Uther and Morgana sit on their thrones, the room filled with members of the court. Before them stands Arthur, Gwaine, Lancelot, Leon, and Gaius. Off to the side, Marilyn is leaning heavily on Gwen, who has her arms wrapped around the smaller girl. Kneeling in front of the king and princess are Badrick and Cadby, guards flanking them "The two of you are facing great charges. I have found your seals of nobility to be falsified. Do you deny this?" Uther glares at the men before him. They flounder for words, only to shut their mouths and glare back at the king, who is inwardly satisfied "there are also reports of the two of you violating prince Arthur's personal maidservant on multiple accounts. What have you to say to this?"
"That bitch is a liar," Badrick sneers.
"Sir Gwaine, please share with the court your official report," Uther orders. Gwaine steps forward and tells the court everything he saw the day before and about Marilyn claiming it had happened the previous night as well "and Gaius, please share your findings."
"Sire, the wounds I have found match with those of a rape victim. My results are conclusive. There is no question of it," the physician shares.
"And, Marilyn, would you be alright to share with the court your statement on these charges?" Uther asks gently. With Gwen's help, Marilyn stands before the king, as far from the men as she can be. The young girl looks directly into Uther's surprisingly kind and caring eyes as she recounts every detail from the events, unable to hold back her tears as she speaks. When she is finished, Uther thanks her and Gwen leads her back to their previous place, comforting her as she cries "Badrick and Cadby, on the charges of perjury and rape, I hereby find you guilty and sentence you to death. You shall hang by the neck until dead tomorrow at noon. Guards, take them away," the guards drag the two prisoners back to their cells and the court disperses. Marilyn remains at Uther's request, leaning against a pillar for support. The king descends from his throne and stands before Marilyn, taking her hands in his "what you have been through, there are no words for how terrible it is. They will be brought to justice and punished for their crimes against you. I know I have not been the kindest to you, but I would like to offer my assistance. Ygraine went through a similar ordeal before our marriage, and I was able to bring her some comfort. You may speak with me at any hour you wish, no questions asked, and I would like to give you something. The queen's garden has been unkept for many years now, and I should like to place it in your care," Uther's voice is soft and full of empathy.
"Sire, I cannot thank you enough for your kindness," Marilyn bows her head, honored to be receiving such gifts from the king "Gaius says I should be well enough to get around on my own within a week."
"Until then, if you wish to go to the garden, summon for me and I shall accompany you. Now, let's get you back to your chambers. You need rest," Uther offers the servant his arm and supports her as they walk back to the physician's chambers. Gauis watches, astonished as the king brings Marilyn to her room and carefully tucks her into bed, placing a tender fatherly kiss on her forehead before emerging and closing her door. He shares his offer with Gauis, who thanks him.
"I fear for her spirit. She has been dwindling for quite some time now, and I am worried this has been the last straw to break her," Gaius whispers, tears gathering in his aged eyes.
"We must do all we can to repair her spirits and return her to her old self. I will speak to Arthur about giving her a minimum of two weeks off to let her rest and recover," Uther declares. He leaves Gaius to his work to visit with his son and make his demands.
Marilyn wakes with a cry, bolting up in her small bed. She places a hand over her racing heart, trying to calm herself, you're safe. You're in your own chambers, and they are in the dungeons. They can't hurt you anymore, she tells herself. Seeing it's still light out, she stumbles her way to her door, using anything she can to lean on, and opens it, looking for her uncle. She spots him at one of his work tables with a handful of books open around him. Gaius hears the door open and looks up at his niece with a sad smile. He makes his way over to her and helps her down the steps and to the dining table. Once she is sitting down, he grabs a blanket and wraps it around her shoulders, and she smiles in thanks. They remain silent while he works, Marilyn watching him and enjoying the comforting smell of herbs.
Morgana and Gwen file in the room, smiling when they spot their friend "Marilyn, Gwen and I would like to do something special for you, if you're feeling up to it?" Morgana questions. The pale maid glances over to Gaius, who smiles encouragingly, and nods, allowing the two women to take her arms and lead her to Morgana's chambers. Marilyn finds herself very grateful for the spell she had learned to hide her self-inflicted wounds for the second time in the last few days as they help her undress and ease her down into a hot bath that smells like lavender. Gwen gently scrubs Marilyn clean and Morgana washes her hair. They dry her off and place a pale, silk, baby blue dressing gown around her before leading her to the dressing table, where Gwen does an intricate braided updo in her hair and Morgana places soothing scented oils on her pulse points. The princess fishes out a simple pale blue dress and helps Marilyn into it before the three all sit on Morgana's bed and talk the hours away "we have one more surprise for you," Morgana smiles mischievously. Marilyn inwardly groans at whatever the princess could have planned, but lets her friends walk her down to the training field anyway.
