Hey guys! Hey peeps(Can I call you my peeps? Oh well, I am. So sucks if you don't want me to. Wow, getting way off topic... Where was I? Oh yeah.) What up homies? How have you been? Sorry this chapter is getting updated late, I have been busy with college applications. They suck, and apparently when you write essays for them you can't just repeat the word "please". Like what's up with that? Anywhooo— that's what I've been doing, and I also had to write a short story about a dystopian that could potentially happen for my AP English class(like how I snuck in AP{Advanced Placement} lol yeah, I'm really competitive. Sue me. Jk, don't really I'm super poor and my only valuables are all my books and movies and posters and computer. Actually, you can take my computer, its really old and my dad would buy me new one if someone took mine.) Gah! Getting off topic again. I pretty much banged out this chapter Sunday so right now I'm chugging coffee to edit it.(Your welcome, ya ingrates. Jk love ya guys.) So... Yeah... Here's the Chapter. Thanks for reading. I have no rights to the story except for my OC. Actually— technically, Merlin BBC is also fanfiction... Because like there is no clear original of the King Arthurian tales so basically everything about King Arthur is fanfiction so mine could potentially have the same rights as BBC... Anyone else think about that? Just me? Okay. Read the story, just ignore my ranting and raving. Did I mention I've been chugging coffee because that is literally what I'm doing as I am typing this sentence(go multitasking!). Seriously you should ignore all of this above(I have no idea what I'm doing to my life, someone should send help)...
Chapter 5:
"Gwen?" Elaine called, striding over to her friend that was standing at the base of a set of stairs with Merlin. "How's Morgana?"
Gwen's face was filled with apprehension as she chewed on her thumbnail, a nervous habit Gwen has had since she was young. "We don't know yet." She told Elaine, only glancing away from the stairs for a small moment.
"Gaius is with her right now." Merlin interjected, having the same look of worry as Gwen. His hair seemed more mussed than was usual, and his fingers were curled together.
Ever since two days ago when Morgana had gotten sick, the whole town seemed to be on edge. The people were nervous about what the castle was going to do. The nobles in the castle were nervous about what King Uther was going to do now that his ward was sick and if what happened to her was going to spread. While the king seemed to be oblivious to all of this, his time was spent either in Morgana's chambers or in the throne room. Geoffrey had told Elaine that in all the meetings, Uther would not pay any attention and would delegate the decisions to his advisors. Which would have been fine if he had not delegated to decision about the recent border skirmishes to Lord James, the current scribe of the meetings that had no military background.
"Is she any better?' Gwen asked as soon as Gaius had appeared on the steps. He shook his head, Gaius's lips pursed in disappointment. Gwen rushed up the stairs past him, hurrying to Morgana's side after hearing the bad news.
Gaius went to Merlin and Elaine, his eyes lacking any hope, "She's all but dead." He told them sadly.
His words causing Elaine to visibly whither in defeat. If Gaius can't save her, no one can.
"No." Merlin said, shaking his head in denial. "You're going to cure her. You have to."
"Merlin-" Elaine said, drawing out his name exasperated. She stepped away from them, heading for the stairs, her thoughts filled with how she had seen Morgana earlier. Her ebony hair fanned out on the pillow, she looked as if she was asleep. As if any moment now, she would wake up and all would be better.
"Don't you start." Gaius added, his tone the same as Elaine's. "I've tried everything."
"I was wondering…" Merlin told Gaius, Elaine could feel his eyes glancing to her as she paused on the steps.
Realizing that he was trying to hide something from her, and Elaine naturally being a curious person, she continued up the steps. Pretending that she couldn't her a word that they were saying.
"... Maybe I could-" He cleared his throat, and Elaine disappeared behind a wall as she continued to listen them. The stone really can make voices carry. "-Help."
"If you're suggesting magic," Gaius told Merlin, his voice also hushed, but not enough that Elaine couldn't hear him from where she was concealed. "Have you forgotten what happened to Gwen's father?"
Elaine frowned, What does Tom have to do with any of this? She unclenched her hands, realizing that they had become tensed when Gaius had mentioned magic.
