Chapter 28: Everything In My Power

The small party rode out of the kingdom of Corbenic and they were all intent on reaching Cenred's kingdom fast. Elaine was intending on riding as long as she could. She wanted to, she had to, and she needed her son back. Her heart was intent on finding Galahad but her mind was also thinking about Gwaine. Now Arthur knew about their relationship, she didn't have to worry. Well, he knew about her feelings for Gwaine. She would kill Morgana and Morgause if they had even harmed her son. She didn't care if they had magic, she would do anything to have her son safe.

"Elaine?" Her cousin called to her from her left hand side. They were riding fast and hard. "We need to rest. The horses need to be watered." Slowing his horse.

She pulled her horse into a slow trot and finally to a stop. "Ok." She nodded and dismounted. "Thank you, Merlin." She gave her cousin's manservant a small smile as he took her reins from her. She just stood there as Merlin led her horse to the small stream. Her mind and body were already itching to leave. She didn't want to waste any more time. Just as she was turning to complain to Arthur, Lancelot stood in front of her with some water. "Thank you." She took a swig of her drink.

"We'll find him." Lancelot spoke softly as she handed him back the water. "We will."

She looked at him, tears forming in her eyes. "What if we don't?"

"We will." Lancelot wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest for a comforting hug. She broke down in his arms, sobbing against his chain mail. "We will get him back. I will do everything in my power to bring him back." He kissed the top of her head, his hands gently rubbing her back. "I promise."

"Elaine. Lancelot. We should leave now." Arthur approached them both cautiously.

The two parted silently and moved towards their horses. Lancelot helped her to mount. "We'll get our son back." Elaine silently nodded. He looked up at her for a moment and then turned away. She was hurting so much and he couldn't comfort her like he used to. Only Gwaine could love her. Only because she loved Gwaine back.

The large party began their journey once again. Elaine and Arthur rode at the head of the party, closely followed by the knights and Merlin. "Slow down." Arthur said, raising his hand. They all stopped and looked up at the fortress. "We'll walk from here." Each of them dismounted and tied their horses to a tree. They all quickly prepared themselves, making sure their swords were at their hips. "Careful. They may have guards."

Elaine kept close to Arthur's side, her hand gripped onto her sword. "I'm not leaving here until I have Galahad."

"Me neither, cousin." He spoke quietly, as they hid from view. "Come on." The small group walked along the bottom of the wall of the castle. "Stay low." He whispered to Elaine and gestured for the others to stay low.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - –

Morgause and Morgana sat in the throne room with Galahad asleep on a table. "This potion will wipe the boy's memory of his mother and everything he knew before this." Morgause held up a small bottle and gave it a small shake. "Once this is done. We will leave for the Isle of the Blessed. We will raise the boy in the Old Religion."

Morgana chuckled softly. "Once we have done that, what will the boy do?"

"He will bring magic back to the lands. He will bring us the Holy Grail." Morgause spoke proudly as she looked down at the young boy, who was sleepily sweetly, despite sleeping on a hard surface.

"The Holy Grail? Truly?" Morgana raised her eyebrows in shock. "How do you know?"

"The woman prophesied this at Elaine's birth. Her son would be the finder of the Holy Grail." The two of them walked away from the sleeping child.

"How do you know, sister?"

Morgause laughed softly, looking back at the boy. "I asked her." Looking back at Morgana. "With a little persuasion." They chuckled softly, both unaware of a woman, who was sneaking into the hall. "Let's just say no one else will know."

Elaine slowly crept to the table and carefully lifted her sleeping son into her arms. She hoped he would not wake up. She rested him in her arms and quietly crept away from the table. The two women were still talking.

"STOP!" A woman shouted at her.

Elaine turned to see the two women staring at her and she quickly turned to run away. The doors slammed shut, making her stop in her tracks. "Please." She slowly turned to face them. "He's just a baby." She clutched Galahad tight to her chest.

Morgana slowly stepped forward and held out her hands towards him. "Give me the child. We'll raise him properly."

"No." She choked out and held Galahad close, her hand cupping the back of his head. The small boy was now awake and clinging onto his mother. "He needs to be with his mother." Tears fell down her cheeks as she stepped back slowly.

Morgause remained where she was. "Your child will be raised properly. He won't be shunned."

"I will raise him right! He's my son! You cannot take him away from me!" Elaine turned slightly, to keep Galahad out of reach. "He will not be shunned by anybody!" She shouted at them.

"When you have your first legitimate son, will Galahad still inherit your throne?" Morgause sneered as she slowly limped towards Elaine.

"YES!" She shouted at them. "No matter what. Galahad will inherit my throne!" She kissed the side of Galahad's head and gently bounced him to keep him calm.

