Gwen was sitting by Lancelot's bed, working on a piece of embroidery, when the door opened. Immediately, she said a little prayer that it wasn't the prince again. Since their brief meeting in the tavern two nights ago, she had had the misfortune of having to endure a most painful visit from him. It was not something she hoped to repeat.
He had walked into Lancelot's room without even bothering to knock, but who expected the prince to have manners anyway? Then, with barely any attempt at pleasantries, Prince Arthur had launched a volley of questions at her, demanding all sorts of details about her relationship with Lancelot. Annoyance gave Gwen courage and she'd just told him that it was none of his business.
"I am the Prince of Camelot," he'd huffed.
In response, she had shrugged and returned her attention to her embroidery.
He then settled into a chair on the other side of Lancelot's bed and spent a good length of time scowling at her in the semi-darkness. Refusing to give him the pleasure of thinking that he was making her uncomfortable, Gwen remained by Lancelot's side for much longer than she'd planned.
It was a game of who blinks first.
And it was the prince who blinked, summoned by his father.
"I'll be back," he said.
"I can handle taking care of Lancelot," said Gwen sweetly. "I wouldn't want to take you away from your important duties."
The smile he gave her wasn't even close to reaching his eyes. "Now, what kind of leader would I be if I abandoned one of my knights and his wife-to-be?"
Biting down on a retort, Gwen merely dipped her head. "I appreciate your concern."
"Gwen?" Leon's head appeared, sending relief coursing through her.
"Oh." She stood. "Come in."
Leon walked into the room. He had a tray of food with him, which he placed on the table next to Lancelot's bed. "Any changes?"
"His wound is almost healed, but he hasn't woken at all." She looked at the tray of food, laden with all the luxuries that was apparently befitting a wife of a knight. Just two days ago, no one cared it she had eaten and now one of the senior knights was bringing her lunch. "Thank you for the food, but you shouldn't have."
"It isn't much. Mostly leftovers from lunch," said Leon dismissively.
"Thank you." Leftovers that as a mere maidservant, Gwen knew she would never have had a chance of eating. Yet now, a knight was presenting it to her. That feeling in her stomach was not hunger and she settled back down on the chair, picking up her embroidery again.
"We have no training tomorrow."
Gwen looked up at Leon who was leaning against one of the walls. "What do knights do on their day off?"
Surprise flashed in Leon's eyes. "What does Lancelot say that we do?"
"He's always been very reluctant to say." The lies were becoming easier and easier, one piling on top of another. Her stomach lurched. "Actually, -"
Leon chuckled, then crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't even want to know what Lancelot's reluctance has led you believe. We are all very wholesome."
"That," said Gwen, a smile tugging at her lips, "is hard to believe."
"I'm offended. We are - what was the phrase you used - true knights." Amusement was evident in Leon's voice. "In fact, I think you should take the day off and come with us tomorrow."
"I - no, I can't. I've chores tomorrow and Lady Morgana will need me to help her -"
"Don't be silly. You are about to be a knight's wife. You can take a day off. I'll speak to Arthur now to arrange it."
"Oh no. Please."
Leon narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, Gwen thought that he realised what a liar she had been. And while part of her feared the consequence of her lie, another part of her eagerly welcomed the discovery.
"Elaine will be with us," said Leon, crushing her hopes. "You won't be the only knight's wife there."
"I am not a knight's wife," said Gwen faintly.
Leon smiled. "Wife-to-be then. Tomorrow will be fun."
Her confession stuck in her throat, Gwen watched as Leon left the room. With a sigh, she sat back down on the chair. Beside her, Lancelot continued to sleep, completely unaware of the lie that he had been dragged into. Gwen closed her eyes and massaged her forehead.
Eventually, she picked at the food, then brought the tray back to the kitchens. A few of the servants eyed her cautiously and Gwen knew then that news of her 'betrothal' had reached their ears. She made polite talk with a few of them before quickly leaving.
She had to tell the truth. Part of her feared the consequences of doing that - without her supposed link to Lancelot, how harshly would the knights treat her? Men and women had been thrown into the dungeons for much less by the King. She had little faith that Prince Arthur was any different. If only she hadn't offered to help out in the tavern that night. No, if only she hadn't opened her mouth without thinking outside the infirmary.
"Gwen."
Startled, she looked up to see Gwaine walking towards her just as she was about to leave the castle. She dipped into a curtsey and in response, he broke into a grin.
"Are you on your way home?"
"Yes."
"Well then. Let me have the pleasure of escorting you home."
"I've walked home alone plenty of times. I don't need an escort," said Gwen. "But thank you for the thought."
Gwaine lifted an eyebrow. "Lancelot never walked you home?"