"This is not a magical illness." Gaius continued, "It must be cured by conventional means." He said, effectively shutting down any ideas Merlin had gotten into his head. "We keep trying. If you want to help, see if you can find me some fresh rosemary."
"There must be something more I can do." Merlin argued, his voice no longer hushed, but had been raised with indignation.
"And yarrow." Gaius said, his tone obviously showing that there was to be no more discussion on the matter. A few seconds later, Elaine could hear the two sets of footsteps head away from where they had been standing. She peeked around the corner, looking at their backs disappear down a hall as she wondered how many secrets could be kept in one place.
Elaine crossed the courtyard, her long blue dress billowing around her feet as she made long strides towards the stairs that led into the castle. Her eyes unfocused as she was lost in thought, not noticing the stranger that made his way to her upon her appearance.
"Excuse me, miss?" The man politely voiced, catching up the girl and hesitantly reaching towards her.
Elaine turned her body, pausing midstride when she saw the man's face. She would have never had spoken it out-loud, but his face was very off putting with a large scar covering one side. "Yes?" She responded once she regained her thoughts, carefully smoothing her voice so that he couldn't recognize her discomfort.
The man had also been taken aback by her face, while he did not recognise her discomfort, he did recognise her features and felt like like he was peering at a face from his past. "I apologise, but you look very… familiar to me." He took a step towards her as Elaine, simultaneously, took a step back. "Are you by chance related to the Pendragon family?"
Elaine gaped at him, a rushing sounding in her ears and pounding against her chest. "Excuse me?" She replied, staring at him dumbly. "How? Wh-"
"The late Sir Hector, perhaps?" The man elaborated, clasping his hands in front of him and a peculiarly satisfied expression coming on to his face.
"I don't-"
"You have a striking likeness to him." The man said, interrupting her again. Taking advantage of her stunned mind. "I knew him, a long time ago. He was a good man."
Elaine continued to stare at him, her watery eyes refusing to blink. The drumming in her ears growing louder as the man spoke.
"Are you related to him? Are you a Pendragon?"
"Her heritage is of no concern to you." Prince Arthur's snobby voice declared, arriving to Elaine's rescue not a moment too late. Neither of the men seemed to notice the way that Elaine staggered behind Arthur, her eyes not meeting his.
"I'm sorry, my Lord. I did not mean to cause offense." The man replied readily, his calm demeanor frustrating Arthur.
"I don't want to see you speak to the Lady again. There is no sense in bringing up that name." He told him, oblivious to the look that Elaine sent him. "What's your business here?" Prince Arthur asked the man, his hand going to the hilt of his sword and his chest subtlely puffing out as his princely persona made an appearance.
"My name is Edwin Muirden." Edwin said, bowing his head to the Prince. "And I have a remedy to cure all ills."
"Is that so?" Prince Arthur replied, his disbelief obvious in his tone and expression. His eyes scouring the man from head to toe.
"I beg an audience with the king." The man said, although his attitude did not seem to be begging in any shape or form.
"Our court has a physician." Prince Arthur took hold of Elaine's arm, taking her with him as he walked away from the cloaked man.
"I hear the Lady Morgana is gravely ill." Edwin called out as a last resort, Prince Arthur spinning around at the mention of Morgana, his eyes flickering with anger.
Prince Arthur let go of Elaine, his hand going back to the hilt of his sword. "That is no concern of yours."
Elaine placed her hand on Arthur's arm, placating him to calm himself. Her blue eyes pleading with the Prince, not wanting any harm to come to the stranger.
"I may be able to help her."
Prince Arthur looked at Elaine, light blue eyes meeting dark blue. "Our physician has the matter at hand." He told Edwin, but Elaine could see the doubt in his eyes.
Edwin bowed his head, understanding that the matter was finished. "I'll be at the inn." He told them, looking at Elaine pointedly. His gaze moved to the prince, "In case you change your mind."
Elaine set a book down on a shelf, adjusting the other books in her arms to keep them from falling. She and her grandfather were currently restocking the shelves after many of the books had been left on the tables that filled the spaces between the cases.
"Gaius?" She heard her grandfather say, turning her head to see the aforementioned man enter the library.
"Geoffrey," He replied their hands clasping it each others' in greeting. His eyes met Elaine's, a smile coming on to his wrinkled face. "Elaine."
