All characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyrighted to Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. I've taken the idea for the Unseelie Court from the TGS. Characters and concepts from Star Trek are property of Paramount and created by Gene Roddenberry. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. All original characters are the property of SN.

Note: I'm disregarding the events of the "Goliath Chronicles", with the exception of "The Journey" because I do not wish to use the rest of the "Goliath Chronicles" as canon to my story. Also, I am altering large sections of the Star Trek storyline, especially concerning events like WWIII and the Eugenics Wars, which without the Cold War as a backdrop probably wouldn't happen the way Roddenberry wrote them, if at all. This story takes place immediately after "Powerless".

The Cure

By SN/TVfan

Email: Sam_Nary

Avalon's Shore

The mist dissipated to reveal calm waters surrounding an almost tropical looking island.

"This is Avalon?" Rachel asked looking at it from the boat.

"Yes," Merlin nodded, "The island of eternal summer."

"Do you think they know if we've arrived?" Una asked curiously as they saw no sign of anyone waiting for them.

Almost as if on cue, a larger ship suddenly appeared with three women in identical clothing standing on the side of the ship. Their appearance forced the small boat that Arthur and his group were in to come to a complete stop.

"And what is it that brings you here, Merlin?" Phoebe spoke first, leading the Weird Sisters in their questioning.

"The sleeping king is awake and with you," Luna added.

"And the bargain for 'Britain's Greatest Hour of Need' would only allow our help if the sleeping king were still asleep," Selene finished.

"We must speak with Queen," Merlin answered, "I promise you we are not here to attack Avalon."

"Your king is armed," Selene spoke.

"You are here with the gargoyle who knows magic," Phoebe added.

"And you've brought a lycan with you," Luna finished.

"Lycan? As in lycanthrope, as in werewolf?" Rachel asked, "how do you know I'm…"

"We are fey, we know far more then will ever learn," Luna answered, "And I can recognize my son's curse anywhere."

"Who are you?" Rachel asked.

"I am Luna," Luna answered, "with my sisters, we make the Weird Sisters."

"I'm not here to hurt anyone," Rachel spoke, "Please let us come in."

"Why are you here?" the Sisters asked in unison.

"Merlin has lost his powers," Arthur answered, "We were hoping that Queen Titania would be able to provide us with the information we need to reverse what has been done, if it is reversible."

The Weird Sisters looked at each other and then looked at Merlin. Each group stood quietly looking at each other for several minutes. After a few moments the Weird Sisters changed their facial expressions to ones that conveyed a deep sense of fear.

"We will announce your arrival," the Sisters said in unison, "Please proceed along the main path to the palace."

Then in a flash, the ship that the sisters were on, as well as the Weird Sisters themselves vanished into nothingness, leaving the small rowboat adrift in the water.

"What was that all about?" Rachel asked.

"The Weird Sisters are generally Avalon's guardians," Merlin explained, "It's their job to make sure that no one unwanted on the island gets on the island."

"From the way they were questioning us, it would appear that no one is welcome on the island," Arthur commented, "Were they like this when you brought me here to sleep?"

"Worse, as Oberon didn't want anyone, especially anyone connected to me on his island," Merlin answered.

"Why is that?" Una asked.

"It's a long story," Merlin sighed.

Avalon, early Sixth Century

"Will this really save him, Merlin?" Lancelot asked as he looked down on the presently sleeping form of his king, "The wounds he's sustained are serious."

"If we can get him to the Hollow Hill, he should be fine, so long as the incantation is correct," Merlin answered, "That is not our concern. Our concern is whether or not the inhabitants of Avalon will allow it."

"What do you mean 'allow it'?" another of the few surviving knights that had survived the battle with Mordred asked.

"Avalon is not uninhabited," Merlin answered, "It is the island Kingdom of the Third Race."

"These beings of magic?" Lancelot asked, "Could they not revive Arthur?"

"Yes, but that is less likely to happen," Merlin answered, "I am not on the best of terms with their leader."

Lancelot and the second knight raised an eyebrow in curiosity when the fog suddenly cleared and a blue skinned man in ornate armor appeared out of the fog.

