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 arrives injured in Camelot in the middle of the night. Marian's curiosity quickly turns to annoyance, but one selfless act may start to change her mind about him.
Don't forget to leave a review!
Gwaine, the Reluctant Knight
In the late hours of the night, Marian was summoned to the physician's chambers. Merlin and Arthur had returned from their hunting trip with a mysterious, injured man. She arrived at Gaius's door just as Merlin and Arthur were carrying the unconscious man up the stairs.
"Here, let me," she said as she moved in front and opened the door for them.
"He can go into my room. Marian, can you grab these?" Merlin asked, nodding his head at the leather bag and sheathed sword on his shoulder.
She grabbed the bag and sword and followed them up the steps to his room. The bag flap flipped open as she was hanging it on the hook next to the bed. Too curious for her own good, she peeked inside. Crumpled in the bottom was a spare tunic, and on top was a small glass jar of something green, a water bladder, a few apples, and a well-worn book. Bernard the Brave, she mouthed as she read the title. Marian, having arrived with only the clothes on her back, understood the feeling of having so little. The bag seemed to hold all he had in the world.
As Merlin and Arthur placed the injured man down on the bed, he slumped to the side, still unconscious.
"Merlin, fetch me some fresh water, towels, a needle, and silk thread," Gaius asked, looking over the man's wound.
"And honey?"
Gaius nodded, and grinning, he watched Merlin with the gaze of a proud father. "You've been paying attention." As Merlin left to fetch the requested items, Arthur raised his eyebrows at Gaius for an explanation. "Helps fight infection."
Gaius removed the makeshift tourniquet from the man's leg as she settled on the other side to peer closer at the wound. The smell of stale ale hung in the air around both Arthur and the injured man.
"Looks deep," she said as she prodded the wound. "Tavern brawl?"
"Something like that. Will he be alright?" Arthur asked, concerned.
Gaius looked over at the stranger. He was young and looked to be otherwise healthy. Wounds and infection had claimed lesser men, but the physician had full confidence in this man's recovery. "Providing he's strong."
"He's that, alright. The man saved my life, Gaius. He's to be given anything he needs," Arthur said, turning to leave the cramped room just as Merlin returned.
Marian crouched down next to the man's head and brushed the hair from his face. "There's a lump just here," she said as her fingers stroked his scalp.
"He hit his head when he fell. Knocked him out hard," Merlin said.
"He's awfully handsome," she said under her breath.
"Marian, quit fondling our patient and help Merlin with that leg wound."
"I wasn't fondling him. I was feeling for wounds, that's all." She frowned as Gaius arched his eyebrow and waved his hand, gesturing to her to go around the bed. "He does have nice hair, though."
Gaius took Marian's place and felt the knot on his head. "Nothing a good night's rest won't help. Now, we'll need to cut his trousers to get at the wound."
"He doesn't look like he has much to spare, Gaius," she said as she looked over his beat-up trousers and thread-bare tunic. The cloth wrapped around his sword hand was in near tatters, and his leather jacket had seen better days. Already aware of the meager contents of his bag, she wasn't so sure that he could afford to lose a pair of trousers, no matter how badly they were worn.
"Off they go, then," Merlin said, and as soon as he removed the boots, a dagger fell out.
Merlin picked up the blade and placed it in the man's bag. He watched as Marian carefully unwound the cloth wrapped around the man's right hand and removed his leather bracers before pulling his jacket down his arms. Another dagger fell out from the jacket. Merlin held out his hand when she picked it up and he placed it in the bag.
Merlin smirked at her as she unbuckled the man's belt, removing it from his body. Yet another dagger fell from its sheath on the leather belt.
"Jesus! How many weapons does he have?" she asked as she handed it to Merlin and got to work on the man's tunic.
"Why are you taking everything off, though? We just need to get at his leg, Marian."
"What? Oh, he may have other wounds," she said as she tried to hide her warming face. She pointed to a slight bruise on the man's torso. "Look. He's hurt just there, so it's a good thing I removed his shirt."
Merlin chuckled. "Uh huh."
Ignoring Merlin's teasing, she frowned as she looked closer. "He looks familiar. Have we met him before?"
"I don't think so."
Marian reached down when she noticed a silver necklace around his neck and picked it up to get a closer look. It had a crescent-shaped pendant and a gold band. Unique. Intriguing. Just like the mystery man who wore it.
"What's his name?" she asked as she lifted him enough to remove his tunic.
"Gwaine," Merlin replied as he pulled the trousers off and yanked the blanket up over Gwaine's lower half.
"Really?" Marian's hold on Gwaine faltered, and he fell back to the bed, knocking his head on the headboard. "Oh, shit, sorry. Really, though? Gwaine? As in Sir Gwaine?" Her heart sped up as it tumbled to her stomach. Sir Gwaine was her favorite among the Arthurian legends. He was courteous and loyal. He rescued damsels in distress and broke curses. And here he was, lying on Merlin's bed, stabbed and unconscious.
"Another one from your legends, Marian?" Gaius asked, amused.
Merlin pulled the blanket away from the side of Gwaine's leg, giving her space to clean the stab wound while he prepared the honey and the needle and thread. He looked up at his friend as she told them about the legend.
"Yeah, he's… he fought for a damsel's honor. The Maiden's Knight, he was called," she said, staring at Gwaine's face. "One of the more famous of his stories involved lifting the curse from the Loathly Lady." Her face turned red as she remembered her infatuation with the knight in the stories from days long gone.
At their blank looks, she grinned as she dipped a cloth in water and wiped at Gwaine's leg, amused that her childhood obsession with Camelot would lead to explaining legends to the people who lived them.
"The gist of the story is that Arthur was to find what women most desire or be beheaded. An old hag said she'd tell him if he agreed to have Sir Gwaine marry her."
She finished cleaning the wound, and Merlin got to work with the needle, sewing up the deep cut. Marian turned her head as the point pierced Gwaine's skin.
Gaius momentarily left Merlin's room and returned with a sewing needle and thread. Handing them to her, he nodded at Gwaine's torn trousers.
"Right. I'll just mend his trousers."
"So, what do women desire most?" Merlin asked.
"It was sovereignty," she replied, stitching the trousers. "Women most desire sovereignty, to make their own decisions."
"Most people desire sovereignty, though. Especially servants."
"Sir Gwaine kept Arthur's word and married her. On their wedding night, she informed him that she was cursed to be ugly for half of each day and gave him the choice to decide whether he wanted her to be beautiful during the day for everyone else to see or during the night when they were alone. Sir Gwaine gave her the choice, saying it was her decision, not his, and that broke the curse."
"How noble of him," Gaius said.
She scrunched her face up as she bit the thread that hung from the needle, cutting it from Gwaine's trousers. "This man looks like a scoundrel, not a noble knight," she said as she laid his trousers down. "I always thought he'd be, I don't know, from better circumstances than this."
After he finished sewing up the wound, Merlin looked over Gwaine. "He fought like a knight. He saved Arthur, so maybe Uther will let him be knighted."
"That's not likely, Merlin," Gaius said.
"Why not? Lancelot saved Camelot from the griffin. He's not a knight only because he turned it down. Surely saving Uther's son and heir is as worthy."
Marian slathered honey over Gwaine's wound. "Well, the legends haven't been a reliable historical account so far. So who knows what'll happen."
Gaius examined their work and handed her a bandage to wrap around Gwaine's leg. "He'll need his sleep now. Perhaps tomorrow we will find out more about your scoundrel knight, Marian."
"He's not my—"
"Good night, Marian," Gaius said, grinning as he left the room.
Before reaching the door, Marian took a last look at Gwaine. A sense of wariness crept over her as she found him pleasing to look at. Surrounded by mystery, she wondered how this Gwaine fit the Sir Gwaine of legend.
"I see you looking," Merlin teased.
"Oh shut up, Merlin," she said, grinning.
Marian woke up early the next morning, and although Gwaine's arrival interrupted her night's rest, she felt more awake than she had ever been. This was it. This was her chance to meet Sir Gwaine of legend.
"Where's Merlin?" she asked as she entered the physician's chambers, still tying her hair into a neat braid.
"He was called away. Apparently, knights are already arriving for the melee," Gaius replied without looking up from his potion.
