I Cannot Lose You Too [Sir Elyan the Brave & Gwen]

[Guinevère]

Elyan wasn't awake at the moment, giving Guinevère time to just sit by his side and look at him. Everything was so uncertain in her life right now, and before she went back to Eldor she wanted to make sure her brother was alright. She knew that she was still banished, technology, but she also knew she could not leave until she knew her brother would recover from Morgana's mistreatment of him.

Guinevère was shocked at the new feelings of hate growing toward Morgana. She didn't think she could have ever hated a person--but Morgana was hurting people! Killing them! Burning their food, homes, and making it hard for them to live when it was hard enough! Morgana had done this to Elyan!! Hurt him so greatly!! All to get information about Arthur from him.

Guinevère took the cool cloth from the bowel and rung it off, before washing Elyan's brow. He would be surprised to see her here in Camelot, as she was told not to return on pain of death, but she also knew that nothing would have kept her away from Elyan's side in this moment.

[cherryblossom131]

Elyan slept restlessly. When they'd taken back Camelot from the witch Morgana, he'd tried to appear strong and healthy. But the truth was he was just about ready to collapse at any moment. The Nathair snakes, she'd called them, had caused him pain that he never thought could possibly be inflicted on any man. It was what he was dreaming about; the never ending pain. It was probably worse than the flames of hell itself. It was unlike any injury he'd ever acquired over the years but it was not the only thing that caused his restless slumber. He felt guilty for disclosing the information of Arthur's whereabouts. He knew they'd taken back the kingdom but he could have been the reason for Morgana finding the king. He should have been stronger, but thinking of the serpents, their bites, the searing pain from the hot poison that refused to kill him only to lead him to the edge of death; it relieved a lot of his guilt.

Elyan could faintly feel someone washing his brow, and he opened his eyes slightly to see none other than his little sister. His eyes widened almost comically when he saw her. "Gwen?" He could not help the smile that stretched across his face despite the confusion as to how she was even here. He winced as he sat up but he just had to take her in his arms and hug her to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him. "How I've missed you," he whispered. He squeezed her tightly, the smile still on his face. He couldn't believe she was actually here. He let her go slightly, not wanting to stop her breathing! "But," he paused. "How come...well how come you're here?" He chuckled unable to get over the happiness and surprise that his baby sister was actually there in front of him.

[Guinevère]

She felt him stir under her hand, and Guinevère held her breath as Elyan opened his eyes, and then they seemed to realize what he was seeing. "Gwen?" Smiling brightly, Guinevère dropped the rag and bent down to kiss his cheeks over and over again, then as she pulled away she kissed his forehead as well! She been so worried for him! Gaius said that Morgana had tortured him to the limit of human endurance! It enraged Guinevère--and frightened her with the level of negative emotion she felt toward her former friend.

"How I've missed you," "And I you!" She told him, looking into his, glad to see they were clear and showed no signs of being distant from fervor. "But," She knew what he was about to ask, and the story would be one to tell when he had not just awoken. "How come...well how come you're here?"

"Your my big brother, I will always come when you need me." She said, leaving the details for later. "You need some more rest, just take a moment. Are you in pain? I can call to Gaius if you are."

[cherryblossom131]

It had been difficult for Elyan to live in Camelot without Gwen; unnatural even. She was always the constant in his life; the person he knew would always be there for him without fail. It hadn't felt right to just go on without her and he still felt a little guilty for not insisting more to leave Camelot with her and better protect her. It did his heart good to see her safe and sound in front of him again. Elyan smiled sincerely at her words and hugged her again just to make sure he wasn't dreaming after enduring the true extent of Morgana's cruelty. He realised that even being banished wouldn't stop his little sister from saving him as always. The thought made him smile.

He could see that she was worried for him, how long had he been sleeping? "No there's no need, I'm not in any pain." That wasn't exactly true but pain had to be expected after what he'd gone through. It wasn't just physical pain either, sometimes when he closed his eyes, he could hear the snakes hiss or feel the poison burning through his veins. He wasn't about to tell Gwen these horrible thoughts though, he refused to further worry her. He wondered when she came, had she heard about Morgana's take over and then chosen to help them fight for Camelot? That certainly sounded like something she'd do. But there was one question that he wished to ask before all the others. "I don't mean to pry, but," he paused, hesitating. "Does Arthur know you're here?" Would she have to leave again? He didn't want her to.

