Chapter 25

"So apparently Morgause has made Arthur promise her to accept a challenge and that's why she spared his life," Merlin says.

We're sitting in his room, Gaius out and about doing his duties.

"What type of challenge?" I question.

"Don't know. Just said to meet her."

"Doesn't sound like anything good," I mutter.

"What are you doing here anyways?" he asks, giving me an odd look. "Don't you have a job?"

"Don't you?" I counter. Merlin looks around his room, realising he is slacking and jumps off his bed. "Where are you off to?"

"My job," he responds. "Come if you want, I'm just getting his laundry."

I shrug to myself, pushing off his wall and sync into step with the boy as we wander down to the laundry stations. Merlin picks up the basket of clean clothes and we talk aimlessly on our way to Arthur's but our chatter dims as we near his chambers, to guards standing out front. Merlin walks in front of me, moving to open the door, expecting the guards to object but they only stand still. Merlin looks at me in confusion but I can't give him any answers so he continues opening the door and I follow through.

"Why are the guards outside the door?" he asks Arthur who is sitting on a window ledge, playing with a long knife.

"My father has confined me to my chambers and has forbidden me from accepting Morgause's challenge."

"Grounded like a teenager," I muse. Arthur and Merlin look at me with scrunched faces.

"I did not understand any of those words," Arthur says.

"Never mind," I mumble.

"It's probably a good thing," Merlin says, swapping the topic of conversation back. "You don't know what she might've asked you to do." Valid point, but I think Arthur should go. If she only wanted him dead, she had a very good point to do it. And it's not like blood sacrifices are a thing here? Are they?

"I gave her my word."

"So, I take it we're going anyway," Merlin catches on.

"You're smarter than you look. Gather some supplies, we leave tonight. Oh, and Merlin…find a way to get me out of here."

"I'm coming too," I say.

"No, you're not," Arthur argues. "And what are you even doing here?"

"I know!" Merlin exclaims. "She's been following me around all day."

My mouth drops in offence.

"Well excuse me for wanting some company while I'm bored. I thought you would provide some of that but you're actually quite boring," I snap, albeit playfully. Merlin scoffs.

"I have to put with Arthur, now I have to put up with you too!"

"Merlin," Arthur says, standing up. "Not only are you insulting me, but Elena as well. I should put you in the stocks." I bite my cheek to hold the smile as Merlin looks between us aghast. Of course, Arthur is only teasing the poor boy, taking this opportunity to gang up on him.

"Oh," he groans, "I see, it's gang up on Merlin day is it? Must be a monthly thing now."

"Keep it up and we can make it weekly," I tease. Merlin glares at me and I can't hold back to light laughter.

I leave with Merlin shortly after.

"You get him out, I'll get the horses."

"Alright. But how am I supposed to get him out?"

"You're smarter than you look," I tease. "You'll think of something."

I wander down to the training ground then into the armoury in search of either Castor or Leon. I wouldn't have thought about it before but after Leon's confession yesterday about his fear of me wandering off I thought I owe it to him to give him an ease of mind, especially since I don't know how long this new adventure is going to take.

Fortunately, both men, along with some of their other comrades are there, putting away their weapons and armour. It smells like sweat but I've gotten used to the smell, the boys often still have the scent on them at other times of the day.

Leon is removing his arm plates, so I push away his hands, beginning to undo it myself. He flinches in surprise but relaxes as he looks at me.

"I just wanted to tell you that Merlin and I are heading to Ealdor for a few days to visit his mother and I didn't want him travelling alone," I converse as casually as I can.

"Thank you," he says. "For telling me."

"I'm sorry that it had to come to the point where you felt upset because I hadn't been. I tend to not think about it until I've left and the people that know are with me."

"I don't mind, I just want to know you're safe," he assures. I smile up at him in answer, taking off his breastplate.

Merlin walks past me, the sun now well past being down. His shirt looks rather clunky and he pulls it up a little to reveal a rope wrapped around his stomach.

"I'll go get the horses," I murmur, taking off in a different direction from the warlock.

Not wanting to raise suspicion, I haven't asked a stable hand to prepare the horses, especially since I would be taking Arthur's. So, I tack up three horses myself, tying one the other so I could lead all three with ease.

I lead them out of the stable, being sure to stay out of people's sights and make my way around the castle to under the Prince's window. I'm just in time to see the Prince leaning out the window, clinging to the rope, which is threaded through the opening, being held by what I can only imagine as a struggling Merlin.

As Arthur takes a leap off the edge, the rope sinks down under his weight, a bit to fast for my liking and for a moment I don't think it's going to stop until it does suddenly. He is about halfway down the wall but doesn't move any further.

"Keep coming," I urge, my tone as though I'm pointing out the obvious. Arthur looks over his shoulder down at me. Even from here I can see his scowl.

"Lower the rope!" he hisses at Merlin. There's a momentary pause before I hear Merlin's voice.

"There is no more rope!" he exclaims. If I wasn't terrified that I am about to witness the Prince's death, I would be laughing rather loud. "I don't know if I can hold it much longer!"