Marian walked over to the work table and fiddled with the pile of herbs Gaius had laid out. "And how's our patient?"
"Still asleep," he replied, snatching herbs back.
"Oh. He must be famished. Gwaine, I mean. He's been through a lot. And saving Arthur's life and all is bound to work up an appetite. Should I consider bringing him something when he wakes up?"
"Merlin said he's bringing breakfast up."
"Oh."
Gaius set his vials down and looked over at her. "Marian, are you keen on Gwaine?"
"Keen? Good god, no! I just… he's interesting, is all. I'm just curious, nothing more."
Gaius gave her one of those there is no way on god's green Earth I believe you stares. "Would you go to the herb garden to stock up before the melee, then? There are bound to be more injuries than supplies."
Marian swallowed her disappointment and smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Sure. Of course."
Picking herbs for Gaius had never felt like a chore before. Marian loved spending time in her garden, but the morning stretched on and on. Although she had only been there for forty-five minutes, it seemed like an eternity. She dropped the herbs off with Gaius, and, assuming Gwaine had already left, Marian entered Merlin's chamber intending to clean up the breakfast dishes, only to stop short when she opened the door.
Gwaine was standing at the window in only his trousers and boots, engrossed in the city life below. His long hair fell over one eye, and his beard was short, adding that bit of scruff that said I'm a rough, manly man, but I also know basic hygiene. Gwaine's body looked even better when he was awake and standing. He was fit and trim, with a sprinkle of dark chest hair, and his skin stretched tight over hard muscles.
Turning from the window, he caught Marian staring at him, biting her bottom lip. He smirked at her as she looked away, a deep blush creeping over her. When she looked back, he was grinning from ear to ear. She could feel his eyes roaming over her and immediately regretted wearing her tighter dress. She didn't mind his attention—after all, she was drawn to him. However, it stirred up a mix of emotions she hadn't experienced in a long time.
"I, uh, I don't need any company today, thank you," Gwaine said, still smiling as he walked away from the window.
Marian blinked twice, her mouth opening and closing in shock. "Beg your pardon?"
"You're here to warm my bed, are you not? Arthur sent you?"
Marian couldn't believe what she was hearing. With her mouth set in a thin line, she stomped over to the table beside the bed and picked up the tray, rattling the dishes.
Gwaine's smile faltered as he followed her. "Thank you anyway… er, what's your name?"
"I'm not here to fuck you!" she yelled, holding the tray up to his face. "I'm not a whore, you ass! I'm here to gather these!"
Gwaine swallowed hard, finally realizing his mistake. His mouth opened to apologize, but instead, he couldn't say a word. He tilted his head as he studied Marian's face. She had adorable little lines between her eyebrows as she frowned and the tips of her ears had turned red. He was mesmerized by her eyes, though, having never seen such a clear green color. God, she was beautiful. Gwaine inwardly cringed. He'd been a complete idiot.
Marian pushed past him, but before she reached the door, she spun around, scowling at him. "Oh, by the way, my name is Marian, and you, sir, are an arrogant prick!" She picked up the cup and threw water in his face before storming out of the room.
Gwaine watched her leave as water dripped down his nose and chin to the floor. He sighed, wiping his face with his hand, and then grinned. It was love at first sight—well, it would've been if he believed in such a thing, that is.
Later that day, Marian went down to the city to buy some supplies for Gaius. She was in a foul mood after meeting Gwaine that morning. All her life she'd fantasized about knights and princesses and castles. As a young girl, she devoured anything that had to do with the Arthurian legends. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Thomas Malory, T.S. White. She'd even read Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy. Meeting one of the knights in those stories was supposed to be the highlight of her life. He wasn't just a knight to Marian, though. Sir Gwaine was the knight. The Maiden's Champion. Brave and loyal and true. Her favorite.
So when she walked into Merlin's room and saw Gwaine awake, she was as giddy as she'd been as a child. Here was the man who, in her childhood fantasies, had saved her from make-believe dragons and devilish green knights. To top it off, he was incredibly good-looking. And what was the first thing he'd said to her? That he didn't want her company. No, not just that. That he didn't want to have sex with her. Sir Gwaine had thought she was a goddamn whore.
Marian's memories and dreams shattered before her. Coming back in time to Arthur's Camelot had been eye-opening, of course. There were differences and disappointments, sure. But she'd never imagined that her knight would be one of them.
As she made her way up the street to the weaver's, her foot caught on the stone road. Marian stumbled forward, and, losing her balance, she dropped her basket and closed her eyes, preparing for the impact that never came. She was surprised when she felt strong hands grasp her arms, righting her.
"Whoa, there. Are you alright?"
Marian opened her eyes and panicked. Gwaine had caught her. Gwaine the insulter. Gwaine the disappointment. Gwaine the gorgeous. She could feel his heat as they were only inches apart, and the scent of leather and musk swirled in the air around them. His eyes were warm and inviting, despite the look of concern on his face as she stared at him. Gwaine was too fucking handsome for his own good. Or for hers. Marian was being drawn in, almost forgetting their encounter earlier.
"It's Marian, right?" he asked as he stooped a little to get a better look at her face.
But his stupid smile with that stupid flower hanging from his stupid lips woke her from the trance, reminding her she was angry with him. Marian wrenched herself from his grasp, and as she stepped back, she tripped over her basket and fell backward onto her ass.
She narrowed her eyes at him, trying not to lose her composure. "Yes."
Gwaine chuckled at those cute little lines between her eyebrows. "Here, allow me," he said as he offered his hand.
Marian took his hand and stood, once again too close for comfort. It was Gwaine's fault that she'd fallen over, after all. With his handsome face and that idiotic flower between those perfect lips. And why did he have to smell so good?
Gwaine looked at her expectantly, hoping for a thank you or even an acknowledgment of his existence. "You're welcome."
Grumbling, Marian bent down to gather her purchases and place them back into her basket.
He crouched to help her pick up the bottles that had rolled away and wrapped them back in their cloth. "I'm Gwaine, by the way."
"Yes. I know."
"Ah, right. Gaius said you're a healer. You were there then? When they brought me in?" He cleared his throat at the irritated look on Marian's face. "I'm sorry I thought you were there for bedding. It had nothing to do with you. It was just a stupid assumption on my part."
"Stupid's right."
Gwaine sighed. "Look, can we just start over?"
"You know, it's not every day someone calls me a whore," she spat out. "So, it's a little hard to forget when it happens."
"I didn't call you anything," he said, a bitter laugh coloring his voice. "Why are you being so stubborn? I'm trying to apologize."
"Where are the berries? They couldn't have rolled away," she said to herself, ignoring him. Marian stood and turned around to look behind her. She heard Gwaine chuckle just as she saw a mound of squished berries on the ground.
"I…erm… I believe you sat on them," he said, pointing to her rear.
Marian twisted around to look down. There was a deep purple stain on her dress, right where she landed. "Just great! Thanks a lot!"
Gwaine rose and handed her the last bottle, taking a deep breath when she snatched it. "Hey, princess, it isn't my fault you swoon so easily."
"Swoon? I don't swoon, you… you…"
Gwaine's eyebrows shot up, waiting for her to finish. But she couldn't think of anything to say. Usually, she'd have cut him with her sharp tongue, but this man, this menace, affected her so much that the words just flew away.
Gwaine sighed. "I'm sorry, Marian. If it makes you happy, of course, I don't think you're for bedding. No one wants to bed you, least of all me."
Marian's eyes widened as she flared her nostrils. "No one wants to—"
"No, that's not what I meant," he said, holding his hands up and taking a step back.
"Isn't it?"
"No. I just meant that I don't want to bed you. That you weren't there to have sex."
"I know I wasn't!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down. "But you don't have to announce to the whole world that you find me unattractive. You could just keep it to yourself!"
"I didn't say you're unattractive. In fact, I find you—"
"Stop. Just stop. You've done enough damage to my self-esteem for one day, thank you."
"Here, allow me to make it up to you," he said, removing the flower from his lips and holding it out to her as a peace offering as he bowed.
"You're giving me a used flower?"
"A what?" Gwaine stood straight, looking down at the offending bloom.
"I saw you. With Gwen. She turned you down. You're giving me a secondhand flower!"
