Chapter 6:
Elaine strode down the hall of the castle, passing under one of the vaulted arches with her face set in confusion. That morning she had planned to spend with Morgana, they had planned on having a lesson together on the art style of Hellenistic Greek and how Polykleitos influenced the period with his Doryphorus. Morgana was very interested in Greek art during that time and Elaine was the only other person in the whole castle that seemed to have any knowledge of it. Although, Elaine's knowledge was limited to the dusty books in the library and "Old Man Jenkins" that hangs out at The Sunrise Inn and claims to be a descendant of Alexander the Great. Because that's likely.
"Merlin!" Elaine called, seeing the dark haired servant walking down the corridor in front of her. His movements stiff from spending the morning hunting with Arthur. He paused and turned around, his goofy grin coming to his face when he saw his friend. "What are doing back so soon? I figured Arthur would have had you chasing around animals 'till dusk."
"He would have if we hadn't run into bandits trying to rob this family." Merlin replied, coming alongside Elaine as the continued down the corridor.
"Bet that was interesting." Elaine replied, her eyebrows arching at the news."Get in any good hits, Merlin?"
"A few." Merlin said proudly, his chest puffing out arrogantly.
Yet the arrogance was incredibly cute because he wasn't putting on airs or acting very cocky like the prince does, instead he seems genuinely happy that he helped someone and kept them from getting hurt. Wait- did I just use "incredibly cute" to describe Merlin? I need to get a head examination from Gaius. Elaine shook her head, discarding her thoughts and hoping that they wouldn't come back. "That's nice." She said, smiling in an almost patronizing way. "Have you seen Morgana?"
Merlin's chest slightly deflated at Elaine's dismissive reply to his prowess, and he looked around as if he was making sure that he hasn't in fact seen her. "No, why are you looking for her?"
"We were supposed to get together earlier, but she never showed. I was just on my way to her rooms when I ran into you." Elaine explained, stopping in her stride and waving her hand down the corridor, gesturing in the direction of Morgana's rooms.
"Are you worried about her?"
"No," Elaine said quickly. "I'm sure she's fine. Probably just forgot about it."
"Okay, well if I see her. I'll let her know that you were looking for her." Merlin told Elaine, and nodded in the opposite direction of Elaine's gesturing. "That family that Arthur and I saved earlier are going to be staying here at the castle for a few days and I've been put in charge of seeing them to their rooms so I should get going."
"Really?" Elaine asked surprised, commoners aren't usually allowed room at the castle. Uther usually had them shown to the closests inn, where they would never be heard from again.
"Yes, they are nobility from Tirmawr." Merlin explained, understanding her confusion. "The father is heir apparent too."
"Oh, that makes more sense then." Elaine said, smiling in understanding. "How many are there?"
"Just the father and his daughter," Merlin said, and gestured to the blanket had been holding in his hands. "I was just about to show the daughter to her rooms, if you came I could introduce you."
"Well..." Elaine turned her head, looking in the direction of where Morgana's rooms are. I'm sure she's fine, and we can talk about the Doryphorus some other time. She looked back at Merlin, making up her mind. "Alright, that sounds good."
Merlin nodded, a smile coming back on his face as he led the way to where the girl was waiting outside of the atrium. Elaine was struck by how pretty the girl truly was, with porcelain skin and captivating grey eyes that calmly held Elaine's gaze. She smiled sweetly at Merlin when he walked over to her.
"Lady Sophia, this is Lady Elaine." Merlin said, gesturing between the two of them. "She lives here as part of King Uther's court."
"Oh," Sophia said, smiling kindly at Elaine and holding her hand out to Elaine. "Pleased to meet you, Elaine."
Elaine shared the smile as they shook hands, when Sophia looked back at Merlin, Elaine's gaze took in Sophia. Curiosity burning at meeting the pretty stranger and wondering what she was doing in Camelot.
"Your room is this way." Merlin said, and led her down a corridor towards the east wing of the castle. Elaine and Sophia following a step behind him, walking alongside of each other.
