Part 3: link

-Camelot-


    Merlin sits at the table, idly picking at his porridge. He dips the spoon in, lifts it, tips the spoon, and watches as the gruel dribbles back down into the bowl in a series of wet splats. He glances repeatedly over at Guinevere’s still form as he does this, worry crossing his face.
    “Merlin, are u going to eat your breakfast of just…” Gaius’ voice drifts away from the young wizard as his face goes slack, his staring eyes blank.
    Morgana approaches Helios’ fortress in the morning mist on horseback, making her way towards the gates. She slows, noting the eerie quiet, the lack of sound of movement.
    No, there is some movement. She slowly casts her eyes skyward, only to see large vultures circling the tower, and lower, crows swooping and diving in.
    She slowly advances, wary now; alert. Something is very wrong. Entering the gates, she gasps as the sight and smell of over twenty dead bodies hits her.
    They litter the courtyard. Crows pick at their eyes, their soft innards, while far off to one side, two feral dogs fight over leg of one unlucky man. A gier dives and lands on the chest of another.
    Covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief, she dismounts and enters the castle.
    Not a castle: a tomb. The smell is stronger inside. The bodies are still fresh, but they have been lying, unattended and ignored for just over a day, and the weather is quite warm. Morgana looks down at one body very close door and recoils as she sees a swarm of beetles, shiny and black, crawling across an open gash in the man’s stomach.
    “Helios?” she calls quietly, advancing warily, hand outstretched, defensive magic on the tip of her tongue, ready to spring at the slightest provocation.
    She looks up the staircase. There is a body sprawled halfway down, his legs bent at angles to which no legs should ever be bent. She peeks down the corridor. Littered with Helios’ fallen men.
    This was a massacre.
    “Helios?” she calls again, slightly louder this time.
    A rat scurries across the corridor ahead of her. Morgana jumps and blasts the rodent, which screeches as it flies back, a fist-sized ball of fire.
    The Lady curses softly, advancing towards the great hall, its doors still standing open.
    She sees Helios’ battered corpse, a crumpled, bruised and bloodied heap in the center of the floor. There is a dark sticky stain spread out all around him where his fluids have drained and pooled.
    Another rat crawls across his chest. Morgana stays her hand this time. She moves closer to his body, wide eyes locked on his still form.
    “Helios?” she whispers, as if she cannot believe he is dead. As if she thinks he will sit up and grin at her. As if she thinks this is some sort of nightmare.
    Unfortunately for her, it is.
    “Who did this?” she asks aloud. She sees the dried blood door his nose and mouth. The gash in his leg and in his arm. The deep puncture wound in his chest from the sword.
    Gingerly, she touches his hand. Stiff. Like wood.
    The rat squeaks at her and she jumps, staggering backwards to her feet, her face a tightly-drawn mask of horror. Suddenly petrified and off-balance, she flees the room, heading down the wrong corridor in her confusion.
    Morgana passes a quarter-staff leaning against a uithangbord and suddenly it falls to the ground with a wooden clatter. She shrieks and jumps, and then the staff changes and it moves, slithering and hissing, black and red and scaly. It raises is head and bares its fangs at Morgana.
    “Emrys,” she squeaks, realization hitting her like a wave. Her pale skin pales further and she turns and runs, leaping over bodies, finding her way to the door and her horse.
    “Merlin? Merlin!” Gaius calls him back, and Merlin blinks suddenly, the vision disappearing, replaced door the concerned, familiar face of his guardian and mentor.
    “Merlin, what happened to you?” Gaius whispers, looking furtively back at Gwen. She’s still unconscious, but they aren’t sure if she can hear them and if so, how much she’ll remember when she wakes.
    “I… think I just had a vision,” Merlin whispers, leaning in close. A smile creeps across his face. “That means it worked,” he says triumphantly.
    “What worked? What have u done now?”
    “I’ve been working on something in my free time,” he says, pulling a smooth black stone from his pocket. “Seeing stones. I left a few around Helios’ fortress, triggered to… alert me of the presence of a magical force.”