[Guinevère]

"No there's no need, I'm not in any pain." That was lie and she could almost see it. Guinevère had hear of what Morgana had done to her brother and the feelings that envolked were frightening to herself. She was a gentle person by nature and for to almost wish a former friend to be gone from this world was hard for her. Yet seeing her brother now, and seeing Arthur in the aftermath of everything once again she felt it! In her heart.

She could have lost her brother thanks to Morgana's hate. "Does Arthur know you're here?" His words brought her out of her mind and she smiled softly, almost sadly. "Yes." She admitted, "I came here with him, in the fight to take back the castle and the kingdom." Though she knew she had to be honest, "I do not know how long I can stay, but I do not think he will ask me to leave while you need me."

She hoped not. Arthur was not a bitter person--not like Morgana. Arthur was kind, and loyal to people. His inner strength was beaken of hope to all around them. He would allow her to tend her brother. "So rest easy, your sister has not joined your trouble making ways." She tried to tease him, to help him rest.

[cherryblossom131]

He raised his eyebrows slightly when she told him Arthur knew she was here. He felt a little relieved because that meant he was allowing her to stay, at least for now. "I came here with him, in the fight to take back the castle and the kingdom." He smiled at her, of course she did. She was never one to sit back and watch acts of injustice. She would always act to protect the people she loved, like him a lot of the time. "My sister, the warrior," he teased, grinning. He looked down for a moment after she said she'd probably only be here for as long as he needed her. She was his little sister so he never wanted her to go. She should be here in Camelot, her home where he could see her and protect her and just be there whenever she needed him like he had failed to do over and over in the past. "Then I will need you forever, because I refuse to let you leave again." He wouldn't just let it happen like he had last time. There must be some way he could reason with Arthur to lift the punishment he had sentenced Gwen to. Even if he was still hurt, she helped to save the kingdom surely that meant she was allowed to at least live in it.

She always took care of him, even when that was supposed to be his job. "I don't think I can rest," he gave her half smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I mean I've been sleeping around while you've all been fighting for the kingdom." He attempted to lighten his words but he couldn't bare closing his eyes and sleeping again. He knew his slumber would only be filled with Morgana's cruelty and the snakes that had tortured him beyond what he ever thought he could take. "So tell me," he began, smiling. "Did my baby sister put the knights of Camelot to shame?" he teased. He knew she could fight. Both of them used to play with the swords their father made and they would also sneak into the training field to watch the knight's train. Gwen had never enjoyed going without their fathers' permission but she used to tag along nonetheless.

[Guinevère]

"My sister, the warrior," He teased and Guinevère found her lips tilting up into an almost smile at his words. Guinevère had to bit her lip a moment to keep from crying, though the tears this time would be from the joy of knowing her brother would indeed live--for if he could tease her, he would truly be fine. It did her heart good in this troubling time. Wonders really. He was all she really had left for family. As she knew she could never marry another other then Arthur, she knew Elyan would be her only family until he one day wed.

"Then I will need you forever, because I refuse to let you leave again." Kind words, but she knew she could not stay. Even if Arthur lifted her banishment, she could not stay. While Guinevère knew he would never hurt nor kill her, she had also heard of his almost marriage. Rumors had traveled far and fast of it. One day he would have to wed, and Guinevère new that she could not be here to watch him vow to love and honor another woman. Nor watch his wife give him children. She was not strong enough for such things. "Then never fear," She lied a little, "For your sister will not another nurse near her brother. And she is going to make sure you drink every single one of Gaius' medicines." Even the ones that tasted horrid.

For today was not about what her foolish heart had cost her, but about her brother and his health. "I mean I've been sleeping around while you've all been fighting for the kingdom." That made her smile a slight bit more. "So tell me, Did my baby sister put the knights of Camelot to shame?" No, no she had not. "I stayed close to Merlin." She admitted, knowing that she had knocked one man out, and then given chase to Morgana . . . found her and lost that battle. Had Morgana's powers not been acting strangely then she would have died.

