Alaia Skyhawk: Hehehehehehe... (Really had fun while writing this)
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
~(-)~
Chapter 35: The Castle of Fyrien ~Part 3~
They scrambled over the rocks, closely following the base of the cliffs, as they traversed the rugged shoreline below the cliff on which the castle stood.
Merlin trailed at the back, keeping his eyes on Morgana to be sure she'd have no chance to slip away. This was making him nervous, really nervous. Surely Morgause would be putting up more effort than this, especially since he'd stopped her talking to Morgana last night. He could feel the leaden weight of dread in his gut as they drew nearer the entrance to the caves, and the way Arthur kept glancing back to check on those following him told him that the prince felt the same.
They paused behind a rock, looking at the exposed section of shore ahead, Merlin murmuring in concern.
"Are you sure we should be doing this instead of sneaking into the castle itself... It might be easier."
Arthur shook his head, as Merlin came up beside him.
"So you would rather try to climb walls that are fifty foot high... while archers use you for target practice?" Merlin didn't answer, Arthur sighing. "I know this isn't the best in terms of circumstances, but it's the best chance we've got." He then added, too quiet for the two women with them to hear. "Besides, I know I have you to back me up... If it comes down to it, I will trust your judgement. I know I can count on you." He slipped out from their hiding place, setting off again. "Come on, we have to hurry or we might be spotted."
Merlin returned to his post at the rear of the group, earning a dirty look from Morgana in the process. She knew what he was doing, but wasn't in a position to complain about it. She was just biding her time, until she got the chance to do something to her advantage.
It took another hour of walking to reach the caves, the four of them entering after just a moment's hesitation by Morgana. She knew she was running out of time, and that if her sister didn't do anything soon then it might be too late. She needn't have worried though, because at the first large cavern they entered in the tunnels, the soldier's that lay in wait ambushed them.
Arthur drew his sword, cutting down the first of the attackers, while beside him Merlin and Morgana too drew their swords. It was hopeless though, they were totally surrounded and outnumbered. It was then that Arthur made a decision and turned to give Merlin the order that would shatter their secrecy.
The words died on his throat when Gwen shrieked, one of the soldiers holding her with a blade to her throat. Arthur saw Merlin glance around to count their foes, before giving him the faintest shake of his head in reply to the unspoken question... If he tried anything with magic here and now, he might get Gwen killed.
The soldier holding Gwen tightened his grip, and barked out at them.
"Drop your weapons or she dies."
Arthur gritted his teeth and did as commanded, knowing that the fact they weren't being killed on sight mean that Cenrid wanted them all alive at least for now. He was immediately grabbed, as was Morgana, but the slightly different treatment that Merlin got caused Gwen to stare in confusion. The warlock had been grabbed and immediately gagged, his hands tied together before him and then also secured tightly to his waist. He was then half dragged as the rest of them were merely forced to walk, with twice as many soldiers guarding him compared to each of Arthur and the others.
That answered something at least... Cenrid knew that Merlin was a sorcerer, and for some reason still wanted him alive despite it.
They were shoved and hustled up into the castle proper, led through the passages before being shoved into the throne room and forced to kneel before the man seated in there.
Cenrid smiled in triumph, as he regarded his prisoners.
"Well well, Arthur Pendragon." He stood up, walking over to the prince whose hands were bound behind his back to stop him lashing out. "How kind of you to pay me a visit. And look, you brought some friends with you." He turned, walking along their line. He gave only a passing curious glance to the gagged warlock, before turning his attention to Morgana. "Oh... The Lady Morgana, no less."
When he reached out to touch her chin, she leaned back and spat at him.
"Don't you so much as breathe on me, you pig!"
He glanced up to a barred window in the wall at the rear of the chamber, smiling before standing straight and returning to his throne.
"Well, the more the merrier I say."
"I'm the one you want, Cenrid. Let them go."
At Arthur's statement, the king sneered at him.
"You're right, that would only be fair... but fair's for fools. Take them away!"
Arthur lunged to his feet, but was swiftly grabbed and dragged away as were the rest of them.
~(-)~
Merlin sighed through his gag as he stared at the ceiling of his cell, not all that comfortable where he lay.
Once at the dungeons Gwen had been thrown into the cell that held her brother, Elyan, while Arthur was taken to a cell not too far away. As for himself and Morgana, the latter had been led back up to the throne room, no longer restrained, while he was taken and thrown into a cell even deeper in the dungeon's depths. A pity for them that they hadn't realised something. If they wanted to make it impossible for him to escape, then only gagging and tying him was pointless.
They should have blindfolded him...
He wriggled to get himself onto his back, sitting upright looking far from intimidated by the hefty cell door and the mass of ropes around his arms and middle. Over the bulge of the gag in his mouth he stared down at those ropes and the knots that secured them, and simply willed those knots to come undone.
