A/N: Italics = flashbacks

—

Amelia's POV

Amelia gasps awake, the memories of her imprisonment flicker through her mind making her shake, her breath catch. It's worse than when she dreamt of the future because at least then it was not her own trauma but a possible future that didn't always happen.

She's breathing heavily, panicking as she sits up in bed. Images still flashing through her mind. Amelia then feels something nudge her hand and a small whimper. She turns to see it's Aithusa by her bed looking up at her with those wide eyes. She smiles softly at the creature.

"Aithusa... Come. Come here." Aithusa leans her head forward, letting Amelia stroke her cheek. "Don't worry. We're safe. No harm can come to us now. Our troubles are all in the past, I promise."

Aithusa lets out a soft growling noise before resting her head on the bed next to Amelia's legs. Amelia's heart breaks at the fact that this beautiful creature has been so mistreated that she cannot even speak.

"I don't want to betray them Aithusa," Amelia admits quietly, "but Morgana's the only one other than you who understands what I've been through."

—

Amelia follows quietly after Morgana into the Throne room where Ruadan waits for them.

"There is still no sign of the Diamair. We are running out of time." Morgana snaps as she strides inside.

"Have faith, Morgana." Ruadan says quietly.

"Arthur could be on us in days." Morgana worries. Amelia frowns in sympathy and pats her arm comfortingly. Morgana smiles in thanks.

"Or he could be dead."

Amelia shakes her head. "No. He escaped." Merlin would have made sure of it.

"Then, he'll be in Camelot now." Ruadan says.

"Then, you must speak to your spy, discover what Arthur will do next." Morgana snaps as she takes a seat on her thrown.

"My Lady... Sefa has been arrested. She is sentenced to die."

Amelia's stomach drops at those words. Sefa has always been a lovely girl. "Oh, Ruadan, I am so sorry. It's extremely cruel, I didn't think they would—"

"Why would they not, sister?" Morgana interrupts. "They do not care for the hurt they cause others. You should know that better than most."

Amelia looks down, tearfully.

"I will double the patrols on the border. We will be ready for when Arthur returns." Morgana decides.

"But, surely, we can—" Amelia tries to say.

"There is nothing more that can be done for Sefa." Morgana cuts her off. "We must make sure her sacrifice was not in vain."

Amelia softly nods and leaves the room.

Morgana's POV

Morgana watches her sister leave with a scrutinising gaze.

"Are you sure you can keep your sister on our side?" Ruadan questions.

Morgana smirks. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

—

Amelia's POV

Amelia shifts uncomfortably, trying to get into a more comfortable position which is difficult considering the limited space at the bottom of this pit and the fact that her arms are shackled above her head.

She glances over to see Morgana is also uncomfortably shifting but it's made even more difficult for her as Aithusa is currently using her legs as a pillow.

"I killed him." Amelia suddenly blurts. The guilt, the thoughts of what she had done had been swirling around in her head for so long, that it is a relief to tell someone.

Morgana looks up, frowning in confusion. "Killed who?"

"Uther. I killed Uther." Amelia quietly admits, now feeling less certain in what she's saying but it's too late now.

"Who knows?"

"No one."

There's a pause before Morgana speaks, "Arthur would hate you for it."

Amelia flinches at the prospect. "I know."

"Do not worry, I'll keep your secret."

Amelia doesn't look up, she's too frightened to.

—

Anne's POV

Gaius and Anne sit on either side of Gwen who sits at the head of the table in the Council Chambers when Sefa is brought in by two Guards to plead her case. Anne looks at her sympathetically. The girl is looking worse for wear from her stay in the Cells.

"My Lady." Sefa curtsies.

"Sefa." Gwen greets calmly. "You asked to see me."

"I'm sorry for what I did. It was wrong, I know. It was without thinking. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I wouldn't." Sefa apologises. "I... All I wanted was to help my father and now I am condemned to death."

"You understand the law, Sefa. I cannot change it."

"Please... I know you have a good heart. A reprieve... I'm begging you." Sefa beseeches.

"Men have died."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm so..." Sefa chokes tearfully. "I'm so sorry. I did it for my father. It was the only thing he wanted from me. I told him I couldn't, but... I don't know, he... I wanted to make him happy, to please him."

"He used you." Gwen says softly.

"I know. My Lady, I don't want to die."

"There is nothing I can do, Sefa. The sentence stands." Gwen declares. Anne looks at Gwen with alarm and surprise.

"My Lady!"

Gwen nods and the Guards take Sefa away.

As if nothing has happened, Gwen turns to Gaius and calmly asks, "Where is it that I need to sign?"

