A Twist of Fate
by Cel140
(Continuation of Chapter 2. Please review, follow, and\or fave :D P.S. I know this chapter is pretty much exactly like the episode, but don't worry, I will add my own twist on later chapters...)
Part 2
Merlin and Arthur had reached a clearing in the woods now, and found themselves standing atop a fairly tall hill, but the way down was not steep. Up ahead was a rocky knoll, considerably larger than the one they stood on, and in it was the dark yawning mouth of a cave.
"The ransom was supposed to be delivered at the Vale of Dinaria," Arthur was saying, "They would be likely holding Gwen there. We can save a day's ride if we go through the tunnels of…"
Arthur had not been looking at the view but down at a map he had brought with him, and at this point his attention shifted up from the parchment to the ominous tunnels before them.
"…Andor."
Merlin looked at the worried expression on Arthur's face, and some concern rose in his own.
"I know that face," The manservant moaned, bracing himself for some bad news, "What's inside the tunnels?"
Arthur tightened his lips momentarily. There was nothing for it but to say the truth.
"They're infested with wilderreon."
"Wilderreon?" Merlin asked, "What are they?"
"It's like a giant, blind…"
A look of fear crossed Merlin's face at how wide Arthur's arms had stretched to make a visual picture.
"…baby mouse."
"Baby mouse?" Merlin chuckled, clearly in relief, "That's not that bad."
"They feast on human flesh."
"Maybe we can go round?"
"Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed. Merlin gave him a grimace, but he descended the hill with the prince towards the tunnels and, much to his disgust, was eventually smeared with foul smelling gaia berries.
"They're going to protect you from vicious man-eating wilderreon, he says," Merlin muttered under his breath as he and Arthur stepped, with torch in hand, into the black mouth of the cave.
...
Gwen had stayed crouched up against the cold wall of the prison, with Morgana's red cape wrapped about her as a form of comfort, and she tried to concentrate on the faint noises of wild life outside her prison window, the steady splatter of water as it dripped from her damp cell's ceiling- anything to get her mind off of the terrible predicament she was now in.
It was late evening by now and she could hear her stomach grumbling furiously from a lack of proper nourishment, but her mind was far from her stomach or from the things she tried to distract herself with. What would Hengist do to her if he discovered he only held a lowly serving girl?
Just as she was thinking this, she heard footsteps just outside her door, and she had barely enough time to jump to her feet before the cell door was unlocked and thrown open.
"Hengist requests your presence, my lady." Said a man, whom she now saw was Kendrick. He was accompanied by several formidable guards, but brave Gwen drew her lips into a tight line and said nothing.
Kendrick was clearly not contented with her fearlessness and stepped dangerously close, whispering sharply in her ear, "And if I were you, I would keep my head down. It's too beautiful and useful to loose now."
A cold shiver ran down Gwen's spine, but she found herself nodding. Kendrick smirked sourly and, taking her by the arm, dragged her out of the cells towards Hengist's hall.
If all truth was to be said, it was little more than a den. It was poorly furnished with only the bare neccesities, and the food and drinks spread across it weren't something that Gwen would try willingly. In the middle of the room was a large enclosure and a trap door.
Several men sneered at her as she was dragged in, but Gwen ignored them and kept her chin up.
"Lady Morgana," Hengist said as he motioned for Kendrick to bring her forward, "Take a seat."
Hengist's voice was dripping with such mock courtesy that it made Gwen sick, yet she had little choice but to sit by him.
The food was passed around the table and was attacked rather viciously so that when it was passed down to Gwen there was little left to satisfy any hungry stomach, yet she made do. That was not her main concern.
"Our royal guest," Hengist announced, squeezing her shoulder tightly as he rose to his feet, "is getting bored! How about we give her some entertainment?"
The group of men present cheered in agreement, and Gwen jerked herself free from Hengist's grasp.
"Bring out our fighters!"
The trap door was lifted slowly, and from it emerged a fearsome man with a sword in his hand, most likely one of Hengist's best men. He banged on his chest with a shout, encoraging loud cheers from the onlookers, and held his sword high in the air. Gwen looked on in disdain, but suddenly her disdain was turned into shock for then, right after Hengist's man, came a fighter who made Gwen's heart jump into her throat.
His dark wavy hair grew slightly past the nape of his neck and a noble look graced his face, but the last straw for Gwen was when their eyes locked, and any doubts she may have had of him not being who he seemed disappeared into thin air.
