Hey, my dudes. After a lot of short-lived adventures that took priority over fanfiction, I'm here. With my sequel. This chapter was a lot of work, but was fun to write, because it is mostly original content. It's not just copying dialogue and scenes and inserting my OC into. A lot of my sequel will be like this, its main plot will be separate of the Merlin/Arthur plotline in the show. Many of you have asked for this and now you shall receive. The reason why Elaine never really took priority in the first book is that originally, she wasn't going to be in it. Her story was going to start well into Season 3. Obvs, I have decided against that since then. There might be a couple chapters where the canon episode is mentioned then moved on from, just because it's not completely needed and it's only being included for continuity and nitpickers like myself. Anyways, onwards and upwards.
:::DISCLAIMER::
I have no rights to Merlin, I only have my original plots, my OC, and my terrible yet witty jokes. This applies to all chapters in this book.
Chapter 1:
Despite the years spent in Camelot that suggested otherwise, and friends that argued the opposition, I have always believed that people have the ability to be good or evil. That it was a choice they had the free will to make, nobody was inherently good or evil. I haven't believed in many people, but I did with Nimueh. She wasn't evil; she was flawed, I know that better than anyone. Consistently letting her hate for Uther, override her better judgment. I haven't been better, I have let hate and fear blind me.
Nimueh isn't the feared evil sorceress that Camelot knows her as, she was my friend. She loved the people that I had loved and felt their loss as I had felt their loss. When I was at my lowest, hurt and broken, she held my hand and made me smile. Something that I didn't think would ever be possible, sadness felt so absolute as a child.
I don't remember my parents, I barely knew words when they were executed by King Uther. Instead, I was raised by my brother. He knew them and felt their loss, told me of them every night and the tyrant that murdered them. When I lost him too, all I had was crushing silence and grief. Afterward, Nimueh took me under her tutelage, she didn't teach me strength or kindness. I learned how to survive in a land that wanted me dead. Then I lost her too, and all I could feel was a burning rage.
Elaine didn't stay on the Isle of the Blessed for long, not even for the night. There were too many ghosts watching her as she stood in the center, and the uncomfortable shroud of death stifled every inhale of air into her lungs. She took the time to search the entirety of the ruins for any sign of Nimueh. Finding a plain gray cloak and leather bag full of items that varied in magical importance, from herbs to books to a charmed bracelet meant to keep spirits away. The past had haunted them both and often weighed heavy on Elaine's and Nimueh's shoulders. Collecting the bag for herself, she buried the cloak with the bracelet in what had once been a large hall meant for housing the festivities of the Old Religion, marking the grave by planting a bunch of basil that Nimueh had kept in her bag. Using her own magic to spread the herb over the patch, it wasn't much, but for a Priestess to be buried in her own home was enough.
If it had only been a day earlier and under different circumstances, Elaine would have kept the bracelet for herself. Its power would have been a relief to her tired eyes. She knew better now, the past deserved to be in the past, but the innocents deserved to be seen- to be heard. They shouldn't suffer in death as they had in life. Elaine couldn't vilify Merlin and his hypocritical "destiny" for not helping their people when she hadn't done anything to help them either. Merlin would protect Arthur, and only the prince, everyone else is damned.
If the great Emrys would not save them, then she would. Damn the destiny, if it was going to happen it will only happen years, maybe decades from now. People- fathers, mothers, and children were being murdered in the name of the King now. If Emrys will save them tomorrow, then Elaine will save them today. Destiny is damned.
She made the vow then, kneeling next to the altar and reciting the sacred words in the Old Religion. Binding her life to the words with the unstable magic inside her and the firm magic in the ruins around her. Raising to her feet, she took the Cup of Life from where it had been left discarded and knew that it would be her first duty to secure its safety now that the High Priestess was dead. She knew of other Priestesses still alive, but she was as likely to find them as she was to swim to the moon. The druids, on the other hand, they could keep it safe and were easier to find. They were always nomadic, even before the Great Purge, and they frequented sacred places of the Old Religion during certain times of the year. Before she even stepped off of the Isle, her will was decided and she returned to Camelot only to say goodbye to her friends and give an excuse to her grandfather. It was not a good one, but Elaine knew that he would accept the speedy departure to a distant aunt's residence if only to be glad that she couldn't stir up trouble in Camelot.
