So sorry for the delay! My husband and I have been hosting people for almost a month and our revolving front door is finally shut! Thank you to those who are reading and who are reviewing. Reviews warm my heart; thank you also to those who follow and favorite.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin BBC

Kaia set Gwen's letter down with a small smile. How many times had she read these letters from her friends in the past weeks? She obsessed over every word, imagined her friends speaking directly to her and crying for their pain. It had even led her to ask Mordred to scry for them, giving her a view of dancing at what was clearly a wedding. Kaia so desperately wished that she could have been there to seen Gwen marry the man she's heard so much about, but the thought of ruining their wedding terrified her. Staying away was the better option, no matter how much she wished it wasn't so. The people around her were safer and she wasn't being hunted like an animal. The same mantra had kept her alive.

Her mantra, and of course, Mordred.

At first, living in isolation had been horrible for Kaia. The only thing that made it bearable was the security that was Mordred, who would hold her hand during her crying spells and hunt for food to provide for her. She took care of him as one would a child, which helped soothe the ache in her heart. They did magic together, built the Isle together, and spoke of everything they could possibly imagine. When the days were long and she simply needed them to pass, Mordred learned how to speak up and keep conversation flowing for her.

She gave him all the love in the world, something he wasn't used to, and he gave her a purpose and friend. Their relationship was more like mother and son than like friends, but neither seemed to mind, even when he accidentally called her "Mother" on occasion.

Kaia sighed aloud, wrapping her shawl more tightly around her shoulders as she relaxed in her bed. Now that the Isle was completed, she didn't have much to do besides sit in bed and read her letters or books. Sometimes she liked to knit, but allowing herself to think of her old friends was a way she coped. It's possible it was unhealthy. When she closed her mind and imagined her lover beside her, however, it wasn't something that bothered her.

Arthur. Her prince. In Merlin and Morgana's letters, they mentioned how he grew in wisdom and kindness. She was glad he was moving on, not letting her die in vain, but her heart always clenched when she allowed herself to remember him. Arthur was Kaia's once and future love. No part of her would let him go, her heart always yearning for his strong arms and his sincere love. He was a good man with a good heart and she craved to see him becoming who she truly knew he could be.

There were smaller ways in which she missed him. When she walked through the forest, she thought of his search for peace among the trees. If she was feeling nostalgic and saw a simple sword, she thought of his signature move and how elegant he was in battle. Kaia remembered his fondness for grapes, the most superior fruit in all the world—at least, according to him. The way he said Merlin's name in exasperation, yet with the smallest of smiles, or how the two always threw things at each other while the girls laughed and cheered on their respective siblings (though they hadn't known about Arthur and Morgana then, had they?).

Kaia missed the mindless jokes and evenings spent in Morgana's chambers, the five of them laughing about nothing that mattered and enjoying being young.

All of it was gone now.

Before her thoughts went much farther, Mordred knocked at her door. Kaia called for him to enter, finding him on the other side in a simple grey tunic and black breeches that she'd made him when he first started growing. "You didn't work in the garden today."

"I suppose I forgot," Kaia smiled gently. "I'm sorry that there were no peas at dinner. I know they're your favorite."

"Don't tease," Mordred's face crinkled. "I was much happier with the beans."

Kaia chuckled, rising from the bed. "Come. Let's walk through the lower buildings, the sunset lights up the isle so well."

"Of course," he replied, holding out an arm. She smiled gratefully and took it. Mordred spent the last few days with the druid's, planning to begin moving people. Kaia hadn't yet thought of where she would go when they relocated, but she knew that the decision needed to be made soon. It would only be safe for so long...

She distracted herself by taking in the castle around her, heart was swollen with pride. What was once open to the sky and crumbling around them was now a closed corridor of stone and stained glass windows. Kaia's handcrafted windows brought in a certain light, warming the castle with its colors that contrasted to the dark stone of its walls. She noted that the building was starkly different than Camelot's white walls and marble corridors, yet it shone with the same light and power. Her and Mordred's magic was in the very foundation of the stones.

"Malakaia," Mordred said softly as they passed through a spacious and open breezeway. "Do you see that?"

Kaia followed his line of sight. Approaching the isle were horses, four of them and all carrying people. Kaia was shocked. Mordred's magical defenses kept any threat out of the immediate area, and nobody had ever really looked here for them. Knowing that it obviously wasn't a threat, Kaia did something she hadn't in four years—let her mental defenses down.

