Krysia had pinned up her sleeves as she helped Gaius arrange supplies for the incoming injured and dying when Gwen swept into the infirmary.
"Need more stretchers and sheets," Gaius said, "as many sheets as you can find."
"Gaius," Gwen said urgently, "the guards were under orders to shut the gates at dusk."
"Under orders?" Krysia said softly. "Gwen, who gave that order?"
"Lord Agravaine."
Krysia felt her chest tighten, recalling his hesitance to let the refugees in when they first began to arrive, and she started for the council hall right away, not bothering to see if Gaius and Gwen were following her. Agravaine had just made a big mistake.
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A council meeting was already underway when Krysia stormed in, and Geraint brightened, sitting up when she entered. He almost seemed…relieved, and Agravaine seemed the office.
"Lady Krysia," he said with a forced-bright smile. "Gaius. Have you come to join us?"
"Why have you closed the city gates?" Gaius said.
"And why was I not called to this meeting Agravaine?" Krysia said.
Agravaine hesitated, then said, "You were busy, my lady, and I did not wish to inconvenience you. As to the other, we have limited resources, Gaius. As much as I'd like to, we simply can't feed and water the entire kingdom."
"Surely the people have a right to be protected," Gaius said.
"They do," Krysia said, "and it is what we agreed with Prince Arthur before he left."
Agravaine narrowed his eyes at her and said, "It would be putting Camelot in danger. Starvation, disease. You of all people must understand, Gaius. The gates will remain shut until we are free of the evil that plagues us."
Gaius hesitated, and was clearly about to leave, and Agravaine turned to the others at the table and said, "Now, gentlemen, where were we?"
"I wasn't finished yet," Krysia said, and Agravaine's smile fell slightly. "I ask that the council recognized Guinevere, who brought this aberration of the prince's orders to my attention. She will be addressing the court."
Gwen looked torn between her frustration and her fear, but Agravaine sat back, knowing he had little choice.
"Guinevere?" he said, motioning for her to speak.
"Prince Arthur taught me long ago that every citizen of Camelot is important," Gwen said. "He would never stand by and let them suffer. He would help them if he could, and we must do the same."
"And indeed, it is what he ordered," Krysia said. "Or do you defy the wishes of the prince?"
"I feel the pain as much as you, my lady," Agravaine said, "but we don't have a choice. If we keep letting people in, our food will run out within days."
"You're wrong," Gwen said firmly.
Agravaine's eyebrows shot up, but Krysia just smiled and said, "Yes, Gwen, tell us what Lord Agravaine has failed to see about the incoming people."
"Those outside the gates are landowners, farmers," Gwen said. "For days the refugees have been bartering their wares with the townsfolk in return for the safety of their hearths. They bring with them far more than they take."
"But how long before those wares run out?" Agravaine countered.
Krysia drew herself to her full height and said coldly, "Prince Arthur has, at worst, another three days until he reaches the end of his quest. Are you suggesting that the prince will fail in his quest?"
"Of course not," Agravaine said, quickly.
Geoffrey cleared his throat and said, "Sire, they are right."
"Agreed," Geraint said softly.
Agravaine's nostrils flared a little, but he forced a smile and said, "Very well. Re-open the gates."
Krysia smiled, sitting directly across from Agravaine and the table, and she said, "Now, gentlemen, let's move on to other business, shall we?"
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Leon watched the other knights washing in the stream, and he approached Arthur, who was clearly itching to move forward.
"They need to rest, sire," Leon whispered. "Even Gwaine's gone quiet."
"Sounds like a good reason to keep going," Arthur said.
Leon might have laughed at any other time, but he knew from experience, as Arthur knew, that driving men to this level could only lead to poor results. So Arthur must feel it was necessary to push them so hard, but if the horses and men didn't rest soon, Leon feared they may not make their goal at all.
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Krysia visited Uther the following afternoon before dinner, which she had reluctantly agreed to take with Agravaine in his quarters. Uther was irritable, and as Gwen worked to clean the room, he suddenly spoke.
"Where is Arthur?" he said.
Gwen and Krysia exchanged a look, and Gwen gently said, "I am unsure."
"You should rest, sire," Krysia said.
"Where is he?" Uther demanded.
"The prince is on a hunting trip, sire," Gwen said.
