Season 1 Episode 12.

Story 12: Hidden

Chapter 18: Eavesdropping

Merlin made his way to the house Eilonwy shared with her father, Carter and her younger brother, Evi. Her brother was only three years younger than her. Their mother had died giving birth to Evi.

Merlin knocked on the door gently, hoping Eilonwy's father would not be awake. Luck was not in his favor. Eilonwy's father opened the door, looking less than pleased. His expression didn't improve when he spotted Merlin. "Hello sir," Merlin said respectfully. "My wife had a question for Eilonwy. Something about dress colors. Do you think Eilonwy could spare a few minutes to speak with her?"

"Wife already driving you crazy eh?" Carter father asked amused. He rubbed his bearded chin. "I'll have to see if Eilonwy's up to it. She had a nasty fall last night."

Merlin winced at that. He was grateful Carter didn't notice that. Merlin wasn't supposed to know about Carter and most likely Eilonwy would face his wrath if ever he found out.

"May I see her?" Merlin asked. "I've been apprenticing with the physician. Perhaps I could be of some assistance."

Carter hesitated before he allowed Merlin in. Merlin walked down the familiar hallways to Eilonwy's chambers.

He knocked. He waited until Eilonwy called for him to enter. Then he walked into her room. She was a mess. Merlin could see fresh bruises on her arms. He knew they would be covered when she got dressed properly, but Merlin still felt a pang of sadness. "How are you feeling?" He asked her anxiously.

"Sore, but not too bad," Eilonwy told him honestly. "Sometimes I'm too clumsy for my own good." Merlin knew Eilonwy was trying to look strong because her father was watching, but Merlin could see the tears forming behind her eyes. "Was there something you wanted?"

"Yes," Merlin told her. "Gwen wanted your opinion on a dress. I'm not really sure what exactly. I don't speak dress, but do you think you could help her?"

"Of course," Eilonwy said. "Just give me a moment to get dressed."

Merlin nodded and stepped outside with her father. "Where did she fall down?" He asked Carter.

"On the way back from the celebration she lost her footing and fell against a wagon," Carter explained.

"I thought as much. That's what it looked like," Merlin lied. In the corner of his eye Merlin thought he saw a pleased expression flash across Carter's face. When he looked closer, it was gone.

Several minutes later, Eilonwy emerged from her bedroom. She was wearing a shawl that would effectively hide her bruises. Merlin led them to the room at the inn that he and Gwen had stayed in. Just in case Carter was watching them, he wanted to make it seem like they really were meeting Gwen.

"You don't speak dress?" Eilonwy asked amused.

Merlin rolled his eyes, but ignored her question. He didn't want to risk anyone overhearing them on the way to the inn.

What Eilonwy and Merlin were unaware of was Arthur. He had wanted to speak to Eilonwy that morning and was surprised when he saw her leaving her house with Merlin. He followed them to a room in the inn and waited for the door to close to press his ear against it. He knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but he needed to know what they were doing.

"What did he do to you?" Merlin asked her anxiously when the door closed behind him.

"The usual," Eilonwy said bitterly. She couldn't hold in her tears anymore. "He saw me dancing with Arthur earlier and he didn't like it. He reminded me that he makes the rules." Eilonwy shivered. She could still feel her father's hands against her, squeezing and punching. "He had been drinking so he couldn't help himself." Merlin frowned. He knew Eilonwy loved her father, but he wished he would stop making excuses for him. There was no reason for a man to harm his daughter.

"I'm sorry," Merlin told her. "I really didn't think he saw you. If I had known, I never would have let you go back to that house. I knew he was a little drunk, but I didn't think he would hurt you again. Do you think anything is broken?"

Arthur's jaw dropped. He may have complained about his father often, but Uther never raised his hand to Arthur. He couldn't imagine anyone doing that to their child. And Merlin had said again. This wasn't a one-time occurrence. And Merlin knew about it! That's what he meant when he said it wasn't his place to tell Arthur why he didn't want him and Eilonwy to be together.

"I don't think so. Something is weird with my shoulder, but I'm not sure what," Eilonwy told him.

"Let me see it," Merlin ordered. Eilonwy took off her shawl and pulled down the sleeve of her dress. To most, this would be awkward and uncomfortable, but this wasn't the first time Merlin has had to patch her up. They were both used to it. "Ic be purhaele bin licsare."

Eilonwy let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," she said gratefully.

"It's the least I could do," Merlin told her. He bit his lip. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you."

"It's not your fault," Eilonwy said. "I was foolish. I should not have spent so much time with Arthur. I should have been weary of my father."

"You weren't foolish," Merlin corrected. "You just are hopeful. You want to find someone to love you, but you can't do this to Arthur. He is a good man. You can't let him fall in love with you then leave him to protect him from your father. He isn't like the other men."

"I know," Eilonwy told Merlin seriously. "I wasn't expecting to, but I really like him. It's not like with Will or Henry or Goffrey. My feelings for him are true. I know I cannot be with him, but I've never felt this way about another man before. I want to be with him. I want to get to know him and dance with him and laugh with him. Last night was the most amazing night of my life. Just for a few hours, he helped me forgot."

Merlin groaned. Only Arthur. Only Arthur would find the one girl that he can never be with. "What are you going to do then?" Merlin asked her.

"I don't know," Eilonwy admitted. "I've thought about just leaving. I could tell Arthur the truth and maybe he could take me away from here, but I could never leave Evi. If I leave, he might be my replacement. I would rather live with my father until I die than have my brother face the same thing."

"Why not take your brother with you?" Merlin asked curiously. "I know I've asked you this before, but why not? What's stopping you?"

"I don't want Evi to feel like he was a burden," Eilonwy said quietly. "Ealdor is his home. I don't want to take it from him."

Arthur couldn't stand idly behind the door any longer. His head was spinning with what he had found out and now he knew why Merlin had warned him against Eilonwy and why he had interfered with them last night.

He knew they would be furious that he had been eavesdropping, but he had to make his presence known.

Arthur walked in without knocking. Their reaction was instantaneous. They stared at Arthur as if they couldn't believe he was there. "Arthur," Merlin said cheerfully, recovering first. "What brings you here?"

Arthur ignored him. He was staring at Eilonwy who was returning his eye contact. "You know it's rude to listen in on other people's conversations," Eilonwy told him quietly.

Arthur shrugged. "I just want to help you," he told her seriously.

"How?" Eilonwy asked. For the first time since Arthur met her, she looked tired and vulnerable.

"I don't know," Arthur told her seriously.