Chapter 10

Elaina practiced until the sun went down. She ran through every drill she could think of. She battled imaginary enemies until she could barely stand. She knew it was probably a bad idea to train so hard the day before the fight but she couldn't help it. She wanted to make a good showing against Sir Leon. She had to prove herself.

Elaina carried the sword and shield back to her room with her. She pushed the door open and came face to face with Gaius.

"My apologies my Lady, I've been looking for you."

"It's fine Gaius. I was on the training field."

"Of course, your fight is tomorrow. I think perhaps it would be best if you postpone it my lady."

"Why would I do that?" Elaina moved past him and set her sword and shield on the table. She made a mental note to ask Gwen to get her something to sharpen her sword with.

"Your condition Lady Elaina, you haven't been treated recently. I fear that if you over exert yourself there could be severe consequences."

"Gaius, a warrior does not shy away from a challenge because of the fear of consequences."

"You are not only a warrior you are a princess. If you compete tomorrow you could seriously endanger any progress you might have made with your condition."

"What are you saying? Is it going to get worse?"

"It will be more difficult to recover. You've just recovered, don't endanger yourself further."

"Can you not treat me now," Elaina asked impatiently. She understood his concern but she couldn't back down now. Everyone would think she was afraid.

"Not effectively no. I am developing a medicine that I think will work much better than anything else you've been given, but it's not ready yet my lady."

"When will it be ready?"

"It will take a few days."

"Then I will fight. You can treat me afterward and I will be careful to not let things get out of hand tomorrow."

"I think it would be unwise my lady."

"Part of being young is doing unwise things Gaius," Elaina replied. She shook her head and glanced at the floor. "I appreciate your concern Gaius, truly I do. You have to understand that even though I am a princess I am still a warrior. The warrior in me will not let me back down from a challenge no matter what the risk."

"I will try to remember that my lady," Gaius said with a shake of his head. Elaina could tell he thought she was being foolish. He bowed quickly and left the room.

Elaina ran a hand through her hair. She grimaced as her shoulder popped. It was going to be a tricky fight tomorrow. She'd seen Sir Leon fight, he was strong but Elaina had agility on her side.

Another knock on the door caused Elaina to groan in frustration. "Come in," she called loudly.

The door opened slowly and Merlin stuck his head in. "Everything all right?"

"Yes Merlin, why?"

"Arthur wanted me to check on you, make sure everything was ok."

"Tell him I'm fine," Elaina said with a slow smile. Merlin started to leave but Elaina stopped him. "Merlin, is there anyone you know in Camelot named Mathew?"

"Mathew?" Merlin's face scrunched as he thought about the men in Camelot. "I've never met anyone by that name, why?"

"There was a man earlier, in the armory," Elaina said carefully.

"Perhaps he's one of Arthur's new knights."

"Perhaps." Mathew had said he wasn't a knight of Camelot though. There was definitely something off about him though. "Thank you for your help Merlin."

"Do you want me to take care of your sword for you," Merlin offered. He could see how tired Elaina was from her day of training.

"That would be wonderful, thank you. Elaina grabbed the sword and shield off the table and carried them to Merlin.

"I'll see you in the morning, you should get some sleep," Merlin said before leaving the room.

Elaina was back in the armory. It was the middle of the night, the room was eerily dark. Arthur stepped out of the darkness and slowly came toward her. Something about his movement was off though. He stopped in front of her and slowly brushed his fingers across her cheek.

He gently cupped her face and drew her toward him. Their lips met in a gentle kiss. The world seemed to slow down in that moment, everything seemed different.

Elaina's eyes fluttered open and saw that the person before her had changed. It was no longer Arthur, it was Mathew. He smiled coldly at her and pulled her toward him again. Elaina struggled against him. She managed to push him away from herself and rushed toward the door.

In her hurry, she tripped over something and fell to the floor. She glanced over to see what she had fallen over. A scream erupted out of her mouth when she saw what, more importantly who it was. Arthur laid on the ground his blue eyes open but unseeing.

Mathew's hysterical laughter filled the room as Elaina screamed again. "You'll never escape us, you're the only one who can help us with our plan to return Camelot to chaos," Mathew said through his laughter.