A month later and she will have found the druids, and a week after that be unburdened by the grail after helping in assuring its sanctuary with a select few. The druids were even more cautious in the power of the cup, and as far as most knew, the cup had disappeared when Nimueh had died. A week after that, Elaine was still in the company of the Druids. Without making the conscious decision, months had passed, and Elaine was nowhere closer to returning to Camelot than the day she had left. She found more happiness in partaking in their nomadic lifestyle and helping them stay ahead of the King and his trap than any book she had read before. For the first time since she was a child, Elaine had become content.
two months after leaving Camelot. . .
"This is beautiful," She breathed, looking to her companion. "How many live here?"
Iseldir nodded, hoping that this would be her reaction. He'd been subtly hinting the idea of her becoming a member of the druids and had been hoping that the village would make her more perceptible to the idea. "Almost a hundred, but many of those here will be gone by week's end. We gather here for the celebration of the summer solstice, still, we are nomads and only those that choose to stay. For everyone else, nature beckons, and we go our separate ways."
"And Cenred allows this?"
"We bring in most of his foreign trade. It keeps his money flowing. As long as we keep him rich, no harm will come to us. We have found peace."
"As long as he is rich?" Elaine repeated doubtfully. "King Cenred is not known for his fair and kind attitude. What if one day he decides you are no longer in his best interests?"
"I pray that that day doesn't come." Iseldir smiled at her scoff. "And I have a man at his castle so that when the day comes, we will have enough warning to be long gone."
She laughed, "You sneaky man."
"All kings are virulent. Cenred is a heavily flawed man, but it is better to be under his rule where we are tolerated then constantly on the run from men who are on the hunt for us. That is no life. Here there is peace, here there are friends."
Elaine sobered at his words, "Not all kings. Prince Arthur will be a just king."
They had reached the village by now, without missing a cue, a young man came over to his chief to collect his horse. Once Iseldir was down, he waved off the man and helped Elaine down himself. He had been the patient teacher that taught her how to ride, but there were still too many inept dismounting for her to be trusted on her own. "King Uther was thought to be a just king. He let fear corrupt him, and now his rule is one of a tyrant."
She stepped away as their horses were led away, certainly to be pampered for their work; Elaine still had trouble wrapping her head around some of the traditions of the druids. She didn't want to say that they were too nice for her tastes, but she would think it. Whenever they did something, somebody would be thanked. Their chief, nature, the gods, even Cenred would be thanked on certain occasions. They had many of the same manners and civilities as the nobles in Uther's court, except the druids actually meant them. It was bizarre.
As she went unnoticed-that was was one thing that thankfully was the same no matter where she went-when Iseldir was bombarded by a fast-talking old man, a young child with striking blue eyes and dark hair came running down the lane. Elaine noticed him when he was nearly upon her and they crashed together in a tight hug.
"Mordred!"
"Elaine!" Was echoed in her head.
They separated so she could hold him at arm's length and take in his looks. "Have you grown?" She teased.
He blushed, speaking aloud this time. "Come with me. I've been given my own tent here, and they said that we could share it."
"I would love that." She replied, taking his arm in hers and letting him lead her to the far side of the man-made clearing. Their banter continuing as the inconspicuous duo went, children running around them and tired parents and annoyed guests prepared for the coming celebrations.
"Have you been treated well here?" Elaine asked Mordred once they were away from meddlesome ears and settled into their tent.
"Very well." He answered, gathering all of his stuff off of the floor and into a small pile on his side. "I have been given a new mentor. He is a kind man, Aglain is his name. He keeps me at work, but sometimes when we travel to a market, he will buy me sweets."
"He is a kind man." She smiled, then went to a more serious tone. "I'm glad. I'm here now but- Is that my book!"
Mordred paused in his cleaning, before suddenly scrambling into action trying to reach for the worn out book that was stuff behind what was now Elaine's cot. Laughing, Elaine grabbed it before he could and held it up, out of his grasp. "You still have it?" She asked, genuinely surprised and flattered.
"Yes, it's mine!" He continued to fumble for it, vainly trying to tug her arm down. "Give it back. It's mine now."
Elaine switched it in her hands, holding it to her face. "What have you done to it?"
He snatched it out of her hands, "Nothing! It's not my fault it doesn't travel well."
