The Wanderer
by BynWho
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfic for entertainment purposes only. All characters and plots from the BBC show Merlin belong to the BBC. All other characters and plots belong to BynWho. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Marian's nightmares are becoming reality as Camelot is under siege by Morgana and her Southron army. Arthur, Merlin, and Camelot's army have been run out of the kingdom, leaving Marian, Gwaine, Gaius, and Elyan imprisoned in the palace dungeons.
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The Sword in the Stone
Marian twisted and turned in her bed. Her eyes darted beneath her lids and soft whimpers escaped her. She was in the darkness of a nightmare that she couldn't escape.
Gwaine's voice echoed in the celebration hall. "Sire, we're under attack!"
The screeches of white dragons burst the windows and an immortal army marched through the doors. Gwaine turned and shouted to her, his words masked in the chaos. It was his eyes that frightened her, though. So full of fear and anguish. They widened as she got close and then rolled back as he crumpled to the ground. Morgana stood behind with a bloodied sword.
"Good Sir Knight is dead and there's no one to save you, Lady Fair."
Marian fell to the floor, cradling Gwaine's lifeless body, and wailed. "WHY?"
"Marian, wake up."
Morgana's mouth was moving, but Merlin's voice came out.
"Marian—"
She sat up suddenly, knocking Merlin with her head.
"Ow!" he rubbed his brow
"Is he okay?"
"What?"
Marian swung her legs off the side of her bed, ready to jump into action. "Gwaine! Is he okay?"
"I… guess so? He's on the training grounds…" Though thoroughly confused, he grinned.
"What? What about Morgana?"
He abruptly sobered. "Morgana?"
"Yes!" Marian frowned. "She… her army… There were dragons…" she trailed off, unsure of what she was saying. "I can't remember…"
"I think you had another nightmare. It's late, so I came to check in on you."
She grabbed his hand. "We have to keep Gwaine safe. Morgana is going to kill him!"
"Right… I think we better see Gaius."
"It was so real, Gaius. I could feel his life draining from him."
Gaius thought for a moment before answering. "It was only a dream, nothing more."
"But—"
"It's no wonder you have these nightmares, Marian. You have been through more than most, especially with falling back in time."
"Why are they always about Gwaine's death, then?"
"You're in love with him," Merlin said.
Marian blushed. "That's not… I…" She drew in a deep breath and took nearly an eternity to release it. "I am. God help me, I am very much in love with him."
Gaius stood in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "You know love is something you cannot give in to. I suspect your dreams are your mind trying to process your feelings and your fear of losing him."
"Why did this have to happen? I wasn't looking for it. I don't even want it. But this goofy, kind, sexy idiot just made it impossible to ignore it." She buried her face in her hands. "I'm so screwed."
Marian tried to keep her mind off her nightmares but was failing miserably. Merlin had fixed it with Arthur so that she could join the Feast of Beltane and had even gone down to the storage room below the castle to borrow a fine dress from Morgana's abandoned belongings. That took a little extra convincing, but Arthur finally agreed when Merlin reminded him about her short-lived and well-contested forced engagement to Sir Gromer.
She looked across the table, wishing Gwaine was there. The dress she was wearing was particularly pretty, with layers of blue silk, and she thought he would like it on her. He'd leave his supper, a feat in and of itself, and sit by her, ask her to dance, joke with her, anything to be near her. It would be a welcome distraction, but he and Leon were on guard duty, so she just sat there, miserable.
"You need to eat, Marian," Gaius said, watching as she moved the food around her plate.
"What?"
"Merlin convinced Arthur to let you come to the feast, so you need to at least try to enjoy it."
She sighed. "I'm trying, Gaius, I really am. I'm just tired is all."
She took a few bites, chewing slowly when she heard laughter across the table. One of the ladies in court was trying to flirt with Percival.
"Poor girl is barking up the wrong tree."
"What did you say, Marian?" Gaius asked.
"Nothi—"
The main doors burst open and Gwaine charged in. "Sire, we're under attack! They're within the city walls!"
Marian froze in fear.
Arthur stood. "Gwaine, secure the armory! Percival, with me!" Before rushing from the room, he turned to Merlin. "Get everyone to the inner chamber!"
Gwaine nodded to the king and started to turn back to the corridor when he spotted Marian out of the corner of his eye, frozen in her seat and looking around at the chaos of the hall.
"Marian, what are you doing? Get to the inner chamber!"
She turned to him, fear written all over her face. He was going to die. It was happening, just like in her dream.
He rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. "Come on!"
She panicked as he led her to the corridor. "It's Morgana, isn't it?"
"I believe so. I don't know. Marian, look, you need to get to the inner chamber."
She dug her heels in and tried to pry her hand from his. "No, I need to stay with you, Gwaine!"
