Reviews greatly appreciate. I don't own Merlin, but I do own a great deal of this story. Enjoy.

A week followed, and Artemis awoke. Pain still rattled through her. He muscles felt stiff, and she felt as if she was dying, but it was more than that. She felt almost like she was empty. It was the price to pay. Col walked through the door. He was without his cloak this time revealing a dark tunic, trousers, and boots. A sword with a dragon shaped in the handle was strapped to his side.

"Morning," he said.

"Morning," she croaked out. He tossed her a small bottle.

"It'll help with the pain."

"How long have I-"

"A week. Arthur's been rather… what's the word…? Worried is too light a term." Artemis drank the potion before responding. She felt a bit better. At least well enough to talk. She suspected that Col had used magic to create the potion, but she said nothing.

"That's just Arthur."

"Yes, I know," Col replied. He paused. "He really loves you."

"You two got to know each other I see," Artemis replied.

"We had a couple days ride to know each other, and a little time together while I was in here with Gaius trying to decide what to do with you."

"And you like him? Because, well, let's face it he's a prat."

"His love is unrequited," Col said slightly confused.

"Oh, no, it is requited. I love Arthur very much. I just like teasing him. It's quite fun," she said with a smile.

"And it will be my death," Arthur said entering her chambers. She chuckled. He walked to the side of her bed. "Good to see awake. How are you feeling?"

"Great," she lied through her teeth. Arthur being oblivious thought it was true.

"I'm glad to hear it. I let you leave Camelot alone, and you nearly die."

"I'm sorry," she told him, "that I wasn't going to let you die." He gave her a look. She smiled and grabbed his arm to pull him down to kiss him. Col cleared his throat uncomfortably. Arthur looked at him.

"Forgot you were there, Col," Arthur said. Col nodded with a smirk. Arthur stood up straight.

"I appreciate it," Col said sarcastically. Arthur smiled and hit his shoulder.

"Take care of her," Arthur told before turning to Artemis. "I'll see you later, Artemis."

"If you have to," she replied. Arthur left, and Artemis turned her attention to Col. "Where's Merlin?" Col shrugged.

"So why did you lie to Arthur about how you're feeling?" Artemis shrugged.

"Arthur gets worried about everything. I didn't want him on my case." Col nodded slowly.

"So," Col said, "you love him, but you lie to him."

"I… stretch the truth," she told him, "I rarely flat out lie to him."

"Does he know about your magic?"

"Yes, but I think he turns a blind eye and pretends like I don't have it." Artemis paused for a moment. "Though I don't blame him. He was raised that way by Uther."

"Ah yes, the broken king," Col said with a nod. "I saw him, and I can't say that I'm not happy to see him in such a state."

"Do you have a personal vendetta against Uther Pendragon?" Col paused seeming to think this over.

"My parents were killed in the Great Purge." Artemis stared at him quite silent.

"I'm sorry for your lose," she replied. "I never knew my father because of Uther. He was chased out of Camelot and farther into Cenred's lands. I didn't meet him until a few years ago. I understand how you feel."

"And your brother," Col said, "he is in great danger staying in Camelot." Artemis raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know about Merlin?"

"How can you not? He's dangerously careless with his magic," Col replied.

"Well, Arthur doesn't know, so he can't be that reckless."

"Arthur's just oblivious then."

"On many things, yes, he is," Artemis replied. "So are you staying then?"

"I enjoy Camelot, so perhaps for the time being," Col told her.

"Good, because there's so much I want to ask you," Artemis replied with excitement.

"Oh?"

"Yes, but I must be honest… talking… it hurts a bit, and I feel a bit… odd. I need more rest."

"While you sleep I'll attempt to find something to help the pain more."

"Thank you," she told him. He nodded and turned to leave, but Artemis stopped him. "I seek to ask you one thing before you leave. Why did you and why are you helping me? You barely know me." Col stared at her. He was silent.

"The last time I saw my grandfather was five years ago. Before I left, we argued rather… colorfully… He cared for you greatly. I want to try to make up lost time by helping you and getting to know you."

