A/N: Thank you GuestM Live and PadrePedro for reviewing!


Chapter 4

They all rushed back up to the castle to Gaius's chambers, Merlin boneless and sickly pale in Percival's arms. Arthur tried to tamp down the tumultuous dread brimming up inside him. How many times had he seen his friends so close to death, knowing it was the end, only for a miracle to bring them back to health? But this time the very same miracle had failed, and that familiar despair was threatening to suffocate him.

They burst into Gaius's chambers, startling the physician.

"Gaius!" Percival called. "I think he stopped breathing!"

So did Arthur in that moment.

Gaius hurried over as Percival laid Merlin on the patient cot. "What happened?"

"His animal spirit…" Percival started. "We think it's gone."

Gaius's head snapped up at that, his expression falling. They already knew he couldn't treat soul wounds, yet they had come to him by reflex. Arthur felt a moment of dissociation where he saw how young they all still were. The oldest of a generation born into darkness, grown up too fast by necessity, but in this moment, children looking to the elder who'd been there to help raise them all. Arthur idly wondered how such a heavy weight affected his surrogate father and mentor.

Gaius bent over Merlin's still form, angling an ear over his chest, then his mouth. A haunted look filled his eyes, quickly followed by grim resolve as he made a fist and pounded Merlin's sternum. Gwen flinched at the abruptly violent act, and Arthur pulled her close as they watched Gaius repeat the motion. Three times he tried to beat Merlin's heart into action. When he bent his head over the unmoving chest again, his shoulders sagged in grief.

"I'm sorry…"

"No," Freya let out in a broken sob and threw herself over Merlin. "No, please," she cried. "Don't leave me." Her white fingers simultaneously clawed and pushed at Merlin's shirt.

Lancelot's eyes were red as he moved closer to take her shoulders and pull her away. She ignored her brother and dropped her face against Merlin, sobs wracking her lithe frame. There was a hitched cry from Gwen, and Arthur turned into her, bringing his arms up to hold her. Gwaine turned and banged a fist against the wall.

"Freya…" Lancelot started but trailed off.

Arthur spotted a glimmer of light pouring forth from Freya's hands. She seemed unaware of it, still compulsively grasping at Merlin's chest. It looked like the light was seeping into him, and then with a barely audible gasp, he took a breath. Freya bolted upright. The light continued to swirl between her hands and Merlin's sternum, and his chest rose and fell with another breath, but he didn't open his eyes.

Gaius moved in again and pressed two fingers to the inside of Merlin's wrist and his other hand under his jaw. "He's back," he declared.

Freya drew her hands back to cover her mouth, the light winking out. Merlin's chest stuttered and he went deathly still again. Gaius frowned as he pressed firmly at the pulse points.

"No, Merlin," he breathed, some of his own devastation leaking through his professional demeanor.

"What?" Freya exclaimed. "You said he was back."

"He was, just for a moment…I'm sorry."

"Freya, what did you do with your light?" Lancelot asked urgently.

She shook her head. "I don't know. I didn't mean to spin anything."

But she threw herself over Merlin again, pushing her palms against his chest. The light returned, suffusing between them. They all watched in shock as Merlin's lungs inhaled again, and again. Freya's light burned between them, spurring Merlin's body back to life. But still he did not regain consciousness.

"I don't know how I'm doing this," she murmured.

"It doesn't matter," Elyan said. "You're keeping him alive."

They marveled at the unforeseen miracle once again bestowed upon them. Until Gwaine's low voice spoke up,

"But his dragon is gone. That's why he's not waking up, isn't it?"

And just like that, Arthur felt like the rug just got pulled out from under him.

Gaius's expression was carefully neutral. "From what we know of Lightspinners and their animal spirits…yes."

"So he won't ever wake up," Gwaine pressed. "And if Freya lets go, he'll die."

Freya shook her head in denial. "No, maybe he just needs time to recover. With help. I can help him."

No one had anything to say in the face of her desperation, the same desperation Arthur knew they were all feeling.

"I'll see what I can do with this new…revelation," Gaius said diplomatically.

Arthur nodded in gratitude. Gaius wouldn't make promises he couldn't keep, but Arthur knew he would try his best, even in the face of failure.

