Gaius and Merlin entered their chambers, the younger man carrying a set of armor and sword that belonged to the prince. Elaine stood up from the chair she had been waiting in; once she had heard of the urgent assembly the king was holding and the whispers that were going around, Elaine had hurried to meet the one that would explain what had happened on the recent hunting excursion.
"Merlin!" She yelled, surprising the two as they entered; Merlin fumbling with the load in his arms and almost dropping it entirely.
"My Lady," Gaius scolded, his hand on his chest, as he walked over to where she was standing by his workstation. "Next time you make your presence known, can you do it in a less frightening fashion?"
Elaine's brows knitted together, "What do you mean?"
"He means," Merlin set his load down on his table, a polishing kit prepared next to it. "Don't appear out of thin air from behind shadows like a ghost."
Elaine chuckled, "Fair enough. Next time, I will endeavor to be less discreet with my presence. To prevent any more scares."
"That would be greatly appreciated," Gaius muttered, shifting through a book that he had pulled from a shelf.
Elaine gave Merlin a questioning look, "What happened during the hunt that threw Uther into such a dizzy?"She asked, sidling up to Merlin as he worked on Arthur chainmail.
Merlin paused, "It wasn't what we expected. There was this beast," He cleared his throat and continued. "We tried to get away from it, but it killed Sir Bedivere."
Elaine pursed her lips, "Beast?"
He nodded, "A Questing Beast." He answered, forming it as a question as he looked to Gaius for affirmation.
Elaine's eyes widened, she looked at Gaius, her expression filled with dread. "The Questing Beast?" Her eyes shifted between Merlin and Gaius, "That's not normal. They aren't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill monster." She stated to which Gaius full-heartily agreed with as he strode over to them with his opened book.
Merlin smiled, patronizing their concern, "Don't worry." He told them, having more confidence than them as he leveled Arthur's sword in front of his face, running a polishing rag along its blade.
"No," Gaius lectured and Merlin's head swiveled around to focus on his mentor. "Listen to me," His tone was calm, but still managed to get his warning across. "Uther may not respect the Old Religion, but it is very real."
Elaine shifted away from them, meandering to the other side of the table as her finger collected dust on the table.
"To face a beast such as this you must understand where it came from." Gaius pointed his finger to the page, the illustration depicted the beast as a giant leopard with a cobra's head.
"What do you mean?" Merlin questioned, setting down the sword to peer at the page.
"At the heart of the Old Religion lies the magic of life and death itself. The Questing Beast carries that power. One bite, you die, and there is no cure." Gaius's eyes left Merlin's when his apprentice seemed to understand what was truly at stake here. Instead, the old man's gaze moved to Elaine, she was behaving very nonchalantly as her hands played with a mask of an animal resembling a cat. Leaving Merlin to continue preparing Arthur's armor, the man pulled the girl outside of the chambers.
"Gaius," Elaine voiced her annoyance at being dragged away from the curious object she had been observing. "What're you doing?"
"What aren't you saying?" He interrogated, letting go of her arm as the door closed behind them. "I assume it's because of Merlin that you weren't speaking."
Elaine sighed, "I might have known that this was going to happen." She yielded the information demurely, ducking her head away from his firm gaze.
"Excuse me?" Gaius face hardened, "Why haven't you said anything? Elaine?"
Her face soured and she raised her gaze up beneath her long lashes, "Because it was nonsense. This isn't my fault."
"No?" His lips made a thin line as he eyebrow raised, "Was it a vision? Have you been experiencing a seer's powers?"
Elaine rolled her eyes, "Of course not, why does everyone jump to that conclusion?"
"Everyone?"
"You and Merlin."
Gaius frowned in distaste, "If not a vision, then how?"
Elaine kept herself from making a face, knowing it would expose her lie. "Intuition." She responded, her voice coming out weak and revealing it anyways, an unimpressed expression coming to Gaius's face. "Alright, I might have… received a note."
"A note?" Gaius prompted as he crossed his arms together; he never had any children of his own, but he sure did know how to do the disappointed father look.
"From a friend," Elaine answered, shifting on her feet while under his stern gaze. "She told me that a beast would be coming for retribution and that I should be ready. I assumed it was nonsense, that she was trying to manipulate me again."
Gaius glanced down and took a step closer to the girl, meeting her eyes again as a confidant. "You're speaking of Nimueh."
Elaine's head snapped back as if she had been hit, "I don't know-"
"You don't have to lie to me, Elaine," Gaius told her, his concern being voiced in volumes. "I understand. I know."
She looked away from him, assuming that his concern stemmed from pity. Elaine's brows knitted together, "How much do you know?"
"I know what you're grandfather told everyone." Gaius replied, "That you had gotten sick and were recuperating with an aunt in the country. He said that you just needed time for the disease to go away. I presumed he was talking about your magic."
"He was." Elaine's eyes hardened as she nodded her head, her lips turning down from the turbulent emotions inside of her. Shame from the truth in his words, and anger that she was ashamed; it was a war that she had been fighting as long as she could remember, always leaving her feeling disseminated.
"I also assumed that the "aunt" was Nimueh." Gaius continued, not noticing the way her body stiffened and her chin lifted as he spoke. "While I don't agree with your choice of seeking her out, I understand that you were grieving over your brother's death."
"I was grieving?" Elaine repeated incredulously, a sharp laugh bursting from between her lips. "So you don't know everything."
Gaius paused, "Elaine?" He questioned, concern for how her attitude had suddenly shifted. "What are you talking about?"
"Grieving my brother's death? I killed him!" Her voice was harsh in the silent corridor, Gaius took a step back from her, his eyes focusing on the swirling black in her eyes. I wasn't grieving! I was repenting! A murderer doesn't get to grieve that death of the one they killed, she wanted to yell, yet the words wouldn't leave her lips. Her voice turned condescending as it dripped with venom, "You don't agree with my choice? How dare you judge me. You! A coward! You did-"
"Elaine!" A severe voice interjected, both heads whipping around to stare at the form of Merlin standing in the doorway. He had been brought out of the room when he had heard the yelling. His face showed that he was astounded by Elaine, but his eyes were accusatory and intensely pointed at her.
Her chest heaved and she caught her breath after her outburst, she didn't expect the sting of his gaze to resonate so deeply within her. A part of her wondered how long he had been there and how much he had heard, but she refrained from asking.
Merlin came to stand between her and Gaius, his head tilting down to look at her more closely. His dark blue-grey eyes staring at her with an intensity that made her look away, "What's wrong with you? This is not Gaius's fault. You have no right-"
Elaine's head twitched to look at him, but she quickly stopped the motion, choosing to focus on the stone wall beside her. "Enough. My mistake. This is- I'll… just leave." She interjected, turning away and towards the stairs that led back to the heart of the castle.
Merlin reached for her but was unable to when she recoiled from his touch, "Elaine, you don't have to leave. Just apologize."
Elaine looked to Merlin's concerned and befuddled gaze to Gaius's oddly calm expression, his face reminding her of the eerie silence before a violent windstorm. She quickly spun on her heel and left them behind her without another word, trying to lull her own emotions into silence.
