An Odd Encounter

Merlin followed Arthur on his horse, looking around the forest. They weren't out on a quest, but after the last ordeal they went through with Uther's troll wife, both were in need of a break from the castle. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with fresh air and smiled slightly

"What are you doing, Merlin?" Arthur asked, slightly annoyed as he glanced back at him.

"Nothing, sire," Merlin said, smiling. "Just enjoying the fresh air. And hoping we get a bit of a break before the next catastrophe to hit Camelot."

"You're telling me," Arthur muttered with a slight roll of his eyes. "At least you didn't have to die to end the last one."

"You didn't die," Merlin shot back. "It was only a pretend death."

"But I could have stayed that way," Arthur replied. "If I hadn't had the antidote." Merlin scoffed.

"As if we were going to let you stay that way," he said, chuckling. "Though it was nice get a break from your ordering me about for a bit." Arthur cast an annoyed glance at his servant, but then couldn't keep himself from smiling slightly. He turned back to face the path, happy to get out of the palace as well. His father was in the midst of having it scrubbed from top to bottom, determined to rid it of the stench of troll that seemed to still permeate it.

That alone was enough for him to order Merlin to get their horses saddled so they could go out for a long ride. He knew for a fact that his father had moved all his affairs to one of the gardens for the day.

They continued on in amiable silence through the forest until the sound of clanging swords and shouts hit their ears.

"Do you hear that?" Arthur asked, sitting up in his saddle. Merlin frowned slightly.

"Sounds like a fight," he replied.

"Or bandits attacking innocent travelers. Come on!" Arthur shouted as he kicked his horse and took off down the path. Merlin sighed and followed. Of course, they couldn't go for even a simple ride without running into trouble.

As the noises got louder, Arthur swung off his horse, pulling his sword with him and then charged into a clearing, Merlin not far behind. His eyes widened as he took in the sight before them.

Sure enough a group of bandits were attacking some travelers. There were no horses, but a slender woman with long chestnut hair pulled back in a loose braid was in the middle of fighting off two assailants. That was not what had him transfixed, however. It was the way she moved, pirouetting across the forest floor. Her sword moving lightning fast and as though it were an extension of her arm. She was light on her feet and didn't even seem to be breaking a sweat as she dispatched the two and turned to check on the rest of her group. Dropping the sword, she quickly pulled a bow from her back, nocking an arrow and letting it fly in one smooth movement. She repeated the action rapidly, taking out three more.

Arthur and Merlin watched, mouths gaping, as all at once the scuffle came to an end with various bandits strewn about on the ground or running off into the forest and the travelers quickly taking stock of themselves. A few trotted back down the path to retrieve their horses while others secured a wagon.

The woman looked over at the two, taking in Arthur's armor and drawn sword. She pulled her bow back on her back and reached down for her sword from the ground. She was wearing breeches and a dark green tunic that was covered in lightweight armor that seemed molded from leather. Merlin glanced at the sword in her hand, taking in the craftsmanship. It looked deadly, but as though it weighed nothing as she tossed it up, caught it and then sheathed it.

"Can I help you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Merlin found he had lost the ability to speak as he took in her perfect skin and bright green eyes. In fact, everyone in her company looked impossibly beautiful - even though they were all men. She walked towards them, but stopped a few feet away, crossing her arms in front of her.

"We've come, well… we heard a ruckus and came to help. But it appears as though you need none," Arthur said, looking around, confused. Merlin looked over at him, not used to seeing Arthur fumble with his words. Granted he didn't blame him. The woman made it difficult to speak. Even though she was slender and small, her presence screamed authority. "I am Arthur Pendragon, Prince of Camelot. And this is my servant, Merlin."

"I know who you are," the woman said shortly, narrowing her eyes at the prince. Arthur immediately frowned, a bit put out with her coldness. She reached up and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear as she glanced back at the rest of her party, causing Merlin's eyes to widen.

"You're an elf," he said in awe. Arthur looked at Merlin, as the woman turned to look back at the two.

"What are you talking about?" he asked incredulously. "Elves are just stories. Fairy tales."

"No, we certainly are not," the woman said bluntly. "We're very much real. Forgive us for hiding our presence from you, but it's not like your father is the most welcoming of magical folk." Arthur's eyes drifted back towards the woman, going towards her ears where he finally noticed their points. He took a step back as part of her group quickly made their way towards her, falling into a protective barrier around her. Almost as though she were someone of high position.

"You're magic," he stated, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword.

"Most perceptive, your highness," she replied lightly, with a small smug smile. She gave a short whistle and a large, brown steed quickly made its way towards her. She called out to her traveling companions in a language neither Arthur or Merlin understood. After hearing a few answers in return, the woman deftly swung herself up onto the horse as her guard whistled for their own horses and began to mount around her.

