Thank you all again for reading and sticking with the story. I have been finding the last few chapters, this part of the story really difficult to write. I'm not happy with how they have turned out. So truly thank you for continuing with it. I hope that like this chapter the rest of the chapters in the will be back to there normal length. As things can start to overlap a little again.

It really means a lot to hear from you all. Your thoughts about the story. It helps so much in the writing you have no idea. So any constructive criticism that you have would be very welcome. If any character seems to be forgotten about, please let me know so I can fix it. While Morgana and Merlin are the main characters, with Arthur and Gwen. There are a lot of secondary and side characters and they all have their fans. So I would like to make sure I give each character a moment and a satisfying point to leave them at.

The heart of almost everyone in the welcoming party sunk to their stomach when it became clear what was going on. Why Edmund had not seemed overly concerned about being drawn into a trap. His group and the men still on the ships were not the only saxons in Camelot. The ships that they had spotted were not the first ships to arrive on the shores of Albion. Earlier, smaller ship must have arrived dropped off their human cargo and then swiftly left. Leaving behind small groups of saxons who waited for their leader to come and marshal them in taking the kingdom for themselves. They had laid in wait for the right time to act.

Quickly realising that they would soon be outnumbered and overrun Arthur raised his arm drawing everyone's attention towards him. He directed them to move immediately back towards the rest of their party.

Before they reached the barn they reached the smaller group they had parted ways with, passing almost literary over Merlin and his back up group. The look of relief in Merlin's eyes when Arthur and his friends were the ones that emerged from the trees was quickly washed away when the noises of movement through the trees continued. Nothing needed to be said after that. Merlin understood, they all did.

Moving swiftly the now larger almost complete group made their way towards the barn. As they did Aglain tried to find a chance to pause and try and reach the three remaining members of the group whose location was unknown. It was hard to know if Morgana, Mordred or Luke heard him or not. When they reached the barn he would try again and without the pressing need to keep moving forward he believed he should be able to reach at least one of them.

When the barn was just visible before them Merlin noticed Arthur a little ahead of him, slow down. The fact that he could be leading the fighting and danger directly towards his wife now fully hitting him. There was nothing he could do about that now. He, like his men just had to keep moving forward.

Once they drew nearer the large door to the barn was opened slightly and a head peaked out. The face of a young knight could not have looked more relived to see his king and fellow knights and allies running towards him. Opening the door fully with the help of two other knights he smiled widely as he gestured for them to hurry. He had been checking outside every couple of minuets since they had heard the noises outside. First he had seen what he was sure was someone moving in the treeline to his left, but had seen nothing since them. He wanted to get everyone inside, together before the saxons made their move.

The men running toward the shelter of the barn knew all to well that it was not a real shelter. They would be making all of them sitting ducks by gathering together in such a confined location. If there was any alternative they would turn and run in that direction, but there was no other choice right now. With the door now almost fully open Arthur could see into the barn, see Gwen. Looking back at him with such relief that he was unhurt, that all he could think about was running as fast as he possibly could towards her.

As soon as the king was inside he went straight to the queen pulling her into a tight embrace. Muttering her relief to see her husband she returned his embrace. Tugging him back in for a brief kiss as they began to pull apart.

Arthur then began to give orders to the knights. They could not all stay in the barn like this. They would be easily trapped and could then be over run. So he had a third of the men stay outside to stand guard over the barn and keep watch for the enemy and the allies they hoped would soon arrive. Moving to a quiet corner of the barn the king and queen spoke with their most trusted adviser, physician and the spokesperson for their allies.

"We need to make a direct move before we are over run again." Aglain said, voicing what they all knew to be true.

Merlin felt sure he would not like the answer but had to ask. "How many are there."

"Maybe double what we expected." Arthur answered his eyes lowered. Not wanting to see the fear in his wife's eyes. Reaching out he took her hand.

"They don't seem to be a unite force yet, so its almost impossible to face them all head on and end this quickly." Aglain further added.