    “Morgana,” Gaius says, impressed at the boy’s ingenuity.
    “I just saw her arrive there,” he says, his thumb stroking the stone. He goes on to detail what he witnessed. Her horror at what she’s discovered; her fear when she realized that “Emrys” had been there.
    “She has no choice now but to retreat. At least for a while. She has no allies, because I’m sure she’s found Agravaine’s body now as well,” he pauses, peeking sheepishly at Gaius.
    The old man raises his eyebrow at him and simply purses his lips.
    “Plus, I’ve put meer fear of Emrys in her heart. She’s petrified of him. Of me, except she doesn’t know he’s me, obviously, and good thing, too, ’cause…”
    “Merlin,” Gaius interrupts his rambling.
    “Sorry. So she’s alone and scared. She’ll be quiet for a while. Which will give Gwen and Arthur a chance to heal and reconcile,” he says, looking over at his friend again. “They’re going to need it.”
    “I am impressed, Merlin, I really am,” Gaius says, beaming proudly at his apprentice.
    Merlin grins, and actually takes a bite of his breakfast, now cold. He makes a face and pushes the bowl aside.
    “I just have one vraag for you, though,” Gaius asks.
    “Hmm?”
    “What ‘free time?’”
    Merlin shrugs. “Sleep is overrated anyway.”

xXx

    Arthur hobbles in, walking with a cane that Gaius had gegeven him. The bone is bruised in his knee, and Gaius has ordered him to use the cane for at least the volgende few days.
    “Is she awake?” he asks hopefully, but as soon as he looks over, he knows the answer.
    “Patience, Sire,” Gaius says. “I can only imagine what she must have been through,” he adds.
    “Gwen’s friend Frida should be arriving soon. She should be able to shed some light for you,” Merlin says.
    “Frida? Is she that tall blonde girl that was with Percival?”
    “Yes. She was with Gwen at Helios’ fortress.”
    Arthur crosses to where Gwen is sleeping and sits beside her bed. Merlin and Gaius wisely go about their business, leaving him alone with her.
    He leans over and kisses her forehead, stroking her hair back from her face. Her skin is warm and soft, pliant, as if she is merely sleeping.
    She makes no sound, her breathing soft and regular. She hasn’t moved since he left her last night.
    “Guinevere,” Arthur finally says quietly. “Please wake up.”
    There is a knock at the door and Arthur looks up as Merlin opens the door for Frida and Percival.
    The knight sees Arthur and he politely clears his throat.
    Arthur kisses Gwen’s forehead again and stands. “Yes?” he asks tiredly, leaning on his cane.
    “My lord, Sir Leon is awaiting your instruction on the training field,” he says reluctantly.
    “Yes, I know, thank you, Percival. Good morning, Frida, were u able to sleep at all?” he asks the young woman.
    “Some. I tink. Too much newness, too much excitement yesterday,” she sighs. “Maybe tonight.”
    Gaius comes over now, and Arthur introduces Frida.
    “She was at Helios’ kasteel longer than Gwen was. She has information that might be helpful for u in her treatment,” Arthur says, his eyes drawn back to Gwen’s still form.
    “Thank you, Frida, I know this is probably very hard for you,” Gaius says, patting her hand. Something about the elderly physician’s calm and intelligent demeanor reassures her, instills trust, and she smiles.
    “Percival,” Arthur turns. “I think I’d like to stay and hear what Frida has to say. Tell Leon to run the standard drills, concentrating on hand-to-hand and mixed weaponry.”
    “Yes, Sire,” Percival nods, his face tonen the slightest hint of disappointment. “Oh, he’s already taken the liberty of ordering preparations for the memorials of our fallen knights,” he adds.
    “Very good,” Arthur says, and Percival turns to leave. “Percival,” Arthur says quietly.
    “Yes?”
    “I know u wish to stay as well, to hear what Frida has to tell.” The looks that have been passing between the large knight and the tall maid have not gone unnoticed door the king.
    Percival blushes and looks down. Frida turns her head towards them, having heard her name.
