Uther held the torn knight's cape in his hands, unable to see anything but the blood stains, visible even on the red of the cape.

"It was Cenred who did this, you're certain of it?" Uther said.

"Yes, my lord," Arthur said. "His messenger has only this minute departed from Camelot. Cenred said that the patrol trespassed on his land, and an example had to be made."

"How many dead?" Uther said.

"And who?" Krysia added, her voice tight.

Uther looked at her. She sometimes had her father's way of dealing with bad news, going quiet rather than raging in most cases. She stood, anxiously awaiting the names.

"All of them, sire," Arthur said, staring at Krysia. "Every last man."

"The knights?" Uther said, pressing.

"All lost," Arthur said. "Edric, Oldolf…Osric…" He paused, looking at Uther now, his face contracting slightly. "And Sir Leon."

The council chamber was silent for a long, solemn moment. Uther did not know what to say, and no one else seemed to, either. Suddenly, Krysia said, "Excuse me," and swept out of the chamber, the train of her green gown fluttering behind her as she looked at no one, just strolling to the door.

Uther could see her bare shoulder tremble as she turned the corner after the door, and he knew she would likely not come out of her chamber for days. At least she had the luxury to mourn Leon, as she had been unable to with his brother. Uther couldn't help thinking he'd failed Bors and Evaine, letting their line die in such a manner.

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In the night, Gwaine woke from a dream on the cot, sitting up abruptly. Krysia had been there, beautiful, bathed in moonlight. He'd had this dream before, but he'd nearly forgotten it. Unlike so many of the dreams, this was not in Camelot, but in a decrepit room, in a bed that clearly had not been used in years.

The light on her breasts had been so inviting, the way she gasped his name so real, he'd woke thinking she was beneath him, but there was nothing, no one.

He sat against the wall and stared at the barred door, expecting that any minute he would be retrieved to return to the cell with the other men, but he tried to hang on to every lingering detail of the dream, of the smell of her skin in the dust, the feel of her hands digging into his back. Gods, he had to get out of this place.

/-/

Krysia affixed her belt and frowned at her reflection. Perhaps she wouldn't go to breakfast. There was a knock and she steadied herself before telling the knocker to enter. She was relieved when Arthur came in, looking every bit as regretful as he had the day before, delivering the horrible news.

She tried to summon the words to great him, but before she could let out a word, the tears began, faster and stronger than they had the night before. Arthur hurried across to her and embraced her, letting her put her weight on him as she let out her grief on his shoulder.

"I know," Arthur said softly, pressing his hand bracingly on her hair. "For what it's worth, you meant more to him than I think he ever dared tell you."

She frowned, looking up and wiping hastily at her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Arthur smiled weakly, then retrieved Lady Evaine's pendant from her dressing table. He undid the clasp, and Krysia moved her hair so he could put the pendant on her.

She wiped at her eyes and took a few staggered breaths.

"You don't have to come downstairs today if you don't want to," he whispered.

Suddenly, Krysia realized what Arthur must have meant.

"Someone better for me," Krysia said with a shaky laugh. "That's what you meant, isn't it? You were talking about Leon."

Arthur took her hands and looked at the floor, squeezing them lightly.

"Why did he never say?" she said, feeling stunned.

And then she recalled when he was drunk at a feast and took her outside to speak to her, and they were interrupted by Uther, who had been assaulted by visions. Or when he asked for a favor in the jousting tournament that he thought Arthur wasn't in, when he really thought he had a chance of winning. And Gaius reminding her not to tease him.

How had she not seen?

"I can have Enid bring your meals—"

"No," Krysia said firmly. "No, it does no good to anyone if I sulk. We have a council meeting today, and I won't miss it. Just…can you help me get this in my hair?"

Arthur did his best helping her adjust the clips on the chain, although his touch wasn't as delicate as Leon's had always been, and he looked away respectfully when her eyes began to water again. When she felt ready to go down without crying, she took a deep breath and began going down to breakfast.

/-/

Leon opened his eyes slowly, but the cave he was in was dark. A group of druids stood around him, and one man, holding a silver cup to Leon's mouth, smiled warmly at Leon.

"Welcome back," the man said.

Leon tried to recall where he'd last been, and the only thing that came to mind was the battlefield, the horrible slaughter, and being struck down. Surely he had been dead. A chill ran down his spine, although now he felt fine. Had anyone else made it out?

/-/

Returning to Camelot after the surreal morning he had was especially strange for Leon. He could see the mark of the wound on his clothes, could feel the hole where the mortal wound should be. Everyone who saw him as he entered looked surprised to see him, and when Arthur stood to greet him in the council chamber, all Leon could see was Krysia, beautiful in the white gown that clung to her figure, in his mother's pendant, with her eyes rimmed red and wide with shock.

"We thought you were dead for sure," Arthur said.

"I was dead," Leon said, "or as good as, until the druids found me."

"Druids?" Uther said.

"They have been known to live on the border," Krysia whispered.

Leon nodded, tearing his gaze from her to address the king.

