Discovered

Merlin stumbled a bit as he made his way through the darkened paths from the palace towards the large willow grove nearby. Even though there were scattered lanterns hanging from branches to light part of the way, it was still difficult to see all the roots in the dark. His feet were also a tad sore from all the dancing during the feast. Fianna had been right in that he picked up the steps quickly. And even though he had enjoyed it - he enjoyed watching Arthur stumble through the dance even more - he couldn't stop himself from looking for Elia and wishing that he could have been one of her many dance partners throughout the night.

"Merlin!" a voice whispered. He froze and looked around as a figure with a dark green cloak and hood stepped out from behind a tree. He relaxed when Elia lowered the hood, exposing a broad grin on her face. She held out her hand, which he eagerly took as they began walking deeper into the grove. "You were taking so long, I wondered if you were coming…"

"Of course, I'd come," Merlin scoffed softly, taking his eyes from the path for a moment to look at her face. "Just Arthur had a lot to say about tonight's feast…"

"And I'm sure a lot of work for you to do," Elia replied.

"I may have been a guest during the feast, but he reminded me that I'm still his servant," he said.

"Yes, but someday you will sit at my side on the throne of The Willows," Elia said dreamily, a far-off look on her face. "And have your own servants."

"Dunno how I'll get used to that," he replied. He hadn't really thought about it, to be honest, he was so focused on getting to the point when they could be together. He never considered what would happen after that.

"Don't worry… you have me to guide you on the finer things of elven royal life," Elia said, smiling at him before returning her attention to the path before them. They were approaching the largest tree in the center of the grove, its branches hanging so low that it created a curtain hiding the trunk and its roots from sight. "This is my favorite spot in the whole of The Willows… it should provide us privacy."

She then reached out and held the drooping branches aside, allowing Merlin to step in. She followed, letting them fall back into place. Merlin's eyes widened as he took in the space before him. He had expected it to be much darker, but it was lit up by the many fireflies floating in the air around them. Elia stepped passed him and settled among the roots near the trunk, patting the spot next to her.

"Certainly know you're in a magical place here," Merlin said as he lowered himself next to her. Elia had pulled her legs up towards her, wrapping her arms around them as she looked up into the branches of the tree.

"This tree is the oldest in the grove and there are stories that it is the center of all the magic in The Willows. That this is where the magic originated many thousands of years ago when the world was still new," she said before looking over at him.

"Is that what you believe?" he asked. She shrugged.

"All I know is that you can feel it flowing through the tree" she said, placing a hand on a root. "It pulses…" Merlin reached down and placed his hand next to Elia's, closing his eyes. There was a sort of hum that he could feel throughout his body as soon as his palm made contact. His eyes flew open as he lifted his hand away, causing Elia to laugh softly.

"You can feel it too," she said. He looked at her and nodded, placing his hand on hers and closing his fingers around her small hand.

"Part of me already feels at home here," he said.

"Because you are magic," she said. "Magic calls out to magic."

The two fell into companionable silence for a few moments, soaking in the enchantment of the place.

"I wish that I could have danced with you tonight," Merlin finally said, looking over at Elia.

"I as well," she murmured. "Someday…"

"How is it that something can feel so close, yet so far away," Merlin mused.

"I suppose that is but how life is at times," Elia said wisely. "But the time will come." The two stared at each other a moment before Merlin leaned over, meeting her lips. Elia sat up slightly, placing her hand upon his chest as Merlin reached up and ran his fingers through her curls that she had taken down from the intricate updo she had during the feast. He pulled her closer, the kiss deepening. They knew they did not have much time together - even at the later hour, neither could afford to be away from the palace long.

They only had these few moments.

Elia pulled away, looking deep into Merlin's eyes before resting her forehead against his.

"I wish that we could stay here… fall asleep in each other's arms," she murmured.

"Someone would notice us missing," Merlin said. "We should probably get back…" He started to stand, but Elia grasped his shirt, pulling him back down.

"Just a few moments more," she begged, looking up at him. He smiled and kissed her lightly as he settled among the roots, leaning back and pulling Elia with him so that her head rested on his chest. "That's much better."

"It is truly always summer here?" Merlin asked. Elia chuckled.

"Yes," she said. "I thought we've been over that."

"Still just trying to wrap my mind about everything," he said.

"You'd love the archives. Perhaps Trevor could take you down there before you leave, if you can spare a moment, that is," she said.