"You'll be perfectly safe there," he said, misunderstanding her fear. "Go with Gaius. I will find you when I can."
"Please, Gwaine! You'll die!"
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pushed her to Gaius.
"Go to the inner chamber, Marian. I'll meet you there." He ran toward the armory, taking a quick look back at her.
"You must let Gwaine do his job, Marian," Gaius said.
Shen watched the doorway that Gwaine had disappeared through, willing him to come back. Gwaine was going to die, and she wouldn't be able to stop it.
"Come, there will be wounded." Gaius gently pulled Marian toward the staircase.
The cries of struggle outside the chamber door distracted Marian from her tasks. Every time they brought in an injured knight, her stomach dropped. Their chainmail was useless against Morgana's men, the Southrons. Gwaine wasn't wearing any plate armor the last she saw of him. Terrified was too weak a word to describe what she was feeling at that moment.
It didn't help that Arthur was now injured, either. Barely able to stand, Merlin brought him to the inner chamber. Morgana wasn't just after Camelot. She was after Arthur.
"I can bind the ribcage, but even that would run the risk of puncturing a lung," Gaius said to Arthur.
"Do whatever it takes, Gaius, just so long as I can swing a sword."
"Yes, sire."
The door flung open and Gwaine and Percival ran in, closing and barring the door after them.
Marian looked up from her patient and gasped. "Gwaine!"
He looked back at her and gave her a tight smile. She was so preoccupied with Gwaine that she didn't notice how tight she was tying the man's bandage.
"Ow! That hurt!"
"Sorry."
"Watch what you're doing, you stupid cow!"
Gwaine spun around at the words, prepared to give him a lesson on how to treat the healer treating him. He paused when he saw Marian's eyes narrow, knowing she was about to dole out her own lesson.
"Sorry, my lord," she said between clenched teeth. "Perhaps you should skip the next feast, lest my bandages not have enough cloth to tie all the way around your arm."
He looked affronted, his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. "No one has ever had the gall to speak to me like that, let alone a mere woman."
Gwaine grinned at her as she walked away.
"How do we stand?" Gaius asked.
Percival shook his head. "The citadel is overrun. We can't hold out much longer."
"How long before they reach us?"
"Minutes at best."
Marian paled. She grabbed onto Gwaine's arm to steady herself. "Oh, god, so close!"
"We can't wait for Arthur. If they find him, they'll kill him," Merlin said in a panic. He looked over to her, watching as she stared back at him with wide, fearful eyes, thinking the same thing he was. Her nightmares were becoming reality.
"We must get him to safety while we still can," Percival said.
Gwaine shook his head. "Arthur would never abandon his people. He'd rather die."
Merlin nodded as an idea formed. "Barricade the doors. Give us as much time as you can."
Marian walked up to him. "Merlin?"
He nodded his head toward Gwaine and Percival. "Distract them. I need to—"
"Do your thing. Leave it to me."
With each bang, the door shook, and the Southrons came closer to breaking it down.
"Gwaine, use that table," she said, pointing in a direction away from Merlin.
"Brilliant!" He brushed his hand against her hair as he passed her.
Marian looked back at Merlin as Gwaine and Percival lifted the table into place. Merlin bent close to Arthur and whispered something as Gaius tightened the bind on the king's ribs. All of a sudden, Arthur relaxed with a vacant expression.
"We need to leave now, sire!" Merlin called to Arthur, unsure but desperately hoping the spell had worked.
"Of course," Arthur said, standing and wobbling.
The spell had worked.
"Then let's go," Percival said as he ducked under Arthur's arm and helped the king to the back staircase.
Merlin gathered Arthur's sword and followed Percival. When he realized he was alone, he looked back at Marian and Gaius. "Gather your things, Gaius. Marian."
"You go, Merlin. I'll just slow you down," Gaius said.
Merlin didn't want to think about what would happen should they be caught. He begged them to follow him. "Gaius, no. Marian, tell him."
She shook her head. "Merlin, go. Protect the king."
"You must know it's for the best," Gaius said.
"No, if you stay here—"
Gwaine pushed Merlin toward the stairs. "No time to argue. I'm sorry."
The banging on the door got louder and the sound of cracking wood made them all panic. Percival and Merlin entered the stairway with Arthur, but Marian stayed.
Gwaine grabbed her by the arm, leading her to the stairs. "You, too, beautiful."
She stopped. "Gwaine, no! I'm staying."
"You're going! That's an order!"
"You can't order me! I'm staying with you!"
He sighed in frustration. He grabbed her face in his hands and pulled her lips to his. The kiss was hard and full of as much emotion as he could muster. He looked into her eyes when he pulled back, begging her to understand. I love you. "You must go. I can't watch you die, Marian. Now go!" He released her and pushed her toward the stairs.
