AN: Thanks for the support; reviews and alerts. I know how I'm going to play out episode 12 and 13 and have the epilogue done already.
As the dawn broke Merlin was kicked awake by Arthur.
"What on earth did you do that for?" Arthur yelled. Merlin sat up and looked at Arthur; he hadn't exactly been too pleased at what he'd done but what choice did he have?
"I had to get you out of Camelot; you were knocked out. If I hadn't then Morgana would have killed you!" Merlin argued. Arthur glared at Merlin and looked around the trees.
"Where's everyone else?" he asked. Merlin's shoulders slumped.
"I don't know. I seen Leon when I was getting you out but I didn't see Percival, Elyan or Gwaine since we left. I don't know what happened to them." Merlin replied. Arthur ran a hand through his hair and looked around.
"We're going to have to find them and fight back. I can't lose Camelot to Morgana." Arthur insisted. Merlin got to his feet and they began making their way through the woods. "What about Guinevere?"
"Elyan was trying to make his way back down to her. He might've got her out before anything happened." Merlin replied. He hoped so; he hoped that his friends and Gaius managed to get out of Camelot before Morgana did anything horrible to them. Out of everyone who lived in Camelot; it would be Gaius, Gwen and the knights who Morgana would want dead the most. Arthur and Merlin continued wandering through the woods in silence; waiting for a flash of red or chain mail or a familiar face to appear. Neither of them spoke but their silence spoke volumes about their fears and concerns for those whom they regarded as family. After about an hour or so; Arthur stopped and drew his sword. Merlin looked around nervously.
"Did you hear that?" Arthur whispered.
"It came from over there," Merlin muttered twitching his hand.
Arthur led the way forward to the source of the noise; his sword drawn and ready to attack. As they neared the patch of trees Leon and Percival suddenly appeared and approached them. The men all looked relieved to see one another.
"Are you alright?" Leon asked.
"Aside from Morgana, my uncle and a warlord taking over Camelot and being forced to flee I'm fine." Arthur retorted and shook his head. "Sorry, any word on the others? Guinevere, Elyan, Gaius or Gwaine?"
"Haven't seen any of them but they could have reached the woods by now." Percival replied.
"What about the people, where are they?" Merlin asked.
"Those who escaped are in the woods; as far as we can tell there aren't any civilian fatalities but several of the guards and knights were killed." Leon replied.
"What are we going to do? Where are we going to go?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know; it's likely that Helios' men will try and round everyone up. It happened last year. Anyone who fled was brought back and forced to swear loyalty to Morgana. If they didn't they were either killed or imprisoned. The townspeople had their homes destroyed." Leon explained; remembering the year before. The mass trials of the townspeople who were terrified into swearing their allegiance to Morgana; how he and the knights stood defiant; refusing to betray their king and prince.
"Go back and tell them not to resist arrest. If they have to be brought back then tell the people they will still have their homes and each other. Tell them that anyone who swears loyalty to Morgana to protect their families will not be betraying Camelot. But as for the knights; tell them to keep moving. We can't lose any more knights." Arthur ordered. Leon and Percival took off and he and Merlin looked at one another.
Once the knights had gone Arthur slumped against a tree and rested his head on his knees. How could he have been so blind? How could he not have seen his uncle as the traitor from the start? Because he didn't want to. Agravaine was the last blood relative Arthur had after Uther's death and Arthur hadn't wanted to consider the idea of his mother's brother being the one who would betray the last link he had to his dead sister. Now that Arthur thought about it; everything began to make sense. Who was the one who told him that one of the knights was betraying him? Who was the one who 'advised' him that being in a relationship with Guinevere wasn't suitable for a king? Who told him to go to war against Queen Annis? Who tried to make him think Gaius was the traitor and stop him from finding the others whenever they were under the control of the Lamia? Who had been the one who pushed him to have Guinevere and Lancelot and Elyan executed? Who was the one who had access to the citadel plans? The proof was always there but Arthur had turned away. He didn't want to face or consider the truth. What sort of king did that make him? A treacherous part of his brain made Arthur ask the one thing he had feared ever since he became Prince Regent.
"How am I supposed to be a good king?"
