Chapter 12-The Alfanc

Hey guys. MERRY CHRISTMAS! I'm so happy . I hope you all had a great X-mas and got all the presents you wanted and over ate by a lot! I know I did. Anyway I know its a few days late but here is the next chapter. I'm hoping to write another one before New Years or possibly for New Years I have yet to make up by mind. Anyway I hope you like this chapter, please review I love to know what you think. I don't own Merlin, but Elizabeth, Kay and Laudine are all my characters who I love very very much! Enjoy!

It was about half a day before I got to see Merlin and Gaius again. Uther had taken me into Council meetings all morning. I think it was his way of getting me involved more in the running of Camelot so that I would marry Arthur. To do honest I could think of a million thing I would have rather been doing in that moment than going around in circles about the water shortage.

I walked into Gaius's chambers hoping get some sort of potion for the headache which was driving me up the wall. When I got in there Gaius was nowhere to be seen, however Merlin was searching through books in a frantic way.

"What are you doing?" I questioned coming into the room.

"Dragon gave me an idea, but I need to find a book," Merlin replied quickly still searching around like a crazy person.

Just then Gaius entered. He took in the scene before him, before he could ask I told him, "Merlin is looking for a book."

"Which one?" Gaius asked.

"A book on elements," Merlin said still completely absorbed in his search.

I walked over to Merlin looking over his shoulder at the selection of books that he had in front of him at that moment, "Elements?"

"Yes. Which one would I find them in?" Merlin aimed the question at Gauis knowing I wouldn't have a clue about this.

"Well, most of them. The study of base elements is at the very heart of the scientific process," Gaius explained going down to join Merlin in the pile of books.

"But how would they help me kill the Alfanc?" Merlin questioned looking this time at me for magical help.

I thought for a moment before speaking slowly, "Well, the Alfanc is a creature made from earth and water. That's two of the four base elements."

"What about the other two?" Merlin smiled at me liking where I was going.

"Well, perhaps they will destroy it. You want fire. Wind and fire," I nodded smiling back.

"How did you find this out?" Gaius questioned suspiciously.

"Erm...I just knew, you know?" Merlin said looking at me for help, I just shrugged not really knowing how I could defend him, "One of my powers."

"What else do your powers tell you?" Gaius said not believing Merlin for a second.

"That I am only one side of a coin. The brighter side, obviously," Merlin said with annoyance.

"And who's the other side?" Gaius questioned.

I smirked, "That would be Arthur."

Morgana came barging into the room, "They're bringing forward the execution. We have to prove Gwen's innocence."

"We're trying," Gaius spoke.

"Please, just tell me what I can do to help," Morgana stepped forward bravely.

"We need Arthur," Merlin said simply as if that was the answer to all our questions.

"I'll do it Morgana you can stay and help Gaius. Merlin we'll meet you in the square," I said before walking out of the door over to Arthur's room.

I sat in his room waiting for Arthur to come back from another talk with his father. I had already made my excuses for that one, not wanting to be around Uther anymore than necessary. Arthur walked through the door, not noticing me for a few minutes before he jumped out of his skin, "You alright? Sorry about all this," Arthur said indicating to the mess on the table, "Merlin's not been in today."

"Poor Merlin," I said softly playing along with the Merlin loves Gwen idea for a little longer.

"Yeah," Arthur agreed sitting down opposite me.

"To offer to give up his life to save Gwen's. I certainly can't imagine any man loving me so much," I said quietly, not even meaning to express my thoughts out loud.

Arthur stayed silent for a moment just looking at me, "No, I certainly can't imagine that either."

I smirked back lightly, "That's because you're not like Merlin. He's a lover."

"Yeah, maybe that's because I haven't found the right person to love," Arthur replied back seriously.

"Sadly the age of gallantry seems to be dead. You look around and all you see are small men, not big enough to fill their armour. There's not one of them that's able to stand up for what is right," I said very obviously manipulating.

Arthur just smirked back, "What do you want me to do?"

"Merlin and Gaius have managed to locate the creature that is causing the illness but Merlin and I cannot take it on alone and win, we need a skilled warrior. We need…" I explained.

"Me," Arthur finished before looking at me seriously again, "Why not tell my father?"

"We both know he will kill Gwen quicker, and this isn't her fault. If we take away the creature we may be able to save Gwen's life," I said gently. Arthur nodded at me in acceptance. I smiled brightly back, "Well come on then. We have a kingdom to save."

We walked quickly down to the square where Merlin was already waiting for us. Arthur drew his sword as we entered the tunnel door. I held up a torch while we descended. The bottom of my dress was turning a lovely deep brown colour from the dirt, but we kept on walking.

"You'd better be right about this, Merlin," Arthur complained. As if it had been called for a low growl echoed through the tunnel.

"You should stay here," Arthur said softly to me as we travelled further into the darkness.

"I'm coming with you," I said firmly knowing how this worked by now.

"No," Came Arthur intelligent responds.

"Scared I'll show you up?" I smirked at him.

Arthur chose to ignore the wind up instead focusing on the issue, "Father will slam us both in chains if he knew I'd endangered you."

"Well good thing he doesn't know about it then," I shot back.

"I'm telling you, Elizabeth, turn back. You could get hurt," Arthur placed his hand on my shoulder as if trying to force me back.

