"I don't think you're taking this seriously.", Leon was being nervous. More nervous than he should be, really. But when someone planned your murder you were supposed to be, right?
Well at least SOMEONE had to be. And since Morgana had decided to be ignorant of future demise – Leon decided that this was his job now.

"Do you really think this is the first time, Agravaine has tried to get rid of me? Why do you think I've been living in a cave for a year?"

"I don't know. The aesthetic?", Leon shrugged.

Morgana gave him a pointed look and then continued to eat her soup.

Leon had run to Morgana as soon as he had figured out what their plan was. And boy did their planning take time. Agravaine had a lot of thoughts and ideas for murder. Someone should be worried about that. Namely Mordred. But who was the king that he would have to deal with such delicate matters, right?

"Listen, Sir Leon. I have managed to evade every attempt Agravaine has ever started. And you know why?"

Leon frowned. To be frank, he did. Agravaine himself had been brainstorming about this.

"Because my destiny is to be killed by Emrys. And Emrys isn't here. Neither does Agravaine know where he is. So there is nothing I have to worry about."

"You have everything to worry about!", Leon gave back.

"Sir Leon, I am happy that you have decided to side with me, when it comes to the safety of this kingdom. But my personal safety has to do with me! And myself alone, do you understand! As long as Mordred has Emrys under control and orders him to stay far far away from me, there is NOTHING I need to fear! I don't want to live in fear anymore. I don't want Emrys to dictate my life. Let him stay in exile as long as possible. My brother is taking care of him too. And he will send message to me should anything change. So now leave me alone with this nonsense.
I thank you for telling me – but I can take care of myself."

And with that Leon was forcefully dismissed.

Leon knew this was a fatal decision on her behalf. And he would stand corrected.

Neither of them knew that Agravaine had already prepared his departure. In a cave – captured – one of Merlin's magical doves.
The one Leon used to message him. He wouldn't realize she was gone until it was already too late.

---------------------------------

Arthur liked fishing. It was calm and nice weather outside. The fish wasn't biting at all, but it was a good excuse to sit here, while Merlin took care of the household.
Not that he needed to do much. Merlin liked gardening as much as Arthur did. But he could just use magic for most tasks and he had told Arthur more than once that he was 'distracting' him.
Arthur grinned at the thought.

Well – to be fair – it wasn't Arthur's fault – or the lakes fault that the fish wasn't biting. It was HER fault.
"What do you want again!", Arthur sighed upon seeing her. He called her the Siren. Simply because she only ever appeared to Arthur and tried to show him things. To lure him out into the depth of the lake of Avalon.

"Arthur, come with me, please.", she said. Desperate as ever. "Time is running out!"
Arthur scoffed. "Time is always running out with you."

"The kingdom needs you!", she said. For some reason she seemed to believe that he really was the prince. But Arthur and Merlin had made a pact. He wasn't ever going to get certain of his previous identity. Never. He ruled out the possibility out of spite.
He loved his life here at the lake – on their farm. Just Merlin and him. Like things were supposed to be. If Arthur had ever allowed himself some happiness – it was this.
And he wasn't going to let a fish woman take that away from him.

Not that she looked anything like a fish. She looked completely human. Almost like a princess in her purple dress. Her hair was completely wet though and clung to her forehead.
Arthur wasn't certain – but he had always envisioned Siren's to be singing creatures. With fish tails and wavy flowing her. This woman was just a woman. A pretty one – admittedly. But also just a woman.

"The kingdom has Morgana. Have you noticed how little wars have happened since she took over as Mordred's main advisor?"
Arthur got his main information from the tavern in town. How this girl got any was a mystery to him. She seemed to be living within the lake. Hmm.... somehow she sounded familiar to him. But not familiar enough that he found it very important.

"Morgana needs your help too! Mercia is preparing for war! They have been for quite some time! Someone on the inside of Camelot has been secretly taunting them. I don't know who – but -"

Arthur sighed. "And how can I help?", he asked tiredly. "I don't know if you've noticed – but Morgana is a witch. If she can't handle this – no one can."

"Mercia isn't the only thing that worries me.", the woman said with a deep sadness in her eyes.
"Arthur, you need to free Merlin."

