Those Who Waited (BBC Merlin)

Chapter 23: Pretty Faces and Old Souls

A few hours after sunrise, they decided they didn't want to stop and try to rent hotel rooms for everyone, so Lance climbed into the very back row to sleep as Gwen took over driving. It would take a full day of driving to get to where they'd been able to roughly calculate Lake Avalon hid. Really, it was a pretty large circle drawn in Sharpie on the map.

Lillian was still sitting up front, studying the map and muttering directions and possible routes to Gwen. And hushed concerns about the cobalt eyes that stared unseeing through the window, the thin body that barely moved except to allow shallow breath. The commercial route they were on would take them away from their destination, so they had to get off and take a slower, but more accurate trip. It was just noon when they exited and drove through the first town, a small, remote place that couldn't have had a population larger than four thousand. The next two were similar, all along the four-lane cement road they were to follow for the day.

At mid-afternoon, they stopped in the middle of another town to fill the tank, Gwen and Lance handling the pump and money while Lillian tugged Merlin out of the car for some air and to stretch their legs. Merlin stepped around and took in the street, the gas station in the center of the town, but kept his fingertips skimming the car as though he'd be lost if he didn't keep contact.

"I'm dying of starvation, you torturers," Lillian declared before starting towards the sandwich shop she saw two buildings down the street.

"Ham and cheese, please," Lance called, and Gwen just assumed her friend would grab something she wouldn't mind. Gwen turned most of her attention back to Merlin, minding that he didn't wander into the street or get too uncomfortable. She kept her sigh quiet, but saw Lance look at her in the corner of her eye. This world scared him, and Gwen hated the guilty, nervous, uncomfortable boy he was here when her memories -- increasing and becoming more clear by the day -- knew a strong, clever man who had always carried a weight even greater than hers but had never let it crumble his edges. Now, he seemed so lost, so unsure.

Gwen was about to open her mouth to try to say something, and she knew it would be useless. She was spared, however, by Lillian's yelp. Alertness shot down her spine and yanked it straight, and Gwen looked up with narrowed eyes and a tensed body.

Lillian stood only a few feet away, halted in her walk by seemingly her own shock. Her eyes were wide, her mouth dropped open, and her whole body was facing across the street where the only other two people out were glancing at her, having heard her noise. Gwen stepped towards her warily, until she yelled without warning.

"Rowanna!" The two people across the street fully stopped and looked at her this time. The six people seemed to freeze for a moment, even Merlin, and then Gwen blinked and the girl was on their side of the street and standing with her faces inches from Lillian's.

The girls mirrored each other, eyes wide and mouths parted to let out shocked gasps. Gwen blinked. And they were hugging each other. Gwen felt Lance and Merlin at her shoulders and the three slowly took the last few steps until they were just behind their friend. The man who'd been standing across the street was also coming closer, though unlike their wary footsteps his steps were lazy and relaxed.

"Gwen, Gwen," Lillian's voice was broken by laughter as she continued to clutch the new girl's shoulders. "This is Rowanna -- she's been in my dreams! She's one of us!"

Gwen hesitated, feeling no recognition even in her gut. She did not know this girl. She glanced at Lance, but he shrugged, and then at Merlin. Merlin looked at the girl with a small smile, his face a bit lighter than it had been this morning.