"That is putting it mildly," Oberon spoke in an aggravated voice, "What warrants this invasion of my shores?"

"We seek not to invade anyone," Lancelot spoke up.

"You were not invited and are not wanted," Oberon answered in a voice that sounded threatening, "That IS an invasion."

"We come to ask you of a favor, Lord Oberon," Merlin spoke, "Nothing that will interfere with you or your court."

"And why should I grant you this boon?" Oberon questioned, "Particularly to one who does not obey my commands."

"We may be related by blood, Oberon, but I am still only a halfling," Merlin replied, "You can not command me as you would one of your Court."

"Maybe so, but you are far to involved in human affairs, and that will lead to the destruction of my court and my people," Oberon answered, "Therefore, Merlin, you are a threat to the Seelie Court."

"Any damage done to your court in the future will not be done by my hand," Merlin answered, "believe it or not."

"Why should I grant you this boon?" Oberon demanded again.

"The fate of your court and the world could be at stake if my visions are correct," Merlin answered, "allowing Arthur Pendragon to sleep in the Hollow Hill until Britain's Greatest Hour of Need would be in your best interest."

"The future is never certain," Oberon answered, "Even the Weird Sisters have 'seen' things that have not come to pass."

"But none of those things were connected to a major prophecy, and even still the prophecy itself is not set in stone as to what it is," Merlin answered, "I need to get Arthur into the Hollow Hill and quickly, if he is to be around to be awakened again later."

"And why must he get there so quickly?" Oberon questioned, hoping to avoid telling Merlin 'no'.

"Can't you see that he was critically wounded?" Lancelot finally snapped, "Merlin says that hill might be the only place that can prevent him from dying."

"And I would have thought you would want him dead, seeing as you have spent years involved in an adulterous affair with your King's wife," Oberon answered back.

Lancelot backed down. His affair with Guinevere and the resulting feud between him and Arthur over it shamed him, and he was desperately trying to atone for his sins by helping Merlin in this particular mission. He would see to it that Arthur could be saved.

"I am a fool, my Lord," Lancelot finally answered, "But Arthur is my friend. Despite my foolishness, I could never let him face death."

"Hm," Oberon answered, "It is good that you admit your flaws, but that is not enough to persuade me that he should be allowed further entrance into my kingdom."

"I would think that saving your race would be more then reason enough," came a feminine sounding voice.

A green skinned female fey then appeared out of the mist, startling Lancelot and the other knight that Merlin had found to bring with him. She wore ornate garb and seemed much more peaceful then the stern faced Oberon.

"It is most likely to come from Merlin's hand," Oberon argued, "It is unwise to allow him entrance."

"Merlin has done more to preserve and protect your throne then any human wizard that knows of our existence," Titania pointed out, "Why do you suppose the Mage hasn't made any headway into directly bringing Britain under his influence? Why has he done so much to aide the Lady of the Lake."

"He has aided her because of her fascination with Pendragon and the mortals that live in Britain," Oberon answered, "It is self-interest."

"I do not think so," Titania answered, "Perhaps he can explain."

"Arthur was wounded in battle against Mordred, and thankfully has not yet succumbed to his wounds," Merlin answered, "However, I have been having these visions of a time of great crisis in Britain's future. A future in which Arthur will be needed to help solve the crisis. Since I can not grant him immortality, I had thought that you might allow Arthur to sleep in the Hollow Hill until the time of crisis arises."

"That only explains what you want to do," Oberon answered.

"The future is always in motion and my visions are never one hundred percent accurate," Merlin sighed, "I will admit, that I could be one hundred percent wrong and that nothing will happen, but what I've seen will be big and I have yet to be wrong on these things."

"And if this crisis is real?" Titania asked.

"I fear that if this crisis does come, that it will threaten more then merely Britain," Merlin answered, "But yet Arthur will be needed to fight it."

Present

"It was Titania that persuaded Oberon to allow me to put Arthur in his enchanted sleep," Merlin answered, "And she is among the most reasonable fey one could ever meet."

Arthur and Rachel then slowly pulled their boat onto the shore and began to follow Merlin toward the palace.

"She will help?" Rachel asked.

"Most likely, although we will have to do most of the work," Merlin answered as they continued walking.

