Chapter 14

Lancelot du Lac

Marian had spent the morning stocking up on her herbs from the garden. She was tying bunches together for drying when Gwen entered the physician's chambers.

"Gwen! How are you?" she greeted.

Gwen could hardly contain herself. She smiled brightly at the healer and sat on the bench across from her.

"Is everything alright?" Marian asked her friend. "You look like you're ready to burst!"

"Oh, Marian! It's such wonderful news!" she gushed. "Arthur's asked me to marry him!"

Surprised, Marian dropped the bundle of nightshade that she was preparing to dry and rushed over to Gwen's side. She knelt beside her friend and grasped her hands.

"Oh, my God! That's… that's marvelous!" she exclaimed as she hugged the younger woman. "Honestly, it's about time."

Gwen pulled back and playfully smacked Marian on the shoulder. "Be nice," she laughed.

"Oh, I am being nice! The dunderhead should have proposed ages ago!"

000

It was a short engagement. Less than a week later, there was a tourney in Camelot, leading up to Arthur and Gwen's wedding. Though Marian hated how violent the tourneys could get, she was enjoying watching as Arthur and the knights rode through the arena, catching circlets made of ribbon and offering them to the future queen.

Marian was happy for her friends. No two people deserved each other more than Arthur and Gwen. As she cheered Gwaine on his horse, Marian fantasized about what her life would have been had she been able to love freely. Would she want such a show of affection, with the whole kingdom invited?

She watched as Gwaine lifted the visor on his helmet, and with the ribbon circlet hanging loosely on the end of his lance, he thrust his offering up to the royal box and to Gwen's waiting hands. Marian blushed when he turned his horse and caught her eye, winking from beneath his helmet.

No, she definitely wouldn't want such a spectacle. She imagined that if she were to marry anyone, it would be Gwaine. That thought startled her. She'd never considered marrying anyone before, least of all Gwaine. But if she were to marry him, she'd want some sort of private ceremony, something intimate between lovers. Marian relaxed and indulged in her forbidden fantasy. Surely daydreaming wouldn't hurt.

She was startled from her thoughts as Gwaine left the field, and another knight took his place, ready to catch another circlet. She didn't recognize the knight's armor, though he rode beautifully. After Gwen removed the circlet from his lance, the knight took off his helmet.

Marian's hand flew to cover her mouth as she gasped in surprise. It was Lancelot, back from the dead. Her heart dropped to her stomach. Not only was it a shock to see him alive, but knowing what she knew of the legends, this didn't bode well for the betrothed couple.

000

That night, Lancelot had been invited to dine with the king and the other Knights of the Round Table in the king's private dining hall. Gwen and Agravaine were also in attendance. Marian and Merlin had been invited as well… in a way. Merlin stood behind the king, ready to serve him, while Marian stood down at the other end of the table, near Lancelot. Gaius had kindly volunteered her services when the regular servant had taken ill.

She held onto the wine jug tightly as Lancelot recounted his tale.

"I fear I remember very little after the moment I stepped through the veil. My story will not be as illuminating as I would like," he told the men.

"We're just pleased to see you. Well, pleased and amazed," Arthur laughed, the other men joining.

"I owe everything to the Madhavi people," he explained. "When they found me, I was near death. Luckily for me, their customs dictate that they must give food and shelter to the needy." He smiled and continued, "And I was certainly that."

Marian's brow knitted as she listened to her resurrected friend. His tale sounded too rehearsed to her ears. As someone who has had to hide her own secrets, Marian was sure she recognized a lie when she heard one.

"Where did they find you?" Leon asked curiously.

Marian watched the other knights as Lancelot answered. They were all attentive, only Gwaine continuing to eat. It seemed as though they believed him.

"On one of the silk road passes, high in the Feorre Mountains," Lancelot replied.

"Cenred's kingdom," Elyan said knowingly.

Marian knew then that there was little truth in Lancelot's story. There was no way an unarmed man would survive in Cenred's kingdom, especially traveling with the peaceful people of the Madhavi. No, the lawless men of Cenred's kingdom would have run them through easily enough.

"I traveled with them for many weeks, deep into the deserts of the south. Then, slowly my strength returned. When I was able, I earned my passage the only way I know how: by the sword," Lancelot smirked while the others chuckled.

She narrowed her eyes at him, catching Gwaine's attention. He watched her watching Lancelot. The faces she was making as she listened to Lancelot amused him. First, she looked concerned, and then confused, followed by… was that disgust? No, it was displeasure. Gwaine had learned to recognize the many emotional facets that Marian wore on her face daily.

"Then I slowly made my way north," Lancelot finished.

"You made your way home," Arthur said, smiling as he held Gwen's hand.

Lancelot nodded in reply.

"We can't thank you enough for what you sacrificed on the Isle of the Blessed. It will be remembered always," the king told him.

"It is, indeed, good to see you once again. I would like to propose a toast," Lancelot said as he motioned to Marian to refill his goblet.

