Thanks for reading. Hope you liked it. There is a lot of talking and exposition in this chapter, sorry. I've tried to make it as interesting as possible.
Merlin should be thinking about where he was. About how his life could be about to change. All that he could think about in the hours were sleep alluded him was Morgana. specifically, his feelings for her. Surprisingly he wasn't surprised by it. While he had never let himself think about it, he had always known deep down that he had feelings for Morgana greater than friendship. He also knew that nothing would come from it. Status being the bearer at first, then of course he had tried to kill her. By some miracle they had been able to work forward from there. They were friends now. Morgana had said it herself. That was the very best he could hope for. It was more than he expected, and he was grateful for that. So grateful for that. He didn't want to do anything to mess that up. So, as he had done for years, he pushed his feelings deep down and accept the way things were.
His mind no longer racing, Merlin was able to get few hours of sleep. Morgana by contrast when she did try and fall asleep did so almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. A peaceful dreamless sleep then followed. When she woke in the morning, she felt more rested than she had in a very long time. She had forgotten what it felt like to not be on edgy all the time. Like Merlin she had not given much thought to the matter that hung over their heads. In the end they both realized that it didn't matter how much time they spent thinking about it, the decision was out of their hands. Normally that something that they had grown to but against, now though there was almost a slight relief to it.
Once awake they washed their faces in the bowls of water on the bedside table in their rooms and then left to see what the plan for the rest of the day was. Morgana was the first to emerge from her room and make her way to the main hall of the house. She began to walk towards the small garden to see if she could see anything beyond the wall. As she did, she heard someone walking down the stairs. She didn't turn to face them at first, when she did, she saw Merlin turning around like he was about to walk away. Before she could ask him, what was going on Caelia appeared from the opposite side of the hall.
They were then ushered into the dining room where a breakfast had been laid out from them on a table made of the marble the rest of the interior of the house was. Rose and an older looking man with a short beard named Luke joined them for breakfast. Luke had been on the isle longer than anyone else that still remained on the shoreline. Like Caelia he could not remember how long ago that was. Unlike Caelia his voice was deep and earthy. It gave Merlin and Morgana a comforting feeling of reality.
While they ate Caelia explained that they would meet the rest of the council of Avalon later that day. Four men and women, Luke being one that aided Caelia in protecting Avalon and the source of magic. They would meet them separately and they could ask all the questions they had. They also would be asked questions that would help the council make their choice as to who would rule Avalon in Caelia's place.
Merlin sat next to Morgana across the table from Rose. As they ate and were told of the plan for the day, he glanced over at Morgana a few times. Trying to read her feelings from her controlled face. He tried to do this without being noticed. Only looking over for a few brief seconds at a time. Each time it took him a little bit longer to look away. Even now in the bright sun light her skin still had the shimmering glow that it had last night. What she was thinking he couldn't tell.
After they had finished eating the three residents of Avalon left to meet with the council before the meetings took place. Rose would return when they were ready to see Merlin and Morgana.
Once alone Morgana turned to Merlin. "I'll go first."
Who should be brought before the council first had not been stated. They assumed that it was up to them to decide. Merlin wasn't sure why Morgana wanted to go first, but he had no objection so simply nodded.
Studying his face Morgana saw an emotion she couldn't place. He seemed to be retreating into himself. It saddened her a little, as he had just it felt to her been beginning to open up. Taking control of his life, making his own choices.
Before she could ask him, anything Rose returned.
Morgana got to her feet and followed her along the corridor that went down the other side of the house that they had been staying in. At the end of the corridor was a doorway clocked in the now familiar shimmering fabric. The doorway was twice as wide as any of the others in the house. The fabric slowly pulled back as the women grew nearer. Nothing could be seen of the room beyond until they stepped into it.
The room was not overly larger than any of the others they had seen so far but seemed to be as three of the walls were made of glass. Letting in the bright sunlight. Facing the doorway was medium sized table of the also now familiar marble. It was curved slightly, the ends nearest the doorway. Around the table sat Caelia and Luke, joined by another man and women. The man was younger than Luke, clean shaven, but had an aged face that had seen much. His name was Guy, and he had an accent that either Merlin or Morgana could place. The other women Alba had red curly hair that was even longer than Caelia. She seemed to be younger than Rose, but if she was on the council, she must be older. They learned later that she was in fact the second oldest person on the council. Also, she had the best memory. Being able to remember how she had been living here, and therefore how long Caelia had been here.
Morgana tried to keep her face blank when she heard the high number. Merlin had let out a gasp that he tried to cover with a cough. He had waited what felt like hours for Rose to come and tell him it was his turn. He walked down the corridor and into the bright room. Sat down in the empty chair a few feet in front of the marble table the council sat behind. They introduced themselves and added the new information, how long they had been here that they had confirmed after Morgana had asked when she sat in front of them.
The first question that was asked of them took them a little bit by surprise. They had thought there would be a few simple questions first, to get them to feel comfortable. So that when the more important questions were asked, they would be more open with their answers.
