A/N: I'm sorry it took longer than usual, there was a little mix up with the docx outbox with my beta... Anywhoo, I know everyone has been waiting for this, so enjoy!

Dedicated to my friend Sabrina!

Chapter 6: Lancelot and Guinevere – part 2

Once noon was past, I was roughly dragged from the dungeon and brought before Hengist. He stood on the other end of the cage, facing away from me.

"Morgana," he said, and it took me a second to realize he was talking to me. He turned and took a step towards me. "I keep asking myself… Why does Uther not pay the ransom?" he asked as he advanced on me. "He's a rich man. Why would he leave his beloved ward to suffer a slow and terrible death?"

"I don't know," I answered as calmly as I could, desperately trying to call my magic to the surface. It only served to give me a worse headache. I tried to step away from him, but the bars were in the way.

Hengist grabbed my hand, though I think he had been reaching for my arm or shoulder. "It must be very upsetting to know that Uther has abandoned you," he said, leaning in far too close for comfort. "It seems that no one in the world cares for you."

"I don't know why he doesn't pay. Please, I don't know!" I had never felt so helpless before. I had always had my magic to protect myself, or Arthur right beside me, but now I was all alone.

"Take her back to her cell!" Hengist ordered, and I was dragged off roughly again.

/*/

That night, Lancelot was true to his word and freed me from my prison. We ran as fast as we could through the hallways, but were discovered and recaptured soon enough. Lancelot tried to get me to leave him behind.

"If you think I'm going to let you sacrifice yourself for me, you don't know me at all, Lancelot!" I hissed, pulling him along with me. "You wouldn't be buying me any time, there's too many of them!"

Lance stopped walking, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Merlynn, I need you to be safe and get back to Arthur… and to Gwen. You're my friend, and currently defenceless. Let me help, I can keep them off."

"Lancelot, don't you get it? I can't leave you behind! First of all, Gwen would never forgive me, I wouldn't forgive me, and I might need you later!"

And that was the end of that conversation. But eventually, there were too many of them, and they overtook us, knocking us out.

/*/

I woke up first, back in the cage, my hands bound to Lancelot's behind my back. Hengist's men were jeering and shouting at us, calling for blood, but I ignored them. "Fancy meeting you here," I said sarcastically when I felt the former knight stirring.

"Merlynn," he acknowledged. "Why do I have the feeling things like this happen a lot around you?"

I grinned, though he couldn't see it. "Because I'm Arthur's servant; it's part of the job description."

"Prince Arthur's servant, are you?" Hengist said, walking in. I raised my chin defiantly, but on the inside I cursed. I wasn't sure what it would mean that I was Arthur's maid, but I didn't want to find out. "I wonder what he needs a pretty girl like you for?" the bandit leader asked with a nasty twist to his smirk. There was no mistaking the meaning behind his words.

I felt myself blush deeply, but Lancelot squeezed my hands gently, reminding me of his support.

Hengist gestured for silence. "A maid pretending to be a Lady… You're not worth anything to me, so what should I do? What do you say," he asked, addressing the crowd. "Shall I spare them?" They called for our deaths.

"Merlynn, how's your head?" Lancelot whispered, unheard by Hengist because of the jeering crowd.

"Better. Give it another minute and they'll wish they had never been born," I replied darkly.

"Good. But just in case I do die, tell Gwen… tell her–"

"You can tell her yourself when we get out of here, Lance." I interrupted. "Besides, if you die, what do you think the chance is that I'll get out?"

They released the wilderen, and my attention was diverted. It was even more disgusting up close. It was about the size of a pony, but looked more like a newly born rat: pink, naked, and blind. And it smelled!

My magic surged to just below the surface, and I was about to disintegrate the filthy creature… when suddenly Arthur jumped into the cage. How had he gotten here? He cut the ropes binding me and Lancelot, and turned to face the beast.

Tossing Lancelot a sword and pushing me behind him, he slashed at it. "What are you doing here, Lancelot?" Arthur asked. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed his voice.

"Rescuing Merlynn. You?"

"The same."

"Yes, yes, it's great seeing each other again – now would you kill that thing?!" I yelled urgently. The two men didn't say a word, but returned to the task at hand. My eyes roved over the crowd in search of– There he was! Hengist had grabbed a crossbow from one of his men and was now aiming it at Arthur. Looking around frantically, I noticed the chandelier right above his head, and made it fall with a glance.

Unfortunately, when the chain holding it up snapped, it made a lot of noise, which gave Hengist the time to jump out of the way. I cursed under my breath.

The bandit leader roared at his men to kill us and made for the cage door.

"The tunnel, that's our only chance!" Arthur said. "Merlynn, you first!"

I ran for the tunnel, but waited just inside. There was no way I was going without making sure Arthur was alright.

My two 'saviours' ran past me, though Arthur sent me an annoyed look. Hengist was distracted by the wilderen, and not actively pursuing us anymore. I had an idea.

A look at Lancelot, and he pushed Arthur down the tunnel, despite the prince's protests. I sent a burst of magic to the rope holding the tunnel's entrance open, making it break. Hengist was now trapped between the beast and the bars of the cage he'd so often used. I sent a cold look at his terrified face, then turned to follow Lancelot. I had no desire to see the bandit's – no doubt bloody – end.

I caught up with them at the end of the passageway, where Arthur was already working on forcing open the lock. "Good to see you, Arthur. Where are your knights?"

"It's just me," Arthur said, a tad uncertainly, as he finally managed to break the chain. I rushed outside and stood in the moonlight for a moment, revelling in the rush of freedom I felt.