"Give him to me." Morgana held out her hands to her. "We'll take care of him. We promise." Her sharp eyes glaring at Elaine.

"NO!" Another voice roared. "He belongs with his mother!" Lancelot sprung from his hiding place and rushed to Elaine's side, pulling her behind him and holding his sword out as protection. "You will not take our son from us!"

Morgause gave a laugh, a dry laugh. "We will see. We will have your son. One way or the other. Could be soon or it could in a few years time." Morgana looked at her sister in confusion. "We'll let them go for now." Giving Morgana a small nod. "But know this." She turned to face Elaine and Lancelot, who was gripping his sword tightly and keeping Elaine and Galahad behind him. "We will have your son again and he will be our saviour."

Lancelot slowly pushed Elaine backwards. "Go." He whispered softly. She quickly turned and made her way to the door. "Unlock the door."

"It is unlocked." Morgause said smugly.

Elaine opened the door and was pulled out of the door by Arthur. "Arthur!" She sobbed and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, quickly leading her away. "Where's Lancelot?"

"I'm here." He spoke from behind them. The entire party rushed through the ruined castle. Each on kept close to Elaine and Galahad. They did not want to risk losing them both.

Morgana spun around to face her sister. "Why did you let them go?"

Her sister chuckled. "Have patience. You will be sitting on Camelot's throne." She turned and moved back towards her throne. She sat down with a groan. "It will happen, Morgana. That boy will help you."

"Elaine's bastard?"

"Yes. If we had been successful today, you would have had advantage. You would train the boy to kill Arthur."

"Oh! Now I see your point. But why can't we kill Arthur now?" Morgana asked impatiently, walking towards her sister.

"We will." Morgause nodded. "You will be on the throne soon. You will usurp him again and permanently." She grinned evilly. "First, I need to rest."

Morgana rushed to her sister's side and led her out of the room, to her chambers. "You need to see someone, sister. You are getting more and more ill. It is scaring me."

"I am well. I just need to rest." Morgause sighed heavily as she sat on the edge of the bed. Morgana silently nodded and left her sister alone.

Once they were far away from the castle, the small rescue party readied themselves to return to Camelot. "Oh my darling!" Elaine exclaimed softly as she clutched her child to her. "I am never letting you go. Ever again." She held her child to her and continuously kissed the top of his head. "Oh Galahad!" She wept with joy.

"We are never letting him go again." Lancelot placed his arm around her shoulder and ran her hand over his son's head, feeling the curls under his hand. "Come on. Let's go back to Corbenic."

"Yes." Elaine nodded slowly. "I need to be with the people." She was crying softly as she held her son close to her. She couldn't believe that she had him back. It had been only 12 hours away from him but it hurt her so much. "Hold him for a minute." She handed Galahad to his father. Once Galahad was in Lancelot's arms, she couldn't resist it but she kissed her son's curls. She tied Galahad's blanket around her and mounted her horse. "Give him here."

"Elaine, I will ride with him." Lancelot held his son to him.

Elaine shook her head. "No. He's staying with me. I am not letting him out of my sight." She held her hands down. "Please, Lancelot. I cannot let him go again." Lancelot nodded and lifted their son up to her. "Thank you." She placed Galahad comfortably in his blanket, held him with one arm and the other hand held the reins.

The return journey seemed to be shorter than the journey to Cenred's castle. Elaine didn't care about how long it took them. She had her son in her arms once again Prince long to fall asleep. She kissed the top of his head as they rode into Corbenic. There were many people injured and were being helped as much as they could by friends and guards. The party rode into the courtyard and dismounted. Arthur helped his cousin from the horse and the two of them rushed into the castle together. "Do you want me to have Galahad?" Elaine stopped before she walked into the Hall and stared at her cousin. "I know you are going to see Gwaine." Arthur chuckled softly.

"I will talk to you about it after I know he is better." Elaine held Galahad to her. "And no. He is staying with me from now on." Kissing the top of her son's head. She gave her cousin a smile and left him standing alone as she rushed into the Great Hall. It was still filled with injured people. She weaved in and out of the makeshift beds to where Gwaine was.

"He hasn't woken, your Majesty." Declan, the physician, informed her. "He will recover but he will need to rest for some time."

Elaine knelt next to Gwaine. She held Galahad close to her with one hand and she reached out to hold Gwaine's hand with her own. "How are the rest of the people?"

"Recovering, my Lady." The physician stood behind her.

"Could you send one of my advisers here, please?" She asked gently, keeping her eyes on Gwaine.

"Of course, your Majesty." Declan bowed to her and left her alone.

