Title: Apart But Not Forgotten, Chapter Four: Falling
Author:
ella_rose88Pairing/Character: Gwen, Arthur, Merlin, OC, Arthur/Gwen
Rating: PG, light M.
Word Count: 1, 020
Warnings: Set during series 4 episode 11 & 12. AU after episode 10. This chapter may contain a little violence.
Prompt: Falling
Link to Table: can be found
HERE.
Summary: She may be gone, but Camelot is still with her. In the fourth chapter, Helios attacks Gwen’s village leaving not much else for Gwen to do but run, while Arthur learns the truth. But will he get there in time or will all be lost?
A/N: This was written for the
square-table Challenge. The theme for this chapter is Falling.
Please note: once again this has not been edited by anyone but me. Any spelling mistakes or grammar errors are my fault!
As always comments and feedback are welcomed and appreciated!
Part ONE ||
Part TWO ||
Part THREE || Part FOUR ||
Part FIVE ||
***
CHAPTER FOUR: FALLING
Flames… burning… Screaming…
It does not take long for Gwen eyes to open, stumble from her bed after Frain’s frantic attempts to awaken her. The fear and terror in her eyes tells her all she needs to know of what is happening, though the words tumble from her lips.
“What is happening?” Gwen asks, terrified as she quickly gets out of her small bed - as best as she can considering her growing belly - and grabs her robe.
“It’s Helios and his men,” Frain informs her quickly before helping Gwen grab a few things before they try and make they escape. “We must be quick. His henchmen are merciless and will not think twice to kill you, even though you are with child. Or do much worse…” Gwen starts to shiver just thinking about it, but shakes it off quickly. She is about to be a mother and her growing child needs her to be strong. And it is at this moment that Gwen wishes that she had sent that letter to Arthur telling her of her predicament and his child. Or at least her brother, but instead she got afraid and stubborn and did not send it. Oh how she regrets it now.
But she does not dwell too much on it for Frain is whispering that some men are coming towards the hut and Gwen wonders where Albert is. But she has no time to ask that question as they quickly run to the back door, as the footsteps edge closer and she can hear one of the men shout orders to the other men to search the house.
They make it out the back door and they both crouch down onto the ground, slowly creeping towards the woods. But not before Gwen looks ahead of her to see the village ablaze in flames, women and children crying helpless while their husbands, fathers and sons are rounded by Helios’s men like cattle. No doubt to fight with his men.
Frain rustles Gwen’s sleave, “We have no time to save the others Gwen. You need to get out now!” she whispers into her ear and Gwen knows that she is right.
It is at this moment that one of the men is edging closer to where they are hidden behind some bushes and Frain knows that it will not take long for him to discover them. There is only one thing for her to do.
“Gwen, you must run towards the woods and go to Camelot and get help!” She tells her sternly, knowing that Gwen will be hard to convince to leave her behind.
“I’m not leaving you behind!” Gwen tries to grab her hand and pull her with her, for if she is going to escape then so is Frain. Frain over the past few months had become a mother figure in her life and she could not have gotten through everything without her. So she was not about to leave her.
“It won’t take long for them to find us and god knows do what,” Frain starts to come undone, “You’re our only hope.” Frain looks Gwen deeply in her eyes. “Please!” She begs, leaving not much of a choice for her, but to run towards the woods.
*
Everything is a haze. The past two days were… Arthur cannot find the words to describe it. One moment he was looking at how a prisoner could escape the dungeons, the next Merlin found the bracelet. Arthur recognised it immediately for it was hers. It was Guinevere’s. He did not think much on it, for he knew that Gwen must have lost it when she was in the cell. But then Merlin told him that the markings on it were strange and that they should take it to Gaius. Quickly they set out to find Gaius and Arthur could not believe it, could not believe that he didn’t see it before.
For what caused his beloved behaviour that night was not that she loved another above him, rather something more sinister. She was enchanted. Gauis confirmed it and as soon as he did Arthur did not speak to anyone for hours. Just sat on the edge of his bed, tears streaming down his face, wondering how he could have been so blind, so manipulated that he did not see that Gwen loved him, not Lancelot. And now she was out there, alone and it was his entire fault. But worst of all, she did not know. She did not know that it was not her fault that she kissed Lancelot. She was completely blameless.
Once Arthur’s shock wore off a little, it did not take long for Arthur, Merlin and some of his knights to set out to look for her. Luckily, Gaius informed them that Gwen was staying with some friends not far from the Merican border. It would take them a day to get there and yet to Arthur it felt too far away.
“I hope she is okay,” Arthur finds himself talking to know one in particular and not even sure if anyone hears him. But Merlin does.
“Gwen’s strong. We’ll find her and make sure she is safe.” Merlin reassures him.
“But what if she never forgives me, for what I did to her.” Arthur admits miserably, voice filled with hopelessness.
“She will. She will be mad and angry at first no doubt,” Merlin tells him honestly, for it would be totally understandable for Gwen to be angry at him for his lack of faith in her. “But you’ll convince her that you are sorry and you will get through it. Together.” For Merlin knew that Gwen and Arthur were meant to be together. It was as if it was fated to be, destiny.
“Maybe,” Arthur does not sound convinced, but he more concerned with getting to the village and finding her. And then he will concentrate on earning Gwen’s forgiveness.
“Oh my god,” Sir Leon spurts out, causing Arthur and Merlin to look ahead and they see flames ahead.
“Gwen!” Arthur screams before he nudges his horse to run faster towards the village.
***
Part ONE ||
Part TWO ||
Part THREE || Part FOUR ||
Part FIVE ||