Once again, Eilwen was left alone with Cameron and a now sleeping Wynoa at the mouth of the cave.
Damon and Henery had gone off to find water; leaving the trio alone.
Eilwen and Cameron sat awkwardly next to each other at the cave opening as Wynoa snored away.
After what Wynoa had told Eilwen about Cameron and how he felt about her made any type of conversation between the two younglings difficult.
Cameron coughed; making Eilwen jump.
"So," he started. "Are you coming with us?"
Eilwen's head snapped to face him. "What?"
"Are you coming with us? You lead us this far out, are you going to travel with us?"
Eilwen hadn't thought about that. And Cameron did have a point: she had helped them this far, should she continue? Could she leave Camelot and run with the pack? Was there anything really left at Camelot for her?
Cameron waited for Eilwen's answer; hope reflecting in his eyes.
Eilwem tried to muster a smile. "Maybe; only time will tell."
Cameron's expression changed from hope to defeat and then back to hope.
"At least you didn't outright say no." he said smirking.
Eilwen sighed. "I would love to go with you, Cameron, but…"
"But?" Cameron badgered. "What do you have to loose?"
He was right. What did Eilwen had to loose? She already was a marked woman; she would probably be reprimanded if she returned to Camelot. And who would speak on behalf of her? Gaius probably, but they would think he was senile. Maybe Arthur? Maybe not; especially if he found out what she really was.
Merlin?
The though of Merlin being more than happy to consign Eilwen into the hands of Uther turned her stomach.
But there was a slight possibility that he might help her.
"The key word being slight." Eilwen muttered out loud.
"Huh?" Cameron asked confused.
"Oh, nothing." Eilwen recovered. "Just thinking about…something."
"Ah." Cameron said. He stood; stretching his legs. "It'll be dark soon; I hope Daman and Henery come back soon, I'm starving."
Eilwen grimaced: another night of eating freshly killed meat. What she wouldn't give for a lovely wiggling fish.
Night came quicker than Eilwen had predicted. Daman and Henery eventually returned to their makeshift camp with a few canteens of water. Every member drank their fill; then the sun set. After transforming, the pack set about hunting; leaving Eilwen to warm herself by the fire Henery had prepared.
It was chilly outside, so Eilwen tightly clutched her cloak.
She noticed a few lightning bugs around; but other than that the night was quiet.
Until the sound of breaking twigs made Eilwen freeze.
She listened closely.
A few moments, and then another crack.
"Hello?" Eilwen ventured.
Yet another crack.
Eilwen jumped up.
"Cameron?"
More sounds.
Eilwen brandished the knife she had tucked inside her pouch.
"Stay back; I have a knife and I'm not afraid to use it!"
"Eilwen with a knife?" came an oddly familiar voice. "Now that's new."
A figure emerged from the darkness beyond the fire; an all too familiar figure.
"Merlin?" Eilwen asked astonished.
"Yeah, it's me." Merlin said smiling. He moved a few steps closer.
Eilwen's astonishment vanished; she held the knife out in front of her.
Merlin stopped moving; instinctively raising his hands in surrender.
"Eilwen, put the knife away."
"Why?" Eilwen asked, anger in her tone.
"I'm here to help."
"Help; how? You're going to go back and report everything to Nedric?"
"No." Merlin replied. "He's bonkers; and I now know that you're telling the truth. I came here to take you back to Camelot."
"I have no intentions of returning." Eilwen said still holding the knife. "They saw me perform magic; I'm done for."
"They didn't see your face; you're still safe." Merlin said. "Please come back, everyone is sick with worry over where you went off to; even Arthur."
Eilwen's brow furrowed. "But what about the pack?" she asked, hands starting to shake. "I can't just up and leave them."
Merlin was afraid of this. "You've done so much for them already. I'm sure they can fend for themselves now."
"They can't, Merlin." Eilwen replied.
"And why not?" Merlin asked, starting to get annoyed. "They've been on their own before, they don't need Mother Eilwen to watch their every move."
Anger and hurt flashed across Eilwen's face. "You still don't understand."
Merlin made a deep sigh; he obviously wasn't getting anywhere with her. "I want to understand."
Eilwen considered what he said. She slowly lowered her knife; returning it to her bag.
"If you want to understand, then stay with me. Help me get the pack to safety."
Merlin watched Eilwen closely; seeing if she would falter in her proposal. She was dead serious.
"Fine, I'll stay and help you."