Chapter 4-Capture

Hey guys! To make up for the rubbish last chapter I am publishing this one at the same time! Lots of you have been asking me about the wedding but as most of you know I don't like making it easy for my characters. The more problems the more fun I have writing :). Which does mean they won't be married for a while yet, I think it's a good thing anyway, I did rush the proposal a little bit. Anyway I don't own Merlin, but Elizabeth, Kay and Laudine are my characters. Enjoy!

I was out in the square with Morgana and Arthur getting ready to go on the annual trip with Morgana to her father's grave. Gwen had fallen ill a few day ago and although she was on the mend she wasn't in a well enough state to be able to travel this distance.

Morgana had also wanted me to travel with her to take some time to learn some magic, she was really picking up skills quickly and was keen to learn more. There was only so long we could pretend to be wedding planning before Arthur got suspicious, "I hope your trip isn't too upsetting," Arthur said softly to Morgana as she mounted her horse.

"Thank you," Morgana smiled back.

Arthur then turned and walked over to me, I held out my hand for him to take hold of, "Be careful out there. Come back soon."

"I will Arthur. I love you," I smiled back at him softly.

Arthur nodded towards the knight, "Make sure you return to Camelot before dusk."

"Yes, sire," The knight nodded, we rode out of Camelot just as Merlin stepped out of the castle. I waved as I rode past him.

It didn't take long before we were deep into the forest. I hadn't really spoken for a while, getting lost in my own thoughts about the wedding and how everything was beginning to feel like a lot of pressure. Apparently telling Morgana about my magic had been the easy part. Finding times when neither of us were required to be doing our parts for the kingdoms and teaching Morgana how to control her magic so she didn't cause any further incidence was beginning to get to me.

Then there was the actual wedding planning going on. There was negotiation taking place between Uther and my father, invites needed to be sent out, I needed a dozen new dresses, or so I had been told. It was almost like everything needed to be done immediately, and because of that I had barely seen Arthur, Merlin or Gaius. Laudine was being a god send but it didn't change the fact I was struggling. I had always known that I was not born to be a Princess, let alone a Queen.

"You look troubled Elizabeth," Morgana observed, pulling me out of my musing.

"I'm fine, just worried about Gwen," I said quickly, trying to hide my real feelings.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Morgana smiled at me, "But I don't think that's the truth."

I sighed, "It's just…" I paused looking at the knights ahead to see they were listening, "planning the wedding, I didn't realise it would be so stressful."

"I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end," Morgana encouraged.

"I guess…" I said with a shrug.

"I do hope I am not causing any further issues," Morgana said more quietly this time, trying not to draw more attention to our conversation.

"Of course not Morgana," I smiled softly at her, "It's just a lot at the moment, and the wedding planning is so much…" I trailed off

"You're not having second thoughts are you?" Morgana asked me more seriously.

I opened my mouth not really sure how to reply when we heard loud yelling coming from above us. I looked up to see bandits coming running down the hills towards us, I felt my magic stir up inside me wanting to get out and stop the danger. I held it back somehow. The knights around us pulled out their swords. I reached down to pull out my small dagger but before I could reach it I was pulled backwards off of my horse. I watched as the same happened to Morgana. I kicked and screamed trying to break free from the attack, before feeling my magic rise up inside me sending my capture flying backwards into the tree. I looked around to see if anyone had noticed, luckily everyone was too busy. One of the knights managed to kill the man holding Morgana, "We need to head for the path!" I yelled at her over the madness before taking off up the hill. Only to find more bandits waiting for us at the top.

"I warn you. I am Uther Pendragon's ward. He'll have your head if any harm comes to me," Morgana warned next to me.

"I have no intention of harming you. At least not yet. You're much more valuable to me alive Lady Morgana," Our capture smiled before turning and facing me, "And who are you?"

"Gwen," I said simply, realising that it was better if they didn't realise they had two princesses, "Lady Morgana's maidservant."

He nodded his head before his men grabbed us once again pulling us through the trees and into their camp. We were pushed into a tent before they left us alone, "Why did you say that?" Morgana asked me.

"They cannot know they have two princesses. Can you imagine what would happen then?" I pointed out before looking around the room for an idea, "We need a plan to escape."

"Got any ideas?" Morgana questioned as she stood next to me.