"Merlin," Arthur inhales. "Do not let go of the ro- "

But he is cut off as the rope slackens and he begins to fall to the ground. I drop the reigns, running forward with my arms open as though to catch him but just as he's about to land in them I realise the stupidity of it and let my arms drop back to my side and Arthur falls to the ground, in a pile of horse manure.

He groans, assuring me that he is alive, and I look back up to the window, Merlin's curious head poking out. I give him a thumbs up and look back down at the Prince.

"Sorry, Sire. I was going to try and catch you but.."

"Don't even…"

Merlin meets us down where I have the horses, while the prince uses my cloak to wipe his face. I glare at him as he does. I'm sure he didn't realise – but still.

"Why are there three horses?" he demands.

"I told you I was coming," I respond, patting my horses neck. Arthur glares at me, going to argue but Merlin cuts him off.

"We don't really have time to argue."

Arthur gives up, mounting his horse and we do the same, riding out of Camelot in the middle of the night.

After a few hours riding we reach a fork in the road. Merlin and I turn to look at Arthur expectantly, but he looks as confident as I would in a jousting tournament.

"Which way?" I ask but Arthur continues switching between the two roads.

"Do you actually know where we're going?" Merlin asks.

"It's this way," Arthur states, pointing to the left. He nudges his horse forward, but the animal won't move. "Come on. What is wrong with this horse? It's even dumber than you, Merlin!"

Finally, the horse starts moving but it takes to road leading to the right.

"Where are you going? I thought you said it was left?!" Merlin exclaims.

"It's not me! It's the horse. Morgause told me. when the time comes, you'll know the way," he calls back, already going further down the road.

"So the horse knows where we're going. Great," he mutters to me.

"This is just as bad as following the spiders," I mumble under my breathe, nudging my own horse to follow. "How the hell does a horse know where to go anyways," I say louder to Merlin.

"Who knows, but apparently Arthur trusts dumb things," he smirks as his horse moves up next to mine. I roll my eyes.

"Ain't that the truth."

We ride until day, and I'm sure Merlin doesn't know where we are going either, but Arthur seems confident in his horse's decisions as we ride without stopping into the day. Merlin begins pestering the Prince who replies blandly, sick of answering his questions but not rude enough to tell him to shut up (just yet anyways.)

"What if Morgause challenges you to do something you don't want to do?"

"I'm not expecting it to be easy, Merlin. That's why it's called a challenge."

I don't bother holding in the snort and Arthur smirks at my sound of agreement with his words, pleased that he made somebody laugh, if not Merlin.

"So you'd do anything she asks of you?" Merlin continues, not hearing or choosing to ignore Arthur's obvious attempts to not continue talking.

"I gave her my word. It's a question of honour."

"You knights and your honour. What would rather have, mead or honour?" I question, now taking my turn to annoy his highness. Arthur playfully considers my words but doesn't answer.

"What is he challenges you to do something even less honourable than breaking your word?" Merlin continues.

"Will you stop rabbiting on? We're in Odin's territory. We could be attacked at any second."

"I just think it's strange to agree to do something when you don't know what it is."

"One more word out of you, Merlin, and you'll be taking the challenge in my place."

But Merlin doesn't have the chance to even peep another word and a man jumps from a high point, knocking right off his horse and onto the ground. My horse rears slightly in fright as a man jumps in front of her. I dismount, feeling safer on the ground an draw my sword which I have wisely brought along with me.

It feels a little odd in my hand, not having used it in a while but Gwaine's lesson are pretty much implanted in my head and I couldn't forget them if I tried. I swing at the man in front of me but he dodges. Watch his feet, move when he moves. Predict the swing path.

The man swings his sword down, but his angle gives me a moment to predict and I easily move out of the way, taking his opening to slash at him. I slash his gut in an unceremonious manner but it's not like we were in an honourable battle.

I turn around, Merlin still laying down on the ground as Arthur finishes off the last man. The Prince looks at Merlin than me.

"Don't worry, Merlin. Elena and I will deal with this, you lie there, make yourself comfortable," he complains, and Merlin gives him a look of disbelief. I would assume Merlin used magic but of course, Arthur will never know.

"Maybe we should turn back. The woods could be full of Odin's men," the boy says, getting to his feet.

"You can go back it you want to, I won't stop you," Arthur tells him. I'm not surprised by the lack of judgement in his voice, I know that Arthur cares for Merlin. Arthur tightens his horse's saddle, moving over to mine to do the same and I mutter a thanks.

"You don't know anything about Morgause! You don't know what she's gonna ask you to do! We don't even know where we're going, we're following a horse!"

Arthur doesn't raise his voice to match, nor does he become frustrated.

"Morgause said she knew my mother," is all he says and a look of understanding falls upon Merlin's face and I'm sure I hold the same one.

We ride again until nightfall where we make camp. We sit around a campfire, pretty much in silence until Merlin starts to speak back up.

"What was your mother like?"

"I never knew her. She died before I opened my eyes."

"I'm sorry."

"I barely know anything about her."

"Can't you ask your father?"

"He refuses to talk about her. It must be painful for him. Sometimes it's as if she never even existed. I still have a sense of her. Almost as though she's part of me."

