Chapter Text
Her eye twitched, as the sound of thunder rumbling outside pulled her from her deep sleep. The thunder was then drowned out of the sound of muttering, voices getting closer. She clenched her eyes shut and waited. The door opened and they came towards her. The stench of ale on his breath almost made her give herself away. It was so strong her eyes almost started to water. It was just as hard to not let out a sigh of relief when he and the other man left her alone.
It took more effort than she expected to just open her eyes fully. They fell on a small, dark cell, with a puddle of water in the corner from a drip coming from the ceiling. This was the first time she was conscious enough to take in where she was. It was another few minutes before she could move her arms to push her upper body up. The cell spun round forcing her to stop again and steady herself. With one deep breath, and all the strength she could manage she finally was able to drag herself to her feet. The cell spun even faster now. Before she could move again, she fell back against the wall.
Her whole body ached and it was hard to focus on anything for more than a few seconds before she wanted to vomit. Quickly she turned round to face the wall. A few feet from her alone the wall was a tiny, narrow window. Using her hands placed on the wall to keep her up she moved slowly over to the window. The cold air on her face was the first relief she had from her pain since she came to. Closing her eyes she felt the air hit her, breathing life back into her weak, battered body.
After a few minutes she started to feel a little more like herself. The thunder and lightning stopped. Opening her eyes she survived her wider location. The cell seemed to be at the top of a high tower. That was all the place seemed to be, a high tower. Surround as far as she could see by snow. No one was going to help her, she had to do that herself.
Turning round to face the opposite wall, her hand lifted. It shock as she focused all her energy to break the bars with her magic. A smile crossed her face for a second before she forced herself to run. Out of the cell and down to the right was a narrow spiral staircase, picking up her dark cloak she ran down them. A few times she felt like she was going to trip and go flying down the stairs. At the bottom, she ran into a wide open hall, but she was not alone.
Three men walked towards her, the main door wide open behind them. Snow blew in after them, carried by a strong wind. The man in the middle was familiar from a long time ago, another life. Her hand raise up, ready to strike.
"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you." She kept her hand raised. "You do remember me don't you." She showed no sign of answering. "I remember you. I know you, though you hide under that cloak I know what he did to you, that you have been held here for months. I also know what you have done. What you are planning." The two men with him stopped walking towards her, as he took a big step closer to her. They now stood about five feet apart. "We can work together." Her eyes rolled. "Together, we can destroy Camelot."
Being forced to stand still for so long, her surge of adrenaline ran out. His last words sounded like white noise. The world spun for a second, before it went black. Her knees gave out and she crashed to the stone floor.
The man that she recognized moved quickly towards her, catching her in his arms before her head hit the ground. "It will be alright now, priestess."
He watched her eyes twitch, like she wanted to open them. When they finally stopped, he ran his finger over her check. Then slid his arm under her knees and lifted her up.
Months later the snow melted and spring came. Camelot prepared it's self for the banquet to celebrate twenty-four year since the great purge. Most people if asked couldn't tell you what this banquet was for, it was just an opportunity to eat and drink too much. This day also had a special meaning for Merlin of a far more pleasant nature. It was four years to the day since he arrived in Camelot. Despite all that had happened, he thought that was still something to celebrate.
As he stood in the corner, leaning against a wall, enjoying a momentary break form serving glasses of wine. He thought of how things had changed so dramatically in those four years. How much he had changed and his friends too. If he had been asked where he saw them all four years form when he met them, he never would have seen them ending up where they were now. He would never have seen this all coming. He didn't think even Morgana and her seers sight would have seen it all coming.
He saw Gwen standing in the centre of the hall, with two ladies of the court talking with her. No one else really noticed, but around her neck she wore a black string. Hidden under the front of her dress, were the rest of the string and her engagement ring. It took Arthur over a month after he asked her to finally give her a ring. Merlin would have expected her to show some sign that she was unhappy about having to hide it, their engagement, but he never saw any. If anything, she looked more happy than he had ever seen her.
Gaius was resting on a chair by the platform that lifted the thrones above the general crowed. He was clearly tired, but said to himself he would only stay for another few minutes. He was getting too old for this.
Arthur stood at the far end of the hall, with his father. Uther was a changed man. Morgana's leaving had affected him more than any of her actions before had. Though he never showed any of his, it was clear to see, if you looked close enough. He was a broken man. Spending most of his days in his chambers. He left many of the duties of running the kingdom to Arthur. Who was the only person he really spoke to. He kept up all pretences of still being in control of all areas of his life in public. Like tonight for example, he acted like all was normal. Even though the old king was talking to his son, he only nodded every few seconds, five by Merlin's count. He only had eyes for one person in the room. She cast a glance back at him every now and then, pink coming to her checks when she did. Her hand would also rise to where her engagement ring was hidden under a layer of material.
