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Phantomshadow99
XXXXXX
The Gates of Avalon
Evaine stood quietly next to Morgana in the council chamber as the two strangers bowed lowly to Uther before rising.
"My name is Aulfric, heir of Tirmawr. This is my daughter Sophia," the older man spoke, gesturing to his daughter who seemed to be Evaine's age. Morgana gripped Evaine's hand suddenly, her eyes wide when Sophia turned to glance at Arthur who was stood close by to the two women, shooting him a smile.
"You're a long way from home. What brings you to Camelot?" Uther asked the two, Evaine unable to ask her friend what was wrong.
"Our home was sacked by raiders. We barely escaped with what few possessions we could carry," Aulfric explained.
"These are dangerous times. What will you do?" Uther asked.
"We travel west to Caerleon where we have family and, I hope, a new life," Aulfric replied, looking hopefully at Uther. The court waited for his next words, and Evaine noticed how Morgana held her breath before he spoke.
"You must stay here a while, break your journey. A noble family like yours is always welcome at Camelot," Uther said, and the two strangers smiled, bowing to the king before being led to their rooms. The two friends both noticed how Arthur turned to watch Sophia leave, and shared a nervous look.
"Come," Evaine said, pulling her friend from the room and to her own chambers. She waited until Gwen and Anna closed the door before turning to Morgana. "What is it?" she asked, and Morgana gripped her hand tighter.
"She can't stay here," Morgana stated, and Evaine frowned.
"Why, do you know her?" Evaine asked, Gwen stepping forward to take the other hand of her lady. Morgana looked torn, and Evaine smiled encouragingly.
"I had a dream. I saw Arthur lying under water, drowning. And that woman was stood watching him die," Morgana said, fear in her voice.
"You're sure it's her?" Gwen asked, Evaine shocked at her words.
"I could never forget that face," Morgana confirmed.
"Speak to Gaius. Perhaps he can give you another potion for your sleep," Evaine suggested, hugging Morgana tightly when she began to protest. "See how you fare tonight in your dreams. It may be nothing," Evaine said softly, Morgana hesitating before nodding.
"I shall see you later," Morgana promised, nodding to Evaine and Anna as she and Gwen left to find Gaius. Anna shut the door behind them, and noticed her friend pacing in front of her window.
"Evaine?" Anna asked, and Evaine looked up in her pacing. "You don't believe it's nothing, do you?" she asked.
"I can't imagine Morgana lying about such a thing. And it's too much of a coincidence for Sophia and her father to show up on the same morning as Morgana's dream," Evaine said, sighing before she sat in a chair. "We must keep a close eye on her, Anna. I do not trust her."
XXXXXX
Evaine stood next to Morgana the next morning, the two watching as Arthur and Sophia galloped towards the woods for a ride. Gwen had sent for her, telling her that Morgana had the same dream again, and Evaine had followed her to Morgana's chambers.
"You should speak to the king," Gwen stated, and Morgana shook her head, her tone sarcastic.
"And tell him what? That I can see the future?" Morgana asked.
"If you think Arthur's life is in danger," Gwen argued.
"You know how he'd react," Morgana cut her off.
"You're his ward. He wouldn't harm you," Evaine said softly.
"He hates magic more than he cares for me," Morgana replied bitterly.
"That's not true," Gwen shook her head, and Morgana smiled grimly.
"Do you care to put it to the test?" Morgana spoke, her words silencing her two friends.
"But what else can you do?" Gwen asked finally.
"I'm going to have to try and stop her myself," Morgana said, looking back out the window.
"You won't be by yourself," Evaine promised, laying her hand on Morgana's shoulder, and the two smiled softly as they watched Arthur and Sophia disappear from sight. They spent the rest of the morning trying to work out what Sophia wanted with Arthur, to no success. Evaine threw her hands in the air, standing from the seat that was beginning to make her back sore. "We've been at this hours. Come on, let's go for a walk. It might help clear our minds," she said, hooking her arm through Morgana's who graced her friend with a small smile.
"Very well," Morgana said, the two leaving Gwen and hurrying down the stairs from Morgana's chamber. The two friends were talking quietly with one another before they knocked into someone.
"Sorry. Lady Morgana and lady Evaine, isn't it? I'm Sophia," a sweet voice spoke, and Morgana looked quizzically at the girl as Evaine spoke, her voice void of any emotion.
"What're you doing here?" Evaine asked, and a small look of surprise passed through Sophia.
"My father and I are guests of the king," Sophia answered, her voice still too sugar-sweet to be real.
"You're lying. I know what you're going to do with him, and I won't let it happen," Morgana shook her head.