"We need to get out of here soon. Hengist's men won't let us go easily," Lancelot reasoned, starting towards the nearby forest.

I turned and stared at the prince. He'd come for me. Arthur took a step closer, I think to embrace me, but when I stepped into his arms, all resolve left me, and I let my lips find his. No unconsciousness for me to hide behind this time, no enchantment, no excuses… just him and me.

I thought he'd just freeze and then act all awkward and nervous, but instead he instantly responded, tightening his arms around me, as I wound my hands in his hair. It was the most marvellous feeling in the world. It excited me and terrified me at the same time.

A cough behind me made us jump apart. Lancelot raised an eyebrow at me, and I knew I was blushing deeply. "Right…" Arthur said, sounding decidedly uncomfortable, and started to walk off. "The horses are this way."

/*/

Lancelot POV

At the camp that night, Merlynn slept while Arthur and Lancelot kept watch. Lancelot glanced from Merlynn to the prince, who was staring at her. "So… This is new," he said, boldly broaching a subject he knew the other man wouldn't want to talk about.

"Newer than you think," Arthur whispered, barely audible. Lancelot decided to let that one go and stared into the fire for a while.

"You must really love her to defy your father and come to her rescue," he said, pressing on. Arthur looked up, frowning. "You came alone, so I assume your father didn't condone risking the lives of knights to save a servant."

The prince stared angrily into the fire. "It doesn't matter. Nothing can ever happen between us."

"Why not?" Lancelot asked, frowning. It was obvious the two loved each other.

"Because my father would never allow it."

"When you're King, you can change that," Lancelot answered quietly.

Arthur didn't reply, going to the edge of the camp instead. "I'll take first watch. Get some sleep." And that was the end of that conversation.

/*/

Merlynn POV

As we neared Camelot's borders, Lancelot seemed more and more withdrawn. "Lancelot, what's wrong?" I asked finally, reigning in my horse. Arthur had brought only two, thinking I'd be the only one he'd have to save. Since he was riding one horse, and I the other, Lancelot was forced to walk the whole way.

Arthur stopped too, a few yards away to give us some privacy.

"I am still banished from Camelot," Lancelot replied, his eyes on the hill behind which Camelot lay.

"That's rubbish. It's not like Uther would remember you," I said dismissively.

"He might. And… I don't want to face Gwen yet. I need to find myself again, become the man Gwen deserves."

"She loves you," I implored, hoping to convince him. "She won't care about what you've done." I had missed my friend, especially because there were precious few who knew my secret.

Lancelot shook his head. "No, I need to change first. Tell Gwen… tell her she's changed me forever, and that I will be back, I swear."

My eyes teared up as I dismounted and gave the former knight a hug. "You had better, or you'll have to deal with me!"

Lance chuckled as he released me. "Have a safe journey, Merlynn. And look after that prince of yours – something tells me he'll need you."

I laughed. "They'd need a pickaxe to get through his thick skull."

The former knight gave me a fond smile, before turning to the still-mounted prince. "Farewell, Arthur," he called. "I hope we'll meet under better circumstances next time. Think on what I said."

Arthur raised a hand, but didn't reply.

As Lancelot walked off, Arthur and I turned our horses back towards Camelot and resumed our journey. I glanced at Arthur. I had heard the entire conversation between him and Lancelot the previous night, and knew that Arthur was right: as long as his father was still king, nothing could ever happen between us. On the other hand, it was going to be very hard to go back to the way it was before…

/*/

When we finally arrived at Camelot, Gwen and Morgana were overjoyed to see me. In Morgana's chambers, I told them the whole story, leaving out my magic, but relaying Lancelot's message to Gwen. The maid was understandably upset, and left me and Morgana soon after.

"Poor girl… pining over a man who doesn't even come back for her," Morgana said, still looking at the door.

"He has good reasons, though, and he swore he'd come back. Lancelot would never break a promise, least of all to Gwen."

The lady smiled at me. "You know him better than I do. I hope you're right."

I smiled and went to sit behind Morgana, braiding her hair so it would be wavy when she woke up. "How are you doing?" I asked, concerned.

She chuckled softly. "Oh, Merlynn, I should be the one asking you. It must've been hard…"

I nodded, though she couldn't see it. "I'm fine, Morgana, it's not like they mistreated me. Except for Hengist's breath, now that was torture," I joked.

Morgana laughed. "I wish I could be more like you, Merlynn. You're always looking on the brighter side of things, and you don't let anything keep you down."

I didn't answer, but frowned. Morgana wanted to be like me? That would be like Arthur wanting to be like George, one of the other servants. "I don't know why, but thank you," I eventually replied, a little unsure.

The Lady turned around, pulling her hair from my hands. "I'm not the only one who sees it, Merlynn. Gwen does, and Gaius as well… and Arthur," she added with a sly grin.

I instantly turned red, having been reminded of our kiss. I tried to laugh it off. "A-Arthur? No, h-he doesn't think I'm worth anything!"

Morgana rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Merlynn." It was obvious she wasn't convinced, though. I didn't want to admit my feelings to her as I'd done to Gwen – though Gwen was never going to learn of that kiss, either, or she'd never let me live it down. I just ignored the whole conversation so far and turned Morgana back around. She needed to look beautiful in the morning: Uther was hosting all the monarchs of the five kingdoms to sign a peace treaty. At least it would provide some distraction from Morgana's suspicions and Arthur's… well… Arthur. But mainly Arthur's lips…

Oh, bloody hell. It was going to be a long few days…

A/N: FINALLY! You asked, I postponed, but eventually, IT'S HERE!

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