So, this is the end of Season 1 of Merlin! Fear not, I shall continue Season 2 ASAP and have already gotten half of the episodes done.
Thanks and enjoy,
phantomshadow99
XXXXXX
Le Morte d'Arthur
Evaine and Anna stood at the top of the stairs, watching on as Arthur addressed his men. "It's their most dangerous mission yet, isn't it?" Anna asked her mistress, who stood watching with worry. A beast had been terrorising the outlying villages, and it was said to be heading to Camelot next. Arthur was to ride out and destroy the beast before it could.
"He's brave, and strong. He will be fine," Evaine said, Anna smiling at the way she stared at the prince.
"You've seen the foe we face. It's a creature of nightmare. But you are the best knights in the realm. We can, and we will kill it before it harms another citizen of our kingdom. For the love of Camelot!" Arthur shouted, rallying his knights.
"For the love of Camelot!" the knights shouted in return, holding their swords high in salute.
"Arthur!" a distraught Morgana shouted, running down the stairs still in her nightclothes. Evaine and Anna shared a look before rushing after her.
"Morgana, what are you doing?" Arthur asked, shocked at her appearance.
"You cannot face it," Morgana cried, holding on tight to Arthur.
"Morgana, go back to bed. There is nothing to be afraid of," Arthur reassured, looking to Evaine for help.
"Please, Arthur, I have seen terrible things. You cannot go," Morgana begged, and Evaine glanced nervously at Merlin.
"She probably had a bad dream, sire. I'll take her to see Gaius," Merlin offered, nodding as Evaine put her arm around her friend.
"No! I will not let you go!" Morgana shouted, becoming more hysterical.
"Please, get her inside," Arthur instructed his manservant.
"No!" Morgana shouted, Merlin and Anna trying to lead her back to the castle.
"I will make sure he is safe, my lady. I promise," Merlin comforted her, and Evaine nodded to Anna as they disappeared into the castle.
"No! No!" Morgana could still be heard shouted. Evaine smiled tightly at Arthur.
"I will look after her. She has been having bad dreams lately," Evaine promised, and Arthur nodded gratefully. She turned to leave but paused. "Promise me you'll be careful?" she asked quietly, surprising Arthur but he smiled.
"Of course," he promised, and she smiled back, before leaving, the stare of Arthur's eyes hot on her back.
XXXXXX
Arthur had been gone for a few days, and Evaine sat writing down Gaius' comments on a potion when Merlin stumbled into the room with an unconscious Arthur being carried by two guards.
"Find the king," Evaine ordered the two, standing beside Merlin as Gaius inspected the prince. "What happened? He's been bitten," Gaius stated, turning to look gravely at the two. Evaine shook her head, sitting beside Arthur who didn't even stir when she gently brushed his hair from his face.
"I tried to save him. There must be something you can do," Merlin begged.
"I wish there was," Gaius said, shaking his head Evaine looked at the panicked Merlin.
"I'll find a cure," Merlin said determinedly, rushing to his room.
"Merlin!" Gaius shouted, knowing there was nothing that could be done.
"Trust me," he shouted back, and Gaius bent over Arthur.
"Can you hear me, sire?" Gaius asked quietly, Arthur not moving at the words.
"Here," Merlin said, opening his spell book and flicking through the pages.
"The king will be here any moment," Gaius scolded, panicked at him being caught.
"He can't die. It is my destiny to protect him. We haven't done all the things were meant to do," Merlin said, his eyes pleading with Gaius.
"That is the lament of all men," Gaius consoled, and Evaine shook her head.
"Arthur is not like all men," she said, and Gaius sighed before Merlin spoke.
"Gaius, he's my friend," Merlin said, and Gaius paused before nodding, taking a step back.
"Then save him," Gaius said, pulling Evaine back as Merlin found some spells and held his hand out, muttering a few before stopping. They all stood waiting, before Merlin shook his head.
"Maybe the spells need time to take effect," he said, desperate with hope.
"The bite of the questing beast is a death sentence that no magic can overturn," Gaius stated, and Evaine shook her head, taking Arthur's hand.
"There must be something," she whispered, turning to see how grim Gaius looked.
