"Gods' sake, Gwaine, weren't you supposed to be awake hours ago?"

Gwaine stirred, puzzled, by Percival's voice, and he groaned when the curtains opened suddenly, light streaming in. It took he a moment to figure out why Krysia wasn't beside him and why he felt like he'd been trampled by a horse.

"The wedding," he said, sitting up, eyes wide. "Gods, the wedding."

"Yeah, and you're still in bed," Percival said. "Lucky for you, Enid suggested having a servant bring a bath for you."

"Bless Enid," Gwaine groaned, looking at the steaming bath beside Percival. "Is it ready?"

"Yes," Percival said.

Gwaine stripped down, and Percival busied himself gathering Gwaine's things for the wedding, laying them out on the bed while Gwaine got in the bath and sighed.

"I think I'm bruised everywhere," Gwaine said, frowning. "This whole tournament before a wedding thing isn't conducive to a happy wedding night."

"I imagine you'll find a way to be happy regardless," Percival said. "Is there anything else you can think of that you need right now, or should I leave you be?"

Gwaine didn't want Percival to leave, but it sounded to pathetic to say he was afraid of being alone with his thoughts on his wedding day, so he said, "How long have I got?"

"Barely enough time to wash, dress, and get some food in you, if you're lucky."

"Food sounds great," Gwaine said, stretching.

"I'll have Clay bring something up," Percival said. "And Gwaine? Try to be on time for your wedding."

Gwaine laughed, but as soon as the door closed behind Percival, the laugh died on his lips and the panic set in. In a matter of hours, he was going to be married to Krysia, and everything would be different, for both of them. He was excited, he knew he was, so why was there a gnawing terror in his gut?

/-/

Krysia tried to sit up in bed, but she felt terribly dizzy, as she had for several days.

"Drea?" she whispered.

The girl came to her side, frowning. She said something, but Krysia didn't hear or understand the words.

Krysia tried again to sit up, but the room just spun, and then it went black.

/-/

"Is she going to be alright?"

"If you'll just get some water, Gwen."

"Of course."

Krysia was aware of Merlin incanting, and she felt a heaviness in her head for a moment, and someone touching her forehead, then someone feeling for her pulse.

"Krysia?" Gaius's voice said in the darkness. "Can you hear me?"

"Did it work?" Merlin said.

"I can't be sure."

"She's supposed to be marrying Gwaine in less than an hour, Gaius," Merlin said. "We don't have time to wait and see."

Krysia forced sound out of her mouth, and she felt both men lean toward her. It took some effort to open her eyes, and she was exhausted. The light in the room was too bright, but at least the room seemed to be staying put.

"What happened?" she said.

"Someone's been dosing you with venom again," Merlin said darkly. "Three guesses who."

"How long have you been feeling poorly and saying nothing?" Gaius said sternly.

Krysia shrugged, trying to sit up. Gaius pushed her back down, and she rolled her eyes, which was a mistake, because it made her head ache a bit.

"I was fine," she said.

"Clearly," Merlin said with a snort. "Next time I'll just let you heal yourself, shall I?"

"Once again, you're supremely lucky you're not dead," Gaius said. "We'll have to come up with a way to make sure your food and drink sources are uncontaminated."

Krysia agreed, but she sat up, resisting Gaius's attempts to make her lie back, as Enid and Clay brought in a large tub and a hot tub of water.

"I do have a wedding to prepare for," Krysia said. "Now if you'll excuse me."

When she was alone with Enid, and Gwen had returned, Krysia began to take off her night clothes and climb into the prepared bath. It was a little hotter than she'd have liked, but she laid back in the tub and let Gwen carefully brush her hair.

"That was terrifying," Gwen said, her hand trembling. "You're feeling better?"

"Much," Krysia said, forcing a smile. "Just a passing fainting sickness. Nothing to trouble yourself with."

Krysia was sure her friend didn't believe her, but she didn't have the time or energy to fight this battle, and thankfully, no one was going to push her too hard on her wedding day.

"There's one thing," she said, reaching for Enid, who knelt beside her. "Can you bring Sir Leon, please? I need to speak with him, urgently."

"My lady, you're not dressed."

"I will be soon enough," Krysia said, brushing off the concern. "Please."

Enid agreed, and Krysia prepared herself for what might be the most difficult conversation she would ever have to undertake.