Rope slithered and came loose, Merlin reaching up with his now freed hands to undo the gag. He grimaced a little at the lingering taste of the dusty cloth on his tongue, before standing up and regarding the door that now stood between him and rescuing his friends.
He brought a hand to his chin thoughtfully, eyeing up the solid wooden construction that had been reinforced with metal banding. The lock was sturdy too, not that it mattered considering his considerable experience with opening locks that were meant to stay locked. What he was really thinking about was whether he wanted to open the door nice and quietly and sneak up on the mass of guards he knew would be outside it... Or if he wanted to do something that would definitely surprise them.
The chuckle that rose from his throat was the answer, as he held a hand out towards the door and grinned.
"Bris an doras!" The door exploded outwards, taking out three of the guards while the other seven stared at it in shock. They gaped at Merlin when he emerged into the smoking doorway, staring in terror when he sighed and spoke to them. "Sorry, but this isn't a situation where I can show mercy... Akwele na fir!"
A few seconds of screaming later, he spared a moment in the following silence to look at his handiwork in regret. Merlin then stepped over their corpses and headed down the passage. He had a few stairs to climb to get to the level where the others were being held.
~(-)~
In the dim light of the cell the two siblings waited, waiting to learn their fate and the fate of the others who had come to rescue the male of the two.
Elyan stood leaning against the wall by the door, regarding his sister with sad eyes and a resigned expression. She should have known better than to try and save him.
"You shouldn't have come back for me, Gwen. What were you thinking?"
She stared at him, no trace of regret in her voice.
"You're probably right. You'd think I'd have learnt by now." Elyan shook his head, starting to pace as she continued. "I only hope Arthur can think of something."
Her brother paused in his pacing, frowning in puzzlement.
"Arthur?"
She nodded from where she sat against the wall.
"Prince Arthur. I came with him."
"Prince Arthur of Camelot?"
Her tone was resigned.
"Yes, Elyan. Prince Arthur of Camelot."
"Why would he want to help you?"
Elyan was more than a little confused; not surprising considering most nobles wouldn't give a damn for a servant. Gwen could read that in his expression.
"Look, Arthur doesn't care about if people are nobles of servants. He's... chivalrous."
Elyan regarded her sceptically.
"Right... So he's like that with all the maids in Camelot."
"No."
After her quick reply she hesitated, her following string of stammered words causing her brother to break into a knowing smile. He returned to the wall and sat against it, still smiling.
"It seems things have changed for you, Guinevere."
She sighed.
"Yes, I suppose they have."
His smile faded slightly due to their situation, but it was still there.
"I'm glad."
Their conversation ended there, as they resumed the wait to find out what was going to happen to them.
~(-)~
The throne room door opened, Morgana ushered in rather roughly by the guard that had escorted her. Coming further into the room, she was faced with Morgause and Cenrid waiting for her.
Morgause rushed to her side, taking her by the hands.
"Sister, I trust you were unharmed."
Morgana glared at the seated man, far from happy.
"No thanks to his men."
Cenrid picked at his nails, not all that bothered by the accusation and certainly not apologetic.
"Forgive me, but we must keep up appearances."
The two sisters started towards him, but then Morgana faced Morgause.
"What have you done with Arthur? And Merlin?"
Morgause smiled.
"Do not worry, they are both safely under lock and key."
"Why not just kill them now?"
Morgana was obviously puzzled, why let their enemies live when it would be so easy to just end and be done with it. Cenrid could see that puzzlement, and snorted as Morgause addressed her sister.
"He still has his uses, as does the warlock. No one knows Camelot's defences as well as Arthur does, and Merlin's power will be a valuable asset once I convince him that it's in his best interests to cooperate with us."
Morgana gaped in astonishment.
"You're letting Merlin live? He poisoned me!"
Cenrid snorted again, earning a glare.
"And that is why your sister makes all the plans, not you, because she thinks with her head. She does not let emotions cloud her judgement, and that is why she has become so powerful. It's something that you clearly still need to learn."
When Morgana moved as if to strike him, her sister stopped her.
"He is right, sister. While it would be all too simple to take petty revenge, one must always consider the future. Cenrid will extract the information about Camelot from Arthur, and I will work on educating Merlin in the knowledge that I am not someone he wants to oppose. When we are done, taking Camelot and placing your on the throne will be a simple thing."
~(-)~
Gloved hands tapped on chainmail-covered arms in impatience, Arthur leaning against the back wall of his filthy and damp cell waiting for Merlin to hurry up and get him out of it. Really, what was taking him so long? All he had to do was wave his hands at the guards and mutter a few words, so surely he would have gotten here by n...
