what it means to be good.

chapter 23: time is running

The situation in the chamber was dire. Morgana's fading consciousness hung by a thread, teetering on the edge of oblivion. Iseldir and the other druids strained under the immense magical pressure of maintaining the fragile stone table. Their collective efforts were pushing them to the brink of exhaustion.

Iseldir, his face etched with weariness, finally addressed the concerned druid who had spoken. "I know, brother, but we must hold on a little longer. Morgause will return, and we cannot let Morgana's consciousness slip away entirely. It is crucial to the fate of the priestess."

As they continued to channel their magic into the table, Iseldir couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. Time was running out, and Morgause's absence was a growing concern. He hoped that she would return soon, for their collective efforts were the only thing keeping Morgana tethered to the world.

Morgana, trapped within her fading consciousness, fought to stay connected to the world. She struggled to call out, to reach for something, anything, to anchor herself back to reality. The darkness closed in around her, and all she could do was wait, hoping that help would come in time to save her from the abyss

Merlin and Mordred found themselves wandering through a desolate and mysterious landscape. The Elven King had given them a cryptic clue about following the pegasi, and so far, their journey had led them through barren wastelands, with only sporadic signs of life in the form of lonely trees and patches of forlorn plants.

After landing from a particularly long flight on the back of their pegasi guides, the majestic creatures merely bowed their heads and then fixed their gaze ahead, pointing their snouts in the direction they should go. Merlin was growing impatient, his usual exuberance dampened by the seemingly endless, desolate landscape. Merlin's frustration was evident as he voiced his concerns to MORDRED, "This isn't what I thought it was gonna be like. I don't even know how much time has passed, and I have no idea where we are anymore." Merlin realized he had been careless, getting lost in the thrill of flying on his pegasus companion as he looked over at Mordred.

"How much more of this do we have to endure?" Merlin whined, frustration creeping into his voice. Mordred, ever stoic, merely rolled his eyes at Merlin's impatience, choosing not to dignify the question with a response.

As Merlin and Mordred pressed on in silence, Merlin's thoughts wandered back to where this journey had begun. He had initially set out to confront Morgana, to put an end to her reign of darkness. Yet, here he was, on a mission to save her from her own suffering and to face a threat greater than any they had ever encountered.

His mind drifted to his home in Camelot and to the friends he had left behind. He wondered how they were faring in his absence. Gaius, the wise and caring physician who had been a father figure to him, was likely worried about his safety. Gwen, the strong and compassionate queen, would be overseeing the kingdom in Arthur's absence. Speaking of Arthur, the thought of his best friend and king filled Merlin with both longing and determination.

He couldn't help but wonder how they were holding up, knowing that he had left them without a word. But he had a mission to complete, and Morgana's fate hung in the balance. With a heavy heart, he continued on, trusting that his friends would understand the importance of his quest.

Mordred lost in thoughts too couldn't shake the nagging doubts that tugged at his thoughts as he ventured deeper into the realm of dreams alongside Merlin. The man who had once been his friend and had ultimately betrayed his kind by revealing the secrets of magic to Camelot. He stole quick glances at Merlin, his mind clouded with conflicting emotions.

His primary goal was to save Morgana, to reunite with the woman he had cared for deeply. Her destiny and the cause of magic were paramount. But he couldn't ignore the sense of unease that gnawed at his conscience. What if they were too late? What if Morgana had already faced her fate, leaving them with nothing but futile efforts?