'Sup peoples. There is slash in this chap. Oh, and torture. Nothing too detailed. (With the torture that is. I'm thinking a fluffy, detailed kissing scene will do nicely in a later chapter). If you hate my attempt at slash, TELL ME FOR THE LOVE OF TRIBBLES. But seeing as this is a Merlin fandom, substitute Tribbles for Gwaine's favourite apple pie/ale.
As soon as Lot rounds the corner, Gwaine drops. The others are ready for this though. Elyan catches the tray, Percival catches Gwaine, Leon smoothes out his cloak to use as a makeshift mattress and Arthur lets out a roar as he shakes the bars in pure helplessness, anger and frustration.
"Tell Princess to keep it down. Some people have a headache here." Gwaine mumbles, and Arthur instantly falls silent, feeling guilty.
And later, when the stew is half gone, the hour late and Gwaine snoring loudly from his sprawled out position on the floor, they remain awake, alert and vigilant. They shall not sleep tonight. Who knows what they will find when the wake. Gwaine gone, Gwaine hurt more, Gwaine dead.
They will never know if that nighttime watch helped.
What they do know is that hours after Gwaine wakes, he is taken again. And when he returns...
When he returns it is hard to tell where Gwaine is hurting. His skin is caked in blood. Eventually, it is determined that eight games of noughts and crosses were played in the hall, with but with knives not quills and Gwaine's chest and back as the playing board. Even worse was the scoring system. Noughts won a game? Break a finger on his left hand. Crosses took home the gold? Break a finger on the right.
It sickens Leon. That a man he cares about, a man who has saved his life before, a man he trusts to have his back, can be tortured like this. For the others it is worse.
Part of Arthur dies inside. He is meant to look after his men. They should not be tortured simply because they are not noble. Gwaine, despite his faults, is one of Arthur's favourite men. He is brave, strong, laid back, friendly, loyal. He is better then this.
Eylan can't watch. He can't be here. He has to get away. Because this, this is worse then last time. Gwaine bleeding cheerfully from various body parts all while flirting, chatting and drinking is ok. It's normal. It's comforting. Everything will be fine. But the sight of Gwaine limp on the ground, his fingers broken, his body carved, still and silent with no ale in sight- that scares Elyan to his core.
But it hits Percival the hardest. Because, not only is Gwaine doing this for him, but- and Percival can't believe this is really happening- he has evolved...feelings...for the guy. And by that he means more-then-just-friends. Because he doesn't want Gwaine to be out cold in the floor. He doesn't want them to be here at all. There is a long and complicated process to go through. Trust has to be built, a relationship founded and goals set. It is lengthy, vital and necessary. But Percival just wants to skip that part. He wants Gwaine to just be kissing him now. Even though that will never happen.
Because Gwaine gets close to people, but not too close. Not close enough for them to snag his shirt and pin him down. Not close enough to love back. But close enough for some poor sucker to fall hopelessly in love with his brother in arms.