Disclaimer - I do not own Merlin or any of its characters/storylines

Author's note - So sorry for the delay. My computer had a bit of a tantrum and deleted most of this story so I have edited the previous chapter slightly to work with this new one :)


The first thing Gwaine was aware of was drumming. Frowning, he tried to remember what had happened. He remembered meeting with Amara, the fight and then – . Gwaine quickly opened his eyes and attempted to get up only to find himself tied securely to a post in a tent. They must have knocked him out on the way back to the camp. He began to panic. Radceroy had Amara. He was going to kill her! The panic urged him to pull harder on his restraints to find any leeway that might allow him to escape. He had to get to Amara, he had to save her. As Gwaine sagged in defeat against the ropes, his mind conjured horrible images of Radceroy killing Amara while he watched the life drain from her eyes. NO! There had to be a way to get free!

His attempts to escape were interrupted as a shadow entered the tent.

"You're wasting you energy." Gwaine glared at the man sneering down at him. "We didn't have an opportunity to properly acquaint ourselves earlier. I'm Marcus the new chief of this camp."

Gwaine stayed silent, sending Marcus the worst look he could muster.

"Oh you didn't hear?" Marcus teased. "After you attacked Aneirin, he won't wake up. Someone had to take charge."

"Was that always the plan?" Gwaine spat. Mara had told him about Marcus. The arrogant fool intent on marrying her. Seems he had always had ulterior motives. "To be chief. You knew Aneirin would chose Mara over you, that's why you wanted to marry her."

"I must admit, her refusal did set me back, but not for long." Marcus smiled evilly. "Aneirin is unresponsive and Radceroy will take care of Amara for me."

"Don't you dare say her name." Gwaine spat. Marcus' words had Gwaine fighting back strongly against his restraints, desperate to get his hands on the man so eager to see Amara hurt. Marcus only laughed.

"In fact, I probably should tell you that he already has."

Gwaine immediately stopped struggling as he let Marcus' words sink in.

"You're lying." He whispered.

She couldn't be gone. The beautiful girl so kind and full of life. She couldn't be dead. They had just found each other. He wanted more time with her, he needed more time with her.

"I'm afraid I'm not. Her death will be the sign I need to rally the druids into action. It's time we take the fight to our enemies! And it's all thanks to you."

With his taunting complete, Marcus turned to leave as Gwaine sunk hopelessly against the pole. Gwaine couldn't accept it. He had known what Radceroy would do but he had hoped he would have had enough time to stop it, to save her. But he didn't. He failed her.

Reaching the entrance of the tent, Marcus paused and turned back.

"Don't worry, you two lovebirds won't be apart for long. Your execution is set for the morning. Sweet dreams."

With his final words, Gwaine found himself alone in the tent as he pictured Amara. Her innocent laugh and sweet smile. A smile he would never see again. His only comfort was that he would join her soon.

John sat nervously while the rest of the camp excitedly prepared for battle. They now had the means to locate and bring down the barrier and it was all because of him. The entire camp was calling him a hero and yet he had never felt so confused.

He thought back to the scream of terror the girl had released as she was dragged away by the men. The look of pure horror on Gwaine's face has he came to the realisation there was nothing he could do to save her.

John put his head between his hands in pure desperation. Magic was evil. It was all he had ever been taught. Magic was evil and so were all those who practice it. Then why was he feeling so guilty for leading them to the girl?

John had lived a simple life. In truth, he was really just a young farm boy, but after his father injured his leg in the fields, he had to find better paid work. He joined Radceroy's group hoping to never actually have to do any fighting. To go on the expedition to gain enough money to pay off his family's debt and then return home. He had never expected to find himself responsible for the life of another person.

After the sorcerer from the bushes began to attack Gwaine and the other two, John had run straight back to the camp for help. As they returned, Gwaine was being dragged off by more sorcerers while the girl was lying exhausted on the floor. If Gwaine was under a spell, why would the sorcerers be dragging him off? But if he wasn't under a spell, why would he care so much for the girl? Unless the feelings were genuine. But then the girl wouldn't have been bad. But she had magic, so therefore she had to have been bad?

John didn't know what he was supposed to do.

His internal struggle was interrupted as Lord Radceroy appeared before him.

"My lord." John said, quickly rushing to his feet and giving a small bow.

"I am here to congratulate you boy. If it were not for you, we would never have found the means for entering their camp. Good job."

"But Gwaine sir – "

"Is obviously under the influence of some kind of spell. Don't worry, when all of their camp is dead, the spell on him will be removed."

"And the girl sir?"

"The witch has been taken care of." Radceroy replied sternly. "Now prepare yourself, for we have a large battle tomorrow. One we shall win!"

John bowed once more as Radceroy returned back to his tent. As he stood upright he frowned. The girl was dead? Why did that fill him with more guilt? She had magic, she put a spell on Gwaine, his friend! She was evil! John sighed. He may be just a farm boy but even he wasn't believing his own argument anymore. His feelings were telling him all he needed to know and they led him to a horrible conclusion.

If words can be so easily used to sway a person's opinion, who's to say it hasn't been done before. All their trip, John had been told stories of the evils of magic. But that's all they were. Stories. Magic was painted as the weapon and magic users as the villains. But that girl had been no villain. As she was dragged off, there was no hate in her eyes, only fear. No. He was the villain. He was responsible for that girl's death. Gwaine wasn't under a spell, he loved that girl. And now she was dead. And it was all his fault.

As Radceroy strode confidently back to his tent, he thought happily of the time where he could stand before Uther and inform him that he had destroyed an entire camp of sorcerers. By the next day, they would all be dead and there would be less filth in the world. His men were strong and prepared, they would wipe them all out. His only query was Gwaine.

He had suspected something was off with Gwaine for a while. On their journey there, Gwaine had made quite the reputation for himself, helping and saving anyone and everyone he came across. The men respected him for it. It was why Radceroy had trusted him to scout alone. But as time dragged on it became more and more clear that Gwaine had deliberately sent them searching in the wrong direction. Radceroy's only question was why.

Radceroy had seen enough magic to know that Gwaine was under no spell, all he did to help the druids he did willingly. Radceroy had meant to make an example of Gwaine's actions but in the end they worked in his favour. Over their time there, the men had slowly began to lose faith in their mission. Having Gwaine get captured by the ones they were there to destroy had reinvigorated all the men. All were eager and willing to go to battle to get their comrade back.

Radceroy sneered as he entered his tent and walked slowly over to the corner. Smirking evilly, he knelt down in front of the trembling figure before him. He harshly grabbed the clothed bag from off the figures head, causing blonde locks to fall dramatically around her gagged face.

"Hello, my dear."


Author's note - Sorry for the delay, please review :)