Nimueh's daft. Mordred's in trouble. And the group learns they're in a time crunch of epic proportions. Oh, and Uther's rearing his ugly head again.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Morgana didn't have long to wait. As soon as she left Elena and Merlynn's flat, she noticed she had several texts from her fellow priestesses. She responded telling them they'd talk in the morning. It was late, and she was emotionally drained from all the events of the evening. First, the horrific assault against a dear friend by her own brother. Not just any friend... her oldest friend from fifteen hundred years ago. Then the discovery that Merlynn had full intentions for her to assume both jobs of queen of the United Kingdom and high priestess to the magical community of the entire globe. She's inherently delegating her prophesied role to Morgana. A Goddess to a mere mortal.
To say she's a little overwhelmed is an understatement, but she can't deny she's deeply moved and honored that Merlynn would have such faith in her. Not even Arthur has ever had the responsibility of dual roles on such a massive scale. Uniting Albion was uniting kingdoms. She's uniting countries. But she knows that the rest of the 'Camelot Ten' will help her in any way they can, even Arthur when his system is finally purged of the 4-mora. It's not a coincidence that all of them combined are involved in so many industries. Between all of them, they have medical, technology, legal, business, security, military, law enforcement, philanthropy, politics, magic, and let's not forget, divine.
On her way home last night Morgana contemplated the night's events. When she was in the kitchen listening to the screaming, she knew... she knew that she was the villain. Not because she wanted to hurt people, but because she didn't have the faith in her friends or herself like Merlynn did. As one they are all legendary heroes that have saved the world countless times throughout the centuries. What made her believe this would be the one lifetime where they couldn't? Morgana doubted the twelve of them together with Emrys and Once and Future King at the helm. Merlynn has the faith that the ten of them will save everyone without their Goddess or savior even present and HER to lead them all. Morgana has made a dreadful mistake.
But now's not the time for guilt, but time for action. She can grovel and beg for forgiveness later... and she will. She will and make restitution for the rest of her life. Morgana needs to fix this mess, the mess she created, and for once have the same belief in herself others do. Like Merlynn said, 'remember who you are', and she does remember... a hero.
"Morgause, thanks for coming."
"You don't have to thank me, sister. I texted you, remember. Like the entire planet, I want to know what is going on. I'm assuming it must have something to do with Emrys?"
"You assume correctly. Here, why don't we go sit down, and I'll tell you everything." Morgana guides her sister into the living room where they both sit stiffly next to each other on the couch, anxious about the severity of the situation. "Okay, I think we should Skype Nimueh. I only want to talk about this once, and she lives too far away to drive. Quite frankly, time is of the essence and we can't use it driving back and forth."
"Tell me about it. I'll never take for granted the luxury of teleportation again. I'll text her to join us online."
Morgause messages the ancient high priestess while Morgana finds the website.
"I was wondering when you ladies were going to call me. You want to tell me what the hell is going on!?"
"Don't you dare take that tone with me, witch. You went behind my back and sent Arthur another vial? And don't tell me it was the same composite. You definitely strengthened the dosage, or at the very least altered it."
The blonde's eyes widen and looks between them until she fixes her gaze on Nimueh. "You did what?"
"I did what I had to. No taking chances."
"We agreed that Morgana would decide how to dose her brother, OUR brother, that the choice was in her hands. She's the one who knows him best, and only she knows what's necessary."
The princess smiles warmly at her sister, one more person that has complete confidence in her.
"Enough of this! What's done is done. There's no going back. Now tell us, princess," Nimueh says mockingly. "What is happening?"
Morgana glares at the woman. "Well, I guess your plan worked. He definitely broke her. It just didn't have the results you were expecting."
The blonde bows her head regretfully. "What happened, sister? What did he do?" Morgause asks quietly, barely audible enough for their Skype caller to hear.
Morgana glances to her sister also with shame in her countenance. "He raped her... again, but this time in front of all of us as some sort of punishment or jealousy whatever. He wasn't gentle."
"My goddess." Morgause cups her mouth and remorse floods her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Boo hoo. That's what he did. I want to know what she did."
"Fuck Nimueh. Do you have to be so crass?"
"Hey, I have made it pretty clear there is no love lost between me and Emrys or your brother. I couldn't care less. I'm doing this for magic, for one fucking lifetime where we're on top. That's it. So... for the last time... What. Did. She. Do?"
"She, in effect killed herself, Nimueh. Happy?!"
"What? That's not possible. She's immortal."
"She is immortal, but it's the closest she could get to it. She found a way to restrain her magic, and as you know, restraining Magic is restraining Emrys. She's basically in a magical coma."
"What the hell?! No magic restraints are powerful enough to restrain Magic themselves. It's impossible!"
"I don't know what to tell you, Nimueh. She found a way. We need to figure out a way to get the cuffs off. As apparently the Heart of Magic no longer pumping means magic no longer flowing. Until she gets the cuffs off any and all magic is on hold."
"That doesn't make sense, though. Regardless of what Arthur has done, Merlynn would never doom an entire race just to escape him." The Merlynn Morgause has known for centuries would sacrifice herself in any way for her people.
"You're right, she wouldn't. She had a plan for that. See, once the Once and Future King dies, she reverts back to infancy. As a baby the cuffs will slip off easily. She gives him two or three weeks without her protection."
"She doesn't think he'll survive, and without the cuffs, even with her too small to manipulate it, the heart will beat and magic will flow." Morgause understands.
