A/N: Thanks again go to withkissesfour for her beta'ing skills! Also if any of you are reading the story and enjoying it, some comments would be nice to see. This is my first foray in doing a cross-over and a DW fic and I would love some constructive feedback.
"God…" Amy sighs as she wipes away the sweat from her forehead on her sleeve, relieved that they have stopped for a while to rest as it's nearing night time. She wishes that they had horses with them to make the journey easier; however, Gwen explained that if she had stolen a few horses it would have raised suspicions.
Finally Gwen, with some help from Rory, managed to set up camp and get a fire started. They all sit around it and warm their hands over the flames. Instantly Amy feels much warmer although she is wearing a nice, soft cloak that Gwen offered her earlier which Amy accepted reluctantly after some prompting from Rory.
"So how much further is the Valley of the Fallen Kings?" The Doctor asks Gwen.
"Not that much further. We should get there by mid-afternoon if we leave at first light," Gwen replies and for the first time Amy notices the stress forming in Gwen's brows and how concerned she is for Arthur which amazes her.
Maybe the Doctor was right. Maybe this Guinevere isn't the kind of person I thought she was.
Despite her earlier reluctance in trying to make an effort with getting to know Gwen, Amy decides to make one now.
"So Gwen," Amy questions with a kinder tone to her voice, "Why is the Valley of the Fallen Kings cursed?"
"Well legend says that hundreds of years ago King Owen fell madly in love with a commoner, a healer who had healed him when he developed an incurable illness. He wanted so badly to marry the woman; however the council tried very much to dissuade him from forming such a union, so they did everything they could to prevent it. And they finally succeed when they discovered that the healer had magic. Betrayed and heartbroken and feeling like he had no choice, the King sentenced her to death - " Gwen stops, a little distressed as she remembers the time that Uther thought she had bewitched his son into loving her and sentenced her to death, which Amy notices and before she knows it she places her hand on Gwen's arm, urging her to continue. Gwen gives Amy a little smile.
"On the day of her execution, all the people and the King came to watch her burn at the stake and while speaking her last words, she looked up at the man she loved, hoping that he would save her and see reason. He did not and with her last breath she vowed she would get her revenge and that no descendants of King Richard. And she did, as a day later the King died from an unknown disease. They buried him in a crypt they had built in the Valley of the Fallen Kings. Many days later a scout returned to the Kingdom saying that all of his men were murdered by a ghost. When asked what the ghost looked like, they realized that it was the witch and many decades, each time a King died and was placed in the Valley, the witch would return to wreak havoc."
Gwen takes a deep breath after telling them the story, while Amy and Rory couldn't help but feel tiny shivers going up and down their spines, now knowing what they may be in for.
The Doctor, on the other hand, seems rather excited about it all, which Gwen can help but pick up on. So she decides to probe the Doctor for more information.
"So Doctor, what was that feeling you felt in the dungeons?"
The Doctor, Rory and Amy look at Gwen surprised that she overheard their conversation.
"Well, you are more intelligent and sharp then people give you credit for!" Rory praises, and the Doctor nods his head agreeing, deciding to tell the truth.
"While we were in the dungeons I felt like some power was being ripped from me and I'm thinking that it was Morgana. I believe that she may have done a spell that has extracted from me."
Gwen looks at the Doctor with a questioning look, "So are you are sorcerer then?"
She knows that magic has been banned for a very long time in Camelot, knows that she lost many things because of it. Yet something nags in her heart that if the Doctor indeed has magic than maybe magic isn't bad after all. Maybe magic in itself isn't good or bad, but rather it's the person who wields it that decides how it can be used.
However, the Doctor does not give her a straight yes or no. Rather he just gives her an amused smile and says, "What makes you say that!"
A couple of hours later and Gwen and the others are fast asleep.
Yet they did not notice the strange man lurking amongst the trees, watching them like a hawk as they prepared for sleep. Later they would have wished they did.
Gwen hears birdsong and realizes that it must be time to wake up and continue their journey to the Valley. A little annoyed too, because it would appear that they may have overslept a little.
She slowly blinks one eye and the next one when he realizes that the floor feels harder, and her back aches.
