A/N: Welcome to the wonderful world of BBC's Merlin. This is set during Series 5 so beware of any spoilers of which there will be many. Please greet my OC, Isabel Pendragon politely and do not walk on the grass.
Disclaimers: The picture I use for this story's cover is not mine but I do have permission to use it. It is by an amazing artist whose Deviantart username is Dashinvaine. Here is the link to their page (just take away the spaces): dashinvaine. deviantart art /Queen -Guinevere -99497153
Everything you see that you recognise is not mine (unfortunately). I only own my OC and her tale. I wish Arthur, Merlin, Gwaine, Elyan, Leon and Percival were mine but as much as I wish, they are not. Hmm... maybe for Christmas... I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
But for now: on with the story! Enjoy!
Chapter One – Until We Meet Again
Clouds drifted through the blue sky over the castle turrets. Two knights – one tall with fair skin and blonde hair, the other smaller with tanned skin and thick black hair – stood in the courtyard, rechecking their supplies and weapons. Beside them their squires readied their horses. The knights chatted merrily with each other, their laughter and voices amplified by the great stone walls of the castle that surrounded them.
A slender young woman approached them. Her deep blue gown trailed behind her over the dewy green grass. Her fair hair flowed down her back in tiny wisps as delicate strands blew behind her in the crisp morning breeze. Her face was masked in serene sadness.
"Lady Isabel," they greeted her with bows.
As Sir Gwaine straightened, he reached out to the lady and she returned the gesture, brushing her fingertips gently against his. She looked up into his face, her blue eyes filled with sorrow. He looked down into them with dark brown eyes, and all he could think was how lucky he was to be in the servitude of such a beautiful princess.
"How long until you leave?" she asked with a voice as soft as the finest cotton.
"The other knights are already waiting outside the gates so as soon as Arthur has spoken to us, I expect, my Lady."
"Can you not stay a little longer?" she whispered. There was a moment of silence as the two looked on at each other. Slowly, Isabel wove her fingers through his. "I don't want to part from you again, Gwaine."
"Only for a short while," he promised, "I shall be back before you realise I have gone."
"I miss you already."
He brought her fingers to his lips where he graced a delicate kiss upon her skin, "There shall not be a moment when I do not think of you, my sweet Lady."
"Nor I you."
A new voice brought them back to reality.
"Just because you have my consent to court does not mean that you have my permission to flirt in front of me," King Arthur Pendragon, Isabel's older brother, called as he moved towards them. They broke apart in a flurry. Isabel's cheeks flooded with colour as she saw her brother grinning at her.
She straightened her back with as much dignity as she could muster up. "I may flirt just as much as you flirt with Guinevere."
"You may have forgotten that we are married, Isabel, whereas you and Gwaine – as of yet – are not."
Finding no retort, Isabel responded by crossing her arms and pouting.
"Now, Percival, Gwaine, are you sure you have all of your supplies?"
"We have checked and re-checked ten times," Percival nodded.
"And you know what you are looking for?"
Both knights nodded.
"Be sure to report back as soon as possible," Arthur ordered, "If we do not hear from you in a month, we shall send people after you."
Again, the knights nodded. "We will not fail you, Sire," Percival promised.
As the knights mounted their steeds, Isabel moved forward again. She reached up and Gwaine took both of her hands to his lips.
"Please be safe, Gwaine."
He smirked, "I'm always safe."
Percival was already riding towards the gates. He turned around, calling back, "Ready, Gwaine?"
Reluctantly, Isabel drew her hands away. She watched solemnly as her knight steered his horse away. Just before he left through the gates, he turned back, shouting three words over his shoulder: "Farewell, sweet princess!"
And he was gone.
Isabel stood there, staring at where he had been with an empty feeling in her stomach until her brother threw an arm over her shoulders.
"He'll be back soon, Isabel, don't worry about him."
She smiled, leaning in to his protectiveness. "I know," she lied.
*.*.*
Six and a half weeks later, Isabel was sat in the window of her bedchamber, gazing through her breath's mist on the glass. Her skirts were draped over the sill in folds of crimson fabric. Gwaine had left six and a half weeks ago and they had not received a word. In her hands, she twisted a white handkerchief over and over and over until it had to be undone. Then she would start twisting it again.
There was a knock at the door. She sighed, "Enter."
The door opened and in walked Queen Guinevere, her fine dress suiting her as if she had been born in it. The jewellery around her neck, in her hair and on her fingers glistened, showing the world that she had become a woman of importance.
A small smile allowed itself to peek on Isabel's lips as she stood in respect for her sister-in-law. Gwen returned her smile as she looked at the sight of the young woman. The princess had been only a child when she arrived at the house to work for Morgana and here she was, grown into a sweet, beautiful and brave young lady. There she was experiencing the type of heartache that Gwen herself had experienced for so long just before her wedding.
Gwen held out her arms to her young sister who hesitated for a second before falling apart. She fell into the comfort of the Queen, finally breaking into the sobs that had held themselves inside for so long. The Queen rubbed the Princess's back soothingly as Isabel let all of her emotions pour out onto her shoulder. Gwen hushed her as she led her to the bed where they sat and Isabel cried.
"It'll be ok," Gwen said, gently, "I am sure he is fine. Perhaps he is just unable to reach us somehow. Sir Gwaine is brave and intelligent – I am positive that the worst would only mean he is lost. And Percival is with him."
"I know," Isabel sobbed, "But I just can't help imagining him dead."
"That is perfectly understandable – it shows you love him."
"I suppose."
"The meeting is about to take place. I believe they are going to decide what to do about the situation."
