Author's Note: Hey again guys! Really glad you liked the new chapter; got some really lovely reviews! I've made this chapter a bit longer so I hope you appreciate that! Just let me know if you don't like having to read that much but, according to some of the reviews I've been getting, you guys are always asking for more! So hope you like this chapter, I think it's a pretty eventful chapter so it's worth reading (even if I do say so myself) Hope you enjoy! Please review!
Chapter Eight
Resolute
Gwaine blinked and held up his hand to shield his eyes from the bright sunshine streaming in through the window. Then memories from last night rushed up onto him. They washed over him like waves, travelling away but then returning even more fiercely. The creeping round in the dark, the jumping up in the roof, chasing after him, then trapping him. Then actually touchinghim. He had felt the energy coursing beneath Emrys' skin. The sheer power was almost overwhelming. He truly did emanate danger and strike fear into anyone who came close to him or even spoke his name. And then there was that fox. Red. That was what he had called it. It must be quite close to him if he had named it. It had protected him as well. But when it had turned on him was when the most weird thing happened. Emrys had actually stopped it from harming him. It didn't make sense. Why would someone want to save the person who was pushing a sword up to their throat. Gwaine certainly wasn't complaining but it did seem extremely strange. There must be something else to it. An evil sorcerer doesn't just decide that he'll spare someone who was threatening to kill him. No, there must be some sort of plan. Maybe he was trying to get Gwaine's trust. That must be it. There wasn't any other explanation. Well Emrys wasn't going to pull that over on Gwaine. No, he would try extra hard tonight, just to show Emrys that he wasn't being fooled. Also, he still had to show Arthur that he was worthy of this mysterious reward he had promised him. Arthur had seemed like he was pleased with him last night but Gwaine needed to prove himself just a little more. He would have to do something extra special. Gwaine lifted the covers to one side and sat up. He swung out of bed. He strode over to the window and surveyed the scene in front of him. The townspeople were just starting to emerge from their miniature homes and go about their daily business. They looked like tint insects crawling around the houses. He was out there somewhere. Hiding in the shadows he so often concealed himself in.
"I'll get you some day Emrys. Don't you worry, I will find you," Gwaine promised.
"Last night was close Red. Too close. We really need to be more careful. They'll be searching on the roofs even more now. They've finally figured out that that's the best place to find me. And thanks for saving me last night." Emrys stroked the fox's sleek, orange coat thankfully. But something had been weighing on his mind. Why had he saved Gwaine? That question had circled round in his head since they had got back last night. He just couldn't work it out. Why would he want to stop Red from injuring someone that was threatening to slit his throat? It just didn't make sense. Red didn't seem to understand Emrys' move either. When they had got back home he had given him a look that seemed to say 'why on earth did you stop me from biting that idiot?' Emrys had taken one look at him and laughed. Emrys didn't have a clue how to answer it either. He guessed it was because he had felt something toward Gwaine. Just that… He didn't know. It was like he wasn't the same as the other Knights. He never had that malicious smile spread across his face when he saw the Knights had Emrys trapped. He didn't always take everything seriously like the rest, he could make jokes and laugh with others, unlike the always stony faced Arthur. He was just… different. But all this didn't mean Emrys actually liked Gwaine. No, like he had said before, he would only ever be known as 'Camelot's most wanted' to the Knights.
The night was drawing in. The scarlet glow washed over the roofs of the houses below. But Arthur had other things on his mind other than the pretty scenery. He had been contemplating last night's events. They had been so close. Arthur could have reached out and snatched success, but no. Instead, Emrys wriggled free again. But some progress had been made. He and his Knights now knew that Emrys had a weakness. Finally, after all these years, they had found somewhere they could strike Emrys where it hurt. He seemed quite attached to his new foxy friend. He had even named it. Red, or something like that. And then another thing occurred to Arthur. Why had Emrys spared Gwaine? Arthur took his bandaged arm in his hand and frowned. He was the one of them that Arthur thought Emrys wouldn't have minded getting injured at that moment. Gwaine. He had done extremely well last night. The privilege he had promised him loomed ever closer. But he did just need one more thing to prove himself. It was strange. If Arthur had been asked which one of his Knights he would choose to give a privilege that none of the others were allowed, before this week, then it most definitely wouldn't have been Gwaine. He was probably the last person he would suggest. Nevertheless, Arthur had promised Gwaine and stood by his promise. Gwaine had deserved it. If he proved himself tonight, then Arthur would confide in him tomorrow. It was about time to give something back to his Knights.