    “You may have some time off this afternoon to talk with her yourself,” Arthur promises, glancing at Frida, whose cheeks also color now.
    “Thank you, Sire,” he says quietly. He gives Frida one last look, and she smiles shyly at him before he jogs away to the training field.
    “Tank you, Sire,” Frida echoes, looking down at her feet.
    “Come and sit,” Gaius says. “Have u eaten?” he asks her.
    “No, sir.”
    “Merlin…?” Gaius turns his head to see Merlin already approaching with a fresh bowl containing hot porridge, an apple, and a homp, stoere binken of cheese.
    “One step ahead of you, Gaius,” he says, setting the tray before Frida.
    “Tank you, Merlin,” she says, immediately inspecting the cheese. She smells it, and breaks off a piece to try. “I can do better,” she declares with a shrug.
    The three men laugh, surprised at her bold statement.
    “Oh!” she exclaims, embarrassed. “Forgive me…”
    “No, no, nothing to forgive, I assure you,” Arthur says kindly. It feels good to laugh, he realizes. “But now I am really looking vooruit, voorwaarts to your work.”
    “Where are u from, dear? I don’t believe I’ve heard your accent before,” Gaius says, deciding to first make small talk so she can eat.
    “The north. My homeland is called Nor Veg.”
    “Vikings,” Gaius says, eyebrows lifting. “That explains your… above-average height,” he smiles.
    “Ya. My people are very tall. I told Gven, the men of my village are big like the bear. Like your knight there,” she points to the door Percival had just exited, her slight blush giving her away again.
    “Hmm,” Gaius says, a knowing smile creeping across his face. “Will u tell us how u landed here?”
    She thinks a moment. “Perhaps another time. It is a sad story and one dat I do not like to relive often, for it breaks my hart-, hart every time I have to tell it.”
    “Understood.”
    “All of Helios’ serving venches – his harem – are vomen who have run avay from someting. Dat I vill say.”
    “Interesting,” Gaius says. “Do u mind if I take notes while u talk, dear?”
    “No, sir.”
    “You do not have to call me ‘sir,’ I am a commoner,” Gaius says gently.
    “But u are a learned physician, sir, and u must be shown respect.”
    “I like this girl,” Gaius says, smiling at Arthur and Merlin.
    “You are right, Frida,” Arthur speaks up. “And we do have nothing but the utmost respect for Gaius.” He looks to his old friend, remembering that painful conversation when Gaius returned, nearly dead, after being framed as a traitor.
    “Thank you, Sire,” Gaius nods, picking up his quill.
    Frida eats half her porridge, a few meer bites of cheese and the entire apple. “Helios collected vomen. Vomen running from their pasts,” she says simply. “Dat is how he vould snare dem. Promise an easy life, a roof over their heads.”
    Gaius nods, frowning. “He lays out the bait, preying on insecurity,” he nods, a thoughtful frown crossing his face. “Tell me, Frida, I am curious. I know little of Helios. Did he travel here from another land, someplace where a lord having a harem of women was commonplace?”
    “No. I know dis because he spoke once about a brother and growing up nearby. He vas drunk, vich is the only reason he vas talking dat much. I tink he heard of the concept and felt it vas his due. Dat he deserved to have any voman he vanted venever he vanted, and liked the idea of having several to choose from at any time. He had a very high opinion of himself.”
    “Such a man would almost have to,” Gaius comments. “Please go on, dear.”
    “Vell, once ve vere at ease, he vould call for us at night. Silas vould collect vatever girl Helios reqvested for the night and escort her up.”
    “Were any of the girls… willing? Did any welcome his advances?”
    “A few. Most of us… vat is the vord? Tolerated him. Ve had no choice, ya? So ve find vays to cope. Tink of someting else, pretend to be somevere else. Remove the mind from the body. Fantasize about killing him. of at least cutting off his…” she trails off.
    “Yes,” Gaius says, clearing his throat.
    “Gven had not been there long enough to develop dat ability. Also too innocent,” Frida looks over at Gwen, a sad smile on her face.
