So here's the chapter to compensate for the epic fail on the last chapter. This one I think I actually like. It really reflects the truth of what Arthur and Artemis feels. Haha. anyway. enjoy. I have school next week so I won't be updating as much, but for you I will try.

The next week lagged on. It was nothing special, the usual chores and nonsense, but of course it wasn't to last. In Camelot, there was always something.

"Artemis?" A knight questioned stepping inside Arthur's chamber. She was cleaning. Merlin and Arthur were on a hunting trip.

"Yes?" she asked.

"The king has requested your presence immediately." Artemis surprised followed the knight down to the hall. Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, Uther, and several knights stood there in the hall waiting for her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Something attacked us in the woods," Arthur said. "Gaius believes that you would know what it is."

"Tell me what you saw."

"It had the head of a snake and a body of a leopard. It was huge." Artemis raised an eyebrow.

"It sounds like you have met a Questing Beast."

"Are you sure, Artemis?" Gaius asked.

"It seems so."

"I thought it may be, but I wanted your confirmation," Gaius said.

"Surly that's a myth," Arthur said.

"No. It is very real. It is a dark omen," Artemis said.

"The appearance of the Questing Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval," Gaius said elaborating on Artemis's vague explanation.

"Gaius, that's an old wives tale," Uther said.

"Look whatever it is, it's spreading panic," Arthur said. "People fear it will enter the city."

"Then we must kill it," Uther said. "Arthur gather the guard together. You ride at dawn." The room started to clear. Artemis nodded at Uther to Gaius before leaving signifying that Gaius should convince Uther that it's more than an old wives tail.

"Arthur," Artemis said entering his room. "I'm coming with to kill the Questing Beast."

"No," he said.

"You said it yourself, I'm a formidable warrior. I also have knowledge on the Questing Beast. Please, Arthur."

"This thing is dangerous."

"So am I. Now you can let me go or I will follow alone putting myself in more danger. Chose." Arthur and Artemis stared at each other. Neither were willing to break the stare. Both were subborn. Which was more stuborn was yet to be decided. If one looked away, they would loose, but of course Artemis won. Arthur looked away. Artemis smirked.

"Fine," Arthur said.

"Good night then." Artemis left quite victorious.

The following morning Artemis rode to the courtyard. Her war sword was at her side in its sheath. Arthur was struggling against a frantic Morgana. Artemis rode up.

"What's wrong?"

"Artemis! Artemis! He mustn't face it!" Morgana grabbed her leg and was practically begging. "Arthur! Artemis! He-! I had a dream! A dream!" she yelled clutching her. Artemis slid down.

"Morgana, calm. All will be alright. I will be going with. You must trust that nothing will happen."

"No! Artemis! I saw it! I saw it!" She was gripping her arms tight. Artemis brought Morgana to Merlin.

"Bring her to Gaius. She had a nightmare," Artemis said.

"No! Artemis! You must believe me! He can't go!" Arthur waved two guards to come and take her away. She was still yelling as they took her away. Artemis felt for Morgana, but Artemis was sure nothing drastic would happen.

Together they tracked the Questing Beast, which was easy considering the shear size of its tracks. They tracked it into a cave. It was dark and damp. Arthur signaled his knights to go down a different path than Merlin, him, and Artemis.

"What is it?" Merlin asked as Arthur turned his head toward the side.

"Sh," he said. The cave echoed around them. They turned in the direction of movement. Then from behind the Questing Beast snuck up. The three of them turned and faced it. Arthur pushed Merlin and Artemis to the side as he pulled out his sword.

"Go!" Artemis yelled pushing him up a rock. They walked to a higher position. Arthur's sword was hit out of his hand, and he was thrown back. Merlin started screaming and waving the torch around to get the beast's attention. Artemis unsheathed her sword. She muttered an enchantment both throwing the sword directly into the Questing Beast. The beast fell with a screech.

"Quick thinking," Merlin complimented.

"Thanks. It didn't bite Arthur, did it?" They looked at each other before Merlin sprinted down the rock and to Arthur. Artemis pulled her sword out of the Questing Beast.

"Artemis… Artemis! It's Arthur! He's hurt!"

"What?" Artemis rushed to Arthur and Merlin. Merlin had blood on his hands. Arthur's shoulder was bleeding. "But he didn't get bite, did he?"

"I don't know," Merlin admitted.

"I'll go get the knights!" Artemis yelled in panic.

