Destiny Begins
by Milui Elenath
Chapter Ten
Morgana cracked open her eyes. She felt strange. She felt light; as if she could fly. She pushed herself up in bed trying to understand it, moving gingerly to avoid pain –
But there was none!
She shook off her sleep in an instant and was alert. Her wound didn't hurt at all, she pushed at the bed covers and her fingers stretched for her shirt and began to lift it but a cough sounded nearby. Morgana's eyes focused on where the sound had come from and saw Merlin. He sat on a stool in the corner that she used for clothes, they were in a part of the cave she had set up as her bedchamber. Morgana didn't speak, neither did Merlin but their eyes acknowledged one another's presence. He was waiting, waiting for her to confirm all of her suspicions that had suddenly come back to her. She carefully pulled up her shirt to reveal the wound. It was gone. "You healed me," Morgana breathed in wonderment.
Merlin nodded.
She was astonished, she hadn't ever believed it would be possible that Merlin would ever be willing or able to forgive her enough to remove the curse he had put upon her. The strange feeling that she had felt on wakening, this was how it felt to be free of pain! For less than a second she smiled and then it hit her. "Aithusa," she remembered the rest, she moaned, "she's gone. She's really gone." Morgana found herself reverberating with shock. It didn't feel real. Life without Aithusa was incomprehensible, they had centuries together. No matter where Morgana had gone or for how long, Aithusa had been there to return to. She'd been the sole reason to go on all these long years. To think that she would never speak with Aithusa again, never hear Aithusa's gentle tones or know her kindness or her comfort was unbearable.
"I'm sorry Morgana," Merlin said softly, "it all happened so quickly. She never gave me any warning or any chance to help."
Morgana ignored Merlin, whatever he was saying could not abate the terrible anguish in her heart, the tears filling her eyes. "You should not have bothered healing me, you should have let me die," she agonised. She could have been at peace at last, with Aithusa.
"No," Merlin said his tone still calm, "I need your help."
"You need my help?" She scoffed immediately. He had not helped her with Aithusa . . . but, she reminded herself, he had just healed her, even if she was feeling ungrateful about it. "What is it you want?"
"Actually I think it was what Aithusa wanted," Merlin responded making Morgana listen more attentively. Morgana brushed her tears away and listened.
"Before she died, she gave me something," Merlin said. "She said it was a gift and she said you would know what to do with it."
"She gave you a gift?" Morgana couldn't imagine what Aithusa might have had to give away or that Merlin would want.
"Tears," Merlin answered simply but his gaze was assessing.
Morgana didn't bother to hide her amazement as her mouth fell open and her mind raced. Aithusa had given a tear to Merlin! From what he'd just said and the look on his face he had no idea what it could do. Oh, what a dilemma! Why had Aithusa involved him? Why hadn't Aithusa given the tear directly to her? "That was what took her so suddenly," Morgana realised aloud. Aithusa had told her long ago what a toll it was for a dragon to cry and Morgana had never asked again. Between the two of them was an understanding that such a time may come when Aithusa would give over a tear but Morgana would only have allowed Aithusa to do so in her final moments when there was no hope. Morgana had vowed to herself to let Aithusa be the one to broach it and if she never did, if she died without giving Morgana such power, then so be it. Aithusa had evidently not forgotten about the power but she had given her tear to Merlin instead.
"What do they do?" Merlin asked.
"You have no idea at all?" Morgana checked.
Merlin shook his head.
She huffed. "You know it's absolutely appalling your lack of knowledge surrounding dragonlore." She hated that she sounded haughty but it was still true.
"I had no one to tell me," Merlin shrugged but there was a note of sadness.
Morgana didn't feel pity. "It shouldn't have stopped you. There was information to be found and you never tried to find Aithusa." Morgana knew her grief was making her irritable but she was not sorry for her words.
"It was just as well don't you think?" Merlin retorted, his anger getting the best of him.
They both sighed aware that this would only escalate if they continued in this manner.
"Would you mind if I freshened up before we have this conversation?" Morgana prompted. She needed a few minutes to collect herself, Aithusa's death, her healing, the possibility of the spell now in Merlin's hands.
"Yes, I mean no I don't mind, I mean," Merlin stammered, "I'll wait outside – in the kitchen cave."
Merlin's hurried awkward answer made Morgana feel oddly comforted. For once he was just as out of place as she'd always felt or always been.
