Rescuers

(A/N: Sorry for delays in posting this. Been doing a lot of landscaping/yardwork lately so don't have a lot of time.)

Gawain lay in the darkness, grinding his teeth and listening in agony to the noises coming from a nearby room. Whimpers, cries, pleas, thumping… He knew what it was and what it meant. He'd fought until exhaustion to get out, longing to save his friend, but he'd failed. There was no escaping these bonds. It took too long for silence to fall. He lay still, miserably staring up at the decrepit ceiling. Footsteps approached. They weren't Bran's. He could only assume they belonged to one of the giants. He swallowed, closing his eyes and bracing. The door opened, and the man came in. Gawain felt hands grip his face. Thumbs reached up, prying open his eyes, and he found himself staring up at Sir Turquine. A dark smile was on the man's lips.

"Are you ready, boy?" he asked. Gawain almost whimpered, but bit it back. He refrained from showing any outward emotion if it could be helped. This man's sort preyed on fear and vulnerability. If he showed no vulnerability or fear, maybe the fun would be taken out of it? "Oh, you think that will deter me? Precious," the man said. "If you give no reaction, I'll force one. Sir Brandin, or Brian as you know him, lost you for me once already. I'm not inclined to lose such a prize again." Gawain caught his breath sharply as the man began to play where he had no right to. He willed himself not to whimper, but a whimper escaped nonetheless, and a gasp. Turquine chuckled and bent over him. He whispered, lips brushing Gawain's ear, "If you ever make it back to your father, let him know what happened to you here was a gift from us to him."

Gawain couldn't stop the yell that escaped his lips as panic began to overwhelm him and he started to struggle. Turquine forced him to be still, scowling, and seemed to be about to act but just then Brandelis shouted from outside the door, "Sir Turquine, your brother and my father request your presence immediately! A party of three approaches the castle. They're armed."

Turquine looked startled, then scowled. He growled in annoyance and got off Gawain, going to the window and looking out. Sure enough, a party of three stood on the hill looking at the castle from the ridge. "How is this possible?" he growled darkly.

"How is it possible you all thought you could get away with this?" Gawain hissed in response.

"We could have! Either your father is a bloodhound on a steed fast as lightning, or the young high king is," Turquine barked back, turning and leaving quickly. Gawain let out a shaking sigh and swallowed, looking towards the door worriedly. He saw Brandelis there, staring after the man, and his heart plummeted. The other boy wore nothing but a loincloth as a covering and was rubbing a badly bruised arm. It wasn't all that was bruised either. Bran looked towards him exhaustedly. Gawain wanted to cry, tears burning his eyes. What kind of life had his friend lived…?

Brandelis approached him wearily. "What was he able to do?" he asked.

"Touch," Gawain replied. "And kiss, but it didn't go farther."

"Still too far," Brandelis said with a shaking sigh. "I don't… I don't know how to save you… I don't have the key, I don't have a lockpick, I don't have anything."

"Then worry about saving yourself, dammit Bran!" Gawain said.

"No," he replied. He drew a shaking breath. "It's better if I take the brunt of it rather than someone else. I'm… I'm used to it, Gawain, I'm already tainted and dishonored, but you… You're still pure and undefiled. Well, not undefiled because Jessica, but you get the point! And it's probably best you stay that way too for the sake of, you know, the whole land? I mean, at least one of us has a father willing to burn down the country for his kids."

"It didn't sound like you were used to it," Gawain bit. He immediately regretted how it came out, but Bran seemed either too tired to be offended or just resigned like he'd expected it. "Sorry," Gawain said, looking away with a wince.

"It's fine," Brandelis replied quietly. He went to the window, looking out. "They're here for you."

"And you," Gawain said.

"If they're your father's, no. They're after you... There's no reason he'd send men after me…" Brandelis said.

"That can be debated later," Gawain said. He looked towards the window. "Can you tell who they are?"

"No," Brandelis replied, shaking his head. "Their armor hides them completely. It probably won't matter anyway. Few knights have ever survived Dolorous Guard. The bodies and skeletons litter the ground like trophies." Gawain looked at the window once more, now concerned for whoever his - their - rescuers might be.