Merlin threw everything off Gaius's table and the knights put Arthur on it. He was still out cold, and he looked sicker by the minute.

"What's happened!" Merlin asked.

"He's been bitten," Gaius said looking at the wound.

"I tried to save him," Merlin said.

"You must tell the king," Gaius told a knight. The knight rushed off.

"There must be something you can do."

"I wish there was."

"I'll find a cure," Merlin said rushing off to look in his room.

"Merlin!" Gaius yelled after him.

"Trust me!" Artemis shook her head. She touched Arthur's wound.

"This wasn't supposed to happen. Can you hear me Arthur?" Artemis whispered gently to him. He didn't respond.

"Here we go!" Merlin said brining his book out. Artemis knew it was a book of spells.

"The king will be here any moment!" Gaius yelled.

"He can't die! It's my destiny to protect him! We haven't done all the things we're meant to do," Merlin whispered.

"That is the lament of all men."

"Gaius," Merlin said in desperation making him look at him. "He is my friend."

"Then save him." Merlin used his magic to quickly find a healing spell.

"Merlin," Artemis said quietly, but he didn't listen. He tried the spell. Nothing happened. He looked for another spell. "Merlin," she said again. He muttered another spell. Nothing.

"Maybe the spells need time to take effect."

"Merlin!" Artemis yelled. "The Questing Beast's bite is death sentence. No magic can overturn it. You think that if there was a spell that I would know it!" Uther's voice suddenly came from just outside the door.

"Where is he! Where is my son!" He entered. "Arthur!" He ran the rest of the way to him. "Do something Gaius!" he ordered cradling Arthur's head.

"I am trying, you majesty."

"Gaius will find a cure," Merlin said. "He will not allow him to die."

"I will do anything in my power."

"I'll bring him to his chambers," Uther said pulling Arthur's arm around him. Watching Uther made Artemis see the good in him. It made her see him as a compassionate human instead of a inhumane killer. It seemed as though he was about to cry. Uther carried his body out the door. Artemis didn't follow. She looked at Gaius.

"I failed," she said blankly.

"You tired."

"Trying isn't good enough!" she yelled. Gaius passed her and walked out the door. Artemis sighed. She raised her hand, and a goblet appeared in her hand. The goblet gave the power of life, but also the power of death. It would be trading one life for another. To die or not to die? She threw the goblet and it disappeared in midair. Not now. It wasn't the time now.

"Artemis," Gaius said walking back in the room. "I need a favor. I need you to help tend to Arthur."

"He can't die, Gaius. He can't. I've seen his reign. It's one of prosperity and happiness and peace. Magic rules and the balance is restored."

"Not even you can see all futures." Artemis seemed to snap back to reality.

"I'm sorry Gaius. I cannot tend to Arthur right now. I have something I must do." Artemis went back to her house.

"Artemis?" Ava asked confused. Ava was reading again. It had become a habit of late.

"I need to go see the seers of Old," Artemis said throwing her blanket off her truck, and impatient frantically opened it.

"What?"

"They know all. They are connected to my masters." She found a candle. It was one of the last.

"Why?"

"Arthur's been bit by the questing beast." Artemis lit a candle. "Temple of Vetus." She found herself on a mountain with a few buildings on top. It wasn't cold, but warm. A waterfall could be heard and seen as it fell into the a lake below. Once upon a time, Artemis trained here. Artemis walked up the mountain's trail.

"We've been expecting you," a girl said as Artemis approached building. She was a young girl, younger than Ava, but Artemis wasn't fooled. She knew how powerful the younger children could be.

"Hello, Magdalene. Can you give me the answers I seek?" she asked. Magdalene nodded.

"You must have trust in faith and destiny. The old ones say not to worry and do nothing. It will solve itself without you."

"Are you sure?"

"Your prince will live. It is destined, but be wary Ambrosine. Arthur cannot be the king we have seen without you."

"Me?"

"Arthur is but one side of a coin."

"Yes, I know. Merlin is the other half."

"A coin cannot be completed without the material it is made of."

"What?" Artemis said confused.

"Go home, Ambrosine. Comfort your Prince. Be there for him in his time of need."

"Yes," Artemis said. "Of course." Artemis lit the candle and she was back in Camelot. It was already dark out. The seers of the old religion sometimes knew how to trick the mind into thinking it had one been a few seconds when it had truly been much longer.

"You're back."

"Ava. I'm going to go tend to Arthur. I want you to fend for yourself for a few days. Can you do that?" Ava watched her curiously.