Elaina bolted up in bed and drew several ragged breaths. Without thinking she threw the blankets back and climbed out of bed. She raced across her room to the door and pulled it open. Looking both ways she slowly stepped into the hallway.

Elaina crept down the hall to Arthur's room. She quietly opened the door and glanced inside. The moonlight shone brightly through the window casting the bed in a spotlight. She slipped inside the room and crossed to the bed.

Elaina froze when she reached the foot of the bed. It was empty. She glanced frantically around the room, but Arthur was nowhere to be seen. A hand clasped Elaina's shoulder causing her to scream and pull away in terror. She spun around and came face to face with Arthur. Without thinking she threw her arms around his neck. His arms circled her waist in response.

"You're alright," she whispered.

"Of course, are you?"

Elaina pulled away from him and moved away. "I had a dream, there was a man," she began carefully. She didn't know what to tell Arthur. How could she explain that she had a dream about a man who may not exist and that in the dream he was dead?

"Who," Arthur asked.

Elaina met his gaze for a second before looking away. "I don't know. It doesn't matter, I was scared and I wanted to make sure you were ok."

"Why? Did something happen to me in your dream?"

"It doesn't matter. I should go."

Elaina brushed past Arthur on her way to the door. He caught her wrist before she could go very far. He turned to look at her and smiled. "Don't go," he whispered.

"Arthur," Elaina said softly. His lips met hers before she could say anything else. His arms slid around her waist pulling her closer to him. Elaina ran her hands up his arms before her arms circled his neck. One of her hands ran across his cheek and down his neck as he pulled back from the kiss.

"Stay," he asked.

In that moment, Elaina wanted to say yes more than anything. She wanted to stay with Arthur, tell him about the dream. She never wanted to stop kissing him either. She knew better though, if someone found them together it would cause a lot of trouble.

"You know I can't." Elaina pulled out of his warm embrace and smiled sadly. "It would make things remarkably complicated if I stayed Arthur. Neither of us needs that."

Arthur dropped his head and shifted his weight. "Do you ever do things you want to do without worrying about what people will think?"

Elaina sighed softly and reached out to lift Arthur's chin. "Being a future queen does not afford me the luxury of doing things without thinking about others." She knew though that she did other things without thinking about others, like choosing to fight Sir Leon.

Arthur pulled away from her and shook his head. "Don't do that!"

"Do what," Elaina asked in surprise at his reaction. She thought he would understand what she meant. He couldn't do things like this without thinking about the reactions of others either.

"Try to make me feel as though I am crazy for wanting this!" Arthur met Elaina's gaze as he came closer to her. "Tell me you don't want to stay."

"Arthur, I do but things are not that simple. If someone were to find us together your father would be furious. I've only been in Camelot a week, the majority of people don't even know who I am. Besides until earlier today I was furious with you for being a prat. We barely know one another, it would just end in heartbreak."

"You don't know that."

"I know that as much as I may want to stay it's purely a physical desire," Elaina said softly. "I don't want to become entangled in a physical affair Arthur."

"That is not what this is about! Do you really think that is why I asked you to stay?"

"Is there another reason?"

Elaina and Arthur stared at one another for several silent moments. Neither knew what to say. Perhaps Arthur had asked her to stay with physical intentions, but that wasn't all that motivated him. Elaina knew what it was like to be caught up in a purely physical relationship, she refused to do it again.

"If that's what you think then you should leave," Arthur finally said.

"Arthur," Elaina said in frustration.

"You should go Elaina. I apologize for my behavior it won't happen again."

Elaina stared at him in confusion. She curtsied to him and headed toward the door. She paused, her hand hovering near the handle. "I forgive your behavior Arthur and I apologize for my assumptions about your intentions, I hope you can forgive me," Elaina said softly before pulling the door open and stepping in the hallway.

The door closed behind it and Elaina leaned against. She stood there for a moment and turned around. She placed her hands on the door and sighed. "Yes," she whispered to the door.

On the other side of the door, Arthur stood with his hands pressed against the same place on the door. "I forgive you," he whispered.

Neither heard what the other had to say though. Doors in Camelot are remarkably thick as are stubborn young people, who are afraid to fall in love.