May I just say a massive thank you to everyone that reviewed and liked my story. I really can't believe it! Haven't written a fan fic in a very long time, but after seeing episode 9 of Merlin I knew I had to do something. I needed to know what would happen to Gwen after she left, and her inside thoughts on what happened. Would she begin to believe foul play was involved in her downfall? How would she change as a person? I needed to know! LOL! This story is ALL about Gwen and her time alone before she returns to Camelot in episode 11 (though I might pop in some brief other character pov's, so give me some thoughts on who you might like).

I really hope you keep reading, and enjoy this chapter, which is the beginning of some pretty dark things for Gwen.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Merlin characters or world. Just having some fun ;)


The cell was dark. Gwen couldn't see much, apart from a faint amber light coming from behind the small barred window of the door. Her arm was in agony, and she could still feel the white hot heat of the brand H they had burned on her skin. Marked as a slave. A brief flicker of hope swept through her that Arthur would come for her just as he always did. But no. Not now. He'll never come for her again. Perhaps she deserved this ending?

Suddenly, the door rattled and was pulled open. "Come on pretty gurl." The guard grabbed her, pulling her up. With the movements of skilled expert, he bound her wrists tight and secure, and led her out of the cell. Blinded by the light, for a moment she had to completely rely on the guard for direction as he practically dragged her through the castle. When they finally came to a stop outside a door, Gwen thought she was imagining it when she smelled the faint scent of lavender. As the door opened she saw in the centre of the room a large bath tub with steaming hot water in it. An old woman was folding sheets beside it humming tunelessly and seemingly unaware that anyone was at the door.

"What is this?"

"Boss wants you all prettied up, pretty gurl. Can't have you stinkin' like a pigs sty for what he has planned for you."

"And what, exactly, does he have planned for me?" Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

"Improve business. Gurl like you on his arm in business meetings can create all the right kind of impressions."

"I thought I was to be sold to the highest bidder?"

"You will in time. Fer now, boss wants you around." Placing a hand on her back he shoved her in the room, with the door closing, and the clicking of a lock sounding behind her.


The bath was amazing. Back in Camelot she didn't have a bath tub, just a bowl to wash up in. Sometimes she'd head down the lake in the summertime. Not as often now, but back when her and Elyan where children, their father would…no! Gwen stopped herself. She couldn't afford to think of Camelot. It was too painful a subject that would distract her from her main objective. How to get out of here? The old woman, Dora, was almost completely deaf, so Gwen's attempt to discover where she was came to nothing. She had to try and think back to where she was taken. She couldn't be anywhere in Camelot, as both Uther and now Arthur had banned any such practises within the Kingdom. She had been near Ealdor, so perhaps she was somewhere in Cenred's old Kingdom. Since the King had died, leaving no apparent heir, chaos had followed, and the likes of the slave traders she was with now had taken easy opportunity to expand their businesses. Knowing this though, wasn't going to help her escape.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Dora coming back in carrying a beautiful dress. It was the style of dress that Morgana had used to wear. Silk, in an exquisite shade of deep blue, with intricate embroidery along the edges. It was the dress of a noble woman, and with an intensely sick feeling rising within her, Gwen wanted as far away from that dress as possible.

"You wear." Stated Dora.

"No."

"You wear, you wear!" Dora spoke more insistently, holding out the dress for Gwen to take.

"Please, I can't. I won't!"

"You wear!" And with that, Dora shoved the dress in Gwen's hands, and grabbed the sheet that Gwen was using to dry and cover herself up from her. Now, completely naked, she had no choice but to wear it.

Dora helped Gwen fasten the dress, and then made to work with what was left of her hair. Gwen felt completely exposed in the silk dress, that also made no effort to cover up her new arm brand. Clearly the boss wanted people to know she was a slave, and that she was his slave. From behind her the sound of the door unlocking made Gwen turn around. The guard from before was standing there, looking at her with both amusement and surprise. "Come pretty gurl. Boss wants to see ya now."


The room smelt of wine and sick. It wasn't really a room though, more like a hall, with tables and chairs scattered around and occupied by similar men to the ones that had first taken her. At the back wall a long table appeared to hold the most extravagant food, and that's were Gwen was led to. In the middle was a man not that much older than her. Better dressed than the others, and quite frankly not as drunk as the others, he held himself with an arrogant superiority, though neither of these things made him handsome. Crooked teeth, balding hair. If it wasn't for his yet unwrinkled skin, Gwen would have thought him far older.

"So this is the girl?" He looked at her intently, and then smirked widely. "Truly you're as beautiful as my men said you were. In fact, I think they didn't do you justice."

She said nothing. She would give this man nothing.

"Come. Sit."

Gwen was dragged around the back of the table, and placed in the seat beside him. "My name is Horis, what is yours?" Running a finger up and down her cheek, he then began to play with her hair. Again she said nothing.

"No name, huh? I shall just have to make one up for you."

"Name away." She spat out.

"She speaks! Such an enchanting voice to go with such an enchanting face. You shall bring me good business."

"And what kind of business is that?"

He chuckled at that. "The slave trade is more profitable than it ever has been before since Cenred died here, and you, my enchanting lady, are about to make me the most prominent trader out there."

"Numbers were never really my thing."

"Ha ha! The lady has humour. I like that. Another fine quality that you must have enchanted good King Arthur with."

Every part of Gwen's body froze. Suddenly, it was as if everything in the room had gone quiet, and it was just her and him.

"The word is that the young King called off his wedding, because his little bride couldn't keep her hands off another man. Banished her, he did. Her description matches yours fully, and where you were picked up fits the story of the banishment." Pressing his mouth against her ear, he whispered, "Your mine now Guinevere."


Will update as soon as I'm able. Finishing up an assignment at the moment, but the next chapter will be longer than this one.