KAK

Agravaine lay still and numb in his room, listening to Lot totally freaking out as Morgause told him Gawain was missing and that Brian of the Isles was the suspected kidnapper. He hated that he couldn't stand up and go out there and find his brother and get him back! Instead he was stuck in bed because moving too much would probably result in a ridiculously early death for him. Tears threatened his eyes. The door opened. He glanced over. Selices, he noticed. Selices too looked deeply troubled by what was happening. The elf approached him and perched on some kind of surface he apparently deemed perch-worthy but that Agravaine hadn't even noticed was there. The dressers and tables were nearer to him, so whatever Selices had sat himself down on couldn't be comfortable. Or maybe it was fine for an elf. Silence. "Take the helmet off and stay a while," Agravaine flatly said. Selices eyed him then began to remove all of the armor. "I didn't say take it all off," Agravaine added, grimacing.

"I am wearing my usual light armor beneath it," Selices said.

"That's not armor," Agravaine stated. "It's a few bits of leather and metal stitched together."

"It gets the job done," Selices replied.

"What job?" Agravaine asked. Selices gave him a dirty look and he winced. "Sorry," he sheepishly said. Selices harrumphed and finished removing the heavy armor. Silence again. "Where did they take my brother?" Agravaine asked finally.

Selices tensed up slightly, but soon his shoulders sagged. "Dolorous Guard," he answered. "A decrepit castle surrounded by a lake of boiling lava, smelling of sulphur and brimstone and destruction and utter despair... It was beautiful once, when I was still a child. Perhaps five or so in human years… A lake, once upon a time, crystal clear and blue. The gardens were beautiful… The palace was a marvel once too… I used to play by it with the other elflings. It was so deep but so clean you could still see the bottom, and it looked as if you could touch it though of course you couldn't... It was a crater lake. The volcano was supposed to be extinct. We didn't know a dragon slumbered beneath it… Then one day it woke up, and it burst through the earth that had closed over it with a vicious roar. It was huge. You've never seen anything like it before. When it burst out it was like a stop pulled from a bottle of mead and the volcano exploded, spewing fire and lava high into the air. The dragon razed the surroundings areas to the ground leaving nothing behind but ruins of villages and broken, wretched survivors who needed to try and rebuild. Only the elfin king's illusions saved us from its wrath, and as soon as it seemed to be not paying attention, he led us away from that place. Eventually the eruption settled, but the lake of lava is still bubbling to this day. It's likely its erupting days are over, there's no pressure anymore bottling it down, but the hazard remains."

Agravaine was quiet. "Can anyone save my brother from there?" he asked quietly.

"Maybe. There hasn't been much success freeing prisoners from that place though. Last I recall there was a dragon guarding it. Not the one that burst out of the crater, but one of its many offspring. I'm not sure if she is still there or not," Selices said. "She drove Brian and his men from that place and took over it. I do not know how the tower's prisoner was fed after that, or if she was. If Brian and his men have returned there, then I suppose the dragon is gone. Brian's forces aren't to be reckoned with, for he is a valuable ally of the Dolorous Tower and his warriors were obviously enough men strong that it left an impression on Caradoc and Turquine, but even they didn't dare face off against that flying lizard."

"So there's no hope?" Agravaine asked a bit meekly.

Selices was quiet. His first instinct was to answer no, but then he'd had no hope either and now here he was. Away from the giants of Dolorous Tower. Free... "It seems that there is always hope after all," he settled on answering finally. Agravaine seemed a bit appeased at that, letting out a soft breath of relief.