Marilyn's other friends are all lined up, arms behind their backs. Morgana and Gwen help Marilyn sit in the soft grass and hand her a large basket, standing behind her protectively. Elyan is the first to approach her. He kneels and presents her with a lovely bouquet of flowers he picked that morning. She thanks him and places them in her basket, letting him kiss her hand. Percival gives her a simple wooden statue he carved himself of a howling wolf and kisses her hand after she puts it in her basket. Leon is next with a leather bracelet that has a sapphire charm, repeating the actions of his fellow knights. Gwaine presents her with a deep sapphire gown, and Lancelot gives her a braided silver circlet with a diamond in the center. Last is Arthur, who kneels before her and extends a long chain with a beautiful, yet simple ring "this is a promise. I promise you that things will someday be different, and you will be free. Someday, you will be my queen, if you'll have me," he whispers. Teary-eyed, Marilyn nods and lets Arthur slip the chain over her head and embrace her. Gwen picks up the now full basket while Arthur lifts Marilyn to her feet. She winces, so he sweeps her into his arms and walks back to Gaius' with Gwen and his sister behind them. Arthur tucks his exhausted love into her bed and Gwen puts the basket on her bed-side table. The trio leave their friend to rest, Arthur staying in the physician's chambers so she isn't alone, picking up a book about Greek heroes to read while he waits.
Arthur didn't realize he had fallen asleep until Gaius shakes him awake "I'm sorry to disturb you, sire, but you must eat," the old man whispers. Arthur nods sleepily, allowing Gaius to place a bowl of soup in front of him, eating in a haze. Marilyn carefully stumbles down the stairs, Gaius quick to come to her aid. The sudden movement from the old man snaps Arthur out of his head. He smiles warily at the still sleepy girl in front of him, which she returns before yawning. Gaius offers Marilyn some food, which she declines, feigning nausea "at the very least drink the broth my child, you need to get your strength up," he says sternly. With a sigh, his ward accepts a cup full of broth and sips at it, her and Arthur holding hands atop the table, finding much needed comfort in the simple contact.
To say that time has been unkind to the black-haired girl would be an understatement. Lately every time she is alone she cries, whenever she washes she scrubs her skin raw in a feeble attempt to feel clean again, she finds herself at the mercy of her dagger more frequently, and does all that she can to avoid meals, the mere thought of putting anything in her body enough to turn her stomach. She knows she ought to tell someone of what she's been going through, but who? Gaius, who would no doubt be disappointed in her and become even more overbearing? Gwen, who would become a mother bear and probably tell all of her friends as a way to try and help? Lancelot, who would scold her and take her to Gaius? Gwaine, who would probably just take her to the tavern and tell her to forget it? Morgana, who would smother her and tell Arthur? Arthur, who would be angry with her and probably cast her away? Uther, who would turn his cheek to her and tell her not to be so childish? The more she contemplates it, the more useless it becomes. The silence is smothering her, but to break it could be her doom.
With a heavy heart and troubled mind, Marilyn sits with her prince as he eats, and once he is finished she listens to his stories until nightfall, when Gaius ushers her back to her room and shoos Arthur to his own chambers. The old man sits by the fire, tears gathering in his pale blue eyes. He ponders what to do about the once fiery girl in the little room next to him. Unsure of what else to do, he makes his way to the king's chambers, hoping he is still awake. The Goddess must've been smiling down upon the physician, because the king answers his door quickly "Gaius, please come in," he announces, stepping aside "what brings you here?"
"Well, sire, it concerns Marilyn. Her eyes become more lifeless everyday and I fear for her," Gaius admits. Uther looks at him with sympathetic eyes and eases him into a chair by the fire.
"I understand, Gaius. These are hard times, especially for one so young and full of spirit. I do hope that the death of her assailants has helped to ease her fear."
"Her nightmares seem to have eased since their execution, but many nights she still wakes screaming, and it sometimes takes an hour to soothe her back to sleep."
"Tomorrow I shall take her to the garden. Perhaps helping to bring it to life will help lift her spirits," Uther decides thoughtfully. Gaius nods in agreement and the two men fall into easy chatter until the middle of the night, when the older man retires back to his own chambers. Gaius falls into an uneasy sleep, praying to anyone who would listen for Marilyn to be alright and make it through this. She's the closest thing to a child he's ever had, and he would give anything for her happiness and wellbeing. Soon, he tells himself, soon things will be right.