Arthur hadn't even realised he'd spoken aloud until Merlin put his hand on Arthur's shoulder.
"You made a mistake. We all thought Agravaine was on our side." Merlin reassured.
"No you didn't. You never trusted him at all. Nor did Gaius or Gwaine and I could tell Guinevere didn't trust him whenever she came back. I'm so stupid." Arthur replied.
"You're right; I didn't trust him. But I didn't think he'd do this." Merlin stated.
"Maybe I should just give up. Let Morgana be the queen; I don't deserve to be king." Arthur replied shutting his eyes. It was true.
"Excuse me? Did you just give up and let your insane half-sister beat you? Listen to me you prat of a clot pole. Yes; you are the biggest and most gullible idiot I've ever had the misfortune to meet but you are a good king. You're fair and just towards your people and the power hasn't gone to your head the way it has with Morgana. You are destined to be the greatest king that history will ever know but that's not going to happen if you give up. What about all of us? The people who look to you for leadership; the people who fled their homes and those who gave their lives for you; we did that because we believe in you Arthur. But you've got to believe in yourself. Arthur you deserve to be king and now is the time to prove it. So I suggest you get up off your fat backside and do something to fight back!" Merlin ranted. Arthur looked at Merlin in slight shock. Merlin normally talked total gibberish but Arthur was taken in by what Merlin had said.
"You honestly believe that?" Arthur asked.
"That you're a fat-assed gullible idiot? You know I do." Merlin grinned but his expression turned serious. "I mean it; we all know you're a great king Arthur. But you need faith in yourself for that to happen."
Arthur was silent for a moment before getting to his feet. "Let's find the others and work out what to do." Merlin grinned and he and Arthur walked through the trees. After a few moments Arthur slapped Merlin on the back of the head. "And I am not fat."
"You keep telling yourself that." Merlin quipped.
"Get up! All of you; get up!"
The yell was accompanied with loud clatters of a sword against the bars of the cell. Without opening her eyes Gwen clasped her hands over her ears and Gwaine and Gaius refused to move. Gaius was lying on the stone bed and Gwen and Gwaine were lying on the floor. The yell was repeated as was the clattering of the sword which echoed throughout the dungeons but none of them refused to move.
"The queen wants to see all you." Agravaine ordered.
"We have no queen." Gaius replied without looking at him.
"I'd watch your mouth old man. Morgana has got plans for you but if you're lucky then maybe you'll be locked up for the rest of your miserable existence." Agravaine warned.
"I'd rather be locked up than one of her minions. It says much about you doesn't it? Taking orders from a woman; who isn't even a proper queen. What kind of man does that?" Gwaine taunted. Insulting enemies was child's play for him as there was so much he wanted to say to Agravaine. He would have said it but there was a lady in the cell and what he had to say wasn't suitable for a lady's ears.
"I suggest you hold your tongue." Agravaine warned. Gwaine held his head up high.
"Or what?" Gwaine asked; he wasn't afraid of Agravaine or Morgana or any of Helios' men.
"We're not afraid of you; any of you. You won't do anything to us." Gwen stated.
"How do you know?" Agravaine asked.
"I know Morgana. She always preferred to play with her food before she ate it. If she wants to kill us; she won't do it straight away but by the time she is ready to do anything it'll be too late. Arthur and the knights escaped and they'll fight back." Gwen argued.
"Believe that if you want but when we find Arthur; I'll get him to tell Lancelot you said hello." Agravaine said and he walked out of the dungeon. Gwen and Gwaine both swore under their breaths and looked at each other.
"What do you think happened to them?" Gwen asked.
"If we're lucky; they all managed to escape to the woods. If Merlin has any sense he'll try and get Arthur as far away from Camelot as possible." Gwaine replied.
"Let's hope so." Gaius said.