"What are we meant to do." Gwen asked, hoping her voice did not betray the fear that was rapidly growing.

Her eyes glancing across the barn to her brother, reassuring herself he was here too. His back was to her, but he was there, safe. As if he could feel her eyes on him Elyan turned towards her. The young knight clearly wanted to join the gathering on the opposite side of the barn but stayed where he was. A hand came down on his shoulder pulling him back to the conversation he was a part of. Leon whose hand it was offered a look of understanding as they continued to discus how many saxons they believed were no running freely in their kingdom, their home.

All of them were eager to be able to act. This waiting around for the enemy to act first was infuriating. They all knew, understood that when the time did come to act that some of them may not live past it. They also knew that the risk of this happening increased greatly if they acted too fast without thinking.

"We can't just wait here for them to find us." Percival said what they all thought. The frustration in his voice directed towards the enemy, but having no other outlet he let it out in conversation with his brothers.

Lancelot ever the peacemaker, the one to calm most tensions tried to do so now. "Their too spread out, we could be over run."

"We still need to do something." Gwaine said, not really wanting to say what he did, but knowing someone had to and no one else would.

"We could sweep the area." Elyan spoke up for the first time. "Stay within sight of each other, a few feet and head back to coast."

Leon let out a laugh as he once again brought his hand down on the younger mans shoulder. Percival on Elyan's other side patted his back. Both showing their agreement with the idea.

Quickly the group moved to join the smaller one in the corner and tell them of the possible idea for the next move.

Arthur nodded as his brother in law and arms told him his plan. It was a good one and he was very impressed with Elyan's ingenuity and practicality. It allowed them to move, to act and not be trapped but also have a slight upper hand. But and there was always a but it would leave everyone exposed. With no one to truly watch their back. He hated to be the one to diminish the proud smile that Elyan fought to stop from spreading across his face, but he had no choice.

As the king explained he watch the knights face fall, no matter how hard he tried to stop it from doing so. Both Arthur and Gwen wanted to reach out and place a reassuring hand on his shoulder, but knew he would not appreciate the gesture. So they did their best to saw without words or gestures how impressed they were and that his plan had been a good one. They were just in a very difficult situation.

"Then what are we going to do." Merlin asked the group. Feeling very confident that no one really had a good answer for that right now. Time however was not on their side. They may not have long before they lost the chance to decide the next move.

After silence hug over the group for a few seconds, that felt like long minutes Aglain spoke. "Morgana and the others have not returned yet, they may bring aid."

"And if they don't." Percival snapped a little harsher than he meant to.

"A someone should go and find them-"

"No, we shouldn't split up further." Gwen cut Merlin off.

Arthur chewed the side of his mouth as he tried to think of a reason this plan couldn't work, but couldn't really find one. He didn't want to say this when his wife seemed so against it.

"You are not going." She snapped at him before he could say anything. He gave her a nod that she returned.

"I'll go-"

"You shouldn't go alone." Gwaine interjected before Merlin could say more.

As much as Merlin was grateful for his friends support and would normally appreciate his company, now was not the best time. Not when he wanted to get away from everyone so that he could use his magic to speak with Morgana and yet her know what was happening and find out how her task was going.

Lancelot didn't know exactly what Merlin was planning, but whatever it was he did not seem to be all that pleased about Gwaine offering to go with him. So he spoke up quickly offering to go as well. Whatever Merlin had planned he hoped that he might be able to help him by giving him a opportunity to have some space.

Grateful for how well Lancelot knew him and offering his help, Merlin quickly agreed that the three of them should leave as soon as possible.

Arthur did not like this plan anymore than he liked the others, but he could no keep shutting down every option. At some point he had to choice one. So he allowed this one to move forward. Then when they returned, hopefully with Morgana and more people they could then make a real counter move. Elyan's plan was still a good one, with more people, less distance between everyone, then it would work to force the saxons back to the cove.

