Author's Note: The last instalment of my 'I'm-sorry-for-really-short-chapters-sequence'! And I think this will definitely make up for the short chapters as I might as well have just re-written the Bible or something… This is soo long! Well, OK, it's not that long. Nothing that you guys can't handle ;D But anyway, VERY EVENTFUL CHAPTER GUYS! I think I wrote it pretty well as well, even if I do say so! But hey, there's nothing wrong with self-confidence peeps! OK, Gwaine lovers will like this chapter! Hope you enjoy! Pleeeaaaseee review, would really love to hear some feedback for this chapter!

Chapter Thirteen

Intrigued

He thankfully slowed to a walk and entered the trees. The forest was eerie at night. The odd owl hooted but that was the only sound. It was silent. Everything. The crunch as his boots stepped across the forest floor pierced the silence harshly. But then there was a movement in the trees.

"Gwaine? Gwaine, is that you?" Lancelot's voice sounded childish and scared as he shouted into the darkness. There was no response. "Gwaine are you there? Gwaine!" Nothing. Lancelot huffed and continued on his search for the meeting point.

"Rawrr!" Lancelot drew his sword instinctively at the sound that had made him jump out of his skin. He swung it through the air towards the place where the yell had come from. He went to swing again but just stopped himself as a figure emerged from the darkness. Gwaine's grinning face loomed out of the black. Lancelot aimed a punch at Gwaine's shoulder as he slid his sword back into its sheath. Gwaine was too busy laughing to dodge it and got hit with the full force. "Oww! Look, I'm sorry! Just be careful who you throw your sword at will you? You nearly took my head off!" Gwaine complained.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry Gwaine. I'll try to hold back next time someone leaps out of the pitch black darkness and screams like an idiot at me," Lancelot exclaimed angrily and sarcastically.

"Sorry. I couldn't resist it. It was so tempting," Gwaine couldn't help a slight smile creeping across his mouth. Lancelot shook his head and looked at the floor, trying to hide the smile that had fought its way onto his face.

"Ok, well Arthur said go now and hurry because they probably won't be able to keep the Thief much longer," Lancelot informed him, forcing the smile away.

"Right. Ok then. Guess I'll be off. Thanks for that mate." He clapped him on the back and headed off from the clearing.

"Oh and Gwaine?" Lancelot called just before he could disappear. Gwaine turned and nodded. "Be careful out there Ok? And I mean it," He added when he saw Gwaine roll his eyes and smile.

"What can you possibly mean Lancelot? I'm always careful! You know that!" And then he turned back and disintegrated into the blackness.

The trees grew closer together the further west he went. He would soon be at the Darkling woods. There must be something soon. The moonlight only just penetrated the canopy here. He had been so used to dodging oncoming trees then he was quite thankful when he finally reached a small clearing. He was just about to continue when he paused. Wouldn't this be an ideal place to have a hideout? He looked to his left. Through the trees he could see the city of Camelot snoozing in the moonlight. Yes, this would definitely be a good place to search. He would just give it a quick scour over and then continue on his way. The clearing was definitely big enough to hit a small hideout in. Gwaine moved forward tentatively. He stepped cautiously onward, watching the ground as he did. He got an uneasy feeling here. And then he instantly knew why. Before he could stop himself, he had stepped forward onto a slightly upraised piece of ground.

Suddenly, something sprang out of the ground, bursting out of the soil so quickly Gwaine couldn't make out what it was at first. It stood at least seven foot high, towering over Gwaine. It was like a gargantuan plant. It had a slimy green stem, about as thick as a drain pipe and a head towering over him belittlingly with long green tentacles waving around in the air circling its mouth. Its mouth. It was fearsome. It was definitely large enough to swallow Gwaine whole. But there was something weird about its mouth. Apart from being petrifying, there was something strange about it. Whereas normal mouth open downwards this mouth opened left to right so one corned of its mouth was on the side facing Gwaine and the other stretched back round the other side of the creature's head. The inside of the mouth went back as far as he could see. It was a black cave. Knife sharp fangs lined the mouth, hanging from the cave walls like bats. They were hooked back into its throat so the could catch their prey in their mouth and never let go. They shone out almost white if it weren't for the pale green saliva that dripped from each fang. A blood red tongue flicked in and out of the mouth, tasting the air. It didn't have any visible eyes so it probably depended on its sense of hearing and scent to know where Gwaine was. It looked like it had locked onto Gwaine as it turned its great head to face him. Gwaine swallowed and took a breath. The beast made a terrible screech and dived forward towards him.