And there, pressing on her conscious, was Morgana.

Kaia almost crumbled with emotion. Letting go of Mordred, her legs moved as fast as she could manage. She ran down the breezeway and through the corridors she herself had built. Passing through the ceremonial hall, Kaia's bare feet pounded painfully against stone floors, but she did not care. It was odd to feel the tears that she hadn't cried in over a year streaming down her face again. Because there, at the end of the train of thought, was Morgana.

She met her sister at the bridge over the lake, connecting the Isle to the forest around it. Morgana had abandoned the horse and she too was running at full speed, armor clad and pure joy written on her face. Kaia couldn't imagine that they were there for a good reason—Morgana couldn't have found her alive without something prompting her—but in those moments, it didn't matter. The friends were reunited once more in a clashing hug that resulted in two sobs of simultaneously laughter.

"I can't believe you're here," Kaia cried, holding tightly to her friend. "I'm so sorry, Morgana, for everything."

"Merlin told me that night what you'd done," Morgana replied with her own tears. "How the only way to stop Morgause was to pretend to threaten me. I know I was never in any danger, you did what must be done."

"I didn't want to leave," Kaia swore, looking Morgana in the eye now. Brown met green in mutual joy, yet sorrow. "But I refuse to be killed or hunted for having magic, Uther had to think...you all had to think..."

"I can't believe you survived," Morgana managed to say. She pulled Kaia close again. "I'm so glad you're here."

Over Morgana's shoulder, Kaia spotted another of her friends dressed in simple leggings and a tunic, yet looking beautiful as ever. "Gwen!"

Morgana let go so that Kaia could run to Gwen. They embraced tightly, both crying anew and saying their apologies and thankfulness for the other's well-being. Kaia knew she'd been living a tiring and lonely existence, but simply having her two dearest friends returned to her filled a warmth in her chest that she could hardly comprehend. "Gwen, look at you! When did the wedding end? Are you well?"

"Three days ago," Gwen wiped her own tears away. "And yes, I'm well. Better now you're here."

"Oh, how I missed you." Kaia pulled her into another tight hug. "There's nobody quite like you, Gwen."

They pulled apart as three men approached. One of them was Mordred, coming from behind Kaia with conflicting emotions very clear on his face. "Sanare, what is this?"

"I'm not sure, darling," Kaia wiped her face and straightened her shoulders again. A single sniff and wave of her hand cleared her nasal passages and allowed her to feel almost normal. Looking to Morgana, she asked how they knew she was alive. Morgana explained what Merlin did with the letters—Kaia knew he had enchanted them to find her if she was alive, just as his letter said. Morgana had been nostalgic and wanted one last time to seek Kaia's magic and she'd found it through Mordred.

"Yet what brought you to the Isle in armor? And without my brother?"

"Morgause," Morgana said gravely. "She's...oh Kaia. She's taken Merlin and Arthur."

Kaia's blood went cold. She reached for Mordred's arm, which she clasped in her own hands and dug her nails into. Mordred did not flinch once. "Merlin hasn't contacted you?"

"I can't reach him," Morgana sighed, hanging her head. "When I call for him, there's nothing."

Ignoring the drop of her stomach, Kaia cleared her throat. "I see. Do we know where they are?"

"I suspect in Cenred's castle, but there's no true way to tell without scrying for them," Morgana said. "I couldn't do it while surrounded by Knights of Camelot."

"Then come quickly," Kaia said, taking her friends hand. "Mordred has been steadily bringing supplies over the years, the Druids have been providing us with everything."

Morgana nodded. She motioned to the two men Kaia did not know, a shorter man with scruff and a swagger in his lean, followed by a second man who held himself like a knight despite peasant clothing. "Meet our newest friends. This is Gwaine, self-proclaimed protector of the Pendragon heirs, and this is Lancelot, noble of heart and husband of Gwen."

"Welcome to the Isle of the Blessed," Kaia said warmly. "I'm sure you're all hungry. Mordred?"

Mordred nodded, though he eyed the two men warily. They small company turned, Gwaine and Lancelot leading the horses to the stables Mordred showed them. While the others went towards the kitchen, Kaia led Morgana to her own chambers. The entire walk was spent with Morgana wordlessly drinking in the castle around her, eyes wide with admiration at the sight of the firm structures and craftsmanship.

