Sir Elyan (
runaway_smith) wrote2011-12-03 10:48 pm
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Entry tags:
Merlin/The lonely dark
Elyan lies in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The covers are drawn up to his neck, fingers twisted in the sheets. His chambers are dark, the candle having burned out an hour before from the draught from the open window.
He has apologised to Arthur, sincerely and desperately, but he cannot help the events playing through his head. The terror of seeing the child, the mindlessness of needing to kill his king, his friend striking him down...
He doesn't remember much, except how he backed away in the armoury, only to end up back in his room, losing his grip on reality. But his face stung and he remembered Gwaine's fist...
Now he cannot sleep, mind haunted by the dark and his ears straining for the sound of dripping water. The shadows are dark, like jagged rocks. Did it move? Elyan sits up, clutching at the covers, watching the shadows.
The curtain blows in. Elyan screams.
He has apologised to Arthur, sincerely and desperately, but he cannot help the events playing through his head. The terror of seeing the child, the mindlessness of needing to kill his king, his friend striking him down...
He doesn't remember much, except how he backed away in the armoury, only to end up back in his room, losing his grip on reality. But his face stung and he remembered Gwaine's fist...
Now he cannot sleep, mind haunted by the dark and his ears straining for the sound of dripping water. The shadows are dark, like jagged rocks. Did it move? Elyan sits up, clutching at the covers, watching the shadows.
The curtain blows in. Elyan screams.
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He'd stupidly thought this was all over.
Slamming through the doors of Elyan's chambers, his hands are ready in fists in case his friend should come flying at him, possessed still by a spirit.
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It's Gwaine. Gwaine ready for a fight, it seems.
"It's...it's fine," he gets out, heart hammering.
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He trails off. He won't tell Gwaine he's afraid of the dark.
"I'll be fine. You can go."
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"You told me you were fine before."
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It's a stupid question, but Gwaine's had more than a couple of drinks at the tavern, and Elyan doesn't sound like he had done, the last time he'd been in this situation. He still feels guilty, now, for not noticing the problem at the time,
"What were you screaming about, then?"
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"I thought I saw something," he said quietly. "Just like when he was here."
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"Apart from two lumps on my head, I'm good old Sir Elyan again. Feel free to drink all my water the next time I'm allowed out."
His words are slightly bitter, but he's not in the mood for Gwaine's suspicions.
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"I'll not be drinking anything of yours again, don't you worry," he promises.
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"Afraid you might catch something?"
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"Why are you here?" he says in a low voice.
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"I wasn't just about to keep on walking by."
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"You could've walked by," he said. "It's the least I deserve."
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"But that wouldn't have made me a very good friend, now, would it?"
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Elyan doesn't really mean that. He's tired and overwrought, but he can't deny that Gwaine's actions have been bothering him.
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"Sorry, about that."
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"Percival did the same."
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"I warned you to back off. There's only so much shoving a man can take before instinct takes over."
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"We all swore to protect the king. We couldn't ignore our duty. Though none of us wished any serious harm to come to you."
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He trails off, unable to even say the words. The unthinkable.
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"And I'm sure you'd have done the same, if it'd had been me who'd seen the spirit."
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"The salt didn't work, by the way."
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He smiles at the mention of salt, not suspecting any other response. "Not surprised. Don't believe in the stuff, personally."
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He feels better talking to Gwaine, his mind more at ease. He absently realises he's still touching Gwaine's arm, but doesn't feel like moving his hand just yet.
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"That's better," he decides.
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"Thank you," he says gratefully.
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Pausing before he leaves, he turns back to look at his friend. "You know I'm right down the hallway, if... you need me."
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"Thanks," he says, with a small smile.
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"No more screaming," he promises.
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