The next day, Elaine strode down the halls of the castle after returning from the woods outside of the castle walls. She had deserted the library long before the sun rose and had only returned when she had begun to feel the pains of hunger when the sun had risen to its highest. Having spent the time lost in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the way the people streamed around her. Their movements rushed as they hurried about, urgent and worried looks stamped onto their faces. It wasn't until one of the servants crashed onto her that Elaine noticed that there was something wrong.
"Watch it!" Elaine snapped, glowering at the man that had stumbled to his knees in front of her. He had taken the brunt of the force when he had crashed into her and was paying for it dearly if the panic-stricken look on his face was anything to go by.
"I'm sorry, my Lady." He apologized, stammering out the words as he hurried to get to his feet, bowing his head repeatedly.
"Why weren't you paying attention?" She demanded, her eyes darted around to and fro, observing that everyone in the hall was also running as if their lives depended on it. "What is going on?"
The servant stared at Elaine with confusion, "The prince, my Lady. He returned-"
Elaine scrunched up her face, the man was speaking very slowly as if there something wrong with her head for not already knowing. "Get to it, man! What happened?"
"He's dying." The servant responded bluntly, he started backing away from her when he saw her face crumble. "Excuse me, my Lady, I must go." He ducked his head and scurried off without looking back, hurrying to his job that called him away.
Elaine stared at the spot he had been, her brain slowly registering the words he had spoken. Once she had, her feet were swiftly moving in the direction of the Physician's Chambers. To her dismay, she arrived to find it empty; her feet pounded on the stone tiles again as she ran to where the royal rooms were situated.
She slowed to a jog upon her approach to the hall that held Arthur's room. She wished she was already at his side, but her legs had become sluggish when she saw the guards that stood in front of his door.
As she came to the door, one of the king's soldier held up his hand to stop her. "I'm sorry, my Lady. Only a few have been authorized to enter."
Her lips parted from surprise, "You have to let me in." She told them, her voice sounding like a child's. His hand didn't move from blocking her entrance, his helm blocking the expression on his face from being seen, but she could tell from the way his fingers curled in, that he was sympathetic. "Please, sir. He's my friend."
The guard hesitated but kept steadfast in his duty. "I'm sorry, my Lady. The king's order said that only he, Lady Morgana, and the physician can be granted entrance. The manservant also."
Elaine couldn't believe her ears, "Let me in!" She shouted, her lip trembling as her brow furrowed in stubbornness. "I am his family!"
"She can enter!" A deep voice commanded from behind the door, the guard opened the door for her and Elaine hurried to enter. A part of her fearing that if she wasn't fast enough the invitation would be revoked.
The sight before her brought her steps to a halt. The prince was lying on his bed unconscious, his torso was bare except for a bandage that wrapped around his chest and shoulder. Blood from his wound had seeped through the fabric. The king was sitting next to his son, his hand tightly gripping Arthur's. It was the picturesque scene of a broken and humbled man, the father's head bowed over the boy's and his lids closed as he couldn't see the image of his son on the brink of death.
King Uther didn't move from his place as Elaine hesitantly walked towards the bed. The king was sitting on the other side, thankfully, and she didn't have to go through him to get to her prince.
Her eyes blinked repeatedly as she stared at Arthur's unmoving form, Elaine moved her gaze to his face and she reached towards the hand that Uther wasn't grasping onto. His voice spoke out before she was able to, causing her to quickly withdraw her hand to her side.
"You are not his family." Uther reminded her, his eyes on her now and his head no longer bowed from grief. Despite the tiredness in his face that defined his wrinkles with a surprising intensity, his eyes still managed to hold her in the utmost contempt.
Elaine's eyebrow raised and her mouth felt like she had tasted something foul, even as his son was dying before him, Uther still managed to be a cruel man. If it had been anyone else, she might have been impressed by his mulish stubbornness. "Then why did you let me in?"
Uther looked at his son's face, "Despite my dislike of you, you bring a semblance of happiness to him." He looked back at her, his face had gotten a bit softer. Not from Elaine, but from the thoughts in his head. "I would not deny any comfort that anyone could bring him, not in this moment. Not even if it meant allowing you to be at his side."
Her eyebrows raised further, she had never thought that Uther would be able to surprise her. She was wrong. Hesitantly Elaine sat on the bed, her hand holding onto Arthur's without another interruption from the king. "Thank you." She told him quietly, unable to meet his eyes. "But I don't think I bring him much comfort, Sire."
"That is not true." He wouldn't look at her either, both deluding themselves into thinking that if they didn't acknowledge who the other was with a look then they could forget about the past for the moment. Instead of focusing on the boy they loved dearly. "He speaks of you often, despite my disapproval. He hopes that one day I will see you under a new light and will grow to care about you like he does."
Elaine didn't say anything, her thoughts filled with the same as the king's. She knew he could never care for her, there were too much hate and pain between them. She didn't blame him for this, she knew that she could never love him either. "Arthur hopes for many impossible things." Uther made a noise of agreement, his lips pursed together. "You fault him for it." She commented bravely, raising her head a little higher.
"Yes, I do," Uther told her, his voice not as harsh as she expected. "A king should be rational and see reality for how it is." He shook his head despondently, "Arthur has his head in the clouds too often, many times he has refused to see the truth as he continues to look at things like a dreamer does. A king can't be as deluded as he is."
"I find it hard to believe you would say that," Elaine responded in a hushed tone, that her words might be too careless in this case and fearing she would be thrown out of the room if she made a wrong move. "That you would view his hopes for Camelot as a weakness. That you would see them as silly ideas of a boy when you were the same as him once. You had hopes for the country also, if you didn't, you would never have come to be king."
Now Uther looked at her, his surprise was evident as he never thought she could have one thought, let alone formulated sentences, on this subject.
"Surely his hopes could be the same as the ones you had, yet you disregard them as dreams and see yours as ambitions. You became king of this kingdom against all odds because you had good swordplay." She squeezed Arthur's hand and gestured with her head at him. "The people love him, his will be more attainable than yours were because of that love. People would throw themselves into the moat for him. None of his ambitions will be truly impossible with the unconditional love they have for him."
"Elaine!" Gaius called her name from across the corridor, causing her to spin around from him and hurry in the opposite direction of him. "Elaine, get back here!" His voice commanded and she paused in her steps. Knowing her escape was futile, Elaine walked over to him like a shamed dog. Her eyes downcast and her form pleading for forgiveness.
"Gaius, please have mercy." She begged heartily. "I was rash and disrespectful, but you shouldn't have-"
"I'm not mad at you." Gaius interrupted tiredly, "I don't blame you for what you said."
"You don't?" She repeated dumbly, Elaine's face scrunched together. "Why not?"
"They weren't your words," He answered and continued on before she could ask more questions. "But that is not why I'm here. Merlin is planning on doing something foolish again."
"Isn't he always?"
"He is going to visit the Isle of the Blessed."
Elaine gaped at Gaius, "He- what!" She shook her head, "Did you tell him what a horrible idea that would be?" Gaius nodded. "Did you remind him about the natural laws of magic?" He nodded again. "Did you-"
"Elaine, I did everything I could to talk him out of it." He interjected before she could spew more questions. "I want you to go with him. You could guide him there, and maybe-"
"No!" Elaine interrupted quickly, stopping him from voicing any idea he could have. "I can't. I won't."
