As always thank you for reading. Hope that you will like it and the direction the story is heading in. This chapter will I hope explain things and where the story is going next. In an interesting way hopefully.
Sorry again that it's taken a little longer to update. I found it harder than I thought to make sure I got in all of the information that I had too for everything to make sense. I will do my best to update once a week. However sometimes it just takes a little longer to get the chapter done. I don't want to rush to get a chapter out and have it end up being really bad and affect your enjoyment of the story. So sorry but it will happen again I'm sure, but I hope the wait will be worth it.
Morgana pulled her hands from Merlin as she froze watching the person that called them here approach. Merlin turned slowly, having to cover his eyes as the shimmering light momentary blinded him. Gradually the figure became clear, as their eyes adjusted to the light. The first thing that they noticed clearly was the brilliantly white dress with a long train that flowed like water over the wooden dock but showed no sign of dirt or dust. Like it hovered over the ground below or was protected from damage. It was not clear what caused it, but the dress shone when it caught the light. The light that was now brighter as they had left the mist. The long blond, almost white hair that was halfway close enough to touch the ground, was the next thing that came into focus. The features on her face were hard to make out. Her skin was as flawless and almost as pale as her hair. Her eyes were the only features that stood out. They were a vivid blue that once Merlin and Morgana pulled back their gaze almost perfectly matched the clear sky above them.
"I am queen Caelia ruler of Avalon." Her voice still had a lyrical tone, but it seemed more human now that they could associate it with a face. "I'm glad that you were able to find your way here."
"You didn't make it easy." Merlin said without thinking. About to try and smooth over his quip, Caelia spoke first silencing him.
"I'm sure you understand the importance of keeping those that reach this isle to a select few."
"Why have you called us here." Morgana asked stepping forward. All of the questions she had spun around her head, and she wanted answers.
"The great Emrys, most powerful warlock to have lived. The things you are capable of" Caelia said looking right at Merlin, meeting his eyes. "Morgan le fay. Last high priestess and seer. Such knowledge. Why would you not be called to the place of your kind."
It seemed that she was going to be as informative as the great dragon had been. Merlin was getting very tired of ancient beings pulling his strings like a puppet. Controlling everything, but never getting their own hands dirty. Avoiding giving a straight answer. Speaking in riddles and expecting him to put all the pieces together on his own. Was it really too much to expect a direct answer from a question he asked of people who asked so much of him. All of his frustration that had been slowly building up over the years was unleashed.
"We have travelled a long way because you called to us. Now we want answers, or we are going to leave."
It was a bluff he was sure Caelie knew that as did Morgana. She would not let them leave without finding out more or at least seeing more of the isle cloaked in mist from the rest of the world.
"Of course." Caelie said unfazed by the outburst. "All will be explained in time. This is not the place for such a discussion." She turned away from them and began to walk away. It seemed they were meant to follow her. With a shared look they moved to follow her.
As they did, they began to take in more of the isle of Avlon. The isle seemed to be on a slop that raised slowly up towards a hill at the center of it, that they couldn't see. Their eyes had now adjusted to the bright shimmer of the isle that had blinded them when they arrived. It still kept much of the isle hidden from their sight beyond a few hundred feet before them. What they could see were buildings, houses most likely. That were built with the same pale wood that the boat and dock had been made from. They had large, curved windows and doors. The framework for all of the buildings seemed to be whole trunks form the pale wood that made up the rest of the building material. Rather than doors there seemed to be a thin glimmering, almost transparent fabric hung over the doorways and windows. Though they did not see anyone else as the fallowed Caelia quietly, they did catch brief glimpses of movement behind the glimmering fabric. Surprisingly the feeling of being watched by unseen people did not create the feeling of uneasy that it normally would.
"How many people live here." Merlin asked breaking the silence.
Caelie looked back him before looking away again and answering. "That depends on what you mean by here."
Merlin couldn't help but roll his eyes. He had known he wouldn't get a straight answer from her. Morgana caught him and gave him a harsh glare. If he was not as surprised as he was to see the normally unfettered Morgana being led so easily by someone else, he would have bitten his tongue.
"Those watching us from behind a curtain." He specified.
"There are less than one hundred living on the shoreline now. You will meet them long enough. It was thought that meeting everyone all at once would be overwhelming." Caelia answered, as she gestured to the houses on their right.
"And beyond." Morgana asked.
Caelie now stopped and turned to fully face them. "There is no way of knowing. Too many to count."
Merlin and Morgana stopped now and squinted their eyes, trying to see more beyond the line of houses. Morgana after a few seconds of trying was able to see the faintest outline of what maybe trees but could also be more houses. Merlin was as with the mist unable to see much no matter how hard he squinted. He was forced to give up after a while as he began to feel a headache coming on. Blinking rapidly, he shook his head to clear his vision and refocus. Morgana seemed unaffected and kept trying to see more but could not make out anything further.
"Are they dead." Merlin asked the question both he and Morgana were thinking but reluctant to ask.
"Some." Was Caelia's simply reply before she turned from them and began to walk forward again.