/-/

Krysia sat at her dressing table fidgeting with Lady Evaine's necklace while Enid did her hair, and Gwen answered the door, saying Leon's name with an almost relieved greeting.

"That's all for now, ladies," Krysia said, batting at Enid's hands, which were still adjusting the headdress Krysia was meant to wear.

"My lady, we're not finished," Enid said urgently.

Gwen took Enid's hand and led her out of the room, nodding to Krysia as she stood, greeting Leon.

He stared at her, his lips parting as he stared. She wondered, as he struggled to find words, how she hadn't seen for so long that he had feelings for her. She held out her hands, and he took them to his lips, kissing them tenderly.

"You look radiant, my lady," he said.

"I have two very important things to ask of you, Leon," she said softly. "And I'm not asking as a lady or as your friend, or as anything other than the little girl from the woods. Do you understand?"

Leon hesitated, but he slowly nodded. He was the only one in the castle who still saw that child when he looked at her, and she needed the protective tenderness that evoked in him today.

"First," she said, "Gaius said someone has been…well, not to put too fine a point on it, I've been poisoned again. No, don't, I'm fine," she said, squeezing his hand as she sat at the dressing table again, examining her half-finished hair. "My concern is that this person might try again."

"Surely Morgana hasn't made it so close to you again," he said, looking at her over her shoulder, through the mirror.

Krysia considered her reflection, then said, "No, she'd have to have an accomplice, and this is why I need you to keep an eye on my food and drink personally."

"Krysia, perhaps the prince—"

"No," she said softly. "No, it's…it's not that I don't trust Arthur. I do. But for someone to be close enough for me to pull this off without suspicion—"

"They would need to be close to Arthur as well," Leon said, sighing. He sat on the nearest chair, staring at her. "You suspect someone in the council?"

"Well, not Arthur," she said, examining her hair from the other side, tilting her head again. "And not any of the knights. I'd trust each of you with my life. But there's certainly someone that close to me."

"Surely not every council member is a suspect," Leon said, shaking his head. "Gaius, for one."

She smiled and said, "Yes, Geoffrey seems an unlikely suspect as well, while you mention it. Just please, Leon. Promise me that you'll keep this to yourself, and you'll keep a watch."

Leon took her hand and squeezed it gently, and he said softly, "Krysia, you know you never need to ask where your safety is concerned."

"I know," she said with a forced smile, "which is why my second question is the harder of the two."

"What is it?" he said.

She touched his mother's pendant and said softly, "Will you escort me to dais today?"

Leon jerked back as if she'd burned him, and he stared at her with wide eyes. No matter how many times she'd practiced the question in her head, she hadn't anticipated any different response, but it still stung to see him react so viscerally.

"Krysia," he said, smiling sadly, "I…I don't think I should."

She tugged a little at her belt and said, "I…I know we didn't discuss this, but it would mean a great deal to me. You're my oldest and dearest friend, and you…" She hesitated. "You never heard me say this."

He nodded.

"I…" She closed her eyes. "I've had a memory lately. A flash of one, really. A man in the woods, telling me he loves me. I remember crying as he rode away."

Leon's face softened, and she said, forcing a smile, "He reminds me a bit of you."

"Do you think you'll gain more memories?" Leon finally said.

She hated lying to him, but she had to evoke as much of the little girl in the forest as possible to get him to agree.

"I don't know," she whispered. "I…I almost hope I don't. It hurts less, not having a face to miss."

He squeezed her hand and kissed it.

"If…if this is what you want," he said, "I'll walk with you today. Lancelot would call me discourteous for saying no."

She let out a watery chuckle, and he stood, leaning to kiss her hair.

"I'll send Enid back in before she hacks down the door," he said. "And I'll be waiting for you outside the throne room."

"Thank you," she said, relieved that he didn't fight harder.

He forced a smile, and he said, "I doubt I could have denied you anything today, Krysia. And if I don't get a chance to tell you later, you look beautiful."

She exhaled when the door closed behind him, and the tiredness of the morning all hit her at once.

This wedding could be done with soon enough.

/-/

The guests were starting to gather, and Gwaine began to pace the dais. He was aware that everyone was watching him, but he couldn't shake the dread in his stomach. Arthur stood there, still and calm, and Percival lingered near the dais.

"She's going to change her mind," Gwaine said, more to himself than anyone else. "Gods, what if she doesn't even come?"

"Relax," Percival said. "She'll be here soon."

