A Cry Of Warning [Guinevère & Her Arthur]

[Guinevère]

"Guinevère?" She was surprised to see him, and it took her a moment to believe it was was Arthur before her. After so long of not seeing and not expecting to see him--seeing him still made her her heart jump with surprise. "What are you doing here?" He asked, before pulling her down a hall. Touching. Arthur was touching her! It was something--no matter how casual--she had never thought to feel again.

"You shouldn't be here." "I know, but I was following Argavaine. He came to Gaius' chambers, and I thought he might be up to something. Yet he appears to just be in his chambers." Plotting? Guinevère knew the castle well, and knew this was a bit out of the way for Arthur. Unless he was taking her advice and watching his Uncle. "Are you going to speak to him?" She both wishes she could see it, and was glad that she would not. He lied and hurt many.

[Arthur Pendragon]

So she was following him. Which . . . he didn't want her to worry about. "You shouldn't be," he told her. If what she said was true, then this would only place her in more danger. If Agravaine already knew from Morgana that Guinevère was suspicious of him . . . then who knows what means he would use to silence her. "Are you going to speak to him?" Arthur paused, looking down the hall, aware that this was not a safe place to discuss things. There could be someone walking by who could overhear or . . . his uncle could come out. "I will take care of this. You need not concern yourself with it." After all, she had stated that she was leaving so he would deal with this. All of this. The kingdom was under his care after all and there was any threat to it -- even his own uncle -- then he would have to bring it to an end. And ensure the safety of the people.

"Come on. I'll walk you back to your chambers." Or Gaius' quarters, wherever she was staying. He waited for her to start walking, to make sure she complied with his words . . . rather than wish to continue to spy on his uncle. Right now was not the time. It was too risky and she had already been hunted. He didn't need Agravaine to possibly hunt her within the castle walls where it should be safe. Yet with a spy and traitor in their midst . . . nothing and no one was safe.

[Guinevère]

Arthur seemed to be forgetting something very important--at least to her. "This was my home, once. These people were--are my friends." She reminded him, not that she thought he forgot, but because she was not going to just stop. "I know that my time here is limited, but I need to do what I can to help." Them, and him. Mostly Arthur.

She had been though so much, and she needed to see this all the way though. She needed to help finish this. Leaving and forever wondering what had happened with her warming would be hard, but she wanted at least some knowlage that it was worth it. That she had made a difference and helped everyone prepare. "How can I help?" For what little time she was here. Tomorrow she was supposed to leave, but Rosa had said he send the princess to her own kingdom, at least for now. So perhaps she could linger an extra day, or two and help make sure everyone was safe!

[Arthur Pendragon]

"This was my home, once. These people were--are my friends." He could understand that, but it was still not reason to risk her life and expose her suspicions about Agravaine. "Yet you are firm in your decision to leave." Whether she stayed or left, this was his duty. He was not going to use others to spy on his uncle. He was going to get to the bottom of all this, and then determine the best course of action. Arthur knew what it was to rely on other people . . . to rely on their council, their advice, what they believed was best. He needed to be his own man; he needed to be able to do what he believed was best -- even if his record showed how skewed his judgment was. "How can I help?" But Guinevère seemed determined. That did not surprise him for it was one of the many things he . . . loved about her.

But he could not speak such thoughts right now. "You can let me walk you back to your quarters," he told her. Though he knew it would take more than that to keep her there. "I told you I would take care of this, and you need to trust me to do so." Trust. Something that was so damaged between them. He didn't know if she trusted him . . . and he wasn't sure if he trusted her. Either way he had to say something to convince her to keep herself at a safe distance from all this. She was already endangered for Morgana and Helios knew that she knew of their plans -- assuming that Morgana was aware of Guinevère overhearing them.

[Guinevère]

"Yet you are firm in your decision to leave." She looked down for a moment, before forcing her eyes to his. "You know why I must leave, Arthur." Because he would be wed soon, and even if he sent the princess home now, then she would return when it was safe. Then how would his wife feel with his former lover under the same stones as her? To know that her husband loved another. No. Guinevère would not hurt any of them like that, she would not embarrass all three of them. She would leave.

"I told you I would take care of this, and you need to trust me to do so." "I do trust you, Arthur, no one more then you. I've never trusted anyone more then you . . . but if he has lied to you for so long . . . " If he was in danger, she had to make sure there was proof enough to make everyone see it. "I cannot do nothing. I came here to stop their plan, and I need to make sure I've done it." She could not fail Arthur twice. She would not!