"Most of it was done by magic," Kaia said softly. "The books Mordred brought from the Druids helped with the architecture spells. He is very talented at it."

"His magic is peculiar," Morgana whispered. "There isn't much he can't do."

"He's brilliant," Kaia said fondly.

"Why did you not at least tell us you were alive through him? I've missed him as well."

"He ventures into the world beyond this island," she answered. "He would be easy for you to find, to follow here and to endanger yourself."

"It would have been worth it."

"Do you think Morgause was not watching you? She needed to believe I was dead as well."

"I missed you, that's all," Morgana told her, stopping right outside Kaia's chambers. "Everything was empty."

"You had Merlin and Gwen."

"It's not the same and you know this," Morgana's eyes flashed. "Our bond was shut off and you were missing from my life. I grieved you."

Kaia drew her friend into a hug. They stood like that for a long moment, taking the time to let their bond reform. It was like it was testing the boundaries again, sensing each other's life forces and magical auras. Kaia found it reassuring to feel magically connected once more to someone who wasn't Mordred—

Her thoughts were cut off by the sense of another life. Kaia pulled back with a frown, eyes going over Morgana's form. Morgana herself frowned. "What is it, Kaia?"

"Another life force..." Kaia trailed off. The only thing that made sense to her was that Morgana was with child, so she focused in on her womb and let her eyes flash gold to see Morgana's deep red aura more clearly. There, in her womb, was a shining white aura that pulsed with the smallest of light. "Morgana!"

"What's the matter?" Morgana asked, gripping Kaia's shoulder. "What life force?"

"You're with child," Kaia said in almost a whisper. "I don't know how far exactly, but it's there!"

Morgana stared with wide eyes at Kaia, a single hand coming to rest over her lower stomach. "A baby? I'm going to have a baby?"

Kaia watched her friend's eyes fill with tears as her shoulders hunched. "Kaia—we have to get Merlin back. I won't...I can't do this without him."

"I know, sister," Kaia whispered, taking her hand again. "Come. I have everything you need."

Morgana's eyebrow furrowed.

"Mordred's been helping me keep an eye on you," Kaia explained as they walked into her rooms. They passed the sitting room and dining chamber, straight into her bed chamber that harbored a desk. On that desk were maps, a scrying crystal, and a large stone basin still filled with water. Morgana took no time in picking up the crystal and letting her hand hover over the map. Her eyes flashed gold.

While swirling the crystal, Morgana said a small enchantment that brought colors to the water.

"Focus on your energy, Morgana," Kaia said softly, standing across from her and letting power wash over her voice. "Nothing else exists aside from your powers, or the father of your child and your brother."

Merlin, my brother.

Arthur, my lover.

The image in the water cleared. Merlin and Arthur were in what appeared to be some sort of large and circular stone chamber, arms held up to a wall by chains. They sat across from each other, Merlin in his usual get up and Arthur in night pants and shirt. The sight tore at Kaia, even as she heard the crystal hit the map with a small 'thud.' She couldn't look anywhere except Arthur's dirtied and beaten appearance, his face contorted in anger as a multitude of stones slid aside and Morgause stepped through.

"You're my sister," he seethed immediately. "Why do you hate me?"

"Because you ruined everything!" Morgause screeched angrily, a hand coming forward to grasp Arthur's face. Her nails dug sharply into his skin. "Uther wanted a perfect, legitimate son by that woman Ygraine! She was barren and my mother was fertile and he should have picked her. I could have been queen. I should be queen! I am Uther's eldest."

"Yet I am his son," Arthur returned. "I am his legitimate child, the throne is passed through men. I am Uther's heir."

"And your creation is the reason I was supposed to be killed in the first place. You are the reason my people are persecuted...so it is, ironically, that through your bloodline that Uther will die and that I will put a proper king on the throne."

"There is no other heir," Arthur frowned. "And I have no son or daughter."

An evil smile spread across Morgause's face. "Or so you believe."

And the sorceress turned and left.

)-(

"You do not think...Kaia...you do not think Morgana's child is Arthur's?"

"Absolutely not!" Kaia answered, looking at her friends earnestly. "It's only...I saw her pregnancy and then Morgause implied that Arthur had an heir. It's all strange timing."

"I see," Gwen nodded. "It's peculiar, of course, but I don't pretend to understand magic. This is all just so strange."

