A Hidden Threat
Chapter 11
So this is the eleventh chapter, we left it with Gwaine and Carmen locked in the council chambers with an unconscious sorcerer. And I'm afraid to say, things aren't looking up for them at the moment. Cliff hanger at the end so you're probably all going to hate me, but I just loved the structure of this chapter. I think completing it all in one go would ruin the effect, you'll probably disagree, but anyway. Here it is, chapter eleven
Gwaine opened his eyes. He prepared himself for the pain, there wasn't any. He lifted his head, it didn't feel heavy or tight like before. It was a strange sensation but he felt a lot better. He saw Lucan lying on the floor on the other side of the room, he looked over to Carmen, she was lying with her back to him.
Carmen heard Gwaine move, she couldn't turn round. She just couldn't face him, this was all her fault. She felt a tear slide down her face. Carmen felt Gwaine's hand on her arm, she had to look at him. She pulled herself up, it was so painful. It hurt to even breathe.
"Are you alright?" Gwaine asked worried.
"Yes." She lied, refusing to meet his gaze.
Carmen stood up, her head span as she did so but she concealed it well. She was not going to give Gwaine reason to worry about her, he had enough to deal with at that moment. She wandered over to a table, picking up a jug of wine and taking it back to where she was sitting. She handed Gwaine the jug and in reply he offered her a satisfied smile.
"You can fight, you can intimidate sorcerers, and you can find a constant supply of alcohol. Marry me." Gwaine joked, taking the jug of wine gratefully.
"Oh, I'd have to be really drunk before I did that again!" She replied, trying to hide the pain that threatened to crack her voice.
"Again?" Gwaine asked, she hadn't given away anything about herself so far so he was curious about her background. "So you're married?"
"No." She ended, it was not something that she was overly keen on getting into a conversation over, but then Gwaine was hardly the most perceptive man in the world.
"But you were?" He continued, failing to see the obvious hints that were being dropped. Carmen decided that it was just easier to tell him, she sat down next to him, grabbed the jug out of his hand and took a swig. The alcohol burnt her mouth were she'd split her lip before but it numbed the pain in the rest of her body, if only for a moment.
"Yeah I was," She continued after handing him back the wine, "You probably would have found out anyway." She paused, did she really want to burden Gwaine with her problems? He seemed sweet, he was sweet. Did he really want to hear about her history? She decided she'd tell him the bare minimum, the less he knew the less he was in danger. "Well I was sort of, I was betrothed. But I didn't love him, he was cruel and he didn't care about me. I fell in love with someone else, a man of status. Me just being a servant, well it didn't go down well. But that was a long time ago, he's dead now. " This is where she ended, a tear rolled down her cheek as her heart threatened to tear in two and pain blinded her. Gwaine placed his hand on hers that tiny gesture seemed to make such a difference, his touch was like gold dust. As she looked into his eyes it felt as if there was the smallest bit of light bleeding through the seemingly endless darkness. She hadn't felt like this in years. Gwaine was convinced they were going to be killed at any moment, but Carmen felt so alive.
Suddenly they were both pulled out of their thoughts as a thumping resounded from the other end of the hall, it was The Brotherhood. They may not of been to intelligent but they were beginning to realise that something was wrong, they were going to smash down the door to get in and considering they consisted of a small mob it wouldn't take them long. Carmen looked to the door, her heart racing, terrified. She didn't need to turn her head to realise that Gwaine felt the same way. She could feel it, his hand had wrapped round hers tightening with every thump. It hurt but his touch was the only source of comfort at that point so there was no way she was going to let him let go.
"They're going to kill us." Carmen confirmed both their fears.
Gwaine knew she was right, they would need a miracle to get out of this, "Well," He thought, "At least I'm going out with a bang!" At this point a thought occurred to him, call it bravery or stubbornness, whatever it was it kept him fighting. If he was going to die he wanted to be remembered and not for running or begging for mercy. He wanted to be remembered for staying loyal and true, he wanted to be remembered for giving the enemy hell!
Gwaine stood up, drawing himself up to his full height and unsheathing his sword. The steel glinted flawlessly in the moonlight that dripped through the stain glass windows. He pulled his head up letting his perfect hair fall about his face. His deep brown eyes echoed the solidity and determination in his voice. He offered Carmen his hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Well I don't know about you," He started, all fear banished from his voice, an ability that can only be mastered by a man who knows he's about to die, "But I'm going to give them a fight they'll never forget!"
Carmen picked up her sword, it seemed heavier than before. The steel was cold and unforgiving. Her heart crashed against her ribs as her breathing sky rocketed. Strangely it felt good. She felt completely at peace for the first time in forever.
The hammering grew louder.
Gwaine tried to steady his hands.
Carmen tried to still her heart.
The door wouldn't last long.
They had seconds left before…
Hell descended.
Moments passed, it felt like hours. Carmen's hands shook, she looked to Gwaine, he smiled, she smiled back. It didn't help.
Suddenly the door fractured into a thousand pieces, throwing splinters at the opposite wall. The next few seconds seemed to move agonisingly slowly. The Brotherhood of Immortality stepped through the hole in the wall where the door used to be and stared at Carmen and Gwaine. There facelessness was demonic. Carmen and Gwaine raised their swords in unison, trying to disguise the uncontrollable tremors running through their bodies. Gwaine would have given anything, all the money in the world, to have Arthur hurl one last insult at him, to see Merlin's cheeky grin, or hear Gwen's perfect laugh just one more time.
He looked over to Carmen, she stood there, resolute. She faced The Brotherhood with her head held high and her eyes locked forward. He watched a she steadied her breathing, tightened her grip on her sword… and strode forward.