"well, Arthur isn't happy with you. Or the king, but the king is never happy with you, so I'll just stick with Arthur."

Merlin skipped over and hopped up on the stone wall Elaina had perched on looking out over the city below. It was her favourite spot in the castle, and she could see her old house from there in the inner ring. When she closed her eyes it was as if her father was still inside, reading a book and lighting a candle in the window, which meant it was time for she and morgana to return home, when they were playing in the streets. It lay empty now as people would say it will always be the house of Gorlois, and none would suit in claiming it besides his daughters.

Would Uther allow them to leave here, Elaina asked herself. It wasn't unheard of for sisters to live together under one roof, but that did give off an old spinster vibe and with morgana's fondness for cats they would fit the mark truly.

Maybe the first to marry. Maybe they should get it and raise a family there. it was a good place for children. Big and open with a garden out back, which wasn't common in the city, surrounded by neighbours. They would be the first to see any parades and to rise and settle at the chime of the city bells.

"you say that as if I should care."

Merlin knew she didn't care, like he never did when Arthur was throwing his weight about. Though he was curious as to why she walked out. From what he saw Elaina had a fondness for Muirden, so it didn't make sense to him that she would intentionally 'cause insult' as Arthur put it.

"you weren't there?" Elaina asked.

Merlin shook his head, he had been too busy preparing Arthur's training gear as the prince was eager to get back to it and didn't know which area he wanted to practice in, so merlin had to bring all his weaponry to the field after a good polish.

She didn't say anymore. She didn't want to worry merlin at the prospect of what a young physician meant for an old man like Gaius. He would work it out himself.

"do you know where Muirden is? I suppose your still tag teaming between him and Arthur."

Poor thing, merlin was run ragged and never appreciated for the chores he does for Arthur and the extra curriculum of then saving the prince's life and the preservation of the kingdom. It was a miracle he was still standing and hadn't had a mental breakdown yet from the pressure.

"He was making his way back to his room with Arthur's hand at his shoulder before he broke away and I had an ear full of your antics."

Antics, Elaina puffed, why is it always her antics that was the subject of interest and never the others. It got boring being the so called chaotic one, but that was the nickname you earnt when you were a woman with a voice and opinion, the shame of it.

she supposed she owed Muirden and explanation, since she could see how it was as Arthur apparently put it, a 'cause for insult.'

"alright then. what are you up to now? getting your head bashed in by Arthur as a practice dummy."

He groaned loudly, "when are they ever going to get a new one, that doesn't feel pain."

His body was dotted with bruises and no remedy of Gaius's could rid him of the headaches it caused, when a sword was constantly rattling off his oversized helmet, amplifying the sound. It was like living inside one of the bells.

Elaina raised a brow, "I think when you die, they'll still stuff you up with straw for use."

"oh thanks!"

She had been pacing quietly outside of muirden's door, trying to think of a greeting or a beginning sentence or some form of explanation that made her not wanting him to stay, to steal Gaius's job, sound pleasant. Nothing she practiced did, so she decided to just go for it and hope the words came to her as she spoke.

A couple of knocks on the wood door and there wasn't a reply. When she tried again, she did so this time by following it on with his name.

still nothing.

"great, he's purposefully not answering me."

She wouldn't take it, having grown up with morgana and Arthur, with the game they play in ignoring each other, she was a professional at getting them to break. She just used to ask them questions, one sillier than the next, until they broke with laughter. Such as, 'do you think lady Howard's bottom is actually that big, or does she stuff a pig up her skirts to catch a suitor's eye.'

Clearly not a game for mature participants. However, Elaina had been meaning to show merlin her tricks, since Arthur was forever ignoring him and when the prince laughed it was comical in itself. She once witnessed milk shooting out his nose. A memory that would stick with her and what she would use when he was king, to bring him back down to earth if he got like Uther.

Cautiously, in case he was changing, she cracked open the door and peered inside. When she was sure it was empty, Elaina cheekily didn't see the harm in walking in to wait for him and was intrigued by the instruments she found lying around. She picked one up and eyed it, wondering what it could be used for.

It was like a timer without any sand and hollow when she shook it. Does something fit inside from the -

"may I help you my lady?"

Scared out her wits, the thing juggled around in her hands until she finally caught it properly and set it down with a firm press. She had to calm her nerves with a few good breaths, her chest heaving up and down. She was easily frightened at the smallest of things.

"oh Muirden. Forgive me, when you weren't here, I thought I would wait and well…I got nosy."

"do you know much about alchemy?"

It was like he was weightless the way he drifted into the room, under those robes. His thumb and forefinger rubbing each other as he quizzed her, setting the item she had held on the opposite but correct side, if that was at all possible to tell.

Elaina deliberated on it and answered honestly, "if I spent a good day trying to, it might click."

She was referencing to her being a grimoire and as disinterested in alchemy as she was, that would likely be the thing it would work without fault for.

Oddly Muirden giggled, like he understood her joke, then asked, "so why did you need to see me?"

Elaina choked. Whatever well-mannered thing she had prepared to say, was stuck in the back of her throat. She didn't want to take the easy route and bend around the truth, hoping he would figure it out for himself, so it was better to just say it.

"did you help morgana so you could take Gaius's position?"

He stayed unfazed at the accusation and sat next to her on the table. Still his thumb and forefinger rubbed together, making Elaina wonder why it was captivating her interest so much.

"it wasn't my intention. I travel around tending to those who need it, Camelot just happened to be my next stop when I heard about morgana from a guard. Although to work in such a kingdom. My concoction could do so much for the people. The idea is enticing."

Wait.

Visions flashed before her…

a young boy and girl sitting on a picnic blanket with food prepared by his mother. A glass vase in the middle with flowers he had picked for her and he sat with his fingers rubbing one another.

Again; he leant on a tree in the middle of a field, not noticing she had arrived yet and was watching him intently, his thumb and forefinger rubbing each other.

They watched the sunset, his thumb and forefinger…

"Edwin, it's you; isn't it?"