"Come, Elaine-"
"No. Whatever you think my presence would help, let me put that thought to rest because it won't." She told him firmly, vehemently shaking her head no. "I don't know how much I could stress this, I will not go. And, frankly, you can't make me."
"Merlin, Elaine is going with you."
She honestly had no idea what had happened that made it come to this. One minute, she had been refusing any chance of her leaving the castle; and the next, Gaius was dragging her by the ear out of the castle to where Merlin waited with his horse. Okay, so maybe she did know how this happened, but not how it had come to that.
Merlin glanced between the two of them, "I don't need a nanny, Gaius." He told him, actually offended and irritated by the thought.
"Don't be ridiculous, Merlin." Gaius scolded him, his face stern and commanding. "Of course you do. Regardless, that is not why Elaine is going. You need a map, and she is one."
Merlin grinned, "Did she memorize a map?"
Elaine glowered at him, annoyed by his tone. "Don't be as stupid as people think you are, it's beneath you." He gaped at the blunt harshness in her voice, "I've been there before."
Merlin looked to Gaius for him to confirm it, "When have you ever gone to the Isle of the Blessed?" He questioned, believing the idea to be preposterous.
Elaine glowered at him and swiveled her head towards Gaius. He nodded his head reluctantly, "I used to visit there often." She answered in a practiced tone.
Merlin's eyes widened, but he didn't question anymore when he saw the look that his mentor was giving him. He gestured to the horse, and at her allowance, he helped her into the saddle.
"I want to give you this," Gaius told Merlin, gaining his attention again as he held out a small item wrapped in leather. "My mother gave it to me."
Merlin took it curiously, holding it delicately in his hand as he unwrapped it. Revealing it to be an animal's foot inside.
"It's a rabbit's foot," Gaius told him, there was a faint tone of pride in his voice.
"To keep you safe?" Merlin asked staring at it, eventually, he met Gaius's eyes.
"It was said to protect you from evil spirits." He spoke with a fondness for the sentimental value behind it, and for the boy in front of him. "It's rubbish, I don't believe in superstition." He reached for it suddenly, embarrassment coming over him. "I don't know why I gave it to you."
"No." Merlin moved it out of his reach, a small smile on his face. "I want it."
They stared at each for a moment before Merlin looked back to the token, Gaius's hesitant affection for Merlin spoke how deeply they truly loved each other. Elaine couldn't help but think of Uther and Arthur's relationship at the moment. Comparing the two father-son bonds, and finding the one before her having what the other lacked.
"Thank you," Merlin told him, his voice thick as he tucked it into his pocket. He sighed and climbed into the saddle behind Elaine, "You've got to keep Arthur alive until I get back." Gaius nodded, and Merlin put the horse into motion, Elaine lurching back into the saddle from the sudden movement.
"We're here."
"Elaine, there's nothing here. Shouldn't there be a lake or pond, a large river maybe."
She gestured with her head to a point in front of them, "It's just ahead, Merlin. Behind those trees."
Merlin got down from the saddle, pausing when he noticed she hadn't moved from her spot. He frowned, "You can stay here." He said gently, recognizing the fear in her eyes.
She blinked and it was gone, replaced with grim determination. She slid off the horse without his help and began the walk to the lake that held the island. Leaving Merlin to tether the horse and follow in her steps. He was unable to distinguish a path, but she led the way with ease through the undergrowth.
They came upon the edge of a large lake, at the center of it was a small island, the rolling swells of mist shrouded the air and obscured the view that could have been seen. Merlin and Elaine shared a look, his dedication to saving Arthur kept him from showing any apprehension and after his nod, she led the way to the small skiff tied to a dock. She held onto to the post and stepped inside the boat, it wobbled slightly before it calmed once she sat down. Merlin got in after her, his confusion was evident in the way his eyebrows knitted together.
He spoke up, his eyes shifting between the flag at the back and the bell at the front, "How are we supposed to-"
Elaine interrupted him with a few words and the boat set into motion with a wave of her hand. It was not her magic that caused the boat to glide over the malleable waves, it was residual magic that clung to the old boat. A loophole, she told herself, not wanting to admit that it was more than just instinct that led her to cast the incantation herself. She was compromising herself by the act and losing her grip on her magic was becoming less of a horrifying thought each day she spent with Merlin.
He relaxed his tight grip on the railing, meeting her furrowed brow with a wide grin. "I think that's the first time I've seen you do magic."
Elaine furrowed her brow, "I suppose, yet it was not my magic that was used." She gazed down at the skiff as it glided across the dark water. "Who could have known that the first time I used magic in three years would be to get Emrys closer to his death." She looked back at him to gauge his reaction to her words, it was not a happy one. "Gaius told me what you were planning on doing. I have to say, Merlin, you picked a bad time to start listening to scaley-face."
Merlin glowered at her, "His name is Kilgharrah-"
Elaine lifted her nose up at the name, "I refuse to call him that."
"-And he's the only one that has given me a way to save Arthur. I will not accept him dying, not if there is something I can do about it."
"Why are you so willing to die for him?" Elaine questioned, "And don't you dare it's because of your destiny. That's not good enough of a reason. He's not very nice to you, and you aren't to him. You two continuously argue, and have been divided since the day you met."
He frowned and glanced away from her, his fingers curled inward as his blue eyes moved back to hers. "Wouldn't you?"
She didn't hesitate in her reply, having given the topic lots of thought as they had ridden to the Isle of the Blessed. "Yes. In a heartbeat," She paused when Merlin's look melted to a more solemn one. "But I know him. I've known him since I was a baby. I have seen in him the good and the bad. As a child and as a man. He has a vision for Camelot unlike any other person that I have met." When he looks at Camelot, he sees something that needs to be fixed; I only see how it is broken. She pursed her lips and her gaze shifted to the tattered flag behind Merlin's head. "While I might not believe in fate or destiny, I believe in him."
His lips tilted downward, "Then why are you asking me this?"
"Because I believe in you too. Do not make this choice, you do not know what will happen." Elaine pleaded, her expression entreating him to reconsider as they arrived at the isle.
The castle that encompassed the land, resembled a weed with stone walls growing over the shores. It appeared to be how most old palaces and towers would be, the stone masonry quivering from the assault of harsh winds and fierce waves. Decrepit would be too kind of a word for it, all overgrown with dark moss and heather, large chasms strung together with vines, and foul smells oozed between cracks.
And yet, there was a quiet beauty in its untamed form with an odd sort of grace in its haphazard plan. They could both see the faint image of what it had been before it's doom, it had been wondrous. Elaine had always thought so, she had always looked upon it with somber hope. It must have struck awe in the hearts of everyone that had seen it, the Isle of the Blessed must have been great, but it had been brought low in standing. Not many thought of its corridors, rooms, or towers; those that might have, are now long gone. Uther made it clear what it was when he destroyed it, leaving the castle to succumb to nothing. For he never could have killed, it was immortal, but he didn't grant it mercy either. He had managed to do the one thing that was worth than death, he made it irrelevant.
Merlin's face was set in his stubbornness, he had not been distracted by thoughts of stone and foolish dreams like she had, and had quickly recovered after seeing the castle. "There is no choice to make. I won't let Arthur die. I can't."
