Chapter 26

Cenred's men drug me once again, tying my hands together and forced me onto their horses. They ride me back to Camelot, only stopping at the tree line where one of them cut the ropes around my hands which have left rope-burn marks. They have ridden with great haste and we made it back to Camelot through the middle of the knight.

The man who I shared a horse with pushes me off his mount. I fall to the ground, landing on my forearm. They kick their horses, cantering away back into the darkness of the forest. I push myself off the ground, staring at the city. At least Cenred had been so… kind as to let my satchel stay on my person but I have lost my sword.

But that is nothing compared to the problem I now face. I have a week to bring the man I love to his enemy, or else my friend is killed. Falsely leading Arthur is out of the question. I was true to my word in that my loyalty to him will not falter in the threat of my own life, but it is not my life that is being threatened.

As though timing with my arrival, I feel the effects of the blocking potion beginning to wear off and I can feel Merlin's presence in Camelot?

"Merlin?"

There's no answer but it is the middle of the night and he would be asleep at this time. I need to talk to him though. Maybe we could rescue Castor by ourselves, not even needing to drag Arthur into it. Besides, it would be rude for him to leave his new wife.

I trudge along the road, nodding to the guards at the gate in greeting but I recognise none. I debate whether it would be known that I am missing, considering I told Merlin I was visiting Gwaine, but I also told him I was at the gates last night.

The castle is empty except the guards, which are few and far between at this hour. I miss the turn that would take me to my chambers, going straight down to the Physician's quarters.

I open the door quietly, not wanting to disturb Gaius and tiptoe to the other end of the room, slipping into Merlin's. The boy, as expected, is fast asleep in his bed. I kneel down by his side, reaching out to gently shake him.

"Merlin," I call out audibly. He groans, turning from his side to his back. "Merlin," I call louder.

Merlin's eyes open, and he blinks, adjusting to the dark.

"Elena?" he questions, sitting up. The moonlight shines just enough through his window, lighting up my face.

"Yeah," I whisper, a small smile peeking onto my lips. He leans forward, bringing me into a hug that is much needed on my end.

"Where were you?" he asks.

"I..um..." I stammer, the words leaving me. I scratch the back of my neck, but Merlin catches my arm as I bring it back down. The burn marks are still fresh.

"Elena, what happened?" he presses, pulling me up to sit on the side of his bed. My eyes sting and I try to blink the water away, but one slips through my defence.

My mouth starts running, telling him everything that happened from the moments I talked to him, to recalling the exact words Cenred said. I falter as I tell him about Castor, not because I want to hide it, but speaking it out loud just brings the memory to reality.

"He's there, Merlin," I wail. "And I don't know what to do."

"We should speak with Arthur," Merlin suggests, though it is not a suggestion, more of a statement. I shake my head.

"No, I don't want to drag him into this. We should go alone," I say. "We could handle it."

Merlin wraps an arm around my back, squeezing my shoulder. "Arthur needs to know; he's been worried about you and not telling him would make it worse."

"But then he'll want to come," I protest. "That's exactly what Cenred wants."

"There's not a lot that man wouldn't do for you," Merlin says. I would blush, but the implication is no longer in a romantic sense, considering he is married. And it's not really the time. "And I honestly think we could use him. He might know where you were kept."

"I don't think this is a good idea," I drawl out. "But I will. In the morning."

"Good," Merlin sighs, dropping his arm. "Would you like me to walk you back to your chambers?"

"If you don't mind," I answer meekly. I'm still a little shaken at being taken while walking alone and the company would do me good.

Xx

Merlin wakes me early in the morning, just as the sun has risen. I begin to throw profanity at him considering how early it is, but he reminds me that to Arthur, I am still missing which silences me.

I quickly get dressed, following behind Merlin as he leads us to Arthur's chambers. Like usual, he opens the door without knocking, striding into the room. I hesitate in the entrance, not knowing if the new Princess of Camelot would like a random woman barging in unannounced.

"Your dressed?" Merlin asks and I snap my head to his direction. The Prince is indeed already dressed, even his sword tied to his belt on his waist.

