And now for another tale of magic and stuff... I need more adjectives. I have plenty, but they are very good at hide-and-seek, minus the seek part. Actually, the seeking's fine, it's the finding I'm still working on. Anyway, wacky metaphor-ish thing aside, Elaine's back in all her sarcastic/serious glory. I quite obviously, if you haven't picked up this, own only Elaine and NOBODY else (no, I created Merlin, because ALL the creators of Merlin are currently sitting on their living room floor attempting to type fanfiction while a cat does their best to delete everything. Yeah, right, I wish).
"...and the beginning to a new friendship between our people." Elaine grins at that. Oh, yes, they all look very friendly indeed. The most this means is more complaining from Merlin as he rushes to and fro doing everyone's work. One of these days, Elaine means to sit Arthur down and have a long talk with him, except not.
Later, at the banquet, Elaine has decided that she wants Merlin's hat. Maybe she can ask him for it after the feast... Where on earth is the lovable idiot going? And with her, too... Oh. Never mind, Elaine thinks.
Then, of course Merlin comes in, decidedly un-ruffled, and spouting some nonsense about poison.
"Merlin," she whispers. "Merlin, don't," comes out just as he finishes the drink.
Idiot. Merlin, you absolute idiot.
Elaine is the second one at Merlin's side, terrified.
Back in Gaius' workshop, she works on helping Merlin to be more comfortable as Gaius looks for antidotes to whatever poison was used, with Arthur hovering over the older man's shoulder.
"Oh, Merlin, the prat does care," she whispers softly. Gwen hears and smiles in spite of the circumstances, because she's gotten a pretty good grasp of the relationship between servant and prince from conversations with Elaine and Merlin, and she knows, too.
"You are going, yes?" Elaine asks Arthur after Gaius explains about the Morteus flower. Gaius and Gwen both stare at her, but she'd be surprised and severely disappointed in her faith in destiny if Arthur said no.
Elaine watches in satisfaction when Arthur leaves.
Caring for Merlin, a dying Merlin, is far more sobering than any tactics which Elaine might apply after a night out; it really doesn't help when he starts muttering magical-sounding words and Gwen is right there. Elaine supposes it doesn't matter so much, since he's dying anywy, then mentally slaps herself. How could she think that? How could she ever...
When Gaius discovers the rash, Elaine is somewhat paralyzed with fear, not that she'll admit it, becasue she's strong - she has to be.
Then Gaius mentions the serving girl and Elaine scowls guiltily, because there she was, thinking Merlin and what's-her-face were just off to canoodle.
And now here Merlin is, muttering words that Elaine really, really hopes aren't spells, because Gwen is still right there, and damn it, she just doesn't want Merlin to die.
"It's a trap," Merlin moans. As Gwen goes for wolfbane - thank you, deity of distractions - Elaine stands and collects a bowl of water and some herbs.
"Elaine?" Gaius says. Elaine shrugs, because she thinks that Merlin is probably right, even if he is delirious.
So she sits on her bed and begins to look for Arthur, scrying because she is magical, after all, and these are desperate times if ever there were any.
Merlin has the light in his hands now, and Elaine is worried - for him, because hello, he's dying, and for Arthur because he's hanging off of a bloody wall and reaching for flowers just a bit to far away.
She shouldn't interfere, but she does, moving the plant closer to Arthur and preparing to catch him if he falls.
Elaine is pretty sure Merlin will forgive her for doing his job this time.
Elaine watches Arthur's return and conversation with Uther, and when she sees him reach for the flower from the floor of the cell, she stands up and knocks the bowl of water onto the floor, prepared to march down there.
Then Gwen comes in and her plan is infinitely better. But Elaine feels obliged to come too, because she's a part of it now; when Gwen says "food for the prisoner" Elaine just says "Gaius" and does a passable imitation of the infamous eyebrow. Even with strict orders, the guards know not to mess with her (she could drink them under the table and has done so on occasion), so the girls are escorted into the cell.
As Gwen sets the plate down, Elaine pretends to check Arthur's health and they exchange words, so Arthur knows to slip Gwen the herb.
Then the guard yells as they're leaving and Elaine and Gwen run, thinking only of Merlin and the breaths he's taking.
Gaius mentions that magic may be needed, and Gwen points out that it's illegal (she's just ever so helpful like that). Elaine hastily asks for fresh water and Gwen leaves, letting Elaine watch Gaius imbue the antidote with power. She takes mental notes, because you never know, and the mixture sizzles a bit just before Gwen returns, and then...
Merlin's heart's not beating - not doing anything - what's going on? He's silent, and oh, god, this can't be how it turns out -
Elaine cries out and screw the consequences, nothing lasts, she pounds on his chest a few times. She takes a breath, but lets it out before she gets to his mouth. How could something as simple as that affect magic or poison? So Elaine curls up into a little ball and cries silently, the way children do when they fear the wrath of their parents if they're discovered.
Then he comes back, Merlin does, and he makes some crack about Gaius hugging Gwen. Elaine's pretty sure it had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with the antidote, but she feels smug anyway, because she helped.
Then Gwen kisses Merlin, which gives Elaine no end of pleasure, and it's happy again.
Unless you're the king who's been framed, but he is released eventually, so whatever.