Chapter 17

The Sword in the Stone

For weeks Marian had been having nightmares. They always started the same way, in the dining hall with the king, and Gwaine would burst through the doors and sound the alarm; Morgana was attacking. Sometimes it was with her zombie army, like last year. And sometimes it was with an army of dragons and sorcerers. Regardless of who Morgana was allied with, it always turned out the same. Gwaine would die. Marian would wake in her chamber, covered in sweat and tears.

Gaius dismissed her dreams as nothing but her mind trying to cope with her fear of loss. But Merlin paid more attention to them. He had learned from his experience with Morgana not to dismiss dreams as they had been the first clue that Morgana had magic. He wished he could go back in time and do things differently. Maybe if he had, Morgana's heart wouldn't have turned cold.

After her terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, Merlin suggested that the upcoming feast would be just what Marian needed to relax. He was able to trade duties with some of the other servants so that she could come with him. Even if she was just serving wine, it would still be better for her than moodily pacing her chamber alone.

She'd had a reprieve the day before when Gwaine had surprised her with a present and flowers. But last night, her nightmares had returned. The vision of Gwaine, bloody and dying in her arms, haunted her.

The castle had been enjoying the Feast of Beltane when the warning bells sounded, and Gwaine burst into the dining hall.

"Sire, we're under attack! They're within the city walls!" he yelled.

Marian froze as she was pouring wine into a goblet. This is precisely how her nightmares had started. She shook, remembering the zombie army the witch had used the last time she tried to take the kingdom. What horrors would Morgana inflict on the people this time?

"Gwaine, secure the armory! Percival, with me!" Arthur commanded his men. "Merlin, get everyone to the inner chamber!"

Gwaine nodded to the king and started to turn back to the corridor when he spotted Marian out of the corner of his eye. She was looking around at the chaos of the hall, fear written all over her face.

"Marian, what are you doing? Get to the inner chamber!" Gwaine called to her.

Marian turned to Gwaine with a haunted look on her face. He was going to die. Gwaine rushed to her side and grabbed her hand.

"It's Morgana, isn't it?" she asked as he led her out of the hall and into the corridor.

"I believe so. I don't know. Marian, look, you need to get to the inner chamber."

"No!" she shook her head vehemently. She tried to pry her hand from his. "No, I need to stay with you, Gwaine!" She was terrified, and it showed. If he was injured, she needed to be near him so she could heal him.

"You'll be perfectly safe there," he said, misunderstanding her fear. "Here," he turned to Gaius, who had just entered the corridor. "Go with Gaius. I will find you when I can."

She protested as Gwaine pulled her toward the physician and handed her off to him. He ran toward the armory, taking a quick look back at the frightened woman.

"You must let Gwaine do his job, Marian," Gaius said to her.

Marian watched the doorway that Gwaine had disappeared through, willing him to come back. Gwaine was going to die, and she wouldn't be able to stop it.

"Come, there will be wounded to help me with. We'll need to get some supplies first," Gaius gently pulled Marian toward the staircase.

000

She tried to keep her mind off of the battle as she tended to the wounded. It didn't help that she could hear the cries of struggle from outside of the door. Nor did it help that the majority of the injured were knights, whose chainmail hadn't been enough to protect them. Marian tried to concentrate, but her mind kept going to Gwaine. Would his armor be enough? She prayed to whatever deity would listen that he would remain unharmed or, at the very least, he stayed alive long enough for her to heal him.

Merlin had come and gone, telling Gaius that he needed to go look for the king. Gaius guessed that it wasn't just Camelot the witch was after, but Arthur as well. She had already taken the citadel, but the fighting continued as if she were looking for something. Or someone.

Rather than zombies or dragons or sorcerers, Morgana's army was made up of Southrons. Men. Brutal men, but mortal. They could deal with mortal men. Marian knew Gwaine to be an excellent warrior, so if it was mere mortal men he was fighting, then she believed that he would prevail unharmed.

Marian had just let out a breath of relief at that thought when Merlin burst through the door, helping Arthur inside. The king had been wounded in the battle. Gaius quickly examined him, telling him that it felt like his ribs had been broken.

