"Don't listen to a word I say
The screams all sound the same.

Though the truth may vary
this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore"

The trick about being a ghost is learning to accept life alone. She had never gone back to Camelot, was never in Arthur Pendragon's territory, not since she revealed herself to Merlin. She would never know how long he lived after that, she would never know the damage of her selfish actions. Once it may have felt as though she was trying to help Merlin but in hindsight he probably didn't need her at all. He'd been alright for the years that she'd been gone.

Most nights Morgana found herself screaming at thoughts of Merlin's demise. Sometimes when she was careless children and young adults would see her floating in the mists of their gardens and fields. She heard rumors go around the lands that she was haunting them. Some stories reflected a revenge on bandits that had killed her. Others said she was waiting for her one true love to find her and take his life. Those ones were the closest to the real thing. Her soul lingered waiting for the man she loved more than herself. But she didn't expect him to kill himself. She just waited until his role in the Pendragon kingdom was finished.

It was weeks since she'd last been spotted by someone. She found herself dancing in the moonlight to music that didn't exist. She used to dance frivolously at parties, celebrations, and festivals back in Camelot when she was the simple and beloved Lady Morgana. The fun she had had then was unimaginable to the terrors and bore she'd experience in the years to follow. For the first time in her limbo life she wished that she'd be able to finally die and be rid of the world. It was difficult to occupy herself; it was difficult waiting for Merlin. She waited for a man she may never see again.

When Morgana's mind drifted back to her surroundings she discovered she had entered unconsciously back into Arthur's territory. She was near Ealdor which prompted her to go check on the people there. Merlin's mother had passed on at some point but Morgana never knew when exactly it was, and Merlin had never really been affected by it extensively. In her age it was expected, and after the death's he'd been through in his prosperous life his strength was unyielding.

There was a statue of Merlin in the town square. Ealdor had grown much larger since she'd been there last. Fields were twice the size they used to be. There were more tools and nicer homes. It really had gotten the help from Camelot's King that it needed. Morgana's lips curled into a smile. It was a warm feeling she got being in a place where Merlin's influence was presence. She went off into the woods to figuratively rest.

Her transparent legs were floating to and fro in the water. She flashed back to the horrible day she had to watch Merlin crumble at the realization of her death. She'd floated through a river into a lake and down a waterfall. For years he would sit at the top of the waterfall forcing himself to relive the pain of losing her. She hated seeing him that way even though it was flattering to know she was never forgotten. The sadness she always felt in his absence was rising again. She wondered if it was possible to turn from a ghost into a banshee.

"Morgana."

The name being spoken was strange. She didn't even register it being spoken until the second time it was whispered.

"Morgana." She twisted her malleable body in circles trying to identify the one who called her name. The King and Queen were old and likely never left that castle. They had no children, surprisingly, and were mulling over the decisions of whom would take over as King when Arthur died. It wouldn't be either of them. There were few people left alive that would remember who she was simply by looking at her. Those were would have no reason to be travelling to Ealdor…all except…

"Merlin." She concluded. However, she could not find the source of the calls. He would be old and unable to move quickly. She started rushing through the trees and brush trying to find him but there was no sign of him. It was killing her that she couldn't find the one calling her name, someone she was sure would be Merlin.

Morgana's lip quivered in hatred as she found herself dependent on finding Merlin. This was not what she'd promised herself years ago when she left Camelot. There was not supposed to be anything here for her anymore. Merlin had been punished for her selfishness and in order to redeem those acts she had to leave. She found her way back and now she was frantic in identifying a voice that might have just been her imagination.

"Morgana." There it was again. She turned one last time to see if she had missed something that was right in front of her the entire time. Of course she had. Another ghost was wading in the water where she'd been sitting before. A quick burst of self-induced wind carried her gaseous mass towards the young man that looked so very familiar.

"Merlin." His goofy smile was just as handsome as it had ever been when he was alive. The pushed their hands together and it was though they were human again. A heat was present between them. The happiness was obvious on both faces of the somewhat living dead. Morgana should have known it was Merlin's joke hiding from her and making her crazy.

"How dare you do that to me, Merlin." Morgana hummed at her lover. Merlin simply continued to smile at her.

"You're one to talk, aren't you? Considering I was mentally insane for a few months so long ago." Morgana knew to what he referred. She shook her head at him. It was nothing in comparison, that much was sure. She leaned in and hugged him. Finally they were together again. Regardless of the stories and potential outcomes for the nonsense she'd been filling her sorrowful days with everything came together nicely.

"I've missed you so much." Morgana's throat tightened as if she could cry still. Her hands reached up and cupped Merlin's cheeks. The trees were easily defined through his body but to her it didn't matter. If love could exist in the afterlife this magnificently the opacity of either person didn't matter, not either of them. Merlin's chin sunk down on its own accord and connected his lips to hers. For the first time since they were just still teetering on the line of youth they could kiss each other once again. Words could not describe the moment.

That's a wrap!

A/N: I didn't include that last phrases of the song because it was repeated phrase. In the end this seemed like the perfect place to end the story. I love this song and it touches me in an indescribable way. For months I've been listening to it trying to figure out what it kept reminding me of and one day after reading a Mergana the song came on and it clicked. Everything about the mood of the song and dynamic in these characters made sense and I knew that a song fic for them was in order. I hope I did some level of justice for you guys. Thanks so much for reading!