"Where is my son? Arthur!" Uther cried, running into the room and dropping so he was beside Arthur's unconscious form. "Do something, Gaius," he begged, while Evaine moved away to give him some space. Merlin placed a hand on her shoulder, knowing how she felt about the prince.
"I am trying, your majesty," Gaius said.
"Gaius will find a cure. He will not let him die," Merlin promised, and Evaine looked up at her friend, understanding that he would stop at nothing to help Arthur.
"I will do everything in my power," Gaius agreed. Uther nodded, his eyes staring at his son.
"I'll bear him to his chamber," Uther stated after a moment. He stood and picked Arthur up in his arms, and Evaine felt a tear start to form at the way Uther buckled under the weight but refused to accept any help. They followed after their king until they got half way across the courtyard, Uther dropping to his knees and crying for his son. Gaius nodded to the knights who rushed up to them, and began carrying Arthur instead. Gaius and Merlin followed after them, while Evaine stayed with Uther.
"Sire, it will be alright. We will tend to him night and day," she promised him, smiling gently as Uther nodded, tears still sparkling in his eyes as he took her offered hand. Evaine smiled, holding his hand tightly as they slowly walked to Arthur's chambers.
XXXXXX
As they had promised, Evaine, Merlin and Gaius had hardly left Arthur's side. Uther too had remained close at all times, persuaded only by Evaine when he grew tired to get some sleep. Evaine did not even leave for sleep, preferring to sleep in one of the chairs in the room, in case Arthur or Uther needed her. She yawned, wiping Arthur's brow as his fever grew worse. Arthur panted heavily, murmuring in his sleep.
"Shh. Sleep, Arthur," Uther whispered, rubbing Arthur's hair back from his face and managing to calm his son. Uther looked up at Evaine, smiling tiredly. "When he was younger and had nightmares, the only way to calm him would be to rub his head," he explained, and Evaine returned the smile.
"He loves you very much, sire," she commented, reaching across and wiping Arthur's brow once more. Uther nodded, looking at Arthur.
"I don't want him to die," Uther whispered, and Evaine looked at him.
"He won't," she assured, and Uther shook his head. "I don't know how I know, sire, but he will live," she promised, and Uther nodded again. "You should rest. I will stay with him," Evaine reassured, rinsing the cloth with more water. Uther stood, pausing before he left to lay his hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you," he told her, and she smiled as he left.
The next evening, Evaine had come back from a small supper to find Gaius asleep in the chair beside Arthur's bed, the man looking worn out from searching for a cure and taking care of the prince. "Gaius, you should get some rest," Evaine told the physician, as the man rubbed his eyes of sleep.
"He must not be left alone," Gaius said, leaning forward to check Arthur's brow. Evaine placed her hand on the man.
"I will nurse him," she told him, glancing at Gaius and nodding when he raised a questioning eyebrow. Gaius reluctantly agreed, leaving Evaine and Arthur alone. She took a cloth and wrung it with water, sitting on the bed and dabbing Arthur's face with it gently. "You're not going to die, Arthur. I'm telling you, because I know that one day you will be king. A greater king than your father could ever be. You are going to live to be the man I've seen inside you, Arthur. I can see a Camelot that is fair and just. I can see a king that the people will love and be proud to call their sovereign. For the love of Camelot you have to live," she told him, smiling softly when she heard her name mumble from Arthur's lips. Evaine stayed by his side all night, eventually pulling the chair closer to the bed and laying her head on the side, her hand in his as she drifted to sleep.
XXXXXX
"Evaine?" a voice woke her, and she blinked to see Merlin and Gaius standing at the doorway. She glanced to the side to see it was morning. "You've been here all night?" Merlin asked, grinning knowingly at her.
"What have you got in your hands?" Evaine asked, sitting up and changing the conversation quickly. Merlin's smirk fell, and he and Gaius rushed to her side.
"Water from the cup of life," he told her, and her eyes widened.
"Will it save Arthur?" she asked hopefully, standing up and pushing Merlin towards the bed when he nodded. "Quickly then," she told him, and Merlin unscrewed the cap as he sat beside Arthur's head.
"What are you doing, physician? What are you giving him?" Uther asked, approaching the group and stopping at the end of the bed. The three glanced at each other before Gaius turned to the king.