"That's the same with my father," Merlin says, and I turn my head in interest. He's never talked about his father before. "I never knew him. And my mother's barely spoken of him. I've got this…vague memory. It's probably just my imagination."

"I'd do anything for even the vaguest memory."

"Is that why you're so determined to find Morgause? To see what she knows about your mother?"

"Is that so wrong?"

"No," I answer, speaking up for the first time. "Not at all. I would do anything to speak to my brother again."

"I didn't know you had a brother," Merlin says softly. I stare at the fire, fiddling with my fingers.

"He died quite a few years ago now, but he was the best brother someone could ask for. He died saving people. And I know it's horrible to think, but sometimes I wish he hadn't so he'd still be here."

"It's not horrible at all," Arthur says. "It's only natural to want them back."

My eyes drift from the fire to Arthur then to Merlin and together we share a moment of recognition. A recognition that we share the same feelings, no matter our difference in life. A Prince, a warlock and a girl out of her time all sharing the same experiences.

"Get some rest," he says, moving from the fire to his bedroll.

The next day we arise early, letting Arthur, well – his horse, lead us. The horse continues walking until we reach a large lake, a rock formation with a waterfall on the other side.

"Well it's very pretty but I'm not sure we have come all this way for a picnic," I muse, coming to stand alongside Arthur.

Arthur's horse moves forward once again.

"Now where's he going," the Prince exclaims, letting his horse walk into the water.

"I think you're going to get wet," Merlin adds unhelpfully.

"You don't say."

"Arthur?" he calls out but the prince doesn't respond.

For a long time I expect the horse to drop suddenly as the depth grows but the horses continues walking through the water into the middle of the lake. So, urging my own horse on we walk into the lake. The water rises to my shins but no matter how far we go out, it doesn't get any deeper. Even though I have just watched Arthur, who is still riding in front, walk exactly where I am, the fear of being out on open water frightens me more than I care to admit and I make sure to keep my horse close to Merlin's so I don't stray to far.

We wade along, my legs uncomfortable soak but I just thank the heavens that we didn't have to swim. That is, until we reach the waterfall where Arthur walks straight through, Merlin following soon after.

I groan, deepening my seat in the saddle.

"Seriously? I hate being wet," I mutter but nevertheless, push my horse through, closing my eyes as the water pours heavily over me. My hair weighs down, loose strands sticking to my face and my socks are squishy and yuck.

But I soon forget as I follow Merlin through a tunnel and we emerge into a hidden area, a full castle that is abandoned in front of us. I feel like I've just entered some sort of Narnian realm.

"Where are we?" Merlin wonders.

"I don't know," Arthur murmurs.

"If we weren't sure Morgause was a sorcerer before, we can be certain of it now."

"That must've been how she defeated me. She was using magic," he exclaims.

"Hmm, it didn't look like she was," Merlin counters, trying and failing to hide a smirk.

"And what would you know about magic, Merlin?" I tease, although to Arthur it probably sounds like a general question. Merlin's smirk drops as he looks at me, playful betray in his eyes.

"Nothing," he taunts.

We dismount, continuing through to the castle on foot and I follow the men until we reach a small outdoor (although it probably wasn't always) chamber. The only notable thing is a block of wood and a peculiar axe dug into it.

"Now what?" Arthur wonders, walking forward to the chopping block, dislodging the axe. I walk over with him, taking the axe from his hands which he lets me. I bring the blade close to my face, comparing its size.

"Maybe we should ask the horse. Well, there's no one here," he adds after a rude glare from Arthur. I hold the blade back, with a frown.

"Is it me or is it a very small axe?" I ask aloud. Arthur eyebrows raise as he takes the axe back, inspecting it for himself.

"You know, it kind of is," he notes.

"You kept your promise," a feminine voice drawls. I jump back in shock, making my way back up to Merlin. Morgause steps down a set of stairs, donned in a red dress, much more feminine than before.

"What is the nature of the challenge you wish to set me?"

"Place your head of the block," she instructs. Arthur looks at the woman with disbelief as she picks up the axe from where Arthur left it. "You gave me your word that you would do anything I asked."

"Arthur!" I shriek as the man begins to kneel. I run forward, standing between them. "No, you cannot let him live just to kill him!"

"Elena stand down!" he exclaims. There's an anger in his voice that's never been directed at me before and I shrink at it, my head tossing between the two.

"No, she's right!" Merlin cries. "I won't let you do this!"

"Stay out of this, Merlin!"

I can't breathe as Morgause raises the axe into the air and I run my mind through how I'm going to tackle her out of the way, while simultaneous knocking Arthur out so Merlin can use his magic.

Before I can go through with my nonsense plan, she places the axe against the log and Arthur stands back up. I release my breath in one huff, staring at Morgause. Is she good, is she bad? At this point I have no idea.

"You have shown that you are truly a man of your word, Arthur Pendragon, and for that I will grant you one wish. Tell me what is it that your heart most desires."

"You said you knew my mother. Tell me all that you know about her."

"Perhaps you would like to see her."

"I want that more than anything."

"As you wish."