[Arthur Pendragon]

"You know why I must leave, Arthur." Arthur looked at her for a moment, wondering if she had heard. Heard that he was not going to marry Mithian, heard that he told her he couldn't marry her? No. Probably not. Not if she spoke of why she had to leave. And he was not going to tell her. For he didn't know where to go from here. If she asked, he would answer with the truth. If she heard and decided for herself . . . then even better. But he was not going to ask her to stay again, not when he had tried before. Because . . . he could promise her nothing right now. "You gave me a warning, and it nearly cost you your life. I will not have you risk any more." Because now it was up to him. "You told me of my uncle's betrayal and I am not dismissing it." As hard as it was for him to imagine . . . he knew that Guinevère had no reason to lie.

Which was why he had to keep a close eye on Agravaine. Because he wasn't sure he could trust him anymore. "If you trust me as you say, then you will trust me to take care of this. And not involve yourself in it any more than you have." Because it was too dangerous. He would not force another to put themselves in danger for his behalf. Agravaine was his uncle, and if all this was true . . . then there was no one to blame but Arthur. For having been this naive and oblivious -- again -- during all this time. For welcoming his uncle and offering him all the information he knew, so blind to his true intentions. And if this was the case, then it was up to Arthur Arthur, as the man who got everyone into this mess, to get them all out. "Come," he urged, before they were caught or over heard. "Please," he added, more urgently.

[Guinevère]

"You gave me a warning, and it nearly cost you your life. I will not have you risk any more." She would risk more if it meant he was safe. Knowing whatever she had to give ti him, could help him would be a better use for it then . . . wherever she ended up going. "I am not dismissing it." Good, that was something, she knew if Arthur believed it, even just a little, he would seek out the truth. This time no swear would be enough, Arthur would demand more then that.

"Not involve yourself in it any more than you have." His words hurt, but she knew that this wasn't what he wanted. Her. Here. Helping. "Please," Looking back down the hall, she knew that she could not fight him. "If you are busy, I can walk on my own." With the danger locked away in his chambers, surely she could make it to Gaius' on her own.

That was the moment she recalled Agravaine's men walking her home, and Gaius finding her, the men dead. He had asked to see her, stood over her, offered her wine . . . almost stroked her hair. Had he been planning to have her killed? She had felt as if she was pushed back, but there had been no one to push her. Morgana, working with him even then?

Talking a few steps toward the way they had to go, she lifted her hand to help walk by holding gently to the wall. "Just like with Morgana, after learning the truth I think of memories with him, and they look different." Darker.

[Arthur Pendragon]

She spoke of having dark memories with him, and he wasn't entirely sure what she meant. Granted, there had been a bit of tension between his uncle and Guinevère . . . but had there been something more? Surely . . . she had not know about this longer than what she overheard from Helios and Morgana. He was not sure his heart could take that and while he had never held it against her . . . the withholding of Morgana's magic from him arouse in his mind. Even still, he felt like he couldn't withhold anything from her. He paused, watching her for a moment, before grabbing a torch from the wall. He wasn't sure how long she was going to be in Camelot for, and . . . well, perhaps this would be a time to get that help she had offered. "This way," he said as they went down the hall, but instead of going the way they should, he turned the other way, waiting for her to join him.

"When we believed that the siege plans had been compromised, he shifted everything to a more secure location. I want to see if they are there, or if someone has tampered with the maps and documents." Someone being Agravaine. "As soon as we are done, I want you to distance yourself from this Guinevère." He didn't want her to involve herself any more, for once he checked the maps, and followed his uncle out . . . then he would have a better idea of what he was dealing with. But he would not try to find out at the expense of her life, which was why he was doing this now. Because knowing her . . . she would try to help anyway, even if he did walk her back to her chambers.

[Guinevère]

"This way," Which way? Guinevère watched him suddenly go down the wrong hall, and she felt confused for a moment, for he had just begged her to go to Gaius' chambers to rest. After a moment she walked toward him, as he explained. Her hands would go to the wall, but for the large part of her walking she could manage well at a slowed pace.