Morgana sat in her throne and slowly sipped at a goblet. She had sent Helios' men into the woods to try and round up those pestilent knights but so far the search had been unyielding. While the townspeople had been brought back; there was not a single knight to be found. What was worse; all those questioned claimed not to know where the knights had all vanished to. Arthur and Merlin and those knights had been thorns in her side for long enough and she had to get rid of them. Morgause would have been so proud of her sister. Morgana thought about what Gwen had said the night before. Gwen claimed to know Emrys but she could have been bluffing. Gwen was a terrible liar but that was neither here nor there. Emrys couldn't stop her now. Morgana had won; Camelot was hers and it always would be. Agravaine walked into the throne room and Morgana looked at him.
"Well?" she asked.
"Still being defiant and refusing to give up faith in Arthur. The sooner we find him; the better." Agravaine replied.
"You don't need to tell me that. The people need to be taught a lesson. By defying me they will pay the price. Have their food supply cut off. See how long it takes for their starving children to force them to show me their support." Morgana ordered.
"Yes Morgana." Agravaine replied and went to follow her orders. Morgana turned to Helios who had been listening to the interaction while sharpening his sword.
"Helios; tell your men to go deeper into the woods, widen their search." Morgana ordered.
"To find Arthur?" Helios asked.
"Of course. If you find him; then torture him if you must but bring him back here. I'll deal with him. The rest of his little gang you can kill;" Morgana ordered.
"As you wish my lady." Helios stated and crossed the room to the door. It wouldn't be long now.
In the woods, Merlin and Arthur managed to regroup with Leon and Percival who relayed news of the people being brought back to Camelot and the knights having been told of different locations wherein to hide. As they talked; they heard rustling branches nearby. All of them drew their swords but rather than a foe or stranger it was Elyan who emerged from the trees.
"Elyan, where's Guinevere and the others?" Arthur asked. Elyan shook his head.
"I was able to reach Gaius' but the door was locked. I think she must have barricaded herself in. I couldn't do anything; I was surrounded. I only just managed to escape now." Elyan explained. He could only hope that Gwen was safe.
"What about Gwaine and Gaius?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know; I haven't seen anyone from when I left Camelot. The hall was completely surrounded by Helios' men." Elyan replied.
"They'll be alright; Morgana's most likely imprisoned them. Holding them hostage would benefit her more than if she just killed them." Leon said hopelessly.
"What are we going to do? Where are we supposed to go?" Percival asked.
"We could head to Ealdor and plan our attack." Merlin suggested.
"It'll take us days to get to Ealdor and we don't know how long we've got." Arthur argued.
"Well if you have any ideas; I'd love to hear them!" Merlin snapped.
"Shut up, what was that?" Elyan asked looking around.
"I didn't hear anything." Leon stated but Elyan drew his sword and inched forwards. The others followed suit and followed the noise to a clearing. A group of about four or five people were moving a large cart through the woods. By the looks of it they were either travellers or smugglers. The group were making themselves breakfast and despite themselves; the knights' stomachs rumbled with hunger. They put their swords away and moved towards the people. As they approached; two blonde haired people; a man and a woman spotted them and drew their own swords. The others began hurriedly rearranging belongings in the cart.
"Who are you?" Arthur asked.
"Who wants to know?" The man retorted.
"I'm Arthur Pendragon and you shouldn't be here. These woods are dangerous." Arthur warned.
"No more dangerous than anywhere else." The woman claimed.
"What brings you out here? Taxing your people for breathing now?" the man asked. The woman elbowed his stomach.
"Tristan, hold your tongue." The woman hissed and turned back to the men. "We're just travellers. My name's Isolde."
Merlin however began wandering around the cart and lifted up the blanket which had been hurriedly tossed over a chest. There was a familiar smell hanging over it and Merlin eased open the lid. Frankincense. Tristan caught him by the arm and pulled Merlin away from the cart.
"You're smugglers." Merlin realised.
"So what if we are?" Tristan asked. "We're taxed that high that we had no other alternative."
"So if you aren't collecting taxes; why are you all out here?" Isolde asked.
"Morgana's taken over Camelot; we only just managed to escape now we're going to try and get it back." Arthur replied.
"The five of you?" Tristan asked with raised eyebrows. That had to be little more than suicide.
"More of us managed to escape. Therefore given the circumstances I think we can overlook the fact you're smuggling frankincense through Camelot." Arthur reasoned.
