YOU CAN'T ESCAPE DESTINY | Arthur Pendragon [2]

Lancelot and Annabelle

*Third Person's P.O.V.*

        Annabelle hissed in pain as she was shoved inside a huge cage - most likely the same one Lancelot fought in earlier - by two guards, the side of her wrist scraping against the cage wall to the point of bleeding. She quickly masked her pained expression though, and held on to her wrist with her other hand as the two guards closed the doors behind her.

        "Morgana," Annabelle heard from behind her and turned around, only to breathe in sharply as she saw Hengist standing a few meters away, "I keep asking myself... why does Uther not pay the ransom? He's a rich man. Why would he leave his beloved ward... to suffer a slow and terrible death?" he spoke, inching closer and closer to the blue-eyed servant.

        "I don't know," Annabelle replied, trying to keep her voice steady, but couldn't help but yelp in pain as Hengist suddenly grabbed her wrist roughly, his calloused and rough hand encircling around the bleeding scrape.

        "It must be very upsetting to know that Uther has abandoned you, it seems... that no one in the world cares for you," Hengist whispered, his face so close to Annabelle's that she could smell his odor of a breath.

        "I told you once before, I cannot possible know the king's mine while I am locked up in here," Annabelle said, trying to lean as far away as possible from the man's face, which was very difficult to do as she was backed up against the cage wall. It didn't help that Hengist still had a tight grip on her bleeding wrist, making her face a grimace of pain.

        "Take her to her cell," Hengist suddenly growled before shoving Annabelle towards the door, nearly making her fall over as a guard grabbed onto her arm once again and dragged her away, "Bring Kendrick to me," Hengist ordered the other guard, who stayed behind. "Perhaps he can tell me why the Lady Morgana has the hands of a serving girl,"

*1 Hour Later, Annabelle's P.O.V.*

        My head snapped up from it's place in my hand as I heard the door to my cell opening, and I silently braced myself. If it was the guard again, he was most likely coming to drag me to my death. And then he'd come back for Gwen, and I couldn't let her die. So I was going to use my magic. It's the only way.

        However, I didn't have to do anything of that sort as when the door opened, it was Lancelot who entered the cell, holding his hand out for me to take.

        "We haven't a moment to lose," he said as he flashed me the same kind smile his lips always formed, and I couldn't help but smile back as I grabbed his hand and let him lead me out of the cell.

        "Wait," I quickly stopped as Lancelot attempted to make his way out of the cells, "Gwen," I reminded, quickly grabbing the keys that were thankfully still in his hand and heading to Gwen's cell, quickly unlocking the doors and stepping over the guards, who were lying on the floor, unconscious.

        "Anna," my friend breathed out in shock as she saw me, and I gave her the best smile I could muster.

        "I told you I'd get you out of here," I said, and Gwen smiled as I quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the cell.

        "Lancelot," she greeted hastily as the three of us ran down the hallway.

        "Guinevere," he nodded, before suddenly grabbing my arm and pulling me to a stop. I turned to look at him in confusion, only to see him pointing towards another hallway to our right, and I quickly nodded, before pushing Gwen in front of me so that I wouldn't lose sight of her. As soon as she passed me, I ran after her, hearing Lancelot right behind me.

        We ran for a while longer, and I could hear Gwen beginning to breathe heavily. Suddenly, Lancelot pulled me to a stop again, before pointing to a tunnel to his left, which, if he hadn't stopped me, I would have missed.

        "Follow this tunnel. It will take you out beyond the castle walls. I will buy you as much time as I can,"

        "Wait, what?!" I asked in alarm, my eyes widening. Surely, he didn't intend to just stay behind. Suddenly, there was a clanking noise down the hallway we just came from, and our heads whipped around towards the sound. Thankfully, there was no one there. Yet, "I am not leaving you," I shook my head firmly.

        "You must,"

        "No. No, no way, I am not leaving you here to die!" I argued, feeling tears grow in my eyes. I would not lose him again.

        "I would die for you one hundred times over," Lancelot said, and a tear trickled down my cheek despite my best efforts to keep it at bay. I could see Gwen step back from the corner of my eye to give us some privacy, but I didn't care. Not at this moment. Not when the man I care so much for was telling me that he intends to let these bandits kill him just so I could escape.

        "Lancelot, please," I begged quietly, when suddenly his hands were cupping my face. He touched my cheeks so softly, so gently, as I were the most precious thing in this world to him. And that made another tear fall from my eye.

        "Live for me," he pleaded. "Or everything that I am has been for nothing,"

        Another tear fell. He wiped them all away with his thumb, and before my brain could register my actions, I leaned forward and touched my lips to his. I knew he was in love with me. Of course I knew. But I didn't realize that he loved me enough to die for me. And now that I have, I couldn't deny the fact that I cared for him more than almost anyone before in my entire life.

        The kiss didn't last long, as I pulled away earlier than I wanted to. But time was running out. Another tear fell, and I reached up my hand to stroke his cheek gently. If this really was the last time I would see him, I wanted to make sure I remembered every detail of his handsome face. I wanted to make sure I remembered every detail of him.

        "Run. Don't stop running until you are well away from here," he ordered, though I could clearly hear the pleading in his voice, "Run," he repeated as I shook my head, but stepped away from him nonetheless. I could see Gwen was still waiting for me, and I couldn't let her die here, too. I was going to save at least one of them, even if it was going to kill me, "Run," with that final word, I finally turned around and grabbed Gwen's hand, before pulling her down the tunnel with me. Tears clouded my vision, but I didn't stop running. I was not going to let Lancelot die in vain.

        Suddenly, a scream full of agony rang out in the tunnels, and I couldn't help but whip around as I stopped running, another tear falling down my cheek. No.

        "Anna," I heard Gwen call, but I couldn't move. No, "Anna, we have to go!"

        "I can't," I whispered, finally turning around to face her.

        "What?" she asked, her brows furrowing in confusion and worry.

        "I'm sorry, I can't. You go. Run, and don't stop running," I ordered, before turning around and proceeding to head back to where we came from.

        "Anna, what are you doing?!" she whispered urgently, running up to me and grabbing my hand to stop me from going anywhere.

        "I can't let him die, Gwen!" I exclaimed as I whipped around, my voice sounding choked up even to my own ears. "I just can't,"

        "Anna..."       

        "Please," I begged, closing my eyes for a second as another tear fell before opening them and looking directly into her eyes. "Just go,"

        "I can't just leave you!" she shook her head rapidly.

        "Yes, you can," I replied. "Because I am not going to let you die in here. And I'm not leaving without Lancelot,"