Chapter Fourteen

Laudine woke before supper, but Blanchefleur continued sleeping. "It's possible Lot's men had a sorcerer with them," Laudine told us with a helpless shrug, pushing her food around the plate listlessly. "We were separated early in the attack, so I don't know what happened after that."

"Why are Lot's men after you?" Gwen asked softly.

"Other than the fact that you're both beautiful," Lyonesse added. "Apparently, that's all he needs to pursue a woman."

Laudine's eyes flashed angrily for a moment, before she breathed out heavily. "Blanche is a witch. She can… influence others, their emotions, thoughts, things like that. But she doesn't use it!" she hurried to explain. "She only helps people, never abuses her powers, and that's what Lot is after. He wanted her to convince a lady to marry him, and she refused. She managed to escape his men once, but she knew he would come for her, and me, if it meant he could use me to convince her, so we left, headed here to Camelot, but we were attacked just a day after we left home."

"You poor things," Hunith said, spooning broth into Blanchefleur's mouth. "But you're safe now, and that's all that matters."

In the days that followed, Laudine was included in our little circle of ladies. We all took turns staying with Blanchefleur, speaking with her, feeding her, but still she refused to wake. "What if she doesn't wake up?" Laudine asked Gaius softly, five days after her own arrival, and nine days after Blanchefleur had fallen into her deep sleep.

"Merlin will return soon enough, and he'll set things to right," Gaius told her, patting her hand in a kind, grandfatherly sort of way. "Until then, we'll simply keep doing what we've been doing, and hope for the best."

We settled Blanchefleur in a room of her own, with a guard outside to keep her safe. She couldn't stay in Gaius's chamber, after all, in case he needed that cot for another patient. Laudine was right next door, and Hunith and I had our chambers in the neighboring hall, so we were close by if she happened to wake.

I often became the one volunteering to care for Blanchefleur, after Laudine, of course. There was something about the pale girl that drew me in, and I found myself telling her much more than most people knew about me. She was a very good listener, after all, since she never interrupted or cut me off. And I knew she probably wouldn't remember anything I told her after she woke. I told her stories of my childhood, what little I could remember from our manor, and more of Ealdor. I spoke of Father and his booming laugh, Mother and her gentle determination, and Will's infectious resolve to find mischief wherever he went. Then, there were stories of my newfound family, with Hunith and Gwen and the knights, how we all cared for each other and stood by each other. And if Gwaine featured more prevalently than the others, I tried not to think about it.

But my reasons for speaking with Blanchefleur were selfish. The more time I spent with her, the less time I spent around the others, who were still preparing for war. A war that I was the cause of, even indirectly. I couldn't bear the thought that Arthur was readying his army to fight Lot, all because of me. How many men would die, because Lot wanted me? Percival, perhaps? Elyan? Or Leon, leaving his nieces alone once more? Arthur, leaving Gwen to face ruling and raising a child by herself? Or, goddess forbid, Gwaine? I couldn't live with myself if any one of them were to die to protect me. But I had promised Gwen I wouldn't turn myself over to Lot, so what was I to do? I stayed awake for hours every night, tossing and turning as I very nearly drowned in my indecision and pain and worry.

Even as I tried to pull away from the others, from my chosen family, there was one who refused to let me. Gwaine sought me out every evening, bringing supper to share with me after I fed Blanchefleur. He brought me food, and laughter, and helped me to forget, for a short while, all the pain and sadness that was sure to come in just a few short weeks.

Until one particular day in late winter. Gwaine still brought supper in for all three of us, and he still tried to make me smile and laugh, just like every other day, but I could tell something was not quite right. Finally, I couldn't sit still watching him suffer. "What is it, Gwaine?"

He tried to shrug it off, as if it was nothing, but at my very unimpressed look, he deflated. "Something's wrong, Anna. I don't know what exactly, but something is wrong in Camelot."

A pang in my heart made me gasp. "What do you mean?"

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm not sure. Everyone's just been… different lately. Arthur's been snappy, almost like when he sent Gwen away years ago. And Gwen's been pushing everyone away, even Arthur. She stays in her chamber all day and yells at anyone who stops by, well, except for Laudine. She's nearly run the poor girl off her feet with all the orders she gives her. It's not like her at all."

"She is carrying-" I started, but he shook his head, cutting me off.

"I know women can be a little different when they're with child. But this isn't it. It's almost as if she's a completely different person. And the others, well, no one has been themselves. Elyan doesn't seem to care about anything anymore, least of all his sister who is clearly not herself. Leon has yelled at everyone, including the girls. Hunith's been on a spending spree throughout the market. Percival's been spending hours at the tavern, and Gaius with him. The two of them spend nearly all day drinking and, well, other things." Gwaine looked distinctly uncomfortable, and I nearly grinned, even for the topic at hand. Until he continued. "And then there's you, Anna. You've been pulling away, pulling back from all who love you."

I stood abruptly, physically doing the exact thing he accused me of. "I don't know what you mean," I said, moving to the window, if only to have something else to look at.

