Thank you for reading. I hope that you are doing well and will enjoy this new chapter.
I've not been able to figure out how to get the links in my profile to work. So I Would recommend if you are interested in the clothes, reading the story on Ao3. The links are at the notes at the start of the specific chapters they appear in. I have the same username on there as well so you can find me easily.
The dress Morgana wears in the start of this chapter and the beginning of this one. It is under cream dress on my profile .
The dress she wears for the coronation is under white silver dress on my profile
The headdress is under headdress in my profile
As they drew nearer to the isle the mist began to clear and they saw their destination beginning to appear faintly in the distance. Though they had seen it before the sight of the bright, gleaming place still shocked Merlin and Morgana and left them in a little speechless. Mordred kept his eye set ahead, trying his hardest not to blink. Fearing that if he did it would vanish by the time his eyes opened. Merlin caught Morgana eye and they shared a look of mutual agreement at the amazing place that lay before them. They then looked to Mordred to see his reaction. The young knights eyes were wide and his mouth slightly open in awe. Merlin smiled as he patted the younger man on the back, pulling him from his daze. The first warm gesture he had given the young man since he was a child and first meet him.
When the landing pier was in sight the men began to change course to reach it. They didn't notice the silhouettes of four people appearing through the mist. Not until they could reach out and touch the pier. The sight sent a shiver down Mordred's spine, but as neither Morgan or Merlin seemed to be concerned he felt sure that there was no reason for him to be. Once the boat was tied to the pier Merlin and Morgan held onto it, keeping the boat in place, so that Mordred could climb up onto it. Once there he turned from the silhouettes that seemed to pause in the mist and reached down to the boat to pull Morgana up. When she too was standing on the pier they both reached back a hand to pull Merlin up. The irony that, while not putting his life in their hands he was putting trust into the two people he had been told so many times not to trust, was not lost on him.
Once all three were on the pier the four silhouettes moved forwards again. Finally becoming clear through the mist the council of Avalon greeted the arrivals.
"We are pleased to see you return so quickly." Caelia said as she stepped forward. First pulling Morgana into a hug. "I'm glad you found your answer so swiftly."
Before Morgana could say anything, give her answer, Caelia pulled away and turned to Mordred on her left.
"I'm also glad to finally meet the brave sir Mordred." She finished by kissing the knight on the cheek.
Morgana did her best to pretend that she didn't see Mordred's face flushing a little. She didn't want to embarrass him anymore than she was sure he already was feeling. Instead she turned to Merlin, once again sharing a look of joint pleasure at seeing Mordred here. It was not a look that he felt he could share so he quickly turned from her to great Caelia. The rest of the council now stepped forward to make their own greeting. Still before Morgana could say anything about her choice Caelia spoke first. As there was much to talk about she said they should return to somewhere more private.
It was only now that they realised that the council of four were not the only ones that had come to see the arrival. Looking through the mist that now seemed to be clearing to the end of the pier they same a small group of people. They looked like a family with three children. The youngest a boy seemed to be hiding behind his mother's skirt as she tried to coax him forward. Morgana lifted her right hand and gave a tiny wave of her hand. Feeling a little braver the little boy lifted his hand and gave a tiny wave back in return. Earning him a bright smile from his homes new ruler. With a laugh he moved to hide again, now in a playful way, not out of fear. The rest of the family feeling a little more at ease waved to the new arrivals and they waved back.
The streets that they walked trough to reach the large residence of the council, Morgana's new home were not empty as they had been the first time Morgana and Merlin had made the same journey. The people of Avalon went about their day mostly uninterested in the three new arrivals. One of which would soon be their new ruler. The population of Avalon dressed in shapes, silhouettes similar to what was familiar in the five kingdoms. It was the material that made them stand out. Merlin and Morgana had believed that it was only those in the council, those with influential jobs that wore clothes made of crisp shimmering fabric. Clearly they had been wrong as even the simplest garment was made of the most exquisite material. The people all seemed to have the same shimmer to their skin that the council had and that Merlin had noticed in Morgana as well. They all seemed to be around the same age as arrivals. A few were further on in years and some much younger. Though it was hard to tell how truly old anyone was, given the unique way that timed flowed here.