Arthur frowned. "I am not holding him captive! He can leave, whenever he wants!"
"That is not what I meant.", the girl swam around ceaselessly. Just pushing around some water.

"Oh really.", Arthur was not amused.

"He needs to remember, Arthur! He needs to remember who he is!"
Arthur laughed. Bitterly, humorlessly. Well this was just rich. "I think you have mixed some things up, dear lake lady. Merlin knows who he is. I am the one who lost his memories. And to be quite frank – I am happy that way."
Arthur railed in his line. Just to throw it out again. The worm on the other hand hadn't even been touched by a fish yet.

"He doesn't.", the girl said quietly. And it sounded like the mere thought pained her. The thought of Merlin not knowing himself.

"Look.", Arthur felt bad for her. "He forgot who I am. Like everyone else. Like I myself did. He knows precisely who HE is."
The girl shook her head. "No, Arthur. He forgot who you are to HIM. He forgot why he did the things he did. He lost his reasons for all the bad decisions he has ever made in his life. How can he be himself when he forgot the person that became his purpose in life?"

Arthur sat still. Frozen in his position. "But – he has me now.", he said and shook his head.
The girl looked at him sadly. "You just said it yourself. Not even you know who you are."
Arthur and the girl stared at each other.
"I don't want to leave this place.", Arthur said.
"Sooner or later you will have to. It would be better if you two could leave together.", the Siren said meaningfully.

Arthur sighed. "Is it so wrong for me to want to enjoy this?", he asked. This sounded an awful lot like destiny talk again.
"No.", the Siren tried to give him a cheerful smile. But it came out empathetic.

"How long do we have?"
The Siren looked him up and down. "Two days."

Arthur felt a clench in his stomach. "Where do you want to take me?", Arthur asked, swallowing down the lump in his throat.

"There is a place within this forest that you have always avoided.", she said.
"If you come with me – you will remember."

"What about Merlin. Will he as well?"
"He will remember, when you tell him everything. His mind is connected to yours. You are two sides of the same coin."

"What do I need to do?"

The girl smiled. Obviously happy she finally managed to get through to him somehow.
"Just bring the flower."

'The flower?', Arthur blinked confused. Why would he need to bring the – 'never mind.'

He looked back to the house he and Merlin had been living in for two years. "I don't want to leave.", he said again. Just to make it clear how much this life had grown on him.

"Will you come with me?", the girl asked again. And maybe it was the simple fact that she had asked – given Arthur the ability to choose that made him answer like this.
"I don't want to."
"But will you?", the girl asked again – desperately. "Before it's too late. Before -"
"No.", Arthur said. He couldn't. Even if they had only two more days. Even if it was just five minutes.
That time was meant for Merlin and him. "I want to stay here."

The lady looked even more pained now. "Even though you know what will happen when you don't remember?"
Arthur bit his lip. "If it's my destiny to remember some day – then it will happen eventually. I won't betray Merlin's trust. I won't break my promise."

"Maybe you should have told him about me then.", the girl smartly replied. "Maybe you should have given him a choice."

"Well – if a choice is what you want. Maybe you shouldn't only seek me out, Freya!", he snarled back. He had his eyes closed for only a moment, but the Siren was already gone.
He ran his hand down his face. She was right of course. He should have consulted Merlin about this long ago. But Merlin looked so happy here too.
He couldn't do this. He didn't want to remember. Still, even after two years. And if he must – then surely things would change on their own.
But he wouldn't force things to change. Especially not in a direction he didn't want to. Where he didn't know what might happen.

He knew deep down that Merlin felt the same.
And yet he found himself ashamed by the fact that he hadn't dared talk about Freya with him yet.
What did all of this have to do with that blasted flower anyway?
Arthur shook his head.

He had been fishing enough for today. They didn't bite anyway.
He would go back to Merlin's and his hut now. To spend some time with his husband.
Because that is where he wanted to be.
That was the choice he made. The oath he took. And he would do it all over again.