"How long will you be staying here?" Elaine asked, feigning polite conversation to hide her honest curiosity.
"Not long, only a few days." She replied, then glanced away with an oddly serene smile smile coming to her face. "But you never know, plans sometimes change."
Elaine kept her face from showing her confusion, thinking that there was more to what she was saying. "Only if you let them." Elaine replied, making her voice just as sweet as Sophia's. "I'm sure that you and your father have more important things to do than staying in Camelot. It's so… boring here." Elaine shot a glare at Merlin when she heard him scoff. "Except for Merlin. He always manages to get himself in trouble. "
Merlin turned his head, smiling cheekily at Elaine. "The same could be said with you."
"That's because I'm dragged into trouble by you."
"No, you walk willingly towards trouble."
"Mmm… no." Elaine said, her voice snarky as she gave Merlin a look to shut his mouth. A kind of look that a sister would very grumpily give her brother.
"Mmm… yes." Merlin replied, mocking her tone and giving her a look that very clearly said 'make me'.
They both looked at Sophia when they heard her soft laugh, "You two are so funny." She told them, yet her smile did not reach her eyes. "Do you always act so oddly?"
Oddly? Elaine thought, not sure if she should be offended or not. She didn't even think that they had been acting in an odd way.
Merlin had the same expression on his face, but he quickly regained his composure. "Your room is here." He said hurriedly and opened a door that connected to the hall.
Elaine frowned and looked at the door next to it. Isn't that Arthur's room over there? She glanced at Merlin, then at the girl then back at the door then at the girl. Oooh… Elaine coming to the conclusion as to why her room was next to Arthur's, her face grimacing.
Sophia smiled and took the bundle from Merlin, "Thank you, Merlin."
"If you need anything, just send for me. Or Arthur's room is just at the end of the hall." He said, and grinned at the door that led to Arthur's room.
Sophia thanked him again, "Goodbye Merlin. Lady Elaine, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope we see each other again during my stay."
"Likewise." Elaine replied, smiling through her lie. The thought of her and Arthur was not going to be going away anytime soon.
"Who is that?" Morgana asked the two of them, appearing by their side as soon as Sophia had closed the door to her room. Elaine frowned, noticing that Morgana seemed upset by something.
"Uhh- Sophia Tirmawr." Merlin fumbled, "We rescued her in the woods. Well, Arthur did most of the rescuing."
Elaine smiled and punched Merlin's arm playfully, "Merlin got in a few hits too."
He grinned at Elaine, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "I wouldn't say a few."
"You did ear-"
"She can't stay here." Morgana interrupted, mellowing the two of them with her serious tone. Her panicked eyes showed how on edge she was; Morgana had been steadily progressing in her edginess these last few months.
"The King said she and her father were welcome in Camelot." Merlin replied, confused by Morgana's behavior. He gently touched Morgana's arm in an effort to get her to look away from the door that Sophia had vanished behind. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Thank you." Morgana told Merlin, putting on a fake smile to ease his concerns. Elena wasn't as easily convinced as Merlin was. She followed after Morgana when she walked away, catching up to her when they had left Merlin behind.
"Morgana what's wrong, truly?" Elaine asked her, linking her arm with hers so that Morgana had no choice, but to acknowledge her. "Is this about this morning?"
"This morning?" Morgana repeated wincing, distressed by whatever had happened to her that morning.
"We were supposed to have breakfast together… This morning." Elaine elaborated, her brow furrowing by Morgana's behavior. Something was clearly upsetting her.
"Oh- right!" Morgana said, plastering another smile on her face. "I forgot about that." She apologised. "Must have slipped my mind."
"Right." Elaine said unconvinced, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm completely fine, really." Morgana continued to smile, her eyes not getting the memo that she was "completely fine" as they implied anything but that.
"Uh huh," Elaine said and gestured in the direction Morgana had been walking in. "Is that why you were heading towards Gaius's room?"
Morgana stepped away from Elaine, her chin jutting with determination. "Elaine-"
"I wouldn't try lying to me again." Elaine said, her lips pursed and eyebrow raised, "You're not very good at it." Probably took lessons from Merlin.
