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: Gwaine gets used to his new home and the duties of a knight with the help of Marian and Merlin.
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Gwaine tried his best to settle into a routine as a new Knight of Camelot. Having lived his life free and untethered by responsibility, he had difficulty adjusting to his duties serving under the king. His disdain for Uther aside, he just wasn't used to answering to others. He wasn't belligerent, of course, but incredibly distracted. Having forgotten his schedule, Gwaine had to be fetched from the tavern by Sir Leon on several occasions.
Arthur was less than amused.
To prevent Gwaine from getting into more trouble and potentially losing his knighthood, Marian and Merlin made a pact to ensure Gwaine made it to his duties on time. Marian would take the mornings, and Merlin would take the afternoons. Between them, Marian and Merlin were sure to get Gwaine to where he needed to be when he needed to be there. They hoped it wouldn't take too long until they trained him to stick to a schedule.
Their plan wouldn't be without its hiccups, but it would get the job done, and leave Gwaine none the wiser. Though it added to their already heavy load of duties, both Marian and Merlin were happy to help him acclimate to life in Camelot.
The first day of Operation Save the Scoundrel, as Marian called it, went just as well as to be expected. Marian strolled up to Gwaine's bedchamber with a full tray of breakfast—fresh fruit and chunks of cheese, a couple of slices of bread, and two cups of water. She tried knocking first, but Gwaine's loud snore was the only reply.
"Gwaine?" she asked as the chamber door creaked open.
Marian set the tray down on a table in the middle of the room and walked over to the bed. Gwaine was sleeping heavily, his blanket draped across his hips dangerously low. Marian blushed when she realized he was naked underneath. Of course, he wouldn't sleep in his clothes. There was no need since he had a private chamber. One that she'd walked into uninvited.
"Gwaine…"
He turned over on his side, facing her, and nuzzled into his pillow, still fast asleep.
"Gwaine…" Marian crouched down beside the bed, her chin resting on the mattress, and she grinned at his adorable, sleeping face while she poked at the tip of his nose. "Time to wake up, sleepyhead…"
His eyes popped open, and for half a second, they just stared at one another. When his brain finally caught up, he screamed and backed up off the other side of the bed onto the cold floor, taking the covers with him.
Startled, Marian fell back on her rear end. "Jesus Christ, Gwaine!"
He popped up from the other side of the bed, holding his blanket around his hips, with disheveled hair covering both eyes and still in the confusion of sleep.
"Marian? Are… are you alright?"
Marian stood and dusted off her skirts. "Why the fuck did you scream at me?"
"You startled me. I didn't know it was you, I…" Gwaine flipped the hair from his eyes and looked around the room. He was struggling to keep the blanket up, threatening to expose his manhood to the chilly morning air. "What the hell are you doing in here?"
Marian stifled a laugh as Gwaine almost lost the battle with the traitorous bedcover. "I was about to have some breakfast and thought you'd like some too," she said, gesturing to the table.
"Oh. You… you startled me."
She chuckled. "I can tell. I'm sorry."
"I can't have breakfast with you."
"What? Why not?"
"I'm naked."
"I know."
"I can't eat if I'm naked."
"Where are your trousers, then?"
"You're in my room, Marian."
"Yes, I know."
When she spotted his clothes on the floor, Marian walked over and picked them up.
"For breakfast and I'm naked," he said, still in a state of confusion.
"Yes, Gwaine."
Slow to wake, Gwaine stumbled out from around the bed, still clutching his blanket. The cloth caught, so when he tried to walk around, it didn't go with him. He swiftly ducked back behind the bed and held the blanket draped over his private bits, with his hips and legs exposed.
"Gwaine?"
"Hmm?" he asked, looking up at her.
Marian held out his tunic and trousers. "Put some clothes on."
He reached for them, dangerously close to dropping the blanket. "Can you… can you just drop them on the bed and turn around?"
Marian tossed his clothes over to him and smirked.
"Turn around," he said again, emerging from the fog of sleep.
"What's the matter, Gwaine?" she asked as she turned to face the wall. "Shy?"
"I'm proud to have more than enough for your eyes, sweetheart," Gwaine replied as he pulled his trousers up. "I just don't have time for a dalliance. And believe me, love, you'll want me to take my time."
She rolled her eyes and turned back around just as he pulled his tunic over his head, sorry that she'd missed the view. Damn, he was certainly pleasant to look at.
Walking over to the table, she sat down by the tray and pushed the other chair out with her foot, inviting him to sit beside her. "Hungry?"
Gwaine picked up an apple and sat in the offered chair. "Very."
"You awake now?"