"You must be hungry, I think we can spare you some bread." Isolde stated and went to fetch some. As soon as her back was turned Tristan turned to the knights and it was clear he had little good to say to any of them. However Arthur was in no mood to hear any of it.
"Trust me Tristan; nothing you can say can make me feel worse. My insane half-sister and my uncle have formed an alliance with a warlord who's army is twice the size of my own. My kingdom has been literally ripped out from under me and several of my close friends; including the woman I love are currently being held as hostages and that's if they're lucky. So anything you have can say, can it just wait? Whenever this is all over; I'll listen to you." Arthur stated.
"That's your problem boy. You don't listen." Tristan warned.
Arthur took in what Tristan said as Isolde offered them bread. Tristan was right. How many times had Merlin or Gaius tried to warn him about Agravaine but he didn't listen. When did Arthur honestly listen to what someone had to say to him? He didn't. He put it off until it was too late and the damage was done. Arthur half-heartedly gnawed at the bread and it was just as the smugglers were packing up to move on; the knights decided to spilt up. Merlin and Arthur would head for Ealdor; Leon, Percival and Elyan would each take different routes to where the other knights were hiding out and they would all regroup at Ealdor within three days at the most. Just as the knights prepared to leave; they were all ambushed.
"Get down!" Arthur yelled as an arrow pierced a tree. The men drew their swords as did Tristan and Isolde but it there were too many of them. While they were able to kill around five or six of them; it was clear that they were outnumbered. Merlin used his magic to fight and protect Arthur but within minutes the fight was over and the soldiers had gone. Tristan and Isolde's two companions had fled and it was clear that while Arthur was still there; one of them was gone.
"Did anyone see Elyan?" Percival asked looking around.
"He was over in that area about two seconds ago." Leon replied; gesturing to a deeper part of the woods. However a quick scout told them Elyan was gone and most likely had been captured. All they could do was stick to the plan. As Leon and Percival headed off; Arthur and Merlin were left with Tristan and Isolde along with their now-destroyed cargo.
"Now what do we do?" Tristan asked.
Arthur looked at Merlin and nodded. "We head towards Ealdor; at least let Morgana assume that but really we re-join the other knights and make a fight."
"I'm so hungry," Gwaine moaned, holding his stomach.
"Same; I was too nervous to eat last night." Gwen replied. They had only been the cell for less than a day but they were worried about Gaius. It wasn't good for a man his age to go too long without food and water and by the looks of things; Morgana wouldn't be feeding them anytime soon. Neither of them wanted to consider the possibility that Arthur, Merlin and the knights wouldn't return in time. The three of them remained silent as the dungeon doors were opened and one of the guards pulled open the cell door to let Agravaine into the cell.
"Get up!" he snapped at Gwen who looked at him defiantly.
"Make me," Gwen retorted. Agravaine simply grabbed her arm and twisted it into a half-nelson. Gwaine moved forward but Gwen shook her head. "What do you want?"
"The queen has a present for you." Agravaine replied as he led Gwen from the cell and through the castle. Gwen didn't attempt to resist until she was forced into the throne room and flung onto the floor once again. Gwen looked up and saw that Elyan was being held back by two of Helios' men. He was covered with bruises; his chainmail was broken and it was clear he'd just been captured and tried to fight his way out. As their eyes met Gwen tilted her head to the left and Elyan shook his head. When they were younger that was their code for whenever they were in trouble. A tilt of the head to the left meant; 'I'll deal with this' and a tilt to the right signalled; 'You deal with it'. Morgana's focus wasn't on Gwen but on Elyan.
"So Sir Elyan, tell me. Where is Arthur?" Morgana asked.
"I don't know." Elyan denied. "Even if I did know; I wouldn't tell you."
"Just like Gwen aren't you? No matter; I know how to get you to confess." Morgana replied smirking coldly and turned to Helios. Helios smiled coldly and walked over to Gwen and pulled her to her feet. Helios pressed her against his body; his arms snaked themselves around her waist; trapping her. Immediately Gwen attempted to free herself but instead Helios just held on tighter. One hand restrained her wrists and the other grabbed her by the hair causing Gwen to yelp in pain as her head was forced back towards the ceiling. Helios placed his nose against the exposed skin and inhaled deeply causing Gwen to shudder.
