Strength is…Gwaine! Just like in 'Eye of the Phoenix.' Strength is Gwaine, Magic(ian) was Merlin, but sadly there's no Courage card for Artie. Oh well. Arthur's actual card is quite appropriate. But that's for another day. Now it's Gwaine's time to shine.
Thanks to the electric phantom and georgiaj3 for reviewing and alerting.
Enjoy!
VIII – Strength – Gwaine
Key Phrases – Self-awareness, compassion, learning to take responsibility for your actions.
Gwaine had lived for a long time without responsibilities. It had been get money, buy drinks, flirt a little, start a fight, move on. Rinse and repeat for some years now.
But now he was a Knight of Camelot. A man of honour. The very fate he had been running from. It seems his father's legacy had finally caught up with him. And he wasn't taking it all that well.
Camelot was a nice place and all: the tavern had great ale; there were plenty of pretty maidens; he had friends and it was nice having a bed – rather than the cold fields he used to end up sleeping in – but it was just…
His place in Camelot came with so many strings. It wasn't that he didn't want to protect the citizens and repel invaders – he actually enjoyed that. It was just the feeling of being tied down. Of following someone else's rules, living his life by another code. It was a little uncomfortable.
"What's with you? You've got a face like a squashed frog."
Gwaine smiled at Merlin.
"It's nothing. Just the Princess throwing another hissy fit."
Merlin's eyes said he knew that wasn't the reason but he would let him off for now.
"Tell me about it. He was in a right mood this morning, and I think his aim with those goblets is getting better."
The servant rubbed the back of his head ruefully.
"C'mon, there are some flagons at the tavern with your name on them."
"Merlin, my friend, you know me too well."
As he slung his arm around his friend's shoulders, Gwaine realised that maybe there were some benefits to being tied down.
This is one of my favourite ones. As is tomorrow's one.
Thanks for reading! Next time is The Hermit. (Again, the title is appropriate.)