Lost in Albion 3 (Merlin) - Completed

Chapter 29: Pheasants

Chapter 29

Arthur stands in the Square, donned in his chainmail for a formal farewell, the beginning of his quest. I've already wished him well this morning before he was ready in private. I stand off to the side with Gwen, watching as he mounts his horse.

Merlin and Arthur nod silently to each other, a manly farewell and good luck but I notice, ever so slightly, Merlin's head jerk down.

Simultaneously, my body becomes not my own. It reminds me of the time that I was taken from my future time, sucked in through the fourth dimension. There is no wait for my body to appear anywhere though as a new sight appears before my eyes. A horse, chainmail. A bracelet. I feel the draw to it.

I don't control where I'm looking, or the body I look through. It moves of its own accord. It is disorientating as I realise, I'm seeing the world through somebody else's eyes. Merlin's eyes. The man on the horse is Arthur.

But where am I then?

There's a gasp coming from the other side of Arthur's horse, but it sounds twice through my head as though I'm hearing it twice. Merlin's sight changes as he steps in front of Arthur's horse.

He looks at the stairs, where Gwen is standing. Or was standing. She is now kneeling over a limp body. Merlin runs closer, kneeling down beside Gwen. To my absolute horror, the person on the ground is me. My eyes are open but unfocused. It's like I'm still awake just...seeing everything through Merlin.

"What happened?" Merlin asks. I almost feel his mouth moving as though it is my own. The sound echoes twice as I hear it both through my own ears and his. I'm still conscious in my own body. It doesn't even look like me.

Two people come over, one being Gaius who starts testing my vitals. I feel the ghost if his hands on me. I can barely see the other person, unable to turn my head to look but the blonde hair lets me know it is Arthur.

"She just fell," Gwen gapes, her hand pushing my hair back from my forehead. Gaius waves a hand in front of my eyes, but they don't react, just staring blankly ahead.

"Elena?" Arthur calls, tapping a hand against my cheek. "Elena?"

"She's still breathing," Gaius observes.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Arthur snaps.

The same feeling washed over me as before, the quick pull through another dimension. My sight fades, refocusing on the opposite perspective that I just had. Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, and Gaius loom over me. I blink, breathing heavily. I lift my body up, surprising the people around me. My gaze finds Merlin's and I stare at him blankly.

"Elena?" Gaius calls but I barely hear it. "Elena!"

"I'm fine," I say, breaking my gaze away. "Sorry, I don't think I got much sleep."

"That's not what happens to someone who's tired," Arthur states, eyeing my warily.

"As I said, I'm fine." I look past him at his horse which is standing in the middle of the Square. His father and the rest of the farewell entourage are waiting, gazing over in our direction, whispering amongst themselves. "You have a quest to leave for."

"I'm not sure-"

"Go," I tell him. Arthur shuts his mouth, watching my face for a few more seconds. His gaze flickers around the others before looking over his shoulder. He stands back up, walking over to his horse and mounting again. We watch him ride off out of the Square, ending the farewell. "I'm fine," I say to them again, standing back up. Merlin's hand rest on my elbow and side, assisting me but I truly don't need it.