"Let me go!" Gwen shouted as she tried to pull herself free.
"You can fight all you want. It's better whenever you fight." Helios breathed silkily as he ran his hand over her neck and through her hair. The way a lover would. Gwen froze and she met Elyan's eyes. Elyan looked horrified at what was clearly going to happen and he knew there was only one thing he could do. Gwen shook her head and Elyan nodded.
"Let her go Morgana." Elyan warned. He was not going to let anything happen to his sister.
"Tell me where Arthur is and I'll let her go. But the longer you defy me then the longer she'll stay with Helios." Morgana warned. "It's your choice Elyan; your sister or your king."
"Elyan don't say a word!" Gwen pleaded as Helios began running his hands down her neck and over her chest. Gwen shut her eyes and tried to control her growing panic and tears. It was only a dream; an awful nightmare. Any second now she was going to wake up and everything would be fine. Helios' free hand lowered until it reached her midriff. There was silence except for Gwen's nervous breathing. Finally; as Helios began to pull up Gwen's skirts, Elyan spoke.
"Ealdor."
Morgana looked at Elyan. "Arthur and Merlin are heading for Ealdor. Now let my sister go!" Elyan confessed.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Morgana asked.
"I am now let my sister go!" Elyan insisted. Morgana nodded at Helios who reluctantly let Gwen go and pushed her to the floor again. Elyan pulled himself free and flung himself down beside Gwen; wrapping his sister in his arms in an attempt to comfort her. Gwen buried her face in his shoulder and shook as she tried to hold back tears of fear and control herself.
"Helios; Agravaine I want both of you to head out for Ealdor and get him. Kill anyone who tries to protect Arthur but bring him and Merlin to me alive. If anyone is going to kill them; it will be me." Morgana ordered. Agravaine and Helios left the room and Morgana looked at the siblings who were still on the floor. "Now was that so hard? You better not have lied to me Elyan. If you have then I won't be so nice towards your dear sister. It's in your best interests to obey your queen."
"We will never obey you." Elyan retorted.
"Long live the king." Gwen added; rubbing her eyes.
"I highly doubt that." Morgana said and ordered the siblings to be taken to the dungeons once more. Elyan kept an arm around Gwen as they were marched through the castle. Once in the dungeons they were shoved back into their cell. Gwaine and Gaius looked initially relived to see that Elyan was unharmed however it was clear Gwen was still shaken. Elyan helped her onto the bench and kept an arm around her.
"What happened?" Gaius asked. "Where are the others?"
"Morgana made me tell her the truth about where Arthur and Merlin are headed." Elyan replied.
"What happened to you?" Gwaine asked Gwen. Gwen shook her head and refused to answer.
She'd had experience in that situation before. When you served as many feasts wherein arrogant drunken lords had had too much wine; there was the danger of being 'chosen'. However the servants of Camelot operated on the Five Finger system wherein they would rate the lords and knights in terms of drunken lecherousness. Whenever a lord reached three fingers they were served by male servants. Four and their drink supply was cut off and the maids went in pairs if they had to go anywhere. Five and every pair of maids had a male servant escorting them around the castle and home again. The system meant that very few serving girls were 'invited' to the men's bedchambers however there were a few occasions when the Threes would attempt to 'choose' one of the girls. On one occasion it had been Gwen but one of the maids seen her and claimed a false emergency. The last time Gwen had been close to that situation had been when Helios held her hostage. Gwen swallowed the strange bitter laugh which attempted to release itself. In a twisted way; she had Morgana to thank that she hadn't had her virginity ripped away from her in such a vile manner.
"Morgana made me a choice. Tell her where Arthur was heading or keep my mouth shut. I wouldn't have said anything but if I'd have done that; Helios would have…" Elyan trailed off and looked at the men and mouthed 'had Gwen'. Gaius looked stunned and Gwaine swore loudly.
"That sadistic bitch!" Gwaine claimed. He felt completely disgusted. Morgana and Gwen had been friends once; practically sisters and now Morgana was willing to let someone; who if she gave up this attempt at being evil would accept her with open arms; be raped just to get one over on Arthur.