"Actually I was going to tell you that it's none of your business." Morgana said scathingly, "I don't pry into your personal affairs, I would thank you if you could do the same." She turned on her heel, flicking her hair over her shoulder and striding away from Elaine.
Elaine grimaced from being scorned by Morgana, they had never been particularly close, but she had always believed that they did care about the other. Never had Morgana treated her with such animosity. In spite of Morgana's words, Elaine had a nagging suspicion that whatever was upsetting Morgana was her business.
The next day, Elaine was walking down one of the halls after delivering a book to one of Uther's councilors. She paused in her steps when she saw Morgana almost colliding with Sophia at the top of a staircase.
"Sorry," Sophia apologised pleasantly, and although Elaine couldn't see her face, she knew that she had her sickly sweet smile on. "Lady Morgana, isn't it? I'm Sophia."
"What're you doing here?" Morgana asked sharply, her eyes cold as she gazed at the girl.
"My father and I are guests of the king." Sophia said, not fazed by Morgana's rudeness and continuing with her own facade.
"You're lying." Morgana said, and Elaine's eyebrows rose in shock. "I know what you're going to do to him and I won't let it happen." She spoke very coolly.
"Does Arthur know that you feel this way about him?" Sophia asked and Elaine bounded up the steps, picking up her skirt to quicken her pace.
"Okay," Elaine interrupted, taking hold of Morgana's arm. Hiding her grimace when she saw the expressions of the two girls, and plastering a smile on to her own face. "Ladies. I think we can all agree to disagree and walk away as unlikely friends." Elaine continued when she saw that her words didn't have the affect she was hoping for. "Or allies… acquaintances… associates… Something else that starts with an 'a'?"
"No, Elaine." Morgana said, glaring at her and shaking off her hand. She looked at Sophia, "I want to hear what else she has to say."
Sophia continued to smile, and tilted her head to side, lo0king at Morgana with pity. "Of course he does. I suspect he has already turned you down."
"Well, that wasn't called for, but-" Elaine pursed her lips, stamping down her anger flaring inside of her. Trying to keep things civil, despite the pleasant thought of Morgana punching the daylights out of Sophia's stupid face and ridiculous smile.
"Don't think you can fool out of me." Morgana told Sophia, not backing down and ignoring Elaine entirely.
"I don't have to," Sophia replied bitingly, stepping forwards, her eyes going cruel with her smile disappearing. "You're managing to do that well enough already."
"Okay!" Elaine stepped between them, her hand going in front of Morgana to stop her from doing anything stupid. "I think you should leave." She told Sophia, nodding down the hall.
"Stay away from him!" Morgana said, trying to get around Elaine, getting blocked each time. Elaine had move her other hand up when Sophia took another step towards them.
"Or what?" Sophia asked, smiling at Morgana in a condescending way. Showing her obvious disbelief that Morgana could threaten her and later carry it out. "Jealousy's such an unattractive trait in a woman."
"If anything happens to Arthur, I'll find you." Morgana said, surprising Elaine by her tone. Wrathful was never a trait that Elaine would describe her as. "However long it takes." Morgana strode away, having made her point clearly.
Elaine looked at Sophia, surprised by the genuine faint smile on her face. "That is my cue to leave. It was pleasant seeing you again, maybe we can- Ah bugger. Morgana just burned the bridge on this. Practically obliterated it." Elaine rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Goodbye, we probably should avoid each other from now on." She told Sophia; after a brief awkward pause, where Sophia didn't reply just continued to silently judge her and Morgana, Elaine walked away. Following in the direction Morgana had left in.
"Morgana!" She called angrily, catching up to her dark haired friend. "What was that about? I doubt it was you being jealous of that girl. You're way better than her."
Morgana's glare slightly softened, Elaine's words flattering her. "I'm not jealous." She said, stopping as Elaine came alongside of her.
"Then tell me what was that about!" Elaine repeated, completely astounded by her. Morgana never acted like this, she was always the one that would keep her decorum around those she didn't like. On more than one occasion, it was Morgana that would have to talk Elaine down from doing stupid at social gatherings.
