Alaia Skyhawk: And here's the next part... Why do I find it so hard to motivate myself to do this episode? It's been two weeks since I did part 2! (Flails)
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: N/A
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A
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Chapter 21: Lancelot and Guinevere ~Part 3~
"Gwen."
The quiet call of her real name roused her from fearful though, huddled as she was in the corner of her cell. A familiar voice, asking her to respond with that single word, coming from one of the small grilles set high in the wall near the bed.
She stood up, using the piece of furniture to bring her face level with the tiny window into the hallway above the chamber's side. And there, peering through the mesh of metal between them, was the man who was risking so much to try and help her.
"Lancelot."
The swordsman regarded her with concern, but also relief.
"I was terrified I would find your cell empty."
Gwen's expression was tearful, with a hint of terror in her eyes.
"There's been no word from Uther. I fear Hengist is becoming suspicious."
"You must keep up the pretence. I will not allow you to die here."
Her fear for herself changed to fear for him, as she frowned ever so slightly.
"What about you?"
"I have little to live for."
"Don't say that."
There was a bite to Gwen's words as she said that, a protest. But Lancelot could only remain solemn.
"It's the truth... For all my words, for all that I believed. I have come to nothing."
Gwen reached out, her fingers pushing through the gaps in the mesh to twine with his.
"You are everything that is right with this world."
There was a pause of surprise, and he started to smile softly.
"I did not know you felt that way."
Their eyes met, fingers still held fast.
"I didn't know I could even feel this way about someone."
Lancelot's smile widened with hope.
"Then you have given me a reason to live." There was the sound of a nearby door, cutting the conversation short, and Lancelot regarded her determinedly. "Be ready. I will come for you before nightfall."
He stood up and hurried away, getting well out of sight as Gwen hurriedly seated herself upon the bed once more. Thus he did not see as she was dragged up to see Hengist, nor hear the barbarous man question her as to why Uther had not yet paid the ransom. He did not see her terror as the brutal leader of these mercenaries grabbed her by the hand and made his ultimatum... That if the ransom wasn't paid by dawn, he would kill her.
But nor did she see or hear what followed when she was dragged back to her cell, as Hengist called one of his men to bring Kendrick, the man who'd captured her, to him... Remarking that perhaps he could explain why 'Lady Morgana' had the hands of a serving-girl...
Gwen remained huddled on the bed in her cell, crying after that encounter. The hours until she knew she would die, crawling by with agonising slowness. Only the thought of Lancelot and his promise to come for her, kept her from breaking down completely... Until the time when the dungeon guards were brought a pot of stew to warm over their fire.
The pair waited for it to heat, idly sharpening weapons by the torchlight. They were oblivious to the man who appeared at the grille in the ceiling above them, and to the fine, weighted cord he unravelled to hang just a few inches above the contents of the pot. That cord was attached to a bottle of sleeping potion, which he carefully tipped so that a few drops of the contents would run down the cord to drip quietly into the stew. He then quickly reeled it up again, pocketing it before moving to a new position.
Lancelot watched the guards eat the now spiked stew, unaware that up in the castle, Kendrick was confessing that Gwen was actually Morgana's maid. He didn't have to wait long for the potion to do its work, and as soon as both were unconscious, he hurried over and grabbed the keys. They would not remain asleep for long.
He went to the door of Gwen's cell, opening it and smiling to match the smile that lit up her face at seeing him.
"We don't have a moment to lose."
She took his offered hand, the two of them fleeing the cell and heading for the siege tunnel out of the castle. Behind them Hengist, having left Kendrick to be killed by a Wildeoren, arrived at the cell minutes later. Rage and vengeance in his voice as he screamed to his men to find her.
The echo of his shout reached Gwen and Lancelot, the latter pointing to the correct passage.
"Take this path. It will take you out beyond the castle walls. I will buy you as much time as I can."
Gwen shook her head, clinging to his hand.
"I'm not leaving you."
"You must."
"No... I will not leave you hear to die."
Lancelot regarded her, a touch of sadness in his eyes as he put his hands to the sides of her face.
"I would die for you a hundred times over... Live, for me, or everything that I am has been for nothing."
Gwen gazed into his eyes for several moments, leaning in for one last desperate kiss of goodbye, before gazing at him again once their lips had parted.
"As long as I live, my feelings for you will never change."
He stepped back solemnly, letting go of her and pointing to the passage once more.