"Yes, Merlin, I am capable. Go get the horses ready so we can leave," he answers. I glance around the room but there is no sign of his wife, so I let myself in. Merlin sees me enter and doesn't answer the Prince, letting me speak.

"Sire?" I call out. Arthur's head snaps backwards, almost like an owl if you add his wide eyes. His body turns with his head after a moment and he runs towards me. His arms wrap around me, a giant grin gracing me in a welcome.

"Elena," he exclaims in relief. "Where have you been? We were just about to go searching for you."

"Oh," I reply bashfully. "Thank you but as you can see, I don't need a search party."

He steps backwards, frowning at my tone. "Are you alright?"

"She was kidnapped, Sire," Merlin says from behind us. I glare at him but he only shrugs. "It was Cenred's doing."

"Cenred?" Arthur cries. "What on earth does Cenred want with a seamstress?"

Merlin walks over, standing next to us. He makes a suggestive face, his eyes flickering between the both of us.

I sigh, palming my forehead in irritation. "He…he wants me to lead you to this castle. He gave me a week. I don't remember much of it, but I heard the name Fryien. He's got Castor there, holding him as leverage. He's going to kill him I don't do as he asks."

"Near the sea?" Arthur asks.

"Yes."

"The Castle of Fryien," he concludes.

"I've never heard of it," Merlin says.

"He was a merchant," Arthur explains. "He built the castle near the Seas of Meredor as an outpost for trade routes to the east, but when war broke out with Caerleon, the trade dried up. The castle was abandoned."

"And so it's ruined now?" Merlin questions.

"Hardly," I snort, crossing my arms. Arthur nods in acknowledgement.

"It was built to withstand anything. For Cenred, it's the perfect hideout."

"Doesn't sound like an easy place to get into," Merlin notes. I chew the skin on my finger, not liking the talk about sneaking in but if we don't do anything, Castor is certain to die.

"It isn't," Arthur agrees. "It will be well defended."

"Maybe I should go," I say. "By myself. I will be prepared this time and I have an idea of the halls. Once Castor has a sword he can fight back too."

"No." Arthur shakes his head, stepping closer to me. His hand reaches out, settling on my lower back. "We are going to rescue him. The three of us will go together."

"Cenred is expecting you to come. It will be like I'm doing exactly what he wants me to do. We're walking into a trap," I protest.

"Not necessarily," Arthur denies.

"But what about your wife?" I press. "I don't think you should leave her so close after your wedding."

The boys' expressions change into ones that I cannot read. Arthur tilts his head to Merlin.

"Merlin, will you leave us for a moment." Merlin nods, scurrying out of the room. I watch him go with a frown, turning back to Arthur once the door is closed. Why on earth would he need to kick Merlin out to talk about his wife? I look at Arthur expectantly. He sucks his lips, shoulders rising and falling with a deep breath. "I didn't marry her," he says finally.

My head moves forward as though trying to hear better. "What?"

"Princess Elena, I didn't marry her," he restates.

"Why not?" I gasp. My heart flutters faster, realising that Arthur is no longer promised to another woman.

"I didn't love her, and she didn't love me," he answers simply but continues on with more to his explanation. "I don't want the person I marry, the future Queen of Camelot, to be purely a strategy. I want someone who I know supports me wholeheartedly, who listens but also speaks when she needs to. Someone who loves the people as I do, and someone that I love and that loves me in return."

I blink, taking a moment to let his words sink in. An ocean of despair pours out of me and I can almost see it wash away onto the floor. "That is quite a list of requirements," I tease lightly. "Good luck finding somebody like that."

"I'll admit, I'm not sure if anybody fits the requirements," he confesses. My heart drops, knowing that it is the truth but to be told it to your face is a whole other thing. "Because I'm not sure anybody loves me in the way I do them yet."

My breath leaves me for a few moments, my mouth partially open as his words strike me. "I'm sure they will," I answer. I don't know whether my answer would sound as though I am talking about myself or another, but his face remains unreadable, only a small frown, decorated by a single crease between his brows. I cough, breaking the thick tension growing. "We should make plans to leave.