"So, you see, the only reason Arthur is behaving this way is because of us. He doesn't deserve to die. We need to find another way to get the restraints off and save them both."
Morgause nods, but both their attentions are drawn to the third priestess.
"I know how to get them off."
The sisters stare incredulously. "Do tell, Nimueh. Don't leave us in suspense." Morgana says beyond annoyed at their fellow witch.
"It's simple... Mordred."
Morgana does have to agree with that. Even Merlynn mentioned his help. "That's true. Merlynn did say that the three of us and he combined would be needed to figure this out."
"Not for brainstorming. He can get the cuffs off."
The other two eye each other confused.
"How can he get the cuffs off? I have equal power, and you exceed ours. Neither of us could combined. All of us together couldn't. How could a single high priest?"
"Because of love. Love is the most powerful magic of all. It surpasses Emrys, even the Triple Goddess herself, because love is limitless."
"If that were true then why couldn't we use love to solve everything?"
"Because Morgause, to access that kind of love, the kind that surpasses all understanding and comprehension, it has to be accessed supernaturally. Like an explosion of it. We are only capable of that level of love under extreme circumstances. People can do miraculous things for those they love; the woman who can singlehandedly lift a car off their child; a brother who can't swim saving a sister from drowning. People call it adrenaline, but it's not. It's magic. It's love. In those circumstances one is pulling the magic from a depth they didn't know existed. Then when the situation is over they'll explain it away with a surge of hormones. People don't believe what they see. They see what they believe."
"So, you're saying Mordred's love for her will spell her out of the cuffs?"
"Not exactly. He'll still be thinking logically of ways to save her. The strength and the power of love isn't in the mind. It's in the heart. Mordred won't be capable of opening the restraints."
Now the sisters are even more bemused.
"We don't understand. You said he could," Morgause says.
"Well, it's more that he personally can't, but he's the catalyst so that Merlynn can."
"What the hell does that mean? What aren't you saying? Merlynn's magic is restrained. She doesn't even want out of the cuffs until Arthur is gone, so how in the world is Mordred going to convince her to release herself when she's in a coma? Stop skirting around everything and answer the fucking question!" If Morgana had her magic she'd be blowing up her computer. Fortunately, the laptop is safe from her wrath.
"His death, ladies. If Mordred dies the love of him will be strong enough for Merlynn's magic or love to break through the restraints."
With wide eyes in realization they glare at the screen. "What?!" they ask in unison.
"Preferably by Arthur's hand," Nimueh adds apathically, not even acknowledging the sisters' ire.
"We said no death, Nimueh! No one is supposed to die!" Morgause is just as livid as Morgana.
"Hey, these magical restraints were never part of my plan. Merlynn is the one that made this necessary. That's not my opinion. It's a fact."
"Okay, what was all that talk about love? Once they have their memories back her love for Arthur will break the cuffs. It's certainly strong enough."
"That's true. Their love definitely transcends most."
Morgana grins smugly. There. On their birthday their love will break the restraints and all's well. Problem solved.
"But there's also the problem that if Emrys' magic is shackled no one will be getting their memories back."
"What?! Why not?"
"It's Emrys magic that performs the spell. Do you think that some outside force... destiny, fate, or whatnot gives everyone their memories back? No, it's Merlynn's magic. Merlynn was never meant to be reincarnated. They cannot die. But hundreds of years ago they couldn't handle living all those years between reincarnatons of their King. So they created a spell. Now every time Arthur dies she regresses back to an infant and is only set to start aging when Arthur returns and reaches four years."
"Why the age difference?" Morgause asks.
"Consistency. That was their age difference in the first lifetime. It's just how it's meant to be, Triple Goddess prescribed."
"What does this all have to do with memories?"
"Well, Morgana, when Merlynn created the spell, they knew that having all their past memories as a child would overwhelm them. Same reason why Morgause chooses to wait. So she arranged it so the memories aren't revealed until her twenty-first birthday and Arthur's twenty-fifth, an age where they are mature enough to manage them. They wanted Arthur to remember all of them as well, so they asked him if he would, and he said yes, wanting to be on par with Merlynn. So he is spelled to receive all of them now. Before he only had the first lifetime, same as everyone else."
"Why not everyone? Why didn't the rest of the Camelot Twelve get them."
"Because they don't have magic and aren't capable of holding that much of their past. The only reason why they get the first lifetime is because it is necessary for them to fulfill their call. It was that first lifetime that started everything and therefore clarifies what's happening in the present."
The two ponder the words of the old crone, sadly admitting Nimueh's right. Still there has to be another way. There has to!
Nimueh sees the light flicker out of the others hope. Time to drive home the reality. She needs acceptance. "Now you can understand Merlynn's magic is required for the spell to activate. Arthur doesn't have a prayer of breaking her out of the cuffs. Only the death of Mordred can and preferably by Arthur's hand."
The added sequitur ignites a fire in Morgana, an instant switch from hopelessness to fury. Haven't enough people been hurt by this ridiculous plan? And now she wants to add murder to Arthur's conscience. Uh, uh! "Why the fuck does it have to be by my brother's, no... excuse me... OUR brother's hand?!"
The old priestess looks at both sisters like they're utterly obtuse, and her own outrage has begun to stir. "Because that will be the last straw! The final nail in the coffin! Her breaking point! Fuck, can't you see? This is why she'll finally leave the timeline!"
Morgana and Morgause peer at one another frozen in shock. Is she serious?