"Does Arthur know you feel this way about him? Of course he does. I suspect he's already turned you down," Sophia mocked, her body language changing instantly.
"Don't think you can make a fool out of me," Morgana warned.
"I won't have to. You're managing to do that well enough already," Sophia retorted.
"Stay away from him," Evaine spoke, taking a step towards her.
"Or what? Jealousy's such an unattractive trait in a woman," Sophia said, shaking her head as she looked between the two ladies.
"If anything happens to Arthur, I'll find you, however long it takes," Morgana threatened, before walking down the stairs. Evaine studied Sophia for a moment before following after Morgana.
"Well she's a viper under all that mock sweetness," Evaine said, breaking the tension in Morgana's shoulders.
"Quite horrible, I agree," Morgana said, and the two broke into smiles as they stepped into the fresh air outside.
XXXXXX
After a day spent with Morgana trying to understand Sophia's dark intentions towards Arthur, Evaine was thoroughly exhausted. She wandered back to her chambers, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she passed Arthur's door. Evaine hesitated, before squaring her shoulders and knocking.
"Enter," Arthur called, and Evaine slipped through, smiling when he looked over his shoulder at her. "What do I owe the pleasure, Lady Evaine?" he asked, turning back to his task as she stepped further inside.
"I was walking back to my chambers when I thought I would see how you are. You've been absent all day nearly," Evaine stated, leaning against a chair. "I assume it's Lady Sophia who has drawn your attention."
"You make that sound like a bad thing," Arthur said, removing his belt, making Evaine blush and grateful his back was still facing her.
"Not necessarily. It's just, from what I've heard, you don't normally fall under a woman's spell so quickly," Evaine explained.
"Are you jealous?" Arthur asked, stepping to the side of his bed and removing his jacket.
"No, of course not," Evaine said quickly, and Arthur looked up at her with a smile before he sat down and removed his shoes. "I just want to protect you. She isn't what she seems."
"Why? What makes you say that?" Arthur asked, picking his sword up from the bed and walking to the window.
"I just have a feeling. It's difficult to describe," Evaine said, trying to think of the right words to explain. "Morgana had a dream, a nightmare," she began to explain but Arthur's laugh stopped.
"You really are very sweet, Evaine," Arthur complimented, walking past her to sit at the table.
"Why are you laughing? Evaine asked, anger tinging her words.
"You, your feelings, Morgana's bad dreams. You don't have to make this stuff up. You can tell me the truth. It's obvious you like me," Arthur teased, and Evaine frowned, shaking her head.
"Less and less by the second," Evaine muttered, loud enough for him to hear.
"All right. Whatever you say," Arthur said, not believing her.
"You're intolerable. I just hope I'm wrong about her," Evaine said, shaking her head as she left his chambers and rushed back to her own, cursing him for reasons her heart kept quiet.
XXXXXX
"My lady," Merlin greeted, knocking on Evaine's door and finding her and Anna playing cards at the table.
"Merlin, what a pleasant surprise. What can we do for you?" Evaine asked, smiling up at Merlin as he stepped into the room.
"Arthur has requested the court's presence in the council chamber immediately," he announced, and Evaine's smile fell before she nodded.
"Of course, we will follow you," Evaine said, standing to smooth out her dress before she and Anna followed Merlin quietly as they slipped inside the chamber, Evaine coming to stand near the thrones where Uther and Morgana sat. She noticed how Sophia smiled sweetly at Uther, her eyes flicking between the king and Arthur.
"I requested this audience, father, to discuss a matter of great importance. It cannot have escaped your attention that I and Sophia Tirmawr have grown very close," Arthur announced once everyone had gathered.
"Not too close, I hope," Uther replied with a teasing smile.
"We're in love, which is why I come before you today to ask your permission to marry," Arthur requested, and the court mumbled to one another at the news. Uther paused before he laughed.
"I assume you're joking?" Uther asked, his smile disappearing.
"No. I'm going to marry her," Arthur stated confidently.
"But you only met two days ago," Uther argued.
"We're in love," Arthur rebuffed.
"In love. We had no idea that you were such a romantic, had we, Morgana?" Uther mocked, looking to his side where Morgana sat.
"No, he's full of surprises," Morgana said, bitterly.
"I'm going to marry her. I don't care what either of you think about it," Arthur said.
"I thought you'd come to ask my permission," Uther said, looking at some papers in his hands as he spoke.
"Out of courtesy, nothing more," Arthur answered, turning and beginning to leave the room, taking Sophia's hand on his way.
"Guards, door. Have you forgotten whose court you're standing in?" Uther asked, standing as Arthur, Sophia and her father were paused by the guards.
"You won't stop me. If I want to marry her, I will," Arthur argued.
