in this chapter, we'll see our three favourite knights dealing with the rescue plan. so there will be no Merlin or Arthur this time... I hope you'll like it nevertheless.
in the next chapter, there will be more action and, if I manage it, a very dark Arthur!
When Gwaine, Lancelot and Percival left Sarzo with heavy hearts (since they had to abandon Merlin), they found shelter in an old cabin in the woods. There, they planned what to do to save their prince from that bastard of a Pendragon.
They decided they would plan something once they knew what had happened in Drakaria and to Merlin.
Percival's father returned to Sarzo and the three men travelled from village to village to gain as much information as possible. They did a very good job at that, since they had to find it in the taverns… Gwaine's specialty.
They were informed of King Balinor's death, Queen Hunith's imprisonment and her consecutive journey to Camelot. They were upset when they heard of Merlin's wedding to King Arthur, even though they suspected it would have happened. Imagining what that monster was doing to their friend, made them even more determinate to save him.
A plan started to form, when they found out Queen Hunith wasn't in Camelot anymore. She was in Doven, at the castle of Arthur's Uncle, Lord Agravaine. No doubt, Arthur was using her as a hostage against Merlin. Therefore, it was obviously that they had to free her, before going to Camelot, because they knew Merlin wouldn't move a finger if he thought his mother was in danger.
They started their journey to Doven. In the meantime, they decided what to do.
When they arrived in the forest surrounding Agravaine's castle, they saw two Camelot knights riding in their same direction. They spied on them and discovered, with their immense pleasure, that they were Queen Hunith's soon to be new guards. The trio attacked them and Lancelot and Gwaine took their place. This way, they would disguise themselves as Arthur's knights and be able to stay unnoticed in the castle, near the Queen. Percival was going to act as a young man looking for a job.
Lord Agravaine welcomed Gwaine and Lancelot, not knowing they were fake knights, with cold stares but otherwise, he seemed a polite man. He told them the Queen was in her rooms. They went there and entered after knocking.
Queen Hunith was laying on the bed, reading a book. Whom they supposed was her maidservant was arranging some flowers on the table.
Since the servant was present, they couldn't talk freely with Hunith, so they bowed and, still pretending, Gwaine started to talk.
"Good Morning, my Lady. We are your new knights. If you need something, don't hesitate to ask. We'll do anything we can for you"
Hunith flinched for a moment, knowing that voice. She looked up and her eyes widen, recognizing the young men she saw growing up.
She was about to call their names, when Gwaine shook slightly his head and winked. He pointed toward Gwen. Hunith understood and nodded. Gwen couldn't know.
Gwaine turned his attention toward the young girl, but he was surprised to notice she wasn't paying any attention to him or her mistress. No… all her focus was concentrate only on something, or better, someone on his right.
Gwaine looked at his right and came face to face with a Lancelot, looking at the girl with the same intensity as hers. They looked at each other in awe and as if they were the only ones in the room. They seemed two lovebirds.
Gwaine elbowed his friend, returning him to the real world. Once they lost the eye contact, both him and Gwen blushed and looked down, embarrassed and confused.
Hunith smiled at that, for the first time in weeks. They remained her of Balinor and herself when they were younger.
"Gwen, dear. Can you leave us alone, please? I would like to know my…. guards better"
"Of course, my lady. I'll go washing your clothes." She bent to take the laundry chest but Lancelot stopped her.
"I'm Lancelot. Please, let me help you, my Lady." He took the chest from her hands.
Gwen blushed deeper. "I'm Guinevere. You can call me Gwen and I'm not a lady. Thanks"
"Could have fool me," Lancelot whispered, looking intensely in her doe eyes.
Gwen bit her lower lips, losing herself in his gentle eyes.
A cough made them jumped. Gwaine raised an eyebrow.
"Right. Lead the way, my Lad… I mean, Gwen"
After they had left, Hunith and Gwaine allowed themselves a laugh. Then, Gwaine rushed to embrace the woman he considered like a second mother.
"It's so good to see you Hunith… we were so worried. I'm so sorry about Balinor."