"Don't act sour with me, or I might not fix it."
"You can fix it?" Mordred asked energetically, returning it to her outstretched hand. "How would you do that?"
Elaine took it gingerly, understanding that he had more sentimental value to it than she gave him credit for originally. She flipped through the pages, "Well. I wouldn't be able to do anything about the fading ink. I could re-work the binding if I had some twine. Patch up the outside with a few scraps of flexible leather and some iron tools. I might ask around too, see if anyone knows any charms that could help with its condition."
"You would do that for me?"
"Of course."
"What is that?"
"Mordred!" Elaine quickly grabbed her blanket to wrap around herself and shield her barely clothed form. "I am trying to change."
"I know." He did not seem concerned by the fact that he had walked in when she had been only wearing a skirt. Druids did not have as many qualms about the naked body as those from royal society. And as Mordred was still too young to understand the intimate details in the differences between males and females, he did not share Elaine's concern of modesty. "What is that mark on your back?"
"I've just had a bath!"
"Exactly, so how is there a mark on your back?" His eyes widened comically. "Wait. Did you also get the Druid's mark?" He tugged at the collar of his shirt, revealing the triskelion that had been tattooed on his chest.
Elaine stared at him flabbergasted before she sighed and decided to that it would over quicker if she just went with it. She loosened her grip slightly in the blanket so that her back would be exposed, turning so that he could see it better.
"That's not the Druid's mark." He blurted out before she could say anything.
"No, it's not because I am not a druid." She said sharply. Seeing the hurt look in his eyes from her harshness, she reiterated. "My mentor was a High Priestess, not a druid. It is their order that I follow. The Triple Goddess."
"So you're a High Priestess?"
Elaine shook her head, reminding herself that Mordred didn't know that his words tore at an old wound. "No." She pointed at her tattoo, nine small squares interlocking with each other. "This is a sign that I am Bendrui. Just a regular Priestess of the Old Religion. I was unable to complete the last tasks."
"Why?"
She rushed forward grabbing him by the arm and leading him out of their tent with a shove. "You're asking too many questions." Elaine scolded, watching him walk away but not before catching his eyes with a steely look. "And Mordred? If you walk in one more time while I'm getting dressed, I'll blacken your eye."
The boy whooped and ran away laughing, but he took her threat to heart. Or decided that was one argument he shouldn't fight. For every time he would go to their tent and she would already be inside, he would announce himself and ask if she was decent, much to the amusement of everyone around.
Iseldir was right, by the end of the week when all of the celebrations were over, the different groups within the druids were spending their last day gathering all of their supplies. Even those who were staying had returned to their mundane chores, festivities put away until the next time. Elaine was the only one that wasn't a part of the flurry movement around camp. She had so few items, that there wasn't a time where she wasn't fully packed. She idled, wondering if Iseldir was going to come give her a command on what to do or if he was even going to come and inform her when they would be leaving.
Mordred entered their tent, surprise then pleasure coming over his features. He reached for his bag and slung it over his shoulder. "You're still here," He commented, stating the obvious much to her annoyance.
"Where else would I be?" She snapped.
He paused, realizing that he must have said something to offend her. "I had been worrying that I wouldn't have been able to say goodbye to you. I thought you had left with Iseldir."
"Iseldir left?"
"Yes, he didn't say anything to you? I thought you were going to be his apprentice."
"So I'm to stay here then? After all that I had done for them, this is how- bunch of fainthearted- tossed away like week old bread. How dare he?"
During her ranting, Mordred's mentor Aglain walked into the tent, pulling the flap down behind him as he listened. His face was void of any displeasure, when he spoke, his tone only conveyed faint amusement. "You're quick to assume the worst of him."
"That's because everyone is consistently the worst." She replied, fighting to have the same kind of composed expression and tone as him, except her red ears gave away her embarrassment at getting caught.
Aglain only smiled sadly- or maybe it was thoughtfully it was hard to tell with this man. Elaine usually considered herself good at reading people, but with him, it was like trying to read something written in invisible ink.
"Did Iseldir tell you then, what was to happen with me?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"You're to travel with me and Mordred until there are any new developments with what he charged you with." Aglain looked to his apprentice whose spirits had cheered considerably at the news. His eyes noticing that both of their bags were fully packed. "I came here to get both of you, we are leaving now. We want to be past the hills by the time the sun sets."