"The archives?" he asked.

"Yes, all the records of our kind. Many others of magic. The history of this world," she said softly. "There's even a small druid village on our border."

"Druids? You mean others who use magic?" he asked, sitting up slightly to look down at her.

"Yes, though I have not yet spoken of this to Arthur. I felt it would be better until he were… more accepting," she said carefully. "They are not technically within our borders, though they do benefit from our protection."

"Likely wise," he said with a sigh. "And you had mentioned before that druids took shelter within your borders in the past… I would love to see the archives. See just what I can learn."

"There are many things to learn," Elia said. "Even Arabelldon hasn't read everything. Though I believe Faeranduil has…"

"The leader of the elders?" Merlin asked, trying to remember everything that Elia had told him of the elders and council in her letters. "He was the one with long, white hair and a sour look on his face during the feast until he had had quite a bit of wine?"

"That would be him," Elia replied. "Quite set in his ways after thousands of years."

"But you said that he complimented you a few months ago," Merlin said.

"True… I suppose anyone can change…" Elia murmured.

"Who were the elves wearing the fish nets?" Merlin asked.

"Ah, those would be from the seaside kingdom - Earle," she said.

"Right… you mentioned that other elves had been joining your kingdom. Where have they been this whole time?" he asked.

"Hiding among mortals," Elia said. "When their kingdoms began to fade, most left for the Isles, but some chose to stay, believing that magic would return and their kingdoms would once again thrive... Once word spread that The Willows allied itself with Camelot - bringing peace between our kind and King Arthur - they began journeying here. One of the men from Earle, he said he had a vision of magic returning to these lands and set out to join us the very next day."

"The other elf kingdoms… do you think they will return?" Merlin asked. Elia looked up at him.

"I have faith that once you fulfill your destiny and Arthur has accepted magic fully, then yes… they will return to their former glory. And…" she stopped, a sheen of tears in her eyes, "among them, Rosewood will return as well…"

"Will you rule both here and there?" he asked.

"I intend to," she said. "With you at my side." She leaned up, brushing her lips against his again. Merlin sighed, smiling happily.

"As much as I would like to stay, we really should get back," he said. Elia nodded sadly, slowly standing from among the roots. Once Merlin had stood, he took her hand and the two made their way through the willow grove back towards the palace. They stopped just at the edge, Elia looking up at him as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.

"Til' next time, my love," she said softly, leaving a chaste kiss on his lips before turning and silently running through the night towards the palace. A large grin spread upon Merlin's face as he started on his way, his thoughts going through everything they had spoke of.

He had nearly made it to the small door that led to the kitchens when he heard a throat clear. He stopped and began looking around in the darkness, worry starting to fill him. Who had discovered him?

"You should learn to get a bit better at sneaking off, Merlin," Gwaine said as he pushed off from the wall he had been leaning against, half hidden by the night. "Saw you sneaking out earlier."

"Oh, I… didn't think anyone had seen me," he stuttered, causing Gwaine to chuckle.

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," he replied, slapping Merlin on the back. "Might have snuck off to see about my own elf maiden." Merlin stared at him a moment, wondering just how much the knight had seen. "Caught yours sneaking back in not long ago." Merlin's eyes widened. Bollocks. There was no way Gwaine hadn't noticed who she was.

"You won't tell the others?" Merlin asked. Gwaine stared at him strangely.

"Course not. Just told you I wouldn't," he replied. Merlin let out a sigh of relief. He had to admit it was a bit freeing to let someone else besides Gwen and Gaius in on the secret. And Gwaine seemed to be taking the news well. A bit too well. "Besides, we all know…"

"What?!" Merlin nearly shouted.

"You couldn't take your eyes off her all throughout the feast," Gwaine commented, causing Merlin's cheeks to heat up. If Gwaine had noticed, then surely Arthur had as well. But then why hadn't he mentioned anything earlier?

"It's just… we can't really let everyone know just yet," Merlin said.

"Not sure why," Gwaine said.

"Pretty sure her council would have something to say about it," Merlin scoffed.

"What would the council have to say about it?" Gwaine replied.

"She is the queen after all," Merlin said, wondering just how much of the elf wine the knight had had during the feast.

