Chapter 42: On The Run
Six years ago she was pulled through a corridor by men, who were hell bent on capturing a kingdom. It was the same again, six years on, in a different castle. She barely had time to register what room she was in until she raised her head and saw Morgana seated on Arthur's throne. "Hello cousin."
"Hello Morgana." Elaine spoke softly. "I see you are making yourself at home again."
"Thank you." She chuckled. "I see that the mighty have fallen again."
"And again you will be crushed." The kneeling woman laughed loudly. "You say you will beat us but we always bring you back down. Your victory will be short lived and you know it."
"Stupid girl." A male voice spoke from the left and Agravaine stepped forward. "The whole of Camelot is overrun and there is no way anyone can beat Morgana."
"You!" Elaine sneered as Agravaine stepped closer to her. "You traitor! I was right not to trust you!" She went to stand up but she was forced back to her knees.
"Yes, you were. But you did nothing about it. Too busy playing happy families." Agravaine laughed as he returned to stand on Morgana's right hand side.
She shook off the guards' hands and focused her attention back to Morgana. "You will never find them!"
"Oh! But I already know where they are going." The woman laughed as she stood up from the throne and moved towards Elaine. "I will find them. Kill my dear brother and teach your child in the Old Religion and he will succeed me."
"No." Elaine shook her head. She could feel the tears building at the corners of her eyes.
Morgana smirked and knelt in front of her. "He will forget you. He may even kill you."
"Don't. Please. I beg you." Her eyes fixed on her former friend's. "If you find Galahad, I will allow you to teach him the Old Religion but please, let me raise him. He's my son."
The witch grabbed Elaine's chin. "No." She laughed softly. "Oh! Well, look at that." Smirking as she let go of Elaine's face and stood up. "Let's take her to the dungeon." Walking around Elaine, who was dragged through the hall by two of Helios' men. They were dragging her quite quickly and she was unable to get onto her feet to keep up with their pace. The stone floor grazed the skin on the top of her feet.
"All the cells are full up." A rebel informed Morgana when they reached Camelot's dungeons, which were filled with Knights of Camelot, guards and servants.
"Well, we shall give her a little hope. Put her in with her dear husband." Morgana sneered as they reached the cell. One guard unlocked the door and the other threw Elaine into the cell.
"Elaine!" Gwaine shouted, moving as quick as he could and kneeling next to her, placing her head in his lap.
"Enjoy it while it lasts." Morgana laughed evilly. "I will find Arthur and Galahad. I will have your child."
Elaine sat up straight and glared at the woman. "You will never have Galahad for as long as I live."
"I was not just talking about Galahad." Morgana laughed again and looked pointedly at Elaine's stomach, before leaving. The door locking the gate quickly.
"What?" Gwaine whispered as he stared at his wife. "Are you?"
She nodded slowly, her lower lip trembling. "It is why I have been so tired recently." She began sobbing.
Her husband wrapped his arms around her. "It will be all right. I promise." Kissing the top of her head. "Oh my God! Your feet!"
Gaius knelt in front of her and examined her feet. "You will be fine. None of the cuts are deep and you won't get an infection."
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It had been a day since Elaine had been brought to the same dungeon as her husband. Gaius was growing weaker extremely quickly. Elaine was also weakening. Gwaine was worried for them both. He and Elyan were sharing their water with the two of them, so they would have enough. "How are you feeling?" Gwaine asked Elaine. The two of them were sitting on the floor, with Elaine leaning against him.
"I am fine." She chuckled. "Just tired." Leaning her head against his shoulder. "I am sorry I didn't tell you about the baby."
Gwaine moved his hand and placed it on her stomach. "It is all right." He was smiling, despite their current situation. A door opened and shut loudly nearby. "Stay here." He stood up and leant against the wall.
Morgana arrives outside their cell and Gaius turned his head to look at her. "Have you come to gloat, my lady?"
"Is that any way to treat an old friend?" She says playfully. "I'll forgive you. After all, you're not looking your best."
"Can't you see he's starving? We all are." Gwaine speaks up for Gaius.
"Of course you are. You killed so many of my men. I'll have the kitchen prepare you a feast."
Gwaine steps forward, but Elyan grabs his arm and shakes his head. But Gwaine steps up to the gate more slowly, his chains dragging as he walks. "I think not of myself, but of Gaius. He can't survive long without food. I think of my wife and unborn child."
She steps up close to the bars. "Aw, Gwaine, so handsome, so selfless." She smirks. "Of course you shall have some supper, as long as you're prepared to sing for it." She steps away to allow the guards to open the door and drag him out.
"No!" Elaine screamed and tried to get to her feet. "NO! Gwaine!"
Elyan sat next to her and helped her to calm down. "He'll be fine. He is a fighter." Holding the Queen close to him as she cried against his chest.
"I cannot lose him too." She spoke quietly as her tears fell fast.
Arthur had returned to his senses. He, Merlin and Galahad had been joined by smugglers; Tristan and Isolde. The small group were making their way to Ealdor for safety. Merlin carried a very sleepy Galahad, who had been very quiet ever since his mother left him and when he saw the fighting between his cousin and Morgana's men. "I'll take him." Arthur said to Merlin. "Come here, Galahad. You go to sleep."
"Uncle Arthur? Will we see Mama again?" He asked when he went to his cousin's arms.
"We will. I will make sure of it." He stroked his cousin's back soothingly. "Sleep."
