'I, er… That is I-' Gwaine stopped. What was he doing? He could not tell a complete stranger about his feelings for the King's ward, sister or not. Wait, did Morgana even have a sister? Not that he, or he was sure anyone else, knew of. He looked around for Merlin, suddenly worried to be alone with this woman but Merlin was disappearing into the woods at a pace quicker than Gwaine had ever seen him move without Arthur chasing after him with a spear for training. 'Look, I don't think I'm the right person to talk to about Morgana. If you are who you say you are then just go and see her for yourself.'
'Are you doubting my words, Gwaine?' She had that same eerily attractive yet threatening voice as Morgana.
'Of…Of course not,' he stuttered, unexpectedly afraid somewhat of her tone. 'I have to-' he pointed after Merlin, who had just vanished into the dark trees, indicating that he should leave. He hurried off as quick as his legs would carry him, wishing beyond anything that he could fly.
Who was she? And how did she know who he was? He knew Morgana was Uther's ward and so there was a possibility that her biological parents could have had another child but, really, this woman looked nothing like the beautiful, intelligent goddess-like Lady he'd fallen in love with. Gwaine glanced back, feeling her eyes burning into his skull and he was right; when he turned around, true to his suspicions she was staring at him with an odd look on her face. In the dark Gwaine couldn't quite tell what it was but it looked like a mix between curiosity, anger and a sneer, like she knew something he didn't. He snapped his head back around, not wanting to make eye contact with her again and went quickly in search of Merlin; he hadn't quite finished picking his bone with the boy.
While Merlin had been running fast, Gwaine was running faster and so was surprised when he didn't catch up with Merlin quickly. He stopped for breath, certain he'd left the woman behind, bending down with his hands on his knees. His sharp eyes scanned the immediate area around him but he could not see the manservant anywhere. The exhausted man dropped against the nearest tree, his breath still coming in short gasps.
X-X-X
Half asleep when he heard a twig snap somewhere close to him, he jumped up, his hand immediately flying to the dagger he kept in his belt, only to see the old man from the tavern the other night limping past him. He was avoiding eye contact so carefully Gwaine wondered whether the old man had in fact seen him at all. Gwaine narrowed his eyes at the man. He was wearing the same red cloak he'd been wearing the other night and still obviously hadn't learnt how to trim his beard. He considered attempting to talk to him but thought better of it - he'd had enough strange encounters for one night - so he just watched silently as the man made his way back towards the empty market town.
Gwaine wasn't a nosy man by a long shot; he normally liked to keep himself to himself, hoping other people would show him the same respect, but this time, curiosity managed to get the better of him. Seeing as it looked like the old man hadn't seen him, he quietly followed him, thinking up excuses in his weary head should the man turn around and enquire as to what he was doing. Instead of heading into the tavern like Gwaine expected him to, he headed straight for the castle. Gwaine hesitated: why was he really doing this? The old man meant nothing to him and who was he to watch him minding his own business?
Gwaine shook his head and sighed. He glanced towards Gaius' chambers where he knew Morgana was lying unconscious, cold, bleeding on the inside and, therefore, more than possibly dying. That last one felt like a blade to his heart. He looked at the window of his bedroom in the tavern before looking back at where Morgana was. He didn't need to think twice before heading straight there. He could wait in Merlin's room until he returned, claiming he'd been waiting to make up with him after their argument.
With this decided, Gwaine started off towards his destination, rubbing his eyes as he went, not trying to stifle yet another yawn. The door to Gaius' chambers was ajar and he was about to just let himself in but he stopped short when he heard the King's lowered voice. He pressed his ear to the crack in the door and listened intently. Although he'd missed the beginning of the conversation, what he did hear he understood perfectly: Uther was Morgana's father. Not guardian, father. Gwaine's breathing became heavier as he processed what this meant in his head. If Arthur were to die childless, Morgana would be Queen of Camelot and should they be together - No. He didn't dare let his thoughts go any further. Movement inside the room alerted him to the fact that Uther was about to leave and if he did not move he'd be found and - after hearing what he had - would probably only keep his head until morning.