"I can bind the ribcage, but even that would run the risk of puncturing a lung," the physician informed him.

Arthur was determined to return to the fight. "Do whatever it takes, Gaius, just so long as I can swing a sword."

Gwaine and Percival came into the inner chamber and closed the door behind them. They set the door bar in place, preventing anyone from outside getting in.

Marian looked up from her patient, some stuffy nobleman she had never met, and smiled softly at Gwaine, relieved that he was alright.

"Ow!" the nobleman cried out. She had been tying a cloth bandage around his arm and had accidentally pinched him. It had been a superficial wound anyway. "Watch what you're doing, you stupid cow!"

Gwaine started toward the pair, angered at the man's words. He watched as Marian narrowed her eyes at the nobleman and tied the bandage even tighter.

"Sorry, my lord," she said between clenched teeth. "Perhaps you should skip the next feast, lest my bandages not have enough cloth to tie all the way around your arm."

The nobleman looked affronted, his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. No one had ever had the gall to speak to him like that, let alone a woman.

Gwaine grinned at her as she walked away from the stuffy man and toward him.

"How do we stand?" Gaius questioned the knights.

"The citadel is overrun. We can't hold out much longer," Percival answered.

"How long before they reach us?" Gaius asked, worried.

"Minutes at best," Percival replied.

Marian paled. She grabbed onto Gwaine's arm to steady herself. "Oh, God, so close!"

"We can't wait for Arthur. If they find him, they'll kill him," Merlin said.

He needed to get the king as far away from Morgana as possible. He looked over to Marian in a panic. She was staring with wide, fearful eyes, thinking the same thing he was. Her nightmares were becoming reality.

"We must get him to safety while we still can," Percival said.

Gwaine shook his head at his friend. "Arthur would never abandon his people. He'd rather die."

Merlin had an idea, but he couldn't let Percival or Gwaine know. Though he doubted either man would think less of him for it, he couldn't risk anyone else finding out that he had magic. "Barricade the doors. Give us as much time as you can," he pleaded.

He gave Marian a pointed look. She needed to distract Gwaine and Percival. She turned to the knights and suggested the heavy table behind them be used to barricade the door. As she looked back, she saw Merlin bend close to Arthur's head and whisper something. His eyes glowed, and Arthur became relaxed with a vacant look on his face.

"We need to leave now, sire!" Merlin called to Arthur. He wasn't sure if his spell had worked or not.

"Of course," Arthur agreed readily. Merlin allowed himself a small smile. The king would do whatever he told him to do. The spell had worked. Arthur stood, swaying slightly.

Gwaine and Percival had returned to the king. They looked at one another in confusion at Arthur's willingness to go.

"Then let's go," Percival stated as he ducked under Arthur's arm and helped the king to the back staircase.

Merlin gathered Arthur's sword, intending to follow. He looked back at Marian and Gaius, neither moving to the stairs. "Gather your things, Gaius. Marian."

"You go, Merlin. I'll just slow you down," Gaius said to the young man.

"Gaius, no. Marian, tell him," Merlin begged.

"Merlin, go. Protect the king," she replied.

"You must know it's for the best," Gaius stated.

"No, if you stay here—" Merlin started to protest.

"No time to argue. I'm sorry," Gwaine interrupted as he pushed Merlin toward the stairs where Percival and Arthur were waiting.

The Southrons had made it to the chamber door and were loudly banging on it, trying to break the barricade. He turned and grabbed Marian by the arm, leading her to the stairs as well. "You, too, beautiful."

Marian stopped and dug her heels in. "Gwaine, no! I'm staying."

"You're going! That's an order!"

"You can't order me! I'm staying with you!"

Gwaine sighed in frustration. He grabbed her face in his hands and pulled her lips to his. The kiss was hard and full of as much emotion as he could muster. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, begging her to understand. I love you. "You must go. I can't watch you die, Marian. Now go!" He released her face and pushed her toward the stairs.

Marian watched the knight in shock. She wanted to tell him that she loved him. She wanted to beg him to take care, to not die. But the surprise of his kiss had left her speechless. Her mouth started to work again as she was about to disappear through the door to the staircase. History be damned. For once in her life, Marian wanted to take something for herself, rather than do the right thing. In the heat of the moment, she made up her mind.