"Yes, Arthur." Galahad spoke softly and was soon asleep in his cousin's arms.
"How old is he?" Isolde asked with a smile as they walked through the forest.
"4 years. 5 in a few weeks." Arthur smiled proudly. "My cousin is proud of him."
"Your cousin? That would be Elaine of Corbenic?" Tristan pointed out.
"Yes."
"She's the same as you with her damn taxes." The blonde, older man sneered.
"I am not having this argument with you." They continued their walk and they reached the border stream. "This marks the border between Camelot and Lot's kingdom."
"Ealdor lies at the far side of that valley. Maybe half a day on foot." Merlin informed them.
"We'll rest here for the night. There's no way Agravaine could've tracked us through those mountains." Arthur spoke as he shifted a, now, very awake Galahad onto his hip.
"I'll make a fire, we must keep Isolde warm." Merlin took Isolde from Tristan and helped her to a campsite.
Arthur holds a water flask towards Tristan. "Here, you should drink up."
"I'll get my own." Tristan said as he walked away.
Night had fallen and Elaine was sitting next to Gaius, comforting the old man by holding his hand as he lay on the uncomfortable bed. "It's been too long."
"I know." Elyan said as he remained sat on the cold floor.
She looked at the knight in fear. "Would they tell us if they had killed him?"
"Most likely."
"So, this is a good sign?" She asked him, tears forming in her eyes.
"I am going to take it as a good sign."
The small band of walkers finally reached Ealdor. Merlin was glad to be reunited with his mother. Being in Ealdor allowed him to treat Isolde's wounds easily. She was asleep on the bed with Galahad asleep next to her. "Cleaned the wound. There's no sign of infection. So as long as she gets plenty of rest, she'll be fine."
"Thank you, Merlin, for everything you've done for her." Tristan thanked the servant, who just nods and leaves.
"I'm sorry I brought this... misfortune upon you." Arthur apologised to Tristan as they sat at the table watching Isolde sleep.
"Well, I may have lost my cargo, but I still have my beloved Isolde." Tristan nodded.
"Then you're richer than you know."
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Arthur finally laid his head down and fell asleep. He only awoke when he felt a soft and familiar hand upon his bare chest. He jerked awake and his eyes fixed upon his wife. "Gwen."
"Hello Arthur." She smiled broadly.
"When did you get here?" He asked and slowly sat up on his elbow.
"Just this moment. I lost you. I was so scared." She wrapped her arms around him and he returned the gesture. "I knew you would come straight here so I did too."
"I'm glad you did." He pushes her back. "Come here, wife." Cupping her cheek with one of his hand and kisses her firmly.
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"It's good to have you home, Merlin." Hunith said as she and Merlin walked outside their home.
"I'm so sorry it's been so long."
"I understand how it is, your life in Camelot." She spoke softly to her son as they continued to walk together. "I worry about you sometimes. The dangers you must face."
"Mother, I don't want you to worry." Merlin protested playfully.
"I can't help it. It's what mothers do."
"Well, we are safe here. All of us." Merlin smiled slightly. "Mother, if we have to leave, could Galahad stay with you?"
"Of course." She smiled. "Why did you bring him? He should be with his mother."
He sighed heavily. "She gave him up to protect him. Along with Arthur, he is the most hunted person. Galahad is heir to both of Elaine's kingdoms and also to Arthur's."
"Oh I see." She nodded. "I'll hide him. Disguise him if needs be."
Merlin nodded. "Thank you. I promise the Queen that I would protect him." Smiling a little. They move and sit on some barrels outside the small house, talking quietly to each other. They soon hear screams from the villagers. "Agravaine." He says when he sees the Southrons' torches surrounding the village. "He's found us." He and Hunith rushed into the cottage. He knelt in front of Galahad. "Galahad, my mother is going to look after you here. The bad men are here. We're going to lead them away and we're going to find your Mama. Okay?"
"Yes." The boy nodded slowly. "Where's Papa?"
"I don't know. We'll find him." Merlin tried to give the boy a confident smile but it failed. "I think my mother has some of my old toys still here but you need to hide first."
"Come here, Galahad." Hunith said quickly as the others assessed the situation outside. She quickly pulled an old shirt of Merlin's over his own clothes. "Are you ready?" She lifted him into her arms.
Gwaine's manacles had been placed pack on his wrists and was dragged through the dungeons and thrown onto the floor. Elaine crawled to his side and lifted his head into her lap. "We have food. It's not much." The guard threw half a loaf of bread onto the floor.
"It's enough." She whispered and bent down to kiss his forehead. "Please, don't do that to me." She stroked his head.
"Here." Elyan handed her a large portion of the bread.
"Take a little more for Gaius. He needs it more than I." She tore another piece off and held out another part to him.
"No. You both need your strength." Elyan said as he helped Gaius to eat his portion of bread.
"You need to eat." Gwaine told her as he slowly sat up, wincing as he did. He moved and leant against the wall, pulling his wife to his side. "I did this for you and our baby." His hand rest on her stomach. "Please darling."
She chuckled wryly and brought a piece of bread to his lips. "Eat."
He let her place the piece in his mouth. "Now you."
Elaine took another piece and put it in her mouth. The two shared their portion of the bread and sharing it between them.
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Responses from chapter 41:
ForeverTeamEdward13: I did borrow that line from Princess Diaries. I had been watching it while writing the last chapter.