Anne frowns. "Gwen, maybe you should reconsider the sentence. It is very harsh."

"The law is clear." Gwen replies.

"Sefa was naive and foolish, but she doesn't deserve to die." Gaius argues.

"And she won't. I have no intention of executing her." Gwen says. Anne and Gaius look at her in confusion. "My aim is to catch her father. He is the threat to Camelot, not the girl. I'm hoping her plight will lure him here."

"Why did you not tell us?" Anne questions.

"Her predicament must remain genuine. Ruadan may have more spies here." Gwen argues. "And if he has any inkling of this, he will not come."

"This is a dangerous game, My Lady." Gaius warns her.

"Wars cannot be won without risks. The execution is set."

"But what if Ruadan doesn't appear?" Anne wonders.

"Sefa is his daughter. I have to believe that he will."

—

Anne is with Gwen with the children when the warning bells sound. Euwen lets out a cry of distress. Anne rocks him in her arms, shushing him while Faye clings to Gwen's skirts. Leon enters.

"Is it Ruadan?" Gwen asks.

"Almost certainly."

"Organise the men." Gwen instructs. "And capture him alive."

Leon nods and leaves.

—

Amelia's POV

Amelia stares at the note Morgana had handed to her.

'I bring bad tidings. Arthur did not return to Camelot. He makes his way to Ismere. But you must not despair, Morgana and Amelia. Soon you will have the Diamair and Arthur's Bane will be with you. Soon the Pendragons will be no more...'

This could only mean one thing. Ruadan is dead. Amelia had suspected that Ruadan had left to save his daughter after all due to his sudden departure. He died saving his family.

Amelia knows the feeling of needing to protect your family all too well. Morgana had warned her that Emrys was her destiny, and her doom and Amelia will do all she can to stop him.

—

Anne's POV

Ruadan's body lies out on the table in front of them in Gaius' Chambers with the Physician inspecting it. Gaius finds a scroll inside the necklace around Ruadan's neck.

"What is it?" Gwen questions.

"I believe it's a prayer." Gaius replies, rolling the scroll out to analyse it.

"Can you read it?" Anne asks. The Physician doesn't reply. "Gaius?"

"I am no expert in the Druidic runes..."

Anne and Gwen give Gaius disbelieving glances.

Gwen scoffs. "Please, we know you too well."

"It is a call for victory over the enemies of the Old Religion." Gaius admits.

Anne frowns. "But I thought the Druids were a peaceful people."

"For the most part they are." Gaius replies. "But for some, the Great Purge changed that. Some blame Uther for their suffering."

"But he has long been dead."

"Some believe that Arthur is no different from his father. Sorcery is still outlawed... for them, little has changed." Gaius points out.

"So, Ruadan believed it was his sacred duty to fight my husband." Gwen says.

"More than that. There are those who believe that Arthur is destined to die by a Druid's hand." Gaius warns. "Perhaps Ruadan thought he was that man."

"Well, then, he was mistaken."

—

Amelia's POV

Amelia watches from her window as Ragnor brings in the new slaves. Amelia had argued against the use of slaves, her heart saying it's wrong, but Morgana had argued that they needed every man they could get if they were to achieve their goals.

"Let the Ladies Morgana and Amelia see for themselves! I'll get twice that in the Market at Asgorath." Ragnor is saying, shoving the slaves about but Amelia takes very little notice of him. Instead, her gaze is drawn to the young man who's a part of the gang.

She feels a pull towards him. Like he's familiar. As if Amelia knows him. She does not know if it is because of her memories of the show trying to push through or if she's met him before but that is how she feels all the same.

Amelia has had this feeling before…

She quickly leaves her room and enters the Courtyard where she finds Ragnor talking to the man. The young man locks eyes with her immediately causing Ragnor to turn and notice her.

"My Lady." Ragnor greets. "I am grateful for this opportunity... I have brought you eight of the finest..."

Amelia looks at him sharply, shutting him up and moves towards the young man who is nearby. He watches her carefully as she reaches up and gently touches his face. He smiles at her, and she immediately knows who it is.

"Mordred..." Amelia beams.

—

Amelia is so excited to see Mordred again and eagerly pulls him inside out of the cold and the wind. She brings him inside to the Dinning hall where servants are already putting out food for her and Morgana.

Amelia instructs them to put out a third place before turning back to Mordred, who is smiling tentatively at her.

Amelia grins and steps forward, putting her hands on his upper arms. "You have grown so much since I last saw you, though," she makes a tsk noise as she strokes his arms affectionately, "your clothes are a little loose on you. Have you been eating properly? We need to feed you properly so that you can fill out."

