Gwen takes a deep breath as she creeps behind a corner of the castle covered in shadows. Her heart thumps as the metallic blood pumps its way into her head way to fast. A slight train of salty sweat slides down her fore-head to her chin. She gently peek her head from the shadows to see if the un-welcomed guests are still walking around in the castle. She sees no one in this hallway nothing but the burning light from the fire torches. The moon is shining down cascading a silver light throughout the hallway. Gwen turns back around and places her head against the cold stone wall trying to collect her thoughts. She knows she will have to make a run for it.

Just a moment before she left Morgana's chambers, she heard small chatter coming from another cracked door, which lead into another room. At first Gwen thought nothing of it. It was meaningless banter but when she heard a loud thump she decided to investigate. She peeped through the opening of the door to see guards slamming a knight of Camelot into the stone wall. His face looked like a crime scene with a purple bruise under his eye and red liquid staining his face. Gwen wanted to scream. To prevent herself from doing so she placed her hands over her mouth and ran.

Here she is now and she desperately wants to escape to save her life. This is the first attach on Camelot where guards successfully made their way into the castle. There are footsteps and Gwen sucks in her breath praying no one will find her. She hears silent whispers as well that feels like the bitter cold prickling her ears. The footsteps cease and Gwen knows that this is her only chance to make a run for it. She is so close to the entrance of the castle all she would have to do is turn another corridor and go out the castle gates. She would gather her father once she made it back to her cottage, and together they would flee to another kingdom. He would have to take some persuading, she knows that very well. Camelot is the only place that reminds Tom of his wife, her memory thrives there, and she knows he would never want to let that go. Still she knows she will have to try. She pops her head out once more just to make sure no one is there. She is happy to see that the corridor is desolate and it is either now or never. For a moment she contemplates if she should run back and warn the lady Morgana. She shakes her head removing that thought altogether. If it were her in Morgana's place she knows Morgana would leave her to die.

Gwen begins to count silently in her head.

1…

2…

3…

Gwen creeps from behind the shadows and makes her run for it. Her booted heels gives her away leaving a clacking sound against the stone pavement making the wind know her secret to escape. As she turns the corner she is taken captive by two large hands going around her wrists. She screams in agony and the maleficent knight places his large black gloved hands over her mouth.

"I found one Gus," The knight says. Another knight, Gus, comes over he has short crisp brown hair and beady like eyes.

"She isn't worth anything. She's not the princess." The knight who has his hands wrapped around her mouth looks at her skeptically. He leans in his bony antler like nose comes close to her neck and he sniffs her. Gwen shakes in terror she mumbles under his gloved hand.

"She smells good she does. Smells just like the princess." Gus pops the goofy looking knight along the head.

"Look at her hands she's covered in dirt you bladdered! She's of no importance to us!" Gwen shrieks in dismay and Gus looks at her in irritation. He places the sharp edge of the dagger against her stomach. "Scream again wench and I will be forced to use this."

"Now, don't hurt her Gus. I really like her you see. She smells nice, why doesn't anyone in Odin's kingdom smell nice?" Gus pats his head in annoyance and he presses closer to the goofy crimson hair colored knight.

"Listen Egor, we have come here for one reason and one alone. That is?" Egor licks his dried crusted lips,

"Ugh to steal the Lady Morgana," Gus nods and claps his hands.

"Good, you're not as useless as you look." He peaks around the corridor to see if anyone is around. No one is about and Gus takes this as their cue to walk on. He turns to face Gwen, "Now, I bet she knows where the Lady is." Gwen narrows her caramel colored eyes towards the floor. Egor removes his hand from her mouth and places it on her other wrist securing her. "Now pet," Gus says softly a bit of scratchiness rests in his voice. "Tell me where her room is. I can read it in your eyes that you know."

"I know nothing. I merely came here to have a meeting with the king about my dying crops." Gwen tries to make her voice sound strong and mask the tremble. Gus edges closer and she can smell the tainted foulness of his breath against her face,

"You're lying."

"I am not." Gus thrusts both his hands forcefully on either sides of her head and she closes her eyes in fear. She opens them to find him close to her having her trapped against a wall. Egor has let her wrists go and watches.

"Now, I will only ask you once more. Take us to the Lady Morgana or I will gut you like a pig right now at this very moment." His eyes are harsh and she knows that there is no trace of a lie in his voice. However, Gwen is no traitor she could never be the reason or cause of anyone's death, not even if that person thought little of her. Gwen knows that no matter what she does her end will be tonight. The guards would kill her either way. If she does die tonight she would want to die with her dignity. Gwen keeps her mouth sown shut and Gus becomes frustrated to no avail. "Fine do it your way," he raises the dagger about to strike her when Egor screams.

"Stop Gus, you promised you wouldn't hurt her you did!" Through clenched teeth Gus turns towards Egor his hand tightly wrapped around Gwen's wrist.

"I don't have time for your filthy emotions you tosser."Egor claps both his large hands together and his fair crimson eye brows knit together.