------------------------------------------------------

Gwaine was constantly scowling, as they sought out Katie. A few pretty words didn't change his entire view on magic. A view that he had grown up with and entertained since he was born.
Surely royals were a pain most of the time. But sorcerers had always been just as egoistic.
Just because this witch was twelve didn't mean she couldn't be acquainted with this Emrys guy and have manipulated Lancelot, Gwen and probably Arthur as well for however long they knew each other.

No matter how innocent she looked.

"Look! This is Dave!", Katie was being cheerful. The Dove sat just as giddily on her shoulder. It was like they shared a link with each other.
"He will know precisely where Arthur and Emrys are.", she was smiling. And so eagerly offering her help, Gwaine almost felt bad for the goosebumps he kept getting by her mere presence. She wasn't that powerful actually. Actually – Gwaine had no way of telling just how powerful she was. He didn't have a sense for such things.
But he knew – if she had magic – she was dangerous.

No matter what Lancelot and Gwaine claimed to know about magic. People who had magic had power. And people with power always – always were corrupted. No matter if the power was magical nature or just the power that came with royalty.

He had needed quite some time to like Arthur. Since he was the prince and all. But with Arthur it was quite clear where his priorities lay.
With someone like Katie – it was impossible to tell. Even children were easily manipulated into doing bad things.

"So – we're going to follow a dove all the way to wherever?" Honestly, how could Lancelot and Gwen be so chill about this? Gwaine was DRUNK and still worried!
Not to mention he was GWAINE!
They had no destination. No idea where they were going at all. And their guide was a magical creature literally created by the most dangerous sorcerer alive!
They could end up in a trap. Or go in circles forever.

"Basically – yeah.", Katie smiled and nodded at Dave to fly over to sit on Gwaine's shoulder. Almost immediately Gwaine pushed the bird away.
Who knows what happens when you touch a magical creature?

"I'm so excited!", Katie jumped up and down. Her hair had grown quite a bit. But she still repeatedly cut it off. "I'm finally going to see Arthur again!", she mused and ignored the way her pet bird was treated.
(More like avoided. So she was basically just ignoring Gwaine's antics.)

The bird gave up disappointed and settled back down on Katie's shoulder to pick at some crumbs she picked up from the table.

"Oh hell no. You're not coming with us.", surprisingly it was Lancelot who spoke up.
"Your parents would never allow it!"
Oh right. Gwaine blinked. Like THAT was the issue.

"Please, Lance!", Katie looked betrayed. "I haven't seen Arthur in two years! PLEASE!", she almost begged. "My parents don't need to know!"

"Just how long do you think we will be gone! We don't have the time to take you with us and then bring you back right after! We need to save Camelot!"

"Save Camelot?", she raised her eyebrows. "Save from what?"

Gwaine hissed. "Well maybe from your king who is allowing magic users like you to exist!"
Katie's eyes widened. "But – Mordred is a magic user himself.", she actually shrank under his gaze.
Gwaine crossed his arms.
His eyes said it all. 'That's exactly what's bothering me.'

"If I can't come with you, I won't send Dave out for you to follow!", she mimicked his pose and pouted. Gwaine's eyebrow twitched. She really was just a child.

"Alright fine.", Lancelot gave up. 'Already?', Gwaine thought disappointed.
"Gwaine – I'm begging you. I'm not asking you to trust her. Just – please. If we want to find Arthur, she is our best chance."

"You mean our only chance.", Gwaine retorted, but Gwen didn't seem so amused either.
"Yes, Gwaine. Our only chance. Now stop being an idiot and apologize."
Gwaine actually frowned at that. Why on earth did he need to apologize?

"And why on earth would I want to apologize?" 'What for, anyway?'
Lancelot sighed. "Look, Gwaine. If you knew who Emrys is -"
"That won't change a thing!", Gwaine retorted angrily.
Lancelot seemed like he wanted to say something, but Gwen stopped him by merely touching his shoulder. She shook her head and Lancelot seemed to agree.

"Gwaine – what other choice do we have?"

Gwaine gnawed on his lip. 'We can't even say for sure if Arthur is still alive. For all we know – this Emrys guy could have written those letters.
For all we know -', he thought.
"Alright, fine. But if this is a trap and we die! I WILL blame you!", he pointed at Lancelot who just sighed in relief.