"Who do you believe should rule Avalon."
Caelia asked her voice sounding more curious that actually interested in their answers. She gave off the air of being uninterested in what they were discussing.
"Isn't that your choice." Morgana asked back. Trying not to sound to caustic.
Caelia just smiled a small smile. "Yes, but I want to know what you think."
"I think that you've already made your choice." She didn't bother to hide the caustic tone this time.
It was a risky move. Being as direct as she was. She may be asked to leave. Before she has a chance to ask the many questions she has, but Morgana was as tired of having other people control her life. Put her in a box and label her as evil and heartless. Caelia and the rest of the council seemed to be amused by her directness fortunately.
"What makes you think that." Caelia asked in an even tone.
Morgana let out a small laugh. "I am darkness and hate. Why would a shimmering beacon of hope choice me to lead them, protect them." Sadness growing in her voice with each word.
"Have you not suffered the binding of your magic to protect the druids from further attack." Morgana turned away as Alba spoke to her. Her eyes burning into her. "Did you not spend over a year in chains to protect an innocent creature." The other women's voice was if it was possible more lyrical than Caelia's.
"You do not believe yourself to be incapable of compassion or love. Do not pretend that you do. Be honest with us and yourself and we will do the same to you." Caelia 's tone was comforting, but stern. Morgana would do as she was told. "Now who do you think should rule Avalon in my place." She asked again.
Morgana was quiet as she thought of her answer.
Merlin was as surprised as Morgana at the directness of the question. Rather than snapping back, he answered after a brief beat. "Morgana."
If the council were surprised at his answer, they didn't show it. They remained looking at him with unreadable faces.
"You sound so certain." Guy said as he leaned closer resting his elbows on the marble table. His eyes looking into Merlin's. Merlin thought he could read his thoughts. That he knew about his feelings for Morgana. Then he smiled a wide smile and leaned back in his chair.
"She knows more than I do of the old ways. Knows more of our kind. She is the daughter of a king-"
"Is she." Able questioned.
"He believed so and raised her as such."
Caelia nodded and leaned back a little in her chair. "Yet you did not want to see her rule Camelot." Merlin was about to answer but she didn't give him the chance. "And now you wish to see her rule a kingdom with more power than all of Albion combined."
Merlin chewed on the inside of his cheek as he tried to find the words to explain. "I was told she couldn't be trusted."
"And now you trust her."
"Yes." He answered quickly. "I should have trusted her from the start. She deserved to know about me, about the prophecy. By not trusting her I made her untrustworthy."
A muffled laugh began to grow, drawing the attention of the room. All eyes turned to Luke. Who had been quiet up until now. "Dragons are notoriously unremitting."
Earning a small laugh from Merlin and nod. "That they are."
"That brings us to the point of your ancestry." Alba said, unable to hide her growing smile.
Morgana did not have to think very long about her answer, now that she was pressed to give one. It seemed to be less narcissistic though to take a pause before she answered. "Me."
It was faint, but she felt sure she could see the hint of a smile of the faces of the four individuals that sat across from her.
"Why is that." Alba asked her smile growing as she seemed to enjoy suturing the pot.
This Morgana genuinely did take her time to articulate her answer correctly. "Merlin is powerful. People like him, trust him. But he's not a leader."
"He works better in the background." Guy asked and Morgana nodded.
"He hides his magic from everyone. How can he rule the kingdom of magic when he can't admit to having magic in the first place."
Of all the answers Morgana could have given, how Merlin had killed her, tried to kill Mordred. That she would choice the most rational and lest personal reason took the council by surprise. A pleasant surprise.
Merlin did his best not to show any feeling at the mention of his father. While he had no great hope that his father would be here, he had still been disappointed to have it confirmed that he wasn't. From what he knew of his father, of what it meant to be a dragon lord he didn't think it did much to recommend him for a job of leading. It seemed to create an isolated life. Though the more he thought about it the more it made some sense. After all, if you could control a dragon then leading human beings that could he reasoned with could not be too difficult. There was much more to it than that, but it did give him some confidence.
"It takes a great deal of power of different kinds to control a dragon." Luke said ending his statement as a question for Merlin.
"I'm not sure I can say." Caelia looked surprised. "There are only two dragons living. One is just a child and the other likes to tell me what to do."
"But you stopped him from destroying Camelot." Alba said clearly trying to up left Merlin. He smiled at her in thanks but didn't say anything.
After starting off with the most pressing question it was hard to know what they would ask next. What line of questing they would go down next would be. Neither guessed what it ended up being.
