AN: Time for me to stop procrastinating and just post it. Although I might not always say it, I really appreciate your reviews. They do help me write faster.
Opposite Ends
Arthur had initially refused to speak with Princess Mithian but he couldn't refrain from boasting about his talents as a tactician. He proudly explained that the army in the forest were peasants carrying banners with only a few real soldiers amongst them so that they would not break formation. The real army had taken the long way around and then attacked from the flank. After the King was done boasting and seen the chains bind her wrists together, he made for Camelot with the rest of the cavalry.
The army, along with the prisoner, made camp in the Valley of Fallen Kings. There weren't enough tents for everyone and set them up in front of the entrance to one of the nearby caves. Sir Leon took command of the troops and told them to construct a prison for the Princess. It was excessive, he knew that, but he didn't see any harm in being cautious. Morgana had been a capable fighter long before she discovered her magic and they knew too little of Mithian to be sure she was unskilled.
Mithian's prison' was made of old wooden logs and rusty nails which were better suited to tie the horses to the trees but the cavalry was long gone. There was no door in it as there couldn't be a key for a non-existent lock. The makeshift prison could easily be broken out of but not without making a lot of noise. It wasn't there to keep her in. It was there to alarm them if she got out. Sir Leon decided to put a man on guard nonetheless.
"Let Gwaine keep an eye on her. He'll probably do it anyway." He joked and the Knight smiled in response.
The Knight with the roguish smiled sat down by Mithian's cell without a word or glance. She looked at her jailor. She had seen him smile towards the other Knights but now, alone, there was no smiling. His averted eyes showed he didn't want to be here. Not just here with her - he would be wishing to be with his friends if he did - but here in Gedref. Most commanders or generals who executed orders they disapproved of would display a temper. This man, Gwaine she heard him be called, wasn't angry. He was sad and his eyes betrayed regret.
"You should try and get some sleep. I fear he'll make you walk." He said suddenly.
Mithian wasn't scared of him. He was paying far too little attention to her to even be seen as a threat. This was a reluctant Knight.
"What have I done to deserve such callousness?" She asked despite knowing it was a silly question.
A prisoner of war did not enjoy many luxuries and neither would she, regardless of her noble heritage.
"Nothing."
"Then why is he being like this?" She pushed for an answer seeing as King Arthur had been called 'noble and kind' in the past.
Gwaine sighed as he shook his head but Mithian wasn't sure if the gesture was meant for her or him.
"I don't know. He's not like his ordinary self."
"Are you scared?" Mithian asked and the knight smiled.
"Anyone in his right mind would be. It's what keeps you alive."
"Unless it consumes you." She added and he nodded in agreement.
A silence followed in which Mithian pondered what question to ask him next but Gwaine had questions of his own.
"Did you see Merlin?" He asked.
This time it was her turn to sigh.
"Arthur assumes I have an alliance with him and yet you ask if I've even met him. But the answer is yes, I have met him."
Mithian noticed how this caught the attention of the handsome knight and it intrigued her greatly. Why would anyone take an interest in her dealings with him? They had already decided she was the enemy and this man was asking about them for himself. At least this man had a mind of his own rather than simply believing what others told him.
"How was he?" Gwaine asked.
"You've never met him?"
Gwaine frowned slightly.
"Not what I meant. I wondered if he was well."
It surprised her that one of Arthur's knights would express any concern towards the sorcerer at all. Then again, it was clear he wasn't happy with the way things were going. Mithian quickly moved past her surprise in hopes of uncovering more about the relation between Gwaine and Merlin.
"He's a bit skinny but otherwise fine." She answered truthfully.
"He's always been skinny." Said Gwaine who relaxed at the news and put his back against the wall.
"Did you know him well?" Mithian inquired.
"We've had our fair share of adventures." He replied with a melancholy smile.
"A friend, then." She continued guessing.
Gwaine looked towards the entrance of the small cave to see if anyone was listening and Mithian, as if wanting to share idle gossip, did the same.
"A good friend." He finally replied.
She could almost hear the tears he did not cry. This unlikely friendship between him and Arthur's former manservant had left its mark on the man. When friends become enemies there are questions that need to be answered, even more if you don't agree that they're enemies.
"Magic changed that." It was Mithian's way of showing sympathy but Gwaine brushed it aside.
"Propaganda." Gwaine wanted to set the record straight. "He's always had magic."
This interested the Princess. A sorcerer had been living inside the walls of Camelot for years. He saved Arthur's life more than once whilst having every reason not to. When Morgana chose to fight Camelot, he remained loyal. What kind of a man was Merlin really?
Gwaine's talkative nature caused him to continue the conversation.
"Something did change him though. I fear Arthur pushed him too far." He said.
"How?"
It came as a surprise to Gwaine that she did not know. Then again, Arthur might have set things in motion to silence the rumours.