Lancelot!
His name was almost slipping from her set apart lips, but she did not say it, for at that moment Hengist's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Only one of you," He said coldly, "Will emerge from the cage alive. Do you accept the challenge?"
A slight pause came, in which Gwen still only stared dumbfounded at his face.
Lancelot gripped his sword momentarily, one that Gwen had not noticed up till now, and gave a nod of agreement. His eyes; however, were not on the cruel bandit leader, but on her.
With a motion from Hengist, his man attacked Lancelot and Gwen gritted her teeth when the swords clashed.
Lancelot easily parried the blow, and several other blows and parries followed, till the swords clanged so quickly that Gwen could not barely tell what was happening. Wild cheers came from every side, and the cage was surrounded so thickly that she could only barely see the fight.
A twinge ran through her body when Lancelot seemed to be falling back, but somehow he managed to get back up and back into it everytime. Then admist a pause in the confusion, and much to her relief, she realized that Hengist's challenger lay at Lancelot's mercy on the floor, his sword being too far away to grasp.
"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" The onlookers egged him on. Lancelot did not look at them, and Gwen bit her lip earnestly. He would not kill a man in cold blood, not the Lancelot she knew. Perhaps the Lancelot she knew would be merciful, but under these circumstances, what would he do?
Lancelot's eyes glared hard but slowly, to Gwen's relief and his opponent's shock, he shook his head and lowered his sword. Side stepping Hengist's man, Lancelot threw open the door of the cage and made his way round towards Hengist's table.
Hengist seemed unpleased at the outcome, but Lancelot earned from him a bag of gold and a suspicious look from Gwen.
"What is your name?"
"Lancelot." He replied, glancing a moment at Guinevere.
"You've proven yourself to be a skillful warrior," The bandit leader half congratulated, "I believe you've even impressed our royal guest, the Lady Morgana."
Lancelot brows shot up slightly, and in his mind he remembered the awkward, yet somehow romantic little conversation they had had so long ago.
"I'm not a knight yet, my lady." He had reminded.
"And, I'm not a lady." She had giggled.
A half smile came to his lips and he gave a courteous bow.
"My lady." He said, and Gwen could almost swear seeing a spark lighting his deep brown eyes.
Hengist gave a chuckle at this.
"Next time you fight," He said, "Don't expect any mercy." Then, in a much louder tone, "Bring out the wilderreon!"
The trap door was lifted once more, and the creature that came out was so repulsive and frightening that Gwen had to stifle a shriek at the sight of it. It looked like a deformed, blind mouse. As it crawled forward, it seemed to smell out Hengist's man, for in a few moments it was upon him, and Guinevere looked away and stopped her ears to avoid looking at the terrible sight or hearing the man's screams of terror.
It was all over very quickly, and thankfully the vile creature dragged the body down into the trap door. One of Hengist's men closed the door behind it, and the celebration continued as if the fight had never happened.
Guinevere couldn't handle it, and she found her eyes searching the crowds for Lancelot's familiar face. She needed comfort in this seemingly hopeless situation, but more importantly she needed to speak to him. What had happened to him all this time? Was he really the same man she had admired him for being?
Finally, when the evening was coming to an end, Gwen was allowed to return to her cell, and was left in her cot with only her dazed thoughts.
"Guinevere."
Gwen's head turned sharply round her, trying to see where she had heard her name being called. There was only one person who had that voice.
Looking up on her right, she saw his crouched figure beside a small, barred window.
"Lancelot!" She breathed as she stood up on the edge of the cot to face him.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you," Lancelot whispered in that deep, gentle way of his.
"I thought my mind was deceiving me," Guinevere replied, grasping the bars to hoist herself up a little further.
"Why does Hengist think you are the Lady Morgana?" Lancelot asked bluntly.
Gwen's eyes flitted down to her unsteady hands, and she swallowed down the dryness in her throat.
"Hengist believes he is holding Morgana to ransom," She blurted, biting her lip, "If he discovers who I really am he'll throw me to those beasts."
"I will not let that happen," Lancelot replied firmly.
Gwen shook her head, and the question that she had asked herself at dinner came to her lips.
"What happened to you after you left Camelot? Are you one of Hengist's men?"
Lancelot shifted awkwardly from foot to foot at Guinevere's earnest question.