Despite the sour taste in her mouth, Elaine followed Aglain like she was supposed to and kept her mouth closed when any of her bitter thoughts fought to be heard. It took weeks for them to get to their destination, the large amount of people in their party kept the pace slow, and with Aglain taking every precaution to ensure their safety while traveling along the Camelot border, it had already been four months since Elaine last saw Iseldir.
He had been more help to her than anyone else, because of him, she no longer feared her own magic. Distrustful of its capabilities, yes but no longer afraid that it would corrupt and become too unstable for her to control. Iseldir taught her what her magic was, and how children born with magic that come from non-magical parents often had unstable abilities. While her condition is rare, it's not abnormal. His words had given her more relief than he could have known, but it still did nothing to ease the six-year guilt that weighed on her shoulders. That was something she would carry until death.
The Cup of Life wasn't the only gift she had brought for the Chieftain of the Druids. Elaine had also brought the mage stone, despite her gut telling her it was a mistake to expose herself to him, she trusted him with it also. In the end, it had not been a mistake for when she and Iseldir were beginning their journey together after securing the grail, he gave the stone back to her as a gift. It was still in its cut form with metal claws grasping it tight, but now there was a long chain attached. When she put it on, the stone hung down all the way to the end of her sternum. It would help her stabilize her magic, he told her, there will be a high price when you use it, even for the simplest of spells, but now it won't have any unattended effects.
Now the stone was a familiar weight around her neck, brushing against her belly as she kept it hidden underneath her loose dress. That was another reason Elaine assumed he had when she was given the stone, she would keep it a secret from even those she trusted the most. She was sure Aglain was the only one that had the knowledge of it, as he would constantly look at her with a faint smile that suggested camaraderie.
She had spent months with the druids, it would a year since the last time she was last in Camelot in a few more months and had spent most of her time with their chief; still they kept their distance from her, out of fear or hate or some other emotion that Elaine couldn't put her finger on. Even Aglain, with his kind smiles and words, kept their interactions to a minimum; although he seemed to be aloof with everyone, not just her. She was able to appreciate the irony in feeling alone when surrounded by her own people and made a game out of it. Often trying to see what it took to turn their tolerance into annoyance, many of them managed to keep it together and Elaine would have to call it a loss by the end of the day. Her saving grace during this time was Mordred, whose friendship was like having a puppy that was starved for attention. Both of them cherished it, neither had realized how long it had been since they last had a close relationship with someone that felt so familiar and good. It was born from mutual loneliness and grew into something much stronger.
Elaine would take his pestering in stride and would stay by his side for most of the day, posturing in front of anyone that would try to ridicule the boy, many of the other children would tease his muteness as a sign of weakness. Mordred would keep his childlike optimism throughout all of Elaine's bad attitude's and moody silences, and she wouldn't admit it, but they grew fewer and farther between because of him. They were both treated as outcast and Aglain would do nothing to inspire otherwise, but they had each other and that was enough. Up to those final moments in the Forest of Essetir, there were only fond memories afterward.
"Mordred?" Elaine hesitated, reaching for the boy as he hissed and held his hands up against his forehead. "What's wrong?" She asked, keeping her voice low so as not to make his telepathy any worse.
He didn't reply for some time, the pain in his head as too much. "It's Morgana." He managed to get out. He answered her questions before she was able to voice them. Out of intuition or hearing them in her head first. "She's here, not in Camelot. She's in trouble."
Elaine nodded, getting to her feet and rushing out of the tent into the direction he had pointed. The sun had already set, and they had been preparing for bed when he had collapsed to his knees. Later, she would think how it was disconcerting how connected he and Morgana was; now, she was only focused on finding her friend, Mordred's urgency spurring her adrenaline.
It wasn't hard to find her, the sound of the serkets' rattling was easy to track and it was obvious that was the trouble she was in as they were the only creatures that could be a threat to her. She found Morgana curled defensively into a ball on the ground, Elaine touched a hand to her necklace and her eyes flashed dark gold. The serkets scuttled away at her command. Their damage had already been done, and Morgana had fallen unconscious. As Elaine knelt down to check her injuries, Aglain comes up behind her from the direction of the camp.