"Gwaine!" she called out to him. He looked at her, frantic that she hadn't left yet. "I lov—"

The door burst open, and Gwaine's attention was drawn to the men rushing through the door. Marian fled when she saw Morgana walk through the door and into the chamber, never finishing her declaration of love for the brave knight.

000

Marian ran down the stairs, tripping several times. Her eyes were stinging with unshed tears. She was angry with Gwaine for sending her away. She was angry with herself for not being able to prevent this.

She knew this would happen. She knew and still did nothing. Not that Arthur would have believed her. Hell, even Gaius hadn't considered that her nightmares were prophetic. Perhaps if she had told Gwaine... Maybe if she had confided in him, they could have stopped it together.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and burst through the door to the corridor. She had given up on sneaking out of the castle. The others were too far ahead of her for her to be able to follow. She needed to find a place to hide and fast. Marian headed to the kitchens. There were cupboards there that she could hide in as well as kitchen tools that she could use as weapons.

She rounded the corner leading to the kitchen and ran right into a large, menacing Southron man. He quickly grabbed her and tried to hold her still. Marian screamed and kicked and twisted her body in an attempt to break free.

The man called out to another. "Helios! Look what I've found!"

A tall, bald man walked up to them and leered at Marian, licking his bottom lip. Helios bent toward her and sniffed her hair. His mouth was close to her ear, and when he spoke, his warm breath tickled her skin.

"If it were any other battle, I'd have you for my harem," he said softly.

Marian shivered in disgust. "Let me go!" she screamed. She kicked out, missing him by inches.

Helios laughed at her desperation. "We'll take her to Morgana. Let's see what the witch wants to do with the little wench!" He grabbed Marian by the hair and dragged her with him, kicking and screaming.

000

It had been only a day since Elyan joined Gwaine and Gaius in the dungeon. Elyan had been tortured by Morgana and Gaius's strength was quickly fading. Gwaine had requested food for them, afraid for their health.

Morgana agreed that they should have food, but only if Gwaine earned it by fighting off some of her best warriors for their entertainment. He had been brought to the council chamber and thrown in a circle of jeering Southrons. If he could best them, he would earn half of a loaf of moldy, stale bread for himself and his cellmates.

This routine continued for two more days. Gwaine would fight for his life, usually only armed with a toy wooden sword, and they would get to eat.

The third day was different, though. He had been brought up to the council chamber again, but this time Morgana gave no promise of food. She set two of her men on him right away. Despite being outnumbered, Gwaine was victorious. She sent a third man in, but Gwaine protested and wouldn't budge.

"No more, Morgana. Not until you promise food for Gaius," Gwaine said boldly.

Morgana laughed. "The courageous Knight of Camelot refuses to duel? What would my brother say?"

"Food first," he said to the witch.

"We shall see, Sir Knight, if you cannot be persuaded," Morgana threatened Gwaine.

She turned to her men and waved a couple of them over. Gwaine was tired, having already fought off two of her men. She took his food, his water, his freedom. Even his damn shirt. There wasn't anything else she could take from him. Yet, nothing could prepare him for what he saw next.

Two burly men dragged a screaming woman to the middle of the room and threw her down on her knees. She was wearing only a torn chemise. Her hair had escaped its braid, and her skin was covered in bruises. Surrounded by rowdy Southrons and with a tear-stained face, Marian looked up at Gwaine with wide, fearful eyes.

He pulled against his captors, anger written all over his face. "Let her go, Morgana! She has nothing to do with this!"

"Oh, I beg to differ!" Morgana said. She walked around behind Marian and grasped her hair painfully in her fist. She pulled Marian's head up, exposing her throat. "Either you cooperate, or I'll spill her blood at your feet!" Morgana produced a dagger and held it against Marian's throat.

Marian looked over to Gwaine, sadness in her eyes. I'm sorry, she mouthed silently to him.

"What was that?" Morgana pulled harder on her hair, causing her to scream.

"I'm sorry!" Marian cried out. The dagger's blade sliced a small cut on the skin on her neck, allowing a tiny amount of blood to flow down to the top of her chemise, staining the cloth.

