A/N: Just two more chapters to go after this.
Thanks for reading my little story. Please don't forget to review it and let me know what you think.
~Anna-Margaret
xx
Chapter XI
In Avalon Freya paces anxiously along the shores of her lake, resulting in Navarre squawking with distaste and taking flight to go away and hunt. Freya sends a fleeting glance after her familiar but quickly returns to her worried thoughts. She bunches the emerald chiffon material of her dress with her hands, over and over again, as she continues pacing. Fretting for the others, but also very curious about what is happening in that other world. As she paces her green eyes flicker back and forth from the grass beneath her bare feet to the still clear surface of Lake Avalon. That ritual with Merlin hadn't just brought her back to life and made her the permanent guardian of Avalon. It had also opened up her mind to many secrets though once lost to the world. Secrets she knew Merlin knew the answers to, but would never share with them because of how harmful such things could be in the wrong hands.
"Dammit, I have to know they're all okay," she mutters before stepping into the lake and wading through the water until it hits her knees; the material of the skirt and train of her flowing dress swishing and dancing beneath the surface. "Diegol cnytte, gewitte me yst," hisses Freya, the ancient tongue echoing off Lake Avalon.
In the glass surface of the lake ripples begin to form in front of her and from the centre of the ripples colours and shapes begin to form. Freya watches avidly as a clear scrying image of the current events in that other world appear. In the Pools of Avalon, prior to the Awakening Ritual, she had only ever been able to access still images. Yes she could return to her own memories and watch them play out using any water source, but she could never look upon moving images of the past, present or future. Not until now.
"No!" she calls out in disbelief and fear.
The events unfold before her; both Regina and Merlin harmed by the evil entity. Tears shimmer unshed in her jade green eyes as she watches her friends be blasted far away from each other by the Darkness. Suddenly the ripples reappear, distorting the image so that she cannot make out anything occurring within the other world. Freya feels a forceful tug in her midriff before she is yanked off her feet and dragged within the misshapen Pool of Sight.
Fog descends, obscuring the darkening sky until not a single shimmering or twinkling light from the stars way up high can be seen from Storybrooke. Only the pale moonlight remains, casting it's eerie and ethereal glow upon the Earth.
The mist thickens and grows, spreading further out and down. All is enveloped in the cloud that seems to sway and dance in the illuminating moonlight and street lights. Cars, houses and businesses disappear; lost within the fog.
Fear dilates their pupils as they cling to one another. For they each know the mist is coming for them. It is coming to separate them, scare them, kill them. One by one they too will be lost in the fog; wandering alone and pitiful. So terrified of the Darkness hiding within. The lurking death that will pick them off one by one, taking delight in the increasing fear of the remaining pests as they hear the others before them scream their last scream, cry out and beg for mercy, suffer such agonising pain. Until that final gasping breath is taken and all that's left to echo through the thickening fog is the death rattle. The noise coming closer and closer and closer. As they hear their friends, their family, their loved ones die - murdered by the Darkness with such glee - they will feel the sharp prick of icy breath on the backs of their necks and know it for what it is: Death has come a knocking.
Freya cries out as she pulls out of the vision before it can envelop her even more. The descending madness of such a vision leaves her woozy, her vision blurred and for one brief terrifying moment she fears she never escaped the clinging fog of death. That is until she breathes the life of Avalon surrounding her, feels the swaying blades of grass under her prone body, hears the calls of nature and swaying of the trees still standing tall and proud in the Evergreen Meadow. Her vision returns with her reason and she rushes to her feet, swaying as the blood rushes to her head and creates black spots in front of her eyes.
"Have to help them. But how?" she gasps, the fear of the future events she'd just witnessed still pulsing through her. "Calm yourself and think!" she tells herself off as she scrubs away the tear tracks imprinted upon her cheeks from the tears of terror she shed in the vision. "There has to be something, anything I could do. I wouldn't have been given such a vision could I not change things to prevent such a future. Goddess, hear my pray! Please aid me in this matter. I must help my friends but I know not how," she prays fervently with her eyes scrunched shut.
Freya finally pauses in her pleas to the Goddess and turns her head when she hears the rustling of Navarre's feathers and his soft caw. Slowly opening her eyes she sees him tilting his head at her before he flies off into the very heart of Evergreen Meadow. His cry echoes back to her at the same time she sees a glint of gold through the foliage. After sending a heartfelt thanks to the Goddess Freya grins manically and races off through the copse of trees. Just wait a little longer my friends, she thinks, her brilliant smile still splayed across her face.
