A Garden for the Queen
disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Merlin.
"Why should I let one human go, boy?"
Arthur didn't even register the boy comment, because Gwen was counting on him. Gwen was not dead yet, and Hades had to have something that Arthur could use, to make the god-king yield to him. Yet he could not see it. There was no beast or champion to fight, no artifact to retrieve, not even a trade would satisfy Hades. It was simply Arthur stating his case and try not to be dismissed. And even then, his training in negatiation and diplomacy was not going to help since Hades had little time for silver tongue men.
Then he saw the garden, the strangely beautiful and haunting fruits and flowers and remembered why they were there. Who they were for.
"Would you let your queen go?"
Hades' stony face grimaced, for a second, a fraction, but Arthur knew he won.
"Remember young king, as you leave, don't look back. For her and you, don't look back."
And Guinevere came home.