KAK

Lamorak listened from hiding as Lot was freaking out and as his wife tried to soothe him. He peered quietly out in concern, but his eyes fell on Anna and he caught his breath, immediately flushing and ducking back out of sigh, looking unimpressed with himself. Seriously? She was married! And Arthur's older sister! And the mom of a guy his own age! But damned if she wasn't breathtaking. Wasn't like the age gap was all that big. Whoa, no! Concern for Lot first, being entranced with Morgause never. He peered around once more to see her holding Lot's hands in hers and murmuring softly to him. Lot looked terrified and devastated, and honestly Lamorak couldn't blame him. He was kind of terrified too... Of what was happening to Gawain and to Brandelis. He'd never been overly close with either until more recently - yes, he was low-key starting to get attached to his classmates - but still. Morgause kissed him and Lamorak didn't like the jealous feel stirring in his stomach. He immediately banished it. Her married, him too young for her. She turned and left Lot alone. Lot looked woefully out a window looking lost. Lamorak waited a few seconds before slipping out of hiding and approaching the king.

"Your majesty? Lot?" Lamorak spoke up as he came near. Lot looked wearily and curiously over at him. "Lancelot has ridden with the slave Servause and your son Gareth to go after Gawain," he grimly said. "I saw them riding away from my window and came immediately to tell you."

Lot's eyes opened wide in shock and horror. He blinked blankly then reacted. "Assemble my men. Meet me outside," he directed succinctly.

"Um, when did I become your subject?" Lamorak dubiously asked, though he nonetheless dutifully followed.

"You didn't," Lot answered. "If you'd rather stay here, be my guest. Fewer infants I'll need to babysit."

Lamorak started and looked offended before replying almost defiantly, "I'll come with you." Besides, it might impress Mor... Oh crap, he was doing it again! Again he tried to banish the thought.

"Don't slow me down," Lot replied.

"If anything it'll be he other way! Now let's save those poor unfortunate souls," Lamorak shot. Lot gave him an annoyed look, but let it go.

KAK

The three boys stood on the ridge, staring with mouths agape at the decrepit, fiery castle. "…Wow," Gareth finally said. "Cliched much?"

"That cliché is going to get your brother killed if we don't move fast," Lancelot replied. "We need to get down there yesterday. Come on." His concern and fear for Gawain was evident in his voice and he knew it. He wished he was half as good as hiding it as Gareth was, because Gareth was taking this way rougher than he let on. He'd heard him quietly crying last night while they'd camped. They had all tried to pretend like they didn't know what would happen to Gawain in that castle, but they couldn't lie to themselves long. They knew the truth. If it hadn't happened already, it was going to happen soon. And Brandelis… He didn't even want to think about the hell that guy had lived through. He'd never known… If he had, maybe he could have done something.

They approached the rickety hanging bridge and grimaced. "Ooh… That's a long way down," Gareth said. And a long unstable bridge.

"Turn back," Lancelot replied, shrugging and starting across. Of course, the first step he took he nearly fell through with a cry. If not for Stephen's quick reflexes he'd be toast about now. He gaped down in horror.

"I'll go across first. I'm the lightest of all of us," Gareth said.

"Your armor gives ye a lot o' added weight," Servause pointed out.

"And you two even more," Gareth replied, starting to carefully pick his way across. The boards creaked slightly but held up. This bridge looked newer than he'd have expected it would. Maybe there had been another but it had given out and collapsed. This one didn't seem like it could have been any better mae than the old one, but then he guessed that Brian of the Isles wouldn't have put much thought into making it safe to cross. The guy probably had another secret and safer way to reach Dolorous Guard. Gareth made it half way across before looking back at the others, waiting. Stephen was next to brave it, removing part of his armor but not all. He wanted to be as light as could be risked with as much freedom of movement as possible. He made it safely to Gareth. Lancelot, very wary and cautious about crossing now that he'd almost gone through, followed, removing no armor pieces of armor at all. After all, it hadn't slowed him down yet. Gareth kept going, leading the procession across the precarious hanging bridge. Soon they were all safe on the other side, pleased with themselves that they'd mustered up the courage to do that.

"Now what?" Lancelot asked.

"Try not to make ourselves known," Servause said. "In and out like ghosts. If we're careful, they should be none the wiser." They went to the doors of the castle and pushed them open only to gasp, mouths dropping. Standing there forming a small wall was a group Dolorous Guard knights, each one in wicked looking armor with weapons drawn and at the ready.

Lancelot scowled. "You were saying?" he said to Stephen.

"Ooh…" Servause squeaked. They were done for.