"Morgana escaped," She told him, "No one knows where or how. She was wounded and her magic seemed to have fled her, but she still escaped."

[cherryblossom131]

He loved his sister more than words could say and he knew he'd do everything in his power to make sure she wasn't forced to leave again. But he was still afraid that she would, that it would be beyond his power to stop her even though it was his job to protect her as her older brother. He felt like he'd failed her...again, like he'd repeatedly done before. She always took care of him instead of the other way round like it was supposed to be. He didn't deserve to have a sister that cared for him like she did, but he wasn't going to voice his thoughts. He just decided to be grateful for having her. He heard the slight lie in her voice, it was more like a deflection from the subject. She'd never really been much of a liar, always prone to telling the truth. But he chose not to push the matter further and decided to chuckle when she mentioned Gaius' medicine. "Do I have to?" He whined like a child. "I don't think I need it, I'm feeling much better." He pushed up on his arm slightly and flinched visibly while trying and failing to stifle a groan. It seemed his body didn't agree with his words.

He felt unusually relieved when she said that she stayed close to Merlin. "Good," he sighed. He didn't know what it was about the man but in the midst of trouble, Merlin was always an unexpected good luck charm. It was fascinatingly weird that a skinny man like Merlin could make his way through a battle without so much as a scratch. It was insane how lucky the boy was. But there wasn't any point questioning it, they should just be thankful and hope that luck never runs out. "Morgana escaped," Elyan's eyes closed tight in anger as Gwen continued, his heart filled with hate for the witch. "Will we never be rid of her?" He exclaimed with his jaw tight in anger moving up again, but cringed with the pain that the outburst had caused. It just further reminded him of what Morgana had done. He didn't usually have a temper, he was more reserved but he still felt deeply scarred. Although he wouldn't want to admit it to Gwen, it would probably take a while before he felt the same as he used to, if that even happened at all. He exhaled unsteadily, he didn't want to lose his temper in his condition and especially not in front of Gwen, he was probably being overdramatic. "I'm sorry," he quickly said. "I know she used to be your friend and..." He paused, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout." He smiled at her apologetically.

[Guinevère]

"Do I have to?" He pretended to whine like a child--at least she hoped he was pretending. Though she knew he was in pain. "I don't think I need it, I'm feeling much better." Proof of her thoughts came as he tried to sit up but winced. She wanted to make him lie down and be safe but she also knew that somethings men did because they refused not to be able to do. She only hoped Elyan never over tried himself while trying to recover.

"Will we never be rid of her?" Elyan exclaimed in a tone she had rarley--if never--heard him use before. Elyan was the sort of man who rolled with the punches and saw too much at times. He did not let his emotions--such as temper--control him. Seeing him angry was understandable in this moment, but it also showed Guinevère how much this was effecting him. It broke her heart to know that he was so hurt by this! "I'm sorry," "No!" She said softly, as he kept speaking. "I know she used to be your friend and..." "Elyan," She tried to stop him but Elyan either did not hear her or wanted to speak his mind. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout."

"Elyan, whatever loyalty I once thought was apart of a friendship I once had with Morgana would never even come close to the love I have for my brother. After she hurt so many the first time she taken the kingdom, I pitted her. I was angry and I knew the friendship was over. . . . . but after this . . . I hate her now." Morgana had hurt and killed so many and what she did to Elyan caused emotions that frightened Guinevère to rise up.

Guinevère wasn't one to hate anyone--not even hating Uther after he had her father killed--but Morgana was proving to be pure evil and a bitter greedy woman. "I found her . . . when Arthur took the castle. Her magic seemed to had left her, and Merlin and I . . . " She always had trouble talking about herself being brave, for she felt like she was bragging. "I fought her." With a sword, like Elyan and Arthur had taught her. Elyan had taken her on adventures as a child and she had learned a bit about fighting, and Arthur had taken a hand in training her some in Eldor the first time . . . before they fell in love and . . . before she betrayed him.

"I asked her why she wanted me dead, what had I done to make her hate me?" The answer was confusing. "She said I had done nothing, that it was what I was going to do. . . . I know not what she thinks I will do against her, but when before I might not have done anything to her . . . . I want to help in ending her rein of fear. Stopping her."