Her lips trembled, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She drew in a shaky breath and repeated herself. "I'm sorry."

She was meant to be far away from the castle by now. She hadn't counted on getting caught by Morgana's men. And now the evil witch would use her to control Gwaine.

Gwaine watched the beaten woman, his heart breaking at the sight of her. He would cooperate. Morgana had won as he would never let anything happen to Marian.

"Alright, Morgana. What is it that you want?"

"Nothing less than the throne of Camelot," she replied confidently as her men cheered. She stood and put her dagger away.

Gwaine laughed bitterly. "That isn't mine to give. But you already knew that. What do you want from me, Morgana?"

"I want you to sing for your supper!" she tossed the wooden sword at him, and he caught it. "Cathar!" she called.

A man twice Gwaine's size lumbered up to her, cracking his knuckles. He had well-developed muscles and a mean look about him.

"For each blow you land, you will be afforded moldy bread for yourself and your fellow prisoners. But for each blow Cathar lands, I will find a new pain for your Lady Fair to suffer," Morgana threatened.

"Don't you dare harm her!" he yelled as he struggled to get away.

Gwaine's protests were quieted when Cathar stepped forward and took his first swing. Gwaine was nimble enough to dodge the man's giant fist. He bent down and pushed himself forward, balling his own fist. Gwaine swung his arm and brought his fist up into Cathar's stomach.

Gwaine winced as the large man took the punch without flinching. This went on for five minutes, at least, with Gwaine barely avoiding Cathar's attack. He was tiring fast, starving, and sleep-deprived. He miscalculated his attack, and Cathar landed a sharp blow to Gwaine's face, causing the knight to fall to the floor.

"That's one for the Lady Fair!" Morgana called as she nodded toward the men holding Marian.

Gwaine could only watch as one of them swung at Marian's middle. She doubled over, the wind knocked from her. The surrounding men laughed at her as she gasped for air.

Gwaine took the opportunity to lunge at Cathar. As he pushed the muscled man into the crowd, Cathar lost his footing and fell to the ground. Gwaine climbed on top of him and landed blow after blow to his head. Morgana snapped her fingers, and two men pulled the knight from Cathar and pushed him to his knees.

"I didn't say it was time to resume. You cheated, Sir Knight! That's not very noble of you. I'm afraid your Lady Fair will have to be punished for your disobedience!"

Gwaine struggled against the men holding him. "Leave her alone, Morgana. If you need to punish someone, then punish me," he gritted through clenched teeth.

"But where's the fun in that?" she laughed. "This," she reached behind her and took a small wooden box from one of her men, "is a Nathair from the Mountains of Asgorath. It can inflict the most exquisite pain to its victim's very soul."

She bent down close to Marian, her warm breath tickling her skin. "Do you believe you have a soul, Marian? Let's find out!"

Marian whimpered as Morgana pulled the small snake from its box "Unmicel snacca, suge tha sothan swilcnesse!" the witch called to it.

She lowered the snake to Marian, and it slithered onto her shoulder and around her neck. It pulled back and showed its fangs, hissing before it lunged at her throat, biting her skin. Marian threw her head back and screamed in utter pain. She shuddered against the men holding her still as Morgana stretched her arm toward the snake and allowed it to slither onto her and back to its box.

"NO!" the knight screamed in anguish. Gwaine tried to break free but was forced down further to the floor. He couldn't take hearing Marian's screams. He felt sick as the torture continued.

Marian's eyes were opened wide, but she couldn't see. She couldn't even feel anything other than the white-hot pain of the Nathair bite. The snake's venom coursed through her veins as the pain traveled from her neck to her head. She had never felt anything like this before.

She thought that her head was going to split open. Her face was red, and the veins in her neck and forehead bulged. The pain moved down into the rest of her body, and she tried to double over. With each breath, the pain increased. Morgana had been right, Marian's soul screamed out in agony. She just wanted Morgana to get it over with and kill her, so the torture would stop.

As the pain began to wane, she tried to catch her breath. This was the end, she was sure of it. This was where Gwaine would die. Marian knew what Morgana's endgame was now. The witch would torture her in front of him until he couldn't control himself. He would lash out, and then she would kill him for fun. Marian tried to calm her breaths. She needed to control the pain if she were going to survive long enough to save Gwaine.