"Was she injured?"
"Yes, they punctured her leg." She told him, revealing the gash. There was a beat of silence, Elaine had already decided that she would not be leaving her friend's side, but it was not her decision to make on bringing her into their camp. She didn't have to wait long until he knelt down beside her and grabbed on a side to help, as gently as they could carrying her back. Mordred had prepared his bed for Morgana and collected bandages from storage.
He and Elaine waited with bated breath as Aglain performed healing spells on her leg. In a few moments, the venom was gone from her bloodstream and the wound was bandaged. Morgana's induced unconsciousness was turned into calm slumber, and the sweat was drying on her brow. Aglain turned to them both, "She has traveled a long way, she must be exhausted. Don't wake her. If something changes, come get me." After they nodded in affirmation, he left their tent.
"Why do you think she's out here?" Elaine asked as soon as he was out of earshot. "Do you think she was looking for us?"
"Does she know you're with us?"
"Of course not. No one does. Not even Emrys."
"Was she looking for me?"
"Sorry, but I doubt she even knew you were here."
"Then who was she looking for?"
"The druids."
"Why would she want them?"
Elaine didn't say anything, still, he understood her answer. Their conversation lapsed after that, their watch over Morgana beginning then and not ending until morning when she began to stir. They sent for Aglain and he shooed them both out of the tent. Elaine and Mordred lingered outside to listen in on their conversation, only a few minutes passing before Morgana woke and Aglain spoke.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
There was the sound of blankets rustling, then a sharp hiss of pain.
"You've hurt your leg. Try not to move it."
"What happened?"
"You were stung by a serket. I came to help. My name's Aglain. Relax, Morgana. You're safe now."
"Who told you my name?"
Before Elaine could put a hand up, Mordred entered the tent and answered her question. "I did." Elaine couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"You." Morgana's astonishment could be heard through the word.
"When the serket attacked last night, Mordred was able to sense your distress in his mind."
"Hello, Morgana."
"Did you hear that? How did you do that?"
"We don't always need words to speak to one another."
"Now I can take care of you like you did me."
"Thank you for saving me, Mordred."
"That wasn't me. That was-"
There was an uncomfortable pause that Morgana was oblivious to where Mordred and Aglain waited for Elaine to enter, instead, she was more resolute in hiding outside of the tent. "Someone else in our party called off the serkets, but I was the one that drew the venom from your leg. The wound will still take some time to heal though, we should let you rest."
"Wait. I came here for a reason, I have questions."
"What would you like to know?"
Morgana spent the next hour asking every question she could think of about the druids and magic, and Aglain answered each one of them with patience. Elaine was honestly surprised how much Morgana didn't know but wanted to. She figured that it would have been a very short conversation, instead, it was long as they worked to straighten every crooked thought Uther had put in her head. The damage that had been done to her and what she thought about magic, the pure terror radiating off of her, was enough to enrage Elaine and she could sense Mordred and Aglain's own frustrations. The anger was so loud in her head that it pushed away all of her misgivings, so that hours later when Morgana woke up from a long nap, it was Elaine that was beside her this time.
Morgana stared at her for the longest time, Elaine's face giving nothing away so she was forced to form her own conclusions. She pushed away her blankets to sit up in the bed, ignoring the sharp pain in her leg. "I thought I saw you, then I thought you were just a delusion, but it wasn't. You saved me from the serkets."
"They're easy to scare off."
Morgana paused, she was about to thank her, but neither was in the mood for pleasantries. She could see the anger in Elaine's eyes, I thought it directed at herself. "I had to come. I need their help, Uther would have me killed."
"How did you find them?"
"Merlin helped me."
"That was nice of him."
Morgana could hold back no longer, Elaine hadn't given any sign, but her questions burst forth unbidden. "Have you been the druids this whole time? Is that why you left? Do you have magic like me? Did someone find out and now you're on the run?"
"No."
A beat.
"No? To which one?"
"All of them," Elaine paused relishing in Morgana's disappointment. "Except for one. I do have magic, just not like yours."
"What kind of magic do you have?"
"There's no name for it."
"Oh."
"Does Merlin know you have magic then?"
"I trust him."
Elaine turned even stonier than she already had been, "Right."
"No one else knows, and he wouldn't say anything. I trust Merlin."