"Hello," She replied hurriedly before continuing with her work. The books would not restock themselves, not normally anyway.
"I'm here to ask a favor." Gaius told Geoffrey, his face turning serious when Elaine turned her back on them.
"Anything for an old friend." Geoffrey said too readily.
"I wish to see the court records from the time of the Great Purge." Gaius said quickly, his words gaining emphasis as he spoke.
Elaine winced, accidently dropping one the scrolls she had been holding. She smiled sheepishly at her grandfather, Gaius and Geoffrey looking at her with the same raised eyebrow look. "Sorry," She said, carefully picking the scroll off the ground and placing it in it's correct spot.
"What possible need can you have for those?' Geoffrey asked him, pulling Gaius away from the alcove that Elaine was at.
"I fear the the past may have come back to haunt us." Gaius replied vaguely, understanding Geoffrey's concern on Elaine listening to them.
"All the more reason to keep the records hidden."
"I know that neither of us want to remember that time," He glanced at Elaine, Geoffrey doing the same with a pained expression. "But this is a matter of great urgency."
"The records are sealed." Geoffrey said with empathy, as if there was nothing he could do. "They cannot be opened. Uther has forbidden it."
"Geoffrey, I beg of you-" He pleaded.
"I'm sorry, Gaius. This time you ask too much, even for me." Elaine watched as her grandfather stepped away from Gaius, continuing his work with the scrolls.
"Very well," Gaius said, his voice tightened with disappointment. "Elaine, goodbye."
"Bye, Gaius." She said quietly, watching him leave the library, his shoulders slumped. Geoffrey refusing to look at Gaius as he left, not even saying goodbye. As soon as the doors closed, Elaine turned to Geoffrey. "Grandfather-"
"I don't want to hear a word out of you, Elaine." He interrupted her, dismissing Elaine's concerns on the matter.
"Fine," She slammed the books she had been holding onto a table. "You want to be a grump to your one friend and granddaughter? So be it. But you'll be doing this work by yourself then." Geoffrey didn't reply, not looking at his granddaughter either as she stormed out of the library.
Soft steps padded down the stone corridor and up steps that led to the Physician's room, a large book covered by a purple cloth tucked under the figure's arm. She rapped on to the door, and a voice called for her to enter.
Elaine did so, striding over to Gaius, a defiant look in her eyes. "Gaius." She said as a form of greeting, garnering his attention.
"Elaine, what are you doing here?" He asked, a bemused expression on his face. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, and this is me trying to help in the way that I can." She told him, "You have been a good friend to my grandfather. And have done him many kindness. Which is why I won't let your favor go unanswered."
"The records." He said, recognition replacing his confusion. "Elaine, you shouldn't be involved with this."
Elaine chuckled bitterly, getting tired of people dismissing her, especially when the people were men. "Gaius, I know you wouldn't have asked him if it was not important. So if you're so desperate for his help, why deny mine?"
Gaius frowned as his eyebrow raised in that familiar way, he didn't reply giving Elaine the permission she needed to continue. She removed the cloth from the book and placed it in front of Gaius, "Here." She said, clutching the cloth in her hands. "This is what you wanted."
"Yes, thank you." Gaius told her, reaching for the book. "I'll return it to you when I'm done."
Elaine placed her hand on the book before he could touch it, "No." She said firmly, his eyes meeting hers confused. "I'm risking a lot for you here. I need to make sure that what I'm doing won't be in vain."
"Elaine, I can promise you-"
"No," She sat down across from Gaius, her hand still on the book. "Not good enough. I'm staying here with the book until you find whatever it is you're looking for. Then I'll take the book, and no one will be the wiser." She paused, "Deal?"
Gaius stared at Elaine, "Fine, no one the wiser." He repeated and Elaine removed her hand from the book, allowing him to cut the ribbon that kept it close.
"Elaine," Gaius called shaking the girl next to him. "Wake up. Dawn is here."
A soft snore left her lips, as she blearily opened her eyes. "Hmm? What?" She asked confused, rubbing her eyes.
Gaius smiled, "It's morning, Merlin will be awake any minute now."