As they neared the palace, the group glanced up at the one or two gargoyles presently 'guarding' the battlements and continued on.

"I do not think I will be required to explain Merlin's condition to Queen Titania," Una spoke, "I will update the Avalon clan of what has happened."

"We'll try to update you on how our meeting goes," Arthur replied.
"Thank you," Una replied with a nod.

Una then moved to talk with the Avalon gargoyles while Arthur, Rachel, and Merlin slowly walked into the main part of the palace. They found Titania seated alone in the throne room with the only the Weird Sisters flanking her.

"I have been told something rather shocking, Merlin," Titania commented as Arthur and his group approached with Merlin leading, "You have lost your powers?"

"Yes, Queen Titania," Merlin answered weakly.

"I may have my suspicions, but could you tell me how is this possible?" Titania asked.

"An Illuminati member used Stonehenge as a means to strip me of my powers," Merlin explained, ignoring the gasps of surprise that were given from Titania and the Weird Sisters.

"The Illuminati?" Titania asked.

"Yes," Arthur answered for Merlin, "They appear to believe that I and Britain's Greatest Hour of Need are a threat to them, and by that, I mean my fighting to solve whatever problem that will arise at that time."

"The must be continuing the Mage's war against the Fey," the Weird Sisters commented in unison, "For them to strike at a powerful fey halfling."

"No, they believe that if Arthur solves the crisis, then their organization will collapse or something like that," Merlin answered, "I believe it does have something to do with the Mage's prophecies though."

"But according to your research and most others, Arthur is destined to save Britain," Titania pointed out, "What would they have to gain by preventing what can not be prevented?"

"Prophecy and destiny are what we make of them and are the result of the choices we make," Merlin answered, "That's why there have been a great many 'prophets' throughout history, and few have ever been right."

"So they are trying to insure the Mage's prophecies," Titania commented, "But why would they attack you and not Arthur?"

"They probably feel that I am the more dangerous then Arthur is because of my powers," Merlin replied, "And that is not to say that they haven't attacked Arthur."

Titania sat thinking about that for a few moments.

"And they robbed you of your powers," Titania spoke after a few moments, "Using Stonehenge. Do you have the wording to the spell that was used?"

"Unfortunately no," Merlin sighed, "We are mostly trying to find out if we can discover a cure to what has been done."

"I can tell you that there is a cure to the Stonehenge curse, but without the exact wording it can not be produced," Titania explained.

"There is?" Arthur asked.

"Yes," Titania nodded, "Most of the Seelie fey that the Unseelies tortured with that device did regain their powers."

"Then wouldn't you know the spell to cure Merlin?" Arthur asked, sounding hopeful.

"I know the cure to the Unseelie spell for a full blooded fey," Titania answered, "But Merlin is a fey halfling, and the Illuminati are human, the cure for the fey spell would not work."

"Not all of the Illuminati are human," Rachel spoke, "The were that bit me was an Illuminati agent."

"Still under human control, though," Titania commented, "I doubt that they would allow supernaturals, such as werewolves, which are part human part wolf, and vampires which are part human part demon to be in positions of power. But your are right Ms. Winters. The Illuminati do employ nonhumans in some capacity. That will make your task will be arduous, especially since you still need to uncover the wording the spell that was cast on Merlin and without a magic user with you, unless you also know sorcery, Ms. Winters."

"Una has agreed to help us with much of the magical tasks, although she also believes that I can perform some human spells if we find a conduit that I can use," Merlin answered.

"Good that you have help," Titania commented, "The power draining powers of Stonehenge are very difficult to reverse."

"Thank you," Merlin bowed, "Although I would think that some research into Stonehenge and its Unseelie connections might useful. Shouldn't a human sorcerer be unable to use the device then?"

"Mortals have used the Eye of Odin and the Phoenix Gate in the past and they are fey devices," Titania pointed out, "Fey magic and human magic are not entirely incompatible, but we will provide any information you feel you might need before your quest begins."

"Thank you," Merlin bowed with respect.

The Battlements

"Surely this is some sort of joke," Gabriel commented as Una finished explaining to the group of Avalon gargoyles that had gathered around, "Merlin helped us out duel the Unseelies. How could anyone take away his powers?"