Morgana sighed, "Gaius said-"
"Gaius said? You have talked to Gaius about this?" Elaine interrupted, more questions forming in her mind.
"Yes," Morgana said, her lips pursing as she thought whether or not she should tell Elaine. "I had a dream… about her. She killed Arthur." She said, her distress obvious in her tight expression.
"Morgana-" Elaine stepped towards her, debating whether she should hug her or something, comforting someone in distress was not her strong suit. "I'm sure it was just a nightmare. It wasn't real."
"No, you don't understand. Nobody understands." Morgana said, shaking her head. "I had this dream before she came to Camelot. It was so real— so vivid."
"Oh." Elaine said her brows furrowed when she realized what Morgana was saying. "Oh! Morgana, have you told Uther about this?" She asked, her concern for Morgana.
"No, Gaius said to not to. He wouldn't believe me anyways." Morgana answered, her lips pursed from confusion. "Do you believe me?"
Elaine looked away, "I do believe that you believe it." She said, choosing her words carefully and feigning that she didn't believe as strongly as she did. "What are we going to do about it?"
"I haven't really-" Morgana paused. "Arthur. I'm going to talk to Arthur." She said, her chin lifting with her stubborn determination.
"Alright. Should I come with you?" Elaine asked her; admiring Morgana's stubbornness, although she usually found it incredibly exasperating.
"No, I can handle him."
"Alright, come to me if you need any help." Elaine told her, turning her back to walk in the opposite direction.
"Thank you." Morgana said, before Elaine could walk away causing the blonde head to turn.
"I haven't done anything." Elaine reminded her with a faint smile.
"You have." Morgana said, returning her smile. "You're not treating me like I'm crazy. Or looking at me like I'm something to be pitied."
"You're not crazy, Morgana." Elaine told her, dispelling any of Morgana's doubts. "And you're definitely not someone I would ever pity."
"I requested this audience, father, to discuss a matter of great importance." Prince Arthur spoke, rubbing his thumb against his palm revealing his nervousness despite his strong voice.
Elaine was surprised when she had received this summoning and even more she found out it was from Arthur. She was currently standing amidst the nobles and frowned when she saw Merlin quietly enter, he looked just as confused by what Arthur was doing as Elaine. She made her way over to him as Arthur continued speaking. "It cannot have escaped your attention that I and Lady Sophia Tirmawr have grown very close."
"Merlin, what's going on?" Elaine whispered angrily to him, grabbing on to his arm. "I thought Gaius was going to have you take care of this."
"I- you know about that?" Merlin asked her confused, his voice hushed like hers.
"Not too close, I hope." King Uther said, his smile not concealing his obvious disapproval at the thought.
"We're in love." Arthur said bravely. Immediately everyone's heads turned, when they heard a short 'ha' echo in the room, looking at the blonde in the back of the room. Prince Arthur's expression particularly angry when he turned to look at Elaine.
"Sorry," She apologized, using her hand to cover her mouth to hide her smile. "Merlin, told me a joke." She nudged the wide-eyed man next to her, "Naughty Merlin, can't you see I'm trying to pay attention." Elaine smiled sweetly at Morgana when she saw her friend's worry, hoping to comfort her.
"Which is why," Arthur turned away from Elaine, his voice strong as to bring the attention back to him. "I come before you today to ask for your permission to marry."
Another laugh echoed in the room, this time coming from the king. "I assume you're joking." King Uther said, leaning back in his chair, a large grin on his face.
"No," Prince Arthur replied, his tone showing that he was offended by his father. "I'm going to marry her."
"But you only met two days ago!" King Uther replied, patronizing his son.
"We're in love." Arthur repeated, more forcefully this time.
"In love?" King Uther repeated mockingly. "We had no idea you were such a romantic. Had we, Morgana?"
"No," Morgana said, looking at Arthur calmly. "He's full of surprises."
"I'm going to marry her." Prince Arthur told them, his voice growing hard at getting rebuked by them. "I don't care what either of you think about it."