"When we believed that the siege plans had been compromised, he shifted everything to a more secure location." He. "Your uncle moved them?" Should she even call him his uncle any longer? Was that man even who he claimed he was? "Did anyone help him?" Or had he taken the task alone, with no one such as the council to help him with such an important task.

"As soon as we are done, I want you to distance yourself from this Guinevère." He kept saying that, but the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to make sure he was going to be safe before he left. His words of 'as soon as we are done' brought up a mixture of emotions. There was the connecting we, as well as saying they would be done.

[Arthur Pendragon]

"Your uncle moved them?" His uncle. And if he was the traitor, then it was no longer a term he wished to refer to Agravaine as. Just as he would never call Morgana his sister. "Yes," he replied pensively, though she already seemed to know the answer based on her next question. "Did anyone help him?" The more small details that were being put together . . . the more obvious it looked. Arthur had been naive, and he still wished that by some miracle, it was not truly his uncle who had betrayed him. That perhaps he was being threatened, being forced to do something against his will . . . but even then, it was no excuse. "He took it upon himself to take care of it." Arthur had been quite busy at the same with Mithian's arrival.

He looked at her, making sure she was ok to walk. She was so determined to do this, even whilst injured."Are you alright?" He asked, wondering if she was feeling too great a strain from all this walking. She should be getting rest, and letting her injury properly heal. And yet here he was, helping to encourage her sneak around the castle. That wasn't very considerate of him . . . at the same time, he had a feeling that even if he wasn't here, she would be doing this anyway. In fact, she had been doing this right before he caught her.

[Guinevère]

"He took it upon himself to take care of it." And no one helped him. She was surprised that no one helped him, but then realized why. His uncle was a trusted member of the royal family, and everyone else had been looking at the wedding that would be coming soon. If Morgana had just gotten the plans shortly before she brought them to Helios, then that was why no on bothered to help and 'old man with a tedious task'.

"Are you alright?" He asked and she pulled her hand from the wall quickly, not going to let a sign of weakness make him send her back. "Yes!" She offered quickly then attempted to change the subject. "Morgana gave Helios a map, if they have it, can the tunnels be sealed off? Or used to trap them?" These men were not immortal like her last army--in fact they were under trained men, just in massively larger numbers.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur knew she was not, but he knew she was trying to be strong. He liked to think that he knew her well enough to know that much . . . besides, arrow wounds did not heal over night. But he did not dwell on the subject. He only made sure he was alongside her and not walking too quickly ahead. "Morgana gave Helios a map, if they have it, can the tunnels be sealed off? Or used to trap them?" Arthur wished that she did not have the map but also knew that one failed attempt meant she would have to take a different tactic for the next time. If there was a next time. "There is a bar door at the exit of the tunnel that must be opened from the inside." And if Agravaine was a traitor, then he would be their way in. For the maps showed them direction, but in order to get inside the castle using them . . . you needed someone on the inside.

"We only keep a couple of guards near it." Near the entrance of the tunnels, so that it did not draw too much attention. "If we are expecting them, then we can defend the exits and entrances better." Thanks to her, they had a heads up of what to expect. So if they made sure Agravaine could not help the army get in, and they used another means to attack . . . then Camelot's army would be ready and waiting. Getting to the stairs, Arthur paused for a moment, looking down at them for they were very steep. Especially for someone with a wounded leg. So with that thought in mind, he extended his hand to her to help her walk down them, so that she would not stumble and she could add any extra weight onto him.

[Guinevère]

"There is a bar door at the exit of the tunnel that must be opened from the inside." Which would explain why Morgana needed Argavaine. She needed that inside man to open the doors, just like Morgause needed Morgana on the side that year she was here. They never seemed to learn from their past mistakes, only repeat them over and over again. "We only keep a couple of guards near it." Hopefully more now!

"If we are expecting them, then we can defend the exits and entrances better." Good! That would best if--Arthur held out his hands and Guinevère, without thinking took it, then paused looked at it for a moment. "Thank you," She said softly, as she walked down the steps that were would have been troublesome on her own. As she neared the last one, her fingers tightened on his, holding on for as long as she could, before relaxing her fingers so he could let go of her.

Guinevère didn't have it in her to let go on her own.