"You could too...if you don't get out of my way," I said pushing straight passed his arm and moving closer to the monster. Behind me I could hear Merlin laughing, "How are we going to find it?"

"I just hope we do before it finds us," Merlin said quietly.

Arthur didn't respond instead spinning around, "Stop," He ordered.

"What?" Merlin questioned suddenly looking around afraid.

Arthur walked over closer to it, before relaxing back, "It's just a shadow."

We continued on, moving towards the water source, "Spread out," Arthur ordered once again. We walked off in three separate directions.

I heard a loud growl from the direction Arthur had walked in and took off following him, finding Arthur laying on the floor out of breath, "What is it? Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Arthur said shrugging off help.

Merlin sprinted over to us nearly falling over to me, "Did you see it?" Arthur nodded his head, "What did it look like?"

"It…it's quick," Arthur said unable to come up with any other respond.

The Alfanc came up again in front of me and I screamed. Arthur went for it, but it disappeared before his sword could grace it.

"Where is it?" Arthur asked, swirling around.

"Put that down before you take my eye out!" I snapped at him, enjoying the way that he actually did what I said, "And listen."

We were quiet for a moment just listening into the darkness, there was a slight noise down one of the tunnels, "I think it's gone this way!" We made our way consciously down the tunnel trying not to make too much noise. The Alfanc seemed to be doing the same thing as it moved slowly around the corner into full view. Arthur once again swung at it but lost his sword. I moved my torch towards it brandishing it like a weapon before it was knocked out of my hand. I grabbed it again before it hit the ground.

"Elizabeth, use the torch!" I swung the torch violently towards the creature.

Merlin spoke behind me, "Lyfte ic þe in balwen ac forhienan," I felt the winds build up around me as the flame seemed to take on a life of its own and was blown right into the Alfanc, I could hear a scream from the creature as it was incinerated.

I fell backwards into the wall of the tunnel laughing in relief. Merlin joined in a second later with Arthur looking at us in confusion, "We saved the day," I said with a smile for explanation for my brilliant mood, "Now we just have to save Gwen!"

We made our way quickly out of the tunnel where I came face to face with Laudine, "What have you done to your clothes?!" She exclaimed upon seeing me.

"Just killed an evil creature and saved Gwen and Camelot itself and your worried about the state of my dress!" I laughed.

Merlin looked down at it, I knew I was covered in deep brown mud and smoke from the fire, "That is never going to come out."

I just shook my head before turning back to the castle, "Merlin get a water supply for Gaius, Arthur organise a meeting with your father. I will get changed and meet you in the council chambers," Arthur shot me a dirty look, "I'm sorry my lord would you please organise a meeting with your father," I said sarcastically bowing down in front of me.

Instead of replying to me Arthur took off in the direction of the castle, I turned to Merlin, "You did brilliantly Merlin."

He just smiled back at me before he heard Arthur yelling, "MERLIN!"

It didn't take as long as I thought it would to save Gwen from Uther. With all the evidence we put in front of him he had no choice but to believe us and what we were saying. Arthur stayed with his father while Morgana, Tom [Gwen's father] Merlin and I walked down into the dungeons. The guard was opening the cell as we entered, "Dad!" Gwen shouted out running into his arms. I smiled at the sweet scene in front of me.

"Oh, my little child!" Tom said back looking like he was never letting her go again.

Gwen reached out for Morgana's hand, not letting go of her father, "Thank you!"

"Don't thank me. It was more Merlin," Morgana smiled back.

"Really?" Gwen questioned seeming shocked.

"He's the real hero here," I said smiling.

Gwen turned to Merlin, "I don't know what to say."

"I didn't do anything," Merlin said with a shrug but I could see the proudness shining through underneath.

"I'm- I'm grateful to you all. Come on, Gwen," Tom said taking Gwen's hand and leading her away from the dungeons.

As they disappeared Morgana turned to Merlin, "Merlin. I wanted you to know, your secret's safe with me."

I chocked in the corner of the room as Merlin looked just as shocked, "My secret?" He questioned with caution.

"Merlin, don't pretend. I know what you did," Morgana said as if this was a completely normal conversation.

"You do?" I asked this time being just as careful as Merlin.

"Of course you would know too," Morgana smiled at me, "I saw it with my own eyes."

"You did?" Merlin seemed to be unable to do anything but ask questions at the moment.

"I understand why you don't anyone to know," Morgana said.

Merlin nodded his head suddenly getting very excited, "Well, obviously."

"But I won't tell anyone. You don't mind me talking to you about it?" Morgana asked.

Merlin looked stunned for a moment, "Er...no. I, I, it's, err...you have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden."

"Well, you can continue to deny it, but I think Gwen's a very lucky woman," Morgana said. Suddenly I understood what she thought she knew. I hide behind her back and bit my fist to stop myself from laughing.

"Gwen?" Merlin questioned, going from excited to disappointed in a matter of seconds.

Morgana smiled at him as she put her finger to her lips, "It's our secret," she said before leaving.

I watched her go up the stair before bursting out laughing, "It's probably for the best Merlin," I tried to comfort him while calming myself down.

Merlin just looked up in desperation and sigh heavily. I began laughing again at the face he was pulling, and I knew one day the world would know our secrets and it would be okay.