"She's the… what?" Gwaine said. "Queen Elia? That's who you were meeting?" Merlin just blinked a few moments before suddenly remembering that the knights and Arthur had assumed long ago that Merlin was sweet on Fianna. Of course… that's who Gwaine had assumed was sneaking back into the palace. He hadn't seen her face. And Merlin had danced with her for quite a bit at the feast.

"Oh… I…" Merlin stopped, unsure of how to continue as Gwaine stared incredulously at him.

"Seriously, Merlin! The queen?!" he asked in shock. "When did this even happen?"

"It's not like we planned it…" Merlin said weakly. "I think the both of us started feeling something that first night we stumbled into the elves in the woods. We tried to ignore it, but found we couldn't…"

"So, this whole time you had us thinking it was Fianna, but really it was the queen?" Gwaine asked, though now a note of awe had snuck into his voice. Merlin nodded. "And just how do you two plan to work that out? I thought it was against their laws for her to marry anyone not an elf."

"She's working on that," Merlin said.

"And no one knows?"

"Well… Gwen does… and Gaius. And Fianna. But no one else," Merlin said quickly.

"You haven't even told Arthur?" Gwaine asked, even more in awe that Merlin would keep something this big from the king.

"I hadn't really planned to for this long, but… found I didn't really know how to tell him," he said. "Really, Gwaine. You can't tell anyone. Not yet. It could ruin everything." Gwaine studied him a moment before sighing.

"I won't. But I seriously think you should tell Arthur. And… you're not about to live this one down," he said, starting to smile. He threw an arm around Merlin and started walking him back into the palace. "To think… of everyone in the company that night and it's you she ends up falling in love with…"

"I know…"

Elia sighed as she laid back on one of the chaises on her balcony. The meeting with Merlin, while short, had left her much too happy to fall asleep just yet. She had grabbed a goblet and some wine while making her way through the quiet kitchens and decided just one glass would help her to relax enough to hopefully fall asleep.

Sighing happily, her eyes drifted closed as she relieved every moment. His arms wrapped around her. Talking about the future. It was so clear in her mind…

Elia leaned against the balcony, a gentle breeze blowing her curls back from her face. She looked over, seeing Merlin walk up. He was dressed oddly but had two glasses of wine in his hands. Soft music was playing from somewhere she couldn't see. It was a song she was unfamiliar with. It didn't sound like anything she had heard before.

"Thought I'd find you here," he said, holding one glass out to her.

"I just love this view…"

They were in the countryside somewhere… somewhere she didn't recognize. There was a gold band on her left ring finger.

Gasping slightly, Elia sat up, her eyes flying open. She couldn't help the smile that came across her face. She knew she had just glimpsed at her future with Merlin. Someday they would be together.

"My lady," Fianna said, walking into her rooms.

"Out here," Elia called. The servant walked out onto the balcony and sat down on the other chaise, studying the queen.

"I take it your meeting went well," she said softly, grinning.

"It did," Elia said. Fianna was silent a few more moments before leaning towards Elia.

"You've seen something, haven't you?" she asked. Elia nodded.

"We will be together someday," she said.

"I told you so," Fianna replied. Elia looked over at her and laughed softly.

"I suppose you did," she said. "Though… I do not know when it happens."

"All that matters is that it will happen," Fianna said. Elia nodded.

"That is true. I will wait however long I must," she said, leaning back against the chaise.

The next morning after breakfast, Elia walked with Arthur and Gwen towards the training grounds, where a few of his knights were trying out the new weapons the elves had prepared for them. Fianna, Merlin and Gwen's lady's maid followed not far behind the monarchs.

"How fares everything?" Elia asked, walking up to Cameron and Rhys as they watched some of the knights spar with elven warriors. While they were moving a bit quicker thanks to the lightweight swords, they still weren't quite fast enough to catch the elves.

"Well," Cameron replied. "They seem to be warming up to the new swords."

"Good," she replied, calmly watching.

"What's this? Queen Elia watching from the sidelines?" Fenris shouted as he blocked a blow by Percival, who was starting to look a bit tired and frustrated that he had yet to land a hit on the elf.

"Will you never give up?" she shouted back, grinning. She had worn a pair of leather breeches and a tunic more suited for training should this very thing happen.

"We still have to even the score," he said, as he pushed Percival back and the much larger man stumbled a few steps. He tossed his sword around, grinning at her. Elia laughed loudly.

"You should give up while you're still ahead, Fenris," Rhys shouted at him.