Gwaine nodded and smiled as he chewed his apple. He didn't know why she decided to have their morning meal together, but he was glad she did. He wasn't used to a large room all to himself and servants who built fires or brought food. Though he was surrounded by people in the castle, he still felt lonely.
"Thank you for breakfast, beautiful."
"You're welcome. I thought you'd like the company, and I really hate eating alone."
"You get used to it after a while," Gwaine said, unable to contain the bitterness in his voice.
Marian reached over and laid her hand over his.
He looked up in surprise. Her concern and attentiveness were a far cry from when they'd first met. They were friends now, which pleased him to no end. And even if she didn't return his love and affection, he at least knew she cared about him. He could live with that. Probably.
"Not anymore, Gwaine. If the knights aren't there, then I will be," she said, her words faltering at the intensity in hi's eyes. "Or… or Merlin. One of us will be there for you. You won't ever be on your own like that again."
Gwaine brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Thank you."
A few weeks later, Gwaine had a well-deserved day off. He'd let Marian know he planned on sleeping in the night before, so they'd have to miss their breakfast together. He thought about maybe running by the kitchens to nick some of the delicious chicken the cook was roasting, and perhaps planning his next prank with Percival.
All of his plans went out of the window the moment he woke up, though. His first thought upon waking was of Marian. He couldn't recall his dream, except that it featured her. When he closed his eyes, he could still see her beautiful face. Now wishing he'd kept their usual breakfast date, he decided that he'd rather spend his time with her than do anything else. The roast chicken and pranks would have to wait.
After attending to his morning needs, Gwaine, now clean and dressed, headed out of his door and to the physician's chambers, where he was most likely to find Marian.
As he walked through the door, he heard Merlin exclaim in victory that he'd found it.
"What did you find, Merlin?" Gwaine asked, butting in.
Merlin held up a water bladder. "This. I'm going to fill it with boiling water for Marian."
"Oh?" Gwaine looked around but didn't see her. "She's not here, though."
"No," Gaius said. "She's not feeling well today, so she is in her bedchamber."
"That's too bad," Gwaine said, disappointed that the day was turning out to be a bust. "I hope she'll be alright."
"Don't worry yourself, Gwaine. I suspect that in a day or two, she will be right as rain," Gaius chuckled.
Merlin finished pouring the hot water into the bladder and sealed it shut. "I'll go take this to her now."
Gwaine stepped in front of Merlin to block his exit. "But you must be so busy! Please, allow me," he said as he reached for the bladder.
Merlin lifted it out of Gwaine's reach and was holding it in the air above his head. "Trust me, Gwaine. You do not want to go in there." He moved the bladder to his other hand and held it behind him.
"What can be so terrible about Marian's chamber?" Gwaine asked as he reached behind Merlin to grab the bladder. "Does she have snot dripping from her nose?"
"She could be all gross and snotty, Gwaine. Green snot bubbling from her red, swollen nose. You wouldn't want to see that. It's disgusting!"
"I doubt that, Merlin. The lady is lovely no matter the affliction," Gwaine said, completely besotted with her. "Does she have some fire-breathing disease? Is she a dragon? She'll burn me at the stake as soon as I enter?"
Gwaine moved to the other side and followed the bladder as Merlin waved it above his own head.
"She might," Merlin said as he feigned left.
Gwaine had caught on, though. The knight snatched the bladder from Merlin and turned to leave. "Let's find out, shall we?" he said as he reached the door.
"Gwaine," Gaius said. "Tread lightly."
"Always." Gwaine grinned and left.
Merlin turned to Gaius, his eyes wide. "Should we have told him it was her womanly… erm, thing?"
"He'll figure it out, Merlin."
"And if he doesn't… well, it's his own fault for going in there. I warned him."
With the warmed water bladder in hand, Gwaine gently knocked on Marian's chamber door. When he heard a soft come in,he gingerly opened the door, then closed it behind him.
Marian was in her nightdress, lying on her side with her back to the door, so she didn't notice who walked into her chamber. "Oh, thank Christ, Merlin," she said, wincing in pain. "It's becoming unbearable. I swear, why can't I just turn this damned thing off? I'm not even using it. It's not like I'll ever have the chance to have children here, anyway."
Gwaine looked at the water bladder in his hand and to Marian, curled up on the bed. Realizing what was wrong with her, he leaned against the door and grinned, relieved that she wasn't ill. "Now, why would a woman as beautiful as you not get to have children?"
Marian sat up and snatched her blanket, pulling it over her chest. "What the hell, Gwaine?"
She wasn't wearing her usual braid. Instead, her unkempt hair fell over her face, covering one eye and sticking out at all angles, somewhat tangled. Her bloodshot eyes had a few crusts of sleep in the corners, and embarrassment and pain had reddened her cheeks and nose. Gwaine thought she looked positively radiant.