"Oh yeah, Merlin." She said matching his smile as she stretched her arms, her face red from where it had been lying against the table. "Did you find it then?" She asked him, a yawn stretching across her words.
"Yes," He replied, closing the book and sliding it towards her.
Elaine smiled and picked it up, casually laying the cloth across it's front to hide the cut ribbon."I better go put it back then. Geoffrey can't know about this." She stood up, holding the book close to her body."Gaius, what was it?"She asked, her curiosity once again getting the best of her. She had been waiting for him to openly tell her without prompting, but that obviously didn't work.
"The man that healed Morgana-"
"Edwin."
"Yes, he is not who he says he is."
"What do you mean? Is he dangerous?"
"Not anymore." Gaius told her resolutely, causing a smile to come to Elaine's lips.
"You are going to take care of him?" She asked, the thought of Gaius strong arming a man gave her much entertainment.
"I will." Gaius said, a smile not so different than Elaine's coming to his face.
Elaine nodded and stepped away from the table, but his hand grabbed on to her wrist before she could take another step. She looked at his hand in confusion then at Gaius himself.
"Elaine, your parents are in there." Gaius said sadly, his smile gone instead his face was one of pity for the young orphan.
Elaine slipped her wrist out of his grasp, her chest tightening from pain. "I know." She said quietly, her eyes going to the floor.
"They were good people." Gaius told her, his voice soft and kind. "You should know that."
Elaine looked back at Gaius, surprising him with the hidden fire that was in her eyes. "I do. I also know that they were fools to trust a coward. Fools to try to help-" Her voice cracked, and she looked away from Gaius, furiously blinking her eyes. As she looked away, she noticed Merlin standing at the doorway to his room. His blue eyes watching her and Gaius, his expression showing that he had heard them.
Elaine looked at Gaius, "I won't make their mistakes." She told him vehemently, and strode out of the room. Leaving Gaius to stare at her back, the sympathetic expression gone from his face.
Elaine laughed picking up an apple from one of the stalls and tossing it to Gwen, she easily caught it and placed it in the basket that was on her arm. "That really happened?" She asked Gwen, laughing at the ridiculousness of her tale.
'Yes," She repled, selecting another apple from the stall. Making sure that wasn't too soft in her hands. "So there I was —Grace on the other side of the room with her foot caught in the pot and —and Margaret is just laying on the ground— face first, skirt over her head —when Audrey walks in, her face-" Gwen broke into a fit of giggles. "Oh, Elaine. You should have been there."
Elaine smiled, moving on to the next vendor in the market. "I wish I was. Seems like all the fun happens in the kitchens." She said teasingly.
Gwen nodded, her smile fading when she noticed the man with a horse walking towards them. "Gaius?" She called out confused, Elaine looking in the same direction.
"You're leaving?" Elaine asked as the three of them met halfway.
"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't come to say goodbye." He told them, his eyes went to Elaine's. "It's good though, I should tell you that I was wrong earlier. I'm sorry that you had risked yourself like that in vain."
Elaine's face lost all expression, her head tilting back at his words. An all too familiar pain clutching at her chest.
"Gaius, that's not true. Elaine told me about that." Gwen said, stepping forward in front of Elaine. "I believe it, I don't trust Edwin. There was no blood in Morgana's ear, he put it there. He did something to her, I know he did."
"Gwen." Elaine interrupted with her eyes clenched shut as she shook her head. "Gaius has clearly made up his mind." She looked at Gaius coldly, "Let him leave."
"No," Gwen told Elaine, shocked by the bitterness in her tone. "Gaius can do something about this, it's why I'm telling him."
"He can't." Elaine interjected, before Gaius could say something along the same lines.
Gwen looked at Gaius desperately, "But you think the same, don't you? He's evil."
"It's not that simple." Gaius told Gwen, his reply causing Elaine to chuckle bitterly and shake her head.
"So you're going to turn your back on us?" Gwen asked, her hand grasping onto Elaine's.
"I have no choice. I'm sorry." He told them, his eyes barely being able to meet theirs.
"In life you always have a choice." Gwen told him, her wisdom causing Elaine's bitter smile to turn more genuine. "Sometimes it's easier to think that you don't."
"Well then, my choice is to leave."
