Merlin: The Loneliest Hour

Chapter 16: Freya needs Strength and Courage

Chapter 16: Freya needs Strength and Courage

"Freya?"

Gwaine's tone was incredulous.

“You know her?” Arthur asked.

“I searched for her.  I think she’s Merlin’s girlf…”

And then quite suddenly she swayed and almost fainted.  She would have grumbled to the ground if Lancelot had not caught her.  Her eyes fluttered as the knight held her. At length she lifted her head with some difficulty.

When she was able to stand again, she whispered, "I'm so sorry. I've traveled such a long way. I didn't realize...  It’s been a while since I had to eat."

"It is I who should apologize," Arthur replied dutifully.  He had already pushed the word starting with "girl" that Gwaine had almost used at the back of his mind.  "I should have known. We shall go into the inn. You can rest there and have something to eat..."

"No!" she cried out in distress.  "I've wasted too much time already.  We have only one chance and I cannot risk loosing him."

None of it was making sense to Arthur.  Lancelot too was shaking his head.

"You're talking about bringing him back –about bringing back Merlin.  It cannot be done. The dead cannot return," the knight said darkly.

She starred at Arthur again; her eyes were glassy white but it was as though she was seeing right through him.  "That would only be true if he were really dead," she uttered almost inaudibly.

The sound of Gwaine jumping to his feet startled Arthur.  "I knew it!" he cried out. "When the dragon said not to burn his body, I thought..."

"But where is he?" Arthur cut in.  However it pained him, he thought that he should be the voice of reason.

Freya closed her eyes for a moment and her face turned into something painful, as though she was remembering a bad dream.  "Merlin's blood opened a gateway, but Morgause was there as well and she tried to control the power of the Four Elemental Stones.  Merlin was too weak. Instead of allowing her to gather all that magic, he placed himself on the threshold, blocking the flow. He put his life on the line.  Now as Merlin's strength is failing, so to is the magic in this world. If we don't hurry, he'll be trapped in the Other World forever."

Gwaine stepped forward.  “And you have the power to bring him back?”

“Yes.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” the knight said.

He had barely finished his sentence when suddenly they heard the sound of many footsteps.  Arthur and the two knights wheeled around, only to see at least a dozen large men with swords and axes walking speedily towards them.  The big bald man was at the lead.

“That’s the witch.  She’ll fetch a good price.  Seize her!”

Without even consulting, the three men took up position in front of Freya and they drew their swords.

“Do we have time for this?” Gwaine cried out irritably.

“No.”. It was Freya who had spoken.

Arthur had not expected to hear such assurance in the blind woman’s voice.  As she spoke, she pressed her hand on his arm so as to move him aside. As soon as they saw her, the thugs came to a halt.

“Careful, she will put a spell on us,” muttered the man with long greasy hair.

Arthur could only see the back of her head and her long, waving black tresses.  She raised her arm and spoke clearly, “Fleoge!”