Elaine had no answer to give, a wave of tiredness washing over her and seeping into her bones. Instead, she kept her eyes from her friend, hoping that he would not read her thoughts and chance upon her wild ideas and scheming.
The boat turned inward to the castle, following along a small trail that traveled to the heart of the isle. The skiff swiftly came up beside a set of stairs that led inside, Merlin did not hesitate disembarking from the boat, leaving Elaine behind to follow him at her own pace.
After giving herself a thorough speech about how she needs to be there to help Merlin, how Arthur was currently dying, how everything was riding on this single moment, and her fears couldn't get in the way. Elaine stood and left the boat behind her as she followed after Merlin into the Isle of the Blessed.
They entered a grassy courtyard at the center, bluestones sticking up towards the sky; they had been moved into new positions since the last time Elaine had been here. The crumbling stone walls kept any light from filtering in and clearing away the fog that hugged the ground. At the center was a stone table, carvings in the side of it, Elaine cringed behind Merlin at its ominous appearance. He continued to walk towards it, his blue eyes taking all of it in, admiring and scrutinizing its destitute guise. Elaine followed at a slower pace, her face swiveling in each direction as she kept one hand on her friend.
He turned around to face Elaine, sliding closer into her touch, "It's abandoned." He presumed disappointment etched across his face.
Elaine shook her head, "She only wants you to think that."
Merlin's turned sharply to look at Elaine, disbelief then confusion flitted across his face. His mouth opened, searching for words when she spoke out for him. "Hello?" Elaine called, mustering more courage than she thought she had in her.
"Hello," A voice replied languidly, her relaxed tone sending chills down their spines; the effect calmed Elaine, and set Merlin on edge. The two spun around to catch the appearance of the speaker. Nimueh stood by the expiatory table, her rouged lips lifted in a haunting smirk. The tattered remnants of her ruby red dress clung to her body, as she tilted her head towards Elaine at a false attempt of nicety.
"You." His accusatory voice sprung out, Elaine proceeded to stop him from taking a step towards her. His indignant expression made her leap between them, much to the amusement of Nimueh.
"Do you know who I am?" Nimueh teased, her voice lilting between the confines of stone, her expression turning sour as the atmosphere thickened.
Elaine could feel Merlin's muscles tighten underneath her hands, "Nimueh." He answered, the irritation of his confusion was clear in his tone. "You can't be who the dragon meant." His accusing gaze turned to Elaine, "Did you know?"
Elaine shrank to the side as the tension grew, her hands leaving Merlin as she stepped back towards her old mentor. Nimueh's smile grew, her dark eyes glancing slowly between the two. "Has she not told you?"
Elaine raised her hands, one to get Nimueh to be quiet and the other to stop Merlin from walking any closer. Merlin's despondent gaze pained Elaine, her frustration at disappointing her friend made words come sputtering from her lips. "I- There's nothing to tell. It's just- I had to learn magic from someone. Nimueh is my old mentor." She's family, Elaine didn't bother adding. Her eyes didn't leave Merlin's, his furrowed brow caused heart palpitations. The look he was giving her caused her chest to clench together; he looked at her like he didn't recognize her, that she was less than who she was.
"Her?!" He fought to keep himself from shouting, but was not doing a very good job. His disbelief was evident, her serious expression was the only thing that kept him from laughing at the absurdity. "So when you said that you come here, you meant to her! How could-" He caught himself, then continued after taking a breath. "She's evil! And you were her apprentice? Have you been in league with her this whole time?"
Elaine groaned, catching the sight of Nimueh's delighted grin. "Don't be so dramatic, Merlin. I'm on your side."
"Are you?"
The words were out of his mouth faster than Elaine had time to register, her mouth slacked as all words left her. He was honestly questioning her loyalty, after all they had been through, he could doubt that her intentions were true. Elaine pursed her lips, hurt that he was asking, struggling to reply. "We don't have time for this."
Merlin shifted away from them, "She tried to kill me!" He reminded them, his gaze focused on Nimueh.
"But you're okay now," Elaine responded, waving her hand towards his healthy body. "No harm was done."
"She has continuously tried to kill Uther and Arthur! She hates the Pendragon's!"
"Not all of them," Nimueh answered readily, her proud grin from the recollection of her murderous deeds and her gaze pointedly on Elaine.
"She tried killing all of Camelot! Killed hundreds!"
Elaine grimaced, "Try to remember that we need her help." She tried placating him, reminding him of the reason they were here.
Nimueh spoke up with her tone returning to her usual frankness, "Arthur was never in any real danger. He was never destined to die at my hand." Elaine turned her grimace to Nimueh, her annoyance directed at the usage of the word "destiny". She met Nimueh's dark blue eyes reluctantly, they had become cool and relaxed again. The familiarity in her calming attitude was like opening a beloved book that Elaine had not read in a long time. "And now I will be his salvation," Nimueh spoke, her head tilting as her voice lilted between them.
Elaine's posture stiffened, Merlin stepped forward to ask questions that they already knew the answers to. "So you know what we've come to ask?"
"Yes."
Merlin stepped beside Elaine, their arms brushing against each other. "Will you do it?" His gaze focused on Nimueh, as Elaine's moved to him, her eyes searching for his current attitude towards herself. Would he forgive her?
"I do not have the power to mirror life itself and yet give nothing in return," Nimueh replied, they both expected the words to come and had prepared themselves for it.
"I know that a price will be asked," Merlin told her, thinking of his conversation with Kilgharrah with a quiet perseverance.
"To save a life there must be a death," Nimueh spoke, her voice was as rigid as the stones surrounding them. "The balance of the world must be restored."
Elaine spoke before Merlin could, she had been gathering the courage to speak the words since Gaius had told her Merlin's plan, and once the time came for her to say them, they came streaming out of her mouth quicker than she had time to think. "I will pay the price."
"What?" Merlin grabbed onto her arm, spinning her around to face him. "You will not-" He looked at Nimueh placatingly. "This is not how it was supposed to go-" He looked at his friend. "Elaine, you can't."
"Merlin, think for once in your life. Arthur will need you when he wakes. You two have this stupid destiny together. He needs you now like he will need you then. And frankly, you need him too." When he started speaking to argue, she swiftly cut him off. "I'm the logical choice."
Nimueh spoke when Merlin hesitated for a reply, "Child, you can not pay the price. Your life is not worth the same as the prince's."
Elaine frowned at her, "Excuse you," She spoke brashly, her brows knitted together from a combined irritation and confusion.
"The lives have to be the same worth. You do not have one that is worth the price."
"But I am-"
Nimueh's eyes flashed angrily, "I said no." Merlin and Elaine quickly took a step back from her harsh attitude, the air seeming to crackle around her. She immediately calmed back down to a simmer, her easy smile on her face as her gaze shifted to Merlin. "Yet, there is someone else who can make the exchange."
Merlin removed himself from Elaine's reach, "I willingly give my life for Arthur's."
Elaine's finger curled inward, her hands becoming fists as she watched them. She hadn't expected Nimueh to shut her out like this, she hadn't expected there to be much disagreement to her plan. Especially not from her.