As quietly as possible, Gwaine fled the tower, racing for the tavern, the pace of his heart matching that of his legs. He ran through the tavern, went up the rickety old stairs taking them three at a time and slammed his bedroom door shut behind him, not particularly caring who he woke up. He threw himself on the bed planning to think over what he'd heard. Only twenty four hours ago he was in the Lady Morgana's chambers making love to her and now… Now she was dying, completely unaware that the King of Camelot was her biological father. A wave of exhaustion hit Gwaine and he could not think over the situation anymore as his head hit the pillow and sleep consumed him.
X-X-X
Gwaine spent the next day in turmoil, walking without purpose through the market town, hoping to hear any kind of news about his beloved Morgana from the villagers. Unable to handle not being to see her for long, he decided to go once again to the physician's tower, under the pretence of seeing Merlin.
'Gaius,' Gwaine nodded, 'Merlin in?'
'No, Gwaine, he is with the Prince. He's in bits about the Lady Morgana.'
'Merlin?' Gwaine asked confused.
'Well, he does seem to be, but I was referring to Arthur,' Gaius replied, mixing some white powder into a greeny-looking liquid. He walked over to Morgana who was lying on Gaius' own bed now, rather than the hard table. She looked awfully pale, almost grey and she was barely breathing. Gaius took some sort of balm out of his robes and applied it to her head before taking the bottle of mixed powder and liquid, now clearer in appearance, and tilted her head upwards so he could pour it gently into her mouth.
'How is she?' Gwaine asked attempting to take on a casual tone, hiding a smile when he saw she was wearing the bracelet he'd given her.
'Her breath is leaving her, I don't think she'll last the night,' Gaius told him quietly. The words hit Gwaine so hard that he did not notice that Gaius didn't look or sound as upset as he probably should have. Tears sprung to Gwaine's eyes and he choked them back, only managing to nod his head in response.
'I should find Merlin,' Gwaine stammered, sprinting from the building, his vision blinded by the tears that were now freely falling down his face. However, instead of heading for the Prince's chambers, he went straight to Morgana's. She couldn't die, she could not die, not like this, it wasn't fair. If he lost her he'd never forgive Merlin. He walked over to her bed and picked up her nightgown. He held it to his face and breathed in her scent, his tears being absorbed into the soft white garment.
'Gwaine?' a female voice gasped. He spun around to find Gwen, throwing the dress back down on the bed behind him and keeping his mouth shut 'til he knew exactly what she'd seen. 'I was just coming to pick up some towels,' she explained unnecessarily. She had every right to be in Morgana's room, he on the other hand had no right whatsoever, not in the eyes of everyone else anyway. 'You care for her, don't you?' she asked, walking over to him and placing her hand on his shoulder. He was about to deny it when he realised that she was in exactly the same position as him: she and Arthur were also in love and unable to tell anyone, not that it was difficult for anyone to see with those two, they were always exchanging longing looks at meal times and Gwaine had seen Gwen coming out of Arthur's chambers smiling on many an occasion.
Taking a deep breath he replied.
'Yes, as does she for me.' Gwen looked sceptical but didn't argue. 'And you care for Arthur don't you?' he asked. If he could get her to admit it to him, then maybe they could talk properly about their feelings. God knows he needed someone to talk to, someone who understood. Gwen bit her lip, clearly thinking about denying it but closed her eyes and nodded.
'As he does for me,' she mimicked his words. He raised his eyebrow but before he could find something clever to say she burst into tears, whether for her hopeless love with Arthur or for her mistress' ill health Gwaine did not know but he allowed her to sob into his chest, awkwardly placing his arms around her; he did not normally hug women - especially ones he had no intention of taking things further with - but he couldn't exactly push her away so he held her, eventually allowing his own tears to once again fall. Gwaine opened his eyes and looked over Gwen's head to see the same old man hurrying from view; he had no idea whether the man had heard anything but at that moment in time he was too overcome with emotion to really care.
A/N… (Emily) It would appear that Narnianofcairparavel has come to a halt with our other story, Midday Moon, so this one may be updated more. Like always, I'll beg for reviews…
