Hi everyone,

Once more I have returned to the world of Merlin to write another full-length story. Despite having this idea in my head for a while I haven't got round to writing it and didn't really expect to, I thought I'd just focus on the Merlin drabbles I've been doing and then move onto something new. But for some reason I have suddenly thought to myself: why not give this story a try? Let's see what other people think and go from there.

So, here is the first chapter. I don't want to give too much away of the story, but I will say it's AU from series 3 and more shall be revealed soon. This chapter is more of a prologue and fairly short, but the others will be longer.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this first chapter, let me know what you think and if you would like to read more :)

Chapter One

The Isle of the Blessed

There was a heavy fog hanging over the Isle of the Blessed and a chill in the air as Nimueh stood before her two fellow witches, watching them carefully with sea-blue eyes. She's not sure how long she stood there simply staring at them, time is no longer a concept for her. She has never seen the two witches before and yet she knows who they are, she knows everything about them. When she finally speaks her voice is bitterly cold.

"You should not have done this."

Morgana looked uncomfortable at these words, but Morgause tries to keep her face emotionless. "We need your help, we thought you would be willing to take part in such a just cause once more."

Nimueh raised an eyebrow. This simple action seemed to scream danger. "Willing? I was dragged from my peaceful afterlife to stand once more in the same place where I perished. I do not belong here, my soul is no longer part of this world, I can feel myself being pulled back into the world I rightly belong. Yet here I stand. There is nothing willing about this situation."

Morgana was becoming more and more uneasy at these words, she could feel the unblinking eyes of the dead witch piercing her very soul. A cold breeze fluttered past making Morgana shiver, but Nimueh remained motionless, she could no longer feel the wind.

It was strange, Nimueh didn't look particularly different from someone who was still living, but there was something different about her, something chilling. Just by looking at her you could somehow tell that her heart was not beating, and it was terrifying. It was as if instinct was telling Morgana that what was happening here was very wrong, it went against nature, they shouldn't be here. Nimueh was right, they shouldn't have done this. But she stood her ground, now is not a time to show cowardice. Her sister remained standing beside her without showing any sign of fear, Morgana had voiced doubt about Nimueh, but Morgause said she was the only other witch powerful enough and with the knowledge of the spell who could help them. Morgana trusted her sister and they were going to do this together.

"Tell me," Nimueh continued, "How many did you have to sacrifice to bring me back for your purpose? That was a powerful enough spell in itself, enough to raise a whole pack of demons into this world if you're not careful." She spoke calmly, but there was a harshness and rage to her voice just hidden behind the words.

Morgause shrugged, "It is worth the risk. Numbers are not important."

"Not important? I have watched many people die simply for the crime of having magic. I counted them all, I remember the numbers and to this day they remain important." For the first time Nimeuh's voice changes, the anger is clear and reminded Morgana of the first rumble of thunder before a huge storm.

"You've changed Nimeuh," said Morgause, looking at the witch carefully, still remaining fearless. "Didn't you once poison the well of Camelot to take revenge on all those who had been killed in the purge? You did not care for numbers then."

"I cannot deny that," Nimeuh admitted, her voice calm once more, "but death changes you, Morgause. I have had plenty of time to think about my decisions and mistakes in my life, and I have decided that I no longer wish for vengeance, for it has brought nothing but my destruction. If you are not careful it will do the same to you," she glanced from Morgause to Morgana as she said this. "And yet here you are, requesting my help for yet more revenge. What makes you think it will bring you what you desire?"

"We have all made mistakes and failed in our aims," Morgause admitted, "and that is why you are here. With you, we cannot fail, the three of us are more powerful than anyone or anything in Camelot, they will not be able to stop us. And once we have cast this spell Camelot will be too busy tearing itself apart to defend itself. We will take revenge once and for all for all our brothers and sisters who were murdered in the Great Purge and we will make sure to hurt only those who have made us suffer."

There was a pause. Nimeuh paced up and down a little while examining the two witches standing in front of her, determined for vengeance as she once was, what felt like so long ago. Would they keep their word? Could they really succeed? She made her decision.

"It still does cause me grief to see such a bitter King still on the throne of Camelot." She confessed as she stopped pacing. "Since you swear no innocent living souls will be hurt I will help you, just this once, in the name of all those who cannot stand here today. But there will be a price, I will not make this so easy for you, for once I will give the other side a chance too. I no longer want to be part of this war, so I will give both sides a weapon. Think of it as your payment for dragging me into a world I do not belong."

Morgause looked pleased with this answer, but Morgana still felt uneasy. What was the price? Nimueh was a powerful witch who now had the wrath of the dead, she could have anything planned. However it seemed that this was the best response they were going to get from her, they had worked so hard on this for so long, they would have to take it.

"So, what are you planning that is so important you'd be willing to awake someone from the dead to fulfil it?" Nimueh asked.

"We want to give someone the same curse as we have, let them feel what it is like to be persecuted because of something they cannot help, something they cannot control." Morgause explained, she tried to keep her voice steady but there was an excitement building up in it as she spoke. Finally their plan could be brought into action. "We want to make a spell so powerful that the only way of escaping it is death itself. And while they live we want to watch them burn."

Nimueh considered Morgause's words carefully, gazing at the ground. The grass was heavy with dew, but her bare feet felt nothing. "An interesting idea. And who do you hope to place this curse upon?"

"Arthur Pendragon."