Throw up your hands and push as much light magic as you can at the Darkness, a voice echoes through Merlin, Emma and Regina's heads. All of them recognise the female voice, and unquestioningly do as she tells them. A golden light blankets the Darkness just as it begins to pulse. Killian, David and Mary Margaret look to the three grimacing at the amount of power needed to hold back the evil. A terrifying screech echoes through the shimmering light just as Regina, Emma and Merlin send a final blast of light at the Darkness. They pant with exertion as the energy pulse is controlled within the barrier of light magic.
"What just happened?" queries Mary Margaret.
"Freya," gasps Regina before lowering herself to the ground. "It took too much out of me."
"I've still got a bit of magic left," Merlin tells them as he sways over to use a lamppost as a leaning pole. "But it's not enough to stop it."
"You mean that creature lives still?" exclaims Killian before reaching out and wrapping an arm around Emma to help her keep her feet. "Are you alright love?"
"Just a little unsteady. That was a lot of magic we just threw at it. But yes, the Darkness is still there."
"And it'll eat through our barrier soon enough."
"What do we do? Regina said Freya happened," frowns David.
"She spoke to us inside our minds. Told us what to do," explains Emma but an animalistic roar cuts off any further explanation as the blanket of golden light cracks and shatters.
The Darkness morphs and shifts, screaming at the six pests that dare to defy it, dare to attack it. From it's back the entity sends dozens upon dozens of sharp pointed tendrils, bending them round it's main body and firing them at the pests. Merlin stands in front of the group and uses his hand and staff to send the last of his magic straight up the branches. But some make it through his pillar of magic and as they race to pierce the sorcerer, David pulls Mary Margaret into his embrace whilst Killian moves to put himself in front of Emma.
"It's hopeless," states Regina in a tremulous voice.
"Never lose hope," Emma tells her in a strong tone before whirling round.
"Lass, what is it?" asks Killian, turning his gaze from watching the tendrils nearing them to Emma staring into nothing.
"What boot?" asks Emma in confusion.
"Emma?" calls out her mother in fear that her daughter is losing her mind.
"Freya just told me to look in her boot."
"Her car. The trunk of her car, she calls it a boot," exclaims Killian urgently dragging his love over to the fire scorched Dodge Viper still parked in front of Granny's.
As soon as the two reach the back of the car, the door to the trunk opens and lifts up. Emma reaches inside and pulls out a heavy item wrapped in several swathes of green chiffon. Just as she unwraps it Merlin falls to his knees, his staff littered upon the road shattered into several pieces. Killian flinches and turns away as the first of the tendrils impales the sorcerer. David and Mary Margaret each grab hold of Regina and try to run from the rest of the oncoming vines.
"It's beautiful," murmurs Emma causing Killian to frown at her before realising she's talking about the item she holds in her hand.
Infuse it with all the light magic you have in you. Remember Emma, you are stronger than any force in this world. You were borne of True Love, a power that nothing is greater than. You are the Saviour. Not just because of the Curse, but because of all the people you love and care for, all those people that only you can save. You have the power. Think of every one of them and let it loose.
Killian backs away and holds the other three back as the reach them when the glinting sword in Emma's hands begins to glow. Regina, using Mary Margaret and David's help, forces herself to her feet and watches as dancing smoky tendrils of light magic flows out of Emma and into the sword. Emma yells out as she thrusts the sword high up, the moonlight glinting off the golden hilt and the golden plating upon the polished steel blade.
Runes in the plating burst with light from Emma's magic as she runs towards the Darkness. The entity's tendrils freeze with her approach before they begin to swiftly withdraw. Emma follows after swing the infused blade and slicing through the evil strands attempting to escape. With each touch of the blade the black tendrils crumble into ash and the main body squirms and screams. Emma finally reaches Merlin's kneeling body and cuts off the seven tendrils that have impaled parts of him. The sorcerer gasps in pain before gritting his teeth and turning to the Saviour.
"Throw it at it's heart. It's going to attempt to flee. It can't be allowed to be free. Not in this world. Pierce it's heart," he tells her before he passes out.
"I don't fear you, you fear me. I'm the Saviour of Storybrooke. The daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming; a product of True Love. I am more powerful than you," she tells the entity.
"Mercy!" it cries out with a thousand voices layered over one another.
"You choked my son whilst you were in my body," replies Emma before holding the sword high above her head with two hands and launching it at the Darkness.