Hunith caressed his face. "Oh, my boy. I am so relieved you and Lancelot are fine. Don't worry about Balinor. We had no regrets. We lived our life together in all its potential… we'll always be together… we are soulmates, after all" she smiled gently. "Now, I'm just worried about my baby boy"
"I promise you. I'll save him, no matter what," said Gwaine very seriously.
Hunith considered him for a moment. "You really love him, don't you?"
"Always" vowed Gwaine.
It was true. Even though Merlin had rejected him, Gwaine loved him. When Merlin told him that he could give him only his friendship, Gwaine decided he would take what he could and be the best friend in the world for Merlin. However, deep inside, he will never stop loving the young prince. Moreover, he will make that Pendragon pay for the sufferings he caused.
"I'm pleased…. If you are here, I suppose you have a plan"
"Yes, my Lady. As long as you are in danger, we cannot free Merlin. Therefore, we are going to save you first and then, go to Camelot for Merlin. Nevertheless, we can't just go there, suddenly. We need to wait the right time. Preferably, when the main attention of the guards and of Arthur are focused on something else. We were thinking to send Percival, Lancelot's cousin, to Camelot to spy. He could go there with the excuse to become a knight. He can watch over Merlin and send us information more discretely. In the meantime, Lancelot and I will seek information here. After all, Agravaine is Arthur's uncle and he receives news from the main city."
"I agree." Hunith was happy someone would be near to watch over her dear son.
A few days after that, a letter from Merlin arrived for Hunith. Gwen answered it for her and then, she gave it to Gwaine to send it. Before consigning it to the messenger, Gwaine drew his necklace symbols near Gwen's signature. He had to let Merlin know he had not forgotten him, that Gwaine was there for him.
A week later, Percival left for Camelot. He was the only one who could go, since Arthur knew Lancelot and Gwaine's faces.
Lancelot was always more uncomfortable about having to lie to Gwen. They had become so close. They spent all their spare time together, when Lancelot wasn't spying on Agravaine and she wasn't working. They were sure they had found the other half of their soul in the other.
That's why, Lancelot couldn't resist anymore and with Hunith's blessing, he told Gwen everything. She was shocked at first and didn't know what to do. However, when she thought about it, she realized the choice wasn't so difficult. It was between Lancelot and Arthur. The first was the man she fell in love with. The second was the man who had sent her away from her family, from her home and who had sentenced Morgana, the woman she considered like a sister, to an unhuman punishment. As if, she was an animal. Gwen had no doubts…
she chose Lancelot.
Finding out some information from Lord Agravaine ended up being more difficult than Gwaine and Lancelot had foreseen. The man tended to lock himself in his rooms a lot, especially when a report or a letter arrived from Camelot.
This is why, Gwaine decided to slip in the Lord's chambers one day, when he was outside.
He was searching among the papers, when he felt a sword point against his back.
"A word, Sir. If you please," said Agravaine's fake sweet voice.
Gwaine turned around and came face to face with the Lord. He didn't know what to do.
"Give me one good explanation to why I shouldn't run you through this instant," hissed Arthur's uncle.
Gwaine thought it was useless to lie.
"I was looking for information," Gwaine said calmly.
"About?"
"Camelot"
Agravaine's eyes shined at that. He seemed almost…pleased.
"Why?"
Gwaine remained silent and the lord pressed the sword against Gwaine's chest strongly.
"To find the right moment to sneak in the city with fewer risks as possible"
Agravaine smirked and put down the sword.
"Good. That's exactly what I was hoping to hear"
"What?" Ok, Gwaine didn't expect that reaction. He was sure he was about to be killed or dragged to Camelot to be executed.
Agravaine giggled, "I'm sorry to inform you, young man, but your plan had a little mistake… my nephew told me the names of the two knights he was going to send… and they weren't Gwaine or Lancelot. I knew since the beginning you weren't you told me to be"
"Then, why didn't you arrest us? What were you waiting for?"
"To find out why you were here… if you had ended up being thieves or smugglers I would have killed you. However, now that I know... I think we may help each other. Why do you want to slip in Camelot?"
"And what do YOU have against Camelot?" retorted Gwaine.
"You are in no position to ask questions… you are very near to your death, so I suggest you to talk," hissed the Lord.
Gwaine had no choice. "We want to save our prince, Merlin Emrys, from your nephew."