The Knights emerged from the gates and immediately split up. They needed no instructions from Arthur tonight. Emrys noticed a few of their pack were missing. There were only five of them. Percival and Leon must have been kept behind tonight because of their injuries. Braeden and Elyan must have been kept back to keep the others company. Plus, Arthur had probably wanted them out of the way for tonight's ambush. Emrys was surprised Arthur himself hadn't been kept back, his injuries had been quite severe. Despite this, this was Arthur he was talking about, he could have the stubbornness of a mule sometimes. Arthur now had his arm bandaged up tightly, although he still seemed very willing to use it. They all separated off in different directions. They seemed to have discussed which routes they would take before they came out of the castle. Olwyn crept down the alley on the right to the building Emrys was standing on. Delmar went to the left, jumping out of his skin as a cat streaked across his path. He recovered soon enough and carried on walking although a shaken expression remained on his face. The Knights on either side of Emrys crept passed without noticing him. Lancelot snuck off down the road leading right from the gates, holding his sword close to his chest. Arthur and Gwaine remained behind. Emrys frowned and leaned in a little closer. Arthur leaned into Gwaine and whispered something into his ear. A sly smile spread across Gwaine's face as Arthur spoke. Emrys didn't like that smile at all. There was something wrong with it. When Arthur had stepped back to face him, Gwaine nodded at him, his face returning to an impassive mask. Then they both broke off, splitting up to go in different directions. Arthur went to the left while Gwaine stepped forward slowly, he seemed to be looking intently for something on the wall of the building. Gwaine smiled slyly again as he seemed to find what he was looking for. He instantly moved forward with unexpected speed, then repeated the unexpectedness by stepping up onto something by the wall of the house, leaping with surprising skill, grabbing onto the edge of the roof and hauling himself up. He stood, not looking even slightly tired. He was less than ten feet away from Emrys' hiding place now. That was way too close for comfort. Emrys backed away slowly, not wanting to be as hasty as he had been last time. He had completely blown his cover then and he didn't want to repeat his actions. But he would have to run at some point. He kept backing away, Red trotting after him, his tongue lolling out of his mouth like a happy puppy. Gwaine glanced around him and started to advance. Emrys stepped backward a little quicker now. His cloak threatened to trip him up so he stopped. Gwaine had drawn his sword and was now advancing more confidently. It didn't surprise Emrys that Gwaine would be the one to make things awkward. Emrys knew he would have to make a dash for another rooftop some time. He bit his lip and leapt.
Emrys' feet met the tiles of the other house safely but that wasn't what he was worried about. He whipped round to see Gwaine's eyes widen as he saw Emrys. He immediately broke into a sprint. Emrys copied, leaping, yet again, over the tops of the houses. His cloak acted like wings, flying out behind him and floating on the air rushing past it. Gwaine was coming dangerously close to Emrys. There was only one thing he could do now, as much as he hated it. At the next gap, instead of leaping over it, Emrys leapt down into the gloom. His cloak rushed up over his head but then returned to the ground when he landed. He continued to run as soon as he reached the floor. He snaked his way through the maze of streets, knowing every bend and turn. At least this was an advantage on Emrys' side. There was no way Emrys could ever get lost in this place. Gwaine on the other hand could easily lose his way in the twists and turns of the labyrinthine roads. Emrys swerved into as many back alleys as he could, although he made sure to not run into any of the many dead-ends he knew the alleys hid. He could tell Gwaine was struggling to keep up with his movements but Emrys knew he himself would run out of places to escape soon. He had to do something. Red had been following his actions closely so far. He never seemed to slow down. Emrys fought the urge to crouch down and give Red a good scratch behind the ears for being such a good boy. Suddenly, Emrys heard a whooshing sound from behind him and then a yelp. Emrys nearly skidded over, he stopped so unexpectedly. He whipped round and almost screamed.