The tips of Mordred's ears turn pink. He gently shrugs out of her grip. "I am no longer a child, Amelia. You don't have to mother me."

Amelia puts her hands on her hips. "You will always be that little boy that came bursting into my Chambers that day. And I'll have you know that I am a mother now, so it's instinct to mother."

He dips his head shyly, and Amelia just giggles before wrapping him up in a hug, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"What's this?" Morgana stands in the doorway watching them curiously, but Amelia can see a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Amelia hurriedly steps back causing Mordred to glance at her curiously. "It's Mordred."

Morgana's eyes widen, her face soft as she murmurs, "Mordred?"

Mordred smiles. "Hello Morgana."

—

Morgana and Amelia watch Mordred intently as he eats.

"We feared you were dead." Morgana murmurs softly. "It is dangerous for those of us with magic."

"It's not been easy." Mordred admits.

"For any of us." Morgana picks up an apple and begins pealing sections with her knife, eating them.

"Sorcery frightens people. Even some of those who claim to support it."

Amelia frowns sympathetically. "You've seen a lot."

"I've learnt to. I've had to." Mordred says, his voice is hard. "If I was not to be burnt at the stake or exploited for another man's gain."

It's difficult for Amelia to swallow the strong urge to protect Mordred, keep him protected from the rest of the world.

"Attitudes will change soon. The Old Religion will reign once more." Morgana grins. "There will be nothing to fear once Arthur and his kind are cleansed from the earth." The way Morgana harshly cuts a new piece of apple unnerves Amelia.

"You know we had Arthur in our grasp?" Mordred admits. Morgana pauses in her cutting, staring at Mordred intently. Amelia shifts uncomfortably. "He escaped."

"You let him go?" Her voice is calm. Amelia grips her cup tightly in fear, knowing Morgana's going to blow at any moment.

"He got away."

"How?" Morgana's voice is sharper. "Who let him go?"

"It was an accident."

That's enough for Morgana. "KILL HIM!" She yells, smacking away her plate, which causes a loud crashing sound when it hits the floor. Amelia flinches and cowers. "That's all they had to do! I am a High Priestess!"

"Morgana." Mordred tries to interrupt, glancing at Amelia in concern.

Morgana ignores him. "I have the power of the heavens in my hand and yet he continues to defy me!"

"Calm yourself."

"I want his annihilation, Mordred. I want to put his head on a spike and watch as the crows feast on his eyes." Morgana spits. The warning bells sound, interrupting her. Morgana grins darkly. "Arthur..."

Amelia's heart feels like it's dropped to the centre of the earth.

—

They immediately begin in the Caverns below as that's where all Arthur's men are. Morgana sends Aithusa ahead in the search for Arthur. Amelia watched after the creature in concern as she lumbers away.

Morgana turns to Amelia as they enter, grabbing her arm. "Just remember, I know what you did. You cannot be weak now Amelia."

Amelia swallows thickly. "I'm not." She declares.

Morgana narrows her eyes but nods. "Good."

"Merlin! Merlin?!" Arthur can be heard yelling in the distance.

Morgana smirks. "Showtime." She strides ahead leaving Amelia and Mordred to follow.

"What does she mean?" Mordred questions.

Amelia tries to be blasé as she replies, "Nothing."

She strides ahead, avoiding looking at Mordred as she knows he doesn't believe her, and she'll break if she looks at him.

—

They emerge around the corner to find Arthur standing in an open space in the Caverns.

"How good of you to save me the trouble of finding you." Morgana remarks. Arthur freezes before immediately turning to grab his sword but it isn't there. "Oh, dear how remiss of you. Your bravery is matched only by your stupidity. What on earth did you think you would achieve by coming here?"

Arthur turns to face them. "I'm here to free my men. Save Amelia."

What? Amelia hates how she feels her resolve weaken slightly.

Morgana narrows her eyes. "What makes you think she needs saving?"

Arthur steps forward. "Amelia…"

Amelia flinches stepping back. Mordred places a comforting hand on her back.

"Fleoge." Morgana magically throws a knife at Arthur, stopping him in his tracks. He tries to grab it, but it stabs him in the shoulder causing him to fall to the floor. The knife hovers at Arthur's back. "You have a lot of audacity to come charging in here, saying you're here to save my sister when you're the one who abandoned her." Morgana harshly spits.

Arthur tries to pull himself up by his arms, using the rocks. "Amelia, please…"

No, she has to stay strong.

