Their chests heaving, sweat glistening and reddened from the exertion, the pair missed that cool lake they had enjoyed not much earlier, hastily having a deep drink from the bottled water that had been their only other alternative of being refreshed.

"how on earth do you fight like that!" Elaina proclaimed, with Gwaine beating her on this account but it was a game she humbly accepted the defeat, because throughout their whole fight she had been in awe of his capabilities knowing full well he was even holding back on her.

For sure, Gwaine had little by little let his true potential shine through, as he saw Elaina could take the hits with her own flourishes that were strictly honourable. Not a bad thing, though he had to acquire skills that were dirtier to best his opponents as they were never truly the honourable kind, proven by the crook who could not accept being bettered and took a cheap shot at his leg. Therefore, he had returned her swordsmanship with speed, taking blind spots and tripping her when need be as some examples. He thought she might hold him in some frustration or disdain for doing so, but the glint in her eye told him how she relished in him challenging her, for she might not have been given that equal right to a fair fight, all due to her being the fairer sex.

In honesty, Gwaine could see that Elaina could be someone to lean on if out there he encountered trouble with her by his side. She just needed polishing and some freedom in manoeuvres, uncoordinated by textbook training repetitive among knights.

"I'm impressed. You have certainly shown me how you, my lady, certainly can handle yourself."

Which was just another factor to her character that intrigued, amused and had gained his admiration. With that wooden sword, Elaina had shut out the world around her as Gwaine could see that he was all that was in her vision, while he remained engaged with it, purely due to capturing the glares bestowed in their direction by other occupiers within the castle on their passing.

At first, he believed that he was their target but that was not the case for many eyes had in fact followed Elaina and while some mirrored his looks upon the young lady, not all had been the same and there was a hint of disaproval as a woman walked by. Her name might not have been so swift to the forefront if his mind, by he recognised the noblewoman for Elaina's sister. It was evident by the way her features hardened like a foul smell was in the air, that she had a harsh outlook on life. he could see that there was nothing that signalled that she had the best of intentions with his instincts screaming for Gwaine to watch his back around her and also, it triggered a want and need to also protect Elaina from her. it was all he could do to continue in their game and not shield Elaina within his arms from her sister's presence, scared for her purity to be blemished by the darkness he saw in what was her name again…morgana?

As soon as the noblewoman had noted that Gwaine had seen her watching, he turned and in an instant she was gone setting him on edge like the woman were a predator to strike at any moment when their guard was down.

He could not believe that Elaina and morgana shared the same blood and had much the same childhood, making him wonder how the two could be so different and what had caused their separation.

Gwaine was snapped back from his thoughts as Elaina gave him a sharp poke at his ribs, seeing his attention had wandered off to somewhere far for a moment, "You'll need to show me some of those tricks."

A few hairs had come loose, sticking to Elaina's face and Gwaine lifted his hand to draw them back behind her ear, small and delicate like seashells, "Any time," he smiled.

With every touch, he could feel the greed in him to trace over more of her features to understand them all, as though he could not already conjure her with ease in his dreams. Last night, Elaina had been there as he slept as a repeat of all their shenanigans in his sleeping mind, with particular attention to each time she smiled or laughed or looked his way…

If he was not with her, somehow Gwaine knew that a night's sleep, something he had never had easy access to before or ever having enjoyed a peaceful one, was what he would begin to crave for the chance she would be there, even at a distance or as a mere scent to torture him. Yet, for as long as she was flesh and bone before him, he wanted to savour it anticipating all the instants she would reveal more and more to him, both as someone vulnerable and strong.

"Elaina!" a voice boomed through the peacefulness of the gardens, disturbing its tranquillity and the peacefulness Gwaine had witnessed overcome Elaina for her to come full circle again and a shadow fell down on her.

Angrily, Gwaine captured who caused this change in her and obviously upset Elaina and saw a matured man whose stern look was just the same as morgana's who lingered behind him, with her ruby red lips quirked in a cynical smile.

"Isn't that the king?" he asked, knowing the answer.

Elaina tensed feeling the monarchs gaze driving a dagger inwards the longer she took to respond to him. She did not want to move an inch because with Gwaine she felt protected, brave enough to tell him to leave them be though in the same breath, it was he would also be the one to be at risk if she dared.

"you should go, now," Elaina whispered, for if Gwaine was at a safer distance she would be calmer in confronting the king for whatever reason he wanted to speak with her.

Gwaine did not move gazing into her face that softened earnestly so that he would obey her plea. He did not want to add more stress as her body had stiffened, though he would by his own choice want to stay with her, distrusting of what the two intruders would want from Elaina, but he could see them from their standpoint, a noblewoman, a sister and ward, beside himself who was no more than a peasant. He could, if she hadn't yet admitted it to herself, see where the conversation she was about to have was heading and if anything it made him want to linger longer for if the result was unfavourable, she may not cross his path for a long while.

Eventually, with Elaina desperately adding, 'please', he listened and ventured off to the only place he could lay low for the rest of the day, which was back with Gaius and merlin. Although, before he did, Gwaine made sure that the viper next to Uther had a taste of his own disgust for her as his eyes narrowed. He could not say for certain if she had seen it, though she would not miss a beat in her surroundings Gwaine was sure, if her enjoyment was to pluck things out from her surroundings to torment. He was glad if morgana should see how he saw right through her, perhaps then it would come as a warning that she should not try and pull something more on her sister, who he could not deny, the strong feelings which were beginning to reside within him for.