"From what it seems, Stonehenge has the capacity to strip even the strongest fey of its powers," Una answered, "And the Illuminati Councilmember who used it employed trickery in order to catch Merlin with his guard down."

"They're cowards," Ophelia commented.

"Arthur and Macbeth feel much the same way," Una sighed, "Probably the result of their experience as kings. They're probably right, but the world has changed much since the fifth and sixth centuries for Arthur and eleventh century for Macbeth."

"So you are all working to help Merlin cure himself?" Gabriel asked.

"Arthur, Rachel, and I are," Una answered, "The rest are looking after London."

"Who is Rachel again?" Galahad asked curiously.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Una sighed, remembering that Rachel had not been present for the Unseelie conflict, "Rachel Winters is a woman from York who has recently joined Arthur and us."

"She just joined you?" Leslie asked.

"No, actually," Una sighed, "She had been attacked by a werewolf and Arthur and Merlin have been working to help her adjust. Over this period of time, she has decided to join us."

"She was attacked and survived?" Leslie asked sounding nervous.

Una nodded.

"That means she's…" Leslie began to ask.

Una nodded again, "She is not like any of the Hollywood monsters that are portrayed in movies, and in fact, neither was the were that bit her. He was apparently only following orders to cause mayhem."

"I hope she has plenty of patience if she meets Leslie," Gabriel commented, "She watched some movie during the Unseelie War with some of Goliath's clan. Something about a werewolf terrorizing London."

"She has no need to fear," Una answered, "Rachel will not take her wolf form unless she has to, which I doubt will happen here."

"It's good to know that our brothers and sisters have done well in London with your clan," Ophelia commented, hoping to turn the discussion away from its present topic.

"Yes," Una nodded, "Lancelot and Gawain have been most helpful and quite eager to join Griff as one of Arthur's new knights. Guinevere has been quite willing to help with patrols, but I don't think she has been quite as enthusiastic about being a knight then Gawain or Lancelot."

"Guinevere actually isn't very found of her name," Gabriel spoke, "Largely since she read the stories of King Arthur. I think the whole story of Guinevere marrying Arthur and then running off with Sir Lancelot in the stories agitated her to some degree."

"That is understandable," Una answered.

"And you think there is a cure for what these Illuminati have done?" Gabriel asked, getting back to the earlier discussion of Merlin.

"We believe so," Una answered, "Although it will be up to the information that we can get from Titania that will determine whether or not we can find a cure."

Elsewhere

Rachel stared quietly out over the landscape that she could see from one of the palace's windows. Merlin had already gone to the library, with Arthur following close behind to see what he could find out, but Rachel didn't feel like looking through old books at the moment. She suddenly picked up the scent of someone behind her and sighed.

"Am I in your spot?" Rachel asked as she straightened herself out and turned around to find one of the Weird Sisters standing behind her.

"No, but I sense curiosity on your part," Luna answered, "and thought it might be best to help with that."

"I didn't think you or your sisters would willingly help anyone," Rachel retorted, "From the way you greeted Merlin."

"Our duties revolve around guarding this island and insuring the preservation of what is properly 'fated'," Luna answered, "Of which Arthur's saving Britain is a part of."

"My curiosity has nothing to do with that," Rachel answered, "It has more to deal with my 'condition' which I don't think you would want to answer."

"I have my reasons for what I do," Luna answered, "And my sisters and I are not all of what we seem. Now do you have your questions you want answered or not?"

Rachel sighed. If the fey was going to answer her questions, she might as well ask. She still had no idea why Luna was doing this, especially without the other Weird Sisters present, but she wasn't about to challenge the fey over the issue.

"To clarify things, you are the mother of Lycan, the one who created the werewolf 'curse'?" Rachel asked to begin things.

Luna nodded.

"Did you help him in anyway?" Rachel asked, "I mean, I have to change when the moon is full and your name has been connected to werewolves in most literature and the word moon has been connected with words that are strikingly similar to your name, lunar, lunacy, lunatic, etcetera."

"Didn't Merlin already explain this?" Luna asked.

"Merlin explained what he knew," Rachel replied, "Which isn't everything."