"Thank you," she said then turning away from him and forcing her tone to be light she added, "incidentally where have you put the tears?"
"I've put them somewhere safe."
He was firm in his response. Somewhere safe. So he had the sense to keep them secure even if he had no idea what the possibilities were. She had not really thought she stood much chance of getting it away from him but she'd had to ask. He left and Morgana poured water from her pitcher into a basin and washed her face. She didn't much like the idea of Merlin with that power and she feared he would not let her have the tear if he knew what it could do. She wondered if he would be willing to bargain with her for it – she doubted it and didn't know what she could offer him in any case.
She soon exited her chamber and made her way to the kitchen cave, as Merlin had referred to it. It was really nothing more than a rudimentary place to store food. There were some implements for preparation but Morgana had always used the open fire in Aithusa's chamber to cook. Thoughts of Aithusa brought tears to her eyes immediately. What was she going to do about Aithusa's body? She supposed she could bury the entire cave. Morgana had no need to remain here now. She wasn't sure how she felt about leaving, memories here might be too much but leaving meant she would have nothing tangible, no place to feel the connection that she once had. Tears stung the corners of her eyes again and she tried to swallow.
"You probably should eat something," Merlin broke into her thoughts. "I think you last ate at the train station yesterday."
The tears she'd been holding back threatened to spill again.
"What is it?" Merlin asked in concern coming towards her.
"Nothing," Morgana said attempting to swallow the pain, "it's just that Aithusa used to pester me to eat." Her words ended in a sob. "I can't believe she's gone."
Morgana put her hands over her face, she didn't want to cry in front of Merlin whom she could only assume was still standing there silently, thinking her pathetic.
"It's hard. Losing people," Merlin's voice sounded raw and Morgana looked up and found his eyes were glistening and pained as they rested on hers. "When you lose the people who you worried about and who worried about you . . .it's lonely."
His eyes shifted away and he turned and went to the bench, she detected a quiet sniff before he spoke again. "Is this water okay if I make some tea?"
There were several unlabelled bottles on the wooden bench.
"Er yes," Morgana murmured. Care and loneliness, that was it exactly. Merlin encapsulated her despair beautifully. How was she ever going to go on? She'd had Aithusa all these years and now she was alone again. Completely. No one to confide in.
Merlin didn't offer anything more as he took the water, poured it into a saucepan and uttered a boiling spell.
Morgana wasn't sure if his words were telling her he understood how she felt or if he was merely contemplating his own pain and loneliness. She imagined her grief could not help but bring about some empathy in him. He wore his loneliness openly most of the time whether he was aware of it or not. Perhaps he always had, perhaps that was what had initially drawn her to him.
Morgana gathered herself, "I'll fetch cups." Morgana didn't entertain and she didn't even have more than one chair in the kitchen but cups she had several of, for various reasons among them chiefly the lack of washing facilities. The lack of running water and electricity had caused her to live simply but it had not required an adjustment as it might have had she been from this time period.
Merlin had already found the tea and sugar placed conveniently on the counter and took the cups from her silently. He finished steeping and stirring before he put her cup on the tiny dining table with the single chair. He indicated she should sit and drink while he pulled over an empty crate and sat upon that.
Morgana took a sip composing herself. Merlin was being very patient, impatiently. She could see it in his eyes, he was just waiting for the right moment to ask and trying to hold it back.
Morgana took in a quick breath; she'd rather talk than think more about Aithusa. "Dragon tears can be used in a potion to send you back in time."
"What?" Merlin breathed out the word in shock, choking a little on his tea.
"I know it sounds farfetched even for magic," Morgana insisted, "but there are portals to the spirit realm and to the lands of Avalon."
"Go back in time," Merlin laughed thinly. "That's not even farfetched, it's, it's impossible, it's laughable." Merlin's face stretched into a false grin, his expression did nothing to hide his burgeoning fear – he was beginning to believe it he just didn't want to.
"It's difficult magic, is what it is, Morgana frowned. "Very difficult and it takes a lot of power."
"You're telling me," Merlin was coming to grips with it, "you can send me back in time?"
"No," Morgana said curtly as she took another sip of her tea, "I won't be sending you."
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked confusedly.
Morgana gave an indignant huff. "If I did send you Merlin, what time would you go to? What would you do? What would you change?"
