Thank you for reading. Hope you like it and there aren't to many mistakes.

The early morning light streamed in through the small window high on the wall. Offering just enough light for Merlin to read by. He sat cross legged on his bed the heavy book on his lap, the grimoire. He had read it cover to cover so many times he had lost count. Spells and enchantments began to blur together. Different magical creators began to meld into even stranger images in his head. Some of which he thought were even a improvement in his opinion on the originals. Over the last few days the words had even started to play in front of his eyes as he was going about his work. It all made sense to him and in another way it didn't. Despite this he still hoped, believed that the answer was somewhere in the old book that lay in his lap. If he just looked hard enough he would find it. How much of this was his genuine belief or his need to be doing something. At least feel like he was doing something.

He should be used to this by know. Waiting, that was all he seemed to do. Wait and wait some more. Wait for whoever was trying to attack Camelot this time to make their move, so he could make his. Wait for the right time, that may never come to tell Arthur and everyone about his magic. Wait for things to change. Wait to be able to make a choice. A selfish Choice, thinking only about what he wanted. Merlin Hated waiting, but he was good at it. So that what he would do now. Like always he would wait. Wait for the time when he didn't have to wait anymore.

While he still believed that something in the heavy book would help him, it had no real information about high priestess of the triple goddess. They seemed to have kept their inner workings a closely guarded secret. There was also only two that still lived in Albion that could tell him anything about the ways of the old religion. Neither of whom he thought would be to welling to give him any information on the subject. One after all was the one he was trying to prevent destroying the city and the hope for a better future. The other, while on the same side as him, he didn't think would be all that willing to share such things with him.

Letting out a frustrated groan, as the answer had not reveled itself on this reading of the grimoire. Closing the book and throwing it onto the bed in front of him with more force than necessary. He moved to stand up. Pain beginning to start in his lower back from sitting hunched over for over a hour. Stretching out, then picking up his jacket from its place on the chair by the door, he left his room to begin the daily routine. Which he did with a mind buzzing with a hundred different thoughts.

Arthur didn't seem to notice this slight change in Merlin. That he was less talkative. In fact he probably enjoyed the change. The king after all had a lot on his own mind too. Running a country, trying to prepare for an attack he couldn't predict and planning a wedding did take a lot of time. So he could be forgiven for not noticing his man servant was a little less chatty.

Opening his door he put on a smile to return the one Gaius gave him.

"Morning." Merlin greeted as he moved to sit across the table form Gaius. Where a bowl of porridge waited form him.

The older man let out a sigh. "How long have you been awake." He asked not bothering with niceties.

Merlin too sighed. Knowing that there was no point in trying to lie. He also didn't really want to. "A little while."

"Since before the sun came up." The normally gentle man pressed. To which Merlin nodded. "Merlin you need your rest."

"I have-"

"You can do nothing if your don't take care of yourself."

Words of protest flued by frustration were about to fly from Merlin's mouth, when Gaius silenced him with a lifted hand. A little hesitantly, looking like he was not sure he was going to do what he planned till he did it. He lowered his hand and reached down to pick something up from the bench next to him. Holding it out towards Merlin he let it float onto the table between them.

It took a few seconds of searching the object in front of him to realize the significance of it. The paper of the scroll was torn. The edges looked like a map drawing of a coastline. With holes or varying sizes marred the paper like lakes on the land. The color of the paper was only slightly darker then the porridge Merlin pushed aside to get a better look at the scroll. The once black ink had faded to medium grey, were it wasn't completely worn away. From the few words that remained, that he could read in the dim early morning light Merlin with growing excitement realized that this was a scroll about the high priestess. When he could bear to tear his eyes off the scroll, Merlin looked up at Gaius with wide eyes asking for a explication.

"Its not much and its old."

"What is it."

"From what I've been able to read, which isn't much. Its instructions on a ritual." Looking, if it was possible more interested Merlin lowered his head to start reading the scroll. "It was only in slightly better condition when I first tried to read it."

"How do you have this." Merlin asked without lifting his head.

Giving up on getting the young warlock to look up at him or eat any of his breakfast Gaius gave him as much information as he could. "I honestly don't know. It must have been left here from before the purge. I'm afraid you wont get much help form it, but I thought you should have it in case."

Merlin finally tore his eyes from the scroll in his hands, to offer a smile of thanks. Which earned him a nod and a look towards his abandoned breakfast. Not wanting to argue Merlin gave in and put the scroll to one side to be studied later to pick up his bowl again. Once he had eaten enough to satisfice Gaius Merlin thanked him again and left to begin his work. If he had been up since before the sun had fully risen then he was sure that Arthur had too and would be in need of his breakfast. The only thing that was worse than a stress Arthur was a hungry and stressed Arthur.

A few hours later around midday when had eaten his breakfast and his lunch Arthur, while Merlin took a break to study the scroll, decided to take a break too and went to see Gwen. She always made him feel calmer. Seemed to always offer some words of wisdom that made him see things in a different way. He relied on her for that. It was unfair to but that pressure, that expectation on anyone. She somehow seemed to always meet that expectation. This time though no magic words that shed new light on the problem at hand. no light at all. He was stumbling in the dark waiting for someone to light a candle and hoping he could deal with that light reveled.

