Rabbit Heart - Merlin Fanfiction

Spring cleaning

Gwen waltzed into Arthurs chambers to which she found Merlin and Arthur arguing over the cleanliness of the room.

"Merlin - we've spoken about this before - you aren't spring cleaning!"
"How do you know?"
"Well it's not SPRING?!"

Gwen clears her throat and Arthur spins around surprised.
"Guinevere!" Arthur exclaims, arms open wide in the air to greet her.
"Arthur" she smiles.
"Just the person I wanted to see, how are you?"
"I'm very well sire"
"Enough of that Guinevere - you aren't around the council now" he says striding over. Gwen smiles and nods meekly.
"I'm sorry to disturb you two" she laughs as she surveys the messy room.
"Guinevere would you mind telling 'Mer-lin' that it's not spring and this is not spring cleaning!" Arthur moans whilst accentuating Merlin's name.
Gwen looks up bit miffed - a moment ago Arthur was looking for her but she highly doubted this was the reason. Merlin turns to look at her expectantly.
"I think you missed a spot Merlin" she laughed.
Merlin throws his arms up in defeat,
"Everyones a critic!" He moans "I thought you of all people would understand the struggle Gwen" he jokes, "looking after these royal prats" he winks to Arthur.
Arthur pretends to be offended and Merlin looks overly happy that he has finally won the comeback war.

A silence falls over the room, which is soon broken by Gwen.
"I heard you wanted me?" Gwen asks Arthur.

"Ah yes I wanted to talk to you about a matter that's somewhat close to my heart"
Gwen flushes and turns her head away slightly embarrassed. Half believing Arthur may declare his love for her, the other fearful that he loves another. Luckily for Gwen all eyes were on the disheveled figure walking through the door.
"Elaine!" Arthur beams, as she stares around the room. A gleaming white fire place, candle stands, a long sturdy wooden table, shields and swords adorn the walls. It screamed royalty. Her gaze falls onto Arthur but slowly drifts towards Merlin. She glares at him briefly still shaken from the vision that so freely leaked from pristine walls. Merlin looks bewildered but shrugs it off but by doing so his rolled up sleeves slid back down his arms. He slaps his hands against his legs - nothing is working for him today.

"Guinevere -" Arthur begins not really sure of how to go about the topic, "it has come to my attention that I have...well shall we say acquired a family member and as one of my most trusted and loyal servants-" the word servants is said with such distaste and Elaine spies him as she runs her hand over the polishes wooden table. "- I would like to introduce you to Elaine - my sister"

Gwen looks astounded - she heard the words "family member" but never expected a sibling to fall from his lips. Arthur frowns, confused slightly by her reaction - it was the same one he received when she walked in on him with donkey ears. He shakes it off aware that the news was bound to come as a shock, even he found it surprising.
"I was also wondering Guinevere- if you wouldn't mind becoming her handmaiden, as I can think of no one better than yourself. I know you will give her the upmost care and attention that she has lacked over the years".
"It'd be a pleasure Arthur and Elaine" gwen replies smiling, not giving the role a second thought. Arthur smiles to her, knowing her caring nature was going to waste hurrying up and down the corridors of Camelot.

Elaine looks up slowly raising an eyebrow.
"My life wasn't that bad" she exclaims.
Arthur turns to look at her and pulls a face - "no offence sis but you certainly look it" he winks.
"That was one...well... That's not the point of the matter!"
"Then what is?" Merlin questions, but is slowly silenced by Elaine's dagger looks.
"Are we actually announcing who I am?"
"Certainly why on earth not?" Asks Arthur.
"Well for a start it'd put your father's -"
"Our father's" Arthur corrects
"Our father's name to shame!, the people would never accept me!"
"And why would that be?"
"Because of who I am - if Uther wanted me hidden there must of been a reason. People talk, they are bound to know of me and my kind and because of Morgana and her ways I'll never be trusted, are you sure you have thought this through?"
"Why the sudden change of heart? Only moments ago where you too overwhelmed by my generosity!"
"Well somethings are better when nobody else knows" Elaine states looking at Merlin whilst doing so, he frowns confused.
"Elaine - what did I say earlier - you've proved to me the meaning of family and I'm willing to keep it!"

During the discussions Gwen had shuffled over closer to Merlin and they look at each other, somewhat enjoying the debate.
"No ones taken him on like this since Morgana was around" whispers Gwen.
"It's funny you should say that" Merlin replies.
"You don't mean"
Merlin nods "according to Gaius anyway - I mean he knows everything - but I must admit there are plenty of similarities."
Gwen nods and humms quietly "will she be ok though?"
Merlin frowns slightly, finally allowing himself to think about the question posed to him, the question that hds been burning in his mind for a while -
"Honestly Gwen I'm not sure but from what I've seen we shouldn't have anything to worry about. She been with Morgana and they had the chance to kill Arthur... Well not Elaine, more Morgana but she had the chance too but chose to spare him. That must mean something!"
"I guess so" Gwen agrees, looking at Merlin whilst clutching onto his sleeve.

Arthur and Elaine are still locked in a heated debate.
"That's all well and good Arthur but k don't believe I'll be accepted by your people! They won't trust me not when they know"
"What does that matter? I'm their king"
"Is that arrogance I see?" She remarks
"Oh you can talk!"
"How would you know you've only mete five minutes"
"Are you forgetting the time I stumbled upon the hovel and all of those after that?"
"But a few times Arthur where I was just a face in the forest nothing more - now look at us - reunited under new terms."
"Elaine why are you being like this"
"I just worry Arthur -" she admits sounding defeated "for my safety, self centred I know but I've lived a life on the run from a sentence that was handed to me, I never asked for it - will I be safe here?" She questions as she directs the last part of the question at Merlin.

Arthur begins to pave, frustrated that they had already clashed heads.
"Yes, yes I will make sure you are safe"
Elaine nods but noted that she received no clarification from Merlin, but she doubted he understood her subtly.
"And can I ask Elaine, what of my safety, the kingdoms safety, this is the perfect opportunity for you, for Morgana. Can I rely on you?"

Elaine pauses and this unsettles Arthur, the fact she actually had to think about the answer.
"Yes" she answers finally.