"Run... Don't stop running until you are well away from here." She hesitated, and he pointed again. "Run."
Gwen turned at last, and raced away down the passage. Meanwhile Lancelot watched her go and drew his sword, before turning to go back the way they'd come and throwing himself into the path of their pursuers. Fighting with the fierce desire to protect her.
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Outside, the dark of night closing in, two sets of eyes regarded the castle from the cover of the nearby trees. Both were tired from the hike, but both were determined.
Arthur looked at the building, with its crude and rough construction, his tone calculating.
"We'll have to scale the walls."
Merlin glanced at him, unenthusiastic at that prospect.
"Maybe there's another way in."
The response to that was as sarcastic as could be expected, as the prince started to make his move towards the darkest side of the castle perimeter.
"Perhaps you'd like to go knock on the castle doors. I'm sure if you ask nicely, they'll hand Gwen over to you."
Merlin bit back a retort, following. Wishing beyond wishing that he didn't have to hide his magic, or he'd have done pretty much that... Save that 'asking nicely' would have actually been more 'knock out every guard with a spell, and walk in'.
They reached the base of one of the towers, Arthur pointing out a narrow window part-way up. And then began the climb, where a servant grumbled while a certain prince accused him of acting like a girl.
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Inside the castle things were far less quiet, as men and women bayed for the blood of the man in the fight-cage to be shed. Hengist's eyes reflected that same murderous intent, as he glared through the wooden bars at the captured Lancelot.
"Before you die, I can promise you the most unimaginable pain."
Ignoring the roars of laughter from the mob, Lancelot returned that gaze calmly and without fear. His composure not dented in the least by the beating he'd already sustained.
"You can do what you will with me, I do not care. You can do no harm to Guinevere."
Hengist's expression brightened into a semi-insane smile.
"Was that her name? A serving girl? And you really believe that she is worth dying for?"
Lancelot smiled back. It was the smile of a man who's spirit would never be broken by those who were about to kill him.
"She means more to me than you will ever understand."
The mass of men and women began to laugh, Hengist looking smug as if he'd been waiting for something like that to be said. And then he signalled for the gate at the rear of the cage to be opened... and a bound Gwen was hauled in and thrown to the floor beside Lancelot.
Hengist laughed at the look of horror on the man's face, and the defeat in Gwen's eyes.
"You thought that she got away? But no... you failed her. And that must hurt you... more than I could ever understand."
His mocking tone made the mob roar with laughter, and Lancelot to glare at him angrily but impotently from within the cage.
~(-)~
There was a muffled yelp as someone slipped and quickly re-grabbed a handhold, while the man accompanying up the wall muttered.
"You really are completely useless, Merlin."
"Well it's harder than it looks." Arthur glanced down at the servant a short way below him, shaking his head and resuming his climb towards the now close window at a rather brisk pace that made Merlin frown. "Oh, now you're just showing off."
Arthur reached the window and disappeared through it, before reappearing in time to reach down and haul his manservant up the last couple of feet.
The two of them crept out of the chamber they found themselves in, sneaking down the tower stairs until they reached the guard-post at the bottom. Arthur then glanced in the door of the small room, and murmured after noting there were only two men in there.
"You distract them. I'll knock them out."
Merlin paused, looking at with a frown.
"How do I distract them?"
Arthur slung his arm over Merlin's shoulder, drawing him forward as if to explain before bodily shoving the servant into the room.
Merlin stumbled down the steps into it, coming to a halt as the two men rose to their feet. One of them scowled.
"What are you doing there?"
Merlin began to slowly circle to the right, trying to keep the room's table between him and them.
"N-nothing... Actually, it's a funny story. I was out walking, I took a wrong turn, and here I am. Do you know the way to the Vale of Dennaria?"
Their backs were now to the door, and they were still scowling.
"Who are you?"
Merlin saw Arthur casually and smugly stroll up behind them, at once both relieved and irritated as he pointed him out to them.
"Me, I'm no one... It's him you need to worry about."
They turned, both taking a fist to the face the instant they did so. A few minutes later found the guards stripped to their undergarments, and a prince and his manservant now disguised as Hengist's men. Safe in that new identity, they walked openly through the passageways until the sound of many people drew their attention to the castle's 'great' hall.
They entered cautiously, eyeing the cage that dominated the room, as Hengist's taunting words brought their regard to bear on the two people tied up inside of it.