When he reached his future wife's door he gave a light knock. Which earned a nervous question of who it was. In reply to his answer he was told to wait a second.

On the other side of the door Gwen franticly looked around her chambers for a cloak or a sheet. Anything to hide what she was wearing. Her wedding dress.

Gwen had hesitated to try on the dress. If she hadn't then maybe she wouldn't have been wearing it when Arthur came to see her and she would not be panicking a now. It was a simple yet elegant dress. She had made it herself over the last month. Arthur had organized a meeting with the most renowned seamstress in the kingdom. Who had made many of Morgana's dress when she was simply the kings ward. She was clearly a once beautiful aging women with greying hair. Which shone brightly and was styled elegantly. With her she brought samples of exquisite, rich fabrics that could be turned like magic into a stunning one of a kind dress that she could wear as she married the man she loved and became queen. The seamstress also had a number of ideas for the shape of the dress. Some simple and elegant and others a little more striking. It was a little overwhelming for Gwen. Who was used to making her own dressing. Most of the time she would find a fabric that she liked and start making a dress, not knowing exactly what it would look like till it was finished. There was something a little exciting about that.

It had taken her a week after the meeting for the image of the dress that she wanted to come together in her mind. Finding the perfect fabric for it in the market a few days before they were forced to close due to the cold weather. The finally piece of the puzzle that brought it all together had been found. She had been so excited that she had gone back to her old home and began working on the dress herself. She hadn't meant to make it herself, she just couldn't help herself. once she had the fabric. How much of this was her genuine excitement and how much was her needing something to keep herself busy. Like Merlin's rereading the same book over and over again. The dress had been finished a few days ago. It had been surprisingly easy to sneak it into the castle without anyone noticing or at least not commenting on it. Gwen had always wondered how Morgana was able to slip in and out of the castle without being noticed. She had felt sure magic was the main reason, but now she was starting to think it was more lack of interest.

The dress had hung proudly in her wardrobe ever since. At least once a day Gwen had taken the dress out for just a minute to look at her work with pride and smile a soft smile. After returning the dress to the wardrobe a feeling of guilty would wash over her. Guilty for being so selfish and superficial when her home and the people in it were anxiously waiting for an attack they couldn't plan for. When then man she loved and was marrying was burdened with such a heavy weight. A weight she as his partner should help him carry.

Growing a little nervous and curious about what was going on behind the door, as all he could hear was the faint sounds of Gwen rushing franticly around, Arthur pushed it open. Calling her name out reassuringly as he did.

With no other option Gwen dashed towards the wardrobe. For a insane instant she thought about hiding inside the wardrobe. When that foolish thought passed, the only choice left to her was to hide behind the open door of the wardrobe. Hissing her king and future husbands name as she heard him walk into the room.

Seeing the discarded dress Gwen had been wearing that morning, Arthur froze. His cheeks turning bright red as he lifted a hand to cover his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to...I didn't know you were having a bath-"

"I'm not." Gwen snapped back.

Arthur a hand still covering his eyes turned towards the direction her voice came from. "What are you-"

"I was trying on my wedding dress." She admitted feeling very childish.

Letting out a laugh Arthur lowered his hand and started to walk towards the wardrobe. "Gwen-"

"No stay back." She said s a hand shoot out from behind the open door. "Its bad luck."

The king gingerly walked closer to the future queen. "you cant really believe that." He asked with a laugh.

"No, Yes. I don't want to risk it." The palm of her still held out hand warning him not to come closer.

Stopping a few feet from the door blocking his view of Gwen, Arthur reached out instead taking her outreached hand in his. Clasping it tightly. "I think we have had enough bad luck."

"That is why I don't want to risk it." Her resolve weakening by the minute.

Arthur acquiesced, but kept her hand in his. "I need to talk to you."

With a sigh Gwen gently pulled Arthur a little closer till he standing on the opposite side of the wardrobe door. Not caring now about damaging the dress she then slide down the door till they both sat on the ground leaning on the same door, hands held across the divide.

"I think I have to-"

"Don't finish that thought." Arthur was about to press on, but Gwen spoke first. "You are needed here. Going out to search for something, something you don't even know what it is, isn't going to help anything. Your place is to be here, with your place is here." Sensing he was going to try and speak again, she only took a quick breath before going on. "They look to you, you have to be firm and stead. Someone they can rely on." The door creaked a little as Arthur rested his head on. "I know you want to do something, anything. That your itching to act. I'm proud of you for not making a rash decision."

In response Arthur lifted her hand and kissed it. Gwen smiled a faint smile as she shifted her position to lean against the door. As she did the hem of her dress slipped into Arthur's filed of vision. His mouth pulled into bright smile at the small glimpse of the dress that Gwen was going to be wearing when she became his wife. It was so very her. It made his heart swell with affection seeing a clear sign of the strong women she was. No matter what title she gained, it would never change who she was. A hard working, confident and caring women.

For a few minute they sat in silence holding hands. Taking the opportunity to just enjoy a quit moment together. Even if they where separated by a piece of wood and Gwen's belief in superstition.

