A/N: Hehe, I'm glad so many of you enjoyed (or at least were surprised by) the cliffhanger from yesterday! Today's chapter offers an explanation and sets up the next stage of the action while including a healthy dose of Morgana/Gwen friendship fluff…and maybe one or two more twists along the way! :)

Guest review replies at the end of this chapter, per usual.

On with the fic! ;)

Chapter 36: Change of Plan

Lancelot?

"Gwen?" Lancelot stared at her in surprise. "What are you doing down here?"

Gwen's temper flared unexpectedly. "I should ask you the same thing! You left!"

The full weight of that accusation hung heavy in the air. Neither of them moved.

Eventually, Lancelot swallowed thickly and broke eye contact, dropping his gaze to the grimy dungeon floor.

"When I learned Arthur loved you, I couldn't stay. He is a better man than I."

"And you didn't think I should be allowed to make my own choice?" Gwen countered, her voice breaking with emotion.

Lancelot continued to stare at the floor. The silence stretched out uncomfortably. At last, a quiet "ahem" from behind Lancelot broke the tension.

"Could someone please tell me what in the world is going on?" Elyan asked sarcastically from his cell.

"This doesn't concern you," Lancelot said firmly, just as Gwen opened her mouth to explain. She shot Lancelot a death glare and brought the plate over to Elyan.

"Open it," Gwen said to Lancelot, gesturing to the cell door.

He complied. She handed over the plate before Lancelot relocked the cell.

"Elyan, this is Lancelot, the would-be knight I wrote you about."

Lancelot's eyes openly showed his confusion.

"Lancelot, this is my brother Elyan."

"Oh." Lancelot had the grace to look ashamed of his previous harsh remark. "I'm sorry, Elyan."

"So, you're the famous Lancelot?" Elyan mused darkly as he leaned against the bars of his cell. "You broke my sister's heart, you know. I should string you up for that."

Lancelot's expression now closely resembled a whipped puppy. Gwen placed a hand on Elyan's arm through the bars.

"It's all right, Elyan," she said calmly, standing straighter as she faced Lancelot. "I can handle this."

"Gwen, I'm sorry," Lancelot said sincerely, reaching out for her hand. "Perhaps we could start again?"

Gwen took a step backwards, just out of reach.

"So am I," Gwen replied softly, "But what we had is gone. Over. You made your decision, and I made mine."

Lancelot let his hand drop to his side, a hint of defeat weighing on his shoulders. "I understand, and I will respect your decision."

Gwen turned away to brush aside the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes and smear her make-up. Why did I let Morgana put so much eyeliner on me?

"Oh!" Gwen cried. She spun around abruptly to face Elyan and Lancelot again. "I completely forgot about the plan!"

"What plan?" Elyan asked.

"The plan to rescue you! I've completely ruined it!"

Lancelot looked from Gwen to Elyan and back again. "Tell me your plan," he said simply.

"But you're a guard now." You've sided with Uther.

"I only took the job to make sure you were safe," Lancelot explained.

Gwen still didn't let her guard down.

"What do you mean?"

"When I heard Arthur had been forced to flee Camelot, I feared for your safety. A friend told me they were hiring new guards, so I jumped at the chance to be nearby. Though I know now that I have lost your heart, I still wish to serve and protect you in any way I can, my lady."

Gwen nearly cried in relief. Morgana is never going to believe all of this.

"Well," Gwen began, but Lancelot interrupted her.

"Whatever your plan may be, we're going to need help," he said. "Wait here."

Elyan and Gwen exchanged confused looks as he strode down the corridor and turned the corner towards the main guard station. He returned a moment later, followed by the gigantic guard Gwen had passed on her way in.

"This is the friend who told me about the job. You may speak freely; I trust him with my life."

Lancelot turned to his friend to complete the introductions.

"Percival, meet Gwen and Elyan."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Lancelot's back?" Morgana repeated incredulously when Gwen returned to Morgana's chambers to report on her quest. She sat down slowly in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace.

Gwen nodded and sat opposite her.

Morgana continued, "And he knows you're with Arthur now-"

Gwen blushed and fidgeted with her hands. "I don't know if I'd call it 'with,' exactly…"

"Nonsense!" Morgana declared, gesturing enthusiastically as she spoke. "Arthur likes you; you like Arthur-the only thing keeping you apart is Uther. I'd call that 'with'!"

Gwen blushed an even deeper scarlet as Morgana barreled on.

"Anyway, Lancelot knows that and he still wants to help us?"

Gwen shrugged. "Apparently, yes."

"All right, then," Morgana said matter-of-factly. Good enough for me.

She continued, "You said he and his friend—Percival, was it?—have a plan?"

"Yes," Gwen explained. "They plan to fake an escape and both leave with Elyan to join Arthur and Merlin in the Perilous Lands."

"Wait, 'fake' an escape?" Just when I thought this day couldn't get more confusing.

"They'll leave signs of a struggle-overturned furniture, drawn weapons, blood stains-to make it look like it wasn't an inside job."

"Makes sense," Morgana quickly agreed. That way, Uther's men won't know exactly who they're hunting for. "All right, what do they need from us?"

"Horses and supplies," Gwen said.

Morgana saw her fidget awkwardly again.

"What else, Gwen?"

"Um...and a diversion, tomorrow night," Gwen looked embarrassed. "They hoped you could help with that."

"I'm sure Gaius and I can think of something," Morgana mused with a smile, standing and crossing to her bedside table to retrieve a candle holder and taper. "I'll go see him right away."

Morgana whispered, "Bryne," and the candle flickered to life.

Gwen smiled at Morgana's comfortable display and rose as well. "It's been quite a bizarre week, hasn't it?"

Morgana laughed as she and Gwen headed for the chamber door. Yes, it certainly has.

A/N: Ok, did anyone realize it was Percival when Gwen met him last chapter?

Guest review replies:

Guest: Haha, I hope that means you approve! Thanks for the review! :)

Nance: Thanks for reviewing ch 34 & 35! Ok, I understand. :) Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed the plot developments in both of these chapters!