I'm sorry for the delay but it's been a bit hectic in my house right now. Hopefully I'll get back into a regular updating pattern soon but please be patient. If you have been patient, and are still reading this, thank you so very much! Please keep doing that lovely stuff like reviewing, favouriting and following, and thank to those who already have. But if you do review please no flames!

Percival's POV

The sisters have been gone for a while now into the other room with Ambrosia's scrying bowl whilst the rest of us have dug into Gaius' food stores. I remember Gaius from the old days and he has hardly changed except for twenty years of age. Gaius was always the one that if anyone got injured during practice he would patch up gladly with much admonishment that was usually well deserved. Talking to his younger brother now you can see the years strip away from his aged form as he shares fond memories and anecdotes from their childhood.

Ambrosia listens attentively and laughs in all the right places along with Lancelot and Gwaine but I sit on the edge if the conversation until Balinor's voice floats over to me. "Hey Percival do you remember the time you, me, Myriddin, Uthur and Johnathan tried to take on a pack of Serkets after Johnathan accidently trod on a few eggs?"

I laugh at our old friend's clumsiness. "Of course you had to get Kilgharrah in the end and he scolded you for about an hour about recklessness and you just kept saying it was all Johnathan's fault."

"He never believed me!" Balinor grinned. Ambrosia and Gaius started taking about their various adventures and I find myself drifting off again. Out of the corner of my eye I see an odd shift in the air. Nothing is there but I could have sworn something moved. I see it again and this time I know something is there. I get up quietly and hastily mumble some excuse to Leon and follow the shape curiously.

Once out in the corridor I hear whispering voices. "How long does this spell last Merlin?" Morgana's voice- what the hell is going on?

"As long as I want it to Morgana." The sister replied irritably- apparently this question had been asked before. "You need to stay quiet this spell doesn't stop us from being heard!"

I decided to make myself known to simply find out what the invisible sisters were up to. "Yes like me."

"Percival!" Merlin cried and in her distraction the spell flickered and I saw the pair of them hand in hand for a moment. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't think that's the main point is it Merlin? What are you and High Priestess Morgana doing walking around invisible?" I shot them a sharp shrewd look hoping to intimidate them into telling me but I heard a soft chuckle and so decided to use a different tack. "Or I could just go back and inform Ambrosia that her two youngest daughters are walking around invisible with suspicious intent."

"No!" Merlin cried out and I smiled in victory. "We'll tell you just don't tell mother."

Arthur's POV

To say I was slightly nervous about meeting my stepmother was an understatement. No matter how many times Gaius assured me that she was a kind woman who was heartbroken about my father's death and would accept me back with loving arms, I still have this fear that she's a power grabbing manipulator. It doesn't help that she an aunt of Morgause and Mordred (who is apparently evil and recently escaped Camelot after a trial for treachery and murdered my father as he went on his merry way). I'm seriously going to do some more extensive training with the guards seeing as how they just let him walk out of here.

As I walk past people stop and stare openly but I just try to ignore their gaping and focus on Leon and Gaius who are at my side. The good news is nobody is attacking us which probably either means they're too shocked to know how to react or they're not willing to. I really hope it's the latter as it would make my transition back to Camelot easier. Even if I'm worried for myself I'm also worried for Leon, the Queen is Morgause's aunt and Ambrosia told me that they look quite alike. Apparently she's who she gets her colouring off as well as her nose and jaw if Ambrosia is to be believed.

We get to the doors of the throne room and at the guards hasty movements the doors are flung open to announce us. The whole court is gathered and their clean faces show confusion and annoyance at my entry. I daresay since my father died many have either tried to marry the widowed Queen or else try to make her take them for an heir which with my re-entry isn't very likely.

The only person who doesn't looked shocked is the beautiful queen herself. She sits on her throne properly her whole body showing her breeding and grace but there is a slight slump to her shoulders that I only notice because I've spent many a day studying knights' stances on the training ground. If I hadn't been prepared for the similarity I might've had to do a double take at the woman who looked like an older Morgause only there was no 'Le Fay' edge to her that Morgause, Merlin, Morgana and Ambrosia all shared. The queen also seemed completely devoid of spirit and her face seemed to tell nothing but cold misery- the heartless gold digger image of her faded quickly as I saw her blatant pain and mourning.

The three of us stood before her thrown and bowed simultaneously at the as yet silent queen. "My lady."

"Stand Arthur Pendragon. You have nothing to fear here." Her voice is kind but there is little warmth which doesn't seem to suit her. The sadness that seems to surround her touches me and I feel pity for her despite the fact I came into this room more than willing to challenge her. "You are of my husband's blood and although you were estranged at the time of his… passing I know that he still loved you dearly. I also know that one of his greatest regrets was not having reconciled with you. You may not be my son however I shall honour my husband's last wishes and restore your title and position within Camelot."