    “So it’s true, then,” Arthur says, his voice barely audible. “Helios wasn’t just taunting me.”
    “I am sorry, Sire, but ya, he did… break her.”
    Arthur looks as though he is going to be ill.
    “I am sorry she is no longer a maiden for you, Sire,” Frida apologizes again, misunderstanding his grief.
    “What? I don’t care about that…” he says absently. “It… it just makes me sick that she had to go through that. That she was forced, maiden of not…” he stops, unable to continue, his face white as a sheet.
    Frida contemplates him again. He is a surprise.
    Gaius looks steadily at Frida. “Frida, do I… do I need to call the midwife in to examine her? Either of you?”
    “She will not be vit child, sir, but the midvife vould still be a good idea, I tink. Just to make sure dat he did not…” she glances uneasily at Arthur, “damage her.”
    “She will be damaged enough emotionally door him, I’m afraid,” Gaius says darkly. “Merlin,” he turns and looks at the servant.
    “Yes, I’ll go find her, she doesn’t live far from here,” he says, heading out the door to retrieve the midwife.
    Arthur is sitting with his elbows on his knees, holding his head, staring at the floor.
    “How do u know she isn’t with child?” he asks, not looking up.
    “Helios vas careful. He did not vant children. zei dey vere a burden and a nuisance. So he never… how did she say it? He never spilled his seed inside.”
    Arthur looks up, the already-unhappy expression on his ashen face now also displaying disgust. “And u are certain he…?”
    “Ya. Ven she came back to our room, she… um,” Frida looks at her hands, not able to say such things and look at the king’s face. “She scrubbed her belly until the skin vas roze and raw.”
    “Oh,” Arthur says sullenly. I’m sorry I asked.
    “Hmm. Frida, how often…?” Gaius asks, hoping she knows what he is asking.
    “He only summoned her one time, sir,” she answers. “Though he probably vould have done again soon had u not come and saved us, Sire. He seemed to be qvite fond of her.”
    “If I could go back there and kill him some more, I would,” Arthur mutters, his head in his hands again. Frida notices spots of wetness on the floor between his feet where his tears have fallen.
    “Is there anything else?” Gaius asks.
    “He vould beat us if ve did not cooperate vit him in his chambers. If ve even so much as hesitated in following his requests… no, demands, he vould hit.”
    Arthur remembers Gwen punching Helios in the eye, shouting that it was for Frida.
    “You received such punishment?” Gaius asks.
    “Ya. Only one time. I vas yet new. I did varn Gven that she should cooperate ven she vas summoned. It vas going to be painful enough for her.”
    “So she knew it was coming?”
    “I vas summoned two nights before she vas. Ve hadn’t talked about it before den, but she had figured it out. She is very smart. Ven I came back dat night, I advised her. She is strong-villed. I didn’t vant that to cause a problem for her.”
    “That was kind of you, Frida,” Gaius says. “From what I understand, Helios was a large man, and I’m sure he could have very easily overpowered her had she put up a fight. Possibly even killed her.”
    Arthur stands suddenly, his cane clattering to the floor. His face is pale and shiny, like un-tinted candle wax. He hobbles to a corner, behind the privacy screen, and after a moment they hear the sound of his retching into the pot, emptying the contents of his stomach.
    A tear slips from Frida’s eye now, and she hurriedly wipes it away. He knows it is his fault. He deserves this anguish, yet I cannot help but pity him.
    Merlin returns, rushing in, followed door a sturdy woman with steel gray hair.
    “Ah, Idla, good of u to come on such short notice,” Gaius stands, hugging the midwife.
    “Merlin told me it was urgent. Is it true? Is she back?” she looks over to see Gwen lying on her bunk, Arthur now face-down on the one directly beside.
    “What’s wrong with him, then?” she asks.
    “Shock, I think. Long story. Sit down, please. Idla, this is Frida.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Frida says, nodding at her. She then goes on to summarize some of the things she’s just told Gaius, explaining why she has been summoned.
