Starved:
Summary: After Gwaine's period of near-starvation during Morgana's brief rule of Camelot, he takes longer to recover than anyone expects.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Merlin'.
…
He was tossed roughly back into the cell, a small piece of mouldy bread thrown in after him.
"Enjoy it", the witch advised him, her voice silky smooth and filled with hate. "It might be the last meal you ever eat." With a last, twisted smirk, she turned and left.
He glared up at Morgana's soldiers, too weak to move from his position on the floor. They paid no attention to him, locking the cell door and walking away without a backwards glance. Gwaine slumped against the hard, cold wall of the cell, exhausted. Thiswas irony – a knight locked in the cells of his own kingdom, being forced to fight his enemy by the enemy. But as long as there was food for Gaius and Elyan he was happy. He could see how weak the old man had become, and he knew that the physician expected to die here, but he would not let that happen.
Elyan picked up the piece of bread and slowly walked the few steps to where Gaius lay, almost motionless, on the cold stone slab that served as a bed. He held the piece of bread out to Gaius, trying to get him to take it, but the physician weakly attempted to wave him away.
"Save your food", he whispered, his voice low and tired. He struggled to get the words out. "If Gwaine is made to fight again, he'll need all the strength he can get."
Elyan looked over at the other knight in concern. Gwaine was slumped against the wall of the cell, too weak to support himself. If he was made to fight again there was a high chance he would die. Gwaine shook his head, almost imperceptibly, and Elyan gently placed the bread under Gaius' folded hands.
….
Elyan jumped to his feet as he heard the sound of swords clanging and the battle cries of both the Saxons and – from the sound of it – Camelot's soldiers. Gwaine looked up at him hopefully but was too weak to stand. Gaius lay still on the cell's single bed, a hard stone slab resting against one wall of the cold, dark cell.
The sounds of battle came closer, and both knights strained to see the fighters. There was another yell, and a group of the Camelot knights rushed into the crowded space of the dungeons, carrying a wave of Morgana's soldiers with them.
"About time", Gwaine grinned, stretching his hands through the bars of the cell. Percival thrust his sword through the metal circle that the keys were attached to and flicked it into Gwaine's waiting hands. The knights dispatched the remaining Saxons while Gwaine struggled to undo to door. Percival strode into the cell, helping Gwaine to his feet. He was surprised and worried by how heavily his friend had to lean on him to stand, but his anxiety was forgotten when he saw Gaius lying unmovingly on the stone slab that formed a bed. He walked forwards, bending over the physician and Leon moved toward the cell.
"You all right?" he asked. It was a general question but he directed it at Elyan, who seemed the strongest after his period of imprisonment.
"I've been locked up with Gwaine for a week", the dark knight replied jokingly, his accusing tone disputed by the grin that spread across his face. Leon smiled back; they would be alright.
….
Gwaine wove among the men, cutting down any that he could reach. Blood was pumping through his veins with a kind of fevered frenzy, his tiredness forgotten in the thrill of the fight. He ducked under a misdirected blow from one of the Saxons, plunging his sword into the man's stomach only to wrench it out and continue fighting. They were outnumbered at least four to one, but more and more Saxons were falling every minute, crushed by the sheer determination of Camelot's warriors.
The tip of a sword slashed his bare arm and the knight gave a grunt of pain as he pivoted, thrusting his sword into yet another Saxon. The pain from the cut seemed to act as a trigger, and all at once the weakness and exhaustion he had been fighting overwhelmed him. He stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to regain his footing. What little energy he had left was deteriorating rapidly, and he forced his way through the crowd of fighters, struggling to escape from the crowded hall. Blood was spilling from his arm at an alarming rate, and he knew that he needed to get out of there before he lost consciousness. Almost at the end of the hall, he found his path blocked by ten of the Saxons, their swords flashing furiously as they battled the Camelot knights. Gwaine saw Percival, sword in hand, along with two others, but he had no time to greet them. Blackness was pressing at the edges of his vision, and he knew he had only a short amount of time before he succumbed to it. Pushing desperately past the duelling warriors, he dashed down the next corridor, stumbling into a small recess where he sank onto the cool stone floor, his muscles turning lax and his breathing slowing. Leaning his head against the wall, he took a deep breath before allowing the blackness to drag him under.
….
Thanks for reading! If you liked this, please leave a review!
Camelotpointe x