"Well, I—"
Without breaking eye contact, Marian plucked the flower from his fingers, dropped it on the ground, and stepped on it. She twisted her foot to make her point, crushing the blossom into the stones of the road.
"You're insufferable," she said before walking past Gwaine and back to the castle, the rest of her shopping forgotten.
Gwaine picked up her basket. "You forgot your—oh, never mind."
He stood there, in the middle of the road, holding Marian's basket, and wondering if he was ever going to do anything right by her. Both encounters ended with her angrily stomping away. It was then that Gwaine decided he would get on Marian's good side before he left Camelot. He didn't even care if it took years—he would get the intriguing and lovely woman to like him. Smiling to himself, and in desperate need of some ale, Gwaine turned to go find the tavern to prepare for the challenge.
Exhausted from fetching and carrying for Arthur's friends, Merlin sighed and looked around the table at supper. "Where's the bread?"
Gaius gave Marian a sharp look before sipping his soup.
"I lost it."
"Lost it? How do you lose bread? You buy it, you bring it in, you stick it in the cupboard."
"What Marian means, Merlin, is that she left it," Gaius said.
"What?" Merlin asked, dropping his spoon with a pout. "But it's for supper."
Marian scowled. "I left it in the middle of the market, okay?"
"Why would you do that?"
"It wasn't my fault. It was that… that pest. That menace."
"The Feltons?"
"No. Gwaine."
"You left our bread on the road because of Gwaine? What, did he challenge the bread to a duel and it lost?"
Marian took a deep breath to calm herself. "Technically, it's in my basket."
"Which is still on the road?"
"Yes. No. Oh, I don't know. Gwaine was being an ass, and I forgot it."
"I thought you liked him," Merlin said, grinning.
"I do. Or I did. He's not the same man I read about. Did you know he called me a whore?"
"Did he?" Gaius asked, once again giving her the parental you're lying look.
"Well, he didn't use those exact words."
"What did he say?" Merlin asked.
Marian put her spoon down. "He said he didn't want company."
"What's so bad about that? He must've wanted to be alone."
Marian sighed. "No, Merlin. Company. Like to… you know…"
"Like to…" Merlin's eyes widened. "Oh! You mean…"
"Yeah."
"In my room?"
Gaius rolled his eyes. "It was a simple mistake, Marian. He's a man of the world, used to a different kind of life, and a pretty girl walks in, so he's bound to have ideas."
"Pretty? Ha!" Marian barked. "He said I was unattractive. That no one, especially him, would want to sleep with me."
"Did he really say you were unattractive?" Gaius asked.
"Well…"
"Marian."
"He implied it. I don't like him, Gaius," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and putting on a face that could win an Oscar for Best Pout in a Romantic Comedy.
Merlin and Gaius shared a smile before Merlin picked up his spoon and shoveled soup into his mouth with the speed of a galloping horse.
"It's very hard to work out whether you are eating or inhaling that soup," Gaius said.
"I haven't had anything all day. Sir Oswald had me at his beck and call."
"How is he?"
"Awful. He treats me like dirt."
"That doesn't sound like the young man I knew. He always struck me as a rather kind and thoughtful soul."
"He must have changed."
"You must remember that not all masters are as good to their servants as Arthur."
Merlin spat his pea soup all over the table and Gaius's face.
"Thank you, Merlin," Gaius said, taking the napkin Marian offered.
"Sorry."
Suddenly, the door opened, and Gwen stepped through, looking frazzled.
"Gaius, erm…" she said, frowning at him. "There's something just there… on your face."
"Yes, thank you, Gwen," Gaius grumbled as he finished wiping the soup off.
"I think one of you needs to come with me," Gwen said. "Gwaine is… incapacitated in the tavern."
"You mean intoxicated," Marian said, clicking her tongue. "Figures."
Merlin stood, happy to have a reason to leave to avoid Gaius's dirty looks. "I'll go."
As Merlin left with Gwen, Marian grabbed a towel to mop up the rest of his mess. She didn't realize she was mumbling until Gaius spoke up.
"You're mumbling, Marian. What's on your mind?"
"Sorry, Gaius. I'm just frustrated."
"Gwaine again?"
"Yes. He gets under my skin."
"I had gathered."
"He's nothing like what the legends say. Sure, he's good-looking." Gaius arched an eyebrow at her. "Okay, very good-looking, but he isn't a knight in shining armor, you know?" She sat down on the bench beside Gaius, looking forlorn. "Lancelot was exactly what I expected. He was chivalrous. He was loyal and helpful. Lancelot lived by a code of honor. He was courteous." Marian threw the towel down on the table. "Gwaine is rude and arrogant and… he's a disappointment. He was my favorite, Gaius. And it turns out he's just an ass."
"Have you considered that, in his own way, Gwaine is also chivalrous?"
Marian snorted.
"He stepped in to save Arthur's life without even knowing who he was. Gwaine seems to live by a code, granted it's of his own making, but he hasn't sought praise or reward."
"I guess."
"He may not have the social graces we've come to expect, but he is a good man. Living life the way he does has to be very lonely, Marian. Perhaps we can allow him to be a little rough around the edges?"
Marian gazed at the fire beside them, thinking about what Gaius was saying. She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. About everything. Gwaine did live a lonely life, at least from what little they knew of him.
"You're right, Gaius," she said. "I set my expectations too high. Legends are never an exact account, anyway. Especially ancient ones like these." Marian cleared the dishes from the table, then set off to get water to wash them.
Gaius went out later that evening to attend to one of his patients in the lower town, leaving Marian alone since Merlin and Gwaine hadn't returned from the tavern yet. She sat by a window, the room lit only by the moon and the light from the dying fire, and thought about everything that had happened in the last two days. Marian felt out of place all of a sudden, her encounters with Gwaine reminding her just how far away from home she was and how long ago her childhood dreams had been. Gwaine. Sir Gwaine. Was this scoundrel really destined to become Sir Gwaine? She couldn't see it. He wasn't the man who lifted the curse from the Loathly Lady, and he certainly wasn't the loyal knight who defended his king from the demonic Green Knight. No, this Gwaine was a drunk, apparently. But then again…
All of a sudden, the door to the chambers opened, and Merlin stepped in, holding Gwaine up.
"Don't forget to set that down," Gwaine laughed.
"I still can't believe you took this basket to the tavern and managed to keep it safe," Merlin said, setting the basket on a table and resuming their wobbly walk to his room.
Marian let out a small gasp, then quickly pulled herself further into the shadows, afraid Gwaine had seen her.
"I had to. Marian left it and it seemed important," Gwaine said.
"I'm sure she'll thank you tomorrow. I know I will. That bread was supposed to be for supper," Merlin laughed.
They fumbled up the stairs, nearly falling back only once.
"You're the best friend I've ever had," Gwaine slurred as Merlin dropped him onto the bed.
"You seem to have quite a few."
"I'd love to see Arthur's face when he gets that bill," Gwaine laughed.
"Right. What is it with you and nobles?"
"My father was a knight in Carleon's army. He died in battle, leaving my mother penniless. And when she went to the king for help, he turned her away."
"You didn't know him?"
"Just some stories I've been told."
"Yeah, I know how that feels. I met my father just briefly before he died."
"Why?" Gwaine asked as he sat up.
"He was banished."
"What had he done?"
"Nothing. He served the king."
"But the king turned against him? That doesn't surprise me."
"Arthur's not like that."
"Ha! Maybe. But none of them are worth dying for, eh?" Gwaine laughed as he clapped Merlin on the shoulder, a little harder than he meant.
Marian empathized with Gwaine, as her own childhood was filled with unhappy memories. After her brother's death, her father's grief turned into resentment and he took it out on her mother. Although he never hurt her, Marian had to witness her family falling apart because her mother refused to leave. It was no wonder she escaped to her make believe Camelot.
"What's the story with Marian?" Gwaine asked, pulling her from her memories.
"Nothing really," Merlin shrugged. "She came to Camelot, and she's learning to be a healer."
"That's it, then? No adventures? No romantic trysts?"
"I don't—"
"She hates me, you know."
"No, she doesn't. I'm sure she doesn't hate you."
"That sharp tongue of hers would say otherwise."
"Marian's just… She has a good heart."
"I've no doubt of that."
"And she'd do anything to help someone in need."
"One would hope."
"She just expects more of people, you know?"