"What of the others." Morgana asked as she tore her eyes away from the depths of the isle.
If she was growing irritated by all of these questions Caelie didn't show any sign of it. Her face remained as unaltered as it did when she first appeared before them, pale and flawless. Her eyes seemed to be the only place that she showed any emotion. Though you had to be able to push past how her eyes shinned when you first met them to see that. If any emotion showed it was a hint of humor. She seemed to be finding their many questions an endearing attribute rather than an irritating one. Merlin hoped that if they continued to question her as they were, they would not wear out her good humor.
"I do not need to tell either of you about the dangers that our kind face." They didn't have to say anything, their feelings showed clearly in their eyes. "This is a place of safely and protection."
"What of the druids." Morgana questioned, still not understanding.
"As I said we have a great tell to talk about, but not here. Somewhere more comfortable. It's just a little further."
Looking at Morgana now, Merlin saw that she was growing frustrated too with the evading of their direct questions. Still, she held her tongue. Saying nothing. When Caelia moved forward again Morgana followed as did Merlin.
When they had walked only a couple hundred feet forward Caelia stopped for a second and turned to her right. Where one of the larger houses stood. It had a high doorway with a small balcony above it. The shimmering figure turned and walked towards the door cloaked by the gleaming fabric. She pushed it to the side to pass through as if it was air. Merlin just managed to catch it before it swung back in place. Holding it out the way after he passed through it for Morgana.
Once they had entered the house they looked around. They were now standing in a hall that was larger than they would have expected from the facade of the house. on either side of them where doorways that led into further rooms. The doorways inside were draped with the same fabric as the front doors and windows. In the slightly dimmer light of the house, they could not see into the other rooms. What they could see was a set of three open doors before them that where not draped at other entrances were. It led out onto a small courtyard with a green floor. Caelie walked towards the courtyard, so they did as well.
In the center of the green grass was a small pool of bright blue water. As they moved to stand around it, they saw that rather than being shallow as they had expected it to be. It was not a pound at all, it was in fact a water tunnel. The water was so clear and bright they could look down and see a couple of hundred feet below but knew that it went on much further than they could see.
Caelia reached out her arm over the tunnel, moving it in small circles. She seemed to be stirring up something. Something that they could only see by the shimmering of whatever it was catching the light.
"Magic is in everything. It is all around us, always." Caelia said as she lowered her arm. "It comes from the very heart of the earth and sea."
"This is the source." Merlin said, slightly as a question.
Caelia nodded and gestured behind her, to the wall of the courtyard that was parallel with the entrance of the house. " The tunnel ends out there at the roots of a tree that has existed since the dawn of time." Looking beyond the wall they saw the faint outline of the top of a tree. Like everything else beyond the rows of house on the shore all they could really see was a faint shimmering cloak that covered everything. "Most people are able to feel the presence of magic to some degree. Exceptional people are able to bend that power to their will. People like you both." She looked back and forth between before looking again at the seemingly endless pool before her. "And those that choice to devote their lives to learn the skill."
"There are none like that now, not after Uther." Morgana sadly and bitterly pointed out.
"More than you would think." Caelia replied with a hint of pride. "Magic will always exist. That is a constant. Avalon, here is where that magic is strongest, were it touches the world you live in. Magic protects us and we here in turn protect it."
"I thought you said it was a constant." Merlin couldn't help but ask.
"It is. How it interacts with the world can change."
"You could stop it, magic from-"
"Yes." Caliea cut Morgana off. "But that would not change anything. People would still fear it. There would just be less to fear." Still Caelia didn't seem to be growing iterated by their questions.
"The world doesn't deserve such a gift as magic." Morgana muttered under her breath.
For the first time a look of annoyance crossed the bright blonde women's ageless face. "Maybe not, but it is a constant that should not be messed with. Who knows what may come of such of a change." Morgana gave a nod feeling a little embarrassed by her outburst.
"As beings of magic we are linked to it, in the same constant way. A part of us endures as well." Seeming to read their minds Caelie carried on. "Balinor was a brave man. Who was proud of the man your grow to be. He lives on in the heart of the remaining dragons and his son. But not here I'm afraid. He is at peace that I can tell you. As is Freya, because of the love and care you gave him in her to short life. Though as you know, she can be reached by those in need. repaying the love, you gave her." Caelia turned from Merlin to Morgana. "Your mother Vivienne was a devoted priestess, but she wanted a family of her own. I'm afraid we are not sure if she rests here or not. It is hard to keep track, especially then. But I see her before me now, in you. You are your mother's child"
"My sister." Morgana in a quiet tentative voice.
Caelie was silent for a while, her face not betraying anything. "Morgause was a powerful and devoted high priestess. She had the utmost respect for the old ways. She loved you very much. she will be missed by many here." This was nothing new to Morgana, Caelie knew, but she felt it was important it say before she said what Morgana didn't know. "She came here to ease her pain. A few months later, she left. At the time no one knew why. Nimueh had called to her and Morgause fearing your life was in danger went to meet her. To save your life she broke the connection between the two of you that she created when she brought you back to life." Caelia noticed Merlin flinch. Clearly still carrying guilt. That did not stop him however she also noticed from moving a little closer to Morgana as she carried on. "Using the last of her energy she gathered the clouds over the city of Camelot. The rain that fell extinguished the fire that would have taken your life."
