"What is the Cup of Life?" Arthur asked, sensing the discomfort between the two sorceresses. The look of anxiety in Mim was disconcerting enough, but to see someone as calm as Elaine look fearful, was almost terrifying. The latter glanced at Arthur.
"Something very powerful," her gaze switched to Mim, "and very dangerous."
"You'll have to face her." Mim stated, her concentration still mainly focused on Merlin. Elaine's jaw clenched and a tendril of gold passed through her eyes. Clearly the 'her' was someone she did not want to see.
"Then it will be on her life," came the faint growl from Elaine. "This time, I won't be distracted."
"But..."Mim began, but was almost immediately interrupted by Elaine's furious outbreak.
"Yes, Mim, I know the consequences of stepping foot on that Isle, but if you can think of any other way of helping, then please, tell me!" Mim visibly shrunk away from the angry outburst. Mim could make her surroundings chill with her anger; Elaine made it snow. Arthur became even more anxious around the elder witch. After a short pause the air warmed again and the snow stopped. Elaine took a deep breath. "Come, Prince Arthur. We should leave now. Every second is vital." She paused, looking reluctant. "Which unfortunately means, instant travelling." Arthur grimaced.
"You mean the smoke?" mumbled half heartedly. Elaine grimaced back.
"When needs be..." it soothed him to see the sorceress look as ill at ease with the smoke travel as he felt. She held her hand out gracefully for Arthur to take. If she hadn't been a sorceress; he would have admired the grace which she executed every movement with, but with that knowledge, it only made him nervous. Arthur took her hand. "It might be better if you close your eyes and hold your breath." Arthur immediately did so and in moments he could feel the familiar sensation of becoming tendrils of smoke. He still felt nauseous, but less that previously. In an even quicker time than last, he felt himself solidify.
"We're here." Arthur carefully opened his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. He had been expecting to be in an overwhelmingly magical place, so was slightly disappointed to be stood on the banks of a lake.
"Here is where we will find a cure for Merlin?" Arthur scoffed. Elaine stepped closer to the lake and glanced back at Arthur. She smiled lightly as she returned her gaze to the water.
"Sometimes the most humble looking things," Elaine closed her eyes and took a deep breath before continuing, "are the most magnificent." Arthur agreed with this statement whole heartedly, his thoughts turning toward Gwen. Elaine continued to take deep breaths with her eyes closed. After a few moments, her eyes slowly opened. Arthur was at once both entranced and trembling with fear. The world around them seemed to stop, or rather slow down. Elaine's clothes changed into long flowing silks made with what looked like silver smoke and moonlight; her hair also changed into long, cascading dark curls.
"What's going on?" Arthur quivered. Elaine did not answer, instead she addressed the lake.
"Lady of the Lake?" Elaine asked the still water. "I call for an audience!" Silence immediately followed this remark, the only thing that broke it was the sound of the water lapping at the shore of the lake. Arthur was about to comment that it hadn't worked, when the water in front of them seemed to bubble up and rise into the shape of a person. As the water fell, the details of the person became more pronounced. Slowly the face became visible, with doleful eyes and pale skin. After the face; the hair, which flowed down the water-figures back. Soon the dress was visible; blue and purple. The Lady of the Lake was the druid that escaped in Camelot, whom he had killed in her cursed form. How had she ended up here?
"My Lady of Avalon," the druid began smoothly, "What is it that you have to ask of me?" Elaine winced at the title.
"I am no Lady of Avalon," Elaine countered with a clipped tone. "I am Elaine of ..."
"I know who you are." the druid interrupted, "One of your sisters managed to convince a warlock to curse me."she smirked.
"I have no connection with the sister you speak of," Elaine really began to look angry and the water which lapped the shore began to frost over. The druid looked worried for the first time.
"What do you want?" all ceremony dropped. Elaine visibly calmed; the frost melted away.
"I want you to give Merlin back his life, Freya." Abrupt, but to the point. Arthur had to admit, when it came down to it, Elaine could get straight to the point faster than a hound on the scent of sport. Freya looked annoyed.
"No." she answered; equally abrupt and to the point. "I want Merlin here,so that we can share an eternity together, since we were robbed of a life together." Elaine sighed gently, displaying her pity.