After a few second in silent, Agravaine nodded. "Excellent. I'll help you. I have already a plan to make you enter the city without being noticed"
Gwaine was speechless. Something was very wrong.
"Wait, wait a moment" the knight held up a hand and put his fingers on his nose. "Why are you doing this? You are the king's UNCLE! You are his family!"
Agravaine's expression become darker. "Don't. Tell. Such. a. Nonsense. Ever. Again… that brat is not my family. I don't have one!"
Seeing Gwaine's confused eyes, he added. "Follow me"
They walk in the corridor for a while, until they arrived in front of a heavy wooden door. They entered the room and Gwaine couldn't help but notice the big paint of a beautiful blond woman on the wall. White skin, blue and gentle eyes, golden hair matching her dress… she was perfect. She remained Gwaine of Arthur.
"This… this is Ygraine… my beloved sister" Agravaine swallowed hard.
"Queen Ygraine? Arthur is her son" Gwaine had never been good in remembering other royals, but the death in childbirth of Camelot Queen was a much known fact.
"No! He is not her son! He is her MURDERER!" shouted the Lord, pure hate in his eyes. Gwaine stepped back. "That monster killed her. My dear sweet little sister…"
Agravaine lowed his head in sorrow.
Gwaine didn't personally believe the child should be blame for the mother's death during the childbirth. However, he could understand Agravaine's pain. Gwaine too had lost his little sister Freya. He didn't know if she was alive or not, but he was sure about one thing. He had never believe the elope crap… and since Arthur showed his true colors, Gwaine was certain that somehow, he was involved in her disappearance.
Agravaine was not over, "if her death wasn't enough, Uther killed my dear brother Tristan. He was also my best friend" he laughed bitterly "the both of them were my best friends… we were inseparable... The three of us. My parents didn't bear the loss of two of their children and killed themselves… I was left alone and all because of those Pendragons… I hate them so much!" he lifted his face, looking at Gwaine straight in the eyes, "I will do everything I can to make Arthur's life a living hell for what he and his dead father did to my family and me. For what I could understand from his letters, Arthur cares a lot about your prince… losing him will break him. That's why I'll help you"
Gwaine was more than convinced now about the lord true intentions. He nodded, "Then my Lord, we have a deal. You told me you have a plan… tell me about it?"
"It's kind of easy, actually. Today, I have received news from Camelot that a delegation from Mercia will go to Camelot to sign an alliance. My nephew has invited me to take part in the event. You and your friend will come with me as members of my personal guards. Since you'll be with me and will be well disguised, Arthur will not suspect a thing… but you'll have to be careful.
When all the attention will be on the guests and the king, you'll take the prince away and I'll try to kill Arthur Pendragon… maybe not immediately, but surely when he'll be weak and destroyed by his husband's disappearance."
Gwaine was impressed by the clever mind of his unexpected new ally. "Sounds like a good plan. However, Merlin will never leave if he thinks the queen is in danger"
"We'll transfer the queen and the servant to my brother's old castle. It had been abandoned for years, but it's well hidden in the forest."
"Good… can I ask you a question?.. When both Merlin and Hunith will disappear, aren't you afraid Arthur will suspect and kill you?"
The lord shrugged. "I'm not afraid to die. I have no one to live for. Not my old family or one of my own. If I have to die to make him suffer, so be it"
A few day later, they received a letter from Percival. He had been in Camelot for three weeks at the time.
He confirmed the future arrival of a Mercian delegation and that Merlin was all right.
Gwaine was very upset to find out that it will not be King Bayard to lead the Delegation, but his son, Crown Prince Alexander. The prince was a regular visitor in Draken and he always had a thing for Merlin. He was very insistent in his affections. Merlin couldn't stand him and asked Balinor not to invite him anymore. Nevertheless, the man had never stopped to send 'love' letters to Merlin… he was very explicit in his intentions. What a pervert!
Lancelot and Gwaine couldn't get ready fast enough for their liking. After finding out, Alexander will soon be near Merlin again, they just HAD TO go to Camelot the soon as possible.
Once they had safety delivered Queen Hunith and Gwen to Tristan's castle, they joined Lord Agravaine in the courtyard to departure for Camelot and their friend.