"Yes," Arthur says, nodding slightly. Finally, out of his gaze, I take notice in the tug to Merlin, feeling him right outside the door.

"Eavesdropper," I taunt.

"I'm not sure if that conversation went good or not," he replies.

"Me either."

Xx

"Arthur told his father we are leaving for a few days for some silk for a lost bet against Morgana," Merlin tells Gaius and myself as we share the day's events over dinner.

"Arthur is a much better liar than you," I tease, slurping the stew up. "I just…why me? Why didn't they take you or something?"

"I don't know. I mean, not many people know of Arthur's feelings for you," he responds. "Does Morgana know?"

"I doubt it. Not unless Arthur has said something to her."

"I have a feeling she's involved anyway," he sneers. "I wish I could just go tell Arthur everything."

"It'd be your word against Morgana's," Gaius says. "And she's the King's daughter."

"Well, if it was her, she's found Arthur's weak spot," Merlin declares. A blush rises to my cheeks.

"I'm right here," I huff. "And how long have you known about all this?"

Merlin tilts his head in thought. "Well, do you remember when we visited my mother about a year and a half ago?" I nod. "Well that's around when Arthur let it slip but I'm sure he was hiding it for quite a while. If I'm being honest, I think you were still with Leon when I actually noticed a change, but I didn't know about yours till much later."

My hands drop beside me, resting on my seat. "Oh," is all I can offer in response. "Ok, back to the original conversation. Morgana, she's almost definitely involved. Who else could know about this?"

"I agree," Gaius says. "But Arthur cannot sacrifice himself for Castor.

"No, of course not," Merlin replies. "We're going to rescue him instead."

"You're going to snatch this boy from under Cenred's nose? You two and Arthur? Does Morgana know of your plans?"

"No," he scoffs.

Gaius looks between us with distraught. "Look after yourselves and look out for each other."

Xx

Merlin and I ready the three horses. I tighten the saddle on Arthur's horse, scrunching my nose in the effort as the horse purposely bloats its stomach.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Merlin announces. I peer over at him and he draws something from the bag he attached to his own horse. I grin, immediately recognising it.

"My sword," I cheer, taking it from him. "I thought I lost it." I send another smile to the warlock, walking over to the black horse that is my own for the trip, putting the sword in its sheath.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Merlin and I turn around, watching Morgana as she saunters down the steps of the castle, donned in armour. My shoulder becomes rigid as she walks closer, her smirk growing as she does. I'm not brave enough to speak, but Merlin is.

"I don't think so."

"But I'm coming with you. Didn't Arthur say?" she taunts. If we had any doubt that she was involved, they are gone with the wind now.

"No, he didn't," Merlin protests but Morgana ignores him. Arthur jumps over a ledge, dressed in his usual chainmail. I hold back a smile as I look at him. Merlin walks up to him, but I stay with the horses, not missing the look the King's daughter offers me.

Merlin and Arthur talk, or rather argue but I don't hear anything until the end.

"Come on," he snorts. "She's a darn sight better with a sword than you'll ever be. And so is Elena for that matter." He leans back up to Merlin, muttering something else deaf to my ears.

Arthur offers me a hand up on my horse, but I ignore it, smiling down at him as I mount easily. He smiles back, shaking his head.

We ride out of Camelot with haste, the townsfolk nearly having to jump out of the way as we ride but once we reach the forest, we slow back down. It's a nice part of the forest, with tall but thin trees and there are no shrubs, leaving wide open spaces between them.

Merlin and Morgana ride behind Arthur and me. I wanted to be back with Merlin to watch Morgana from behind, but the trail didn't leave much room for change once we formed.

"I seem to remember you struggling to mount when you first arrived in Camelot," Arthur says, breaking the silence. The silence wasn't awkward but I'm glad to fill it up as my mind was reeling with worry for Castor.

"Yes," I laugh slightly. "I convinced one of the stable boys to help me one night after I was sick of not being able to do it myself. After a few hours and kicks to the poor boy's face, I finally got the hang of it."

"You've changed a lot since I first met you," he says, looking over at me.

