Arthur tried to stay still as Ismene crouched by his side taking pictures of his scar from all different angles. Every time the camera shuttered and flashed he had to fight the urge to flinch.

Ismene approached her task with enthusiasm, "This is stunning work really! The line pattern is so sophisticated. I've never seen anything like it! Granted I mostly work with palms. Uncle Emrys has fascinating palms, but he's a bit self-conscious and he won't let me read all of it. He's always been a very private person. I wonder how his palms have changed now that he's de-aged. Maybe I can trick him into letting me have another look."

Arthur spoke, "So, this is what you do then? You read palms and scars?"

Ismene spoke while setting up a new camera angle. "Oh, I can do much more than that. I read stars, tea leaves, tarot cards, bone cracks, animal entrails … although Uncle Emrys has always tried to discourage that method of divination. He's a bit squeamish, you know. But I always say animal entrails have their time and place just like any other method. Could you lift your arm a bit higher?"

Arthur lifted his arm and Ismene captured the photo.

"Oh, I also work at the library. It's a great way to get my hands on rarer texts. I was reading about an ancient form of candle divination when you and Uncle came and found me. Haven't done much of that myself. Though I did once start a fire after having a dream-vision. That's hardly the same thing though. I think I've got enough pictures for now."

Arthur rolled his shirt back down and Ismene straightened up.

Merlin came through the kitchen door looking a little lost.

Arthur spoke, "What did Leon have to say?"

Merlin sat down, "He didn't want to hear it. Kept changing the subject. I know he thinks I'm making this all up or exaggerating or something."

Ismene patted Merlin on the back, "There, there, Uncle Emrys. I'm sure he'll come 'round again. Only took him seventy-five years the last time."

Merlin shook his head, "Of course he thinks it's crazy. It is crazy! Why would you be seeing visions of a red dragon? We've already established there are no dragons! If there was one it would have had to come when I summoned it last night."

Arthur thought, "Maybe you said the incantation wrong?"

Merlin glared, "Dragon tongue is a natural ability and I didn't say anything wrong."

Ismene piped up, "Well I'm sure we'll know more once I start deciphering the scar markings. There's so much written there, I'm sure there's something about the dragon."

Merlin muttered, "I sure hope so."

Ismene proceeded to kick Merlin and Arthur out of her home so she could get started studying her photographs of Arthur's scar. As Merlin drove them home, Arthur took the opportunity to ask questions.

"Why are you Ismene's fake uncle?"

Merlin replied, "I was quite close with Ismene's grandmother, Gwendolen, and as her family grew, I became very involved."

"Did you teach her all that about palms and scars and such?"

"I pointed her in the right direction, but I couldn't teach her what I myself don't know. She is a seer and I am warlock, our magic is different."

There was a pause before Arthur spoke again, "She reminds me of Morgana."

Arthur watched Merlin who didn't respond, "Why does she remind me of Morgana?"

Merlin took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the steering wheel, "I can't say with any certainty." Arthur looked at Merlin expectantly, silently urging him to continue.

Merlin sighed, "I have had suspicions over the years, but I have always resisted pursuing that line of inquiry. If it is possible that Ismene and Morgana are connected, I would rather not know."

"Why not?"

Merlin replied in a quiet voice, "If she were, how would I face her? I am the reason she became what she was, and I was the one to kill her."

Arthur didn't know how to reply to that, so he sat in stunned silence.

After a moment, Merlin continued, "Ismene has powerful magic. If she and Morgana were somehow connected and she were able to remember …"

Arthur swallowed, "That would be bad."

Arthur felt conflicted by the thought that Ismene may somehow be connected to his half-sister from long ago. Morgana had plagued his reign over Camelot, spreading hatred and fear. The thought of her being present in the twenty-fist century should have frightened Arthur, and it did.