"Yes, my lord," he said. "I owe them my life."

"How did they heal you?" Uther said. "You were as good as dead, you said."

"I don't know."

Krysia let out a nervous laugh and said, "Does it really matter?"

"Did they use magic?" Uther said.

"Well, I…"

Leon hesitated. Any suggestion of magic was a dangerous thing, even if it was done against his will, without his conscious awareness.

"Yes or no?" Uther said. "It's a simple enough question."

"Unless he doesn't know," Krysia said, sitting a bit straighter.

Leon did not want her to get in any trouble on his account, especially as she appeared to not have slept, which was painfully heartening.

"I only know that I drank from some kind of cup, sire," Leon said carefully.

"Cup?" Uther prompted.

Leon nodded and said, "It was extraordinary, my lord. I have known nothing like it. From the moment it touched my lips, I could feel my life return to me."

Krysia's fingers curled, a small sign that she knew something of the cup in question. Many people in the room looked puzzled, but Uther did not.

"Well," he said, clearly uncomfortable, "your trials have left you weary, I'm sure. We must let him rest."

Uther swept out of the room, and Krysia stood, approaching Leon with the most beautiful smile.

For a wild moment, Leon thought she might go to kiss him, but instead she hit his breastplate with enough force to make her point without hurting her hand.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," she said sternly.

He couldn't stop smiling, although he looked a fool, grinning at her as she hit him. Gods, she was so beautiful.

"Whatever you wish, my lady."

She faltered slightly, and did he imagine it, or did she blush?

"Come," she said, holding out her hand. "Gaius will want to examine you."

"I assure you, there is no need—"

"Humor me."

He held out his arm, which she took, and they walked together out of the council chamber. Leon didn't miss Geraint's wink on the way out, and Leon did feel a little bit like this one brief interaction was worth dying for.

/-/

Krysia sat on the edge of Leon's bed while Gaius examined him, watching every test. Arthur, Uther, and Merlin watched on, waiting. There was no appreciable mark of where a sword had pierced him, even an old scar from childhood had seemed to totally heal.

"Is that it?" Leon asked Gaius.

"That's it," Gaius said with a smile. He stood and turned to the king. "He is exhausted, sire, and seriously dehydrated, but given time, he'll make a full recovery."

"Thank you, Gaius," Arthur said.

Gaius swept out, with Uther and Merlin following him into the corridor.

"Enid is already bringing water," Krysia said, letting Leon take her hand. "She should be here shortly."

"I assure you, I'm fine," Leon said, smiling. "All the better for seeing you, my lady."

Arthur cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly, like he was thinking of giving them a moment alone. Krysia felt her neck go hot as she recalled what they'd discussed that morning.

"You need to rest, though," she said firmly, pressing him back on the bed. "That means eyes closed."

"I don't want to close my eyes," he said, staring at her. "Surely the sight of beauty is restorative."

Krysia laughed nervously, then squeezed his hand and said, "Sleep is more so. Please, Leon."

He smiled weakly, brought her fingers to his lips, and said, "Whatever you wish, my lady."

/-/

Uther turned to Gaius in the corridor, out of earshot of Arthur, Leon, and Krysia. Especially Krysia. He couldn't risk her getting tangled up in the business with druids.

"Well?" he said.

Gaius looked back at the door and said, "It's remarkable, sire. He bears no sign of any kind of wound. He is in perfect health."

"And the cup he spoke of?"

"From his description, I would say it was the Cup of Life."

Uther had feared as much, and he felt his chest tighten. The cup had the power to do incredible damage, perhaps even destroy Camelot.

"You are aware of its power, Gaius?"

"I am, indeed, sire. But the druids are a peaceful people. They would only ever use the cup for good. Sir Leon is surely proof of that."

"Be that as it may," Uther said, "according to Sir Leon's description, the druids' cave lies within Cenred's kingdom. It is imperative that we get to the cup before he does."

Gaius hesitated, then said, "My lord, druids are secretive by nature. They will have the cup well-hidden. Might it not be wise to leave it where it is?"

"I'm not prepared to take that risk."

He left without another word to prepare maps for Arthur. This would have to be a quiet, secretive mission. If Cenred had any spies in Camelot, they could not afford for him to hear more than what Leon had already said in front of everyone.

/-/

Leon woke suddenly in the night, thirsty, and he smiled a little to see Krysia laying with her head and arms across his bed, fast asleep. He didn't want to disturb her, but he couldn't reach the water without moving her, and surely that wasn't comfortable. He leaned forward, touching her jaw gently.

"My lady, can you hear me?" he whispered.

Krysia murmured, shifting but not waking. Her lips parted slightly, and he smiled, wishing he could kiss them, but knowing it would be a mistake.

"Krysia, please wake. You should go to your own bed to sleep."

She hummed, her eyelids fluttering open. The urge to kiss her returned when she looked up at him, an ache stronger than anything held ever felt, but just smiled at her and held in the ache.

"Did you need something?" she said, sitting up and stretching. "Are you thirsty?"

