It felt like fire and needles, at least the parts she still had sensation in on her hands. Her fingers looked as if she had stuck them into a burning fire, and any pain had long since ceased. Stoically, she sat in the small craft, as the waves gently rocked the dingy back and forth. A gentle breeze toyed with the long curls that lay down her back. A soft whimper escaped the bundle in her arms, and she absently shushed her son.

Her eyes watched vacantly as the shore disappeared. Two loyal friends, all that remained of Arthur's great dream, stood on the small beach to see her off. Her heart, already shredded, felt nothing at the sight of them.

A growing gray mist began to gather around her. The chill of the moist air created an involuntary shiver through her already aching body. Gwen gritted her teeth against the pain that arose.

Soon the fog had completely encompassed the small boat, and she could no longer see the men, or their forlorn faces. She felt a single moment of regret, wondering if her choice to join her husband in death, was simply suicide...but she pushed it away. Merlin had given her a small spark of hope, but she dared not kindle it to anything more than a flicker.

The maid-turned-queen had already accepted the idea that she and her child were going to die, from the sickness that bred inside them. Perhaps, this was the easy way out...but anything else seemed much more painful. Unbeknownst to the warlock, Gwen had taken a bottle of hemlock from Gaius' stores. She didn't know what laid ahead for herself and her son, but if the suffering became too great, she wouldn't hesitate to ease it.

The vessel came to a jarring halt, and Gwen nearly dropped her son; swaddled like an infant, though he was just over a year old. Shaken out of her stupor, she turned around and saw that the craft had landed on an island. A man stood in front of her. His hand was outstretched to assist her out of the boat.

She didn't know him, though she felt strangely comforted by his presence. His manner of dress was completely foreign to her. "Come. I have been waiting for you, Guinevere." He said, using her name as if he was familiar with her.

"What is this place?" She asked in a gravelly voice. So much of the past few days had been spent crying and screaming out her frustrations. It was not queenly, nor was it something she would have done before she was married. With no one to cast the blame upon, her tears were all she had.

The green hill rose before her with a pillar gracing the highest point. It felt serene and she found herself admiring the simple beauty of it all. From Merlin's description, she expected to be met by small, blue, man-like creatures he had called the Sidhe. Gwen was grateful for the normal-appearing man who waited instead.

"Your people call it Avalon, I believe. Come now, we must make haste. Your king awaits you, and if I am found, all the preparations for the future will have been in vain."

The queen didn't know why, but she trusted him as he led her towards the pillar. Standing next to it, he paused for a moment, as if in deep thought, before large rings appeared around them.

A flash of light blinded her temporarily, and as Gwen blinked away the sensation, she realized they were no longer standing on the hill.

"If I had time, I would heal you of the ailment." He told her, as he led her through a tunnel and into a room. On a table, she recognised a workstation similar to the one on which Gaius would craft his potions and tonics. Also on the table, was a sword with a piece missing. Gwen raised an eyebrow at the shoddy, but recognisable, craftsmanship of a Saxon blade; having been a blacksmith's daughter. It was a wonder the invaders from the continent even stood a chance, against the finely honed blades of Camelot.

Other items in the room were not so commonplace, and she couldn't begin to make sense of them...until her eyes lit on a pane of glass, slightly convexed, surrounding the face of a man she now only saw in her dreams.

With a sob, she whispered his name; all the other oddities in the room forgotten.

"Arthur..."

He appeared as if he were only sleeping.

"I have been trying to find a way to remove the piece of sword from his chest, but the methods are beyond what I am able to discover."

"He can be saved then?"

"Yes, he can..." The man was startled by something unseen. "Quickly, you and your son must enter the stasis pod."

Although she didn't understand what it was, Gwen climbed in and laid down. Holding her son tightly, the man smoothed out her hair and offered an encouraging smile.

"When you awaken, the world will have changed drastically. Do not be afraid, for all things will be as they should."

A glass, similar to what covered Arthur, magically slid in place above her. For a few seconds, Gwen felt a hint of claustrophobia before sleep claimed her.

(*~*~*~*)

"Gwen...Guinevere?" The warmth of the voice called to her, through her sleepy haze. She felt the soft touch of fingers stroking her cheek.

"Hmm..." She turned her face towards the hand and her eyelashes began to flutter. Slowly she opened her eyes. Merlin's smiling face was close to her own. There was something different about him. His hair...or perhaps his eyes...she couldn't be certain. It was her friend, that was all she knew. Gwen smiled, "Merlin..."

"Shhh. You're safe now, My Lady."

Reality began filtering into her mind. "Aurie?!" She tried to sit up when a spike of anxiety took hold of her.

"He's fine. He's just over there."

Her eyes followed his outstretched hand. Her son was laying in a clear glass-looking bassinet with a man, dressed in an odd manner, standing over him. She bit her lip in worry.