"Good.", Katie didn't look like she found this good at all. "We'll meet at midnight here again."
Gwaine frowned. "Why midnight?"
"Because that's when my parents are asleep, duh!", Katie flicked him the bird. Gwaine's mouth twitched. 'I'm not going to laugh now.', he thought to himself.

-----------------------------------

After a long discussion it was decided that Gwen would stay in Brieldier.
Not that she wanted to, of course. But she was pregnant and someone needed to take care of Charlie. He was too young to travel with them. And they could hardly ask Katie's parents to look after him, since they were practically abducting their child.

Lancelot promised to be back as soon as possible. He kissed his wife goodbye (not until after she took Gwaine to the side and made sure to make him swear he would keep Lancelot save or else – She never defined what 'or else' was. But Gwaine could tell that he would do better to never find out).
He kissed his son as well, who looked so small in his mothers arm. Even though he was already one year old. He was so tiny!

"He looks like Elyan when he was young.", Gwen would say. Based of an old memory. She was barely three years older than her brother. But she had practically raised him anyway.
So she remembered what he looked like very well.

"What? No kiss for me?", Gwaine pouted at Lancelot, who just laughed and punched him in the arm. Lancelot rolled his eyes. "Maybe later.", he winked and lead the two of them out to meet with Katie and Dave. Gwen just smiled at the joke.
Their bags were full of clothes and food. After all – none of them knew how far Arthur and Emrys truly were away. They would be traveling for days. Or weeks. Maybe even months.

Gwaine was prepared to spend another year to search for them.
After all – the last two years he had found out absolutely nothing.

"So – guys.", Katie whispered now, as they finally reached her at the front door of her house. She had a small leather pouch draped over her shoulder. Just big enough for her to carry. But that could hardly be hers. It must belong to one of her parents.
"With my magic I can communicate with Dave. Well – a bit at least. He will fly in the general direction we have to go."
And with that she raised her arm and the white Dove flapped his wings to keep himself up in the air.
He didn't make a sound. But something about this Dove was glowing in a white light. It seems like that was what Katie needed to communicate. A magical wave length so to speak.
"The lake.", Katie whispered and moved her hand so Gwaine and Lancelot could follow her. Gwaine narrowed his eyes at her. Wondering when the trap would come in.

The lake – as you well remember – was just outside the village. The shore beginning in the middle of the forest. The place where Arthur and Merlin first met up. And made their decision to run away together.
But all that was nothing the three travelers knew from their own memories.
All they knew was that the lake was here.

Dave flew a bit over the water, sending other magical waves in Katie's direction.
Katie frowned. "That's strange.", she said calmly.

Gwaine rolled his eyes. They had stopped far too soon after they just left the town.
"Dave says they aren't far. We only have to cross the lake.", Katie said, an eyebrow raised.

Gwaine gave her an 'are you serious' look.
"And you only figured that out NOW?", he asked confused.
"We don't even have a boat! Here we are preparing for weeks to travel and your magical bird tells us to cross a lake?"

"That is hardly my fault!", Katie replied. Growing more and more angry by the second.

"Guys, don't start fighting now!", Lancelot stopped them. Seriously shocked that he had to stop a grown man from verbally attacking a twelve year old girl. Who could easily kick his butt, but Lancelot was less worried about that. Katie may punch people in the face who had wronged others, sometimes. But – yeah okay. Maybe he should worry about that more.

They could go around the lake. But that would mean walking through bandit territory. They would waste so much time. Not to mention that Arthur and Emrys could have disappeared again by then. Surely they were constantly on the move? (They weren't. But neither of them knew that.)

"Sounds like you guys need some help."

In an instant the three travelers turned around. It was dark already. Who was wandering in the woods at this hour?
To their surprise they found whoever this was was not someone who was actually wandering the place.
No. There was a figure in the water. Completely soaked in lake water. But the moon illuminated her outlines and made her look mystical.
She had something of a Siren. Beauty – mostly.

Dave sat down on her shoulder and let himself be caressed by her. The Dove seemed to like her.
"You guys are here to find Arthur, aren't you?", she said and her eyes shone in the moonlight.

