Chapter 50
Gwaine woke to darkness, he was sure his eyes were open but he couldn't see anything. He closed his eyes again and the same vision that had haunted his dreams arose in his mind. Arthur lying in a boat, he looked peaceful almost like he was asleep but Gwaine knew he was dead. Arthur was dead because of his actions and the knowledge hurt. How could he have been so stupid to think he could take on Morgana?
He opened his eyes again and the darkness seemed to fill his mind. He felt tears spring up in his eyes and he let them fall, he had destroyed everything he had cared for. How could he return to Camelot, to face Gwen or Merlin knowing his actions had actually helped Morgana?
He had trusted Eira and she had betrayed him but at least they had caught her before she could send word to Morgana. He had never felt such despair as he did right now and the darkness threatened to consume him. He had felt a growing fear on the battlefield when he had realised they were being out matched by Morgana's army, but nothing like this, he wanted to hide, no he wanted to die. The tears fell steadily down his cheeks but he did nothing to stop them. On the battlefield he had not once lost his faith that Arthur would prevail no matter had bad things got.
Then the sorcerer had come to their aid. He had brought lightning down on the Saxons sending them flying, he had watched in awe as the Saxons had been defeated and the sorcerer had turned the dragon back. Emrys, was his name. That was what Morgana had shouted before he had thrown her to the ground. How Morgana had known the sorcerer was a mystery but she obviously had not been pleased to see him. Gwaine remembered the joy that had rushed through him seeing the look on Morgana's face and knowing they now had a chance. He would never feel that joy, that hope again, it had taken just one thoughtless action to ruin everything. Still he was not a coward and would return to Camelot and face them whatever the cost.
Gwaine sat up in the darkness and wiped the tears from his cheeks without thinking. He still couldn't see where he was but he was not cold and was wearing a shirt of soft fabric. He looked around him for a source of light and saw a blue light flickering on the walls of the cave as the Diamair approached him.
"How are you feeling fair knight?" he asked as Gwaine stretched.
"Fine, thank you," said Gwaine though the darkness in his mind was still there he did not want to think about it. Arthur was dead and Camelot would fall and it was his fault.
"The darkness you feel comes from Morgana's torture. Those scars will take a long time to heal and you may troubled by them for many years. But do not despair they are not necessarily the way things are."
"I betrayed Arthur. You should have let me die," he said startled by the emptiness in his own voice.
"You held out far longer than most against the Nathair and Camelot will need your help again very soon. Do not blame yourself for the wickedness of others this is the way it had to be."
"I don't know what you mean, it was my actions that caused Morgana to get to Arthur before Merlin could save him. I know he's dead I saw him in my dreams lying in a boat on a lake," he said.
"The Nathair causes unimaginable pain and feeds on negative emotions. What you saw may have been a vision planted in your head by the Nathair to make you despair. Arthur may yet return and if he does he will need your help," said the Diamair in his quiet voice.
"I wish I could believe that," said Gwaine sighing and rubbing his hand over his face.
"Do not let Morgana's actions destroy you or she will win," he replied.
"Where is the druid Iseldir?" asked Gwaine.
"He has gone to Camelot to take news and offer his services to your queen."
"He's gone to Camelot?" asked Gwaine wondering why a druid would go to Camelot.
"Many things have changed while you recovered from your ordeal."
"How long was I out?" he asked his voice fell dead in the cave.
"It is four days since the Druids found you," said the Diamair smiling at him.
"Four days? I must return to Camelot," said Gwaine standing up.
"Yes you must but not alone."
"Who will go with me?" he asked they seemed to be alone in the cave.
"I will," said a voice from the darkness. A young man with white hair and blue eyes walked towards Gwaine carrying a torch. Gwaine could see the druid mark on his arm.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Galahad, and I will come with you to offer my services to the queen of Camelot," he said. In the dim light Gwaine could see he was wearing leather armour beneath his brown cloak and he carried a sword.
"You have magic?" asked Gwaine,
"Yes but I can also fight with a sword," he replied.
"Magic is against the law in Camelot, you will be arrested if you enter the city," said Gwaine looking at him with distrust.
"Not anymore. The queen has allowed the druids safe passage to Camelot and magic used for healing is no longer against the law," he replied.
"The Queen?" asked Gwaine.
"Yes, Queen Guinevere now rules Camelot since the King was declared dead," said Galahad.
Gwaine sat back down putting his head in his hands. "Arthur is dead, Morgana found them. What have I done?"
"You must not despair your strength will be needed," said the Diamair touching Gwaine's shoulder. Gwaine saw a vision of Arthur and Merlin on horseback, laughing and joking. Hope came back to him even though he guessed he was seeing his friends in a happier time. Perhaps they were both dead and he was seeing their spirits released from care and enjoying a ride through the woods. It sounded stupid and he knew it but with that brief glimpse hope came back to him and he could feel the darkness recede. It was still there but nowhere near as strong as before.
"Come we must leave now, Camelot faces a great evil and will need help to fight it," said Galahad turning to leave.
"You must take care, fair knight, Morgana's men are still out in force. If you need help then get to the darkling woods by nightfall," said the Diamair removing his arm from Gwaine's shoulder.
"Thank you again for your help," said Gwaine he felt lighter and his voice no longer sounded strange to his own ears.