"I am, but I don't want you to wait on me, my lady," he said, squeezing her hand to stop her when she got up. "I'm perfectly capable of getting water for myself. I want you to sleep comfortably. Go, please. I will still be here in the morning."

Krysia hesitated, frowning at him, but finally she did nod, and she leaned in. Again, he had a wild moment when he thought she might kiss him, but her lips landed on his face, on the bone of his cheek, and he could smell her beautiful, floral scent as her hair caressed his face.

He regretted sending her away when she left, but he knew it was for the best. She wasn't his to wait on him, as it should be. It didn't matter how much it kept him awake longing. Better than she be happy.

/-/

Krysia sat with Gaius and Merlin, accepting tea from Gaius after giving her report on Leon and hearing about their conversation with Uther about the cup. It sounded like Uther was making a mistake again, but Krysia wasn't sure how they could possibly convince him to leave well enough alone.

"I thought the cup was destroyed with Nimueh when Krysia defeated her on the Isle of the Blessed," Merlin said.

"The cup cannot be destroyed," Gaius said. "Its magic is eternal, unbound by time or place."

"But why does Uther fear it so much?"

Krysia let out a shaky laugh, then took a long sip of her tea. She gave Merlin a sad smile and said, "Uther is right to fear the cup. In the wrong hands, it could destroy everything."

"I don't understand," Merlin said.

Krysia looked to Gaius, who sat down with them and said, "Many centuries ago, it fell into the possession of a great warlord. One night, he gathered his army before him. He took a drop of blood from each and every man and collected it in the cup. Such was the vessel's power that the soldiers were made immortal where they stood."

Merlin seemed to understand, sitting back and frowning.

"So they could not be killed," Merlin said.

Krysia nodded and said, "An army that cannot die can accomplish a great deal, especially if their goal is devastation. And Uther knows he has enemies who are powerful in the Old Religion. I'm sure he fears what Morgause might do if she found the cup first."

"Or Morgana," Merlin whispered.

Krysia shivered.

"With such a weapon at their disposal," Gaius said, "Camelot would be all but lost."

/-/

As with every night there was no fight, Gwaine sat away from the other men, who perhaps were afraid of stirring his ire. He had the sense that champions didn't stay undefeated so long in Jarl's cells, and that caused a great deal of fear. Gwaine wished he could make it clear to the other men that he had no interest in killing any of them, but what was there to say in a situation like theirs?

Instead, he daydreamed about Krysia in the dust-coated bed, the smell of her sweat, the feel of her body heat, the sound of his name on her lips. He would probably kill a hundred men if it meant to see her again, to hold her, but just to have a night in a cot on his own and a slightly less horrible meal?

He hoped he never became so desperate.

/-/

Uther waited in silence in the corridor, not looking up when Arthur approached. He was deep in thought, trying to curb his anger at Krysia holding Leon's hand during the examination.

"You called for me, father," Arthur said.

"Cenred is our sworn enemy," Uther said softly. "We cannot risk him getting his hand on the Cup of Life."

"I know, father."

"You must retrieve it. Your mission must remain secret; you can speak to no one of this."

"I will take only my most trusted men."

Uther shook his head and said, "We've seen what happened to the last patrol that entered Cenred's land. You must go alone. I'm sorry to place such a burden upon you, but there is no one else I can trust."

Arthur nodded, and the apology did seem to touch him. Perhaps Uther didn't express his apologies often enough.

"I understand, father," Arthur said, and Uther clapped his shoulder firmly.

Then it was just keeping the matter secret from Krysia. Her recent ordeal confirmed that she did have magic in her blood, and any opportunity for her to discover that, even on accident, must be avoided. He could not bear to put her to the stake.

/-/

Krysia was already dressed and going down a corridor, certainly toward Sir Leon's quarters, when Uther was heading back upstairs after seeing off Arthur. They both stared at each other in the corridor, and he cleared his throat.

"Checking on the invalid, my lady?" Uther said.

Her smile was almost shy when she said, "Only ensuring that he has followed the physician's orders. Sir Leon can be stubborn."

"Indeed," Uther said, feeling a dull ache of disappointment at her saying Leon's name.

This was ridiculous, of course. She was never Uther's, not without enchantment. She was not her mother. This was not the same betrayal, and yet to see her bow her head and then disappear into Sir Leon's chambers felt as pointed as Lady Zosia telling him that she would be marrying Marcial. Perhaps, if such things were possible, this felt worse.

He took a deep breath and reminded himself that Leon was from a good family, a steadying presence, and he was closely tied to Camelot. Those things should have been a comfort, but they felt empty instead.

A/N:

AH! A guest did appreciate the Enid & Geraint! Yeah, they had Geraint in a single episode, and he was excellent, but then he never came back. I like to think if he'd done better in viewership polls or something that they'd have done a play off that story, but alas.

We may be in this particular two-part arc for several chapters, btw. There's a LOT to cover. But there will be Gwaine, there will be Krysia, and eventually there will even be some Krysia & Gwaine!

-C