"For better or worse?" I ask, also turning my head to meet his gaze. His smiles toothily.

"I think you know the answer to that," he replies. I roll my eyes but another blush spreads across my face. From the corner of my eye I see him look backwards, likely remembering we have company.

"I feel like I'm intruding on something," Merlin says. I snort loudly, coughing to cover it. Arthur looks at me again, raising a brow but I ignore it.

"Merlin."

"Shut up?"

"Arthur is teaching you well."

The rest of the ride is in relative silence except for the exchange of a few pleasantries, comforts, or instructions. The sun begins to get lower and Arthur pulls us over to make camp for the night. Morgana offers to go get the firewood as Arthur collects sticks nearby to set it up. Merlin and work on unpacking the horses.

"Go get some more firewood, would you Merlin?" Arthur asks near the fire set up.

"I thought Morgana was doing that?" Merlin counters.

"Well, go and see if she's alright," Arthur presses.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Merlin asks, sounding quite frankly, confused. And so am I.

"I don't know, maybe there are wolves in these woods," Arthur answers exasperatedly.

"No…" Merlin says. I can see his face in my mind, even though I am facing away. "I don't think so."

"Merlin…" I hear Arthur say in a warning tone. I turn around, wanting to figure out what all the fuss is about since I've finished with the horses. Arthur is facing away from me and I watch him as he gestures to something with his head. Merlin's mouth rounds open.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, of course. The wolves," he enunciates, sauntering off into the woods where Morgana left. I frown, walking forward.

"Yes, I hear the wolves are particularly bad in this area," I muse sarcastically as I come to stand near him. "I'm worried about him, Arthur."

"Castor?" he guesses, sitting down by the fire to start it. "I've known him for most of my life now. He's stronger than he seems and smarter."

"He names his sword 'brain-slasher'," I point out with a roll of my eyes. "But I know."

"I told him not to call it that but of course he never listens," he laughs lightly, struggling with his flint to light the fire. "Reminds me of you actually. Not just the not listening part I mean, but the way he holds himself."

I nod slowly, sitting down next to him. "Castor and I come from similar backgrounds. I would be surprised if there weren't any similarities between us. I don't want anything to happen to him. I love him like a brother, and I would go to the ends of the earth for the people I love." I watch him as he still tries to use the flints to light the fire. "I can't thank you enough for coming, Arthur."

He looks up from the fire, half his mouth pulling up. "He one of my knights but he's also important to you. I would do anything for you."

The butterflies in my stomach start flapping around against the linings of my body. My eyes flicker around but they can't help falling back onto the Prince who is watching me intently. I didn't realise how close, or maybe we weren't before. Arthur is slowly leaning in, glancing down at the lower half of my face but I don't want to wait. My hands rise from the ground, cupping his face and I draw him into a kiss. It's sweet and soft, the world around us melting away like butter on a hot stove. His hand rest on my hip, my own moving around his neck.

I draw back, out of breath rather than a lack of desire. Arthur's eyes open slowly, and we stare at each other for a few moments before I can't bring myself hold his gaze and the fall to his hands where the flint hangs loosely between his fingers.

I take them from his hand, feeling his eyes still on me. I lean over the fire, using the flint and it only takes a few strikes before the fire starts up. I smirk, holding the flint up for him to take back. He huffs playfully, letting his hand rest on my back in comfort.

Twigs snap, alerting us that we are no longer alone, Morgana and Merlin returning. Though, Merlin holds the entire collection of firewood as Morgana returns empty-handed. Arthur's hand drops from my back, but I take no offence at the action.

As the rest of the camp is set up, our dinner cooking on a makeshift stoke over the flame, Merlin and I share our worries mentally and he fills me in on the brief conversation they had while searching for firewood. It isn't anything extraordinary or unexpected, but it puts my nerves on edge even further.

Morgana, Merlin, and I sit on one side of the small camp while Arthur sits opposite us, drawing a quick diagram in the dirt with a stick.

