AN: This story feels like it's taking a long time to get going, but…I'm working on it, I swear. This chapter is just a bit of Gwaine fluff. Cuz ya know, I *heart* Gwaine.Hamato-Grayson, thank you for your blessing!Gingeraffealene, thanks for your comments. I'm glad you like the OC. She's a bit of a mess, which is why I like her. I do appreciate Arthur…he doesn't get his due!

CHAPTER 7: A Stroll

As soon as we were out of sight of the guards by the throne room door, I took my hand off Gwaine's arm and let myself slump against the wall. "Lady Mina! Are you alright?" He raised a hand as if to help me.

I felt bad for scaring him. "I'm fine, completely fine. Just...sweet Georgia peaches, that was scary!"

He laughed, the worried look falling off his face. "You didn't look scared. You stood on the threshold like a queen, waiting until every eye was on you before walking in with your head held high, as if you were tellin' us those bandits weren't even worth your notice."

"Is that what you saw?" I leaned forward, and he reflexively copied my movement. "Want to know a secret, Sir Gwaine? I was so terrified by all those scary, important people looking at me that I froze. I might have turned and run away, but I saw you."

He looked intrigued. "And why did that help?"

"Because you saw me spit in the face of that mouth-breathing piece of horse dung. I couldn't run away from just telling my story or you'd think I was a coward after all!"

Gwaine smiled again, that lethal smile, and I thought his dimple was completely unfair. "My lady, the first time I saw you, you were tied and beaten, but shouting insults at an armed man three times your size who happened to be holding a dagger to your throat. You had his blood under your fingernails. There is not much you could do to convince me that you're a coward." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "And the first words you spoke to me prove that you have excellent taste."

With horror, I remembered that in my concussed state, I'd told him he was pretty. I blushed so hard I'm pretty sure I could have set off a fire alarm. "Oh, my God."

"No, just Gwaine, my lady."

I slapped his arm. "I will never compliment you again. If your ego got bigger, you wouldn't fit in the castle any more. Besides, that was obviously something I'd never say otherwise. Hitting my head must have made me confused."

"Obviously." He was laughing at me.

I straightened and started walking again, pretending my face wasn't on fire. "And no more of this lady stuff. You sound like a Jane Austen novel. Just Mina."

"I don't know what you're saying half the time. But sure thing, sweetheart."

"Oh! And no nicknames. I hate nicknames."

"Women love nicknames. How about I call you darlin'?" As annoying as he was, he was very dangerous to my equilibrium.

"No."

"Precious?"

"Ugh. No!"

"Flower?"

He continued this way all the way back to Gaius', getting more absurd with each suggestion. The laughter helped me forget my aching body, at least somewhat. "Thank you for walking me back. And Gwaine?"

"Yes, dumpling?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Don't ever call me dumpling again, or I'll throw you out a window."

"Threatening a knight of the realm is a very serious offense."

"Not a threat. A promise." I grew solemn and put my hand on his arm. "In all seriousness, I want to say thank you for coming to my rescue. Screaming was the only hope I had. Killing me was only one of the terrible things they would have done to me. I owe you my life." I had to pull on his shoulder and stand on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. This lack of height was bloody annoying. Good thing I didn't have a volleyball scholarship to maintain here.

Gwaine's smile was gone. "I am just beyond grateful that we heard you and were able to reach you in time. Men like Bruin think being big and having a sword means they can take what they want and do what they want. And while I'd gladly die for Arthur or to protect Camelot, our most important job as knights is to stand between men like Bruin and the people that they would hurt." His dimple reappeared. "Besides, I just got the best thank you I could imagine. He sketched a cocky little bow and walked away whistling. "See you around, dumpling." I looked around for something to throw at him, but I was too late. Yes, that one was dangerous.