Firstly and foremostly I would like to sadly admit that I do not own Merlin.. But we can all wish right? Hope you all enjoy with great reading! What do you all think of it? Please let me know.. xoxo.. Please note there are dark themes in this chapter
Arthur wandered the castle feeling frustrated that he couldn't find his knights anywhere, Gwen shook her head knowingly and walked to Arthur as he chucked down his jacket on his bed.
"I can not find Gwaine, Percival, Merlin or Gabriella anyway? Wander what trouble they got up to?"
Gwen laughed. put down her feather point and went to her husband.
" I have a very strong feeling where they might be, Where is the only place in the castle you clearly haven't looked?"
Arthur thought for a moment and then it hit him
"Those three men never leave her side. Last night I could see she was unhappy Arthur, she missed her brother last night Arthur. They would just be making sure she is okay, leave them be for now and wake them up later. Lord knows they will all be feeling it this morning"
Gwaine lay there sleeping peacefully with Ella curled up right into him, his arms protectively hugging her. Merlin was laying close on the other side of her with his mouth wide open and snoring loudly. Percival was laying across the end of the bed with his arms spread out and lifeless from the nights events. Ella opened her eyes softly, tried to move but was held down tight from Gwaine. Sighing she just lay there but then looking up seeing Arthur standing there with his arms crossed.
"Stuck?" he whispered laughing gently.
"Yeah..." she replied from under neath Gwaine's arm.
"I will get you up pretty quick...Just one moment and then you must eat your breakfast" he told her with a pointed finger.
Arthur walked to the side of Merlin and stood over him. Ella prodded Merlin again and again until he started stirring in his sleep and then opening his eyes.
"Good morning Merlin. Good night?" he asked sternly.
"Arthur!" Merlin gasped panicking and rolling off his bed with a loud thud.
"Ow" he moaned with his face smushed into the ground.
Percival woke with a surprise and seeing Arthur "Holy hell. Arthur!"
Gwaine woke with a shock and straightened himself up.
"Arthur... Good morning to you"
"There you are Ella... You are free now"
"Thank you Arthur..." she laughed.
Gwaine just shook his head at her as she hopped off the bed over Gwaine, her knees digging into his legs. Then the sounding bells began to ring. The knights looked around in a panic.
"Get dressed and meet me in the council chambers." Arthur demanded.
"Lord Agel was found dead this morning in the lower grounds. Stabbed to death but this mark was left on him... It is the mark of the rebel mercenaries that attacked Princess Gabriella..."
"So they are here?" Gwaine asked standing up and slamming his hands on the round table.
"It appears it was just a look out. Please, we all must keep a close eye on Gabriella and do our utmost best to make sure no harm come to her. We will put on patrols across the kingdom and there must be an escort for Gabriella at all times. She must not left alone"
"We must tell her for the reason though... Gabriella deserves to know this" Lancelot pointed out looking around that round table.
"I will go to the kitchens and see her then..." Gwaine offered and walked off to the kitchen.
Elle just pulled out her apple pie from the oven, smiling with joy as she took in the smell of cinnamon as it filled the kitchen. Mary, the cook, put her hands to her mouth and planted a kiss to the cheek of Gabriella, feeling so proud.
"Careful child... We do not want any burns now do we.. Now, that does smell delicious. Can not believe this is for that Sir Gwaine of all Knights. Do you know how many times both him and Percival tried to steal my roast chickens?" she asked.
"It is a thank you for all that he has done for me. I owe that man my life"
"It seems my lady you have some feelings for this knight?" Mary noted her arms covered in flour.
'No, I would not burden that man with such feelings from myself..." she whispered sadly to herself.
"But if it isn't to bold to say my lady, that man is different around you. Where you move, he moves. He watches you like a hawk" Mary said dreamily. "May i add that man has a rear to boot as well..."
Gwaine stood behind the kitchen doors, his ear near the door listening to the laughter of Gabriella and so walked in. He stood back as he saw Gabriella covered in flour head to toe. Ella looked up with a smile so large it could melt a cold winter's day.
"Gwaine! I have something for you... Apple pie...And mead..." she gave it to him anxiously biting her lip and wiping away some dough that stuck to her face.
"She made both the pie and mead by herself Sir Gwaine..." Mary dually noted proudly.