Gwaine was boiling hot, but he knew he couldn't remove any part of his uniform. There were ceremonial expectations for a knight of Camelot at his wedding. Who had turned up the sun, he wondered?

"Will you just knock it off?" Arthur said through a gritted-teeth smile. "People are staring."

"Gwaine," Percival said, grabbing Gwaine's face and holding him in place by the head. "In about five minutes, the woman you're going to marry is going to walk through that door, and she's going to come stand here, and you're going to swear to make her the happiest person in the world for the rest of your days."

"What if she changes her mind?" Gwaine said, horrified.

"Anyone would be lucky to marry you, Gwaine, now shut up, stand still, and look happy, for gods' sake."

He let go of Gwaine's face, and Gwaine nodded to himself, nervous. He did stand still, but he couldn't stop rearranging his hands until the doors opened. He sighed, seeing Krysia on Leon's arm, Leon looking a bit like he wasn't sure why he was there, and a little bit like he had the most important part of the wedding. But Krysia…

Krysia wore her father's colors, a deep, dark blue silk gown with a gauzy overlay, and a rich gold belt that accentuated just how impossibly small her waist was. She wore a headdress with her crests on it, and the same sapphire necklace she nearly always wore.

In a blink she was standing beside him on the dais, and Leon had gone to stand beside Percival and Geraint. Percival's eyes were fixed on Gwaine, and he nodded encouragingly as the room fell silent. Gwaine took Krysia's hands, and he stared at her, astonished that this day was finally here.

"Lords, ladies, and gentlemen of Camelot," Arthur said, "we are gathered here today to celebrate, by the ancient rite of hand-fasting, the union of Sir Gwaine and Lady Krysia of Powys and Andor. Is it your wish, Gwaine, to become one with this woman?"

"It is," Gwaine said, and his voice sounded unusually high in his ears.

"Is it your wish, Krysia, to become one with this man?"

"It is," Krysia said, and her voice was softer than usual. Was it his imagination, or did she look a bit pale?

"Do any say nay?"

The hall was silent. Gwaine looked out people to see Percival staring at him, and Leon looking at his feet. Nearly everyone was looking at Krysia, no doubt admiring how beautiful she was, and somehow this was happening to him. Not a dream, not a future event, but right now, he was standing with Krysia, getting married.

"Then as we gather here today," Arthur said, "we are all witness to this rite of binding." He began to wrap the ribbon around their joined hands. "With this garland, I do tie a knot, and by doing so, bind your hands and hearts for all eternity.

"May your hands be blessed, may they always be held by each others' hands. May your hands have the strength to hold fast in storms. May your hands have the gentleness to nurture through tender times. May you use your hands to heal, protect, shelter, and guide."

Krysia took a deep breath as she said, "I, Krysia Elmere, Lady of Powys and Andor, I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee as I respect myself. I shall be faithful to thee, I shall love thee without reservation, and I shall stand with thee in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want. I shall share with thee my burdens, and I shall love thee for as long as we both shall live."

Gwaine made a split-second decision, and he squeezed her hands lightly as Arthur worked the cords.

"I, Gwaine Lothus, Knight of Camelot, I shall not seek to change thee in any way," he said, and he noticed several people stir, and heard some light whispering at the mention of his father's family name. "I shall respect thee as I respect myself. I shall be faithful to thee, I shall love thee without reservation, and I shall stand with thee in sickness and in health, in plenty and in want. I shall share with thee my burdens, and I shall love thee for as long as we both shall live."

"By this cord you are thus bound to your vow," Arthur said, stepping back. "May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last. May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths. I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Before the final word was out of Arthur's mouth, Gwaine leaned in and kissed Krysia, and she eagerly kissed him back. For the first time all day, everything felt right, and he could breathe. The court applauded them, including some loud cheers from the knights. All was well.

/-/

Gwaine could barely hear himself thinking as they settled for the feast, between the noise of everyone arriving and the ringing of how surreal this was in his ears. He felt he'd shaken a thousand hands as they greeted all comers in the hall, and he had forced a smile when Geoffrey of Monmouth stopped in front of him, turning to look at him from a few different angles.

"You don't look like Sir Lot," Geoffrey had said.

"I've been told," Gwaine had said through a tight smile. "All my childhood, in fact. I take after my mother."