"Actually, I have something that I need to tell you. Lancelot and I are not getting married." The words tumbled out of Gwen's mouth and her hands gripped her skirt.
"Did he - is he dead?" Gwaine took a step towards her, his face ashened. "I am so sorry. Why didn't -"
She shook her head. "No, no. That's not -"
"Good. He will make it, Gwen," said Gwaine with an emphatic nod of his head. "I know it's been hard on you, but you can't give up on him now."
"I'm not."
"He needs you. I was surprised at first when I learnt of you, but it makes sense. Lancelot doesn't seem to have any family so I'm glad he has you, even if I still wish I had met you first." Humour glinted in his eyes. "Let me walk you back. It is what Lancelot would have wanted."
"I'll walk with Gwen. I've been meaning to catch up with her."
"Merlin," said Gwaine, his eyes looking over her shoulder. "I'll leave you two to it then."
They lingered on the steps just outside the castle, the cool evening air doing little to ease the tension that pulsed between them. Merlin knew - there was no doubt about that. And for one whole day, he had held his tongue.
"I didn't mean to lie." Gwen finally said, keeping her eyes focused on the scene in front of her. As the sun sank, the main square was bustling with people heading back to the middle and lower town, back to their homes and their families. At that thought, her heart clenched. She had a home in the middle town but since her father's death, it had been empty.
"I know what it's like to have secrets," said Merlin after a while. He walked down the steps, then waited for Gwen to follow. "It's easy to fall into a lie, then find out you can't get out of it."
She expected Merlin to elaborate on what he was saying, but he stopped talking, and they continued to walk in silence.
The sun finally disappeared in a warm glow of red and orange, and various knights began lighting the street lamps. Some nodded at her as they walked passed, and she inclined her head in response. Just two days ago, none of them would have even paid her any attention.
They walked in silence. Once they reached her small home, she sighed. "What do I do?"
"It's hurting no one," said Merlin as he settled onto the small bench outside her house. "And Lancelot gets someone to look after him. I … I'm glad you're there for him."
Gwen sat down next to Merlin, tucking her skirt under her legs. "He's not going to thank me when he wakes up and finds himself expected to marry me. He doesn't even know who I am. I need to tell the truth. Hopefully, all that will result is removal from my maidservant duties to Lady Morgana. Working in the kitchens only will mean less pay, but I can make it work."
She snuck a glance at Merlin who was staring straight ahead. For someone who wasn't about to be sentenced to death for lying, he seemed stiff and tense. Gently, she bumped her shoulder against his, gaining his attention and a slight smile. Perhaps he hadn't walked with her because he wanted to discuss her lies. Perhaps he needed a listening ear and all she could do was talk about herself.
"And how are you?"
"Good. Mostly." Then, he reached over and took one of her hands. "You really like Lancelot, don't you?"
A familiar heat filled her cheeks and she dropped her eyes to her lap. "He's chivalrous, kind, generous …" Gwen stopped, biting her lower lip. "He's a good man and I would be lucky to marry someone like him."
Merlin squeezed her hand. "Any man would be lucky to have you as a wife."
"I have to tell them the truth. Perhaps to Leon first. He has been very nice. Or maybe Gwaine - he would probably think that the whole thing is hilarious and -"
"I don't think you should tell them," said Merlin.
"Why? Lancelot is not going to wake up and decide to marry me."
Merlin shook his head. "That's unlikely."
Gwen pressed her lips together, stung by Merlin's easy dismissal of any interest Lancelot might have in her. Not that he was wrong. Despite the other knights' unquestioning acceptance of her as Lancelot's betrothed, the reality was that people like her rarely rose above their station. How often had she spent surreptitiously watching Lancelot as he patrolled the lower village, dreaming that he would one day notice her, speak with her, fall for her? Nothing but a silly dream.
"It's not you, Gwen." Merlin's fingers tightened around her hand. "I don't mean that -"
She shrugged. "You're right. What would a knight want with me? And that's why I need to stop this now."
"Lancelot can help you."
"How?"
"The lie isn't hurting anyone. When Lancelot wakes, I'll tell him to play along for a while. Then, a break up. Simple and you won't need to worry about your job." Merlin sounded pleased with his plan, and Gwen had to admit it was a good one. Assuming Lancelot went along with it.
"How do you know Lancelot will play along?"
"He will." Merlin smiled at her. "You are a good judge of character, Gwen. Lancelot is a good man."
Gwen smiled back, even as her heart ached. "I'm glad to know he's a good man."
Arthur knew that Leon was married, but it was one of those things that hovered at the periphery of his mind and never quite seemed real. But evidently Elaine really existed. She was a quiet, elegant woman - beautiful in the way so many noble ladies were. The opposite of Gwen, he thought as he observed her laughing with Merlin, her legs swinging as the two of them sat on the low branch. No lady would swing their legs like that, giving random strangers glimpses of her bare skin under her skirts.