"No," He said, "But there are few opportunities for men like me, so I've been earning my way the only way I can-"
Gwen's brows raised a little.
"-by the sword," Lancelot clarified grimly, "It seems it is my fate to entertain men like Hengist."
"I don't believe that of you," Gwen replied softly, "You were so full of hope."
"I was wrong," Lancelot replied, "The world is not like that."
His expression looked so pained that Gwen, who couldn't stand the look, squished her fingers through the bars to try to squeeze his hand for comfort.
"I still see the hope in you," She said softly, unaware that she was squeezing his calloused hand, "I do not believe it is gone."
Lancelot's eyes looked down at Gwen's fingers, and although they only barely touched his hand, the touch sent a slight, wonderful shiver down his spine.
"I've though of you often," He admitted, a smile lighting his face as he looked back up into Gwen's beautiful almond eyes, "Have you thought of me at all?"
Gwen let out an unsteady breath, "I thought I'd never see you again."
Lancelot bit his lip lightly as he scanned her unreadable face. He wanted to say something, he wanted to know what was going through her head.
The noise of a door being opened brought Lancelot and Gwen back to the present.
"Someone's coming!" Gwen whispered in alarm, slowly releasing her hold on Lancelot's hand and whipping her head towards the sudden noise.
"Hey!" He said gently, averting her attention back to his gentle face, "No matter what happens, I will find a way to get you out of here."
A slight smile appeared on her face, and she nodded slightly.
"I will," He promised, before slipping noisessly away, just as silently as he had come.
...
"Morgana?"
Uther and his ward had been eating dinner in the great dining hall, but Morgana's thoughts were far from her food.
She looked up at him, brows furrowed slightly. The King sighed, understanding what was going through her head, or so he thought.
"I had no choice," Uther reminded, sipping momentarily from his glass before speaking again, "It was a futile and dangerous mission. The bandits care little for servants."
Morgana's lips tightened and she shook her head before leaning back in her chair. She knew that Arthur would not fail in his mission, but Uther's indifference towards her servant's predicament angered her.
Uther could feel the tenseness in the air, one that felt all too similar to the time his ward had developed such an affection for the druid boy.
"We will find you another maidservant," The King finally said simply.
Morgana grit her teeth and, pushing back her chair, she stood to her feet.
"If I had been captured," The King's ward asked firmly, staring right into Uther's surprised eyes, "Would you have let Hengist hurt me?"
The King had clearly not been expecting her outburst, and so he stared at her quite speechless. Morgana shook her head and stormed out of the hall, leaving Uther alone at the table.
The King let out an aggravated exhale and he wondered; just how many times would he end up being at odds with his beloved but head-strong ward?
...
Merlin and Arthur were walking quite far into the tunnel and now Merlin, with a sudden shiver running down his spine, saw that there were countless remains of human skeletons lying everywhere. There would be no way to back out now, but this cave was looking more foreboding and making him more edgy by the minute.
"I stepped on something!" The manservant whispered sharply, and just as he did the prince let out a 'hmph'.
"That was my foot!" He growled, and Merlin gulped.
"Sorry."
And although Arthur's back was facing him, Merlin could feel Arthur roll his eyes.
They continued their slow, wary paces till Arthur's hand shot up, motioning for Merlin to wait. Merlin listened with a baited breath, but he could hear nothing, so when a spine-chilling shriek tore through the silence he almost jumped.
"Quick!" Arthur hissed. Dropping the torch, he stomped out the flame and dragged Merlin behind a crevice. Now that they were in complete darkness, and Merlin angrily wondered why Arthur had put out the torch. It's not like the wilderreon could see it. Unless, of course, they could feel the heat.
A grunt brought Merlin from his musings back to reality, and he realized that it must be one of the wilderreon, surprisingly a closer sound than the sound of the shriek had been.
"Hold still," Arthur murmured, staring motionlessly ahead, "No matter what."
Then came an unpleasant snort, and Merlin felt the heavy presence lurking just infront of them.
"Baby mouse?"
The warlock grit his teeth, almost wishing that Arthur could hear his sarcastic thought.
The presence drew nearer, and Merlin set aside all such comments and began racking his brains for a spell to stun such a huge creature, but in this situation it would be impossible for him to use magic. Not when Arthur sat crouched beside him. He simply had to believe the berries would work.