"Thank you, Gabriella. But could we take a walk, I have something to tell you..."
Gwaine sat her down in the castle garden under a shielded arch way. It had small, hardy blue flowers that bloomed and gave a stunning smell. Gabriella wore a light purple princess utt dress with a scarf snug around her neck and a warm coat around her shoulders. Flecks of snow fell down coating the ground making rainbows that glistened in the sun light. Gwaine looked at her in awe as she blew making her breath go white but then the smile dropped from his face when he knew what he had to tell Gabriella. But she looked so happy...
"Lord Agel was found dead last night... He had the mark of the mercenaries that captured you"
Ella froze looking up at Gwaine, taking a deep breath as she stretched out her fingers to stop her hands from shaking.
"Gabriella... " Gwaine murmured picking up her soft hands looking down on them relishing in the feeling , her hands so small and smooth, his own hard and calloused. What was he do? Was he in love with her.
"They are here Gwaine... That mark is of the lead scout and to not be trifled with. He burns his victims to ashes, blends those ashes with war paint and puts it on his face to show his power. I was tortured to the enth degree before I was rescued by my brother. He stops at nothing till he finds his target and achieves his goal of nothing but blood... And death"
Gwaine began to breath heavily, looking around and then to her. He gently put his hands on her face and looked in to her eyes.
"That man knows nothing but death and destruction. He stops at nothing until what he has been hunting is dead" she told him scared pushing away a stray of hair and putting her hand on his cheek then sitting her hands in her lap and looking at the swans in the lake.
"Nothing will happen to you Gabriella... But this is amazing pie, you cook, fight, have wisdom beyond your years and you put up with me..."
"You have to give yourself more credit Gwaine. You will make someone very happy one day" she complimented and giving him a playful push with her shoulder.
"We shall see my lady. I have my eye on one special person" as he ate a little bit of his pie smiling at her with that trade mark look in his eye.
"Yeah?" she wandered as Gwaine offered a piece, she laughed opening her mouth and he popped in a piece.
'Tell me about this special lady? What is she like?" she asked as she shift to face him.
Gwaine sighed looking up at the sky, taking in a breath and back to her.
'She is utterly stunning beyond words but most of all it is her beauty from the inside. Thinks of others before herself, sees the good in others when they don't even see it themselves. She is strong and stubborn more than you can possibly imagine. She has a cheeky manner than could out do me on my best day. " he shyly fiddling with his clasp on his cloak.
"Well Sir Gwaine... Who ever this special woman maybe, she would be very lucky to have you. I know I am, I don't know where I would be without you. All those nights where I couldn't sleep, waking up screaming from the nightmares. I just hold myself together because of you. You may see me all stoic, laughing and what not but really inside I am screaming. I do it so others don't have to worry about me"
The sun broke through the clouds, taking the cold chill of the air. Ella breathed in the fresh air and squeezed Gwaine's hand. He looked down, pursing his lips and sighing.
"We will find this mercenary Gabriella. I promise you that. No harm will come to you, i swear it with my life" he said to her and feeling a little brave holding her other hand.
"I know Gwaine"
"Gabriella, you ready for your lesson?" Merlin called out as he carried an arm ful of books
"Yes, of course. Merlin is teaching me about his experiences"
"Just be careful..." Gwaine told her.
'Always..." she giigled giving him a peck on the cheek.
Gabriella went and got ready for her "lesson" with Merlin.
"Dont look at me like that Merlin..." Gwaine pleaded as he stood up from the garden swing.
"I wish you would just tell her. It is so obvious that a blind man could see it. Is it really that hard to admit you like her?"
"I cant say it Merlin. I admit I care about her and that if any harm ever came to her that I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Nothing can happen between us"
"Why not?" merlin asked shocked.
"I am worried I am not good enough for her Merlin and admitting what I may feel for her, hurts to much if nothing happens"
"You have got to give yourself and Gabriella more credit"
"We will see Merlin..."
Ella looked at the book and it flew across the room straight onto the table and onto the page she wanted. She laughed, put her hands on her mouth, squealed got up off her chair and ran to give Merlin a hug.
"Oh my god Merlin... Did you see you that? I made the book fly across the room!"
