Wow, how did almost a year pass since I have last updated this story? I am so sorry for making you wait for a new chapter, dear readers. Life has thrown a few curve-balls over this time and I simply have not had the mental energy to continue writing and editing this.

I am slowly getting back into the rhythm of writing again, so I cannot make promises as to when I will have the next chapter up - though I can promise, this one does not end in a cliffhanger. Thank you so very much for your patience! It makes my day to know that there are still people out there following this tale.

Hope you enjoy the chapter :)

Chapter 30

After several hours have passed the two sorcerers begin to stir (though it seems like it's been days to Aithusa) and she squawks excitedly at the thought of them waking. She nudges Merlin's hand with her snout and he mutters something incoherent in response, simply proceeding to roll over and wrap his arms around Morgana while completely ignoring the little dragon's prodding.

Oh no, he doesn't! They've slept long enough. She can tell that they've healed with the help of her dragon magic, and she will not be ignored. After all, she realizes their predicament and wants to help! Being careful to keep her claws from harming him, she pounces on Merlin's legs with a playful snarl, which effectively startles him enough that he wakes up with a jump.

"What the-?"

He shakes his head as he sits up and catches sight of the white dragon sitting back on her haunches. "Aithusa!" A wide grin breaks out over his face.

Morgana stirs, having been disrupted by Merlin's sudden movement. It takes her eyes a moment to adjust before she allows her gaze to settle on him."We're not dead," she breathes. "I was... I was dying, which means you were, too, Merlin. So how come we're both awake and perfectly fine?"

Aithusa makes a chirping noise, answering the question in Merlin's stead. A look of wonder crosses Morgana's face at the sight of the dragon.

A moment passes, then Merlin clears his throat. "Ah. Morgana, this is Aithusa. She would be the reason for the two of us surviving the wyvern attack. It's one of the many abilities of dragons, great healing magic." Pride shines in his eyes, and the little dragon bobs her head up and down in confirmation.

Morgana inclines her head towards Aithusa, smiling. "Thank you, Aithusa. It seems that I owe you a great deal. We both do." At her words of gratitude, Aithusa walks up to her and nuzzles against her, making a pleased humming noise in the back of her throat. Morgana's mouth opens in an 'o', being taken off guard by the sudden display of affection from the dragon. She tentatively reaches out to stroke the small white scales atop Aithusa's head. When the dragon closes her eyes in contentment, she continues and laughs out loud in happiness.

Merlin watches the two of them. Funny how Aithusa seems to have taken to Morgana so quickly. In fact, he's never seen the young dragon act like this before, not even with himself. He can't stop the small smile that crosses his face as he observes this.

They sit like this for several minutes, Morgana gently running her hand over the smooth scales of Aithusa's hide, and the dragon - is she purring? - in response. Finally, Morgana seems to realize that Merlin is watching the two of them, and she shoots him a look. "What?"

"Nothing." The smile still hasn't left his face.

The sorceress rises, brushing the dirt off of her trousers. Aithusa gives an unimpressed squawk at the sudden lack of attention.

"Oh, hush. You'll get more attention later, you know. I'm sure you'll live in the meantime." She tries to sound stern, but her voice and her eyes are soft. Aithusa stares up at her with wide blue eyes, and Morgana can't help but reach down and pat her on the head in response. With this, the small dragon is pacified, and she also stands, now aiming her piercing blue gaze at Merlin.

Morgana, on the other hand, walks over to the tree and picks up the ruby which is still resting at its base. She gazes at it in awe. "I suppose, now that we have this, we should head back to the Valley of the Fallen Kings to reach the Crystal Cave?"

Merlin nods. "Yes. The sooner we leave, the better. I doubt the wyverns will be back, and if any that are left over do pester us, I'm sure I can command them to leave. But I'd feel much better for now if we could get away from this island for the time being."

As if on cue, the screech of a wyvern sounds in the distance. Aithusa growls, and at this Morgana chuckles.

"I'm sure we hardly have anything to worry about with Aithusa here," she says, smiling down at her. "But I agree, it would be nice to head back and continue on our way to finally fix this."

Nodding in response, Merlin rises to his feet with a groan and stretches. "Ooh, I feel as though I was trampled by a horse."

"And you weren't even the one who was attacked by a wyvern!" Morgana chides. "Hopefully we'll be back in the proper bodies soon enough and then you won't have to worry about it." She tucks the ruby gingerly into her pack, her reverence as a high priestess for the crystal clearly showing in her actions.

Merlin laughs. "On the bright side, Morgana, I think Aithusa's magic healed the many bruises you gave me beforehand, so that should be just fine for you when we go back to normal."

The sorceress rolls her eyes at him in response and smirks as they make their way to the courtyard's exit, Aithusa happily bounding along at their heels.

So as not to raise suspicions with the cryptic ferryman, who seemed to know more than was comfortable at their last encounter, Merlin tells Aithusa to fly through the mists and meet them on the other side of the water. From there they will make their way back to the Valley of the Fallen Kings.

The small white dragon looks horrified at the thought of leaving her two human friends, and squawks in worried defiance at the suggestion. In her opinion, they are far too fragile to travel on their own without her! What if something happens again? They might need her help!

Before Merlin has to go a step further and command her to do as he says, Morgana crouches to be closer to the young dragon. "It's alright, my beautiful girl. Merlin and I will be safe, and this way, you will be, too. You will be away from prying eyes that may not be friendly towards your kind." With a gentle scratch under the dragon's chin, Morgana gives a small, sad sigh. "I too know how it feels to have to hide because of who you are. But the sooner we part, the sooner we will meet up again, yes?"

Aithusa looks at her with sad eyes and gives a small nod.

"Good. Now fly, and we will follow. We will not take long."

The little dragon makes a grumbling noise, but dutifully shakes out her wings before leaping into the air. The mist quickly obscures her from view, and in some silly way Morgana actually feels a pang of sadness as the distance between them and Aithusa grows, even though she knows well that they will be apart for only an hour, if that.

Sighing again, she rises and rolls her shoulders. She likewise feels the stiffness Merlin mentioned earlier. Speaking of whom, she notices he is giving her an odd look once more.

"What?"

He quickly raises his hands in defense. "Nothing, Morgana, honestly!"

"That was not a 'nothing' look. You were giving it to me earlier, too. What is going on?"

Merlin rubs the back of his neck, almost appearing to be nervous. "You just seem... like your old self when you are with her, you know. It's good to see."

Morgana scowls, because she knows he is right. And how can she tell him that Aithusa, even though she is a dragon, feels like family to her? Almost like a child. And that the thought of just the three of them living together, away from a cruel world that doesn't understand them for who they are, fills her with a warmth that she doesn't feel much anymore these days... at least, she didn't, before they wound up in this odd predicament and she was forced to be in Merlin's presence again.

No, she can't say that. Instead, she knows it will hurt like all the hells when Merlin's life calls him back to Camelot, and her life calls her back to preserving the Old Ways, and Aithusa off to who knows where...

But she supposes she can enjoy it on her own for the time being. Merlin never has to know how much she will cherish the last of their time together, strange as it may be how they are spending it. So she clears her throat, hoping that her silence was not too prolonged so as to allow him any glimpse of what she is feeling. "Let's get going, shall we? As I said, the sooner we leave, the sooner we can meet up with Aithusa."

Merlin looks like he wants to say something more, but refrains from doing so. He simply rings the bell that will call the cloaked man and the boat to carry them away from the Isle, and the two of them wait for his arrival in silence, made heavier by the mist surrounding them.