Arthur had just managed to fade away to sleep when a rocking-feeling started to grow. He awoke with a jerk, now looking at Merlin.
''Merlin!'' he yelled and snatched away the arm that Merlin was shaking.
''I'm sorry, sire, you are summed to the crown room,'' Merlin said as confused as he looked. He must have been awakened just a few minutes ago.
''What? At this hour? What for?'' Arthur frowned but Merlin didn't even look like he could answer what his own name was. Arthur walked towards the crown room and met his father on the way. They did not speak, both tired.
They entered the room and the other families were already there.
''What's going on?'' Uther asked and turned towards Anthony that sat on the throne.
''We have a problem,'' Anthony said and Arthur saw how Elena, that still seemed drunk, walked up to the small bar that was placed by the wall. She started to pour herself a glass of wine. Arthur frowned, what was going on with her?
''What could possibly be so urgent that it could not wait till the morning, Anthony?'' King James now spoke.
''I have gotten a letter from the republicans, claiming that they know something about us that could be our fall,'' Anthony said with tired eyes. With those words, Elena dropped her cup that she already was re-filling. Everyone turned their heads towards her as she looked nervously back at them. Henry was quick to her side and bent down to help her with the mess.
''Would you stop drinking, Elena! What's wrong with you!'' Anthony shouted, you could tell that he was exhausted.
''Perhaps we should get the room to ourselves?'' Uther tried to suggest, implying the king's, and both David and James nodded.
''Not jet! I have a wedding that will be held within days, a drunk daughter and bride that seems to have... God knows, gotten cold feet or what this is-'' he said and pointed at Elena.
''... and to top it all off; the republicans at my doorsteps. No one leaves this room before they tell me if there's ANTHING that I should know that could destroy this wedding or the monarchy,'' Anthony said sharply. He was angry and frustrated, which was understandable. Arthur saw how even the other kings folded by his tone. He had never seen him as the strongest out of the four of them, but he did now. Silence followed.
''No one?'' Anthony reassured himself. Most people were looking at each other, but still no reply.
''Okay then, good. Then we have nothing to be worried about,'' Anthony added, but the tension laid still in the air.
''Now. King's only,'' Anthony said and exhaled. With still no words, everyone except the kings left the room. Walking out, Arthur looked back at Anthony that pinched the bridge of his nose before the doors closed behind them.
''What's going on with you? Are you getting cold feet?'' he heard Lincoln say and turned to see him trying to get in contact with Elena. Henry stood by her side, but again she did not respond, keeping herself zooned out.
''This is a disaster,'' Sebastian said before he looked over at his mother that suddenly started to cry out of nowhere. Confused, he started to comfort her.
''We need to shower her,'' Charlotte now spoke and was talking to Henry about Elena. She seemed to try to keep it together. Arthur just looked confused around, not really understanding what was happening nor where to begin reacting.
Before he knew it, he could hear the birds chirp through his window, telling him that the sun was on its way up and that the morning had come. A day closer to Elena's wedding, and Arthur's funeral. Arthur had thought a lot about Elena's behavior last night. Could it really be that she was getting cold feet?
He had just stepped out of his room when Henry appeared out of nowhere, making Arthur jerk.
''You startled me, hi,'' Arthur said and looked the big man over. However, Henry just turned and started to walk, aiming Arthur to walk after him. With a frown, Arthur jogged up to him.
''Where are we going?'' he asked.
''She won't listen to me, nor her father, we even tried Charlotte hoping that she would talk to another woman, but she doesn't even gives us a glance,'' Henry said with a tired tone. It looked like he had been up all night.
''I see... I'm flattered, I think. But I promised her, and myself, to stay away. Besides, I highly doubt that she will talk to me, and-'' Arthur rambled but Henry cut him off.
''Just!... Just look at her, okay?'' he said and not until now did Arthur understand that he was worried.
They walked over to a part of the castle that Arthur had yet not been to and were headed towards an opening that seemed to lead outside. Arthur stopped when he entered the royal garden and was stunned by how magical the place was. He remembered how much Elena talked about her garden, now understanding why. It was huge and beautiful, covered with every color possible. He's eyes stopped when they saw her, she was sitting in the grass with her legs pressed against her body and her arms wrapped around her legs. She just sat there and stared into the water. Arthur froze, she looked miserable, almost like she was dying.
''I don't understand why you think he of all people would get through to her?'' Lincoln said and frowned. The ones standing in the garden were Anthony, Lincoln and Charlotte. And now Arthur and Henry too.
''We don't have time for this, go,'' Henry said, not scared of the consequences. Arthur sighed before he walked up to Elena.
''Hi you,'' he began and looked at Elena, she did not move an inch. Arthur looked at the cup of wine that had spilled over the grass and then back at Elena. She must have kept herself drunk he thought, feeling the scent of alcohol from her. He followed her gaze and saw that she seemed to observe the fishes that were swinging around in the big pond.