Geoffrey had hummed, then shook Gwaine's hand, but Gwaine knew if he went to search through books, his name would be there. He had no fear of reprisal, but he knew what it meant to Krysia for him to use his name.

Now, Arthur stood and the hall fell silent.

"This is a time of celebration," Arthur said, holding his goblet, looking out at the feasting hall. "This is a day of great joy. This is also a day to remember those who could not be with us," he said, holding his goblet toward the place they'd left empty but set beside Percival, for Lancelot. "More important than anything," he said, "it is a day to honor the love shared by two dear, strong people, some of the finest in Camelot, and true friends. Lady Krysia, Sir Gwaine, to your health and happiness. To the happy couple!"

There was an echo of wishes for them, and they took their drinks, and Gwaine sat beside Krysia, barely able to eat, so anxious he was for the feast to be over, to get her upstairs to her room—their room, now—and to show her how much this day meant to him.

Why did feasts have to take forever?

/-/

Leon sat in the night air after the bride and groom had gone upstairs, and he looked up at the sky. It had been a strange day, a whirlwind of emotions, experiences. Krysia was alive, and today Leon didn't see anyone approaching her food or drink who shouldn't have been. He would watch again, but he worried he wouldn't be there when it mattered.

And what was more, he'd had to watch her be bound in marriage to another man. As happy, as blissfully happy as she was, Leon wished he could share more of her joy, but he just felt a hollowness in his chest.

It would fade, he told himself. Gwaine was a good man, and they were happy, and this emptiness in him would fade. It would just require time.

/-/

Krysia removed her headdress and set it carefully on her dressing table, then went to unpick her hair.

"Lovely," Gwaine said, "leave it, please."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and was trailing a string of open-mouthed kisses up the back of her neck, nuzzling his nose into her hair. She closed her eyes, reaching around to tangle her fingers in his hair and encourage him. It was tempting to forget everything but feeling him, but she knew if she didn't undress properly, she'd regret it in the morning.

"Don't be in such a rush," she said, smiling as he sucked gently on her skin. "We have all night, and thanks to Arthur, all of tomorrow as well. I got him to let you out of training." He groaned into her skin. "I'm not letting you ruin this dress. It's one of my favorites."

She took a few steps back from him and undid her hair as quickly as she could, watching the ache in his face, not remotely attempting to conceal his hunger. He groaned again as she removed her belt and slowly undid her dress. He reached out for her, but she swatted his hand away and continued on her work.

"I either married the most perfect woman in the world," he said, "or I married a torturer."

"You say that like they have to be separate," she said with a laugh. As soon as the dress pooled to the floor, he hurried to snatch her up, ignoring her squirming and squealing as he tossed her onto her bed—their bed—and climbed onto the bed over her.

The candles the maids had lit before they came upstairs were still burning, and Krysia looked up at him, touching his face.

"You're not kissing me until you're undressed," she said.

"That's going to take forever," he whined.

"Hurry up," she said, smiling, "because the longer it takes, the longer you have to wait."

He whimpered, but he scrambled out of his many layers as quickly as possible, not bothering to try to be attractive about it. As soon as he was left in nothing but skin, he climbed on top of her again, kissing the side of her face, just next to her mouth, and pressing a trail of hungry kisses down her body. She closed her eyes, knowing what he was about to do, and she parted her legs before he even reached her navel. He chuckled at her reflex, and he lazily traced his tongue around her navel in a circle. Her hips bucked slightly, and he looked up at her in the candlelight, his eyes twinkling before he lowered himself between her thighs and pressed his mouth there between her legs.

Krysia tossed her head back and closed her eyes. Forever seemed like not quite long enough, but she would take what she could get.

A/N:

And that's the end of Part 6 of 8: Camelot: Krysia & Gwaine! Stay tuned for the next part, which I believe will be titled Camelot: The Tale of Two Witches (or something similar) and will showcase the rise and fall of Krysia and Morgana. We will be losing one Point of View character, gaining a new one, and I'm curious to see if any can guess who it is. Part 7's release will be announced in Part 1, probably, when it's ready to go, and will almost certainly come after the new year. Want to be sure you don't miss the release? Keep an eye on Part 1: Camelot: Forged from Ashes (the story of Uther regaining his family's lost throne).

It's been a great ride, y'all. I've really, truly appreciated all your reviews, and I look forward to seeing your reviews popping back up in future (and earlier, as it were) portions of the tale.

Have a happy new year, y'all, and see you soon!

-C