The sword screeches as it pierces the main body, as if metal is scraping against metal. But then the noise stops and a golden ember of light begins to burn in the very centre of the Darkness. It does not scream or cry, or make any kind of sound, as it burns from the inside out until nothing is left. Emma chokes out a laugh as she stares, unbelieving, at the sword that clangs to the road. She did it, was her final thought before her vision blurred and she fell to the ground unconscious.
"Emma, are you alright?" asks David and Killian in unison, their gazes turning to glare at the other with Emma lying between them.
"What happened?" she frowns at them before stretching and pushing herself up into a sitting position. "The Darkness, I threw a sword at it," she murmurs in confusion her eyes focused on the hard mattress giving way beneath her hands.
"You fainted honey. We got you checked over and you're okay," smiles Mary Margaret from the end of the bed.
"Can I leave yet? I've never been keen on that disinfectant smell of hospitals."
"Eat this first," smirks Killian, using his hook to pull the rolling table closer to her and prodding the plate of Jell-O nearer her.
"Very funny," she smiles tenderly at Killian before turning to her father. "Is everyone else okay?"
"Regina's in the bed next to you," Mary Margaret gestures to the cubicle to her right.
"Is she okay?"
"I'm fine," Regina glares at the ceiling, her steely voice carrying through the papery curtains encircling their separate beds. "Apart from being kept here against my will."
"And Merlin is being kept sedated for now. The fairies were able to use their magic to stem the bleeding. Blue tells us that he'll heal in his own time, but slowing the bleeding will speed up the process."
"Yeah, about that. Definitely not what I pictured when the apprentice told us the sorcerer was Merlin."
"And that's exactly how he likes it. According to Freya it's how he keeps to the sidelines and remains unnoticed by most," explains Killian, leaning down and pressing a long kiss upon his love's forehead. "I'm so glad you're back," he whispers against her skin before pulling back and gazing down at her with his sooty-framed eyes.
"So am I," she replies softly, caressing the soft shadow of a beard upon his cheek. "Though you never told me one of your conquests was the Lady of the Lake," Emma jokes, her hazel eyes twinkling.
"She was a friend more than anything," murmurs Killian; all traces of humour wiped from his face and his pale blue eyes roam over Emma's features bleakly.
"Killian, what's wrong?"
"To free you, to gain Merlin's assistance with the Darkness, she cannot roam between worlds and realms any more. She is the guardian of Avalon evermore. Freya is stuck on Lake Avalon for eternity."
"Sounds like you care for her more than a friend," comments Mary Margaret, frowning at the pirate's tone and demeanour.
"Mary Margaret, Freya gave us our daughter back. Again. She's a free spirit and now she can't be free anymore," chides David gently.
"She told me the cost would be a high one. But why would she pay it for me? Why give up her freedom for me? She doesn't even know me."
"For me, love. Freya couldn't stand me losing another love," answers Killian bitterly.
"I only knew her a short time, Emma, and in that time I noticed she sees more than anyone else does. When she spoke with you before we left she learnt all she needed to about you in that moment. Freya does know you, and I think it was as much for you as it was for Killian that she paid such a price willingly."
"I agree with David, so quit beating yourself up about it Captain," Regina adds, yanking the curtains open, revealing she's in clean clothes and impatiently waiting to be released. "We'll see Freya again."
"Do you now see the future?" calls out Robin as he enters the ward brandishing a vibrant bouquet of flowers. "I believe it is tradition to bring flowers to someone in hospital."
"Yes, well if they'd hurry up about it I won't be in hospital much longer," she shouts down the hall before turning to take and sniff the flowers. "They're beautiful. Thank you," she smiles. "How's Roland?"
"Perfectly fine. He's been having fun with my men, as I said he would. Little John said he had trouble sleeping the first night we were away, but he's been fine since. I spotted Maleficent on my way up," he tells his dark-haired queen as he gives her a kiss in greeting.
"Where's Henry?" Mary Margaret confronts the dragon-witch as she makes her entrance at that moment.
"He's in the shop with Lily. He wanted to get his Moms something," sighs Maleficent with a roll of her eyes before turning to stare at Emma who has shifted over and lies cuddled in Killian's arms on the small gurney. "I'm glad to see Freya's sacrifice was nearly worth it."
"Mal, there's no need for that," warns Regina. "As I said, we'll see her again."
"See who again?" asks Henry as he races in, his arms ladened by fruit, flowers, cuddly toys and chocolate. "I'm so glad you're both okay."