Finally her eyes open and there in front of her is Arthur, who looks absolutely relieved and Merlin.
"Guinevere, are you alright?" Arthur asks concerned.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she assures him and then she tries to sit up but has trouble manoeuvring herself. Then she looks down and realizes why - she heavily pregnant with a baby. Which she sort of remembers and yet at the same time it's like she is discovering it for the first time. Arthur gently grabs her shoulders and pulls her towards him in a calming embrace.
"I just feel a little strange. I have no idea, but I had this strange dream…" Gwen tries to explain but fears that they may think she is crazy, no doubt from her condition.
"A dream?" Arthur prompts her.
"Yes… we had heard news that you and Merlin had been taken and then three mysterious people turned up, seeming to know things about us and where you might be and who had taken you. So I helped them escape and we were on our way to the Valley of the Fallen Kings…"
Gwen finishes and eventually she looks at them, still afraid that they would look at her as if she was crazy.
Instead, they do the complete opposite.
"We have been experiencing the same thing," Arthur begins to explain when suddenly Gwen hears birdsong, making her eyes flutter and everything starts to fade.
Gwen's eyes slowly flutter open as she stirs from her deep slumber.
She gently lifts her head up and looks at her surroundings. The Doctor, Rory and Amy are arguing about what food they can gather and eat and everything looks normal. Well partly normal, a part from the fact that she had a very strange dream where she was pregnant, not that she didn't mind. Rather it was that her dream felt very much real.
Yet what made it even more peculiar was that she could remember thinking that this, what was happening now was a dream and she was not alone. But before Arthur and Merlin could explain anything to her, she had heard birdsong and woken up.
Then Gwen hears footsteps and sees that it is Rory. "You alright, Guinevere?" Rory asks a little concerned as he crouches down next to her.
"Yes, I'm alright. I just had a strange dream that is all. And it's Gwen." Gwen tries to smile at the end so that Rory and the others don't start to worry that she is going insane.
The Doctor and Amy having heard what Gwen said get up and decide to join Gwen and Rory with concerned looks on their faces.
"Really I'm fine," Gwen tries to reassure them. But they look at her and she realises that they know she is lying leaving Gwen no choice but to explain what happened in her dream.
After Gwen finishes explaining her 'dream' , the Doctor suggests that they finish making their way to the Valley. While Gwen goes to wash herself in the stream, the Doctor, Rory and Amy decide this is the best time to discuss the situation.
"Does anyone else think that it's strange the dream Gwen had? Like it's similar to the time we encountered the Dream Lord? Amy points out.
The Doctor solemnly nods his head "Yes, the problem is this situation feels completely different. Like we are in a completely new ball game."
"So what should we do?" Rory questions him.
"The only thing we can do. Continue on to the Valley of the Fallen Kings as planned and help Gwen, Arthur and Merlin as best we can. Hopefully we may find some clues that the screwdriver can detect that may help us discover who is behind Gwen's strange dreams."
It is when the Doctor mentions the screwdriver; Amy realizes that the Doctor has yet to use it since they arrived. She thinks it probably because anything that looks suspicious or rather like magic is severely frowned upon and punishable by death.
"Talking about the sonic, what have you done to it?" Amy wonders.
"I quickly slipped it on silent setting when Gwen was getting us out of the dungeons. I figured it's probably best that I don't use it since magic is banned here." the Doctor answers.
"And you completely messed up the time period," Amy mutters under her breath which only Rory hears and he laughs.
Eventually Gwen finishes washing and makes her way back to camp. The Doctor and Rory then make silly excuses to go off and find some food for the final leg of their journey to the Valley. Amy sees through it as their attempts to leave her alone with Gwen and get to know her.
Amy watches as Gwen starts busying herself with gathering all of their supplies and she swears that she can hear her sniffling. Consumed with sympathy which Amy can't help but feel, she slowly walks up to where Gwen has started rolling up the blankets and says kindly,
"Here why don't I help you with that."
Gwen nods her head appreciatively and gives Amy one end of the blanket to help her fold. After a few moments of silence, Amy finds herself asking Gwen, voice filled with compassion after seeing how concerned she is for Arthur –and Merlin. "You worried about Arthur?" Though obviously Amy knows the answer to this, Amy has a feeling that her question is not unwelcome.