"Are you crazy? That is what you're focusing on? How to banish Merlynn to another universe? Don't we have some bigger eggs to fry currently, like... I don't know... saving magic from extinction?!" Morgause's own fury sparks.
"I already told you how to waken her and save magic from extinction!"
"You're mad. We are not killing Mordred, Nimueh."
"Nimueh, the Heart of Magic is currently cuffed, causing all of that power to stop flowing...over the entire planet. If restraining the heart has halted all magic, what do you think will happen if we remove it? You said we would draw magic from the earth once it ceased streaming through Emrys. Yet, nobody's accessing the earth, Nimueh. Why is that?"
It's true. They should be, but they can't. It doesn't make sense. "I don't know. But I'll figure it out! I know this will work. It's Emrys that's the problem. Everything revolves around them, so if they're gone, everything will right itself. Emrys. Must. Go. Just give me time," she begs.
"There is no time, Nimueh! Didn't you say yourself we only have until their birthday? Did you honestly think we'd still risk her leaving the timeline if these are the results of her only being restrained? Uh, uh. It's obvious there are factors you either haven't considered or are completely unaware of. We aren't putting our hopes on the earth if it already isn't working. Especially when the threat is mass destruction!"
Okay, 'mass destruction' is a little overkill, but Morgana's right; there's definitely something wrong. That doesn't mean surrender, though, not when she's so close! "No, we'll be okay. We'll all be okay. I'll figure it out. I can fix this!" But what could she have missed? What factors? She thought of everything, all the what ifs, tried and tested a multitude of scenarios. The plan was foolproof! She's an intelligent woman. Brilliant really. There was nothing. No other way... and here Emrys comes in and uncovers an alternative solution in only a few weeks! Nimueh won't accept that! She won't! Without her memories that witch is practically a teenager. She can't compete with more than a millennium of genius! Why isn't it working?!
The sisters watch as a manic priestess grows positively barmy, pulling at her hair, ranting and raving to herself, no longer making any eye contact to the other witches.
"Well, it's clear what her real motives are. She doesn't even care about magic, willing to risk not only hers, but everyone's. All to achieve some sort of revenge. Literally doomsday for petty fucking payback!"
Morgause twists to her sister and grasps her hands. "Calm down, Morgana. It won't do us any good to be angry now. We obviously are not going to kill Mordred and definitely not going to have Arthur do it. Which means we don't have time to waste. It's down to us to find a solution to get these restraints off."
Morgana nods. "Very wise, sister. We can no longer depend on Nimueh. That's for sure." With those words said, both women face the screen and watch the ancient priestess still in her crazed dialogue with herself. They wag their heads half in disbelief and half... pity. Morgana slams the laptop closed and yanks her sister to her feet. "Let's go."
--
"All right, gentlemen, I'm sure everyone understands why we're here and why the urgency." Uther is sure to make eye contact with each of his constituents situated around his office table, sipping their brandy or scotch.
"Uther, you act like this is a bad thing. I thought this is what we've wanted, what we've been working towards your entire reign."
"Yes, of course, but don't you think this is a little too easy? One minute, thousands of magic users, the next, none. It doesn't make any sense?" The King turns his attention to his chemist. "Lot, is it possible this is Liberty? I mean... Is it contagious or something?"
Lot shakes his head. "No, it's not meant to spread. The medicine can only have effect through the bloodstream. But even if it were, Liberty is only in the United Kingdom. We haven't even begun exporting. This is occurring all over the world. Not a single country has been spared."
"How is that possible? Is there some type of radiation in the atmosphere that only affects magic?"
"Not that I know of. This only happened last night. I'm sure all types of testing will start, but I still can't imagine what could possibly affect every magic user at the exact same time. If it were something in the atmosphere it would be a gradual pandemic. It may spread quickly, but it would still spread. This is more like a light switch turning off. No one has any prior symptoms, and it's not like an infection that slowly gets worse. This is just a snap of the fingers. Now magic isn't completely gone. Reports say that it hit everyone at the same time, but they didn't instantly lose all their magic. It was more like their magic lost it's power. Similar to a faucet losing its water pressure."
"Let's talk about what will transpire as a result of this phenomenon. Lot, you've already started. Why don't you tell us what the future looks like on your end if nothing changes?"
"Well, any programs or projects related to magic will be shut down and funds and expertise will be allocated elsewhere."
"Mmm. Cenred, what about you?"
"Well obviously I would need a new cause. I've spent my career focused solely on acquiring supporters and donations against magic. I've held seminars, organized protests both cyberly and personally. All of that will have to be applied to something new."
"Okaay. Aredian?"
"In the beginning we'll have to dismantle the Liberty initiative and remove all the gauntlets. We'll also have to either return or destroy everyone's medical files. After that all personnel will have to be transferred or laid off, and law enforcement will have to be trained for mundane service as all they've ever known is magical."
"I see. Agravaine? What do you have to say?"
"Well, all areas of government will change. Education: magic departments will be shut down, other areas of study will expand. Students that previously were ineligible for scholarships will have to be reassessed. Medical: More people will be eligible for insurance and care. Ex-magic users will now be allowed in hospitals and clinics. We'll need more doctors and nurses to receive the influx of new patients. Military: We'll have more soldiers as more people will be allowed to serve. Foreign affairs: We'll have better relationships with other nations as we are one of the last countries to have restrictions on magic users. Economy: We'll need more higher paying employment as previously those with magic were rejected. Now they would be hired. The lower paying jobs they formerly occupied will now be open for the lesser qualified. More people making money means more people spending it. Law: laws will either have to be initiated, amended, or dissolved.
