Merlin remained poised in the hit in case Edwin needed another, never having to get someone out of the mind of another person before. Luckily, he had inspiration to want to hit Edwin and one knock was all it took to get him back.

"she's breathing Edwin!" merlin exclaimed, knowing the effects of the spell had worn away and after the difficulty Edwin had last time, he thought it better for him to do it sooner rather than later.

Merlin could see how the tips of Elaina's fingers were black when mingled within Edwin's, far more than just her veins being tainted now as her flesh started to endure it as well. With every instant Edwin had to repeat the spell, the poison tried to work far more rapidly in that time frame it seemed and Edwin whipped down to hover over Elaina to repeat the same words he had done before.

Only this time it took him three tries at it, with the last attempt clutching his heart in a deathly grip, in fear it would not work at all.

When he succeeded and could for the minute relax, he tucked a blanket higher to cover Elaina's body more, not bearing the sight of her now when he had just been with her unblemished by the poison and it was reminding him how far she was succumbing and how close they were to losing her.

"you could have done it you know! Instead of wasting time."

Merlin cleared his throat and eyeballed Arthur, the prince and his master who was oblivious to the servant's magic.

Edwin scoffed at the loyalty he and Elaina had for Arthur, yet again here was a perfect example of it being wasted when they were hiding who they were from him, as the boy would report it to his precious blood thirsty father and the morning would see them without heads most likely.

As If sensing Edwin was thinking about him and feeling the hole the sorcerer was drilling in the back of his head, Arthur asked "what were you doing back there?" still in charge of driving the cart.

"freezing Elaina again."

His tone was hollow when speaking to Edwin, like he didn't want to do so at all but had reluctantly accepted that he would on a need-to-know basis, such as directions and when he was obviously using magic.

"no, just before that. You seemed in a daze."

Edwin didn't want to go too in depth since it didn't matter even for educational purposes, because he shan't repeat what he had done.

"if you must know, I was talking with Elaina."

That intrigued the prince and he turned on his wooden perch, keeping the reigns at hand and trusting that the horses knew to just go forwards for the time being. It never failed to amaze him the lengths that sorcery could go, even if he did not approve of it, but to speak with someone when they were in this state, he could not deny if he had the ability he would be trying to talk to her as well, needing to ask her so much and give her his oath that they would see her pull through this.

his excitement got the better of Arthur "talking to her, how did you manage that!"

Edwin smirked and dramatically flared his hands at the awestruck boy, "why magic of course, it can do wonderous things."

Edwin was rubbing in the usefulness of his gift right now when Camelot had the audacity to damn it but like clueless children, could still be astounded by what it could achieve. Imagine how far Camelot could come forward and evolve with sorcery at its side, how little sickness there would be and poverty through the muttering of some ancient words. It did not have to be so gloom and doom the way they portrayed it. Edwin was curious as to what had caused the great purge, since his father had never said. His life had been to live in fear of the knights of Camelot and the bidding of their king, it was just the natural order to things that he never stopped to think on it further.

Arthur furrowed his brow, jutting his chin to where Elaina lay at Edwin and merlin's feet, "and also dangerous things clearly."

The sorcerer eyed the prince's sword, which held the same principle as magic. In Arthur's hands, it protected people from danger and offered defence, yet when in the mercenary's hands it had wanted to inflict the danger and slay those in his path.

It wasn't about what was being wielded, but the person in charge of it, what their character and intention was. There would always be good and bad in the world. Punishing sorcerers was like punishing the night over day, the moon for shining when the sun was spent, for shadows casted in absence of light.

He didn't waste his breath in fighting this corner or to appeal to the prince to see him more favourably. He didn't care to be liked by one boy. Their time together won't be for long in any case and he wasn't Edwin's problem to try and make see sense, for this so-called Albion.

Edwin stroked the chain around his neck as he went into detail, "beyond her physical form, mentally she is still sound of mind so I connected with it. her subconscious is the woman we all know trapped inside this body which is failing her and she is perfectly aware of her surroundings. She might be listening to us even now."

Eerily the prince and servant gave worried glances imagining the lady floating around them like some ghost, which made them sit a little straighter less they put a foot out of place. The three had been bickering excesivly and they knew she would not approve in the slightest and would want them to just get on with things for a smoother ride and if she had to listen in on their fights, her annoyance would only grow and the first thing she would do was beat the side of their heads. They wanted to avoid her wroth at all costs as Elaina's was legendary, since when she woke they would much prefer a hug of victory.

"unfortunately," Edwin continued, "Elaina knows she is dying and It's a good thing I spoke with her, because well; she wasn't going to fight back. Her will to survive this is dwindling. I don't know where she stands even now when I have just left her."

The gaunt face on the body frozen on the floor, contorted to that expression he had last seen in her with inside her mind. Worry, disbelief, shock and terror they all washed over her features and she powerless to say anything more before he disappeared and broke the link. Edwin knew exactly where she stood on the issue and it was their hasty arrival to the lake and his swiftness to freeze her, which would be her only salvation until he can do what he intended. Until then he knew without a doubt if she could, then they would not make it anywhere near their destination as her protectiveness over her friends didn't just mean Arthur alone. He was glad to still mean something to her if that is what she felt towards him after gathering what she could about the lake. Not the love he had hoped from her, but a fierce one, nonetheless.

Arthur winced at the prospect of never looking into Elaina's bright green eyes again, to ask why she did what she did and to thank her for it, with a promise to be better than he was, so that she may never have to risk her life for his ever again. She had saved it so many times before with her acts of kindness and loyalty, he never has done the same to show such devotion for someone he loved as a sister, which she only was because she made those steps to make it so that he felt he had a family beyond just his father in a castle, that once felt so cold and haunted by the loss of his mother, with him the reminder of that. He was bound as a brother to make sure his sister was safe and if she were to die, then he would have failed in doing that, so he could one day see her marry and have a family, leading a life of her own filled with happiness as that would give him more joy than he could describe.

She just had to come back to them. There were no ifs or buts. She belonged here on earth until she was old and grey, not to wither before she had yet to fully bloom.

"not going to fight back? That is isn't the Elaina we know," arthur shouted.

All three men silently watched her motionless form with a heavy heart. It was enough of a turmoil to see her like this, let alone to be rid of her body as well in the cold dirt, as none could think themselves capable of having the strength to dig her a grave. Their image of Elaina burned bright, offering warmth and acceptance only she could give as she had that gift which they selfishly did not want to go on without, as there were many still who could benefit from her grace.

"…The world will be a bleak place without her. so, on your next crossing, turn left prince."

hope everyone is enjoying.