Crush and Burn [Guinevère]

[lucan]

Lucan hoped that Arthur would hurry back with this dragon lord that was supposedly meant to be the answer to Camelot’s problems. He had been doing the same thing for five nights in a row. Attempting to kill the dragon in a hope that this would all end.
They’d tried various tactics. All of which had failed. Now it seemed like the dragon lord was the only hope they had.

Once again Lucan was out that evening, helping people to safety and protecting those who couldn’t fend for themselves. The familiar sight of bodies littering the square had only become too prominent over the last few days. Where people had tired to take refuge in the castle but hadn’t managed to make it in time. It pained him to see so many people suffering, and for what?

Around him people were running, some in the direction of their homes and other through into the castle. The castle itself wasn’t in good shape. The walls were crumbling and fires raged from the dragon’s wrath. He kept his sword to hand, just incase the best tried to have a go at him. Not that a sword would do any good. Nothing else had.

Something caught his eye as he looked around for anyone who may be alive amongst the bodies. A girl by the wall – or rather huddling against it for protection. Not that she would get any.

“Luc! We need to clear the square before anything else comes falling down!” Sir Yvain called to him

Lucan didn’t listen but instead hurried over to the girl, “Come on – quickly – before you’re hurt,” he told her.
He was sure that he could hear the dragon above, starting to make some more carnage for that evening. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, stating for her to run for the castle. He followed, making sure that she wouldn’t become one of the bodies on the ground, before turning back to venture into the square again.

“Luc! We need to get inside!” Sir Yvain called again

“You go! I’ll be fine!”

“Now’s not the time to play the hero! This thing is coming down on us any minute unless we don’t get inside!” Yvain shouted, looking to where bits of wall were starting to crumble slightly

“I said go on without me Sir Yvain!” Lucan yelled back angrily.

Yvain gave him a look. Lucan nodded and his friend turned and ran for the direction of the castle. He needed to see if the square was properly cleared. Yesterday they’d made the mistake of not doing so. As a result seven more townspeople had lost their lives
He ventured further; already he could see the death toll rising before him and a couple of people still running.

He could hear a deafening crack as he surveyed one last time and looked up, darkness then replacing his vision.

Tagged: Guinevère
Timeline: The Last Dragon lord
Setting: The Square but will vary in location as the thread goes on. [/color]

[Guinevère]

Guinevère was tired. Her body ached in every place that moved and the smell of smoke was once again filling the grand hall. Once this hall had been used to knight men, and host balls, and all sorts of grand and glittering events. Now it held bloody bodies, dieing people, and chaos. Gwen's dress, even with the apron over it, was no longer clean and soft. It went from a soft purple color to a dark grimy shade, with slashes of red blood on the middle, and sleeves from working. Soot from the fires, and heat covered everyone. Between the water they had to drink, and the water they used to clean the injured, they were running low.

Even with all this, her every thought of was the prince. Was he safe? Had he fallen? Every burn she soothed, and gash she bandage could have been one of Arthur's. Every body that others carried in, could be Arthur. If she cared for them, the perhaps should Arthur be injured somewhere, someone would tend him as she did these men.

Gwen reached over and pulled the hot cloth off of the one man's face and re-placed it with a cool cloth. It would help with the fever, and burning. After a few moments she moved on the next knight. The dragon was attacking the city every night, and at dawn he would withdraw. Making them slowly suffer and slowly die. Every day they spent HOUR putting out the fires, only to have then back again and worse once darkness fell. Water, food and clothing were running short. With out help-and soon-the city would fall!

Moving to the next knight, who had not yet been cared for, Gwen tried to give him a kind smile. She knew who he was, but had never spoken closely to him. She was a lady's handmaiden,and did not get to speak with knights often; even if she was often in their presence. The knight was not awake, as Guinevère began cleaning off the blood and grim on his face.

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[lucan]

He knew it. He was dead. Surprisingly it had all been over in a second. Lucan was thankful that he hadn’t been wasting away in pain. Not that he was a complete scaredy cat, but because to go quickly was better than to suffer alone.

So…this was the other side? He hadn’t yet opened his eyes to take a look. Her slowly opened them – a ceiling? Was that it? THIS?! Lucan wasn’t the slightest bit impressed. He wondered whether anyone else who had been lost were also here – wait…this wasn’t…no…he was still in the castle? Well it certainly looked like the castle to him. The great hall if he was going to get all technical about it.

That was when it hit him. Not only was he alive, but also his whole body now ached like anything! He was also aware of something touching his face and the girl that was actually responsible was…A GIRL! Oh no!
He recognised her immediately. She was the handmaiden to Lady Morgana. Well he was sure she was – either that or his vision was playing him up. Ok – he was most certainly not dead.