"Uh huh." The king rises to fetch himself another glass of scotch. "You know, I'm seeing a few common themes in all of your predictions; lack of oversight, unobstrustion, freedom, and infiltration. Can you imagine what would happen if we changed, removed, ended all the various initiatives you mentioned, then just as suddenly as it disappeared it comes back? We'd have magic users everywhere, in all different fields, in government, in the military. And we would never know who they are because we stopped tracking them, gave them all the same privacy our normal citizens receive. It would be chaos, and would take us years to restore us back to the state we're in now."
"What are you saying Uther? This whole thing is a conspiracy?"
"I'm saying, Cenred, that this all seems too good to be true. I'm saying it could be a setup for a tremendous fall."
"Okay, you've determined a motive. What is the weapon? How could anyone do this? And if they did, it was not something they universally agreed on. Most of the magical community is devastated, so it's not the normal people that are suffering right now. You can't tell me all of the world's magic population is acting."
"Agravaine's right, Uther. Like I said, more testing I'm sure is set to be conducted. From the results we'll know more to make any decisions. We need more information before we can do anything."
The kings eyes widen and a knowing grin spreads across his face puzzling his guests. "You're absolutely right, Lot. We do need more information... and who better to obtain information on magic than Magic herself." Uther strolls to his desk to buzz for his personal assistant. Almost instantly a shorter man with boyish face enters the room.
"Yes, Your Majesty. How may I be of service?"
"Find me Emrys."
--
It takes a few minutes, but Nimueh finally settles and notices she's been deserted by the other priestesses. Okay, she'll admit she was behaving a little daft, but she's been waiting fifteen hundred years and she's at last near the finish line. Forgive her if she might have wee bit panicked while speaking of abandoning the plan, an actual feasible plan she's spent forty years perfecting and centuries waiting for.
So why in the hell isn't it working?! Nimueh understands other magicals aren't aware of the process, always having the heart, but she has all her memories from even before Emrys. Nimueh knows how to access the earth's magic. As long as her connection has been broken from the heart she should be able to pull the power from beneath, but she tried... several times. She managed a single spark, but she's positive that came from within, not below. Nimueh also can sense a strange occurrence with the ground magic. It's no longer stationary but moving, and more alarming, moving away. It's just not consistent with how magic functions... unless... Of course! How could she be so stupid! This is why you want Emrys gone, Nimueh! How could you miss it?! Clearly the earth's magic is bound to Emrys too! But... still ALL of their links would have been severed with the cuffs, so it should be a moot point. So why...? Fuck! It's not severed, it's choked! So if Emrys remains in the timeline, magic is essentially being strangled to death. They can't channel their magic through the earth until they're all untethered to Magic itself. Shit! Nimueh has to get those restraints off, and she's been left high and dry by her co-conspirators.
Fine then. She's not the most powerful witch for nothing. She may not have her magic right now, but she is over fifteen hundred years old. Well, has centuries of memories anyway, and she can certainly proceed on her own. Nimueh has no reason to despair. The new situation doesn't warrant forgoing the plan. She simply has to assume all the responsibility, which is no matter as the sisters have already accomplished everything she needed them for. She can manage from here. First things first... call the warlock.
--
His plane just touched down and he still has no idea what he's meant to do or more so, the process to achieve it. He knows he has to save his beloved but how? Mordred doesn't have a clue. It's not like he was given instructions on how to be the savior. He supposes initially he needs to see Merlynn and hopefully the Triple Goddess will guide him from there. Why she can't tell him the plan he'll never understand. If he knew all the steps from the get go he wouldn't constantly be floundering in uncertainty. Perhaps that's what it is. Perhaps he's not supposed to have the control, but let the Goddess take the reins. Maybe if he had the command he would foul things up, maybe even make it worse. He is only mortal. But if he rests in the Goddess, relies on her divine omniscience, then conceivably he'll fulfill the mission she's tasked him with. She wouldn't have assigned it to him with no hope of succeeding. She believes he can do this, therefore he can. He just needs to stay out of his head and keep the problem in the Goddess' hands. "All right, Mother, lead the way."
Bzz... bzz... bzz...
What the? He hears his phone vibrating in his carry-on and stops to balance himself on the edge of a bench to scour its contents. Mordred recalls putting it in the center pocket. He's searching through his baggage when... aha. The screen is lit with a number Mordred doesn't recognize, definitely not anyone in his contacts. Curious. In Ambrosia they are so isolated and no one knows they exist. They aren't on any call lists and don't confront spam ever. So who...? Well, only one way to find out. "Hello?"
"Mordred?"
"Yees. Who is this?"
"I'm Nimueh."
"Nimueh. Nimueh, the high priestess?"
"One and the same."
"Wow. I knew we would eventually meet, but... uh. Well, you're kind of a celebrity with magicals, aren't you? How uh... how'd you get this number?"
"You're a high priest, Mordred. The highest of high priests. I make it a point to have any and all contact information on people of power."
"Oh. Okaay. Well uh... why are you calling me?"
"I know why you're here, Mordred, and I want to help you. Obviously, it behooves us all to save Emrys, and I'm here to steer you in the right direction."
"You know how I can save her?"
"I do. And you're the only one who can. Now, I'm currently about five minutes from Heathrow. Be outside waiting."
Click.
Well she doesn't leave any room for argument, does she? She is Nimueh, so Mordred figures she can demand that kind of obedience, and technically she is the highest on the totem pole, so it makes sense to submit. It seems like this is the guidance he was looking for. Who is he to question it?