"Perhaps you'd like a walk, sire?" Krysia said.
He seemed to have energy, and Gaius had encouraged them to exercise him whenever he seemed up to it, but he ignored the offer.
"When will he be back?" he said.
"In a few days," Gwen said. "Is there something you need?"
But Uther went quiet again. Krysia squeezed Gwen's hand, and Gwen was about to leave when she turned and Agravaine stepped into the room. Krysia sat up a bit straighter.
"Your devotion to the king is most impressive," Agravaine said to Gwen. He bowed slightly to Krysia, who stood, not comfortable with his presence. As she crossed the room, her white dress dragged slightly on the rug.
"My lady," he said. Then he turned to Gwen and said, "There is something I would like to discuss. I wish to apologize. Yesterday, I feel I let the prince down. I'm grateful that you spoke out, both of you."
"I didn't meant to be discourteous, my lord," Gwen said, obviously also nervous.
"You weren't," Krysia said firmly.
"Not in the least," Agravaine said with a nod. "Gwen, if you would permit, I would be grateful to seek your advice. You understand the people."
Gwen looked to Krysia, hesitant and said, "I'm not sure, I—"
"You do," Krysia whispered. "And one could do far worse for council than Gwen."
Agravaine smiled, which always made Krysia nervous, and he said, "If nothing else, I know that you will be honest with me." He glanced at Uther and said, "It's not appropriate to talk now. But perhaps this evening, you could come to my chambers. You could join Krysia and myself for dinner. Please, Guinevere? These are dark times. I need help if I am to guide us through them."
"Very well," Gwen said, still bewildered.
"We will see you this evening," Krysia said, and Agravaine bowed lightly to her again.
"Thank you," he said.
He passed Gaius entering on his way out, and Gaius watched Agravaine go before turning to the two women, a bit bewildered.
"Is everything alright?" he said.
"Uncertain," Krysia said softly.
"He wishes to speak with me later," Gwen said, bemused. "I think he means to seek my counsel."
Gaius's eyebrows shot up slightly, and Krysia knew he was thinking what Krysia was thinking: Agravaine's motives were rarely transparent.
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Krysia could have laughed at how awkward the whole affair was. Dinner was quick, yet Agravaine seemed to be delaying them for some unknown reason. He poured them each another drink, and Krysia could see how uncomfortable Gwen was. She didn't feel particularly comfortable herself, but she knew how to sit to look at leisure and give off the air of unconcernedness.
"But do the people feel safe?" Agravaine said, in the same vein as he has all evening. "You can speak honestly."
"No, they do not," Gwen said.
"Little wonder," Krysia said dryly, and she took a long drink from her goblet.
"They are frightened," Gwen said. "Night after night, they have seen their friends, their children, their parents all snatched cruelly from them, and they don't know who'll be next."
"What can I do to reassure them?" Agravaine said.
"If you were interested in reassurance, Agravaine," Krysia said, setting down her goblet and looking at him with a teasing smile, "you might try thinking a bit more like Arthur. He's always had a way with the people. They key, of course, it to show courage, which is a form of strength. You showed your fear when you closed the gates, and the people take their cues for fear from their leaders. But you're a horseman. You understand the concept."
Agravaine's earnest expression hardened for a moment, and then he said, "I'm grateful for your advice, both of you. You have a wise head on your shoulders, Guinevere." His clenching and unclenching of his fingers belied the truth of the matter, but then he smiled and said, "I have kept you both long enough."
"That you have," Krysia said, standing.
"And I must go to see the king," Gwen said, standing as well.
"Do not concern yourself with that," Agravaine said, with that same earnestness. "I will ensure he is well looked after. It has been a long day. I'll have my guards walk you home safely."
"Thank you," Gwen said.
Krysia waited for Gwen to leave, and then Agravaine turned to her.
"I will see to the king," Krysia said firmly, brooking no refusal. "Arthur asked me to see to him on his behalf, and that is what I will do."
"You really needn't," Agravaine said.
"Why?" Krysia said, letting her lips curl. "So you can finally murder the man who killed both your siblings?"
Agravaine startled, then forced a nervous smile and said, "The things you think of, my lady. The king and I may not have always seen eye to eye, but he is still my king. But if it will ease your mind, of course, you should see to the king's care."
