Chapter 27: It Is A Race Against Time
Elaine and Lancelot sped through the castle. They were concerned for the son and best friend. When they reached the corridor, they saw the guards lying unconscious on the ground. Elaine was about to step forward but Lancelot stopped her. "Careful." He spoke in a whisper. He slowly walked forward with his sword ready.
Elaine was also ready with her own sword. The two of them walked into Elaine's chambers. She gave a cry. "No!" She pushed past Lancelot and went straight to an unconscious Gwaine. "Gwaine! Gwaine! Wake up! Please!" She lifted his head into her lap. "Oh please!" She sobbed softly.
"Elaine!" Lancelot shouted to her, lifting up a bleeding Mary. "I must get her to the physician."
"Galahad!" She gasped, gently placing Gwaine's head back onto the ground. Lancelot waited as he watched her rush over to the crib. A cry escaped her throat, her hands gripping the side of the cot and she fell to her knees. "No!" She gasped loudly.
Lancelot stared at her. His whole body had frozen. They had taken his son. "I'll take Mary to a physician and send another for Gwaine." He spoke softly. "And... And I will begin a search." His voice thick with fear. He feared for the kingdom and most of all, for his son. He rushed out of the chambers, carrying Mary in his arms.
Elaine remained kneeling on the floor staring between the bars at the empty space. "Galahad." She sobbed. A groan from behind her brought her out of her broken thoughts. "Gwaine." She gasped, stood up and rushed over to the injured man. "Gwaine." She knelt next to him and lifted his head into her lap. "I'm here." She stroked his hair. "I'm here." Tears ran down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry. I tried to stop her. Her magic is too powerful." He spoke quickly. He gave a groan.
Elaine looked down his body and saw a glass shard embedded in his side. "Oh Gwaine." Her hand was shaking as she hovered over it. "Shall I pull it out?" He nodded quickly, wrapping his hand around her wrist. "Gwaine, are you sure?"
"Yes." He nodded. "I trust you." Letting go of her wrist. "Just do it."
"Wait." She started tearing the bottom of her tunic. She had torn a large chunk of it. "Ready?" He nodded silently. "1... 2... 3." She pulled out the glass piece and placed the chunk of her tunic over the wound. "There." She looked up from the wound to him and saw that he was unconscious. "Gwaine? No... No!" She pressed the piece of cloth on his wound. "Gwaine! Wake up!" She bent her head down and kissed his forehead. "Please..." Her tears fell thick and fast. "Someone..." She croaked. "Please." She sobbed, her tears falling onto him. "Someone..." She called feebly.
Footsteps approached her chambers and Arthur and some of his knights entered the room. "Elaine..." Arthur spoke in shock as he moved forward.
"Help me please. He's hurt." She sobbed, her hand still pressed against his wound.
Percival came forward. "Your majesty. I'll take him." He knelt down and took Gwaine from Elaine, promptly he rushed out of the room, followed by Elyan.
"Arthur, they have him." Elaine sobbed as her cousin knelt next to her, placing one hand on her shoulder. "She has him. Galahad." She spoke with sobs.
"Who?" Arthur wrapped his arms around her.
"Morgana. She has Galahad." She sobbed against his shoulder. "I have to get him back!"
He kissed the top of her golden head. "We will get him back. I promise." He held her tightly. "Come on. We need to interrogate Lot. We've captured him."
Elaine stopped her crying and wiped away her tear. She pulled herself away from Arthur's arms and stood up quickly. "I'll speak to him." She was about to tear out of the room but Arthur stopped her.
"No! You cannot go running to him screaming. You need to think about this tactically." He held onto her arm still.
"He knows where my son is!" She said angrily, trying to pull her arm out of Arthur's grip. "Let go of me, Arthur!"
"NO!" He shouted angrily and held her arm tightly. "You cannot go running to him! If you do go in screaming and shouting, he will not tell you. You have to think about it properly." Elaine couldn't speak any more. She broke down in tears. Arthur let go of her arm and enveloped her into a tight hug. "I will deal with Lot. You need to calm down." She nodded against his chest. "You go to Gwaine or Mary. They need you. Your people need you." He held her closely. Leon watched silently.
"Promise me that if you find out where Galahad is, you tell me immediately. You can do anything to get the answer. But I want to come with you when you go to search for him." She looked up at him, her dark eyes locking with him. Tears still fell down them. "Please?"
Arthur thought for a moment. It would be dangerous but this was her son. "Yes. I promise." They hugged tightly. "Now, go to your people." Kissing the top of her head. Elaine nodded silently and slowly left her messy chambers. "We best find Galahad soon or it will break her heart."
"Yes, sire." Leon nodded. "Shall we proceed with interrogating Lot?"
"Yes." Arthur nodded and the two of them left the chaotic room. They went straight to the dungeons, where Lot was being held. Arthur took off his sword and cloak, handing them to Leon. "I will be fine." He put his hand on Leon's shoulder as he moved into the dungeon. His eyes were fixed upon Lot, who stood proud and tall. "Now, Lot." Arthur spoke quietly and dangerously. "Where is the Queen's son?"
Lot scoffed. "Why would I have the bastard?"
Arthur thrust his fist forward and it came in contact with Lot's stomach, causing Lot to bend over from the impact. "I will repeat the question." He pulled Lot up and stood very close to him. "Where is the Queen's son?"
