'You did well. Your magic was impeccable. I cannot fault you, sister.'

Morgana's eyes fluttered open at the sound of this voice. It couldn't be...Something was wrong... She was still lying on the cold slab, it was still night. But she'd failed somehow. She attempted to lift herself up, but a sharp stab in her stomach forced her to remain down. A gentle hand caressed her icy cheek.

'Sh, sh, be careful. You're wounded.' The voice was soft, intimate and instantly recognisable, even after the length of time, to Morgana.

She sat up quickly, straining against her body, that seemed to be screaming in agony, and was instantly engulfed in Morgause's embrace.

'This wasn't supposed to happen. I shouldn't be here.' Minutes, maybe hours had passed, but Morgana felt herself break away, shaking her head. 'I shouldn't be here.'

Morgause caressed Morgana's cheek gently before pulling her in again, ignoring the confused light in her sister's pale eyes. 'I missed you, sister.'

Morgana let her tears fall, more freely than she'd ever fully allowed, onto Morgause's bare chest as she gave herself completely to the blonde's embrace. She felt Morgause's tender kisses on her face; her forehead, her cheeks, her nose, her lips.

'I don't understand, Morgause.' Morgana leant back and looked up at her sister, studying her for the rest time that night. Her face was unscarred, as beautiful as when they'd first met, those three years ago as she'd rescued Morgana from Uther's grasp, her blonde hair gleaming as gold in the moonlight. 'I've failed. This shouldn't have happened.'

'No, my sister, you were impeccable, your magic was stronger than that of which I've never seen. But you did not count for one thing.' Morgause smiled, holding Morgana's cheek as Morgana nuzzled her hand. 'You never accounted for me.'

'I don't understand.' Morgana's brow knitted in puzzlement, breaking away, causing Morgause to kiss her once more, as if to kiss away the worry painted so clearly on Morgana's face.

'I would never allow you to sacrifice yourself for me. You are so much more precious than I ever was,' Morgause explained softly, the harsh tones of her voice before gone, replaced with the voice she would only ever reserve for the dark featured girl before her.

Morgana felt herself laugh at Morgause's ridiculous suggestion. 'To who? You are the greatest sorceress this World's ever known. You beat Arthur Pendragon in armed combat, challenged the very King of Camelot. Outwitted Cenred and stole his army from under his very nose. I have nothing to boast of.'

'But you, sister, are Morgana Pendragon, the future queen of Camelot, the only one who can bring our enemies to their knees.'

Morgana's eyes darkened and she climbed off the altar, before walking away from her sister's embrace, keeping her back to Morgause, as if to prevent her pained expression from betraying her. 'Please, do not speak of them now...'

'Sister?'

She turned again, her pale cheeks wet with tears. She'd lost her calm, she felt hysteria rising in her voice, her stomach churning. 'The dorrocha failed, Morgause. I failed you. Your sacrifice was for nothing. Nothing.'

To her surprise, she watched Morgause smile gently. She felt Morgause's hand enclose around her own. 'I never thought the dorrocha would succeed, sister, the odds were too slim.' She saw Morgana's face fall, her emerald eyes shimmering. 'I had not long left in your World and I did not want to die by that old man's hand. To die by yours was a comfort to me, the greatest comfort I could have asked for.' She was stroking Morgana's cold hands reassuringly, just as she used to do. 'But now, there is one more thing I must ask from you. For you to take your rightful place on the throne of Camelot.'

Morgana tried to take a deep breath, but she felt as though her lungs were closing up. 'I don't think I can. Not without you.'

Morgause nodded but was stroking the healing bracelet still resting on Morgana's forearm. 'You're never without me though, sister. I could never allow you to sacrifice yourself for me because I live still. I live in your magic and your passion, in your determination and your loyalty, in here.' She kissed Morgana's forehead delicately. 'And here.' She put her hand over Morgana's heart. 'And that means I'm never truly gone. Our enemies will never understand that, never understand us. But I'm always with you, sister, whenever it looks darkest. And when you take your throne, I'll still be at your right hand side, just as I always as. And when it's your time, I will be waiting for you with open arms, I promise you.'

Morgana ignored the tears on her cheeks, and the rapid beating of her heart, and she kissed Morgause deeply, giving herself fully, just as Morgause had done for her in life. After they'd both fully surrendered themselves, and clung tightly to the other's shivering frame, Morgause stood back solemnly.

'I've healed you, sister, you'll feel pain, but you're no longer dying. You need to go back, bide your time. You'll receive a sign of when to begin plotting once more. Find a man named Helios, he'll help you. He can provide the strength to Agravaine's loyalty, the muscle to your power.'

Morgana felt her heart crumbling as she watched her sister's figure fading from view, her form melting into the dark, empty night. She was gone once again, this time for good, no daring rescue attempts this time. The certainty brought another tear to Morgana's eyes but as it fell, it hit the silver bracelet on her arm. She remembered Morgause's fingers on it, her words, once again and, smiling bravely, she felt herself collapse onto the stone altar.

It was not for weeks later that, as she sat by the fire in her dark hovel, a hand on the knife scar on her stomach, Agravaine burst through the door, panting manically. His hair was wild, but a fire burnt wilder in his dark eyes.

'My Lord?' She asked coldly, eyebrows raised at his sudden entrance.

'It couldn't wait, my Lady.' He sat next to her, attempting to warm his hands. She gave him a quizzical look, as if demanding his news. He coughed before beginning. 'The King has been fatally injured. He's dying, Morgana.'

Eyes wide, and a smirk creeping across her face, she turned to him, and out of the corner of her eye, she could swear she saw Morgause's form hidden in the shadows, a final smile across her face. She'd delivered her sign. She'd delivered her destiny.

Thank you everyone for reading/ reviews, they are always welcome :)