"I've always wanted to see an elf," Merlin said, smiling. He found himself moving towards her. The woman's eyes flicked over to him. She stared at him a few moments before her delicate eyebrows arched and a warm smile appeared on her face.

"Well now you have, though I would appreciate it if you kept this meeting to yourselves," she said, looking back over at Arthur.

"And why's that?" Arthur asked, frowning.

"We mean no harm, Prince Arthur. This is not a quest or assassination. We are only traveling through and soon enough you'll never notice we were ever here," she said boredly. "If you'll excuse us, we are late and must be on our way."

"Late for what?" Merlin asked, curious about the elf woman. A grimace passed across her face before she quickly rearranged it back into a look of indifference.

"My wedding," she replied. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Elia, daughter of Eliabor, king of Rosewood. And I am currently on my way to marry Tobias, king of The Willows, to unite our two dying houses. And really, Tobias does not like to be kept waiting." As if to make her point, her horse started stomping impatiently.

Merlin felt his heart drop slightly. She was a princess. And she was about to marry a king. He wasn't sure why the news upset him - he had just met her after all and was sure that he'd likely never see her again.

"My lady, we should be going," a man with curly brown hair said, riding up to her. It was short, something that Merlin found interesting. In fact, most of the men had short hair. For some reason he had assumed that elves would all have long hair. Or that they would be rather tiny. These elves all looked about normal height, though were of slender build. Elia looked over at him and nodded. She then looked back at Arthur and Merlin.

"I trust you'll let us continue?" she asked.

"By all means," Arthur said, gesturing forward. Merlin continued to watch her, a spark of something pricking at his chest, but he wasn't sure what it was. Elia bowed her head slightly and crossed her right hand over her chest.

"May the sun be ever on your back," she said before turning and kicking her horse. The company then took off, moving quickly and much more quietly than expected. Merlin stood and watched them ride off, a smile still on his face. He couldn't wait to get back and tell Gaius what they had seen. Though just as quickly, he began to fill with concern. If Arthur told his father, he'd likely send troops out to hunt down the elves. Or search for the elven kingdoms.

"You're not going to tell your father, are you?" Merlin asked, worry starting to seep in as he glanced over at Arthur.

"Tell him what? That we failed to rescue a maiden who was in no need of rescuing?" Arthur asked as he looked around at the dead bandits littering the forest floor around them. Merlin sighed in relief and began smiling again.

"We saw elves!" he said excitedly. "Real elves! They're much taller than I expected." Arthur just rolled his eyes as he sheathed his sword and turned around.

"Come on, Merlin. Let's get back," he said, sounding irritated.

"And a princess to boot! Did you see how quickly she moved? Dare say she's faster than you," Merlin said, happily chatting as they made their way back to their horses.

"That's enough, Merlin," he said.

"And they all looked so young and beautiful. D'you think they live forever?" he asked.

"Shut. Up. Merlin."

Elia was quiet as her company continued on their way, her thoughts returning to the young men who happened upon them. The prince was as handsome as she had heard, and just as arrogant as she suspected. In her experience, most princes and kings had an air of arrogance to them - goodness knows her father and Tobias certainly did. But the servant, Merlin... she wasn't expecting to see the prince had a young sorcerer at his side. Though she gathered that the prince did not know, considering his father's views on magic.

Being a creature of magic, naturally she could sense it in others. Her kind had always had friendly relations with the druids, even offering them sanctuary as Uther Pendragon led his deadly campaign against them.

"My lady, what troubles you?" Trevor, her faithful companion, asked, riding at her side. The two had grown up together and when Elia's father announced that she would be traveling to The Willows to marry Tobias, it was natural that he would be at her side as her most trusted friend and advisor.

"Nothing," she said with a sigh. "Just eager to be off the road. I do not like traveling through Albion. The roads are still dangerous regardless of Uther."

"You seemed quite interested in studying the dark-haired one. Merlin," he replied.

"I was not expecting a powerful sorcerer at the side of the prince," she said in return. "Much less as his servant." His eyes widened.

"I did not see that," he said.

"Because you didn't think to look," she said, glancing over at him. "But he is there, nonetheless. Which has piqued my curiosity."

"Your curiosity? Since when did you care of the workings of mortals?" Trevor asked, smiling slightly.

"I care when it's interesting," she replied, looking around the forest. "And a sorcerer as the servant of Uther Pendragon's son is very interesting. At least worth looking into…"

The two were silent for a few moments, Trevor studying her.

