Thank you for reading. I hope you are enjoying the story.

The sun was high in the sky, casting a bright, but harsh light on the knights, dressed in civilian clothing that made their way back to the city of Camelot. Arthur had felt that now was as good a time as any to carry out a general census on his kingdom. Wanting to know how the smaller villages were fairing and that the lines of distribution of goods was working smoothly. That everyone had easy access to food and goods that they needed to live comfortably. The king also thought it was a good idea to see how those in the most distant of villages from the city felt but their new queen. He also wanted to get an idea of where and how many druids camps existed in his kingdom.

If he was going to be working towards opening the lines of communication between the two parties and learning to not just live side by side but to work together for the betterment of everyone. It was not going to be an easy task. Distrust was hard to unlearn, fear on both sides more so, but it would be worth it if it lead to a more secure and prosperous Camelot.

In order to be able to get a try measure of the state of his kingdom the knights that went out could not do so dressed in their armour. He had learned very quickly that as king most people would tell him what they thought he wanted to hear. He learned this watching how the lords agreed with his father to his face, but spoke with trepidation behind his back. He had said that he wouldn't have anyone do that to him when he was king. That was why he had made sure to keep Morgana, Merlin and then Gwen close when he realised that they spoke to him as a person and not just a princes or king. They were honest with him about what they thought. He needed that. Even if he didn't always like hearing it. He knew the knight would get a biased view of things if they went as visual representatives of Camelot.

The knights left in small groups of two or three and headed out with a specific village as their destination. They would pass trough as many other villages on their trip as they could. Interacting with as many people as possible. Getting an idea of the places they passed through and its people. What they needed more of. What assets did they have that weren't being utilised to their fullest. Most importantly what was the general mood of the kingdom.

Lancelot and Gwaine had been tasked with visiting a village on the coast that was located in a area that was known to have an abundance of fish a few miles out. The problem was that it was not a large village. Being located in a large cove. Having only a little over one hundred people living there and only sixteen that fished the waters. Arthur wanted to know that if an investment was made in expanding the village would some fishermen from along the coast be willing to relocate there. The knight had food the village welcoming and hard working. They simply as expected didn't have the man power to make the most of their geographical benefits. They also learned that most of the younger fishermen would be willing to relocate. Not having families or young enough families that such a great move would not be impossible. The problem was that the trade lines to the village were not the strongest. That could be fixed with a little effort on the kings part behind the scenes.

With a positive report to return with the knights made they way back to the city they called home. They took their time, enjoying the nice weather and being less conspicuous without their armour. It was a pleasant change to be able to take their time and enjoy a leisurely journey on foot. To be able to walk through a village, into a tavern or inn for food and a place to stay the night and not have everyone they passed give them a double look. Look at them in a way that they couldn't describe. Something a little like between reverence and fear.

Both knights made the most of their trip, hoping to lift the spirits of the other. Lancelot worried how Gwaine would react to Morgana's departure. True in the years they had lived in Camelot Morgana had been absent more than she had been present. Generally Gwaine didn't talk about her very much. There was never much of a need to. It was clear that he cared deeply for her, as she did him. That it could be described as romantic love Lancelot didn't know, but it was real. What he did know was how Merlin felt for her. His friend hadn't ever said the words, but Lancelot knew. He would hate something that was meant to be a positive come between his close friends. Deep down he knew that it would not come to that. Gwaine would not hold Merlin's feelings against him and in the end he would want them to be happy. That of course was if Merlin told her how he felt and she returned his feelings. As optimistic as he was for his friend he was not sure it would come to that. Merlin kept himself busy with his new role in court. There was a distance he kept between himself and others now that made the knight sad. There was little he could do to lift the warlocks spirits. He could lift Gwaine's however so he indulged the other knight. Let him guide them to the nearest inn at the end of each day and matched him drink for drink. While he started wanting to make sure his brother enjoyed himself, he found he enjoyed himself as well.