"Cenred's chosen his hideout well. Now, the Castle of Fryien backs out onto the sea, we will be vastly outnumbered, and his lookouts will spot us well before we've reached the gates. So, we can't go that way," he says, pointing to the relative spots on his diagram. I thank the stars that I already have an idea of the place since his picture is…questionable but Merlin and Morgana don't speak up.

"But there's no other way, surely?" Morgana questions.

"Yes, there is," Arthur counters. Sitting in between Morgana and Merlin allows me to feel the tense atmosphere, especially since Arthur is the only person here who has no idea of everybody's true alliances. Morgana stiffens and I can almost see her brain running. Surely, she didn't expect us to storm through the front gate.

"Erm, more beans? Anyone?" Merlin asks, holding out the pot of beans. I'm not sure why he feels the need to speak up, giving him an odd look but hold my bowl out anyways, taking the extra serving. Morgana gives a brief shake of her head.

"No thanks," Arthur declines, also giving the warlock a strange eye. "When Caerleon was defeated by my father at the Battle of Danaria, he retreated to the Castle of Fryien and it seemed a victory would be denied us, but my father knew of a secret labyrinth beneath the castle."

"A labyrinth?" Morgana gapes.

"Fryien was greedy," Arthur continues. "So, to avoid Camelot's levies, he dug tunnels from the castle to the sea. That way he could smuggle goods into the kingdom without anyone knowing."

"And you ambushed Caerleon using these old tunnels," Morgana guess. Arthur nods, looking proudly at his drawing.

"He never saw us coming. And neither will Cenred."

The sun drops low, the fire burning at embers to give off enough warmth until we fall asleep.

"Morgana is going to try and warn them," I say to Merlin who rests opposite me. Both our faces grim. Morgana is still awake, sitting on a log by the fire.

"I know. So, we have to be prepared for them to know."

"We will be, but Arthur won't."

The conversation ends there, nothing else needing the be said and I turn around, changing the side that receives heat. I smile softly, seeing Arthur fast asleep, his sword resting in his hand. A habit that most knights have as well, that or near them. The sound of the night lulls me to sleep shortly after.

Xx

We ride again in the early morning and I try not to think about where Castor must be at this moment. Maybe a dungeon cell, maybe in the throne room.

The horses plop along the road and nothing seems out of the ordinary until I feel Merlin use his magic. I turn my head to silently question him but there is no need as Morgana's white horse rears in fear, throwing her off to the ground.

We dismount, Merlin walking over to her in assistance. Merlin's theatre skills don't fool anybody except for Arthur, though Morgana probably has no idea it was him.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

"Ow, my leg," she complains, holding her right leg in pain, limping back up into a stand. Arthur walks in front of her.

"Can you walk?"

"No, it's your ankle," Merlin answers for her. "You need to rest it."

"We don't have that kind of time," Arthur protests.

"Merlin's right," I say. "Maybe Morgana should stay here, wait for us to return. We can't have anything holding us back."

"No, no, it's alright," Morgana hisses, sending a glare at Merlin and I. "I can go on." As though to prove her point, she straightens herself even more.

"No, you can't," Merlin insists. "You'll only make it worse."

"I said I'm fine," she fumes.

"You were lucky," Arthur says. "It could've been serious. Come on, Merlin, don't just stand there." He turns back to Morgana. "You alright?"

"Yeah," she replies in a cooler tone.

I send my own glare at Arthur's back, cursing him for not taking our side but it doesn't last long.

By midday, we ride over a road that has the castle visible in the distance. I shudder at the memory, even if it was only for a brief time. Cenred's mirthless smirk seems to show behind the lid of my eyes every time I blink them.

We dismount under the cover of foliage, just out of sight of the castle, tying the horses securely with all our belongings excepts our weapons. I pull my sword from the saddle, putting it securely around my waist as a gentle hand rests on my arm. I follow it along to its owner, a concerned looking Arthur looking back at me.

"You okay?" he asks. I nod, forcing a smile.

"Yeah, just nervous is all."

"It'll be easy," he jokes. "In and out and we'll be back in Camelot with Castor before you know it."

"I hope so," I tell him honestly. "Just don't get yourself hurt in the process will you."

"I won't."