''You added the orange ones,'' he said softly and smiled. Something in that sentence made her look up at him and judging by the sounds of Henry and the others, that was a good sign. Arthur tried to ignore them and locked eyes with Elena, he had never seen so much pain and exhaustment in one expression before.
''May I?'' he asked and signaled that he wanted to sit down. He took a seat in front of her, now facing her. A dandelion caught his attention and he picked it up before he handed it to her, clearing his throat in the movement.
She took it and stared at it with blank eyes, it was as if she wasn't even there.
''What's going on with you?'' he asked sad and bent his head lower to try to make her look at him. She was silent for a while before she slightly bent forward.
''I can't tell you,'' she said with a low voice.
''Why?'' he frowned.
''Because you are with them,'' she replied as if it was rehearsed. He frowned confused before he looked back at his company. Thinking, his eyes locked at the overturned cup.
''Would you like some more wine?'' he asked and she nodded her head a little uncertain. He gave her a nod before he rose and walked over to Henry and the others.
''What are you doing?!'' Henry hissed. Arthur didn't really mind his attitude, knowing it was the feeling of powerlessness that spoke.
''I have an idea,'' Arthur said and looked him in the eyes. They just looked at each other for a while before Arthur managed with enough convincing for everyone to try whatever his idea was.
''I'll be right back,'' he said and walked away. A solid half hour passed before Arthur returned with Lancelot and a jug of wine. Everyone looked at Lancelot and then at Arthur, starting to regret the trust they had given him.
''While we're at it we should bring the chef as well,'' Lincoln started to mock but Arthur ignored him, looking at Henry and Anthony only.
''There's something about us that makes her not want to open up,'' he said and circled his head around his company.
''But perhaps she'll speak to someone who's not royal, or that close to the crown,'' Arthur added and everyone now turned to looked at Lancelot. Henry nodded, desperate to try everything. Arthur gave him a nod back before him and Lancelot walked closer to Elena. He handed him the jug.
''I don't think this is a good idea, Arthur,'' Lancelot whispered, trying to get out of this for the past fifteen minutes.
''Look at her... It's worth a try,'' Arthur replied. Arthur hated this idea too, he hated that Lancelot had feelings for her. But he reminded himself that this was not about who gets her, it was about helping her.
''What if she won't talk to me? What should I even say to her?''.
''Just get her to trust you,''.
With a sigh, Lancelot walked up to Elena and took a seat beside her, leaving a good half meter between them. With another sigh, he picked up her cup from the grass and poured wine into it before he handed her the cup. Since he placed it right in front of her face, it was hard for her to ignore it. She looked at it before she turned to look at him, then she took the cup and started to drink. Silence followed as Lancelot tried to plan his wordings.
''What are you doing here?'' she asked to his surprise and Arthur clenched his jaw. SHE started the conversation?
''Oh, you know, air,'' Lancelot managed to reply and she turned to meet his eyes as a vague smile was seen on her lips for a few seconds. Arthur did not know what that meant to them, and he was not sure if he wanted to either.
''Brilliant idea, Arthur!'' Anthony whispered.
''May I?'' Lancelot now asked and nodded against the cup, she looked at the cup before handing it over to him. Oh, he's good, Arthur thought.
They re-filled the cup a couple of times before Lancelot tried again.
''So, what's going on with you?'' he asked. She was silent for a little while before she spoke.
''I can't tell you, they'll hear,'' she whispered and nodded back towards Arthur and the rest of his company. Lancelot looked back at them. One could tell that she was drunk and that she did not really understand everything clearly, so Lancelot tried using that to his advantage.
''I see, I'll make them go,'' he whispered back, feeling like he was talking to a child, but it seemed to work.
He placed one hand behind him and waved to Arthur and the others to hide behind the trees. They did, hearing everything Elena was saying too.
''Now they are gone,'' he said calmly and she looked back to ensure herself. She looked pleased when she did not see anyone.
''What is going on, Elena?'' he asked again, keeping his voice calm. He could tell that she was about to cry. Whatever it was, it was hard on her.
''You'll be stuck with the burden too. I would not wish that on you,'' she said sadly. He gave her a compassionate look before moving a little closer to her.
''Then we'll share the burden together, just me and you,'' he said and she looked at him. He kept himself steady in his place, showing patient and giving her the time she needed.
''You first,'' she said after a while and he frowned.
''You tell me a secret first, one that you know could get you hanged. And then I'll tell you one,'' she said. Arthur and Henry exchanged gazes. Hanged?
''Okay,'' Lancelot said both confused and a little nervous. He cleared his throat and with hesitation, he opened his mouth.
''I think daily about our kiss,'' he began and she turned surprised towards him.
''And how much I want to kiss you again,'' he finished as silence followed. Arthur tensed, KISS?! He looked over at Lincoln that had lowered his gaze.
''Your turn,'' they heard Lancelot say. A moment of silence followed before Elena spoke.
''I caught them kissing. At the night of the ball... King James and Queen Anette,'' she let out as Arthur's eyes widened, gasps and noises were heard from everywhere.