"Well, whatever she expected of me didn't work out."
"She'll come around."
"Do you think I have a chance, then?"
"Certainly not like this," Merlin laughed. "Maybe sober up and try again."
"Tell me, Merlin," Gwaine said, his voice suddenly serious.
Marian leaned toward the door, eager to hear what Gwaine would say.
"Does Marian have a sense of humor?"
"Goodnight, Gwaine," Merlin grinned as he stood. He left the rooms without noticing Marian there. Or at least she hoped he hadn't seen her. The last thing she needed was for Merlin to tease her for eavesdropping.
Marian sat still for a few minutes, thinking about everything said, unable to decide what she thought about Gwaine. He seemed different now, besides the alcohol, of course. Before it felt like he put on a façade, not quite honest. But now she heard so much that it really felt genuine. She sighed when she heard Gwaine's soft snores and got up to fetch the water jug for him. He was going to have a hell of a hangover, so she also stopped by one of the cabinets that housed the potion ingredients and picked up a few dried chamomile buds. It wouldn't cure him, but it would help until Gaius could make his hangover remedy.
She paused in the doorway, watching Gwaine sleep. Allowing herself a small smile—he was kind of adorable asleep—Marian tiptoed into the room and set everything down on the table beside the bed. She accidentally brushed her hand against his arm as she pulled the blanket over him and held her breath to see if he would wake. When she was satisfied that he was still sound asleep, she left to go to her own chamber for the night.
As Marian walked down the steps, Gwaine opened his eyes to watch her leave and smiled. So, she didn't hate him after all.
It was unusually busy the next day. There had been a couple of cases of sweating sickness in the lower town that Marian went to help Gaius with, and of course, one of the young Felton twins had turned his ankle while chasing his brother, spraining it.
After they were finally done, Marian set to scrubbing the leech tank. It was a disgusting job, usually Merlin's responsibility, but he was busy with the visiting knights, and the tank desperately needed cleaning. As she was elbow-deep in the algae and filth that had accumulated on the glass, Marian thought back on what she'd learned about medieval medicine.
Whether the natural remedies worked was a crapshoot at best. With cupping, where cups were applied to the skin with heat, or trepanning, where holes were drilled into the skull, the risk of permanent injury or death was too great for Marian's comfort. But some practices made sense to her. As disgusted by them as she was, she admitted leeches were exceptionally helpful, especially in reducing swelling and bruising.
"Blech," Marian said as she wiped the filth off her arms. "I get that these are helpful, Gaius, but do they have to be so disgusting?"
"Do you not use leeches in your time?"
"No. We have pain pills or anti-inflammatories, I think. And ice."
"What happens if it's not winter?"
"Oh, we have machines that make ice. They pull water into a… a box of sorts and it's so cold that it freezes. You can keep it in there pretty much forever."
"I wish I could travel to your time and see all the scientific advances. It must be easy for physicians there."
"Not really. People invent medicines to help but another worse thing comes along anyway," Marian shrugged. "Is there anything else Merlin was supposed to do but didn't?"
"No, I believe that was all. I'm afraid he won't get the chance to do anything else this afternoon. Arthur has both he and Gwaine cleaning the army's boots for last night's tavern bill."
"Well, I can't say they don't deserve it," she chuckled. "But when you say the army's boots you mean Camelot's army? The whole army?"
"Indeed."
"So they'll be at it for a while, then. They could probably use a break. Perhaps I should take them some lunch?"
"I think they'd like that. Maybe forgive Gwaine's foolishness?"
"Yeah, I think he's being punished enough as it is," Marian laughed. "You're right, Gaius. I'll be nicer to him. Gwaine isn't all that bad."
Gaius smiled as Marian left, pleased that she was coming around.
Marian snuck into the kitchen, avoiding Audrey, the head cook, and grabbed two plates of cheese, bread, and a few fresh berries. Just as she was walking out of the larder, she was spotted.
"Oi!" Audrey bellowed. "Put that back and get out of my kitchen!"
Marian turned around, giving her the brightest smile she could muster. "Oh, these? It's lunch. For the prince."
"The prince's lunch was sent up half an hour ago, you little thief! Now put those down!"
"Sorry, Audrey, can't hear you. Need to go now," Marian lied, backing out of the door. "I'll make it up to you later." She fled the kitchen and ran up the stairs before Audrey could get close.
Marian found Merlin and Gwaine sitting on the steps in the throne room, boots lined up its entire length. They had just stopped talking as she entered and smiled when she reached them.
"Thought you boys could use a break," she said, offering them a sweet smile in return.
Merlin grabbed a chunk of cheese and bit into it. "Thanks, Marian."
Gwaine reached over and popped a berry into his mouth, grinning at her as he chewed. "Can't get enough of me, can you?"
Marian rolled her eyes. "Hardly."
"So, tell me, princess, have anything planned for later this evening? Maybe get a drink of ale down at the pub?"
Merlin couldn't help but laugh at Gwaine's question. "Marian having fun? Doubtful."
Marian crossed her arms over her chest. "Excuse me?"
"Come on, Marian. You've not gone out or done anything fun since you've been in Camelot," Merlin said. "And that thing with the love potion doesn't count."
Marian's mouth opened in shock. "How was I supposed to know that the damned thing was a love potion?"
"Love potion? Now I must hear all the details!" Gwaine prodded as he smirked and leaned back, resting his elbows on the steps behind him.
Merlin laughed again, completely unaware of the danger he was courting. "It took six weeks to get the horse to stop following Arthur around like a lovesick puppy."
"You gave a love potion to the prince? Oh, princess, that's not how you win the heart of a noble."
Her nostrils flared. "Stop calling me that!"
Gwaine's grin widened as he popped another berry into his mouth, satisfied with the rise he got out of her. It had been a while since he'd flirted, really flirted, with a beautiful woman, and was overly confident that this would win her over.
Marian turned and bent down close to Merlin, a malicious grin on her face.
"We agreed never to speak of that, Merlin. If you're not careful, I'll let out what happened with the farting elixir," she threatened in a soft voice.
Merlin gulped. "You wouldn't."
She smiled. "Yes, I would. Uther's still trying to find out who switched out his pain potion. Foul wind for three days doesn't just get ignored, Merlin."
Marian stood and narrowed her eyes at Gwaine before storming out of the throne room.
"She… er… she doesn't mean it. I think. I'm in trouble aren't I?"
Gwaine clapped Merlin on the back. "Welcome to the club, Merlin."
"Gaius, you were wrong about everything. Gwaine is that bad," Marian said as she hurried into the physician's chambers, a sour look on her face. She paced back and forth, trying to get her anger to dissipate.
"Calm down, Marian, and tell me what happened."
She sat on the bench across from Gaius, trying not to explode.
"He's a bad influence. Did you know Merlin had the gall to bring up the love potion incident in front of him? Even though he promised never to tell anyone!"
"It sounds like you should be upset with Merlin, not Gwaine."
"And he won't stop calling me princess," she said, completely ignoring what Gaius said to her. "I hate being called that like I'm some sort of spoiled brat. My dad called me that when he was angry. I hate it."
"Have you told him you don't like it?"
"And he's so arrogant! He thinks he's god's gift to women. Like I'm just going to fall over in love with him or something."
"Marian…"
"He's so nosy, too. Asking me if I'm going to the pub. Like I'd tell him! He'd probably try to get me drunk and take advantage of me."
"Marian…"
"I just want to smack that smarmy look off his stupid handsome face!"
Gaius finally caught her attention and gestured behind her.
"So you do think I'm handsome," Gwaine said as he leaned on the doorframe, a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Great," Marian groaned and got up to start working on her potions. She bristled as Gwaine walked over to her and leaned back against her work table.
Marian tried her best to ignore him but he kept staring at her. She sighed but didn't stop what she was doing. "What are you doing here, anyway? Don't you have boots to shine?"
Gwaine crossed his arms, relaxing next to her like he didn't have a care in the world. "Nah. Arthur needed Merlin, so I begged off."
"Wait until Arthur finds out. He'll be furious."
"He'll get over it easily enough."
Marian rolled her eyes at him and put a few leaves in the mortar. Gwaine, however, wasn't done. He was going to turn on his infamous Gwaine Charm and flirt until she swooned. It'd been a while, but he didn't think he'd lost his touch. He wouldn't, would he? He was Gwaine. A ladies' man.