"Merlin prepared this for you." Gwaine lifted himself from the door and held the bladder out to her. "It's full of hot water. It should help."
Marian snatched the bladder from him. "Fuck, does everyone know?" When she laid the bladder on her lower abdomen, her face softened with instant relief.
"No, I just happened upon him when he was filling it, and I offered to bring it to you."
Marian buried her face in her hands. "God, this is so embarrassing."
"Why?" Gwaine asked, sitting on the bed to face her. "Marian, your time of discomfort is nothing to be ashamed of. It's natural that your womb is preparing for a child. Anyone who doesn't understand that can bugger off." He smiled at her and reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "The heat will help, and I'll ask Gaius to send something hot to drink. It'll all be over soon, love."
"How do you know so much about it? Most men run at the mere mention of menstruation."
"I told you I had a sister, remember?"
With the cramps getting worse, Marian winced and doubled over. "It hurts too much. I can't stand it! And nothing in this damn place works!"
Gwaine moved behind her. "Here," he said, placing his hands on her shoulders and gently massaging the tense muscles. Once she relaxed, he coaxed her to lie down. "Lie down on your front, but keep the hot water on your belly."
Anxious, Marian did as he said and prayed to whatever gods would listen that nothing had leaked. She'd never be able to face him again if she'd bled all over the back of her gown.
She gasped and tensed as she felt his hands on the small of her back.
He bent low to whisper in her ear. "Relax, sweetheart. I'm not going to harm you."
Her shoulders relaxed again as he dug his fingers into her knotted flesh. Gwaine worked methodically up and down her back, easing her pain.
Marian moaned as he hit a painfully tight knot. "Oh fuck, Gwaine. Mmm… That feels amazing," she purred, her back arching and her backside wiggling.
Gwaine's eyes widened, and he froze, regretting ever coming into her bedchamber in the first place. He hadn't counted on her little noises and wiggles and felt like a heel as his body reacted.
"Everything okay?" Marian asked when he stopped.
He took a steadying breath and pushed his feelings of desire down, hoping that his arousal would quickly ease. Once he was able to move, Gwaine resumed his massage. "I was… uh… repositioning."
Marian stretched again, feeling cared for. Even her ex, the pig that he was, had never offered to massage her back when she was in pain. That wasn't fair—pigs are lovable and endearing. Her ex was an asshole. She shook all thoughts of her previous life from her head as her body melted into the mattress.
Gwaine rubbed her back until he heard her soft snores. Reaching down to pull the blanket over her, he bent low and placed a soft kiss on her temple. "Sweet dreams, beautiful," he whispered, leaving the chamber and softly shutting the door.
Gwaine grinned like an idiot, swaggering down the corridor and heading for the kitchens.
Time to see about some food, he thought as his stomach growled.
It was going to be a good day, after all.
"Shit!" Marian cursed. "Shit, shit, shit!" She lifted her foot and held it in the air as she hopped in pain. The heavy wooden cabinet had been her nemesis for far too long and her toe was once again a fatality of battle.
"My innocent ears!" Gwaine called out as he rounded the corner, grinning.
She scoffed. "Oh, please. I'm sure you've heard worse." She dropped her foot and hobbled forward.
"I have, but not from such a pretty face," he chuckled.
"It's not funny, Gwaine. I think I might have broken my toe. It fucking hurts like hell!"
He walked up to her and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder like a bag of grain. "To Gaius, then!"
"Gwaine! Put me down!"
"Nope. I do that, and you're likely to break something else."
"If you don't put me down, I'm liable to break your skull, knight!" she threatened, kicking her feet.
He laughed, ignoring her protests, and started walking toward the physician's chambers.
She kicked harder, and her foot made contact with his face.
"Oomph!" he quickly set her down and held his bleeding face in his hands. "I think you broke my nose! You're a menace, woman!"
"Well, I told you to put me down, didn't I? It's your own fault, Gwaine."
Marian wobbled as she tried to stand on one foot, and without thinking, he reached out to steady her.
"Don't!" she shouted as she swatted his bloody hand away from her dress.
The sudden movement caused her to sway, and she fell forward toward him. He tried to catch her but lost his balance, and they both toppled to the stone floor.
She lifted herself and looked at him. He looked furious.
"Shit! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Gwaine!"
As he watched her squirm in discomfort, his face broke into a wide smile, and he laughed.
Relieved, Marian sat back and laughed with him. A pair of idiots laughing on the floor of the corridor.
"Are you hurt?" she asked after they settled.
"Just my nose and my pride. I swear, love, it would take a miracle to keep you from hurting one of us every damn day, wouldn't it?"
"Hey, this was your fault, remember?"