"You'll never find him." He laughed loudly. His malicious laugh was cut off from another punch from Arthur.
"Tell me or you shall never be leaving this prison cell ever again."
Lot laughed maliciously again. "You have no power or right to say what happens in this castle." Laughing still. "Only the Queen can say what happens to me."
"King Arthur has every right." Leon spoke up. "Queen Elaine gave him permission."
Lot's eyes flickered between Arthur and Leon. "You lie."
"Sir Leon does not lie." Arthur shook his head. "The Queen gave me permission to do whatever I wish to until you give me the answers."
The enemy's eyes widened in shock. He could see the truth in Arthur's eyes. "You wouldn't dare." Arthur pulled his fist back and thrust it into Lot's stomach. "You can hit me all you like. I won't tell you."
Arthur laughed. "You will." He looked over his shoulder to Leon. "Sir Leon." Leon silently stepped forward and pulled Lot's hands above Lot's head and hooked his chains onto a hook, which was embedded into the ceiling.
"What are you going to do?" Lot's eyes filled with fear. Arthur remained silent as he and Leon left the dungeon. He watched them as Arthur picked up a hot poker. Adrenaline ran through his veins as Arthur slowly stepped forward. "Fine! I will tell you!" Arthur continued moving towards Lot. "Morgana and Morgause are keeping him in Cenred's castle." Trying to move backwards, to keep away from the hot tip of the poker but his restraints were keeping him rooted to the spot. "I swear!"
Arthur stopped. "Good. But if you are lying. I won't hesitate to use this." Gesturing with the hot poker. He turned and placed the poker back next to the fire.
Lot let out a sigh of relief. "Are you going to let me down?"
"No." Arthur shook his head. "You can stay like that until we return." Turning his back on him. "You will be fed and given water. So, you shouldn't really complain." He and Sir Leon left the prisoner, who was shouting abuse towards them. "Let us go to Elaine. We need to check on Gwaine and tell her what we have learnt." Leon nodded and followed his King.
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Elaine left her rooms and went straight to the Great Hall, where the injured were being cared for. Her eyes flickered around the room. She ignored the people who bowed and curtseyed to her. "Sir Percival!" Seeing the tall man helping carry an injured guard. "Where is Sir Gwaine?"
"At the back of the hall." He led her in the direction of Gwaine, who was lying on a small cot. His arm was in a sling and a bandage around his wound, where the shard of glass used to be embedded. "He is fine now. He just needs to rest."
"Why hasn't he been moved?" She knelt on the floor next to him. She grasped his unharmed hand and held it gently.
"No one has been free to move him." Percival looked down at the two of them. Now he could see it. "It's you."
Elaine looked up at him in confusion. "What is, Percival?" Tears ran down her cheeks.
"The reason why Gwaine has changed." He chuckled a little. "He doesn't act like he used. It has only happened gradually but he is different. In a good way." He smiled down at her. "He'll be fine, your majesty."
"Thank you." She spoke quietly and looked back at Gwaine. "I hope so." She bent down and gently kissed his knuckles. "Get better soon."
"Elaine." Arthur rushed down the hall. "We have found him."
Elaine looked up at him as he reached her. "Really? Where is he?"
"Cenred's castle." Arthur knelt next to her. "It's going to be dangerous, Elaine. I don't want you getting hurt."
Elaine shook her head. "I have to, Arthur. This is my son." The two of them stood up. "Please. I need to make sure he is safe."
Arthur studied his cousin's face. He knew that she needed to do this but in his heart he didn't want her to come, as he didn't want her to be harmed. "All right. We leave soon."
She nodded slowly. "Thank you." She then knelt back down next to Gwaine. "I will be back. I promise. I am going to get Galahad." She knelt up and kissed him on the forehead, not caring that her cousin was standing behind her. "I will come back." She slowly stood up and turned away from him, to face a slightly grinning Arthur. "Oh shut up." She smiled slightly. "Let's go."
Arthur gave a weak chuckle and led her through the people and out of the Great Hall. "The horses are ready."
"One moment." She ran up the stairs into the castle, when she returned she had a blanket in her hand. "It's Galahad's." She chuckled nervously as they walked out of the castle and into the courtyard, where there were more casualties being treated. She, Arthur, Merlin, Leon, Percival, Elyan and Lancelot all mounted their horses and immediately set off.
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A/N: I'm being mean and cutting it there. Hee hee hee hee! Next chapter in a week or so. Busy with my last bit of uni work before going home for Christmas! Wooooo!
Also I will be closing the poll for this story soon. "Who should Elaine end up with?" Get voting! Will be closing it on the 9th December.
Responses from chapter 26:
Charlotte13245: Thanks! I love putting in cliffhangers! :D
Chescake: I had to write in the little Lancelot/ Elaine kiss. Seemed like the thing to do. Merlin is there. He just hasn't said much. :D
La-Lucy: Lancelot is being the knight that he always will be: Noble. :D So he will always be protective and loving towards Elaine and Galahad. :D Sorry but I had to hurt Gwaine. I didn't want to but my muse was telling me that I had to. :( Merlin is about when Arthur arrives but he hasn't said anything witty yet. :D I am glad you like this story. I love reading your comments and suggestions, they make me smile.
Kerry: Noooooooooooo! Gwaine! Sorry! My muse made me hurt him! :(