When she had finished, he dismissed her as if he didn't know her and stood to begin his toast. Marian's frown deepened. The Lancelot she had known would never be so callous to a servant, especially one who was a friend.

"To the people I hold most dear. To Camelot," Lancelot said, raising his glass.

The others followed suit, raising their goblets and toasting to Camelot.

"To Camelot," Arthur said as he raised his own goblet and drinking.

Marian looked to Merlin, unsettled. They both silently agreed that there was something fishy about the resurrected knight.

000

As everyone filed out of the dining chamber, Marian and Merlin began clearing up. They stacked the plates and were starting to clear away the leftover food when Arthur bellowed for Merlin.

The warlock looked up at Marian apologetically. He hated to think he would be leaving her to clear all of this on her own.

She smiled softly at him. "Go," she encouraged.

"Thanks!" Merlin nodded and rushed out of the room.

When Gwaine saw Merlin had left Marian all on her own, he went back to the dining hall. "Need some help?" he asked.

"Only if you don't mind. It's a long way to the kitchens," she replied as she stacked platters and utensils on a large tray.

"Not at all," Gwaine said, smiling. "So, beautiful," he began. She stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. "It seems you aren't so pleased with Lancelot being back?"

"I… Oh God, was it that obvious?" she asked him, embarrassed.

Gwaine chuckled. "Only to someone who knows you as well as I do. I can read you as easily as a book," he said as he gathered the goblets from the table.

"Something just doesn't seem right, you know? All that stuff about the Madhavi people being in Cenred's kingdom? That just can't be true, can it?" she asked him.

"Well, we have lost touch with them, so perhaps they sought refuge there."

Marian set the jug of wine she was carrying down. "Would you just listen to yourself? The Madhavi people seeking refuge in Cenred's kingdom?"

"Well…"

"I mean, maybe when Cenred was alive. He probably would have found some way to exploit them in return for safe passage. But it's near lawless there now!" she said with her hands on her hips. "Well, more lawless than before. There's no way they'd survive, much less an unarmed man newly reborn from death!"

Gwaine chuckled as he walked over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down at her. "I think you're over-thinking things, beautiful. It's just Lancelot," he said as he bent down and kissed her brow.

"Right," she said, unconvinced as she turned to pick up one of the food-laden trays. Gwaine picked up the other tray, and they headed down to the kitchens. "He wasn't acting like Lancelot," she pouted as they walked down the stairs.

"What do you mean?" Gwaine asked, grinning. He was happy to have his friend back and couldn't understand why Marian was so worried.

She looked up at him, embarrassed. "He was, well… he was rude," she hoped she didn't sound as petty as she thought she sounded. "He didn't say thank you or acknowledge me or anything. We were friends for crying out loud!"

"He's probably just tired, is all. Don't worry yourself, love," he said to her as they reached the kitchen.

"What are you doing in here?" Audrey, the cook, yelled when she saw Marian enter. "Oh! Sir Gwaine!" she softened as the knight came through the door. "How can I be of service on this lovely evening?"

Marian glared at Gwaine as he returned the cook's smile. "Just bringing these down from the king's dining hall," he said as he showed her the trays.

Audrey giggled. It sounded odd to Marian's ears, a girlish giggle coming from a matronly woman nearly twice her age. "Oh, you can set them over there. I'll get one of my girls to take care of them on the morrow," she said, grinning at the handsome knight as he passed. Her face dropped to a scowl as Marian walked by.

They left their trays over on one of the counters and walked out of the kitchens, but not before Gwaine had the chance to bow and kiss the cook's hand as he left.

"Ugh," Marian growled after they started back up the stairs. "That woman hates me!"

"Nonsense!" Gwaine called from behind her. "Audrey is a lovely woman. You're just jealous!"

"Jealous?" Marian scoffed. When she reached the landing, she turned on him. "Jealous of what? Her meanness? Or her screeching? Or her… her… meanness?"

Gwaine laughed heartily. "You know, beautiful, if you want me to flirt with you, all you need do is say so," he said as he walked past her.

"I… Why you… you…" she stuttered as she tried to come up with an appropriate insult.

She followed him into the corridor and stepped into his path, blocking him. He leaned in closer, grinning down at her. He smelled of leather and musk, and all she wanted to do was grab his face and kiss him into oblivion.

"Me, what?" he asked, smirking at her discomfort.

"You… flirting cabbage-head!" That wasn't her best, and she knew it.

Gwaine's grin widened. "Goodnight, beautiful," he said as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Dropping her hand, he turned toward his chambers and left her in the corridor.

000

Marian didn't go to her chamber; instead, she went to see Gaius, hoping to get his opinion on the matter of Lancelot's return. She had just greeted the physician and sat down on a bench when Merlin came out of his room with a worried look on his face.

"Oh, no," Gaius said as Merlin began to pace. "I've seen that face before."