Gwen grimly nods her head, "I just don't want to lose him," she stops as she remembers herself and quickly adds, "I mean I don't want Camelot to lose him. He will be the greatest King this Kingdom will ever know and bring about such peace… and he can't die before that happens."
Amy nods her head knowingly, seeing straight through Gwen's nervous blurting that she is just worried for the whole of Camelot, "It's alright Gwen. I know about you and Arthur. I can see how much you care for him. Anyone can see it really."
Gwen blushes a little, but Amy sees her shoulders relax, like a burden has been lifted. Amy imagines that a Prince being in love with a servant probably isn't something the King would approve of - hence why they must be keeping it secret.
Amy gently places her hand on Gwen's arm reassuringly, "Rory and I have found ourselves in quite a number of dangerous situations, but the Doctor has always managed to get us out alive. So let me assure you if there is one person who is capable of helping you save Arthur it's the Doctor. Believe me."
Finally, the Doctor and Rory return to the camp site and the Doctor cannot stop the smile forming on his face when he sees Amy and Gwen talking, getting along better than before. Then Gwen announces that they better get a move on. Packed and ready, the four them make their way to the Valley of The Fallen Kings, not realizing the many dangers that lay ahead.
Finally after four hours of traveling and some attempts at lively chatter to keep each other's spirits up (mostly from the Doctor), they arrive at their destination.
And Amy now understands why not many people dare enter into the Valley of The Fallen Kings. Though they have not ventured far, she can already feel the eeriness this place can evokes in people. The tall trees and dense ferns preventing most of the sunlight's rays from peering through, the dark tombs with mysterious markings on them and the steam, no doubt moisture from the rain - no wonder many turn and run.
Then Amy hears the trees high behind her rustle and she thinks she hears someone behind her so she quickly turns around, only to bump into the Doctor.
"God you scared me!" Amy exclaims and gives the Doctor a slight shove in his shoulder.
"Ouch… Sorry." The Doctor apologizes then notices how fizzled Amy looks, "What's up?"
"I just thought I heard something before -" Amy begins to explain when Gwen and Rory interrupt them having discovered some tracks – which look like they may be Arthur and Merlin's - leading deeper into the Valley.
Wasting no time they begin to follow the tracks and struck gold when they finally reach a clearing and see Arthur and Merlin shackled to a tree.
"Guinevere!" Arthur announces half in surprise, but mostly in relief.
Gwen quickly rushes to Arthur and Merlin with a few tears in her eyes, tears of total relief. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving you guys of course." Gwen responds and then Arthur notices that Gwen is no alone. Behind her are two men and a woman. Though they are rather normally dressed, something about the way they look makes Arthur feel that there is something very peculiar about these people who have accompanied Gwen.
"And pray tell me Guinevere, who are these three people with you?" Arthur nods his head towards them a little suspiciously.
Gwen bites her lip a little nervously, too busy and concerned with trying to untie both Arthur and Merlin. "Well, Arthur - that's sort of difficult to explain - a bit of a story rather. But I trust these people. They have been extremely helpful and generous so far," Gwen's three companions wave at Arthur a little awkwardly, not entirely sure of what to do seeing as they arrived at the completely wrong point in time.
Thank god, Gwen decides to help them out, " So why don't we concentrate on getting everyone out of here." Gwen pauses as she turns to the others and asks them, "Would you mind helping me untie Arthur and Merlin? The chains are not as easy to untie as they appear…" Gwen adds, as she struggles untying them – making her think that magic must be involved.
The Doctor, Rory and Amy nod their heads, and make their way over to Merlin where they quickly introduce themselves. Merlin appears more willing to accept their help then Arthur. Why?
Merlin has no idea why he feels like he can trust these strangers who seem a little… strange and out-of-place. He just does even though they have only met.
Amy turns to look at the Doctor to quietly ask him to get this screwdriver out so they can unchain both Arthur and Merlin easily. However as soon as she looks at him, she sees that he is already trying to conspicuously remove it out of his tunic jacket pocket, as if he read her mind or something. He was always doing that.
