Thanks for reviewing. Gwen goes very dark in this chapter and is soon trying to kill everyone who gets in her way of killing Arthur.
Unfortunately for Morgana, Gwen lost her balance and stabbed Arthur's shoulder. Arthur's screams reverberated out of Gwen's chambers and through the corridors of the castle. Not wanting to attract too much attention, Gwen took the nearest chair and smashed it off of Arthur's head, knocking him unconscious. Before Gwen could pull the dagger out of Arthur's shoulder and stab his heart, a dark haired man burst through the door.
"What's happening?" asked the young man stressfully. Morgana's sneer wiped off her exasperated look number two thousand and...
Gwen heard a familiar voice speaking inside her head. You must blame this incident on the man who just entered the room. Say the man did what you did to Arthur and also say that you tried to cease the man attacking Arthur. It might be good to start screaming at the man.
"YOU'VE KILLED MY HUSBAND YOU EVIL INSO-"
"What have you done to him Gwen?" questioned the man. Gwen paused shrieking for a moment and eyed the man up curiously. No one called her Gwen nowadays. Then she realised who he was. Last time she had seen him he had only been a mere child but now he was going through manhood. It was Mordred. No one could forget those memorising cerulean eyes.
"MORDRED HAS KILLED THE KING!" yelled Gwen. Morgana sighed, impatiently waiting for Gwen's chambers to be deserted. She really needed to have something for supper before tomorrow and she was getting really stiff and unfortable. Luckily for Morgana she would have time to have a late breakfast, lunch and supper before tomorrow.
"HELP! SAVE US! THERE IS A RECKLESS MURDERER ON THE LOOSE!" Gwen continued to yell. Morgana yelped under Gwen's bed, vigorously wiggling her. She had defiantly got pins and needles at the worst possible time.
"What was that?," Mordred whispered softly drawing his sword from how sheath and approaching Gwen's bed cautiously.
"HELP! WE ARE BEING ATTACKED. THE KING IS AB-" Suddenly Gwaine came frolicking into Gwen's chambers with his eyes closed looking like he was in a dream.
"Do not fear,
Sir Gwaine is here,
I shall tame that beast
But first give me a feast," Gwaine sang. Mordred stared at Gwaine bewildered, Morgana was putting on her best exasperated facial emotion yet and Gwen was crying hysterically while wailing Gwaine's name. Finally Gwaine came back into reality and opened his chestnut eyes. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE?" Gwaine bellowed his flickering between Gwen and Mordred before resting on Arthur's lifeless form. Morgana had jumped when Gwaine had yelled and bashed her head against Gwen's bed. Drawing her dagger hastily, had been an instinctual reaction, for Morgana had felt frightened.
Merlin, Leon and Percival came bounding into Gwen's chambers as they had been discussing the topics of King Gremian, Morgana, the giant, Morgana, the dragon, Morgana, the magical wolves and Morgana, downstairs when they had heard shouts.
"H-he k-k-killed..." Gwen stuttered. "I-I-I c-can't fell a p-p-pulse." Lying was easy for Gwen now that she was possessed by Morgana. Of course Gwen could feel Arthur's pulse but she said she couldn't just incase they believed her and departed the room, leaving Arthur to perish. Merlin leapt forward towards Arthur and bent down to feel Arthur's pulse beating very slowly.
"It's alright I can feel his pulse. Who did this?" Merlin whispered in Gwen's ear.
"Mordred," Gwen howled. As soon as these words were out of Gwen, the three knights pointed their swords at Mordred.
"She lies," argued Mordred. "I found her alone in this room with Arthur seriously injured."
"Percival, I need help here," requested Merlin. "Come and help me lift Arthur to Gaius's chambers." Percival flexed his muscles and lifted Arthur gently away to Gaius's chambers. Before Merlin could leave the room, he halted and glared at Mordred.
Why did you do this? Arthur has caused you no harm.
Why do you expect it was me Emrys? What have I done?
You were friends with Morgana and I would believe my friend over you.
Then you would be living a lie like you already are.
"Lock Mordred in prison," ordered Gwen hurrying after Percival and pulling Merlin along. Gwaine and Sir Leon didn't even have to haul Mordred to prison, Mordred just silently marched along, with the threat of the swords touching his back.