She stood back in shock. Despite her desperation to stay by his side, she was convinced to go by his pleading look. She wanted to beg him to take care, to live—for her. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, that she'd always loved him. Instead, she did as he asked. But she hesitated as she was about to disappear through the door to the staircase. "Gwaine!" He looked at her, frantic that she hadn't left yet. "I lov—"
The door burst open, and Gwaine's attention turned to the men rushing through the door. When Marian saw Morgana walk into the chamber, she fled, never finishing her declaration of love but praying she would get the chance when this was over and everything was put to right. For one brief moment, she forgot about the curse and let her love for Gwaine consume her. Marian couldn't live without him.
Marian ran down the stairs, tripping on the silk skirts of her dress. Her eyes were stinging with unshed tears. She was angry at Gwaine for sending her away and angry with herself for not being able to prevent this.
She knew this would happen. Once again, she knew and still did nothing. Not that Arthur would have believed her. Hell, even Gaius hadn't considered that her nightmares were anything other than dreams. Perhaps if she had told Gwaine… Maybe if she had confided in him, they could have stopped it together.
She reached the bottom of the stairs, not even trying to hide her footsteps. There was no way to sneak out of the castle, and the others were too far ahead for her to be able to follow. She needed to find a place to hide and fast, so she headed to the kitchens, where there were cupboards she could hide in, as well as kitchen tools she could use as weapons.
She rounded the corner leading to the kitchen and ran right into a large, menacing Southron man. He seized her and attempted to hold her still, but she screamed and kicked and twisted her body in an attempt to break free.
"Helios! Look what I've found!"
A tall, bald man walked up to them and leered at Marian, licking his bottom lip. Helios bent toward her and sniffed her hair. His mouth was close to her ear, and when he spoke, his warm breath tickled her skin. "If it were any other battle, I'd have you for my harem."
Marian shivered in disgust and screamed. "Let me go!" She kicked out, missing him by inches.
Helios laughed at her desperation. "I think a few days in a cupboard will get the fight out of her. Then, we'll take her to Morgana and see what the witch wants to do with the little wench!" He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her with him, kicking and screaming.
It had been only a day since Elyan joined Gwaine and Gaius in the dungeon. With Elyan tortured by Morgana and Gaius's strength fading rapidly, Gwaine was the only one of them halfway strong enough to do anything to help their situation. The only thing that kept him going was the thought of Marian. She was away from Camelot and safe. If he survived, he would find her and never let her go. If he didn't survive, he'd look after her from beyond the grave. He swore she would always be protected.
The dungeon doors opened and Morgana entered, flanked by several Southron warriors.
Gaius sat up. "Have you come to gloat, my lady?"
Morgana looked at her old friend without a sliver of pity. "Is that any way to treat an old friend? I'll forgive you. After all, you're not looking your best."
Gwaine stood, his feet chained together. "Can't you see he's starving? We all are."
"Of course you are. You killed so many of my men. I'll have the kitchen prepare you a feast," she bit out.
He started to the door, but Elyan grabbed his arm and shook his head. "Gwaine, don't."
Ignoring him, Gwaine went up to the door, his chains dragging against the stone floor. "I think not of myself, but of Gaius. He can't survive long without food."
Morgana smirked at him as she moved closer. "Aw, Gwaine, so handsome, so selfless. I understand what she sees in you now."
His cool exterior flinched and his heart was laid bare.
"And I see the feeling is reciprocated. Too bad you'll never see her again."
It took everything in him to not give her the reaction she wanted.
"You shall have some supper… as long as you're prepared to sing for it."
Morgana stepped back to let her guards open the cell door and drag Gwaine out. He had no idea what would happen, but he knew he had to do whatever he could to save Gaius and Elyan.
It had been days since Morgana ordered Gwaine to fight for food. Each day, they would drag him from the dungeon and bring him to the council chamber to fight one of the Southrons. It was humiliating. They gave him a wooden sword to defend himself against batons and maces. But Gwaine was a better fighter than any of Morgana's men. At first, he defended himself, but once he lost the toy sword, Gwaine switched to his brawl fights, punching, choking, and knocking heads against pillars. At the end of his battles, Gwaine would be rewarded with a loaf of molded bread to share with Gaius and Elyan.
The Southron men brought him up from the dungeon for his daily fight, but this time, Morgana gave no promise of food. Instead, she set two of her men on him right away. Despite his waning energy and accumulating injuries, he was able to beat both of them.
He stopped when she sent in another man.
"No more, Morgana. Not until you promise food for Gaius."
She laughed. "The courageous Knight of Camelot refuses to duel? What would my brother say?"
"Food first."
"I think I have something better for you, Sir Knight. Let's see if you can't be persuaded." She turned to her men and nodded.