    Idla is incensed, ready to go off and kill Helios again herself.
    “If there’s one thing I just cannot abide…” she starts, then calms herself. “Thank u for calling me. Of course I will examine her. And u as well, Frida.”
    “Tank you, ma’am.”
    “But first, u men need to clear out,” Idla says, glancing uneasily at the king’s prone form.
    “I’ll get him,” Merlin says, picking up Arthur’s cane and walking over to his master.
    “Come on, then,” he says, hoisting Arthur to his feet.
    “You’re stronger than u look,” Arthur says, taking his cane.
    They pause near Frida. “Thank u again, for everything. I know it wasn’t easy for u this morning.”
    “You are velcome, Sire,” she bows her head.
    “Please, Arthur. u have definitely earned the right,” he smiles weakly at her, noticing that she is wearing the same dress as the vorige day.
    “Tank you… Artur.”
    “You have no belongings,” he says simply, starting to recover some, standing straighter, thinking clearer.
    “No time,” she shrugs.
    Arthur pulls a leather portemonnee from his riem and hands it to Merlin. “Merlin, take Frida to the market this morning. Make sure she has necessities. And, if u can find a dress of two long enough, those as well.”
    “I can sew if I have supplies,” she offers shyly.
    “Whatever u need. I’ll be sending a party back to Helios’ fortress in a dag of two; I will make sure that Percival leads the group so he can go to your room and bring back the things from your room for u and Guinevere.”
    “Tank you, Sire. Artur.”
    “I’ll wait outside for you, Frida,” Merlin says.
    “Arthur, are u going out to the training fields?” Merlin asks.
    “No,” Arthur says. “I’m going back to my chambers. I do not wish to be disturbed. Unless Guinevere wakes,” he looks at Gaius, “in which case someone had better come running like their backside was on fire.”
    “Understood.”
    “Good. Now get out,” Idla calls.

xXx

    “So, what do u think?” Gwaine asks Leon. The two knights are patrolling the forest after lunch, riding on the well-worn path around the kingdom.
    Gwaine enjoys being paired with Leon on patrols. The senior knight is always so proper, so formal, and Gwaine finds he likes trying to draw the human being out of him.
    “About?” Leon asks.
    “Arthur and Gwen. Do u think she’ll recover, that she’ll take him back?”
    “It is not my place to say,” Leon antwoorden carefully.
    “I know, that’s why I’m asking u what u think. It’s called having an opinion.”
    “My opinion is of little consequence.” He still avoids answering.
    “Leon, u are impossible. What do u think I’m going to do, tattle?”
    Leon still says nothing, but Gwaine can tell he’s at least pondering an answer now.
    “I do know one thing,” Gwaine volunteers, “I’ll never get the image of Gwen pummeling Helios’ dead body out of my mind.” He frowns.
    “That entire scene gave me nightmares last night,” Leon admits quietly.
    “Ah, so the immortal Sir Leon is human after all!” Gwaine declares, but in truth, he feels for his comrade.
    “Immortal?”
    “You didn’t know that that’s what the lads call you?”
    “No. That’s just… odd. And inaccurate.”
    “Well, u did kind of come back from the dead, I hear. Drank from the cup of life, they say.”
    “Yes, well, I did, but that’s only because the Druids found me in the nick of time. I was nearly dead. They gave me drink from the cup. And that doesn’t make me immortal, it just makes me lucky.”
    “But doesn’t the cup of life…?”
    “Only if u put your blood in it and someone casts a spell over it, like Morgause did,” Leon explains with a sigh. “And even then, if the cup is spilled, you’re nothing meer than a piece of meat.”
    “Oh. But still, u always manage to come out of every battle with little meer than scratches.”
    “Skill, my friend. Skill.”
    “Right,” Gwaine rolls his eyes now. “Now if you’re done avoiding my original question…”
    “Very well,” Leon sighs. “I don’t know what I think, honestly. I know what I hope, but that is something different entirely.
    “What do u hope, then?”
    “I hope that they find their way back to each other. He is a good king, and she will be a good queen.”