As soon as they had all departed the room, Morgana hobbled out of Gwen's bed, pacing around the room a few times, before slouching in a seat and making a start on the fruit in Gwen's fruit bowl. Morgana hadn't had the luxury of anything tasty to eat since she had been Queen. The Isle of the Blessed had had a very limited variety of edible foods and the only time she had strayed off the Isle was to collect items from her hovel and to steal a cow and a couple of chickens. It had been pretty hard going to take the cow to the Isle of the Blessed by boat even though the boat was magically enhanced. So Morgana had virtually lived off of milk, eggs, fish, revolting plants, a few disgusting mushroom species that she knew were safe to eat and magical fruit which had an unusual taste which Morgana disliked. Morgana had tried to make cheese but had just ended up with disgusting, lumpy, milk. When King Gremian had ordered for Morgana to get given food, all she had got was stale bread and completely bruised fruit.
"What's happened?" Gaius asked worriedly as Percival placed an unconscious Arthur on Gaius's table.
"Mordred has seriously maimed Arthur," replied Merlin.
"I'll need space," Gaius warned to Gwen and Percival.
Percival left immediately but Gwen didn't even flinch.
"I won't leave," Gwen murmured.
"Arthur will be fine but you look shattered. Drink this and try and get some rest." Gaius handed Gwen a small bottle filled with some sort of liquid. Gwen pretended to reluctantly leave Gaius's chambers. She had no intention of going to her chambers to rest so she wondered down to the kitchens to get some food for Morgana.
"He'll be fine," announced Gaius. "It is quite strange that he had a bad head injury, but maybe Mordred wanted to knock Arthur unconscious to make him easier to kill."
"I will go and tell Gwen the bad news." Gaius chuckled at Merlin's remark.
Merlin hummed happily pondering to Gwen's chambers though he doubted that Gwen would be in them. He drummed his hand on the door to Gwen's chambers but when there was no answer Merlin slipped into Gwen's chambers.
Morgana sighed silently as she had just had time to slip under Gwen's bed before Merlin entered Gwen's chambers. No doubt Merlin had sneaked in to investigate this incident as he always did.
A pool of Arthur's blood was on the floor and were Merlin's eyes just deceiving him or was the bowl of fruit emptier than it had been earlier? Quickly turning to leave, something engraved on the wall caught Merlin's eye. He traced his fingers over the words of: YOU ARE ALREADY INFAMOUS. That was very peculiar.
"Merlin," Gwen stuttered. "How is Arthur?" Gwen had silently entered the room and Merlin jumped around in fright.
"I've got bad news. Arthur is going to be alright," Merlin answered. "Er... Gwen. Why do you have two plates of food."
"I got... I got this one for you," Gwen invented lamely. "I thought you might be hungry after your journey home."
"I'm fine I have already eaten. But what is that writing on the wall."
"I was saying to Mordred that... That he would be infamous, if he... If he killed Arthur so he carved that on the wall with his sword. He told me that Arthur and I were infamous and that we ruled unfairly and that we were... We were idiots..." Gwen trailed off. Merlin stared at her suspiciously as it sounded unconvincing. "Can I see Arthur?"
"He is still unconscious but Gaius thinks that it would be best for you to get some sleep first," advised Merlin.
Bursting into the room, a girl with brown hair looked flushed. "I'm so sorry I am really late, my lady. My little sister h-has a d-d-deadly..." This poor girl was Gwen's maid Elvina.
"Shh..." soothed Gwen to her maid. "Kindly clean up this mess and then Merlin can take you to the court physician. It will all be alright Elvina."
"It's alright, my lady. Gaius is already tending to my little sister," Elvina said.
"Well you shall be relieved from your duties today and all the other days until your little sister is feeling better."
"If you would excuse me, my lady," Merlin teased putting on his best posh accent. Gwen courteously nodded her head. Merlin felt sorry for poor Elvina, when he had first met her Elvina had been a shy girl but now she had come out her shell. Him and Elvina had to spend ages standing next to each over at numerous illuminating meetings.
As Merlin sauntered back to his chambers he couldn't help feeling that there was something going on with Gwen. She had been acting strangely since they had returned to Camelot. Merlin shook off this feeling by firmly telling himself that Gwen had just seen her husband getting stabbed so she had the right to act strange.
Gwaine came dashing to Merlin and asked, "How's Arthur?"
"He'll recover."
"You thought that Mordred was going to betray him, though?"
"How did yo-"
"You weren't backing me up when I tried to say that all magic wasn't evil in order to make Mordred come back to Camelot with us," explained Gwaine.
"Let's just say I had my suspicions about him. When he was a child Morgana and him were very close. In fact it was Morgana who convinced Arthur to disobey his father and smuggle Mordred out of Camelot."
"Well we better break the news to Gaius. That I know your secret."
"Oh great... I am my walk to doom," chuckled Merlin.
"Gaius," Merlin said awkwardly. "I... We need to tell you something." Gaius motioned for Merlin to carry on. "Not in here in my chambers." Gaius looked very suspiciously at Merlin. Once the three were in Merlin's bedroom and Merlin had made sure the door was tightly shut, Merlin awkwardly looked at Gwaine to start speaking.