Gwaine leapt to one side and only just missed one of the tentacles that had groped round blindly trying to grab him. They writhed around its head like snakes. The beast recovered quickly and prepared to strike again. Gwaine grasped for the hilt of his sword but the creature got there before him. His hand came into contact with the slimy skin of its head. Then pain seared down his arm as the beast's fangs sank into his hand. As Gwaine tried to pull away he felt the wound open even more. His teeth gritted with pain and he tugged his hand away. The monster's fang hooked round the hilt of his sword and as it pulled back, the sword was launched into the air and flew over to the other side of the clearing. Gwaine cursed in his head. Now he was helpless. The plant creature seemed to know this and took advantage of it. It lunged forward and dug its teeth into Gwaine shoulder. He screamed out in agony and thrust his other arm against the massive, slimy head. It recoiled and let out a high shriek. Gwaine clutched at his shoulder when the beast had shrank back. But Gwaine didn't have any time to tend to his wound though as the monster faced back to him. Gwaine didn't have anything left to give. He would just have to stand back and take the pain. The plant creature brought back its head, getting ready to strike for the final time. Gwaine couldn't bring himself to close his eyes. He would take it with his eyes open, with dignity. Then the monster's open mouth rushed forward. Gwaine to his last breath and tensed himself. But instead of the impact coming from straight in from of him and swallowing him up, it came from the side and shoved him almost to the ground.

Pointed agony jolted through his arm from his hand and shoulder at the quick movement. He bit his lip hard until he tasted blood so he wouldn't scream. Gwaine just managed to open his eyes slightly in time to see a hooded figure face the plant creature and yell out what sounded like a command in a different language to the beast. But then Gwaine recognised the voice. How could he not know who this was?

"Earngeáp fléogesingan!" Emrys' command rang in Gwaine's ears. It was a magical command. Gwaine didn't know much about magic, not much at all. But Gwaine could tell this plant thing was magical and it obeyed Emrys. "Leave him Slisante, I'll deal with him." Emrys stroked the plant's green head as it closed its formidable mouth. It obeyed and slipped back into its muddy home beneath the earth. The soil around the hole sealed back up magically so that all was left was a slight bump in the ground. But Gwaine didn't have time to ponder about the plant's current whereabouts as he was suddenly forced backwards up against a tree. He hit the bark hard which struck pain down his forearm. He bit his lip again which sent a trickle of blood down from his mouth. An arm was pushed against his chest so he couldn't move. He heard the sound of a knife being taken out of a sheath and the sound was confirmed as he felt cold metal pressed against his throat. "What are you doing trespassing here? Who sent you? What were you sent to do?" The same danger he had felt a few days ago was pulsing against him as his skin came into contact with Emrys'. It was enough to keep him silent. "Tell me now or I swear I will use this knife," his voice was considerably darker and dangerous than before. He felt the knife press even further into his skin. He felt a bead of blood trickle down his neck as if to prove Emrys' point. He reached his hand out to his sheath and felt for the hilt of his sword. But then he remembered with an unpleasant pang, he had lost his sword when 'Slisante' or whatever its name was had flung it across the clearing. Now he was helpless. Should he tell the truth and let him know that Arthur had sent him or should he lie and protect the Prince? However loyal he had been to Arthur lately, he figured now was a good time to stop. Anyway, Gwaine didn't fancy lying to Emrys, especially when he had a knife digging into his throat. Gwaine fumbled with the words in his head. He couldn't be stuck for words now.