'See! You can do it. With practise you will be just as good as me in no time"
"I hope so..." she laughed wiping her hair away from her face.
"Break time. Drink? Something to eat?"
"Please"
Ella wandered Giaus' chambers looking at all of his boosk and potions, reading in wander when the warning bells sounded. She gasped, thanking Merlin had locked the doors, but then shadows came beneath the door, instantly got the an eery feeling and froze on the spot. It gave her an un nerving chill and her breath was caught as the door was un locking from inside. She knew who it was. She looked around for a way out, there was an door to a celler under neath the carpet, pulled back the carpet pulled up the latch door and jumped down, using her magic to pull the carpet back over. There she closed her eyes, pulled her legs to her chest as she heard the door open and the man trashing the rooms. Tears ran down her face and her whole body was stiff and frozen with fear. Praying for Gwaine or Merlin to return.
Gwaine ran as fast as he could to Giaus's chambers, Merlin lagging behind puffing trying to keep up with the fit knight. Gwaine burst through the door seeing everything destroyed. His eyes filled with fear and he glanced around at the destroyed room.
'Ella!" Gwaine yelled panicking waving his hands through his hair. "I promised her Merlin. I promised her nothing would happen to her" he admitted putting his hand on his mouth.
'Gwaine. She will be fine. She could be hiding somewhere. Do you really think she would have given up that easy"
"Or she gave herself up so none of us would get hurt..."
Gwaine then noticed that a corner of the rug was up, he tilted his head and pulled back the rug to show a trap door.
"Gwaine... Be careful. If Ella is down there, she could be scared out of her mind. Be gentle"
Gwaine slowly walked down the stairs when a sword stopped just a hairs width away from his nose.
"Gwaine?" she gasped dropping the sword and hugging him. "He was in the room Gwaine...'
"It's okay... You would have handled him yourself by the look of it. Look at how you handle the sword! You have been in here far too long"
"I don't like the dark..." she whimpered into his chest as he hugged her.
Gwaine, Merlin and Gabriella were walking back to the castle to Arthur. Gwaine had his arm protectively around Gabriella as he looked around for anyone but then spotting a blue hooded figure lurking behind a stall.
"Merlin, get Ella to the castle as quick as you can... Just keep on walking like you know we aren't being followed" he whispered handing her to him.
"Gwaine?!" she asked, scared for Gwaine.
He peered down at her.
"Dont worry..." he assured her giving her a peck on the fore head.
Merlin stood beside her giving her a smile and walked her away. She looked back as the assassin walked behind Gwaine. He stood there with the trademark grin on his face as he pulled out his sword.
"No... " she whispered pulling away from Merlin when she saw the look out coming behind him.
She ran to Gwaine who she saw as one of her best friends. The assassin raised his two slim swords to attempt to kill Gabriella and Gwaine. Gwaine raised his sword trying to defend themselves, flicking one sword away. Ella picked up the shief and spun around going to stop the assassin when a green hooded figure came in front of her, injuring the man. The knights of Camelot took him away.
'Really Gabriella. You are rusty aren't you..." the mysterious man scolded taking of his hood revealing a light blue eyed and light brown hair.
"Daniel..." she muttered walking up to him in amazement and hugging him tightly.
Gwaine looked between the two, confused.
"Gwaine..." he introduced putting forward his hand.
'Daniel, Princess Gabriella's personal body guard"
"Guess she has two now..."
"My lord, I am Daniel, personal body guard of the Princess Gabriella. I have been tracking the assassin since..." he stated not wanting to sit down looking around at all the knights.
'Where are you when she was captured..." Gwaine interrupting with a angry look on his face, arm crossed and staring him down.
'There was a whole army Sir Gwaine..." Daniel tried to say.
"You did nothing" he yelled furiously and slamming his fists down on the table.
Ella jumped scared on her seat.
"Gwaine! Silent" Arthur commanded.
Gwaine reluctantly sat down in his chair not leaving Daniel's eye sight with a vicious look in his eyes and a sneer on his face.
"If I may speak my lord..." Ella asked politely, standing up graciously her heart beating faster and faster knowing what she was about to say..
"Please..." Arthur ushered.
"This man you have in your dungeons... He is no mere assassin..." she sighed pulling up her dress sleeves showing the marks where her wounds were healed over, they were the remains of her torture points.
