It took three days of riding to get back just as much as it took at a slow pace. Artemis fell off her horse onto the ground. She prayed that even though she didn't have the same abilities as Merlin that it would still work.

"Ο δρακον, έάω μαλερός σοφόνους φθέγγομαι τείδε άναδικέω!" she shouted weakly. She wasn't feeling well. She felt as if she was deathly ill. Artemis waited and waited. Her heart dropped when nothing appeared until the Dorocha. The spirit of the dead rushed at her screaming. Her heart quickened as she was left unable to move. Col went to try and pull her from the Dorocha, but fire licked the spirit before he got the chance. It fled. In front of her for the first time stood the Great Dragon.

"Ah, the young sorceress. This is a surprise," the dragon said.

"I thought there were no dragons left around here," Col said in awe.

"Ahhh," the dragon said looking at Col, "and the orleahter."

"Orleahter?" Artemis questioned. The dragon laughed.

"All in time young sorceress." Artemis shook her head.

"I need to get to Arthur and his knights as well as Merlin," she told the dragon. "Fast before Lancelot sacrifices himself."

"How do you know this?"

"Death," she said.

"Ah, young sorceress you have found out your place," the Dragon noted, "well, part of your place that is. Do you know your other?"

"At Arthur and Merlin's side. That's why I intend to stop it."

"Then come. Both of you." On the dragon's back, they rode to the shores. The Isle of the Blessed was before them. Artemis was coughing up blood.

"Good luck, young sorceress." Artemis nodded. Col helped her onto the boat. The boat moved forward, and when they reached the Isle of the Blessed, Artemis tumbled out of the boat. She collapsed on its rocky shores. She felt like she was dying.

"Artemis," Col said in worry. "Artemis." His voice faded.

Death stood before her in the sunless lands again.

"Now, you must choose," Death told her.

"Choose?"

"I can repair the veil with a sacrifice."

"What sacrifice?" Artemis asked.

"I will take what is mine from you. I will take your power and your ability, and I will give up part of what I use now. That sacrifice of power will be enough. However, be warned. You will not be right if you allow me to do this. You will be ill, and you will feel dead, and it gets worse."

"How?"

"I, like you, will remain with little power, damaged. I cannot walk these lands with no power. My servants, the reapers will take care of the dead. I must ask that you allow me to take shelter in your body during the night. You must walk the Land of the Dead while I use your body to walk in the living. This will allow us both to survive while I and others repair what is mine and what is yours."

"You will take my body?"

"From dusk to dawn. It will not be good for your health, oh no, but if you choose this and do not accept me we both may die."

"Can you die?"

"I am not the first Death. There have been others. Nothing can live forever." She was silent. "What will you choose?"

"I choose this."

"Than welcome me into your body, so I can do what must be done."

"How?"

"Say it in the Old Language."

"Ic wilgeest ðu beinnan mín feorhbold déaþscúa," she muttered.

Death stood in Artemis's body. There was only one key difference between real Artemis and Death Artemis. Death Artemis had black eyes that showed an old magic versus Artemis's spirited blue eyes. Death looked at her own hands. She hadn't been in a body whose heart beats in years.

"Artemis?" Col questioned. Death eyed Col carefully.

"Young orleahter," she said, "I need your assistance."

"You are not her. Who are you?"

"I am Death."

"Death?" he muttered. "Why are you-"

"Artemis and I have an understanding. Now will you help me help her?"

"What do you need?"

"In due time," she told him. "Now follow." Col followed Death through the buildings to the courtyard were the veil had been ripped. The knights and Merlin were not there yet. However, the Cailleach stood await.

"My lady?" the Cailleach questioned seeing beyond Artemis and seeing her mistress.

"Hello, Cailleach. Do you know why I am here?"

"To close the veil."

"That is correct," she replied walking closer. Col stood behind her several paces. Death examined to rip with disdain.

"But you need a sacrifice."

"I already have that arranged," she said still looking at the veil.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. I was just thinking of the Lady Morgana. She should have been more careful. She's made an enemy of me. She walked on ground that she should not have." She heard the Wyvern screech above her. She sighed. "The knights are here. We better make this quick." Death turned on the Cailleach before pulling a knife from the Cailleach's side and plunging it into her chest. "We will discuss what will become of you in the Sunless Lands," Death said before pulling the blade out of the Cailleach's chest. The Cailleach's disappeared as dust.

The blade she took from the Cailleach's was no longer than her forearm. It was old with several symbols carved into the blade and the handle was a carved bone. Death took the blade to Col.

"Take it," she told him. He took her blade. "Now repeat after me. Gewrixle þes wælseax."

"Gewrixle þes wælseax," Col repeated.

"Æt húselfæt cníf."

"Æt húselfæt cníf," he repeated.

"Æt defective þes háligreft."

"Æt defective þes háligreft."

"Eac meant déaþscúa ond meant Ambrosine."

"Eac meant déaþscúa ond meant Ambrosine," he repeated. His eyes flashed gold, and the blade in his hand turned clear.

"Now stab me in the heart with the blade."

"What?" he asked in disbelief.

"It's okay. She won't die. She'll be fine. Just do it." Col hesitated. A Wyvern could be heard in the skies again. They sounded mad. "We don't have much time," she said in panic. "Do it."

"How do you I know I can trust you?" he asked.

"You don't. Artemis trusts me, so trust her Orleahter. She is your destiny."

"My…? What do you mean?"

"We are wasting time! Do it! Now!" Col thrusted the blade into her heart. She gapped. Col pulled the blade out.

"Artemis!" a shout of two came at Col. He found himself under attack. Arthur fought Col with anger and frustration unaware of what was happening. Col held his own. All fighting was stopped when Artemis gasped and from the wound in her chest a small white glowing globe came. It flew into the veil. The veil sealed shut.

It burned. Her body felt like it was on fire. She felt like her bones were fractured, and that her muscles had been torn apart. She heard a shout.

The fight between Arthur and Col continued. Col managed to knock him off his feet.

"Will you calm down?"

"You killed her!"

"She's alive," Col snapped, "why don't you take the time to check?" Merlin leaned down to Artemis. Her eyes cracked open.

"He's right, Arthur. She's alive."

"Pain," Artemis muttered. Arthur leaned down to her.

"Artemis," Arthur said. Artemis started shaking. "You," Arthur snapped ready to turn on Col, but Artemis grabbed his arm.

"He… helped," she muttered. "Be… thankful." He looked down at her and then up at Col. Col moved closer. He bent down before taking out a small vial from the folds of his cloak. He poured it into her mouth. Her eyes slid shut.

"She'll be able to sleep peacefully without the pain for awhile." Arthur looked at him.

"I owe you an apology."

"Yes, you do," Col said.

"I'm Arthur Pendragon," he said.

"Nicholas de Vaux," he replied. "Col." They shook hands before Arthur picked Artemis up.

"We should leave here. Come with. In case, she needs more healing." Col nodded.

"Your invitation is welcomed," he replied. Arthur stared at where the veil was and looked down on Artemis in his arms. She was going to be the death of him.