Then came the cold, wrinkly, wet nose of the wilderreon pushed crushingly in his face. Merlin felt his heart jump into his throat and his nose scrunched up involuntarily in disgust. The creature's breath reeked of death. Merlin was almost sure that he would pass out on the spot long before the wilderreon could tear him apart.
The creature continued to snuffle the warlock's face, and all Merlin could do was keep saying that the gaia berries would cover his scent so as to prevent himself from grabbing Arthur by the arm and bolting out of the cave as fast as his feet would allow.
Second seemed like hours of staring face to face with death, but thanks to the berries, the pressure of the wilderreon's snuffling nose was suddenly released and, as quickly as it had come, the creature trudged away deeper into the tunnels.
It would be lying to say Merlin managed to get his breath back, for as soon as the ominous creature had turned his back, Arthur was up on his feet, telling him to run, and bolting towards a tunnel on the left, leaving a shaken Merlin to stumble blindly after him. Merlin's heart pounded in his chest and his breath was little more than short gasps, but he managed to keep up with the prince's flying feet and eventually they got to the other side of the tunnel.
"Stop!" Merlin gasped, halting as soon as they were in the bright, fresh outdoors, "Stop!"
Arthur needed little persuading and soon both of them were leaning forward and clasping their knees for the support that their burning legs did not give.
After several minutes of regaining their breath, they began to take in their surroundings. They were in a quiet sparse forest with, much to their relief, a bubbling stream in the midst of it, one which both of them washed their faces thoroughly with.
"Gaia berries worked." Arthur muttered to himself as he washed the said berry off.
But Merlin had heard quite well, and frustration and anger welled up in him.
"You didn't know if they'd work?!" He blustered, jumping up from his crouched position.
"Not for sure." The prince admitted.
"Now you're telling me?" Merlin exclaimed, "Oh, what's that wilderreon eating? Oh, it's alright, it's just Merlin! Were you planning on getting us both killed?"
Arthur couldn't help an amused smile at that, but seeing the seriousness on Merlin's face, he pulled on a straight look.
"I'm sorry," He replied genuinely but humorously, standing to his feet to look at Merlin at eye level, "I shouldn't have risked your life like that."
Merlin shook his head.
"Well," He began, "They do say that love makes you do strange things."
Arthur had been walking away, but when these words left Merlin's lips, he paused.
"What do you mean?" He asked, avoiding his manservant's eyes once more.
"Why can't you just admit your feelings for Gwen?"
Arthur's felt his throat dry up, but he managed a scoff.
"Oh, come on," Merlin encouraged, a wide smile emerging, "It's so obvious! A blind man could see it! Can't you admit you like her?"
"I can't!" Arthur exclaimed in exasperation, and Merlin's smile faded away at how serious the prince's voice had suddenly become.
"How can I admit that, I think about her all the time?" Arthur continued, a wave of emotions overcoming him, "Or that, I care about her more than anyone? How can I admit that, I don't know what I'll do if any harm comes to her?"
Merlin swallowed hard at the outburst, which he now realized had probably been bottled up in Arthur all this time.
"Why can't you?" Merlin asked after a pause of intense silence.
"Because nothing could ever happen between us!" The prince replied, "To admit my feelings-knowing that-hurts too much."
From the beginning of Arthur's frustrated rant, Merlin had begun to feel an ache in his heart. He was in the exact same position. He had found someone who really cared for him, but if it couldn't work between Morgana and himself, he had to make it work for Arthur and Gwen. It was his destiny to make Arthur King, to ensure his happiness; even if that meant putting aside his own.
"Who's to say nothing can happen?" Merlin asked encouragingly, even if it hurt.
"My father wouldn't let me rescue a servant," Arthur blurted, "Do you honestly think he'd let me marry one?"
"You want to marry Gwen?" Merlin chuckled, amused despite himself.
"No!" Arthur exclaimed, indignant that he had let that slip, "No, I don't know-"
Merlin raised his arms defensively, realizing that he was pressuring the Prince.
"It's all talk," Arthur finished when he had found the words to say, "And that's all it can ever be."
"When you're King," Merlin replied, "You can change that."
Arthur lowered his head and stared down.
"I can't expect Guinevere to wait for me," He mumbled.
"If she feels the same way you do," Merlin said, a smile lighting his face once more, "She'll wait for you."