[Arthur Pendragon]

It was an odd thing for her to thank him for. Odd . . . because normally, she wouldn't have to. Had things been different, he may even be carrying her down the stairs. He just remained silent, giving a small nod in acknowledgment as they slowly and carefully made their way down the stairs. Arthur made sure to hold the torch low and in between them so that she could see the steps properly and not stumble due to the darkness. Once they got to the last one, Arthur noticed her grip tighten and prepared himself for if that was an indication that she was going to fall. But she gracefully made it down and relaxed her hold on him . . . though did not let go of his hand completely. He looked at their joint hands, finding that even this small gesture caused so many emotions to arise in him.

It was such a casual thing, something that he had been looking forward to: holding his wife's hand as they went for a walk in the gardens, or the market, or anywhere else that they did not have to worry about hiding. And now, he wondered if they would ever have that. Realizing that he was leaving his hand holding hers, he lowered it so that she was free from his hold . . . and found himself instantly missing it. Though he would make no such admittance. Instead, he just walked forward, though still staying close to her so that she could see well. These areas were slightly more dimly lit, for no one should really be sneaking about here at night. Once they arrived at the room, Arthur pulled out his keys and unlocked the door, pushing it open and peering inside to make sure no one else was about. He then stepped properly inside, doing another quick scan of the room that held maps and all sorts of important documentation.

[Guinevère]

Arthur held her hand a moment longer, and then dropped his own. Guinevère felt the instant chill of the loss of it, and as he stepped forward a little, her hand lifted to her lips to hold was she could of him close. She dropped it down to her side, as he opened the door, and advanced in. Following him, she looked around the room. There were unlit candles spread over the room, and places for touches. Some filled and unlit.

Once Arthur had lit one of the extra ones, she took out the candle stick and used it to light the candles in the room. Once there was more light she could see a desk, and a chair with walls of maps and papers and things. She walked over to the chair and sat down, giving her leg a rest while Arthur could began looking were he needed. Having never been down here before she wasn't quite sure where to look, and how everything was stored. "How do I help?" If she even could, at least she could help him by giving him support.

[Arthur Pendragon]

As she walked in, Arthur heard the heavy door automatically shut behind her. He busied himself with lighting a candle and then lighting the unlit torches along the wall, before putting his own among them so that he would be able to free his hands. "How do I help?" He looked at her, glad to see that she was sitting and resting her leg. He wished she had continued to rest it but knew it was too late for that right now. He turned to the shelves, finding one particular box which contained the siege plans. Arthur was the only one with a key . . . except that he had given it to Agravaine to lock up and keep safe. Agravaine had returned the key to him when everything was done but . . . who knows. Arthur carried the box over to the table and set it down, before pulling out another key from his ring. "The siege plans are contained in here," he said as he opened the box and held his breath . . .

And inside, were the siege plans. He took out the map of the tunnels and set it on the table, slightly confused. How could Agravaine have had a map, if the map was right here? Had he had time to put it back? No, because he had given him the key far sooner than he would have been able to sneak it out and return it. There was something different however, something that he noticed because he had been very specific as how they would be kept. "Its not, folded right." An odd thing to notice, but if someone had put them back in a rush . . . then it would make sense. "How can it be that Agravaine took them, when they are right here?" His tone wasn't accusing Guinevère of lying, but more so . . . trying to figure out how Agravaine had done it. The doubt that Agravaine was a traitor, was starting to subside . . . and he was slowly seeing the truth. And wished it was not so.

[Guinevère]

"The siege plans are contained in here," Watching Arthur bring the box over to the desk, her heart beat faster. If the map was gone did that prove it? She waited each moment, holding her breath . . . only to see Arthur pull out the map. "Its not folded right." Really? So there was a sign someone had at least taken it. She looked at it, trying to think about how everything had unfolded into relying on this map for the plan.

"How can it be that Agravaine took them, when they are right here?" He didn't sound like he was telling her she was wrong, and she didn't speak for a moment while she made sure her answer was a good one. "Did he have access to them before? You said you thought someone had compromised them. Could that have been someone--Agravaine--trying to get them back in, rather then out? If you were caught getting back in, would not pretending they never left be the best way to hide their missing hours?" She wasn't good at lying, but she did know how to see a lie. "How did you think they were compromised?"

