Author's notes:

-I'm not an expert on the show (that I don't own!) - I've only seen the first three series and I've only watched the first two more recently, because that's all British Netflix thinks we want here.

-I'm only used to writing scripts with no description or context, so if the description between dialogue seems awkward, that'll be why. I also never intended to put this on the Internet, which makes it harder still.

-I'm imagining series two took place over the autumn term - I don't know exactly when it took place, so let's just go with it.

-If any of the characters seem out of character, again, I'm not an expert.

-There is an overriding plot showing through at times, but it's mostly centred on Palladium and his actions.

-It's dark. But that's for the plot. There are OCs. That's for the plot too.

-I know there is a nurse at Alfea but I don't remember her name (if she has one) so I'm sticking with my placeholder. I'm considering using creative liberty as an excuse if I've really got her character wrong.

-Shadow virus? That sounds familiar... - I've used the word but it relates to something slightly different.

-I've taken huge creative liberty with at least a few things in this so please bear with me.

-E.g. Supper is after dinner because I personally prefer a snack before I go to bed, instead of having a full stomach from an evening meal.

-As is mandatory, or so it seems, a 'first meeting' scene has to be included!

-Kudos to anyone who recognises the language used in places!

A little over a week before the end of the autumn term, mulling over the day's events on the way to his room, Palladium was stopped in the corridor.
"Palladium, I'd like a word with you if you have time."
Faragonda was at the other end. He could not imagine what she needed to talk to him about that she had not mentioned earlier, but he reasoned that it could not be anything too unpleasant. Not that the thought did anything to prevent suspicion seeping in at the back of his mind.
"Of course," he said in reply, and followed her to her office.
Once inside, she sat behind her desk and motioned for him to sit in a chair opposite. She looked concerned, which did nothing to reduce the feeling of suspicion that had been growing in him during the silent walk to the office.
"I'm afraid this is going to be a little hard for you to hear this," she began, "But the man who had befriended you was not all he has seemed to be."
His suspicions were confirmed. This was not going to be an ordinary, pleasant, conversation. Palladium settled into his usual position of tensed shoulders, crossed ankles, and hands tightly clasped in his lap; a position he assumed in most situations he was uncomfortable with.
"I don't follow you..."
Faragonda sighed, looked down at her desk, then up again and said,
"He was sent by Darkar as a spy to infiltrate our school and settle here."
"I see..."
"The true Avalon is currently recovering in the medical wing from his long term imprisonment."

He said nothing, but continued to look at her whilst struggling to process the multitude of thoughts that had begun to crowd into his head.
"Are you all right?"
He attempted to clear his mind a little.
"Fine. I am fine."
"Please do not fall into the habit of likening him to the impostor."
"Faragonda, that sort of reasoning is highly unnecessary and would not occur to me."
"Good..."
She sounded unconvinced, and with good reason, as he could not help but say,
"...I do wonder though, if his supposed friendship with me was just manipulation. He did behave in such a way that he appeared normal-"
"Palladium."
"I am just wondering whether or not the affair was set up or opportunistic."
"It will do you no good to think about it." she said firmly. "Please do not think that you will have no value to Avalon. You have no idea of his true personality and therefore avoiding him as you are wont to do will be most unwise."
"I suppose so..."

As he left her office Palladium considered going to the medical wing to visit this 'true Avalon', but could think of many reasons why that would be a poor decision. For one, Avalon was supposed to be recovering. There was a good chance he would still be asleep when he got there and then he would have to explain to the nurse why he was there at all. For another, he was still sorting through the thoughts that had filled his mind earlier. He did wonder whether or not he could befriend this... Stranger? He knew Avalon, or rather; he knew what the impostor wanted him to know. But how accurate had this charade been? Was he emulating him perfectly? If so, the friendship he had with the impostor would be quite feasible with the real person. Then again, what if it was not quite a perfect emulation? What if certain aspects were there simply for the plan? If that were the case, there would be a strong chance that Avalon would not particularly want to know him. Especially not if he had been friendly with the impostor. He decided against visiting the recovering paladin and carried on to his room.

The next day was a Saturday. Avalon had mostly recovered from his imprisonment and he'd been filled in on the inner workings on the school whilst in the medical wing, so he had spent part of his afternoon sorting through the possessions the impostor had brought with it and the notes it had made on his classes and their progress. It hadn't taken him long as he found that his belongings had been precisely organised - as though he'd done it himself. The whole situation felt surreal as people looked at him with familiarity, while he saw nothing he would recognise. He felt almost like he was recovering from amnesia, though he knew he had no memories to recover. Once he had finished inspecting the contents of his room, both marvelling and feeling uncomfortable at the same time with the attention to detail in the impostor's packing, he realised he had nothing to do. Faragonda had explained various duties to be done around the school but hadn't given him anything to do as she wanted to make sure he was comfortable with where he was. The impostor had finished most of his work for him and he wasn't in the mood to go and socialise in the staff room, so he found himself rather bored.

In his boredom, Avalon sat on one of the two small blue sofas in the centre of his room, still taking in his surroundings. It was still early in the afternoon and he was wondering what he should do with the rest of his day. He was feeling much better than he had when he first arrived so he didn't particularly want to stay in his room, but he couldn't think of anything else to do. It occurred to him that he hadn't seen much more of the school than the basic places to which he would need to go and thought for a moment about going for a walk to familiarise himself with places he hadn't already seen, but thought better of it when he realised that he could quite easily lose his way in some obscure corridor. If anyone needed to find him it could take a while and he couldn't be sure how long the energy he had at the moment would last. Though he felt better he knew he wasn't back to full health and it would take him a while to recover his stamina. He didn't want to write to his friends at Malacoy either as he wouldn't have much to write that wasn't about his imprisonment, and he knew that Faragonda had written earlier to explain the situation so they at least knew what had happened. He decided to wait at least a few days longer before trying to draft a letter that would allay his friends' concerns. After thinking all this through he had pretty much resigned himself to waiting out the afternoon in his room until dinner. That was when he noticed he could hear someone walking along the corridor outside his room. Someone with light footsteps; not fast, skipping ones like those of the energetic leprechaun he'd met earlier, but leisurely ones with an even pace. He wondered if this could be the elf he'd heard about as he knew the elf's room was next to his. Perhaps, if the elf - Palladium, he remembered - had as little to do as he did, his plan of further exploration was not entirely out of the question...