Merlin placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "He's alright. These people here were able to heal him...and you."

Gwen breathed a sigh of relief and sat back against the pillows. She lifted her hand to take Merlin's, noticing first that the discoloration was nearly gone. It was then she saw and felt the odd things attached to her arm. Tiny needles that connected to odd tubing, almost like the thin metal straws Gaius used to use, but what these were made of, she couldn't begin to guess. They led up to a metal pole, hung with clear bags...almost like thin, transparent waterskins, filled with clear liquid.

Another flare of panic flowed through her and she found herself soon caught up in Merlin's arms. He held her and whispered soothing nonsense into her hair, until she finally calmed.

Taking a closer look at Merlin, Gwen noticed it was more than his hair and the age in his eyes. He was dressed in light blue, thin fabric that exposed his arms. She felt her chest tighten at all the strangeness, but then she recalled what the man had said before she fell asleep. She was frightened, but her dearest friend's presence amongst the emotions gave her hope.

Glancing around again, she hoped to see Arthur and her heart sank when he was nowhere in sight. "The man..." she croaked, her voice hoarse from not being used in so long. "He said he was trying to heal Arthur..."

The warlock's brow furrowed, "What man?"

A woman came up next to Merlin and smiled at the queen; unintentionally interrupting the conversation.

"Gwen, this is Dr. Lam. She's a physician, and she's the one who healed you."

"I just knew the right antibiotics to get rid of the disease. He's the one who managed to save all of your extremities from the gangrene." The doctor said, humbly.

Gwen smiled at the woman politely. Some of the words were foreign to her, but the overall meaning was conveyed. Her eyes turned back to Merlin, silently demanding an answer to her question.

Merlin's smile faltered slightly. "Arthur is nearby, but..."

"Is he still in that...thing?"

"Um...yeah. How did you know?" His face betrayed his confusion.

Dark brown eyes filled with tears, as Gwen's attention shifted back to the woman. "Can you heal my husband?"

Dr. Lam glanced at Merlin momentarily. He nodded and she began to explain, "We're doing all we can to accomplish that. His condition is critical, so it's an uphill battle. We are hopeful that we can remove the sword piece from his body, using some borrowed technology. However, we don't yet know the amount of damage it has done to his internal organs, or the nature of the...'magic'...that imbued the metal it was made from."

Taking another deep breath, Gwen nodded. She began to notice the overwhelming sounds...a soft beeping, a constant humming, and the sound of wind; even though she couldn't feel a breeze in the cave-like room. Light, as bright as the sun, but the color of the moon shone from overhead.

"Could I see my son?" She whispered, while still clinging tightly to Merlin.

The doctor smiled and motioned to the man near the basinette. He set aside the board he held, and rolled the small bed closer. Careful of the IV lines that supplied hydration and the life-saving antibiotics, Aurie was placed in his mother's arms. Gwen sobbed with relief when she saw no sign of the disease.

"Hey!"

Gwen looked up to see a strange man near the door. He was dressed in dark green, mottled pattern clothing, had short hair, and a flirtatious smile...which he offered unabashedly as he walked in. His voice seemed familiar to the queen.

The man ran a hand through his short hair and chuckled, realizing how different he must appear to her. "Don't recognize me?" She shook her head slowly. The man chuckled, "Well, you still look like a princess to me."

"Sir Gwaine?!" She gasped. Her eyes were wide and she looked to Merlin for confirmation.

Nodding, Merlin smiled, "I finally found him."

(*~*~*~*)

They spent a little while speaking, but Merlin soon noticed how tired his queen, and friend, appeared. "You should try and rest. The people here may seem a bit strange, but they will take good care of you and Aurie. In a little while, we'll take you to see Arthur, alright?"

Gwen smiled and bit back her tears. "Merlin...how long...?"

The warlock glanced over at Gwaine, uncertain how he should answer. Gwaine was already from this modern place, and was easily able to grasp the concepts of time travel and technology. Percival was given a crash course, but the large man hadn't suffered as much as Gwen before he was brought into this world, fully conscious.

It was Gwaine who finally answered, "A long time. It would be best discussed when you're feeling a bit stronger. There's going to be a lot to take in."

She nodded. Her mind wanted answers, but her friend was correct in assuming that she didn't have the strength to deal with it all at the moment.

One of the technicians came up and gently took Aurie from his mother, placing him in the bassinette. "Dr. Lam wanted me to give you something to help you sleep, when you are ready." The young woman, wearing a thin v-neck shirt and matching pants, similar to what Merlin had on, said, "My name is Cassie. I just came on shift, so I will be monitoring your vitals, and those of your son, while you sleep. I'll still be here when you wake up."