It would have been better if Elaina had kept her dress neatened, her hair combed and her skin fresh, but her presentation just added a further sprinkling of salt to Uther's already soured expression as she approached. Her arms crossed at the small of her back, she inclined her head with a bow without mockery still a difficult thing for her to achieve ever since she was a child before the very same man. He remained quiet, allowing her to continue staring at the grass and Elaina preferred to let him take all the time he needed before the inevitable scolding, counting each wisp as she was frozen in place. Finally, he cleared his throat as her indicator to face him once more, her green eyes locked on his steely grey that lacked all the kindness Arthur's carried, which must be a trait given by his mother. Elaina's blood still run warm through her veins after battling Gwaine, but she felt as it slowly chilled, as she was taken in with such disdain by Uther, with her back stiffening as she wanted nothing more than to run away yet knew she could not. As she said before, if it were only her at risk for her insolence she often bestowed instead if those curtsey's, it wouldn't matter but now Gwaine was linked to her, the connection there in Uther's mind to use against Elaina and so she endured him.

"who was that man."

She hated being asked questions concerning what people already knew and just wanted validation and to also enforce it on those they spoke to, that it had not passed their attention. Gwaine had not introduced himself yet to Uther, while still a guest under his roof whether he had wished it or not and that slight had gone on too long for any excuse or apology. Elaina debated if it might have been better to drag him along with her to make those introductions, but even so she had been too free in how she spent her time with him, which Uther had just witnessed. That was crossing the line when Elaina was a noblewoman and for all Uther knew, Gwaine a commoner, adding further cause to insult and there was no way the man she had grown quite fond if was going to get any recognition for the service he had done for Arthur, when Uther felt taken for granted.

"Gwaine my lord. The man who saved Arthur the other day," Elaina swiftly penetrated morgana with her stare, "from those thugs who were going to stab him."

The story was too familiar and Elaina watched as morgana squirmed, ever since she was the one behind the first instance Arthur had been at risk for such a fatal blow by bandits she hired. Only instead of Gwaine, it has been Elaina who had gotten in the way that time and took the trauma onto herself. She didn't think this had anything to do with her sister, but she did enjoy that once again fate had played its role in keeping Arthur safe, favouring him before morgana's foul intentions and Elaina could see how it infuriated her.

"…and do you often consort with commoners as freely as you had with him. How familiar you both appeared to be with one another."

Elaina wanted to raise Uther's attention that conversation with his subjects and the sharing in tasks and showing interest in their lives, was not something that was any different to a lot of what the nobles did in Camelot, his son was included in that. In being a physician, all familiarity was actually on first name terms and friendships had blossomed everywhere, where it even took people a moment to remember she was of noble blood. Except, she knew that is not what he had been insinuating. After all he had disturbed them while Gwaine's hand had been upon her cheek, their chests so close and lost to the world around them…it was surely a spark to be witnessed, Elaina could not deny it which was unacceptable far more so than just mere friendship.

She knew she had to tread carefully and as her face paled in worry, she could see morgana smirking at Elaina's expense and could tell that she had been filling the king's head with her own opinions on the matter. Something told Elaina that like their sister Morgause, she too was blending in with the shadows to overhear and see everything that happened, for her to use to her own benefit and this was such an instance, though she couldn't figure out how or why.

It wasn't any use, Elaina had to stay as close to the truth as she could, maybe that small offering of respect might ease Uther off the chase for a while.

"I assure you my lord, Gwaine has ever been respectful. It was my mistake; I admit vanity made me want to flaunt my sword skills before the prince's hero. I was the one who over stepped, he merely entertained me I'm sure and would have declined if I wasn't so persistent."

Uther didn't make any comment and seemed accepting as he scrutinised her, quickly Elaina seized the moment before any yelling could transpire while luck was on her side, "I should retire to my chambers, before I do anything else that might upset his majesty."

Another nod and Elaina hastened herself away indeed towards the staircase that led to her private quarters and Uther watched after her in deep contemplation as morgana placed a hand on his arm, "thank you for bringing this to my attention child. It has given me a lot to think about."

As had been the hope for the noblewoman. When she had come across the man and her sister, morgana had been surprised to see Elaina project such merriment when it had been lacking in her character. For a second, morgana almost got caught up in the thrill of seeing Elaina smile and laugh again, but she had made it clear that there was no part of her that ever wanted to share in that with morgana.

Had she captured her attention then morgana would be reminded of what she had done with the hatred written all over Elaina's face, then there was this feeling of abandonment when her sister had chosen others over her own flesh and blood. Morgana confessed she had made a grave mistake all those months ago when her plans went array and she almost was the cause of her sister's death, but she didn't anticipate her own suffering as she was constantly reminded of it. They always promised truth, understanding and forgiveness as sisters, however Elaina broke that vow before morgana ever did. She knew that if she was ever going to get any peace to complete her and Morgause's plans, Elaina had to be taken out of the picture. So, seeing her with that man had in fact given her an idea.

"such as my lord?" morgana prodded.

"well, perhaps I have been looking at the issue of your sister all wrong. Maybe her acting out as she has always done, can be better remedied by humbling her with a husband and household…"

He had heard complaint from many in his castle of such unsettlement among the children of his noble families and the changes they see after they are married, time and time again. in trying to find Arthur a bride and nudging him in the direction of securing Camelot's future with an alliance, he neglected to consider how the same thing may be done with his ward. Morgana was in no such need as of yet and having been parted from her when she went missing, Uther was reluctant to entrust her to anyone else, while Elaina there was no such barriers. In marrying her off, he could see how there was much to be benefitted from her having a union with someone in another prosperous land.

Morgana relished in a plan coming together, though knew Uther had to take credit for it so she merely agreed to give him that extra push, "to be with someone to distract her my lord, maybe far from Camelot where she might escape any temptation of mischief…dare I say it might make a new woman out of her."