Thanks for the reviews and interests in my stories! I've got this whole story outlined... so look out for some interesting twists and turns!
Gaius placed his hand on Gawaine's forehead to gauge his fever. He was no longer warm after a day's rest. Secretly, Gaius understood why would feel better, but for the sake of avoiding explanation to Uther, Gaius kept Gawaine in bed. Gaius knew Gawaine would recover so quickly because of the Immordium tonic used on Gawaine, a spell that mimics death. Not a useful potion for someone who really wanted a person dead. It was too peculiar, but hope lit inside Gaius.
*knock knock*
Gaius turned to the door. "Come in."
Arthur entered the room anxiously and looked at Gawaine's condition. Gaius turned to Gawaine trying to gauge objectively how Gawaine looked. Gawaine's color returned to his cheeks and if anything, he looked knocked out.
"How is he?" Arthur asked quietly.
"He's doing better. I gave him some strong herbs to help hasten his recovery and will allow him to be up and ready by tomorrow morning."
Arthur nodded.
"There is a lot of information I need now. Is he in any condition to answer?"
Gaius nodded and shook Gawaine up. It didn't look like Gawaine was in critical condition when he yawned sheepishly before he stood up in his bed and smacked his lip , he looked very refreshed. Arthur observed him carefully and looked back at Gaius, who looked a little nervous.
"Gawaine…you look well."
"I've never felt better," Gawaine said carefully rubbing his right shoulder. "Whatever you gave me Gaius was amazing. I feel loads better." Gawaine then looked up at Arthur. "Any news on Morgana and how we going to stop her?"
Arthur smiled lightly at the word 'we'.
"I take it you're willing to fight for Camelot again," Arthur said nodding. "We're bordering the lands and are trying to find the tunnel entrance. The problem is a large boulder is covering what seems to be the tunnel entrance. The other knights are still working on it. I need you, however, to verify we are looking at the right scene. Hopefully we can figure out a way to prevent her from ever entering Camelot through the tunnel"
"I will do my best," Gawaine said thinking hard, getting out of bed and putting on a tunic. "But how could you prevent Morgana from entering Camelot through the tunnel? She has magic."
The two walked out the door and into the hallway, Gawaine waiting for an answer.
"I have an idea on how to block her entrance to Camelot, but need a look at the tunnel itself."
"We could attack her without her knowing as well."
"Not yet; we cannot attack her when we don't have anything to attack her with. We are not lucky anymore."
Arthur wondered if Gawaine understood his reference to Merlin. Arthur hated the idea that the only reason he ever won anything was because of Merlin. Arthur and Gawaine hopped on the horse and headed to the boulder.
Walking through the damp tunnel, a thorn caught in Morgana's black gown. She tugged at it and saw the thorn turn into Camelotian swords, growing towards her direction rapidly, the tips twinkling in blood. She ran back towards the lighted exit, but the pointed swords kept growing in the dark damp tunnel. A lean shadow from the tunnel exist blocked the exit to her surprise as the Camelotian swords inched closer and closer to her face, not stopping.
Morgana shot up from her sleep with beads of sweat on her face, her heart racing hard and her fingers trembling. She looked around in her cave and peered out of the mouth of the cave where saw the night eerily quiet and her followers sleeping in their tents under the moonlit sky. She got out of her stone bed, put on her robe as she walked out into the chilly night and whispered a spell to produce a ball of fire in her hand. Her heart beat hard as she walked down a slanted hill to where the river passed. She slipped a little, falling down the steep hill a few seconds and then got up marching over to the cliff. Morgana's mouth opened in fear as she approached the other side and closed her eyes in relief when she saw the tunnel entrance completely blocked by a glowing boulder.
"What are you doing?"
Morgana turned immediately to the voice and found Mordred standing there.
"What are you doing up?" Morgana asked Mordred, alarmed by his presence. It was strange, but for some reason, Mordred had this eerie quality about him.
"I saw you leaving in the middle of the night and followed you."
"You should not have come Mordred. Go back."
"Why are you at the tunnel entrance?"
"I wanted to make sure the spells were still active," Morgana said beginning to head back annoyed. "We must make sure if Arthur ever finds the other side of the tunnel in Camelot, he will not be able to use it to attack us."
Morning seemed duller than usual. The clouds were out diffusing the energetic attitude Morgana usually had. At least the followers believed it was the clouds causing it. The truth was, Morgana could not stop thinking about her dream. Usually her dreams symbolize what is yet to come, and if what her dream showed was any hint of the truth, she was in trouble. What were Camelot's swords doing, pushing her into a corner. And whose shadow was on her side, allowing her to die.
Her mind couldn't stop worrying about the tunnel entrance in Camelot. Would Arthur know about it?
"Morgana, you have called me?" Menw said, after walking up to Morgana.
"Menw, good you are here." Morgana said with a tepid smile. "I have a task for you. It's a … strange task. But I thought you were a good fit for it."
"I can do whatever you'd like me to do! What is it!?"