"Why is she here?" He'd demanded when he'd arrived at the courtyard and saw her talking to Gwaine.
"I thought this would take her mind off Lancelot. She's been spending all her free time with him," said Leon as he passed the reins of Llamrei to him. "It must be pretty stressful for her. Anyway, I thought we could get to know her better, and maybe get to know Lancelot better."
Arthur grabbed the reins, swung himself onto his horse, then sent one more glare towards Gwen.
And now, they had settled at their usual spot next to a placid lake and Arthur couldn't stop glancing at Gwen. Leon and Elaine were leaning against a tree, whispering to each other. There was a shy smile on Elaine's face as she looked at Leon. In the lake, Gwaine and Percy splashed around. Aside from the presence of the two women, it was just another rest day for the knights. Arthur picked up a piece of bread and popped it into his mouth.
Gwen hopped off the branch, then walked to the edge of the lake. After a moment's hesitation, she toed off one shoe, then dipped her toes into the water. Her ankle was slender and curvy, the skin smooth and touchable. Arthur wondered if he was able to encircle her ankle with one hand. Her giggle pulled him out of his completely inappropriate thoughts and he directed a scowl at her.
"Come into the water," said Gwaine as he waded towards her, one arm reaching towards her.
Arthur sighed. What was it about Gwen that his knights were so quickly fond of her? With the threat of Hengist looming over them, didn't they realise that spies and traitors were everywhere?
"If I didn't know better, I would think that you were interested in her."
"Merlin! Don't creep up on me like that."
Merlin sat down next to Arthur, reaching over him to grab some cheese. "You'd have heard me coming if you weren't frowning so hard at Gwen. What's your problem with her?"
"How well do you know her?"
"Pretty well, I think. She was my first friend in Camelot."
Arthur grunted, then focused his eyes back on Gwen who was now standing with both feet in the water, her skirt lifted slightly. She really needed to keep those legs of hers covered. "Did you know she and Lancelot were getting married?"
"I knew she had feelings for him," said Merlin. "Both of them are pretty private people."
"Still, you would think that Lancelot would have mentioned something about seeing her. I don't think I've ever seen them talk to each other."
Merlin leaned over him again and grabbed some grapes. "Are you suggesting Gwen is lying?"
Arthur shrugged.
"She's my friend," said Merlin, his voice taking on a steeliness that Arthur hadn't heard before. "And I trust her."
Arthur looked at Merlin, the manservant with more secrets than Arthur had swords. Yet, he inexplicably trusted Merlin. Arthur let out a sigh. That didn't mean he should trust Gwen.
Water splashed onto Arthur's foot. "Gwaine. Can't you dry yourself first?"
"Hungry." More water dripped on Arthur as Gwaine picked up a piece of chicken. "Good stuff."
They were joined soon by Percival, then Gwen. Her hair was coming loose from her bun, curls framing her face that was flushed. A bright smile lit up her face as she settled down next to Gwaine. He said something to her and her smile got bigger. An elbow hit his side.
"Merlin!"
"Probably should stop with the staring," said Merlin around bites of food.
Their stomachs full of food and the sun rays warm against their skin, sleep crept up on them. Arthur was dozing off when he heard it. It was soft, barely a rustle at first, but it made the hairs on Arthur's arms stand. He stood, shaking off the shackles of sleep, then kicked at Merlin, who simply grumbled, then shifted away from Arthur's foot. Arthur prodded Merlin again, then unsheathed his sword, the weight comforting in his hand. The only one still awake appeared to be Percy.
"Percival. Wake everyone up. We need to leave."
Percival nodded, always the silent giant. Within moments, everyone was roused. The picnic was packed away quickly and the knights drew their swords. They edged towards their horses and mounted them.
"Let's go." Leon commanded, as he sat astride his horse, Elaine held securely in the circle of his arms. With a single, sharp jerk on the reins, Leon's horse galloped off, quickly followed by Percival, Gwaine and Merlin.
But where was Gwen? The thought had barely crossed his mind when three men stepped out from behind some trees, weapons in their hands.
"Nobles out to play in the forest," sneered the one with a large, bushy beard that looked that it might house remnant food from his previous meals.
Did they recognise him? If they did, they weren't letting on, merely approaching him slowly, boxing him in from all sides. Bandits were not unusual in the forests but Arthur couldn't help but wonder if they were Hengist's men and if Gwen's disappearance had something to do with it.
With a flick of his wrist, he raised his sword and widened his stance. Three on one, and he hoped there were only three, was not ideal but nothing that Arthur hadn't faced before.
The skinny, bald one lurched at him.