A pearlized, beige Ford Focus crawls up to the curb following a line of other pick-ups. A fairly tall brunette with blood red lips and ghost pale skin steps out of the driver's side door. Even without magic, this woman's sheer presence exudes a power that demands respect. Mordred feels insecure in comparison.
"Hello Mordred. I'm Nimueh." She reaches to formally greet him. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Uh... yeah, likewise."
"Here, you can just lay your carry-on on the backseat." She opens the door behind the passenger for the warlock to slide in his luggage.
Mordred hesitantly complies, feeling somewhat unsettled by the ancient priestess. It's likely just intimidation. This woman is legendary and preeminent throughout the magical population. Still. He can't shake the sensation that something is off with Nimueh. It would be wise to keep his guard up.
"Buckle up, Mordred. Safety first." She grins wolfishly.
Once on the road, Mordred eyes Nimueh in his periphery, growing more suspicious by the second. "So, you said you know how I can save Merlynn?"
"I do, but we can discuss that when we get there. I want to know more about you." She only needs to keep him talking for a few more kilometers before they're in a secluded enough area. Nimueh rolls the needle lying under her thigh and furtively removes the cap. The priestess will have to be quick.
"Look, I appreciate you wanting to know me. It's an honor, really. Under any other circumstance, I would be happy to take all the time to play getting-to-know-you, but right now, all I can think about is saving my lover, so can we stick to that please?"
"Straight to the point, eh? I can respect that. Well, in short, it will be her love that saves her."
"Her love?... What even happened to her?"
"You don't know?" He shakes his head. Excellent. This little story will be the perfect distraction until they reach the destination. A couple of minutes should do it. "Well, in summary... Arthur raped her again..." She can see his eyes glow red, a feature that has only ever been unique to him. Maybe because he's the prophesied bane of King Arthur, like a calling card. She knows it's not evidence of magic. Case in point, the presence of the red hue while he's currently powerless. For him it's just an indication of his mood through his irises. Why it was necessary, she'll never know. You don't need to see the red eyes to tell the boy is seething. Unfortunately, he'll have to postpone his vengeance. "...this time publicly. She devised a way to restrain her magic, so she wouldn't have to answer his summons anymore. Her plan was that since Arthur won't survive long without her protection, her magic will only be shackled temporarily. As soon as he dies she'll go back to being an infant and the cuffs will slip off."
Mordred takes a moment to process all the priestess said. Arthur raped her... again?! In public?! Goddess, his poor dragonlady. "So, in essence... she killed herself." The priestess nods. It was the stone, the goddam summoning stone that trapped her. Fuck! "You said her love will save her? How does that work?"
Soon, Nimueh. Be ready. "It was her hatred for Arthur that bound her. It will be her love for you that releases her. Love is a hundred times more powerful than hate. There's really no comparison between the two." Almost there.
Her love for him? That's flattering, but she's in a coma, so how will she even know he's there? "You aren't making any sense. What am I supposed to do?"
Nimueh slips next to the curb bringing the car to a stop. With her lips curled and eyes narrowed she twists to face Mordred, alarming the warlock. "What are you supposed to do?" Then the priestess swings the syringe and stabs him in the neck. "Die."
Oh... And the world goes black.
--
Laid open on the table between them are a couple grimoirs, The History of Magic, The Ancient Druidic Language, and one of Uther's favorites, Tethering the Old Religion. The two sisters have been pouring over any and all resources, searching for a solution.
"Well, apparently magic restraints have been around since the middle ages."
"We knew that already. I remember all of daddy dearest's pretty bracelets from our first life." Morgana frustratingly tosses another text to the side.
"No, I know. That's not what I mean. Throughout the ages technology has improved everything, making it stronger, more efficient, better in some way. There's nothing that's been improved upon on the magic shackles. They are the same today as in medieval times."
"How can that be? Nothing has changed?"
Morgause shakes her head. "It all has to do with the runes. The cuffs are not magical in themselves. Without the runes they're powerless."
"But if that were true then all a sorcerer would need to escape would be to damage the runes somehow or add others to change the meaning."
"Exactly, so that tells me the strength inpenetrability isn't the spell, but the metal. Apparently it's an element that can't be inscribed by any average means. It probably needs a laser or something. Back in our days it probably was made through magic, but the only ones powerful enough to do it would have been Nimueh or Cornelius Sigan. Neither you or Mordred would have been able to. There's no other explanation why a magic user couldn't just escape otherwise."
"Nimueh would never create magic restraints."
"Ah, you forget sister, Nimueh was once court sorceress. She was responsible for judging any magical legal matters, and she would have needed some sort of containment device. The original bracelets were Nimueh's creation."
"What does this have to do with anything?" Morgana is confused. Who cares who made them?
"Don't you see? They used the metal they used and the powerful sorcerer to inscribe the runes to make them inescapable. What if we used a weaker metal, something we could inscribe with a simple chisel? The power is in the runes. We could just use different runes to counteract the others, neutralize their effects so to speak."
Morgause is right. If they could create their own bracelets to cancel the others, instead of restriction they could inscribe a spell of freedom. There's still a problem though. "The cuffs we make may not be imbued with magic, but Merlynn's are."
"I know, but maybe we can weaken them at least, and it won't take someone's death, to have her break through them."
"But why would she? She's not going to care enough about anything except a death to break through."
