Author's Note:
Yeah…this update is SUPER late, I know, and I apologize but I've been really busy. Thank you to everyone who has been following the story and reviewing it, I really appreciate you guys. Well, here's the long awaited chapter six of Eve:

She ran as fast as she could, her heart racing and blood plumping.

She tried to avoid all the other people in the midst of the chaos, everyone looking to survive. The heat of the flames came with a warning that encircled her with fear: they would kill her without a second thought if she came too close. Men, women, and children had already fallen at the hands of the dancing flames, and some part of her knew that she herself was close to the same fate.

But none of that was important. She needed to reach the last house on the right.

The one already engulfed in flames.

She didn't stop to think as she burst through the door, but that same part of her mind that knew she was in danger also knew that she was too late.

The little ones were lost, they had already moved on. She saw them silhouetted in the orange light lying in their bed, resting in a deep sleep that they would never awaken from. She didn't have time to mourn, however, for as she took a step back towards the door something grab her hand.

She turned to stare into the pain filled face of-

Her eyes opened, tears wetting her pillow.

No more screaming; she had come to expect the dreams and they no longer scared her so much as they morbidly depressed her.

Every night she was haunted by the memory of that day, slowly retracing the steps that led her to the moment. The moment that would follow her for the rest of her life, eating away at whatever happiness she found and whatever sanity was left. The dreams were so vivid every night she was sure she was transferred back to relive each moment as punishment for what she did.

After all, it was all her fault.

She was lying on her side staring at the wall with tears free falling when Gwen came into the room with breakfast. Evangeline had requested that she be looked after by Guinevere the day after her audience with Uther, greatly surprising and pleasing Gwen. She was still Morgana's servant, but she was glad that Evangeline had grown to trust her, at least a little.

After learning of Evangeline's trials-or what Evangeline told were her trials-she felt that she could relate in some ways. Her own father died and she was left alone with no family, but unlike Evangeline, Gwen had friends she could turn to and a steady living. Evangeline had neither, and for that, Guinevere pitied her. Sure she seemed like a very strong young woman who was sure of herself, but Gwen was almost positive it was all an act. She thought that Evangeline put up a wall of negativity to keep people out and to protect herself.

"Still unable to sleep," Gwen asked as she set bread and fruit on the table. Every day for the past week she came in to see Evangeline crying. Though it was still better than the first few nights when Evangeline would wake up screaming; Gwen never even left the castle those nights. She would stay in the rooms next to Evangeline, prepared to run in and comfort her whenever she screamed.

"Having sleep is not the issue; sleep itself is the monster," Evangeline muttered, sitting up and wiping the tears off her face.

"What do you mean?" Gwen asked impulsively. She was used to being more lax in her professional character when she assisted Morgana because they were friends and she sometimes forgot Evangeline didn't like that.

Apparently, no matter how hard Gwen tried, Evangeline didn't want friends.

Before Gwen could apologize, Evangeline bristled and dismissed her. "That will be all, Gwen. And I can dress myself."

Frustrated and angry at herself, Gwen bowed and exited the room, turning to shut the door behind her. She rested her head on the door for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

She wanted to help Evangeline, and she felt like she understood Evangeline, but sometimes it really was hard because she didn't know how to act. Sometimes Evangeline would be very pleasant and they would have some small talk about the weather or people in the castle or Camelot in general. But other times she would revert to the hurt young woman who lashed out at anyone who tried to get close to her.

Gwen turned to leave and almost ran straight into Merlin.

"Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there."

"No, you're fine. So how is she?"

Gwen lowered her voice to barely above a whisper. "She woke up crying again; she said that she has no problem sleeping, she just doesn't want to."

Merlin took that in and a confused look spread across his face. "Huh…well Gaius wants to talk to her so could you pass that message on?"

Gwen glanced at the door and grimaced. "You'll have to either wait a while or tell her yourself; she dismissed me and has made it clear that she doesn't want me to bother her again."

Merlin shook his head in disgust. "I don't understand how someone could be so cold to people who are trying to care for them."