Nimueh's voice turned rancor from condescension, the sweet tones exuded venom. "How brave you are, Merlin." Her eyes clashed with Elaine's unhappy ones, Nimueh averted them to Merlin, slinking along the table towards them. "But it's still not that simple."
Merlin was not deterred, "What do you mean?"
Nimueh stalled, diverting from answering his question directly. A trick that Elaine had learned from her. "Once you enter into this bargain, it cannot be undone."
Elaine tried to stop him, but Merlin stepped forcefully in front of her, confronting Nimueh. "Whatever I have to do, I will do."
Elaine cringed once she noticed the satisfaction in Nimueh's expression, it was not a good omen, promising ill will for her foolishly brave friend.
"His life is worth 100 of mine," Merlin spoke curtly, Elaine's eyes darting to him, surprised by the sincerity in his words. He didn't know how wrong he was.
Nimueh waved her hand, brandishing a golden grail, the force of magic that seeped from it was stronger than either of them had felt before. Elaine's hands tightened as she leered at it. Nimueh noticed the darkness swimming in her eyes and held the cup towards Merlin. He was captivated by its glimmer, his eyes getting a glazed look as he stared. "The Cup of Life." Nimueh informed them, "Blessed by centuries of powerful sorcery so that it contains the very secret of life itself. If Arthur drinks water from the cup, he will live."
As Merlin stepped forward to take part in the incantation with Nimueh, Elaine continued to think defiant thoughts. Somewhere deep inside her, she wondered where Nimueh had kept this cup hidden while Elaine was under her tutorship. She had learned of its power before but never had she seen it. Nimueh had always told her that the druids had it in their possession. Now that its presence was in front of her, Elaine was mesmerized by it; the same feeling over taking her when she had seen the Mage Stone.
Merlin slowly reached his hand to grasp the cup, his eyes locked with Nimueh's. The power and tension seemed to crackle when his fingers touched the cup, their gazes held by each other for a moment before Nimueh continued. Casting her hands into the air, "Tidrenas!" She called for rain, and from her spell, it started pouring. Thunderous booms coming from the clouds, as water filled the cup and soaked them.
Elaine huddled close to herself, five different incantations coming to her mind that would have filled the cup without getting them wet. They also happened to be surrounded by a giant lake, but walking over and dipping the grail into the water would not have the same dramatic effect as summoning a powerful storm did, she bitterly admitted.
Once filled, the rain abruptly stopped and the sky was clear again. Merlin was bewitched by the magic, staring at the Cup of Life with awe and trepidation. His drenched dark hair fell over his furrowed brow, reluctantly he allowed the cup to be taken by Nimueh. She poured the water from the cup into an intricate vial, clasping the lid once the water was to the brim. Nimueh had an awe-filled expression also, but she managed to make amazement appear sinister.
"A bargain is struck." Nimueh reminded him, handing over the vial. Before he could leave, she grasped onto his wrist and halted his movements. "I hope it pleases you."
He turned away, the vial clasped closely to his chest with one hand, he quickly left the courtyard. Elaine faltered, making the mistake of looking behind. Nimueh stood by the table still, her smirk was gone instead there was a solemn expression. Almost a vulnerability in her eyes, but Elaine quickly dismissed the idea when the satisfied grin returned. Her proud eyes focused on Merlin's back then shifting to Elaine; dread crawled down her spine, leaving Elaine without the ability to breathe.
Elaine waited by the doors to Arthur's chambers, when she had noticed the apprehension in Merlin's countenance, she had made herself scarce for him to confront Gaius alone. Presuming that was a situation she had no business being a part of. At the arrival of them, and the saddened eyes of the old man, she was right.
They quickly entered the room, Gaius pushing past Elaine to get to Arthur, his hands holding onto the vial. Merlin propped up the prince's head and helped him pour the water past his stiff lips as Elaine poised by the end of the bed.
Her head turned when she heard a door quietly open, figuring it was Gwen. Instead, it was King Uther, his bewilderment of Gaius and Merlin's treatment of his son carried him forward to them. "What are you doing, Physician?"
Gaius spun around to face him, he and Merlin had not heard him enter the room.
"What are you giving him?" The king questioned, Elaine took note how his voice had lost its hopeful tone. Wanting to remember this moment fondly whenever the king would act pompously or got it in his head that he was strong or right.
"It's, uh-" Gaius fumbled for an answer, the man was not a good liar when under pressure without warning. "It's a tincture made from the lobelia plant. An ancient remedy for poisonous bites."
Uther walked towards them, "A cure?" He asked, his voice returning to its usual octaves much to the disappointment of Elaine.
Gaius reply was in soft tones, reassuring his king without leading him on to create any suspicions. "We hope."
"Do you really think it will have some effect?" Uther inquired, his eyes were fixed on his son as he came to stand beside Elaine.
Neither had ever noticed how similar they looked; many courtiers, that had not been informed of the truth, have thought that he could be her father. Their resemblance would have been uncanny if they had not been of the same blood. They shared angled cheeks that pointed to thin lips. A rounded jawline with a strong chin that spoke of its history of being raised in defiance to others. Uther's and Elaine's eyebrows were sharp and thinly curved, often being set in a stubborn attitude. They both have detested the idea of being family, neither had any fondness for the other, but the two were very much the same in resemblance with the Pendragon blood running deep in both of them.
Elaine stepped away from him, trying to act demure in comparison to his Grace, and not revealing the truth in that she loathed being near him. She didn't speak when Merlin caught her eyes with his own, curiosity in the deep blue hue.
"It's our last hope, Sire." Gaius garnered their attention again, once having it, he re-held the vial to Arthur's lips. The contents dripping into his mouth as Uther and Elaine held their breaths, both expecting an immediate reaction to the cure; Gaius and Merlin were somewhat more experienced in the art of healing and were not disappointed when Arthur continued to sleep.
The physician turned to the king, his words sounded weak as a too carefully veiled command. "Perhaps you should allow him to rest."
None were surprised when Uther rebuked him, "I will not leave his side."
It suddenly dawned on Elaine, that he might actually have a real affection for Arthur. The thought had never crossed her mind before because she had only seen the man in a harsh light, his cruel intentions that were fed by ignorance and corrupt inclinations that continuously led to death. But for the first time, she had seen him in a new light, revealing his vulnerability and reminding her that even a tyrant was human. On any other occasion she would sneer at his weakness and relish the sight of it, instead, she could relate and it struck a chord inside her because now they truly had something in common. They were both afraid of the idea that Arthur was on the brink of death, and they had been powerless to help.
Gaius and Merlin bowed their heads to the king as they passed him on their way out of the room, understanding his unspoken request to be alone with his son and willing to comply. Elaine was not as willing, staying in place by Arthur's bedside.
Gaius motioned to his apprentice, Merlin nodded and fetched Elaine from the room, dragging him behind her as they left. The only response from her was a muffled noise of annoyance and sluggish steps that made it harder for Merlin to force her to leave and sparked his irritation. Gaius was yards ahead of them as they traveled down the hall, the old man didn't notice when the two were abruptly pulled into an alcove by pale hands.
Morgana ignored Elaine's exasperated groan, her eyes held an urgency that calmed their indignant response to her assertive appearance. Her skin verged on pallor in the shadows, her pale green eyes were fiercely fixed on them as her hands gripped tightly to their arms. "Please, listen, we must beware. This only the beginning."
