Hello everyone!
So, hum, yes, I'm one week late on my planing... Really sorry. My sole excuse is that I was really sick last week (the kind of sickness where you struggle to breathe without coughing a lung up and loose your voice because of a hurting throat).
I am also slightly beginning to panic (again) because I'm kind of a bit stuck in my writing those days... I don't know... I feel so unsure of everything... Sometimes it really feels as if I'm a complete fake, playing the writer when all I write is a bunch of non-sense. This was probably induced by my total fail at completing a good story for a writing contest... It is really horrible. I swear that I don't know why you guys still bother with me.
But well...
I really should thank you all, for reading and following and favoriting and, of course, reviewing! I so love reading you all. Without that I'd probably just let this story die...
Anyway, forgive my little (not so little) depressed talk. It is probably just the expectation of my birthday that is getting to me, making me see my life bleak (except that maybe it is haha.)
I hope you'll enjoy this little Gwaine-chapter! Don't hesitate to leave me a little comment! I'll always answer :)!
Write to you soon!
Chapter 8:
Gwaine had been having a wonderful dream. Well, more of a reliving of a magic experience, when he felt himself being shaken awake.
The slight pain behind his eyeballs and taste of mead in his mouth told him that his drinking night with Merlin had not been a dream.
"Merlin, my friend, last night was so cool!" He commented even before opening his eyes, remembering the young man's tales.
He heard said friend mumble something that sounded annoyed before informing him that they had to go back to the castle. And his voice sounded urgent.
Gwaine opened his eyes and looked around himself. His gaze fell on an old man he remembered from the prior night.
"Oh... So that wasn't an illusion…"
The knight grinned. Merlin had really turned his dragon into a human being. That hadn't been an hallucination born from too much alcohol.
He pushed himself up and went to introduce himself, already planning on how he could make the dragon talk about what he knew of Merlin and the secrets the young man was still keeping. Even if the warlock would probably deny them all if asked.
He tried to find a way to stay in the clearing, finding any honestly stupid excuse but Merlin was so adamant in taking him back to the town that he just had to concede.
However, he was still planning to have a chat with that dragon.
The walk back to the castle was a slow and tense one. Gwaine was following Merlin who seemed somewhat unsteady on his feet, probably still hungover, but determined.
The warlock had his jaw set in a hard line and his slightly glassy eyed were unfocused as he was clearly thinking about something. Gwaine could only guess he was searching for a way to give the dragon his true form back. He didn't dare interrupt him to ask for a confirmation.
They finally arrived in the lower town some time later and Gwaine saw Merlin cringe at the loud noise coming from the busy streets.
"You know, maybe you should take some time to prepare yourself a batch of that hangover potion…" Gwaine suggested, eying the stiffness that suddenly took hold in Merlin's shoulders.
"I'm fine." The warlock gritted out and moved on, making his way with practiced ease through the sea of customers and servants in the market.
Gwaine frowned at Merlin's back but continued to follow him.
Entering the courtyard, the warlock turned towards him.
"Well, thank you for everything Gwaine, but I really have to go to my chamber so…"
"Can I help you with your research?"
"No, no, thanks. I'm quite sure I know where to look for so it will be quick." Merlin said, already turning towards the nearest entrance to the castle.
"Okay, see you then."
"See you."
Gwaine watched as Merlin disappeared into the castle, not knowing what to think.
He stayed for a moment in the courtyard, wondering just what exactly had happened before deciding that he would do better to go inform the king that he had found his wayward Court Advisor.
He made his way into the castle by the main door and quickly followed the path towards the Council chambers where he was almost sure to find Arthur.
The two guards in front of the door let him pass without any problems and he found himself under the cold scrutiny of the king's blue eyes.
He looked angry for reasons that Gwaine couldn't fathom.
"Good morning!" He greeted cheerfully. "I've come to tell you that I've found Merlin."
He announced proudly, already waiting for the king's praise. But the man looked distinctly unimpressed.