Gwaine stood from the floor, grinning, and held his clean hand out to her. "Perhaps."
He ducked under her arm and held her close to his side, taking on part of her weight. "Let's get you to Gaius before you break something else."
"I'll break you if you aren't careful," she mumbled.
When they reached the physician's chambers, they found that Gaius had gone out, and only Merlin remained.
"What happened?" Merlin asked as he pointed at the bench.
"Lady Trouble over here stubbed her tow and kicked me in the nose."
"Let's not leave anything out, Gwaine. I kicked you in the nose because you wouldn't put me down."
"Assault of a Knight of Camelot. How long in the stocks do you think she'll get?"
"Attempted kidnapping of a royal healer! Two days in the dungeon, at least!"
Merlin felt Gwaine's nose, then handed him a clean cloth to press to his nostrils. He went over to Marian and asked her to remove her shoe so he could feel her injured toe. "Well, neither of you have broken bones. So that's good."
"The fucker hurts like hell, though,"
"Same," Gwaine said, his voice slightly muffled.
Merlin stood and grinned. "You should be more careful."
"Yes, she should. Merlin, that's exactly what I've been saying all along," Gwaine said as he pulled the cloth from his nose to see if the bleeding had stopped.
It had.
Marian gave Gwaine a sharp look. "She? Fine, the toe is my fault, but your nose is all your doing, Sir Gwaine!"
"Hardly," he scoffed. "Your foot kicked me! I bet you couldn't go a whole week without injuring yourself or someone else!"
"Oh, you're one to talk! How many times this month alone have you come in here for treatment for some injury or another?"
Merlin rolled his eyes. "You're both clumsy clotpoles. Agreed?"
Gwaine opened his mouth to set Marian straight but stopped mid-word. Both he and Marian turned to look at Merlin and started speaking simultaneously.
"He's the clotpole!"
"She's clumsy!"
They looked at each other in surprise, appalled at what the other had said.
"Clumsy?"
"Clotpole?"
"Alright," Marian said, regaining her composure. "I'll take that bet."
"What bet?"
"The one where I can go an entire week without injuring myself, and you can't," she said as she set her jaw and jutted her chin in the air.
Intrigued, Gwaine's face broke into a smirk. "Alright, beautiful, I accept," he said. "Whoever wins gets to make one demand of the other. No questions asked."
"There's no reason for you both to—" Merlin tried to quiet them but was interrupted.
"Fine, but within reason. I won't snog your horse, Gwaine. No matter how much you say you like doing it yourself," Marian teased.
Gwaine actually looked hurt. "I would never!" he said, clutching his hand to his chest as if he had been wounded. Suddenly, Gwaine raised an eyebrow as he gave her a calculating look. "How will I know if you're truthful, though?"
Irritated, Marian stood to face him and put her hands on her hips. "Are you calling me a liar?"
"No, but I can't take the chance that you might cheat. The stakes are high!"
"Fine," Marian bit out.
When she started to unlace her dress, Gwaine jumped up from the bench and went to stand next to Merlin, holding his hands up in defeat.
"Marian, what are you—?"
"I'll show you all the cuts and bruises I have now. That way, you'll know if I acquire any new ones," she snarled as she dropped her dress and stood before the men in nothing but her chemise, corset, and one shoe. She spun, her arms held out at her sides. "Now, how will I know you aren't cheating?"
"I'm a Knight of Camelot. Honesty is part of the Knight's Code."
"Yes, and you're also a gambling scoundrel, Gwaine."
Angered, Gwaine unbuckled his belt and whipped the leather from his waist, throwing it onto the floor. "You accuse me of cheating, then?"
"What's the matter? You can dish it, but you can't take it?"
"Fine!" Gwaine pulled his tunic over his head in a swish.
Merlin shook his head in panic. "You both need to calm down. This is going too far."
Gwaine turned around so that Marian could see his bare skin. Sweat beaded in the cleft of his chest and on his spine. His muscles rippled as he angrily drew breath.
She bit her lip as her eyes raked over his half-naked body. Her mind went to forbidden places, imagining her fingers digging into the hard flesh of his powerful arms and her legs wrapping around his muscled back, moving with deliberate strokes. She could almost see his face of ecstasy as she writhed in pleasure beneath him. Thankful that no one could read her thoughts, Marian held her hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
"Your turn," he said shortly.
"I already—"
"Slower," he demanded, his voice low and husky.
Marian's breath caught, and she spun slowly. She felt Gwaine's gaze run over her smooth skin as if he were touching her.
He could see every yellowing bruise and scabbed cut as she twirled with her arms held out. He crouched down and lifted her skirt to just above her knees.
"What are you—"
"I have to be thorough, don't I?"