But it didn't work. Gwaine simply followed me. He stood so close I could feel his heat at my back. "Anna, love, you do know. You've done it on purpose, though I don't know why. You're not giving yourself up to Lot, are you?"

"I promised I wouldn't," I said, wrapping my arms around myself, almost as if they could keep the world at bay for me.

"But you've been thinking about it, haven't you." It wasn't even a question, but an accusation. "Love, you've got to know it won't stop with you. It won't stop his madness. Even if you go to him, he'll kill you soon enough, and move on to some other poor girl. And losing you to him would gut us all."

"And what would losing you all do to me?" I asked, whirling around to face him. I'd forgotten just how close he was and nearly rammed into his chest. His brown eyes, usually so warm and sparkling with laughter, were dulled with pain and fear. But I couldn't let that stop me, not once the words I'd been keeping back for so long had finally started flowing. "Losing any of you in war would kill me, Gwaine. At least if I went to him, I could make it a condition of our marriage that he could not wage war on Camelot."

Shock flitted across his face for a brief moment. "You've thought this through." His hands found mine, sending tingles though my whole body. "Love, you've got to know it won't end with you."

"I have to try," I whispered. "It's the only thing I can do to possibly stop all this. I can't sit back while you go- you all go and fight my fight."

"But that's what we do, love! That's what the knights are for! We fight for those who can't fight for themselves," he said, squeezing my hands gently. "Let me- Let us fight this for you."

"But it's not your fight!" I tried to pull away, but he held me fast.

"If it involves you, it's my fight." Gwaine stepped closer, causing me to look up further to face him. "I love you, Anna, and it is killing me to see you so frightened and worried. I want to simply wrap you in my arms and keep the whole world at bay, make all of your problems disappear. I want to run Lot through so you're safe. I want nothing more than for you to always be safe."

My heart took up residence in my throat. "You love me?" I managed to squeak out.

A smile bloomed across his face. "How could I not? You're incredible, Anna. I knew from the very moment we met that I would love you, and you proved me right." He cupped my cheek with his hand, brushing my lips with his thumb. The tingles exploded throughout my body, rendering me nearly breathless. "I love you, Anna. Please, I couldn't bear it if you were to go to Lot. Stay with me."

I melted against him. His arm banded around me, holding me to him. "Say it again."

His beautiful grin gentled into something heartbreakingly sincere. "I love you, Anna." He pressed a soft kiss to my brow. "Marry me and stay with me forever."

At his words, I felt a piece of me click into place, feeling more myself than I had for weeks. Months, even. Which meant I was suddenly feeling rather playful. "That's a rather big leap, Gwaine. After all, you haven't even paused to see if I love you."

He reared back, surprised hurt filling his eyes for just a moment. Until he caught my eyes again and relaxed, understanding just what I was doing. Pulling me back snuggly into his arms, he tucked my head against his chest, with his on top of mine. "Honestly, even if you didn't love me, if you'd have me, that would be enough. It would make me the happiest man on earth."

Shaking my head, I pulled back just enough to look him in the eye. "Gwaine, you deserve someone who loves you in return," I told him, bringing my hand up to his cheek. His stubble scratched delightfully on my palm. "And it just so happens that I do."

He turned his head just enough to press a kiss to my palm. "Say it again," he whispered, grinning nearly manically.

"I love you, Gwaine, and I want to marry you," I replied, feeling an identical smile stretch my lips.

"Best thing I've heard all day," he breathed. "I'm going to kiss you now, love."

"I'd be rather disappointed if you didn't," I managed to say, even for my pounding heart.

Gwaine dipped his head down, lightly skimming my nose with his. "I love you, Anna," he murmured, barely brushing his lips across mine, but it still sent explosive shivers down my spine. "I love you." Another brush of the lips, slightly longer, almost as if he were preparing me a little bit at a time. "I adore you." A third brush, this one significantly longer. "I love you."

And then bliss. His lips stayed on mine, moved against mine, and I felt as if I would fly apart in every direction, if not for his arms around me.

I felt myself responding effortlessly, almost as if I'd been made to kiss Gwaine. My arms wound themselves around his neck, fingers tangling in the hair at his nape. His hands at my waist began to play with my curls, though I was barely aware of it, focusing far more on his lips on mine. Until he tugged on my curls gently, though hard enough to pull my head back. It startled a gasp out of me, and I felt more than heard Gwaine chuckle as he moved to kiss my throat. "You've got to breathe, love."

It was only then that I realized I'd been holding my breath, with the exception of my gasp. "I didn't know I hadn't been," I replied, voice husky, then gasped again as he sucked on my pulse point. My fingers went to his shoulders in an attempt to possibly hold myself up.

Gwaine pulled back, grinning as he looked at me. But whatever clever thing he was about to say was cut off as Merlin burst into the room. "Why is Gwen carrying laundry? Especially in her condition?"

AN: I know it's been forever. I've been dealing with some issues, so I'm so sorry you guys have been waiting. I promise I will finish this story, and we are getting closer to the end, I swear! So thanks for sticking with me, and a big thanks to Hanniemango for the review. I promise I will finish this story!