These words brought Arthur suddenly to the present.
"We don't even know if she's still alive." He said, lifting his head quickly as a sudden feel of panic gripped him.
"Yes," Merlin said emphatically, "She is alive."
"We've got to hurry," Arthur replied quickly, "We've got a long journey ahead."
"Oh, and Merlin," Arthur said, turning on his heel to look Merlin directly in the eye,"If you tell anyone what I just said, I will make your life a living hell."
The corner of Merlin's mouth quirked up when he recognized the familiar tone. It was threatening, yet somehow it had an undertone that would lighten the atmosphere.
"More than you already do?"
Arthur raised his brow ever so slightly and gave an impish smile, "Yeah."
Merlin knew that he was serious about this, and so he gave a nod before the two of them continued on their way.
The sparse forest in which they found themselves in did not cover them very well from any enemies that may come passing, but in Merlin's mind, it will always better to be caught by bandits than to be face to face with a giant, man-eating mouse.
Arthur seemed to think differently, for every movement he made from tree to tree was agile and quick in an effort not to be seen, so that when Merlin lagged considerably far behind and walking right in the clearings, Arthur couldn't help but get aggravated.
"Pick up the pace, Merlin," He grumbled, "I intend on reaching the Vale of Dinaria by this evening, but at this pace we shouldn't have even come at all."
"I'm sorry I don't have your speed or incredible agility, sire," Merlin retorted sarcastically.
"Pity isn't it?" Arthur replied, masking his satisfaction of having a friendly banter with an air of pride.
Merlin rolled his eyes and sped up his pace.
...
A streak of sunlight on Gwen's closed eyelids brought her out of her dreamless sleep and, out of habit, she muttered to herself that she needed to get to the castle to prepare Morgana for the day. Her eyes slowly opened, and she found them momentarily blinded by the light coming through the window but, as they focused, her heart dropped to her feet and the realization of her true surroundings hit her like a wave. She was so far from home and far from safe, and that realization was terrifying.
Suddenly, a door was heard being opened again, and Gwen had barely enough time to jump to her feet when her cell door was thrown open. There, standing ominously in the doorway, was Hengist, and Gwen's first impulse had been to back away, but instead she held her head high and proudly. She had to keep strong, she had to seem confident that Uther would pay her ransom.
"I still have not heard any news from Uther," Hengist growled impatiently, "Does it not worry you, that he seems content to let you die?"
Gwen stared at him unflinchingly, "How can I know the King's mind when I am locked in your stinking cell?"
Hengist seemed angered by this, his shoulders tensed, and he took long strides towards her.
"If the ransom is not payed," He hissed, stepping into her space, "by dawn tomorrow, this stinking cell will be the last place you ever see."
He stared her down for a moment before his hard face transformed into a cruel smirk and, turning away, he let out a spine-chilling cackle before closing the cell door. Gwen collapsed back down on her cot, allowing herself to let out a shaky gasp. If she wasn't rescued soon, Hengist's threat would become reality.
No, she couldn't believe that. Lancelot would find a way to get her out. He had promised, and Lancelot never failed to keep his promises. He visited her cell often in secret, and it was his visits that kept her going, that kept her clinging to hope.
"This evening," He promised, "I will come for you."
Yet, by late evening when there was still no sign of Lancelot, Gwen found herself feeling the dread and fear of what may be taking Lancelot so long. What if Hengist had discovered of his plans to free her and was feeding him to those vile beasts? Panic began to rise in her, that is, till she heard the cell door open to reveal her hero still alive and well.
"Lancelot!" She breathed in relief.
"It took sometime to drug the guards," He explained, reaching out his hand to her, "You must come quickly Gwen!"
...
Night fell quickly in the thickening woods where Arthur and Merlin now found themselves in and, just up ahead, was Hengist's stronghold.
"We'll have to scale the walls," The prince said, staring pointedly at the guards pacing to and fro on the battlements above.
Merlin let out a very slight groan. They had no grapple or rope, and the walls had few nooks where one could grip on with their feet or hands, much less secure nooks.
"Maybe there's another way." Merlin replied, keeping his voice low.
Arthur rolled his eyes, "Yes, I'm sure if you knock at the gates and ask nicely they'll hand you Guinevere straight away."
"I never said I would ask nicely." Merlin thought as he silently followed Arthur forward.
