Gwaine and the Necklace. A challenge by Mrs Bonner.
A/N This scene takes place as Merlin, Arthur and Gwaine return from the Perilous lands during the episode "The Eye of the Phoenix". Merlin and Gwaine seemed to be closer friends in Series #3 than Series #4 so I chose to have the story occur then.
This will be a multi part fiction and i know I will NEVER get more reviews than the oh so awesome KittyO, but it is still fun to write and enter.
"So what happened before we got you out of that room Merlin?" Gwaine asked his best friend nonchalantly, referring to the Fisher King's throne room where Merlin had found himself trapped. Neither Gwaine nor Arthur had any idea of the very strange encounter Merlin had had with the aforementioned king, and the young warlock had no doubt they'd just make jokes about his 'mental affliction' if he tried to explain it to them.
The three men were gathered around a small campfire, trying to stave off the cold wind that swirled over the bare and open hills of the Perilous Lands. Arthur was already fast asleep, wrapped in his bright red cape on the other side of the fire. Merlin and Gwaine sat side by side, speaking quietly and confidentially. Merlin was exhausted after the events of the day, but felt significantly better now he had Prince Arthur safe and in his sights again.
Merlin jabbed at the flames with a branch, causing a few sparks to fly outward. He shrugged his shoulders replying, "Not much. I just sat tight, waiting for you to come to my rescue."
Gwaine laughed quietly, "Yeah right. That's so not your style my friend!"
Merlin kept his eyes on the fire.
"You had a weird, haunted look on your face too." Gwaine continued. Merlin thought he had managed to hide the distress and anxiety he had felt after his conversation with the Fisher King, from his two friends. Apparently not.
Part of him deeply wanted to tell Gwaine the whole story; starting with how he'd just effectively killed the Fisher King, the calamity ahead that he'd been warned about and the vial he'd been given to use when the time was at it's most dire. While he was at it maybe he could come completely clean and tell Gwaine all about Arthur and his prophesied futures, his absolute need to protect Arthur and Morgana's treachery, which the Crown Prince remained oblivious of.
Sometimes it seemed as though he carried a burden as heavy as Camelot Castle upon his shoulders and the thought of sharing the load was very enticing. Where would he start his explanation though? Everything was so convoluted and twisted by now.
"I was just relieved." Merlin replied, glancing toward Gwaine. It wouldn't be fair to make him a part of all this, to involve him in all the secrets and untruths that were so necessary for Arthur's survival and the future return of magic to the Kingdom.
Gwaine nodded knowingly. He could tell when someone didn't want to talk. He felt the same when anyone asked him about his necklace. People had a right to keep some things personal didn't they?
The two men returned to their own thoughts in silence for a while.
"He's not exactly grateful that we came is he?" Gwaine suddenly spoke again, breaking into Merlin's contemplation. The two of them looked over at the man in question. His slumbering form looked so peaceful and young in the soft light of the camp fire. This was in great contrast to the anger and annoyance he had displayed earlier when Merlin, then Gwaine, had appeared in the chamber where he had oh so nearly lost his life to a murderous wyvern. His eyes had been icy and his posture stiff with controlled rage. Merlin stifled a laugh at the memory. He'd never be able to hear the word 'alone' again without picturing Arthur's furious face as he overemphasized its pronunciation.
"He never show's that he's grateful Gwaine. That would mean admitting he needed help." Merlin had been at Arthur's side long enough to know what he said did not always mean what he felt. It was confusing but that's just how he was.
"Mmmm. He doesn't know how lucky he is to have you Merlin."
Merlin looked at Gwaine's face to see if he was speaking in mirth.
"Yeah right. I'm clumsy, disobedient, lazy..."
"You are not lazy Merlin. I know how to get away with as doing as little as possible and believe me; I saw none of that on the few days I was in Camelot. As for disobedient, he's damn lucky you are or he'd be in a sorry ol' state by now." Gwaine gave Merlin his brightest smile. The boy needed a boost in self esteem and he clearly wasn't getting any proper recognition from the Princess.
Merlin returned Gwaine's grin, feeling the warmth of happiness envelope him despite the freezing wind.
"Maybe you could come back to Camelot with us Gwaine. If Arthur talks to his father again..."
"No." Gwaine interrupted, shaking his head emphatically. "I want nothing to do with the likes of Uther."
"But isn't it lonely on the road by yourself all the time?" Merlin asked. He figured he knew something of loneliness, even if he was surrounded by people in Camelot. But being constantly on the move would also entail never knowing where you were going to sleep the next night, always having to be on constant alert for people trying to rip you off and having no friends to confide in at the end of a long day.
Gwaine thought of lying at first, telling his only real friend some line about how being alone a good deal of the time didn't necessarily mean that he was lonely, but in the end he decided on the truth.
"Maybe it suits me better that way. If you don't stick around for long, people don't get too close and start expecting things from you."
Gwaine saw Merlin's eye brows shoot upwards in what he thought was shock, and then realized what he'd said could be taken in offense, "Not that I mean you Merlin. I don't mind you asking things of me. You helped me out before you even knew me after all."
"Yeah, and covered your tab at the Rising Sun the second day after we met." Merlin grinned at him in reply.
"Well, that was the Princess really." The two laughed softly at the memory.
"So, is there something you're running from then? Bad memories maybe?" Merlin pressed his enigmatic friend for more information. He knew that Gwaine was high born himself but that he held a low opinion of nobles because his mother had been left destitute after his father had been killed fighting for Carleon's King. He also knew Gwaine thought what a man did, not his birth right, should determine whether he be considered noble or not. He suspected his friends bravado, his disinclination to settle anywhere together with his willingness to overdo things at any tavern available, were self protection mechanisms; his way of covering up past hurts and preventing further possible episodes.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want." Merlin added, not wanting to be too heavy handed.
"You won't force me to confess anything I don't want." Gwaine replied smiling in a way that he hoped rendered his features unreadable. "We've all got bad memories I guess."
Merlin raised his eyebrows and made a short humming noise in agreement.
"Well, take my sister. That evil old toad is definitely a bad memory." Gwaine began light heartedly.
A/N We find out more about Gwaine's past next chapter. What do you think so far?