"Lycan actually drained some of my powers when he created the werewolf 'curse' as well as most of his own," Luna answered, "I did nothing to help create it, although he used some of my powers to create it."

"He took some of your powers?" Rachel asked.

Luna nodded, "Yes, he needed some of my powers to give werewolves their primary transformation trigger. You are correct in asserting that I have a personal connection with the moon, but my connection has nothing to do with the connection that werewolves in mortal literature have. Lycan felt that the use of the moon to insure that werewolves took their wolven forms at least during one period of the month would help them master their own voluntary transformations."

"So what is your connection to the moon?" Rachel asked.

"Time," Luna answered, "The moon travels around the Earth in a set pattern, and has been used to establish various calendars throughout history, although today most use solar calendars."

"So what happened to Lycan?" Rachel asked.

"Creating werewolves drained Lycan of most of his powers," Luna answered, "so much so, in fact, that he lost his ability to do magic. He was still 'immortal' in a sense, but he didn't have enough to do magic. He took up residence in Greece and has remained there ever since."

"Hm," Rachel sighed as she listened to Luna's answers.

"Are you still looking for a cure for your lycanthropy?" Luna asked in a firm voice.

Rachel looked back with a look of surprise on her face.

"I was told there wasn't a way to reverse what had been done to me," Rachel spoke.

"There isn't," Luna answered, "But there have many weres who spent their lives trying to find one, and in the end, it cost them their lives."

"If you are wondering if I've adjusted," Rachel sighed, "The answer is yes. I've managed to get used of the fact that I'm rather hairy for three nights a month."

"Good," Luna answered, "For now I must give you the warning that is my primary reason for this visit."

Rachel remained silent knowing that she would learn the real reason why the female fey was talking to her.

"Arthur and Merlin were correct in saying that prophecy and fate are what we make of them," Luna answered, "The fact that prophecies come true are only the fact of actions influencing them to come true."

"I understand that," Rachel answered, "I've already promised Arthur that I'd help him make sure he saves Britain."

"It is more then just insuring the Prophecy of Britain's Greatest Hour of Need," Luna answered, "It has to do with helping Merlin regain his powers."

"Isn't that part of what would be necessary to insure that the prophecy goes through?" Rachel asked.

"It is part of the larger scheme, but in theory, it is not specifically required," Luna answered, "But Arthur is much like the gargoyles of this world. He will not abandon the things he protects or those who help him, something which differentiates himself from Macbeth."

"They're both good men," Rachel commented.

"But Macbeth would sacrifice Merlin if the path to helping Merlin would mean greater effort for only a minimally larger chance of succeeding in the long term," Luan answered, "The upcoming struggles you will face will be great and things will have to be done that neither Merlin or Arthur will be willing to perform. You must be willing to go that extra step when the time comes, and you will know it when it comes."

"When what comes?" Rachel asked, sounding confused.

"You will know," Luna answered, fading away, "It will be something that you know Arthur can not do."

Library

"Have you found anything, Merlin?" Arthur asked.

Merlin only sighed.

"They have plenty of information about its use from the first Unseelie War," Merlin answered, "And it confirms what Titania has told us, that there is a cure for the Unseelie spell. But again, Three is human and the spell he used had to be human. And, until I regain my powers, I can't perform fey magic, so the Seelie cure is worthless to me."

"But wouldn't it still prove that there is a cure?" Arthur asked.

"Only in theory," Merlin explained, "Just as it is theoretically possible for Elisa and the other females in Goliath's clan to become human again. But, since human magic is not as clear cut or as easy to perform as fey magic, the cure could either be very difficult or nonexistent."

"There has to be one and we will find it," Arthur swore, "There has been so much that you have done to help me. I won't abandon you now."

"I thank you, Arthur," Merlin smiled, "But unless you've secretly known more magic then I do, there isn't all that much anyone can do at the moment. Right now, our mission will be to find a conduit that I can use. I don't think there is much more that we can use Avalon's library for."

"Shall I gather the others then?" Arthur asked.

Merlin nodded, "I'll meet you back at the boat."