"I don't need your permission," Krysia said coldly. "I would say sleep well, Agravaine, but I rather hope you don't."
He laughed a little and said, "Don't think that one small victory means you're ready to be a queen, my lady. It takes the stamina to see out a whole campaign to win a war."
"Oh, I wasn't thinking of going anywhere," she said, smirking at him. "Were you?"
He seemed uncertain, and she felt that was the best time to leave him, going directly to the king, not pausing for any reason. She was relieved to find Uther already dozing in his bed, and she sat in the chair beside him, curling her knees up to her chest as she had done as a child. She watched him sleep, and she hoped that he had some pleasant dreams. Someone had to. It may as well be Uther as anyone.
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Krysia woke in the night, startled, and she looked around, realizing that she'd fallen asleep in the chair beside Uther's bed. She wasn't sure why she'd woken, but she did feel like it was significant.
She stood, going to the door and looking up and down the hall for sign of a disturbance, but all was quiet in the corridor. She went to the window, but the square, too, was still. It was almost disconcerting, with so little stillness in the past several days.
She stoked the fire and made a note to ask Geraint to have someone deliver more wood to the king's chambers in the morning, and then she curled up in the chair again, watching the king breathe for a while before she closed her eyes again.
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"He's been over there a while, hasn't he?" Elyan said, watching Arthur, who was standing a bit away from the fire they'd set for safety.
Arthur had said he was keeping watch, but Gwaine would have called it sulking. He'd been sulking since Lancelot left with Merlin, and Gwaine couldn't blame him. Merlin's absence had done a number on morale, especially the circumstances he left under. But Gwaine had to keep telling himself that everything was going to be fine, even if only in his head, or he started to spiral, and he had a promise to keep to Krysia.
"Who wants to take next watch?" Percival said.
"I'll go," Elyan said, approaching Arthur while the others stared at the fire.
Gwaine stared at the firelight and he wondered what Krysia would do if he did die, if he didn't somehow make it back to her. The odds were increasing the longer this quest took, especially without them knowing what it was they were meant to do when they got there.
Leon took his sword and their one torch and said, "I'll get some more firewood."
"By yourself?" Percival said.
"I'll stay within the first line of trees," Leon said. "You'll be able to see the torch."
Gwaine didn't like it, but he wasn't about to volunteer to go with him. He might go after him if he saw the torch go out, but he wasn't about to leave the fire unless he had to.
Elyan and Arthur were having a quiet conversation, and Gwaine shuffled a bit closer to Percival.
"I've a favor to ask," he said.
"Anything," Percival said, leaning closer.
Percival had that aggravating manly scent about him, somehow never smelling of the horse no matter how long he'd been on one.
"If something does happen to me, this trip or any other," Gwaine said, "I want you to promise that you'll find a way to get my body back to Camelot, no matter what."
"Gwaine—"
"Please," Gwaine said, forcing a smile. "I promised Krysia I'd always come home to her, and she's not the type you want to break a promise to. If I can't come back alive, I at least want to know she's got something to bury."
Percival was hesitant to agree, but he did finally nod and say, "If that's what you want, then I'll make sure of it. But you're not dying today, Gwaine."
"Not today, no," Gwaine said with a bright grin. "Maybe tomorrow."
Percival wasn't laughing, and screams rang out in the forest as Arthur was returning to the fire. Leon and Elyan both came back to the fire, each of them closing in around the flames, ready for anything.
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Gwaine stretched at the dawn, watching the light come over the trees, and he ruffled his hair, ready to move on. Leon was already on his horse, speaking gently to the mare that Gwaine recognized well as the horse Krysia had always taken to Willowdale.
Gwaine held his hand out to the horse, and she nudged it, encouraging him to pat her. He did, and Leon met Gwaine's eye with a very closed expression.
"We're old friends," Gwaine said, as if that explained everything. "You're up early."
"I couldn't sleep," Leon said. "It's a good morning. A painted sunrise. That's what Lady Krysia used to call them."
"Used to?" Gwaine said.
"It's been some time since we watched a sunrise together," Leon said, frowning. "She…she served my mother when we were children."
Gwaine waited, silent, expecting Leon to finally say something about the pained expression he often wore around Krysia. Gwaine wasn't sure what would be more to his credit, Leon admitting he was in love with her, or Leon deciding never to say a word about it.