"I will… under a condition."

"What?"

"Admit that you like Arthur." Artemis shook her head.

"Alright, I do not totally hate him… and I may like him a little."

"Now admit that you looove him," Ava teased. Artemis rolled her eyes and left. She knocked gently on Arthur's door. Gaius, who was snoring, woke up immediately.

"Gaius, you should get some rest."

"He must not be left alone," he said looking to Arthur. He was in his bed shirtless. A bandage covered his wound. He looked pale and very near death.

"I will tend to him. I promise I will not leave his side." Gaius left. Artemis removed the rag from his forehead before dipping it in the water bowl and dabbing it gently on his on his body. "You aren't going to die, I promise," Artemis whispered gently. "I promised that if it seemed like one of us would die though… that I would pay you some sort of compliment, and here you are. You will not die though, so instead I will answer your question. I know you asked Libertas what I really thought of you so… here I go. I will lay my soul out for you to see… or hear. At times… I find you to be annoying, rude, overbearing, arrogant, pigheaded, but… that's only a little of how I feel. Those are the things I say aloud to you, but… the things I don't are the things I see in you the most. The things like how I know you'll be a great king, a king greater than your father could hope to be or how I've never met a man so willing to lay his life on the line for his people. I yell at you and tease you and mock you, but I don't mean it. It's hard for me to say things I really feel. I care about you… more than I should… a lot more than I should. You are so many things I wish I could be. Strong, confident, honorable, noble, proud, pure of heart, loving. I may seem like some of these things, but in the deepest corners of my heart I am not. You are a good person Arthur, and a one day you will be the greatest king I have ever seen. I look forward to the day when I can look back and tell people: 'yes, I knew King Arthur. He was an arrogant prat when I knew him, but he was also the kindest, the strongest, and the most noble man I have ever had the honor to met' because that's who are. That's the man you are inside. A man strong, kind, fair, just, honorable, and noble. A man every woman loves and every man looks to be. They will tell stories of your reign for thousands of years. People will remember your name, because your people will love you. You will bring a just, fair Camelot. One that will be remembered for ages. I know that even in my dying days it will be you I remember." Artemis took a breath.

"I know… I may seem like a lot of things. I know I probably come off as a hard, strong warrior who's pretty shut off from her emotions, but I know what I feel. I know it well. I know that when I look at you… I am proud that I know you. I know that I care for you as deep as Merlin or Ava. If anything was to happen to you… I don't know what I'll do." Tears filled Artemis's eyes and fell onto Arthur. She gently held his hand. "Look at me," she said with a fake laugh. "I'm crying. I haven't cried like this since Kael died. I'm not loosing another person, Arthur. I swear if you really do die. I will make it my personal job to kick your ass in the afterlife. For the love of Camelot, don't die. Camelot needs you. I… I need you here Arthur. Don't ask me why. I just do." Artemis sighed. "I'm not leaving you Arthur. I'll be here when you wake." Artemis gently raised his hand and kissed it gingerly. "You'll be okay. You have to be."

Artemis was true to her word. She didn't leave his side. Two days passed and Gaius and Merlin entered. Merlin was carrying a flask of something. On one hand she feared what it could be. On the other hand, she desperately wanted it to revive Arthur.

"What is it?" she asked standing hopefully.

"Water from the cup of life." Gaius stared at Artemis's reaction. It was one of slight shock, but she quickly recovered.

"Let me see," she said holding out a hand.

"Why? We must give him the water. There isn't much time."

"Nimueh is tricky, Merlin. Let me just make sure she was speaking the truth." Merlin hesitated but gave it to her. As soon as Artemis touched the flask carrying the water, she knew it was Merlin that would die from it. Artemis turned to look at Arthur. She opened the flask and muttered a very old, very powerful incantation. She shut the flask and gave it back to Merlin. "It is what she said." Gaius leaned over Arthur. Merlin and Artemis hovered over him as well ready to pour water into his mouth.

"What are you doing physician?" They all snapped up straight. Uther was standing in the doorway. "What are you giving him?"

"It's a…," Gaius looked to Merlin. "It's a mixture made from the lobelia plant, an ancient remedy for poisonous bites."

"A cure?"

"We hope."

"Do you really think it'll have some affect?"

"It's our last resort sir." Gaius poured the water into Arthur's mouth. Nothing happened. "Perhaps you should allow him to rest," Gaius suggested to Uther.

