Elia frowned as she stood looking up at the Great Willow in the center of the grove. In the time since their return from Camelot, a few more branches had died and it had become impossible to keep from the council and elders.
It was troubling news. And now that she knew about Arthur's judgment by the Disir, she was beginning to wonder if perhaps the vision of the future where Arthur lived was but a fantasy. However, even then, she still retained a seed of hope.
Perhaps there was still time. Goodness knows she had nearly convinced most of the council that there was. And to trust that Merlin would succeed in fulfilling his destiny. Though there were still a few holdouts who were insisting that they accept their fate - it was time for the last of the elves to move to The Isles.
Their time here had come to an end.
"Is there nothing that can be done?" she asked, looking over at Faeranduil.
The ancient elf sighed, carefully studying the tree. While he had not voiced his thoughts on moving to The Isles, he hadn't outright supported her decision to stay either.
She had asked him to inspect the Great Willow with her in the hopes she could learn more of what was on his mind.
"There are things that I can do to slow it, but... I am afraid that the only thing that will stop the tree from dying, and restore it, is for magic to return," he said, looking over at her.
His normally calm face was twisted into a look of worry, which only furthered the queen's fears. She was of the mind that nothing could ever shake the wise elf.
She took a deep breath and looked back to the tree.
"What do you need?" she asked.
"I will send for the druid elders," he said.
She nodded, her eyes still fixed on the tree.
"Do what you can," she said. "Spare no expense."
"Yes, my queen," he replied, bowing to her.
"Do you think me mad? For not wanting to leave?" she asked suddenly, not looking at him.
Faeranduil was silent before speaking, carefully studying the young queen.
"I do not think you mad. I might question your motives a bit, but... you have proven that you will do whatever necessary to save our kind. I trust that you will make the right decision," he said solemnly.
She looked over at him.
"What would you do?" she asked.
"It matters not what I would do. I am not ruler of The Willows," he said.
Elia sighed heavily as she looked back at the tree. Of course, Faeranduil would not give her a straight answer. He started to turn away but stopped.
"Queen Elia." She looked over at him, her eyebrows raised. "Sometimes... things are not what they seem." She stared at him, confused. "The future is a fickle thing. You spend too much time dwelling on it, and you might miss what is right before your eyes. And just because it seems something is unavoidable, does not mean that what comes after is so bad."
Elia continued staring at him as the elf turned and walked away. She then walked beneath the tree's branches, settling among the roots as she pulled out Merlin's latest letter from her pocket, carefully unfolding it and re-reading it.
She was concerned about the revelations of Queen Guinevere, but he had assured her that he knew what to do to help her. Elia's heart broke for the queen. How she had been tricked into aiding Morgana.
YOU ARE READING
The Secret Kingdom
Fanfiction(Merlin Fanfiction) An unexpected encounter in the forest introduces Merlin and Arthur to the long-forgotten world of elves that many had thought faded into legend. But just like that - it's over and gone, with only the memories of the fiery elven p...
