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The fairy in his head was banging harder and louder as he heard an annoying ringing in his ears. He wished he'd taken more care in how much he drank, but he'd just downed the tankards one after the other without thinking. That must have been how the fairy snuck in. His eyes narrowed, the next time he went drinking, if he survived with a fairy banging around in his head, he'd keep a closer eye. No angry fairies with weird names were ever going to get past him again. “Well it is quite a rare thing, so I’m not quite sure...” He stared at Gwaine, a genuinely petrified look on his face. "What?!" He practically screeched at him. "The fairy's going to be in my head forever?" He couldn't live that way! "There must be some way...any way," he pleaded with Gwaine. There was no way he'd be a proper knight with all his manliness intact. And he had a lot of manliness.

He didn't even attempt to help Gwaine drag Elyan to his room. The only contribution he really made was putting one foot in front of the other, and he wasn't always successful in doing even that. He ceased poking and prodding at his friend's hair; he'd have to learn about that secret another time. After some time of feeling sorry for himself at the state of his massive headache, he decided to openly show his emotions. He didn't do that often, but now he felt everyone should know how Elyan felt.

And so he began to sing.

His words were a mumble and barely audible most of the time. But the audible parts were a mix of 'my manliness is destoooyed' and 'I want long luscious hair.' He wasn't the greatest of singers when drunk and so the melody was out of tune and all over the place. But he didn't care. It was an expression of his raw emotion.

He could hardly believe everything Gwen was saying about Lamia. She seemed like such a nice but frightened girl. It was almost impossible to think of her as a scheming monster who wanted to eat him. She looked too small and fragile to ever want to eat anybody. But the evidence said differently. He remembered how odd he and all the others had been acting, which pointed to the conclusion that magic was being used. He smiled at the way she spoke of Arthur saving them. The look of pure love in her eyes made him even more thankful that Arthur saved them all so that he could see it. So that he could see his sister be happy. He sat up and put his arms around his sister, hugging her close. "You'll never lose me," he whispered into her hair. She was the only family he had left, and he wasn't about to let that go easily.

He let her go slightly to inspect any damage that had been done. He could see a few of the bruises that she mentioned and was just thankful that she hadn't been seriously injured. He vaguley remembered the hostility that arose between him and his fellow knights when they met Lamia. It made him feel like an idiot that he hadn't noticed it sooner. Elyan raised his eyebrows slightly when she mentioned Merlin not being under her spell. "Merlin wasn't affected?" Hadn't all the men been affected by her spell? It was odd. He couldn't help but smile warmly at her next words. He'd grown to love the other knights like brothers and knew the bond they shared was stronger than any magic. "Well I shall be sure to thank them, but first," he hugged her again. "I shall thank you for taking care of me." Like she always did. He never wanted her to know loss again and he'd do everything physically possible to make sure she didn't. Elyan stretched slightly and felt a lot better after relieving some of the stiffness. But his legs still felt cramped. "Can we take a walk?"

Elyan was feeling more clumsy and embarrassed than hurt. His gash did sting none the less but it was nothing he couldn't handle. Pain wasn't a huge problem for him, he'd learnt how to deal with it at a young age. Elyan had burnt himself more times than he could count at his father's forge and cut himself many times with weapons his father or he made. He also knew that he'd continued to get injured in the future whether in training or on the battle field. He just didn't want to get hurt because he was too clumsy and easily distracted to take notice of a potentially harmful axe on the floor. But what was done was done and there was no point dwelling on it. He'd just have to live with the fact that he'd made a fool of himself in front of a fellow knight. He wasn't going to spend the rest of the day frowning about it.

As he tied the ripped cloth around his cut, he looked up at Sir Iwan. He raised an eyebrow slightly at the expression on his face. Saying he looked tense was an understatement. Was the man having a panic attack? He glanced around him to see what would cause such a reaction but he didn't see anything. Maybe the man had a problem with blood, but surely that couldn't be it. He wouldn't be able to last as long as he had as a knight otherwise. He decided to dismiss the reaction; he definitely didn't want to ask about it, especially if it did have something to do with him or his cut. He didn't want the situation turning awkward or anything, or at least more awkward than it already was.