But Arthur couldn't deny that part of him wished Ismene was Morgana. His sister had once been a kind person. She was fiercely independent-minded and stubbornly followed her own moral code. Morgana had once been a constant support in Arthur's life, someone he knew he could depend on even if he had been too stubborn to do so. She had been someone he loved. She had been family.

Arthur could already see that Morgana and Ismene were not the same. Ismene lacked grace and courtly manners, and the state of her home suggested some rather unhygienic habits. Yet her determined hunger for knowledge and passion for her craft seemed to reflect some of Morgana's fierceness. She seemed to love and respect Merlin, and Merlin loved and respected her in turn.

It was odd to see how Merlin and Ismene interacted with one another in such an understanding way. It was so different from the tension that had once existed between Merlin and Morgana. Seeing them side by side, smiling and talking, almost made Arthur feel as though a reconciliation had taken place. Arthur felt himself hoping that his sister had been given a new life for the chance to forgive and to be forgiven. But this was all just hopeful nonsense. Even if Ismene was Morgana, she didn't remember that life, and there was no guarantee she would be forgiving at all if she could remember.

When they pulled into the driveway, Leon was waiting for them on the front porch. They got out of the car and Merlin cocked an eyebrow at his old friend, "I didn't think we'd see you again till tomorrow."

Leon's face was unreadable, "I was hoping to have a word with King Arthur."

Merlin narrowed his eyes at Leon and glanced between him and Arthur.

Arthur shrugged, as if to convey that he didn't know what this was about either.

Merlin looked back at Leon. They seemed to have some kind of silent conversation between them and Merlin sighed, "Right then." He leaned over to Arthur and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek before going to unlock the door, stepping inside, and closing it behind him.

Leon led Arthur away from the front door and they began walking through the neighborhood. Arthur turned his head towards Leon, "What did you need to speak to me about?"

Leon looked a bit uncomfortable, "Just another minute, sire."

Arthur furrowed his brow in confusion, "Huh?"

Leon whispered, "Merlin might be eavesdropping."

Arthur looked behind them, "There's no way he could hear us from …"

Leon gave him a look and Arthur felt like an idiot. "Right. Magic. I forgot."

They turned the corner onto another street and Leon stopped to face him, "Merlin is not doing well, your majesty."

"What do you mean by that?"

Leon spoke in a diplomatic tone, "As you know, he is hearing things and letting his imagination run wild. I have first-hand experience of how infectious his paranoia can be. When he gets like this there's not much to be done other than to give him his space and let him come to his senses."

Arthur shook his head, "I understand your concern, Leon, but this isn't like the other times. He's not making it up. I had a vision."

A look of trepidation made its way onto Leon's face, "Yes, sire, Merlin has told me about that. I understand that you think you saw a dragon, but, sire, Merlin has a way of drawing people into his fantasies."

Arthur felt anger bubble beneath his skin, "What are you implying?"

"I don't mean to imply that you are at all to blame, sire. Merlin just has this effect on people. Considering his current state of mind, I think it would be best if you considered … taking some time apart from each other."

Arthur's jaw dropped, "What?"

Leon nodded, "It would just be until Merlin's head clears. You could stay with me instead and we could spend more time focusing on your destiny …"

Arthur cut him off, feeling his anger come full force to the surface, "You think we need time apart from each other?! We've been separated for 1500 years! You are not taking me away from him to focus on my destiny! He is my destiny! It's written on my godsdamn palm!"

Arthur thrust his open palm towards Leon's face. "'Two sides of the same coin', Leon. 'Two halves of a whole'. He's not my crazy accessory sorcerer! He's the other half of this prophecy! Why else would he have been made to wait all this time?"

Leon sputtered, "S-sire …"

"Merlin is hearing a dragon's voice and I am seeing visions of it. This isn't Merlin having a mental breakdown. We together are receiving a message, and if you really want to be here to serve your 'Once and Future King' you will get your head out of your arse and start helping us decipher it! Do I make myself clear?!"

Leon stared shocked at his king. He answered quietly, "Yes, sire."