appearance Arthur was suddenly a lot more awake and alert, determined to get back to Camelot or die trying, rather than continuing to lie in this valley. The rest seemed to have helped a great deal, although the curse still covered his brow with sweat and his skin burned like fire. Finding determination in his Merlin, Gwen and Freya agreed to travel back to Camelot and with one arm leaning on Gwen Arthur was helped out the valley and they began the long and very slow journey through the trees. Every step seemed to cause the Prince pain, but he kept going. The sight of him walking and the determination in his eyes gave Merlin renewed hope. Arthur was strong, he could fight this, and if the Prince could fight this deadly curse then his servant could fight against their enemies. The young Warlock started planning ahead, looking beyond the trees of this forest. He decided that once they were out the trees maybe he could find a nearby village and they could trade something to buy a horse, they would travel quicker and Arthur wouldn't have to walk.

They had perhaps travelled for about two hours and Merlin was sure that they would soon reach the end of the forest that day, when Arthur drank the last of their water.

"Sorry, I thought we had more than that," he said, gasping as if he had been running for miles, "I'm so thirsty-"

"Don't worry about it," Merlin said quickly, enough was happening to Arthur, the Prince didn't need to start feeling guilty about drinking the last of their water, "I remember where the river was, it can't be far from here, I'll go back and get some more."

Freya and Gwen stayed with Arthur while Merlin gathered up all their water skins and sprinted back towards the valley, knowing that the river would be nearby. He wanted to waste as little time as possible and didn't want to be away from Arthur. However the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs made Merlin stumble to a halt and he found himself frozen to the spot. He could hear the trickling river not far away, but something much more deadly was now filling his ears.

The found of hurried footsteps coming his way. Someone was walking towards him from the direction of the valley, but as far as Merlin knew this forest was deserted.

As slowly and as quietly as he could, his muscles tense with fear, he crept forward towards the sound of the footsteps. He didn't go very far before he saw a flash of blond hair and a glint of metal reflecting the late morning sunlight and he knew without a doubt who was following them.

Morgause had returned.

Suddenly Merlin found strength in his legs again and he turned and sprinted back through the trees, heading to Arthur, Freya and Gwen. They were sitting in a small circle talking a little, oblivious to the danger, but they looked up as Merlin approached and could see the panic in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Gwen asked quickly.

"Morgause...she's back," Merlin managed to say through gasps of breath.

They all immediately leapt to their feet, but Arthur stumbled and almost fell down again. He was in no position to defend himself.

"Is Morgana with her?" Gwen asked.

Merlin shrugged, "I don't know, but I think Morgause is here to finish what she started. We need to get out of here."

Freya took the initiative. She turned to Arthur and Gwen, "Run," she said, her unusually stern voice telling them it was not an option. "I'll distract her, get as far away from here and you possibly can and don't look back."

Arthur and Gwen hesitated, they didn't want to leave their friends behind, but they knew they had no choice. Gwen helped Arthur as together they half ran, half stumbled through the trees. Merlin hated to see them go, but he had to stay behind and fight Morgause.

However Freya then turned to Merlin. "You go with them," she said.

"What? No, I'm coming with you," Merlin said quickly. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins and shock had turned to a determination to protect his friends. He wanted to face Morgause and make her pay for the day she gave Arthur this curse.

But Freya shook her head, her eyes full of equal determination. "At this moment Arthur needs you, you cannot leave him now. Let me distract her to give you a head start."

"She's dangerous, I can't let you face her alone," Merlin argued.

But Freya put her ice cold hands in his and squeeze them tight, "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. After all you've done for me, let me do this one thing for you three."

Merlin hesitated, but he knew there was no time to argue. With every passing moment Morgause was getting closer and Arthur wouldn't be able to run far. "Just distract her, nothing else. I'll help Arthur and come back to you as soon as I can."

Freya nodded, "Now go."

"Thank you," Merlin murmured, because he really didn't want to leave Arthur when he was so ill. He gave Freya a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek for good luck, he could feel his lips tingling with cold as he rushed through the trees to find Arthur and Gwen.

Freya watched Merlin disappear into the undergrowth before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, just like she had taught Arthur. Then she turned and walked calmly forward towards Morgause's striding footsteps.

Morgause smiled when she saw Freya approaching her through the trees. Where there was one the others would surely be close by and this little girl was nothing compared to a powerful priestess such as herself. Finally this was all coming to an end. When she brings Arthur's dead body back to Camelot, full of remorse for Morgana but triumph in her heart, this whole ordeal would be over and she could focus on ruling Camelot with her sister, letting magic run free and never having to worry about the Pendragons again.

The two women somehow looked like complete opposites as they came to stand face to face with each other amongst the trees. There was defenceless Freya with her tangled black hair and worn purple dress and there was Morgause, with her combed golden blond hair, brand new blood red dress and a sword in her hand.

Morgause gave Freya a smirk that was uncannily like Morgana's before she spoke, "Stand aside girl," she commanded. "This battle has nothing to do with you."

Freya gave a small smile, "Ever since I set my eyes on Merlin I was drawn into his destiny and I am part of the whole war, not just this battle."

Morgause was surprised by the girl's strong words, this is not what she had been expecting, but it didn't shake her. "Even if that is the case you must stand aside and let me pass. If you do I might let you survive this battle."

Freya didn't move. "I cannot let you do that," she said calmly.

Morgause looked Freya up and down and pursed her lips. "Why risk your life for the son of a tryant when I could welcome you back to a Kingdom of freedom?" She asked.

"Because I am risking my life for the son, not for the tyrant, and I think you are as brutal as any tyrant, you just won't let yourself see that." Freya explained, her voice still perfectly calm.

Morgause was beginning to lose her temper now, he grip tightened on the sword and she scowled at Freya. "Stand aside," she repeated.