"Arrest Sophia and Aulfric Tirmawr," Uther announced, guards hurrying to follow the command.
"What're you doing?" Arthur asked, walking towards his father with a scowl on his face.
"And inform the executioner his services will be required tomorrow morning," Uther added.
"You can't do this," Arthur shouted.
"Yes, I can. And unless you show me some respect, I will," Uther shouted back. Arthur paused before bowing his head and taking a step back. "Release them. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Sophia is no doubt your first love, but she certainly won't be the only one. Enjoy yourself while you can," Uther said softly, turning away to sit back down. Arthur gritted his teeth before quickly leaving the room. Evaine noticed how Merlin watched him and Sophia, and she stepped closer to her friend.
"You know something, don't you?" she whispered, the court continuing their gossip of the events. Merlin nodded. "Help him, Merlin. Morgana and I, we fear for him," she said, and Merlin nodded once more before leaving. Anna paused before following Evaine back to her chambers.
"Do you think Merlin can stop her?" she asked, and Evaine smiled confidently.
"I am positive. We will see what happens tomorrow," she said, closing the door when they entered the chambers. "Now, I do believe I was beating you before we were interrupted," Evaine teased as Anna huffed, the two resuming their card game.
XXXXXX
Evaine stood next to Morgana's chair the next day, smiling as Arthur stood before Uther.
"When you failed to show up for patrol this morning, I feared you'd eloped with Sophia in a fit of passion," Uther said. Arthur nodded, looking to the floor before turning to Merlin.
"I wish he had. Because then I wouldn't be standing in front of you feeling like an idiot again," Merlin answered, Uther walking towards him instead.
"This is becoming a near daily occurrence for you," Uther commented.
"There was a mistake. And I would not say it was anyone's fault, not really. You could say it was mine," Merlin said, fumbling over his words as Arthur shot him several looks.
"Could somebody tell me what happened?" Uther asked, exasperated.
"Well," Merlin began.
"Someone with a brain," Uther interrupted.
"After Sophia left, I wanted to take my mind off her, so I went for a hunt," Arthur said, and Morgana frowned at Evaine before speaking to Arthur.
"And killing things mends a broken heart?" Morgana asked, not believing his words.
"No, but its good fun. Merlin was meant to inform you that I wouldn't be back until later today," Arthur said, holding his hand out towards Merlin as Evaine hid her laugh behind her hand at his words.
"Have you some kind of mental affliction?" Uther asked, Evaine coughing once more to hide another laugh.
"Probably," Merlin agreed quietly.
"I'm looking into it, sire," Gaius added.
"Well I hope for our sake you find a cure, or well find ourselves with a food shortage on our hands," Uther commented, walking back to his chair.
"Food shortage?" Merlin mumbled quietly, laughing before he stopped suddenly. He looked to Evaine who nodded, mouthing the word 'stocks' to him before he was led off by guards for another beating by rotten fruit. She smiled, shaking her head as she nodded to Morgana before leaving, going to find Anna to tell her that she would be needed to help Merlin in an hour.
"Lady Evaine!" a voice called, and she turned to see Arthur jogging to catch up to her down the corridor.
"My lord," she said, curtseying. Arthur swallowed, and she smiled softly. "Are you well after last yesterday?"
"Yes, much recovered. Nothing a good hunt won't cure," he answered, and she smiled, Merlin telling her what really happened.
"I am glad," she said, another pause following. "If that was all, my lord, I must go find…"
"I am sorry," he blurted, and Evaine paused in surprise. "I'm sorry for my behaviour when we spoke last. I was not…in the right mind," he explained, and Evaine hesitated before smiling.
"There is nothing to forgive, my lord. I have been told by many that love makes one do strange things," she said, and he offered her a small smirk.
"Told? You have never been in love before?" he asked, her eyes widening at the question. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have…"
"No, it is alright," Evaine stopped him, smiling sheepishly. "I have witnessed my father grow to love my mother, and my brother fall in love with his wife. And I thought I felt it once," she spoke, her mind wandering to a certain Lancelot. "But I think pure love is different."
"In what way?" he asked, curious.
"Real love doesn't just hit you, it grows more powerful the longer you know someone. That way when you both admit to it, it doesn't feel strange or wrong. It feels right, and wonderful," Evaine said, smiling softly at the thought of such a love before she remembered Arthur. "I mean, that is how I imagine it to be.
Arthur studied her fumbling and smiled at her. "I'm sure you will experience that one day, my lady," Arthur said, Evaine noticing how his voice deepened before he cleared his throat. "I should return to my father," he said, and Evaine nodded, her heart quickening as she curtseyed to him before he hurried back to the council chamber.