"Who are you?", Gwaine asked. Was this the trap? The ambush? Already? But this was just a woman in a lake.

"You are the lady of the lake!", Katie gasped. Lancelot shared a look with the child like her description held some deeper meaning than what Gwaine was aware of.
Gwaine rolled his eyes. "Very creative description, Katie.", he muttered.
But the Siren raised her hands above the water. Suddenly, the water moved. As if something heavy rose from within the depth of the lake.
"I am.", she confirmed, as water flooded from the – thing.

The thing was made of wood. Because it was a boat. Barely big enough for three people to sit in.
Or one person to – well.

"I'm sorry. This is all I can do for you.", she smiled sadly.

Gwaine had his hand on his sword already. "You're a witch.", he said accusingly, making Katie scoff at him.

The woman laughed. "No. I never was.", she said with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Oh. And where did you get that boat then?", Gwaine growled.
"It's my boat.", the woman said and pointed at it invitingly. It was filled with wildflowers.
"I was burned in this boat.", she added to Gwaine's horror.

Lancelot, who had already decided to sit in the boat and had one foot inside it, stopped in his tracks. "What?", he asked in a mild panic.
The woman laughed. "Relax. I was already dead."

"That's not making this any more comforting!", Gwaine answered for Lancelot.
Katie rolled her eyes and moved passed the two men and their useless moral.
"She invited us. You're being impolite.", she said and immediately settled in the boat.

"Who is she!", Gwaine asked outraged and pointed at the woman with both his arms in an angry movement.
Katie rolled her eyes. "The lady of the lake is the Guardian of Avalon. You know – like the place where people go when they die?", she rolled her eyes. "Even I know that."

Gwaine's eyes widened. "So – you're not a witch – you're like – a goddess?", he asked. Both shocked and amazed, while Lancelot slowly swallowed down his discomfort and settled down in the boat as well. 'We don't want to be impolite.', he repeated what Katie had said earlier.
The woman smiled at Gwaine. "My name is Freya.", she said calmly.
Gwaine's mouth twitched slowly.

"And why are you sending us over the lake? Are you like – a Siren? Do you want to drown us?"
Freya pouted amused. "Why do people keep asking me that? No. I'm not a Siren. I'm a spirit. I don't want you dead. I want you to help Arthur and the only man I ever loved."

Gwaine frowned slightly. "You mean Emrys!"

"Gwaine, just get in the boat. We don't have all night!", Lancelot said annoyed. Rich. Just hours ago Lancelot had been preaching how long their travel may yet be.
Now they learned they only had to cross a lake and then they'll find the person they've been searching for. That or being murdered in cold blood. And STILL the man was hurrying them.

"Fine!", Gwaine surrendered and slowly stepped into the death boat. It swayed from one side to the other dangerously. But as soon as he sat down, it began moving on his own.
Freya swam next to them. Slowly. Slower than they could have rowed over. But it was nice not having to do anything.

"I meant Merlin.", the girl smiled at Gwaine. Gwaine turned around sharply at the name. "You know Merlin?"
Freya giggled. "Oh yes. He is the one who held my funeral.", she said.

"Where is he!", Gwaine demanded to know.
"He is with Arthur.", Freya smiled.
"I thought Arthur was with Emrys?" Now Gwaine really was confused. Also – Since when did Merlin have a dead/spirit/godess girlfriend?
Katie whispered something to Lancelot, but the man shook his head to keep her quiet and listen.

"Sometimes, Gwaine.", Freya giggled again. "Sometimes names are just names."
Gwaine frowned.
"Do YOU guys know what she's babbling all about?", he asked, directed at Lancelot who just sighed.
"Gwaine – I think this is a story that Merlin needs to tell you himself."

Gwaine tilted his head. "I don't -"

"There are many things you don't understand yet, Gwaine.", Freya said sympathetically.
"You will have to be strong. Because soon, the world as you know it will break in front of your own eyes."

"What does that even mean?", Gwaine asked exasperated. But Freya just waved at them and a second later she was drowned within the depth of the lake.

Four hours later, the boat hit the shore on the other side of the lake.