The Last Quest

Characters: Gwaine, Merlin

The ride off to the Valley of the Fallen Kings had proved uneventful. Despite Gwaine's inner fears, say nothing of his curiousity as to why Merlin would want to go there anyway. But ever since he'd come back from Stowell he could sense his friend was not himself.

Although as Gwaine sadly thought, it was not as if Merlin would speak much about himself. But at the moment there was an unmistakeable sense of sadness surrounding his friend. Gwaine longed to find out what it was about, but having briefly tried to get through, he recognised that Merlin did not want to talk, so in the end he diplomatically dropped the subject.

Gwaine had been tense all the way through, with huge numbers of bandits surrounding the place. He had expected to get attacked any minute, but happily as they approached the Valley, all was quiet. Gwaine still kept his ears open as they left their horses.

All of a sudden Gwaine longed to break the tense silence. He smiled as he thought of Eira back in Camelot. She'd been very worried about Gwaine accompanying Merlin here, but he'd done his best to reassure her. Thinking of her, he followed Merlin down a path.

"Thanks for everything you did for Eira." Gwaine said a big smile on his face.

Merlin looked back, "There's no need to thank me. It was the least I could do. And you seem to care for her." he pointed out.

"Well I could hardly leave her for the Saxons could I?" Gwaine asked grinning.

As Merlin looked at him, a little smile on his lips. "Is that the only reason for rescuing her?"

"Of course." Gwaine assured him, not wanting his reputation to be damaged.

Suddenly a twig broke, and before they knew a group of bandits descended onto them. Merlin jumped back with alarm, suddenly anxious to stay away from the action. Gwaine mean while was doing his best to fight off three men. One of the bandits slipped giving the Knight time to despatch one of the others, throwing his sword into the man's side. He was soon fighting off the other one. Suddenly he heard Merlin screaming.

"Gwaine!"

Gwaine quickly turned around and realised Merlin was under attack from the other bandit. His friend had fallen over, the bandit's sword about to strike. Gwaine jumped over using his elbow to knock the man's sword out of his hand, and then finished him off. He sensed another one behind him, and without even turning around he put his sword into the man's stomach. Finally everything was still again.

Gwaine turned around Merlin was still on the ground. He looked at his friend with interest suddenly. He sensed Merlin had a real fear about him today. He had not noticed it before, not when the young man accompanied them on the numerous quests. Gwaine looked at Merlin closely. There was something about him which appeared quite different, but Gwaine could not put his finger on what it was.

"You okay?" Gwaine said helping him up.

Merlin nodded a smile on his face, but to Gwaine the smile was too forced.

"Yes I think so." Merlin replied. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me Merlin, it's the least I could do." Gwaine smiled, suddenly anxious to get going again incase some other bandits turned up.

The two men walked on silently, with Gwaine looking around just in case anyone else tried their luck. Gwaine felt very curious as to where Merlin was going. As he followed his friend down a path, he suddenly noticed a cave coming into view. What on earth does he want in there the Knight wondered.

"I can make my own way from here." Merlin said coming to a halt.

"Sorry?" Gwaine asked disbelief in his voice, was he really expecting Gwaine to leave him alone here.

"You needn't come any further." Merlin assured him. "I'll be fine."

"How will you get back to Camelot?" Gwaine asked feeling worried. "The place is crawling with bandits."

"If I find what I'm looking for "I'll be perfectly safe." Merlin said with a smile, "I promise you."

Gwaine looked at Merlin for a second still trying to understand what his friend meant. What was it he was looking for? He really didn't want to leave him here, despite his friend's assurances. He knew suddenly that he needed to ask the question that had been flying around his mind, ever since they'd started their journey.

"What is it you're looking for?" Gwaine asked watching Merllin closely. Gwaine tried to read the Merlin's face as he answered him, regret?

"I can't tell you that Gwaine." Merlin said "You just have to trust me. You should get going. Arthur will need you by his side."

Gwaine looked at Merlin for a second still undecided about what to do. But deep down he knew Merlin would not tell him what it was he needed in this moment. In truth there had always been something about him that remained strangley secret. Gwaine had never really asked him about it, respecting him far too much for that. But he felt curiously reluctant to leave, even though he knew he had to.

There was one thing he could do to reassure himself though. Gwaine presented Merlin with his sword.

"Look after yourself Merlin. You know to use the sharp end?" he asked a smile on his face.

"Yes. Thanks." Merlin replied smiling too.

After a brief pause they gripped each others arms, both of them looking at one another's face, as if memorising every bit of them. Gwaine turned to go, but then turned around.

"I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for." Gwaine said.

Merlin smiled in answer, as Gwaine looked at him he could see tears swelling in his eyes. All of a sudden he discovered that he too had a lump in the throat.

As he rode back to Camlann to join the others, he thought sadly about his dear friend. Gwaine knew that without Merlin, his life would be a lot emptier than what it was now. He would be grateful for him for that. He just wished that Merlin could find it in himself to be as open. But as he galloped off, he knew that somehow Merlin would never be like that, and it left him feeling incredibly sad.