"You wouldn't have had a life with Merlin," Arthur started gently. Elaine glanced at him. "The curse..."
"It could have been lifted," Freya pleaded hopefully, "And I could have waited."
"Why?" Arthur and Elaine asked together. Freya's doleful eyes flitted between the prince and the sorceress in front of her.
"Because," she quavered with emotion. "He showed me how beautiful the world could be." A lone tear traced a path down her cheek. Arthur gaped. Elaine's face was a picture of calm.
"What?" Arthur was very confused. How did they know each other? Freya clearly saw the reason behind the question.
"He saved me from the cage," Freya began to explain, "He didn't know I was cursed." she added hastily noticing Arthur's outrage. It hadn't helped.
"Merlin released you?" Arthur snapped. He wasn't sure who he was more angry at; Merlin or Freya.
"Merlin is a kind, warm-hearted soul," it was Elaine who explained more. Her eyes focused on Arthur. "It would have caused him much distress to see anyone in that sort of position; sorcerer or otherwise." Arthur thought this statement through. It was just like the soft dolt to do this sort of thing, he didn't know why he was surprised. He tried to thinkhow he would react, emotionally, if he was faced with a similar situation; he had to admit, he would have probably done the same. The two women were watching him. Elaine continued, when satisfied that Arthur wouldn't interrupt again.
"So," she began harshly. "You repay this act of selflessness, with this." Elaine looked furious again and the water started to freeze again. "You try and pull that boys life across the veil and leave him with no life at all!" Snow began to fall slowly. Arthur shivered and dusted some snow-flakes out of his hair. Freya seemed unaffected by the snow, but she had the decency to look guilty about the actions.
"This is the only way we will be able to have a life together!" Freya screamed desperately. The snow fell heavier. "Magic is outlawed! We would never have been able to be together!"
"You said that you would have waited?" Arthur interrupted again. Instead of the daggers he expected at the end of Elaine's look; there was a look of glowing appraisal. Freya flinched at her mistake.
"I won't give him up," Freya finished stubbornly. "You will have to prise his life from the depths." Freya gave Elaine a tearful look. "I love Merlin and I don't think even you could meddle with life and death, Lady Elaine." With that statement, Freya swiftly returned to the form of water and splashed back into the lake. The world began to move again. Arthur looked at Elaine, hoping she would have something positive to take from this meeting. Her clothes and hair had returned to how they had been; worn. Arthur couldn't take any comfort from the expression on Elaine's face. She looked fearful, which couldn't be good. Slowly, she turned her back on the lake.
"What will we do?" Arthur asked, trying to break the silence. Elaine looked at him, barely registering that there was someone else with her.
"We go to the Isle," she said vacantly, "We will have to use the Cup of Life." she looked scared.
"Why is it so terrifying?" Arthur wasn't liking this frightened look on someone as powerful as Elaine. Elaine bit her lip and took a deep breath.
"To use the Cup of Life, is to take life and death into your own hands," Elaine continued to look fearful, "It has power that no one should hold. It comes, always, with a cost; to save a life, a life must be taken. It has corrupted many and I'm afraid it might hold some power over me still." Arthur's curiosity grew.
"Still?" He questioned, feeling he wouldn't like the answer. Elaine gave a wry smile.
"As one of the descendants of the creators of the Cup." Elaine's look must have mirrored the look of disgust on Arthur's. She looked revolted at the idea her ancestor's created something that powerful; Arthur was revolted at the idea of someone having that power.
"Who is the 'her' you and Mim were talking about?" Arthur wanted more details before they proceeded to the Cup. Elaine absently stroked her forehead in a clear sign of weariness.
"Mim isn't my sister," Arthur was surprised. "Well, that is, not my full sister. I have two full sisters; one is graced with the power to stall ageing," Elaine winced and looked sour, "and the other, well, we've never seen eye to eye. I was twenty when the great purge began." Arthur's look of surprise increased. Elaine smiled cheerlessly. "After I quarrelled with my elder sister, she cursed me to agelessness in the form of an owl." she finished quickly.
"I-I don't understand." Arthur stuttered.
"That same sister," Elaine gave a small laugh completely devoid of any happy emotion. "is the Guardian of the Isle; High Priestess of the Old Religion. Lady Nimueh."
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