CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
THE FIRES OF IDIRSHOLAS ( ii. )

The city of Camelot has become a quiet town of ghosts. Calliope's first assumption when they return to see every citizen, guard, and knight lying on the ground is that somehow, the Knights of Medhir moved through these lands at their inhuman speed, cutting down everyone in their path before they even had a chance to blink. But there are no signs of a struggle. No pools of blood soaking the streets. It's as if time has come to an abrupt halt and lulled the city into a permanent dream.

The assassin's mind tears through several different explanations for the scene before her, but she comes up short. All she can know for sure is that magic is involved. Some spell woven into the streets and the air of dark origin. It feels similar to the atmosphere of Idirsholas—like small tendrils of buzzing magic whirling down her spine and leaving behind something sinister in their wake. In front of her, Merlin and Arthur have dismounted their horses in the courtyard. The Prince rushes to the first pair of fallen guards and presses his fingers to their pulse point.

"Are they dead?" asks Merlin.

Calliope holds her breath as she awaits Arthur's answer.

"No," he straightens his back. "No they're breathing."

"What's happened to them?" Calliope's eyes scan the courtyard for any signs of an enemy, but everything is empty and cold.

Arthur opens his mouth to give an explanation, but all he can say is, "I don't know." Every person they come across is in the same state as the first two guards, and none of them stir. "What's going on?"

Bodies are strewn across the courtyard. Some on the stairs leading to the castle, and others still gripping weapons as if they dropped like flies, one by one, coerced into an eternal sleep. Calliope has her own weapon drawn, but there's no one to fight. No one even left to defend. It appears the three of them are the only ones left awake in the entire city.

She turns sharply when the sound of a cart skirting across the ground approaches them. A horse pulls the cart, its rider no where in sight. So animals are unaffected? It's just the people. Calliope's eyebrows draw together, but she still can't explain any of this. She shares a concerned look with Arthur as Merlin glances over his shoulder.

"I'll get Gaius."

By the time Calliope tries to tell him it'll be no use—Gaius is probably unconscious like everyone else—Merlin has disappeared into the castle.

But he comes right back out, "Arthur, Cal!" Both of them move into a sprint, and when they walk into the opening corridor, they find dozens more of fallen guards and servants and councilmen. "They're all fast asleep. Must be some kind of sickness."

"I've never seen a sickness that just knocks people out and leaves them looking perfectly healthy," Calliope points out.

"Where's my father?" Arthur doesn't want to waste time theorizing. He runs through the halls with Calliope and Merlin on his heels, desperate to find King Uther.

There's no sign of him in the Throne Room, so the trio decide to look in the physician's chamber. If people were randomly falling asleep, Gaius would be constantly working to figure out why. Perhaps, he had discovered something before falling asleep himself and they could read over his notes. Or maybe he had some form of potion brewing as a cure.

Calliope hopes there's at least something that can help them.

"Gaius!" Merlin calls out as they step through the door to find Gaius passed out over a book. The young sorcerer tries to shake him awake, but it's no use. Calliope runs her hands through her hair, "It must be the work of magic."

"Yeah, no shit, genius," Calliope says.

"Shut up, Cal—"

"Hey, you two, we have to find my father!"

What they need is to search Gaius's chambers for any clues as to how to reverse this magical plague, but Arthur won't be able to focus until they locate the King, so she follows along with him and Merlin through the castle. She has to step over several unconscious people in order not to trip on their way to the King's chambers, and she looks around every corner for any sign of danger.

Whoever cast still spell is likely still poking around, and Camelot is currently defenseless.

Arthur bursts through the door to his father's chambers, but the only person they find lying on the ground is Gwen. Calliope helps the Prince place her on the bed gently while Merlin looks around the room. Arthur's face is pinched in worry, and she places a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"We'll find him."

Arthur covers her hand with his own, a small touch of reassurance and strength as they consider where to look next.

But then, the curtains across from them rustle. Through the fabric, Calliope sees the outline of a body—someone awake and here in the King's chambers. She holds her sword out, prepared to be faced with a sorcerer or someone she'll have to fight. Arthur approaches the moving curtains slowly, and Merlin tenses beside Calliope.