Isabel nodded, hurriedly wiping her eyes with the creased handkerchief. She hoped she didn't look too much like she had been crying. "We are late. They will start without us."
Gwen shook her head, "I doubt it, but we can't keep them waiting much longer. Come on."
Taking her hand, Gwen helped Isabel up and wiped the last tear off her face. "We can't have that now, can we? A Princess must stay strong for her Prince."
With a shaky smile, Isabel followed Gwen out of the room where Sefa stood waiting. She dropped into a curtsey as the royals passed and hurried after them.
Knights were still filing into the room as they reached the stairs. Arthur's voice could be heard shouting at Merlin. Immediately Gwen's face lit up. They took a moment to gather their composure before descending down the stairs where Arthur and Merlin stood in each other's faces, as usual.
Gwen coughed politely and immediately Arthur spun around. It made Isabel's heart warm to see her brother's beaming smile as his eyes landed on his wife. Gwen apologised for being late which he quickly waved off. The King and Queen linked arms as they entered the Throne Room. As Isabel followed them, she nodded respectfully to Merlin who gave a slight bow back. He and Sefa followed behind her.
The Round Table was full all but for two seats. She gave Gwaine's empty seat a slight glance before hastily looking away. She looked straight ahead with a serene mask as she stood in front of her seat with everyone else.
"You may sit," Arthur called, and everyone sat. "Noble knights of Camelot, countrymen, friends, I welcome you to this meeting of the Round Table.
"For three long years, we have been blessed with peace and prosperity. But now, it seems a shadow has been cast across our lands. Sir Gwaine set off for Ismere some six weeks ago." A sob escaped Isabel's throat but she covered it with a cough. It did not fool anyone, however. Sir Elyan patted her arm comfortingly. "With him went three score of our finest men. There has been no word from them since.
"At my request, Sir Elyan led a search party to the wastelands of the north. He found no trace of Gwaine or his men. It is as if they have vanished from the face of the Earth." Gwen took hold of Isabel's hand across the table. She glanced at the queen gratefully, clinging to her fingers for support. It was all she could do not to burst into tears at that moment.
"It is for this reason that we are going to re-follow his footsteps towards the land of Ismere. And we shall not return without our knights." Arthur turned directly to his baby sister, "We shall not return without Gwaine."
There was something mixed with the sincerity in Arthur's eyes that made a single tear trickle down Isabel's cheek. A phrase came to her mind as she looked up at her role model that he was no doubt thinking too: 'alive… or dead'.
He turned back to the Round Table. "Thank you; that is all."
The sound of chairs scraping on wooden flooring echoed through the room along with the sudden low babble of men's voices.
"Gaius, Elyan, Leon, Isabel, Guinevere: I'm calling a strategy meeting."
Sir Leon approached Isabel and bowed before speaking, "I am sure you must be missing him, my Lady. I am sorry."
She smiled sweetly, "You have no reason to be, Sir Leon; I believe he is still alive somewhere. Besides, I am not the only person who misses him; everyone does."
He inclined his head before walking towards a small table where a map had been rolled out. She sighed before following him.
Sir Elyan began straight away, "We know Gwaine and his men crossed the pass, here, at Isulfor. But beyond that there was no trace. The trail went cold."
"What of this story that the fortress of Ismere has been occupied once more?" Arthur asked.
"I heard many rumours, Sire," Elyan answered, "All of them had one name in common: Morgana."
Arthur and Isabel shared a look full of dread. If she was out there where Gwaine and Percival had gone missing, there was little to no hope left.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably, "Then there is no time to lose."
Gaius spoke, "What if the rumours are true, Sire? You may be walking into a trap."
"The Knights of Camelot do not abandon their own."
"Morgana knows that; she'll be waiting for you."
"These men have fought for me, bled for me…" Arthur persisted but was interrupted by his wife. His eyes warmed as he looked at her.
"May I make a suggestion? What if you were to take a different route? Approach Ismere from the west."
"Through Annis' lands?"
Gaius agreed, "It would certainly take Morgana by surprise."
"Would Annis grant safe passage to so many armed men?"
Leon seemed to agree too, "I believe she would, Sire."
A pause hung in the air before Arthur made his final decision, "Dispatch a rider immediately; we'll follow at dawn. Remember, if we're to succeed, no one must know of our intentions."
Everyone nodded. There was a sudden clang of metal outside the door that made everyone jump. The men made to draw their swords but Arthur held up a hand, rolling his eyes. He explained with one word, "Merlin." Everyone settled down again.
Isabel took a deep breath before speaking, "May I make a request, Arthur?" He nodded. "I want to go with you."
Every man in the room began to argue but she stood her ground, "I love him. If there's anything I can do to help bring him back," she gulped as the words 'alive or dead' passed through her mind, "Then I want to be able to do it."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea, Isabel; you're just a girl."
"I am not a girl, Arthur, I have grown-up; I am a woman now and I should be free to make my own choices. Surely you understand – if it was Gwen in that situation, you wouldn't blink before going to rescue her."
Arthur opened his mouth but Gwen spoke instead, "I think she should go."
"You are Camelot's Princess. What if you were to get hurt?"
"Then that is my problem."
"If she is willing to get hurt for him, Arthur, surely there is nothing more you can argue about," Gwen insisted, "She is old enough now and you know that she is strong enough to defend herself if the need arises. She loves him, Arthur."
He had his eyes closed, clearly fighting an internal battle. Finally, he made a decision, "Fine! We leave at dawn. If you are not ready by then, we leave without you."
She nodded with pride in her smile.