    Gwaine nods in agreement. Both men seem certain that Gwen will one dag be their queen.
    “But together,” Leon continues, “they will be great. Nigh unstoppable.”
    “Balance,” Gwaine says, almost to himself.
    “Exactly,” Leon says, understanding the comment. “She is the light to his darkness, he the strength to her weakness.”
    “I don’t know about that; she didn’t look very weak yesterday…” Gwaine comments, raising his eyebrows.
    “You know what I mean,” Leon gives him a look. “I know she is not weak. But I sometimes wonder if she knows that. She has been a servant her whole life, and she is also a woman, which automatically gives her a lower status even if she were a true noble.”
    “Which is bollocks,” Gwaine cuts in.
    “Agreed. It’s an interesting dance, watching the two of them. She is always meek and proper, yet when Arthur needs her, she is right there, bolstering him, encouraging him to go on. Even yelling at him, if that’s what he needs. It’s like his weakness brings out her strength.”
    “Wow, Leon, that’s… almost profound.”
    “Well, u saw them two years ago, in that dank ruin of a castle. He was certain he was riding to his death. To face Morgana and Morgause and their immortal army in an attempt to bring them down and reclaim the kingdom.”
    “Yeah.”
    “We would not have succeeded were it not for her encouraging him.”
    “Well, if a beautiful woman kissed me like that on the night before a suicide mission, I’d sure as hell make sure I came home pagina to her,” Gwaine chuckles now.
    “Good point.”
    Gwaine turns and looks at the other knight, surprised.
    “What?” Leon asks. “I am not immune to the charms of a beautiful woman.”
    “So it does not trouble you, then?” Gwaine asks, voicing something he’s been wondering for a while now.
    “What does not trouble me?”
    “That your king has chosen a commoner rather than a Lady of a princess.”
    “Why do u ask?”
    “Well, ’cause you’re a proper noble, aren’t you? Not one of us rabble that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
    Leon laughs. “Thus making u an improper noble?”
    “As improper as I can be,” Gwaine winks.
    “No, it really doesn’t trouble me, getting back to your question. I cannot even say I was all that surprised when I saw that kiss,” he furrows his brows slightly.
    “Really?”
    “I may be a ‘proper’ noble, but I have eyes and a brain. I could see the way he looked at her, the way she would always be there for him. She made a key and broke me out of the dungeons so I could help him, for crying out loud.”
    “Definitely not weak,” Gwaine mutters with a chuckle.
    “Arthur is lucky to have a woman such as Gwen. We should all be so lucky to find someone like that.”
    “Surprised Uther never suspected,” Gwaine comments, “if it was as obvious as u say. And, come to think of it, it was; I spotted it the first time I was here.”
    “Uther did suspect, once. Blamed an enchantment.”
    Gwaine makes an exasperated noise and rolls his eyes.
    “Uther was a good king. Strong. Unfortunately, he only ever saw what he wanted to see.”
    “He was an ignorant bully,” Gwaine adds. Leon looks reproachfully at him, so he adds, “Opinion, remember?” and smiles.
    They ride a bit further, now on the trail heading back towards the castle.
    Gwaine smiles and looks around a bit. “Whoa,” he stops his horse, jumping down.
    “What is it? Do u see something?” Leon asks, alert now.
    “Yes,” Gwaine calls back, bounding a short distance into the thicket.
    “Well?”
    “Flowers,” Gwaine shouts back over his shoulder.
    “Did u say ‘flowers?’”
    “For Gwen,” he answers, bending and picking.
    “Save some for me,” Leon calls, dismounting.

xXx

    The two knights emerge from the forest just as Percival is heading into it, on foot.
    “Hey, Percival, we’ve got some flowers for Gwen,” Gwaine calls. “If u want, we’ll give u a share.”
    Percival says nothing, and they notice the uncharacteristic clouded expression on his face.
    “Percival?” Leon calls. “Hey, Perce, u all right?”
    “Hmm?” he looks up at them. “Going for a walk,” he mutters.
