I decided to go ahead and post the next chapter, so you weren't just left with the prologue!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Sister,

Today marks four years since you've gone. Gaius thinks it's time for us to push forward a bit more, to move on. We've waited, thinking that it could be possible that our tracking will work and that we'll find you, but we can't.

So, Gwen suggested letters. We write to you, catch you up on our lives, and then we burn them. I don't know if it will work, but I thought I might seek some closure.

Where to begin?

Uther threatened me after you left, but your plea of forgiveness seemed to be enough to convince him that you were hiding your powers from me. He had me under excessive watch for three years. I had to be more careful than ever about my magic. When Morgause sent threat after threat, it seemed impossible. Morgana was helpful, of course, but our magic is so different that defending Camelot was increasingly difficult until the last year when the watchful eye finally closed.

Speaking of difficulties: the dragon. After you'd died, he demanded his release. I was so angry with Uther that I did something you'd be so disappointed in—I let the dragon free. He reigned terror on Camelot, destroyed buildings and killed so many people. It was horrific and it was solely my fault. Even after I used the powers that Father passed on to me, Arthur was angry enough that he didn't speak to me for weeks.

But, there's no reason to speak of difficulties. I will tell you of friends.

Arthur and I went to a pub one day on return from a hunting trip. In that bar, we got into a bit of a squabble with two men. Arthur's life was saved by a drunkard named Gwaine. He journeyed back to Camelot with us, flirting with Gwen immediately and setting his sight on Jessa from the castle. Long story made incredibly short, those bandits came for revenge and Gwaine saved Arthur's life again in a tournament. The men were disguised as nobles, though, so Uther predictably exiled Gwaine from the kingdom.

Well, about three months ago, we were on our way to Alined's kingdom when a gang of bandits attacked the king and Arthur. I couldn't use magic in front of the king. We lucked out, though. Gwaine and Lancelot (who Gwaine had met in Mercia and become friends with over their common exile) suddenly appeared, fighting them off and protecting an injured Arthur. Uther was moved by the display of loyalty despite them both being exiled by him and immediately demanded they keep them company. His exact words were "If you can manage to keep us safe until we return to Camelot, you will be pardoned."

So they've returned to Camelot! While Gwaine has been spending his time with horses, Lancelot began his work in the forge with—you'll never guess—Elyan, Gwen's brother!

It's mad, isn't it?

But I'll let her tell you about how that went on. Gaius sends his love. He's getting up there in age and needs a new apprentice, but nobody matches up to you. Then again, nobody has your talent. Gwen and Morgana do their best to keep him company and help around the chambers, but you know Gaius. He's rather set in his ways and has taken to doing everything he can by himself. The rest, I do.

My duties for Arthur have increased. With you gone, he's grown rather dependent on me. Not that he'd ever admit that, of course, as he's much too manly. Your heart remains with him, I hope you know. You should see the decisions he makes and the company he keeps in peasants. The people adore him so much. When he goes into the streets, they actually cry his name. He works non-stop among them, in fields and in stables. When there is a famine, he does not eat until he (read, I) resolve it. When there is a drought, he does not drink. When the city is in danger, he personally goes into the lower towns and brings the people into the castle. It's quite moving, really. He's almost a different person. Between you, Morgana, Gwen, and I...I believe he's had a heart change. A six-year heart change, but a change nonetheless.

My magic grows every day. It struggled a bit at the beginning of the year because it's been mostly suppressed, but since Uther has let me leave his servant's side, it's been much easier to let it go and enjoy it. I've learned so many more spells, you wouldn't believe the amount of healing that there is in this book. You'd weep with joy.

I'll end with this, sister: I miss you. I feel the emptiness inside my mind, the loss of your presence in my life, with such a sting. On the anniversary of your death, I still cry pathetically. I feel as though I have failed you. I thought I could protect every person I loved, but I couldn't protect you, despite you being who I loved most almost my entire life. I could have done better, should have revealed myself to save you. I will forever miss our walks through the lower towns, cleaning the leech tank with you, your spells to heal my wounds, your smile to give this brother hope. You were the light of Camelot, sister, and I wish I could express how deep the ache in my heart goes.