[Arthur Pendragon]

He would not have been able to have gotten to the siege plans before. For there had been no need to. But . . . if his uncle had indeed framed someone else, that would have created the perfect diversion and reason to need access to the plans. It was all so . . . conniving, and Arthur felt all the more hurt that his uncle would go against him in this way. "The person I told you about, the one who was deemed a traitor. He must have . . . been used for part of this plan." And killed for the same reason. "For had Agravaine not stressed the importance of needing to move the plans, then he never would have had access to them." This was all just so . . . far fetched and yet not at the same time. He didn't want to believe that his uncle was a traitor, but the evidence that was slowly growing against him was indisputable.

Especially considering that Guinevère had overheard. And . . . Merlin had once stated as much too. "I hadn't thought of any potential risk with allowing him to handle the siege plans." He had trusted Agravaine . . . and clearly, the man had betrayed that trust. A great deal. "How did you think they were compromised?" "I don't know," Arthur admitted. "Morgana has never seen them before to my knowledge. And there would not have been enough time to memorize it." Because they were very elaborately designed, and very few knew their route well enough to avoid getting lost. "They must have made a copy somehow." He didn't know how, for he doubted Morgana had a map maker on hand. But he would not put anything past her. Just as he was slowly coming to realize that he could not put anything past Agravaine either.

[Guinevère]

"The person I told you about, the one who was deemed a traitor. He must have . . . been used for part of this plan." An used, killed and framed to be the newest trader of Camelot. What had happened to him, she wondered. Had he been send home in shame, with a letter explaining things rather then someone taking the time to look into his death? Agravaine. The lives he had ruined for what!? Morgana's greed?! "What happened to him?" She wondered, hoping that Arthur would take the time to notify the man or boy's family that he had not died a villain but in service to his kingdom and king.

"I hadn't thought of any potential risk with allowing him to handle the siege plans." "Nor should you have, you'd known him your whole life, Arthur. His betrayal almost make no sense. What has he to gain?" Was it a spell that made him do this? Was it love?

Whatever it was, it was not the important and foremost thing they should be looking at. It was the upcoming attack. Once that was handled, proving and disproving innocence could be looked into with more time. "They must have made a copy somehow." "Could have, I didn't see the map. I only heard them speaking of it. Perhaps it was a a quickly made copy?" Something his uncle had made with in a few hours. "Morgana is bold, but she never stops to think. Do you think she will still try an attack, or would my making it here change her plans?" If it would, what was Agravaine doing now?

[Arthur Pendragon]

"What happened to him?" That question was a bit more difficult to answer. For Arthur now doubted that it was actually an accident. "He had supposedly fallen off the high castle walls while trying to escape." But Arthur had his strong doubts that that was truly how he died. It was far too convenient now, yet . . . Agravaine? A killer? Then again, if he truly was a traitor who knows what lengths he would go to. Just as Morgana had killed so many. Arthur would never understand their reasons, nor did he want to. He did not want to get inside the minds of such cruel and ruthless people. He only wished he knew what he had done to provoke them to such a point. Guinevère spoke of how there was no way he could have known; how Agravaine's betrayal made no sense . . . but he knew that was no excuse. Had it only happened once, then perhaps. But this was the second time someone he loved and cared about had betrayed him in this way.

"I don't know," Arthur said pensively, though he did not want to think on it at the moment. Because . . . he didn't want to speak to her about it. He didn't want to speak to anyone about it. What kind of king could not even keep those that he loved most loyal? What did that show to the people? It showed he was in capable . . . it showed that even those closest to him, could not remain loyal for whatever reason. Glad for the shift in topic, Guinevère revealed that she had not seen the map, and suggested that it was a quickly made copy. Magic. Perhaps magic was involved. "That seems to be the only logical explanation," he agreed in terms of it being a quick copy of some sort. "Morgana is bold, but she never stops to think." That was true. Despite her immense power, she knew enough to know that she could not overtake Camelot without an army.

That she needed a pawn. Last time it had been Cenred, this time it was Helios. "I think she will go ahead with the attack," he said, going with what his instinct was telling him. "Whether it be through the siege tunnels or through another way." Arthur had to make sure that Agravaine didn't leave the castle to inform Morgana that they had Guinevère. "Since you have come, Agravaine has not gained the opportunity to leave the castle. I will make sure he doesn't without at least following him. And I think Helios believes that the arrow claimed your life." Otherwise, Arthur doubted he would have fled so quickly if his whole plan was in jeopardy. So long as he kept Morgana believing that everything was a sure go . . . then there was still a chance they could win this attack.