It was getting more difficult to try to move stealthily, because even at the furthest point of the woods, there was still a vast expanse between where they stood hidden in the forest and the rundown fortress up ahead.
There was little for it; however, except to dash forward when the guards had their backs turned and then stand stock still when they looked out once more.
Surprisingly to Arthur and all due credit to Merlin, the guard's eyes were elsewhere as Merlin silently toyed with their swords and sent gusts of wind. Of course, he made sure these small magic tricks wouldn't be too out-of-place, but unusual enough that the guards would be compelled to investigate. It was easy now thanks to him but still, when they had reached the wall, Arthur felt the need to brag.
"See, wasn't so hard."
Merlin chose to ignore his comment and started to look for the surest nooks where he could steady himself on, while Arthur cast him an amused look before doing the same.
It took a considerable amount of time that is, for Merlin, but eventually the two reached the top and, thanks to Arthur's calculations, no guards were there. It would take still a few more minutes before they arrived to this portion of the battlements to keep watch and, using this to their advantage, they entered through an unguarded back door. Well, almost unguarded.
There, in the only room to which they could turn, were two of Hengist's men holding soup bowls in one hand and wine goblets in the other. Merlin always thought, though he wasn't exactly sure why, that there was something slightly off about the soup.
"You distract the guards." Arthur whispered sharply behind him.
"How?!" Merlin retorted in a low voice.
The prince gave a slight shrug then, with a forceful push, he threw Merlin into the center of the room.
Merlin felt shock at the sudden push, then angry at Arthur, and then only slightly worried about the situation he was suddenly thrown into.
"What are you doing here?" One man asked, reaching for his sword as Merlin stumbled in.
"Nothing. Actually, it's a funny story," Merlin stuttered, making it up as he went, "I was out walking and I took a wrong turn and here I am. Do you know the way to the Vale of Dinaria?"
"Who are you?" The other man asked in a way that was likely supposed to look fierce, but it didn't quite have the right effect due to the fact that he had been drinking.
"Me? Er, I'm no one-"
Then, as if on cue, Arthur crept up behind the two men.
"-It's him you need to worry about." Merlin finished, and no sooner had the men turned round to see of whom he spoke that Arthur knocked them out soundly with his gloved fists.
Arthur cast Merlin an impressed look before they dragged the men into a corner and changed into their clothing.
"Come on," Arthur said once they had changed, "We haven't a second to waste."
They began to rush through very barely lit hallways, down stairwells, towards the sound of a loud ruckus that Arthur had heard below.
Then, as they stopped momentarily to catch their breath, they found thst a group of Hengist's men were walking towards them, but they were clearly caught up in an apparently interesting conversation.
"So the Lady Morgana isn't all she seems, is she?" One cackled, "Turns out she didn't even have a drop of royal blood in her. It's a wonder how Kendrick managed to make us all believe a mere serving girl was royalty."
This was met by course laughter, and Arthur felt his muscles lock in anger and in anxiety. What had they done to Gwen?
"But better than that," Another said, "That fighter who defeated Sarruk, Lancelot's his name I think, was actually on a mission to free the worthless wench. Didn't go so well, ey? They'll be food for the wilderreon if Hengist has any say in it."
The men were practically approaching Arthur and Merlin now and, seeing no way to avoid them, the prince decided they would have to meet up.
"Act natural," Arthur mumbled, trying to keep his voice steady as he felt the desire welling up in him to give the man who had had the guts to call Gwen a 'worthless wench' a beautiful black eye.
"'Ey, there!" Called the same man, leaving out the 'h', "Who are you?"
"I am-erm...he is-" Merlin offered hesitantly.
"He is Argist and I Derreck," Arthur replied, making up the names on the spot, but with such confidence that he sounded as though he belonged here, "Are you men on your way to dining hall?"
Because, if they'd have captured Gwen and Lancelot to show them off as a public display, there was no better place than the main hall.
"We are," Another man replied, "The wilderreon are going to have a feast tonight!"
Arthur and Merlin could feel dread rising as they quickly followed the men down to the main hall and, when they arrived, the room was packed full. Everyone in the crowd was surrounding what looked like a huge cage, yelling and cheering. The cage was thickly surrounded, but between a small gap, Arthur saw the heart-stopping sight.