"Are you alright?" Gaius asked Gwen who knuckled her eyes and wiped her nose. Gwen wrapped her arms around her knees and hunched over; hugging herself into a small ball. In that moment she didn't look like a young woman; rather she was like a young child who had fallen over and scraped their knee who deserved a hug from her mother and father; not sitting in a dungeon.
"A bit shaken up but I should be alright. You shouldn't have done that." Gwen said.
"What? Kept my mouth shut and let that monster rape you? No way! I promised you Gwen; I won't let anything happen to you again if I can stop it." Elyan insisted. He wouldn't have been able to live with himself if he had done that. Elyan had meant it when he vowed that nobody would hurt Gwen again as long as he was around. He had failed in his duty as a brother before when she was banished and he wasn't going to make that mistake twice. Elyan just hoped Arthur forgave him.
"What's happening now?" Gaius asked.
"Agravaine and Helios are heading out for Ealdor." Elyan replied. "What are we supposed to do now?"
"We wait," Gwen sighed.
It was almost nightfall by the time Merlin, Arthur, Tristan and Isolde reached Ealdor. They had travelled in silence all day without stopping. The moment the group reached the village; Merlin went straight to his old home and into his mother's arms. Hunith looked at her son before turning to the king and smugglers and Merlin explained what happened. Hunith was stunned; she remembered Morgana as being the beautiful and king young woman who had come to help Merlin and his village along with Arthur and Gwen.
"You can stay as long as you need to. It'll be a tight squeeze though." Hunith advised. The men allowed Isolde to take Merlin's old bed and Merlin helped his mother prepare them a meal and they sat around the small fire slowly eating.
"What happened to the others, do you know?" Hunith asked.
"No; Leon and Percival went to round up the others and we think Elyan was captured. We can only wait and hope. Morgana won't win." Merlin replied confidently.
"I know she won't." Arthur added.
"I'm sorry but how did you not suspect your uncle? It sounds to me like he was dodgy right from the start." Tristan said.
"Tristan," Isolde scolded gently but Arthur shook his head.
"No, you were right earlier Tristan. I didn't listen. Merlin and Gaius warned me about my uncle countless times that he couldn't be trusted but I didn't listen. It's my fault we're all in this mess." Arthur admitted.
"You made a mistake Arthur. Everyone does. At least we can put it right again." Isolde offered.
"We?" Arthur and Tristan asked. Isolde nodded; she could see there was some potential in Arthur to be a good king. All he needed was the belief in himself and the support of decent people for him to achieve it and Arthur could succeed.
"We may as well help." Isolde replied and smiled at Tristan. "For a small fee of course."
"Name your price. If we succeed then I'll let you have it." Arthur offered.
Tristan and Isolde looked at one another. They had been together for so long; travelling, smuggling, running from the law and living their lives as though tomorrow would never come. The thrill and fast pace of their live was fun but they weren't as young as they had been. There had been many evening whenever they discussed how they would pack in the smuggler lifestyle. They would get a small cottage and live a peaceful and relaxed life and maybe even have some children. Yet that dream often seemed so impossible; the people were taxed so high that smuggling was the only way they could sometimes afford something to eat. Tristan wrapped his hand around Isolde's and she turned back to Arthur.
"You cut back on your taxes and allow the people the chance to have something for themselves rather than having to turn to crime for their own needs. You also allow myself and Tristan some money to let us give up smuggling." Isolde requested.
Arthur thought for a moment and nodded. "You have my word. If we launch an attack on Camelot and defeat Morgana then I promise to help you and give you what you want."
"That's all we ask for." Tristan stated and offered his hand to Arthur. Arthur shook it and the two men nodded; finally coming to an understanding with one another.
Hunith and Merlin had left Arthur alone with Tristan and Isolde to talk and instead took a small wander around the village. Merlin loved whenever he returned to Ealdor. It was where he was born; where he grew up. In comparison to the never ending chaos that was life in Camelot; any return to Ealdor offered a chance to relax. A rarity in Camelot. As they walked, Merlin told Hunith various stories about Camelot; causing Hunith to smile. Merlin was so passionate in what he believed in and she knew he had the courage to succeed and overcome any challenges or hurdles that life in Camelot threw at him.