Arthur forced his gaze away from his dying friend and turned to the others. "What happened out there?" he asked.

Gwen's gaze lingered on Merlin for a beat before she turned to answer. "We found a disturbance in a Rift and tried to cover it with a plate of solid light. But…I don't know what happened. The light was getting sucked into the Veil."

"It almost took all of us with it," Elyan put in.

"We managed to break it," Leon picked up. "But then the Rift tore further and the demon emerged. It was huge, a beast of shadow and flame. None of our weapons hurt it at all, not even the light animals…" He glanced at Merlin.

"I ordered a retreat after that," Gwen said. "The demon didn't pursue us."

Arthur gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "But it is out there somewhere."

Leon nodded grimly. "And with the light dome, it's probably only a matter of time before it comes this way."

"We'll keep it dimmed for now," Arthur decided. He took a steadying breath. "It's time to tell everyone."

They solemnly left Gaius's chambers and headed up to the great hall. Leon split off to ring the bell, signaling everyone needed to gather. When the hall was full, Arthur and Gwen stood before them and explained the new threat that was out there, and that they had lost two—maybe three—of their own to it. The fear and grief were palpable.

"What are we going to do?" someone asked.

"We will stay here. The shield should protect us."

Should…Arthur should have used a stronger word, should have exuded complete confidence in their security. But he couldn't lie to his people, and the fact that light weapons had been utterly ineffective against the demon did not bode well for the same magic powering their protective shield. Still, what other course of action did they have? They were safer here than anywhere else.

And so they kept the dome dimmed and lowered every other visible light in the city. The dimness was so reminiscent of their early days, before the crystal shield, that Arthur could feel the anxiety and trepidation pulsing through the halls. It was difficult, revisiting that fear.

Arthur and Gwen finally headed upstairs to retire for the night, only to find Uther was still in the mirror.

"Arthur," the ghost said urgently. "Has something happened?"

Arthur's jaw ticked. "The demon emerged, like you said."

Uther furrowed his brows. "What? How? I thought your Lightspinners were going to stop it." He shot a look of reprimand at Gwen, who was already looking distraught.

Arthur bristled. "They tried, but this demon is more powerful. You did say it was an ancient evil. Do you have any other insight to share with us?"

Uther shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Only that now that it is free, it will devour everything, the entire world."

Well, there wasn't really anything to be said after that. Arthur could see the tears in Gwen's eyes, the pinch to her mouth. She had held her composure in front of everyone, as a queen should, but now she needed to let that wall down. But not in front of Uther.

Arthur went over to his wife and whispered, "You shall have my full attention in a few moments. I'm going to find another place for him."

She nodded numbly and managed to call upon a last reserve to step up and help Arthur move the mirror. His heart soared with pride for her. He threw a drape over the glass, and the two of them carried the mirror from their bedroom to the council chambers.

"Where are we going?" Uther asked tautly.

He sounded so put-out by the move that Arthur didn't bother giving an answer.

The council chambers were empty, and they leaned the mirror against the left wall. However, they couldn't guarantee no one would come through here, so Arthur left the drape over the glass.

"Keep quiet for now," Arthur ordered. "We don't need you frightening people."

"You will not leave me here?" Uther asked with a beseeching tone.

Arthur hated the strange pang in his chest. "I'll be back later," he said.

Then he took his wife by the arm and led her back up to their chambers where they could finally be just themselves.

"I failed," was the first thing Gwen said.

"None of us knew what to expect. You didn't fail, Guinevere."

"Niall and Hurin are dead. And Merlin…" She broke off and descended into a sob.

Arthur gathered her in his arms and simply held her. "It's not your fault," he whispered. "Had I led the mission, it would have been the same result."

After a moment, she gave a small nod in acknowledgement of that. But it didn't change the loss, the grief, and the two of them held each other through the night.

Hours later, only the toll of the bell announced the morning hour, with the shield left dim. Arthur and Gwen immediately went down to see Merlin. There was no change, though. He was still on death's doorstep, kept alive only by Freya's light anchored between them. She was slumped over the side of the cot, her hands clasping his, both wreathed in light.