    They watch him stride into the forest, puzzling after him.
    “Wonder what’s wrong with him?” Gwaine asks as they advance again.
    “Arthur gave him the afternoon off to talk with Frida,” Leon says, a little concerned now. He and Percival are close, and he is worried for his friend.
    “Well, it looked like he didn’t like what she had to say,” Gwaine says.
    “No, he wasn’t angry,” Leon says. “I’m sure she probably had a lot to tell him. He is quite taken with her, and she can’t have had happy tales for him. He just needs time to absorb the information.”
    “I wonder if she told him everything,” Gwaine comments, having a pretty good idea of what Helios was doing with all those lovely girls at his fortress.
    Leon looks back over his shoulder at where Percival disappeared into the forest. “I hope so,” he says.
    They enter the courtyard at the same time as a young messenger bearing the colors of Caerleon.
    Leon dismounts and addresses the boy. “Can I help you?”
    “I have a message for King Arthur from Queen Annis of Caerleon,” the boy says, holding up a flat parcel.
    “Come with me,” Leon says, striding up the stairs to the castle. He starts towards Arthur’s quarters, then pauses and changes direction, heading for Gaius’ quarters.
    He knocks, and Gaius opens the door.
    “Sir Leon, how can I help you?” Gaius asks, stepping back to allow the knight to enter.
    “Is the king in here, door chance? There is a messenger here from Caerleon.”
    “He just left, actually. He’s been in and out of here all day,” Gaius sighs. “I know he’s anxious, but it’s getting to be quite tiresome.”
    “So she is still sleeping, then?” Leon asks. “Oh, wait, I almost forgot,” he says, remembering the daisies still bunched in his hand.
    “One moment,” he says to the messenger, turning and walking towards Gwen’s bed, where he takes a mug, pours some water in, and sets the daisies in the water. He places the mug on the tafel, tabel nearby, gives her a concerned look, and turns back to the messenger.
    “Okay; this way,” he leads the way out, passing Gwaine and his flowers on the way.
    “I do not wish to be disturbed,” Arthur’s voice calls after Leon knocks.
    “Sire, there is a messenger here from Caerleon,” Leon answers.
    The door opens after a moment, and the knight and the messenger enter.
    “My lord,” the messenger says, bowing and handing Arthur the parcel.
    “I probably know what this is,” Arthur says, opening it. It is the emblem from his cloak, returned, with a note.
Dear King Arthur,
    Thank u for sending these young women to me. I have been watching Helios from a distance for some time now, and had heard the rumors. I was horrified to learn that they were true. I only hope that u have dealt with him in a manner that he deserves.
    Makeda has told me everything, as she zei u had instructed. I have gegeven the girls jobs in my kingdom, jobs that will keep them on their feet and off their backs. They have a long road ahead, but they appreciate your aid and wish to thank u for it.
    I thank u again for trusting in me enough to send these girls into my care, and I do wish the best for u and your young lady. toon her the care and consideration that I know u possess, and the road will not seem so long.
    Please do keep the lines of communication open between our kingdoms. I treasure the peace between us and am always listening for news from Camelot.
Your friend,
Queen Annis of Caerleon.
    “She really did tell her everything,” Arthur comments. He was surprised that Annis knew of his “young lady.”
    “What is your name?” Arthur asks the boy.
    “Kirby.”
    “Kirby, thank u for the message. It is late and if u wish to stay the night, we will find u a bed.”
    “Thank you, Sire.”
    “I will have a reply for u in the morning. Merlin, will u find Kirby a bite to eat and a bunk in the servants’ quarters?”
    “Yes, Sire,” Merlin nods and starts to head out.
    “Kirby,” Arthur calls, stopping them.
    “Yes, my lord?”
    “Queen Annis mentions someone called Makeda in her note. Do u know who that is?”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “Tall, striking woman with dark brown skin?”
    “Yes, that’s the one, my lord. She is Queen Annis’ new maidservant, in fact. Took to her immediately. Her vorige maid had married recently and just had a child.”