Suddenly the doors of the barn burst open.

They had lost their chance to act first.

As their speed increased the three horses gave each other more distance to be able to maintain their current speed. Their riders not having a clear path simply kept heading east as close as they could. If they had noticed the presence of saxon men moving around in the area then they felt confident that they were nearing where they needed to be. There had been no agreed on, fixed point for the three and the aid they had hoped to bring with them to join again with the others. So they had to keep one eye on the path ahead and the other to the periphery. Searching for the enemy and any sign of their allies or where they might have made camp.

It was not long before they began to see the enemy darting through the trees. Fortunately they where running in the same directions as the horses where galloping. Hopefully this meant they where in fact heading in the right direction to met with the others and that they were not far away now.

Mordred veered of course, turning to the left as a unlucky saxon was forced to change direction as a fallen log blocked his path. The saxon only a little older than Mordred himself was so intent of continuing to run as fast as he could that he drew to near to the knight. In to the line of fire. In one fluid motion Mordred drew his sword, griping the reigns in the other he brought the sword down on the saxon. Never looking back to see him fall in a heap on the ground.

A few feet ahead of the others Luke was just able to notice a decent sized rock flying towards him. Not bothering to look directly toward the incoming object on his right, Luke simply lifted his arm. With an open palm he blocked the stones trajectory and then sent it speeding back the way that it had come. Continuing not to look to his right, the sound of a groan let him know that the stone had found a target.

As they rode on Morgana began to think that she recognised where they where. That they were nearing the small cove that the saxons had landed on, so they where in fact heading in the right direction. Still hyper aware on what was going on around her. Making sure her horse didn't loss its footing and that she didn't fall out of the saddle, Morgana still felt relief the they were getting closer to the others.

How happy they would be to see them arriving without the aid they had left to gather she didn't know. She hoped at lest a little. Even if it was not as much as she would feel when she saw them.

The sudden sound of something flying by her left eye pulled her attention from the path ahead. She didn't see what had made the sound, but she felt certain it was an arrow. Rather than looking to see where it landed, she looked instead for the source. Finding it quickly she saw two men taking cover behind a tree and a shrub.

Anger and frustration rapidly swelled up inside of the witch. Not bothering to really look behind her, just making sure that Mordred and Luke where a few feet behind her. Morgana let go of the reigns, clenching her fists tight, her magic grew. Then she opened her hands as she extended her arms out.

A wave of force spread out before her and to either side of her. Leaving the area directly behind her mostly unaffected.

Luke pulled harshly on the reigns, forcing his horse to come to a sudden stop as he waited out the attack. Looking around him he saw many trees bent over, some even completely fallen over. He also saw a couple of dark bundles scattered around. He could not argue with her results but he couldn't help but feel that his new queen had gone a little overboard. Used far more force than was necessary. At least the road ahead should be clear now.

Mordred was unable to stop his horse in enough time and was caught on the edge of the ripple affect. It forced his horse to stumble a little, but still remain standing. The knight slipped a little from the saddle. Fortunately his horse was as quick and agile as the knight that he carried and was able to right the riders loss of balance in time.

The effort it took Morgana to carry out her attack caused her to lose focus on normally simple task of staying on the saddle of her horse. The horse was startled by the force that was unleashed around it and reared up onto its hind legs. Morgana not holding onto the reigns anymore too reared backwards.

Closing her eyes she waited for pain shooting up her spine as she hit the ground and air was knocked out of her lungs that was inevitably going to come.

Instead of this sharp pain though she felt her back hit something solid, but still hard and secure. Like she had walked backwards into someone.

Opening her eyes tentatively she watched before her as the horse righted itself, getting back onto all four legs. Grabbing onto the reigns she looked around her to see what had happened. Who had saved her. Luke meet her eyes first, giving an almost blank stare. Letting her know it was nothing to do with him. Looking then to Mordred, who avoided her gaze. She knew it had been him that used his magic to catch her as she fell. Silently she thanked him despite how uncomfortable it would make him. Then the three carried on.

