Disclaimer: I quite unfortunately do not own Merlin.

Ohaithur! This is my first Merlin fic, though I am by no means new to the fandom or fanfiction. This little plot bunny came to me as a daydream, and refused to go away. I'd really appreciate feedback and constructive criticism. Any and all flames will be added to the Wall of Sh(f)ame. Though gladly I have not received a flame as of yet.
This could be read as a one-shot. Or it could rapidly turn into a very long-winded, very sappy, love story. I'm good at those.
So depending on the amount of feedback I receive, and if it's requested that I do carry on with the story, then I certainly will. Because I already have a good idea as to how it'll all play out. But that's up to you, my dear readers!

Inexorable

The crack of a twig was what first alerted Evelynn to their presence. Following was a rustle in the bushes and the sound of pots clanging together noisily, then what could've been a reprimanding 'shush' from whoever was approaching. Evelynn quickly wiped the tears off her face and turned her back to the source of the noise. She peered frightfully over the precipice she stood upon, restarting the rapid beating of her heart and the dizziness she'd long ago associated with her fear of heights. With a sniffle she closed her eyes, thinking about what she was about to do. What she'd been standing there for three hours about to do. 'It's now or never,' she thought, taking a deep breath to force down the growing terror in the pit of her stomach. Keeping her eyes tightly shut she lifted a foot and dangled it over the edge of the cliff, nearly screaming as her balance was thrown off. 'Do it!' she screamed to herself. Her body wasn't going to cooperate, it seemed, and she resteadied herself. She had the sudden urge to run into the nearby bushes and vomit, but that urge instead strengthened her conviction and she leaned ever so slightly forward-

"Stop!" The strangers she'd heard in the woods behind her now emerged, "Please, we mean no harm."

Evelynn could hear two sets of footsteps, and threw a disheartened glance over her shoulder, noting a raven-haired, ragged-looking man and the slightly less worn-looking blonde-haired man, "Go away. I'll jump." As if to emphasize this fact she spread her arms out and looked over the cliff once more. It was a long way down, a river and jagged rocks at its base. A sob escaped her, "I'll do it!"

The man who'd first spoken, the man with the blonde hair and calm tone, replied confidently, "No, you won't. You'd already have done it if you were going to at all."

Evelynn raised her chin defiantly, but her arms lowered slowly to her sides.

"What's your name?" He asked, and Evelynn turned her head to meet his gaze. She could see that he was inching slowly and very carefully towards her, never breaking eye contact. She hardened her glare back at him before speaking,

"Evelynn."

"Alright," he nodded reassuringly, "Evelynn, I'll make you a deal: get down from there, and I-"

"You'll what? Help me?" she sneered.

In a defiant and even tone he answered, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I will."

"Not bloody likely." Evelynn grimaced as a tear slid down her cheek, looking utterly lost as she murmured, "You couldn't help me."

"What makes you so sure?" As the man asked there was a clanging of metal upon metal as the raven-haired boy tripped over his own feet and spilled armor and pots everywhere. He was almost as close to Evelynn as the blonde one was; now they were scarcely a meter away.

Evelynn glared at them both coldly, "I don't want your help." With that, she whirled around and shut her eyes once more.

"Are you certain you're ready to give up?" He asked, somewhat arrogantly.

"I have no other choice!" Evelynn shouted, beginning to tremble. She was desperately clinging on to every word he said, but she knew all he was saying would be proven wrong if he knew why she was there in the first place…

The man paused, then said solemnly, "Of course you do. There's always another choice."

"What if that other choice is what you're fleeing?"

"Then find another."

She hung her head lamely, being tugged in too many directions at once. If she lived, she'd be better off dead. If she died… she'd never know if she could have made it or not. She rocked agitatedly on her heels, trembling like she never had before.

"Evelynn, I promise to help you through whatever it is that has you so distraught. Just get down from there." He sounded much closer now, and Evelynn could hear utmost sincerity in his confident voice, "Please, Evelynn, believe me."

She knew right then that she'd never really been strong enough to jump; she was cowardly, running from her problems, her hurt, her fears… and now, she didn't even have the power to rid herself of all those things at once. Knowing today wasn't her last made relief course through her and she sank to the ground, mind reeling.

The wind picked up just then, rustling the leaves in the trees. Evelynn was never so glad to hear that sound, smell the damp morning air, listen to the birds sing their lovely song… And then, she heard a cracking, and the sound of rocks crashing into the cliff and dropping far down below. The ground underneath her shook, and before Evelynn was able to comprehend what was happening she was plummeting downward, too shocked to even yell for help.

What happened next, Evelynn wasn't quite sure. She heard the blonde man shout, "Merlin!" at about the same time the raven-haired boy edged his way over the cliff on his stomach, reaching out towards her and slipping off in the process. The other boy grabbed his foot before he fell as well, and just at that time a vine seemed to spring out of the side of the cliff and wrap itself around her wrist. Evelynn clung on for dear life, not chancing a look down as she scrabbled for the dark-haired boy's hand. After many failed attempts she grasped on, and was slowly dragged upward with him by the blonde boy.

Once she was safely over the edge, the two clinging on to either of her arms, she collapsed into the grass, weeping uncontrollably at what had merely become of her. She felt the dark-haired man draw her into a warm embrace, murmuring softly, "We'll help you, we'll help you," and soon felt the other place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Under normal circumstances she'd be frightened out of her mind, but she was so grateful for their presence at that moment that she clung onto them with all her might. Soon the tears subsided, and she glanced up at her rescuers.

"Thank you," she said hoarsely, brushing the dark hair away from her now vivid-blue eyes, "Thank you so, very much." The blonde one squeezed her shoulder and the raven-haired one hugged tighter. "Who are you?"

The one hugging her answered first, a warm smile on his face, "I'm Merlin."

The one who she had spoken to, so rudely in hindsight, replied, "And I am Prince Arthur of Camelot."

Evelynn's eyes widened, and with a small gasp she passed out, everything rushing at her at once.

Author's Note- I really wanted to add Arthur saying, "Merlin, you idiot," after him jumping halfway off the cliff, but couldn't fit it in nicely. So. Imagine it as you will. ;D
And, as I said before, I would really love some feedback. I have an incredibly irrational fear of posting new stories. But I figured this one was worth a shot.
Thank you! --Sydney.