"It's a tincture made from the lobelia plant, an ancient remedy for poisonous bites," Gaius answered, and Uther's face seemed to glow with the possibility of hope.
"A cure?" Uther asked.
"We hope," Gaius said, Uther hesitating before nodding to allow him to give Arthur the water from the vial.
"Do you really think it will have some effect?" Uther asked, the three backing away as Uther sat next to his son.
"It's our last resort, sire. Perhaps you should allow him to rest," Gaius told him, watching as Uther's eyes remained trained on Arthur.
"I will not leave him," Uther answered, and Gaius nodded before he and Merlin left. Evaine moved to leave, but Uther called her back. "You helped Morgana when she was ill. I hope you will wait with me," he said, reaching for her hand. Evaine took it, grasping it tightly as she sat once more in the chair.
"Of course I will, sire. I will stay with you until he wakes," Evaine said, her confidence reassuring Uther as he looked back to Arthur.
Later that night, Gaius had joined Evaine and Uther in Arthur's chambers, pacing as he glanced at Arthur's still unconscious form as Uther was sleeping by his side. Evaine sat by the other side, gently pressing a damp cloth to Arthur's brow. Evaine held her breath as Arthur breathed in deeply, moving his head and opening his eyes. She smiled when his eyes met hers, his confused before he lifted his head and looked to his father, who began to wake up.
"Arthur," Uther breathed in relief, reaching to grab his hand. Evaine smiled up at Gaius before looking back to Arthur, who rested his head again on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling, his eyes coming to rest on hers.
"I should leave you," Evaine said, tearing her eyes from Arthurs to look at the king.
"Thank you," Uther told her, and Evaine nodded, before glancing back at Arthur.
"I am glad to see you well, my lord," she told him, Arthur smiling at her weakly as she rose, leaving the room with a knot in her heart from the way Arthur looked up at her.
XXXXXX
"I thought we'd lost you," Uther said, Arthur now sitting up in bed and looking more awake as Uther patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry father I'm not going to die. I think there's someone watching over me, keeping me from harm," Arthur said, Uther chuckling as he stood from where he sat.
"Maybe you're right. It's going to be a long journey to become king. You'll need a guardian angel. I shall inform the court that their prince lives," Uther said, smiling as he left, passing Evaine as he left. She curtsied to him, blushing when Uther placed his hand on her shoulder for a moment before leaving. Evaine smiled at the gesture, carrying on into the room and grinning when Arthur looked across at her.
"I said you'd be all right," Evaine stated proudly, turning to place the used cloths in a bowl as Arthur frowned in memory as he pointed at her back.
"I can remember you talking to me," Arthur said, and Evaine swallowed, her head turning.
"You can?" Evaine asked, wincing at some of the things she said.
"You stroked my forehead," Arthur remembered, Evaine looking at him with a pointed look.
"I was tending to your fever, Arthur," Evaine told him, turning back to the bowl of cloths and fiddling with one.
"Never lost faith," Arthur said, and Evaine ignored the tone in his voice.
"I was just talking," Evaine tried to argue.
"Tell me again what you said," Arthur asked, and Evaine shook her head, refusing to look at him.
"I don't remember," Evaine said quickly.
"Yes you do," Arthur said, smiling.
"No, I don't," Evaine replied.
"Come on. Something about…the man I am inside," Arthur supplied, Evaine fighting her smile as she turned, holding the bowl of cloths.
"No, I never said that," Evaine said, smiling as she glanced between the bowl and Arthur.
"Evaine," Arthur teased, Evaine's heart fluttering at the way he said her name.
"I have to get these to Anna, sire," Evaine said, glancing up from the bowl as she began to leave.
"Have dinner with me tomorrow in my chambers," he called, halting her at the door. She turned to look at him watching her, and she nodded with a gentle smile.
XXXXXX
"You're looking better," Evaine said, smiling when Arthur held the door open for her and she entered. She glanced at the table, full of food and wine with two plates opposite one another. Arthur shut the door, pulling the chair out for Evaine so she could sit.
"I feel better, thanks to Gaius's remedy," he said, sitting across from her after filling her goblet for her. There was a pause before he looked across to her, shifting his bandaged arm. "My father told me how you hardly left my side," he commented, his eyes softening when he saw her blush. "Thank you," he added.