He attempted to lift his head, but was met with a massive pain shooting through it. What on earth had happened anyway? All he’d done was look up and then suddenly he was here? He vaguely remembered being in the square, so someone must have come to his aid. It wouldn’t have surprised him if Sir Yvain had gone back out looking for him.
Lucan managed to turn his head slightly as he lay there – that was probably the most he could manage for movement. His upper body felt on fire. What if he was on fire? No, now that was a ridiculous thought, but he checked to make sure. Or tried to.
He sighed as he realised that he wasn’t a human fireball, and that he was just most likely suffering from some mental affliction.

Lucan managed to smile as his nurse tended to him, but didn’t talk to her. For a start he had no idea whether he could move any part of his body (including his mouth) apart from his head – and secondly. He wouldn’t be able to speak to her with either passing out or having a nauseous feeling. It wasn’t that he found her repulsive, yes she was very pretty – but he just didn’t have any words that would come to mind right now.

Well – none other than ‘ouch’.

[Guinevère]

She'd never seen quite so many people hurt, burned, or dead. Sometimes it felt as if they were all dead and other times it seemed as if Arthur was their only hope and that light of hope was the only thing that keep her moving. If she could help any of of these men then maybe they could be someone who would fight beside him later and be what brings him home to her. She would help them either way--for death was something she did not embrace for anyone! Yet the knowledge that these men served the man she loved made her actions stronger.

Made her more aware of what she was doing and keep her heart stronger in the face off the blood and death and fire. Looking down at this knight, Sir Lucan, she was thinking of Arthur still. Arthur and Merlin had gone out to find a dragon lord to save them. They had to go into Estia, land of Cenred in order to find him. While Estia was Merlin's homeland it was still dangerous! Arthur would be the most wanted man in that kingdom and not because any ladies that actually lived there thought him charming but because Cenred would want him alive to use for his goals. She never meet the king, and she prayed with all her heart that she never would.

She always felt better knowing Merlin was with Arthur. When they were together they were both too stubborn to let the other die. She knew if they were together they would make sure to bring the other one home safe and sound whi---

Sir Lucan seemed to stir and even attempt a smile. He would live then!! She she smiled down at him, very glad to see that there was live left in him! "Lie still," She told him softly but in the commanding voice of a nurse to a charge rather then a servant to a knight. She knew that it might be disrespectful but when times grew this dark you had to be firm or the stubbornness of men would get them killed. "Do you want to water to drink?"

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[lucan]

She was telling him to lie still. Well he couldn’t go anywhere so that was something that he could do with ease. His head was spinning now, the throbbing pain searing through his head from one side to the other. What had happened to him? Lucan felt he’d been hit 1000 times over by a horse and cart. It must have been pretty bad for him to have been out cold and for him not be able to lift his head.
He didn’t even know if he could move his arms or legs yet. Perhaps he was just dying slowly. He felt like it. Oh well, he’d tried his best.

"Do you want to water to drink?" Gwen was now asking him.
He nodded as much as he could do at that moment. Trying to nod lying down wasn’t an easy task. Then again in his position, neither was sitting up at this moment. He couldn’t even manage to get any words out – most likely from the dryness of his throat

“What’s the damage?” he finally managed to choke out, referring to his injuries.
His throat felt as dry as ever now. How long had he been knocked out for? Who or what had done it to him? More importantly, who had managed to find him with an angry dragon destroying the place?

Luc decided to test out his arms to see as to whether he could hold a cup successfully. They felt rather stiff as he managed to take the water from her. Now that felt good. At least he could move part of his upper body and actually drink.

He looked at Gwen, “What happened?” he asked, “more importantly – who and how did anyone find me? It’s carnage out there”. His voice finally returned normally to him.

OOC – Bit of a rubbish post, I feel just as concussed as he does! Lol

[Guinevère]

He gave a nod, but before she could leave to get him a cool drink he flooded with questioned. "What's the damage?" To himself or the kingdom that was falling around them!? Her hand shook as she moved the cloth from him to to bowel; and he asked more questioned. "I don't know." She told him in a shaken voice, not knowing who or how he was found--only that he was alive and here now. She could look over him and give him the full report on any 'damage' done to him once she got some water into him.

It was important, Gaius said to make sure water got into everyone. The heat was going to take so much out of everyone. "Please, just lie still while I get you some cool water! I will find out what I can for you, my lord." She told him, while moving her one hand over to his shoulder to make sure he wasn't going to get up. She knew he would not be able too, and she knew that she would not be able to catch him if he fell.

Once she knew it was safe, she hurried over to get a skin full of water and then hurried back to him. "Here, you should drink this slowly so not to make yourself ill. I will look over your wounds and see what has been done."