Morgana sauntered over to the knight as he was pulled up from the floor. She caressed his face with her hand. "Have we learned our lesson, Sir Knight?"

Gwaine was about to answer when he heard laughter ring out across the room. He looked around to see who it was and was shocked into silence when he realized that it was Marian laughing.

"Find something funny, servant?" Morgana turned to glare at Marian.

"You, my lady," Marian said in a low, raspy voice. She pushed the pain down further to control it. Sitting up straight, she looked Morgana in the eyes. "You actually think you deserve Camelot's throne."

Something had snapped in Marian. Sure that she was to die, she no longer feared death but welcomed it like an old friend. Marian knew that she was playing a dangerous game, but no longer cared. She would either save them or quickly bring about their end. Either way, neither would suffer any longer.

Gwaine looked at Marian in disbelief. Was she trying to get herself killed? Baiting the witch would serve no other purpose. He tried to warn Marian to get her to stop mocking Morgana, but she ignored his silent pleas.

"I am the rightful heir. Not this usurper brother of mine! How dare—"

"You are nothing but the bastard child of a dead king, Morgana," Marian smirked. "You're no one. Just like me."

Morgana slapped Marian across the face hard and split her lip. "I am nothing like you! I am a High Priestess of the—"

"You're not a High Priestess of the Old Religion," Marian interrupted her again, spitting the blood from her mouth. "You're an abomination!"

Marian lifted her chin in defiance. If she was to die, she was going to earn her death. "I've seen the future, Morgana Pendragon. You aren't in it. You're a vague memory of nothing but villainy and corruption. You will forever be remembered as the enemy! A spoiled whore who craved her brother's power!"

Morgana's eyes were wild, her anger knowing no bounds. "Uther was the enemy of all magic! I will bring magic back to Camelot! I will see your kind die!"

"You aren't saving magic! You're destroying it and everything it stands for! You are no different than Uther. You're a failure!" Marian mocked.

"You will pay for that!" Morgana reached her hand out, preparing to cast a spell on the defiant woman.

"Emrys is coming for you, Morgana," Marian warned.

The witch stopped in midsentence, eyes frightful. "How do you…" she whispered harshly.

Emrys was said to be her doom, but how would a serving girl know about this? Morgana regained her composure.

"Take them back to the cells!" she ordered. "No supper tonight, I'm afraid!"

She swiftly left the council chamber to find Helios. Emrys must not be allowed near the castle.

The men pulled Marian and Gwaine up roughly from the floor, and shackled them, leading down to the dungeons. Marian sighed in relief. She had done it; she had saved them… for now.

Gwaine was thrown into the cell with Elyan and Gaius. He landed hard on the stone floor. Elyan knelt by him to see if he was alright just as the guards brought Marian in and walked her by the cell door.

"Marian? What…" he started to ask Gwaine but saw the pained look on his friend's face.

Marian was thrown roughly into the cell next to theirs. The guards snickered to each other as they left the dungeon.

"Marian? Are you alright?" Elyan called over to her. The wall between the cells was made of stone, so he wasn't able to see her.

She made a small noise but said nothing. For the time being, they were safe. Marian let go and allowed her pain and the darkness to consume her.

000

She wasn't sure how long she had been out, but Marian awoke to voices in the cell next to hers. Elyan and Gwaine were attempting to persuade Gaius to eat. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Her throat was as dry as a bone. She tried to produce some saliva to wet her mouth and throat but was unsuccessful.

"Gw—" she tried again. Marian coughed and started over. "Gwaine?" she managed softly.

"Marian?" she heard his frantic reply. "Are you alright?"

"I… I think so. How long?" she asked, conserving what little energy she had.

This time it was Elyan who answered. "It's been five days since Morgana took Camelot. You've been unconscious for nearly two."

She was out for two days. That meant she had at least one more day she could tolerate without having any water. Her stomach was beyond hunger. The thought of food made her ill. But she knew she needed water and soon if she was to survive.

"Gaius?" she asked.

"He's still alive," Gwaine replied.