Lancelot scoffed, looked ahead, and shouted, "Charge!"

"What now?!" Gareth exclaimed. Already, though, Lancelot and Servause were charging. Gareth grimaced but quickly, albeit reluctantly, followed, though he made it a point to hang a little bit back. If he found a way to slip past these men, he was taking it and he was finding his brother and Brandelis and getting them out. He was no Agravaine with a lockpick, but he could manage okay. His brother had been teaching him and he'd been getting the hang of it pretty good. The sooner he got Gawain and Brandelis into this fight too, the higher their odds of getting out alive.

"Where's Gareth?!" Lancelot shouted over at Stephen upon noticing Gareth wasn't near. Oh if anything happened to the guy Gawain would have his head, Agravaine, Gaheris, Mordred, and Loholt would split the limbs, and Lot would get what was left over.

Servause scanned the area in concern and noticed Gareth slipping away up a set of stairs. He smirked. "Bringing in the cavalry!" he replied. Lancelot looked puzzled at this but then seemed to guess at what it meant. He smirked. That sneaky little dog. Good. They just had to keep the men busy until Gareth came back with presumably Gawain and Brandelis. There were only ten men. It shouldn't be too much for him and Servause to hold them off until backup arrived.

KAK

Gareth looked back at the top of the steps, a bit hesitant to leave the other two in the lurch like this, but they were faring incredibly well he noted, so he could afford this risk he decided. He frowned and pressed on, heading for the towers. He was unsure where they'd be, but he'd assume the highest tower was the prison tower and they'd be somewhere shoved in there. He hurried in and began searching each cell. "Gawain?! Brandelis?!" he called. "Gawain, Bran!" He ran up the steps and continued shouting their names. He went around a bend. "Gawain, Br…" he trailed off, freezing in place and gasping. There in front of him stood Brian of the Isles, an ugly scowl on his face and murder in his eyes. "Oh shi…" Gareth squeaked out. He stopped himself before saying the whole word. He swallowed and quickly drew his sword, eyes wide. He was glad for his armor suddenly. The guy wouldn't see how utterly terrified he actually was. Of course, odds were he could sense it well enough. "I…" he began. He hated that his voice cracked. He cleared his throat. "I've come for the stolen prince and your son, you… monstrous beast! Get out of my way or die!"

Brian began to chuckle darky and menacingly. Gareth shifted uncomfortably. Oh boy… With a roar the man suddenly attacked. Gareth yelped, leaping about a foot and holding up his sword, blocking the first blow and almost breaking his arms in the process. He inwardly cursed and pulled away from Brian before slashing at him desperately and quickly. Brian blocked each attack and tried to run him through. Gareth barely managed to dodge. Given the sword went right through the thick stone, it was probably good that he'd moved out of the way instead of relying on his armor, because that strike would have gone right through it probably.

"Oh hell no," Gareth said. He ran passed Brian as the man was trying to pull out his sword, pressing on. "Gawain, Brandelis, answer me please!" he shouted frantically. He heard the man's footsteps behind him and gasped. He resisted the urge to look back, it would only slow him down, and pressed on. "Gawain! Bran!" he shouted as loudly as he could. He cried out as he was seized by the arm and spun around. He shouted in alarm, expecting a sword through his body like Agravaine, but suddenly Brian stiffened, freezing, and collapsed to the ground. Gareth cried out as he fell beneath the man, and quickly he scrambled out from under him gaping in horror. He looked up and started. "Brandelis!" he exclaimed in relief. "Oh thank goodness. Quick, where's Gawain? We're getting you two out of here."

"Who are you?" Bran asked in disbelief.

"Oh, right, armor," Gareth said. He pulled off his helmet quickly. Brandelis stared at him in disbelief and looked like he was torn between bursting into laughter or firing off a dozen questions about how it was possible a guy like Gareth could have made it this far into a deathtrap like Dolorous Guard. He wasn't exactly known for his prowess in school, after all.

"Are you serious?" Brandelis finally settled on saying.

"Can we discuss my credentials later?" Gareth said, frowning at him and putting back on the helmet. "Bring me to my brother. I can lockpick him out of whatever chain he's in."