[cherryblossom131]

He hated losing his temper, especially in front of Gwen. It reminded him of when he used to fight and argue with their father and he detested being reminded of that and reminded of the guilt he still carried around with him every day. He listened to his sister, and the anger in her voice was unlike anything he'd ever heard from her. He'd never know her to ever hate anybody, dislike maybe but never pure hate. It just showed what Morgana had done to not only the kingdom, but its people too. He never wanted his sister to feel such a dark emotion, but he couldn't protect his sister from feeling. "I'm sorry you had to feel this way, but I think all of Camelot share that emotion." He knew he did, and probably all of those Morgana terrorised in her brief takeover.

She went on hesitantly to tell him what happened when she came to help take back the kingdom. "I fought her." Elyan's eyebrows almost immediately rose up in surprise. He hadn't been extremely surprised when Gwen had said she'd helped in the fight to take back Camelot, but he hadn't thought she'd actually fought Morgana herself. Despite the circumstances he couldn't help a proud smile from stretching across his lips. "I knew those sword lessons would come in handy," he chuckled. His teaching methods hadn't been entirely conventional however seeing as they'd used sticks and twigs as children instead of real swords. Not until he was older, had has father actually allowed him to wield one of the many swords he'd made. Even then he'd been reluctant to allow Gwen to wield one, but that hadn't stopped Elyan sneaking off and teaching his sister anyway. They hadn't been actual lessons but it was all good fun, even with all the cuts and bruises they'd both gained along the way. He smiled at her warmly and spoke sincerely. "I'm proud of you, Gwen, truly." There was no denying his sister was a warrior at heart now, he thought smiling.

"I asked her why she wanted me dead, what had I done to make her hate me?" He listened intently as she continued. He shared Gwen's thoughts of stopping Morgana and put a comforting hand on his sister's arm. "We will stop her Guinevère." He hardly ever used her full name but felt the need to now. "Do you know why?" He asked her, smiling softly. "Because she no longer knows what it means to be loved." Morgana had given that up the second she decided to pursue power instead. "She doesn't know what it means to be loyal to family or to friends." He'd almost feel pity for her if her heart hadn't turned so dark and cold. "In the end, that will be her downfall," he said with all the conviction in his heart. He hugged his sister then with all that he was worth resting his head on her shoulder, even through the pain his sudden actions caused. He would never allow anyone, especially a heartless witch hurt her again. He believed his words with his whole soul, because he knew that the only thing that someone could do to seek revenge and hate like Morgana did was to wholeheartedly sacrifice love.

[Guinevère]

"I'm sorry you had to feel this way", She was sorry too, but not sorry she felt this way, but sorry she had ever gotten her brother in this. While she was beyond proud of him, and so greatful to know he was alive and well, and seeing him with brother who were more then friends did her heart well . . . .

Morgana's hate knew no bounds. He had been hurt in ways she knew she would never understand. "I knew those sword lessons would come in handy," His tease drew a sort soft smile from her lips from it faded. "I fear I was a poor student." She had been disarmed and lost the fight rather quickly. "I'm proud of you, Gwen, truly." Her heart swelled with the emotion that his few words could invoke in her.

"We will stop her Guinevère." Would they? She had escaped again into thin air. How did she always escape like that? It seemed imposable that they could not find her. "Do you know why?" No, she did not. "Why?" She asked hopeful, hoping Elyan knew something she did not. "Because she no longer knows what it means to be loved."

"She doesn't know what it means to be loyal to family or to friends." Everyone in her whole like always said that she was the one who pointed out the light in the darkness, and gave them hope. But it was her brother doing it now for her. "In the end, that will be her downfall," Elyan moved and hugged her, and Guinevère found her own arms around him tightly as she held to him like never before. Tears fell over her cheeks as she held to her brother. She didn't want to leave him! Not ever. She didn't want to leave her home, and she didn't want to leave Arthur. Yet how could he look at her? The words he said to her in the woods still rung in her hears, and she was so afraid that while the last time she left had hurt her that this time would break her. "I love you." She remaindered her brother, since they both did not know what would happen now.