Palladium had finished the work he intended to finish rather quicker than he had hoped, and with no further duties until securing the school for the night, he was intending to spend the rest of the afternoon in his room. He wanted to avoid interacting with people as much as possible, as today was one of those days where he could hardly bring himself to look at anyone, let alone hold a conversation. He had spent the day in his potions laboratory to increase the likelihood that no one would find him and now that he was finished with his work he was going to hide himself in his room until he absolutely had to leave it. He felt oddly defenceless, so the best course of action would be to stay where fewer people would come looking for him until he felt he had regained some of his confidence. On his journey upstairs he felt a little childish, hiding round corners and taking hidden passages whenever he could hear anyone else, but as the point of this was to avoid seeing anyone it hardly mattered anyway. By the time he reached his room he had decided that he would spend the rest of his afternoon organising the marking he would get done the next day and then settle down until dinner with some herbal tisane and a book. Once inside he put his satchel down on the chair by his desk and was just undoing the slightly worn buckles on the front when he heard a knock at the door. The tightness that had left his chest as he arrived at his room returned.

Avalon waited in the silence that followed his knocking. He could hear movement inside and something that sounded like a sigh. He hoped he wasn't being a nuisance. The door opened, and half hidden behind it was the elf he'd heard about.
"Yes?"
"Are you busy?"
"Well... No. I am not."
"I realised I didn't have anything to do and wanted to explore the school a little more - I've only been to the places I need to go to - but I didn't think I should go by myself."
"And...?"
He seemed hesitant. Nervous, in fact. The elf was meeting his eyes, but his head was tilted down and pulled slightly back.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come for a walk. I hadn't met you earlier, so I thought even if you didn't want to I'd at least get to meet you now."
"I suppose that's reasonable."
"Well?"
The elf looked down for a moment as if in thought, and then started suddenly,
"-Forgive me; I forget my manners too easily. If you would come in I could suggest an alternative to your proposition."
"Why not?"
The elf pushed the door open fully and led him into the room.
"Please, sit. I was just about to make some tisane - would you like any?"
"No, thank you. I prefer green teas."
"I have none left, unfortunately."

Avalon sat on the sofa to the right when he walked in and looked around the room, making sure he wasn't too obvious in doing so. This room was more 'lived-in' than his own, with the shelves behind him laden with books and strange objects, and with exotic looking plants he couldn't name seemingly growing across the ceiling. He stopped in his scrutiny as the elf started brewing the tisane, and focused his attention on the small cooking area in the opposite corner of the room. The afternoon sun was shining outside and the light was coming through the French windows in such a way that the elf's caramel hair seemed to glow. He continued to watch the elf and was entranced by his precise, fluid movements and could have stayed watching him for a long time had the elf not started speaking.
"You say you had not met me."
"-I wanted to, but you were never around."
"You seem quite keen."
"I'd heard about you."
"Oh?"
He turned around.
"I mentioned going hiking in the forest during my spare time while I was in the staff room earlier and someone said that if- well, I should ask if you wanted to come with me, as you know the forest very well."
The elf turned back to the tisane that was now fully brewed and said wryly,
"I believe what you were about to say was 'if you could get me to talk to you'. And might there have been mentions of analysis of plant life?"
"Well, yes."
"I know what they say about me. I do not mind. I prefer listening to talking because one finds out more, and as I have spent a lot of time outdoors it should come as no surprise to people when I display in-depth knowledge of my surroundings."
Eventually, he came and sat at the other end of the sofa. Again, Avalon noticed his discomfort as the movements that had been smooth and flowing were now stiff and restrained.
"But now for my alternative. You might be aware that I usually secure the school in the evening. If you are not averse to staying up late you could come with me. I can understand, though, if you will still be recovering from..."
His voice trailed off. Perhaps this was the cause of his unease?
"I've spent a lot of time recovering. I'd like to start doing things to stop me thinking about what happened."
"I usually lock up after supper. If you are going to be there, come with me once you have finished. I believe doing this will be more practical because you will learn what the task entails and there will be fewer people about."
"That seems sensible. Now I'm back to the problem of what to do with the rest of the afternoon."
The elf seemed mystified; it was possible that he had misunderstood him when he said he had nothing to do.
"Have you nothing to read? No one to write to?"
"I'm not in the mood to read and I'm not contacting any friends until I've got more to say than a repetition of Miss Faragonda's letter of explanation."
"I see your problem."

Whilst he appeared ill at ease, the elf seemed in no hurry to ask him to leave - though that could be a result of the scrupulous good manners that he claimed to have momentarily forgotten. Somehow, Avalon doubted that someone so polite could so freely forget one of life's most fundamental necessities. It therefore had to be exactly what it felt like. He could see that the elf was shy, but felt no desire from him to be left alone. His apparent discomfort with interacting with new people must have been holding him back from conversing more confidently with someone he clearly wanted to talk to.

Two hours passed before either the paladin or the elf noticed. Avalon's quandary had faded with the now late afternoon sunlight and Palladium had found an answer to the question he had posed to himself the day before. All that was left to be done was regaining the confidence that he had fought hard to give himself before.