"I thought you'd come to ask for my permission."
"Out of courtesy, nothing more." Prince Arthur said, turning and taking Sophia's hand to lead her out.
"Guards, door." King Uther ordered, not seeming fazed by this whole ordeal. The guards' spears blocked Arthur's path out of the chamber and Arthur faced his father angrily. King Uther stood up from his throne, his hands going to his hips, everyone's breath held waiting for what was to come. "Have you forgotten whose court you're standing in?"
"You won't stop me. If I want to marry her, I will."
"Arrest Sophia and Aulfric Tirmawr." Uther ordered the guards and they quickly followed his commands.
"What're you doing?" Prince Arthur demanded striding towards his father.
"And inform the executioner that his services will be required tomorrow morning."
"You can't do this!"
"Yes, I can." King Uther told his son, the two of them practically in each other's faces. "And unless you show me some respect, I will!" He threatened, his voice growing deathly hushed at the end.
Slowly, Arthur bowed his head, submitting to his father's will as he understood that there was no other way to protect his "love".
"Release them." King Uther commanded, and the guards stepped away from the Tirmawrs'. "You got your whole life ahead of you." King Uther said to his son, "Sophia is no doubt your first love, but she certainly won't be your only one. Enjoy yourself while you can." Turning his back to Arthur and dismissing the court.
Prince Arthur bowed his head to his king when he sat on his throne, and left the room taking Sophia with him. Elaine looked at Merlin, frowning at his surprised face. "What are you waiting for?" She asked him frustrated, "Go after him!"
"Why do I have to? He won't listen to me."
"Well, everyone who he would listen to has already tried."
"Have you?"
"Go now!" Elaine said, shoving him after Arthur. Merlin hesitated as she didn't actually answer his question, but seeing her hard face made him quickly follow her order.
Elaine entered Gaius's room, softly closing the door behind her. "Gaius?" She called, prompting him to walk out from behind a screen. "There you are. Where's Merlin?" She asked him, striding over to him and frowning at his puzzled expression.
"I haven't seen him since this morning. I thought he was with you trying to help Arthur." Gaius explained, placing jars on a shelf.
"No, I sent him to go talk to Arthur this morning." Elaine explained, Gaius pausing from his work and looking at the girl. They shared the same confused expression.
"Then where is he?" Gaius asked, neither him nor Elaine had the answer to.
"He's gone." Morgana yelled, rushing into the room. Her every move stricken with worry as she came to Elaine's side. "Arthur's gone. She's taken him."
"Slow down." Gaius told Morgana, holding his hand up to stop her from speaking any faster than she already had.
Calming her breathing to a normal pace, Morgana continued, "I know you don't believe me, but Elaine does." Morgana said, grabbing on to Gaius's arms. Gaius looked at Elaine with a disapproving frown, Elaine smiled sheepishly back at him. "I'm so sure it's going to happen, my dream is going to come true."
"Morgana breathe." Elaine said, hoping to calm her friend from her hysterics. Her face astounded by the way Morgana was acting. "Gaius believes you too." She told her, getting another disapproving look from Gaius.
"I have to tell Uther." Morgana said, turning away from Gaius, back towards the door.
"You can't." Gaius said, keeping his hold on her to prevent her from running off.
"I have to do something." Morgana argued, "If I don't, then Arthur will die."
"You can't tell Uther about your dream," Gaius told her, Elaine nodding sympathetically when Morgana looked at her. "If Uther thinks you've got the seers' powers, he will charge you with witchcraft."
"I don't have a choice. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to him." Morgana said, shaking her head and pulling away to get Gaius to let go of her.
"Wait. We've known each other for a long time, you trust me, don't you?" Gaius asked her, his tone gentle and soft.
"Yes, you know I do."
"Then trust me now. Stay here with me and don't breathe a word of this to anyone about this." Gaius told her, pulling her towards a chair.
"But, Arthur-"
"I'll take care of it." Gaius said, shushing her then turning his head to look at Elaine. "Find Merlin, he'll know what to do."