Uther kept his word and brought Marilyn to the gardens, which seemed to have temporarily lifted her mood, but it didn't last. Once she's back in her room, Marilyn falls apart. Hot tears chase her good mood away, leaving her in complete hysterics, sobbing and screaming. She feels dirty an used, and finds herself wishing they had killed her when they were done with her. She makes the decision to take matters into her own hands. She takes her supplies, tosses them in her small bag, and makes her way to the forest as quickly as her body would let her. From his window, Arthur sees Marilyn leave the castle, watching her limp beyond the walls. He wonders where on earth she's going, especially in her condition. Knowing Gaius would never have sent her to gather herbs, he decides to follow her.
Once she's sitting among the roots of her favorite tree, Marilyn grabs her blade and tears her arms apart before taking a strong sleeping draught and settling against the trunk of the aged tree. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approaches her, and in a panic, Marilyn throws a cloaking spell over herself, curling as small as she can to keep whoever it is from touching her. Arthur pops into view, and Marilyn's heart all but bursts out of her chest in fear. She realizes her bag is still in plain sight, and mentally curses herself for being so foolish. As her luck would have it, Arthur notices her bag. He bends to pick it up, getting dangerously close to discovering the struggling maid. She can feel herself slipping away, and her hold on the spell fading with her. Unable to remain conscious any longer, she lets go of everything.
Arthur picks up a bag he recognizes as Marilyn's, wondering where she could be, and not a moment later, she's curled up in front of him, bleeding and unconscious. He realizes she used magic to hide herself, and fear tears through him. He's down by her side in an instant, checking her over for wounds. An inhuman sound tears itself from the prince's throat as he checks her arms, finding them covered in deep gashes and scars, and the tears start falling when he sees the dagger clutched in one of her hands. Arthur pushes his feelings aside, gathers her in his arms, and runs back to the castle. As he runs through the training fields, the knights all stop and stare in horror at the scene in front of them; their prince covered in blood running with Marilyn in his arms, bleeding heavily from her arms. They drop their swords and follow him to Gaius' chambers. Arthur kicks the door open, startling the physician. The second he recognizes the bundle in Arthur's arms, Gaius shoves his personal feelings aside and snaps into action. The prince lays his love on the table, reluctant to let her go, just as the knights come bursting in "out!" Gaius barks, but no one moves "fine. If you stay you must assist me," he demands. The old man nods once, setting about finding the cause of Marilyn's heavy bleeding. Peeling back her bloodied sleeves, a wave of nausea hits Gaius as he sees the damage.
Gwaine makes a strangled sound and finds his lunch on the floor, Lancelot curses, Leon blinks back tears, Percival, punches the stone wall, Elyan stares in horror, and Mordred sends a prayer to the Goddess that his queen will be okay. Gauis snaps orders at everyone, cleaning, stitching, and dressing Marilyn's wounds "I'll need you all to either leave or turn the other way. I need to examine the rest of her," Gaius chokes out. The men turn away reluctantly, and Gaius carefully removes Marilyn's dress. He gasps when he sees exactly how thin she's become. Every inch of Arthur longs to turn and see what's happening, but he knows it would be inappropriate. Finding no other wounds, Gaius places a sheet over his niece and asks someone to fetch one of her nightgowns. Leon finds his feet first, and brings a simple white nightdress to the physician, keeping his eyes averted for the modesty of his friend. Gauis dresses her and tucks a blanket around her body "I have completed my examination," he announces.
The seven men turn slowly, feeling sick at the sight of the thick white bandages up Marilyn's arms. Arthur feels even more lost than he already does. His head is filled images of Marilyn bleeding and dying before his eyes. Everyone feels frozen in place, afraid that if they move the world will fall apart "will she be alright?" Arthur finally manages to ask. Gauis sighs and glances at the wall.
"I'm unable to say. She's lost quite a bit of blood, and her body is lacking the nutrients it needs to heal," he reports.
"What are you saying?" Gwaine is throughly confused.
"Well, to be quite blunt, she's skin and bones. I didn't realize things had gotten this bad," Gaius' voice is hurt and angry and sad.
"S-skin and bones?" Arthur stammers.
"Yes, sire. When I tell you I can see every bone in her body, I mean it. She's always been a slim girl, so I thought nothing of it at first, but seeing her now, this was on purpose. There's no question," the old man reports. Too much. There's too much happening, Arthur's thoughts rush, trying to keep up with the rate information is hurling itself at him. Unable to keep up, the prince falls to his knees and lets himself lose control. He cries shamelessly, unaware of anything around him anymore. He feels his whole world falling apart around him, and he no longer has solid ground to stand on. Marilyn has been his constant for the last few years, and the fact that he truly needs her has never hit him this hard before. It seems to him that she's always getting hurt, always in danger, and he is always left powerless to help her. No more, he tells himself. I will not fail her ever again.