She gave a small smile. "She's been through a lot, Merlin. I think that after losing her father, having to leave home, and being attacked when she was already vulnerable, she's lost faith and trust in people."

"But she's pushing us away and all we're trying to do is befriend her."

Gwen looked down and then straight into his eyes and said, "Maybe she doesn't want to get close to anyone because she's afraid of losing someone else."

She paused to let that sink in and then spoke in her normal volume. "I've got to go. Will you tell her Gaius wishes to see her?"

Merlin sighed and consented. Gwen left and he stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and stuck his head in the room.

He was about to call to her when he saw her sitting at the table with her head in her arms. Her shoulders were shaking and he could hear a soft, heartbreaking noise fill the room which, even with the sun shining into, seemed dark and miserable. It was as if her emotions were personified in the atmosphere, leaving a stain of depression in every particle of the air.

She was sobbing softly, still unaware of his presence, and he felt slightly ashamed for walking in on the moment. He needed to tell her Gaius wanted to talk to her, but he didn't want her to know that he had seen her crying. He knew she wouldn't appreciate that, so he quietly closed the door, waited a moment, and then knocked.

"Who is it?" replied a soft voice from within.

"It's Merlin, I have a message for you," he answered.

Not even a minute had passed before she opened the door, her face showing no signs of tears and the room reverted back to its comfortable atmosphere. She was still in her bed clothes, but she seemed like a perfectly fine young woman, and not a heartbroken one who was just sobbing in a room all alone.

"Well? What is it?" she asked impatiently.

It took every ounce of power for him to not retort anything that could get him into trouble. He forced a smile on his face and said, "Gaius would like to see you when you are done dressing."

She seemed slightly surprised and, to Merlin's astonishment, almost a little pleased.

"Yes, of course. Tell Gaius I will be down to see him soon. Thank you, Merlin."

With that, she closed the door and left Merlin with a look of confusion on his face that was quickly wiped away when he heard his name being called angrily from somewhere nearby. He closed his eyes and groaned in annoyance as he ran to find Arthur and see what he'd done this time.

The prince was standing in the middle of his room with his arms crossed when Merlin entered.

"Merlin, where have you been?"

"I was running errands for Gaius, why? Did you forget how to put your armor on or something and need my help?"

Arthur's eyes narrowed and he replied, "You really are the most disrespectful servant I've ever had, please know that."

Merlin shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "And no matter what, you can't seem get rid of me. So what do you need, I have to hurry back to Gaius to pass on a message."

Arthur opened his mouth to give a sarcastic response, but then opted to just let Merlin's comment about not being able to sack him slide and skipped to telling Merlin what was happening. "My father has decided to have a feast tonight in Evangeline's honor. It seems he has found her well enough to celebrate and wants to introduce her to the people of Camelot as a woman of the court who will be staying here in the castle for as long as she likes."

The news completely shocked Merlin to the point where he stood there with his mouth open and eyes wide.

"Compose yourself, Merlin; you look like a fish out of water."

"Arthur, why is your dad being so nice to her? I mean, no offense, but I've never seen him be this compassionate about anyone. I know she has a sad story to tell, but-"

"I know, I know, it's completely out of the ordinary and my father wouldn't do something like this for anyone but he's decided to do it for her."

A thought suddenly hit Merlin and he smiled slightly. "Did you have anything to do with it?"

Arthur blanched and turned to walk towards the table. "What are you going on about?"

"You had something to do with your father inviting her to live here, didn't you?"

Arthur sat at the table and picked an apple from the fruit bowl. "Why would I do that, Merlin? Need I remind you of the fact that she speaks to me as if I were of lower social standing than you?"

"You know, for someone who is totally innocent, you are doing very well at avoiding the question."

Arthur stood up as anger, more from embarrassment than Merlin's comment, and said, "Once you are done with whatever you're doing for Gaius, I need you to wash my dress clothes and polish my sword, understand."

"I completely understand, sire, you want to look nice and impress Evangeline," Merlin laughed as he started leaving the room.

He then yelled "Ow!" as an apple hit the center of his back before he could close the door.