"So, prin—er, Marian, how does a woman like you become a healer?"
"Gaius offered me the apprenticeship when I came here." Marian stopped crushing the herbs and narrowed her eyes at him. "Wait, what do you mean a woman like me?"
"Your husband approves?"
"I'm not married."
He grinned. "Your sweetheart then?"
"I don't have—why are you so interested in my love life? And what makes you think I'd give a damn if some man approved of what I do or not? No one has the right to order me around."
"Except for the king."
"Well… regrettably, yes."
"And Arthur."
"I guess so…"
"And Gaius."
"Of course Gaius. He's—"
"And other nobility."
"I—no! They're not any better than I am. At least I have a profession and don't laze around ordering people about and living off wealth I didn't earn."
This was getting better and better. "No husband or sweetheart, then."
"No, Gwaine. I'm an old spinster. Are you happy now?"
"I wouldn't necessarily say old."
Gaius cleared his throat just as Marian opened her mouth to give Gwaine a piece of her mind. "If you two don't mind," he said as he arched his eyebrow at them. "I'm working."
"Sorry," they said in unison.
"So, what are you making?" Gwaine leaned in and asked, his voice lowered.
"A potion."
"A love potion?"
Marian's nostrils flared, and she started grinding her pestle harder into the bowl, smashing the herbs into a paste. "No."
"What then?"
"Why do you care?"
Gwaine shrugged. "Do you know how to make love potions?" he asked, wagging his eyebrows when she looked up at him.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just curious."
Marian stopped what she was doing and slammed the mortar onto the table. "Are you going to use it to get someone into your bed then? Some poor unsuspecting woman out in the market? Because I've got news for you, buddy. That isn't going to happen."
Offended, Gwaine frowned. "I'd never force someone to be with me, Marian. Never. Besides, a man like me doesn't need supernatural help in affairs of the heart."
"No, you just call them a whore," she muttered.
Gwaine rolled his eyes and then leaned in close to her. Too close. She felt his breath on her face when she turned to look at him. Marian's heart quickened, and her breath caught in her throat. What was he doing to her?
"I'm not the one making love potions," he said.
The spell was broken as soon as he opened his mouth. "I'm not—"
Suddenly the door flew open and Merlin rushed in, cradling his hand to his chest.
"What the hell happened to you?" Gwaine asked as he stepped away from Marian.
"I cut my hand," Merlin said, opening his fist as blood pooled in his palm.
Still affected by Gwaine, Marian wobbled by the table. The sight and smell of the blood made her stomach turn, and she swallowed hard, trying not to vomit.
"Marian, will you grab a bandage and some more cloth?" Gaius asked.
She nodded, unable to open her mouth with her jaws clenched. With a steadying hand on the table, Marian closed her eyes to stop the room spinning and then went to the cupboard.
"Alright there?" Gwaine asked as he took the bandages from her and passed them to Gaius.
She refused to turn to him, instead concentrating on the back of the cupboard. "Fine," she bit out. When she finally turned to look at him, her face paled. The blood from Merlin's hand had soaked through the bandage. "Why are you over here, anyway?" she asked as she closed her eyes.
Gwaine held his hands up in resignation. "Just concerned, is all. One doesn't come across many healers who swoon at the sight of blood."
Marian opened her eyes. If looks could kill, Gwaine would have been run through. Twice. "I did not swoon. I don't swoon. Ever. I just wasn't… the smell…" She felt her stomach lurching and placed her hand on her belly to steady herself.
"If you say so."
"I do say so, thank you very much."
"It's odd, though, isn't it?"
"What's odd?"
"A stubborn woman who's tough and doesn't let a man tell her what to do, and who's supposed to heal injuries, can't handle the sight of a little cut," he grinned.
"I told you—no, you know what? I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of arguing with you. Who the hell do you think you are, anyway?"
"Feel better now?" he asked, giving her one of his infamous Gwaine Smirks—one part teasing, one part seductive.
"I… you… goddammit. I do." The smarmy bastard had gotten her to forget why she felt sick. He pissed her off to make her feel better.
"Merlin, how did you cut yourself?" Gaius asked wrapping a clean bandage around Merlin's hand.
"I was cleaning up in Sir Oswald's room and there were swords on the table, so I picked one up to look at it. To the eye, the sword appeared blunt, but when I touched it, it cut me."
"You were lucky," Gwaine said. "I've seen those blades in action. They're forged using sorcery."
"A stulorne blade? What would they want with one?" Gaius asked.
"I think they mean to kill Arthur in the melee," Merlin said.
Gaius shook his head in shock. "But in front of all those people?"
"No one could be stupid enough to kill the king's son in front of hundreds of witnesses, surely," Marian said.
Gwaine shook his head. "It's the perfect cover. If they succeed, nobody will suspect it was intentional."
Marian gasped. "Jesus, they're really going to try to assassinate the prince, aren't they?"
Merlin started toward the door. "I need to warn Arthur."
"Merlin, Sir Oswald's a knight," Gaius reminded him. "He comes from a well-respected family. You can't accuse him without proof."
"Then, we need that blade."
"I'll get it," Gwaine said.
"What if they catch you?" Merlin asked. "What reason would you have to be in Sir Oswald's chamber? No, it's safer if I do it."
"You can't go either, Merlin," Marian said, shaking her head. "What if they see you?They've already caught you snooping around the sword once."
"Well, you certainly can't go," Gwaine said to her.
Marian crossed her arms over her chest. "And why not?"
He sighed and rolled his eyes. "A woman in their bedchambers? If they truly have ill intentions, they won't think twice about using you how they see fit before turning you in for thievery?" he said, raising his eyebrows at her, hoping he made his point quite clear.
She gulped at the thought of what those men would do to her. "Fine." She turned away from him and muttered. "Didn't know you actually cared what happened to me."
Gwaine frowned. "I never meant to make you think I didn't."
She opened her mouth to reply but Merlin cut her off.
"I'll go," Merlin said as he walked to the door. He turned around and smiled. "Wish me luck!"
Gwaine paced in the physician's chambers like a caged animal. Merlin had left to retrieve the swords over an hour ago—it shouldn't have taken that long and Gwaine wasn't a patient man.
Gaius looked up from his book each time he passed. "Gwaine, sit down. You're going to wear a rut on the floor."
"Aren't you worried about Merlin?" Gwaine asked as he watched Marian's leg bounce from where she sat. She was wringing her hands in her lap and biting her lip, just as worried as he was.
Gaius put his book down. "Yes, but we can't go barging into Sir Oswald's bedchamber. He's a knight and Arthur's guest."
"I shouldn't have let him go. I should've gone myself."
"Merlin was right, Gwaine," Marian finally spoke up. "You have no believable reason to be there. If those swords are as sharp as Merlin said, you'd be dead if they caught you."
"I'm pretty good in a sword fight, sweetheart."
"That's not what I meant and you know it." Marian stood and stepped in front of him to make him stop. "You said it yourself, they're using sorcery. You could be the best fighter in the world but can you fight against magic?"
Gwaine studied her face. Marian was worried for him as well as Merlin. He wanted her to like him but not at the expense of Merlin's safety. For a fraction of a second Gwaine considered staying but then again, he couldn't let a friend down. And Merlin was his friend. Probably his only one. "I'm going to go see what's going on."
"Gwaine," Gaius called after him.
"I'll go," Marian said, following him into the corridor.
"Gwaine, wait," she said as she grabbed his arm.
Gwaine looked down at her hand on his bare skin and frowned. The warmth of her nearly scorched him. It'd been too long since he'd been touched kindly by anyone. It felt like the first morsel of food after starving for far too long—and he wanted to gorge himself.
"I…" Marian started without knowing what it was she wanted to say. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Be careful, Gwaine. Please don't get yourself hurt."
Gwaine gave her a small smile. "Worried about me, beautiful?"
Marian looked away as a blush spread over her face.
"I will," he said, laying a hand over hers and giving it a friendly squeeze. God, it felt good to touch her soft skin. He would give up anything and everything to keep feeling the way she made him feel at that moment.
He let go of her hand and nodded once before heading down the stairs to find their friend.