Gwaine stood when Marian turned her back to him and gathered her hair to the side so he could see the skin at the nape of her neck. Electricity shot from his fingers and Gwaine held his breath as she turned back around to face him, his height affording him an unobstructed look at the swell of her breasts.
Marian stumbled back when she noticed he was mere inches from her. "Satisfied?" she asked softly.
"Most satisfied," he said, barely above a whisper. Gwaine reached over to the shoulder strap of her chemise and fingered the soft fabric. "And how do we know you aren't hiding something beneath your underthings?"
And there it was again. That smolder.
Marian tried to draw breath. "There's nothing else."
She felt the heat coming from his body, the warmth of his shallow breaths, the faint smell of leather and musk mixing with her floral soap, and the scent of her arousal. It was a recipe for disaster. She was losing her control, and she liked it.
Marian wondered if he could feel the desire radiating from the need between her thighs. Her bed wasn't far. Perhaps she could coax him to her bedchamber and play out what she'd only imagined but desperately wanted. It had been too long since she had been with anyone other than her own hand. She was desperate to be touched. She wanted to be worshiped, to be pleasured. She wanted Gwaine.
Gwaine swallowed hard at her dark, lustful look. "Maybe we should find out." his voice was thick and gruff with yearning.
"Ahem!"
Marian, Gwaine, and Merlin turned to the doorway and saw Gaius standing there, frowning at the scene before him.
Embarrassed, Marian gathered her dress and shoe and limped past Gaius. "You can explain it to him," she said flatly as she hobbled to her chamber alone, both disappointed and relieved.
Gaius cleared his throat again and fixed a disapproving look on Gwaine and Merlin.
The knight gathered his shirt and quickly pulled it over his head. "I'll just… it's nearly suppertime…" Gwaine said, as he grabbed his belt and left.
Merlin looked at Gaius, exasperated. "I swear I had nothing to do with it, Gaius."
The week was almost over, and Marian had been extra careful not to injure herself. She carefully went up and down the stairs, avoiding a fall, and paid more attention than was probably necessary as she navigated the castle's corridors. The heavy wooden cabinet would have to wait another day to attack.
As the sun set, she made her way to the grassy courtyard. Marian needed the solace to unwind after working so hard to win her bet with Gwaine. She lay down on the grass and watched as the stars came out. Soon the moon rose and greeted her in the night.
"Hello, old friend," she called to the sky. No matter how the past differed from her time, she knew she could count on the moon being her moon.
"Are you talking to the moon?" Gwaine chuckled from behind.
"I am," she said, smiling. She tilted her head to watch as he sat on the grass next to her and laid back, their shoulders touching.
"And what does he reply?"
"She," Marian corrected.
Gwaine chuckled under his breath. "What does she reply, then?"
"That I'm not alone. She reminds me to think of those I've lost and to cherish those I have."
"Ah, she is wise, then," he said as he turned his head to look at her.
She was heavenly in the moonlight. This past year had been the best of hiss life. Not only had he gained a family and a purpose, but he and Marian had become close friends. Though he would like it to go further, her friendship was as much as he felt he had a right to ask of her.
"Oh! Look! A shooting star!" Marian pointed to the sky.
Gwaine followed her hand and saw several twinkling stars streak across the night sky.
"Make a wish!"
"What?" he asked.
"Make a wish on a shooting star. It's a superstition where I'm from." She watched as several more went by. he said nothing and as the silence between them grew, she felt more and more childish. "It's silly."
"No, it's not," Gwaine turned to look at her. "It's nice. Everyone needs wishes and dreams." He watched as she closed her eyes and made her wish. "What was your wish?"
"Oh, you can't tell wishes, or they won't come true."
He looked back up at the sky and silently made his own wish. When he opened his eyes again, she was sitting up.
Still looking at the sky, she sighed. "I guess I should go back in."
"You won."
"What?"
"You won," he repeated. "The bet."
Marian smirked. She'd done it. She'd won, and now he owed her. And she knew precisely what she was going to ask of him. But before she could say anything, she realized what winning the bet meant, and she turned toward him.
"Gwaine, are you hurt?"
"Fell off my horse at jousting practice. Took a lance to my side."
"Has Gaius looked at it?"
When he shook his head, Marian turned over and knelt next to him.
"Let me see."
"I'm alright, I promise." Gwaine moved slightly and grunted in pain. "Okay, I'm a little alright."
Marian sat back on her feet and crossed her arms, not taking no for an answer. "At least let me check it. It can be dangerous not to get broken ribs treated. You could puncture a lung or worse."
Gwaine removed his belt and lifted his tunic enough for her to see the large bruise forming on his side.
"Jesus Christ, Gwaine!"