There before them bound in the cage was Guinevere with a man tied next to her and, trying to smell them out, a huge wilderreon. The sight was enough to compel Arthur forward and, unsheathing his sword, he charged through the crowd and jumped into the cage by forcing the wooden entrance open.
"Arthur?" Guinevere gasped as he lowered the mask he was wearing and used his sword to free them of their bonds.
Arthur threw Lancelot a sword before taking Gwen by the arm and pushing her behind him protectively.
"What are you doing here, Lancelot?" Arthur asked, lunging forward to give several blows in the wilderreon's direction.
"I came to save Gwen," Lancelot replied as he too delivered several blows, "What about you?"
Arthur nodded only barely, "Likewise."
By now, the shouts had increased, but no one dared enter the cage and Merlin, having a hard time to push through the crowds could barely comprehend what was going on. That is, till Hengist grabbed a crossbow and pointed it at the group in the cage.
"Ic bebíede fealle." Merlin said at once, and no sooner had the spell escaped his lips that the chandelier that hung just above Hengist came falling towards him.
Unfortunately, Hengist moved away just in time, but at least he had been stopped for the time being.
"Merlin!" Arthur bellowed, seeing Merlin crouched down in the spot where he had secretly performed the spell, "Don't sit there cowering and get over here!"
Merlin would have loved to say he wasn't, but he restrained the desire and pushed through the crowds towards where the other three were backing away in the direction of the trapdoor and tunnel from which the wilderreon had come.
"After them!" Hengist shouted, bursting in through the door of the cage.
"Take Guinevere," Lancelot told Arthur, "I'll hold them off!"
Gwen shook her head firmly, "No!"
"We have to go Gwen!" Arthur replied, grabbing her by the arm.
Once Arthur and Gwen were a good distance off, Merlin realized that he was now free to perform his magic. He felt the magic build up in him as Hengist tried to kill the wilderreon and, with a golden glow of his intense eyes, the trap door fell, entrapping Hengist in the cage with the vicious creature.
"Open the gate!" Were Hengist's last words before the wilderreon was upon him.
"Still up to your old tricks, Merlin?" Lancelot asked, twinging ever so slightly at the bandit leader's desperate cries for help.
"It's probably best you don't tell anyone," Merlin replied seriously, but he couldn't quite keep the smile off his face from seeing his old friend again.
The two then ran off deeper into the cave, till they arrived at the spot where Arthur and Gwen had been awaiting them in-just next to a barred door that led directly to the fresh, dark night again.
Arthur had already set to work to pick at the lock with a small dagger he had kept hidden in his boot. Gwen sat wearily up against the rocky wall, watching Arthur's earnest fingers at work.
"Good to see you both," Lancelot gasped, still quite out of breath with all the running he had done, "Where are your knights?"
"It's just us." Arthur replied, pausing momentarily from his task to glance up at Lancelot.
Lancelot cast Merlin a confused look, but Merlin did not supply any answer.
Arthur managed to open the lock after a few more minutes of forcing it and, throwing the door open, motioned for everyone to come out.
Lancelot stepped forward and extended a calloused hand to Guinevere. Gwen let out a small breath of relief and, as their eyes locked, she reached her own delicate brown hand for him to help her up by.
This may have seemed a perfectly ordinary thing for a gentleman such as Lancelot to do, but when Gwen's face lit up with that beautiful smile that rarely graced her face and squeezed his hand, Arthur knew that this wasn't just a show of courtesy. Had she, did she-
Love him?
Arthur felt Gwen look at him, but averted his eyes just before they met hers. He couldn't face her, not-not right now.
He stepped out into the chilly night air, but the cold did not affect him as much as the very present hurt he had just experienced did.
"Thank you Arthur," Lancelot said as he exited the tunnels, "We owe you our lives."
We.
Arthur tried to smile, but although he was more than glad to see Lancelot again, he felt sure that he only gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment.
A few hours later found the four deeper into the woods. They had stopped for the night in an area in which their small fire wouldn't be spotted easily.
"I'm surprised you would undertake such a rescue mission," Lancelot was saying as Merlin stumbled into their campsite with arms full of wood, "with just the two of you."
Merlin almost let a log drop from his stack, but thankfully(and perhaps with a little magic that no one save Lancelot noticed) he managed to steady himself before casting a look in Arthur's direction.
"My father would not risk the lives of his knights to save a servant," Arthur explained, avoiding everyone's eyes by staring into the fire.