As they walked Luke gave a running commentary on the living arrangements and daily routine that went on. Merlin half listened as he tried to take it all in. Mordred only got a few words as what he saw and heard reminded him on his life with the druids, all be it without the shine that existed here. Morgana hung on every word. Tring to retain all that she was told. It was a well fought, but losing battle.
Once they reached the one building that they had seen the interior of before, Caelia subtly linked her arm with Morgana's and pulled her into one of the smaller rooms on the ground floor. The two sat at the small table by the door to the grounds behind the building. Caelia didn't seem to need to ask Morgana what she had decided. As she linked their arms she gave the other witch's arm a gently squeeze, saying without words that she knew and was pleased that Morgana had chosen to succeed her.
They talked for many hours as Caelia took her time in telling Morgana all that she would need to know. She didn't want to overwhelm her successor by dropping a lot of dispassionate information in her lap when she had just agreed to take on the role of ruler. A lot of such information was unimportant in the grade scheme of things. Others on the council were better informed on the details of the daily running of Avalon. They would still be here to aid Morgana as they had done Caelia. What Caelia wanted to impart to the younger witch was the larger picture that it would soon be her responsibility to understand. It was clear that Morgana was trying to take in all that she was being told, but there came a point were it seemed to be a case of diminished returns. There was only so much that she could take in during one sitting.
The next two days went in much the same way. Morgana and Caelia, sometimes a member of the council would have long conversations in the small meeting rooms of what they learned was called the citadel. When they were not sitting and talking they walked around the entirety of the isle. Making sure that Morgana understood the layout of her Kingdome. This was also a opportunity for her to be interduce to her people on a more intimate way. Avalon was not a large Kingdome, but it was a powerful one. With a proud and strong community. That were very interlinked with one other. It would be a hard task to be taken in by the community and made to feel a part of it, but they were welcoming and seemed to be willing to give Morgana a chance. This she believed was more to do with the trust that they had in Caelia and the council and their choice of her, rather than anything she herself did.
The ceremony was set to tale place on the third day after they arrived. Caelia did not see any reason to drag things out. She was ready to move on and felt sure that now that she had made her choice Morgana too was excited to take on the next chapter of her life.
The people of Avalon gather in the citadel, before the endless bright pool that embodied the source of magic. Just a little over two hundred people in total stood in the bright sun light as their ruler stood before them and the source of magic and spoke of her pride and joy in being chosen to protect the isle, its people and magic. She wore a gleaming dress of the lightest grey. The darkest colour Morgana or Merlin had seen her wear. Her hair hung freely and a silver headdress that they had never seen her wear with a blue at its centre rested on her head.
She spoke then of feeling certain that the world beyond the mist that protected and shielded them was changing and she felt that to best meet that change new blood, with new energy was needed. Explaining the best qualities that those considered for the task of succeeding her possessed. Taking a moment to remember their fallen sisters Morgause and Nimueh. That while they where no longer physically with them anymore they would always be with them in spirit, because magic never died. Nor do those touched by it.
As she finished speaking a silence feel over the gathering, as Caelie held out her right arm in front of her. Turning everyone's attention to the Citadel behind them where their new ruler began to make her entrance.
Morgana step out in the sunlight and the crowd parted for her as she slowly made her way towards Caelie behind the pool of light. She wore a white dress that simmered in the sunlight. It was not like any dress Merlin had seen her in in a very long time. It reminded him of the burgundy dress she had worn to the feast the night he arrived in Camelot. Like then she glided forward through the crowed her hands clasped demurely before her, her head held high. This time her hair hung down her back, reaching her waist. It shone and was more styled with a gentle curl than she had worn in a while as well. Unlike that night all those year ago Her eyes didn't flitter around her, enjoying being the centre of attention for a brief moment. Now her head was held high, and she kept her eyes set of where she was heading.
Merlin had thought she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen that night, but now he fully believed she was the most beautiful person in the world. Her skin glimmered in the sunlight like her dress and her eyes had never been so green, so bright.