"Yes, but you're forgetting something. The only course she could take to restrain herself was to create shackles more powerful than her. Her magic wants out even if she doesn't. If we weaken them enough her magic will break them just as soon as it's capable."
Morgana ponders her sister's solution, and her lips spread into a wide grin. "Morgause, I think you've done it! It's brilliant!"
Morgause nods with her own proud smile. It's about time she 'wears the white hat' and contributes to the saving instead of the destruction. Throughout the centuries she's become an ally but never had an opportunity to really help. Maybe this is her lifetime to change that.
"There's a lot to do, and we need to get started. First things first..."
--
"Uugh..." What happened? Mordred's eyes flutter open and he surveys his surroundings. His head aches as if it were hit by a hammer, and he rub his temples, hoping the pressure would alleviate some of the pain. Mordred notices lifting his arms is particularly heavy, and he barely has the strength to raise them in his groggy state. After he regains his focus and can finally process a coherent thought, he further examines the weighty jewelry donning his wrists. Shackles? Particularly magic restraints?
"Oh good. You're awake." Nimueh sashays through the door confident and carefree, even though she's anything but. She can't show him that though.
"Where am I?"
"A storage unit in an abandoned warehouse on the other side of Camelot. I bought this little gem and transported it here a while ago. Never know when you'll need extra storage. But I also like my privacy, so a facility was out of the question, hence the building. I like to be prepared, and the years have taught me hidden bases always pay off." She grins pridefully at her forethought. "This was no exception, was it?"
Mordred yanks the chain linking the manacles circling his wrists. "A bit redundant, don't ya think?"
She stalks closer. "Just a little extra precaution."
Mordred knows what she's doing. She's an egomaniac, prancing around like she owns the world. Well, he doesn't buy it. She has a weakness, and he knows she's about to reveal it but play it off as a strength. Well, come on, witch. Show 'em what'ya got. "Why am I here?"
"You don't remember?" He shakes his head, and she smiles predatorily. "Well, a mutual acquaintance of ours has seemed to have gotten herself into a bit of trouble."
"Merlynn," he says under his breath but she hears him clearly.
"Ooh, you are smart, aren't you?" He rolls his eyes. "Well, I need your help to free her."
"That's why I'm here anyway. What aren't you telling me?" He glares with more annoyance than anger.
"Mmm, you're no fun." She sarcastically pouts and sighs. "Very well, then. The only way for the restraints to break is for Emrys to break them herself. Being as she's currently trapped in oblivion willingly, we need something to make her not so willing anymore. An event strong enough to reach deep in her core where her consciousness still resides. That's where you come in. Only under one condition will she come back to us..."
She doesn't need to say anymore. "My death."
"Brilliant! It's a shame, really. I remember you from the past. You are an incredible high priest. If they hadn't bound you to Emrys I have no doubt we would have been partners once again."
"I was your partner?" Everything seems to be falling into place.
"Oh yes. And I really needed one. When the sisters went all noble on me, you were the one I could always count on... Arthur's bane."
Mordred was the villain... always. He knew. Of course he knew, or at least he had a strong inkling. It's different to have it confirmed, though. Well, not this lifetime. This time... he's the savior. "If my death will awaken her then what are you waiting for? Why aren't you killing me?"
"See, that's the problem. You child, are a high priest, and you won't die so easily. You can only die by a sword forged in a dragon's breath, and there are only two in existence. Excalibur and Clarent, King Arthur's and Mordred's. Now, neither one of you will know where you secreted them your last lifetime until your memories return. But his is extra special. Yours was made and later decided to bequeath to you. His was actually made for him with him in mind and is only ever used by him. Merlynn is the one exception when necessary. As such, Excalibur calls to him like a homing beacon. It's part of him and wants to be with him."
"If that's true then why doesn't he answer?"
"Because he doesn't know to. All he needs is to concentrate and listen and the sword will draw him in."
Mordred's beginning to understand. "So, he finds the sword and then you kill me."
"No, actually. I need him to do the killing."
"Ah, I see. Don't want to get your hands dirty."
"Boy, you don't know what you're talking about. I have killed more throughout my years than you could even imagine. I need him to kill you, because only then will Emrys leave... go to another time... give this world a chance to be Emrys free for once!"
Mordred now eyes the priestess curiously and has finally unwound all this woman's rabbit trails that lead to a single burrow. "You want Merlynn gone. That's what all this has been about." His gaze drops, shaking his head, concentrating and putting everything together... Then the epiphany strikes him. He tilts his head back and fixes his eyes dead into hers. "It's you. It's been you this whole time. You made Arthur hurt Merlynn. You're controlling him somehow. For the sole reason to push her to... what'd you say? Oh yes, 'go to another time' to escape her King. You needed her to hate him, so you had him commit these vile acts against her. Fuck, you planned the whole thing. You had to have help, though, someone close enough to reach Arthur..." They had to be very close, have access to him always... "Morgana. You used Morgana." But how? As far as he knows, she hasn't been acting strangely. He was told about Arthur. They would have said if it was Morgana, too. "You had to convince her. There has to be a reason she would do this, something big, something..." His eyes widen and his mouth drops in realization. "Holy shit, you...!"
"Silence! Yeah, yeah, you figured it out. Doesn't matter. You'll be dead, and you'll take it to the grave. Congratulations... Why are you laughing?!"
He is. He's trying to stifle it. But Mordred can't help by chuckle. "You do realize if Merlynn's gone you doom magic and end the world, right?"