"I know," Kaia sighed. She looked at Morgana's sleeping figure on her own bed. The woman had eaten under Kaia's demand and then fallen asleep in one of the chambers Kaia specifically designed for her friend and brother. Kaia and Gwen each sat curled up on Kaia's couch. "What if Morgause did something to her?"

"I should hope not," Gwen shook her head. "And if we all make it out of this, what will Morgana do? If Uther knew she was having a baby, he'd kill the father and hide her until the baby was born, then kill the baby. She's a princess, she can't be illegitimately pregnant!"

"And if he discovered she wed Merlin..."

"The outcomes are varied and all deadly."

Kaia hung her head. "What a mess things have become so quickly."

"Hey," Gwen said softly, poking Kaia's cheek. "Half of that mess is wiped away because we've got you back, for however long we can."

"Yes," Kaia smiled sadly. "I suppose that is a plus side. Come, midnight is near. We need to travel quickly if we're going to ensure the survival of my brother."

"Not Arthur?"

"However angry she is, Morgause counts family for something. Arthur is safer than Merlin as of now."

"I see. I'll get the boys."

Kaia moved to the bed when Gwen left. She gently coaxed Morgana awake. The princess opened her eyes slowly, gathering her thoughts as she sat up with hesitance.

"I haven't slept that well in weeks," Morgana stretched. For the first time, Kaia noticed Morgana's wrist did not hold her bracelet. The circles under her eyes earlier hadn't just been from Merlin and Arthur's kidnapping—she hadn't been sleeping.

Morgana noticed her staring. "It broke, awhile back. Merlin thinks my magic was trying to send me an important vision and it sort of...cracked outwardly."

"Have you seen anything important as of late?"

"Only what I used to always see—Camelot falling and Arthur's death."

"Well," Kaia's throat tightened. "We certainly won't let that happen. We just need to save the men and then we can figure out Morgause's plan. One step at a time." She figured that would be easy for Morgana; her mission was very goal oriented at the moment. Saving Arthur and Merlin were top priority.

While Morgana switched from the borrowed dress back into her armor, Kaia wore a pair of leggings and a fitted armor and tunic. It was the nicest thing she owned—Mordred had given it to her on her birthday, saying he'd gotten one of the Druids to make it for her. The armor wasn't very heavy duty; only a long leather vest that laced up the front and reached her mid-thigh. Under it she wore a long-sleeved tunic, brown breeches, and boots. It was so different than the flowing peasant dresses she'd been wearing that she almost felt out of place.

War was something she'd never wished to be involved in.

They met the others down in the stables. There wasn't much there, as Kaia and Mordred had no horses, but it the horses from Camelot had been watered, fed apples and what little hay there was, and re-saddled after a rest. Kaia took no time in mounting the horse behind Morgana, wrapping two arms around her friend. She heard Morgana's loose thought. Whatever happens, protect my child.

Of course, Kaia thought back.

They set out at a rapid pace. Kaia glanced longingly back at the castle that had been her home for the past four years. Between its isolation and Mordred's protection, she hadn't needed to worry about anything. The boy provided for her, the isle's magic kept her sane, and the knowledge that her family was safe soothed away her loneliness. Now she was leaving because her family wasn't safe and a small part of her felt...hollow.

We will be back one day, Sanare.

Kaia glanced at Mordred as they exited the perimeters of the safety enchantments. He wasn't looking at her, but she knew the thought was from him and that it was meant to reassure her, just as it had only a few months prior. He'd turned out right then, hadn't he?

"There," Mordred said proudly. "You can see them, safe and well."

Kaia stared down into the bowl, tears leaking slowly from her eyes. Arthur and Gwaine fought with wooden swords in an open field, while Gwen sat with Lancelot, Merlin, and Morgana on a picnic blanket. She giggled when Gwaine almost disarmed Arthur, angering the prince. It was typical of Arthur to have his pride hurt by the simple fact of being bested in sword fighting. The others laughed at the increased vigor of his exercise while Kaia felt a small giggle leave her lips.

"I miss them," she whispered, touching the water slightly. "Sometimes, all I can think about is how much it hurts to be away."

"I understand," Mordred touched her shoulder. "But don't worry. We will be back one day, Sanare, and you will be queen. The world will be right."

Kaia sighed to herself. Yes. We will be back one day.