It didn't take too long and two of the men were easily dispatched. His bloodied sword in his hand, Arthur looked around the area for the last one.
Then an arrow whizzed past him.
Swearing, he dodged behind a tree, crouching close to the ground. Arthur picked up the arrow and looked at it. The workmanship was rough and a crude circle had been carved on it - Hengist's symbol. Tamping down his fury, Arthur made his way to where the horses had been secured. No sign of the third man or of Gwen. Leaves rustled and birds chirped, and nothing seemed amiss, except for the arrow in his hand and the two bodies .
Then he heard the whimper. For a moment, Arthur thought that he'd imagined it, but then he heard it again. Changing directions, he made his way towards the sound, his hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of his sword.
Then he saw her pressed against the trunk of a tree. Her lower lip was caught between her teeth and she cradled her leg. He was about to make his way to her, when it occurred to him that it might be a trap.
Then, she turned her head and their eyes met. In her eyes, Arthur could see both fear and pain. He should turn away, get Llamrei and leave. But he couldn't tear his gaze from her. What if he was wrong about Gwen? How could he leave an unarmed woman when there was at least one more bandit around?
He sighed, then moved towards Gwen.
He'd barely moved when another arrow flew past. Instinctively, he flung himself at Gwen, pressing her onto the ground. Under him, Arthur heard her suck in her breath. For a moment, they stayed like that, his body over hers. He tensed and listened, but other than the sound of insects and birds, and the wind in the trees, Arthur couldn't hear anything else.
But he was sure that the last man was still there, watching and waiting.
"Sire."
Her warm breath fluttered against his cheek and, pushing himself up on his elbows, he looked down. Her brown eyes were wide and Arthur was suddenly acutely aware of her beneath him - the rise and fall of her chest, the feel of her hips pressing into his and her legs against his. She was so small, so delicate and as he stared into her panicked eyes, protectiveness swelled in him.
Dipping his head, he whispered into her ear, "It's going to be fine."
He felt her shiver, and instinctively, he tightened his arms around her, pressing her into the soft earth.
It was probably no longer than a few minutes, but lying there, entangled with Gwen, it felt like forever. Arthur was painfully aware of her every move, every tiny shift of her legs, every breath she let out. When there seemed to be no more flying arrows, he eased himself off Gwen, settling down a slight distance away. With a muffled groan, Gwen sat up as well. She touched her leg, and it was then Arthur noticed that her leg was bleeding.
"What happened?"
She nodded her head at a spot further away. "An arrow grazed me. It's not too bad. I should be able to ride." Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips. "Thank you, my lord."
"Why didn't you get on the horse when Percival alerted everyone?" Now his skin wasn't against hers, suspicion started to creep back into his mind.
"I was going to, then the arrow came. I fell -"
He heard the crunch of grass, reached out and grabbed Gwen, thrusting her behind him. From the corner of his eye, Arthur noticed movement. The last bandit was probably still out there. Cover was limited but staying in one spot would be a death sentence.
"Can you run?" he asked, taking Gwen's hand.
"Yes."
"We are going to have to run, keep moving so that he can't take aim."
"Yes," she said again.
"Let's go."
Arthur ran, his hand holding onto Gwen's tightly. She kept up for a while, but he could feel her strength ebbing and she started to slow down. He pulled at her, practically dragging her with him. Behind him, she sucked in a breath, then stumbled.
"Keep moving," he hissed.
He caught sight of a small cavern. Ideally, Arthur wanted to get to their horses and ride back to Camelot, but it was clear that Gwen was finding hard to keep up. The cavern would give them shelter and a chance to rest.
And perhaps spending time alone with Gwen when she was vulnerable would give Arthur the opportunity to find out who she was working for and what she was up to.
His mind made up, Arthur pulled at Gwen. "This way. Here."
The cavern was cold but dry. A quick glance suggested that it was small, which meant that there was unlikely to be other inhabitants. He told Gwen to sit down and he lurked at the entrance for a while, watching. The last bandit would have to enter the cavern to get to them, losing whatever advantage he had with his bow. Unsurprisingly, there was no sign of the last bandit and once Arthur was confident that the bandit had given up, he walked back to where Gwen was huddled.
He sat down next to her, leaning against the cool, hard wall of the cavern. He closed his eyes and let out a breath.
"Are we safe?" The slight tremble in her voice tugged at his heart.
"For now," he said, opening his eyes. "How is your leg?"
She shrugged, then reached over to pull her skirt up. He shouldn't stare, Arthur knew, but he couldn't help it as the dirty, damp skirt was eased up, revealing her legs to his eyes. Blood crusted around the wound near her calf.
"It's not too bad," she said, even as she winced.
Arthur cleared his suddenly dry throat. "Let's clean it up and dress it. Then we can get the horses and return to Camelot."