"I want to believe that everything is fine," Merlin started. "And that we really have Lancelot back."

"It certainly looks like him," Gaius said.

"But doesn't act like him," Marian pouted.

"Yeah," Merlin agreed as he nodded toward Marian. "Exactly!"

"What is it?" Gaius asked, looking between them.

Merlin stopped pacing and crouched in front of them. "I don't know," he said. "Something's wrong." Lowering his voice, he continued, "When he was telling his story, I sensed it. The way he greeted me, that made me suspicious. But what happened just now, that's made me sure." He looked back at the door to his room, where Lancelot was sleeping and sighed. "He forgot I had magic. Lancelot would never do that."

"Strange, indeed. Give him time," Gaius said.

"Time to what?" Marian asked. "Gaius, he didn't even recognize me at supper."

"Perhaps his memory has been damaged?" the older man suggested.

"Or altered…" Merlin said suspiciously.

Whatever the reason, they would have to wait to find out why the man sleeping in Merlin's room wasn't acting like the Lancelot they all knew.

000

The next day the tourney began in earnest. The knights battled each other in jousting competitions, the winner moving up until there would only be two remaining. Marian was kept busy treating injuries right outside of the field. She was happy that she didn't have to be in a tent so she could watch and keep an eye on Lancelot.

She had just finished patching up Sir Bors, who had lost to Sir Gwaine, when Gwen came up to her.

"Lancelot's next, isn't he?" the younger woman asked.

Marian cocked a curious eyebrow at her friend. "Are you okay with him being here?" she asked.

"Of course!" Gwen answered quickly. "Why wouldn't I be? He's a friend."

Marian nodded slowly, suspicious of how hastily Gwen had replied. She looked down at her arm and saw a silver bracelet. "That's new," she stated with a pointed look.

Gwen followed her gaze. She was looking at the silver bracelet. "Oh," she laughed nervously. "This? Lancelot gave it to me."

"Gwen, be careful."

"As a token for good fortune in my marriage to Arthur, that's all," Gwen gave her a tight smile, then walked back up to the stands to take her place in the royal box.

Marian's brow furrowed in concern. She hoped that nothing would come of Lancelot's return and Gwen's evident agitation.

000

That evening, after their duties had been completed, Merlin and Marian sat down with Gaius to eat their supper.

"Mm..." Merlin commented as he took a bite. "Chicken is good. Nice broth. What do you know about necromancy?"

Marian choked on her broth. Gaius's spoon clattered to the bowl as Merlin pounded on Marian's back.

"What?" the physician asked.

"Well, you know lots… about lots of things, don't you?" the young warlock said.

Gaius fixed Merlin with a stern stare. "Necromancy is the most dangerous of all magical practices," he said sternly. "Even in the days of the Old Religion, such sorcery was viewed with the utmost suspicion. I know I'm going to regret asking this, Merlin, but why do you want to know?"

Merlin looked back at the closed door to his room. He leaned in and lowered his voice. "I think that someone has raised Lancelot from the dead."

Gaius considered the accusation. "By someone, I presume you mean Morgana?" he asked.

Merlin nodded.

Gaius sighed and continued, "The old legends do speak of such creatures. They call them shades. Poor, tormented souls summoned from their rest by the necromancer's art."

"So, it is possible?" Merlin asked.

"Even if it is possible, we have no way of knowing for sure," Gaius said, shaking his head.

Merlin reached down to the floor and pulled up a thick book. On the front cover, the title shined in gold lettering, The Art of Necromancy. He looked between Gaius and Marian, his eyebrows raised.

"Or do we?" Gaius asked.

000

The three healers scoured through The Art of Necromancy and found a passage on revealing shades. They needed to paint a spiral on the floor and incant a spell. When a shade would walk over the spiral, he would be revealed. Marian shuddered as she looked at the illustration in the book. It showed a man with a skeleton in place of flesh as he walked across a spiral.

Merlin got to work on painting the spiral as Marian kept watch by his chamber door. Gaius, tired from the events of the day, laid down on his cot to rest.

When he was finished with the spiral, Merlin said the incantation. The paint glowed red and then faded.

Marian heard movement within Merlin's chamber. "He's awake!" she hissed as she rushed over to Gaius's bedside to wake him.

"It's time," Merlin whispered to them.

The three ran over to the broom cupboard and hid inside. They watched through cracks in the door as Lancelot emerged from the room and walked across the spiral. The paint glowed red, and in place of the flesh of his face, Lancelot's skull was visible. It had been confirmed, Lancelot was a shade.

They stepped out from the cupboard as Lancelot left.

"I didn't want it to be true," Merlin said dejectedly.

"I know. We all wanted him back," Gaius said. "This man's a shadow of his former self. A shadow with ill intent."

"Do you think he means to harm Arthur?" Merlin asked them.

"Not physically," Marian replied.

"What do you mean? Is this to do with the legends?" Merlin asked curiously.