Luke now kept an eye on the younger man as they moved forward once again. He knew of him of course. His crucial role in the prophesy, but it was only now that he felt he understood it. That Mordred was able to use such strong and specific magic like that. Able to react as quickly as he did. After he had not truly used magic in years showed what potential he had. Like Morgana Luke felt it was such a pointless waste, but he also thought that maybe it was for the best. He hoped that it was. That somehow he could avoid the future that was foretold for him. That they all could.

The isle of Avalon had felt unnaturally quiet, empty really to Kara as she went about the start of her day. The people that lived with her in the Citadel and expected to see doing whatever they did where there, except for Morgana and Luke. This in and of its self was not unusual, but the atmosphere that had grown around their absence was. Something important was going on. If Morgana and Luke were not here then it was something most likely happening in Camelot. It was always Camelot. That meant that Mordred too was involved.

Despite coming to this conclusion in mere seconds, Kara felt certain that it was the correct one. Before she had a chance to think more about it and possibly change her mind she made her way out of the citadel and to the pier. Where she would take the boat that always seemed to be there to the shore, back to Camelot. Then she would go to Mordred. She didn't even stop to taking anything with her. No food, water or a change of clothes. None of that seemed important or necessary. All that matter was moving forward as fast as she could. A few people that she passed on her journey followed her for a second with their eyes but neither said or did anything to stop her.

Once she was sitting in the boat having cast off and not remembering exactly how she had managed to get herself into the boat in the first place, she felt a pair of eyes on her. Normal this would have created a threating feeling in the young women, but this felt more comforting. Like someone was protectively watching over her

Turning back to the isle she searched for the watching eyes. Squinting her own eyes she after a few seconds met the pale eyes of Alba. The older woman that somehow looked to be the same age as Kara smiled as she lifted her right hand in a delicate, fleeting wave. The gesture epitomising the elegant nature of the woman that to Kara seemed to glide rather than walk. When she first meet the seemingly timeless women Kara had believed that she would be aloof and distant, but she quickly found that was not the case. The redhead was warm and welcoming and always egger to talk about anything and everything. More than almost anyone she had made Kara feel accepted in Avalon. Not able to return the supportive gesture in kind for fear of dropping a oar Kara gave a slight nod as a hint of a smile crossed her face.

When she was a child still living in the city of Camelot she had thought of Morgana in the same way she now did Alba. She felt that she could be accepted in the city, that she had someone she could speak to about all aspects of who she was. Then she had lost her father. A part of her, no matter how irrational she knew it was still blamed Morgana for that. Not till she meet Mordred she feel that way again. Like she belonged somewhere, with him. It was a complex feeling, yet so very simple at the same time.

Nothing Alba or anyone else could have said or done would have stopped her from leaving as abruptly as she had, but it was comforting to know that someone agreed, or at least supported her decision. As the shore grew nearer it dawned on Kara that she had no real plan for what she was going to do once she did make it to land. Go to Mordred was as far as she got. If something was happening in Camelot that Morgana and Luke were involved then Kara felt sure that it would not be hard to find word of what it was once she reached the closest village and then move forward from there.

In the back of her mind was a nagging thought she had tried to ignore. The thought that she was most likely rushing headfirst towards danger, a situation she knew nothing about. Stuck now in the boat, still moving forward but in a kind of pause, this thought could not be pushed aside any longer. This fact should frighten her, but it didn't. She felt sure that she was doing the right thing. That whatever was happening. Wherever Mordred was it was where she was meant to be.

This certainty pushed her forward again once her feet touched land as she all but jumped out of the boat, soaking the bottom of her dress and her boots. She didn't think about which direction to head in. She just kept moving. Sure that whichever direction she choose it would be the right one. She would find her way to where she was meant to be.

Not to be to repetitive but, thank you for reading. I really hope that you liked it and that the story is back on track and more interesting.

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