"I want you to go to Camelot."
Menw's jaws dropped subtle. "C-Camelot? Are you… are you serious?"
"I am. I need you to go there and look for this scene.." Morgana said casting an image of the tunnels entrance in Camelot blocked by a boulder and surrounded by yellow flowers. "I want you to tell me if it looks the same."
"I- I would be happy to, but Morgana, do you not think I will be caught by the knights?"
"You are a boy, and that of an innocent face, no one will suspect you to be upto anything."
Menw looked slightly distressed.
"Will you at least tell me why this is important?"
"Making sure it has not been detected by Arthur is our best chance of defeating Camelot."
Menw nodded his head. "Ok, I will go then."
"Please come to me immediately when you arrive back here. I will be waiting anxiously."
"Arthur! Here! We have wonderful news!" Sir Leon called eagerly waving down Arthur and Gawaine on their horses. Arthur immediately removed himself off the horse and ran over to check out the scene. Gawaine also followed. Sir Leon beamed at the scene, showing the boulder shifted a few inches, revealing the tunnel entrance as a large muscular man continued to push the boulder.
"This is it…" Gawaine said in awe. "This is what I saw in the image Morgana casted."
"No kidding." Arthur said. "This is great Sir Leon. How did you find him?" Arthur asked referring to the muscular man.
"It was Sir Patrick's call. Brandt here is known to be the strongest in Camelot and has won many strength competitions in all the taverns."
Brandt continued to push the boulder with all his might as Arthur mind began to race.
"What should we do when the boulder is moved?" Sir Leon asked.
Arthur sighed. "I'll soon explain." Arthur said nervously. He didn't want to share his idea, but he would need to in order to ensure its execution.
Gawaine listened on as well, but heard a few branches crushing nearby. Arthur was too busy watching the progress of the boulder to notice. Curious, Gawaine stepped away and walked around casually, just to make sure everything was fine. When he concluded there was nothing to worry about, he headed back to Arthur. It was then when he saw a lean boy behind a tree looking nervous peering over at Arthur and the tunnel. It was Menw.
"HALT!" Gawaine said pulling out his sword. Menw completely oblivious, turned to Gawaine and reacted in shock. The boy said nothing for a while, just observed Gawaine very closely as Gawaine walked towards him. "What is your business here in the woods? Camelotians were asked to stay out of the woods."
"I- I, was looking for my goat." Menw said at once, remembering the lines he rehearsed in his head for instances like this. "My mother will be extremely angry if she knew it ran away."
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Gawaine said distracted by Menw's confused look.
"I- I'm," Menw began. "You're alive?!" he spat at once.
"Excuse me boy? What is that supposed to mean?"
"I though you …. You were.."
"Dead? Great, everyone's heard about my incident." Gawaine said putting his guard down. "I'm not that weak, it takes a lot to take me down."
Menw stared at Gawaine.
"That's… good news" Menw said in his most convincing voice.
"Anyway, as I said before, you are not supposed to be here in the woods. I'm afraid you'll have to face he fury of your mother.."
Menw nodded desperately. "I'm sorry."
Gawaine smiled and hit Menw's shoulder. "Go on now, and start telling people I'm not dead!"
Menw nodded and ran off.
Gawaine shook his head smiling and headed back to Arthur.
Menw arrived at Morgana's land. He looked to the mouth of the cave were Morgana was waiting for his message and decided to take another trail. He scowered the lands in search for Merlin, and spotted him picking up some branches. One more look to Morgana's cave, he snuck away towards Merlin.
Approaching closer, Menw stood, tired, sweating and stunned.
"That man," Menw began. Merlin turned and stood up facing Menw. "That man you killed the other day."
"Y-yes?"
"You killed him, did you not?" Menw asked, fearful of not believing Merlin.
Merlin stared at Menw carefully.
"Of course I did," Merlin said.
"How sure are you?" Menw asked quickly.
"I- I'm very sure," Merlin said shortly. "Why, why are you asking?"
It was Merlins slight stumble in his tone that caused Menw to lower his tone.
"Did you give him a burial?" Menw asked suspiciously.
Merlin looked alarmed.
"No, I did not."
"Why not? Wouldn't that guarantee his death?"
"Why are you asking me these questions?"
"I asked, why did you not?"
"I would not give the one I killed a burial." Merlin responded annoyed and frustrated.
Menw stood quiet and looked angry.
"Menw!" Morgana said coming to him. "Have you just arrived? I am waiting for your news!"
Menw looked to Morgana. "I am sorry Morgana. I needed to ask Merlin something."
"That can wait! Menw, what did you discover in Camelot?"
"It's not good news. Arthur found the tunnel entrance."
Menw glanced at Merlin carefully.
"What?!" Morgana screamed. "How can this be!? There is no way he could ever know! What could have caused this?"
Menw was angered but calm.
He glanced at Merlin quietly and darkly. Merlin looked back at him, slightly confused and fearful.
"I do not know."