"The coming war will affect everyone, even me. I have helped you so that you will be able to stop the evil that threatens the lands."
"I will do what I can," he said smiling for the first time since he woken in the dark.
"Come we must make haste," said Galahad from the entrance to the cave.
Gwaine blinked in the bright light as he left the darkness of the cave and gentle light of the Diamair. He shivered, the morning air was cooler than the warmth of the cave and he was not wearing his cloak. Galahad walked towards him carrying his armour and helped him to put it on.
"Here," said Galahad passing him a brown cloak. "It's not safe to wear the Camelot colours with just the two of us. This will keep you warm and will not be so noticeable under the trees." His own horse is waiting for him in the clearing outside the cave. Galahad mounted a beautiful white stallion that was eager to be off.
As they rode Galahad told Gwaine of the rumours he had heard. That Morgana and Lot were joining forces to take Camelot. He also told him that Lot had been taking the dead back to Essetir and that only powerful sorcery could bring them back to life.
"Does Morgana have such power?" asked Gwaine.
"I don't know, she is a high priestess it's possible I suppose," he said.
"Her sister controlled an army of the living dead once before," said Gwaine.
"Yes, but her sister needed the cup of life, she did not have the power within herself."
"Perhaps she plans to find it," said Gwaine, looking up at the sky as they passed from under the trees into a small clearing.
"It is hidden, she will not find it this time," he said sitting upright on his horse and listening.
"What is it?" asked Gwaine. Then an arrow rang from the trees and hit Gwaine in the shoulder his armour turned it and it fell to the ground. The horses reared knocking them both to the ground. Another arrow followed the first but Galahad used magic to deflect it. They both drew their swords and backed slowly towards the cover of the trees. Galahad spotted one of the archers in a tree to his left. Gwaine watched as the druid's eyes flared gold and the man fell backwards crashing to the floor. They stood back to back looking carefully around the clearing. Two men charged at them and they fought them with swords. Gwaine finished his opponent and stood back to watch Galahad's swordplay. He grinned as Galahad knocked the man backwards with the hilt of his sword then grabbed the branch above him to swing his feet and knock the man over. The prone man pulled a dagger from his belt as Galahad finished him with his sword, the dagger fell from his hand.
"You're pretty handy with a sword," said Gwaine looking at the druid with respect.
"So are you," said Galahad wiping his sword and putting it back in his belt.
"Yeah, but you could have killed them a lot easier with magic," said Gwaine.
"Magic is a gift and should only be used when all else fails. I would not have let you die but I do not like to use my power to kill. I was brought up with the druids and taught from a young age that magic should only be used for good."
"You should try talking to Morgana," said Gwaine with a dry laugh.
"Morgana choose to use her gift for her own ends. Magic isn't evil," said Galahad looking at the man he had just killed. "You can use your sword for evil purposes but the sword isn't evil."
"Yeah, I get it," said Gwaine looking at the arrow wound on his arm.
Galahad walked over to Gwaine and inspected the wound on his arm. "I'll treat that when we camp, the arrow is enchanted, but I can cure it with magic if you will allow me."
He turned and looked at Gwaine his eyes flashed gold again and Gwaine turned quickly to see a man with a dagger fly off his feet and hit a tree. Gwaine realised the man had been about to kill him.
"You just saved my life!" said Gwaine looking at Galahad then at the man slumped against the tree.
"If I let you die now Iseldir would kill me," he said laughing at the surprised expression on Gwaine's face.
"Thank you," said Gwaine holding his hand out. Galahad took his outstretched arm and shook it. They turned back to the clearing and Galahad called in a soft strange language.
"What was that?" asked Gwaine.
"I was calling our horses," said Galahad.
"You can talk to the horses? I didn't know druids could do that," said Gwaine looking at Galahad in surprise.
"Not many can, my mother taught me," he said with a sad smile.
Their horses appeared at the far side of the clearing. Gwaine looked at Galahad and smiled shaking his head as he turned towards the horses. Galahad heard the arrow whine behind him but reacted too late. It hit him in the leg and he fell over hitting his head on the hard ground. Gwaine turned quickly just in time to see the archer run back into the woods.
Gwaine gave chase but the assailant was gone, he ran back to Galahad and was relieved to find he was alive but unconscious. Blood was pouring from a cut on his head but on closer inspection Gwaine could see it wasn't too bad. Head wounds always seemed to bleed a lot. He tore off part of his shirt then tore it in two. He folded one of the pieces and pressed it to the wound keeping the pressure on it and used the other piece as a bandage to hold the cloth in place. He worked quickly and carefully checking the area around the clearing for further signs of attack. He tore Galahad's breeches so he could inspect his leg. The arrow was still lodged in the wound and Gwaine pulled it free. He tore off more of his shirt and bandaged the wound.
When he had finished he tried waking him but Galahad didn't respond. The horses were still there and Gwaine managed to lift him onto his horse. He would have to get to the darkling woods before nightfall and hope the help he was supposed to meet would be there. He picked up the arrow stowing it carefully in his saddle bag knowing that whoever they met might need it.
It was late afternoon when Gwaine reached the Darkling woods. Whether by luck or skill he had seen no-one else since they had been attacked.