Marian nodded. "I'm afraid I haven't told you everything," she sighed as she looked between them. "In the legends, Lancelot… steals Guinevere from Arthur. They have a love affair while Arthur is on a long quest. She's sentenced to die, but at the last moment, Lancelot saves her, and they ride away from Camelot forever."

"But Arthur isn't on any quest," Merlin reasoned.

"Well, whatever his reason for being here, it can't be good," Gaius said.

000

The tourney continued the next day. Merlin and Gaius stood to the side of the field, watching Lancelot to make sure he didn't harm anyone. That left Marian alone to tend to the injured. Thankfully, the injuries thus far had been minor, so she was able to watch the action.

She saw that Gwaine was up next, and her heart fluttered annoyingly. She hated that he had this effect on her, but damn did he look enticing in all of that armor, seated on his horse. She grinned at her immodest thoughts as he took his place.

She sobered quickly when she saw that he was to face Lancelot. Though she had guessed that the shade's intentions were more to do with Gwen than anything, she still worried that Gwaine would be hurt. The knights took off, riding toward one another, lances in position.

When they reached the middle of the track, their lances hit their mark, both shattering. Lancelot continued to ride while Gwaine was knocked from his horse. His foot caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged several yards until the mount slowed and then stopped.

Marian started forward but froze when Lancelot got off of his horse and helped Gwaine to his feet. The injured knight limped over to Marian's make-shift hospital and sat heavily into the chair beside her.

"Damn!" he swore under his breath.

Marian knelt next to him and helped him remove his helmet. "Where do you hurt?" she asked the agitated knight.

"My pride," he complained.

Marian chuckled. "No, Gwaine, where on your body?"

He tried to remove his armor but winced when he lifted his left arm. "My arm," he finally replied.

Marian nodded. "Let me get this off of you, and I'll take a look."

She glanced back at the field. Thankfully Lancelot wasn't there. Instead, Arthur faced off with Leon.

"Can't wait to get me undressed, can you?" Gwaine smirked at her as she began to unbuckle the plate armor.

"Behave, or you'll do this on your own," she admonished.

He tensed, not meaning to insult her. When he looked up and saw that she was grinning, Gwaine relaxed. He loved the easy way that they flirted with each other.

After the plate armor was removed and his chainmail pulled from his torso, Marian felt around his left arm. She lifted the left side of his tunic over his head to give her a better view of the injured appendage. Gwaine sat there, enjoying her attentions and silently grinning from ear to ear as her hands roamed his bare skin.

Marian stood and walked over to the table, grabbing a bandage.

"It's just a small strain. Take it easy today, and you should feel better by the morning," she said as she wrapped his shoulder.

"Could be worse," Gwaine said, irritated that he had gotten hurt. He gently pulled the tunic back over his head.

Marian knelt before him and grabbed his face in her hands, making him look at her. "It could have been a lot worse, you big dumb idiot! Why do you do this? You could have broken your neck, and then where would I be?" She looked alarmed at what she had said. "You! Where would you be?"

Gwaine grinned and held her hands. "It's all part of the job, sweetheart."

"Hmph!" she scoffed as she let go of him and stood. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say this whole thing was made up just to try to impress the ladies you knights fancy!"

"Who said it wasn't?" he asked, winking at her.

Marian rolled her eyes. She opened her mouth to retort but stopped as her attention was drawn to the field.

"Goddammit!" she swore. Arthur had been facing off with Lancelot, and she hadn't even paid attention.

Gwaine craned his neck to see the field. "What's happened?"

"Arthur is going against Lancelot, but he's been hurt!" Marian said worriedly.

Arthur was leaning forward on his horse. He painfully reached down and took a fresh lance from the stable lad attending him.

"Is he yielding?" Gwaine asked, concerned.

"No, of course not. You know Arthur. The most stubborn of all of you," Marian replied angrily.

"I'm sure Lancelot won't really harm him, Marian. It's a friendly tourney," Gwaine tried to comfort her. When she answered him with a scowl, he continued. "You don't trust him, do you?" he asked as he stood to walk up next to her and watch.

"He came back from the dead. That's not anything that can happen naturally," she said as Arthur and Lancelot went to the ends of the track, prepared to face off again.

Startled by her answer, Gwaine looked over at her. "You think he's using magic?"

"Someone is," she answered cryptically.

Gwaine still couldn't see why Marian was so upset about Lancelot returning. As far as he could tell, Lancelot was his old self. He grimaced at her. "I really hope that if I die and come back, you'll give me the benefit of the doubt."

They watched as the horses on the field took off. "Gwaine, if you died, I would be dead as well, so we don't have to worry about that," she said, unthinking.

He looked at her sharply. "What do you mean by that?"

Realizing her mistake, Marian blushed. "I… You… all I mean is that I would be dead from trying to save your sorry ass. That's all."