"You too? It's not the end of the world! Where do you think magic came from before Emrys? The earth. And when she's gone we'll do so again."
He considers this. Seems logical. Then why would Aithusa...? 'More man. More draw. More die. No Emrys mean purge for all.' Of course! That's what she meant. Why wasn't that ever in their lessons?!
She noticed his obvious discovery. "What?"
"Hmm? Oh, just something I remembered." She motions for him to explain. "Mother created Emrys not only for protection of the savior, but also to prevent another purge. I understand now. By creating something for magic to flow through, recycle if you will, she in effect made magic a renewable resource, whereas before it was non."
"Yes, yes, I know," she says almost completely dismissing his point. "I'm well aware it will return to being non-renewable. But it's only temporary until the next incarnation, and there's no purge on the horizon. Considering most of the world is pro-magic I don't see that changing in the next two hundred plus years."
"Aah, but you're forgetting something, Nimueh... It has been fifteen hundred years. In that amount of time we went from roughly two hundred million people to seven billion." He patiently observes her confusion, eventual comprehension, then... denial?
"No, no, no. We'll be fine. I know we'll be fine. Mother provides. We haven't been using the earth's magic for over a millennium. There's plenty." There is.
"More man. More draw. More die."
Her eyebrows furrow. "What?"
"Something the dragon said. She told us we only had a few weeks before the end," Mordred says casually.
"Dragon? You're getting your information from a bloody dragon?! Well, I say your fucking dragon is wrong! We'll all be fine. You're all just being dramatic. That's what it is. Seriously, you think Mother would give us Emrys for the purge and not provide for possible extinction? Ridiculous."
"Exactly. She gave us Emrys..." Nimueh smugly acknowledges his agreement... He doesnt. "...and you're giving them back."
It takes her a moment to ascertain he wasn't, in effect, confirming her claim. "No! No! You shut up! You..." He's... laughing! Is he kidding? She glowers at his audacity. Where is the trembling? The fear? The hopelessness?!
"Sorry. Sorry. Give me a moment." It really is funny. This all powerful high priestess can't play nice with the Goddess, so she throws a temper tantrum causing Armageddon. It's pathetic. He can't believe this is the woman magicals look up to. "Okay, you can go now. I'll just wait for Arthur, then?"
Nimueh is shocked. "That's all you have to say?"
He shrugs. "What else can I say? There's certainly no way I can change your mind, not in the state you're in. Why waste my breath? It's okay, I understand."
"And what is it you understand?" she asks through gritted teeth.
He looks at her almost with pity. "You're insane." The warlock situates himself comfortably against the wall, readying to rest. "Cheers." Nimueh screams and slams the door. Mordred smiles.
He's moments from pleasant slumber when a thought jolts him awake. 'Friend is foe, foe is friend. Loyal is traitor, traitor is loyal...' Morgana! He solved the riddle! He then frowns in frustration. Who cares, Mordred, you pieced the puzzle after the fact. Kudos for you. Lot good it does, idiot. He sighs and resettles, preparing to nod off.
"Bloody dragon."
--
It's the morning this time. It needed to be. The legends are in a countdown of mammoth proportions. The group is scattered around Merlynn and Elena's flat savoring their best coffee brew or herbal tea, waiting for the meeting to begin.
"So, you're Morgana's and Arthur's sister?" Sefa inquires of the new face in the family.
Morgause nods. "Yes, through Ygraine. It was long before she met Uther. I was a teenage pregnancy she gave up for adoption."
"As an adult she discovered her relation to Arthur and I." Morgana adds.
"Which we verified through a blood test."
"Right, but even if we hadn't, it turns out mother left a letter for her."
"I don't want anything," Morgause injects nervously. "Outside of us I don't want anyone else to know or besmirch mother's name." She grins softly at Morgana, squeezing her hand. "I would like a brother and sister, though."
Morgana smiles lovingly. "And I would love to have a sister. I know if Arthur was in his right mind he would love you too."
"Well, welcome to the group, Morgause." Gwen gives a friendly grin to their newest member.
"Glad to be here."
Everyone takes their turn welcoming the newcomer in their own way. Once they're all settled in their seats Leon breaks the silence.
"Okay, we're all here, Morgana. What'd you have to tell us?"
"Right. Well, Morgause and I have good news and bad news..." Morgana looks to her sister for support, who nods her head in encouragement. "...and more bad news and a little more good news. It's urgent, hence why we called for the morning meeting, and we need all the time we can afford." She sighs before continuing. "The first bad news is that we discovered a way for the cuffs to come off, but it would mean Mordred would have to die. We have an... I guess acquaintance of ours that is willing to do this... more pushing to do this."
"You want to kill Mordred?"
"No! No Mithian, no. But we know someone who does, and we found out last night he's missing. According to Merlynn's mother his plane arrived mid morning yesterday. He should have been here by noon, but never showed, and all calls to him are going straight to voicemail."
"You think this person has him?" Elyan asks?
"We do. There is some good news," Morgause reminds them. "She doesn't want to kill him herself. She wants Arthur to do it."
"How is that good news?" Percival asks.
"If Arthur is still here, she can't accomplish her goal. So we know he is still alive for now," Morgana clarifies.
"Why would this woman want Arthur to kill Mordred?" Lancelot.
"Because it's her love for him that will jolt her awake. If he dies she'll know it at her core and both she and Magic will revolt. The surge of power will break the cuffs." Morgana pauses for the others to process. "Fortunately, we do have a time frame, so we know what we're working with. Sadly, it's not long. It has to happen before Merlynn and Arthur's birthday. We have to ensure Arthur stays here and find Mordred before midnight tomorrow night. After that her plan will officially be foiled. It has something to do with their memories returning."