"Merlin?" Morgana repeated, shocked by this. Thinking that Merlin wasn't the answer to this situation.
Elaine nodded, and rushed out of the room, leaving Gaius and Morgana to watch her leave. Elaine grasped her skirts as she ran down the halls, hoping that Merlin was at the first place she looked. She pushed open the doors to Arthur's room, ignoring them as they banged against the stone wall.
Merlin was lying in crumpled heap at the foot of one the walls. Elaine rushed to his side, kneeling beside him as she gently touched his shoulder. "Merlin." She said, trying to get him to wake up. When he didn't budge, she pushed his shoulder harder and said more loudly, "Merlin." He stirred a little, but still didn't wake up. Sorry about this. She slapped his face, "Merlin!"
"Huh?" He shook his head, and tried to sit up, Elaine having to help when he failed to do so on his own.
"What happened?" She asked him, confused by his dazed attitude. "Now isn't the time to be taking naps." She said disapprovingly once Merlin had gotten to sit up.
"Aulfric knocked me out." He replied, clutching his head and grimacing. "Where's Arthur? I have to go after them."
"Yeah, we do." Elaine said, correcting him and getting to her feet. She held out her hand to help him to his feet.
"What's that buzzing noise?" Merlin asked offhandedly, his hand reached for hers, but missed it completely.
Elaine frowned and used both of her hands to pull him to his feet. "Merlin, are you sure you're up for this?"
"I have to go." Merlin said, letting go of Elaine's hands as he stumbled towards the door. "And with the three of us, we'll be-" He paused, as if he couldn't think of the word. "Fine."
Elaine frowned, watching him as he stumbled around like a drunkard. "There's only two of us, but okay. Let's go." She said, shaking her head in exasperation.
"Really?" Merlin asked her when she grabbed his arm and led him out of the room. "You don't have a twin?"
"No, Merlin!" She said, having to help him to his feet again when he stumbled down the stairs. "Have I ever had a twin?" She asked him sarcastically.
"Maybe it's an evil twin." Merlin replied, then laughed at his own joke. "Except you'd be the evil one."
"I think I would have left you behind by now if I was the evil one." Elaine replied, rolling her eyes heavenward. By the time they had reached the forest, they had picked up their pace with Merlin regaining his senses. Well he almost gained his senses, he tripped a lot as they ran. And on more than one occasion, Elaine had to stop him from heading in the wrong direction. When that happened, she would grab on to his collar and direct him back on to the right path. Each time he would say, "Just testing" or "I was going to take a short cut".
"Come on, Merlin!" Elaine shouted when she saw him trip again, she could see the lake between the trees. She stopped running when she saw the girl standing in the water with her hand held before her and her father standing by the shore chanting. Where's Arthur?
"Onbregdan." Merlin said, his eyes flashed and the girl's staff came flying towards them. Elaine ducked when it flew over her head, barely missing her, and Merlin caught it. He flipped the staff, the stone now pointing at Aulfric. "Swilte, goldbeorth."
Elaine eyes widened when she saw Aulfric practically explode after getting hit with the blast. Her shock was more directed towards Merlin, having recognised the spell. She was frozen in her place when she saw Merlin point the staff towards Sophia.
"Father! No! No!" Sophia shouted having watched her father be killed, she gasped when Merlin pointed the staff at her. Elaine could see the clear horror and fear in Sophia's eyes from where she stood next to Merlin.
"Acwele!" Merlin shout, aiming another blast at Sophia and destroying her like her father. Her scream getting caught off when the blast hit her. Merlin didn't hesitate, running towards the water and taking off his jacket. "Arthur! Arthur!" He called, running into the water, not bothering to take off his shoes.
Elaine stared at the staff Merlin had used to kill them, Merlin shouting for the prince dislodging her from her thoughts. Elaine stripped away any of her hesitation and ran after Merlin, waiting on the shore line as he disappeared underneath the water.
Elaine sighed in relief when Merlin reappeared with Arthur in his arms, she hurried in the water helping him to get Arthur to the shore with all of his chainmail weighing his body down. Lying him on the sand, Merlin felt for his pulse; he exhaled a shaky breath when he felt the flutter beneath his fingertips.