In one, swift motion, Arthur yanks the curtains aside and pulls the intruder forward. A yelp followed by a gasp of shock rings through the air.

Morgana's eyes are wild and filled with bewilderment as she struggles against Arthur, "It's me! Morgana, it's me!" The King's ward breathes heavily as she stares at Arthur, still shaking in fear. "What's happened?"

She throws a look over her shoulder at Calliope and Merlin, "I didn't know it was you."

Calliope steps forward, "Calm down, Morgana. Tell us what happened."

She inhales a steadying breath, "People were complaining , saying they weren't feeling well."

"What then?"

"They started falling asleep—everyone, everywhere I went."

"Was someone here?" Arthur asks. Morgana shakes her head. "Then why were you hiding?"

"I told you, I didn't know who you were."

Her voice is shaky, and Calliope's instincts are sounding off warning bells about Morgana. Why isn't she affected by the sickness? Does it have to do with her magic? And if so, why was she hiding if no one dangerous was around? It's almost like she was expecting someone hostile to be in Camelot.

While Calliope tries to piece it all together, Arthur questions Morgana further, "Where's my father?"

"I don't know."

"Arthur, she's distressed," Merlin says.

"If she was awake, then she must've seen something—"

"I didn't see anything."

"You saw people getting sick. What did you do?"

Her face distorts into confusion and anger, "What could I do?"

"Morgana, I don't understand. Why is it that you're the only person awake?"

It has to be her magic. That's the only logical explanation.

Calliope shoots a glance to Merlin, and she can tell by the lines on his forehead that he's just came to the same conclusion, but they can't exactly tell Arthur that.

Morgana makes eye contact with the assassin, pleading for help.

"We don't have time for this, Arthur," Calliope says. "You three need to keep looking for your father, and I'll go back to Gaius's room to see if he found anything helpful before he fell asleep."

"Cal, you shouldn't go off on your own—"

"I'll be fine," she insists. "Merlin, come get me when you've found the King, and we can come up with a plan."

She disappears before anyone else can raise objections.

♛ ♛ ♛

Pages and pages pages of nothing. That's all Calliope reads through from the books Gaius has scattered around. She rifles through the potions he's used lately, but there doesn't seem to be any sign of a cure or even half of one. Whatever this is, Gaius was just as clueless as them.

A spell like this would require major magical power. Making an entire city fall asleep and stay that way, it definitely couldn't be the work of a novice or even a practiced sorcerer. No, this is the work of someone with extreme skill. But who? And how can they wake everyone up? What if this spell is slowly draining their lives away. It could have a fatal end, and that fact only causes Calliope to flip through the pages faster.

When Merlin runs into the room, he finds her pinching her nose in frustration as she closes the last book with a loud thud.

"We found Uther."

"Well, there's nothing helpful here. Gaius didn't seem to understand the sickness either."

Merlin's eyes light up, "I bet I can find a spell to wake him."

Calliope gives him a look of doubt, but Merlin finds his spellbook and begins flipping through it, "Ah, this might work," he looks at Gaius, and his eyes glow. "Ic acwoce the." For a moment, Calliope thinks the spell works because Gaius's body shoots up, but his eyes are unblinking, a strange smile on his unmoving face. "Gaius!"

"Yeah, don't think that one worked, wizard boy. You just made him into some, creepy, smiley statue."

"Maybe this one?" he says as he tries another. "Ic the bebeode thaet thu nu slaepest!" The chair underneath Gaius shatters, and the physician's unmoving body falls to the ground. "Well, maybe not."

Calliope flashes him a look of annoyance, "It's no good, Merlin. Your little spells aren't going to fix this—"

She's cut off by him trying once more, but this spell only causes a giant splash of water to rain down on the physician.

They make eye contact, and Merlin shrugs, "I had to try."

When more footsteps echo in the hallway, Merlin pushes his spell book aside and conceals it with his body. Calliope stands and sees Arthur appear in the doorway, looking as if he sprinted the entire way here. Through heavy breathes, he motions for the two of them to come with him.

