Protected

Chapter 2

When Arthur heard the knock at his door, he breathed a sigh of relief as Gaius entered. He was very  sore and bruised from the brutal day he had forced himself and his knights to go through. Well. His knights minus Gwaine. When Percival had arrived and reported that Gwaine had fled to the forest hiding behind the guise of protecting Merlin and Gwen, Arthur could hardly say it was a bad idea. He also couldn't say that it was an action of pure intent – Gwaine was skipping practice again.

Arthur wasn't pleased.

"The salve you requested," Gaius said, "For your bruises.

"Thank you, Gaius," Arthur said, and then added, "If you happen to see Gwaine, send him here."

"Gwaine, sire?"

"He went with Gwen and Merlin, instead of coming to the training yard today," Arthur said, tapping his fingers on the table in front of him. Gwaine had played his cards well in order to escape the day long extra training. It didn't mean that Arthur had to like it. " Could you send Merlin to find him if you don't see him."

"Merlin hasn't been here all day," Gaius said, "And this is the first that I heard he didn't go out alone. Gwaine and Gwen went with him, sire?"

"Yes," Arthur answered with a nod, and said, "They aren't back yet ? They left ages ago"

"That is at it seems," Gaius said, "And I have to admit I'm slightly concerned. If it were just Merlin, I wouldn't be as much – he gets lost quite often, you know, and eventually finds his way back. But if Guinevere and Sir Gwaine were with them...he should have been back by now."

Arthur sighed, "I know," he answered, "First thing in the morning, I'll take a patrol out."

Gaius bowed. "Thank you sire," he said, and then left the room. Arthur stared out the window, and tried to push back the bad feeling that was growing in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong.

Gwaine's back hurt. The stone walls behind him and the chains that held him there did little to help. His head hurt, as well, almost enough to make him forget about the sore muscles on his back. He'd managed to hold some of the bandits back, for a bit, but then one snuck up behind him and bashed him in the back with a club. It was a coward's move, but Gwaine couldn't deny its effectiveness. Crumbled on the ground, wind knocked from him, it was easy for the bandits to tie him up and toss a bag over his head.

He had been unceremoniously slung into something hard and wooden and painfully wheel-barrow shaped. He made a run for it, once, but didn't get very far. He'd managed to leave some markers, though, in case anyone were to come in search of him. So, for what felt like hours, he was squashed into the wheelbarrow. He had heard water running, at one point, and then they'd crossed what felt like a bridge.

A bridge over water. "Spectacular, Gwaine," he said to the empty cell around him, "Very specific."

The cell didn't answer. Gwaine could only take that as a good sign. He wondered if Merlin and Gwen were safe. He wondered how far they were from Camelot, now, if they'd managed to get away.

Ironically, it was at that moment the door to the dungeon flew open, slamming into the wall. If Gwaine jumped slightly in surprise, well, there was no one around to prove it. Three bandits came in, and walked over to Gwaine, "I'm going to unlock you," one said, "If you try to fight, we'll take a finger from one of your friends we've got upstairs for every punch you land."

And...there were Gwaine's questions answered. No, Merlin and Gwen were not safe, they were fairly far from Camelot, and no, they hadn't managed to get away.

The bandits pulled a bag over Gwaine's head again, and as the pulled him up some stairs, the only thing he could think of was that he should've just gone to Arthur's stupid training day.