"Gwaine," she sobbed. "I… I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart."

Suddenly the outer door to the dungeon opened, and Morgana walked through, flanked by several Southrons. Gwaine knew what was coming, and he was ready for it. She would have him pulled from the cell, and he would once again have to fight for food.

Only this time, Morgana didn't stop in front of his cell. She passed by it, instead, stopping in front of Marian. One of the Southrons carried the small wooden box from the other day. The Nathair.

"Morgana," Gwaine tried to get her attention. If he could get her to focus on him, perhaps she would forget about Marian.

She ignored him and nodded for one of her men to unlock Marian's cell door.

"Morgana!" he tried again. "I'm ready to fight, my lady." Gwaine was getting desperate as she disappeared into the cell next door. "Morgana! I am ready!" Gwaine screamed as he grasped the cell bars and shook them in a futile attempt to open the door. He pressed his face against the bars, trying to see what was happening at the next cell.

Elyan tried to pry his friend from the bars. "It's no use, Gwaine," he said. "Save your energy."

"Wake up, servant!" they heard Morgana say to Marian. Gwaine heard a solid thunk and a grunt as Marian was kicked by the witch. "I have a surprise for you. An old friend," she threatened gleefully.

Gwaine watched as the small wooden box was passed inside the cell. He heard Marian whimper as the Nathair hissed and held his breath as he listened.

"You are going to tell me everything I want to know about Emrys," Morgana threatened.

"Go to Hell, Morgana," she said, her voice soft and scratchy.

"You first," Morgana said. The Nathair hissed again before Marian let out a blood-curdling scream.

"No!" Gwaine yelled as he beat his fists against the bars.

Once the screaming stopped, Morgana asked, "Do you want to change your mind, healer?"

"Eat… my… shit," Marian said, taking a labored breath between each word. She would never give Emrys up. Morgana could torture her all she liked, Marian would never tell her about Merlin. It was more than her life was worth.

"Tell me about Emrys!" the witch screamed.

Marian gathered what little strength she had. "NEVER!" she yelled in defiance.

Gwaine heard the punches land as Marian cried out in pain. He backed away from the bars of the cell. There was nothing he could do, no way to protect her from the crazed witch.

"Again!" Morgana commanded.

"My lady, she's no longer conscious," one of the Southrons told her.

Gwaine saw the man fly from the cell and roughly hit the opposite wall.

"When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it!" Morgana yelled. She walked out of Marian's cell and stormed out of the dungeon. The other men locked the cell door back and followed her out.

Gwaine slumped to the floor, defeated. He couldn't save her. There was nothing he could do to protect the woman he loved. He no longer had the will to hold back his tears.

000

After only a few hours, Helios walked through the dungeon door. He carried a tray with a lump of moldy bread, a cup, and a jug over to Marian's cell.

Gwaine opened his eyes as he heard the jingle of the cell door keys. He went to the bars and pressed his face against them to get a better look. Helios entered the cell but didn't shut the door behind him.

"Here, I brought you some food and water," Gwaine heard Helios say. "Refusing the basic necessities won't save you or your friends." It sounded like Helios had set the tray onto the floor. "We aren't complete barbarians."

"Leave me alone," Marian said flatly.

"At least quench your thirst," the Southron implored.

Gwaine heard water pouring, and his mouth suddenly ached. He hadn't had any water himself in a couple of days.

"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Helios asked.

"Why are you doing this?" Marian asked, her voice stronger.

Helios chuckled. "I don't approve of torturing beautiful women."

Gwaine rolled his eyes and went to sit against the wall.

"Then let me go," she demanded.

"Tell me where Emrys is, and I will," Helios said.

Gwaine wondered who this Emrys was and why they were so desperate to find him.

Marian laughed mirthlessly. "You're joking, right?"

"Not at all. Tell me where to find Emrys, and you can go. I'll even let you choose one of the other prisoners to join you," he offered.

Marian sighed. "I don't know where Emrys is."

"Why is the Lady Morgana so afraid of Emrys?" Helios asked soothingly.

"Why don't you ask her," Marian bit back. She wasn't sure what he thought he'd accomplish, but she wasn't going to trust Helios.

