AN: Weeeeeelllllllll...I smashed face first into some pretty ugly writer's block. I've written and rewritten this chapter. I know where I want to be, but I'm having trouble getting there. So, in the end, you get a mediocre chapter because it's the only way to force myself to keep moving forward. Blugh. Sorry!

CHAPTER 12: Danger Closing In

I had to watch the death rites for Sir Geraint from my window. It was as beautiful as it was solemn, with the knights standing at attention and the pyre prepared. After the drums went silent, nothing stirred, but the evening breeze teased the edges of the knights' capes and brought Arthur's words up to me. As we mourned, we couldn't know that a noose was slowly tightening.

"Sir Geraint was knighted by my father. The only son of a powerful landowner, he didn't become a knight because he had to, but because he chose to."

A soldier from Leon's party crept into Camelot, the torches briefly illuminating his completely black irises.

"His whole life was dedicated to defending our kingdom, and he was one of the most loyal men I ever knew. He was my first swordsmaster, and he certainly didn't go easy on me because I was the king's son. He taught me that in a fight, just like in life, you have to give your all or you will fail."

Far to the north, stuck to the wall like a bug in a million sticky filaments, Leon watched as two more of his men succumbed to the unrelenting pressure on their minds, and their irises turned black. The filaments withdrew from their bodies and the crept away, walking hunched forward like caricatures of men, the voice that had been tormenting them sending them to Camelot.

"He died with a sword in his hand, like he always wanted, and his last word was 'privilege.' I choose to believe he was saying that it was a privilege to be a knight. But if you ask me, we were privileged to know him. Sir Geraint."

Agravaine's man stepped over the guards he'd disabled and opened the only occupied cell of the dungeon, winning a twisted grin from Sealgaire.

Merlin handed Arthur a torch, and he lit the pyre in silence. A tear ran down my cheek, partly for the brave knight I didn't know, but more for Arthur, and Merlin, Gwaine, and all of the others who were mourning a friend and mentor. I could see Gwaine standing among the knights. Percival on one side and a handsome dark-skinned knight I thought was named Elyan on the other subtly leaned against Gwaine to help him stay upright, but he was there. With a swallow, I turned away from the sad sight. I might be annoyed with the majority of the people I knew in Camelot, but my heart hurt for them, and I understood what drove them.

There was no chance for the friends to mourn, however. As Arthur and Merlin walked back into the keep, followed by most of those who had attended the ceremony, the warning bell began to toll. Stopping dead, Arthur glanced at the knights, looking for his most trusted. But Gwaine was in no shape to help, and Percival and Elyan were both helping him to get him safely back to Gaius'. And Leon, of course, wasn't back from his foray up north yet. "Merlin," directed the king, "find out what has happened. The council and I will await the news in the throne room." Merlin sketched a quick nod and dashed off. He quickly found the answer and had the distasteful duty of reporting Sealgaire's escape to everyone.

Arthur massaged the bridge of his nose. "How did this happen?"

"Um...the guards were overpowered and their keys taken," said Merlin sadly. "Someone from inside broke him out." Arthur immediately ordered the normal searches to take place, insisting that guards search in pairs only, because this was one dangerous prisoner. He even had guards stationed at Gaius' door, worried that the man might come for Gwaine again. Then there was nothing to do but wait for news.

A few hours later, already sick of my beautiful chambers, I was busy picturing myself triumphantly scaling down the wall while humming the theme from Mission Impossible when Gwen came in with a tray of food. She looked so sad that I scared her guard by giving her a hug. "It will work out," she promised. "Arthur is fair, you'll see. You won't be stuck here forever." She leaned forward and gave me a secretive little smile. "When he told Gwaine that you were confined to your quarters and Gwaine couldn't visit, he called Arthur a spoiled princess and threw a boot at him."

That surprised a laugh out of me. "I thought Arthur would be more...strict and serious, I guess. I mean, he seems to rule with a strong hand, but, well, I don't know."

"You didn't know a king could be both strong and kind?"

"Oh, Gwen, you've got it baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad," I teased, and she turned bright red.

"I'm sure I don't – "

I snickered right in her face, and we both laughed, a very needed moment of levity. "I doubt I'm supposed to tell you, but the leader of the bandits escaped from the dungeon. I know you're upset that you're stuck here, but it may be for the best that you have guards outside your room right now."

I was shocked at the news, but hurried to reassure her. "That's not the same guy that grabbed me. He's dead. This guy doesn't know who I am and has no reason to seek me out." She nodded.

"I'm sure you're right."

A few hours later yet, Agravaine walked into his chambers at the end of the night, tired but pleased with the disorder Morgana's plans were causing. He didn't know everything she had planned; she always kept things close to the vest, but it gave him great pleasure to see Arthur's anger and frustration and Sealgaire's release. As he had the thought, the man himself suddenly stepped out of the shadows, causing Agravaine to jump.

"Argh! Sealgaire! What are you doing here?" He hissed, quickly double checking that his door was securely shut. "You need to get out of Camelot immediately!"

"But the chambers of the king's most valued councilor is the last place they'll look. Besides, I have some unfinished business." His malformed smile was so sinister Agravaine had to fight off a shudder. "Our newest ally has failed to come through. I think I need to have a little chat with the so-called Lady Mina." He licked his lips. "She better have some pretty good answers for me too."