"You sure this isn't because you do not wish to marry Tobias?" he asked softly. Elia glanced over at him, cursing his perceptiveness. Though she wasn't surprised. All elves were good at reading others. Granted they were equally talented at hiding their true thoughts. But Trevor had been at her side since they were young, so of course he could see passed her cool façade.

"I do not have a choice," she finally said. "It's either that or let our people die out. They're looking for an heir, after all."

"But we do live forever," Trevor replied with a smirk. Elia rolled her eyes.

"Unless some magic-hating king decides to off us," she replied.

"You're worried the young Pendragon will tell his father?" Trevor asked.

"He won't. I doubt Uther would believe him anyway. As he said, most mortals believe we are just stories told to children at bedtime," she said, scanning the woods around them. "But… I can't help but think that will not be the last we see of young Pendragon and Merlin." Trevor studied her a moment.

"Is that your foresight? Or just a gut feeling?" he asked.

"A bit of both," Elia said.

"I hope it's not because they'll try to kill us," he said with a sigh.

"Merlin won't let him," she said. "And before you ask, I just know." Trevor laughed.

"Well then, seems we have nothing to worry about. Other than your unfortunate upcoming nuptials," he said, grinning. Elia cast a scowl at him but found herself smiling slightly.

"At least I get to have you there with me," she said. "Otherwise I should rather hate an eternity at Tobias' side. He is…"

"Arrogant?" Trevor offered.

"That among other things," she said.

"Surely it won't be that bad. The Willows are nice enough," he said with a shrug. "And I assume many from Rosewood will relocate there. Especially if your father moves on."

"But not the same as home," Elia said longingly.

"It'll be okay," Trevor said earnestly. Elia nodded.

"I certainly hope so."

"And then she dropped her sword and in the same movement pulled out a bow and arrow and shot down three more!" Merlin said excitedly, attempting to mimic the elf woman's movements before Gaius in their rooms. Gaius smiled as he watched his young apprentice.

"Sounds like quite the spectacle," he said.

"It was amazing! They fought so gracefully! Much more entertaining to see than Arthur and his knights," Merlin said. "I can't believe I got to see a whole company of elves!"

"And here I thought they had faded into legend. Turns out they've been alive and right under our noses the whole time," Gaius said.

"She's apparently a princess," Merlin added. "Off to get married. Though she didn't seem too happy about that."

"If my memory serves me correctly, elves are immortal. Perhaps she is not looking forward to an eternity with her betrothed," Gaius replied.

"She was really rather beautiful," Merlin said. "I've never seen anyone that beautiful."

"Still mooning over the elf, are we Merlin?" Arthur asked as he strode in, smiling slightly.

"I'm not mooning over her," Merlin replied, frowning. "But even you have to admit she was beautiful."

"And she's probably hundreds of years older than us," Arthur said, crossing his arms in front of him. "Best to drop it. We'll likely never see them again." Merlin sighed.

"I know, but it would be nice," he said, thinking of her bright green eyes.

"Merlin… you're mooning again," Arthur said. Merlin glared at him.

"What are you doing here anyway? Need me to clean your armor again?" Merlin asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Arthur replied. "And to remind you to be careful who you tell about our encounter in the woods."

"I was just telling Gaius," Merlin replied.

"With the door open," Arthur countered. Merlin glanced over and saw the door before smiling sheepishly.

"Didn't notice that," he said. Arthur just rolled his eyes.

"Armor. Now," he said, pointing towards the door.

"Yes, sire," Merlin said, scuttling towards the door.

"You can't blame him for being excited," Gaius said, standing. "Dare say I'd be too."

"I just can't believe they existed this whole time and we didn't know," Arthur replied. He looked over at Gaius. "Do you know anything about them? Are they a threat with their magic?" Gaius chuckled.

"I'll admit, my knowledge of elves is only from old stories. But it seems as though they are content to keep to themselves. I don't think we have anything to fear from them. They contain a different sort of magic," he said. "Not the same as sorcerers." Arthur nodded.

"Good," he said. He then turned and strode out of the room. Gaius looked around a bit and then started towards a shelf of books, looking until he located a large, old tome. He pulled it out and set it on a table, quickly leafing through the pages.

He stopped when he came to what he was looking for – a section of old tales about elves. He wasn't sure how much or if any of it were true but felt compelled to read it anyway. Something told him that this wouldn't be the last they heard of the elves.

Right, so I have a thing for King Arthur shows/movies/etc. Started this awhile ago and had two different versions going before I settled on this one. I've gotten a fair bit down, but still working out the kinks in exactly where it is going and still don't have an ending figured out, which is odd for me considering how far into the story I am. Still, been kind of fun. Wrote it after I binged the series for probably the third time.

Hope you enjoy!