Merlin was not pleased by her words, his frowning as he removed his arm from her grasp rather forcefully. He didn't have to respond to voice his anger, his eyes were cold enough towards her that Elaine felt bumps rise on her arms. The boy turned his back on Morgana and strode away, his shoulders stiff underneath his brown jacket.
Morgana's gaze moved to Elaine, the younger girl recognized the distraught in the ward from the cool contempt Merlin had shown her just then, after having never experienced it before. Elaine could understand why he had been upset; she could only imagine how she would react after almost losing her closest friend and having to trade his own life for Arthur's in order to protect his "precious" destiny and save the one man that instilled hope for the future despite being an arrogant prat, and after all that, being told by a seer that there is still worse to come. Elaine imagined that she would react poorly too.
Morgana stared open-mouthed when Elaine only shrugged, not offering any information to unravel her confusion instead only strengthening it with their persistent omission and creating suspicion. "You must understand, Elaine. You know-" She faltered, "Please, understand if Merlin will not. You listen to me more than most."
Elaine's lips lifted slightly to reassure her desperate friend and calm her nerves, "I'll keep it in mind." It was not much, but Morgana accepted the response nonetheless. They parted ways afterward, neither having more to say at the moment. Elaine going to chase after Merlin while Morgana walked towards her chambers, her duty now completed. Her shoulders lighter after unburdening them, giving the weight to Merlin and Elaine instead.
The waiting game, something she had heard her morbid peers coin for the time spent anxiously waiting for news from the physician, was not something Elaine had experienced before. She had experienced the loss of someone dear to her before, but it had been quick like a hiccup or falling asleep. One moment they were there and the next they were gone. She has come to realize that the waiting game had it's own kind of suffering.
Merlin and Elaine waited in Gaius's chamber for the news of Arthur's health, the dark haired boy pacing around the room as his body seemed to vibrate with worry. Elaine sat in a chair by the fireplace, expecting the warmth to be a comfort instead it went unnoticed as her thoughts spun in her mind. Elaine frequently vacationed in her mind, finding it to be one of the few things she considered herself to be good at. But while there were dozens of concepts and ideas fighting over each other in her mind, there was only one in Merlin's. That of Arthur.
In reality, they did not have to wait long for Gaius's return, yet to them, it felt like a lifetime spent wondering if their hasty plan had been in vain. A simple phrase came from the man's mouth, "The prince lives", to Elaine and Merlin it felt like the sun had risen. Merlin's grin born from a relieved sigh, shown like the sun itself only disheartened when Gaius didn't return his attitude in kind. The elderly man closed the door behind him and leaned against it, staring down his apprentice with saddened eyes.
Merlin clasped his hands to his head, disbelief and happiness overwhelming his brain. He sat down near Elaine, noticing the somber tension in the room once his reflexive emotions had faded. He turned his eyes away from Gaius, not finding the strength to meet them, his doleful expression getting cast down to the flagstones. "Did he say anything?" Merlin asked quietly, mumbling the words in the darkened room.
His answering scowl was not encouraging, "He was still recovering his strength from the attack. He did not say much before I left," Gaius moved his gaze Elaine, the girl's solemn expression was inscrutable with the light from the fire flickering shadows across it. "He did mention to his father that he desired to see you, the king agreed and sends for you."
Elaine shifted in her seat towards her friend, "He will be disappointed then."
Merlin questioned her attitude before Gaius could, "You would deny the king? Arthur?"
"It wouldn't be the first time," Elaine tried joking, it was not accepted on good terms if their deadpan expressions were anything to go by. "I will have more than enough time to rectify the situation at another time, besides I have spent more than enough time around Uther these past few days." Merlin did smile in a half-hearted attempt at the next joke. "I will not have him start to get chummy with me."
Gaius shook his head and strode closer to them, but still hesitated in approaching Merlin. "The way you spurn him like that, you know he has little patience, it is not wise to test it."
Merlin cut in before she could reply, "I'm wearied," He paused, losing the strength again for more words and barely meeting his mentor's eyes. "I think I shall go to bed."
There was silence in the room, interrupted only by the crackling of flames, none of them knowing what to say in the moment believing it to be one of their lasts. Gaius turned Elaine, "My Lady E-" He was not able to finish her name before she was gone, having leaped to her feet and spring from the room with rushed and awkward steps.
As an afterthought, she closed the door behind her, effectively cutting off any view they could have of each other. Her breaths were panicked as the hot sting of tears met her cheeks, and she stumbled down the corridor. Elaine paused to catch her breath by a window above the staircase, leaning her head directly out of it to breathe in the crisp night air. She spent moments just focusing on the air before regaining her wits and upon her return to the chambers, she found it dark.
The lights had been doused and Gaius's unmoving form rested on his bed in the corner, the lack of light and screen that shrouded him led Elaine to presume he was sleeping. She did not think she had been gone that long but didn't question it, regardless she crept quietly to Merlin's room as to not disturb the man. She pushed open the door and her lithe body entered the room, her shadow getting cast across the wall by the lit candle inside.
A curse went through the air as Merlin spun around and meet her eyes with his own, he held his hand to his beating heart. Her appearance having caused him a fright, he believed her to be the death he was fearing and expecting to come. "Elaine!" His whisper was harsh in the cold room, "What're you doing?"
"I'm sorry," In another setting, she would have laughed at the sight of a surprised Merlin. Elaine didn't have to fight the urge now, her mood darkened by the depressing reality.
Merlin pursed his lips and shifted his seating on his bed to face her more directly, "I thought I wasn't going to see you again. Why did you run earlier?" His sincere questioning look spurred her into animation.
"Gaius. I thought- I thought he was going to make me say goodbye." The words came quickly from her mouth in stuttering breaths. "And I was not ready to say that… not to you."
Merlin glanced away, his clouded expression striking a chord inside her. "And you're ready now?" He asked quietly, his gaze moving back to her.
"No." She replied vehemently, stepping away from the door towards him, her hands clutching the sides of her dress. "I don't think I could ever be ready to say that to- to a dear friend. 'Cause that would mean that I would have to lose you, and I can't accept that. I don't want to lose you any more than Arthur."
He spoke with a profound tiredness as if his life was no longer in his hands, he had already accepted it and had proven himself willing. "Elaine-"
"No!" She tilted her head back to stop the watering in her eyes, "I don't want to lose you too. I can't…" She tilted her head back down to look at him, "Not without a fight. I will fight death itself to keep you because you deserve that. Even if I lose, I would stay by your side. So please, Merlin, do not turn me away."
Merlin stared at her, truly looked upon her as much as the dim lighting could afford, by his silence she thought he would refuse. But with Elaine's wide, watery blue eyes pleading at him over a trembling chin, and he realized that he could not. Merlin scooted over on the bed, allowing space for her to sit beside him, she quickly filled in the space.
"You had me scared there for a moment." She said quietly, the intimate space shared between them made her voice hushed for reasons beyond her understanding. "I thought you were going to say no."
Merlin smiled, they both sat facing towards the wall, but had turned their heads towards each other and met each other's eyes with a new consciousness. "If I had," He added quickly when she glared at him. "Not saying that I would have. If I had, would you have?"
