The rapid thudding of feet against stone confirmed his approach. The boy was alone, the most dangerous time for her. At least when he was around other people, he was too distracted to notice her, a luxury she was bound never to receive. Her delicate wings were tired, drooping behind her back after a hard day's concealment, but they couldn't be as tired as the young warlock must be. His master, Prince Arthur, had kept him behind again, making him work longer for some mediocre excuse she couldn't even be bothered to remember. There had been too many to even try. How did he cope, knowing full well he could do so much better than that? The explanation was beyond her.
She took two steps backwards into the gloomy dark shadows, covering her form in black night. Her white dress followed her slowly, trailing behind her slightly. She watched the corner with earnest, waiting for her ward to appear. Sure enough, he came, skinny shoulders slouched from exhaustion. He rubbed his tired blue eyes then pushed his thick black hair to the side of his forehead. It had grown a lot recently, but she liked it better that way. He walked slowly, tiredness dragging him backwards with each step. She longed to reach out to him, give him some words of encouragement or something to make him smile a little bit, but it was forbidden. They wouldn't allow it. It was the one rule the Elders were severely strict about, which seemed strange considering they were so lax about the others. But when she thought about it, if they weren't she probably wouldn't be here right now.
Her right forefinger began to burn slightly, not scorching enough to hurt but it caught her attention. It was her ring that was the source of the heat- no doubt the Elders calling her home again. She pried it off to receive her message, but her grip slipped and it fell from her hand, rolling out of the shadows and coming to slow halt at the warlock's feet. A tiny gasp escaped her lips. He stopped and looked at the tiny metal circle, then at the dark corner from where it came. He bent down cautiously, eyes still on her hiding place, and picked up the ring, keeping it an arm's length.
"Who's there?" He asked, voice calm, but there was fear there too.
She dared not speak, but her heart was beating so loud and fast she was certain he could hear it anyway.
"I'm not going to hurt you." he reassured her, but she didn't need to hear it. She had followed him for too long to expect that. What she did fear though, as he stepped ever closer, was that if she did have to reveal herself, what the Elders would do to her, and to him for that matter. Her throat dried rapidly, but she knew it was over. Everything she had worked for, destroyed in that one tiny mistake.
She couldn't flee without being seen, but if she stayed she risked the same fate. The warlock held out the ring towards her hiding place. It was now or never. She took a step forwards, soft moonlight hitting her face. The shock was visible on her young ward's face- to be expected of course- but he was not scared. There was a strong aura of curiosity around him, especially when she took a second step and the light hit her wings, showing her for what she truly was. She took the ring from his outstretched hand with cautious fingers and placed it back on her right hand.
"What's your name?" he asked her.
"Elizabeth. Thank you, Merlin, for giving this back to me." She could see the questions building in his eyes, but he said nothing, only analysed her. She imagined it must have been rather overwhelming really, but she had no time for it. The Elders had called to her. "I should leave now." Elizabeth decided and began to spread her wings.
"No, don't go!" Merlin said, taking another step towards her. She paused and looked at him.
"Who...What are you?"
Elizabeth smiled. "I'm your guardian angel, Merlin."