"where's Gwen gone?"

Elaina slipped back into her room, finally able to relax after proceeding with caution through the castle to the guest chambers. Every corner and shadow became a potential threat and as she made it to Edwin's room, she waited until she was sure the coast was clear, not wanting to waste having been walking around on her tippy toes, to project an air of silence. The question of whether he was inside was made easier, in that the door had been left slightly ajar, so with a few careful peers within Elaina rushed in straight for the table.

The same clutter was on it, all Edwin's instruments for alchemy so he said. Now she wasn't sure. what was different was that without the distraction of him turning her attention to matters of the past, she could feel something. Like the string of a lute vibrating, leaving a haunting note to lead her where she needed to look. it was as merlin described, a wide box with an inscription on top of an incantation. The language of the old religion was difficult to read but Elaina would recognise it anywhere. She could say it allowed but part of being a grimoire was that she could not cast spells but preserve the knowledge of them. For instance, here she could see that this was a type of summons spell.

The reason for that spell became clear when she opened it, because inside where she had thought they would be spilling over the edge in their attempt at a getaway, the beetles were frozen but not decayed.

After that she didn't hang around and bolted back for her room.

"your sister needed her," merlin explained, "the king requested Muirden in the great hall. You found It then."

He bound to her side and nodded, confirming it was the box he described.

Elaina was worried about this meeting in the great hall. The last one publicly embarrassed Gaius without the man being there to defend himself. A second would almost do the same thing, but she could easily predict what the outcome of it was going to be and merlin was not going to like it. nor she or that matter.

"Merlin whatever this is, it isn't good. I almost didn't want to touch it. then there this a buzzing coming from it. Its familiar. It's what I felt when morgana was ill. I was fixated on her head but I just passed it off as the ailment itself, but now I believe I was trying tune into this."

"Here."

He took the box and opened it as Elaina had. They still remained dormant; that is until merlin spoke the incantation. When he did the buzzing came to a crescendo transporting Elaina into the past. there she saw the lily white flowers spoilt by a crawling black spot which almost marked her as its victim, but by some force it then turned to morgana. Elaina saw as it crawled and burrowed its way into her ear, eating as it went ever so slowly, causing her infliction.

Elaina gasped as she was released from her vision, "this is dark magic merlin! Elanthea beetles. These damned things, they are what made morgana ill. I can feel it in my head, eating away!"

Merlin stopped the beetles from moving with another spell and quickly sat Elaina down as the visions could weaken her, depending on how strong and in-depth they were. The residual was powerful to make her feel the effects of what the insects could do. It was a mercy morgana fell unconscious.

As she started to calm down, there was one thing merlin needed and wanted to know.

"Elaina, why all the sudden interest in Muirden. You're hiding something and I can't help you if you don't tell me the whole truth. Who is he, and why has he done this?"

Elaina could not hide anything from merlin. She swore that she would do all that she could in order to help him realise his and Arthur's destiny. She didn't want him to lose faith in her, by putting something over that dream. So, she told him everything. Right from the beginning, to the death of his parents and then his return. she told him how Edwin did not deny that he had come back to kill Uther and despite his promise to her, he was heading down the road to achieve his goal.

just then Gwen came running into the room, "Merlin! Gaius has been dismissed!"

she had obviously been running to get the news to him quick enough so he could see the old man and convince Gaius to take a stand. Gwen told them how sad it was to watch as he was thanked and dismissed without a second thought. through the whole thing, It wasn't Gaius Uther was trying to convince in the appropriateness of his retirement, but himself. The king could hardly look at him as he did the deed.

"he wants to become Uther's physician to gain his trust," Elaina explained, seeing edwin's plan forming, "Any promise he made to me is no longer valid by that action. He has no intention of letting Uther live."

Elaina leant her head in the palm of her hand, as the vision had worn her out more than she would have liked. She had never had so many in one week and it was taking its toll as none had been about light affairs, but were life changing.

Merlin took his leave by her encouragement, letting Gwen see to Elaina.

"Did you find anything?" she asked hopefully.

Elaina pointed to the box, "You were right Gwen. Edwin is no friend to Camelot."

And an enemy to her home, family and friends she would not suffer, no matter who they were and why.

"Gwen maybe you should go with merlin. you know the old man is stubborn and two voices might help infiltrate his walls."

She bit her lip in contemplation to obey Elaina, seeing how exhausted she was as the excuse was that elaina could be sickly, under stress. it was true but the cause wasn't her bodies own weakness, just her powers. elaina knew that she was drifting off to sleep to rejuvenate as it were some of her lost energy, so reluctantly Gwen left Elaina with this reassurance.

the door just clicked shut when elaina gave in to the oblivion.

"Elaina?"

The lady felt something rocking her as the deep sleep she was in began to loosen its grip, so it startled her to see Edwin and not her friend's merlin or Gwen, who she had thought would come back to update her on anything. Seeing him instead, she clutched the chair and pulled herself from it, running to the opposite side of the bed so the furniture would act as a barrier. It was a shame that she felt the need for this defence around him but everything that had transpired justified it.

"my love is something wrong?" he asked her, without sounding genuine. Actually, his tone sounded disappointed and she could see why. In his hand he held the box once more, deducing that she had gotten it and with her gift saw what the beetles were capable of.

"I know what they are and what you did with them Edwin!" Elaina warned.

Did he really think she would accept that he was the cause of morgana's suffering? Any moment could have been her last, for he could only signal the beetles to wake and become docile. He could not control how much they feasted.

And then there was the other aspect.

"you said your parents could not stomach the thought of practicing dark magic! Yet here you are with those as a tool which only evil could condone."

