Rupert rapidly blinked several times in the hope that would clear his fogged vision. It wasn't until he wiped his eyes that he realized it wasn't his vision that was fogged but that he was in a white misty etherworld.
He wasn't sure how he'd pictured Avalon but he was positive a white void was not it.
A chuckle to his left brought his attention around. Merlin raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Did you think, mortal, that you would be whisked to Avalon? This is the limbo between the mortal world and the magickal world. Have patience."
Nimue shared her lover's amusement with mortals. They had been a source of much enjoyment over the millennia. Her eyes twinkled as swept her arm and the mist began to evaporate revealing a wooded glade and a dirt path.
Merlin grabbed Rupert's elbow to keep him from falling as his knees nearly buckled with the magnitude of pure Avalon magick. "Your frail body is merely one of the reasons mortals must pass through limbo."
Rupert took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. If what he had just felt was only a fraction of what Willow experienced back at Ethan's lair he was even more anxious to reassure himself that she was all right.
"Let's continue. I'm fine."
Nimue smiled as she watched Rupert continue down the dirt path. He reminded her so much of Merlin when he first came to Avalon.
"What brings a smile to your lips, love?" Merlin asked as he slipped his arm around her waist.
"Just remembering times past when another wizard first came to Avalon."
A smile tilted his lips as he squeezed her waist. "If I had known the adventure and treasure that awaited my arrival I wouldn't have cursed Morgan Le Fay at my exile."
Willow cocked her head to the side as if listening to an inner voice. Ever since she had been infused with the ancient magick of Avalon she had felt her bond to the Earth and all things living become even stronger. She felt a slight ripple in the magickal essence but she couldn't place what it was.
The sound of a twig cracking brought her out of her thoughts. Willow smiled when she recognized one of the Fey. "Good morning, Cassandra."
"The Lord and Lady request your presence in the great hall."
Willow's smile grew wider and she felt like pinching herself. She was REALLY in Avalon with Merlin and Nimue AND she had ACTUALLY met Lord Oberon and Lady Titania of the Fey. The only thing that would make this experience perfect was if Rupert were here to share it with her.
Upon her arrival in Avalon she had been reassured that the battle had been won and Rupert was indeed alive and healthy. Nimue had told her that her stay here was contingent on her recovery. The less time it took her to get back on her feet the quicker she would return to the mortal realm. That incentive had been all she needed to harness the healing strength of the Earth and quicken her recovery time.
"Is it time for me to leave?" Willow asked as she hurried after Cassandra. Besides Merlin and Nimue the only others that could grant passage into or out of Avalon were Oberon and Titania. Willow had hoped she wouldn't have to wait for Nimue or Merlin's return before she was allowed to return to Rupert. She felt stronger every day and Cassandra had assured her that she was as strong as any mortal could be in Avalon.
Cassandra smiled sympathetically, "I am sorry, Willow. I was not told why your presence was requested just that I was to bring you there."
The fairie castle never failed to elicit a soft sigh from Willow every time she caught sight of it. She had expected something out of a Disney movie but instead, the castle blended into its natural surroundings where you had to look closely to find the castle among the trees.
She quickly climbed the steps that lead up to the great hall. The muted sound of singing and the soft strains of instruments playing could be heard on the morning air. Willow idly wondered if there was a special occasion occurring and that's why she was summoned to Oberon. Willow briefly paused at the top of the steps and waited until Cassandra gave the signal for the two Fey standing guard.
The bronze doors opened and Willow couldn't help the gasp that escaped. "Rupert!" Not caring what protocol she was breaking, if any, she quickly made her way to Rupert.
Rupert had scowled at Merlin when he was told that Willow wasn't in the great hall and that he'd have to curb his mortal tendency of impatience and wait a little longer for her arrival.
The sound of his name being called brought his gaze around to the entrance of the hall. A wide smile spread across his features as he saw Willow quickly making her way toward him.
Rupert met Willow half way across the space that separated them and pulled her into a tight embrace. His fingers shook as he raised them to tenderly stoke her hair.
"I see our gift pleases you much."
Willow squeezed Rupert tight before she straightened and turned toward the masculine voice. Her face lit with the glow of happiness as she smiled at Oberon. "Thank you, Lord Oberon. It is a very nice gift."
"Stop teasing the mortals, my love." Titania said as she slipped her hand into Oberon's. "Can't you see the children wish to be alone?"
Merlin smiled at Willow's blush and raised her hand to his lips. "Go and enjoy our gift. Tomorrow when you wake you'll have returned to your home."
Rupert narrowed his eyes at Merlin. He wasn't sure if the immortal had meant that he and Willow would return to the same reality or if Willow would return to her reality.
Merlin ignored Rupert's glare and linked his arm with Nimue's. "Dance, love?"
Willow caressed Rupert's cheek with fingers that shook. "Hey, you. Quite the trip, huh?"
Rupert grasped Willow's caressing fingers and kissed their tips. "Quite. However, I think that one can never be too careful about the effects of pure magick. Join me in a lie in?"
"Hmm, my knees do feel kinda wobbly."
Nimue smiled as she glanced over Merlin's shoulder and watched the retreating backs of Willow and Rupert. She turned twinkling eyes to her lover, "You know with the balance restored, our presence in Avalon isn't a necessity."
"What did you have in mind, love?"
"I was thinking of perhaps taking a short well-deserved vacation."
"Any place in particular?" Merlin couldn't help the smirk that twisted his lips.
"Oh, I don't know… I was thinking that a trip to Sunnydale might be nice. You know I'm sure we missed some of the wonderful sights the last time we were there."
Merlin threw back his head and laughed.
Xander wiped his tired eyes as he turned the page of yet ANOTHER ancient text. It had been months since the mirror cracked and Willow had disappeared. Anya had called in all sorts of favors in the demon community before finally finding a spell to repair the mirror.
The coven had sent Giles an ancient book that had told the myth that surrounded Merlin's Mirror. Giles had discovered that it was indeed a portal and Willow most likely hadn't been injured when it cracked.
It was the phrase "most likely" that had caused Xander to step up his research into finding out how portals were opened. He knew about Dawn's blood opening portals and she had even volunteered her blood to try to open one. But, it hadn't worked. On the upside, they did find out that Dawn was now a typical human teenager and her blood no longer held any mystical qualities.
Anya squeezed Xander's shoulder as she passed him on her way to lock the door. The gang now spent every free moment they had in research. Whether it was in books, through the Internet or chasing down any scrap of information on Merlin's Mirror. But no one researched harder than Xander and Anya could see the affects in the circles under his eyes and his quiet demeanor.
Xander reread the paragraph twice. OH...MY...GOD. He wasn't sure if his eyes were playing tricks and they were seeing what was really there or what he so desperately hoped was there.
"GILES!"
Giles looked up from the book he was reading as he heard Xander's shout. He took in Xander's pale face and felt his heart sink. Whatever he found it couldn't be good if it caused Xander's face to lose its color. Giles quickly closed the book and moved to his side.
"What did you find?"
"Look." Xander pointed a shaky finger to the passage that he found.
Giles steeled himself to look to where Xander had pointed. He read it. He read it again. Giles gave a whoop of joy as he grabbed the book and pulled it closer.
Anya looked anxiously between Xander and Giles. "What?! What is it?"
Giles beamed at Anya. "He bloody found it. We can bring Willow home."