The knight each felt the life drain from them seeing it.
"He knows the art of torture. I have a feeling I can make him talk and tell us where my brother is"
"My lady, I don't think that would be a good idea" Daniel pointed out.
'Atleast we agree on something here..." Gwaine pointed out with a stern look on his face.
"Gwaine..." Percival warned nudging him.
"As much as is disturbs me... But I think that is a good idea. Are you sure you can do this?" Arthur asked.
"Yes... For my brother I will"
He sat there, his black hair greasy and tied into a pony tail. His face expressed no emotion as he sat there twiddling his thumbs whistling a small tune that echoed through the dungeons. It was his call that he would singing to his victims as he was taunting them, making them go crazy beyond insanity. His face was painted with the ashes... Ella neared the wall of the cell when Gwaine held her back for a moment, she glanced at him with a look of pure terror but then surety came on her face.
"You don't have to do this..." he urged with a pleading and desperate look in his eyes. He was frightened for her.
"I have to do this... For my brother, Gwaine. I am tired of being scared"
"What about me being scared for you..."
"It will be alright..." she happily urged with a small smile on her face, gave a kiss on his cheek, turning as Gwaine and all of the knights stood back, all feeling helpless and terribly blameworthy for what was about to happen. Ella faced the cell, he was just sitting there. His black hair sleeked back into a dreaded pony tail, twiddling his thumbs and whistling, whistling the tune he would make when he was with his victims.. He tilted his head up and smiled creepily, the cracks of the ashed paint were fading.
'Ah there is my favourite. You were always so stubborn. Remember the needles underneath your finger nails... That was my favourite. The screams, oh the screams. Music to my ears. But I tell you, your brother is a little more hard to crack though... He doesn't scream. The paint on my face.. is yours and his his.. I have both made you bleed!" he cackled madly swinging his head bad and looking at her.
Ella looked back to Gwaine who clenched his fists so tight with a pleading look in his eyes feeling feeble. Ella breathed hard in and out, rushing into the gaol cell and breaking off the key. Gwaine came running, yelling as he shook the gaol bars, begging to be let in.
"Ella..." Percival urged as he tried to let loose the bars, barging his shoulder into the metal in hope.
Gwaine stood there in silent as the world all around him stood still as he stared at Ella. He promised her, he promised that no harm would come to her and Gwaine was a man of his word.
"You are going to tell me where my brother is or I will make you endure pain you have never experienced before..." she demanded kneeling down in front of the "man".
"Do you really think that pain is going to... Argh..." he screamed and laughing in agony.
Ella had sliced in between his fingers, hers flashed a light purple colour and she bared her teeth.
"Where is my brother?" she asked in monotone voice tilting her head side ways and smiling with malevolence.
"Well, well, well. You have learnt some new tricks since our last lesson haven't you Gabriella. My, aren't you a beauty. Let me guess, one of those knights is in love with you. but I think i know which one, he wasn't very happy was he when you broke the key off..." he noted shaking his head and tsking. "Little does he know what you are capable off..."
Ella sighed pulling out a hair needle and shoving it in his nails.
"Tell me where my brother is or so help me death will be merely just the beginning for you" Ella roared.
'Isn't it for all of us!" he shrieked. "Dark Tower..."
Exhausted she backed away, dropping her weapon onto the ground, dazed as everything around her was soundless.. A slight sheen of sweat broke across her fore head. She could barely hear the knights as they all yeledl her name, looking up she saw Gwaine beseeching look on his face begging to get her out. Shaking his head, looking about, calling for help. The assassin broke free of his shackles. Ella gasped as she scrambled for her weapon but it was kicked out of her way. Percival broke down the door of the gaol cell, Gwaine rushed and landed a blow to the stomach of the assassin, staring him in the eye as he cackled once again. Merlin ran into the cell, crouched down put hsi hands on Ella checking her out.
"You will never hurt her again..." Gwaine whispered staring the man in the eye.
"Are you okay?" Merlin asked whilst looking her over.
Ella nodded a yes but looking at Gwaine as he stood over the dying evil of a man.
"You really think you can protect her from all. Death knows no end and it will find her"
"Not while I am around" Gwaine threatened giving one final blow.