"Thank you...Cassie."

Merlin leaned in and hugged Gwen tightly to him. "It's all going to be fine. Soon you'll be hugging Arthur, and you'll get to introduce him to this little angel of yours."

He moved back so Gwaine could say his goodbyes as well, before the two men left the room.

They stepped out into the hallway. Gwaine put his back against the wall across from the door and mashed his eyes shut. Merlin's face was expressionless as he took up a similar pose, opposite Gwaine, near the door. Merlin's 'guard' briefly glanced at the two men.

"That was harder than I ever imagined it to be." Merlin said softly.

"I never imagined myself being in this type of situation," Gwaine admitted. "I think she took it all rather well. The stuff about Arthur and everything else. She'll be fine when we explain the rest to her, I'm sure."

"Dallon!" A voice called from the end of the hallway.

Gwaine stood up straight seeing Cameron and Teal'c coming towards him. "Colonel Mitchell?"

"I know it's your first full day back and all, but we've got a situation brewing that requires all hands on deck. Suit up and report to Colonel Dixon of SG-13 in the briefing room. You're heading to Seattle to help with some evacuations." Cameron didn't slow as he spoke to Gwaine, and kept on walking right past him, through the hall. The large Jaffa following Cameron, didn't even raise an eyebrow.

"Yes Sir!" Gwaine acknowledged, as the two men turned a corner that would take them to the Gate Room. He looked at Merlin and sighed, "Duty calls."

Merlin nodded. It was interesting for him to see how well his friend fit into this military lifestyle. "You never took orders from Arthur that easy."

"I did..." he argued, "...eventually."

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Merlin wasn't sure which of them was having the most difficulty in accepting the other's presence, in this new time. He figured it was himself, more than Gwaine. From Gwaine's perspective, they had been only separated by a few days, following Camlann. "I'll contact Percival and let him know what's going on here. You go deal with whatever you need to."

Gwaine fished in his pocket for his keys. He tossed them to Merlin. "Take the Beast if you need to go anywhere...just promise not to wreck it. Pops would kill me, if something happened to his baby." With a deep breath, Gwaine felt his energy returning and he jogged down the hallway, leaving Merlin.

Merlin glanced at his guard and smirked. He pulled out his cell phone. "Don't suppose you know of an area that actually gets reception around here?"

(*~*~*~*)

"They are really there?"

"Yes, they are." Merlin was standing outside the Base on a hilltop. The bright sun was high in the azure sky and was just beginning its descent. The day had been filled with so much already, that Merlin was certain it would have been dark when he was escorted outside, to make the phone call. Back in the UK, it was well past sundown. He'd worried about waking his friend at first, but pushed it aside. Percival needed to know what was happening.

Merlin gave the larger man a brief rundown of the situation.

"I want to join you." Percival said, hardly able to speak past the lump in his throat.

"You realize that would mean getting on an airplane?"

"Can't you just teleport me?...Like you did before?"

Merlin sighed and rubbed his neck. "I could, but it left me feeling magically exhausted for a few days. I would rather conserve my energy, in case my magic is needed to save Arthur. Listen, I'll call Martha. I want her to come as well. She can meet you at Heathrow, and fly with you here."

He could hear Percival's heavy breathing on the other end. From all accounts, the knight had been adjusting really well to the situation. However, the thought of flying was, thus far, the one thing he couldn't seem to get past. A few minutes of silence passed, "I would probably just be in your way there."

Merlin could sense the guilt over his friend's decision through the phone. It wasn't easy for Percival to admit any sort of weakness. Sidestepping the issue like he did, was the closest he would come. The warlock bit the inside of his cheek and sighed, "Alright. Well, I need you and Mickey to do me a favor then."

"What is that?"

AN: Sorta-kinda coincides with 9x7 "Ex Deus Machina" of Stargate SG-1. The episode where Ba'al laced the entire building with Naquadah and had a few clones living on Earth.

Proofed by Nance, Beta'ed for flow by IcarusLSU, Graphics on theheartofcamelot dot com posting made by Aerist.

IcarusLSU: MUWHAHAHA (about the idea I had earlier and bounced off you)

Tholey: I was definitely trying to capture the later, more cynical Daniel, instead of the earlier fascinated by everything version. As for Leon...see the comment I made to IcarusLSU ;D

Flamie: LOL well...here's some more suspense for you, my friend!

Nance: Thank you as always! I'm glad it flowed well for you. Everything about the Black Death was just nasty. Leon's fate...hmmm once again: see the comment to IcarusLSU *cackles insanely*

TiP: LOL yes I'm draaaaaawing it out. hehehe but I'm glad I've got you hooked ;D

Aerist and Mathew72 from HoC: I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this as well.

Thank you for reading! Thanks for the reviews! Please keep 'em coming!