Morgana woke gasping and coughing, as if she had just drowned, though she knew that was not so. She blinked rapidly until the world around her, then blinked again in shock. Crouched above her was a beautiful, kind looking woman with dark hair and deep greyish blue eyes. The woman smiled in relief when she saw that Morgana had awoken, her face relaxing. "I am glad you are finally awake," Said the woman, her voice soft and warm. Morgana involuntarily smiled, then frowned in confusion. "Where am I? And who are you?" The woman hummed soothingly, and Morgana relaxed subconsciously. "I am Nimueh, and this is the Isle of the Blessed." Morgana bolted upright at that, eyes wide as she took it all in. "The Isle of the Blessed?" She breathed, gazing at the ripe, red apples hanging low on the gnarled trees.
Her mouth watered when a warm summer breeze skipped to them, bringing with it the fruits' warm scent, and Nimueh trilled, warm, low and musical. Morgana turned to her then, her frown returned. "How…" She trailed off hesitantly, not sure if she wanted to know the answer. Nimueh's smiling face grew somber and she sighed. "How is it that you have arrived on the Isle of the Blessed?" She asked, and Morgana nodded. "Men do not decide who is right and wrong, the gods do." Her face soured for the first time since Morgana had awoken. "You will not see Uther here, daughter of Magic. He has committed far too many crimes against his people, against the gods, to be welcomed here."
Morgana hesitated once again, but the question pressed at her nonetheless. "And… Arthur?" She said, biting her lip. Nimueh smiled at her, so full of warmth that she looked like the sun. "Your brother is the Once and Future King. He is most certainly here." Morgana filled with a fierce, startling joy, so strong that she was tempted to crow in triumph. Why, she was not sure, and she managed to shove it down. "Can we see him?" She asked, slightly breathless, and Nimueh turned her tenderness on her, instead of the out-of-sight king. Morgana could have burst. "Of course, darling," Nimueh said gaily, and Morgana flushed at the endearment. Nimueh took her hand, smiling, and pulled her up. "Come with me." Morgana nodded eagerly and Nimueh led her into the north.
After what seemed like hours, but was truly only several minutes, they arrived at a beautiful, ice-blue lake, much like Nimueh's eyes, Morgana thought. Nimueh knelt down on the shore, and leaned low over the water, murmuring in an ancient tongue that sounded much like magic, but not quite. No sooner had she finished when a woman rose from the lake, clothed in white that gleamed in the sunlight. Morgana gasped, for she was beautiful, and Nimueh grinned secretively at her. Morgana felt warm and looked away. It was then she realized she had not let go of Nimueh's hand yet, and did not want to. Before she could think much on it, the woman from the lake spoke.
"What can I do for you, O Daughters of Magic?" Asked the woman, her voice as beautiful and powerful as she. "We seek the Once and Future King," replied Nimueh, and the woman from the lake stilled, gazing down upon them, studying them. "You will not hurt him?" She asked quietly. Nimueh bowed, the hand that was not clasping Morgana's pressed to her heart. Morgana did the same, for she felt it was right. "I swear, on magic, and on my heart, which dearly loves his queen-mother, that I will not harm Arthur." Then she looked up and met the woman's eyes. "Freya," She murmured gently, "I could never hurt him. He is the only son of my beloved." Freya sighed. "Very well," She relented, "I can see that you are being truthful." Then she threw her arms open and emitted a high, swooping call like a strange bird, and before long a boat came speeding towards them through the mist.
Morgana and Freya talked for many hours as she led them to Arthur, and by the time they reached their destination they had grown quite fond of each other and were reluctant to part. Nimueh simply smiled and looked on as they said their goodbyes. "Can't you stay?" Morgana asked, but Freya mournfully shook her head. "I can't leave the water," She explained. "I'm the Lady of the Lake." Morgana sighed. "Well, then this is goodbye I suppose." Freya shook her head. "Just 'see you later,'" She said smiling. Then she darted up and pressed a tender kiss to Morgana's lips before disappearing, leaving a startled but delighted Morgana behind. She had not been this happy since her brief affair with Gwen.
She turned to Nimueh then, and Nimueh led the way, eyes twinkling. Soon they came over a hill, and saw Arthur standing, waiting, golden hair gleaming in the sun like a crown. Joy rushed up in Morgana and she took off down the hill, calling out to him the whole way down, Nimueh following at a more sedate pace. When she reached him he was grinning, that bright, unbridled grin from their childhood, and guilt coursed through her like poison. "Arthur," She whispered, "I am so sorry, I—" Arthur shook his head and took her into his arms, smile softening. "Morgana," he murmured warmly, smiling against the crown of her head. "Morgana, I forgave you before you ever knew you wanted me to." At that she began to sob, love and joy welling up in her like a spring.
It was then that Nimueh arrived, hanging back from the reunited siblings. Arthur raised his head and studied her, the same as Freya had, and it seemed as if they were having a silent conversation, because he nodded and opened his arms to her as well. She slipped into both of their arms, and all was well.