Gwaine watched as the tray of food and jug of water flew from the cell and hit the wall, shattering. Helios marched out of the cell, pulling Marian by her hair. He pulled her to her feet and slammed her face-first against the bars of Gwaine's cell. Gwaine jumped up from the floor and rushed to the cell door. A chain attached to the shackles around his wrists kept him from reaching out to her. His knuckles turned white as he held onto the bars, his chain pulled tautly.

Helios moved dangerously close to Marian. He pressed up against her backside and bent his head so that his mouth was at her ear.

"See these men in here?" he asked. "If you don't tell me about Emrys, I will kill them, one by one, very slowly, while you watch."

Marian whimpered in fear as she looked at each of them imprisoned in the cell before her. Gaius was lying on the makeshift bed, unable to move and barely able to speak. Elyan sat next to the elderly physician, keeping an eye on him. Gwaine stood before her, his gaze never leaving her face.

Marian whimpered again as Helios pressed himself harder against her. "Nothing gets me in the mood for company like spilling blood," he threatened.

Marian's shackled hands were pinned between her chest and the cell bars. She reached her fingers through the bars and caressed Gwaine's hand. She looked into his grief-stricken eyes. It felt as if she could spill her heart out to him with only one look.

Gwaine raised his hands and tried to touch her face. The shackles were too large to fit through the gap in the bars, so he could only lightly caress her cheek with the tips of his fingers. I love you. Gwaine smiled softly at her with tears swimming in his eyes, silently telling her he was sorry.

Marian closed her eyes tightly, pushing out her own tears. She took a strained breath and said in a firm voice, "I don't know where Emrys is, and even if I did, I would die before I'd tell a stupid motherfucker like you."

"Have it your way," Helios said as he pulled her back by her hair and slammed her head against the bars.

Gwaine screamed at the man and beat his fists against the cell door bars as Marian fell to the floor, unconscious and bleeding. Just then, the warning bells rang out across the castle, signaling intruders. Gwaine could only watch as Helios dragged Marian back to her cell and threw her in. He didn't even bother shutting the cell door.

000

Elyan and Gwaine waited impatiently as the warning bells continued to sound. It had to be Arthur and the other knights. It just had to be. Gwaine was nearly shaking with agitation. He wanted nothing more than to get out of the cell and go to Marian. He wasn't even sure if she was still alive. One thing was for sure, if she wasn't, he would find Helios and make the man suffer a long and painful death.

It wasn't long before they heard fighting in the corridor leading to the dungeon. When Percival and a handful of knights burst through the door, Gwaine grabbed the cell door bars in anticipation.

"Come on, boys. What's taking you so long?" he asked, ready to get out of there.

Leon came through the dungeon door and tossed the cell keys to Percival. Once the cell door was opened and his shackles removed, Gwaine stood to leave. He was unsteady on his feet, exhausted and starving.

Leon reached out to him. "Careful, Gwaine. Let me help you."

"No, we need to go to Marian," Gwaine protested. "She's been hurt and might be…" his voice hitched in his throat, and he couldn't finish his thought.

"She's here?" Leon asked, surprised.

He looked around and saw that the door to the next cell was open. He pushed past the others and went in to find Marian lying on the floor. Leon knelt beside her and laid his fingers on her neck. He felt a slow but steady pulse.

"She's alive, Gwaine!" he called out.

Gwaine held onto the cell bars as he fell to the ground in relief. He let out a shaky breath and thanked whatever god was listening that she hadn't been killed. Percival helped him stand again before going to Gaius and assisting the physician in sitting up. Elyan ducked under Gwaine's arm, supporting him as best he could. Leon emerged from the other cell with Marian in his arms.

"Let's get out of here," he ordered.

000

In the end, the battle was won, and Arthur retook the throne of Camelot. But not before many lives were lost and significant damage to the city had been done.

During his exile, Arthur began to doubt himself. He felt that he didn't deserve to lead the people of Camelot, that he was nothing special. Merlin took him to the Forest of Ascetir, where the sword, Excalibur, rested in a boulder. He told Arthur the legend of the sword in the stone and of the ancient king, Bruta, stretching the truth to fit his story. He explained that only the true king of Camelot would be able to wrench the blade from the stone's hold. Finding the confidence within himself, Arthur grasped the hilt and pulled the sword from the stone. Finally accepting that he was worthy of leading Camelot, Arthur and the Knights of Camelot retook the kingdom.