"I know Merlin's secret but don't worry I won't tell anyone," Gwaine started awkwardly. The next hour consisted of Gaius having a rant at Merlin for being so foolish and giving Gwaine an illuminating lecture about, why you don't tell Arthur that Merlin has magic. Gwaine made an exasperated look which even rivalled Morgana's. He was really going to go up to Arthur and tell him about Merlin's magical powers to get Merlin killed, Gwaine thought sarcastically:
"Well," Merlin sighed as Gaius went to check up on Arthur. "It could have went a lot worse."
"I don't think it is over yet," moaned Gwaine. Merlin groaned and collapsed on his bed lying flat out.
"Are you tired, my lady?" wondered Gwen staring at Morgana's bags under her eyes. It was only mid afternoon but Morgana and Gwen both felt exhausted.
"Yes, I think I shall sleep here," Morgana murmured, sleepily pointing to a curtained off area not unlike the one she had hid Mordred so many years ago. "Move all the pillows and the quilt from that bed over there." Morgana watched Gwen hauling the bedding over to the snug curtained off area. She smirked as she watched the Queen of Camelot slaving away at her every wish.
"That will be all Gwen," Morgana ordered as Gwen pushed the last pillow in place.
"Goodnight, my lady."
"Goodnight or should I say afternoon, my little Queen."
Morgana quickly made herself comfortable but Gwen wriggled about for hours trying to get comfortable on the bare mattress. Without any pillows or a quilt it was very uncomfortable but Gwen had slept in much worse places such as prison cells. At last both Morgana and Gwen fell into a deep sleep and were only disturbed in the middle of the night by lightning striking the roof.
Morgana emerged from behind the curtain in hope of pouring a drink for herself but a guard abruptly entered the room.
"Milady are y- MORGANA!" the guard yelled acknowledging Morgana's presence in the room.
"Hleap on baec," Morgana whispered dangerously. Morgana's eyes flickered gold causing the guard to be blasted against the wall. Morgana drew out her dagger to vanquish this guard from this world but Gwen got there before her and pierced his heart with her own dagger.
"What are we going to do with the the corpse?" asked Morgana.
"Throw it out the window," suggested Gwen. Morgana shook her head ferociously. She could vividly imagine a guard standing stationary on patrol, when a corpse came flying out of nowhere and bombarded him.
"No that would be too obvious. I know what to do." Morgana's eyes twinkled. "I shall make one of the houses in the lower town erupt into flames and then you can go to move the corpse into a room where people rarely visit. All the guards should be distracted by the fire. You shall come with me to the lower town and make sure that I get out alright betore you move the corpse. I can pretend to be Elvia your maid-"
"Elvina," Gwen interupted.
"Alright, Elvina or whatever her name is and you will be escorting Elvina, me, out of Camelot because I need to get a rare herb which will save my little sister's life."
"I shall just change into something less noticeable and then we can leave," Gwen decided.
"That is more practical and it is more pleasing to the eye," admired Morgana. Gwen was dressed in a plain black dress with a matching plain black cloak. "It is very dull but no item of clothing can compare to my black dress." Gwen hastily wrapped the corpse in a blanket before shoving it under her bed and following Morgana, who had her hood up in disguise, out of the room.
Gwen and Morgana hurried to the stables where Morgana tacked up a white, high spirited colt to ride.
Passing a house in the lower town Morgana muttered, "Forbaernan," making the house erupted into flames.
Leading the colt towards the gates of Camelot, a guard shouted, "Halt. Reveal yourselves."
"Do not fear guard of Camelot it is I, Queen Guinevere of Camelot and my maid Elvina. Elvina needs to urgently ride out in search of a rare herb to save her little sister's life," Gwen formally stated.
"Sorry to bother you, milady."
"No harm done." Gwen curtly bowed her head as the embarrassed guard strode away. Once the guard was out of sight Morgana mounted the colt. Gathering the reins into her hands, her horse reared but Morgana stayed on the saddle with ease clutching the pommel of the saddle with one hand and the reins with the other.
"Goodbye, my lady."
"Goodbye, my little Queen." Morgana nudged her heels into the inexperienced horse's side making the colt take off at a fully fledged gallop.