"There's something you guys need to see. Hurry."

Calliope follows Merlin out of the physician's quarters. They rush through the castle until they arrive at the flanking tower. From the top of the stone wall, Arthur points to the distant, snow-laden hills. A fresh, wintry breeze sweeps through the air as Calliope spots what has caused so much worry and urgency. There are seven black horses with their riders cloaked and armed. The Knights of Medhir are mere miles away from reaching the city, and at the front, commanding their every move, is another knight, clad in silver armor and much more human looking.

"According to the legend, there were only seven Knights of Medhir," says Merlin.

"Then who's the extra rider?"

"I don't know, but Camelot is defenseless."

Arthur grabs both of their arms, "We have to get back to my father."

King Uther Pendragon is resting in his room, vulnerable to an easy attack. He's who the knights are really here for—a plot to take out the King and overthrow the delicate balance of power in Camelot. There are so many people that seek his downfall. Too many options to narrow down and sort through, but what matters now isn't trying to pinpoint the instigator of this magical attack, but to survive it. They can worry about the details later, once the King is hidden and they themselves haven't been run through.

When they enter the room, Morgana stands from a chair, her eyes flickering between everyone as Arthur approaches his father.

"This is the first place they'll look. We have to get him somewhere else."

"What's going on?" Morgana asks.

The Prince reaches below his father's arms to grip his upper body, "We're under attack. No time to explain. Grab his legs, Merlin! We have to carry him."

Merlin steadies the King's lower body, and they begin carrying him, but only inches above the ground.

Calliope huffs, "This is going to take forever. They'll be here before we can move him!"

"Got any better ideas?" She chews on her lip. "Didn't think so! Come help us."

Giving in, Calliope holds the King's left leg while Merlin holds his right and Morgana stands to the side in case they need extra support.

"If you told me a year ago I'd literally be carrying the King through the castle to save his ass, I'd probably pass out and die of shock," Calliope mutters as they enter the hallway.

They move at a very slow pace, and the King snores occasionally. The sound echoes around them, and Calliope and Merlin have to withhold their laughter.

"This is not funny!" Arthur exclaims.

Calliope tilts her head, "Well—"

"Shut up, Cal." Arthur says, annoyed. Then, he looks to Merlin. "Did you find the potion Morgana took?"

"Potion?" Calliope asks.

Merlin nods, "The reason Morgana's still awake—Gaius gave her a potion before he got too sick."

"He did?" Merlin shoots her a warning look. "Oh, right, yeah, he did."

It's his weak explanation to steer Arthur away from the truth—that Morgana has magic and it's protecting her.

"But, no, I didn't find it."

After several more agonizing minutes of carrying the King, they arrive in Arthur chambers. The Prince and his servant bicker about whether or not to put the King on the bed. Arthur is not okay with just leaving the King on the floor, so Merlin grabs a pillow and places it under Uther's head as a compromise. Calliope isn't sure how that relates to their life or death situation, and she curses at both of them to shut up and focus.

As she does, she suddenly is hit with a wave of tiredness.

It's like a veil has fallen over her, sucking the life force out of her body through a trickling river. Her head spins, her body is sweaty and hot. Calliope grips a pillar for support and blinks several times, shaking her head. She can't fall asleep. She has to make sure she can protect the people she loves.

When she turns, she sees Arthur and Merlin suffering from the same ailments.

"You guys alright?" Merlin asks.

"You feeling the same?" Arthur looks between them, and they both nod.

"We're getting sick."

Wait, but if magic is protecting Morgana, then shouldn't it protect Merlin too?

"We can't let that happen. We must keep my father hidden."

Across from her, Merlin's eyes light up, "Why don't we disguise him?"

"That might work," says Calliope, still leaning on the pillar.

"We could dress him as a woman!" Arthur and Calliope raise their eyebrows.

"That on the other hand—"

"We could dress him as a servant!"

"That's better."

Calliope shrugs, "I don't know. I think Uther in a dress—"

"No, Calliope, not a discussion," Arthur says.

