Forbidden Love (Rewritten) | Arthur Pendragon

16 • THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS

I fear my father would not understand. That was what Arthur had told Eowyn. She had expected it yet hearing him say it still hurt. She knew very well that there never would be anything more than friends, but a part of her was forever hoping. Was it this difficult to find love? Or was it only this way for her? Why were there so many factors that had to come in between them? So many things to consider; the rules, the courtiers, the king, and the possibility of execution that was forever hanging above Eowyn's head. Could she ever surpass these all?

If only she was but a normal, magic-deprived girl. Life would been a lot easier. She would not fear getting killed, she would not grow up believing to be a monster, and she would not have to fear the opinion of others. It would be so simple. Yet, no matter how much she had once feared her powers, Eowyn still cared for it. It was a part of her. Was it right to hate it? To wish it would be gone? She felt guilty to have even thought such things once. Besides, would a normal peasant life would have pleased her? The most common ending for normal girls was ending up as a farmer's wife and later on, taking care of the children. This was not the kind of life she yearned for. Camelot might be a dangerous place for people like her, but she still found herself fulfilled here.

Early in the morning, Eowyn had left for the dragon's cave. If someone could help her clear her mind of doubt, it was Kilgharrah. He was of great, tremendous knowledge. He was wise, though from what Merlin had told her, also quite vengeful toward Uther. It was very understandable. After all, Uther had captured him and locked him under the castle. The issue with that was that Kilgharrah was so hateful of the current king that he desired more than anything else for him to die and for the magic to return to the lands, and would sacrifice anyone for it to happen. So when telling Merlin about the Isle of the Blessed, he had known of the possibility of Hunith's life being bargained yet told him anyway. Of course, when hearing that, Eowyn had been furious and she and Merlin had stopped visiting for months. But none of them could deny that his long life and great knowledge were very, very handy. Thus her visit this day.

When she stepped into the cave, Kilgharrah was still asleep on the rook. Eowyn cleared her throat and began to stir before eventually opening his eyes.

"Ah, young Ljosalfar. It has been quite a while since I have not seen you," he said. "What may be the reason behind your visit? Is Arthur's life at stake again?"

"No, but my presence here does concern him," she admitted. "I'd like to converse a bit about the prophecy you have told me when I first came here,"

Kilgharrah bent a bit, moving his head closer to her as a sign of attention. "What about it?"

Eowyn was shifting her balance from one foot to another with a bashful pout. "You said... you said that Arthur will reunite the lands of Albion and that I must stand beside him...,"

"Yes?" the Great Dragon pressed. She noticed that the corner of his lips was curled up which did not help with her embarrassment. It was not an easy and comfortable thing to say but she did not have much of a choice. She needed to know.

She sighed. "At first I believed it meant that I had to become a sort of advisor for him, but now I wonder... if it means something else,"

"As?"

"You know what I mean,"

Kilgharrah laughed. "I fear I don't,"

Eowyn refrained from rolling her eyes. It was obvious that the Great Dragon was taking great pleasure in her embarrassment and wished to hear it from her.

Again, Eowyn sighed. She swallowed and shifted her balance on her other foot again. "I was wondering if it means that I should stand beside him as... a lover,"