"Being the ruler of Avalon is not a simple task." Caelia said. "You will have help." She looked at either side of herself at her council. "But it takes a toll. Requires sacrifices." Merlin and Morgana nodded as she said this to each of them in turn. "You are free to leave as you please. You can still see your family." Merlin visibly relaxed at this. "To rule, to live here you are more linked to the magic of this world. Your power will increase. That also as I'm sure realized prolongs your life greatly. It also means that when you are off of the isle, then the years will catch up with you." Morgana's eyes widened a little. "Not all at once, over time. The longer you have been here the quicker they catch up when you're not here." This caused Morgana to relax a little. "It is a heavy burden that we will ask of one of you. We are sure that one of you are up to the task. Emrys such power and will. Morgan Le fay, such knowledge and ingenuity."
"Is that something you are willing to take on." Alban asked.
The more the watched her the more it became clear that despite her age, she still had the same enthusiasm and zeal for life that she must have had as a child all those years ago. She seemed to be the one most interested in what was going on. She was also the one that both Merlin and Morgana wanted to learn more about. The redhead Morgana noticed kept glancing over at Caelia. She began to wonder if Abla's focus on the task before her was a way to stop herself from thinking about possibly losing Caelia.
Morgana opened her mouth to answer, but the word got stuck in her throat.
Merlin answered quicker than he expected. Using more than the one word that Morgana would. "If I have to."
"Yes." Morgana said after a beat.
The Council nodded at each of their affirmations.
"Now do you have any questions for us." Guy asked Morgana, Luke asked Merlin when he sat before them.
Morgana took in and then let out a deep breath. All of the questions she had were suddenly hard to voice. They suddenly didn't seem that important. She knew all that she needed to right now. Everything else she could learn later. From what she had been told, what she knew from her own study and the knowledge from Cornelius sigan were enough for her right now. There was one thing, that had been answered already, but she needed to know more.
"My mother-"
"I'm sorry." Caelia said. Not wanting to give false hope.
"You said you didn't know. There is still a chance."
Alba gently nodded her head. "A chance yes."
"What is beyond the veil."
"Peace." Caelia said in a low voice as she closed her and took in a deep breath. As if she was imagining the peace and rest, she was about to enjoy.
"For those that need it." Luke said as he reached out his hand to rest on Caelia's shoulder.
"Can you come back."
All eyes turned to Caelia at Morgana's question.
"Some can." Caelia said as she leaned forward. "Those that wish it and haven't resided on the isle for an extended time."
"It's a protected space for our kind to return to the source of our power. In return for retuning the power we have used we gain eternal peace." Guy added.
"If she was there." Morgana said her head lowered to the floor. "She couldn't come back-"
Morgana was silence by a shocking strong grip around her upper body. Pinning her arms to her sides. Lifting her gaze all she could see was a mass of red curls that smiled of fresh flowers.
"Whatever choice is made I will help you search. I can't promise we will find anything." Morgana nodded as she lifted her arms as much as she could to return the hug. "You always have a home here." Alba said in a lower voice as she held Morgana tighter and then pulled back.
"Thank you."
Able smiled down at Morgana, a hand on her shoulder. With a gentle squeeze she moved to return to her seat behind the table with the rest of the council. Having nothing else to ask or say Morgana made her farewell and left. Rose had been waiting on the other side of the doorway. Rather than lead her back to the main hall and Merlin she led Morgana out into the small patch of green. Then left to take Merlin to his meeting. When he sat in the chair and was asked the second question asked of them unlike Morgana he didn't have to pause and think. He knew what he wanted to ask.
"Could my mother, those without magic live here."
The council were quiet. Exchanging glancing with each other. No one wanting to answer. This told Merlin all that he needed to know Without them saying a single word.
"It is possible...But." Caelia tried but struggled to think of the right word. "Difficult. Those without magic do not live long hear. The magic, for that not linked to it can be...For a time, they could yes. If they were nearing the veil themselves."
"Dying." Merlin clarified.
Caelia nodded. which Merlin returned and feeling he had said all that he had to stood up and moved to leave. Rose as she did with Morgana met him on the other side of the doorway and lead him to join Morgana.
She had been standing by the pool of bright blue water, her back to the house when he arrived. Spinning round and the sound she quickly moved over to him. Then stopped. Not knowing what to say, what there was to say. Fortunately, before either of them had to say something they were joined by the council and Rose. They stood in a line in front of the doorway to the house.
"We have come to a decision." Caelia said evenly as she smiled at them.
Merlin and Morgana turned to fully face them as they waited for the decision that would change their lives, regardless of who was choosen forever.
Thank you very much for reading. Hope that you enjoyed it. Also, that the format of writing the two meetings in tandem with each other worked alright. That it made sense and wasn't overly confusing and hard to follow. I just felt it would be to boring and repetitive to write them one after the other.
As always, any feedback, ideas or input is very welcome. It really makes a lot of difference.
I will be honest that while I want to finish the story, I have lost a little of the motivation for it. I knew when I started rewriting the story and posting it on Ao3, that not many people would want to read it. That there would be little engagement, but it still makes it a little hard to be motivated to write when no one is reading or seems that interested. This is all very "poor me." and I don't want to go on about it, I just wanted to explain why it might take me a little longer to update sometimes.