"So are we," Regina smiles brightly, helping Henry carry his gifts over to Emma's cubicle. "Aren't we Miss Swan?" she urges, gently prodding the blonde's leg when she only stares at Henry, tears swimming in her wide eyes.
"I am so sorry for what I did to you," bursts out Emma as she slowly reaches to pull her son into a hug.
Henry shrugs and crushes himself against her, shutting his eyes and smiling, "I know it wasn't really you. It's okay. I'm glad I've got you back."
"Thanks to Freya," comments Lily, drawing everyone's attention to the tall young woman carrying half a dozen helium balloon. "He didn't want to wait on the balloons getting blown up."
"And that's who I meant when I said we'd see her again," explains Regina, lightly caressing her son's head as he stands grinning at them all.
"How are we meant to do that?" huffs Maleficent.
"There's still the other hat aboard my ship. With Freya staying behind we only needed to open the one portal."
"I merely meant it that she never stays gone long. Like you said Maleficent, Freya's hardly going to let us lose our happy endings," Regina smiles crookedly at her old friend, whose gaze immediately flits to her daughter.
"Do you hear something?" frowns Emma as she leans forward, glancing back at Killian reclining against her pillows.
An unnatural gust begins to swirl within the room, ripping open all the curtains hanging around the individual cubicles. David and Mary Margaret immediately move into a defensive position. Regina gently pulls Henry behind her and tugs Robin closer until he's farther from the twister. Lily presses herself against the wall by the doorway, throwing her arms up over her head and shutting her eyes as the wind begins to howl. Killian wraps an arm around Emma whilst his hand moves to clasp the hilt of his sword. Maleficent is the only one to move towards the growing tornado and as she moves closer the wind hushes and dissipates until only a gentle breeze fills the hospital ward. From the middle of where the wind is coming from a splash of colour appears until it bursts into shape and Navarre squawks them a hello before finding his perch on Maleficent's ring.
The group's gaze all flicker back to the wind as the sound Emma had heard becomes louder and louder. A single feminine voice cries out four ancient words over and over again; Bebiede þe arisan cwicum. With a final shout of the chant the unnatural breeze is sucked back to where the voice is calling from and a ghostly shape takes form. Unlike with the spectres they had witnessed at Camelot, this ghost has colour; vivid and vibrant scarlet curls sprout messily from her head, whilst her body is clothed in a bright red chiffon dress with a plunging halter-neck and empire-style flowing skirt. The encrusted beadwork cinching her waist glitters in the tungsten light.
"Freya?" several voices cry out in confusion as the Lady of the Lake smiles brilliant at them all.
"With my link to Avalon now increased I know quite a few more ancient spells. I used one to make the air come to life and move into this form. You can see and hear me, but not touch," Freya tells them gently as Maleficent reaches out to her friend. "But I don't understand...where am I?" she frowns gazing around the beige room with disgust.
"We're in the hospital. The staff are hopeless at getting us signed out," sighs Regina heavily.
"Oh, whoops. Guess I need a little more practice with my future scrying and travelling into this plane," winces Freya.
"Not that I'm not ecstatic to see you untethered from Avalon, but why are you here, lass?" asks Killian, awaiting yet another crisis occurring before he can even get Emma out of the hospital, never mind on another date.
"Well see, I was scrying and I saw an event that I just knew I couldn't miss and had to be a part of. But it seems I wasn't able to travel that way and instead ended up here."
"What event? Is there something else going to happen?" asks David.
"Oh no, nothing to worry about. A happy occasion. Promise," she flashes a secretive grin at Robin and Regina. "I swear to be there," she tells them with a wink before turning to Emma and Killian. "And for you two I have a gift."
"You've already given us enough," Emma tells her, pained by the price she had cost the sorceress.
"Psssh," Freya wafts away the idea. "You both are clinging to darkness you should not. Holding such a thing in your heart can cause true blackness to grow within you. Emma, you were possessed and had no control over your actions. Killian, all you did was to protect those you love, never for selfish gains. But telling you that won't heal the matter, so I give you a gift from the waters of Avalon," she explains before cupping her hands and blowing; tiny crystals dance out of her hands and melt as they touch Killian and Emma's skin. "I'll be back," she tells them in a gruff voice before giggling and disappearing.
"What's happened in here? Ma'am there's a no animals allowed policy in here," berates a nurse who finally makes an appearance and stares at the people in the ward who begin to grin and laugh at one another.