The Lady of the Lake

"Have you noticed Merlin has been acting a little strangely of late?" Arthur asks, walking Evaine back to her chambers after their afternoon ride.

"No. Although I think Anna had mentioned something about him seeming a little distracted," Evaine answered, the two pausing outside her rooms.

"Perhaps he's found a girl," Arthur said, scoffing at his own words.

"I hope for Anna's sake he hasn't. I don't know what I'd do if someone I loved found another," Evaine said, her cheeks blushing as Arthur smiles at her.

"Do you think I'm getting fat?" Arthur asks suddenly, stopping her from opening her door as she laughs.

"Good day, Arthur," she tells him, opening her door and shaking her head. She turns, still smiling as she frowns, seeing Merlin stood in her room holding one of her dresses up.

"Merlin? I'm sure there's an obvious explanation," Evaine said, placing her riding cloak on the chair.

"There is," Merlin says, his mouth open.

"Which is?" she asks, stepping forward and crossing her arms in amusement.

"Moths," he states.

"Moths?" she asks.

"Yes. The castle's overrun with them," he explains.

"Really?"

"I was just checking that they hadn't got in here as well," Merlin says.

"And have they?"

"That's, that's totally infested. We'll have to burn it," he says.

"Burn it?" Evaine nearly shouts, unfolding her arms.

"Yeah. And if we don't stop them, we'll all be walking around naked," Merlin tells her, beginning to move around her, but she grabs his arm.

"Merlin," she says, looking at him.

"Yes?"

"You're a terrible liar," she tells him, and he looks down, his smile falling. "Sit down and tell me everything."

"…So you see, I have to help her," he finishes, sitting opposite her at the table. "I…I like her."

Evaine sighs, standing from the table and looking out the window. "That is very romantic, Merlin. But she could be dangerous. There's a creature out there killing people, and it began when you freed her from that cage." She notices his silence and walks over to him, grabbing his hand. "I do not want to see you hurt, Merlin. Go, help her get out, but do it quickly."

"Thank you," Merlin says, smiling at his friend before leaving.

XXXXXX

Evaine stood watching as the knights and Arthur cornered the creature in the courtyard, Anna gripping onto her arm.

"It seems…scared," Anna pointed out, and Evaine felt a tear fall as a statue fell scattering the knights, and the creature managed to fly off and escape.

"The poor dear," Evaine whispered, watching as Merlin ran from the courtyard, following her.

XXXXXX

Evaine sat beside Gaius the next evening, waiting for Merlin to return. "He will return soon," she told the physician, the two jumping as the door opened, Merlin entering.

"Merlin, I was so worried," Gaius said, Merlin passing the two and sitting on the steps.

"I'm sorry, Gaius," Merlin answered. Evaine stood from her seat, walking over to him hesitantly.

"Where's Freya?" she asks.

"She's gone. She's dead," Merlin says, his voice breaking. Evaine places her hand on his shoulder, stepping forward and hugging him.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," she says, and he nods, the two remaining like that as Gaius watched on.