"So you are trying to ease your guilt through me."

"Yes," he replied bluntly. Artemis nodded. "Is that all?" Artemis nodded again.

"You can leave," she told him. Col nodded and left her room. Artemis laid her head down and closed her eyes.

The sun set, and the moon rose. Artemis stared out the window of the castle, but it wasn't Artemis. It was Death. Death stood perfectly still. She seemed to be thinking, but perhaps she was just dwelling on old memories of a life long since passed.

"Artemis?" Arthur's voice called from down the hall. "What are you doing up so late?" He walked to her when she didn't respond. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Artemis?" Death looked up at him. He took a step away from her seeing her eyes. He drew his sword.

"Calm down, Arthur Pendragon," she told him. He lowered his sword confused. He recognized her voice.

"Death?" he asked confused.

"Give the boy a gold star," she joked looking back out the window.

"Where's Artemis?"

"In the Land of the Dead. We have an understanding. When the sun is on these lands, she will be herself. When the sun sets, I will take her body."

"Why?"

"Her soul as well as mine are damaged from healing the veil. Her magic is gone. I had to take it back from her to heal the veil."

"Take it back?"

"I gave Artemis her abilities when she was a child when she was killed by your father's men."

"When she was…?"

"She is alive now. I breathed life back into her body. Like I said, no one will take her life but me."

"So she will not be right?"

"Not for a while, Arthur Pendragon. Eventually, I will heal, and she will heal, but for now, you get to see me. Isn't that exciting?" she asked dully.

"Won't she need rest?" Arthur asked her.

"Artemis? She'll be fine. A little on edge at first, but she'll get better." Death kept her eyes on the scene out the window. It started to rain lightly.

"Why her?"

"Hm?" Death replied inquiring further into what he meant.

"Why did you chose Artemis?"

"I didn't chose her. Monarchs use divine right as a reason they rule. So by your standards what gave you the right to rule is God. What chose Artemis was God or Gods or fate or whatever chooses people. Whatever created people, the world, me. I did not. I take from this world. I do not give. Artemis came to me. I just did what I knew I had to. Artemis died less than a second after her predecessor. Because there was no veil at the time, she could not pass over and was brought to me. I knew that she was the next. It was… fate."

"You don't control as much as you claim," Arthur said calmly.

"No. There is much I don't control. I am aware of this," she said. "Your dear sister for instance. I can't control her. For the love of the Gods. I can't even kill her if I wished."

"Morgana?"

"Yes. Morgana," she replied with venom.

"Why can't you-"

"There is a… balance that must be preserved," she said carefully. "Morgana is great evil, but there is someone who must live for this kingdom to prevail who is her opposite, who is pure good."

"My father?" Death laughed at the notion.

"Your father who executes the innocent so freely?" Death said with a frown. She thought for a second. "Or should I say executed? He is weak. Close to death."

"Do not talk about my father like that," Arthur said sharply. Death raised an eyebrow.

"I apologize. I forget how testy humans could be."

"I'm not testy," Arthur said trying to keep the irritation out of his voice. Death laughed. Her laughter fell into silence. Death seemed to be scanning the citadel's landscape.

"What are you looking for?"

"Nothing particular," she replied. "Just remembering Camelot long before it was a city when it was just a field. How time seems to pass those who cannot walk with their loved ones."

"You were human once?" Arthur asked.

"Too long ago," she replied.

"What was your name?" Arthur asked.

"I… do not remember," she replied.

"Will Artemis… become like you?"

"No. I was cursed to this life for unspeakable crimes against the Gods. Artemis has not done anything to deserve such a fate."

"What did you do?" Death was silent. Her face darkened as she remembered the unspeakable act.

"I'm afraid I will not tell you. Not now at least. One day you will know just as Artemis will."

"Will Artemis be alright in the Land of the Dead?"

"I believe she will fare quite well," Death replied still looking out the window searching for her lost memories somewhere amongst the stone of the citadel.

