When the Dead Come Calling

[cherryblossom131]

Elyan was sitting on the edge of his bed in his chambers with his head in his hands. He had been nursing a small headache since the possession ordeal. He could honestly hardly remember most of it. He had been trying hard to remember being possessed but it's almost like he had been asleep the whole time when the child took over him; like he had just switched off. He could only remember random images like it was a dream but everything was slowly slipping away. The thought unnerved him and sent shivers down his back. He had yet to apologise to Arthur; the King about almost killing him, which he had apparently tried to do when the child was controlling him. He had apparently done many things under the child's control. Despite having most of his memory of the entire experience gone, he couldn't forget the child's face, the pure fear he had felt in his heart when it began to torment him. He feared the experience would stay with him forever.

He wished his sister could have been here. She would have known exactly what to say and do to make him feel more at ease. She always did. But she wasn't here to comfort him, and he missed her dearly. He decided to sit up slightly and think of something else, maybe that would ease his mind. It turned out that thinking of something random after a traumatising experience was very difficult indeed. He let out a groan of frustration and put his head back in his hands. Maybe he should talk to Gaius about getting a tonic for his head. He'd brushed it off after Gaius had offered before, but now maybe he would change his mind. He hadn't really been sleeping well and probably looked a mess. His head looked up when he heard someone knocking at his door. He thought for a split second that it might be Gwen, but quickly purged the idea from his mind. That was impossible and it would be foolish of him to hope. He stood up and made his way over to the door and opened it to see Arthur. He could have laughed at himself, if it wasn't so pathetic because despite the fact that it wasn't possible, he'd still felt a tiny shred of hope being crushed when he saw that it wasn't his sister at the door. "My lord," he addressed him formally. "What can I do for you?"

Tag: King Arthur
Setting: In Elyan's room in the evening
Timeline: After 'The Heard of a New Age'

[Arthur Pendragon]

Recent events had weighed heavily on the young king. Ever since Guinevère's banishment, he knew that he was not the same. No one was. There was always that underlying tension among everyone. That subject that dared not be broached. And Arthur knew it was only going to get worse once the negotiations with Nemeth were finalized. And as if that all was not bad enough, Elyan's body and mind had not been his own. Others didn't say it, but there was that clear assumption of why that particular knight had initially attacked the king. Arthur never doubted the former blacksmith's loyalty. Yet at the same time, hated that he was forced in a position of choosing between his sister and his king. Nothing was how it was supposed to be. Arthur had predicted this time to be extremely different and yet all that filled the castle was tension. And Arthur knew it was his own fault.

Had he taken responsibility for his actions -- leading the raid on the druid camp -- then Elyan's life would not have been jeopardized as it had been. If anything had happened to the knight, Arthur would never forgive himself. He wondered how much better off this family would have been without him and his own. Tom would still be alive. Guinevère could have happily been with Lancelot. And Elyan would not have been forced into the position he had been, both in terms of Guinevère and with his recent position. How could he be so harmful to people he cared for so much? Yet he supposed it made sense. Morgana was a clear example of that. Shaking his head of these thoughts, he needed to check on Elyan to see how he was recovering. And then explain the reasons and results of everything. He had finally taken responsibility for what he did to the druids, now he needed to explain it to Elyan for he owed him that at the very least.

Casually dressed, however with his sword at his side, Arthur made his way to the knight's chambers, knocking on the door. At least something somewhat good had come from all this . . . and that was the druids were a free people. Though he wasn't entirely sure if the council actually approved of his decision. He only knew in his heart that it felt right. And ironically, Guinevère was one of the people who would reaffirm his decision, by expressing her faith in him. It did not take long for Elyan to answer and once again, Arthur dismissed these thoughts for the time being. "Elyan," he greeted with a small nod. "I just wanted to come by to see how you were recovering from recent events." That sounded a lot better than using the term possession or something of the like. He wasn't sure if Elyan preferred to rest or if he would welcome him inside. Arthur assumed neither and waited for either him to say he was not up for company, or to welcome him inside. Arthur would not presume what Elyan preferred without him demonstrating his preference.