"I…I was s-sent by Ar-Arthur," Gwaine stuttered. He would have scolded himself for sounding so helpless but right now he really did feel completely under Emrys' control.

"Arthur? What did he want?" When Emrys spoke Arthur's name he sounded exasperated. Gwaine was sure he had rolled him eyes under that hood of his.

"H-He wanted me to find y-your hideout," Gwaine stammered. He felt Emrys tense next to him.

"Why would Arthur think it was in the woods?" Emrys asked immediately.

"I-I don't know. He-he said some villagers had seen you and had informed him that they had seen you running along the rooftops towards the north of the woods. That's all he told me," Gwaine spilled. Had he said too much? Well there wasn't anything he could do about it if he had. Emrys nodded slowly, acknowledging this information. Emrys' grip on him loosened a little and Gwaine relaxed slightly under his arm. His injuries were still throbbing painfully. But as soon as Gwaine had moved, Emrys rammed him even harder into the tree and his face came close to Gwaine's. Despite this, Gwaine still couldn't quite see under the hood. The knife was thrust even deeper into his throat. A couple more drops of blood ran down his neck.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you now," he hissed.

Emrys saw Gwaine swallow and glanced around frantically. "Um, well, if you're willing to kill me then why did you save me those two times?" This was a brave comment considering he was utterly petrified. Although, he did make a good point. Emrys struggled to come up with an answer.

"Why? Would you rather I hadn't saved your life?" Emrys questioned. Gwaine shook his head quickly.

"N-no, it's just that… Well…" It was Gwaine's turn to be stuck for an answer. "I just wondered… why did you save me those times?" Gwaine frowned. He was starting to gain his confidence again now. Emrys licked his lips.

"D'you really want to know?" Emrys asked. Gwaine nodded vigorously. Emrys sighed and released him. "It's because I saw something in you. Something that wasn't like the rest of the Knights. You… I don't what it is, but it tells me you're not completely set on wanting me dead." Emrys chose his words carefully. This was a Knight he was talking to. Gwaine frowned a little in surprise.

"It's weird, because that's like what I see in you. You only kill if it's a last resort, or if you're cornered, when you're emotionally unstable. Only when you feel weaker, that's when you lash out," Gwaine stopped abruptly, realising, like Emrys had been careful not to, that he had said too much. He looked around guiltily, waiting for Emrys to make a remark. Emrys just looked at him. This was surely too congenial. Why was he having this conversation with a Knight? And why did it feel so… right? He felt as if a bond had formed between him and Gwaine. Emrys retorted at the very thought. No.

"Look," Emrys thrust Gwaine back up against the tree and looked him right in the eye. He had to make sure he didn't get too close in case Gwaine tried to look under his hood. "If I'm going to keep you alive then you're going to have to do something for me." Emrys' voice had returned to being dangerous and dark. Just the way he liked it. Gwaine had returned to looking absolutely terrified. He nodded shakily.

"Now I want you to take a message to Arthur. Tell him that I want to meet with him, tomorrow night. Outside the lower gate, at sunset. He must be alone. Tell him not to try anything because he knows what I can do." The threatening note in Emrys' voice never left for the whole of his order. Gwaine swallowed again and nodded in terrified agreement. Emrys gave him one last glance and then pushed back off the tree, allowing Gwaine to move. Gwaine edged away, tentatively but quickly. He obviously wanted to get away from here as fast as he could. He turned and walked faster than he ever had before out of the clearing. "Gwaine!" Emrys called after him exasperatedly. Gwaine stopped and turned nervously. Emrys pointed over his shoulder at the sword lying on the forest floor. Gwaine's mouth opened to say something but he decided against it. He rushed back and retrieved his sword. He avoided Emrys' gaze and dashed out of the clearing. Emrys watched him as he left. He stood there until Gwaine's figure had disappeared between the trees. An owl hooted as it headed into its nest. The sun was emerging over the rooftops of Camelot. The villagers would soon be racing round the streets, going about their daily business. It was time to go.