Helios and his Southron army had been slain, and Morgana, humiliated and injured, disappeared in a gust of magic. Arthur's uncle, Agravaine, was unmasked as a traitor and was killed while in pursuit of the deposed king. With the imprisoned knights rescued and Gaius healing from his injuries, life quickly got back to normal for the citizens of Camelot. With one exception…

000

Marian slowly regained consciousness. The dark that had enveloped her for so long slowly faded away as a bright light warmed her face. She breathed in deeply. Instead of the thick musty, dank of the dungeon, the air was fresh and smelled of flowers. The stone-cold floor was no longer hard and freezing; instead, it was soft and comfy. She moaned as she tried to open her eyes. Marian felt the bed dip beside her and a calloused, but warm hand felt her brow and smoothed back the hair from her face.

When she cracked her eyes open, Marian saw Gwaine's face swimming in front of her. The light behind him was too bright for her to bear, and she quickly shut her eyes against it. She tried again and opened her eyes all of the way.

"Gwaine?" she called out softly. She looked around, but the bright light obscured her surroundings. Her head pounded. "Where—? Am I dead?" she asked.

Gwaine smiled at her. "No, beautiful, you are definitely alive. Though you may regret that soon enough," he teased. At her confused expression, he added, "You've got a nasty goose-egg on your head."

She timidly reached up to where her head was throbbing and touched a large knot. "Ow," she said as she flinched.

Gwaine held her hand and gently pulled it away from her head. "Don't touch it," he chuckled.

As he helped her sit up, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Gwaine held her close, thankful that she would be okay. He rubbed his cheek against her hair and sighed in contentment as she rested her head in the crook of his neck. I love you.

Marian sat back slowly, her hands going to his head. She gently caressed his face, running her fingers over his cuts and bruises. She brushed his hair back from his eyes and held his face in her hands. Marian took in the sight of him, a sight she never thought she'd see again. She leaned closer and lightly touched his lips with her own.

When she pulled back, Gwaine studied her face as she continued to touch him. The bump on her head was sadly not her only injury. He lightly ran his fingers over the dark bruise across her nose and down her cheek. His thumb caressed where her bottom lip had split. His fingers followed the rest of the bruising down to her neck, where the Nathair had left several bite marks. He softly caressed where she had been bitten, trying to smooth the marks away. Physically, she would heal soon enough. But Gwaine was worried about her mind as well.

"How do you feel?" he asked her in a whisper.

"I'm okay, I think," she replied quietly.

"Do you remember what happened?" he asked, dreading her answer.

She furrowed her brow and sucked in her bottom lip, avoiding his gaze, she nodded. She remembered everything. The torture, the pain, the fear of losing him.

Gwaine held her face, his thumb caressing her soft skin, and sighed. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Marian."

She reached up and held his hand. "I'll be okay, Gwaine. I just need time to heal," she said as she gave him a small smile. She leaned into his touch and closed her eyes.

Gwaine leaned in and kissed her again, quick and soft. I love you. Time, he could certainly give her. "Well, until then, I have a surprise for you," he smiled brightly at her as he tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her brow.

She looked at him curiously as he rose and went to her chamber door. When he opened it, Marian saw a face she sorely missed.

"Gwen!" Marian called out, smiling at the other woman. She hadn't spoken to Gwen since she had been banished from Camelot many months ago. Her heart soared when she saw that she was back.

Gwen went to Marian's bed and sat down beside her. The two women embraced tightly. Marian watched Gwaine from over Gwen's shoulder and mouthed thank you as he turned to leave. Gwaine smiled at her and nodded before walking out.

"I have so much to tell you!" he heard Gwen say. He shut the door behind him, pleased that Marian was recovering and that she had her friend back.

000

Author's note:

Spells (a rough translation from the Merlin Wiki at merlin dot fandom dot com):

Unmicel snacca, suge tha sothan swilcnesse! - Little snake, suck his true nature!