"You won't need to. Your distracting dad gave me the chance to knock him out, as you can plainly see. He has the keys on him, or should," Brandelis said, kneeling by Brian and starting to search. The man wouldn't have had time to hide them away before going to face the infiltrators. Soon he pulled them out, dangling them in front of Gareth.

"Oh great, easy. Now let's get Gawain, get you dressed into, you know, something you can fight in, get him into armor too, and get down there to help the others against Brian's men," Gareth said.

Brandelis hesitated a bit. "I… There's no point in your bringing me with you," he finally said, bowing his head.

"Uh, yeah. There kind of is. You're one of us. We're not leaving here without you," Gareth said.

"It's pointless. He'll just find me and take me back again…" Brandelis quietly said.

"No. He won't. He's made himself our enemy now. Worcestershire isn't obliged to let him take you anymore or even go close to their campus, despite that contact or whatever the hell Pynchly did that signed you away," Gareth said.

"I'm done hoping for freedom, Gareth," Brandelis said with a tired sigh. "It'll never come. Not for me."

Gareth was quiet. "Okay, let me make this really simple. You're coming if we have to tie you up and carry you like a sack of potatoes, capiche?! Now bring me to my flipping brother so I can save that flipping idiot and get him flipping dressed and armored up, so we can get out of this flipping tower and back to flipping Far Far Away!" he shouted. "You don't have a choice, man. Hate having to say that, you've probably had no choices most of your life, but seriously?! Why would you think we'd leave you here? Come on already!" Brandelis was quiet, looking away. "Bran, listen to me very carefully. You're literally our only hope right now. You and Gawain joining this fight is going to make or break us, okay, so just… just come on."

Brandelis glanced at him, looking a bit torn, then sighed and nodded, narrowing his eyes in determination. "Follow me," he said. Immediately he began to run. Gareth pursued quickly.

KAK

Brandelis reached the door of Gawain's room and paused for Gareth to catch up. "Uh, do me a big favor and don't let Gawain know it's me, kay?" Gareth said a little nervously.

Brandelis raised an eyebrow. "Uh, why?" he asked.

"Be-cause I'm his baby brother? It's a big bro thing. If he finds out I showed up here personally I'm so dead," Gareth replied. "In fact, regarding the rest of the rescue party; if you can't see who they are, don't ask. They probably don't really want to be called out for this."

"You know what? Whatever. I really don't care," Brandelis said, rolling his eyes and shoving open the door. "Gawain!" he called, running towards the bed. Gareth stepped in and faltered, heart skipping a beat and a feeling of nausea going through him to see his brother chained down and near naked. Gawain looked quickly over and his eyes widenend in hope. "We're getting out of here," Brandelis said, quickly unlocking Gawain. Gawain instantly moved to try and leap up, but his body wasn't working. Brandelis caught him as he fell off the bed, steadying the other and helping him rise a bit slower. He'd been on his back for a while now, so it was understandable that he'd be a little clumsy on his feet. "Get your bearings fast. We need to move, get you armored up, and get down to the rest of the party to help them fend off my dad's men."

"Glad you're choosing hope again," Gawain said.

"I'm not. That guy gave me no choice," Brandelis said, jerking his thumb back at the armored Gareth.

Gawain looked over. "I don't know what you said, but thank you for talking sense into him," he said.

"Uh, no problem," Gareth replied, trying to disguise his voice. Gawain knew instantly it was disguised, the eyebrow raise gave it away, but it seemed to do the trick for now with keeping him in the dark.

Gawain looked at Brandelis. "Where are my clothes?" he asked.

"Disposed of probably. Why would you need them here after all? You can borrow some of mine. Armor isn't in short supply around here, considering you're willing to wear it off a dead corpse," Brandelis replied.

Gawain grimaced. "Is there no other choice?" he lamely asked.

"Nope," Brandelis ruefully said, shaking his head.

Gawain sighed. "Fine. Let's go," he relented. Quickly the three left the room and headed for Brandelis'. Not long after, dressed and armored up, Brandelis and Gawain followed Gareth quickly back to the others.