Chapter 51: Feeling Useless
Their reunion was cut short. A messenger rode into the courtyard, handed Elaine a note and rode out again without a word. She looked to Gwaine and then her cousin before she opened the letter. She held her daughter's hand as she read the letter. "Why won't he leave me alone?!" She sobbed and handed Gwaine the letter. "He has my country! What more does he want?"
Gwaine wrapped an arm around his wife and handed the note to Arthur. "Let's get you inside." He bent down and picked up their daughter, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Come along, Galahad." Calling to the boy, who was looking back at his father, who was ordering guards to their posts. "Galahad!" Gwaine called again. "Come." Galahad looked away from his father and ran after his mother. He followed them silently. He could see that his mother was scared. She was relying on Gwaine to lead her into the citadel.
"Mama. Are you okay?" He asked timidly when they entered his mother's chambers. He stood by the door as Gwaine helped Elaine to sit on the edge of the large bed.
Elaine took a deep breath and shook her head. "No darling. Mama is scared." She wiped her eyes, but fresh tears built up and replaced the old ones. "Come here." She held her arms open. "Mama needs her strong Prince."
Gwaine was sitting next to Elaine with Anne in his arms. "Come and look after your Mother and sister. I need to see if I can help Arthur."
She grabbed his arm and shook her head. "Stay for now. Stay until you are needed." Her eyes watering as she wrapped her arms around her son, who had climbed onto the bed. "We need you." Gwaine nodded silently and the small family remained together for a few hours.
Gwaine was not called to help. He lay in bed with his wife, stepson and daughter. Elaine did not want to leave them, so they slept in the same bed. Her arms were possessively wrapped around her son and Anne slept against Gwaine's side. Gwaine could not sleep. He worried for his wife and children. Elaine had so much responsibility for someone so young. He stroked his daughter's head. The little girl sleeping next to him was one of the reasons in which he would die before any harm came to her.
"Gwaine?" Elaine's soft voice brought him out of his thoughts. He looked over at her. She was still lying on her side with her arm around Galahad. "You need to sleep, my love."
"I cannot." He shook his head, reaching over and stroked her cheek with his fingers. "You need to sleep." He moved his hand to her stomach, where their child kicked him. "Someone is awake." Smiling and looking down at her stomach.
Elaine gave a small smile. "Sleep. You need to sleep." She placed her hand over his, linking their fingers together.
"I cannot." He pulled his hand away from her own. Gwaine carefully climbed off the bed, not disturbing the sleeping children. "I need to help Arthur." Straightening up and putting his sword around his waist.
Elaine climbed off the bed. Wincing when her bare feet hit the cold floor. "Gwaine." She rushed to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Please stay. I need you to stay."
"Elaine." He shook his head. "I want to fight. I know that way I can protect you. I will kill Lot myself." He cradled her face in his hands. She felt so warm under his cold hands. Her eyes watering with the threat of tears. "Don't cry, my love." He kissed her forehead. "Stay here with the children. You will be safe here."
"I won't. You will not be here. I won't feel safe unless you are here." She gripped his shoulders tighter. "Please love. I need you here."
He was in a predicament. He wanted to go and fight Lot, killing him personally. But he also wanted to stay with Elaine and the children, to keep them safe. To keep them alive. His eyes scanned his wife's beautiful face. "Please. Let me go, Elaine." He kissed her forehead once again. His lips lightly brushing against her skin. "I feel useless here. I feel like we're waiting for the end."
"Gwaine." She sighed heavily and wrapped her arms around him. They held onto each other tightly for a few moments. "Go."
"What?" He said in shock. His hand on her hair, stroking her hair soothingly.
"Go." She moved away from him. "I want you to go. Like you said, you would be more useful with Arthur than here with us." Looking over at her son and daughter, who were sound asleep. "Just come back alive." She looked back at her husband and kissed him softly.
"I will." He kissed her again before moving away from her. He reached for his dagger, which lay on the trunk. "Here. For you." He pushed it into her hands. "Just in case."
She nodded and gripped it tightly in her hands. "Just in case." She stood frozen as he walked away from her.
He walked to the bed, carefully sat on the edge, kissed his daughter's head and stroked his stepson's head. He stood up and walked to his wife. "I love you." He whispered, kissing her hotly but leaving. Giving her no time to say anything to him. It hurt him to leave them all but he had to.
Lot's army did not attack Camelot. In fact they did nothing. It was Lot and Morgana who made the move. She showed him a hidden entrance into Camelot. "Get your queen. If you meet my brother. Kill him. I want what is rightfully mine."