"Kidnapped his mother and, by accident, she died. He blames Arthur. As do I."
"Yet you choose Arthur over your friend." Mithian laid her finger on the odd decision.
Gwaine merely smiled knowingly. Had Merlin asked after that dreadful day, he wouldn't have known what answer to give and if he were truly honest with himself, he still wouldn't know. The Knight bit his lip and told himself to stay quiet despite the fact that he enjoyed her company. He had already said too much to an enemy of Camelot, an ally to Merlin, a mere stranger to himself.
Mithian caught on to his silence and did not push for more. She had been lucky enough to have heard what he told her. A short while later came a burly Knight carrying a bowl in either hand. One bowl clearly contained soup but the contents of the other bowl was unclear.
"What is this?" Gwaine asked as he held up the prisoner's bowl.
"Leftovers." The Knight replied surprisingly softly as he went back to the other men.
The dark haired Knight passed his bowl, rather than the leftovers, over to Mithian through the bars.
"Why are you being kind to me?" Mithian asked.
"I saw how the death of your men upset you. Not everyone cares as much."
Caerleon was the name that went through his head. He was a King that did not care, nor did his wife. At some point he thought that Arthur cared but now there were doubts there as well.
"Thank you."
Merlin could barely see where he were going. The only eyes he had were his hands and they were covered in mud. Casting a light spell was risky as he didn't know where the knights were. Morgana had said that they had made camp at an entrance of the caves and that all the caves were connected. Merlin found the caves to be a maze but he shouldn't be complaining as it was him that told Morgana not to come. She had given excellent directions, she knew the Valley like back of her hand, but he didn't see where he was going. Talking Morgana down from coming along took surprisingly little effort. He didn't know if she wanted him to prove himself or if he actually convinced her. Should they run into any knights, they would be far more eager to strike Morgana rather than him. Being alone allowed him to move fast and silently.
Finally there was light at the end of the tunnel and Merlin knew that would be where Camelot's army had made camp. He slowly moved closer to the light that nearly blinded him because his eyes had adjusted themselves to the dark. Merlin stumbled against something and a shadow rose from the enlightened part of the cavern.
"Who's there?!" Someone spoke with a hushed voice.
The warlock blinked a couple of times before noticing it was Gwaine that more or less noticed him. He took a deep breath and stepped into the light.
Gwaine smirked and almost giggled. "You look like rubbish."
Merlin smiled as well as he laid a mud covered hand on his mud covered face.
The smile fell from the Knight's face as he remembered the last time they met. "I'm sorry." Gwaine had not yet apologized for not being able to stop his execution.
"It's not your fault." Merlin empathised.
Gwaine couldn't see the enemy in Merlin he was supposed to see. The former manservant looked and acted the same and it seemed that the only thing that had changed was the side he was on. The warlock looked past the Knight and at a seemingly sleeping Mithian.
"You don't have to eavesdrop, Princess." Said Merlin.
The future Queen of Nemeth sat up and stretched her back, not saying a word.
"She doesn't belong here." Said Merlin as he turned his attention back to Gwaine.
"You mean she's your ally."
"It's merely a truce to keep Camelot from turmoil once Morgana is queen. She wasn't supposed to get involved like this."
Gwaine sighed at his inner conflict between the duty to his King and his friendship with the outlaw.
"Will you let me help her?" Asked Merlin.
The Knight looked at Mithian. She was no scared little girl to be sympathised with but neither was she vengeful. The Princess was bright and not easily frightened. She showed no ill will towards him, her captor, but it was not to be mistaken for mindless submission. There was a determination in her eyes that told him she would not let an opportunity pass her by. If he had to describe her in one word, it would be 'admirable'.
"Be quick about it." The Knight told him.
Merlin approached the makeshift prison and held his hand through the bars.
"Princess?" He asked.
Mithian hesitantly took his hand, unsure if that was what he really meant. Merlin let go of her hand and grabbed her forearm with a look on his face that told her she should do the same. What happened next, she did not expect. One moment she was surrounded by the bars of her cell and then, witnessing the gold in his eyes, she stood beside Gwaine.
"Strange..." Merlin muttered.
Neither Mithian nor Gwaine understood what he meant by it but neither did they get the chance to ask.
"Gwaine, sit down." Merlin spoke in a near commanding tone of voice.
The Knight hesitant ly did as he was told and was both curious and reluctant to find out what came next.
"Swefe nu."
Gwaine slowly closed his eyes as his head leaned forward, a reassuring snore followed after which Merlin turned to Mithian.
"I need you to hold on tight and don't let go. It'll probably hurt."
She took hold of his forearms as she had done before and felt a tingling sensation all the way through her body. A searing pain caused her to close her eyes and dig her nails into his arms.