Artemis stared at the cracks in the ground. The sunless lands were not a cheerful place.

"You don't look happy?" A boy said. He looked no older than 13 with sandy hair and wearing all black with a scythe in his hand. He was a reaper, a servant of Death.

"I am in the Land of the Dead when I am living. How do you think I feel?"

"Well, technically it's just the passage to the land of the dead," he replied. "And the land is more like lands. People go to different places when they die."

"How do you decide?" Artemis asked him.

"We don't you do."

"What?" Artemis said confused.

"People think that they go to a good place or a bad place based on their morality, but in reality, humans decide. Deep down people know where they belong in the afterlife, and it's there that they go."

"Wonder if they don't want to leave the world?"

"People can chose to be immortal. It's a state of mind, but very, very few truly want that, and those who wish to return can chose to be reincarnated instead of to continue living with the life they have."

"Humans have all the choice?"

"It's funny isn't it? They blame Death, but in reality, she has nothing to do with it."

"What's your name?"

"Marc," he replied.

"How did you become a reaper? You're so young?"

"I sacrificed myself to the Gods," he replied. "Not knowing what to do with me they chose to have me try and redeem myself by working for Death."

"Do you regret it?"

"Of course. I'm dead."

"What am I supposed to do all night?" Artemis asked him.

"You answer their questions."

"Whose?"

"Theirs," Marc said nodding his head. A woman stood there staring ahead at them. She was nothing more than a spirit."

"I-I was t-told to get my-my answers here," she stuttered.

"Go on," Artemis said.

"I-I want to know why," she said. Artemis looked to Marc in a panic.

"How am I supposed to know the answer to that," Artemis muttered to him.

"She doesn't either. You just say what you can. We give no real answers just mere guesses."

"Why?" Artemis repeated. The woman nodded. Artemis ran her hand down her face. "The… world must make way for the new… and it happened to be your time. Your death means the life of a new child. You should be happy." The woman nodded unsure if her question was answer.

"Now go and touch her shoulder," Marc muttered. Artemis went to her.

"Are you ready?"

"One more thing," she said. "What does it all mean? What's life's purpose?"

"Well," Artemis said rubbing the back of her head, "life is hard and complicated, but in the end, everyone serves their purpose and will eventually help the world progress into a better tomorrow. You left your mark, and it will remain in the hearts of those who care."

"Thank you," the woman smiled. Artemis touched her shoulder. Light shone on her, and she disappeared.

"That was pretty good," Marc said.

"Yeah? Cause I just made that up." Marc laughed.

"You said it almost as good as Dea," Mac smiled. Artemis sighed.

"That was hard."

"That's usually the two questions you'll have to answer. They'll be a good deal of them."

"So it's like a job?"

"No, it is a job," he replied. Artemis sighed.

The sun and moon were both in the sky when Death laid in Artemis's bed and closed her eyes. Artemis was pulled from the Sunless Lands to a foggy, unclear white forest. Death stood waiting for her.

"How was your first day?" she said with a smile.

"What's the meaning of life?" Artemis asked. Death laughed. She shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Artemis turned serious.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead, but I cannot guarantee an answer," Death replied.

"It's just… why do people die?" Death frowned. "Is it because we have to, or is it because we choose to and… in a way it's suicide?"

"You speak of those you lost, don't you?" Death asked.

"My first lover… my child… my father… Gwydion… I don't understand why."

"I can't give that answer, Artemis," Death replied, "But clearly it happened for a reason. Would you have gone to Camelot and fallen in love with your prince if Kael was still alive, if you had your child? No and Arthur needs you, so it's what the world demands. You are a Servant. Should this not be your way of thinking?"

"Still…," she muttered.

"Life is interesting so is death," she said with a smile.

"Yeah," Artemis said with a slight laugh.

"Ready to go back?"

"Yeah. I think so," Artemis replied. The world faded, and Artemis awoke with a yawn. Her body was sore all over, but the pain had subsided. She just felt… ill. She groaned to herself. Life was going to be Hell.