Gwaine staggered back dropping his sword and wiping his mouth.
Arthur walked in and bending down to Merlin 'Merlin... get her to her chambers. Gwen will be there with a maid to help Ella. She is in shock..."
Merlin helped Ella up but her eyes never leaving Gwaines "Gwaine..."
"I will be right with you..."
Gwaine ran his hand through his hair and over his mouth facing Arthur, Percival, Lancelot and Leon.
"That wasn't right..." he answered shaking his head.
"Do you really think we could have stopped her?" Leon asked.
"There is right and wrong but that... That was wrong. I am going to her..." Gwaine told Arthur without a second thought.
Merlin had poured Ella a bath and leaving her in privacy. Her hands begin to tremble, she began pulling and twitching with her fingers as it all hit her. She eased her clothes off, tired of having blood on her and eased into the bubble bath. She sighed, trying to get rid of the head ache that was forming around her fore head.
Merlin was balancing every one of Ella's favourite foods, concentrating hard when he saw Gwaine just standing there at Ella's door.
"She is in the bath at the moment. She didn't want any of her maids around at the moment..."
'What do I do Merlin?" Gwaine asked his fellow friend.
"Just be there for her, everything else will fall into place. Here, take her food. She is better around you Gwain, you are her light. We all want the same thing for Gabriella but you are the one that gets through to her in a way that no one else can. She lstens to you, trusts you. You have been so strong for her, helping her through the darkest days of her life. Something within you has changed because of Gabriella"
Gwaine shyly looked to the ground, this was a part of Gwaine that no one hardly gets to see, henodded solemnly as he opened the door slowly. The room was lit with candles.
"Ella? It's Gwaine. Can I come in?" he called out.
'Of course you can Gwaine..'
He walked around the corner to her bath,
"Merlin had to go to Arthur, so he gave me your food. See you still love your cheddar and grapes. The cook even slipped her favourite apple dumplings"
He laughed as he sat down beside the bath on a mat, spread some basil jam and cut some cheese.
"You have to eat Ella..." he urged "I mean, this is so delicious" he teased pretending to bite her piece of bread.
Ella reached for her bread, laughing and taking a bite of her dinner.
"I don't know where your mouth has been Gwaine..."
Gwaine laughed using the cloth and wiping away the dungeon dirt that stained her fore head.
"you are coming with us to find your brother aren't you?"
"I am not giving up on my brother Gwaine. I am tired of people around fallig to the ground. he would have done the same for me gwaine. I know the Dark Tower, I was in there... "
"Well I would rather you come with us and me not have to worry where you are when you are following us..."
'Know me to well"
"How can I stop you? The bond bwteen you and your brother is one that is just. But I can see why you want to go. What you did today was unbelievable. With all I had I wish you didn't have to go through that..."
"i had to Gwaine... I had to. He is my brother"
"Very well.. But we better get you out of this bath before you catch a cold and then you must eat your dinner after the day you have had"
"Okay" she laughed.
"Will you stay awake until
Daniel sat in the council room with Arthur, Guinevere, Leon, Giaus, Percival, Leon and Merlin.
"The Dark is what knights fear most..."
"They say you can hear the scream for leagues across the lands..." Giaus mentioned looking around.
'I must ask, what was Gabriella like when you all find her?"
"Gaius..." Arthur notion with a stone face staring into the round table.
"The knights had found her about to be slain by the mercanaries that were sent to kill her family. Ella had a severe head wound and various superficial injuries to her body, but that was not the most severe damage. It was the mental affliction which she suffered at the hands of your enemies"
"Gwaine was the only one that could properly calm her down..."
"What happened?" he asked looking around the table.
'She would wake up screaming from nightmares..." Arthur admitted looking no where in particular.
"Screams that would send chills to the dead..." Lancelot pointed in shock.
"There was no life in her eyes and she was a shells. Gwaine helped her with that"
"So how long has Gwaine been in love with Gabriella?"
"We are all trying to figure that out... He is too stubborn o admit it... We wont be able to stop Gabriella coming with us to the dark tower tower will we?"
"There is nothing in that world that could come between Ella and Damien. She would do anything for her brother, the bond they have is just..."
"We prepare supplies and head in a day from tomorrow dawn..."
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