For the briefest second she looked to her side, searching for a familiar face in the crowd to ground herself. Her heart was beating so fast and loudly she was sure that everyone could hear it as clearly as she did. Her eyes found Merlin first, who had an unreadable expression, but as their eyes met his lip twitched into a smile. For some reason having the person that was fated to be her doom, smiling at her as she was about to take on a role of great power and influence, made her heartbeat slow a little. Meeting Mordred's eye next who stood beside Merlin, a wide smile on his face, quietened the last of her nervousness.
The faces of the rest of the crowd were out of focus until she stood before them next to Caelia. They looked calm and content. No unease or trepidation about their new ruler. There was no vow no words that she had to resit. She simply lowered her head as Caelia took the headdress from her head and placed it on Morgana's. Once it was secure Morgana lifted her head and turned to face her people. Who now erupted into loud cheers and clapping. The crowd was much smaller than the two coronations Morgana had witnessed before, but they were louder to her. Now that she stood at the centre of it.
The stone at the centre of the headdress was the last remaining piece of a larger stone that had been found in the pool of light centuries ago. When people were just discovering the isle and the magic that flowed here. As the stone touched Morgana's head changed from a teal blue to a emerald green, as it reacted to her magic. The stone was said to focus the bearers magic. Making it more powerful and they themselves more aware, in tune with the world around them.
Alba was the first to move forward from where the council and leaders of the community stood near to pool and pull Morgana into a tight hug. Her words of excitement at the opportunities that a change in rule offered were mostly lost in the many other voices celebrating around them. As the red head pulled back and kissed Morgana on the cheek, Guy reached them and placed a hand on her back. His was of offering congratulations it seemed. Luke, then Finally Caelia hugged Morgana, who them moved into the crowd searching for he familiar faces she had seen before.
Merlin and Mordred cheered and clapped with the crowd. They hadn't expected them to move forward. In Camelot as in the other five kingdoms there was an invisible but clear barrier between the people and those that ruled over them. That was not the case here. The young men found themselves being pushed and pulled in all directions as they tried to stay standing in the chaos around them.
Morgana caught sight of the top of Merlin's head first. With a smile to the people she moved around she headed towards him. He was half turned from her when she was close enough to reach out and grab his arm to help pulled herself forward the final few feet. In all the movement around them her hand missed his arm and instead took hold of his hand.
Feeling a hand slipping into his Merlin turned round just As Morgana tugged his arm to pull herself forward and lifted her free arm to wrap around his neck. Though he didn't have the chance to see her face, Merlin knew it was Morgana that was hugging him so tightly. A barely held back laugh ringing in his ear. Without hesitation he returned the hug with his free arm. Not letting go of her hand till she pulled it free to join her hands around his neck. Over Merlin's shoulder she met Mordred's eyes and finally let out her laugh as she let go of Merlin to hug Mordred.
While the atmosphere was as joyous as it had been in Camelot a few days ago, the celebrations didn't last as long into the night here. As the sun began to set so too did the people begin to return to their homes. When Morgana was about to leave herself, when only a handful of people remained, she asked where Caelia was. She seemed to have disappeared into the crowd during the day. Alba placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"She's at peace." Was all she said. All she needed to say.
At some point Caelia had slipped away from the crowd. Saying her farewells to a small few. Then disappearing beyond the veil at the heart of the isle. With no fanfare. Where she would be at peace for eternity with those of their kind that too had passed on.
The next morning just as the sun began to rise Merlin and Mordred left. Morgana saw them off at the pier. Doing her best not to hug Mordred too much or too tightly. He was not a child any longer. He didn't need her fussing over him. When she released him from a last hug she pulled from her pocket a red velvet bag.
Opening it he tipped two opal looking stones. Reaching out Morgana took one in her hand.
"If you hold it and think of the person that has the other half..." The stone in Mordred's hand began to flash as if from a candle at the centre of it. "We can speak to each other with it." She said looking to Merlin too now. Knowing that while she gifted the stone to Mordred it most likely would be Merlin that used it to speak to her.
Returning his half of the stone in the velvet bag Mordred kissed Morgana on the cheek, said a final goodbye and made his way to the boat that would take them to the mainland.