"And yet you came anyway?" Lancelot pressed suspiciously.
Arthur felt a prickly sensation at what Lancelot was hinting at. Were his feelings so impossible to hide?
"The truth is," Arthur lied, "I only came because Morgana begged me to."
But how he regretted the words, for as soon as they left his lips, Arthur caught the hurt look in Gwen's eyes, such pain that it looked like she was about to cry.
"I think I'll get some rest," She said quickly, jumping up to her feet and turning away so that no one would catch the glistening tears that were forming in her eyes.
Arthur agreed and prepared his makeshift bed as Lancelot stood up and offered to take first watch.
"I will too," Merlin offered, seeing that Lancelot clearly wanted to talk.
The two stepped away from where Arthur and Gwen were, but it was only till after they were asleep that Lancelot spoke up.
"Is it true that Arthur came to rescue Gwen because Morgana begged him?"
Merlin didn't answer, but from his side long glance at the sleeping Arthur and Gwen, Lancelot put the pieces together.
"He has feelings for her." He said, letting out an unsteady breath.
Merlin tightened his lips before nodding.
"What about you?" The manservant asked, "Do you have feelings for her?"
"My feelings do not matter," Lancelot replied firmly, although there was an undertone of pain in his voice, "I will not come between them. But-"
He hesitated, wondering how his last words to someone he cared about more than anything would be.
"Would you give her a message?"
…
The following morning came swiftly, and when Gwen awoke and stretched she looked over at an asleep Merlin, then over at Arthur, whom she couldn't tell whether he was sleeping or was awake.
Then, after a quick scan, Gwen realized that Lancelot was nowhere to be seen. Stepping lightly over branches and twigs so as not to disturb Arthur, Gwen made her way over to a peacefully sleeping Merlin. He looked so calm, so happy and to say the truth, though he would never admit it to anyone, he had unknowingly allowed his thoughts to stray back to Morgana and had fallen asleep to the mental picture of her in his arms.
"Merlin?" She whispered quietly. The manservant seemed quite deep in sleep and did not stir, so Gwen shook his shoulders gently to try to wake him.
"Mmh?" Merlin mumbled, his sleepy eyes opening ever so slightly to reveal a slit of blue between thick lashes.
"Good morning," She said, a slight smile coming to her face, "Where is Lancelot?"
Merlin was still relatively deep in sleep, and so it took him a few moments to gather his recollections together, but when he did a glum look crossed his face.
Gwen looked at him expectantly, a look that made Merlin regret what he had to say more than ever. But still, she needed to know.
"He's gone." He said ruefully.
Gwen looked at him as if he had spoken a foreign language as the news hit her hard. He had left her?
"No." Gwen insisted, but she couldn't stop her trembling undertone.
"He said that some things just cannot be," Merlin explained, keeping his voice as comforting and as gentle as he could, "He wanted you to know that-you've changed him forever."
Arthur, who had been lying awake this whole time, had heard their conversation, but had little else to say to Gwen when he stood to his feet other than they had to start off for Camelot presently.
Gwen bravely with-held her tears and soon the trio began heading homeward.
…
Morgana was staring out of the window on the griffin landing, hands folded in front of her, never moving her relentless eyes off of the court yard.
She had stood here for longer than she cared to remember, but she couldn't tear herself away. She had to know Arthur and Merlin had returned, she had to know that Gwen was safe.
"Morgana."
The lady's head turned almost immediately at the familiar sound and when she did, she found the prince standing on the top staircase.
"Arthur." She said with a hopeful tone, completely ignoring his strange attire.
"There is someone here to see you." The prince said and suddenly, from behind him, up came Guinevere! Morgana eyes widen and she stifled a squeal of joy as Gwen came rushing up to her.
"Gwen!" She exclaimed in relief, wrapping her arms round Gwen in a solid embrace. Gwen smiled brightly as she accepted the warm hug, and as she did, she looked up at Arthur over Morgana's shoulder. She could see his soft look, one that he only had to give once for her to understand. She knew now what was going through his head and she nodded ever so slightly in gratefulness before he quietly turned and headed back down the staircase so as not to interfere with the joyful renunion. And still, Gwen watched him.
(Alright! Finally I finished it! It took so long that I thought I might never post it, but I FINALLY have! Anyway, reviews, faves, and follows are always appreciated! Thank you so much for reading! :))