This has gone better than I ever dreamed it would go as the queen looks at me with a small smile that seems to pull her whole face back into some sort of life. "Thank you my lady. My good friend Leon here was the First Knight of Camelot before we left I was wondering of it would be possible to restore this title. He is truly one of the most loyal and brave men I've ever had the good fortune to know and fight alongside." As stoic as Leon has been since Morgause's departure I see him smile a little at my praise.

"That shouldn't be too much of a problem. We have a vacancy in that position and I've heard many fine reports about your time as First Knight Sir Leon. A rival to my own brother's command and leadership of the Knights of Camelot. Stand please gentlemen." We do as we are told and the sad queen looks at us with the doleful kindness that has been given to us ever since we came into the throne room. "You are reinstated in your positions as Prince and First Knight and I shall have neither of you bow before me."

This woman may not be my mother but I can't help thinking that she made my father a good wife and undoubtedly loved him. She has earned my respect when I was unwilling to give her such a thing and for that I shall serve her as readily as I did my father. As much as Ambrosia likes to talk of the time of the 'Once and Future King' I think for the moment Catriona Tregor Pendragon is a very good queen. I don't think I'm quite ready yet.

Morgana's POV

The Lake of Avalon is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and as the three of us stare out at the clear blue waters I feel the magic that surrounds it shift slightly as it did when Merlin and I looked into the basin. The Lady of the Lake is moving.

Within a moment fog smothers the lake, as we stand as mere spectators as magic swirls around us practically visible, from the curls of the white mist forms a figure of a beautiful woman. A heart shaped face framed by long dark hair but her eyes were what caught my attention- big, glowing amber that shone with not only power but gentleness. Percival stares wide eyed at the Lady as if enchanted. "Elowen."

The Lady's soft face looked at him with such love and devotion that it made me want to look away to give them some privacy. "Yes my love it is me." She turns to Merlin, almost reluctantly, and gives her a respectful bow which is returned. "Lady Emrys you have come for Excalibur."

Merlin bows hastily and I follow her lead whilst Percival remains still. "Yes my lady. It is time for it to return to its true master."

"That maybe so." The Lady's face is full if regret and almost disapproval which angers me slightly that she would disapprove of Merlin. "But the Sidhe and the other spirits if this lake have taken it as their own."

"But it's rightfully Arthur's!" I shout completely forgetting years of behaviour in court in my indignation. "And Merlin forged it for him! The Sidhe have no claim to it."

Although I've seen knights of Camelot tremble at my rage the Lady of the Lake doesn't even flinch. "Yet she gave it to the Lake of Avalon willingly which transferred ownership in their eyes so now she must pay the price for the sword: a life."

Silence reigns over us until Merlin, before I can pull her back, steps forward with no trace of nerves. "For Arthur, I give my life."

"Lady Emrys this is not your destiny but another's." Her voice is soft and her tone full of an emotion that I can't quite identify.

In a moment I see Percival's eyes widen ever so slightly as understanding dawns on him. "It is mine. This is the only way I can die, isn't it?"

"Yes." The most beautiful sword I've ever seen- set with gold and engraved in a language I do not know- appears in her soft hands. "This is your decision and yours alone."

Merlin and I remain silent. What's he talking about? He can't just leave and take off without saying goodbye to Ambrosia or any of the others! We're fixed in this paralysis as we just watch the lovers and as I look to her, I see understanding in Merlin's face. How can she just accept this? He's going to die! Then his voice, so full of hope at his imminent death, echoes on the silent beach beside the lake. "If I die, do I get to be with you?" At her small, soft nod Percival turns to Merlin and fixes his warm brown eyes on her- begging her to understand. "I have to go Merlin. Do you understand? I love her and there is nothing left for me now."

Tears are running down my face but Merlin is staying strong and places a hand on his face, cupping it gently in her slightly rough hands. "Go and be happy Percival. May your soul find peace in Avalon."

To her surprise he bows fully to her and then to me elegantly. "Lady Emrys, Lady Morgana, I wish you luck and hope you too shall find peace someday."

"Goodbye Percival." My voice is a whisper but he smiles at me as he takes the Lady's hand, softly with a tender expression and with a last lingering look turns fully to see the radiant beauty that the Lady of the Lake is.

Then, with as much splendour she arrived with, the Lady of the Lake and Percival disappear. Amongst the mist as it clears stands the golden sword, balancing on the surface of the pure blue water, but it no longer holds the beauty and wonder it did before. Not now I know the cost. As Merlin steps forward to collect the blade she handles it with care but sadness leaks through her and she murmurs a prayer. "Thank you, my lady."

We're silent on the way back, moving with perfect cohesion through the treacherous woods, even with Merlin's balance. There's a sort of understanding in the air and I know Merlin can feel it to. People are going to die in the upcoming war- this is only the beginning.

Excalibur has come into play! I know this is slightly shorter than normal but I wanted to finish here. See you soon!