♛ ♛ ♛

While Merlin ventures off to find clothes to dress King Uther in—and to talk to the dragon under Camelot for any ideas on how to conquer the sickness—Calliope hangs back with Arthur and Morgana with her sword in hand. The Knights of Medhir and their mysterious leader will break through city walls in a matter of minutes, and they still don't have a solid plan, or a way out. Calliope always has exit strategies in mind, but with an unconscious King that needs to be carried by three people—well, their chances of getting out here alive are significantly dwindled. There's no way Arthur will even consider leaving his father behind, even though it might come to that.

The assassin feels another spell of the tiredness seeping into her. This time, it's even more powerful, and she nearly falls over. Her eyes droop and threaten to close for good, but she literally slaps herself across the face and blinks several times. I have to stay awake, no matter what.

But how long can she fight against the spell? The magic will pull her under eventually, just like everyone else in the city. Merlin better find out something from the dragon, or they'll all be doomed.

When there's no sign of Merlin after a few minutes, Arthur grows impatient. He paces in front of the door.

"Cal, stay here with Morgana."

"Where are you going?" Calliope asks, grabbing his arm.

"I have to find somewhere safe for us to take my father."

"But the knights could already be in the castle."

Arthur nods, "I know. I'll be careful. I promise."

He gives her forehead a quick, parting kiss before leaving the room, and Calliope places her head in her hands. Every instinct is screaming at her to go with him, but someone needs to stay here with Morgana. They shouldn't split up more than they need to, and Calliope still feels suspicions about the King's ward.

So, she'll just have to hope Arthur is smart and cautious, and that he isn't seen by any of the Knights of Medhir if they've entered the castle.

Calliope's legs ache, but she won't sit down and rest. Not when she has a magical force trying to trick her into it.

She crosses the room to peer out the long window into the silent courtyard below, scattered with bodies and cardinal cloaks. There's no sign of the knights though, not even in the distance from her vantage point. She taps her foot anxiously. That means they probably are in the castle.

"Are you alright, Cal?" Morgana asks from her chair.

Calliope looks over her shoulder, managing a small smile, "I'm fine, just worried."

"Me too," she says, "I don't understand what's happening."

"None of us do, but all that matters right now is surviving."

Then, the sound of the door being yanked open startles them both. Calliope turns, and Merlin is shutting the door, his face caked in sweat and his eyes wide. They linger on Morgana, almost in contemplation, before he looks at Calliope.

"They're here—in the castle."

He runs to where Uther lays on the floor to change him into the servant clothes, "Where's Arthur?"

"Still trying to find somewhere safe to move to."

Morgana stands, "Thank you both for not saying anything to him."

"It's alright," Merlin responds—quickly, earning an eyebrow raise from the assassin.

"You're good friends," she says.

This comment makes Merlin's expression flicker with something sad and haunting, and Calliope doesn't understand why he's acting this way, but before she can ask him any questions, the door opens again.

Arthur enters the room, "We have to move my father before Morgause gets to him."

Calliope stops, "Morgause?" So that's who the other rider was, and it all makes so much more sense now. This is her plot to take control of Camelot.

"Come on, let's go" Arthur says, grabbing ahold of the King.

They carry the King to the nearest servant's quarters without running into Morgause or any of the knights. By the time Uther is lying on the bed, Calliope collapses to the ground with Merlin and Arthur following suit. She rests her back on a dresser, breathing heavily and wiping cold sweat from her forehead.

Dizziness is starting to surround her. Closing her eyes would be so nice, even if it is just for a moment...

No, stay awake, Cal!

However, Morgana is still completely unaffected by the spell.

"Must be the potion Gaius gave her," Arthur says.

Merlin, in a slightly sarcastic tone, agrees, "Yeah, must be the potion."

"We can't keep this up much longer."

"No," Merlin says, "we're in the servant's quarters. If we leave him here, they'll just think he's a servant."

"Not if Morgause sees him. We need to get him out of Camelot."

"And how exactly do you propose we do that?" Calliope asks.