"We need to do something, we cant wait to be attacked." Arthur said, being able to be silent any longer.

Gwen took a little time to find the right words. "We can start stocking up on provisions. Make sure the villages have weapons to defend themselves..." Arthur nodded along a little with her.

"We've already done those things." He complained.

Again Gwen took time to reply. She knew the only thing that she could say, but was nervous to say it. Not from mistrust but from fear of damaging an already fragile relationship that was deeply important to those involved. "You need to look for Morgana."

Arthur knew this, but was unsure. "She knows what is going on." He didn't sound hurt or bitter, just sad.

"You thing she should be here doing more."

"Yes, but...You didn't see her." She held his hand a little tighter. "I don't think I've ever seen her look so...lost, broken before."

"You think she might side with Nimueh."

"No." He answered simply.

Gwen quickly understood what worried him. Morgana was never one to back down, no matter the cost. If she was as weak as Arthur believed, then she may not survive the fight. She also understood that while this possibility upset him, there was also a small part of the couldn't help be feel a little relived. As much as he didn't want to fight with Morgana, as much as he still cared for her. Missed her, as she did. He, just as Gwen herself couldn't help but feel a little cautious about the witch. They could never fully trust her again no matter how much they wanted to.

"I don't even know where I would start looking." Arthur admitted.

There was nothing Gwen could say, no advice. She also had no idea where to even begin to start searching for Morgana. If she didn't want to be found then she wouldn't be. Not until she wanted to be found. They sat in silence for a another few minutes. Not wanting to move, but also not knowing what to say. eventually Gwen voiced what she had been think for a while but was worried to voice. Worried Arthur wouldn't understand and worried that he would.

"I think we should postpone the wedding-"

"No Gwen."

"Arthur there is to much going on now is not the time-"

"Then when will be, We have waited long enough."

"I know, but-"

"No but's. Unless you've changed your mind."

She smiled widely. "No, never."

"Then that is all that matters. We need to focus on something positive." He kissed her hand again. "And I can't wait any longer to call you my wife."

"I don't want to wait any longer to be your wife." Feeling a little brave she added. "Close your eyes."

"what."

"Just do it." She pressed, holding his hand tighter.

"Fine." Arthur did as he was told.

Caustically Gwen peaked her head around the door, to make sure Arthur did as she said. He had, but still not trusting him not to sneak a peak, she let his hand go as she moved her hands to cover his eyes. Arthur smiled at her mistrust. Moving to sit in front of him, she pressed her lips to his. Not caring about the dirt her pristine wedding dress was picking up. With one of her hands still covering his eyes, she used them to guide Arthur to his feet as she too stood up. Kissing him once again she turned his round, pointing him towards the door.

"I love you." She whispered in his ear. "No leave so I can change."

With a smile and feeling like a weight had been, not lifted but lessened form him. Still with his eyes closed he carefully made his way towards the door. Gwen smiling at the sight before her. Just as he reached the door, hearing Gwen's faint laugh he stopped and turned to face her with his eyes still closed.

"The fabric really suites you."

With that he quickly left before she could say anything.

A cold chill blew through the forest as Morgana drew close to her destination. She might have been overly optimistic in not choosing her warmer coat. Despite herself the witch couldn't help but tense up a little at any sudden sounds around her. They were normal sounds of the forest, leafs crunching under her boots, twigs snapping. She knew what made the voices but couldn't help but feel anxious. There was still time she could turn back, no one but herself was making her do this. But she wasn't going to do that. She had come this far she wasn't going to turn back now. Though she had learned to be, had to be patient, she was not as go at it, at waiting as Merlin.

In the distance not far ahead she finally caught sight of her destination. A small over grown clearing at the bottom of a small hill, just off from the main trail through the forest. Most people would walk by it. Not knowing its importance or simply not seeing it at all. over the years the forest had began to clam what had once stood proudly here, hiding it from view. The stone table was only visible slightly through the ivy that had entwined itself around it. Once the table had been an alter. Encircled by benches made of the same stone. Were people now all gone sat and performed rituals. On clear nights the moon seemed to shine down directly onto the alter.

Stepping into the clearing Morgana could feel the buzzing energy that still lingered. Reaching out lightly she pushed some of the ivy and vines form the alter. Pushing a side the many question that had run through her mind on her journey here. Had her mother ever come her, most likely she would have. What rituals would she have been a part of performing. When was the last ritual performed here, what as it. Who had been the last of her long gone sisters to touch his alter. Had Morgause ever been here. She was the to tell her of its location, but never said if she had been here herself. With all of that forced form her mind she began what she had come here to do.

With her hands on the alter she closed her eyes and spoke in a low voice words that had not been said here in year. The buzzing grew lowered. She could feel her skin tingling as it grew around her. The clearing coming to life once again.

Hope you liked it. As always any feedback you have is very welcome. I have most of the rest of the story worked out. At least what the major events of each chapter are worked out. There are a few chapters before the climax that aren't worked out yet. So if you have any ideas, characters or dynamics you would like to see more off then place let me know so I can try and work that in. Thanks again.