The crowned prince was not the only one to occasionally look in the direction of the former maid. Lancelot stood against the opposite wall from Merlin, talking with Gwaine and Leon. Gwaine had returned just over a month after Morgana left. Merlin had been the one to tell him. He told him the truth, leaving out his part in removing the bracelet. He and Gaius were the only ones that knew what really happened. Arthur, Gwen, Gwaine and Uther knew a part of it, with one change. When he told Gwaine, he just nodded, didn't say anything and walked off. He saw him later that day, he was talking to Arthur about his trip. He showed no sign of what he was feeling. He never talked about her, no one did. It was easier that way, for everyone, to just pretend nothing was wrong.
The people of Camelot where told that she had left to talk with the druids, those with magic, to get them to leave Camelot alone. No one really believed this, but what was the point in trying to get to the truth. If they needed to know, they would find out what was going on when they needed to. It was the best way to deal with all of the drama and craziness that seemed to be attracted to this place.
Merlin pushed himself off the wall. He was about to walk over to his friends, when the large doors of the hall burst open. Despite the warm air of the spring evening, a cold wind blew through the hall. All eyes turned to see what had happened.
A tall dark figure stood in the doorway. As they walked into the hall, they became clearer. It was a tall knight in a full set of armour, including a helmet with the visor down. At first it looked black, but in the torch light it had a green tint to it. The figure must have been at least seven feet tall, towering at least a foot over everyone in the room. As they walked through the hall, everyone parted to make way for him. Arthur stepped down from the platform with the thrones, moving slowly towards Gwen.
"Who are you." the prince commanded an answer.
The figure ignored Arthur. Stopping in the centre of the hall. He slowly turned to his left, walking towards the people huddled up against the wall. Gwen was one of them, so Arthur kept walking forward. Lancelot and Gwaine where also close by and moved forward too. Merlin on the other side of the hall could do nothing but watch.
The figure now seemed to be focusing only on Gwen. When he stood a couple of feet from her, he bowed. As he pulled himself back up, he was holding a ornate golden goblet in his hands. Which he held out to her. The women standing with her moved back even further. Gwen stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move or speak.
"Step back!" Arthur was now by her side.
"I cannot, till she takes my mistresses gift." The knight's voice echoed around the room. More than would be expected. Leading many to believe that if they were to lift the visor they would see nothing but a black empty hole.
Gwen moved to take the goblet. "Gwen no." Arthur moved his hand in-between them and stepped in-front of her.
"It's ok." She moved past her fiancée a little, reaching out her hand to take the goblet.
There was a written engraving on the inside of the goblet. It said, only she of pure fidelity may drink. Gwen was able to read this, before Arthur moved back in-front of her, knocking the goblet to the ground as he did. The sound of the gold object hitting the hard stone floor, echoed throughout the hall little the rumble of thunder.
The green knight moved back, his hands moving to his side, where he pulled out a large sword. He was about to strike at Arthur, when Gwaine stepped in, blocking the green knights sword with his own. He had always been quicker than Arthur. The knight pulled his sword back, giving Gwaine the change to strike. He hit at his head.
The room went so silent you could hear the pounding of everyone's hearts. All eyes watched the sword hit the helmet, which then fell to the ground. The crash sounded more like an avalanche in the large silent hall. The helmet rolled on the floor for a few seconds, before it stopped. The knight still stood standing, unmoving.
"The challenge is excepted. Two days from now."
As the figures voice came form where the helmet had once been, dark smoke surrounded it. In a few seconds the smoke covered the knight. Once it was gone, so was the green knight. Along with the helmet and the pieces of the goblet.
No one knew what to say, or do. Everyone stood rooted to where the stood. Their eyes being the only thing that moved. Darting around the hall, looking for someone to say or do something, for something to explain what had just had happened.
Gaius had stood up from his chair when the knight entered. The king, prince and Merlin now all found themselves looking to him for an explanation. His face feel to a frown, as he started to speak.
"I believe that we have just been visited by the green knight. A knight of magic, loyal to the priestesses of the old religion."
He spoke to the king, but those close heard to. Merlin only heard the last part. His eyes locked with Gaius's, asking him the same question that was running through the old physicians mind. In response he was given a slight shrug.
"What will be done now." Uther demanded.
"He will return in two days for the challenge."
"What challenge." The king demanded.
"He took sir Gwaine's actions as a challenge. He plans to honour that."
Those that heard this turned now to Gwaine. He tried to smile a confident smile, but it only lasted for a few seconds.