Before Elaine could answer, Aglain entered the tent, and she made her escape. She wasn't worried about Morgana knowing about her secret, her magic would be kept a secret if only out of mutual self-preservation. That could be counted on if their friendship couldn't.
It hadn't even been an hour when shouts came from the forests and Camelot knights and soldiers rushed into the camp, swinging their swords without any mercy. Elaine knew the war cries as soon as she heard them, the druids were scattering faster than she thought them capable of and needed no warning to follow their example. Her first action was finding her friend, hanging onto Mordred tight when she caught him outside of their tent, he hadn't lingered far from Morgana. Aglain was next to them before they were able to do anything else and they rushed inside for Morgana finding her with Merlin.
Aglain spoke first, "Morgana, we must go. Who are you?"
"I- it's alright, he's a friend. What's wrong?"
"Arthur and his men are coming. Your friend has led him straight to us."
Elaine bent down grabbing her unpacked bag, Merlin avoided meeting her fierce glare. He and Aglain helped Morgana out and continuing to help her up as they fled the camp. Elaine and Mordred leading the way with their hands clasped together. They were unable to go at a faster pace with the sounds of fighting getting closer.
"We've got to keep moving!" Aglain encouraged, but Morgana was already beginning to tire despite the help.
"My leg, it's too painful." She moaned, Morgana stalled and Merlin stepped away from her side, taking steps back.
"I'll try to create a diversion."
"No, Merlin, you can't!" Morgana argued at the same time Elaine yelled, "Hurry! They are almost here."
"You carry on! It's my fault they're here! Go! GO!"
Morgana was spurred by him and began moving again, this time at a faster pace. "I'll never forget this!" She called back to him, but he was already gone.
Fog covered the area and shielded them but it was of no use. The faster pace only worked to tire Morgana faster, and with only Aglain to help her, the wound had opened again and the loss of blood caused her to slump to the ground.
Elaine and Mordred both froze in fear, watching Aglain try and help her in vain. "I can't go on." She tried telling him.
"We're not leaving you behind." He retorted.
"Please," She said weakly before fainting.
Elaine needed nothing else, she trusted that Morgana would be fine, she could hear Arthur's shouts above the others. "We need to go." She tugged on Mordred's hand and motioned for Aglain, however, there was the sound of a crossbow and an arrow was suddenly protruding from the druid's chest.
Elaine and Mordred fled before the soldier could reload his crossbow, they could hear him shout. "Prince Arthur! We have the Lady Morgana!"
She used her hood to cover her face out of fear of exposure, even if she wasn't caught, someone could recognize her. She and Mordred ducked behind a large incline, but were trapped and soon surrounded by three guards. Elaine grabbed the boy and held him close to her body as if to shield him from their weapons. Looking for an escape, seeing an opening between two of them. One of the soldiers shot off an arrow, missing them both, but it was enough to set Mordred off. His scream was only in their head, but it was enough to drown out every other thought. A burst of magic left him and hit the guards, sending them flying and knocking them unconscious. Elaine pulled Mordred away, feeling the energy draining from him and knowing if they were going to escape it had to be now.
They had no other encounters, but they could still hear the Camelot soldiers and the screams long after they had stopped being followed. She didn't stop tugging the boy after her until the moon was high in the sky. Elaine allowed them to stop then, while Mordred fell asleep quickly out of exhaustion, she could only stare at the trees around them brooding when the next threat would show.
It took a couple weeks, but Elaine managed to get Mordred back to safety. The village that they had reunited in was still a haven for druids and she was relieved she had been able to get him back to his people.
"I don't understand." Mordred was arguing with her, his face blotchy with emotion that Elaine chose not to read into.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go back." She told him, gripping the straps of her bag tighter.
"Why? You hate it there."
"I can't explain it, Mordred." She sighed. Pulling him close into her arms one more time. "I'm sorry. You'll be safe here."
"I'm not safe anywhere."
"No, but you're a survivor." Neither had anything left to say, Elaine stepped away and after only minimal fumbling, she was able to climb into the saddle of the horse she had ridden in on. Courtesy of Iseldir. She hadn't explained her decision to him either, still, he had smiled cryptically and bid her farewell. They were the only two she had to say goodbye to, and she started settling in for her journey back to Camelot.