He winced, "my parents. If only they had accepted that this was what it took for our survival now. they might be alive to this day, if they had sought the power of what dark magic has to offer."

Elaina refused to listen to his logic, "your mad. Fight fire with fire and all you get is a bigger flame!"

He tilted his head quizzically and fondly stroked the box, "why do you protest to this? Look at what they have done for us. I am now Uther's appointed physician. He has taken me for a valued advisor and his pup will follow with your encouragement. After Uther is disposed of, of course."

The lady was protective of Arthur and the great destiny before him. For now, his father overshadowed him as a fierce king, while the prince had yet to build upon his character. Many knew him to be a good soldier, nothing more. They didn't know how far he had come already in humility, mercy and willingness to help those need. He was the light to the dark, threatening shadow Uther imposed to get respect through fear. If Arthur had any chance in not being challenged in his rule or tested, he had a far way to go yet to prove himself to allies and enemy's. besides, she would not hide what Edwin is capable of. she, merlin or Gwen will tell Arthur the truth. Then what would he do?

"you know how it feels to lose a father, I do as well. You'd make Arthur feel that pain. He will be heartbroken. He's too young yet for the throne!"

He shrugged. Edwin had covered every base in his plan and the safe keeping of Arthur was just to please Elaina, due to her fondness for the boy and her loyalty, because he had seen in her that she was exactly like Gorlois, in upholding her values and belief. It was narrowing her sight to all that they could make possible for their people, so he breeched the subject.

"…then we will rule in his stead. The people are devoted to you, are they not?"

with the monarchy ended, they could with the power that they possessed rule Camelot and restore magic to the realm. With a sweet face like Elaina's, the people would be putty in her hands trusting in a girl who grew up with them. It would be a golden age. None would dare to trifle with them then and their people could be safe to practice as they wished. Any protests then they can be the ones who are burned on the pyre, while sorcerers lit the flames.

Elaina could not believe what she was hearing. These words weren't any she thought Edwin would ever utter as they were filled with malice. She had been a fool to think a childhood friendship could sway him to a better path than what he had chosen for himself.

"have you gone mad!"

For the first time she saw witness to his anger and it flared up so strongly that it toppled the bookcase with a flurry of his power, not needing enchantment to do so as his emotions were influencing his magic.

"NO! I demand justice, I demand vengeance. I will not live-in fear. I will not be alone again. I am doing this for us why cant you see that."

That was not true because he was not valuing her opinion on anything, just expecting she blindly go along instead of seeing her as the woman who stood before him. She was sick of men telling her what to do and passing her off as someone who should be gentle and abiding. He wasn't accounting her as an equal. To her it seemed she was just a trophy to win and she would not condone it. he had asked nothing of who or what she has become and did not care. His love was something he was trying hard to convince himself of, because the girl he imagined her in being, does not exist.

"no, you are not! You are doing this for yourself. Will it stop at Uther? Who else is held responsible for your parent's death; will you pick through them one by one? How far are you willing to soak your hands in blood. You should be careful, or they will appear the same as Uther's."

Would he think in that state she would want them to come anywhere near her? he could not see that Uther acted on hatred and anger, the same as he was and he will make other children orphans, creating the vicious cycle over and over again, as peace cannot happen in the aftermath of evil being allowed to reign. More people like him will try to take back what Edwin wishes to take. As there have been endless threats towards Uther. Not all those who are not sorcerers deserve punishment and Elaina would not blame them for taking a stand.

"oh, I envy you for your innocence Elaina. Look at you standing over there. do I frighten you that much now? was this all a game? Play on my feelings so you could warn those you call friends. Protect the man behind my parent's death and for your fathers!"

It was a step too far to mention Elaina's father and he knew it. the knight who fought and died without reinforcements on a battlefield, which he needed and requested. How on earth Edwin had that information she did not bother in asking. He was trying to get a reaction by tampering with the dislike she had for Uther and the blame she held against him for her losing her father as he had lost Jayden and Gregor. It was a similarity, and she had a right to team up with him and follow through with his plans. But she was stronger than that. Her father had raised her not to go into the world without a pure heart and she would honour him in keeping to that teaching and not betray him. Which is what she was trying to tell Edwin, as the same applied to him and his parents.

"no, I am tired of people abusing their gifts, tainting the power given to them. Magic is not a weapon. It is a way of life. As old and as pure as the earth itself. You father told us that remember!"

She saw the man smiling before them, thinking on when he had found a bird with a broken wing when he had told Elaina and Edwin this and fixed it with a spell so the bird could fly once more and enjoy its freedom. never would he seek to have robbed someone of it or cause harm.

"…and look where it got him."

Elaina could see that Edwin was lost in the darkness and there was no guiding him from it. this was it for her. She let go of any hope of salvaging the boy because he was not there. instead, she would protect Camelot by any means needed. She made that clear, for under her bed she kept her father's sword. Tears fell from her eyes as she reached for it and held it upright, but he didn't so much as flinch.

"I'm not willing to give up on you Elaina. You'll see things clearer in the morning at the dawning of a new world. I have just the remedy for you. Don't worry not these little delights. A potion to wipe out all memory of this place and what it's done to you. It can be like old times again"

He flew for the door and sealed it shut. Elaina tried to run after him, but she couldn't catch up as he used a spell to lock her inside. The handle of the door would not budge and no matter how many times she flung her body against it, the door would not give in. she even tried the windows, thinking she could fashion a rope from the bed sheets and climb out, but the same effect was on them too. She was stuck, with no way out or to communicate with anyone.

"damn!"