Her glare softened and she shared his smile, "No. I would not have left you."
Merlin ducked his head, pleased yet embarrassed by her words. "Why?"
"I don't want you to be alone," Elaine answered, blushing as she wiped away the unshed tears in her eyes, feeling silly for her brash and childish reaction.
Merlin's brows knitted together, he still wasn't able to comprehend her, she continued to defy his understanding of her thoughts and feelings. "And you would fight for me?"
Elaine grinned at the idiot next to her, pride for herself kept her from voicing her complete thoughts. "Of course I would." She faintly wondered why he continued to doubt her. "I would do that and more. I would sprout you wings so that you could fly far away and never have to pay this price. I would turn you into a fish so you might swim away. I would turn even ol' scaley-face below our feet towards your cause so that you would not have to do this. I would do anything, break my limits or put myself on the line for you. You deserve someone to fight for you after you have fought for everyone else."
She immediately felt foolish for her words, hesitant and embarrassed by their sincerity. "Forgive me, I speak rashly. The price for this could come days from now, maybe even longer. The situation could be not as dire as we make it out to be. You have faced your death many times before and nothing has changed."
"No, I don't think so."
"Merlin-"
"Thank you for staying. I don't want to be alone because this time- it feels different."
Merlin woke up alone, his hand grasping at the rabbit's foot as his finger curled around it and his other stretching across the empty spot next to him on the bed. The sun's ray streaming through the window exposed the bare room, his blue eyes slowly blinking open as he realized that it was morning.
"Gaius! I'm alive!" Merlin called, rushing down the steps to the main chamber. He slowed when he noticed his mentor kneeling beside a fallen figure and Elaine standing over them, both had their backs to him. "What is it? What's happened?" His voice gaining some urgency.
"Merlin, stay there," Gaius commanded his hand resting on the injured woman's head. Scanning her injuries as Elaine stepped away from Hunith with a distant stare. Merlin continued to approach, "No. Don't."
The warning fell on false ears, Merlin moving next to Gaius to see his mother on the ground. Her skin was covered in boils with purplish colors in patches; Hunith was close to falling unconscious and it was unclear when she had arrived. He fell on his knees next to her, reaching out to touch her shoulder as his horrified eyes watered. "Mother?"
"Merlin," Her answering voice was weak.
"What's happened to her?"
"She's gravely ill," Gaius spoke as he checked her vitals.
"Do something!"
"If I could."
"Please, Gaius!"
"Merlin, this is no ordinary illness." His hand rested on Hunith's forehead, her body had begun to shake from the fever that overtook her.
"This cannot happen."
Gaius met Elaine's eyes from over Merlin bowed head, "Who did you meet at the Isle of the Blessed?" He assumed the right answer from the expression on Elaine's face.
"Nimueh."
"Merlin-" Elaine cut in sharply, she faltered under the heavy gaze of the old man. She tried to find reason in the situation, knowing that her defensive tone would not bode well. "This is the price you must pay-"
"-She demanded a price-" Merlin spoke over her.
"-You said you were willing to pay any price-"
"-I bargained my life, not my mother's."
Gaius's voice was soft compared to theirs, "I wish there were something I could do."
Hunith's hand was carefully held in Merlin's, vowing to make her better. "I will." He repeated, the words resonating in Elaine's head. Quickly following in his shadow, after they moved his mother to the bed in his room. The poor woman quickly fell asleep from shock or pain, Gaius promising that he will ease her discomfort.
It was not surprising to Elaine when Merlin led them to the cavern below the dungeons, despite her suspicions of the serpent that dwells there, she said nothing to stop him. Nor did she enter with him, waiting instead in the darkness that shrouded the stairs. She could hear his yelling and the answering grumbles of Kilgharrah, but none of it registered until the unearthly roars shook the pavements beneath her feet. Her irregular breaths and panicking thoughts were drowned by the unmissable void of silence that reached her mind.
When Merlin returned to the stairway, his grim fierceness did not balk at the empty threshold. That night he returned to his and Gaius's quarters alone, having lost his shadow that morning and spending the day making his rounds. There weren't many for him to say goodbye to. For the better. The less he spoke, the less questioning glances would be thrown his way. Speaking with his mother leaves him feeling more hollow than he would have imagined, an ambiguous goodbye between him and his febrile mother. Merlin didn't tell her -warn her- that it was going to be him that would be leaving sooner than the other.
He wouldn't have thought that he could have felt lower than this. Then he awoke to Gaius's letter explaining that the one man who ever felt like a father was going to offer himself instead. Traveling to the Isle of the Blessed, with each agonizing moment that passed, brought Merlin to an even lower standing. He had felt grief before, the death of Will was still fresh in his mind months later. Undoubtedly this was a different kind of pain, no less valid, but Will had been an old friend, part of his past, the last nail in the coffin of his childhood. Truth be told, Merlin had lost both of them the day he left for Camelot.
The sound of the swift glide of the boat over the water did not reach Merlin's ears, no sound did until his feet left the wooden planks and touched down upon the overgrown steps leading into the heart of the Isle of the Blessed. The chanting of a spell, drew his feet forward not pausing until he reached the courtyard and saw the source of it. Gaius had fallen, propped up against the stone table, with Nimueh and Elaine standing over him. The golden cup held up between them over his mentor's body.
Nimueh had tried not to appear surprised at the arrival of Elaine, but she knew that the uptick of her brow was not a casual expression for her. Elaine had learned of the many expressions of her mentor since entering into her tutelage. Nimueh was surprised to see her arrive alone, and her arms positioned carefully showed her distrustful nature. Elaine used to fear to get her disapproval, the five years spent with her was the time spent in Elaine's crucible. The death of her brother was the catalyst that stripped her of her character, what was formed afterward was formed under Nimueh's premeditating hands. She was marked by Nimueh the same as any of her enchantments, and refusing to use her own magic would not hide anything. Merlin was right to doubt Elaine.
Nimueh had given her the truth when she had left Camelot; the truth about Nimueh, her parents, the start of the Purge, of all magic and users that had been eradicated. It was a one-sided truth, Elaine knew, and Nimueh played her part well. Nimueh was not a victim, but there were victims, and Uther was the perpetrator. Her hate for him was personal, but it had grown into more than that; Nimueh had shared that hate with Elaine. It was a chain that still bore them together after the year spent apart.
"You have returned." Nimueh prompted, hiding her confusion by idling running her fingers along the stone edges of the large obelisk.
"I have."
There was a pause as they reached a stalemate; Nimueh refusing to ask why Elaine knowing this and stubborn enough to wait anyways. Their stubbornness was cracked when Gaius entered the grove behind Elaine. Nimueh's brow raising higher, Elaine only slightly wincing when Gaius didn't come to stand beside her, walking further inside the circle of bluestones. They had come together to the Isle, Elaine had made him agree to allow her time first with Nimueh, but it was clear now he did not have enough trust nor patience to stay by the water's edge.
"Ah," The Enchantress breathed, leaning back as grim delight ran through her. "The coward has returned. Why are you here? Is Uther sending you to kill your own kind now? Or are you still hiding in his shadow while feeding him innocents' names."
