Merlin. Series 5 final spoilers. Two-shot.

~x~0~x~

The Price Of Failure

Gwaine

Gwaine groaned. He felt as though he had been trampled by over a hundred horses. Or worse – a hundred knights in training. Gwaine was lying on his back and he could feel rocks jarring like daggers into his side. He heaved, attempting to roll over into a more comfortable position. However, the ropes which were bound tightly to his wrists snapped into action and Gwaine fell back against the dirt.

Startled, Gwaine's eyes opened.

He was surprised not to be in bed or camped somewhere with the other knights. Gwaine tugged at his arms but the effort was fruitless.

"Hello Gwaine."

At the sound of the voice, Gwaine's head jerked to the right.

It was Morgana.

And then he remembered. Camlann. Eira. Eira's betrayal and subsequent execution. Him and Percival's revenge. So, they had failed, Gwaine grimaced. He tried to look around. Where was Percival then? Was Percival dead?

A black garbed foot pressed against his chest, drawing Gwaine's gaze back towards Morgana who peered at him inquisitively.

"None of that Gwaine." The high priestess said calmly. "Now tell me where Arthur is."

"Never." Gwaine responded without hesitation; he kept a cheeky smile on his face, a brazen attempt to mask his trepidation and the wild thumping of his heart.

Morgana's serene display suddenly vanished. Gwaine was reminded of those who had fallen to dorocha. They were alive but it was like they had been emptied of all liveliness and emotion. Like Morgana, all that remained was an unrelenting coldness.

"Well." Morgana stated flatly. "We shall see."

Gwaine flinched as with a dramatic flourish Morgana pulled out a small snake which hissed menacingly. Morgana's threats were mostly unheard as Gwaine scrambled to back away from the snake, a nathair. Once again, the ropes clawed, like a rabid frostbite into Gwaine's skin. Gwaine had no idea what the snake did but he sensed danger from it; Gwaine was fairly sure that the snake was a creature of dark magic. That wouldn't bode well for him.

"Tell me where Arthur is." Morgana demanded as her arms reached outwards, pushing the snake towards Gwaine.

"No!" Gwaine bit back, with some difficulty.

Morgana snarled and the snake was thrust into his body. Its magical properties quickly dissolved the metal of Gwaine's armour; he yelped as the onyx scales made contact with his flesh.

And then it bit him.

For a moment, Gwaine was staring at Morgana's cruel, vindictive smile. He shivered.

The next, moment there was pain. Agony. Pain beyond anything Gwaine had previously experienced. Although the snake had only bitten him in the shoulder, Gwaine felt as though his entire body was on fire or alternately being torn apart by wyverns. He screamed; it was so loud that Gwaine thought there were ten voices multiplying within his own. Or maybe it was caused by his body's vibrations as he writhed on the ground. Gwaine couldn't tell.

"Tell me where Arthur is hiding!" The pain momentarily ebbed.

Gwaine shook his head. He was defiant.

The snake lashed out once more, piercing his arms and side. Gwaine cried out as the snake burrowed its head into his side. His vision blurred into a mass of indistinguishable grey shapes. He could taste blood but it seemed to be coming from everywhere. He was being tugged to pieces! Gwaine was sure that his bodily organs were exploding, reinforced by the fact that he couldn't see anything. Were those fires he saw growing out of the grey smog?

"That is a nathair." Morgana's disembodied voice punctuated through Gwaine's mind. "With a little persuading, it is known to cause the most exquisite pain. Not just in the body but in the centre of one's soul."

Gwaine panted as the snake pulled out slightly. He squinted in Morgana's direction.

She crouched in front of him, forcing him to meet her gaze with unsteady eyes.

"Poor Gwaine." The sorceress cooed. "All this pain can end, you know? All you have to do is tell me about Arthur. Where he's going. Where he is."

Gwaine rasped, "You're going to have to kill me."

In a flash of gold, Morgana conjured a sharp dagger and used her magic to hurl it into Gwaine's exposed palm. Gwaine howled as Morgana summoned the knife back towards her.

He could feel a small fountain of blood spewing from his hand; it was definitely real, not imagined. Gwaine clenched his teeth. He couldn't risk himself saying something. He couldn't!

Changing tack, Morgana began to speak again. "I've got your friend, Percival tied up to a few trees over there." She grinned gleefully, hearing Gwaine's gas. "Yes, with a few little words of mine, I can kill him."

Gwaine looked down.

"I will kill him unless I find out where Arthur is."

Morgana's eyes lit up and she started to murmur under her breath.

Without thinking, Gwaine blurted out. "Avalon."

Morgana glowed like a five year old who had been given a tower of presents for Christmas. Gwaine paled in horror. He remembered yearning that Percival, his best friend could not die.

"Well that wasn't so hard was it Gwaine." Morgana smiled as she placed the nathair in its box but not before the snake struck Gwaine at the base of his neck.

She left. Gwaine paid her no mind.

Gwaine had failed. He knew it. He had sent the insane witch on a one way road towards Arthur – the very thing that Gaius and Guinevere had tried to avoid! He had failed himself, his king and subsequently failed Camelot itself. All those knights who had died in Camlann; it would be a terrible waste if Morgana was allowed to win now. He had failed.

"Gwaine!" Someone called his name.

It was Percival! Gwaine attempted to lift his head but the blood loss made him drowsy and Gwaine was unable to do so. Percival dropped to his knees, lifting Gwaine's head in desperation.

Seeing Percival reminded Gwaine of what he had just done.

"She's heading for Avalon."

"I've failed."

~x~0~x~

AN: Thanks for reading! Please review!