Giving in to moving on,

Merlin

My dearest Kaia,

Where to begin on how much has happened while you've been gone? I suppose I'll start with the moment you were gone.

When the smoke cleared from your magic, Arthur looked deranged for only a moment. He was furious, lunging at Uther with a strength nobody had ever seen. Leon was able to hold him off, but only by knocking the wind out of him. Arthur knelt to the ground and his head ducked. It was so silent, everyone stared and waited. When he looked up, his eyes were confused and the tears running down his face had stopped. He looked around strangely, frowning up at Leon and Uther. "Father? What's going on?" Uther immediately determined that you must have died quickly, for the 'enchantment' you had over my brother was gone.

Your beloved put on quite a show.

Uther then ordered Merlin be taken away while Arthur was 'filled in' on the busy events. We go on a hunting trip to return to Morgause storming the castle! You threaten my life, Morgause reveals the truth behind her birth and mine, and Uther throws a dagger at you for your treason and use of magic.

He pretended to be so shocked he had to leaned against the pillar to refrain from collapsing.

Uther had Gaius and Merlin questioned heavily. It was weeks before they were both allowed to return to their jobs. Uther apologized, but determined their treatment 'necessary.' Truly, it was only my need for Gaius' sleeping draughts that prompted the release. When they left the dungeons, it took everything within me to not kill Uther for what he had done. I knew it was because of you and Merlin that I fought that demon, but it was almost unbearable.

This treatment I mentioned...I doubt Merlin told you, always wanting to protect you, even in death.

You won't believe how much time as passed since that last sentence was written. Finally admitting it on paper took a toll.

Well, my husband was tortured by Uther's cruelest men. He couldn't walk for weeks, couldn't work for months. Every night for nearly a year, we were apart. Gwen often stayed with me and we cried together, or simply lay and reminisce times with you.

How had we come to love you so much? I felt your bond ripped away from me when Uther pierced you with that dagger and I don't know that I'll ever forgive him for it. I want to, I do, but lately my anger is brewing. My bracelet is not working and my nightmares are coming back. I miss your peace, your gentle spirit, your healing voice. I miss watching you and Merlin tease, I miss Arthur's smile when you come near or the kindred spirit you found in Gwen.

I missed you during my coronation.

Yes, coronation. The first anniversary of your death was approaching, and Uther revealed that he'd been working to legitimize me as his daughter now that all his court knew the truth. I almost refused, but Gwen encouraged the work I could do for the people with more money and power as the crown princess of Camelot. So, I accepted, and a large party was thrown for my coronation. I've had to stay far away from Merlin, of course, lest Uther think another sibling has enchanted Pendragon royalty.

Truly, it's the best kept secret nowadays. Your brother is managing very well.

I love you, Kaia. You came into my life in a fragile time, and I'm unbelievably lucky to have had you alter my destiny so much. I will always miss you.

Your loving sister, Morgana.

My sweet friend,

How I've missed you so. Our daily lives used to be filled with so much time together. When you left, over half of my routine was gone. For some time, my days felt empty. I, however, must admit that I began my healing process a lot sooner than anyone else.

Sometime after you left, my brother returned!

It was very out of the blue, but he arrived back in Camelot to work with my father in the forge. It was very difficult to tell him father was dead, as he never got to come back and say goodbye, but it was wonderful to have him here. It took some time to 'bury the hatchet' as Merlin suggested. In the end though, he is my brother. He reopened the forge and works day and night. His craftsmanship is nearly as good as father's. He's taught Lancelot as well. Gwaine lives in the house with Lancelot and Elyan, though he's working as a stable hand. You should see the mess that the three of them make! I didn't know humans could produce such a smell. It's vastly different from how it was when we lived there, I tell you.

Gaius came and took your bookshelf to safety, just so you know. It sits directly next to his cot.