Morgana had always felt that there had been something magical about the rain the saved her life that day. There had been more pressing things to deal with that she never gave it much thought beyond that fact. When she did, she had assumed that it had been Merlin. Surprising now she gave it a little more thought she realized that when she looked back on anything regarding magic that was unexplained before she discovered her own power, she simply had attributed it to Merlin. Of course, not everything would be down to him. No matter how he or others seemed to believe the world revolved around the great Emrys.
Caelie paused, allowing Morgana to take in what she had been told. Deep down, rationally she knew that her sister was gone. Hering the facts, however, was a different thing all together. The young witch did her best to keep her face neutral, unmoved. She did a good job, if you didn't look at her eyes. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Merlin taking a step closer to Morgana, placing a hand on her shoulder. Morgana didn't turn to him, show any sign of acknowledging the comforting gesture. She did see her shoulders sag as she let go of the tension caused by holding back how she truly felt.
"Is she here, beyond-"
"The veil." Caelia offered. "I'm afraid not."
"Why not." Morgana's voice came out higher than normal and broken. Merlin still had his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.
Caelia looked sympathetically at Morgana. "She didn't just break her connection with you, she broke her connection with magic as well." It took Morgana and Merlin a few seconds to fully understood what that meant.
"So, she was just left in the dirt. Alone like-"
"No." Caelia quickly cut her off. "No child. For all of her faults Nimueh upheld the old ways. She respected Morgause-"
"Respected. She respected nothing. Cared only for herself and her vengeance."
No one said anything for a little while. Morgana realizing what she had said. That she was being a hypocrite. Neither Merlin nor Caelia felt the need to point it out when Morgana realized it herself.
"Your sister was given a burial befitting a high priestess of the triple goddess such as herself." Morgana blinked and a tear run down her face as Caelia carried on talking. "Morgause was laid to rest under a willow tree by the shore of the Isle of the blessed. Her grave is marked by lily of the valley."
The tears now fell fully. Morgana giving up any attempt to try and stop them. Merlin slid his hand down her arm to take her hand. Once he held her hand in his he couldn't understand what had made him make such a bold move. Equally surprisingly and inconceivably she not only let him hold her hand but held on to his in return.
"We too wish that Morgause could be with us here today." Caelia said after a suitable time had passed. Her voice seemed to shock Merlin and he let go of Morgana's hand. Not violently but quickly. "She would have been called here. As would Nimueh and Mordred."
"Why." Merlin asked as Morgana didn't seem to have regained her voice."
"All five of you are powerful and unique in your own ways. Two are no longer with us and Mordred had chosen a different path. You are the only ones left."
"Left to what." Morgana found her voice again.
Caelia let out a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. "I am far older than I appear. I have lost count of how many years I have lived. Into my third of fourth century, I think." As she spoke some of those many years began to mark the ageless face. "In all that time I have remained her. Protecting the source. Allowing magic to pass freely into the wider world where it can he used to do incredible things. I have never judged how it is used, that is not my place. This place has also offered safety and a place for our kind to rest. Death is as we all know well is not the end. Mearing a parting of the ways for now."
Caelia paused to turn from them to face the veil blocked by the wall. When she did not carry-on talking Merlin and Morgana moved around the pool to stand on either side of her. They looked in front of them. Glancing at Caelia she seemed to see more than they did. Again, they tried but still only saw a shimmering blur.
"There is a whole world beyond. Where those touched by magic can live in peace. In time you too will see it."
"You want us to stay here." Merlin asked very unsure about how he truly felt about the idea. Looking at Morgana he saw that despite her insistence on coming here, he saw that she looked as unsure as he felt.
"You have always been and always will be welcome here. You will never be turned away."
Morgana felt that she was saying this to her. That she would not be judged for the things she had done in the past. Merlin too felt that he was being singled out. He had not been as supportive or helpful as he could have been to others like him. A fact Morgana would gladly attest to.
"Even I and others here cannot live in the wider world forever. At some point we are unable to leave. We are drawn back, beyond the veil. It is my time to move on."
They understood the words, what she was saying, but found it hard to make sense of why she had called them here. Looking beyond her that stood between them they saw the same look of cofunction returned back at them.
"That is why I have called you here. I wish one of you to take my place. To rule Avalon and protect the source of magic."
I hope that you liked the chapter. I know there was a lot of exposition this chapter and it was a little shorted than normal. I hope it wasn't too boring. I also hope that it all made sense. This is defiantly the biggest new direction this story has gone in from the show, so I would love to hear your thoughts. Good or bad I really want to hear it all. It makes a real difference to how the story goes.
I am also very aware that I don't write physical description very well. It's something I struggle with. So, I wanted to add what my inspiration for Avalon was. Not very originally, I'm afraid it was Rivendell. Hope that came across at least a little.
Any other feedback or comments are as always very welcome.