"Why should I?" Amelia retorts tearfully. "I waited for you, for all of you. I hoped you would come but you weren't there. Morgana was."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Just come home, we'll—"

"Funny that you think you're in a position to bargain with my dagger at your back." Morgana cuts off, grinning spitefully.

Arthur eventually pulls himself up, now able to stand and turns to his sister. "What happened to you, Morgana? As a child, you were so kind, so compassionate..."

Morgana's gaze hardens. "I grew up." Her eyes flash and Arthur is stabbed in the stomach, falling to the ground again but on his back. Morgana grins. "You are right to cower before my hand. I am more powerful than you can imagine."

"And yet with all that, you choose to do nothing but hate." Arthur weakly retorts.

Morgana grins spitefully. "Uther taught me well. Goodbye, Arthur Pendragon."

A yell interrupts them. "Arthur!" Merlin comes charging in. Amelia panics at the sight of him. She can't let him get anywhere near Morgana. She just reacts and with a swipe of her arm, Merlin is thrown in the air and hits the Cavern wall, knocking the wind out of him. That should keep him at bay for now.

"No!" Arthur cries as his friend is flung but is unable to do anything so he turns to Morgana. "Morgana... Please..."

Amelia sees Mordred walking closer in the corner of her eye but focuses on what's in front of her. Her chest is tight as she watches.

Morgana simply knocks Arthur out with a flash of her eyes. "Don't speak, dear brother. It's too late. Hine fordo..."

Amelia lets out a startled gasp as she feels a dagger penetrate her side. Morgana cuts herself, turning around and staring at them in horror. Amelia feels the dagger be pulled out and arms wrap around her as she drops to the floor.

She looks up to see it is Mordred. "Mordred?" She gasps weakly. She hears the hurt that laces her voice. Her left hand clutches her right side.

Amelia looks to Morgana, who's glaring daggers at Mordred. A look of horror comes over Mordred's face and he takes several steps back from her. Morgana reaches out to close her fist on empty air, clenching her fingers as though choking him. The boy pales and drops his weapon to grasp uselessly at his throat.

Even though Mordred had just stabbed her, Amelia can't let this happen and, with the last of her strength, she throws her arm out. Morgana is thrown backwards through the air and smashes against the rock wall of the Cavern. She crumples in a heap on the floor.

Amelia glances at Mordred to see he is now able to breathe properly before everything goes black.

—

Anne's POV

When they all return, Anne is happily reunited with her husband and the Knights that had been saved, but she's caught off guard when Arthur re-introduces her to Mordred and before she knows it, Mordred is being knighted.

As Anne watches the ceremony, she feels conflicted. She feels proud watching Mordred achieve this. She's still got fond memories of him as a child despite everything and he did save Arthur, yet Merlin's words run through her head. Mordred is destined to kill Arthur still; Merlin had seen it in a vision.

"It's been a big day. You must be tired." Anne says as they get into bed, Faye has been settled down and Euwen sleeps peacefully in the cot in their Chambers. Anne had wanted, as she had with Faye, to keep him close in the initial months before he moves to join his sister in the Nursery. Merlin sits silent and pensive as she settles in next to him. "What is it? Is it what you saw in that Cave?"

"I saw Mordred kill Arthur." Merlin murmurs brokenly. "Kilgharrah said Arthur would meet his end at the hands of a Druid."

"He also said that Amelia's path hasn't been determined." Anne points out. "Gaius thinks you should give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Remember when Kilgharrah warned us that the ancient prophecies spoke of an alliance of Amelia, Mordred and Morgana united in evil?" Merlin asks.

Anne winces and quickly shakes her head. "We don't know if that's going to come to pass or not."

"You do." He insists. "You just won't see it because you love Amelia. You might not see it, but we might have lost her already."

Anne feels tears well up in her eyes. "You can't– you can't mean that."

Merlin looks at her sorrowfully. "You didn't see her Anne; Morgana has this hold over her. It won't be easy to break." He warns her.

"Then we must try!" Anne cries.

Merlin shakes his head. "I feel that the die is cast... and that, for good or ill, Albion's great trial has begun."

—

Amelia's POV

Amelia grunts as she pulls herself along, Ella bundled in her arms as Morgana and Aithusa trudge behind her through the snow.

When they had woken in the Cavern, Morgana had thankfully been confused about who had thrown her to which Amelia quickly suggested that it could have been Emrys. She should feel bad for increasing the paranoia in her sister, the fact that her mortal enemy had been so close by, but Amelia is thankful her ire is not directed at her.

Ella lets out a whimper causing Amelia to shake away her thoughts and tighten her arms around her daughter as they trudge along to their destination.