After only half an hour, Merlin ran into the physician's chambers, breathless. "Gwaine…" he panted. "Uther… council chamber," he finally got out as he bent over with his hands on his knees.
Marian dropped her book onto the table. "Oh god!"
Gaius got up and the three of them hurried to the council chamber.
"It's not Sir Oswald," Merlin told them before they went inside. "It's that thug from the tavern, Dagr the one that stabbed Gwaine instead of Arthur. He's using a magical crystal to change his appearance. Sir Ethan must be one of his friends."
They stood off to the side—waiting for what, they didn't know—as Oswald, no, Dagr and his friend walked in behind Arthur. Soon after, guards dragged Gwaine into the chamber in chains. As he passed, he shot Marian a look of surprise, not expecting anyone to be there to support him.
Marian winced when the guards threw Gwaine to the floor, but he picked himself up and faced the king on his knees.
"Sire, this man attacked me with a sword. Tried to kill me," Dagr said.
"Is this true?" Uther asked.
"I stepped in to protect Merlin."
Merlin nodded to Arthur, agreeing that Gwaine had saved him.
"I tried to talk to him," Dagr lied. "He was like a man possessed. I'm sure that Sir Ethan will back me up."
"Indeed, I can vouch for his every word."
"He's a liar!" Gwaine broke free from the guards and jumped to his feet.
"I will have your tongue! How dare you speak to a knight in that way!" Uther shouted as the guards held Gwaine back.
Fearful that Marian would speak out of turn, Gaius laid a hand on her arm when he felt her stiffen.
Gwaine kept pulling against the guards restraining him. "Nobility is defined by what you do, and not by who you are. And these men are anything but. They're arrogant thugs!"
"Gwaine…" Arthur said, trying to calm him.
"Well, you see, sire, how he behaves," Dagr said.
Uther's face contorted in anger. "I've heard enough. For a commoner to attack a nobleman is in violation of the Knight's Code."
"Yeah, well he's not a knight," Marian mumbled just loud enough for Uther to hear.
"Do you have something to say, healer? Or do I need to throw you in the dungeon?"
Marian drew a breath to say something rude but Gaius spoke before she did. "It was a cough, sire. She has a sore throat."
Uther gave her a look of warning until she backed down.
"You're exactly right, sire. This commoner must be made an example of," Dagr said, grinning at Ethan.
"Sir Oswald, please," Arthur said.
"Nothing less than his execution will give me satisfaction."
"No!" Marian shouted as she stepped forward. "You can't!"
"Watch yourself, girl or you'll wish you were never born!" Uther threatened.
Gaius and Merlin grabbed her arms and pulled her back. Gwaine looked back at her and shook his head, pleading with her to let it go. At Gwaine's look, Marian stopped, though she was shaking with anger.
Arthur let out a sigh of relief when Uther turned his attention away from Marian. "Father, I understand how this must look. It's an embarrassing situation. Sir Oswald is a dear friend and our guest here in Camelot. But Gwaine is my guest here, too. And he may not be of noble birth, but I can vouch that he has a noble heart."
"How can you say that when you see the way he behaves?" Uther asked.
"Gwaine risked his life to save mine. I beg you, please, if a knight's word is his bond, then I give you my word Gwaine is a good man. He deserves clemency."
Uther considered what Arthur said for a long moment before dealing out his sentence. "You are banished from Camelot. If you ever return, you will pay for it with your life. You have until dawn to leave the city."
Marian paced the corridors, too angry to sit still. Her jaw clenched, and she balled and released her fists as she walked. After half an hour or so of attempting to calm herself, Marian stopped to lean against a pillar.
"Why wouldn't that asshole just listen?" she said to the empty corridor. "They aren't even knights and they're using sorcery right under his nose. Idiot."
She heard Gwaine and Gwen talking just around the corner, but she stayed where she was, trying to make sense of her feelings. Gwaine would leave Camelot forever, which troubled her more than it should have, and it was likely she'd never see him again. Plus, they still needed to find a way to save Arthur without using magic.
After another moment, Gwaine walked around the corner and smiled when he saw her.
"Leaving already?" she asked as she nodded to the bag on his shoulder.
"Don't have a choice."
"Yeah, but it's still a few hours until dawn."
Gwaine chuckled. "I thought you'd be happy to see the back of me, especially if it meant you'd never see me again."
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to." Gwaine set his bag down and approached her. "Besides, it'd be best if I did. I don't want to cause you any more trouble."
Marian's face softened, and she dropped her arms, stepping closer to him.
"Gwaine, I—"
"So, beautiful…" he interrupted. "You never said… Were you there when I was stitched up?"
"Yes, I was there."
He stepped closer. "When I woke up, I had naught a stitch of clothing on."
Marian's voice became annoyingly breathless. "Well, we had to get to your wound. And your trousers needed mending." She stepped back pressing herself against the pillar behind her.
Gwaine leaned in, one hand on the pillar next to her head, the other lower, trapping her. "And did you stitch my leg or my trousers?"
"Trousers," she said, her voice barely audible. Marian was irked at how the nearness of Gwaine affected her. At almost half a foot taller, he towered over her. She was mesmerized by his good looks and his husky voice, and he smelled of leather and musk. She could no longer breathe. She couldn't think. All she could do was stare at him and hope he couldn't hear her rapid heartbeat or see the blush spreading all over her skin. Her lips parted as he inched closer to her and she glanced down at his lips.
"So you got yourself an eyeful, did you?" Gwaine said as he smirked at her.
Marian's eyes flashed, and she ducked under his arm to get away from him. "You're insufferable! Did you know that?"
"So you've said."
With space between them and room to breathe, her foul mood returned. "Why are you so irritating?"
Gwaine dropped his arms and turned to her, chuckling. "Sorry, beautiful. You're just so easy to rile."
"And you made it your mission in life to piss me off?"
"Well, yours is to be cold and sour."
"I'm not cold or sour, thank you very much."
"Do you even know how to laugh?"
"Sure, when something's funny."
"What will it take for you to like me, Marian? Should I just disappear?"
Marian crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him without uttering a word.
"Well, I guess you got your wish, sweetheart," he said as he picked up his bag, ready to leave.
Marian watched him walk down the corridor and possibly out of her life forever. Panicking, she called out to him. "Wait, Gwaine." He stopped when she ran up beside him. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to disappear."
Gwaine picked her hand up and kissed her knuckles before turning back to leave.
"Please help us. Those thugs are going to kill Arthur, and I know you don't care about nobles but I suspect you care what happens to him."
Gwaine looked at her wide eyes pleading for help and was a lost man. Of course, he'd help. God help him, he'd do anything for this woman. "Actually, I think I have an idea. Can you meet me by the tents before the melee tomorrow?"
"I'll be there."
Marian stood at the edge of the tents tapping her foot. Gwaine was nowhere to be seen, which meant saving Arthur was going to be nearly impossible.
"Great! You're here," Gwaine said as he rounded the corner.
Marian jumped and her hand flew to her chest. "Holy fuck! You scared the shit out of me!"
Gwaine looked at the back of her dress. "Really? Because I don't—"
"Oh shut up. You know what I mean."
Gwaine grinned. "But you said—"
Marian gave his arm a light smack, pretending to be annoyed.
Gwaine sobered and looked around to make sure no one saw them. "I need some armor. Can you get it for me?"
"What? Are you going to enter the melee?"
"It's the only way to make sure Arthur's safe."
"Okay." Marian grabbed Gwaine's hand, pulling him into an empty tent.
"Whoa, there, beautiful. At least buy me dinner first," he chuckled.
She rolled her eyes and let go of his hand. "Do you want my help or not?"
Gwaine cleared his throat, trying not to laugh. "Sorry. I do. Please."
"Right. Stay here. I'll go get something for you." When she got to the tent flap, she turned back around and pointed at him. "Stay!"
Gwaine frowned. "I'm not a dog."
Marian grinned at him.
"Funny." He couldn't help but chuckle at her teasing. At last, he was finally getting somewhere.
Marian carried the few pieces of armor she could find back to the tent. "Put this on," she said, handing a chainmail shirt to him. Once it was on, she began buckling the plate armor.
"How'd you learn to do this?"
"I played a lot as a child. Knights and princesses were my thing."
"Princesses were—ow! Not so tight."