Elaine took Galahad's blanket off but still held him close to her. "I have him back, Gwaine. We took him from Morgause and Morgana. They were going to hurt him. Not hurt him physically. They were going to make him forget me. Forget us all." She took her eyes off Gwaine to look down at her slumbering son. "But, there is one thing that scares me. They let me take him too easily." Tears fell down her cheeks. "I am not ever letting him out of my sight."

"You better not." A voice spoke to her.

She turned to face Gwaine and saw him awake. "Gwaine!" She gasped and gripped his hand a little tighter. "You are fine."

"I am. I will be." He gripped her hand in return. "I am just glad that you are both safe."

She lifted his hand and kissed it. People close to them were shocked. Their Queen was showing preference to a Knight. A Knight of Camelot. But the two lovers were in a world of their own and did not care for those around them. "You can hopefully be moved soon."

Gwaine nodded and gave her a small smile. "Lord Carter." He spoke as he looked over Elaine's shoulder.

"Ah Carter!" Elaine exclaimed, letting go of Gwaine's hand to be able to stand and greet the elderly man. "What is the damage?"

"The upper town is need of repair and there are 30 people, including guards, who have died." He said grimly.

"Have they been identified?" She asked solemnly.

"Yes, your Majesty." He nodded, leaning onto his cane.

"Make sure that their families are informed that they need not worry about expenses for the burial. I will pay for them." She shifted Galahad in her arms.

"Of course, your Majesty." He bowed to her. "Is there anything else?"

"That will be all for now. If there are any problems, send someone with a message to me and I will deal with them." She gave him a small smile. "Are you well, Carter? I do not want you over tiring yourself."

Carter chuckled. "I will, your Majesty." Still chuckling. "You know me, I can keep going." Smiling at her. Elaine smiled in return. This man had been with her father for as long as she could remember. He was like a loving Uncle to her. "Take care. All of you." He smiled to them and bowed.

Elaine watched him turn away and walk out of the Great Hall. Once he had left the Hall, she turned back to Gwaine and knelt next to him. "How are you feeling?"

"Happy." He smiled at her. "How are you feeling?"

"Relieved." She sighed heavily and rubbed Galahad's back. "But I am scared though." Looking down at her son. "I cannot lose him again."

"You won't." Gwaine said sternly. "I won't let anyone take him from you. I would rather die than let anyone harm you or Galahad." He watched her reaction, which was a large smile. "I have one favour."

"What is that?" She moved closer to his bed.

"A kiss." He grinned cheekily to her. "I'm guessing you are not afraid to let people know about us."

Elaine laughed softly and nodded. "You are correct and I shall I grant you your favour, good knight." She smiled and bent down, kissing him fully on the lips. They didn't notice that people around them were smiling as the two of them kissed. A small cry caused them to pull apart. "Sorry. Somebody wants his mother's attention." Looking down at Galahad, who was wide awake and fidgeting.

"Go and feed him." Gwaine smiled up at her.

"I don't want to leave you." She pleaded with him as she held a struggling Galahad to her.

"Elaine." He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I am not going anywhere." Looking around him and chuckling. "Go and sort Galahad out and then you can come back." His smile always made her insides melt. "Is that understood? My Queen?"

Elaine chuckled and shook her head. "Do not be cheeky." She grinned and bent down. "Or I shall not be giving you any favours." Her lips hovering over his.

"I wouldn't dare. I just love to tease you." His breath tickling her lips. He certainly was intoxicating.

"I have noticed." She chuckled and gave him a swift kiss. "I shan't be long." She stood up and carried Galahad on her hip. "Don't go anywhere."

"Never." He shook his head. "You are stuck with me." Giving her a small grin. Elaine silently nodded and slowly turned away. She reluctantly left the Hall, but not without looking behind her at him. He was watching her. They smiled when they locked eyes and Elaine turned and left the hall.

A/N: OMG! Have to say this now! LOVED Episode 12 of Merlin! Annnnnnnnd... They mentioned Lot! I'm ahead of the game! Hmmm... What shall I predict next? What will come up in Merlin and I've said it first? Hahahahahaha!

In the next chapter, there is going to be a small time jump. About a year.

As for the results of the poll, here they are: Gwaine had 58% and Lancelot had 42%. So a very close call! Thank you to all who voted!

Responses from Chapter 27:

chescake: Lot is definitely a proper git. He is a coward and I showed that by him giving in so easily. Galahad will be become more important as he grows up.

La-Lucy: Thank you! :D I tried to think how I would react if my child had been taken from me. I would probably react like Elaine. I wanted Percival to be the first to figure out about Elaine and Gwaine. It will be a part of the next chapter. I couldn't kill Gwaine off. It would kill me! :D

Kerry: King Vortigern will make an appearance in the story. A few chapters time. They do say opposites attract.

Kerry (again. Hee hee!): OMG! I LOVED THE EPISODE! Cannot wait for part 2!