"What is it?" He finally asked.
"Twenty tankards of mead." Arthur enounced coldly, making the knight wince internally. "Care to explain when exactly I told you to get Merlin spectacularly drunk Gwaine?"
"Well… Never but I thought that the man needed to unwind a little bit and nothing better than a drinking night for that! Maybe I should take you on one…"
"Twenty tankards Gwaine!" The king interrupted, getting up. "And of course you were too drunk to remember to pay and then I had to explain to the bartender why one of my closest knight and Court Advisor had made a mess out of themselves!"
Gwaine closed his mouth, feeling that he should better let the furious blond rant for a bit to calm down.
"Just tell me that at least it wasn't all for nothing."
"Well…" Gwaine hesitated. Was Merlin better? "Honestly, I don't know… I thought so for a bit but…"
The knight sighed, wondering if he should tell Arthur about what had happened with the dragon.
"What is it Gwaine?" Arthur questioned, sitting down once more, gesturing at the knight to do the same. The latter obeyed and stayed silent for a bit.
"While we were drunk, I got Merlin to talk about his dragonlord abilities and then, don't ask me how, next thing I know he's called Kilgharrah and turned him into a human. I thought it was a hallucination or something but when he woke me up this morning, the dragon was still there and still human. And to be honest I don't think Merlin knows what happened either…"
For a moment, Gwaine watched Arthur's shocked face.
"During our way back, he was weird… Silent and determined… It didn't feel right…"
Arthur sighed quietly, looking as worried as Gwaine felt.
"I'll go talk to him." The king decided.
Gwaine nodded as the other man got up once more.
"By the way, Gwaine." Arthur added when he was at the door. "Thank you for finding him and bringing him back."
"You're welcome."
"Doesn't mean you're forgiven. In fact, I scheduled you as instructor for the three hour open training session of the potential new recruits this morning." And with that, the king was gone.
Gwaine groaned. If there was one thing he hated, it was those training sessions where any young man who thought himself a knight would come and just proved how inept they were while still being too arrogant to admit their flaws.
He took a moment to despair on his own sad fate before deciding he'd better go and put his armor on as he was sure that if he was late Arthur would give him hell.
It took him half an hour and a glass of sweeten wine but Gwaine managed to arrive on time, dressed in his armor and almost without a headache at the training ground.
There, he was relieved to see that Percival would also assist him.
"Ah Percival, my friend, glad you're with me on this!"
The giant knight grunted softly but Gwaine knew it was just because the man wasn't talkative and probably not more enthused by the prospect of spending three hours in the sun with a bunch of wannabe knights.
But Percival being there meant that Gwaine would be able to watch the young men in front of them squirm, maybe even cower, in front of the other knight's obviously superior strength.
It was at least an hour after the session began that Percival opened a conversation.
"So, what did you do this time?" He asked, keeping his eyes on the sparring young men in front of them.
"Oh, you know, had a night out… Drank a bit… Left without paying the bill..."
"Nothing unusual." Percival completed.
"Yeah… But still too much for Queenie…" Gwaine sighed. "The real question is… Why are you here?"
Percival let out a quiet bark of laughter, lifting an eyebrow in a mysterious way before crying out to a ginger young man who had just barely avoided gutting his partner.
"Oh god… Why do they even bother coming to these open sessions?" Percival sighed as he made his way in among the fighting men, gracefully avoiding the drunkard question.
Gwaine observed his friend scold the cowering wannabe with an amused smile before turning his gaze towards the forest.
There, he caught sight of two familiar figures riding towards the shadowed area.
"No way I'm letting you do this without me." He grumbled beneath his breath. "Hey Percival! Think you can handle this alone?" He asked more loudly.
Percival eyed him curiously but nodded.
"Great, I owe you one!"
And with that, the drunkard was off running towards the stables and his horse, determined to follow his king and Court Advisor.
So, how was it?
Oh and I just noticed this story doesn't have a cover... Anyone interested in doing one for me?