It took roughly half an hour to get everyone ready and back to the boat. While collecting Rachel and Una was easy, but Princess Catherine, who had missed Arthur and Merlin's initial audience wished to seek into the condition of the Avalon gargoyles that had gone to London and inquire as to what had brought them to Avalon.

"I pray you are able to find a cure for what has happened to ye, Merlin," Catherine spoke calmly after hearing the story.

"We should be able to," Merlin answered, "No worries."

"So what is our mission next?" Una asked as their boat entered the fog once again, this time as they left Avalon.

"In order to do what we need to insure he salvation of Britain we need to find the original wording to Three's spell and to find something I can use as a conduit to perform human magic," Merlin answered, "But it should be remember that Avalon will not send us where we want to go or where we think we need to be, it will be where we truly need to be."

"Well it send us to places we want to go?" Rachel asked.

"When we need to be there," Merlin answered, "Thankfully our mission is of such importance that the places we need to be are likely to be the places we want to be."

It was then that the mists parted again and they found themselves approaching a series of cliffs.

"Where are we?" Arthur asked, as the currents began to push them dangerously close to the cliffs.

"We could be anywhere," Merlin commented as Arthur and Rachel managed to steady the boat so that it came softly aground in a rather shallow point in the water, "There are lots of places that have cliffs overlooking the sea. Although, considering that we are on the east side of this coast, I have no specific location that I can think of at the moment."

"Maybe we're in Scotland," Rachel commented, "I've heard stories of Scotland having cliffs overlooking the sea."

The group began to climb up a very narrow path towards the top of the cliff. It was very difficult as Arthur, Una, and Rachel all struggled to carry the boat to the top of the cliff. Once they got to the top, Merlin quickly moved over to a small pile of stones and began doing something with them.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"You know how I kept large numbers of mystical artifacts when you were king right?" Merlin asked back.

"Yes," Arthur responded while glancing back at Rachel, who only shrugged.

"Well, after I took you to Avalon, I hid and scattered them," Merlin explained, "With no Knights of the Round Table or standing Roman Army, they would have been far too vulnerable to those who might use these tools for evil."

"And this might be a site where you hid one of the treasures?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, and I'm now fairly sure where we are specifically," Merlin answered, "This has to be the island of South Uist off of Scotland. It's the only place in Scotland where I hid one of the treasures."

"What are these treasures?" Una asked.

"Most were enchanted implements that if used correctly, one get specific results out of them," Merlin answered, "But there were some charms and trinkets that could be used as a conduit for magic, and if I'm to do mortal magic, I'm going to need to find these trinkets."

Merlin finished moving the stones and they began to glow with a bright white light and a stone stairway appeared out of the ground in front of them.

"Amazing," Rachel breathed.

"Wait here, I shouldn't be long," Merlin spoke and descended down the staircase.

After a few moments Merlin returned to find that dawn had come and Una had taken her place for the day, meaning they wouldn't be going anywhere for awhile.

"I'm sorry that took so long," Merlin spoke as he returned.

"We could all use the time to rest," Rachel commented, "Especially since most of our traveling will be at night so that Una can come with us."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Arthur asked sounding hopeful.

Merlin nodded and held up a small ring which housed a rather dark colored stone on it.

"This is the Ring of Fieldar," Merlin explained, "the principle magical conduit of my teacher, Garrek the Wise."

"Can you use it as a conduit?" Rachel asked, "I mean, did its magical energies wear our or anything?"

"It is impossible for magical items to lose their magic," Merlin responded, "this will help me and will help us solve our main problems concerning Three and the Illuminati."

"That is good," Arthur nodded.

"You don't suppose we've been sent here for any other reason, do you?" Rachel asked, "Aside from maybe some rest?"

"I do not know," Merlin answered, "I would doubt it though. I don't hear anyone nearby at the moment, and I don't see anyone besides us, either."

Merlin then went back to the stones he had been moving around earlier. He quickly began rearranging them again.

"But, we don't know if anyone will show up or not, so it'd be best to insure these chambers are safely hidden," Merlin spoke, "as we won't be able to return for the rest of the treasures there until after our current mess has been solved."

The secret passageway that Merlin opened then closed.

"Hopefully, this doesn't take too long," Merlin sighed.

To Be Continued…