A/N: Hello beautiful people from the internet! Sorry I took so long to post this chapter. I really wanted opinions on the first chapter but I got 0 reviews (hint hint!). There is more action in this chapter so I really hope you like it and please tell me what you think, I would appreciate it a lot! Happy reading!

Words without A/N: 1602

2. I´d rather save you

''That one last shot´s a permanent vacation and how can you fly with broken wings'' Aerosmith

''Wake up, lazy people!'' That was the first thing everyone heard in the morning. When they opened their eyes, they say Gwaine remaking the fire so they could have some breakfast.

''Did you stay up all night?'' Merlin asked Gwaine quietly while making some food.

''It´s alright, I told you, and I couldn´t sleep anyways.'' Gwaine answered and Merlin nodded.

''If I´m not wrong, we will…'' Arthur said, interrupting himself with a yawn. ''We will reach our destiny a couple of hours before sunset, we´ll have time to stop the slave trader.''

After having a quick breakfast, Arthur, Merlin and the knights prepared the horses and continued with their journey. As the day before, everyone acted as they usually did, but the path seemed darker. They were heading to dangerous lands where dark magic, bandits, enemies and even Morgana could be. Arthur promised that he would do anything to have all of them return safely to Camelot, but that didn´t make the place less dangerous.

Everyone left out a sigh of relief when they reached a quiet and peaceful place, it was surrounded by trees and there was a little river near. Percival asked if they could stay there for a while to get some water and the rest agreed. Leon was feeling calmer than the day before, but still alert. He started walking towards the river when he heard something strange, as if someone had moved behind the trees.

''Did you hear that?'' The knight asked.

''What?'' Arthur said.

''I heard that too.'' Gwaine said.

''What are you talking ab…?'' Arthur started but Leon silenced him with his hand. They stood still for some seconds, and then the noise was heard again. As everyone drew their swords, a dozen of bandits started running towards them, revealing that they had been hiding behind the trees.

At first, it looked as if the fight was going to be won by the kings and his knights: Arthur had already finished with a bandit with great agility, Leon was coping well with two enemies, Percival didn´t even have to use his sword to defeat some of them and one of the bandits had mysteriously fallen into the river. But another dozen of them came out of the trees.

A bandit screamed with pain as Gwaine slit his sword across his back. The knight was fighting with great skill and was confident about winning the encounter. In the corner of his eye, he saw that one of the bandits had grabbed Merlin and he was going to help him, but he saw Arthur running towards them. He kept fighting, sure about the kings rescuing his servant, but he heard the sound of a sword falling. He turned and saw that two bandits had grabbed Arthur too.

''Take these two! They are from Camelot, the boss will give us a nice amount of gold for them!'' The one who seemed the leader said. Gwaine was about to run to his king when he heard a scream that gave him goosebumps. He turned again and saw that one of the bandits had stabbed Leon. The man was about to stab him again, but the knight was quicker and made him fall next to him. Gwaine was almost certain that Leon would be able to beat the bandit, but two more were walking towards them.

Gwaine had two options: Merlin and Arthur or Leon.

''Gwaine, you idiot.'' He whispered to himself before running to kill the man who was fighting with Leon. As he stabbed him, he noticed the wound in Leon´s body, deep and nasty. The sight of it filled him with rage.

''What are you doing?'' Leon asked, knowing that the bandits were taking Arthur and Merlin away. Gwaine didn´t answer, he killed the two men who wanted to harm Leon in a violent and almost cruel way. He lost himself for a minute or two; the only thing in his mind was protecting Leon, which made him kill everyone who got too close. When he finished, he was shaking and his mind was racing, he saw Percival and Elyan looking at him scared and worried. Then, he kneeled to hold Leon, who had blacked out due to his wound.

''What do we do now?'' Elyan asked. ''You killed most of the bandits, but some just left with Merlin and Arthur. Even if we followed them with the horses now, we would never get close to them and I'm sure they have reinforcements. Besides, there are just four of us and…''

''Three.'' Gwaine corrected, feeling tears rolling down his cheeks. ''Leon is not dead, but he can't fight. We need to take him to Camelot as soon…''

''But, the king?'' Percival asked. Gwaine didn't know what to say, why were Percival and Elyan asking him? Maybe because it had been his choice to save Leon instead of Arthur and Merlin, it had been his fault.