If you were here, I know that you would be pestering me for information on Lancelot. Yes, we are courting. The moment he came back, he asked Elyan for that right and my brother granted it. I believe that we will be married soon. It pains me that you can't be here for it.

I don't know what else I can say. Arthur misses you, though he wouldn't let anyone know anymore. At first, he always pretended to be angry that a witch had controlled him to make Uther think 'your spell died with you.' He attached to Merlin rather deeply again, relying on the man for everything. It's been easier with Morgana and I around, making sure he's being nurtured the way he needs, but it's not the same. Throwing himself into the people, Arthur rarely has time to think about missing you anymore. In the moment when he does, however...well, you know. My heart aches for him, and for you.

Missing my dearest friend,

Gwen

Sister,

I write again. I've placed a spell on these letters. If you are out there somewhere, if you truly survived the way my magic feels that you did, you will find these. Know that we love and miss you, and await when you can come home to us.

Hopefully,

Merlin

My queen,

It was not in vain.

)-(

Arthur was exhausted.

He watched his friends dance in the small field where Guinevere and Lancelot had exchanged vows with a mixture of bitterness and well wishes. Took them long enough, really.

"Lancelot? Gwaine? What are you two doing here?" Arthur gaped like a fish as he comprehended that two men from two entirely different times in his life now stood before him, having just saved he and his father from bandits.

"Saving you arse, apparently," Gwaine grinned, swiping at the last bandit. He fell in a heap, sword dropping away. "Excuse the language, Your Majesty."

Uther looked baffled. "You were both banished from Camelot! Why do you protect us?"

"Because Camelot needs it's leaders," Lancelot replied. "The castle is not far, we wish you luck."

"Nonsense!" Uther shot back. "You two are staying with us until we arrive at Odin's castle. I don't want to risk mine or Arthur's life."

And their lives are so little? Arthur thought bitterly.

"Do this, and you will be pardoned," Uther breathed. "If you manage to keep us alive before we return to Camelot, you will be pardoned."

Lancelot and Gwaine exchanged a look.

The former cleared his throat and bowed. "Most humble thanks, Your Majesty. This way if you will."

Arthur was pulled from his thoughts by a hand clamping on his shoulder. Gwaine stood next to the prince, a sloppy grin on his face. Since he'd begun working in the stables and spending every day caring for something, he'd become a bit more serious about life in general. It was only a small change from his previous drunken enjoyment, as he still called Arthur 'Princess' and ignored practically every protocol there was.

"Gwaine," Arthur said gruffly. "Found the mead, have we?"

"You were so kind to provide the good stuff," Gwaine smirked. He eyed Arthur. "You look morose, Princess. What's bothering you?"

"Nothing," Arthur shrugged his friend and self-proclaimed protector off his shoulder. "You smell disgusting; do you ever bathe?"

"Don't deflect," Gwaine pouted.

"Arthur!" Gwen called, raising a hand to beckon the prince. Arthur could admit that the only people who could get him to smile anymore were in fact Guinevere and Morgana. Morgana had a tougher approach that involved sword fighting and sibling bickering, while Guinevere reminded him of Malakaia in a comforting way. Her gentleness had brought him out of his chambers and to the wedding ceremony, where he enjoyed watching his two friends wed.

"Yes, Guinevere?" Arthur asked, sending the most sincere smile he could.

"Dance with me, please," she requested. "I've danced with all the others, even Leon. It's only fair."

"Come, I'm dancing with Morgana," Lancelot grinned, showing the hand of the three-years-crowned princess. "My wife needs a partner."

When a couple looked so joyous and pleading, how was Arthur to refuse?

He came forward and took Gwen's hand, bowing. His father would be highly displeased that he was dancing with a servant girl at her wedding. In all truth, it spurred Arthur to dance a little more enthusiastically. His relationship with his father had not improved beyond what Arthur needed Uther to think and he spent quite a lot of time silently rebelling against his cruel, secret-keeping father.

Bitterness would not do, Kaia's voice whispered in the back of his head.