Everyone is silent for a moment. There's no good way out—not while Morgause has the knights at her command.

"When we arrived , there was a cart in the main square, remember?" Merlin says, looking between Calliope and Arthur.

Does he really think they can get the King to that cart? Well, it's the only option.

"You are full of good ideas today, Merlin," Arthur replies as he stands. "You go and look."

"No, I will," Calliope holds out her arm to stop Merlin from moving. Arthur sighs, and before he protests, Calliope is walking to the door. "I'm tired of sitting around and doing nothing. I'll be right back."

Calliope's grip is tight around the handle of her sword and she walks through the halls, her steps as quiet as a graveyard in the early hours of the morning. She stops at every turn and peeks around each corner before moving forward. She expects to see Morgause every time she checks to see if the coast is clear, but she never does. Calliope never got the chance to fight Morgause when the sorceress came to Camelot all those weeks ago, but she isn't afraid. What scares her is how powerless she feels against magic. How easy it is for an evil sorcerer to do something like this—with the snap of their fingers and a muttered spell. How can she keep the people she loves safe when this is what they're up against?

All she has seen in the corridors so far is unconscious guards, nothing stopping them from a safe exit at the front of the castle. Calliope lets out a breath of relief and turns.

A sword swings by her head, just missing her ear. Calliope jumps and is faced with a stone knight, and she barely blocks his second attack. She dodges and ducks and leaps away, trying to find an opening to run or knock it off balance, but how does she even fight these things? They don't seem to have any weaknesses.

Calliope is thrown into the wall, and just before the knight can bring down his sword on her, a spell knocks him back.

"Merlin!" Calliope jumps up.

The sorcerer grabs her arm, "Arthur sent me to make sure you were okay."

There's no time to talk. They just sprint through the halls and barrel into the servant's quarters.

"They're closing in. We won't make it to the cart, not carrying Uther."

"That's why we made this," Calliope looks down to see that Arthur and Morgana have tied sheets together under the King. "We're gonna pull him."

Calliope wants to say that even though it might be a bit faster, it's still not a good enough solution. Especially if they run into Morgause.

Prince Arthur is looking out the door for their opening, but he shuts it as soon as he takes one glance, drawing his sword "Get down, and keep quiet!"

There are thick, yellow curtains behind the bed, and Calliope moves behind them while Morgana and Merlin hide behind a divider. The King is left on the floor, lying on the pile of intertwined sheets. Well, they're about to find out if the disguise works.

The door creaks open slowly. The knight's heavy, masked breathing is all Calliope can hear from behind the curtain. She can't see anything but the dark outline of it as it moves further into the room. When it spots Uther, the knight stares for a moment, and Calliope squeezes her palms into tight fists. If it goes for the King, Arthur will jump out, and it'll be one hell of a fight out of this place.

Calliope's breath is caught somewhere in her throat.

The knight takes a few more steps, and it's too late because Arthur has been spotted.

Calliope bursts out of the curtains as Arthur's sword collides with the knight's, "Protect the King get him out of here!"

Her sword slices through the knight's back. Morgana and Merlin drag the King out of the room. Calliope kicks the knight, and ducks when it turns to attack her instead of Arthur.

"Cal, what are you doing?"

"Saving your ass, idiot!"

She has the knight's attention now, and their swords collide again and again, giving Arthur the opening to lunge forward with all his strength. Calliope holds out her leg, and as the knight is knocked forward, he trips and falls.

Calliope drags Arthur out of the room with her while the knight recovers, "Come on!" They run, and Calliope can hear those heavy footsteps following.

Around the corner, there are two more knights at the end of the hallway, and Arthur grabs Calliope's arm and pulls her into another corridor. They need to catch up with Merlin and Morgana—she hopes they're alright.

When they enter the hallway that leads to the Throne Room, there is a knight about to attack Merlin. Arthur jumps in with no hesitation before the knight can strike, and before Merlin can even get one word of a spell past his lips. Calliope looks to Morgana, and surveys her body for any injuries as Arthur fends off the knight and kicks him down an adjacent staircase.