A dark bruise had formed at his ribs and spread down to the waistband of his trousers. He jumped as he felt Marian's cold fingers delicately prod around his sore side. "Well, it doesn't feel like anything is broken. Just take it easy, will you?"
"So, have you decided on your prize?" he asked, grinning as he pulled his tunic down and buckled his belt.
Marian laughed. "Yup," she replied, popping the p. "I want you to take me to the tavern to try ale."
Gwaine's eyebrows rose. "Ale? You?" he asked, sitting up on his elbows. "Why, it would be my honor, milady."
He rose from the ground and held his hand out to her to help her stand.
"Well, not now," she said quickly.
"Alright." He looked up in thought, a grin breaking across his face. "It'll be the anniversary of our knighting in a few weeks. Me and the boys were going to go out to celebrate. Do you want to come?"
Marian thought about it for only a second. "I'd be delighted!" she said as she smiled fondly at him.
Gwaine offered her his arm and led her back into the castle. "It's a date!"
A couple of weeks later, Marian had been summoned by Arthur's uncle, Lord Agravaine. As the council meeting adjourned and everyone else left, Marian met him in the council chamber.
"My lord?" she asked as she walked past a few stragglers.
"Ah, yes, Marian!" Agravaine got up from the table and sauntered toward her.
Marian fidgeted under his gaze. He was looking at her like he was a predator and she was his prey. He placed his hands on her shoulders, digging his fingers into her flesh. "I need your advice, my dear."
"My advice?" Marian asked, trying to wrangle out of his grip.
"On a medicinal matter."
"My lord, Gaius would be better suited to—"
"It is a matter of some delicacy. I need… a woman's opinion."
"A woman's opinion?"
As Agravaine opened his mouth to speak, Geoffrey of Monmouth stepped back in.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I forgot to mention what I discovered in Tales From the Far Seas."
Agravaine dropped his hands and faced the elderly council member, feeling agitated by the interruption. "Can't it wait?"
"I'm afraid not, my lord. I rather think it could shed some light on the problem with the Southrons."
Agravaine turned to Marian. "I'm sorry, my dear. This is a matter of importance. If you could come to my chambers later, after the evening meal, I would be obliged."
Marian nodded as she curtseyed and left the chamber with haste, ignoring Geoffrey's look of disapproval.
Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Marian was uncomfortable around Agravaine as it was, and she didn't want to meet him alone. If the rumors she'd heard from the serving staff were true, he had already made his way through most of the serving girls and the kitchen maids. The thought of him touching her made her shudder, and she almost lost her lunch.
She decided that someone should go with her, delicacy be damned. Merlin didn't have enough authority to protect her from the creep, and he couldn't use his magic without being found out. What she needed was someone who could be intimidating and whom she could also trust. Someone who could easily protect her. Someone who cared about her. She needed Gwaine.
It was a hot and sunny afternoon when Marian found Gwaine on the training grounds. The knights had opted to train without their tunics and armor to not overheat, of course. The view, though, was spectacular. Bulky and sweaty muscled men fighting in only trousers and boots. Men who were at the height of their physical prowess. With the sun accentuating their glistening chests and six-pack—eight for some—abs, anyone would have a difficult time looking away.
Marian's breath caught in her throat as she watched Gwaine fight against Percival. The battle was graceful, almost like a dance, with each move well-practiced and deliberate. Gwaine's muscles bulged and contracted as he swung his sword in the air, and his low-hung trousers accentuated his backside as he lunged toward his opponent.
All the knights were excellent swordsmen. That's why they were part of the finest army in the five kingdoms. But Gwaine was a madman, swing after swing and blow after blow, until finally he kicked Percival's legs out from under him and the large knight fell to the ground, yielding. Flipping his hair out of his eyes, Gwaine reached his hand out and helped Percival stand, clapping him on the shoulder.
As the training ended for the day, Gwaine looked up and saw Marian watching him from the sidelines. He smiled and waved, pleased to see her. After returning his sword to the weapon rack, he jogged over to her, picking up a towel on the way.
"Hello, beautiful! To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked as he wiped the excess sweat from his body.
Marian watched as he rubbed the towel from his neck and down his chest, his sweat shimmering in the sunlight. His defined muscles trembled as he moved. She bit her bottom lip as she followed his damp chest hair down, tapering off at his navel and disappearing into his trousers. She'd seen him without a shirt before, but every time was like the first time—extraordinary and very, very pleasing.
"Marian?" Gwaine asked, raising his eyebrows.
Marian coughed, composing herself. "Gwaine, can I ask a favor?"
"Anything for you, beautiful," he replied, grinning.
"Agravaine has asked me to meet him in his chambers. Alone. He claims he wants to ask for my counsel on a matter of medicine."
