Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my first chapter. And another thank you to those of you who have come back for another peek. I sincerely appreciate your giving of your time to my little adventure. I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Merick

When he woke it was easy; no sudden startling confusion over where he was, no panic over Gawain, just a sense of wellbeing. Merlin couldn't remember the last time he had felt such peace on wakening. Camelot and Arthur brought such great worries to him that he hardly felt, most nights, as if he slept at all. The anxiety of his fate weighed heavily on his chest more nights than not. But this heaviness he felt was quite different. He became aware of a weight on his abdomen, nothing oppressive, just something beyond the blanket itself. It was comforting. He opened his eyes, and even though the light of the room was still dim, he could see Eve's hand resting on him, palm side down, her other one resting on Gawain in much the same fashion. She was sitting between them, eyes closed, head bowed, legs curled under her, her grey, woolen surcoat puddled around her feet. For some reason Merlin felt the need to cover her hand with his, and so he did; she did not startle either. Her skin was soft, and warm, and he almost believed that he could feel her pulse and Gawain's all at once.

"Are you awake my Lady?"

"I am." The voice in his head was musical. "Are you well?" She turned her head to see him, smiling as she did; more of her hair had slipped free of her pins, and it framed her features like strands of embroidery silk. Merlin took a mental stock of his own body. He was warm, fingers and toes all worked, and his leg, though it ached (and seemed to be sporting a new bandage), seemed very steady. He returned the smile and then looked more closely at Gawain. His friend's color had returned, and his breathing was quite steady. It gladdened his heart to see it.

"He is well Emrys. He has not woken yet, but the night passed uneventfully. I believe the medicines have pulled the poison from him. If you will keep watch I will prepare us something to eat."

"Have you slept at all Eve?"

"I have rested, that is enough."

She made to stand but Merlin held her hand fast against his body.

"You must rest Eve, lay beside Gawain, I will make us something from your stores if you will give me permission. You have done so much."

She smiled and nodded, and as Merlin released her hand she lay down beside the knight. Merlin covered her with the blanket she had given him. Her face turned to look into his, not really asking a question, so much as trying to gleen things from him wordlessly with her deep blue eyes.

"I will try not to make too much noise my Lady." She nodded and let her eyes close. Merlin watched her for a moment as her facial features softened, and moving carefully, added more wood to the fire and grabbed up his cloak, warm from the hearth, venturing outdoors to look for the well. He did not make it far, as the storm was raging, and he wondered how it was that it was barely apparent within the cottage, but of course, Eve had magic, and perhaps she had a charm on her home he reasoned as he tried to make sense of the white world that greeted him. Quickly abandoning the search for the well, he filled the pot with snow and brought it back inside, closing the door fast to keep the cold out. He set the pot to warm over the fire, careful not to disturb the two sleeping bodies, setting about to hunt for some vegetables to make some type of broth.

"In the chest under my worktable."

Merlin could not help but laugh, though he clapped his hand over his mouth as he did it to stifle the noise.

In an hour he had a decent soup, with potatoes and turnip chunks cut up into it to add some substance. Neither Eve nor Gawain had stirred a mite while he had worked, even though he had checked on them both several times. It was odd, the feeling he had that they were safe there, after all, Gawain had been poisoned, and near death less than a day ago, but somehow he felt the wellbeing of knowing everyone was mending as they should. And it gave him comfort to watch over them; his closest friend (besides Gaius) and a new friend, Eve for he truly felt a bond, likely because of their shared past. It was all very insulated in the little cottage, and for that time, Merlin pushed all the worries of his real life aside. It was bliss.

Kneeling beside them both he first checked Gawain's pulse (again) and found it steady and strong (again), and then he brushed a hand over Eve's hair, tucking a lock behind her ear, coaxing her to awaken gently. She took a deep breath and slowly moved her head about, all without opening her eyes. Another breath and she smiled, smelling the dinner simmering. She pushed herself to sitting and carefully maneuvered herself away from Gawain, taking the arm Merlin offered her to stand.

"It smells wonderful Emrys." He watched as she finger combed out the few tresses that had come loose, and repined them with a twist of her wrist. He could finally see the soft curves of her face, and he found himself staring at how beautiful she was: now that his mind was free to notice such things. He motioned for her to sit at her own table as he ladled out soup for them both and placed the bowls down.

"I have so many questions." He began as he cut a piece of bread off the loaf between them.

"I will answer what I am able."

"How did you find us?"

"You were yelling quite loudly, and with a warlock of your strength, I could not help but hear and come to your aid."

"I was, was I?" His grin was impish over his spoon, and returned in kind.

"Whom were you running from if I might ask?"

"Her name is Morgana, or rather, we were running from her men. She is a sorceress and sister to the King, she wishes to kill him, and anyone loyal to him."

"What a terrible thing, to wish to kill your own brother."

"She wishes only the throne, feeling it has been denied to her."

