part two of the previous chapter.

"I have to get back to Gaius, Freya, I have to."

(This kind of starts of from freyas perspective but seemed to work better just flickering from person to person, so I went with it)

Freya looked down at Merlin and sighed. She knew what had to happen, she knew what she needed to do, she knew how to do it. she also knew it was pointless. Contemplated possible options, if their was anything she could do that would change what she had a feeling would happen. But before she could arrive at any conclusion she noticed Merlin's life force waning. His head started to droop and his eyelids struggled to keep from closing.

"Merlin," she said, tapping his forehead with one finger. He shifted back into conciousness. " Merlin, I can heal you. I can use the water of the lake to begin healing your wound. It will keep you from dying before getting back to Gaius, it may even begin to heal what has been damaged within. But if you were to use your magic, if you were to do something straining... " she trailed off but Merlin understood. Her healing would be a brace. Should he try to do something too exuberant, the brace would snap and crumble away.

"I understand." He said quietly. He looked up into Freya's face and then shifted more comfortably in her arms. Freya looked at him loving.

" Merlin, I have to heal you and then I have to go. Besides, your friends are no doubt wondering what's going on. Do me a favor love, tell them as much of the truth as you can about me. " Merlin nodded in reply to her request. Then she bent down and kissed him, her hand cupped his face. It was a short, yet sweet kiss. The slight tang of blood in Merlin's mouth and the rush of the moment making it a bit sad. Freya pulled away. She turned her head to the woods where she knew the knights were huddled. She gestured with her hand for one of them to come over. After a moment of scuffle, Gwaine popped out of the forest and walked over to Merlin and Freya.

"You take Merlin for a moment Sir Gwaine." She said, her voice kind despite the authoritive tone. Gwaine nodded and gently grabbed Merlin, after sitting on the ground next to the two of them. Easing Merlin off of Freya and propping him up against his shoulder, Gwaine and Merlin watched as Freya moved the few feet to the waters edge and dipped her hands in. Scooping up some water, she stood from her crouched position and held the hand full of water up into the sky. She muttered an incantation then turned around and went back to Merlin's side. She looked at Gwaine catiously. "You aren't afraid of magic?" She asked if the knight. Gwaine shrugged.

"There are a few sorcerers I'm not fond of, but I've got nothing against magic. Merlin trusts you. Who am I to question why?" He said nonchalantly, as though it were a simple answer to a simple question. Which really it was, but it surprised Merlin nontheless. He wasn't sure what he thought Gwaines views on magic were but he supposed it made sense, some part of his brain not clouded by pain or heartache reasoned. After all, Gwaine has spent a good deal of time traveling. He was sure to have met many a good person invested in the art of sorcery.

Gwaine shifting him slightly brought him back to the moment. He had been moved to sit more upright. Freya knelt beside the two men and gently poured the water from her hand into Merlin's mouth. A second layer Merlin fell unconcious. Gwaine was about to demand what Freya had done to his friend, his hot temper getting the better of him, when it was cooled by the realization that Merlin's breathing has eased.

Gwaines angry about curled up in his throat, resolving his voice to a squeak when he asked,

"What did you do?" Through the squeak one could hear more curiosity than anger. Freya was taken aback, but nonetheless answered.

"That water has healing properties, ones that are increased when the right incantation is used. I learned it from the nymphs that live in the lake. Merlin shall heal. But I warn you, if he would be to do anything too difficult or anything that requires a great deal of effort, the magic that hold his wounds together would break. It would be like being stabbed again and the possibility of him reaching Camelot alive would lessen. Do you understand?" She said, and Gwaine could hear the thick, unfiltered emotion in her voice. That's when he understood.

This woman, Freya, loved Merlin. And by the looks of things, Merlin loved her too. She did not want Merlin to die, nor would she have done anything to hurt him. He also understood that the magic that has been used was pure and good, and that he, Sir Gwaine, would have to be the one to make the other knights understand that.

Turning around and bringing Gwaine out of his thoughts, (though they lingered in his mind) Freya stood up. Beckoning to the other knights, she waited until they were coming closer to begin walking back into the water. She turned one last time, -half submerged- and turned around, looking at Merlin before falling back into and out of sight.

Arthur

He has watched as the woman had cradled Merlin. Had watched when to all the knights surprise she kissed him. When Freya had beckoned for a single knight to come forward, (which she had done by holding up a single finger, pointing it at the knights and then using the hand motion that seems to universally mean 'come here') there had been a small fight between the knights as to who was going out which resulted in Gwaine. Arthur had wanted to go himself, but Gwaine had shoved him so hard that Arthur had hit a tree and fallen over. Before he has gotten up Gwaine was out of the forest. Arthur had drawn the line at sorcery. Freya had gotten water and done some magic thing to it and then given it to Merlin. Throughout the entire process, Arthur had tried to go out to where the three people were but Percival had held him back. A feat that the brawny knight was fully able of doing. Arthur had pushed against Percival but has been stopped by Leon's statement of,

"Arthur, I know you aren't fond of sorcery but do you think He's one would really let anything bad happens to Merlin? It might have been a prayer."

Leon has said this in the rational tone he often used. Arthur didn't think it has been a prayer, the water has gleaned much brighter after Freya had held it up and said whatever it was that she'd said. But nonetheless, Aurthur had backed down. Leon was right. However ridiculous the antics of Gwaine sometimes were, Gwaine would never have let anything happen to Merlin. After all, thought Arthur with a painful twinge in his heart, It had been Gwaine who noticed that Merlin was hurt.

Okay so, about nine things I have to say.

one: I'm sorry this chapter is so short.

two: the reason this story is so short is because I've been trying to figure out how to end the chapter, and I still have no idea so I'm just cutting it off there. I made you wait long enough for this shitty chapter.

three: I know I'm a complete ass. However, seeing as I don't think ass is a strong enough word, feel free to refer to me as dollop-head or clot-pole. (I'm kidding. I'm not worthy of being referred to as anything from Merlin. *Cue tears of SHAME*"

four: I have a couple of extremely good reasons why I didn't update sooner...but I don't think you lot actually want to hear them. Also they're good reasons but I still don't feel like they are enough.

five: DO NOT WORRY! this story will NOT be going on hiatus. I already know the entire plot, so I don't have to think up the next bit, I just have to think how to phrase it. (Which takes a lot longer than it should, because I'm a cabbage head.)

six: IM SORRY

seven: IM SO SORRY

eight: IM REALLY EXTREMELY SORRY

and finally

nine: I SEND MY EXTREMELY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO ANYONE WHO PUT UP WITH THE LONG BREAK AND DIDN'T UNFOLLOW THE STORY. I FEEL HORRIBLE AND DO NOT DESERVE YOU ANGELS.

okay so goodbye and IM SORRY again.

lots of love and apologies,

-ME

BYE MY LOVELIES