He was completely drained, on the verge of collapsing. Morgana took his food, his water, his freedom. Even his damn shirt. There wasn't anything else she could take from him. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he saw next.
Two burly men dragged Marian—left in only her chemise—to the middle of the room and threw her down on her knees. Her hair had come loose from its braid, and cuts and bruises marred her skin. Surrounded by rowdy Southrons and with a tear-stained face, Marian looked up at Gwaine with wide, fearful eyes.
He pulled against his captors, anger and fear giving him strength. "Let her go, Morgana! She has nothing to do with this!"
"Oh, I beg to differ!"
She walked around behind Marian and grasped her hair in her fist. As Marian screamed in pain, she pulled her head up, exposing her throat.
"Either you cooperate, or I'll spill her blood at your feet!" Morgana held a dagger against Marian's throat.
Marian looked over at Gwaine, her face still twisted with pain and sorrow. I'm sorry, she mouthed silently to him.
"What was that?" Morgana pulled her hair again.
"I'm sorry!" Marian cried out.
The dagger's blade sliced a slight cut on the skin of her neck, allowing a tiny amount of blood to flow down to the top of her chemise, staining it. Marian's lips trembled, and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. She drew in a shaky breath and repeated herself. "I'm sorry."
Gwaine's heart shattered, and at the sight of her beaten and bruised, he gave up. "Alright, Morgana. What is it that you want?"
Morgana stood, removing the dagger from Marian's throat. "Nothing less than the throne of Camelot," she said as her men cheered.
He laughed bitterly. "That isn't mine to give. But you already knew that. What do you want from me, Morgana?"
"I want her to suffer and you to be her tormenter!" she tossed the wooden sword at him.
"I will never hurt Marian, Morgana. There is no power on this Earth that can make me."
A menacing smile spread across Morgana's face. "Cathar!"
A man twice Gwaine's size lumbered up to her, cracking his knuckles. He had well-developed muscles and a mean look about him.
"For each blow you land, you will be afforded food for yourself and your fellow prisoners. But for each blow Cathar lands, I will find a new pain for your Lady Fair to suffer."
Gwaine struggled and had to be pulled back. "You harm one hair on her and I'll run you through!"
He was quieted when Cathar stepped forward and took his first swing. He was nimble enough to dodge the giant fist. Balling his hand, Gwaine swung his arm and brought his fist up into Cathar's stomach. He winced as the large man took the punch without flinching. But then he stopped.
"That's a blow, Morgana. Take food to Gaius."
Cathar grinned as he lifted his arm to strike while Gwaine was distracted.
Marian's eyes widened. "Gwaine!"
He spun around just in time for Cathar to land a sharp blow to Gwaine's face and knock him to the floor.
"That's one for the Lady Fair!" Morgana laughed as she nodded toward the men holding Marian.
Gwaine could only watch as one of them swung at Marian's stomach and she doubled over, the wind knocked from her. The crowd of Southrons laughed at her as she gasped for air.
When she was finally able to catch her breath, she cried out. "Why? Why are you doing this, Morgana? We were friends!"
A tiny look of regret passed over Morgana, almost too quick to see. "We were never friends."
"I believed you when no one else would! I kept your secret from Uther!"
Uther. That word, that one word, made Morgana's face contort in anger and disgust. She turned to Cathar. "Hit her again!"
Cathar landed a punch to Marian's stomach. He leaned over to her. "There's more than enough of that for your man, girly."
Not one for missing an opportunity, Gwaine yelled and lunged at him. Cathar lost his footing, falling to the ground, and Gwaine climbed on top of him, landing blow after blow to his head. Morgana snapped her fingers, and two men pulled the knight from Cathar, pushing him to his knees.
"You cheated, Sir Knight! That's not very noble of you. I'm afraid your Lady Fair will have to be punished for it!"
Gwaine struggled against the men holding him. "Leave her alone, Morgana. If you need to punish someone, then punish me."
"How noble of you. But where's the fun in that?" she laughed. "This," she reached behind her and took a small wooden box from one of her men, "is a nathair from the Mountains of Asgorath. It can inflict the most exquisite pain to its victim's very soul."
She stooped close to Marian, her breath tickling her ear. "Do you believe you have a soul, Marian? Let's find out!"
Marian whimpered as Morgana pulled the small snake from its box "Unmicel snacca, suge tha sothan swilcnesse!"
She lowered the snake to Marian, watching as it slithered onto her shoulder and around her neck. It pulled back and showed its fangs, hissing before it lunged at her throat.
Marian threw her head back and screamed in utter pain. She thrashed against the men holding her still as Morgana stretched her arm toward the snake and allowed it to slither onto her and back to its box.