Gaius showed no remorse on his aged face, only furthering angering the woman and her apprentice. "I have come out of my own will." He responded. "Merlin will not lose his mother."
"Oh? Will Arthur be dying then? What a shame." Nimueh didn't sound disappointed despite her words. "I was interested in seeing his reign. Peace for all, nature and magic in harmony again. That will be the day."
"No, he will have his reign." Now, he turned to catch eyes with Elaine, their unspoken agreement was still fresh in both of their minds. "A life for a life, that is the price. And I have come to pay."
"And what a sad life yours was." Nimueh quipped, gesturing him forward as she waved her other hand and pulled the grail from thin air. "Still, magic will be satisfied and balanced restored. Step forward, old man."
Gaius walked forward with Elaine following in his steps. They both moved onto the stone platform, Gaius between Nimueh and Elaine. The cup was brandished above their heads and again water filled it to its brim. The sorceress acknowledging her pupil as she held the cup towards her. "Do you remember the words, child?"
"Yes," Elaine steadily answered, shamefully not looking at Gaius.
"Of course, you do. Quite the prodigy she was." Nimueh looked at the old man's harsh gaze with a sickening smile. "It's a shame about her wild magic, it will tear her apart." She looked between the two solemn faces, neither sharing in her amusement. "Smile, child. The man that betrayed our kind-betrayed your parents-will now die."
Together they repeated the incantation, with Gaius caught between them. Raising the cup than lowering it so he could take a drink from its spelled water. Continuing the spell even as he slowly succumbed to the floor. "Ic, séo héahsácerd, þe ácwile strengþe ealdan æwfæstnesse!" Were the last words that were reverberated in the destroyed hall, when Merlin rushed in to yell a resounding, "Stop!"
Elaine quickly moved her hands from the cup like it had burned her while Nimueh only looked at the boy with satisfaction. "Back again so soon, warlock?"
"What have you done?" His accusatory gaze sparked Elaine into action.
"No, it's okay." She stepped forward, raising her hands in reassurance. "Gaius wanted this, it was his idea."
"You've killed him!"
"No, I-"
"I bid my life for Arthur's, not my mother's, not Gaius's!"
"You're not understanding. A life for a life, Gaius gave his. He gave it for you." Elaine tried reasoning, becoming more impassioned. "The balance is restored!"
"The Old Religion did not do this, it was her!"
"That's not true!"
Nimueh let the two argue with amusement, settling the cup on the obelisk behind her. "Come now, Merlin. We're too valuable to each other to be enemies. Elaine is your friend, I could be too."
"No!" He replied vehemently, magic sparking in his eyes full of hate. "I'll share nothing with you!"
"Merlin!" Elaine said sharply, coming to her mentor's defense with a warning.
"With my help, Arthur will become King."
"I will make Arthur King, but you will never see that day!" His eyes flashed gold as he yelled his spell. "Ástríce!"
In a fluid motion, Nimueh pushed Elaine away, causing the girl to fall on her side in the grass, out of range from any blast and absorbed the ball of fire that was sent to her. "Your childish tricks are useless against me, Merlin. I am a priestess of the Old Religion. You, too, are a creature of the Old Religion. You should join me."
"You think I would join forces with such a selfish and cruel magic? Never."
"So be it." Nimueh readied her hands, Elaine noticing the motion quickly got to her feet, but not in time to stop the spell. "Ácwele!"
"Acwence þa bælblyse," Elaine yelled with her arm pointed towards the fire, but it struck Merlin before her spell could dissipate it and he was knocked to the ground. She hurried to his side, turning her back on Nimueh.
"Pity," Nimueh said with disdain. "Together we could have ruled the world." She grabbed onto Elaine's arm before the girl could get far. "Child, don't bother-"
She wrenched her arm out of her grasp, "How dare-"
Merlin was back on his feet to both of their surprises, that spell was meant to cause serious damage, he only looked stronger. His face dark with his golden eyes cold, "You should not have killed my friend." He raised his hand to the sky, storm clouds gathering from his non-verbal spell. Again, Nimueh shoved Elaine aside, raising her hand to deal another blow at Merlin. He moved his hand down abruptly, lightning following its path and striking Nimueh down, Elaine getting knocked even further back from the blast and hitting against one of the stones. A pained cry came from the discharge then all was left was scorched grass.
Merlin rushed to Gaius, falling on his knees next to him and pulling at the body to cradle it. "Gaius! Gaius!" He called, tears falling from his cheeks along with the rain that continued to pour on them.
The old man coming back to conscious as the only person he knew as a son held him and breathed back into life. "Merlin." He croaked.
"Gaius." He continued to repeat, joy and relief now filling him. "Gaius, you're alive!"
"What did you do?"
"Nimueh's dead," Merlin explained with an elated smile. "The balance of the world has been restored."
"You amaze me," Gaius spoke, regaining his breathing and trying to sit up. "You've mastered the power of life and death itself. We'll make a great warlock of you yet."
Standing up together, it was then that they noticed Elaine kneeling in the burnt ground with an empty expression. Several bits of grass and earth were clenched in her fist after tearing them up from the scorched ground. Gaius shook his head at Merlin, but the boy spoke before he could take the warning. "Elaine, I-"
She cut him off before he could continue. "I don't want to hear your apology."
"Alright. I wasn't going to."
Elaine stood up with a perturbed expression. "I don't believe you!" She threw the bits of earth back to the ground, so she could use her hand to point a finger at him, tears born from frustration springing from her eyes. "How many of our own kind have you killed now? These are the people you are supposed to be protecting!"
"I protect Arthur!" Merlin yelled back, despite Gaius's hand on his elbow trying to placate him. Instead, he stepped forward. "She was trying to kill him!"
"You dimwit! She was saving him like you asked!"
"She killed Gaius!"
"Because he asked her to!"
"She attacked me."
"You attacked first!"
Merlin shook his head angrily, wet hair scattering across his forehead. "I understand that you're upset, but she was-"
"Evil?" Elaine finished for him. Walking back away from him as he tried to reach out to her. "She was not. Nobody is. I understand more than anybody how she struggled with being good, but she was finally. She was helping us." Elaine ran her hands on his face, scrubbing away tears. "You selfish, foolish boy! Go home to the King. Have Gaius cook you a celebratory stew, you've won. You saved the day like always. You have your Arthur, your mother, and your Gaius now. You get everything now because you killed the evil witch. Burned her, in fact." She said gesturing at the burned mark on the earth. "Camelot will be proud."
Not until long after she was left alone, the spelled rain wore off, and the tears stop flowing; did Elaine open her eyes and begin to think how she was supposed to put her friend to rest if there wasn't even a body.
Obviously, George R. R. Martin is my spirit author. I apologise, I've been going through a lot and this was put on the back burner where I would only write a few paragraphs a week. Still, this is one of my better chapter tbh. Thank you for finishing, you're amazing. There is a sequel, linked below, I actually started working on it waaay before I started the first book. Originally I was gonna start the series in season 3, but then I moved it to season 2, and after a while not doing season 1 seemed dumb so I decided to do it. And now it's finished, on to the next.
{7/20/17}The sequel is posted with its first chapter, the link is here. Or go to my stories to find it.
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