He killed you, Arthur thought before he could help himself. I will be bitter until the end of my days.

He almost laughed at himself for speaking to her in his mind as if she were still alive and across the room, watching him in amusement.

Attempting to pass the smile off as fun at the dance, Arthur made eye contact with Guinevere and winked. "What a lucky bride."

"I think so," she giggled. "It means a lot that you brought him back to me."

"Lancelot chose to protect my father when he could have easily let him die," Arthur told her plainly. "He brought himself back by being as noble as he is."

"All he's ever wanted was to serve you," Gwen assured him as she was twirled. "And you've given him the opportunity."

"He will be the knight held in the most regard when I am king and can give him what he deserves. He's been marvelous since coming here, working for the forge and accompanying me when I need him and Merlin is unavailable. Hunting with Lancelot is one of my favorite past times."

"He enjoys the trips as well," Gwen smiled. "To have a friend in the prince is remarkable to him, and we are thankful."

"My friendship is not what needs to be thanked," Arthur informed her. The dance ended and they bowed to each other. "I've found that my life with all of you matters much more than being a prince."

He and Gwen took in the sight of Leon, his most loyal knight. Lancelot, his most noble friend. Elyan, his humble citizen and friend. Gwaine, his rambunctious protector. Morgana, his feisty sister. Merlin—his humble and loyal friend, advisor, protector, citizen, and brother. They were a strange sort of family, but one nonetheless and Arthur couldn't help but think he wouldn't have made it through the last four years without them all.

So much as changed. Yet I cannot move on.

It was true. There would be no queen who could imagine being a sliver of what Malakaia would have been beside him. His courtships to Princess Elaina (who'd been quite an adventure, it turned out—changelings were interesting creatures, and that's all he had to say about that) and Princess Mithian had fallen through, thankfully, due to both women knowing the marriage would never be a happy one. Neither wished to be second-best to a dead serving girl, and had wished Arthur well on his way with kind words of encouragement. He couldn't blame them. Half the time, he didn't want to be around himself.

His heart had died when a blade pierced that of his lover, and it hadn't come back. Truthfully, he was beginning to think it never would.

"Brother," Morgana called out, her hand reaching for him. Arthur accepted it and brought her close, kissing her cheek as he'd always done. The revelation of their common parentage had only brought them closer. He was proud that she could truly and finally call herself a princess of Camelot as she deserved and that Uther had claimed her in legitimacy. They'd taken to calling each other 'Brother' and 'Sister' rather than by their names.

"You look happy," Arthur commented. "Does Gwen's wedding remind you of your own?"

Her eyes dropped to the ring that she sadly wore on her right hand to hide the secret, a smile on her lips. "It does. Though the festivities..."

"Yes, this is quite different than you two creating a thunderstorm after dinner," Arthur chuckled. His thoughts flashed back to the place of Morgana and Merlin's marriage. "Have you ever thought of visiting the Isle again?"

"Of course," Morgana brushed it off. "But you know we can't. If Uther noticed a single sign of magic near our circle of friends, he'd kill us all."

She still refused to call Uther 'Father' in private.

"Yes, you are right," Arthur sighed. "I would have liked to go see Hunith and Balinor with you, but he would find out. I don't know how..."

"We both know he would," Morgana sighed. "And then he'd think you're still under an enchantment and he would waste all of Camelot's resources, tearing the whole of Albion apart to find her and k-kill her."

Neither could still say her name aloud.

Arthur looked down and saw her wrist free of the bracelet that had been a gift from Kaia. "Your bracelet. Where did it go?"

"It was broken last night," Morgana said sadly. "Gaius believes that it needed to be altered because my visions were fighting against it, trying to break free. It's as if my magic was trying to warn me of something and the bracelet could not take it. The metal clasp practically snapped in half and it flew across the room."

"Have you had a vision since it came off last night?" Arthur's brow furrowed. "Could Merlin make another one?"