"What do you say? Shall I spare them?"
Laughter rang out, alongside jeering, as the chant of 'kill' filled the room. Inside the cage, Gwen tearfully looked over her shoulder at Lancelot.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault."
He shook his head.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You reminded me of who I am. I will die with faith in my heart. That is worth more than anything."
"Release the Wildeoren!"
Hengist's shout rose above the jeering, and the gate at the back of the cage rose up. Gwen and Lancelot could not help but look on in fear as the rat-like creature emerged into the light and began snuffling around... Edging closer and closer with each moment until someone climbed over the cage top and leapt out of nowhere.
Arthur cut the ropes binding Gwen and Lancelot together, throwing a sword to the latter before they both began to attack the creature.
"What are you doing here, Lancelot?"
"I came to save Gwen. What about you?"
"Likewise."
Outside the cage, Merlin, who had been watching the fight anxiously, saw a furious Hengist ready a crossbow. A quick glance at the chandelier above the man, and a whispered incantation, brought it came plummeting down towards him, forcing him to dodge and lose the weapon under the feet of the baying mass of men and women.
The raging man then drew his sword, the flash of torchlight off the weapon catching Arthur's attention. The prince then regarded the baying mob, and knew there was only one way out.
"The tunnel! It's our only chance." He shouted above the noise, having spotted his manservant ducked down on the floor trying to keep from being noticed. "Merlin! Don't just there cowering! Let's go!"
Merlin quickly and surprisingly agilely clambered up and over to drop into the cage, as Hengist unlocked the hall-side gate so that he himself to could also enter. But the Wildeoren was between him and his targets, forcing him to use his blade to drive it back as he circled it.
Meanwhile the rescuers and escapees ran down the ramp beyond the rear gate, Lancelot urging Arthur ahead.
"Take Guinevere. I'll hold them off."
Gwen turned, refusal in her eyes as she rushed back to him.
"No!"
"Guinevere. We have to go."
Arthur's tone brooked no refusal, as he took her firmly by the arm and led her away.
Merlin and Lancelot watched them disappear into the darkness, before looking to where Hengist now had his back to the gate. There was only a moment's pause, before the warlock of the two acted. Safe in the knowledge that the man beside him already knew his secret.
"Lease fearr anga!"
The rope that held the gate raised, snapped, causing it to plummet into place. Hengist spun to face it when he heard it fall, screaming for it to be raised before the beast behind him, lunged.
Merlin and Lancelot winced at the following screams, turning and fleeing, knowing that the Wildeoren would keep the now dead Hengist's followers too busy to come after them.
Lancelot commented as they ran.
"I see you're still up to your old tricks, Merlin."
"It's probably best that you don't tell anyone about that."
They soon caught up with Gwen and Arthur, at the locked gate at the end of the tunnel out. Lancelot spoke to the prince and Merlin with great relief, while Arthur pried at the chains holding it shut.
"It's good to see you both. Where are your knights?"
Arthur glanced at him, still working on the chain while his expression said 'yes, my answer is as crazy as it sounds'.
"It's just us."
Lancelot regarded him with shock, a glance at a nodding Merlin, confirming that ludicrous statement.
The chain broke, Arthur urging everyone out before Lancelot took Gwen by the hand. The prince saw the long look that passed between them, saw how Gwen looked at the man who had almost died alongside her, and a flicker of hurt clouded his eyes.
Merlin saw it as well, before he led Gwen into the night. Lancelot pausing beside Arthur to give him thanks.
"Thank you, Arthur. We owe you our lives."
Dawn saw them several miles away from the castle, hidden in an area of thickets within the woods. Gathered around the camp-fire, food having just been eaten, at last they could relax enough to take time for explanations.
Lancelot was the one to speak, still in wonder at the two rescuers coming alone.
"I'm surprised that you would undertake such a rescue mission... with just the two of you."
Arthur, who had been directing glances at Gwen filled with concealed pain, answered solemnly.
"My father would not risk the lives of his knights, for a servant."
"And yet you disobeyed him and came here anyway."
Arthur hesitated, refusing to look at either Lancelot or Gwen as he lied to them.
"Truth is, I only came because Morgana begged me."
Merlin hid his own reaction to what he knew was a blatant lie, and his reaction to the look of deep disappointment in Gwen's eyes before she pointedly looked anywhere but at the prince.