Elyan's eyes narrowed when Iwan paused after his question. The other knight was looking at him like he was insane. Were there no spares then? "Yes, yes of course." Good. He watched Iwan walk toward the other end of the room and contemplated the weird reactions. Was it something to do with his cape? He wasn't sure, but it was of no matter. At least he wasn't seriously hurt. He put the ruined cape down next to him; he wasn't going to need it anymore. "Thank you," he politely accepted the cape from Iwan and slowly stood up. Testing his weight on his hurt leg for a moment, he found that it stung slightly but he'd be able to walk on it. He carefully put on the cape around his back and sighed in relief that there were spares. "Right." Elyan clapped his hands and rubbed them in an attempt to relieve the tension. He grinned at Iwan and raised his eyebrows slightly, motioning towards the door. They hadn't really had much of a tour of the armoury but Elyan already knew it pretty well. "Onwards?"

“Elyan, it’s nice to see you again.” He felt almost relieved when she said that. He'd been afraid that she'd maybe turn him away. His attention however was distracted by a tiny wriggling form in Caitrin's arms. He stepped into the room after she beckoned him in, closing the door behind him. He couldn't help but grin at her words as he stepped closer to her and the squirming child in her arms. "Of course I'd love to meet them," he said with a genuine smile on his face. He didn't have a lot of experience with new born infants, but that did not make him exempt from feeling awed and strangely happy at the prospect of a new life in the world. Or rather two new lives in this case. He'd only ever cared for his sister, but he knew nothing of what it was like to care for a son or a daughter. He would just have to wait and see until it was his time to feel that overwhelming sense of love and protectiveness.

He walked closer to her until he could see the child in her arms. The child's eyes were wide open and ridiculously out of proportion, only making the baby more adorable. "Your baby is precious," he thought aloud. "I see you actually have two, a miracle in itself," he chuckled. He looked back at Caitrin before asking abashedly, "So what's his or her name?" He wasn't sure if it was just him but it was nearly impossible for him to outright tell if a new born was a boy or a girl. He felt slightly embarrassed and hoped he hadn't caused offence. "I feel I have to apologise though," he started. Now was a good a time as any, "about before, it wasn't exactly the best of first meetings." He smiled weakly. He felt extremely guilty for leading her so far away from her room and for taking so long to return her. "I'm just glad you're alright," he said sincerely. He'd been incredibly worried before, and some of that worry was still evident on his face despite the proof that Caitrin was fine.

Elyan had been on his own for four months and he'd been loving it. He missed his younger sister dearly, but the thrill of being free stopped him from returning to Camelot. He hadn't ventured too far...yet. He'd decided to get his bearings first before embarking on the adventure of a lifetime to travel across the five kingdoms. Elyan had opened a relatively small smithy on the outskirts of Escetia about a month after venturing out of Camelot. At first it had been difficult to become truly established but soon many people came to him to commission weapons such as swords and daggers. They commented on his skill and he'd always thanked them. He'd been taught by the best, he'd always say. In his opinion and probably many others, his father was the best blacksmith in all the lands. Better than any royal blacksmith, that was for certain.

He was working on a sword and sighed when he thought of his father. The last time they'd spoken they had been arguing. It's what had prompted Elyan to finally leave after he'd been thinking about it for so long. They'd both been harsh, but his father was stubborn and by the gods so was he. He'd probably go to Camelot again to visit, but first he wanted to make a name for himself, achieve something to show his father he wasn't just a reckless boy, he was a man. He didn't hate his father, quite the opposite, he loved him, but he hated being caged up in Camelot. Tom just hadn't understood that. But at the end of the day it had been his father who had taught him how to truly be a great blacksmith. That he shouldn't force the metal into shape, but gently mould it artfully into whatever it needed to be, whether that was a sword or a horse shoe.

The doors to his forge slammed open and he had to fight to not visibly roll his eyes. It was the same man that had been paying him regular visits, Sir Edward. He was dressed in armour and a cape with the crest of Escetia stitched into it. He also wore rather expensive boots and had a sword with a silver hilt in his belt. Elyan always silently thought the knight never actually had need to don such clothes but only did so to flaunt how much better off he was than everyone else; how much better off he was than Elyan. "What is it now Edward?" Elyan covered his mouth as he mockingly yawned. Edward's face contorted into an ugly snarl. "How many times do I have to say that's Sir Edwards to you, commoner." He smirked at Elyan as if he'd deeply wounded him. Elyan just shrugged off the comment. "It seems one more time Edward," he retorted with a smirk of his own. "You need to learn some manners, boy." Elyan had had enough of this. The knight was probably only a few years older than Elyan and newly knighted. "Didn't your mother ever teach you?" The knight sneered. Elyan narrowed his eyes glarling and his jaw visibly tensed. Edward noticed and continued spurred on by the unexpected reaction. "What, is she dead or did she abandon you?" He jeered. "Shut up." He was going too far. "Probably for the best, any mother of yours must have been a harlot anyway."