"Sorry," she said, but her voice said anything but.
He chuckled, taking the leather gloves from her. "No, you're not."
"No, I'm not."
Gwaine shook his head, amused by their banter. "Thank you, Marian," he said, taking the helmet from her.
She caught his arm before he could put it on. "Wait. You're supposed to wear a ribbon or something, right? Isn't that how they do it? You wear a lady's favor for luck?" she asked as she untied the white embroidered ribbon in her hair.
He drew a quick breath as her braid came undone and her hair hung loosely. It was the color of honey and fell down her back in waves, and when a breeze caught her hair, he swore he smelled apples.
Embarrassed by the closeness, she blushed as she tied the ribbon around his arm.
"Thank you, milady." Gwaine bowed over her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.
After he let go, she reached up and kissed his cheek, her lips lingering a little longer than she'd meant. "Be careful."
Gwaine grinned. One minute she acted like she couldn't stand him, and the next, she was behaving like she wanted him to court her. It was working. She liked him. "I always am," he said as he pulled the helmet on over his head and left.
"Where've you been? It's about to start," Merlin asked Marian when she found them.
"Sorry, had something to take care of," she said, grinning to herself. "Which one is Arthur?"
Merlin pointed to the only knight wearing Camelot's colors of gold and red on his arm. "Just there."
Scared that Gwaine had been caught, Marian looked through the crowd of knights sitting on their mounts and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him on his horse.
The melee started, and the field erupted into chaos as the lines of knights galloped toward each other and began to fight. Marian kept her eye on Gwaine and Arthur, praying nothing happened to either of them.
She grabbed Merlin's sleeve when Gwaine was knocked off his horse and stayed down. "Shit!"
"What?"
"Nothing." She covered her mouth in a gasp of horror as Arthur was pushed from his mount, dodging the blow of another knight.
As one of the knights charged at Arthur, Merlin's eyes glowed, and the saddle strap of the man's horse snapped, tossing him to the ground.
Marian hated it. Storybooks romanticized melees too much. Rather than the fun battle between friends, it was violent and dangerous. It was a ridiculous way to prove their worth by beating each other senseless.
One by one, knights fell or walked out of the arena injured, until there were only three left standing. Even Gwaine was still down.
Arthur danced around the two knights that were left, fending them off. They weren't attacking each other, only Arthur, and they were brutal. That had to be Dagr and his friend.
Marian bit her lip as she raised herself on her tiptoes to get a better look at the action. It looked as though the thugs were about to overtake Arthur. There was no way he'd survive the stulorne blades.
Out of nowhere, Gwaine stood and rushed to Arthur, defending him against the thugs.
"Who is that helping Arthur?" Merlin asked.
"I don't know, but I think we should be thankful he is," Gaius said.
Marian bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her secret a secret.
Gwaine swung the hilt of one of the thug's swords out of their hand and caught it easily, lunging forward to stab the man with his own blade.
Dagr pushed Arthur to the ground and then kicked him to keep him from moving. As the thug prepared to thrust his sword into Arthur's chest, Gwaine knelt between them, blocking the attack with one blade and stabbing Dagr with the other. Once the thug was crumpled on the ground Arthur stood and removed his helmet to yield.
The crowd erupted into cheers when Gwaine was declared the winner, but the cheers quickly turned into surprised gasps when he removed his helmet. Looking around, Gwaine winked when he saw Marian.
Merlin looked at her in shock. "Did you know that was Gwaine?"
She shrugged and smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about, Merlin. Really, where do you get these insane ideas?"
Any mirth she felt at Gwaine saving Arthur was sucked out when Uther ordered Gwaine's arrest.
Fuck.
Marian ran into the physician's chambers ahead of the guards escorting Gwaine. She pulled bandages from the cupboard and poured fresh water into a bowl. Setting them down on a work table, she waited for Gwaine to arrive.
"You've got ten minutes. Uther wants the prisoner in the dungeon as soon as he's patched up," one of the guards said while he pushed Gwaine down on a bench.
"Right. Take off your shirt so I can see how bad it is," Marian said.
"Me?" Gwaine pointed to himself.
Marian chuckled. "No, the guards. Yes, you."
"No can do, sweetheart." When she raised her eyebrows, he elaborated. "The chains."
"Ah. Yeah, that'll be a problem. Can we take them off?"
Brian shook his head. "We're under strict orders, Marian."
"Fine, but can you at least give us some privacy?"
"Sorry, no."
"He's not going to take off, Brian. He's still in chains."
"You're just a woman. He might overpower you and escape."
Gwaine watched Marian, amused at the emotions crossing over her face.
She crossed her arms and frowned. "Just a woman, huh? It's obvious you don't remember that this woman helped to carry you back to the castle after you fell off your horse last week or that I popped your shoulder back in place."
Brian turned red and sputtered. "That's… it's not the same… he's a criminal! He'll hurt you!"
"Don't be such a damn fool," Gwaine said, earning an elbow from the other guard.
Marian sighed and took Brian to the side, speaking in hushed tones. "Look, he won't hurt me, you have my word." Marian was beginning to lose her patience with him. "Brian he saved the prince's life, for fuck's sake. Gwaine is a good man."
"Fine. But yell if he tries anything funny. C'mon Gareth," he said, nodding to the other guard.
Gwaine smiled at Marian after they left.
"You think I'm a good man?"
"You saved Arthur."
"Anything else?"
She reached down to unbuckle his belt for him.
"You're awfully bold today, beautiful," he said with a grin.
She whipped his belt away, taking delight when he jumped. "You'd better behave, Gwaine."
"Or what?"
"Or I'm liable to let the guards have you instead."
He chuckled. "You win." He held his breath as she pulled his shirt over his head, letting it dangle from his bound hands.
"Jesus, you've got a deep bruise. Does it hurt?" she asked, prodding at his skin.
He winced. "Ow! Quit touching it, woman!"
She turned to the work table and dipped a cloth into the bowl of water. "Looks like you've got a small cut too," she said, cleaning his wound.
"I'm not surprised. Those damn swords were sharp."
With his shoulder cleaned of blood, she pulled out a bandage to wrap it.
"It was really brave, what you did," she said, trying to keep any emotions out of her voice. To be honest, she was impressed, happy, and a little bit turned on. Well, a lot turned on, but he didn't need to know that.
He shrugged. "Anyone would've done it if they could."
"That's doubtful. You risked your life. And not just by facing those thugs. Uther banished you under penalty of death."
"Don't remind me."
Marian finished wrapping his shoulder and tied the ends together. "Well, he has to take it back now. You saved his son. And you were right about the knights being thugs."
"I wouldn't count on it. Uther is arrogant. He'll never admit he's wrong."
"But he has to. The entire city witnessed it. He can't deny it when everyone saw."
"You're naïve, Marian. I've known kings like Uther."
"I guess we'll just have to see, then."
He stood and pointed to the water bowl. "In the meantime, mind if I use that? I'd hate to be hanged smelling like a pigsty."
"That's not funny. Don't even joke about that."
He dipped a clean cloth in the water and wiped his face and neck. "What's that, beautiful? Concerned for me?"
"Of course I am. I don't want you to die, Gwaine."
"You sure about that?"
"I'm sorry I made you think I don't care what happens to you. I don't want Uther to hang you. I promise."
He gave her a small smile and a nod. "Best get going, sweetheart before the brainless twins think I'm trying to ravish you."
Her face grew hot as she helped him with his shirt. What was it about this man that made her lose her wits? Even after having fought in the melee and with minimal washing, he smelled good. Leather and musk again. And that smolder. It nearly knocked her off her feet. She looked away when he watched her, making her feel naked and vulnerable.
He had changed her mind about him with one selfless act. And now? Now she not only wanted him to stay in Camelot but to stay near her. It might even be worth the risk. She could look without giving in, couldn't she? He could be that hot friend you look at but can't touch. He's loyal and funny. All she needed to do was convince him to stay in the city after Uther pardoned him.
"Gwaine, I—"
Merlin burst through the door, Brian and Gareth close behind. Gwaine put his hands up and quickly backed away from Marian. "I swear I didn't lay a finger on her."
Merlin tilted his head in confusion. "What?"
The guards went to Gwaine to unhook the shackles.
"Arthur said you're to be set free," Merlin said, smiling.