"Then I'll miss you." Gwen said, handing her basket to Elaine so that Gwen could hug Gaius easily. She kissed his cheek quickly and stepped back next to Elaine. "Goodbye Gaius." She said, not bothering to hide her clear disappointment. Elaine grasped onto Gwen's hand, pulling her as they continued through the market.
"I, my family, and my kingdom, are deeply indebted to you." King Uther spoke, a proud smile on his face. "and in honor of this, I not only reinstate you as Court Physician, but henceforth, you are a freeman of Camelot." He said, his voice echoing across the throne room.
Gaius bowed to King Uther accepting the scroll that Uther granted to him as everyone began clapping, the most loudest being Merlin. Elaine leaned over Gwen, whispering into her ear. "That's because of you. If not for your words of wisdom, who knows if Gaius would have returned, let alone in time."
Gwen smiled, a blush spreading across her face in embarrassment. A terrible habit that was born from her self-doubt because Gwen deserved to be complemented, and to be complimented often. Yet, Gwen didn't truly believe this and Elaine made it her duty to continuously remind her. "You don't have much faith in people." Gwen replied, purposefully taking herself out of the spotlight.
"And you have too much." Elaine teased, linking her arm with Gwen's. "Besides, I have enough faith in you and that's good enough for me." Her bright eyes souring once Gwen had looked away from her.
"You killed him." Elaine called out from where she was lounging in Gaius's chair, her feet propped up onto his desk. It was later in the evening in Gaius had finally returned to his chambers, planning to retire for the night.
The old man was startled by her, jumping when her strong voice spoke from the darkness of the room. "Elaine? What are you doing here?" His confusion outweighing any thoughts about her statement.
"You killed him, Gaius." Elaine repeated, ignoring his question as she stared at the elderly man. The candles casting golden light across the room, yet the corner where she was at seemed suspiciously devoid of any light.
"Elaine-" Gaius drew out her name tiredly, rubbing his hand against his cheek.
"Do you deny it?" She asked, her stiff movements as she stood showed that she was not to be trifled with.
"You asked me to take care of it." Gaius replied, deflecting from her harsh accusation. "What did you think that was going to entail?"
"I didn't think it would be murder!" Elaine shouted, regretting her outburst as soon as it was out. She rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath, "He- I spoke with him. He knew my parents. He was one of the ones they helped escape Uther. He wanted justice-"
"There is a difference between justice and revenge, Elaine. You should know that."
Elaine smiled coldly, her heart clenching with pain. "I do, and I chose not to go down that road. Because I know it would only lead to self-destruction." Her eyes focused on something behind Gaius, they seemed to be seeing something that was hidden to his eyes. "Sometimes, I wonder if it would be worth it. To get my revenge "
For once, Gaius saw the power behind her young face: the power that was in her fire. And he recognised it for what it was and where it came from. "I thought you weren't going to make your parent's mistakes." Gaius said sternly, progressing across the room towards her.
"I won't." Elaine replied, walking around the table in order to keep it between her and Gaius. "Doesn't mean that I'm going to agree with murder."
Gaius was taken aback, his movements still as he stared at the young girl. "Elaine." He warned, "The man attempted to kill Uther. Your king. He was trying to kill me, if not us then Uther would have had his head."
Elaine smiled bitterly, continuing around the table towards Gaius. "Uther would have been dead if you hadn't stopped Edwin." Would it really have been so bad if he succeeded?
Gaius stepped away from Elaine, "Edwin was the murderer." He reminded Elaine, his eyes hard in the low light.
"The only murderer I know to be is the one with the crown."
"Elaine, enough." Gaius commanded, his voice thundering in the otherwise calm room. "You shouldn't talk like that. I understand, your parents were-"
"Good people?" Elaine finished, repeating his words from the day before. A silent threat in her eyes, as she moved towards Gaius. "Is that what you were going to say?"
Gaius pursed his lips, staring at the girl with pity instead of uncertainty. "They were, but they also broke the law."
Elaine laughed, her eyes twinkling with resentment. "And you don't?" She asked him, elaborating when he didn't realize what she was implying. "Everyday? With Merlin?"
"We help people, Elaine. I don't think you would understand that." Gaius replied quietly, his movements tense as he strode away from her.
