Author's note: I want to make a few necessary points for a second. The first point is I write as I go. I don't know what will happen for the most part just as you don't. That said a few things have changed. Jack for instance had a bigger purpose when I had created him. However, as time went on, it just didn't work out. Hence the creation of our new character. Jack is now of little importance. I apologize for the inconvenience. Second is that I chose to write this before Lancelot returns as he will no doubt, so I'm not entirely sure how important his death was, but oh well, I felt it was time to give you a new chapter despite it all. I suppose if it is very important I can throw it in there later somehow. I'm good at making things up as I go. That is all. Enjoy. I will be updating more periodically after this I hope as I got a new laptop. Also as another side note, I'm converting all my friends to Merlin. It's a good day.

It was nearly sunrise when Artemis bounded down the castle steps. She pulled a black cloak around her as she reached the last step. Libera stood await for her. She started to pull herself up but was immediately stopped and pulled back to the ground. She turned to see Arthur with his hands on her waist.

"Think you can leave without a goodbye?" Arthur asked. She smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek.

"I'll be back in a week," she told him.

"I know, but a week can seem an eternity especially when I have no idea if you're safe." He paused before continuing. "I've heard rumors that Morgana has been spotted."

"Yes on the other side of the Kingdom, Arthur," she said as if she was exhausted of this conversation, and indeed, she was. "You must trust me and know I can handle myself."

"We don't know how strong Morgana has gotten," he replied.

"Other side of the kingdom," she reminded him.

"It doesn't matter," he said. He sighed. "Just take one of my knights with you. Any of them."

"I don't want to bring a knight who doesn't know Master Gwydion with me. It would be disrespectful."

"Then bring Everett and Ava."

"They have a child, Arthur. I can't ask them to come with."

"Then Jack," he said quickly. "Take Jack with you."

"That's how much you don't want me to go alone? You're willing to allow Jack to come with?"

"Anything."

"No, Arthur," she said firmly, "I'm going on this pilgrimage alone. Jack and Amice are busy helping the Electus set up the Gorion Mountain base."

"Then wait a few days until the Samhein festival is over, so I can go with."

"No, Arthur," she said shaking her head, "the point of me going now is because the Servants celebrate Samhein very firmly. Samhein is the time when spirits of the dead are closest to us, so it's the best time to go." He nodded. They had been over this. Artemis told him a month ago that she had planned to leave three days before Samhein to visit Master Gwydion's grave on the other side of the Kingdom. It would take nearly a day and a half hard ride to get there. Slow paced, it took three days one way.

"Alright. Seven days. If you aren't back by sunset on the seventh day, I'm sending out knights after you." She smiled and nodded. He kissed her before she pulled herself up onto Libera.

"Don't worry," she told him. "Seven days."

"Seven days," he said kissing her hand. Artemis turned and rode out of Camelot.

The waves crashed against the cliff with a roar. It was Samhein Eve an hour until the hour when the veil was the thinnest: midnight. Artemis slid off of Libera. She could see the erect monument in tribute to Gwydion. It was his grave marker though his body was dust in the wind. It was an arched doorway that lead to the end of the cliff. Carved into the arch was birds of all kinds. A single lantern was lit and hung from the middle of the arch.

The lantern swung in the light wind. As it swung to the right a man was briefly illuminated leaning against the arch in silence.

He wore a black cloak leaving her incapable of seeing any features beside that he was a male and rather tall. Artemis approached cautiously.

"I didn't think anyone would be here but me," Artemis said coolly approaching the archway. The man looked slightly startled. He stood fully erect. He slid out a sword from his side causing Artemis to pull her own weapon out in defense. They both froze for a second, and then he took the first move. He swung his sword in a downward motion trying to hit her. She dodged, but he was a quick opponent. He swung back. Artemis pulled her sword up to guard. Her opponent was brutal. It was quick, strong swings. Artemis didn't have much of an opening to strike back. Artemis ducked under his sword before turning and elbowing him hard in the stomach. His sword clattered onto the ground. He grabbed her arm and twisted it so that her sword fell too.