    Arthur smiles, remembering the brave, intelligent woman, and knowing she will be a good companion to Annis. “Very good.” He ponders his returned emblem for a minute, then tosses it aside. “Oh, sorry, u may go.”
    “Thank you, Sire,” Kirby says.
    “I’ll pop in and check on Gwen while I’m out,” Merlin says before he leaves.
    “Thank you, Merlin.” He reaches for a clean parchment.
Dear Queen Annis, Arthur writes.
    I am very pleased to hear that the women are veilig in your care. Thank u for letting me impose on your hospitality this way. I needed to get them to safety, and u were the first person I thought of that was close enough for them to easily reach.
    Your messenger tells me that u have even made Makeda your maidservant. I was much impressed door her, she seemed a resourceful and intelligent woman and I am sure she will serve u well.
    My young lady is called Guinevere, and she is not well. Our physician assures me that she will recover, but it will be a long road for us both. I do most humbly thank u for your concern for her, it means much to me.
    I will keep u informed as much as I can about the goings-on in Camelot. I am similarly interested in Caerleon’s affairs and ask that u afford me the same courtesy.
Your servant,
King Arthur of Camelot

xXx

    Arthur cannot sleep. He tosses, he turns, he gets up and paces. He looks out the window. Finally, he can stand it no meer and leaves his chambers, heading through the corridors to Gaius’ rooms.
    He quietly pushes the door open, peeking in. He can hear Gaius’ soft snores, but there is no other sound. There is no light coming from the crack under Merlin’s door.
    Arthur closes the door behind him and pads on silent bare feet to Gwen’s bedside, pulling a stoel, kruk over to sit close beside her.
    He gazes down at her still form on the bunk, on her back, a blanket up to her chest, arms at her sides. Her splinted hand is nearest to him, which he laments because he wishes to hold her hand.
    He settles for stroking her wrist lightly with his fingers instead, the softness of her skin always a surprise to him.
    “Guinevere,” he says quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “I’m so sorry. For everything. I should have… I wish…”
    I don’t even know any more.
    “I should not have banished you. u are too much a part of me. I didn’t realize what I had until it was gone. Until u were gone.”
    He reaches up and very carefully lifts the ring into his hand. “You kept this. Why did u keep it? As a reminder of our love of as a reminder to meer carefully guard your heart?”
    I hope it’s not the seconde reason.
    “I could barely function without u around,” he says, words flowing meer freely now. “Ask Merlin how many times he woke me up from the tafel, tabel in my room instead of my bed. My bed that I couldn’t sleep in because all I could think of was that it should have been our bed. Ask him what a beast I was to everyone. Ask the knights how hard I pushed them, how hard I trained them, forgetting my anguish was mine to bear. Ask him how many times he confronted me about your banishment, reminding me that I was an idiot.”
    He sets the ring back down and touches her arm again.
    “I love u so much, Guinevere,” he whispers. “Please. u have to come back to me. You… we cannot heal your hurts if u do not wake. Gaius says u have to want to wake.” He pauses, tears now falling freely from his eyes.
    “Please want it. Want to open your beautiful brown eyes for me. Wake up for me, please, Guinevere.”
    He softly closes his fingers around her arm, just holding it, feeling the slender limb, stroking the skin with his thumb.
    “Wake up for yourself,” he amends.

xXx

    This isn’t my bed. It’s firmer. Better. The blankets feel softer.
    I can’t verplaats my hand. Why can’t I verplaats my hand? And why does it feel like there is a large stone resting on my stomach?
    Gwen moves her left hand, lifting it slowly, shakily, towards the weight on her stomach. Her fingers touch something silky and warm.
    Arthur’s eyes snap open at her touch and he lifts his head from where it had been resting on her stomach.
    “Guinevere?” he whispers.
    Slowly she blinks her eyes open to find herself looking into his familiar blue-grey eyes.
    Dawn is just breaking over Camelot, and the first shafts of sunlight stream into Gaius’ room.
    “You look awful. When was the last time u properly slept?”

Part 5: link