Marian bounced on her feet as Gwaine's chains fell. "Oh, Merlin, that's wonderful!"
Gwaine called after the guards as they left. "It was great seeing you boys! We should do this again sometime!"
Marian turned to Gwaine, her eyes bright with glee. "So, you're free now. We can find you a job and a place to stay in the city. I bet Gwen knows—"
Merlin interrupted her. "Nothing's settled yet. Arthur's still in there with Uther. I think he's trying to change Uther's mind about the banishment too."
Marian's heart sank. "But he has to, doesn't he? Uther knows the thugs were using magic, right? Gwaine saved Arthur!"
Gwaine laid his hand on her shoulder. "Let's go see what Arthur has to say."
As they walked through the corridors to the council chamber, he mulled the likely outcomes. The first one, Uther would change his mind and he could stay in the city, just as Marian said.
He started at that. He never thought about settling down before, and here he was imagining a boring life doing a boring job and loving it. In Camelot, he'd have friends. Merlin, Gaius, Gwen. Even Arthur. And he could have a sweetheart. He could take his time and woo Marian.
Another probable outcome wasn't so nice. He'd get to live but would still be sent away. Or even worse, Uther would carry out his threat and execute him.
Gwaine paced the corridor as they waited to hear Uther's judgment. Merlin leaned against the pillar, a picture of tranquility. Marian stood by the window wringing her hands. If you'd have told Gwaine two days ago that she would like him enough to be worried about him, he'd have laughed. Each time he passed her, though, she looked at him, her smile comforting.
What should have made his heart soar, instead broke it. This would play out the same way it always did. Nobles don't care if what you did was right. They only care about saving face. He knew he'd either be banished or executed, there was no getting around it. And both options meant no Marian.
He had to decide how he was going to handle either outcome. Obviously, there wasn't much he could do if he were destined for the noose. But if he only remained banished, he'd end up leaving his heart behind in Camelot, yearning for what could have been. Suspecting she was already beginning to care for him and not wanting Marian to feel that pain too, he decided to push her away should he have to leave. He wasn't sure how, but it would be for her own good.
Suddenly, Arthur came out of the council chamber. "The king is prepared to overlook the fact that you fought in the melee," he told them.
"That's fantastic!" Merlin grinned.
Marian breathed a sigh of relief and looked over to Gwaine, smiling.
"Thank you, Arthur," Gwaine said, delighted.
Arthur gave them a grave look. "But…"
Everyone's face fell, dreading what was to come next.
"He's a stubborn man. He will not rescind his judgment. You must leave Camelot."
Gwaine couldn't look at Marian, her disappointment would hurt too much. Instead, he looked at the floor.
"What?" Marian shouted.
"Oh, you've got to speak to him, Arthur, make him change his mind," Merlin said.
Gwaine laid his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Merlin, it's okay."
"I'm sorry, Gwaine. My father's wrong. If it were up to me—"
"Arthur, he can't do this! The whole reason Gwaine was banished in the first place was defending Merlin against two knights who weren't knights and happened to use sorcery to—"
"It's okay." Giving Marian a small smile, Gwaine touched her hand to stop her. "I know, Arthur. You don't need to explain yourself."
"You have until sunset," Arthur said, leaving the corridor.
It was time. Gwaine had to hurt Marian to push her away. It was the right thing to do. Wasn't it?
"I'd better go tell Gaius," Merlin said, sensing that Gwaine wanted to talk to her alone.
"I can't believe it," Marian said. "You were right, Gwaine."
"I usually am when it comes to nobles."
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"No choice."
"But it's just not fair. I hate this."
"You're right, beautiful, it's not fair, but the king's word is law."
"You're just going to give up? You're not going to fight it?"
Gwaine leaned against the wall as if he didn't have a care in the world. "It would be pointless to fight."
"So you're really just going to leave, then?"
"You heard Arthur. Uther wants me out of the kingdom."
"But you know this isn't right! You can stay and fight it!"
"Nah, too much work."
"Too much work? Gwaine this is your life."
"No, princess, my life is going from tavern to tavern drinking my sorrows away with a little female company, and I like it that way," he lied.
"So ale, gambling, and women is it?"
Gwaine just looked at her, trying to keep his composure, to keep from whisking her away to some faraway kingdom and making a life together.
"Fine," Marian started to walk off but thought better of it. Instead, she marched up to him. "I thought you were different, Gwaine. That you cared about something bigger than yourself, you cared about someone other than yourself. I guess I was wrong. You're nothing but a drunk."
"I guess so."
"You're serious about this, aren't you?"
"I'm never serious about anything, princess."
"Stop calling me that! God, you're such an ass! I was starting to like you, to trust you, but none of it was real, was it?"
He couldn't say anything. He was afraid if he opened his mouth the truth would spill out. The truth about how he wanted nothing more than to stay in Camelot. With her. But with Uther's decree, it would only hurt more. A clean break is what they both deserved. And he hated himself for it.
"Why did you save Arthur, then?"
"Nothing better to do. Besides, having a prince owe you can come in handy for someone like me."
"And me? All that flirting was for nothing?"
He swallowed hard. "It was a jest. Nothing more. I told you I wouldn't want to sleep with you." His heart broke at the look on her face. "You'll get over it, as will I."
"Fuck you!" Marian fled the corridor before she said something she would regret. She couldn't believe that she had cared about him. When he joined the melee to save Arthur, Marian thought the legend was finally coming together. That he would be Sir Gwaine and history would be right. Instead, He was leaving to rot in some filthy tavern with stale ale, cheaters, and whores.
Marian made up her mind before she reached her bedchamber. The only way Gwaine could come back and take his place in history was for Uther to lift his banishment. Uther was stubborn, yes, but Marian was more so. She'd wait until the next day but she was going to petition Uther. She was going to pester him so much that he'd have no choice but to welcome back the man who saved his son's life. Marian wanted nothing to do with Gwaine but history was history, and she needed to set it right.
Gwaine waited until Marian was out of sight before heading to the physician's chambers to pick up his stuff.
"Where's Marian?" Merlin asked.
"She's upset herself."
Merlin handed him a parcel of food that he'd hastily prepared for Gwaine. "I'm not surprised. We're all upset you have to go."
"I don't think me leaving is going to bother her much," Gwaine said putting the parcel in his bag.
"Where will you go?"
"I was thinking Mercia."
"It's dangerous."
"Yeah, and you get a lot more ale for your money." He laughed when Merlin gave him a sharp look. "I'm joking."
"Why don't you tell the king who you really are? He'll grant you a pardon and you can stay in Camelot," Merlin asked, desperate to have Gwaine stay.
"I could never serve under a man like Uther."
"Yet you helped Arthur."
"He stood up for me."
"I knew he would."
"That showed he is, indeed, a noble man."
"Then why don't you stay?"
Gwaine sighed. Leaving Marian wasn't the only thing he regretted. Merlin was a good friend, and he wasn't used to having friends.
"You could be a knight. Like your father. You and Arthur, you fought well together."
He looked at Merlin for a long moment, wishing life hadn't been so cruel. "Then maybe one day we will again."
"You could get to know Marian, maybe even court her." Merlin gave his last desperate plea.
Gwaine looked up at Merlin, surprised that he knew how he felt about her.
"What, did you think I didn't notice?" Merlin smiled.
Gwaine barked a rueful laugh. "There's nothing to be done about it, Merlin. I'd best put her out of my mind."
"Then I hope we'll see each other again," Merlin said as Gwaine picked up his bag and left.
The walk to the edge of the city took a lot longer than he had expected. As he walked down the dirt road leading to the forest, he mulled over what had happened since that tavern brawl days ago. When he walked into that tavern, he'd never have imagined saving a prince's life, twice, much less making a loyal friend and finding the woman of his dreams.
Gwaine reached into his trouser pocket and fished out the white embroidered ribbon Marian had tied to his arm for the melee. Bringing it to his nose, he inhaled. Apples. It still smelled of her hair. God, he hoped to see her again someday, to get to know her better, and maybe she would come to care for him as much as he surprisingly found that he cared for her. He knew deep down in his bones that seeing Marian again was unlikely and even if they met again getting her to forgive him would be next to impossible. But there was one tiny spark inside him that held onto that hope. Hope. Such a beautiful word.