Gwaine smirked at her and then turned his attention back to the field. As Arthur and Lancelot rode toward each other, lances in place, Marian reached out and nervously grabbed Gwaine's hand. The riders met in the middle, but Lancelot didn't engage; instead, he lifted his lance high and yielded the tourney to the injured king.

Marian released Gwaine's hand, embarrassed at having grabbed it in the first place. The injured knight looked on at the men on the field and smiled.

"See, beautiful? Lancelot has yielded. The perfect gentleman," he said to her.

"Uh-huh," she said, distracted. "Perfect gentleman…"

Lancelot knelt before the king, and they parted ways on friendly terms. Marian waited with bated breath. Something terrible was going to happen, she was sure of it.

000

It was the middle of the night when there was a soft knock at Marian's door. She reluctantly climbed out of her warm bed and went to open it. Gwaine stood in the corridor before her, a worried look on his face.

"Gwaine? What's the matter?" Marian asked.

"Get dressed, Marian. You'll want to come to the council chamber," he replied, thin-lipped.

Marian's brow knitted in confusion. "What? Why?"

Gwaine looked to his feet, he couldn't face her and break her heart. Gwen was her best friend. He sighed and held her hands, his thumb caressing her knuckles, and softly, he told her.

"Gwen and Lancelot have been caught. There's to be in an inquiry."

When he looked back up at her, he wasn't prepared for the look of resignation that was on her face. He had expected her to yell and scream and throw her fists in the air at the unfairness of it all.

"I see," she replied. "I'll just be a minute."

If Gwaine didn't know any better, he'd have thought that she had known that this would happen.

After she emerged from her chamber dressed, they started down the corridor and to the stairs. Gwaine watched her cautiously.

"Forgive me, but you don't seem surprised," he said to her.

Marian swallowed hard, trying to keep back tears. "I'm not," she answered shortly.

"Why not?" Gwaine asked her, genuinely curious.

"I said I didn't trust him. And now we know why," she looked at Gwaine when they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"And Gwen?"

"I don't know, Gwaine."

He took her hand and led her closer to him. They stopped before they reached the council chamber doors. When he looked down at her, he saw the fear and anguish on her face. She was obviously scared for her friend. Gwaine sighed and pulled her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her in comfort, and kissed the top of her head.

Marian gratefully returned his embrace. "Thank you," she said softly.

He nodded and released her. As more council members arrived, the guards opened the doors to the chamber. Gwaine and Marian walked in and took their places on opposite sides of the room, Gwaine with the other knights and Marian with Gaius and Merlin.

At the head of the room beside the throne stood Agravaine, looking immensely proud of himself. Gwen was brought in to the middle of the room, her face wet with fresh tears, and flanked by Camelot's guards. Marian thought that all of this was a bit much but stood there silently.

Agravaine nodded to the guards, and they shoved Gwen roughly to the cold, stone floor just as the chamber doors opened, and the king entered.

Arthur went to stand behind the throne, never turning to face the council. Marian could feel the anger and hurt radiating off of him.

When he finally did speak, it was with a soft but dangerous voice. "You will leave, please."

The guards flanking Gwen turned and left.

"All of you," Arthur's voice echoed in the room. When no one moved, he spoke louder. "Now."

Marian looked from Merlin to Gwaine, hesitant to leave her friend to face the consequences alone.

Gwaine walked up to her, placing his hand on the small of her back and gently pushing her toward the door. "We must leave, Marian," he said softly.

She looked back at Gwen, still kneeling on the floor. "Yes…" she said, distracted.

Agravaine was still standing beside the throne. As she was pushed from the room, Marian gave the king's uncle a look that could kill a man.

A moment later, as Gwaine was escorting Marian back to the physician's chambers, they were startled as Agravaine stomped moodily past them. Marian grinned hatefully at his back. Apparently, he too was asked to leave Arthur and Gwen.

000

With a promise to tell them as soon as he heard any news, Gwaine left the three healers in the physician's chambers to stew. Marian paced up and down the room, agitated and angry. She knew this would happen, and yet she did nothing!

"Marian, quit blaming yourself. This isn't your fault," Merlin said, trying to calm her down.

"I knew this would happen! I even said as much. Dammit!"

"And what do you think you could have done, dear girl?" Gaius asked her. He was sitting at one of the tables, trying to read through the necromancy book. He wasn't sure how, but he believed that they may have to take care of Lancelot's shade themselves.

"Lock her in her home? In my room? Something!"

"We don't even know why Gwen did what she did, though," Merlin reasoned.

Marian stopped pacing just as the door to the chamber opened. Gwaine stepped in looking mournful and looked to the three healers, his gaze resting on Marian. The knight took a deep breath before speaking.

"Arthur's banished her from Camel—"

He didn't even get to finish before Marian bolted for the door.

"Marian, wait!" Gwaine reached out to grab her but missed. "Damn!"