They don't waste any time dragging the King into the Throne Room and barricading themselves inside it.

Calliope, Merlin, and Arthur lean against the door. Their faces are pale—white as snow. Through all the running, Calliope barely has any energy left. She can feel herself fading.

"Morgana, we need the remedy Gaius gave you," Arthur says through heavy breaths. "Morgana!"

"I—I don't have it."

"I know that, but you must remember what it was, what was in it," Arthur pushes himself off the door. "Come on, Morgana! We can't keep going on much longer. Think!"

"I'm sorry," Morgana says with pleading eyes. "I can't—"

"It doesn't matter," Merlin interjects. "We can't get it now."

Calliope nods, struggling to stand, "We're trapped. Morguase will probably know where we are soon."

"There has to be something we can do!" Arthur exclaims. "Unless we can rid ourselves of this sickness, I don't see how we're going to hold out."

There's a flicker in Merlin's gaze. He knows. But why does he look so torn up about it? He glances to Morgana once, then to Calliope and Arthur.

"We have to destroy the source of the magic."

"Which is?" Arthur asks.

"I don't know."

The assassin makes eye contact with Merlin. He does know, but he can't say in front of Arthur. Calliope furrows her eyebrows, asking a silent question, and Merlin gives an almost undetectable nod towards Morgana.

She has to turn and cover her mouth to keep from gasping, or letting out a small sob. No, no, it can't be. Not Morgana, no. How can they...what are they going to do? They can't kill her. No that's not even a option, but from the way Merlin is looking at the King's ward, she knows he's considering it.

"Our only chance is to get out of Camelot," Arthur says, and Calliope turns back around. "Help me with my father." Morgana and Arthur drag the King closer to the throne before dropping the sheet. "You cut the blanket up. We'll tie it to my father, and we'll lower him onto the cart."

"Arthur—"

"Please, Morgana, just do as I say."

It's difficult for Calliope to stay present and grounded with what she has just realized. She barely registers Arthur's voice when he speaks again.

"I'll fetch the cart under the window."

Calliope stops him, "You're going out there? Then, I am too."

"No, no, you stay and protect my father."

"I'm protecting you, and that's final..."Calliope slumps against the door.

Merlin sighs, "How are you guys feeling?"

"Not bad."

"You sure?"

Arthur nods, his eyes closing, "Yeah, never better. Get me a pillow, will you?"

"Don't mess around," Merlin notices that Arthur is drifting. "Arthur, Arthur? You need to stay awake!"

When he gets no response, Merlin just slaps Arthur right across the face, and this jerks Calliope back up too because she laughs in amusement.

"Merlin!"

"That's better!"

Calliope nods, "Much better."

Arthur points at his servant, "If you ever do that again..."

"Then don't fall asleep!"

The Prince grabs the small canteen of water Merlin has and pours a large amount over his face. Calliope holds out her hand for it and does the same.

In the hallway, there are haunting sounds echoing. The knights have all gathered together, and are waiting for someone to strike down at the command of their sorceress.

"That your knees again?" Arthur asks Merlin with a faint smirk. They take the barricade off the door. Arthur leans against it for a moment, glancing to the young sorcerer. "If I need a servant in the next life—"

"Don't ask me."

Arthur chuckles, and Calliope draws her sword. She looks to her best friend, "I'll see you on the other side."

And then, she descends into a sea of black and stone and fury with the Prince by her side.

They fight, back to back four knights on Arthur's side and three on Calliope's. They are enveloped by the rage of the Knights of Medhir, and the dark magic that has taken hold of them. Calliope's blows are not fatal, not to these undead warriors. She keeps them at bay—keeps them from killing her, but that's all she can do, and in her tired state, she's afraid she'll just fall over and it'll be too late, for both of them.

Her muscles are screaming, her head is pounding. She has cuts and bruises all over. Blood trickles down her arm, and she isn't sure she can keep up much longer.

Arthur is suffering the same fate, but they keep each other strong. She fights for him, to make sure survives this, and he fights for her.

If they're going to die, they might as well go out together.