His brow furrowed as he gave it thought but Morgana already knew the answer he would give even if Merlin was still only beginning to grapple with the potential of it.
He opened his mouth to give some answer but she waved his answer away. "
She waved his answer away, "you'd want to save Arthur and how would you do that Merlin? Would you go back and kill Mordred? Me . . . again? Would you do something else? How could I give you that power?" She stared him down daring him to deny it.
"I suppose you think you can be trusted with it though," Merlin countered. "I bet you know exactly what you'd do and when. Am I expected to believe you wouldn't kill Arthur."
"No, I wouldn't." Morgana snapped. "Arthur is insignificant." She ignored Merlin's protest. "In truth, I don't know what I'd do. I've thought about it a lot. I'd want to save Morgause," Morgana paced, "and Mordred and Gorlois and Aithusa but you can only change one event, only speak to one person, only speak the truth – no lies. How can anyone choose what might alter everything you know? How do you choose whom to save? Or how to save them all? What if you make things worse?"
Merlin sat there very quietly, his head had dropped and he was staring intently at his teacup. She could see his dark mood practically emanating from him.
Suddenly he stood. "I need to think about this. I'm going for a walk outside," his words were curt but his tone softened as he spoke again. "Will you be all right here?"
In one moment he'd gone from angry and defensive to all concerned over leaving her alone. Morgana felt exasperated with his changeability but with those piercing blue eyes of his falling gently on her full of genuine care that she couldn't help the weak smile that graced her lips. "I'll be fine," she murmured, "and Merlin, thank you. . . for healing me."
He nodded just once and headed toward the open air. It was a lot to take in that you had the power to change the past but then it was even more difficult to entrust someone with it. Why hadn't Aithusa trusted her?
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Merlin took a deep breath of the cold Scottish air as he exited the cave. He'd had to get out from under Morgana's all too perceptive gaze, she was too good at seeing his thoughts. Morgana had been eerily right in her deduction of what he'd do with such a potion. His first thought had been to kill Mordred to save Arthur and what's more, he'd been slowly going back in his mind trying to find the best time to do it. He had wondered if he should have done so when the Dsir judged Arthur or if he should do it in the woods when Mordred left to betray them to Morgana or what about the time when Kilgharrah urged him not to help Mordred as a boy?
Morgana declaring her wish to save people had put his own thoughts in stark contrast. He had been so busy thinking of Arthur he had never even thought about the others he could save. He hadn't even thought of his father or Gaius or Guinevere or Lancelot. What kind of person had he become where murder was his first choice? He felt wretched.
Kilgharrah had once said Morgana was the darkness to his light but Merlin feared time had altered their positions. She was more light than he was these days. Perhaps that was why he'd finally found it himself forgiving her, healing her wound. The fact that he had not even tried to examine or heal it from the beginning of the reunion shamed him, he'd assumed so much. Allowed the remnant power of Excalibur to deter him.
"You're too hard on yourself Merlin." The inner Gaius voice chided him gently, "you carry around so much guilt, a lot of which belongs to others I might add Besides all this self-recrimination isn't going to set things right is it?"
A wave of realisation crashed upon Merlin, "set things right!" Arthur had mentioned something about it and so had Aithusa. Had the vision of Arthur been something more than a hallucination? But how exactly was he supposed to know how to set things right? Morgana had said there were conditions to this spell, a single event or something. He began to understand what the next step was going to have to be. It gave him the same feeling that he'd gotten when he'd healed Morgana. This feeling that he was on the right path. He was no longer fearful of the vision; he had an uncanny sense that it had been averted at least if he kept on the way he had and if he could go back to the past surely that would be the end of this awful immortality on earth. With a determined stride, he headed back to the cave and to Morgana.
Once he crossed the threshold into the darkness he lit his way, passing Aithusa with sadness. He would have to speak to Morgana about what she wished to do about the white dragon. He wondered if she would be ready to deal with that yet or should he immediately explain his ideas?
Merlin found Morgana still in the kitchen. She was sitting in the chair simply staring, lost in thoughts. There were signs she had been crying but no tears upon her cheeks. She didn't shift from her chair but she spoke, having appeared to have heard his approach. "Did Aithusa tell you why she gave you the tear?"