"Now, some good news is that Morgana and I believe we have found a way to free Merlynn of the cuffs where no one has to die."
The group smiles and spirits instantly rise.
"But... It is going to take some time. Morgause and I are counting on you all to save Mordred, so we can concentrate on this. We can give you all the information we know on Nimueh and hopefully that will be all you need."
"Nimueh? The high priestess?" Elena's surprised. All she's ever heard about the woman were good things. "Merlynn's talked about her a few times. I thought she was supposed to be some great icon that magical people look up to? Merlynn spoke of her with respect."
"Yeah, well. She's not all that respectable in reality. She's actually quite barmy." Morgause remembers her manic behavior the previous morning. Any pedestal she had the woman on came tumbling down in that conversation.
"Why can't you ladies help us find Mordred? You seem to know the most about this Nimueh person, so it stands to reason you'd have the best shot finding them. You can get the cuffs off after the fact, couldn't you?" Gwaine eyes the sisters shrewdly knowing they have yet to reveal something vital.
Morgana sighs before informing everyone of their discovery. "Yesterday, after Morgause and I devised a way to possibly remove the restraints, we came across a spell in one of the guides. We believe it is the same spell or very similar to what Merlynn uses to return everyone's memories." Morgana gestures for Morgause to explain, who dips her head in understanding.
"The spell is set to activate no matter what at the stroke of midnight on their birthday. The memories will then flood out through the magic flowing to the appropriate recipient. The problem is if Merlynn is still restrained when the spell is triggered those memories won't be able to escape and instead be absorbed by Merlynn."
The group considers Morgause and knows there is something they're missing.
"There's a very good chance that if we can't get the cuffs off by her birthday Merlynn will go mad."
"Mad as in..." Pretty much a universal thought.
"As in multiple personality disorder, but instead of a few personalities, she'll have... well, everyone that is set to have their memories returned."
"Oh my god." Gwen is beyond worried and slightly panicking on behalf of her friend. She's not the only one.
The group reflect on the severity and urgency of the situation. They can't even fathom their witch going mad, and what would that look like? A mad Goddess? And why isn't Merlynn's 'Mother' intervening?
"Where the fuck is the Triple Goddess in this?! She's helped before under less serious conditions. Why not now?"
"She can't, Gwaine. She cannot affect free will, and Merlynn created these restraints and used them by her own choice. I know she didn't realize how catastrophic it would be, but it doesn't matter. The Triple Goddess never forces, She guides. It's up to the individual to listen."
"Where was She when Arthur was hurting Merlynn? Her own daughter?!"
Elena has a point, and Morgana doesn't know how to answer. That seems to be all of their question, including hers. "I don't know. But I do know there's a reason She allowed it. The worse the offense, the more impact the conclusion will have. Whatever She's doing is massive on a grand scale. The kind of thing that will change the world."
"But the world wouldn't even need saving if Arthur had just kept his hands to himself," Sefa says.
"That's actually not true. Remember, there was another battle we all were fighting before all this started." Be careful what you say, Morgana. But she can't have people blaming the Triple Goddess for what she did.
"You think this is about Liberty?" Lance asks.
"I don't think the Triple Goddess caused the problem. I think she's going to use it to solve a bigger one."
"Didn't she know that this was going to happen, though? Why wouldn't she stop it? Prevent it even?" This whole thing doesn't make any sense to Elyan. Shouldn't everything run smoothly with the Triple Goddess' help?
"Just because she knew it was going to happen doesn't mean she could stop it. She cannot and will not affect free will. People chose to take Liberty. Merlynn chose to create the restraints. Now, if we choose to follow her direction she will lead us through this without taking anyone's sacred rights away from them. People need to remember their choices affect others and She has to work around all of them while still maintaining everyone's freedom."
In a strange way that all makes sense. Merlynn was always on about free will, too. Even Uther recognized the emphasis their witch placed on its value. He branded his drug Liberty and created a catchy slogan to match. It apparently is a paramount feature in the Old Religion. That and balance.
After some moments of musing on Morgana's profound words, Leon cuts through everyones thoughts and takes the lead. They'll have time to ponder the meaning of life later. "We can discuss the hows and whys another time, guys. We need to focus on the here and now. So, what I'm hearing is that the sisters need to keep all of their attention on whatever strategy they have in mind to get the cuffs off. We all need to find this Nimueh person and save Mordred. And we have to guard Arthur to ensure he doesn't leave the flat. And we have to do all of this by midnight tomorrow night. That leaves us only the rest of today and tomorrow. Does that pretty much sum it up?"
"That's it." The sisters nod.
Leon scans the room and sees all the legends mentally battling the overwhelming despondency and fear of failure. As the king's second he has to rally everyone together and stay strong, stay strong for all. With a self pep talk and boosted resolve, the first knight lives up to his name. "Then there is no time to despair, people. United we stand, divided we fall. We have a king, a priest, and a Goddess to save and not a lot of time to do it. Are you with me?"
Leon can visibly see the steadfast determination persevere in everyone's countenance. One by one the Camelot Legends stand. After the last one rises to their feet, Lancelot speaks.
"We're with you, Leon. For Arthur, for Mordred, and for Merlynn."
Leon proudly beholds his family's devout conviction, despite all obstacles, to save their friends. "Good.
Let's get to work."