Okay, Amy thinks, I better distract the others so the Doctor can free them. What if I ask them something? Yes!
"Do you remember who kidnapped you and brought you here?" Amy asks and shifts her eyes between the both Arthur and Merlin, causing them to look at her and consider how best to explain what happened to them. Because in all honestly it was a difficult one to explain.
The question distracts all three of them long enough for the Doctor to point the sonic and press the button releasing the chains on Merlin and then Arthur. He knew as soon as he saw the chains that they were indeed magical – and while Merlin could have easily unchained them he knew Merlin's situation.
Both Arthur and Merlin sigh, relieved when they realise that they hands have been unchained. Arthur decides he better thank this man who calls himself "The Doctor" and his friends Amy and Rory, when suddenly Arthur hears a familiar song cloud his mind. And he realizes that he and Merlin are not alone, but Gwen and the others must hear it as well as he notices how the others have started to slur and shut their eyes.
"What…is that sound?" Gwen tries to slur out as her eyes begin to flutter and shut slowly.
But no one else responds as their eyes begin fluttering shut too and it's not long till they all fall asleep in a heap on the forest floor.
Gwen's eyes are the first to open and it's her little squeal that alarms the others as they open their eyes.
Arthur sits up next to Gwen, eyes concerned, "What's the matter Guinevere?"
"What's the matter?" Gwen repeats, "I'm back in the dream I had last night and I'm pregnant."
Gwen notices the shock on Arthur's face at her outburst and strokes his hand lovingly, "Not that I'm not happy to be pregnant. It's just that we are not yet married and now I'm here and we are married…" Gwen takes a deep breath, still in shock, "and I'm pregnant. And god, I'm Queen too." Gwen quickly stammers out and Arthur cannot help the giggle that escapes his mouth as he tries to remember the last time she had a nervous outburst. Not in a long time, he thinks.
Gwen realizes that Arthur is laughing at her and quickly admonishes him by slapping his shoulder, "Why are you laughing?" Gwen grits out, very annoyed indeed. No doubt not helped by being pregnant, for it made her more moody and annoyed than ever.
"Nothing," Arthur begins, sobering his face for Gwen has that annoyed look upon her face,
"It's just been a while since you've had a nervous outburst like that." Arthur is about to explain that she was not alone in having strange dreams to reassure her, but instead they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
They all turn around and see that it's the three strangers Arthur and Merlin just met before they heard the birdsong, standing near the door to their chambers. Though Arthur barely knows them he knows that they helped Guinevere to save them – in his dream or reality, whichever one - and that is enough for him, so he gestures for them to come in closer. They do, slowly, which Arthur and Merlin cannot help but notice.
"So…" Arthur begins addressing the Doctor and his two companions a little awkwardly, "Doctor, Amy and Rory, what brings you all here to Camelot?" He decides that this is the best way to start a conversation with them before he addresses the whole passing-out-and-dreaming-the-same-dream thing, which seems to have somehow brought Gwen and her new friends within it too.
Amy and Rory both stare at the Doctor all stare at each other a little nervously, as if naming him their spokesperson, before the Doctor speaks up rather a little animatedly,
"Well you see it's rather easy to explain. My good pals, Amy and Rory are a part of my travelling circus trio and we were travelling from Caerleon's lands when we saw Camelot and decided to try our luck on the good folks here and have a bit of a rest." He finishes explaining and then Amy butts in confirming the Doctor's story,
"Yes. For travelling on the road with only a few possessions is very hard and tiring." Well, it wasn't really for the TARDIS was equipped with everything, from bedrooms to a wardrobe filled with clothing from every century. Though, why she never used them Amy doesn't know. She never tried them on and most of the time they ended up in places they weren't supposed to be anyway. So what was the point really?!
"Okay…" Arthur believes their story – just, "Good we now have that sorted. Now, we need to discuss the whole dreaming thing."
And as soon has Arthur uttered the last words it became clearer to the Doctor, Amy and Rory what must be happening to them, as the three of them had a similar incident a few months ago - one that they would never ever forget. The question the three of them had - if this was indeed was the case - why was it occurring here of all places?
To be continued...