"Wouldn't understand?" She yelled, anger bubbling inside her. She slammed her hand onto the table, knocking stacks of papers off of it. "Remind me Gaius, what were my parents doing when Uther had them killed?" She asked, her voice going dangerously low.
Gaius frowned at Elaine, looking at the papers then back at her. "They were practicing-"
"Don't lie to me."
"Elaine, what are you-"
"I know the truth Gaius about their deaths." Elaine told him, smiling when she saw the understanding flicker in his eyes. "They have the same justification as you do. Except for one thing… what was that one thing?"
"They had no magic." Gaius said quietly, his eyes beseeching the girl to stop.
"No," She said to herself, her smile fading: her whole attitude fading at the memory. "They didn't. Their only crime was smuggling innocents away from Uther."
Gaius reached towards the girl, seeing the pain that replaced the anger. "Elaine-"
"No," She winced from his touch. "I- He is bad, Gaius." She said, her watery eyes pleading with him. "He killed them. Yet… You are his friend?"
Gaius reached for her again, and again, he was rebuked. "Elaine, please."
"How?" She asked, her voice hushed from unshed tears. "How can you be friends with such a cruel man?"
"He is not-"
"But he is!" Elaine interrupted him, not allowing Gaius to justify himself or Uther. "He killed his own family."
Gaius reached for her again, this time Elaine allowed him to pull her into an embrace. His arms wrapping around her shoulders as she pressed her face against his chest.
"I don't understand. They were good people." She whispered, her hollow eyes filled with anguish. "How could he kill his own nephew?"
Okay, coffee is starting to wear off so hopefully this will be less rambling then at the top. There are quite a few like hints and foreshadowing in here and that's because I'm one of those nerds that like to have my mind blown when authors make everything tie together so that's what I'm trying to do. But I'm not trying to discourage you from asking questions about the story. Like hit me with anything that comes to your mind, I might just answer it. Because I do in fact know what I'm doing with this story(not with life though, you're on your own with that) and have a plot overview from here to like season five{I even have like written some future scene with Percival like maybe their first kiss?! It is great, like I did some research on famous kisses for it. I'm weird, I doubt anyone else has done this for their writing. Whatever} Dang, I guess I am rambling right now... Oh well. Anyways, I think the point was to ask questions... Yeah, that's it. ASK QUESTIONS! And another thing, I am in love with you guys right now. Like 48 Followers and 41 Favorites! I feel like I won an Oscar{I would like to thank my mom and the academy, etc.}. Seriously, like thank you guys SOOO much. I am literally(use "literally" a lot in my talking, #whitegirl #calforniagirl #Starbucks) overwhelmed with happiness! And I doubt you guys know this, but I have gone to each of your profiles and have pretty much stalked you, I know its extremely creepy but I want to know about you guys and why you like my story. This is weird for me, like why do you like my story? Is it Elaine? Is it my writing? Do you just read anything? Like tell me, I need to know... Badly. Not joking, go review right now and tell me! If you want to. No pressure or anything.
Now to my reviews:
BadSmiles→ Thank you for reviewing and I'm sorry Im just now realizing that you did. I feel terrible, jk I kind of don't because your review made me really happy. Because like I love it too! Lol, yeah, that's all I got to say that I haven't mentioned above.
julieakaweirdo→ Thanks for reviewing! You seem really cool, l went to your profile because your username is amazeballs. And now I have a bunch of questions too! You're from Denmark, that's really cool considering I'm from California and I have pretty much no knowledge of Denmark except that it's like above Germany and by Norway, lol sorry for my lack of info. This is just crazy for me. Anywhooo— your questions. I know I mentioned above that I might answer your questions... This is not one of those cases, sorry not sorry. The question on whether Elaine has magic or not is going to be answered in two chapters, or the episode with Mordred if that's a better sense of time. The question on how she knows Nimueh has been very vaguely answered, it's really like something you have to read between the lines to answer. Obviously, lol, you have not found it. Don't feel bad it is really vague and if I wasn't the writer, I wouldn't have gotten it either. Um... But it will be answered three chapters away... The episode with Excalibur, I believe. Now, hit me with your other questions! I can take it and I might give you better answers than I have just given you.