Chapter 2

Arthur sat in the chair next to his bed all night. He finally dozed off dreaming very strange dreams until dawn. It was a voice, a female voice, which finally woke him from his restless slumber.

"No," the girl said weakly. Arthur's eyes opened slowly and he glanced at the girl. Her hands were clutching the sheets and she looked as though she was struggling against something or someone. Arthur stood quickly and gently shook her shoulder.

"Leave me alone, I won't go," the girl cried. She struggled away from Arthur.

"It's all right," Arthur said gently as he sat on the bed. "Wake up, I won't hurt you."

Her eyes flew open and she sat up quickly. Her face was inches from Arthur's. Her breathing was ragged as though she had just been in a fight. "Who are you?" she asked timidly. Realizing their closeness she scooted away from him.

"I am Arthur Pendragon, Crown Prince of Camelot," Arthur said patiently. She had been in a fever when he told her before; she couldn't be expected to remember. "And you are?"

"You're Arthur," she asked. There was something in the way she said it, almost affectionate. It made Arthur wonder if they had met before.

"Yes, I am. I'm afraid that I do not know who you are though."

"You don't," she said in surprise. "My father said you were expecting me."

"Who is your father?" Arthur asked.

She stared at him in confusion. "You really don't know?" she asked in dismay.

"I'm sorry, but I don't," Arthur replied.

"My father is King Hrothgar," she explained. "He told me that he and your father had arranged for you and I to meet in the hope that we would one day wed." She blushed bright pink as she explained her supposed purpose in Camelot. She studied Arthur for a moment waiting for him to realize his mistake. "Were you not told I was coming?" she asked.

Arthur stared at the girl in shock. It took a moment for him to find his voice. "You're here to get married?"

"Well… no, not exactly. Apparently our father's think we would be a good match. It's for the good of our nations, as the heir apparent it is our duty," her tone softened as she spoke. She stared at him in confusion, things were not adding up properly. "No one told you."

Arthur could see that she was disappointed and he hated to hurt her more. He had to explain her real purpose in Camelot though. She had to know that she was obviously in danger.

"I was told that someone from the Heideen court was coming," Arthur said carefully. "First, what is your name?"

"Oh I'm terribly sorry!" she said quickly. "I am Princess Elaina of Heideen."

"Damn," Arthur said under his breath. He quickly stood up and began pacing the floor next to the bed.

"Is something wrong?" Elaina asked. She threw the blankets back and quickly climbed out of bed. She didn't realize that she was only wearing her thin underclothes. Elaina put a hand on the bed realizing that she had stood up too quickly and was still very weak from her illness.

Arthur turned and quickly stepped toward her when he saw how unsure she was on her feet. Elaina collapsed forward falling into Arthur's chest. Arthur held her close to himself for a moment before stepping back as a gentleman would.

Elaina kept her hands on his chest as she waited for the world to stop spinning. The door burst open at that moment and Merlin rushed inside.

"Am I interrupting something?" Merlin asked with a grin.

"Merlin," Arthur snapped. "What have I told you about knocking first? Go and find Morgana tell her that Elaina will need tending too. Also, tell my father that I require an audience with him immediately."

"It's nice to meet you, my Lady, I am Merlin, Arthur's manservant."

"Merlin," Arthur said sharply. "Go!"

"Right, sorry," Merlin rushed back out of the room stumbling over his feet as he went.

Arthur helped Elaina back onto the bed. He went to his cupboard and pulled out one of his shirts. "Here wear this until we can find you something more suitable," he said passing the shirt to Elaina.

"Is your manservant always so…" Elaina trailed off unsure of which adjective to use. Arthur turned away as she slipped the shirt over her head.

"Annoying?" Arthur called over his shoulder.

"I was going to say enthusiastic," Elaina replied. Arthur glanced at her and satisfied she was decent, he turned back around to face her.

"An excellent way to describe him if you don't know him very well."

"Are you going to tell me what inspired your pacing?" Elaina asked. She saw the doubt flicker through Arthur's eyes as he looked at her and knew whatever he had been told about the Heideen visitor it was not good. "You said you were told someone from Heideen was coming. What were they coming for?"

Arthur studied her for a moment, he slowly sat next to her on the bed. Avoiding eye contact with her Arthur took her hand slowly. "We were asked to accept a prisoner from Heideen. Hrothgar's messenger said that it was too dangerous to have the prisoner executed in Heideen and asked if we would do it here," Arthur explained.

"I don't understand," Elaina said softly. "Who is the prisoner?"

Arthur met her penetrating gaze he could see that he was about to confirm her worst fear, that her own father wanted her dead. "You are the prisoner from Heideen, Elaina," Arthur said softly. "Your father lied to you, he wasn't sending you here to meet me; he was sending you to your death."

"No," Elaina said quickly. Tears welled up in her eyes and she pulled away from Arthur. "No. My father would not do that. You're lying!"

"I wouldn't lie to you Elaina," Arthur said. He grabbed her arm as she stood up. "Elaina, stop."

"No, Arthur," Elaina snapped. She struggled against him. Arthur stood up and grabbed both her arms. "Let me go, you don't understand. You're wrong! My father loves me he would not send me here to be killed. There has been a mistake."

"There hasn't been a mistake," a voice said from the doorway. Arthur and Elaina turned to find Uther standing there with a letter clutched in his fist. "This is a letter from your father explaining the situation."

"What situation? I haven't done anything," Elaina said quickly. It was clear to Uther that the tears in her voice pained Arthur.

"It would seem that your father is more worried about what you plan to do," Uther replied.

"What I plan to do? That makes no sense," Elaina said weakly. "What am I planning?"

"Your father seems to think that there is a plot to usurp his power and place you on the throne, as the heir apparent you are the next in line," Uther explained.

"What?" Elaina demanded. "No. My father knows I have no desire to rule Heideen! I've never heard of such a plan!"

"There is a plan none the less," Uther said evenly. "We said that we would execute you…"

Elaina gasped and leaned against Arthur without thinking. Her body shook in fear as she stared wildly at King Uther.

"Father," Arthur said quickly cutting Uther off. "She is innocent. It is evident that she has no intention of ruling Heideen; she's only a girl. We cannot execute her. It would seem Hrothgar told no one of this plan. Elaina thought she was here to meet me in the hopes of one day joining our nations together. If we execute her, it will surely cause a war."

Uther pursed his lips and studied Arthur for a moment. "You are right son," Uther said after several moments.

"Elaina must stay here in Camelot; it's the only way to keep her safe from her father," Arthur continued on. "We must avoid a war with Heideen at all costs."