"She fell asleep not too long ago," Lancelot said in a soft voice so as not to wake her. "She was afraid it would break the connection, but it seems to be holding."

Arthur gazed down at them both, heart fracturing. "It's only a stopgap, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so," Gaius replied. He glanced at the sleeping pair, then cocked his head for Arthur and Gwen to step outside with him. Lancelot stayed with his sister.

Out in the hall, Gaius went on,

"I don't know how long Freya can keep that up." He paused, then added quietly, "If she even should."

Gwen jolted at that. "What are you saying?"

"Freya is keeping Merlin's vital organs from shutting down, but that's all. Even if she could do so indefinitely, what life is that for either of them?"

Arthur's throat tightened. "Are you telling us to decide?"

Gaius sighed. "Freya refuses to give up. But it is not feasible long-term."

Arthur swallowed hard. "Let her keep doing it for now," he said, voice cracking with emotion.

Maybe another miracle could still find them.

Maybe they all just needed time to accept the inevitable.

Arthur and Gwen parted ways then. She wanted to be the one to tell the others, and so Arthur went up to the council chambers. The room looked undisturbed, the mirror where he'd left it. He pulled the drape off.

"Arthur," Uther breathed in relief.

"You mentioned a sorcerer in the Veil who helped you come here," Arthur said without preamble. "Can they help us?"

"I assure you, Arthur, I've told you everything there is to know."

"But this sorcerer knows the Old Magic, right? And it still works there? Maybe they can…figure out something," he insisted desperately.

Uther just shook his head regretfully. "I'm truly sorry, Arthur. I wish we knew more to help."

Arthur turned away, fists clenching in frustration. He let out a shaky exhalation, his shoulders dropping. He was tired, and a headache was building behind his eyes. He reached up to rub at them.

"Are you all right?" Uther asked in a careful tone.

"Fine," Arthur bit out, but then shook his head. He was not fine. One of his closest friends was dying and his people were under threat of something so powerful they didn't know how to defend against it. Arthur had spent his life trying so hard to protect everyone after his father destroyed the world, but it seemed evil would always be out to stop him. And what bitter twist was it that Uther had once again been the herald of disaster? Was that some cruel joke from the universe?

His chest tightened, and Arthur tried to calm his emotions before he broke down in front of his father, but the sensation just got worse. With his next breath, Arthur struggled to get enough air. He staggered as something struck him as wrong, and he turned toward the door, only for his knees to buckle and he fell.

"H-help," he tried to call out, but he couldn't muster enough breath to carry the sound. Rolling onto his side, he turned pleading eyes to Uther to yell for him.

But his father was merely standing there, head canted as he watched with an alarming interest.

Arthur choked out, "Call…someone."

Uther's face split into a grin. "Why would I do that? I've been waiting for this."

Horror flooded Arthur's veins. He had fallen for Uther's machinations again, after he should have known better. He tried to crawl for the door but could barely move. Then he noticed as he stretched out his hand that the bracelet's orange gemstone was blazing like fire. Uther had planned this from the start.

In the next gasping breath, Arthur felt the familiar sensation of something inside him detaching, like the time he went into the Veil. Only now there was no rope of light to hold him in place. His soul separated from his body and he went whooshing into a blinding eddy. The next thing he knew, he was staring out through a pane of glass at his own body on the chamber floor. It slowly sat up, then got to its feet. Arthur's jaw dropped in shock.

Whoever was in control of his body lifted his hands to examine them, then patted himself down with a widening grin. He finally shifted his gaze to Arthur's. "Thank you, son."

Arthur felt a whiplash of horror shoot through him. No. He banged his fist against the glass, as though that would somehow break him free of this incorporeal prison. But the impact made neither sound nor vibration. Arthur was a wispy ghost himself now.

"You'll never get away with this," he snarled.

Uther just grinned with Arthur's own features, but it was wrong in so many ways. "I already have."

"Help!" Arthur shouted. "Anyone, in here!"

His father's eyes hardened and he strode over to the mirror. "I can't have that, now," he said, then grabbed a candlestick off the nearby table and smashed it into the mirror. It shattered into pieces right in front of Arthur's eyes.

"NO!" he screamed as he was sucked backward through a vortex into blackness.