"No and no," Morgana informed him. "It was made from her magic, Merlin doesn't have that type of power. As for my visions, I'm not sure. We shall see."

)-(

Gwen had been excused from her duties for the night so that she and Lancelot could enjoy their new little house in the lower towns. It was a cute thing, with flowers in the windows and a small garden beside a little gate. Morgana was excited for the newlywed couple. There was a bit of jealousy at their ability to have an open relationship, but her joy for them was still thriving. Gwen finally had the family she'd been longing for, complete with the dashing and heroic love of her life.

If only Kaia had been there.

Morgana had decided to wait for Merlin to undress and bathe, something that had become a nightly ritual for them. As she waited, she brushed her hair and hummed to herself. It was a tune that Kaia had always been fond of singing. It said "how lovely is the evening" to fit Kaia's optimistic personality.

I wonder...

Morgana looked over at the alcove of hers, hidden behind a curtain. In it sat her bowl and crystal for scrying. She hadn't touched it since Kaia gave her the bracelet, content to practice magic without the terrifying images her visions presented her with. Now, however, she wished to see if the strange pressing in her mind and magic had something to do with the peasant witch. Could she be alive? Merlin had always acted like he was sure she wasn't gone, but Morgana wasn't so certain. It was possible that it was only wishful thinking, as if Merlin was simply willing his sister to be alive.

There is only one way to find out, she thought. If Kaia was alive, Morgana would use the recently freed magic of her visions and search for her, putting as much energy as she could into it.

Stepping to the curtain quickly, she found the bowl still intact and her crystal laying beside it. With a wave of her hand and a flash of her eyes, clear water filled the bowl.

Holding the crystal by its chain, she began to circle it over the water. Her eyes flashed. Her breathing evened out. She concentrated on the enchantment being murmured at her lips, focusing solely on searching for Kaia's presence. More specifically, she searched for Sanare's presence. Morgana hoped that using magic to find her friend and reestablish the bond would lead her to Kaia—if she truly was alive.

Something blossomed in her chest as magic flared to life and an image appeared in the bowl.

"It's completed," a young man was speaking to Algain and the other Druid elders. His features were serene, but he was remarkably well grown and handsome. Morgana felt tears sting her eyes at the sight of him, realizing this was sweet Mordred, now close to sixteen or seventeen years of age. He looked strong, a sword at his hip and a determination set in his jaw.

"Four years was worth the wait," Algain clapped Mordred on the shoulder. "You've done well, my boy."

"How are the Druids to move so many people safely?" Mordred asked. "It's dangerous, Uther would think you were wishing to attack."

"We will take the year to do it," Hierte crossed her arms and looked at a map on the table before the elders. "It should go unnoticed if we travel by families. Before that, however, to establish more security, we will send those without families in groups of three. The cattle and what few horses we have can accompany them."

"Sanare will be waiting," Mordred nodded. "Though she will not remain at the Isle of the Blessed for long."

"And why is that? Uther and Prince Arthur believe her to be dead!"

"She still believes she is a danger to the people and she couldn't live with herself if you all got harmed because of her, or if the work we've put into the Isle was destroyed by the mad king."

Morgana felt her stomach drop to the floor and the image disappeared as she jumped back in surprise. Mordred had been with Kaia the whole time? On the Isle of the Blessed...the one place Uther would never venture.

"Brilliant," Morgana murmured to herself. "Bloody brilliant, Kaia. But so close to Camelot..."

What had they spoken of? It sounded like Druids were moving to the Isle of the Blessed. Was it fit for habitation? Had Mordred and Kaia done something?

So nearby...

I must tell Merlin.

Morgana hurried to her brother's chambers. She ignored the strange looks she received from various servants and guards as she rushed there, unable to hold the secret in for much longer. Kaia was alive, safe and secure at the restored Isle of the Blessed and she'd been with Mordred. They needed to see her, and Arthur...Arthur needed to see her.

Unfortunately, she burst into the prince's chambers right in time to see her brother and husband disappear into a whirl of eerily familiar purple smoke.