One of the knights throws his bulky arm forward, and it smacks right into Calliope's head. The assassin falls, stars blurring her vision. The world is suddenly distant and distorted, as if she's underwater.

"Calliope!" Arthur yells, but he can't get to her in time.

The knight above her raises his sword, and Calliope makes peace with her end.

Suddenly, everything stills. Instead of a killing blow, the knight just crumples to the ground, lifeless. Calliope wonders if anything she's seeing is actually real—it doesn't feel like it.

Arthur rushes to her side, cradling her head in his hands, "Cal, Cal, can you hear me?!"

"I'm okay," she winces as blood flows from her temple. "Fuck, that hurts."

When the world comes back into focus, ice runs through her blood at the realization. We need to destroy the source of the magic.

Calliope shoots up, despite her wound, "Morgana," she whispers.

"What?" Arthur says.

"No, no, no" Calliope shoves Arthur off of her, and she stumbles into the Throne Room. All that remains is Merlin, his head hung, his eyes prickling with tears. the King's ward is no where in sight. A tear slinks down her cheek, mixing with the hot blood.

The assassin sinks to her knees.

Morgana is dead.

♛ ♛ ♛

The recovering castle is quiet. Everyone has awoken from Morgause's spell, but all Calliope feels is cold.

Merlin explained everything. He slipped Hemlock into Morgana's water, and then Morgause showed up as Morgana laid dying—apparently, they're sisters? In exchange for calling off the knights, Merlin revealed the poison he used, and then Morgause disappeared with Morgana. He isn't sure if she survived, but Calliope's hopes are dim. Hemlock is a hard poison to cure, even with magic.

It was an impossible choice. There was no way any of them would be alive without Merlin's actions, but the consequences hurt.

The King is more distraught than anyone. He has ordered immediate search parties through the entire kingdom. Arthur is in low spirits as well, wondering what he could have done different to save her. Calliope thinks the same things.

As a winter sunset falls over the city, serene and basked in a tangerine glow, Calliope leans over the South wall, her elbows resting on the protruding stone. She looks into the distance, snow trickling delicately onto her black tunic as her nose turns a subtle shade of pink, and she wonders just how far Morgause has taken Morgana, whether to heal her or lay her body to rest in some hidden, peaceful alcove.

Movement flickers in the corner of her eyes. She turns her head, and Merlin joins her, resting his elbows beside hers. The sorcerer sighs, and follows the path of her eyes into the distance.

"How you holding up, wizard boy?"

He scoffs lightly, shaking his head, "As good as I can be, I guess."

"You did what you had to," Calliope says. "Without you, Arthur and I would be dead. Camelot would be lost. We owe everything to you, Merlin."

"Then why does it all feel so wrong?"

"Because you're a good person," Calliope places her hand on his shoulder. "And, because you did the right thing."

He sends her a quick glance, "Morgana was our friend."

"She was," Calliope bows her head in a nod, "And the dragon told you what you needed to do to save everyone else. He told you she'd turn to dark magic, and you made the hard choice, and you kept us all alive."

"It's all bloody messed up, Cal!" Merlin exclaims, turning to her. "Because the dragon warned me about you, as well. I can't—I won't lose another friend. I can't bear it!"

"Hey, hey listen to me," Calliope grabs him by his shoulders. "You're not losing me. I don't give a shit about what the dragon says, Merlin. I promise, there's nothing in this world that will ever make me abandon you or Gaius or Arthur. I love all of you too much to even bear the thought."

He exhales a shaky breath, nods, and then pulls her into a fierce hug, "I believe you. I'm just so sad and angry and worried."

"I know, so am I," she says into his shoulder as she returns the hug. "We'll get through this, Merlin. We always do."

After a moment, he pulls away, wiping his teary eyes, "There's one more thing I have to tell you."

"What?"

"I have to release the dragon."

♛ ♛ ♛

heyyyy everyone! wow, only 1 more canon episode left! that's crazy!

also, the prequel is up! the title is "REVENGE SONG", and chapters will be released once this book is finished! go check it out :)

and as always, thanks for reading <3