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[lucan]

She didn’t know. Just as he thought. He gave a small snort. “Im dying, aren't I” he stated, “very slowly, and you don’t want to tell me”. He felt he was now. Everywhere ached, especially around the head and chest area.

“So what is it then?” he asked, “Internal bleeding? Lung problems?” it couldn’t be head trauma. He was awake after all, but then again he was sure that he had no idea what he was talking about. Was he repeating the same things to her? he really couldn’t remember and now just by doing too much thinking his head was killing him.

He went to sit up once again, but of course was scolded. "Please, just lie still while I get you some cool water! I will find out what I can for you, my lord." He did as he was told; he wasn’t about to get on the wrong side of her!

Lucan smiled weakly, “You can call me Luc – ranks and that don’t really go down too well with me, ‘my lord’ makes me sound older than I already am”

Perhaps he should ask her to send message to his father to notify him that his son was dying. Elaine would probably jump for joy – at least then her own blood would inherit everything. Corneous? Well, Luc didn’t exactly know how his father would react to that. He’d love to be a fly on the wall in that conversation between his father and stepmother.
No – maybe it was best to go quietly and without a fuss.

"Here, you should drink this slowly so not to make yourself ill. I will look over your wounds and see what has been done."

He took the cup of water from her and drunk a little, coughing at the connection of the water to dryness. His throat must have been dry enough for him to choke. Although now he was in even more pain where he’d been coughing. Taking a few more little sips his throat felt a little better. “Is there any point?” he asked her, “I already feel like im dying now anyway - it'll save you the hassle, and im sure there's some poor bloke over there waiting to be cleaned up” He pointed in no particular direction. All he could see at the moment was the ceiling.

[Guinevère]

“So what is it then? Internal bleeding? Lung problems?” Guinevère's eyes drifted down over his chest where there was so much dried blood and bruised skin that she wasn't even sure what was wrong. How did one even tell if one was bleeding on the side?! Or if the lungs were not well?! Gaius might know but she surely did not! "I think you will have many bruises, perhaps a broken bone or two--" Or four? "But I do not see any major wholes in you, my lord."

“You can call me Luc – ranks and that don’t really go down too well with me, ‘my lord’ makes me sound older than I already am.” Her mind went to Arthur, and how he's asked the same thing of her. She always refused Arthur, for the level of impropriety was big for a prince and a servant. While not as big between a knight and a servant she knew better then to give into his pain fueled request. Besides, if she could not do it for Arthur the man she loved above all others; it would not feel right doing it for another. "That would be a bit too improper, my lord, for a servant and a knight." She told him with a soft apologetic smile. Should the king over hear, she would be in allot of trouble.

“Is there any point? I already feel like I'm dying now anyway - it'll save you the hassle, and I'm sure there's some poor bloke over there waiting to be cleaned up.” He seemed so certain of death, but Guinevère did not think he would die. She hoped not at least. "Do not be pessimistic, my lord, Gaius would not have left you here if he thought you would need more care then the maids are able to give you." She tired to make it sound lite and as if a soft jest to cheer the mood. "You appear to have a bump on the head--" a rather large one "--and your chest seemed to be bruised, as if something fell on it."

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[lucan]

"I think you will have many bruises, perhaps a broken bone or two--"

Ok that sounded good. Right now it didn’t feel it – it felt like he had more than two broken bones. His whole body felt like it was in pieces!

She seemed to be a servant that stuck by the rules so it seemed. At least one of them did "That would be a bit too improper, my lord, for a servant and a knight."

“Of course” Lucan said, the only images that he could see right now was the ceiling. “How stupid of me”. Living by the rules sucked just as much as being reminded of them. Yes, it wasn’t common for servants to address nobility by their first names, but if Lucan had his way, then he’d much prefer to be known as that instead of people having to shove ‘sir’ or ‘my lord’ at the beginning or end.

She seemed pretty sure that he wasn’t going to die. Had she even checked him over properly? Oh well – he was living for now, so at least if he did happen to take a trip to heaven then he’d know what had caused him too.

"You appear to have a bump on the head--" a rather large one "--and your chest seemed to be bruised, as if something fell on it." Guinevère was now explaining. Something fell on him? Well that didn’t surprise him in the least. He remembered seeing and hearing something crumble from above him.

“I was helping the people to safety” he said, trying to remember what had crushed him, “I…I heard something and looked up…then I woke up here?”

At that point a large pain shot through his chest. He clutched at it and groaned, trying to breathe through it all to control the pain. He could feel his heart beating faster as well as his breathing increasing. This was intense. Whatever had hit him had done a pretty good job of breaking his body to bits.

“Still think I’m not dying?” he panted and kept his hand clutched to his chest.