*peeps out from behind wall*
Umm.. hey guys... I know I haven't updated in a VERY long time, but I do have my reasons, involving a missing USB and a new year... AND writers block(thanks to Daisymall13 that no longer exists) but the updates WILL NOT STOP!! I will never abandon this! It's too much fun to write...
When I began writing this, Morgana was still in Camelot, so pretend she's still there!
Disclaimer: I own Merlin AND LotR I tell ya! I own them!
Daisymall13: AuSsIe,mate... I hate to break it to ya but you don't...
Lyrics of the Chapter
In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no Alibi
'Cause I've Drawn Regret
From the truth
Of a Thousand Lies
So let Mercy Come
And Wash Away
What I`ve Done...
Linkin Park, What I've Done
Merlin inwardly cursed, trust him to muck up. Arthur strode over to the curtain and stood in front of it.
"Come out if you know what's good for you." He ordered. Merlin meekly crept around the curtain to face Arthur.
"Merlin! What are you doing?" Arthur cried, his eyes wide. Merlin grinned slightly,
"Checking for mice Sire?" he said, sounding very uncertain of himself. Arthur raised an eyebrow,
"Checking for mice?" he repeated sceptically. At that moment Belelia strode forward a look of shock on her face.
"Who on earth are you?" she cried out. Strider immediately walked forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"My Lady, please forgive him. I know his uncle from my childhood and I wanted to meet him while I had a chance. When you woke up to answer the door I told him to hide, I know how you feel about people you don't trust being in your room without your knowledge. It's my fault, I beg your forgiveness." He bowed to her. Belelia frowned.
"I forgive you this time, but next time I shall hand you over to the King." Strider looked terrified and bowed to her again.
"Thank you My Lady." He said as he stood up straight again. Arthur frowned. The King of Gondor must be worse than my father, he thought to himself before turning to Merlin.
"Merlin, go find Guinevere, tell her that I need her to look after Lady…" he frowned and turned to Belelia.
"Forgive me but, I didn't catch your name." he bowed respectively. Belelia answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Lady Malorie Thranduilion, Lady Malorie for short." She smiled sweetly. Arthur turned back to Merlin.
"Lady Malorie. Can you remember that?" he asked sarcastically. Merlin nodded his head.
"Before you go Merlin I will allow you a few more minutes tonight to talk with Strider. If you will excuse me My Lord, but I wish to get dressed now." She motioned to the door. Arthur smiled once more and motioned for his men to leave, before leaving himself, Belelia closing the door behind her.
As soon as the men had left the room, Belelia spun around and ran to the curtain.
"Legolas? How do you feel?" she asked softly. Strider jumped and ran over to join them. Legolas smiled weakly at them.
"I feel fine." He said. Both his sister and Strider rolled their eyes.
"In other words you're not far from Mando's Halls. Tell me the truth." Strider said, lifting him off the floor and onto the bed.
"Like I said… fine." Belelia frowned down at him.
"Legolas, over these last few years since father left, I have realized just how he must of felt when you two went out hunting and I assure you I have full sympathy for him." Legolas grinned and tried to sit up, before falling back and groaning. Strider moved quickly to help him.
Belelia moved forward to help but Strider put a hand on her shoulder.
"You need to get ready. Pack only the essentials, your gowns and one pair of traveling clothes. For now put on the gown you wore on your birthday and make sure you have your circlet with you." Belelia nodded and ran to obey.
"You should not encourage her, she is bad enough already. Elladan will be cross with you if she returns with her old habits. She already has Elrohir twisted around her pinky." Legolas joked weakly. Strider smiled at him, before turning to Merlin.
"Go now and do what your Lord said. Act like you don't know anything about us for now and get the arrow to Gaius quickly." Merlin nodded and ran from the room.
0o0o0o0o0o
Merlin thumped on Gwen's door as loud as he could.
"Coming!" she yelled. A few seconds later, the door opened revealing a sleepy looking Gwen."What's wrong?" she inquired.
"Arthur needs you to look after a visiting princess for him. She just arrived about half an hour ago with her guard." Merlin explained. Gwen nodded and stepped out. Let's go then." Together they ran to the courtyard to wait. A few minutes later, Arthur and the princess arrived.
Merlin was surprised by the change in Belelia. She had donned a forest green gown made of silk, her blonde hair hanging freely around her shoulders, a silver band with three green jewels encrusted in it around her head. She walked with grace, silent as the night air. She smiled when she saw Gwen.
"You must be Guinevere; it's a pleasure to meet you. I am sorry that I am the cause of your sleep being interrupted. I assure I will try and make up for it." she smiled wider, curtsying slightly. Gwen, surprised at the royal's pleasant nature stared at her for a second before recollecting her thoughts.
"The pleasure is all mine, My Lady. Please follow me and I shall take you to a room." She reached over to take the bag in Belelia's hand. The princess frowned.