"I will not leave him." Merlin and Gaius left. Artemis lingered.

"Sire?" Artemis questioned not wanting to annoy Uther with her lack of titles at the moment. "I have sworn to stay until he wakes." Uther stared at Artemis before nodding. Artemis sat next to Arthur on his bed. It was some time later, while Artemis was asleep leaning against the bedpost, that a sudden movement caused her to topple off the bed. "YAHHH!" Artemis crashed to the floor after failing to retain her balance. "Ow. Stupid mirocamala," she muttered.

"Arthur," Uther said relieved. Artemis jumped up off the ground. It was true Arthur was awake. He was looking rather confused, tired, and sickly, but he was awake away from the brink of death.

"I'll just leave you two alone," Artemis said. "Good to see you awake, Arthur. Get some rest. Recover." Artemis left. She closed the door behind her. She breathed deeply leaning against the wall. She was crying with relief and joy. Arthur was fine. Artemis went back to the house. Ava was awake and reading.

"Artemis?"

"Arthur's okay," Artemis said. "He'll live."

"At what cost?" Ava asked.

"It doesn't matter," Artemis said stiffly and somewhat cold.

"Artemis?"

"Ava, whatever happens to me in the next few days… I am sorry."

"Artemis!" she yelled jumping up from her seat.

"Merlin traded his life for Arthur's, but I reversed the switch. It is my life that will end for Arthur's." Ava stared at her.

"This is serious," Ava whispered.

"It is." Ava threw her arms around Artemis. "It'll be okay. When I pass-" Ava shook her head.

"No!" she yelled.

"When I pass, the Grand Masters will come and collect you. You will finish your training with them. You will then go on to do what you want. Travel if you want. Settle down if you so choose. Become a Servant of the World if that's your wish. Just promise me you will do what will make you happy."

"Artemis… no," Ava cried.

"Ava! You must promise me!" ARtemis grabbed her shoulders and looked down at her. "Promise me, Ava."

"I promise."

"Good girl. I don't know when this will take affect," she admitted. "So we will continue like I have ages to live. Understand?"

"Yes," Ava whispered.

"I have to get back to Arthur." Artemis pulled a few potions from her cabinets. They were harmless and completely non-magical. "I have to make sure he's actually listening to me about resting. I love you, Ava," Artemis said as a last thought as she reached the door.

"I love you too, Artemis," Ava whispered as Artemis left to the palace. As she reached Arthur's chambers, Uther came out.

"How is he?"

"Much better."

"Good." Artemis walked in. Uther was right. Arthur looked a hundred times better from just moments ago.

"Well, look at you. Looks like you could handle a beating right now," Artemis teased walking inside. Artemis walked to his side. "Here. Take this. Don't taste it. Don't smell it. Just down it." She gave Arthur a small vial. Arthur held it for a minute before realization dawned on him.

"I remember you talking to me," he said as Artemis busied herself with deciding what else to make Arthur take.

"You can?" she said quietly wanting to smack her head against the wall.

"You stoked my forehead."

"I was tending to your fever," Artemis said stiffly.

"You never lost faith," Arthur said.

"I was just talking. I figured I would annoy you even while you were ill."

"Tell me again what you said."

"I don't remember. It was a lot of gibberish. Nonsense really. I like the sound of my own voice too much," she said trying to get Arthur to drop it, but of course he wouldn't.

"No, no, I don't think so. You remember," Arthur said with a smile.

"No, I don't," Artemis objected.

"Come on. Something about… about how you really feel. You said you cared about me."

"Really? Now that's an absurd idea. I would never in a million years say such a thing." Artemis stood as Arthur smiled and laughed lightly.

"I have to go. Take this too," she said giving him another small vial. Artemis turned to leave, but as she reached the table her vision started to go.

"Artemis?" Arthur asked watching as she froze. Artemis clutched her chest. Her knees gave out and she tried to reach out to steady herself on the table, but failed and collapsed. Her vision slowly went dark. Here it comes, the consequences of her actions. She heard Arthur call her name once more before the room went dark.

"What happened?" Gaius said entering Arthur's room. He was sitting next to Artemis who was laying in his bed. Arthur had managed enough strength to get to a guard and tell them to get Gaius.

"I don't know. She just collapsed," Arthur said. Gaius went to her. She had the same symptoms that Arthur had had previously.

"Gaius?"

