Elizabeth and the Goddess of Death

Chapter Six

It's been about two weeks without Gwaine, and Elizabeth's pain hadn't gotten any easier. But today, she decided to do something about it.

"Gaius?" Elizabeth asks after softly knocking on the already open door in case the physician needed a heads up that he had company.

"Elizabeth! I'm surprised to see you, what brings you here? Sleeping draft?" Gaius offers, figuring the girl wanted something to spare her from the nightmares. He wasn't sure if she still needed space, but that didn't stop the pleasant grin from appearing on his face.

"No, uh...do you have anything on how to bring people back from the dead?" Elizabeth asks timidly, looking up at him.

"The only thing I know of is when Morgana had brought back Lancelot. But even then he was just a shell, Elizabeth...I don't know-"

"There has to be something. I mean, look at the history of medicines. We've discovered new sicknesses and new cures. Surely there has to be something." Elizabeth cuts him off before cringing and realizing she had interrupted him. "Sorry, I-I didn't mean to interrupt." She finishes, biting her lip. Before Gaius can respond, Merlin walks in.

"Liz! Y-You're up!" Merlin exclaims happily, face breaking into a grin like that of a child receiving a gift.

"Yeah. Yeah I am. I was checking to see if Gaius knew how to bring back the dead." Elizabeth admits, looking over at him with a smile that, while genuine, was half of a fraction of Merlin's.

"I don't know-" Merlin starts.

"I know. Nothing that really brings anything other than a shell back. Not yet." Elizabeth says with a frown, pondering the next course of action. "Do we still have the Horn of Cathbhadh? I mean, the dead have probably encountered Morrígan, the goddess of death. Maybe they know something we don't. I know it's a stretch but I have to try."

"We still have it. It's in the vault." Merlin says after a moment. He missed her so happy, hell he missed seeing her in general. Even when he'd go to make sure she ate at least something, it didn't even feel like her. It just felt like a shell of the person she once was.

And with that news, Elizabeth grinned wider than she had since Gwaine's death.

"Thank you, Merlin. Let's go!" Elizabeth encourages eagerly, taking Merlin's wrist and practically dragging the servant with her, renewed by a childlike ecstasy. That was the Elizabeth he knew, and he couldn't wait to get her back.

So, through the halls the pair went, narrowly avoiding running over almost everyone they encountered along the way.

"Elizabeth!" Arthur says, just as surprised as everyone else has been when they saw the energized princess.

"Arthur!" Elizabeth says, pausing to give him a hug. The king didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her.

"You're out of your room." He adds, just trying to tease his sister. He obviously hasn't done it in a while, and no time like the present to pick it back up now that she's in a better mood.

"Yes. Merlin's taking me to the Horn of Cathbhadh, I get to talk to Gwaine!" Elizabeth explains, beaming brightly. "We'll see if he's heard anything the living world hasn't about how to bring people back. Isn't it wonderful?" She adds, still grinning widely.

"If I didn't know you I might say you're the smarter sibling." The king teases once again, although the smile on his face was more than just from the joking. Seeing her happy and hopeful again...he could only hope it would stay. "I wish you luck sister. Report back to me with what you find out, yes?" He asks, warmth in his blue eyes.

"Of course." Elizabeth agrees with a nod, taking Merlin by the wrist once more and leading him behind her.

****

"There it is!" Elizabeth exclaims when she sees the horn, rushing to it and picking it up. "I can see him again." She adds, getting choked up at the thought. Tears of joy filled the green eyes and she turned back to Merlin, smiling softly.

"You will. With the horn, and then after as well. If anyone could figure this out, it's you." Merlin says, his confidence in her bringing out a happy tear.

"Thank you, Merlin." She answers with a watery smile, going to hug him. "I appreciate you." She adds as she lets go.

Words like that never failed to make the servant happy or to paint a smile on his face, as he spent so many years working both as a servant and Arthur's protector with little recognition. Since Arthur found out about his magic, his recognition has skyrocketed but his appreciation for those kinds of words has stayed the same.

"Uh, does it have to be the Rocks of Nemeton where I blow the horn? I wish to see him as soon as possible." Elizabeth asks, looking up at him.

"I think anywhere with an open space works." Merlin says.

"To the throne room, then. It's the closest open space." Elizabeth decides, leaving the vault with Merlin at her heels.