"I can carry it. Please, I prefer not to be waited on hand and foot, the war in my country taught me not to." She smiled slightly as Gwen curtsied again.
"Of course My Lady, please follow me." Both females turned and entered the palace. Merlin and Arthur watched them go, before Merlin grinned at Arthur.
"Which one are you watching, Malorie or Gwen?" he teased. Arthur turned to frown at him and Merlin quickly straightened his face.
"I'll be expecting you early tomorrow Merlin, make sure you're there. I need you to find out as much as you can about this King Aragorn." Arthur said as he began to walk back into the palace.
"Good night Sire!" Merlin called out. Arthur rolled his eyes and kept walking.
"Good night Merlin."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
'Malorie' smiled as Gwen entered a room and began lighting some candles.
"My Lady Morgana is in the room next door so I thought you would prefer to stay near her." She explained as Belelia sat down on the bed. Gwen then turned and took a nightgown out of the bag and placed in on the bed. As she did, she noticed a slightly red patch on the arm. She ran a finger over it and discovered it was still wet.
"My Lady, forgive me for asking, but what is this on the sleeve?" she asked quietly, passing it for her to see. Belelia ran a finger over the patch before delicately smelling it.
"It appears to be blood. Most likely from when I cut myself on my way to Camelot." She observed, carefully folding the nightgown up. Gwen frowned.
"Would you like me to send for a healer? I can run and get one now if you'd like." She offered. Malorie shook her head.
"There is no need; it was merely a scratch that I have seen to. It was a few nights ago, I wonder why it has not dried?" she pondered before shaking her head. Gwen smiled and shrugged lightly before pulling another nightgown out and taking the ruined one from Malorie.
"I shall see if I can clean it." She offered placing it on the table beside the door. Malorie smiled and removed the silver band from her head.
"Do you have any brothers Gwen?" she asked softly. Gwen shook her head.
"No My Lady, it's just me." She responded, frowning slightly when Malorie whipped a tear from her eye. "Is something wrong?" she inquired sitting beside Malorie. The princess smiled at her,
"Please call me Malorie, I find it makes me feel snobbish when people call me 'My Lady'. My brother was…injured the last time I saw him, that's why I am here instead. I do not know if he is alive or not." Gwen nodded her head and placed an arm around the girl's shoulders.
"He'll be fine My...Malorie, you'll see."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Gaius jumped when Merlin slammed the door open, distracting him from a rather interesting book.
"Merlin what on earth is wrong?" he demanded as Merlin tried to talk and catch his breath at the same time. Finally though, he was able to talk… well a little bit.
"Belelia… elves...brother… poisoned…antidote…" Gaius held up a hand.
"Merlin, catch your breath first, and then tell me." Merlin nodded and waited a few moments before trying again.
"I met some elves, they're hiding from Uther. One of the elves has been poisoned; they have no idea what with though. He's running out of time. They asked me to ask you to create an antidote for them." Gaius frowned.
"Merlin, Arthur came in here about an hour ago asking if I had seen the elves. You do realize that you are taking a big risk with this?" he cautioned as Merlin nodded at him, before handing him an arrow.
"From what I heard, he is her only family. I know how it feels to have your only family dying and I want to prevent her from losing him. The poison is on the arrow." Gaius hesitated before turning and placing the arrow on the table and pulling out a thick book.
"tell me his symptoms."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
Meanwhile Strider was having a hard time. Since Belelia had left, Legolas had gained some strength and was actually demanding he be let up. Strider sighed and turned to him.
"If you don't lie down I will make you drink Lord Elrond's sleeping tea." He threatened. Legolas looked up at him in mock horror.
"You wouldn't dare! I am your…" at that moment a burning sensation robbed him of his breath and he curled into a ball groaning in pain. Strider, shocked at the changed rushed forward to do what he could.
"Legolas, Mellon Nin, I need you to uncurl for a few minutes so I can check your wound." Suddenly, Legolas went limp. Panicking slightly, Strider checked for a pulse. He found none.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
A guard looked over the wall admiring the night sky, but confused by the fact the trees swayed gently, even without a breeze. He was oblivious to the fact that meanwhile, a foreign princess cried on a servant's shoulder, a healer and a boy worked to find an antidote to an unknown poison and a ranger worked to restart an elf's heart. As this all happened, the trees mourned a death that could not be reversed.
Thanks to everyone who's still with me!
FireSlytherin5: Hehe... I'm back.... again :P
irezel: yup, he screwed up once more! Thanks for reminding me!
Slinky-and-theBloodyWands: Hehe.... I was tempted to do that... sorry I took so long!!
ServantofSauron: Hi!! *waves* Thanks for reading the stories! I'm really glad you like the cliffie!!
thanks guys, you all rock if you review!!