"Never," Fenris retorted. He then bowed towards the queen, winking at her. Elia just rolled her eyes and held her hand out. Cameron smirked slightly as he unsheathed his sword and handed it over. She then strode into the middle of the grounds and calmly stood across from Fenris.

Almost without blinking, the two were then locked in a quick battle, neither seeming to exert much effort as they parried back and forth.

"Is this a common occurrence?" Gwen asked, watching them with wide eyes. She had heard the queen was a fearsome warrior, but this was the first time actually seeing her fight.

"Fenris challenging the queen? Yes," Cameron said. "Granted he challenges everyone…"

"They at it again?" Trevor asked, walking up to the group.

"He's already bested half of King Arthur's knights," Rhys said. Arthur frowned slightly at that.

"Fenris is one of our best fighters," Trevor said.

"How do they move so quickly?" Gwen asked.

"Many years of training under our master swordsman, Ailmar. Though Elia trained for nearly a century under Faeranduil, himself. He only trains members of the royal family," Cameron said.

"He fights?" Merlin asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. He had assumed the disgruntled elf was only a scholar.

"One of the best," Trevor said. "He spent a fair amount of time going back and forth between here and Rosewood, working with both Elia and the late King Tobias. Elidren as well." Merlin just shook his head slightly as he watched the two.

Elia smoothly kicked out, knocking Fenris on his back. The elf started laughing as Elia reached down and helped him up.

"Seems you are no closer to evening the score, dear Fenris," she replied with a grin.

"Ah, but someday," he replied with a bow. Elia just shook her head as she walked back over to Cameron, holding the sword out to him.

"Now I see why there's no tourney," Gwaine said as he and Percival walked over. "Seems your warriors would easily win."

"I'm sure not all of them could beat the knights of Camelot," Elia said easily, turning to look at him. Gwaine's eyebrows rose at the statement. "I'm sure there are a few of warriors-in-training who could not best you." The group around them chuckled as Gwaine frowned slightly at the small queen, who was grinning smugly at him.

He then glanced at Merlin and smiled slightly, turning his gaze back to the queen.

"That may be true, though I must admit I was surprised to see you fighting so well after your… late night," he said before starting to walk off towards a table of weapons. "Figured you'd be too tired after yesterday's excitement." The smile slid off her face as her eyes widened and cheeks began turning slightly pink. She wanted to glare at Merlin but refrained as she just stared after Gwaine.

"What's he talking about?" Trevor asked.

"The feast," she said quickly as she turned towards Gwen and began dragging her off. "Come, I must show you the willow grove." The two women hurried off, leaving a rather confused group of men. Except for Merlin, who was staring at his feet, willing his own cheeks not to heat up. He should have known Gwaine would say something.

"Well then… suppose I should look over the new weapons you have so graciously sought to gift us with," Arthur said. "Come on, Merlin."

"Yes, sire," Merlin said, falling in step behind Arthur. Once Arthur was busy looking over the weapons as Trevor and Cameron offered comments and explanations on them, Merlin walked over to Gwaine.

"What was that?" he hissed, glancing over at Arthur. The knight only chuckled.

"Told you I wasn't about to let you live it down… the queen either," he replied before walking back towards the palace with Percival and the others. Merlin just sighed and rolled his eyes, wanting to follow, but knowing he had to stay with Arthur. Thankfully he hadn't caught on to anything.

Bloody knights.

Finished another couple of chapters! So close to finishing up all the writing on this one, though I'm still stuck on the sequel. Can't seem to come up with a detailed plot, though I've got the basic idea in mind. I mean, the last episode of the series makes that pretty obvious. But… decided it's best that I focus on finishing up this one before I start writing anything new. Still have two other stories that I'm currently posting (all the writing is finished) and another sequel to another story to post, though thankfully I've already written and edited all of that one. It would just be posting it, so gives me time to work on the sequel to this as well as a few other things before I start posting them. I don't like posting until I have a decent amount of chapters written and at least most (if not all) of the story plotted out so I can go back and change stuff in the beginning should I need to.

Fullshadow – Aw, thanks! And that's just the number of chapters I had left to write – there's actually 11 chapters left in the story to post. Though now I have one chapter that I haven't started on – three that are partially finished. So down to four left to complete!

OechsnerC – Thanks! Spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I want The Willows to look and such. As well as the clothing and such. You should seriously see the Pinterest boards I've put together…

Thanks everyone for reading and following!