He was unable to tell which way she had gone. He guessed that she would head to Gwen's home to say goodbye, so he went to follow her outside, never realizing that instead, Marian had dashed down the corridor, heading straight to the king.

000

"Arthur!" Marian called out to the king as he stormed down the corridor.

He stopped, lowering his head in irritation, he didn't need this right now. Arthur turned to face the healer.

"What is it, Marian?" he asked, exhausted.

"You've banished her? Banished Gwen?"

"This isn't your concern," he said and turned back to continue to his chambers.

"But it is! She's my friend, Arthur!"

"Marian…" Arthur stopped. He rubbed his temple as he turned to face her. His head ached almost as much as his heart. He didn't think he could argue anymore.

"You should sleep on it," she suggested. "Don't banish her. You've been through a lot today, Arthur. You can work things out once you've rested, once you have a clear head."

"I've made my decision, and it's final."

"But Arthur, it's the wrong decision!" Marian pleaded with the king.

"Who are you to tell me it's wrong, huh? You aren't a king! You aren't a leader!" he raised his voice so that it echoed through the corridor.

"I may be an outsider, but I can still see when two people are desperately in love!" she countered.

"Can you? Can you really? The woman who secretly pines after the man she loves? The woman too afraid to follow her own heart? No, Marian, you have no place giving advice on love," the king retorted.

Marian was taken aback. When he looked at her, it was if he was seeing her soul. She blinked, unable to stand his forlorn look. Arthur didn't know how right he had been about her.

"I don't… Stop talking nonsense, Arthur! I'm talking about you and Gwen! You belong together!"

"When you decide to do something about Gwaine, then we can talk."

"Gwaine? What does he have to do with it?" she asked, her voice rising.

"Just leave me, Marian. I'm tired."

"For fuck's sake, Arthur! Listen to reason!"

"Where do your loyalties lie, Marian?" the king asked dangerously. "With your king or your friend?"

Marian looked at him angrily. "How dare you!"

"Guards!"

He'd had enough. When his guards arrived, Arthur instructed them to take Marian down to the dungeon and lock her in a cell.

000

On his way out of the castle, Gwaine saw two guards walking toward the dungeon with a woman between them. His heart dropped when he realized that it was Marian. When she passed him, she didn't even look at him. Her face, red with anger, was as emotionless as a statue.

Gwaine turned from the door and ran back up the stairs, taking three or more at a time. He needed to find the king.

"Sire?" Gwaine called out just as Arthur had reached his chamber door.

"Not you too!" Arthur yelled in frustration. He couldn't take any more unsolicited advice.

"No, I…" Gwaine said as he held his hands up in defense. "I saw the guards with Marian."

"I'm afraid I had to, Gwaine. I'm sorry," Arthur said before reaching for the handle and opening the door.

"What happened?" Gwaine asked.

Arthur didn't answer. Instead, he gave Gwaine a withering look and then entered his chambers, slamming the door behind him.

000

Marian was sitting in the cold, damp cell, her knees tucked under her chin, watching as feet went past the window. Sadly, there was no clear view of the sky, only the stones of the courtyard above. She would have liked to see the Moon that night. Marian desperately needed someone to talk to, and the Moon was always a good listener.

She was going to miss Gwen a lot more than she realized. In all of Camelot, Gwen was the one who understood her the most. Even though Marian had never divulged her secret about her magic or where she was really from, she was able to talk to Gwen about everything else, everything in her heart.

Tears silently rolled down her face as she thought about where Gwen might go and how she might never see the young woman again. The legend hadn't been exact, but it had been correct. Lancelot would lead to Gwen's banishment from Camelot.

"Are you alright?" Gwaine asked as he entered the dungeon. He nodded to the guard, who left to stand outside the door. Gwaine furrowed his brow in concern as he looked on at the sorrowful woman. Marian was curled up on herself. She looked so small and vulnerable, which he imagined was precisely how she felt.

Marian wiped her face and eyes, and then turned to him, a mournful smile on her face. "I'll be fine," she finally replied. "Won't you get in trouble for visiting me here? Won't Arthur question your loyalty too?"

"Did he question yours?"

"He did," she said in a small voice.

Gwaine was standing before her, having changed from his chainmail, looking as regretful as he felt. It broke his heart, seeing her like this.

"I'm sorry, beautiful."

"For what? You didn't do anything wrong," she chuckled ruefully.

"I'm sorry that Gwen is gone. And that you're in here."

"Something isn't right about the whole thing," she said, turning back to the window as fresh tears fell. "That wasn't Gwen. She'd never…" she trailed off as her voice broke.

Gwaine sighed and sat on the floor beside the cell bars, his back against the wall. "Love makes people do strange things, Marian," he reasoned.

He knew it made him act differently. He'd never have imagined being where he is now, settled in one spot, serving a king. He had Marian to thank for that.

Marian stood and walked over to where he was sitting. She sat next to him, the cell bars between them. "It doesn't make people cruel, though. And what happened was cruel," she told him earnestly. "No, Gwen loves Arthur more than anything. My guess is it was Morgana."