Lurking in the shadows Gwen passed the house that Morgana had set on fire. Alarmingly huge flames hid the house and the house was surrounded by several guards. Creeping back to her chambers, Gwen peered out of a window to discover that the flame, Morgana had conjured, was spreading like wildfire and the vast area covering five houses were on fire. Gwen waited in her chambers for a while, until she peeked out the door checking that the corridors were deserted before dragging the deceased guard into Morgana's old chambers. Kicking the guard under the bed, Gwen drew the dagger out of his heart and wiped the blade clean on the corpse's trousers. Morgana's chambers had barely been touched since she had left Camelot. They had not even removed Morgana's sumptuous dresses which still lined the wardrobe or her ornate jewellery which still remained in her jewellery boxes. The thought of even emptying her chambers had hurt too much for Arthur to even consider. Maybe he hoped that they would have a use again or maybe it hurt him too much to remember what Morgana had formally been. Only the servants ever entered them to give them a quick dust or to make sure that they didn't fall into wrack and ruin. Gwen quickly left Morgana's old chambers leaving a trail blood that had dripped from her cloak behind her.
"Gwen?" Gwen bolted round in horror just outside Morgana's chambers but was relieved to see that it was just Merlin.
"Merlin, you scared the life out of me. I was just going for a walk."
"I have to say I am not too keen on your new look. Why are you wearing black?" Merlin teased.
"I am... I am in mourning," Gwen replied lamely.
"For who?"
"Arthur."
"Why are you mourning for Arthur he is perfectly alright," Merlin laughed. "I was actually just looking for you as the clotpole requests your attention. I know it is the middle of the night but I thought you might still be awake. Arthur is too attention seeking for my liking and I can't believe that you married him."
"I think I shall just go and see Arthur," Gwen told Merlin, planning on making a detour to the armoury first, to decide what weapon to use to kill him. As soon as Gwen's footsteps faded Merlin entered Morgana's old chambers to investigate why Gwen's hands were crusted with dried blood. Merlin spotted the trail of blood splattered along the floor to the bed. Bending down, Merlin uncovered the guard's corpse. There was no denying it now, Merlin thought, Gwen was up to something. She had even gone to the extent of killing a guard to achieve what she wanted. Merlin didn't know what gave him the energy to do it but he was suddenly sprinting full fledged to the dungeon where Mordred was held captive.
Mordred, Merlin telepathically spoke, I need your help.
Need my help Emrys? I shan't give it to you. Why should I help you? You are going to leave me here to die for a crime I did not commit.
Arthur may die otherwise. Do you know who tried to kill Arthur?
When I entered Gwen's chambers I heard a yelp but I don't think it was Gwen or Arthur or yelped.
Did Gwen try to kill Arthur?
How did you know, Mordred spluttered telepathically.
I think she may be enchanted as I have just witnessed her hide a dead guard. Thanks Mordred.
"Leave us," Arthur told Gaius. Gaius left the royal couple to themselves. Waiting patiently to make sure that Gaius was far enough away so he didn't hear Arthur's screams when she killed Arthur, Gwen embraced Arthur. In her arms, wrapped inside the bundle of her cloak, was the crossbow that Gwen had decided she was going to kill Arthur with.
"You have irked me too long Arthur Pendragon," Gwen announced. Arthur pulled a stupid face as if he was questioning what he had done this time.
"Is nearly dying irking you?" Arthur dubiously wondered.
"No but slaying innocent people is."
"If this is about Morgana then I want you to know that I would have slayed several more innocent people if I had attempting to save her."
"Say your last words Arthur Pendragon because I am going to kill you," Gwen rejoiced. Taking the crossbow out of her cloak, Gwen placed an arrow in place. Arthur was in so much shock that he could barely move so he tried to pinch himself hoping that he would wake up from this nightmare. She poised the bow a few metres away from Arthur's heart and fired but luckily the arrow fell to the ground in mid air. Neither Gwen nor Arthur had noticed Merlin entering the room with his eyes twinkling gold. With the element of surprise at his command, Merlin snuck up behind Gwen and slashed the crossbow in half.
"HELP!" Merlin screeched. "SOMEONE IS GOING TO KILL THE KING!" Guards came streaming into Gaius's chambers searching warily for the culprit.
"Who is trying to kill the king?" one of the guards interrogated stressfully.
"The Queen," Merlin murmured.
"DON'T YOU LIE TO ME BOY!" the guard raged. The guard hesitated. Was it just him or were his eyes deceiving him? Was Arthur weakly pointing at the Queen?
"Now you know where my true loyalties lie, I don't think I will be staying here," Gwen stated. She drew out the dagger, which she had slaughtered the other guard with and took off the gloves that she had used to conceal her blood crusted hands. Gwen put up a valiant struggle against several guards and managed to slay two of them with her dagger. Finally feisty Gwen was disarmed and held at the mercy of the guards.
"I am arresting you, Guinevere Pendragon, for committing high treason," Arthur boomed.
Thanks for reading. Gwen has some very bad excuses in this chapter but she hasn't had much practise at making up stories so that is why. Please review.