"Please Gus, I really like her, can I keep her. I'll take her home with me. I won't go to the pubs no more I'll be a good husband for her. Come smell her she smells so nice." Gus sighs.

"If I keep her will you promise to shut up the rest of the time." Egor nods his head. Gus sighs again as he throws Gwen over to Egor. He wraps his rather large body around her in an embrace. She gags at the smell of whiskey and dirt along his tall frame. Her head comes just to below his chest and she can hear his stomach rattle in excitement being so close to her. Before she can protest he grabs her wrists and they all begin to walk the halls of the kingdom. They stay close to the walls barely making any sound. Gwen knows that she has to cause some type of distraction they cannot get farther than what they are or the kingdom will be ransacked. Gwen begins to cough, a loud hoarse cough. She knows that Arthur's room is just through the second corridor if he hears her maybe they could all be saved. Then again she also knows that Arthur never seemed to be by his room. He is always galloping around the castle with Merlin, doing goodness knows what. There is a hope inside of her however, praying that because it is night he should be in his room. Gus turns around forcefully and points his bony finger in her face. "You better shut that hole in your face woman or I will smack it shut!" He turns to face Egor whose lips are slightly trembling, "you better control your whore." Egor turns to face her with apologetic eyes,

"Please be quiet. I don't want him hurting you." Gwen swallows hard apparently her plan hasn't worked.

They make it into the next corridor and see the room with the Pendragon symbol on it. Gus stops and turns to face Egor and Gwen with a malicious grin on his face.

"This we struck gold Egor!"

"This the lady's chamber?" Gus asks with hesitation. Gwen knows that this isn't her chambers but Arthurs. She prays they will open the door if they do Arthur would be inside and would slay the lot of them. She chuckles to herself she believes this is the first time she is ever happy to see Arthur.

"At the count of 3 Egor okay?" Egor nods his head.

"1…2.." Gus grabs the knob on the door "3.." They open the door to find no one inside. They walk in and look around in dismay. Gwen sighs in sadness this is her only chance of survival and it is lost. The one time she has ever put her hope in Camelot it has let her down. Uther had promised his people safety but this encounter reminds her that Uther is not God but only human. "Where is the lady?" Gus asks looking through a pile of papers that lay scattered on a wooden desk with a candle on top of it. The fireplace is lit and the fire crackles as they walk farther in.

"I don't know Gus but I sure would like to lay on that fluffy bed over there." He points, with his loose hand, towards the massive bed that lays in the middle of the room. Gus rolls his eyes.

"Wanker," he mumbles under his breath and he looks through more of the papers. Egor takes out a rope and ties Gwen's hands together so tight she feels as if her circulation has been cut off. He then pushes her over towards Gus.

"Watch her for me will you Gus?"

"What am I your blood hound for goodness sake man," He picks up another scrap of paper and notices the person addressed on it. His mouth opens in worry, "Egor we have the wrong room this isn't Morgana's…" He turns around and drops the paper in shock. Towards the bed are Egor and Arthur. Arthur is behind Egor with a knife to the knight's throat. He must have been hiding all along! Gwen looks at Arthur with a tinge of hopefulness maybe she wouldn't be a lost cause.

"Make one rash step and I will slice his throat." Gus fiddles with his fingers and licks his lips.

"You knew this was his room didn't you wench," Gus spits not turning his head to face Gwen. She bites her tongue. Before she can move towards Arthur Gus grabs her and places his dagger against her throat she screams in agony. Arthur tenses and places his dagger closer to Egor's skin. Egor can feel the tingle from the dagger on his reddening flesh.

"Let her go, she has nothing to do with this." Gwen trembles under her fate.

"I believe a trade is in order your pathetic highness." Gus coos, "Your servant for my friend." Gwen looks apologetically at Arthur her pools of brown glint with moisture. She is nothing but a servant how could she expect him to want to save her. She is meaningless to him he could replace her so easily. She doesn't expect him to save her she doesn't know why she ever did. Arthur nods his head,

"let her come to me first then I shall know you are a man of your word." Gus chuckles hoarsely.

"Do you doubt my honor? I remind you I am a knight." Arthur's pulse at his neck quickens in anger.

"Not a knight of Camelot. A true knight wouldn't attach a kingdom at night during their slumber. A real man with honor would fight me, sword to sword, and leave the servants out of it." Gus suddenly becomes angered Gwen can tell because the dagger's blade stings her skin. She cries out in pain. Arthur tenses more and wants to move forward. "Are you afraid that I will kill you?"

"I am just as strong as you."