She was surprised to see that he was equally skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Artemis went for a nerve, but he blocked her and hit three different nerves on her own arm. Her arm fell useless. In shock, Artemis let her defense down. Three more nerves were hit, and she was down.

"You… beat me," Artemis said surprised. She looked up at the man. He pulled his hood off.

He was a man with sleek black hair and pale blue eyes that gave nothing away. He had a dark aura about him, but not one Artemis feared. He was not an enemy, but he thought she was. He picked up his sword and held it to her throat.

"Who are you," he asked, "and what do you seek?" His voice was deep and quite smooth.

"I could ask the same of you," Artemis replied.

"Answer me," he demanded.

"I am Artemis. I have come to pay respects to my teacher and friend."

"You are the Artemis?" he asked seemingly confused. She stared up at him. She was slowly curling her fist trying to will her body to move. She swept her foot under him. He fell, and Artemis stood putting her foot on his chest. She removed her hood to look at him properly.

"Now, who are you," she asked, "and what do you seek?"

"My name is Col. I have come to pay my respects to my teacher, my guardian, and my grandfather." Artemis was taken back.

"You are Gwydion's grandson?" she asked.

"Technically, great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great… well you get the point, grandson. He was a lot older than you think."

"Tell me about it," she muttered. She looked down at him. He looked up at her. They both started laughing. She held out her hand. He took it, and they stood together. She gestured toward the arch. He stepped under the arch way, and Artemis followed. They leaned on opposite pillars. It was silent.

"I didn't know Gwydion had children," Artemis finally said.

"With Aradia," he replied quite curtly.

"She still lives you know?"

"I do. She is not quite the woman she was. She isn't quite right in the head," he replied. "Not since Gwydion turned on her."

"Turned on her?" Artemis questioned. "I heard that she was dangerous."

"Perhaps to his rule."

"I don't understand," Artemis replied.

"Aradia was the Prophetess of Old when Gwydion was the leader of the Electus. She went against him challenging his rule, so he took away her powers."

"How long ago was this? I mean… it must have been long, because I've never heard of him being the leader of the Electus."

"About Seven hundred years ago."

"Seven hundred… I know he's old, but… not that old."

"Grandfather was nearing his 1000th birthday," Col said. Artemis stared at him.

"Maybe… I didn't know him as well as I thought," she muttered.

"He spoke of you very fondly," Col said. "Anything he didn't tell you was to protect you."

"Protect me," she muttered. "Protect me? I'm tired of people thinking I am some fragile child! I do not need protecting! I can protect myself, and I do not need anyone." Col stared at her.

"I think you have unresolved issues," he told her.

"Don't presume to know me," she snapped.

"I'm not presuming anything," he told her coolly. She stared at him. He was very collected. It unnerved her and yet fascinated her.

"You are a bit like Gwydion. Very collected, very calm, not giving anything away." He smiled slightly. He had a bit of a crooked smile but rather charming.

"You are a bit like him as well. Very independent and stubborn." Artemis laughed. Artemis paused. They were both silent. She took a deep breath and sighed. The air was crisp with the smell of leaves.

"Where are you traveling from?"

"Camelot."

"Camelot?" he asked surprised. "Strange place for a Servant."

"Prince Arthur is ruling currently. He's not the tyrant his father is," she told him. "Uther has fallen apart after the betrayal of his daughter."

"Morgana. Yes, I heard about her. I travel around different kingdoms, but even I heard about that. All the Servants were talking about it."

"Are you Servant?"

"No, but I have many friends who are. I chose not to go along that path."

"Where did you travel from most recently?"

"Tein. A small village half a days ride from here. Not far." Artemis nodded her head. She looked out to the crashing sea. A bell rung loud in the sky from the nearby town signaling that it was midnight. Artemis gasped. A pain in her chest gripped her. It felt like she was being split in half. Col's voice echoed her name as she collapsed.