Gwaine aimed to do much the same for Lancelot as he did for him. If Gwaine was able to mask his feelings and put on a positive smile and move forward then Lancelot exceled at it. Gwaine and the other knights knew nothing about the brief flirtation between Lancelot and the new queen. What he did know was that a bound had been formed between Lancelot and the princess Mithian. He was the knight that dealt the most with her kingdom. Acting as a messenger and escort to her and her father. It had only been for a split second but Gwaine had seen a look of pain in the darker eyes of his fellow knight as the visiting guest, the princess included left Camelot. Whatever Lancelot choose to do. Stay or leave Camelot Gwaine would support him and be happy for him. He wouldn't deny that he was would miss the normally calm and steady presence of the taller knight. He was not trying to made a subconsciously case for him to stay. The idea had never been brought up as a possibility, but he knew what he saw. He wanted his friend to enjoy this trip and make him happy, content with where he was.

They had left the finally destination a little after breakfast and made their way back taking the longer route along the coast. The next village was a little up ahead. They choice to decide if they should stop there or not when they got closer. They bantered back and forth, then something in the distance out to sea caught Gwaine's eye. He stopped to get a better look. Lancelot stopped a few steps later. Turning to look out to sea. It took him a second or two to see what Gwaine did. Just before the horizon line where six black dots that were getting bigger. The longer they watched the more dots they saw coming into view. Turning away from the sea, they shared a look.

Without missing a beat or saying a words they took off at full speed towards the village ahead of them.

In the months after their wedding Arthur and Gwen spent most of their time making visits to the other four kingdoms. It was enjoyable, but near the end they were keen to return home. As the traveled they felt like a spectacle. Very aware that they were constantly being watched. They wanted to have some privacy and time to themselves after being on show for so long.

Now back much of Arthurs time was taken with the mundane tasks of ruling that he could not delegate to Merlin. Who was finding the added responsibilities he had took up much more of his time. Leaving him with almost no free time. Something that while he was tired, he was grateful for. It gave him little time to think of anything apart from the task before him.

Gwen also felt that many free time that she had was almost gone now that she was officially queen. If Arthur as king was responsibility for the security and safety of the kingdom than as queen she was responsibility for the wellbeing of the people. While Arthur had turned to her for many years for in put on many issues, it was only know that her influence had been given a official seal there was more pressure on her. She had taken it her new role to seamlessly. Mainly because she had been doing it for years now.

To get a little time and space for herself to take a breath and gather her energy and patience, she went to the grounds behind the castle. With the knight gone it was normally empty now. So she had the quite to sit in the far corner under a tree, close her eyes and let the warm rays of the sun recharge her.

On one bright day Gwen was doing just this when she heard a noise in the distance growing louder. With a sigh she opened her eyes. At the other end of the grounds by the castle she saw, who she was sure were Lancelot and Gwaine swiftly dismounting from horses she knew couldn't be theirs. They didn't pause, notice her at all. The abandoned the horse and took of running into the castle. Something was very wrong.

Her heart sank as it began to race. She was sure she could actually feel it vibrating down into her stomach. With a hand on the tree she pulled herself up. lifted her dress and ran to the castle after them.

Kara had woken the day after Morgana had been to see her feeling that her energy was beginning to return. Alba who had been taking charge of her care since she arrived told her who she owed her improvement too. The young women pulled herself to sit up in her bed, tried to fix her hair as she asked to speak with Morgana. Alba smiled as she gave a slight nod.

It was hard to tell who was more nervous about the meeting that followed. The newly crowned queen tentatively entered the room and moved cautiously to stand at the foot of the bed.

"I'm glad that you wanted to see me." Morgana said as an opening. Kara was about to reply when Morgana slightly lifted her hand to ask her to please allow her to get out what she planned to say. "You can stay here as long as you wish. You are more than welcome here. I will do what I can to stay out of your way-"

"Why would you do that." Before Morgana had the chance to say anything, Kara understood herself. "You think I blame you for what happened to my father."

"I wouldn't blame you if you did."

"You did what you could."

"It wasn't enough."

"Yes it was, it was all you could and that's enough."

Morgana didn't know if she would let out a laugh or a cry at the younger women's maturity.