"Prove it," Arthur says through clenched teeth, "or are you just as cowardly as you look." Gus growls as he throws Gwen towards the ground she screams. Gus takes out his sword and paces towards Arthur. Arthur pushes Egor to the side and he hits his head against the fireplace mantle going out cold. Arthur thrusts his knife out in defense. Gus does a harsh laugh,

"You expect to fight me with a knife? How highly you must think of yourself." Gwen watches in panic. She knows that Arthur cannot fight this man with a small dagger. Surely he would lose. They dash towards each other Gus is skilled, more skilled than Arthur imagined. He blocks his attach with the blade of his dagger and moves backwards. Egor thrusts the blade towards Arthur's abdomen and Arthur thrusts himself backwards missing. Gwen watches in horror as they continue to wrestle and fight with each other. She crawls towards Arthur's bed for every servant knows what lies underneath it. Egor at this moment has knocked the dagger out of Arthur's hands and has him cornered against the wall. Arthur throws his arms up in defense his face dripping with sweat. He breathes heavily and his golden hair sticks to the side of his face. "I came here with the intent to steal the lady Morgana, but I must say, this will be a better surprise. I go back and tell my king that I have slain the next future king." His lower lip twitches as his face becomes more serious, "heck I will be rewarded greatly I assure you." Arthur's face takes on a snarl.

"Not tonight," he says as he pushes Gus back with his strong arms. The sword falls to the ground and Arthur pushes Gus to the hard ground. They wrestle punching each other and causing new wounds to appear. Gwen finds the sword underneath Arthur's bed and rushes towards them. They are both very close to each other she cannot get a clear shot. She takes a deep breath she knows that she has to do it, either way Arthur could die and she wouldn't let it be because she did nothing. She thrusts the sword's blade down fast and hard. A screech of pain rips through the room and Gwen drops the sword in shock. She screams and falls backwards bringing her legs up to her chest. Arthur pushes Gus off of him his tunic stained in dark blood. Arthur looks at Gwen and nods his head. She trembles and the next thing she knows she passes out.

Gwen awakes in her bed back in her cottage. Her father stares down lovingly at her as he wipes the side of her forehead with a damp towel. She squirms as the cold towel makes her head feel woozy.

"Papa," she asks trying to make sure it isn't a dream but reality. Her voice is soft and just above a whisper. Tom stares down at his daughter, his dark brown eyes light up at her voice.

"Oh Gwen you're alright." He sits the towel down and embraces her. She feels comfort in her father's embrace and his familiar scent causes her to become at ease. "I'm so glad you're alright my dear Gwen. I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

A single knock is heard on her bedroom door and both she and her father look up. Standing in the doorway is someone she least expected. He looks different now in the dim light of her bedroom. He is no longer stained with crimson but wears an olive colored shirt with black pants. He notices her on the bed and something about his eyes change. Gwen cannot place exactly what that change is. "Gwen the Prince has come to make sure you're alright!" Tom says as he stands up and bawls towards Arthur. Arthur puts his hand out

"That will not be necessary."

"Would you like some tea? I don't have much, it's not every day royalty comes to visit." Tom stumbles.

"That would be quite alright, you needn't burden yourself—"

"Nonsense, I will not have the future king of Camelot remember his visit at my house as a frugal one." Tom whisks past Arthur into the small kitchen area and begins to prepare. Arthur stands in the doorway for a moment and Gwen can tell that he is trying to see what he should say. She is the same way. The real question on her mind is why is he here? Sure she saved him and passed out in the same moment but he didn't have to come to her cottage and see her. A nice letter would have sufficed or a meal, yes… a warm cooked meal that wouldn't deal with porridge.

"Your father seems very nice." Gwen nods as she pushes herself up from her laying down position. She dangles her feet off of the bed. She tries to get up, "Oh no, please, do not get up." Gwen shakes her head.

"I'm fine. It's rude of me to be sitting while you must stand." She tries with all her might to push herself to stand up. As she gets to a standing position she stumbles about to hit the ground.

"Whoa," Arthur is fast and paces forward catching her. Her hands graze against the muscles of his arms. He is quite strong. She could have known that by looking at him. She can feel his soft arm hair tickle the palms of her fingers and as she looks up at him both their eyes meet. They immediately let each other go and Arthur clears his throat in embarrassment. Gwen pushes her curls that dangle against her forehead behind her ear. "I came to, ugh, make sure you were well." Gwen nods her head and fiddles on her feet going back and forth on her heel.

"I am quite alright, thank you." Arthur places his hand behind his neck rubbing it.

"I want to let you know that Camelot is thankful to you. You could've given up the ware bouts of lady Morgana's chambers. But you didn't." His voice slightly lifts,

"I would do anything to help my home sire," Gwen whispers looking down at her floor.

"But you saved my life. You put yourself in danger to save me, and for that," Gwen looks up and both their eyes meet. "I am truly thankful. Know that my father will reward your family greatly." Gwen wants to smile but she has a feeling there is more for him to say. "I have heard that your brother has run away." Arthur begins he brings his hands to the front of him and they linger by his side. "I want to let you know that me and some of my knights will go and search for him." Gwen's mouth parts in amazement. "I know it isn't much. I cannot even promise you his return but I will give you my word, as the prince of Camelot, that I will try my hardest to find him." Gwen wants to run and hug him. This is perhaps the best news she has received in her entire life. Yes, it is better than warm food or shelter because her family is her shelter. Even though she put up a good mirage she missed her brother every day. A part of her believes he would never run away and that something bad indeed has happened to him. Why Arthur would risk his life for a servant she would never understand. However, all she could do now in the darkness of her room is thank him. Thank him with all her heart.