I am just playing with The BBC Merlin Characters.
The roguish looking man sat in the small tavern in a town a couple miles out side of the borders of Camelot, He had wanted to ride into the city and call out the sorry excuse for A prince. What was He thinking hunting His own servant like He was some sort of criminal. Merlin was one of the most loyal men Gwain had ever met, He was one of the few people that Gwain considered to be a true friend.
So when Gwain heard the rumours that not only had Merlin been accused of treason, He refused to believe it was even possible, but also that it was Arthur that was leading the search to find Merlin and bring him back for execution, well he saw red and headed for Camelot immediately. Even though He was Technically banished.
Gwain had reached the small town of Galintai before He ran into one of Camelots knights who was in charge of a small patrol that was with permission from the local lord doing a search of the small towns looking for any sign of the missing servant and the kings ward. Gwain had recognized Leon from the short amount of time He had spent in Camelot before Uther had banished him.
Leon had taken a minute to place the face of the man who had come out of no where and held a sword on him.
"put your swords away" Leon ordered his men when He recognized the man as being a friend of Merlin.
"but sir" one of them protested still holding their sword out on Gwain having acted quickly when the man had drawn his sword and placed it a Leon chest.
"it's alright" Leon told them "this is" He tried to remember the mans name, oh yes "Gwain, He's an old friend. Does this all the time "
Leon gave Gwain a pointed look using his eyes to tell Gwain to go along with it and lower his sword. Gwain who hadn't taken his eyes off Leon glanced at the other men. He maybe good in a fight but this was not a situation he could come-out of unharmed.
"right" He said lowering his sword "was just testing Leon's reflexes"
Gwain placed his hand on Leon's shoulder in a pretend friendly manner a big fake grin on his face "your getting slow old man" Gwain said in a joking voice.
Leon's men gave each other looks and then slowly lowered their swords and sheathed them. Leon gave them instructions to find lodging for the Knight as it was getting late. Then He followed Gwain into the towns tavern and sat down across from the man.
"do I even need to ask what that was about" Leon asked him
"I'm sorry " Gwain said taking a drink of his mead " I tend to act before I think, it's not you I'm angry with"
"your Merlins friend" it was a statement and a question "and you found out that Arthur is leading the search for him, to bring him back to face charges of treason"
Gwain slammed his mug down and glowered at the Camelot knight gaining the attention of everyone else in the bar.
Leon gave them a small smile and an it's okay nod, waiting for them to turn back to their own drinks and conversations before turning back to Gwain.
"there is no way Merlin would commit treason" Gwain said
"I completely agree" A new man said sitting at the table with them.
...
A few minutes earlier.
Arthur and his small patrol rode into Galintai and met up with Leon's half of the patrol. Arthur and Leon had left Camelot together and had split up at the border with plans to meet up in the evening. Arthur trusted Leon to make sure Merlin didn't get killed if they happen to find him.
"where is Leon" Arthur asked the men who had been talking among them selves when the Prince had ridden up, He handed his reins to one of the men waiting for an answer.
"He's in the tavern" The man told him "with a man He called Gwain"
"Gwain?" Arthur asked "scruffy brown hair, about this tall" Arthur held up his hand to indicated a height.
"yes Sire" another man told him "Leon said he was a friend, but He had a strange way of acting to be a friend"
Arthur fight the urge to roll his eyes and sigh, He could guess that Gwain had heard about Merlin and was probably non to happy about it.
So the Prince headed for the tavern to look for Leon and his manservants friend, okay He considered Gwain to be his friend as well but the man would always be more loyal to Merlin. Something Arthur was glad of at a time like this.
Arthur walked into the tavern just as a load bang sounded and everyone turned to look at two men sitting at a table. One Arthur saw was Leon gave everyone a smile and an it's okay look while the other, Gwain looked like he wanted to punch something.
Arthur walked up to the table and placed his hand on the unused chair just as Gwain who hadn't yet noticed Arthur was there spoke.
"there is no way Merlin would commit treason"
" I completely agree" Arthur said sitting down.
Both mens eyes flew to him, Gwain's eyes widened in surprise He hadn't ever realized he was there. Then his eyes narrowed as he reached for his sword, before thinking it wasn't a good idea.
"Arthur" Leon greeted him with a small nod like bow of his head. It had been established that the patrols would refrain from calling him Sire or My Lord while on patrol/search out side of Camelot so as not to encourage people to get them selves injured or killed thinking they could take a royal for ransom.
Arthur had insisted on it after the second time they had been attacked. He had been almost glad Merlin wasn't with him at those time, Almost. Because it meant he didn't need to worry about his clumsy servant. At the same time He noticed that the bandits seemed to be more of a challenge. Tripping over their own feet less and being able to keep hold on there weapon, and no conveniently falling branches.