"NO!" Gwaine tried to break free but was forced to lie prone on the floor. He couldn't take hearing Marian's screams and felt sick to his stomach as the torture continued. But he wouldn't look away. If there was some way that she could still see him, he wanted to give her at least one last comfort—that she wasn't alone.
Marian's eyes were wide open, but she couldn't see. She couldn't even feel anything other than the white-hot pain of the nathair bite. The snake's venom coursed through her veins as the pain traveled from her neck to her head. She had never felt anything so excruciating.
It was as if her head was going to split open. Her skin was red, and the veins in her neck and forehead bulged. The pain moved down into the rest of her body, and she tried to double over but instead convulsed. With each breath, the pain increased. Morgana had been right, her soul screamed out in agony. She just wanted her to get it over with and kill her, so the torture would stop.
As the pain waned, she tried to catch her breath. Gwaine face showed his agony. Her pain was his torture. It hit her that this was where he would die. Morgana's endgame was clear as day. The witch would torture her in front of him until he couldn't control himself. He would lash out, and then she would kill him for fun. She tried to calm her breath. She needed to control the pain if she was going to survive long enough to save him. And save him, she must.
Morgana sauntered over to Gwaine while he was being pulled up from the floor. He jerked away from her when she caressed his face with the back of her hand.
"Have we learned our lesson, Sir Knight?"
Gwaine was about to answer when he heard laughter, small but strong laughter. When he realized it was Marian, he was shocked into silence.
Morgana glared at Marian, clearly agitated. "Find something funny, servant?"
Marian's voice was low and raspy, but again, strong. "You, my lady." Something snapped in her. Sure that she was to die, she no longer feared death but welcomed it like an old friend. Marian knew she was playing a dangerous game, but no longer cared. She would either save them or hasten their end. Either way, neither would suffer any longer. Resolved to their fate, she sat up straight and scowled at Morgana. "You actually think you deserve Camelot's throne?"
Gwaine looked at her in disbelief. He shook his head, trying to warn her not to antagonize Morgana, but she ignored his silent pleas.
Morgana's eyes flashed. "I am the rightful heir. Not this usurper brother of mine! How dare—"
"You are nothing but the bastard child of a dead king, Morgana. You're no one. Just like me." Marian smirked. Uther was a trigger for Morgana, so she was going to provoke her just to see her squirm, and maybe, just maybe, Morgana would make a mistake. It was probably not a good idea, but she did it just the same.
Morgana slapped her across the face hard, splitting her lip. "I am nothing like you! I am a High Priestess of the—"
"You're not a High Priestess of the Old Religion," Marian interrupted her again, spitting the blood from her mouth. "You're an abomination who couldn't even find the courage to admit what you are to your own father!"
She lifted her chin in defiance. If she was to die, she was going to earn her death. "I've seen the future, Morgana Pendragon. You aren't in it. Your existence is nothing more than a vague memory of villainy and corruption. Your legacy will forever be that of the enemy! A spoiled bitch who craved her brother's power!"
Morgana's eyes were wild, her anger knowing no bounds. "Uther was the enemy of all magic! I will bring magic back to Camelot and I will see your kind die!"
"You aren't saving magic! You're destroying it and everything it stands for! You are no different than Uther. You are a failure!"
"You will pay for that!" Morgana extended her hand, preparing to cast a spell.
But Marian wasn't done. "Emrys is coming for you, Morgana."
The witch stopped mid-sentence, eyes wild and full of fear. "How do you…"
"Emrys is your doom."
Morgana was getting impatient. "Take them back to the cells! No supper tonight, I'm afraid!"
After Marian and Gwaine were yanked up from the floor and shackled, the guards walked them through the castle together.
"Marian—"
"I'm sorry, Gwaine. I'm so sorry. I tried…"
"No, sweetheart. I'm sorry. I didn't protect you."
Marian wobbled, the pain finally getting to her. "Gwaine—" She fell to the floor.
The guard in charge of her kicked her in the side. "Get up!"
Gwaine pushed him into the wall before his guard could stop him and went to the floor. He tried to help her up with his shackled hands, but both guards started hitting and kicking them. Gwaine did his best to cover her, taking the brunt of their attack.
"Stop!" Helios shouted as he walked down the corridor. "Lady Morgana wants them alive."
"But Helios—"
"She wants the pleasure of killing them herself. Throw them in the dungeon. Separate cells."
One guard hauled Gwaine to his feet while the other picked Marian up. She whimpered when he slung her over his shoulder and started on their way down to the dungeon.
Once they were there, Gwaine was thrown back into the cell with Elyan and Gaius. He groaned as he landed hard on the stone floor. Elyan knelt by him to see if he was alright just as the guards carried Marian past the cell door and to the one across from them.
"Marian? What…" Surprised, Elyan looked at Gwaine for answers but held his tongue when he saw the pained look on his friend's face.