It was direct if a little unexpected. "She said I had to set things right," Merlin said realising that she'd already given him the perfect opening, "actually, I wanted to talk to you about that."
"She told you she wanted you to set things right?" Morgana insisted.
"Yes, and I was wonderin-."
"Why not me?" Morgana asked, "Did she say? Did she tell you why it had to be you?"
Merlin could see Morgana was agitated about this subject. "No, she didn't," he said carefully, "she told me that she believed magic had kept me alive to right the past. I didn't know what she meant then." Merlin put his hand to his chin as a thought occurred to him. "Aithusa reminded me that she'd told you I could save her, she said she hoped her faith was not misplaced. She said to tell you there was no other way. What do you think she meant?"
Morgana rubbed her temples. "I don't know. I still can't believe she lied to me. We had never kept secrets from each other. How could she give me such false hope?"
Merlin didn't have an answer to that. Aithusa had appeared in every way to care about Morgana genuinely and deeply. Why had she lied?
Merlin continued to think it over. Aithusa had known she was dying and it appeared likely she knew that he couldn't or wouldn't save her. Merlin was not particularly good with healing magic and had no experience healing dragons, no powers that he knew of that would make any difference dragonlord or otherwise. So why had Aithusa told Morgana he could save her? Surely not just to get him here because if so, she had no need to keep up the pretence.
Morgana sagged forward and let her elbows rest on the table and put her head in her hands. "I don't understand any of this."
Merlin thought that Aithusa seemed to have. She'd been very certain of her purpose. Very determined to tell him everything and give him the tears. "What if," Merlin said beginning to feel some excitement, "what if she meant in the past?"
Morgana lifted her head back up slowly. "Save Aithusa in the past?"
Merlin nodded slowly, cautiously. Belatedly he began to have misgivings about having expressed this to Morgana, he didn't want to make promises again that he couldn't keep. He had to set things right in the past and if he had only one chance he didn't want to choose ill. That brought him back to his decision to include Morgana in it. "I wondered if there might be a clue in the old stories as to what I should do to set things right."
"The old stories? Why would you think that?"
"Aithusa said she thought they were possibilities that never were."
"She never told me that," Morgana took this information in. "I suppose she didn't see the point in my agonising over them since I would have no chance to change things."
Merlin rested his eyes upon her earnestly. "There's a chance now."
"You want me to help you choose?" Her astonishment was evident.
Merlin nodded. "I'm sure it was what Aithusa wanted." It was what he'd been trying to tell Morgana all along. He wanted her involvement.
She took this in. "Did you have a particular aspect of the old stories in mind to look at?"
"Well, not exactly."
"Okay," she said, "how many of the old stories have you read?"
"None." He confessed with an apologetic grin.
"Merlin!" Her brows went high with exasperation.
"What? I was there and I didn't want to relive it."
Morgana conceded with a nod, "fair point." She bit her lip, "but honestly there's so many, I don't know where to even begin."
Merlin wondered if they should stick to the versions closest to their own or perhaps the ones with more happy outcomes. Perhaps they all had something in common but before they did that there he needed to be sure of what they could do. "Can you tell me again the rules of this spell?"
"It's a potion, it will open a portal for one person to change one event and only one. To do that they can either speak and be seen by one person and one person only. They can only tell the truth and only enough truth to change that one event and nothing else. Or they can change the event themselves by intervening provided no one at all sees them. Breaking any of the rules will end in the death of the spellcaster and anything done in the past wholly reversed."
"Choosing the right time and place is important then."
"I'd say so."
It was overwhelming. "I'm not surprised you didn't press Aithusa for her tears sooner."
Morgan shook her head. "It had nothing to do with choosing an event. I knew a single tear could kill her."
"A single tear?" Merlin repeated, "but she gave me two tears." Merlin worried that such a confession might make Morgana blame him further for Aithusa's death but he didn't want confusion or more misunderstandings. He would rather face her fury here and now but Morgana had gone rigidly still.
"She . . . she gave you two tears?" Morgana's voice wavered.
"Yes, why?" Merlin asked quickly sensing trouble.
"Two tears is enough for two potions, that is, two persons to travel back."
They both sat silently coming to the same conclusion and speaking aloud in unison. "She wanted us to travel to the past together."
There was more silence as Merlin thought about how much more difficult choosing an event was going to be when there was the possibility of changing two things. He put that aside as another question came to mind. "What happens to us anyway if we travel back? Are we stuck in the past?"