The door reverberated as something was flung against it, the viewing hatch in it opening a moment later.
Merlin looked at him and grinned.
"Hello."
Arthur rolled his eyes and approached the door.
"Well come on then, get the key off the guards and get me out of here."
Merlin looked down at something, frowning.
"Um, they're not carrying any."
He looked up at the prince, whose expression was now irritated.
"Well blow it off its hinges or whatever you did to get out of your cell!"
Merlin chuckled.
"Or I could just do this... Tospringe!"
There was a click, followed by the door gently swinging open at the touch of just one of Merlin's fingers. At the sight of it Arthur came up to the door.
"When did you learn to do that?"
Merlin shrugged.
"Oh, it was one of the first things I learnt. I have a few different spells for opening doors and locks. I use them all the time."
"Does that mean to say you've had a lot of instances of breaking and entering?"
Merlin winced a little, before walking away and avoiding the question.
"We'd better go get Gwen and the others. Her cell is down this way."
"Merlin!"
It didn't take long to reach the other cell, at which point Merlin, when Arthur asked what they were going to do about the guard, shoved him out into the open and let him deal with him. The warlock used the noise to drown out him unlocking the door with magic, before he magically grabbed the guard and threw him at the cell door slamming it open. His grip had been misplaced a little though, because he'd yanked down the guard's trousers in the process leaving his rear on view for the two startled siblings within the chamber
Arthur entered, grinning.
"Are you alright?"
Gwen nodded, overjoyed to see him.
"Yes."
Arthur glanced around the cell, and frowned.
"Where's Morgana?"
"I thought she was with you." Gwen's joy turned to concern. "You have to find her! We can't leave without her, I won't!"
Arthur and Merlin glanced at each other, before the former of the two addressed the siblings and gave the guard's sword to Elyan.
"Go to the horses and don't wait for us. Ride for Camelot as soon as you reach them. Merlin and I will rescue Morgana."
The siblings nodded and ran from the cell, Gwen glancing back at the prince before her brother led her from sight. Once they were gone, Arthur turned to Merlin.
"She's probably in the throne room with Cenrid and Morgause... We're probably going to have to force her out of here."
Merlin sighed.
"You go in and I'll stay back out of sight. If Morgause does something and I have to counter it with magic, we need her, Cenrid, and Morgana to still think you don't know about me."
Arthur left the cell, a determined expression on his face.
"Then let's go."
~(-)~
The alarm bells began to ring, the occupants of the throne room stiffening and looking about in surprise. Morgause looked concerned, but Cenrid was not. Instead he laughed as he rose from his throne smiling in anticipation.
"It seems little warlock you wanted to tame, got out... I knew I should have just killed him."
Morgana, in agreement, faced her sister.
"I told you it was a waste of time! Merlin will never betray Arthur, and as long as he lives he will serve him and him alone!"
"Enough, I will deal with him."
Morgause's tone was reprimanding, for she was not unprepared for this. Morgana did not seem as convinced.
"But what of Arthur? If he escapes..."
Morgause brought a hand to her sister's face, reassuring.
"Do not fret, sister. You are like family to him, and he will never leave without you. We need only wait and he will come to us, and Merlin right along with him."
~(-)~
The two men ducked behind the panel of the open door, tense as the guards they had heard coming charged past in search of the escapees. Merlin and Arthur watched them go, before coming out of their hiding place and proceeding through the door the guards had just exited.
This was going to be close, there were soldiers everywhere, and it didn't help to know that the woman they were going to 'rescue' was the reason they were in this mess in the first place.
The two of them reached the throne room, peering around the corner before at Merlin's nod, Arthur strolled around it and up to the two waiting guards like he was paying a social visit.
They jolted when they realised whom it was standing before them, but didn't have time for much else as the prince cut them down. As soon as they were dealt with he threw open the throne room door, entering to find Cenrid holding Morgana 'hostage' with a sword to her throat.
"That's close enough."
Morgana glanced up at her captor, her voice afraid.
"Please don't hurt me."
Oh how Arthur wanted to just walk away at this point, for what she had done to him and Gwen all for the sake of revenge. A few weeks ago he'd still hoped she could be saved, but now that hope died inside him. She was gone. The old Morgana was gone forever... That became certain the moment she used the woman who had been her best friend, against him.
He moved closer, stopping when Cenrid tightened his grip.
"One more step and she dies."
Arthur started to circle to the side of him, making sure that Merlin would be able to get a clear view through the door behind him if he needed it.
"You're a coward, Cenrid. You always were."
The king laughed.
"It's cowards that survive, Arthur. Now put down your sword."
When Arthur did not, Cenrid's grip on Morgana tightened even further, and Morgause emerged from the shadows behind him.