That was it. A small crowd had already gathered at the scene but Elyan didn't care. His fist connected with Edwards face before he finished speaking. If there was anything Elyan would kill over it was someone disrespecting his dear mother. The knight tried to fight back but Elyan easily blocked his blows and continued to punch expertly. The knight already had a black eye forming and a broken nose and several cuts and bruises. As if only just realising it was there the knight fumbled before grabbing his sword from his belt and pointing it squarely at Elyan's chest. "How dare you attack a knight?" Sir Edward bellowed, spitting blood. "I'll let you go, if you apologise," he smirked. Elyan chuckled at the notion. "Over my dead body." The knight smiled wickedly. "So be it."

---

Note: Sorry about the length I got a bit carried away

Elyan had always silently or outwardly laughed at Gwaine's ridiculous attempts to woo and flirt with women. He thought he was such a lady killer which would make Elyan laugh all the more on the occasions ladies would turn him down. On the occasions they didn't Gwaine would smirk at him and Elyan would just feel sorry for the poor woman who'd fallen for Gwaine's charms. “Oh they would be, they’d be inconsolable.” Elyan snorted. "Sure," he said sarcastically. "But I can think of a few that I think I'd probably be able to...console." He smirked at Gwaine. He wouldn't usually talk like this, but he was drunk so whatever popped into his head would fly out of his mouth. "Not every woman in Camelot fall over their own feet to catch your eye, you know." He remembered one had actually done just that in the first week he and Gwaine were knights. It was ridiculous, how some women threw themselves at his fellow knight. Maybe it was his hair. Elyan paused in thought, he'd have to think about that one.

His friend was a bit weird, but he guessed they all were in their own ways. Except for him of course, he thought wryly knowing it wasn't true. He looked up at Gwaine when he mentioned taking Elyan's comment as a compliment, a smile as plain as day on his lips. "You would, that, my friend, is why you're weird," he said matter-of-factly. “You’re a stick compared to me.” Elyan scoffed at Gwaine and stopped leaning on him, carrying his own weight. He swayed slightly at first at the loss of support, but then found his balance. "Strength isn't all about muscle anyway, it's about technique too." He grinned before facing Gwaine fully with his fists in front of him. "Come on, show me what you can do."

He was fully prepared to take on Gwaine and stupidly over-confidant. He was about to make the first move when the grin suddenly fell from his face. Oh no. He abruptly turned behind him to the hay he'd almost considered living in and proceeded to vomit from his excessive drinking. He clutched his stomach which was probably empty now and looked up to see a man a few feet away with an extremely angry expression. "That was my hay," he bellowed. Elyan stepped back towards Gwaine, a hesitant smile on his face and indiscreetly whispered, "I think now would be a great time to run."

Elyan attempted once again to cast his thoughts back, thinking since he was more awake he'd have more success. He was wrong. He just hit a wall. The last thing he remembered was keeping watch while they were escorting Lamia somewhere safe. Was she alright? Did the knights end up helping her? He had many questions but Gwen had some of her own. When she asked about Lamia his eyes looked back up at her face. "Yes," he answered shortly. He was about to continue but Gwen's words silenced him. His eyes widened when she said that Lamia had in fact been a creature. It seemed many strangers the knights encountered had something to do with magic. It was almost comical if it hadn't caused him and others pain. "Are you serious?" He knew Gwen wasn't one to joke about something like that but he couldn't quite believe it.

Lamia had seemed like such a nice girl when they'd met her. A bit shaken yes but that was to be expected. It seemed it had all just been an act to lure them to her. When he went over the previous days after they met her, he noticed the change in his behaviour. The way he'd spoken to Gwen and all the knights arguing. It was coming back to him now, the fuzziness in his mind fading. As he thought about it now, he felt stupid for not noticing that something must have been wrong of course. He creased his eyebrows when she said he'd been sick for days. "Days, really?" He'd been unconscious that wrong. He leaned over to her and hugged her tightly. He didn't want her to be worried for him. He was sure he'd recover. "I'm sorry Gwen, about everything over the last few days." He recalled the harsh way he'd regarded her in Lamia's presence. "Are the others alright?" That was high on his mind now. They were his brothers in arms, so he felt naturally worried for them especially after hearing about the creature/girl. "Are you okay?" She looked fine to him but if everyone had been put under Lamia's spell, Gwen could have been hurt too. He couldn't bare the thought.

