Hello all, I'm back again!
Well, I thought after finishing Recovering Magic that there was more story to be told and certainly some of seemed to agree so here I am. This story picks up just where Morgana takes her place as Queen of Camelot after Morgause was killed by Uther. I hope you enjoy it, let me know if you think it's going in the right direction or not.
If you haven't read my previous story Recovering Magic then I would maybe suggest reading that first as it will help this new story to make sense.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters, this story is for entertainment purposes only (mainly my own, it has to be said!) and I make no profit from it.
Prologue
Morgana sighed as she stared blankly out of her bedroom window, the glass smeared and grubby through a lack of habitation. After the young witch had disappeared with Morgause Uther had seen no reason to have the girl's chambers maintained. On the other side of the window there was much activity in the square with knights from all over the country arriving, their horse's hooves clip-clopping over the stone while down in the lower town traders and druids alike were filtering through the city gates, hoping to sell their wares to the increased passing traffic that the evening's festivities would bring. The whole of Camelot was brimming with excitement but it was all of it meaningless. Nothing mattered now that she had lost everything in the fight to gain everything. She had lost the only one she had ever loved. The only one, who in-truth, had ever loved her in return. A sudden creak of the door brought her back to reality and the now familiar Cornish accent floated across the room;
"Sorry My Lady, didn't mean to startle you, just came to see how you were".
Isilda had made a promise to Morgause that she would watch over the new Lady of the Lake, vowing to guide her through the no-doubt daunting journey she was embarking on. She had the countenance of a gentle old lady but the young woman was well aware that under the meek exterior a wealth of power lurked within. The old priestess brought her hands to the girls shoulders.
"I know it is easy to say, my darling girl but you must not fear. To be a queen you will have your advisers here in court to assist you and as High Priestess...well, Morgause trained you well. She knew you were ready and she would not have allowed you to go through with this if she believed otherwise. Now you must have the belief in yourself. She did...and so do I."
Isilda's wrinkled smile was warm and Morgana imagined that if she had ever had a grandmother it would feel something like this.
That evening there was to be a great feast in the hall, every region of Britannia would be represented by various lords and magnates, there to celebrate the up-and-coming coronation. Whether or not the different regents would accept the rule of the new queen over that of a king remained to be seen but they had little choice considering that the ancient ideal of power passing down the maternal line was once prevalent in this land. There was no legitimate reason why Morgana should not have been queen. Uther had named her his rightful successor, albeit at the point of a sword and Arthur had disappeared to God only knew where...
Chapter One
It had been three months since Morgana was crowned Queen of Camelot. Since that day with its cheering crowds and ridiculously lengthy ceremonies she had spent little time in her new kingdom, preferring instead to live in her home on the ancient Isle of Avalon, somehow feeling more herself here, more of the person she had become while living under Morgause's strict tutelage. She was all too aware that sooner or later she would have to make the arduous ride back to the city but the loss within her heart still felt too great to reconcile in a place that now felt as foreign to her as Rome or Gaul would. It was another cold and windy night with the rain battering down on the thatched roof above her head that she sat staring into the mirror that had brought her the vision of Morgause before she had been installed Lady of Avalon just as she had many nights previous begging her sister to visit her once more. The longer she remained ensconced in her place beside the hearth the more the emotion built inside her until once again it came exploding outward. With her head bowed and the tears fleeing from her eyes a gentle hand slid up her back and across thin shoulders, attempting to still the shivering form. Her body continued its racking sobs until the warm sensation filtered through the heavy cloak to her flesh underneath. She wasn't startled as she looked up but she was surprised at the beautiful woman looking back at her in the reflection. She was a woman of about thirty or so, long blonde locks just like Morgause but with the same penetrating eyes and alabaster skin as Morgana herself bore. Instant recognition came despite the fact that she had not laid eyes on that kind face since she was a babe in arms. The lady moved around to sit beside a Morgana who simply stared in awe;
"Mother!"
"Yes, my darling girl" came the soft reply. "I am sorry to disappoint you," she continued with a knowing smile; "I know you were hoping to see your sister sitting here next to you but she will not be able to come for some time."
Morgana's instant reaction was one of panic...have I done something wrong? Have I somehow got Morgause in trouble?but her question was carefully measured;
"But why mother? Is something wrong?"
Viviane tucked a stray strand of black hair back behind her daughter's ear before running her thumb gently across the young woman's cheek, wiping away a few escaped tears.
"No sweetheart but it took much energy for her to come to you as she did before. Energy that she did not have to spare. You must understand Morgana, she loves you deeply and she would appear before you every night if she could but...the way that she, well, came to us ...it will take her much time to recover though she hates being forced into such a state of weakness."
Morgana could not help the slight chuckle that bubbled up from her throat as she thought of a Morgause on the other side of the veil stubbornly dashing about and trying to give orders while all the time being told to take it easy. She was glad her sister had not changed apparently although...
"Is she happy mother?"
"She is my child, though it is you who concerns us both for the moment"
The look of guilt that abruptly crossed the young woman's face told Viviane all she needed to know.
"You know that you must return to public duty, you cannot hide here forever. The world needs you to perform the tasks in front of you."
The thought suddenly crossed Morgana's mind that she had been a less than grateful host;
"I am glad to see you mother, I wish I could have seen you somehow before. I have missed having you in my life...oh so very much!"
The older woman made no attempt to hide the grin that crept its way across her face but it did not change the fact that Morgana could little afford to become a hermit with the way things were.
"Morgana, that was a very good try but it does not alter the fact that you must perform your duty. Listen to your mother...and if you do not then I shall have no choice but to send your sister after you and she will be far less diplomatic than I as you well know!"
"I do not know if I can do what it is you ask of me Mother..."
Her voice was so small and Viviane was a gentle soul in herself. She had only sympathy for her daughter's position and she wanted nothing more than to take her away from it all and give her the peace and comfort the young woman craved but it was not to be;
"We none of us know what we will be expected of us in this life but you are not without support. You have all the support of those of us on the other side of the veil and you will find allies along your way on this side. Now my daughter I must leave you but I shall return and so shall your sister when she is ready."
Viviane placed the faintest whisper of a kiss on the young woman's head and Morgana was alone once again. The crackle of the fire the only sound above her own breathing.
At the same time somewhere on the other side of the country the former Crowned Prince of Camelot found himself consoled by the man who had been his servant and the woman who would be his love. Just what did the future hold? When he had first arrived at this farmstead on what seemed like the ends of the Earth he had been afraid, rejected as though his whole world had been turned upside down but now it occurred to him that there were endless possibilities opening up before him. A chance to start again and build anew but what would he do with it all...?
Join me for Chapter Two perhaps?