Gwaine looked at her curiously. "How? Does she have the power over life and death as well as the heart?"

Marian shrugged her shoulders. "Makes more sense than Gwen having an affair on the eve of her wedding, doesn't it?"

She reached through the bars and held his hand, and bringing his arm through the gap, she leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder as she studied their entwined fingers. "I'm sorry, Gwaine."

He watched their hands, enjoying the feel of her so close. "Whatever for?"

"For putting you in the middle. For making you feel like you have to choose between loyalty to your king and your friend."

"There was never any choice, Marian. I serve the king, yes, but you are more dear to me than anything," he said sincerely. He looked over to her and caught her eye. I love you. I would die for you. Gwaine cleared his throat. "Arthur will calm. I imagine that by morning he will have changed his mind and release you." He hoped with every fiber in his being that the king didn't banish Marian as well. I can't live without you. I love you.

Marian smiled up at him and sighed, squeezing his hand. "Oh, Gwaine. What would I do without you?"

000

Morning came quickly enough. Gwaine had stayed in the dungeon, seated on the floor next to her with his arm and shoulder through the bars. Marian was asleep with her head on his shoulder, and their entwined hands rested on her lap.

They suddenly awoke when the dungeon door opened and Arthur strode in, the guard following.

"Sire… I… uh…" Gwaine sputtered as they stood. In the haziness of sleep, he couldn't think of a believable excuse for being in the dungeon.

Arthur nodded to Gwaine, his mouth in a tight line. "Gwaine, could you give us a minute?" the king asked.

"Of course, Arthur," Gwaine said as he looked back at Marian in concern.

Her eyes were wide in fear as she hoped this wouldn't be the last she would see of the knight.

"Marian," Gwaine said as he nodded at her and then left.

Arthur motioned for the guard to unlock the cell. Once the door was open, Arthur stepped in and dismissed the guard. He didn't speak, but rather silently regarded the woman before him.

Marian's fear grew exponentially as the moments of silence went on. Finally, not able to bear it any longer, she spoke.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I'm sorry for what I said and for what happened. I know she broke your heart, but…"

He raised his hand to silence her.

"Lancelot's dead."

He watched for her reaction. He had expected her to fly off the handle again. Instead, she closed her eyes and tears escaped down her face.

"I see," she said softly. "How?"

"By his own hand, it seems."

"I'm sorry, Arthur," she said, opening her eyes. This was a twist in the legend that she didn't expect.

"It's alright, Marian. I'm… I'm sorry too. I should never have questioned your loyalty," he said regretfully. "I understand how close you are to Gwen. You don't want to believe it, and quite frankly, neither do I. But we've both been hurt. Gwen's actions weren't just a betrayal to Camelot and to me but to her friends as well."

"But Arthur, if you'd just hear me out…"

"No, Marian. I will not listen to excuses. My heart has been broken, and I must recover. To do that, you must not mention this again. If you say one more word to me about Guinevere, I will banish you from the kingdom. I don't care who you're in love with or who it might hurt. Understand?"

"Oh, Gwaine and I aren't—"

"I don't care," the king interrupted. Love was the last thing he wanted to hear about. "Do you understand?"

"I do, sire," Marian said, giving him a small curtsey.

"Right, you may go back to your duties now," Arthur said, and without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.

Gwaine entered the dungeon, fear written all over his face. "Well?"

"I can go back to work now. I can't… I mustn't…" Marian's voice was cracking. "He will banish me if I mention Gwen again."

Gwaine nodded solemnly. He knew Arthur was deeply hurt, as were they all. But he also knew that Marian was sometimes too curious for her own good. She wasn't likely to let this go. He could never replace Gwen, but maybe he could help Marian to not feel so lost without her friend.

"Let's get some breakfast, eh?" he asked as he stuck his arm out to her.

Marian smiled softly at him and started toward the door. Her shoe kicked something hard on the ground, and it scraped against the stone beneath the hay. Marian bent and pulled up a silver bracelet. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized it.

"Gwaine! Lancelot gave this to Gwen a couple of days ago! Look!" she held it out to him.

He took it and examined the writings engraved on the inside. "I don't recognize this writing. What is it?" he asked her.

"I'm not sure, but I bet Gaius would know!" she grabbed his hand and led him from the dungeon and up to the physician's chambers.

000

They arrived in the physician's chambers a few minutes later. Merlin had left the city to take care of Lancelot's body, so it was just the three of them. Gaius pulled out a large magnifying glass and examined the bracelet that Marian had found. He recognized the runes.

"They're from the Old Religion," he told Marian and Gwaine.

"What do they say?" Marian asked him.

"To Awaken What is Deep Within. I'm not sure what that means, exactly," Gaius said as Gwaine reached for the bracelet.