"I worry about you sometimes." Hunith commented.
"Mother; I'm fine. I can look after myself." Merlin replied.
"I know that but I am your mother Merlin; I'll always worry about you." Hunith stated. In truth she was constantly terrified that Merlin would reveal his magic and she would lose him. Hunith knew that Gaius was looking after Merlin and helping him keep his magic under control yet she was a mother. It was her job to be worried about her baby boy. They returned to the house to see Arthur and Tristan shake hands. All of them went to bed and fell into an uneasy sleep. Each of them worried about what tomorrow would bring.
In the dungeons; the doors were pulled open and two pairs of guards pulled Gwaine and Elyan out and dragged them up to the hall where Morgana was waiting on them along with a pack of Helios' men. Gwaine and Elyan were led into the centre of the room and Morgana approached them. Gwaine, Elyan and Gwen had all been repeatedly asking for food; they were all starving and they were worried about Gaius. It wasn't good for a man his age to go too long without food and they weren't sure how long they would be imprisoned for. Elyan and Gwaine kept eye contact with Morgana. They weren't afraid of her or her power.
"So you want food do you?" Morgana asked. "I'm not sure whether or not you deserve it."
"Deserve it?" Gwaine repeated. When did someone 'deserve' food?
"I suppose I could spare you all something but you'll have to work for it." Morgana replied and gestured to the men who surrounded Elyan and Gwaine. "If you defeat all of them without any weapons then you can have something to eat. Begin."
Morgana returned to her throne and watched as Elyan and Gwaine looked at one another and began fighting. Both were no strangers to the occasional tavern fight but they were outnumbered ten to one. However they were trained and experienced fighters and it wasn't long before they were the only two left standing in the middle of the hall with bruised faces and battered limbs. Morgana looked fairly impressed and tossed them a small loaf of bread as two guards escorted the men back to the dungeons. Gwaine and Elyan tore off bits of the bread and shared it with Gaius and Gwen who were concerned about the injuries Gwaine and Elyan had gained.
"We've had worse," Gwaine claimed as he gnawed the bread. It was stale and as hard as a stone but food was food. Gwen wrapped the remainder of the bread in her cloak and set it aside.
"We'll have to conserve it. We don't know how long it'll be before we eat again." Gwen stated.
"Where do you think the others are now?" Elyan asked.
"If they travelled all day; they could be in Ealdor already." Gaius replied in a hoarse whisper. Gwen and the knights looked at one another before looking at Gaius who was lying on the bench with concern.
"Are you alright Gaius?" Gwen asked.
"I'm fine Gwen, don't worry about me." Gaius replied.
"Eat some more bread." Elyan insisted as he tore off a bigger piece and offered it to Gaius.
"No, you three need to keep your strength. You may have to fight again and you'll need to be ready to fight when Arthur attacks. I'm just an old man." Gaius stated.
"You're not just an old man." Gwen replied, taking Gaius' hand.
"We are going to get through this. All four of us." Elyan insisted. Gaius reluctantly took the bread and slowly ate it. They sat in silence and as night fell and Gaius fell asleep the three of them looked at one another.
"You'll need to try and get water tomorrow. If he doesn't get anything to drink by this time tomorrow…" Gwen explained and trailed off. She couldn't imagine the alternative. Camelot without Gaius was completely unthinkable. Gaius was like a father figure to all of them; the children of Camelot seen him as their shared grandfather. He had been a constant throughout their lives; from his rotten chickenpox cures to the numerous times he had to bandage her and Elyan up after one of their games resulted in at least one of them getting hurt. Whenever Tom died; it was Gaius who became like a father figure to her. He taught her all she knew about healing wounds and treating the sick. To possibly lose Gaius in this was horrific but it would be worse for Merlin. Gaius was the closest thing Merlin had to a father.
"Elyan's right though; the four of us are going to get through this." Gwaine reassured as the three of them sat together on the stinking cell floor. Gwen squeezed their hands tightly.
"Let's hope so." Gwen whispered.