While the rebellion celebrated with Mimi and Philip, Martin decided to go off on his own. Merlin had been a little bit too eager to have Mimi killed for no good reason, despite knowing about her oath. She literally couldn't betray the rebels, or she would be sent to the River Styx. Thankfully, most of the rebels seemed to realize that. But still ... there was something Martin was missing. Goldie had come and helped Philip when she hadn't even known any of them. Perhaps she knew something. Whatever the case, she was no longer in the outer courtyard of the castle, leading Martin to believe she had returned indoors. He intended to find her and ask what in the world she had been thinking. If she had miscalculated and the rebels had sentenced Mimi to die, Philip and Martin would have died as well. And since she had tried to help them ...

Someone grabbed Martin's arm, startling him out of his reverie. In a swift movement, he was jerked from the hallway, into the adjoining room and slammed against the floor. A knife was pressed against his throat and flames lit his fingertips as he held them up. Then he relaxed when he saw who held him against the floor. "Goldilocks," he said.

The young woman reluctantly lowered her blade. "You're the sorcerer," she said. "Michael?"

"Martin Relen," he supplied, sitting up and rubbing his raw throat. "And ouch. What's the big idea?"

Goldie sat back on her heels, looking around the library. In a swift and graceful move, she jumped up and slammed the door shut before turning back to Martin. "I saw your robes," she admitted. "I thought you were Merlin. Forgive me. What are you doing? I would've thought you'd be with your friends, at the party."

"I'm doing a little bit of exploring," Martin admitted. "Coupled with some research into Merlin's plan. Care to join me? This was my intended destination."

Goldie sighed and sat on one of the little cushy seats in the middle of the room. Three of the walls of the square room were covered in bookshelves heavily laden with books, and the middle of the room had two of the small seats. Ottomans, Martin believed the small red chairs were called. "I want to know how you figured out that Merlin was up to no good," she said, frowning. "I mean, I knew because I found his prisoner."

"Wait," Martin interrupted, holding up a hand. "What prisoner?"

"Will Scarlet," Goldie explained. "Merlin's been keeping the youngest Merry Man locked up in a room here in the castle. I met him right before you arrived, but I didn't release him. I didn't suspect Merlin then until he started trying to get Miriam killed. There's something fishy about that whole thing, I can tell you."

"Are you a former Guardian?"

Goldie shook her head. "No. Not that I can remember, at least. Just a member of The Story, looking for a better life. Sadly, seems I won't be getting that with Merlin."

Martin sat down beside her. "I'd like you to start from the beginning, please."

For a brief moment, the young woman hesitated. Then a steely look entered her eyes and she gave a nod. "Yes, alright. Merlin's rebellion was being organized about a month ago. I was one of the first ones he recruited. My Story was ending, you see, and he pulled me out right before it concluded. I think it was just to show the Guardians that he could. As the month went on, he gained more recruits for the cause, yet none of us could do what he wanted. He wanted a Story Book. Why, I didn't know. He nearly pulled Philip in when he was here the first time, but the Guardian managed to avoid him."

"The first time. When he told Lancelot about Arthur, right?" Martin guessed.

"Yes. He was furious that Philip had escaped without Merlin being able to speak with him. But then Philip returned to Camelot, and Merlin got his chance. He talked to Philip and managed to talk him into stealing a Story Book for him. This was after I visited Will, of course."

"Explain a little bit more about that before you go on," Martin suggested.

"Very well. I was bored, exploring the castle by myself. Then one of the mice told me about Merlin's prisoner—" Goldie went on.

"Wait, mice?" Martin questioned, giving the smallest hint of a shudder. He didn't like rodents, no matter the size.

Goldie fixed him with a frown, misunderstanding his question and grimace. "Yes, mice. I can speak to animals. How do you think I understood the three bears?" Without waiting for an answer, she pressed on. "I got curious about why Merlin would have a prisoner, and to be honest, I thought it would be a Guardian. Since I'd never met a Guardian before, I went off and broke into the cell. Evidently, Merlin was more worried about Will getting out then somebody breaking in, because the key was in the lock and only a big piece of wood blocked the door. So I went in and pulled off his gag. I was a little nervous, so I didn't untie him. Then we talked."

Both Goldie and Martin tensed when they heard someone walk past outside the library. Neither of them moved for a few minutes until the footsteps had quieted for quite a while. Goldie continued, albeit in a softer voice, "He told me Merlin had taken him prisoner when he arrived with the rest of the Merry Men. Doing a little digging, I determined that the outlaws were told that Will had been taken by the Guardians and was dead. I wanted to tell them the truth, but to be honest, I was afraid of what Merlin would do if he found out I'd discovered Will. I kept quiet and kept digging. Since Will is still alive, I knew that Merlin wanted him for something in particular. That was when I found out what he wanted."

Martin picked at his seat, frowning as he tried to put everything together. He was missing something, something very important. "Go on," he said.

Goldie jumped up from her ottoman. "It would be easier for me to show you," she told him, and went to one of the bookshelves. After a few minutes, she pulled one out and went back to her seat beside Martin, handing the book to him. "I marked the pages. Go on, give it a read."

Merlin flipped the heavy, leather-bound book open to the page Goldie had dog-eared. He grimaced at the flagrant treatment of the ancient volume, but nevertheless started to read: Some of the best-concealed secrets of The Story lie within this book. Written for me by The Editor, I must determine its secrets and find out what I am being told. Perhaps, at long last, I shall have my revenge against the Guardians.

Martin raised his head to Goldie. "Merlin?" he guessed.

"His diary. It looks old because it is. Hundreds of years," she said. "Keep reading."

Needing no further bidding, he went on: The Editor has told me of an ancient prophecy, detailing how a member of The Story could possibly hope to rewrite it. At long last, I know how to do it. I must find four people and use them to my advantage. But who are these four people? The Editor refused to disclose it, and I am left in the dark. I must find them and use their blood to make the ink. Otherwise, it is all for naught. Several pages detailed his frustrations at being unable to find the people he was searching for. Eventually, after about a year in the diary, Martin found Goldie's next marked page and read on. The light is shining upon me today. I have discovered that William Scarlet of Robin Hood's Story has never undergone Final Death and has remained since The Story's creation. Upon inquiring with The Editor, she confided in me that he is one of The Four of The Story. Since I discovered one, she told me the rest. The blood of an Andric and Winthrop combined, Will Scarlet's, and my future replacement in The Story. I know Philip Andric and Miriam Winthrop are still alive and still Guardians. Philip comes into The Story frequently. It shouldn't be hard to determine my replacement, with my powers of foresight. I only hope that The Editor is telling me the whole truth ...

That was the last entry in the diary. Martin closed it slowly, turning to Goldie and taking a deep breath. "Have you made Will aware of why Merlin wants him?" he asked, forcing himself to remain calm.

Slowly, Goldie shook her head. "No ... I thought it would be best to find someone I can trust and confide in them. Even if I freed Will, I wouldn't be able to get him out of this Story. That's why I went to Philip. If I can show him that Merlin intends to use his and Miriam's blood, I might be able to get him to free Will and get Merlin caught by the Guardians."

Martin scratched at his ear. "Do you know who Merlin's replacement is to be?"

"I couldn't find it anywhere," she confessed. "So long as Merlin doesn't know, then he should be safe, right?"

"I think you're right," Martin agreed. "To demonstrate that I trust you, I'm going to tell you that I know who Merlin's replacement is to be."

"You do?" Goldie said, staring at him. "How?"

Martin gave a mirthless smile. "It's me," he said.