Lost in Albion 3 (Merlin) - Completed

Chapter 37: Trespassers

Chapter 37

Elena walks through the town, shopping for new fabrics with two knights at her heels. They are dressed plainly, and their hands are relaxed. The day is bright and beautiful, the sun blocked by nothing on its ray's path to the ground and the earth soaks up the heat, warming those who walk across it. Elena is just one of the many grateful for the weather today and her smile has yet to leaver her face.

"Leon," she calls over her shoulder. Leon raises a brow, stepping forward as the woman calls for him. She holds up a bright purple cloth. "I always did say purple was your colour." Leon's eyes widen at the material which is a silky bright purple. Leon tends to stick to the browns and other earthy tones as well as the Pendragon red. His mouth opens, not wanting to offend Elena but the thought of wearing it makes his stomach churn. Elena smirks, dropping the fabric. "I'm kidding," she laughs, brushing past him. Castor sniggers, following the girl as Leon shakes his head in both relief and at her antics.

Her smiling does cause tenderness in her jaw where the bruise is still visible. Fading, but visible. When questions were raised, she answered with something new every time, more for her entertainment than anything else. Her stories became wilder by the day. Kicked by a horse, fought off a man in the tavern, a falling apple from the orchards.

Leon walks on her right, leaving Castor to trail on her left. "I'm leaving on patrol tomorrow," Leon says. "We'll be gone for a week or so."

Elena's interest perks. She hasn't had the chance to go on one of these patrols in a long time. Her guard's uniform may as well be used for wiping down the dust at this stage. "Oh, where are you going?"

"Just patrolling the borders," he answers.

"Are you going Cas?"

The other knight shakes his head, his hand drifting down to his thigh. "No, I think I hurt my leg, so Gaius told me not to ride for a few days." At this, Leon scoffs loudly.

"Please," he cries. "Robert barely hit you. You just don't want to do border patrol." He tilts his head for a moment. "It is quite boring," he admits. Elena smiles, shaking her head. She will go.

"I think you would enjoy having a break from him," she says to Leon, teasing the other knight.

"Yes," Leon agrees, "that's why I haven't told Arthur about his exaggeration."

Castor huffs mockingly, offended at their accusations and confessions. "I think you both love my company," he grumbles, folding his arms over his chest. Elena cocks her head for a moment as she thinks.

"I will admit, your prattle is like a warmup compared to Gwaine's," she confesses. "You should both be lucky that you'll never have to travel with him."

Xx

Elena tightens the helmet around her head, strapping her sword and belt around her waist. The tunic hangs snugly around her. Her lack of recent training means her muscles have started breaking back down, but her food intake hasn't left her without weight. No matter, it is insulation. At least this would be a good hit to get back into shape, especially since she no longer trains every day.

The patrol is made up of mostly knights and about ten guards on foot. Elena makes her way into the ranks, lining up in the middle. She has almost forgotten how much she hates the helmet. Leon is leading the patrol, an earned position after years of training and battles.

They set out, marching and riding out of Camelot. She had told Merlin that she will be gone for a while, to visit Gwaine again and that is the same story she has told Arthur. The first few days of travel are boring as ever and just as Leon had told her. The march through the forest near Cenred's kingdom along the road but nothing seems out of the ordinary. Through the nights, she sleeps a little way off from the camp, watching them from her spot behind a tree, letting the helmet rest in her hands as she sleeps.