"Do as he says." When the prince showed no reaction to her presence, she regarded him with a small smile. "It seems you are not surprised to see me."
He glared, his sword still held ready to act.
"I know the evil you are capable of, so it's hardly surprising at all that you would be helping him."
Her smile widened.
"Oh you have no idea..."
She gestured at the floor then lifted her hand ceiling wards, her eyes blazing as a column of fire erupted into existence. There was no incantation from her lips, and the moment they realised that both Merlin and Arthur thought the same thing.
Shit, she had a freaking elemental affinity!
Arthur stared at the raging fire, starting to back up as she wordlessly pushed it towards him. Come on, Merlin, that intervention would be quiet welcome right about now...
"Mertos swertho!"
The murmured words only just reached the prince's ears over the wail of flame driven air, the column of fire exploding and throwing the three conspirators to the floor as bits of stone from the ceiling rained down. Arthur opened his eyes, having closed them against the blast, and found Merlin half stood in front of him looking a little bit dusty... The warlock had shielded him from the explosion.
Arthur got to his feet, rushing over to Morgana and picking the dazed woman up. He slung her over his shoulder with a nod to Merlin, the two of them hurrying out of the chamber leaving Morgause and Cenrid lying where they were. Morgana just coming around as they did so, getting only a fleeting glimpse of her sister lying there amid the rubble.
"Put me down, I can walk!"
Arthur shook his head, still running.
"Not with your ankle. We can't afford any delays, so don't whine about the indignity of this."
She could do nothing but cling to him as he carried her, and look at the satisfied smirk on Merlin's face as he followed behind them. All she could do now was play along and pretend once again that she was the dear Lady Morgana who actually cared for the people she'd just tried to get killed. The plan had failed utterly, and all because of the warlock behind her impromptu steed
The two agonising hours it took to reach where they'd left the horses seemed like longer than that, their breath coming heavily by the time they reached them and found Gwen and Elyan waiting for them.
Arthur stared at them, after setting Morgana on her feet.
"I thought I told you to ride for Camelot."
Gwen looked up at him, shaking her head with a small smile.
"You might be a prince, but I don't always have to do what you tell me to." Arthur might have answered, except that some of the soldiers that had been chasing them caught up. With a yell they charged the group, Arthur and Elyan drawing swords and fighting them off. When the prince was done with his few, he turned to see Gwen's brother making quick and efficient work of the ones that were left. Arthur regarded him in surprise. "Not bad."
Elyan turned to him and gave him a slow smile.
"Well, practice makes perfect. I guess."
Little else was said as they hurried to mount their horses and ride away with haste, leaving the dangerous territory around the castle and not slowing until they reached the edge of Camelot's lands. Only once there did anyone speak again, Arthur glancing at Morgana where she rode beside him.
"What did Cenrid want with you?"
He saw her hesitation, but got the lie he expected.
"He was trying to extract information. I told him nothing."
Arthur felt bitter, to think that his sister was doing this to him.
"You see that's what people like Cenrid will never understand. Camelot was built on trust and loyalty. It will never be defeated, so long as we stay true to those ideals."
Ignorant as she was, as to the true level of his knowledge about her and Merlin, Morgana did not detect the barb in those words... The statement that, so long as he and Merlin worked together, she and her sister were never going to succeed.
~(-)~
It was the following morning when the polite knock came on Arthur's door, the prince calling out as he sat at his table writing a letter.
"Come in." The door opened, Gwen peering round it before entering with two colourful dresses draped over her arms. He frowned when he saw them. "What are they?"
She smiled wryly.
"Two silk dresses... In case your father asks any questions."
He regarded them thoughtfully, grateful for her thoughtfulness.
"Ah, and where did you get them from?"
Gwen looked at him innocently.
"Well, let's just say they won't be missed for a day or two."
Arthur started to grin, at Gwen's audacity in raiding Morgana's closet for his alibi.
"So how's Elyan doing?"
She smiled, walking around the table from where she'd hung the dresses over one of the chairs.
"Really well. He's got the forge up and running, and a place to live. He really appreciates all the help that you've given him... I appreciate all the help you've given, for bringing my brother back. It means more to me than I can say."
Arthur's smile softened, as he nodded.
"Well it's like you said, Guinevere... It's what you do when you love someone."
She remained there for several moments, as his words sunk in, before smiling and leaving the room. Her gratitude and equal love for him where there in her eyes, and he knew that she would wait for him. As long as it took for the day to come that they could be together, he would wait.
He returned to writing his letter, still smiling to himself as the quill scratched across the paper.
~(-)~
Alaia Skyhawk: Aww, cute Gwen/Arthur moment. I'm really looking forward to next Saturday's ep :D