Artemis found herself in a barren land, a wasted land. She stood next to a dark, bare, lifeless tree that cast the darkest of shadows despite the sky being sunless.

"Hello?" Artemis asked stepping forward. "Where am I?"

"It's called the sunless lands. You've been here before," a voice said behind her. Artemis spun around to face a dark haired woman.

"You are…," Artemis muttered.

"I am Death. You may call me Dea as many before you have."

"Many before me? How many people actually get to meet Death before they die?"

"There is one in every lifetime. You are that one."

"I… don't understand," she replied.

"You are special, Artemis. Surely you know this?"

"Sure like my brother."

"No," she said shaking her head. "Emrys's power is far different from yours. His power is inherited from his father; yours is not."

"No?"

"No. Your power comes from me."

"No… no, that can't be… and if it was then surely… why would you tell me now?"

"Because Artemis… what you are is about to change."

"I'm still lost," Artemis replied. Death was silent. She stared up at the sky. Her eyes were so old, so worn. She wasn't what Artemis would have expected. She was gentle. It was strange.

"One most live but not live to keep our worlds connected."

"I… don't-"

"Just listen. You and your predecessors were chosen. You were chosen to be the veil in human form. You are what keeps the human world connected to the land of the dead. Without you and your predecessors and eventually your successors, people cannot move from this world to the next. There must always be one of mine walking among the living."

"One of yours."

"Your heart beats but you died long ago."

"Died?"

"You crossed over. You were brought to me when your predecessor died. It was not coincidence. Those visions you stared having the day Uther Pendragon attacked the druid camp… were visions I gave to you. You died that day, Artemis. Uther's men killed you. You were dead for seven days. When you came back, you had power; you had visions. This is what I gave to you."

"And if I do not want it?"

"I'm afraid you have no choice, Artemis. Without my power, you are dead. In another universe, you may not even exist, but you do now. The point is… the veil has ripped apart by Morgana at the Isle of the Blessed. You are veil in human form."

"So what does that mean?"

"It means you must repair it, or you will be no more."

"How do I fix it?"

"That is your choice. Arthur is going now to that veil to sacrifice himself. However, Emrys will not allow that. He is going to stop him and sacrifice himself. However, it is Lancelot who will die."

"I want no one to die," Artemis said with worry.

"Then, listen. Go to the veil. I will do the rest, but be warned: what will be done there will harm you. I don't know how well you will fair. You will live, but it may be no more than as a ghost."

"I understand."

Col was staying in small humble home. It was rather dark and rather cluttered with things. It was not his home but a friend's who was far gone. Col pulled out an old leather bound book. He flipped through it before stopping. He muttered to himself before turning to Artemis. "Ic i álýme mec læðð." Nothing happened. Col frowned. He wasn't sure what to do. He sighed and sat on a chair next to the bed he had laid her on. "þurhhælan," he muttered. Still nothing. Col sighed.

It was a day later when Artemis's eyes flew open. She gripped Col's wrist.

"I need the Isle of the Blessed," she breathed shakily.

"You're too weak," he told her.

"The veil," she breathed, "has torn. I need to go… now." Col nodded.

"Can you move?"

"Little," she told him.

"Then how the hell will we get to the Isle of the Blessed if you can barely move?"

"Just get me near Camelot," she breathed as she stood but collapsed. Col caught her.

"Absolutely not," he told her throwing her back on the bed rather roughly.

"Look," Artemis snapped, "I can do this with or without you! Now, I may die if you don't help me, but I'm going! It is my duty!" Col sighed.

"You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met."

"Then you'll help me?"

"Yes."

"Good cause we need to go now," she replied.

"Now?"

"Now. It will take a good deal of time to get even near Camelot." Col sighed. He nodded before helping Artemis walk out to the horses. They had to go. They had to heal the veil before someone sacrifices themselves.