The guard tossed Marian to the floor and shut the cell door. They snickered to each other as they left the dungeon.
All Gwaine could do was stare at her, crumpled and unmoving on the floor. He felt like he was dying inside.
"Marian? Are you alright?" Elyan asked.
She made a small noise but said nothing. For the time being, they were safe, so Marian let go and allowed the pain and darkness to consume her.
Marian wasn't sure how long she'd been unconscious. Her whole body ached even more than the time Gwaine was thrown into her by the Cailleach last Samhain. And her head… it felt like her brain was on fire. If she didn't know better, she'd swear that her very soul was crying out in anguish. She didn't even know if it was worth it to wake up.
Then she heard it. No, not it—him.
"Gaius, you must eat," Gwaine said.
Gaius's voice barely carried any strength. "Save it for yourselves. You will need it to fight."
"I won't eat anything while you starve."
Gaius tried to laugh, but it ended in a cough. "It must be… desperate if you don't… eat anything, Gwaine."
Gwaine and Elyan allowed themselves a small chuckle.
Marian opened her eyes and tried to focus. Gwaine was in the cell across from her. She wanted to smile but couldn't find the energy.
"G—" her wispy voice cracked. She tried to swallow but her throat was as dry as a bone. "Gw—" she tried again. Marian coughed and started over. "Gwaine?"
He shot up and hurried to the bars of the cell door. "Marian? Are you alright?"
"I… I think so."
Breaking into tears, he fell to the floor, unable to speak. She was alive. His Marian was alive.
Seeing him break down broke her heart. She was tormented by the knowledge that she was the cause of his overwhelming distress. If she'd just listened and left when he asked her. Now, though, he not only has Elyan and Gaius to worry about, he has her.
Marian coughed again. "How long?"
Seeing that Gwaine was in no state to speak, Elyan went to the door and answered for him. "It's been five days since Morgana took Camelot. You've been unconscious for nearly two."
"Elyan, is Gwaine okay?"
Gwaine smiled for the first time in a week. "I am now that I see you, love."
"Elyan? Gaius?"
"They're a little worse for wear but we're taking care of each other."
Marian found the strength to sit up and crawl to the cell door to get a better look at them for herself. As soon as she saw Gwaine's bruised face she sobbed. "Gwaine. I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart."
"Your face… You're injured. I should've listened when you told me to leave."
"Marian…" Gwaine trailed off when he realized she was no longer in her dress. He had been so intent on protecting her, that he didn't even take notice of what she was wearing, or not wearing. Sucking in a breath, he frowned. "Your clothes… Did they… did they do anything to you? "
Marian shook her head, knowing the dark place his mind was going. "No, nothing like that."
Before he could say anything else, the outer door to the dungeon opened, and Morgana walked through, flanked by several Southrons. Gwaine knew what was coming, and he was ready for it. She would have him pulled from the cell, and he would once again have to fight for food.
Only this time, Morgana didn't stop in front of his cell. Instead, she turned to the cell across from him. One of the Southrons behind her carried the small wooden box. The nathair.
"Morgana," Gwaine tried to get her attention.
She ignored him and nodded for one of her men to unlock Marian's cell door.
"Morgana!" he tried again. "I'm ready to fight, my lady." He was getting desperate as she walked into Marian's cell. "Morgana! I am ready!" He screamed as he grasped the cell bars and shook them in a futile attempt to open the door. He pressed his face against the bars, trying to see around the Southrons.
"It's no use, Gwaine. Save your energy." Elyan said as he tugged on his arm.
"Get up, servant!" Morgana shouted as she kicked Marian. "I have a surprise for you. An old friend."
Marian was brought to her knees. "This isn't you. You're kind, remember? Ealdor and Merlin's mother. You helped save the village. The druid boy Mordred. You saved him. Remember?"
Morgana ignored her as she lifted the nathair from its box.
"You are going to tell me everything I want to know about Emrys."
Marian's hope of appealing to Morgana's goodness shattered as it became clear that goodness no longer resided within her. "Go to Hell, Morgana."
"You first."
The nathair hissed again and slithered to Marian's throat. She let out a blood-curdling scream, just as bad as the first.
"No!" Gwaine beat his fists against the bars, trying in vain to open the cell door.
"Do you want to change your mind, healer?" Morgana asked once the screaming stopped.
"Eat… my… shit," Marian said, taking a labored breath between each word.
Morgana bent to her face and shouted. "Tell me about Emrys!"
Marian gathered what little fortitude she had. "NEVER!" If her mouth hadn't been dry, she'd have spit on Morgana's face.
Gwaine watched in horror as Morgana stepped back and one of the Southrons hit Marian over and over. "I'll kill you, Morgana! I swear it!" His voice cracked. "I swear it!"
