"So, you want me to teach this whole village how to defend themselves?" Cenerd recapped as he and Arthur walked.
"Well, not you speficly." Arthur elaborated, "But some of your men. Look, you can't come out here every time there's a problem, and you'd only have to spare the men for as long as it took to each them, and if it works , you can try it with other villages.
"They told me you were an odd one." Cenerd commented, pratically to Arthur, pratically to himself, "If I make I teach my subjects how to fight and arm them, how do I know they won't turn on me."
"Because you gave them a measure of self-reliance, and they'll always remember that and love you for it." Arthur reasoned, "Look, will you at least think about it? That's all I'm saying."
"That's better be all you're saying." Cenerd warned, "And I will. Think about it I'll me."
Arthur bowed. "Thank you."
Later that might by the fire, Merlin and Will and Arrietty and Arthur and Gwen and Lancelot, when Gwaine came over with Daisy. "See?" Gwaine said, "Told you I'd find them."
Daisy smiled indulgently. "I never doubted you. Mind if we set down?"
"Sure." Merlin confirmed.
"And who's this now?" Will asked.
"This is Daisy and Gwaine." Merlin introduced them, "Daisy, Gwaine, this is Will. We grew up together."
"Really?" Daisy grinned mischievously.
"Don't get any ideas." Merlin warned, "Please."
"Hey, you got dirt on me from my parents." Arthur reasoned, "It's only fair that we get something on you."
Will thought on this for a minute. "Well, there was that time he nearly caused a cattle stampede."
Everyone exchanged surprised, dismayed and, since it appeared everyone was oaky, or at least Merlin was, amused looks. "What?" Gwen lasted.
"Was that why he had to flee town?" Daisy asked.
"No, but it is pretty funny." Will told them.
"Will, please—" Merlin pleaded.
"Oh, come on, Merlin, it is." Will told him, "So we were about six, maybe seven and Old man Jacob had these cows, three of them, made him a rich man around these parts, and there was man from the next village and they had worked out a deal to breed his bull with Old Man Jacob's heffer—"
Just then, Morgana and Morgause came over to them. "Arthur, can we talk to you for a moment?"
Arthur began to stand up. "Wait for me, will you?"
"Alright." Will agreed.
"Or you know, we could forget the whole thing." Merlin intreated.
"No." Daisy shook her head, "Not, you do not get off that easy."
Arthur walked off with the girls. "Okay, what's with all the secrecy?"
"Morgause can tell you where Nimueh is." Morgana whispered.
Arthur's eyes widened momentarily. "You have my attention."
"She may not be there now if she's figured out, I betrayed her." Morgause cautioned, "But when I joined her, she took us to an island. The Isle of The Bless."
"Why do I think that's not as nice of place as it sounds?" Arthur asked.
"It was once the center of the Old Religion." Morgause explained, "It used to be the temple for the High Priestess of the Triple Goddess, I brought there as a little girl, but after Uther started his campaign, we were forced to flee…now Nemiuh has made her fortress in the ruins."
"Can you take us there?" Arthur requested.
Morgause nodded. "But she's very powerful, you'll need to prepare." Looking around she added, "And find some place safe for you sister."
"Oh, definitely." Arthur agreed.
So, saying, Arthur and the women went back to the group, who, noticing the somber air about them, went quiet. "What is it?" Merlin asked, "What's wrong?"
"Well, the good news is, we know where Neniuh is now." Arthur told them. So, saying, he explained everything.
"First thing's first." Arthur began, "Someone's gotta take Arrietty back to Camelot."
"No." Arrietty protested, signing and speaking, "I'm sick of just sitting around waiting. I can help. You taught me how to fight, remember?"
"Not like this." Arthur replied.
"We can take her back, me and Will." Hunith offered.
"Thank you." Arthur told them gratefully.
"Oh, but your girlfriend, she's coming?" Arrietty questioned.
"Girlfriend?" Arthur repeated, not having a clue what she was talking about.
Arrietty merely pointed to Gwen in explanation.
Gwen and Arthur stared at each other for a minute. "She's not—"
"We're not— "Gwen added.
"There's nothing—" Arthur began, "Where would you even get that idea from in the first place?"
"You two have good chemistry." Arrietty answered.
Again, they looked at each other. "No, we don't." Arthur protested, "There's no chemistry at all. Except for maybe the chemistry of friendship. Friendship chemistry. And even if we were—she's not going either."
"What?" Gwen balked.
"Well, no offense, Gwen, but you're…you're not trained." Arthur reasoned.
"Did you see her fight today?" Gwaine spoke up, "Someone trained her in something."
"Arthur, you're going to need all the help you can get." Morgana reasoned.
Arthur looked to the woman in question. "Gwen, this will be dangerous. Not can, will. And I don't mean to condescend you, but…"
"I know." Gwen said, "Arthur, in the past few months, I've been nearly burn alive, given a crash course in fire arms, been kidnapped, nearly violated twice and fought off a man twice my size."
"Wait, when did those last two things happen?" Arthur asked, alarmed.
"Gwen you never said— "Morgana began.
"It was when Irene kidnapped by Irene." Gwen explained, "The first time she stopped it herself, apparently she'll murder all the families you'll pay her too, but she draws the line at that. The second time was when he came to kill me but I got away. You were right about the groin, but they way."
Arthur rubbed his face, and Morgana looked shock. "Gwen, I'm so sorry." Arthur lamented.
"You have nothing to be sorry, you did nothing." Gwen assured him, "And it was what you taught us that saved me."
Arthur smiled, at her. "You saved yourself." After a beat he added, "I guess if you still want to come, I won't stop you." Turning, he added, "As for you Arrietty—" His voice trailed off, but before he could go further, he realized was gone.
Arrietty was off in another room pacing. She hadn't been able to see Gwen's lips really well, but she saw enough to get the gist. She felt like such a stupid. Gwen had gone through all that and here she was sulking about being left. She had to apologize somehow. She had to…
Her stream of consciousness was broken by someone covering in her with her mouth. She struggled trying to fight back, but her attacker was stronger.
"I have you now, my pretty." Nemiuh whispered before taking.
Meanwhile, everyone was running around looking for the girl. "You take the right, I'll…" Arthur was saying, directing the search.
"I'm sorry, but have you seen a girl?" Merlin said, pulling a man to the side.
"She would have been about fifteen, my height, maybe a bit shorter." Morgana was telling someone out, then grabbing at her hair," Same color hair as me too."
The man just shook his head.
They went on like that, tearing the village apart, until Arthur stepped into the room and saw it.
A ragged, piece of red cloth.
He only knew one person who dressed like that.
He knew what happened to his sister.