They flew back on Kilgharrah. Natalia kept her eyes closed most of the way back. Finally, they arrived in the same clearing they had started in. The sun was barely below the horizon. Merlin and Natalia thanked Kilgharrah. "There is no need to thank me, but Merlin, you must promise me that once the sword has done its duty, you will put it where no man can ever use it." Merlin nodded. The dragon flew off to the mountains. Natalia turned to Merlin, "We should go before anyone wakes." They walked back into the woods, feeling the night turn into day. Birds began to sing, and the air was warmer. Natalia stopped before they could see the cave. She wiped her face one more time before standing up a bit straighter. Merlin looked at her, "Why do you pretend so much?" Natalia grabbed Merlin's face, "Because it's easier than being honest." She walked away from her friends, slipping back into the cave. Everyone was still asleep. She stood next to Gwaine as Merlin entered the cave. There was no evidence of where they had been or what they had done, except for the sword that Merlin was hiding under his things. Gwaine stretched, opening his eyes, "Welcome back." Natalia gave a strained smile, refusing to let her face tell him anything. "Try and get some rest. I'll see if I can find any breakfast." "I'll help," Natalia followed him, "I doubt I'll be able to sleep much." Gwaine looked a bit dubious but didn't say anything. He was unsure if she was still upset with him. They went back into the woods, the sun in the sky filtering through the trees. Gwaine kept his guard up, seeing the exhaustion starting to consume Natalia. "Can I ask where you and Merlin went last night?" Gwaine smirked, looking out into the trees. Natalia blinked, "Best not to say anything, I think." Gwaine stopped, grabbing Natalia's wrist. Natalia slumped, waiting for Gwaine to say something, but no words left his mouth. Instead, she placed her other hand on his. The calluses and weathered hands are comforting. "I don't want to break Merlin's trust, and he's secretive by nature." Gwaine still says nothing, not meeting Natalia's eyes. Natalia moved her hand up to his cheek, feeling Gwaine's stubble. Gwaine pulled away barely, still holding onto Natalia. "I can tell that he means the world to you, and I don't want to come between you and Merlin." He smiled in pain as Natalia moved her hand back to his face, "I am not worth losing one's dearest friend over." "No, I suppose you're not." Natalia smiled, leaning closer to Gwaine. Close enough that their lips were nearly touching. "But, lucky for us, you are not that powerful." Natalia pecked his lips and ran in the direction of the stream. Gwaine stood for a moment, dumbfounded. Then his ever-present smirk returned, "Was that a slight at me?" Gwaine ran after her, "I am incredibly powerful!" Natalia laughed, looking back at Gwaine, "I have yet to see that!" With that, she disappeared behind some trees. Gwaine slowed, creeping towards the tree where she had gone. He placed his hands on the tree and jumped to the other side, making a silly face and his hands up as if he were a monster. Natalia wasn't there. Gwaine swung his head around, looking for Natalia. He felt a hand go over his mouth. Before he could react, Natalia whispered in his ear, "I saw two of Morgana's men. I imagine there's more." He turned his head just enough to see the focus that consumed Natalia's eyes, and had they not been in danger; he would've had her right there and then. Natalia removed her hand from Gwaine's mouth and placed it on the hilt of her sword as there was a loud crunch of leaves from the other side of the trees. Gwaine grabbed Natalia's arm, gently walking in the opposite direction of the soldiers. Gwaine watched where he stepped as Natalia kept her eyes on the forest for other immortal soldiers. "There!" A sudden shout came from behind them as a knight pointed at the pair of fighters. Gwaine cursed under his breath as he drew his sword. Natalia saw a total of seven men appear from the woods. "Do you trust me?" Natalia looked away from the fighters and over her shoulder at Gwaine, pressing her back to his. Gwaine nodded instantly. "When I say run, I need you to run and warn the others." "What about you?" Gwaine took one of Natalia's hands in his own, keeping his focus on the two men in front of him. Natalia felt tears develop in her eyes as she lied through her teeth, "I'll be right behind you." Gwaine felt Natalia squeeze his hand in reassurance. "I need you to run as fast as you can." Gwaine nodded, ready to get out of there. Natalia drew her sword as the men drew closer. She waited for the first man to take a swing, "Gwaine, run!" Gwaine sprinted between two of the men, letting go of Natalia's hand. Natalia swung around before the men could chase after him, slicing her sword carelessly through the air. She was only half paying attention to the fight, making sure that Gwaine didn't turn around to fight with her. Because of this, one of the soldiers sliced her fighting arm and kicked her to the ground. She wasn't ready to die by any means, but she knew she couldn't fight her way out of this, so she sat on her knees, waiting for the world to fade. "Wait," one of the men knelt next to her, grabbing a fistful of hair, looking at her closely, his breath rotten. "Looks like we have a Princess on our hands and a dear friend of Arthur at that." Natalia did her best to show no emotion, but the man smirked regardless. "Morgana will be pleased." Natalia frowned, "I think you've mistaken me for someone else; I'm not a Princess." The man stood up, ignoring her, "Get some rope and bind her hands. She's good with a sword, for a princess." Natalia gritted her teeth, saying nothing, knowing she would dig a deeper hole if she said anything. As they stood her up, she scanned the forest, hoping that someone was hiding behind some trees with a half-baked plan to rescue her.
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