"There's a chance that while tending to you the poison from the bite got into her system," he lied to protect the truth. He thought he saw her mutter something when Merlin handed her the vial of water.

"Well, give her what you gave me," Arthur said.

"It's not that simple sire. It was a miracle it worked on you."

"At least try! You cannot let her die!" Arthur said. This much stress after nearly dying was not good for him. He looked down at Artemis's pale, weak form. To see her so vunerable...

"I will do what I can. We must move her."

"No. Leave her. I will stay with her."

"Sire, you just recovered from nearly dying. You must rest or you will only make yourself ill."

"I will not leave her! She didn't leave me," Arthur said quieter. Gaius accepted this.

"I will see what I can do sire." Gaius turned and left. Arthur sat close to Artemis.

"Look what happens. You care and then you get hurt," Arthur sighed. "We'll talk about it in the morning. I'm tired. When you wake up, I'm making you pay for stealing my bed."

When Arthur awoke, he saw Merlin standing staring at Artemis with a broken expression as if deciding something.

"What is it Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"How are you?"

"Good… I can't say the same for Artemis," he said looking down at Artemis, who seemed to be looking even more sickly than the day before.

"I'm glad you're better," Merlin said dryly and quietly still looking at Artemis. "Ava was here earlier, but… she'll be back later. I need to talk to you."

"You still don't get it do you? I decide when we talk."

"Not this time."

"I sometimes wonder if you know who I am," Arthur replied.

"Oh, I know who you are," Merlin said.

"Good," Arthur said nodding.

"You're a prat," Merlin said. Arthur frowned and looked at him. "And a royal one." Arthur laughed slightly.

"Are you ever going to change Merlin?"

"No, you'd get bored. Promise me this, if you ever get another servant, don't get a bootlicker."

"Is this you trying to leave your job?"

"No, I'm happy to be your servant to the day I die." Arthur stared at him seriously.

"Sometimes I think I know you Merlin. Other times," Arthur shook his head.

"Well, I know you. You're a great warrior. One day you'll be a great king."

"That's very kind of you," Arthur said slightly confused.

"But you must learn to listen as well as you fight."

"Now you're starting to sound like Artemis," he said. Arthur looked down at the girl beside him sadly. "That's not a bad thing… she's a wise woman. Always nagging me… for the better. Any other pointers?"

"No. That's it. Just… don't… be… a prat." With that Merlin left. Arthur looked down at Artemis as she moaned slightly and turned.

"Brother," she muttered. Arthur put a hand next to her head and gingerly brushed her hair back. "Stupid." Arthur laughed.

"Even unconscious you're insulting people." Arthur watched her. "Alright, so I suppose I should say something heartfelt and meaningful like you did when I was ill… but I'm not good with words like you are. I suppose you are right. You are rather poetic even if we aren't… lovers. I will say this though… you are the most aggravating, most annoying, most irritating, most commanding woman I have ever met in my entire life, but you are also the wisest, the strongest, the most beautiful, and the kindest woman I have ever met. I know that you don't mean it when you insult me. I know most of the time you're doing it because you're trying to make me into a better person, and somehow I think it's working. I apologized to Merlin about a week ago. Can you believe that? To Merlin? We both stared at each other like the kingdom had fallen. I apologize for teasing you earlier for what you said to me while I was unconscious. I care for you too Artemis. I know… I'm not supposed to, but it couldn't be helped. I've never met another like you." There was silence as he stared down at her. Ava entered the room. Arthur looked to her.

"Hello, Arthur," she said as she walked closer.

"How are you holding up?" Ava shrugged. "She'll be fine," Arthur assured her.

"Artemis… rarely tells people that she loves them unless it means goodbye… she said she loved me, Arthur. It scared me."

"She'll be okay. She can't die. I won't let her."

"She cares for you, you know? A lot more than even she'll admit to herself. She looks at you different than other people. She looks at you with hope and joy. Something she thinks she lost long ago. Do you care for her?"

"Very much so," Arthur said looking down at her.

"Good," Ava said. "I don't think Artemis can withstand any more rejection. She smiles a lot with you. She thinks I don't notice, but I do. Artemis… she eventually got annoyed with my pestering and told me about the mirror… I think… that you could bring the Light out in her. I think you'll be the reason she'll end up smashing it. I see her smile in a way she hasn't in years. I see that light in her eyes starting to come back, and it's because of you. You have no idea the affect you have on her, and neither does she. Artemis denies it feverishly of course." They were silent. "Thank you for everything you've done."