"But to live a life with such hatred, it seems a sad purpose and a sad existence."

"I have had a difficult time seeing her as pitiable, she has been responsible for so many deaths."

"But not yours, nor that of your friend."

"Not yet at least."

"Not ever, I hope and pray."

"You are so kind Eve." He wanted to say innocent, because he could not conceive of anyone holding a kind thought towards Morgana, especially once they had been witness to her evil.

"The old religion teaches us such things Emrys. For how can we be an example to others, and to our enemies, towards change, if we do not come forth with open hearts and open minds?"

"You are very wise Eve, who has taught you such things?"

"My grandmother, until she left this plane to be with her people. She taught me the herb-craft and the ways of the druids."

"And your magic?"

"Yes, it was she that taught me about magic, and also those in her trusted circle. I miss her terribly some days, but know that she is happy in Avalon, on the isles where she is not persecuted and she is free."

"One day we shall bring that tolerance to Camelot. Arthur shall make the peace." The words had been so well practiced they sprang to mind in an instant.

"You serve his Highness?"

"I do, it is my destiny to protect him."

"But he does not know what you are?"

"He does not, it isn't time to reveal that to him yet. But it will come."

"You have great faith Emrys, and I am one who certainly understands the constraints of destiny. It is an honor to be here with you."

"Rather it is I here with you, in your home, at your service my Lady."

He reached across the table and took her hand, squeezing it. They stared at each other in silence for a few moments, until there was a moan from the hearth, and both first turned to witness Gawain beginning to stir, and second leapt up to attend to him.

Eve reached him first, putting a hand on his forehead, and the other on his cheek, turning his head gently towards her. His eyes flickered then opened, a typical boyish Gawain smile blooming on his face.

"Hello Beautiful." He took a deep breath, his chest rising and then falling slowly as he seemed to assess his situation.

"Gawain?" Merlin knelt beside Eve.

"So you're here too are you Merlin?"

"I am. How do you feel?"

"Alive. So I suppose that's good eh?"

Merlin laughed and shook his head.

"Trust you to see it that way my friend."

"Where are we?"

"We are in Eve's cottage. She's been caring for you, for both of us since we were attacked."

"Morgana? I don't remember much."

"You were hit with a poisoned dart of some sort. We escaped into the woods, but without horses it was a little dire. Until Eve found us."

"Then I owe you my thanks Lady Eve." He grinned at her, and tried to raise his hand, but it moved only stiffly. "What's wrong with me?" His forehead wrinkled.

"The poison has had a paralytic component to it. It may take many more hours, or even days for his muscles to recover."

"The poison has partially paralyzed your muscles." Merlin relayed to Gawain. "The cold kept it from serious harm, that and Eve's medicines, but it may be awhile yet before you regain all your muscle control."

"Can you help me sit up?" Eve slid her hand under his shoulders, and Merlin grasped his wrist. Together they pulled him to sitting, and he was able to brace himself (a little awkwardly) against the stone hearth. "Well that's better. You are unhurt then Merlin?"

"Only a gash to my leg, but Eve has tended to that as well."

"Then we were both lucky that you discovered us."

Eve smiled shyly and bent her head, averting her gaze from Gawain's warm brown eyes.

"Will you not speak to me milady?"

"She cannot speak Gawain."

"Then how do you know what her name is?"

"I, uh, I guessed." Merlin curled his upper lip in his own grin. "I'm a good guesser."

"So it would seem." His expression did not seem entirely convinced. "Do I smell dinner?"

Eve's silent laugh was no less effective in conveying her amusement. She put her hand on Merlin's shoulder to still him from rising and she went to the table to fill another bowl, and to break off a chunk of bread for Gawain. When she returned with it he tried to take the proffered spoon but he could not make his fingers wrap around it. The frustration was obvious in his face, until Eve smiled at him again and broke off a piece of bread, soaking it in the broth and bringing it to his mouth. He took it in and chewed slowly, savoring the taste before swallowing.

"That is good." His tight shoulders relaxed a little.

She motioned for him to eat more bringing another piece to his lips. Merlin watched as Gawain took it again, in slow motion, as Gawain seemed to linger over her fingertips, or her fingertips lingered over his lips, Merlin couldn't tell, but he also couldn't stop watching. He knew that the knight was teasing the woman, slowly licking the thick soup from the ends of her fingers, keeping them between his lips for a second longer than he needed to, looking right at her as he did so, gauging her reaction. A blush was rising in her cheeks, but she continued to feed him, till all that was left were the vegetable chunks, which thankfully she gave him on the wooden spoon. Gawain's eyes were absolutely alight as he ate, and Merlin felt an uncomfortable roiling in his gut at watching them.

"Thank you milady." Gawain bowed his head (it was the most chivalrous move he could make at that time.) She returned the bow.

"If he does anything that makes you uncomfortable my Lady," Merlin began.

"I take no offence Emrys. He flirts, it does my heart well to see that he is healing."