"No," Morgana said solemnly, "I believe once the event is changed our lives will be changed. My understanding is that we would fade away."
"Right, that sounds . . . final," Merlin admitted.
"We've both expressed desires to end this lifetime." Morgana was sanguine.
"It will be worth it if we can save Arthur," Merlin mused.
"And what about the others, Aithusa, Morgause, Mordred?"
This was exactly why working together was going to be hard. "Two people, two events. I choose Arthur," Merlin was unapologetic as he shrugged. His destiny was to protect Arthur, he wasn't sure yet what that would mean but it was still clear that Arthur was his goal.
Morgana frowned and said nothing.
"I thought you had chosen Aithusa," Merlin pointed out.
"And how do I do that Merlin?" Morgana demanded. "How do I save her? How am I to find her and if I do what do I tell her?"
Merlin gestured again. "There has to be something, some event which lead to you and Aithusa meeting up and being captured."
"You poisoning me!" Morgana spat back.
Merlin felt his anger return in full force. "It always comes back to that doesn't it!" Merlin retorted. "I didn't know Morgause hadn't told you about the sleeping spell. I didn't know you weren't complicit in all of it. I didn't know you were inlove with me!"
Morgana gasped and flushed.
Merlin dropped his gaze too. He had not meant to ever reveal his knowledge of her past feelings. He knew it would embarrass her but he was stunned as his mouth continued to move seemingly of its own accord. "If I had known things might have been different."
He could feel her inquiring gaze upon him, he pleaded silently for her not to ask him how, how things would be different. He wasn't sure of the answer and was terrified of discovering it right now. Mercifully she said nothing but that equally disturbed him. Was she certain of the answer or did she, like him, wish to avoid all the horror of what ifs?
He heard her whisper to herself, "It always comes back to that." Her eyes snapped to his, "Merlin, it always comes back to that!"
"I know but -."
She shook her head. "Don't you see? It comes back to that moment, everything does. If you hadn't poisoned me, I would not have hated you and in turn those you loved. I wouldn't have gone on to do what I did at all."
Merlin reacted with shock. "That's why you hated Arthur? Because of me?"
"Well, that and he was an arrogant . . ." she searched for a word, "prat."
Merlin opened his mouth in protest until the final word registered and gave a little gesture of concession, he wondered if he'd ever used that word for Arthur in her presence or had she chosen it herself.
Morgana continued "And because he was Uther's son and other inconsequential things that I felt petty about – but mostly yes because of you. It would be the ideal moment to change Merlin but," Morgana sighed despairingly, "if other events don't occur I may never meet Aithusa at all."
Merlin considered this, "Maybe but Aithusa would not get captured or harmed."
"Right, yes" Morgana seemed to be warming to the idea, "and Morgause would not need to die. Nor Mordred." She fixed her eyes on Merlin, "nor Arthur."
Merlin wondered if she was right. It couldn't be that simple – could it? "But you were unhappy in Camelot under Uther. Do you really think you'd have remained loyal to us all?" Merlin didn't know if he could believe that.
Morgana shifted in her seat, appearing uncomfortable. "I don't know. You're right that I could not have stayed in Camelot. Eventually, I'd have been found out or I'd have done something foolish to expose myself or worse."
Merlin had not really expected her honesty but was glad of it. If they were to change things, they had to be sure it would have the desired impact. "That's one event down then," Merlin said it dismissively but he found himself thinking about that fateful day with the knights of Mehdir. It had led to Kilgharrah's release, Merlin's father's death, his dragon powers and so much more. It had also heralded the first time a vision had come true. He'd seen such things in the crystal. Perhaps that was his first misstep! The first time he'd failed to heed a vision's warning that his actions were going to lead to suffering. "Maybe," Merlin voiced his thoughts, "we shouldn't discount it."
"I've realised there's something more to the time travelling," Morgana said, "if we are both using it, we will have to travel together."
"Why?" Merlin asked simply.
"If one of us changes something that would be it the other wouldn't get a chance, unless we go together."
It made sense. It also made him feel more confident about handing over the tears. If they travelled together at least he would know what Morgana was up to. There'd be no chance of her deceiving him and suddenly killing Arthur. It wasn't that he didn't believe her earlier words but it was difficult to forget the past.