Elaine smiled, Merlin lying back against the sand alongside Arthur, managing to catch his own breath. "You did it, Merlin." She told him as she gently touched Arthur's cheek. Her immense happiness and relief at seeing her blonde prince returned to her rivaled Merlin's.
Merlin laughed, his breath still shaky, and waved his hand modestly. "You helped too." He told her tiredly, closing his eyes as water ran down his face in rivulets.
"No, Merlin." Elaine looked back at the staff, a hint of doubt crossing her face. "This was all you." He laughed breathily again, thinking that she was complimenting him.
"Elaine!" Prince Arthur yelled, catching her returning from the market, a large parcel in her arms. "Here let me take that for you." He said politely, reaching to take it from her.
Elaine moved her body away from him, keeping his hands away from it. "No, it's okay." She lied, "It's not that heavy, Prince Arthur."
"No, please, it's the least I can do." He said, trying to get it out of her hands.
Elaine spun away from him, "I said no." She said forcefully, regretting it when she saw Arthur flinch from her harshness. "I can handle it." She looked at his feet, turning away from him. Her lips pursed as she walked towards the library, a part of her hoping he would leave her alone.
"Merlin told me what happened." Arthur said, catching up to her and standing in front of her so she couldn't ignore him. " How you guys stopped me from eloping. I need to repay your kindness."
"No, Prince Arthur, you don't." Elaine smiled bitterly at him, "I didn't do it for you." She lied, "I didn't want Camelot to be ashamed when people found that their prince ran off with some girl."
Arthur sighed, "Elaine-"
"It's Lady Elaine to you." Elaine interrupted him snidely, sticking out her chin and straightening her back. Trying to appear powerful despite the large box that was weighing down her arms. "We are nothing without our manners, Prince Arthur. You should take care to remember that."
Arthur's mouth dropped, "That's rich coming from you." He replied, hurt and perplexed by her behavior.
Elaine's eyebrows raised, "Alright then. I think we're finished here." Elaine stepped away from him, and walked towards the library. Her back still straight, chin out, and shoulders back so Arthur couldn't see that she was as hurt as him.
Arthur sighed and grabbed onto her arm, stopping her from walking away, but she quickly shook it off. "Wait, Elaine-"
"It's Lady Elaine." She corrected.
"I'm not going to call you that!" He shouted, his anger getting the best of him. "We're friends, friends don't have to use titles with each other."
"Are we friends?" Elaine asked him, stepping towards him to get her face closer to his. He could see her quiet suffering in her eyes clearly now. "You have barely said two words to me these past few years. After Phillip-" Her voice cracked, and she pursed her lips. Reluctantly, she stepped away from Arthur not meeting his eyes. "We lost him, and you shut me out. You did your thing, while I watched from the sidelines. You want to know why I helped you? It was for him, and for the friendship he shared with you. Nothing else." When Arthur didn't reply, she turned on her heel and left him behind her. Not looking back as she felt her lip quiver.
There are quite a few Merlin and Elaine moments that I had fun writing, I hope you guys liked reading them. Merlin and Elaine relationship is going to be a bumpy one, despite all of the things they have in common. Mainly their issue, and I have hinted at it in this chapter and the last one, will be concerning the killing that Merlin does when trying to protect Arthur. Speaking of Arthur we finally had a scene where it was just him and Elaine, the last being in the prologue. I would like to point out that Elaine is very young compared to the others, she's (six or five years younger than Arthur) fifteen right now. So keep that in mind for the next few chapters. Thanks for reading guys and staying faithful to me and my writing, you guys are the best. If you have any questions, comments, or criticisms go ahead and make them known to me.
To my reviewers:
HPuni101→ Thank you, I thought it was a pretty good chapter too. Sorry if this update wasn't soon enough for you.
julieakaweirdo→ Haha, thank you. I'm glad you think so. I guess we'll have to wait and see about her connection to Nimueh. Not gonna lie to you, it's a good one.