Part 4: Sir Elyan

A woman with sun streaked blonde hair turned around at the mention of her name, her eyebrows high on her lightly tanned face as she regarded Elyan.

"Well, the prodigal son returns home"

Her haughty expression remained as Elyan's smile slipped from his face. Her words were not unexpected, but he had hoped that she would at least be a little bit excited to see him. To be truthful, he wasn't all that close to the girl. Allysa had been Gwen's friend since they were children but Elyan was fond of her in the way that could only be found from spending copious amounts of time together. As his father worked late nights as a blacksmith, it was up to Elyan to take care of his little sister and her friend. They chased one another all over the marketplace and shared stories at night under a canopy of sheets while Elyan 'kept watch'.

Allysa had been silly while Gwen was practical; she held ridiculous fantasies of knights and princes while Gwen indulged her with a slight smile, and Elyan with light-hearted mockery. But now, standing two paces away from the girl, Elyan wondered where that young girl full of humour and toothy smiles had gone.

She hung onto the handle of her basket as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Well? Are you going to explain yourself?"

Elyan let out a laugh, not noticing as her eyes narrowed. "I didn't know I owed you an explanation"

"You go missing for a few years without a goodbye? Did you even think about Gwen or your father?"

Elyan vaguely registered the unspoken question tacked at the end ("What about me?")but he started at the unwelcome mention of his father. There was not a day that passed where Elyan didn't think of his father. The possibilities ran the most rampant at night in the still of the castle; what if he had been in Camelot? Could he have saved him? Proved that he didn't commit sorcery?

Allysa gently touched his arm, her expression turning soft and sympathetic "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned that"

Elyan nodded, "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have been so reckless about leaving."

Though it was a partial lie, Allysa seemed to believe his apology. He had never really been sorry about his decision to leave, but he had been sorry for all that had happened while he was gone. He was sorry that Gwen was alone in his father's trial and he was sorry that his father had to have a trial at all. In fact, if Elyan was to compile a list of all his regrets in his relatively short life, he was fairly sure that it wouldn't fit on a 30 foot long scroll.

As though sensing his souring mood, she linked her arm with his in a gesture of familiarity that made Elyan grin despite the lingering thoughts swirling at the back of his mind. Swinging her basket on one side, she led them through the streets of Camelot with an exaggerated spring in her step that made him lumber awkwardly next to her.

"Where are we going?" he laughed as she almost ran into the side of a stall. She tossed her golden hair and glared at him imperiously, the sight making him laugh all over again.

The scowl died down, her light eyes shining with mirth "You're making me lunch"

"I'm what?!"

She spoke slowly, "You are making me lunch"

"And why would I do that?"

"You owe me. Remember when I was 13 years old and you broke my doll-"

"I was trying to fix it!" protested Elyan.

"By decapitating the poor thing?" she asked, thinly veiled disbelief in her tone.

Elyan sighed. "Fine, I'll accept responsibility for that. Although, you know I cannot cook right? That was always Gwen's thing"

"Gwen's thing?" she countered, an edge to her tone that had Elyan backtracking immediately.

"I mean, she was much more talented than I! Not that it's a women's job to cook…" he trailed off, purposely avoiding eye contact so that he couldn't see the glare that was probably imprinted on her face.

There was a beat of silence before her amused tone seeped above the noise of the busy streets. "I don't remember it being this easy to rile you up Elyan. It's almost child play!"

He looked over at her, his eyes lingering on the sunshine in her hair and the spatter of freckles across the bridge of her nose. She looked older of course, but the personality of the young girl he remembered still simmered underneath the surface; Playful, spontaneous and very very temperamental.

"Does this mean I don't have to make you lunch anymore?"

She smacked him with her basket, drawing a yell of surrender from Elyan and concerned looks from others who loitered in the street.

"I take that as a 'no' then" replied Elyan wryly.

A/N: I had some issues with Elyan. Other than loyalty, I couldn't really get a sense of his character or personality from the show... Maybe that's just me? Anyway, thanks for the reviews (majority rules that Sir Leon is the best - I concur!) and I hope you enjoyed this little update!

Love,

DecoyDream x