Merlin had kept his distance as Morgana and Mordred said their goodbyes. Now he stepped forward. Acting boldly he didn't say anything. There didn't seem to be much left to say. Nothing that he could say anyway. So he closed the distance, pulling the new ruler of Avalon into a hug, that they quickly returned. Then he pulled away just as quickly and boarded the boat.
Once he was on the boat himself Merlin did his best not to turn and look back. Seeing if she was still there, watching them. Seeming to sense the tension radiating off the other man Mordred placed a hand on Merlin's back.
"We can turn around, you can go back."
At first Merlin didn't know what to say. He was surprised that Mordred could read him so easily. "No." He said as he shook his head. "I don't belong there." He added trying to sound more sure than he felt.
"But she dose." The knight added as he seemed to piece together what was going on. What the other man was feeling.
Despite what had passed between the two of them, Mordred couldn't help feeling sympathy for Merlin. After all he understood what it felt like to not be with the person you carried most for. He wasn't sure who had it hardest. Merlin who never gave himself the chance to have what he wanted most, or himself who had it and then had it slip through his fingers. Unlike Merlin he was not going to accept things as they where. Not till he had spoken to Kara. Heard her tell him in her own words that there was no future for them. Until then he had hope. Merlin seemed to have given up before he even tried. That did not seem like the person he had first known. Unsure if he should further encourage Merlin or not, being unsure of Morgana's feelings. She was always hard to read when she wanted to be. He said nothing further and continued rowing back to the shore.
In the early evening after Merlin and Mordred had left Morgana sat at the desk in her new room that looked out towards the water. She became lost in her own thoughts, trying to see their boat in the mist if they had gotten lost in the mist, that she didn't hear the knock at the wall next to her doorway until the third knock. After she acknowledged them, Rose slipped though the doorway. She looked apologetic as she moved to the centre of the room. Apologising for bothering her she and explained why she was here.
There was a young women that had arrived to the isle a few days after Morgana and Merlin had left. She had been unwell but nothing that drew much concern. She was able to take part in the daily life of the isle and seemed to be finding her place here. Then just two days ago she had developed a high fever and collapsed after lunch. She had been taken to the healing ward where she was kept comfortable and was able to rest. Her fever had remained but had not gotten any worse. She was in and out of conscious for the last two days. The healers helped her rest probably but there was little they could do. Such a simple, let dramatic illness did not react well to magical healing. What Rose then believed Morgana could do that had not already been done was unclear. Morgana took it as being given a easy victory to start with to build up some goodwill from the people. Wanting to make a good impression Morgana agreed to do what she could.
Morgana followed Rose down the infinite feeling halls of shimmering marble. Trying to understand how she would ever be able to find her way around her new home without a guide or a map to aid her. Eventually Rose turned towards a doorway on her left that seemed to be their destination. Slipping through the shimmering fabric that marked the doorways they stepped into a long narrow room with a high celling. Along the two parallel walls were two rows of seven beds. Between the beds were high windows and a small bedside table made of the same pale wood as the beds. All but one of the beds was empty. The second to last bed on the right side of the room.
Morgana kept her eyes on the sleeping figure in the bed, the young women that she had been brought here to see. As they caught closer and the light the poured in from the many windows light the room, She realised that she knew this young women. Knew her from the way Mordred had talked of her. Described her with such clearly. This was Kara. Morgana also realised that she had known Kara when she was just a child. Her hair was darker than it had been then, but sandy hair often darkened over time. Standing by the bedside now she was fully convinced that this was Morgaine. The little girl with magic whos father she had tried to save from an illness that spread in Camelot. She had failed and the girl had left the city with her older sister. Somehow the fact that that the same girl had grown up to be Mordred's sweetheart made perfect sense.
"You poor child." She said gently as she reached out and placed a hand on Kara, Morgaine's forehead.
As the warmth from the healing magic flowed forward, the younger women's face seemed to relax as the tension from the pain of illness eased.
As always thank you for reading. I am quit proud of the idea of making Morgaine, An OC and Kara the same person in this version of the story. I was really looking forward to writing this part and excited for where her character goes.
Any feedback comments or ideas that you have are very welcome and encouraged.