She then stood up, falsely cheerful, and walked a short distance away to find somewhere to lie down.
"I think I will get some rest."
Arthur threw the stick he'd been toying with into the fire, also getting up and going in the opposite direction.
"We should all get some rest."
Lancelot watched then go, a hint of suspicion in his eyes as he got up to patrol.
"I'll stand guard for a while."
Only Merlin was left by the fire, alone as he murmured to himself.
"I'll just sit here then."
He didn't sit for long, only until both Gwen and Arthur were asleep, before heading to where Lancelot stood at the brow of the hollow they were camped in.
The swordsman waited for the warlock to seat himself on a rock, before speaking quietly.
"It is true? That Arthur came to rescue Gwen, because Morgana begged him?" Merlin remained awkwardly silent, but that was answer enough. "He has feeling for her, doesn't he?"
Again awkward silence, although this time Merlin did speak after a moment.
"What about you? Do you have feelings for Gwen?"
Lancelot looked away for a moment.
"My feelings do not matter... I will not come between them." He hesitated, making his choice as painful for him as it was. "Tell her... Tell Gwen that she has changed me forever, but some things cannot be."
He sighed, sheathing his sword and starting to walk away, Merlin rising to his feet.
"Wait. You're leaving now?"
The pained regard that faced him, choked off any further protest, as Lancelot gave him a single weak smile of farewell.
"I leave them to your care, Merlin. I know you will keep them safe."
Lancelot walked away, while Merlin remained frozen to the spot unable to say anything else. He stayed there, keeping watch, for three more hours before he heard Arthur starting to stir. That was the signal to go stamp out the fire and get ready to head for home.
Gwen woke as Merlin kicked dirt onto the fire, looking around in puzzlement when she noticed a face was missing. Arthur was already moving about, having not asked questions when his manservant had mutely shook his head at the prince's silent query. But Gwen wasn't so quick to realise what had transpired.
"Where's Lancelot?" She was smiling, like she expected the swordsman to appear over the edge of the hollow. But then she saw the guilty look that Merlin gave her, and stood up in sudden and growing denial. "Where is he?"
It hurt more to reply to that, than Merlin wanted to admit.
"He's gone."
"...No..."
Merlin walked over to her, knowing he had to deliver Lancelot's words.
"He said that some things can never be. He wanted you to know that you had changed him forever."
Gwen nodded to that, clearly fighting not to cry. Arthur saw as she turned her back on Merlin, hiding the tears that welled up in her eyes. He waited only a few moments, before breaking the silence.
"We have a long walk ahead of us. We should get moving."
Gwen quickly wiped away her tears, following after the two men. It was well into the next day before they reached where Merlin and Arthur had left the horses, and a further day to arrive back in Camelot with Gwen riding pillion behind Merlin.
Their was minimal fuss at their return when they rode into the stables, what with Arthur having cited going on a hunting/scouting trip as his reason for leaving the city. That the supposedly kidnapped maid was with them would soon spread though, which meant the prince was going to have to do some quick explaining to his father to avoid punishment.
But that was far from his mind as he made his way to Morgana's chambers. She was there, stood in silence at the top of the stairs near her rooms. Looking out the window over the central courtyard. Arthur had suspected as much, hence entering the castle from the stables to avoid her spotting them arrive.
He reached the stop of the stairs, calling out to her.
"Morgana." She turned her head to look at him, just as he smiled and stepped aside. "There's someone here to see you."
"Gwen!" The maid had been revealed as he moved, and Morgana's face lit up with joy and relief as the two friends reached out and pulled each other into a fierce hug. "I thought I'd never see you again."
The two having spun round in the hug, Gwen was able to see the oddly wistful and sad expression on Arthur's face as he watched the reunion. But she did not question it as he walked away and descended the stairs, off to report to his father.
Merlin met him at the bottom of the stairs, falling into step beside him as they headed for the council chambers. He knew was Arthur was about to have to face, smiling and doing his best to lighten the mood.
"Look on the bright side... You've still got me."
The prince directed a mock look of disdain at his servant for that, only marginally annoyed.
"Is that supposed to cheer me up?"
Merlin shrugged.
"I thought it might."
Arthur rolled his eyes, falling into the regular routine that was their banter. Everything was going to be just fine.
"You really are a complete idiot, aren't you, Merlin?"
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Alaia Skyhawk: Whew! Got it done. And now I am off to bed, as it is 0:38am!