Before Leon could decide to speak or Gwaine could decide to prompt him, Arthur called them all to break camp, and the moment was gone. Gwaine put on his sword and mounted his own horse, steeling himself for another long day's ride.
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Krysia startled awake when the door opened, and Gaius entered, looking around the room.
"Krysia?" he said. "Where's Gwen?"
"She's gone in for the night," Krysia said, blinking.
Uther was already sitting at his chair by the window, having gotten out of bed without disturbing Krysia. No one had come in to make the bed, the fire had nearly burned out, and no one had brought food.
"I take it she's late," Krysia said, feeling a tightness in her chest.
"I'll find her," Gaius said. "No, don't argue. You go change. The king will keep long enough for you to send Enid with some food."
Krysia didn't want to agree, but her neck was terribly sore from the night in the chair, and Uther really didn't seem to even notice they were there.
"Yes, go," she said. "I'll come find you when Uther's seen to."
Gaius gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and hurried down the corridor with his torch. Krysia took one look back at Uther, who was sitting peacefully at his window, and she hurried to her quarters.
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Krysia tried to look as calm as possible as she hurried to Gaius's rooms, slowing and smiling at servants and guards as she went, but not pausing for anything. Enid had gone to see to the king directly, and Drea had gone to find someone to get more wood for the king's chambers without Krysia haven't to ask. That girl would do well indeed.
Gaius was checking a wound on Gwen's head when Krysia entered, and Krysia hugged her friend, who looked exhausted.
"I remember the guards walking me to my door," Gwen said, "and then…nothing."
"It's just a surface wound," Gaius said. "You were lucky." He turned to Krysia and said, "I found her in the street of the lower town. A Dorocha had gotten one of the guards."
"Gods, I'm glad you're alright," Krysia said.
"Everyone talks about the coldness," Gwen said, frowning, "but I don't feel cold at all."
"You weren't attacked by the Dorocha, Gwen," Gaius said, looking pointedly at Krysia.
"You just said that one got a guard," Krysia said, and Gaius nodded slowly.
"Then what?" Gwen said, and Gaius stayed silent, hesitating. "Gaius?"
"I fear someone wanted to do you harm," he said. "The guard was already unconscious when the Dorocha reached him, I'm certain of it."
"So someone attacked Gwen and the guard and left them," Krysia said, realizing she'd feared for the wrong party when she left Agravaine's chambers the night before. He knew she could only be in one place at a time, so he played into her fears for the king to leave Gwen exposed.
But how did he pull it off? This didn't have a sign of his hand in it. Or not his only.
"Why?" Gwen said, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," Gaius said.
"There could be many reasons," Krysia said, frowning. "Your closeness to the royal family, your position at court, perhaps even your words at the council meeting the other night."
Gwen shook her head and said, "I'm sure if they did, they'd've done a better job."
"Maybe," Gaius said, eyes narrowed. "But cold-blooded murder is suspicious. Better to leave you to the Dorocha."
Gwen shivered, and once Gaius was confident that she was well enough to return to work, she left to relieve Enid.
"Agravaine," Krysia whispered.
"Agravaine wouldn't have been able to strike the guards and Gwen all at once without being caught," Gaius said. "He was never so good a soldier as that. I know you don't trust him, Krysia, but—"
"He feels threatened by Gwen," Krysia said.
"He feels more threatened by you, I think," Gaius said, shaking his finger. "And you've certainly given him plenty of reasons to feel threatened. Tread carefully, Krysia. I don't think he'd attempt to murder you in your bed, but the de Bois clan was known for courtly string-pulling long before Uther's time. And Agravaine was always the least direct of the siblings."
Krysia hummed, crossing her arms over her belt and musing. She knew Gaius wasn't keen on Agravaine either, but he was right. Someone else's hand was in this, even if Agravaine was involved. The question was who, and how could Krysia see them coming so something like this didn't happen again.
A/N:
So, Gwaine is starting to feel pretty grim about the mission, Krysia and Agravaine continue their distrusting dance around each other, and someone just tried to kill Gwen. The thrilling conclusion to this two-parter's story arc may be out later today, but certainly tomorrow, and then…the wedding!
-C