With the ice broken the women relaxed in each others presence. Morgana moved to sit on the side of the bed as Kara told her what had happened to her since she and her sister had left Camelot in such a hurry. When they were both so young. They had gone to live with their mothers brother and his family. They lived many miles for Camelot in a small village on the cost. It took the young girls over a mouth to make it there. By the time they arrived they were covered in a deep coat of dirt and mud that took almost as long as their journey there to fully remove with daily baths in the ocean. Gradually, little by little they began to build a life there. If not happy, they were content.

That was until Ellan fell in love with a young fisherman a few years older than her and was soon married. Morgaine as she was still known as then, was happy for her sister. More so when only a few months after the wedding Ellan told her she was with child. While she knew little of her magic, how to use it,, channel it, Morgaine was determined that she was going help her sister as much as she could. As any sister would. She had heard news of a druid camp nearby and went to ask them to teach her what she could do with her magic to help her sister.

Childbirth was a dangerous time for the mother and child. It was such a fine line between the greatest joy and the cruellest heartbreak. There was little to her surprise that magic could do, should do. Interfering in such a delicate matter with magic never ended well. Feeling bitterly disappointed with what she had been told Morgaine stormed off. Only stopping when she realised that the voice yelling behind her was in fact calling out for her. Turing around sharply to yell at whoever it was she was faced with a man, boy about her age with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He spoke in a slightly out of breath voice, she only caught every few words.

He told her that he was sorry she hadn't found the help that she was looking for. That he hoped that everything went well with her sister and future nephew or niece. He smiled at her, then turned and ran back to the camp. Leaving her standing in shock for a few seconds before she turned and carried on her way.

Over the next few months Morgaine stayed by her sisters side becoming her shadow. As Ellen made plans for her future child, Morgaine made plans for her future too. She kept them to herself. Not wanting to take her sisters attention and focus away from the most important time in her life. When the baby was born than she would tell her about the boy with the blue eyes. Broach the idea that she might go and live with the druids. Learn more about her magic. If that meant that she got to see him again, then that was an added bonus.

In the middle of the night it happened. Ellan went into labour. Her husband was out on a fishing run and wouldn't be back for a few days. Morgaine wanted to get her mother in law, but Ellan said not to. She just needed her to stay with her. Terror was clear in her normally calm sisters voice and eyes. Which did absolutely nothing to reassure the younger women. In the end all she could do was hold her sisters hand as she pushed new life into the world.

Once she saw the tiny vulnerable new human Morgaine felt her whole body relax. She took her nephew into her arms, meeting his, she thought too large brown eyes for the first time. She didn't know what she said. Most likely how tiny he was. She wouldn't admit how cute he was. When she looked at her sister as she moved to hand her son to her, their eyes meet.

Somehow Morgaine knew that this was a momentous moment. One that would be permanently engraved into her memory for the rest of her life.

Ellan smiled to her sister, as the colour continued to drain from her face. Then only for a second did she look at her son. Desperately wanting to never take her eyes off him and not feeling strong enough. She lifted her hand to reach out to him, but could only hold it up for a few seconds before it fell back to her side. Her eyes flittered shut as Morgaine called out her name and moved to her side. Shacking her with her free arm she begged her sister to open her eyes. Her cries being drowned out by the tiny baby in her arms.

Her brother in law returned home early the next day from his not very successful fishing run, his son lay wrapped up warmly in his crib crying his tiny heart out. His wife lay wrapped in the bedsheets her sister sat in the far corner her eyes set on the ground in front of her. She didn't look up as he came into the room. With her head still lowered she stood up and walked past him and out of the house. Taking in a deep breath she clenched her hands and started to run.

At first she didn't really know where she was going. She just had to keep moving. Her feet subconsciously or not lead her back to the druid camp. What she would have done if the camp had moved on she didn't know. Kept running most likely.

As if by a kind of magic one of the first people that she came across as she made her way through the camp was the boy with the blue eyes. Mordred as she would soon learn his name was, smiled a bright smile as he first saw her. It swiftly fell as he saw the utter despair in her eyes. He took a step towards her his arms lifting a little as she flew to him, wrapping her arms around him as she cried into his chest.

