Kin Twisted Fate

Butterfly

Luna had seen many a sunrise and sunset through the windows of Camelot's castle. She had been there almost a month and spent most of her time in the kitchens, where she had recently found herself a job. The cook loved her, so naturally everyone else in the kitchen did too. Not being a trained cook, she was the assistant to anyone who needed her, or as she was lovingly and jokingly coined; the Kitchen Bitch.

"Kitchen Bitch!" came a holler from across the kitchen, "We need some tomatoes over here! Would you be a doll and grab some?"

It was nearing the end of the day and the dinner scramble was ramping into chaos, as it did every night.

Luna raced across the kitchen, dodging the frantic cooks as she did so. Retrieving the tomatoes, she brought then over to the young looking cook standing over a steaming pot who had requested them. Without stopping stirring his pot, the young man grabbed the tomato basket and threw a handful in.

Once the finished meal went out to the royal family, the cooks and Luna retired to their chambers for the night.

On her way back to Gaius and Merlin's chambers, Luna felt a tap on her shoulder. Her heart rate heightened in panic as she whipped around throwing her hands over her face in defense.

"Luna, Luna," Gwen soothed the frightened girl, "it's just me."

Luna pinked.

"Oh."

"No, no, I'm sorry I frightened you." Gwen rambled, "I was just wondering if there might be time for me to show you something?"

"Oh," Luna replied, still recovering from her panic, "Oh, y-yes of course."

The two made easy conversation as Gwen led Luna into a wing of the castle she'd never been before. The longer they walked, the more curious Luna became and the more nervous Gwen seemed to grow. After a while, their conversation faltered and the young women walked in silence.

"Um," Luna finally cleared her throat, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Where are we going?"

"I-" Gwen started to respond before she nervously adjusted her dress and started again. "Remember when we talked about your brothers"

Luna nodded, confused at what that had to do with anything, as Gwen stopped in front of a large wooden door. Luna could hear loud conversations and the periodic clanging of metal on the other side.

"Well, when you told me about Gwaine, he just sounded really familiar to- I- uh-" Gwen seemed to run out of words so she just swung the door open quietly.

A very confused Luna stood in the doorway observing the scene in front of her. King Arthur sat in a wooden chair with his legs thrown over the side of the chair and was twirling a sword in his hand. Luna flushed red as her gaze landed on Merlin sitting on a helmet at Arthur's feet laughing with two knights she'd never met before who were leaning against the back wall. A handful of other knights were scattered around the room polishing their armor.

"Look alive, Elyan!" A knight, she vaguely remembered being called Percival, called as he threw the helmet he had previously been polishing at a very handsome, dark-skinned knight.

Elyan easily caught it before throwing it to another knight who caught it, joining in the young knight's antics.

"Gwaine!" Elyan called to a knight on the far side of the room who was facing the other direction, before throwing the helmet in the knight's direction.

The knight turned and caught the helmet in one fluid motion. Luna's heart stopped in her chest.

The other knights clapped as Gwaine took a mocking bow. All this seemed to move in slow motion as Luna's heart thudded harder in her chest. There in front of her was a face that haunted her sweetest of nightmares. His beard was longer now than it had been all those years ago and, although it had dimmed, that infamous spark still shone in his eyes.

It couldn't be. It didn't make sense but standing right in front of her was her brother.

"Gwaine." she breathed, her brain still not comprehending what was happening.

The knights looked at her, noticing her for the first time, but her eyes were trained on Gwaine. A look of shock and confusion rippled across his face as the helmet he had held in his hands clattered to the floor. The two stared at each other for what felt like eternity until, finally, Gwaine broke the uneasy silence that had fallen over the room.

"Luna?" Gwaine's voice cracked as he took a tentative step forward.

That was all the reassurance Luna needed as she ran across the room closing the gap between her and her long lost brother.

He wrapped his strong arms around her, crushing her into his chest as her body began to tremble with sobs.

"I've got you. You're okay now, Butterfly" Gwaine whispered into her hair and they sank to the floor.

At the sound of the nickname she hadn't heard in years, Luna released another sob as Gwaine cradled her into his chest.