"Why doesn't he ask Gaius?" Gwaine asked as he reached over to the bench nearby and picked up his tunic, sliding it over his head.
"That's what I asked him. He said he needed a woman's advice."
Marian tried to keep her focus on Gwaine's face and not on how his tunic clung to his sweaty body.
"Sounds personal," he said, picking his belt from the bench. "Are you going?"
"Yeah, I don't have a choice, do I? He weirds me out, Gwaine. He's a creep and an ass and…" Marian trailed off as Gwaine tightened his belt around his waist. Shaking her head, she cleared her throat. "Will you go and protect me from him?"
"Marian, he's Arthur's uncle. He won't harm you."
He sighed. "I'm not so sure, Gwaine. He leers at me. He always finds little ways to touch me. It's creepy. And you know Mary from the kitchens?" Gwaine nodded. "She said that he's chased her around his chambers on more than one occasion. He's relentless."
"And you think he'll try to force himself on you?" Gwaine asked, frowning. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair when Marian nodded. There was no way he'd let her face that alone. But it was tricky. Agravaine held a lot of power in the court, and Gwaine didn't want either of them to face his wrath. "I can't go around attacking the prince's uncle."
"I'm not asking you to confront him. Just be there. Be your usual charming, intimidating self so he won't try anything. Please, Gwaine, just come with me. I need you."
There was such desperation in her eyes. She was afraid and vulnerable, and he couldn't deny her anything she asked of him, anyway.
Marian batted her eyelashes and stuck her bottom lip out in an adorable pout. "Pretty please?"
"Alright," Gwaine chuckled. "When are you to meet him?"
"This evening, after supper."
"I'll be there."
Marian gave Gwaine a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you," she said before turning and sprinting back up to the castle.
Gwaine sighed as he watched her go. Right then, he'd have ridden to the moon and back if she'd asked it of him.
The time came for Marian to meet Agravaine in his chambers, but Gwaine was nowhere to be found. She waited a few more minutes, praying he'd show up, and when he didn't, she knocked on the door with a lump in her throat and dread in the pit of her stomach. She was going to murder Gwaine for standing her up.
Agravaine opened the door to let her in and closed it behind him.
"You wanted to see me, my lord?"
"I wanted to ask your advice on a… personal matter," Agravaine said as he circled her like a vulture. He laid his hand on her shoulder, his thumb caressing her skin, making her shudder in disgust. "I need to know what herb I can use to make a woman more… amorous." His hand slid to the small of her back as he spoke.
"A-amorous?" Marian asked nervously as she tried to shake his hand off of her.
"Yes, if the lady is… let's say not yet in an affectionate mood."
Agravaine stopped in front of her, and placing his hands on her shoulders, he rubbed down her arms, catching her hands in his.
Marian swallowed hard, and alarm bells went off in her head. He asked her for some sort of date rape drug, and she was sure that, as idiotic as the idea was, he wanted to use it on her. Believing that there was no way to escape unharmed, Marian pulled her hands from his grip.
With his hands now empty, Agravaine took the opportunity to move to her waist.
"Let go," she insisted.
"Oh, come, Marian. You're a beautiful woman, and I'm a lord. Surely you know what I can do for you?"
"I don't care. Let me go."
"Don't deny yourself, Marian," Agravaine said as he moved his hands down to her backside, his fingers digging into her flesh. "You're going to be a good girl, aren't you?"
"Stop it!" Marian squirmed and pushed against him as his hands roamed her body. She looked around the room for something heavy to hit him with. The metal water jug would do, but it was out of reach. Left with no other options, she would need to claw at him, punch him, scream. Anything to get him to let her go. Why hadn't Gwaine come with her?
Marian balled her fist, preparing to punch Agravaine in his smarmy face, but the door burst open.
"Sorry, beautiful! I got held up!" Gwaine said as he slid into the room. His eyes moved from Marian's terrified face to her balled fist to Agravaine's hands, gripping her backside. Gwaine's nostrils flared as he stared. He saw red. It took everything in him not to beat the man senseless. If he didn't control himself, he could easily kill Agravaine for touching her. Hell, he wanted to kill Agravaine. Gwaine took a deep, calming breath and smiled as he pulled Marian over to him.
"What do you want, Gwaine?"
"I just came here for Marian," he replied, hiding his anger with fake pleasantries.
"Well, as you can see, we are busy. This doesn't concern you, knight," Agravaine bit out.
"I beg to differ, Agravaine. Marian is my sweetheart, and we have a prior arrangement for this evening." Gwaine wrapped his arm around her and pulled her even closer against him, smirking and wagging his eyebrows. Even if she asked, he wouldn't leave her alone with Agravaine ever again. Agravaine was a sleaze.