"We need to separate ourselves from the guards," I said thinking out loud.

Morgana thought for a moment before speaking slowly, "Well, I can get a few on their own if I have to travel somewhere else for a while."

It was then the idea came to me, "Say you need to bathe."

"What?!" Morgana questioned looking at me like I was mad.

"Trust me, you do this and then we will have them separated," I pointed out.

Morgana nodded before walking to the front of the tent and looking out. I followed her seeing the leader of the bandits look at us, "He's coming. You know what you're doing right?" Morgana asked me quietly.

I nodded my head, as the leader walked in, "I trust you are comfortable?"

"I demand to know where you're taking us," Morgana ordered, her voice far stronger than it should be in the situation.

"You'll find out soon enough. We've a long journey ahead of us. Get some rest," The leader said before turning to leave.

Morgana gave me a look of worry but walked out of the tent after him, "I wish to bathe."

The leader paused and turned back to us, "You wish to bathe?"

"I am the King's ward and accustomed to certain standards. I am sure you are quite content to stink like a pig, but I am not," Morgana snapped, sounding every bit the spoilt Princess that people sometimes saw her as.

"The Lady Morgana wishes to bathe! Who wants to help me guard her?" The leader called out. The rest of the bandits let out coarse laughter.

It didn't take long before we were by the stream. One of the bandits had a tight grip on my arm while the leader was standing on the other side of me. Morgana looked at me, and I nodded my head slightly, she began to slowly undress, "You may find the water a little icy," The leader whose name I was informed was Kendrick leered at her.

Morgana's sharp eyes met his, "I'm sure I'll manage. If you were any kind of gentleman, you'd give me some privacy."

"Well, unfortunately for you I am no kind of gentleman. Now get on with it," Kendrick told her coldly.

As Morgana removed her outer garment, the second bandit let go of my arm. I smiled at Morgana giving her the signal, before walking silently behind Kendrick, "You can at least turn your back," Morgana said, holding her dress up to herself to block their view.

"So you can make a run for it. Do you think I'm that stupid?" Kendrick questioned.

"I think you're very stupid," Morgana answered with a smile as I pulled out Kendrick's sword. He turned back to face me but Morgana tapped his shoulder before punching him straight in the face. I swung the sword, managing to slash both men, "Run!" I heard Morgana yell from behind me.

We took off into the forest closely followed by the men, I could hear them catching up with us as I stumbled falling forward and feeling my ankle twist at an awkward angle, I let out a yelp of pain. Morgana turned around and came back to me, "Put your arm around my shoulder, come on!"

She pulled me upright and we made it a few steps before I stopped her, "We can't outrun them like this Morgana, you must go on without me!"

"I'm not leaving you behind!" Morgana shot back.

I shook my head, "Go! Please! Get help! I can defend myself!"

Morgana looked at me reluctantly before she took off again. I hid behind one of the trees waiting as the bandit came up beside me. I swung the sword low cutting into the bottom of his legs, he let out a terrible scream before I began to move again a lot slower than I would have liked. I couldn't heal myself because I had never really been good at healing spells, that was always Laudine;s skill. It didn't take long before I had another bandit right in front of me. I swung the sword yet again, cutting into his arm this time before I felt something cold and metal touch my back, "Don't you move," I heard one of the bandit's speak behind me, "Where is Lady Morgana?"

"Gone," I smiled simply at him over my shoulder before being pulled back to the campsite.

It didn't take long before I was standing in front of Kendrick again as he screamed at his men, "How could you let her escape?! Eh?! You bring me the servant! She's worthless to us!" he smirked as he grabbed my face and looked me over. I pulled my head away from behind before turning back to stare at him in disguise. He took Morgana's dress and cloak off of one of the bandits before shoving them at me, "Put 'em on," he ordered.

"What are you going to do with me?" I questioned.

"Hengist has never met Lady Morgana. For all he knows, you could be Uther Pendragon's ward," Kendrick said.

I stared at him in shock, this was not what I was expecting, "I will not impersonate anyone for the likes of you," I spat back at him.

"Then you will die where you stand," Kendrick said back firmly as he put his sword against my throat.

I knew I had to go along with the situation until help could arrive for me, so I nodded slowly.

This is the end of this chapter. I hope you liked it, please let me know what you think by reviewing.

Until next time

Artistic-Blue-Eyes

xxx