"Again!" Morgana ordered.
The Southron stopped and turned to Morgana. "My lady, she's no longer conscious."
"When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it!" In a flash, he flew across the cell and into a wall, breaking his neck.
Unable to pull what she wanted from Marian, Morgana stormed from the dungeon as angry as ever. The other men locked the cell door, leaving their dead comrade on the floor, and followed her out.
Gwaine slumped to the floor, defeated. He couldn't save her. There was nothing he could do to protect the woman he loved. He no longer had the will to hold back his tears, and he leaned back against the wall and sobbed.
Marian came to after an hour and dragged herself to the wall. She was beaten to hell and tired, so very tired.
Gwaine picked his head up when he heard her stir. "Marian?"
She leaned against the wall and watched him, too weak to say anything.
"Marian, sweetheart, please say something. Tell me you're alright."
She could only whisper. "Gwaine."
That was all that was said between them for what felt like an eternity. Without warning, Helios walked through the dungeon door, carrying a tray with a lump of moldy bread, a cup, and a jug.
Gwaine opened his eyes as he heard the jingle of keys. Marian's cell door squeaked as it opened.
Helios sat the tray on the floor next to her. "Here, I brought you some food and water." He laughed when she didn't move. "Refusing the necessities won't save you or your friends. We aren't complete barbarians."
"Leave me alone."
"At least quench your thirst."
Helios took the jug and poured water into the cup, making sure that Gwaine and Elyan could see.
At the sound of water Gwaine's mouth suddenly ached, desperate to slake his thirst. It was just another way for the Southrons to torture them. And it was working.
Marian took the cup and drank so deeply that water ran down her chin.
"There, that wasn't so bad, was it? Here, take more," he said, refilling the cup.
"No." She nodded to Gwaine's cell. "Give it to them."
"As you wish." Helios grinned and set the tray next to the bars for Gwaine to reach.
She sighed in relief when Gwaine passed the cup to Elyan before picking up the bread and breaking it between them, leaving a large piece for Marian on the tray. Once Elyan finished the water, Gwaine refilled it and helped Gaius lift his head to drink. Only after Elyan and Gaius had water did he take the jug and drink.
"Why are you doing this?" Marian asked.
Helios chuckled. "I don't approve of torturing beautiful women."
"Then let me go."
"Tell me where Emrys is, and I will."
"You're joking, right?"
"Not at all. Tell me where to find Emrys, and you can go. I'll even let you choose one of the other prisoners to join you."
She sighed. "I don't know where Emrys is."
"Why is the Lady Morgana so afraid of Emrys?"
"Why don't you ask her?"
Helios grabbed Marian by the neck and hoisted her up to her feet. Pushing her out of the cell, he slammed her face-first against the bars of the cell across from her.
"Don't!" Gwaine shouted as he ran to the door. Not thinking, he reached between the bars to grab at Helios, but his wrist was caught and bent in a direction it was not meant to go.
"Stop it!" Marian cried when Gwaine screamed in pain. "Let him go!"
Still holding his arm, Helios met Gwaine's eyes and smiled a wicked and unnerving smile as he pressed up against Marian's backside. He bent his head so that his lips brushed against her ear.
"See these men in here? If you don't tell me about Emrys, I will kill them, one by one, very slowly, while you watch."
Marian whimpered in fear and shook her head. "No."
Helios pressed himself harder against her. "Nothing gets me in the mood like spilling blood."
She started shaking as she felt him get hard against her. With her hands pinned between her chest and the cell bars, she slipped her fingers through the bars and caressed Gwaine's other hand.
"First, let him go."
Helios dropped Gwaine's wrist.
"Now tell me of Emrys."
Gwaine reached through the bars to touch her face. Her beautiful, soft, bruised face. I love you. He smiled softly at her with tears visible in his eyes, silently telling her he was sorry. I love you. I love you.
Marian squeezed her eyes shut and then drew in a strained breath. "I don't know where Emrys is, and even if I did, I would die before I'd tell a stupid motherfucker like you."
Helios's nostrils flared and his face contorted. "Have it your way." He pulled her back by her hair and slammed her head against the bars.
Gwaine screamed at the man and beat his fists against the cell door as Marian fell to the floor, unconscious and bleeding.
Suddenly, warning bells rang out across the castle, signaling intruders. Gwaine could only watch as Helios dragged Marian back to her cell and threw her in. He didn't even bother shutting the cell door.
Elyan and Gwaine grew restless as the warning bells continued to sound. It had to be Arthur and the other knights. It just had to be. Gwaine was shaking with anger and worry. He wanted nothing more than to get out of the cell and go to Marian, but he wasn't even sure if she was still alive. The thought of it made him drop to the floor. One thing was for sure, if she was dead, he would find Helios and make the man suffer a long and painful death.