"She's done more for me," Arthur stated.

"Do you mind if I stay?"

"Of course not. She's family to you." Arthur and Ava stayed with her two days. Two days and then…

"Oh, hell," Artemis muttered turning over. "Your bed is one made for a God. I'm so jealous right now." Arthur laughed.

"You're alright!" Ava yelled.

"I am," she confirmed sitting up. "I feel like someone bashed my head in with a shovel. What is the hell happened?"

"Gaius said some of the Quest Beast's poison may have slipped into your system," Arthur said. Artemis kind of just blinked, and then realization dawn on her. "Artemis?"

"I was… so close to death," she muttered. "I saw Kael…" Ava's eye widened.

"What did he say?" Ava asked.

"I don't remember…," she replied. "Hell… my head's killing me."

"That's great. Now since you're up-" Arthur started.

"No. Whatever you want the answer is no."

"But-"

"No."

"My bed?" Arthur said.

"Oh, you want it back?" she questioned.

"Yes."

"That's too bad."

"Artemis!" She laughed.

"Alright Arthur, Christ. No need to get your chain mail in a jumble." Artemis slid to the side of the bed. She wasn't sure how she was alive, but at the moment as long as Merlin, Ava, Arthur, Morgana, ect. were alive she didn't care less. Artemis rose. She was a bit wobbly.

"Teach?" Ava asked.

"I've had worse," she admitted.

"Like the Sword of Magus?" Ava asked. Artemis nodded.

"This is nothing compared to that. That was…," Artemis remembering the pain shuttered. "incomparable," she said distastefully.

"He should go to Gaius," Arthur said. "Get something to make you feel better."

"You make it seem like you care, Arthur," she teased. "Ava. Come. I want to speak to you about something." Ava looked surprised.

"Teach, you nearly died and you want to just get right back up and teach me a lesson!"

"She's a strong woman, Ava. She can handle it," Arthur said. Artemis looked at him. A smile crept on her face.

"Thank you, Arthur. I'm glad to see you standing on your own two feet."

"You as well." Artemis and Ava left together.

"Teach?" Ava asked watching her serious face. Artemis smiled. They walked down the hall toward their destination.

"I wish to talk to you about the oldest magic that exist."

"What?"

"The power of life and death. Few remember how to mirror it. When one makes a life, another must die. It is the way it is and always has been. People die so others can live. Others must live to bring on a new era, an era that could be impossible with the era before. This is the equation to life. Magic runs similar. To get something, you must give something. To create life, you must give life up in return. To take a life, you must give life. Nature is this way. To take power, you must give power. If things were not this way, the world would be in chaos."

"I understand, but why you? Why did you have to give your life?"

"Merlin and Arthur will be legends. They cannot exist without each other."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It has been written."

"Is there anything about you in these written works?"

"Not that I have seen. I am not a big part. I'm not like Merlin. Arthur needs Merlin."

"He needs you too," Ava said. Artemis laughed.

"It's a sweet thought… disturbing too," she said as an afterthought.

"He didn't leave you while you were ill. He refused. He cares about you."

"I know. I heard him while I was unconscious. I just chose not to tease him like he teased me about it."

"Why?"

"Arthur has trouble admitting what he truly feels. To tease him about it would be wrong and just cause him to shut off his emotions more. Emotions aren't something to laugh about."

"But he laughed at you."

"True, but Arthur can be a moron sometimes," Artemis said.

"So could Kael," Ava said with a grin. Artemis rolled her eyes.

"Are you still on about this? Just leave it Ava. Shouldn't you be protective of me moving on anyway? He was your brother."

"No. I just want to see you happy. Arthur makes you happy."

"Only on rare occasions," Artemis muttered. Ava laughed.

"Oh, it's more than that. Where are we going by the way?"

"To wait for Gaius and Merlin to come back from the Isles of the Blessed."

"You've been unconscious. How in the realm do you know this?"

"I know all."

"No! You thought you were going to die!" Ava objected. Artemis laughed.

"Alright fine. There is little I don't know."

It was another day before Gaius and Merlin came back. Merlin and Artemis embraced.

"Merlin. Thank you."

"Don't mention. Nimueh's dead." Artemis shook her head.

"Don't be fooled Merlin. Nimueh is tricky. I thought I killed her once, but I did not."

"But the balance has been restored by her death."

"Well, if you did kill her, good for you. If not… we'll do it together next time."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Together."