"You'll get it." Lot sneered. Morgana was beginning to irritate him. But he did not want to provoke her. She was a powerful sorceress and could bring him more power. "I will get Corbenic and its Queen. You will receive Camelot and your revenge." He spoke as he wrapped a dark cloak around his shoulders. The two of them were standing at the hidden entrance. Hidden by the night. "You go and do what you want to do." Putting the hood up, his face hidden by the shadows of the hood. He ducked into the entrance, his hand gripped around the hilt of his sword. He would get what he wanted. By any means necessary.
Elaine had awakened her children to feed them. Galahad was not happy at being woken up from his sleep. Even if it is for food. Mary sat with them and helped to dress Galahad and Anne. "Mary. Could you take the children into the antechamber?"
"Why, my lady?" She questioned her queen as she lifted Anne into her arms.
"I want to be ready if anything happens. If you and the children are in there and something happens, I will barricade the door. My children come first." She knelt on the ground in front of her son. "Galahad. I need you to do a big job for me."
"What, Mama?"
"I want you to go into the antechamber with Anne and Mary. I think something bad may happen and I want you to be able to keep them safe for Mama." She gave him her own dagger. She had kept Gwaine's dagger. "I hope you don't have to use it yet but have it. Just in case."
"Yes, Mama." The small boy nodded, holding the dagger tightly. "I love you, Mama."
"I love you too, sweetheart. Now, be a good boy and go with Mary." She kissed his forehead, lingering for a long while. The boy nodded slowly and walked into the antechamber, but looked back at his mother, who nodded slowly. Elaine stood up and walked to Mary. "My darling Anne. Be a good girl. I will see you soon."
"Mama." The girl sobbed and reached for Elaine.
Elaine took her daughter from Mary and held her tightly. "I know you can be a good girl. You need to stop Galahad from being naughty."
"Yes Mama." Anne still held tight onto Elaine.
"Mary, I'm going to block the door. Will you be all right in there?"
"I worry, my lady. Will you be safe?"
"Yes." She nodded slowly and handed Anne back to Mary. Anne reluctantly went to the maid. "The children are my priority."
Mary nodded and bobbed a curtsey. "Be careful, my lady." She said before turning and moving into the antechamber. She closed the door behind her and Elaine called in two guards, who dragged a chest of drawers in front of the door. They left Elaine alone in the silence. She could hear the muffled sounds of her children talking to Mary. It was going to be a long night.
Lot stalked through the castle silently. Using the servant staircases to get through undetected. Morgana had given him clear instructions on reaching Elaine's guest chambers. He carried only a dagger. He slipped into the shadows as a pair of knights rushed through the corridors. He was close.
The nervous queen sat on the edge of her bed. Dawn was approaching and there was no sign of Lot. No sign of her husband returning. She had dressed into a more comfortable dress, leant to her by Gwen. She stroked her stomach, where her agitated baby moved around a bit. "It will be well, darling."
She heard crashes on the other side of the door. Her hand gripped her husband's dagger as she stood the furthest away from the door. It was time. Lot had come for her. The door was forced open. He stood there, tall and dangerous. "Your highness." He sneered as he entered her chambers, his dagger ready. "Hmph! I see you are very fertile." Looking at her stomach. "You will prove useful when we have a son."
She shook her head. "I will never be yours!" She held out the small weapon in front of her. "Just leave me alone!" Her voice raising, tears running down her cheeks. She was terrified. "You can have my kingdom! Just leave me alone! I will never bow down to you!"
He stalked towards her. Danger was in his eyes. "You will bow down to me. You will be my wife. Your husband is already dead. I killed him personally."
"No. You're lying!" She glared at him and held out the dagger in front of her. Her hand was shaking. A sign of fear of the man in front of her and a sign of the fear that Gwaine was truly dead.
"I never lie, my dear." He sat on the edge of the bed.
She glared at him. "Do not call me that!" She took one nervous step towards him.
"Why not?" He sneered as he stood up, causing Elaine to step back. "You are a dear. One day, you will be mine." Stepping up to her quickly. She wasted no more time. She thrust the dagger at him but he knocked it away in time. He backhanded her, forcing her to the floor.
She gave a cry when she hit the floor. She scrambled for her dagger but he pulled her back. "Get off me!" She screamed at him as she attempted to kick him away. His grip was too strong. She continued kicking her legs to get him off her.
"Stupid girl!" He backhanded her again.
She reached for the dagger. He stopped her. He was now straddling her legs, holding her to the ground. "HELP!" She screamed and kept struggling, stretching to reach the dagger. The tips of her fingers constantly brushed against the dagger. She was desperate. She got it. She swung around and stabbed him in the neck but his dagger sunk into her side. They both collapsed and fell unconscious. One of them died.
A/N: Sorry for the late update! Been busy with other stories. Please guys! Don't give up on this story!
Response from chapter 50:
ForeverTeamEdward13: Thank you. Sorry for the late update.