Not long after Helios left, a handful of knights erupted through the dungeon door. Leon rushed in and tossed the cell keys to Percival.
Once the cell door was opened and his shackles removed, Gwaine stood but was unsteady on his feet, exhausted and starving.
Leon reached out to him. "Careful, Gwaine. Let me help you."
"No, we need to go to Marian. She's been hurt and might be…" his voice hitched in his throat, and he couldn't finish.
Surprised, Leon looked around at the other cells. "She's here?" When he saw her, he pushed past the others and went to her.
Gwaine leaned against the bars trying not to pass out from the pain. "Leon? Tell me she's alive."
Leon knelt beside her and laid his fingers on her neck. He felt a slow but steady pulse. "She's alive, Gwaine!"
Gwaine's hands slid down the cell bars as he fell to the ground in relief. He let out a shaky breath and thanked whatever god was listening that she was alive. Percival helped him stand again and then went to Gaius. Elyan ducked under Gwaine's arm, supporting him as best he could and Leon emerged from the other cell with Marian in his arms.
"Let's get out of here."
Marian gradually regained consciousness. The dark that had enveloped her for so long dissipated as a bright light warmed her face. She took a long, deep breath. Instead of the thick musty, dank of the dungeon, the air was fresh and smelled of flowers. The stone-cold floor was no longer hard and freezing. Instead, it was soft and comfy beneath her. She moaned as she tried to open her eyes and felt the bed dip beside her and a calloused, but warm hand felt her brow and smoothed back the hair from her face.
When she cracked her eyes open, Gwaine slowly came into focus. The light behind him was too bright for her to bear, and she shut her eyes against it. She tried again. "Gwaine?" She looked around, but the bright light obscured her surroundings. Her head pounded, and she felt so incredibly weak that she thought she'd never be able to move again. "Where—? Am I dead?"
He smiled at her. "No, beautiful, you are definitely alive. And you've got a nasty goose egg on your head."
She reached up to where her head was throbbing and touched a large knot. "Ow," she said as she flinched.
He held her hand and gently pulled it away from her head. "Don't touch it."
The desire to hold her was overwhelming. He was desperate to feel her heartbeat, her warmth, her life. The capture, starvation, and painful injuries were nothing compared to the torture he endured while watching her being abused within an inch of her life.
Finally, she was ready, and as he helped her sit up, he gathered her in his arms, holding her closer than close. Her hair was soft against his cheek and her body warmed him. He brushed her hair with his hand and cradled her head. Gwaine felt her heart beat as she felt his.
I love you.
Marian eased back, to get a look at him. Her eyes welled with tears as she ran her fingers across his face, tenderly touching the cuts and bruises. When she got to his lips, she placed a soft kiss where his bottom lip had split. Sweeping the hair from his face, Marian smiled softly. "Oh, Gwaine…"
He pulled her hands from his face and held them to his chest. "I was so afraid, Marian. I thought…" His voice cracked. "I failed you."
Marian shook her head. "No, you didn't fail me. You were the reason I kept going. You kept me alive."
He cupped her face, his thumb caressing her bottom lip. When her hair moved, he saw the bites of the nathair and frowned as he tried to smooth them away. The marred skin was a reminder of the torture she endured protecting whoever Emrys was and it hurt his heart to see. "Marian, who is Emrys?"
She tensed at his question. "I… can't tell anyone. All our lives depend on his secret staying safe."
He knitted his brows and opened his mouth to speak, but she placed her finger on his lips.
"What I can tell you is that Morgana is smart to be afraid of him. I meant it when I said he will be her doom. Please trust me, Gwaine."
A small smile crossed his face. "Always, love."
She leaned into his arms and held him as tight as her fragile body would allow. She had her Gwaine back, safe and sound. And as much as she wanted to tell him of her love for him, she knew she couldn't. Parting from him forever would be a torment she couldn't bear. I love you.
After a few moments of bliss, Gwaine released her.
"I have a surprise for you," he grinned from ear to ear as he tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her brow.
She tilted her head when went to the door and opened it.
"Gwen?"
Gwen rushed to the bed and hugged her. "Marian!"
Marian watched Gwaine over Gwen's shoulder and mouthed thank you as he turned to leave. He smiled at her and nodded before walking out.
"Are you alright? Gwaine said you were in the dungeon…"
Gwaine shut the door behind him and went to the physician's chambers to check on Gaius. If he thought he loved Marian before, it was nothing compared to how he felt now. That much love frightened him. But it also made him soar.
Spells (a rough translation from the Merlin Wiki at merlin dot fandom dot com):
Unmicel snacca, suge tha sothan swilcnesse! - Little snake, suck his true nature!
