The stable boy wasn't present this late an hour, allowing Elaina too to move freely in gathering her horse and a spare for Edwin's use. She had stolen some provisions, water, apples, cheese, bread; things the stable boy had laying around, which she promised to replace when she got back. She should be able to make it through the city gates without anyone stopping them. Merlin, though hesitantly, swore he would give them ample time and the king was just thought ill, no need to make the guards alert to the possibility of a culprit and an escapee, for that reason. Still, she hurried in case Edwin did fall under suspicion sooner than she had liked.

Looking at him, she didn't think he would resist if he were taken as a prisoner. He was lifeless and slumped on a haystack solemn by his actions. She didn't say a word to him, he needed to dwell on it to repent in some way and she knew his mother's words would guide him better than her own.

When she got everything ready he stood and saddled following her as they rode off into the night. She had been right. No one had cared to ask questions. She mingled in with some marketeers who fortunately for them, were moving on to the next city so it was an easy thing to slip pass the guards.

They didn't stop until they arrived in the field, where it all started and would end. Edwin dropped down, as he would walk the horse to his parents' house, gathering more of what he needed and then she presumed he would move on because she would not lie on his behalf, nor merlin or Gaius. He would be an outlaw of Camelot, a wanted man and this the last time they would see each other.

"I'm sorry Elaina. I ruined everything," he whispered, his hair fallen over his brow covering his eyes.

Elaina could feel she was still angry with Edwin, it was making her hostile. she might be angry for quite a while, as things could have gone better for them if he hadn't been seduced by the darkness. For all they knew he could have become a successor to Gaius on a noble path, become friends with merlin as they shared in magic ability and join them in realising Albion. The light his mother wanted him to follow and keep close to him. However, there was no use wallowing in what could have been. What is set in stone created by the fates, cannot be altered. This happened for a reason and no one knew better than Elaina that what will be, will be and the past cannot be altered. They can only influence things by the heart they carry, good or bad and it will be the fight by the former, to defeat the latter.

"despite everything; it was good to see you again," Elaina said honestly, "Neither of us have been able to move on from that night Edwin. We needed closure and I believe we have it now. but I should apologise to you…"

She joined him down on the grass, taking his face in her hands to hold it up so he would look at her, because she needed him to listen.

"I do love you Edwin. I'll hold you in my heart…"

She was struggling to say the words, but he smiled and finished them for her, "but no more than a dear friend."

She sighed a shaky breath with the weight off her shoulders, but her heart seemed to take on the load, saddened that no more had come from the boy it had been pining for, like it didn't understand how it could go from one extreme to a gentler relationship with Edwin. It would recover though, as will he.

"a dear, dear friend and I want you to find peace."

She leant her head against his and cried with him, the laughter of their childhood selves echoing around them. Because no matter what, they will always have this meadow and the innocence and happiness it had meant for them, a special moment in time which only they will share as they now parted, after this hurt.

Finally, Elaina tore herself away and climbed back up because if she wasn't the one to leave, he would not.

"Camelot…you have seen great things for its future?" Edwin asked.

Elaine took the reins in her hands and nodded. Albion was the saving grace for mankind no matter their origin and she was willing to pledge her life to the cause, with nothing worth risking that future for and it didn't matter who stood in her way. she needed to see the world become better than it was today, so that no child suffered from war and death like she and Edwin had, or with fear.

Her horse responded and started to turn for home.

"then see them come to pass," he shouted.

she bade him a final goodbye lie she hadn't been able to do all those years ago, finishing the chapter that had been left blank in her story and coming out of it feeling like a new woman.

Only Edwin watched as she rode away. He accepted her feelings for him, though it was like a dagger burying deep inside of him leaving behind an open wound, that would never heal. For him, he was not done with her and refused that this was how it ended.

"until we meet again."

the story continues...