"If you agree" Gwain half snarled "then why are you leading the search to take him to be executed?"
"because" Arthur said taking a drink from Gwain's mug "my Father has gotten it into his head that Merlin helped Morgause kidnap Morgana"
Arthur place Gwain's mug back down in front of the shell shocked looking man. Gwain had only payed attention to the part about Merlin being wanted for Treason. He hadn't much cared about why, there was just no way no matter what.
"I am leading the search so that When we find them, and we will, Merlin doesn't get hurt"
"wait a minute " Gwain said " who's Morgause"
"Morgause is a Sorceress" Leon explained " She showed up in Camelot over a year ago and tried to trick Arthur into Killing the king"
"what? How? " Gwain asked turning to Arthur "what did she put a spell on you or something Princess"
Arthur scowled at the nick name for a second then relaxed if Gwain was calling him by the nick name he had come up with when they had first met it meant he wasn't really mad at him anymore.
"She made me believe she could summon my Mother from the spirit world" Arthur said "She told me Uther had been responsible for her death, that He had betrayed her by using magic."
"I remember that" Leon said "He and Merlin took off for two days and when He came back He went straight to His father and kicked everyone out of the room"
"what happen?" Gwain asked "what does this have to do to with Merlin being hunted down like some common criminal"
"I almost killed my Father" Arthur explained "if Merlin hadn't shown up and made me realized Morgause had shown me a lie"
Arthur shuddered, He hated to think of what would of happened.
"Anyway" Arthur continued "a few months ago Morgause attacked Camelot"
Arthur told Gwain about how He, Merlin and few knight, may they rest in peace, had gone to investigate Idirsholas, and how everyone but Morgana was in a Magically induced sleep.
"when I got back to the throne room My father was just waking and Morgana was unconscious in Morgause's arms" Arthur finished up the story "before I knew what was happening, Morgause started chanting a spell. Merlin looked at me and shouted that he was sorry then grabbed a hold of Morgana and Morgause then they all vanished into thin air"
"so Merlin put himself in harms way" Gwain said
"again" Arthur sighed
"knowing Merlin, He was trying to help" Gwain said "and Uther decided He was working with this Morgause person"
"there is something else " Leon spoke "Gaius later informed us that Morgause is Morgana's half sister"
"whoa" Gwain commented sitting back in his chair.
"Gaius fears Morgause may be trying to turn Morgana against Camelot" Arthur told him "and perhaps Merlin to"
" that won't" Gwain started but Arthur cut him off.
" I don't think Merlin or Morgana did or would help Morgause attack Camelot" Arthur said holding up his hand to silence Gwain." but She is a powerful sorceress and it is possible that She could place them under some sort of spell.
Gwain furrowed his brow thinking for a minute.
"you said the entire city was asleep, right?" Gwain asked
"I know at least half the palace was out when I fell asleep" Leon told him
"yes" Arthur said " everyone but Morgana"
"So" Gwain said "what if she was the source of the spell?"
"What?" Arthur half yelled earning his some glances from a couple of other patrons, he calmed his voice "I just finished telling you"
"I'm not saying she volunteered" Gwain cut him off "but I have been to kingdoms where Magic is legal. It is possible to use someone or something as an anchor for a spell. you said she was the only one awake showing no affect of the spell, until everyone else started to wake up when she passed out"
Gwain looked between the two men waiting for what he was saying to sink in, He saw it on their faces when they caught on.
"but that doesn't explain Merlin" Leon started
"yes it does" Arthur cut him off " We know Merlin is smarter than we gave him credit for"
Leon interrupted Arthur to explain to Gwain about Merlins Poison testing system.
"So" Arthur said "if Morgause did some how put a spell on Morgana"
"Then" Leon said " perhaps Merlin figured it out and did something about it"
"making Morgana vulnerable to being kidnapped" Arthur said "which would explain why He apologized before leaping into the spell"
The Three men continue to talk. Arthur explaining about Uther's reaction to Morgana being taken right in front of him, about being unable to convince him he was wrong. Leon revealing that there was a small group of people that was actually working with in the search to make sure Merlin was to kept alive.
"we could use as much help in finding them as possible" Arthur said to Gwain "you can reach places we can't, do you think your up to it"
Gwain thought for a minute,
" I'll help look for Merlin" He said "but I won't help brink him back to camelot to be killed, if anything I'll warn him to run the other way"
"or you could let him know to meet us in Ealdor" Leon suggested
"Ealdor?" Gwain asked "isn't that where Merlin's mother lives"
"yeah it is "Arthur told him "it's also kind of a meeting place for those of use who believe Merlin is innocent".
...
and now Gwain has joined the search for Camelots missing Warlock and Seer.
Yeah I know it's not much of a chapter I just wanted to get Gwain in on the search.