"I was…" Evaine started, pausing when she saw Arthur's gaze. "Your welcome," she answered, the two sharing a smile as they began to eat, Arthur asking her stories of Tiltwood and she happily answering. They sat and ate until the food disappeared, Evaine noticing Arthur gaining strength with every bite. She stayed a while longer, the two pulling their chairs closer to the fire and to each other. A knock sounded on the door and Evaine looked up from where she was pouring some more wine into Arthur's goblet.
"Ah, Merlin," Arthur said, glancing around Evaine as Merlin walked closer to the two.
"How are you?" Merlin asked quietly, only Evaine noticing the boy's unusual behaviour.
"Good," Arthur said, wincing as his shoulder twinged.
"I'm pleased," Merlin said.
"Yes. And I owe it all to Gaius," Arthur said, looking back to the fire as Evaine sat down.
"I need to talk to you," Merlin said, stepping closer to Arthur.
"You still haven't got it yet, have you? I decide when we need to talk," Arthur replied cockily, and Evaine rolled her eyes.
"Not today," Merlin rebuffed, and Arthur looked at him in surprise while Evaine hid her smile.
"I sometimes wonder if you know who I am," Arthur questioned.
"Oh I know who you are," Merlin said, and Arthur nodded.
"Good," he replied, lifting his goblet to his lips once more.
"You're a prat. And a royal one," Merlin said, stopping the prince. Evaine couldn't hide her small laugh that earned a quiet grin from Merlin and Arthur.
"Are you ever going to change, Merlin?" Arthur asked.
"No, you'd get bored. But promise me this, if you get another servant, don't get a bootlicker," Merlin asked, and Evaine frowned at her friend.
"If this is you trying to leave your job," Arthur warned, and Merlin quickly shook his head.
"No. I'm happy to be your servant till the day I die," Merlin said, quietening Arthur for a moment who thought on his words.
"Sometimes I think I know you, Merlin. Other times," Arthur trailed off.
"Well I know you. You're a great warrior. One day you'll be a great king," Merlin said, Arthur's eyes widening in shock.
"That's very kind of you," Arthur said.
"But you must learn to listen as well as you fight," Merlin advised, and Arthur scoffed.
"Any other pointers?" Arthur asked, and Evaine smirked at the look on his face.
"No. That's it. Just don't be a prat," Merlin finished, glancing at the two before leaving. Evaine hesitated before she rushed after him, shouting that she would be just a moment when Arthur called her name.
"Merlin!" she called, stopping the warlock in his tracks. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asked, and Merlin turned, a tear running down his cheek. "What was the price you had to pay for saving Arthur's life?" she asked, and Merlin looked to the floor.
"My mother, she's here. She's dying. Nimue is taking her life instead of mine. I can't let my mother die, Evaine," he said, and she reached to hug him.
"There must be another way," she implored, pulling back to search his face. "Arthur will be…"
"Fine. Because he has you," Merlin said, and Evaine frowned, shaking her head. "You are just as much intertwined in his destiny as he is in mine," he told her, and she felt a tear fall. "I'll miss you," he said quietly, before rushing off down the hall. Evaine was numb of emotions as she stood there, watching where he disappeared to before composing herself and re-entering Arthur's chambers.
"Everything well?" Arthur asked, leaning forward in his seat when she shut the door behind her.
"Of course. It was to ask him if Gaius could give me a potion for some sleepless nights of late," she replied, smiling faintly, which he accepted with a firm nod and continued telling her about Morgana when they were younger.
XXXXXX
A couple of days had passed, with no word from Gaius or Merlin, and Evaine and Anna had begun to daily stare out the window over the courtyard.
"Do you think they will return today?" Anna asked, and Evaine glanced at her worried friend. She placed her on her shoulder, and Anna smiled up grimly.
"I'm sure they will be back soon," Evaine told her, and Anna nodded, looking back to the courtyard. They remained there for some time, and Anna sighed, about to move and continue her chores before the two heard hoof beats in the courtyard.
"Merlin!" Anna shouted, and she ran from the room before Evaine could stop her. Evaine started to go after her, until she stopped and turned back to the window, smiling when her friend ran down the stairs and embraced Merlin tightly, almost knocking the two over before they broke apart, their blush evident even from where Evaine stood.