Marian looked up at Gwaine, her eyebrows raised in surprise, but he flashed a grin back at her.
Agravaine became flustered. "Sweetheart? Since when?"
Marian finally found her voice. "For many months now, sire. What can I say? I'm drawn to big, dumb knights," she said as she ruffled Gwaine's hair.
"And I to stubborn, foul-mouthed wild women," Gwaine's eyes sparkled as he retorted and smacked her on the backside, causing her to jump forward, startled.
Agravaine narrowed his eyes. There was no way he believed them. "Are you now?"
"Oh, yes," Gwaine replied. "As you can see, I can't keep my hands to myself."
Gwaine swung Marian around in front of him, and, cradling the back of her head, he kissed her.
She couldn't believe it. Gwaine's mouth was on hers…and she liked it. His lips were warm, soft, inviting. Drawing in his scent, her body relaxed as her heart beat faster. Moving her lips against his, Marian wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. She couldn't remember ever having such a loving and thorough kiss. A moan escaped her throat, but she didn't care. This was heaven. This is where she belonged, being held close with Gwaine's lips on her.
Gwaine smiled against her mouth when he heard her soft moan. It made him feel even more possessive than he already had. He cracked open an eye, staring Agravaine down to make sure he understood.
Mine.
Agravaine looked on with loathing and rolled his eyes, turning away from them.
Satisfied that Lord Grabby Hands had worked it out, Gwaine pulled Marian back up against his side and held her close, his point made. "Sorry, I just can't help myself when she's near. You know how it is, Agravaine. A beautiful woman giving you her heart. You'd do anything to protect her. Anything." Gwaine's nostrils flared and his eyes bore into Agravaine, his message clear—touch her again and I'll kill you.
"Very well, you can go," Agravaine told her shortly.
Marian didn't need to be told twice. She turned to leave as quickly as she could, with Gwaine following and wrapping his arms around her before Agravaine slammed the door behind them.
When they were alone in the corridor, Gwaine let go and laughed. "Well, I think that went well," he said brightly.
"Sweetheart?" Marian asked him, a single eyebrow raised and pink cheeks.
Gwaine shrugged. "It was the best I could come up with. Sorry about smacking you on the arse. And the kiss. I wanted to make sure he knew he couldn't have you, that I was serious that you're mine. You didn't mind?"
"Not at all," she said a little too quickly. Marian looked over at his smug face and blew out a frustrated breath. "I mean, it was alright. No! Not that it wasn't good. I just mean… It was okay to kiss me. The kiss was… pleasing. Don't look at me like that! I'm just saying… It was nice. It felt nice. Goddammit."
Gwaine chuckled at her.
"Well, thank you anyway. Hopefully, he'll leave me alone after that."
They walked down the corridor away from the royal wing to get as far away from Agravaine as they could.
"I'm sorry," Gwaine said, suddenly somber.
"What for?"
"I was late. When I think of what he might've done to you if I hadn't come…"
Marian stopped and turned to him, placing her hand on his arm. "Gwaine, it's fine. You did come, so we don't—"
"No, Marian," Gwaine laid his hand on hers and held it tight. "It was irresponsible of me to take so long getting ready. You might've… he almost…"
She took his face in her hands and made him look at her. "He didn't. You saved me, Gwaine."
He nodded, her palms still against his cheeks, and he grinned. "It was a pretty good kiss if I do say so myself."
She rolled her eyes and started walking again. When they arrived at the door to the physician's chambers, she reached out to pull the door open but stopped when he called her name.
"Marian?"
She turned to face him and frowned at his grave look. "What's the matter?"
"If he…" he started. He moved closer to her and brushed a stray strand of hair back from her face. "If he sends for you again or if he touches—"
His mouth clamped shut as he clenched his jaw, his nostrils flaring. He didn't know how to finish the thought without losing his temper. He wanted to murder Agravaine for touching her like that. Or really, for touching her at all.
Marian's breath caught as Gwaine looked at her, the intensity of his smolder almost knocking her down.
"Tell me, okay?"
"I will, Gwaine. Thank you."
She stood on her toes up to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head at the same moment. Her kiss was half on his lips. His soft, inviting lips. She lingered, wondering what she needed to do. Oh, she knew what she wanted to do—to kiss him silly. Again. But she couldn't figure out what she should do. It was awkward, and it was going on far too long.
Gwaine saved her from the embarrassment and stepped back. Cupping her cheek, he nodded once and left.
She sighed, watching her rescuer disappear down the corridor. She drew a sharp breath and then blew out the ragged air as she rubbed the back of her neck. Her heart skipped as she ran her cool fingers over her burning skin. The desire for him was almost unbearable. Her incredibly hot, fuckable knight in shining armor.