Merlin and the girls were reunited with the other prisoners in a room with a bed in it. Guy went right to the bed and saw Rachel sleeping peacefully on it. The silence that fell over them was painful. Despite their best efforts they had all worked right into the Editor's plan, and the decision for their lives were on Guy's and Rachel's shoulders.

The Editor entered the room, a Story book in her hands with a quill. She faced the group silently, a smirk of triumph on her face. Merlin felt Guinevere's hand slip into his and he gave it a small squeeze, attempting to comfort her when he could have used comfort himself. The Editor motioned to Guy. "I am not going to waste time explaining my master plan," she said. "Kiss her." As Guy stood there, looking torn, the Editor went to Will and grabbed his wrist. She stabbed the quill she held into his thumb, drawing blood. Then she did the same for Red and Merlin.

Merlin cursed himself. He should have left Red behind with Theseus. He had foolishly brought the Editor the four of The Story, giving her exactly what she needed to rewrite The Story completely. He hadn't even considered that in his mad attempt to get to Rachel.

The Editor stepped over to Guy and Rachel, shaking her head when she saw Gisborne's indecision. She drew a knife from a sheath at her hip and raised it over Rachel's heart. "Kiss her, or I will cut out her heart," she said, her voice deadly serious.

Merlin saw the acceptance on Guy's face; the man bent down and kissed Rachel on the lips. The kiss lasted for only a second, but to the prisoners it felt like it lasted forever. Merlin glanced back at Ewan, seeing the tears building in his eyes. They all knew what was coming next.

Rachel was awake, and Guy gently helped her off the bed. She leaned on him, perhaps seeking support both physically and mentally. She didn't meet anyone's eyes; her gaze was fixed firmly downwards on the floor. The Editor spoke, breaking the silence. "Rachel Andric," she said. "You are no fool. You know what I require from you."

"You want me to write myself out." Rachel's voice was dull. She looked up, locking eyes with Ewan. Merlin knew that alone would convince her to sacrifice herself. She would be unable to endure her brother's Final Death for a second time. "So you can rewrite The Story as though I were never in it. Is that right?"

"As I said," the Editor answered with a shrug, "you are no fool. You know what is at stake. Write yourself out, and your friends and family will live and return to their respective Stories, to which I've made several...adjustments. Refuse, and watch them all die, right before I kill you and destroy The Story you've painstakingly ruined. The choice is yours, Rachel Andric."

Rachel held Guy's hand, and his voice was low when he spoke. "Don't do it. Rachel, please. You can't."

She shook her head at Guy, her hand gently touching his cheek. The tears were pouring down her cheeks, and she made no effort to conceal them. "I love you. I love you all," she added, motioning to the others. "You're my family. And that's why I have to do this." She kissed Guy once more before turning to the Editor. "You know my answer. Let's get this over with."

The Editor handed the quill over to Rachel. Will advanced, but the Editor's knife confronted him, forcing him to halt. "Rachel, don't do it," he begged.

"I'm sorry, Will," she apologized, turning to the Story book. "I can't lose anyone else. Not like I lost Alan. It had to end like this. I'm going to see my parents now, and Alan. I have to believe that. Ewan..."

"Don't say anything," Ewan said in a choked voice. "Don't say good-bye."

She couldn't answer. Instead, she raised the quill and started writing. Merlin closed his eyes, unable to watch. He felt Guinevere bury her face in his shoulder, felt the hot tears dampen his shirt. He held her close, his own face wet with tears. He couldn't believe that in a matter of minutes he would forget everyone in the room with him, yet he knew it would be so. He would forget that he loved Gwen, forget that Alan had died for him.

The Editor would rob him even of his memories of his friend. The thought made his heart ache.

Of all of them, only Red remained stoic. No tears shone in her eyes, just a dull sheen. She stood with a cold stiffness, as though uninterested in the events going on around her. Merlin met her eyes, and his gaze fell to her hand, firmly held in Ewan's.

Rachel's voice broke the spell of silence. "It's finished." She turned back, only to find that the Editor had departed from the room. Merlin saw Rachel's form shimmer. They had only seconds.

"Don't go," Guy whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "I don't want to forget you."

"You'll always remember me in your heart," Rachel answered, sobbing. She kissed him one final time before disappearing from sight.

Rachel Andric had undergone Final Death.