She spent the next few days with the druids. Not really speaking and only eating when Mordred brought her some food. As she began to open up a little they were able to start to truly get to know each other. It was an easy back and forth and they quickly developed a trust and openness with each other. After a month or so the camp moved on and Morgaine, now known as Kara. Her mothers name, went with them. She found herself a new family when she felt her most alone.

Another few months later and Kara began to feel that Mordred was on the verge of asking her a very important question. The loss of her sister, due as Kara believed to having married and starting a family, was still raw and scared her deeply. In her grief altered mind she saw the question he might ask as a possible death sentence. So she left the camp. Telling Mordred that she needed space and time. Wanted to see how she fit into this world of the druids without him. So she left and joined with a different group.

This new group was just as welcoming as the first she had known. It did not take long for Kara to decide that this was a way of life that she could not just get used to but enjoy. The freedom. The community, without the blood that she hoped would lessen the grief at possible future losses. It didn't take long for her path to cross with Mordred again.

The distance had helped to clear her mind. Kara now had less fear of allowing herself to become closer to the boy with the bright blue eyes with a such a king heart. Soon they parted from their camps and began to travel on their own. Then life seemed to find a way to wedge its self between them again.

Morgana had reached out and taken Kara's hand as she spoke of her sister. The pain of losing a sister, who was also the only family she felt you had was one she knew well. When Kara had told her story Morgana told her of Mordred. How he was fairing in Camelot. She didn't know if it was better to tell her how well he was doing there, how well he fit in or not. In the end she told her the truth.

It took another few days for Kara to feel well enough to get out of bed. When she did she spent most of her time sitting by the pool of vibrant blue water. No one had directly said anything, but being so lose to a source of pure magic would aid in her healing. As she said she would Morgana kept a respectful distance. While Kara had grown in maturity in the years since they first met, Morgana also knew the pain that came with losing a father. She still blamed herself, even if Kara didn't or had simple chosen to forgive her for her own mental health and wellbeing.

Kara on the other hand seemed to be doing the opposite. Trying to spend as much time with Morgana as she could. When the new queen was not learning all that she needed to rule well. It had dawned on her as Morgana made brief references to her own past how much the two of them had in common. If anyone could understand her trepidation in trusting others not like them and even to a degree those of their kind. As well as the depths of grief that came with being the only one left of your family. So she wanted to spend time with the person she felt understood her best. Morgana for her part found the emptiness that she had always felt and never been able to fill and worried would only grew larger now that she was apart for the few people that had in part filled that hole before, filled to the same degree. Having someone else that was learning about this place as she was.

Morgana didn't bring up the topic of Mordred. After she had told Kara how he was settling in she didn't elaborate any further. While she hungered for news of Mordred, Kara was also pained by it. Doubting her decision to leave him, especially in the way she had. In the darkness without a world of explanation. She still needed some more time. Though the years had not lessened the pain at the loss of her father or her anger at the place that she felt let it happen, it had made it easier for her to live with. Returning would be one thing, living there again that seemed impossible. For Mordred though, maybe she could learn to live there again. With him it might be bearable and worth it.

On a bright afternoon about three months since she had began her reign Morgana sat at her small desk. Which she had moved from in front of the window that over looked the pool of light. Moving it at an angle that allowed her to see around the corner of the citadel building and out across the water, as well as the source of magic. She was absorbed in the scrolls that where covering the desk. They made up only a small fraction of the written history of Avalon and those that lived here. Her half of the stone she had given to Mordred lay on the right corner. At first she didn't notice it glowing. Only after it catching her attention from the corner of her eye a few more times did she finally look up.

It could mean any number of things. Gwen could be with child or some other positive piece of news. It could even be as simple as Mordred or Merlin just wanting to talk with her. As hard as she tried she couldn't believe that either of those things were the case. Something was wrong. She could just feel it. A fact she was sure was due to the stone at the center of the headdress she now wore. An invisible weight began to press down on her as the light in the room began to darken. The sun drowned out by a cloud.

Thank you for reading. Hope you liked it. That it wasn't to boring.

As always any feedback, ideas or comments that you have are very welcome and encouraged.