He loved his sister more than words could say and he knew he'd do everything in his power to make sure she wasn't forced to leave again. But he was still afraid that she would, that it would be beyond his power to stop her even though it was his job to protect her as her older brother. He felt like he'd failed her...again, like he'd repeatedly done before. She always took care of him instead of the other way round like it was supposed to be. He didn't deserve to have a sister that cared for him like she did, but he wasn't going to voice his thoughts. He just decided to be grateful for having her. He heard the slight lie in her voice, it was more like a deflection from the subject. She'd never really been much of a liar, always prone to telling the truth. But he chose not to push the matter further and decided to chuckle when she mentioned Gaius' medicine. "Do I have to?" He whined like a child. "I don't think I need it, I'm feeling much better." He pushed up on his arm slightly and flinched visibly while trying and failing to stifle a groan. It seemed his body didn't agree with his words.

He felt unusually relieved when she said that she stayed close to Merlin. "Good," he sighed. He didn't know what it was about the man but in the midst of trouble, Merlin was always an unexpected good luck charm. It was fascinatingly weird that a skinny man like Merlin could make his way through a battle without so much as a scratch. It was insane how lucky the boy was. But there wasn't any point questioning it, they should just be thankful and hope that luck never runs out. "Morgana escaped," Elyan's eyes closed tight in anger as Gwen continued, his heart filled with hate for the witch. "Will we never be rid of her?" He exclaimed with his jaw tight in anger moving up again, but cringed with the pain that the outburst had caused. It just further reminded him of what Morgana had done. He didn't usually have a temper, he was more reserved but he still felt deeply scarred. Although he wouldn't want to admit it to Gwen, it would probably take a while before he felt the same as he used to, if that even happened at all. He exhaled unsteadily, he didn't want to lose his temper in his condition and especially not in front of Gwen, he was probably being overdramatic. "I'm sorry," he quickly said. "I know she used to be your friend and..." He paused, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout." He smiled at her apologetically.

Elyan had been punched many times in his life...so far. They weren't usually enjoyable. He remembered his first real fight when he was about eleven years old. Someone made a horrible comment about his sister after she'd just taken the job to work for Morgana. He couldn't remember exactly what had been said but it had been enough for Elyan to throw the first punch. At the time he hadn't realised how much it would hurt his fist rather than just the other boy's face. Before long both of them had to be pulled apart by the other boy's father, the old baker. He remembered the fight so vividly because he'd never forget the row he'd gotten from his father afterwards. Tom would never usually shout, he was more of the 'I'm very disappointed in you' kind of parent. But their mother had just died and he guessed his father just didn't need a foolish son getting in to fights in the street. He creased his eyebrows at the memory; it seemed drinking made him think of the past. “Well I’m not getting in the way of all of them. If I spoilt this face then the ladies of Camelot would be incredibly unhappy.” Elyan didn't have to be sober to laugh at that. "Oh I'm sure they'd be utterly devastated," he said with sarcasm dripping off every word. He continued chuckling to himself. Gwaine really was very big headed sometimes...or rather most of the time.

When Elyan got drunk his brain got a little slow which caused him to miss the innuendo that could be taken from his broken up words. He just gave Gwaine a confused look when he began laughing. Even after Gwaine spoke, joking and teasing him, Elyan still didn't catch on. He'd already pretty much forgotten about what he'd said so he couldn't think why Gwaine was being so odd and insinuating...things. Elyan just narrowed his eyes at him. "You're really weird." It was more to himself but in his drunken state of mind, he couldn't really control what was coming out of his mouth and what wasn't. He was very glad when Gwaine finally helped him up to sit and was about to thank him when Gwaine spoke again. “You’re heavy, did you know that?” Elyan narrowed his eyes at him. "It's all muscle, obviously." He pushed himself off the ground and deliberately leaned on Gwaine when he was up. "I bet I've got more muscle than you." He poked Gwaine squarely in the chest for emphasis and raised an eyebrow in challenge.