Arthur was surprised to see her as they traveled through the wood, coming across a bridge. Not that he wasn't happy to see her, no, it was just a bit of a shock, was all. She stood, waiting with her back to him, the sunlight dancing in the brown curls of her hair, making her skin glow like amber. She was leaning over, speaking diligently with a small dwarf that guarded the bridge at the lip, where a stake had been driven through the string to keep it in place.
The prince remembered this bridge. It was the same one he had crossed on his quest- for the King Fisher's Trident. It seemed such a distant memory, but all Arthur could remember was Merlin and Gwaine annoying him to no end. And the little man who had dubbed him 'Courage.' He pushed the thought away when he found himself meeting her eyes, wrapping his arm around her waist and pecking her lips with a kiss.
"Gwen!" he said happily, "Obviously I am very happy to see you, but what brings you all the way out here?"
"Well," Gwen sighed, "Elyan sent word about what happened, and I figured I can help with dinners and medicines and the like." She gestured to her brother, who smiled as he watched the two embrace. Arthur glanced down, seeing the bridge's keeper smiling up at them, pale lips wide to show off a good set of slightly yellowed teeth. Nothing a good cleaning wouldn't fix.
"It seems Courage and Strength have invited Love to join them," the man stated, and Arthur grimaced in an exchange with Gwaine.
"Still using riddles, huh?" Gwaine spoke up.
"But it is true, for you are Strength," the dwarf repeated, gesturing to Arthur he added, "He is Courage, and this lovely lady is Love." Gwen blushed at the offering, glancing down at her feet.
"Listen, we don't have time-" Elyan interrupted, stepping forward, only to stop at the dwarf's next words.
"It seems Kindness is very troubled by my words, hmm, Courage?"
Arthur scoffed. Where were these names coming from? All they wanted to do was cross a bridge, not play games! The group jumped as a crow sounded overhead, flapping its black wings in a hurried flight through the trees. Gwaine placed a hand on Elyan's shoulder, saying, "It's alright, Elyan. Bloke gave me and Merlin nicknames too. Mine was- what was it again?"
"Strength," the dwarf supplied with a slight bow.
"Yeah, I was Strength, it seems Arthur is Courage, Gwen is- Love, was it?- and now you're Kindness," Gwaine mused, clapping Elyan on the back. He glanced at Percival and Leon, the wiry but strong man standing next to the bulky friend.
"Ah, you are wondering for yourselves?" the dwarf said t their questioning eyes.
"Frankly yes," Leon nodded, Percival staying quiet.
"Well you, my curly haired friend, are Reason," the dwarf said, and to Leon, "And you, my giant friend, are Forgiveness." Percival seemed to have brightened up a bit at this idea, and squared his shoulders back, puffing out his chest like a peacock would its feathers. Gwen giggled, hiding her smile behind her hand.
"That's all well and good, but can you step aside and let us cross?" Arthur gestured to the other end of the bridge. It wasn't a long bridge, which was good, but it was rickety, the squeaking echoing as it rattled in the wind. The dwarf nodded, glancing down. Arthur was curious as to why the dwarf's eyes widened in surprise, even more shock when he curled his thick fingers round his wrist.
"He has saved you from it," the dwarf breathed, "From the Eye of the Phoenix."
"Eye of the what now?"
"Eye of the Phoenix, Courage," the dwarf explained, "Whoever comes into contact with it has their life-force drained from their body until they are but a shell, left to rot away forever."
Arthur paled, "That doesn't make any sense! Last I was here I wore a bracelet-"
It dawned on him then, that the bracelet had been the cause of him being so tired. He remembered clearly struggling to even drag his sword from its sheath, taking refuge in King Fisher's castle from Wyvrens. But when he glanced into the dwarf's eyes, he knew.
"That bracelet…. Morgana was trying to kill me?"
"It would seem so, Courage," the dwarf said, "For if Strength and his friend had not come to save you, you would be long gone."
Arthur glanced at Gwaine, who only shrugged cheekily in reply. None of this made sense. Morgana, she had given him the bracelet as a token of luck, hadn't she? She surely meant well! Arthur locked eyes with Gwaine once more. The prince was Courage, and Gwaine was Strength.
"I remember," Arthur turned back to the dwarf, weaving his fingers into Gwen's, "when I crossed the first time on my quest-"
"Arthur, we really don't have the time-" Leon interjected, but Arthur ignored him.
"-you said something about being helped. By Strength and something else. I can't really remember though."
A knowing smile crossed the dwarf's face. Voice low, his words sent chills down Arthur's spine: "It seems Magic was able to help you after all."
"Arthur, you realize that-" Percival spoke up nervously, silencing himself at Gwaine's knowing glare.
"I don't condone magic, sir, I remember specifically telling you that last time I was here," Arthur reminded, "or did you suffer a bout of amnesia?" Gwen widened her eyes at him, jabbing him with her elbow.
"Arthur!"
"What? Gwen, you know I would never-"
"It seems Love is correct in her assumption," the dwarf said, "Magic is banned in Camelot. She has reason to be worried."
"Right," Gwaine muttered, pushing past the knights to stand by Arthur, his brown shag of hair whipping in his face due to wind, "I say we just cross this lovely bridge and get going, yeah? Surely Merlin can't be far if this is where he's been taken?"
A sudden sadness crossed the dwarf's face as he allowed them reluctantly to cross, eyeing them carefully as Arthur held Gwen's hand the entire time, her brother and the others not far behind. Just as Percival prepared to step forth behind Leon, however, the dwarf called out to the prince.
"Make sure Magic gets back safely, Courage! Same to you, Strength- if he's left too long by himself, I fear he may be no more."
Arthur paused, furrowing his brow to ponder his words. His thoughts were broken as Gwen gently pulled him along, smiling softly as she rubbed her thumb over his. Arthur followed, still wary as they made it to the borders of the Perilous Lands.
"Sire," Percival spoke up, much to the prince's surprise. Percival was a quiet man, always watching until he inserted himself into the commotion of the world. "Why is it you think Merlin is here?"
"Because," Arthur said with an air of command, "it's the only place Cenred would take him."
"Are you sure?" Percival questioned, "I mean, it's the Perilous Lands, there's no way-"
"Merlin and Gwaine were with me the last time we fought Cenred," Arthur cut him off bluntly, "and the fool is to scared to make a move on his own. If he needs leverage, than the castle of Fyrien is the perfect cover for the likes of a coward."
The heat bore down on the knights, who all wore heavy chainmail and thick cloaks. Sweat sheened lightly on Arthur's forehead, and Gwen handed him a canteen, which he took gratefully. Handing it back to her, he announced, "Shall we, then?"