Morgana looked as if she was thinking hard. "Before we make decisions about anything, there's something I need to do today."
"Aithusa?" Merlin guessed.
She nodded.
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A few hours later Merlin stood by Morgana as they entered the large cave where Aithusa's body lay. They both held flowers that they had gathered outside that seemed in such contrast to the dark cave and the solemn moment.
"Are you sure you are ready to do this?" Merlin asked Morgana.
The sorceress took in a little shuddering breath, pressed her lips together and nodded.
Merlin took his own breath, quietly, Morgana's grief evoked his own. He may not have spent centuries with Aithusa but he had brought her into the world in some sense and he always had great empathy for those suffering. Morgana suffered now, Aithusa had suffered in her lifetime and even though there was some hope of changing things their pain deserved acknowledgement. Their story, their past was real.
Morgana had moved towards Aithusa and began to place the flowers around the dragon's form. Merlin did likewise when they had completed their task Morgana kneeled beside Aithusa, "You were the kindest creature I ever knew, I will miss you."
They were simple words but they carried so much, Merlin didn't think Morgana could have said more if she wanted to but more did not need to be said.
Merlin felt Aithusa deserved better than to be laid to rest in this cave, dark and hidden. A dragon deserved to be free and flying and in death laid beneath the serene sky on pastures green. It was a moment's thought, with a simple incantation, Merlin lifted his hands and spread them out toward the ceiling of the cave.
"Eorðe ac stanas hiersumaþ me. Stanas oncluce, ic i wilcume hádor," he commanded.
A great rumbling sounded above them. Beside him, Morgana lifted her head slowly, not in fear, but to observe the result of the cave pulling itself apart and letting forth the sun. It danced its light across the body of the fallen dragon but Merlin was not finished. "Bebiede þe arisan, blóstmás cwicum" he intoned with gentle encouragement. The flowers that he and Morgana had lain took root, grew leaves and buds and bloomed all the more brightly.
Merlin smiled sadly, satisfied that his work had given Aithusa, last of her kind, the respect she deserved.
Morgana had risen carefully to her feet, tears running down her face freely beholding the scene. Gentle Aithusa slept, nestled in flowers as the sun illuminated and sparkled upon her white scales.
Merlin was astounded as Morgana reached out for his hand and squeezed it. "Thankyou," she struggled to speak through her sorrow, "it's perfect."
She let go of his hand, took one last look at Aithusa and walked sedately to the cave exit.
Merlin turned back to Aithusa, bowed and offered her a prayer of peace in the dragon tongue. He followed Morgana from the cave and in his final act as dragonlord sealed the entrance.
Morgana waited by the small number of worldly goods she had earlier set aside. They had agreed to journey from here to a nearby bed and breakfast. There was no bed here for Merlin, no conveniences and Morgana had decided that she could not bear to remain in the cave. Merlin had sealed the cave in such a way to enable her to return if she chose but they both knew that if they continued with their plans to return to the past they would not be part of this present.
Merlin lifted his own bag of clothes and assisted Morgana by carrying one of hers. She had packed clothes, potions and books and among them somewhere was the all important time spell. She did not have it memorised, he could not have drawn it from the bond they still shared.
They could have begun to break their bond now that Morgana was healed and yet, still they hadn't. Merlin had grown used to the connection, he wondered if Morgana had too or had she merely forgotten among all the sorrow and revelations?
"Merlin," she spoke as she picked their path back to the road. "There's something I should tell you."
Merlin tried to silence the agitation such words immediately evoked. "Yes?"
"You seem to be aware that I had feelings for you once. You asked me if I would remain loyal to Camelot and to Arthur – I don't know but I am sure," she paused and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly into an embarrassed smile "I'd have remained loyal to you."
Merlin took this in while Morgana picked up her pace making sure she didn't have to face his reaction, attempting to hide what Merlin had already guessed she still felt. More and more he was beginning to feel that destiny was pushing him towards changing a certain event but could he really put so much trust in Morgana and her tempestuous feelings? Even if he could what about the details of how to change things while still following the rules of the spell? Could they really achieve all they hoped? Or was this just another choice that he or some other version of himself would regret?
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Authors note: more soon. Please favourite, follow or review to show that you're enjoying the story and in appreciation of the time and effort I put in. Thanks to all those who have done this already!