''You said we're too far away and too weak to follow them.'' Gwaine said faintly. ''If we return to Camelot quickly and tell Agravaine about it, he could send…''

''That's a good idea.'' Elyan said, kneeling next to Gwaine and, now, understanding completely the reasons behind his friend's actions. ''But we have to go now.''

He helped Gwaine to his feet and up his horse while Percival tried to cover Leon´s wound and carry his body. The knight, also understanding Gwaine, put the body in front of Gwaine so he wouldn't fall down. Elyan and Percival moved around, preparing the horses and God knows what else, Gwaine wasn´t paying attention and he didn´t care. He was a bit calmer now, but tears kept rolling down his cheeks as he held Leon's hand.

After what seemed years, they parted to Camelot. Gwaine's eyes were on the path but he couldn´t focus, he was just following Percival and Elyan. Leon was cold, very cold, so Gwaine put his arms around him hoping to warm him up. His mind was blank. Of course, there was some guilt, but he was focused on Leon and that they needed to reach Camelot quickly.

''Gwaine, we have to rest.'' Elyan whispered, bringing the knight back to reality. Percival put Leon carefully on the floor, taking a lot at his wound.

''We have to get back to Camelot.'' Gwaine said, dull.

''We ride at dawn.'' Elyan answered. ''You and Leon need to rest.'' Gwaine nodded and agreed to rest when their friends promised to take turns to look after Leon.

Gwaine didn't know exactly when he fell asleep, he just did. However, it was not a peaceful night. He dreamt of Leon, which should have made him happy and calmed him down, but it wasn´t like that. At first, he dreamt of some of their best moments, making him feel nostalgic. Then, without a warning, he saw Leon´s wounded body and heard his cry of pain over and over again. It was a prison he couldn't escape and a nightmare that wouldn't let him wake up. He felt afraid, stupid, guilty, worthless…

''Gwaine, wake up!'' Elyan said in the morning, waking up the knight.

''Leon… is he…?'' Gwaine started asking, worried and trying to catch his breath.

''He's alright. He woke up for some minutes when Percival was awake, he asked for some water and he feels the wound, which it´s good, according to Gaius.'' Elyan answered and Gwaine nodded. ''We´re just a couple of hours away from Camelot, come, we have to go.''

As the day before, Percival and Elyan made Leon ride with Gwaine and guided them. As soon as they parted, Gwaine's mind drifted away and he thought about what would have happened if he had acted differently. What if he had chosen Arthur and Merlin instead of Leon? It wouldn't have been his fault and the mission would probably be complete. But, what about Leon? Without a doubt, he would have died. Selfish idiot, thought Gwaine. But then, he realized that maybe it wasn´t completely selfish, Leon would have died if it hadn´t been for him. You should have acted quicker, idiot, he thought again, idiot, idiot.

Gwaine would have never noticed that they had reached the castle if his horse hadn´t stopped. Percival and Elyan helped him and Leon inside the castle. As soon as he entered, Gwaine started shaking. ''We need Gaius.'' He said and, if those words were a magical spell, the old physician appeared.

''Dear lord!'' He gasped when he saw Leon. ''Percival, take him to his chambers and, Merlin, bring me…''

''He´s not here, Gaius.'' Percival said. ''Elyan will bring everything you need and I'll explain what happened.''

The physician nodded, of course, he was worried about Merlin, but he had to heal Leon. He gave some instructions to Elyan and headed to Leon´s rooms, followed by Percival with the knight in his arms. Gwaine was going to follow them when someone stopped him:

''Sir Gwaine!'' Agravaine, Arthur's uncle, called. He was walking towards him with a fake worried expression. ''Sir Gwaine, what happened? Where is Arthur?''

''We… we were on the mission and…'' Gwaine started, but he couldn´t speak correctly and wanted to follow Leon. ''And some bandits attacked us…''

''Oh, God, is he dead?''

''No… well, I'm almost certain he's not, but…''

''Where is he?''

''I don't know, but…'

''Where is the king?''

''My lord, Agravaine.'' Said Gwaine, now in control of his words. ''The king and his servant have been captured by a slave trader.''

A/N: Sooo we just reached a deep part, there will be more of Gwaine and Leon and, as I promised a friend, some 'deep Merthur shit'. Please, tell me what you think.

TheLoner7