The knight turned it over and over in his hand, trying to work out how this would help Gwen. "Arthur won't listen unless we have absolute proof that this was Morgana's doing," he said to Marian. Gwaine hated to disappoint her, but he also didn't want to give her false hope.

"Surely this is proof enough?" she asked, looking at the two men.

"Marian, we aren't even sure what the runes mean or what the bracelet does. And I'm afraid there's no way to find out," Gaius tried to reason with her.

She looked between them, her eyebrows raised. "Of course there is!" she said as she quickly slipped her hand through the bracelet.

"Marian!"

"Don't!"

Gaius and Gwaine called out to her. It was no use; she had already slipped the enchanted piece on. They looked at her cautiously, neither saying anything.

"I feel… fine," she said with a goofy smile on her face. She did feel fine. In fact, she felt better than fine. She laughed as a range of emotions bubbled up from deep within.

"Marian?" Gwaine asked warily. "Are you alright?"

She turned to him and looked up into his eyes. Something else deep within her began to awaken. Marian took two steps toward him. She placed her hands on his chest. "Gwaine… I…"

Suddenly she reached up and crashed her mouth onto his. Her arms wound around his neck, and she held him close. She hungrily sucked his bottom lip into her mouth and bit down gently. Her hands wound through his hair, pulling him closer, and she pressed her body against his.

Gwaine struggled to get away. Not only was he embarrassed to kiss her right in front of Gaius, but he suspected that it was the bracelet that was making her behave like this. He pulled her arms away from him and broke their kiss. Gwaine turned her around and held her arms behind her back to keep her still as she writhed in agony.

"Gwaine, let go," she said calmly. When he didn't release her, she became more desperate. She turned to try to look at him, but he wouldn't let go.

"I need you, Gwaine! Please! Take me, kiss me, make me yours!" she called out as she struggled against him. "Please, my body is yours! I want you! Take me to your bed, Gwaine! I need you to rip this bodice from my body and free me from these Dark Age constraints! I need you to hold me and caress me! Touch me where I most desire you, your body against mine! Gwaine, I want you to fuc—"

"Gaius?" Gwaine looked to Gaius for help. Both men were stunned by the things Marian was saying.

"The bracelet!" Gaius reminded him.

"… me senseless long into the night! Lead me to the light from within the darkness of my lust! Oh, God, Gwaine! Make me call your name out in pleasure no woman has ever known! Let me ride you like—"

Gwaine roughly pulled the silver bracelet from Marian's arm and threw it to the floor. When she finally calmed, he dropped her arms. She stood there in front of him, her chest heaving. Marian didn't know what had come over her, and it frightened her. She reached up and felt her warm face with her cool hands.

She could only imagine how Gwaine must have felt at her unwarranted and quite honestly filthy advances. Marian turned slowly to face him, afraid of what she'd see. With her eyes wide and tearful, she looked up.

He was angry. His eyes were narrowed at her, and his mouth formed a tight frown. Without a word, Gwaine turned and stormed from the physician's chambers, slamming the door behind him.

Marian looked at Gaius in shock. "I..."

"Well, go after him, girl!" Gaius shooed her.

Marian bolted from the room and ran down the corridor. When she caught up with Gwaine, she grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"I'm… sorry…" she apologized, out of breath.

He pulled his arm from her and started back down the corridor.

"Gwaine?" she called as she ran up behind him. "Look, I'm sorry I kissed you! I'm sorry I said those things! It was the bracelet—"

"I'm not angry about the kiss, Marian. Or your more colorful advances," he interrupted as he turned around to face her.

"What, then? What could have made you so angry with me?" she asked, her voice full of raw emotion. She didn't like how it felt when he was angry with her.

Gwaine took a calming breath and reached out to take hold of her shoulders, pulling her a little bit closer. He stooped down to her eye-level. "I'm angry because you risked yourself like that. You didn't know what enchantments were on that bracelet, love. For all you knew, it could have been some sort of killing curse. It was foolish and reckless."

Marian nodded, unable to hide the grin forming on her lips. A giggle bubbled up and escaped her.

He looked at her in confusion. "What could possibly be funny?" he asked, unamused.

"You," she said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Me?"

"Yes, you lecturing me about being reckless," she smiled up at him.

Gwaine couldn't help himself. He smiled back at her and laughed. "Yes, well," he said. Suddenly serious, he looked her in the eye. "Promise me you won't do that again."

Marian bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing more. She gestured an X over her heart. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

Gwaine rolled his eyes and turned from her, ready to leave.

"No, Gwaine! Wait!" she laughed. She grabbed his hand again and pulled him toward her. "It's just an expression!"

Gwaine grinned down at her. I love you. "Not a very good one," he said as he pulled her into his arms and held her close.

"No, I suppose it isn't," she agreed.

Gwaine held her for a few more moments, remembering the words on the bracelet. To Awaken What is Deep Within. Did that mean what he hoped it meant? Deep down, did Marian Ragnell love him?