Freya took a step forward. "I am not yours to command."

Morgause took a step forward as well, her knuckles were now white and her expression was deadly. "I am not commanding you, I am giving you a choice. Stand aside or face the consequences."

The two woman were now only a arms length apart and Freya showed no sign of regret or fear. "I have made my choice," she said firmly.

Morgause seemed to relax a little at these words, "So be it," she said, her voice the calm before the storm.

In a flash of gleaming metal Morgause struck out with her sword. In seconds it was all over. With a gasp of pain and surprise Freya clutched her stomach as Morgause withdrew her sword. The shining tip now dripped with blood.

Freya wasn't sure how she had got there but all of a sudden she was lying on the ground, her hands pressing against the wound in her stomach, blood seeped through her fingers as she stared up at the trees. Morgause stood over her, a cruel smile on her face.

"How does it feel to die in vain?" She hissed, "I probably wouldn't have let you live anyway, but in death you have not saved your friends. I will find them and I will cut them down just like I did to you, then Camelot will be ours."

But then Morgause saw something on Freya's face that made her hesitate in her gloating, "Why are you smiling?" She demanded, "Did you not just hear what I just said? You have died for nothing!"

But Freya shook her head slowly and the smile did not fade. "You have lost. As soon as your sword pierced my skin, you lost."

Morgause hesitated, then said, "You are already delirious from the wound, but do not worry, I can make things quite clear for you. When you are on the other side of the vale and discover that your friends will soon be joining then you will realise that everything is lost. Your precious Prince is already dying and I will kill him if the curse doesn't do so first."

"The curse has been lifted."

Morgause felt something plummet into her stomach and she grew pale and these words. Blood was soaking the ground but she could tell by the look in Freya's eyes that her mind was perfectly clear, she was not delirious yet she was still smiling. Morgause just hoped that she was lying to try and distract her from finding the others. "That isn't possible." She said as calmly as possible, "the only way the curse can be broken is by-"

"Death," Freya finished for her, "which you have caused by killing me."

"It was Arthur's death that would break the curse, no one else's!" Morgause snapped, she could feel herself beginning to panic. She still held the bloodied sword in her hand and may have sliced Freya's throat to stop her words of poison, but now she had to hear what she had to say, she needed to know that Freya was telling a lie and nothing more. However her next words made Morgause almost drop the sword in horror and she felt her heart tumble to her feet.

"Don't you remember what you promised Nimueh the day you created the curse?" Freya asked.

"That we would let Camelot tear itself apart and take revenge for all those lost in the Purge," Morgause said quickly. How could this girl know about Nimueh?

"No. You promised her that only Arthur and Uther would be harmed by your plans, no innocent civilians would be killed."

Morgause hesitated, she did remember those words, Nimueh had mentioned it before they placed the curse but afterwards had made them swear that no innocent bystanders would be killed or harmed because of their actions. "That promise could never be kept," she said, "there are always innocents killed in war, but it is for the greater good."

"Nimeuh thought so too," Freya explained, her voice was fading, but she showed no sign of pain as the blood continued to seep through her hands, she surely had only minutes left but there was no fear in her eyes. "So she decided to make sure that if any innocent person was harmed, the curse would be broken and Arthur would live. She chose me to carry that burden, I would be the innocent citizen who, if killed, would break Arthur's curse as you broke your promise."

Morgause was now almost as pale as Freya. Her heart was pumping madly but it was more from fear rather than adrenaline. "You're lying," she growled.

Freya shook her head once more, "Did you not think that perhaps Nimueh had plans and secrets, did you not wonder what she would do to help even out the chances for Arthur while she remained on this side of the veil? You came so close you know, but you couldn't resist spilling blood that was not yours to spill."

"You're lying!" Morgause almost shouted, the panic in her voice giving away her realisation that this was not a lie. She was frozen to the spot as her terrible mistake dawned on her.

"She explained everything to me when she brought me back," Freya continued as if she hadn't heard Morgause. "She told me that Arthur had been cursed and that she had chosen me to be the only one who had a chance of saving him. She told me where the Prince was heading and who was with him and that it was up to me to decide what to do next, but I couldn't avoid that I was now a part of this. I had always been entwined with Merlin's destiny and I knew I had to help in whatever way I could just like he had helped me. So I went to find Arthur and Merlin and waited for you to make a mistake, because I couldn't let him die."

Morgause was now beginning to shake. "This cannot be true," she whispered, "it's not possible-"

"Destiny is harder to destroy than you would like to think, and when you had brought Nimueh back she became incredibly powerful, but also full of regret. She can be at peace now she gave the enemy a fair chance and so can I, now I know that you have lost."

Morgause gripped her sword so tight she could feel the hilt digging into her palm. She was now prepared to slice off this little girl's head to silence her. Disbelief and despair had turned to rage. "Your death may have saved Arthur, but it has not save Camelot," she hissed, "it still belongs to me and my sister. What does it matter that Arthur lives now we control the Kingdom?"

"Because now the people will have something to fight for," Freya murmured, the light in her eyes fading.

Morgause had had enough. Whether the girl's words were true or not, she would speak no more. She took a step forward and raised her sword. She was about to strike when she heard a cry.

"Freya! Freya!"

Merlin came bolting through the trees towards them. He could see Freya lying on the ground, Morgause standing before her and the blood soaking the forest floor. Morgause looked up and saw just in time the young Warlock pelting towards her, but she was too slow to react as Merlin threw up his hands and his eyes flashed gold.

Morgause was thrown into the air. She flew backwards with such force that when she landed against a tree there was a sickening crack as her skull took the full force of her fall.

Morgause slumped to the ground, her blood-covered sword fell from her limp hand, and she moved no more.