Story: From Fall to Flight

Rating: M

Pairing: GawainOC

Summary: In the deepest corners of darkness, lies a light with the potential to break through. In the strongest feelings of hate, there is always love beating just below its surface, hidden well within the bottomless shadows of gloom. His voice beckoned her, awoke something inside she never knew existed.

Warning(s): This chapter contains torture, it's not gory or overly-detailed but it's there. So please be prepared.

Author's Note: This is King Arthur story number two. I'm focusing mainly on my first one, but I wanted to get the Prologue for my GawainOC out and about.

A big thank you to scratchtheplans, for editing this for me. It would have been filled with hair-tugging mistakes if not.:)

.

Prologue:

.

"I am offering you one last chance to answer my question," A final warning, rough against the side of her face. She could feel the movement of his words upon her cheek. He would yell and shout, curse her to the deepest pits of hell, and then speak low and sickly sweet, sending her mind into a half-crazed confusion.

It was torturous.

"I told you. I do not…know," she wheezed out, wincing as the grip around her throat tightened.

"I shall cut out your tongue woman, for you incessant lies!" Spittle flew from his mouth in his moment of rage. Emery turned her head against the cold stone beneath her, gasping against the pain of her broken ribs. She lost track of the damage they'd done. All she knew was agony. It surrounded her, deepening with every breath she took. Her only coherent thoughts were prayers to a God she did not believe in; pleading for them not to become displeased enough to use any machines. Her body could handle such methods of torment no longer.

There was little left of what Emery had once called life. Most was replaced with the patient awaiting of her inevitable death.

How long had she been here?

Days?

Months?

Years?

She did not care. She worried only about how much longer it would last, how many times she would wake to the dark grey stone and rusted metal bars. She was trapped in this cage, invisible to all, even to herself. She could not recognize this person; so different from how she used to be. There were smiles once upon a time, were there not?

Emery's eyes fluttered, watering still from their earlier mistreatment. She could make out Guinevere's weak form in the dark; huddled and malnourished, but alive. It was her presence that kept Emery alive in the dark depths of this holy place. Without her company she surely would have lost her mind, a possibility that made itself known more often than she was comfortable admitting.

She heard shifting from above but kept her focus locked on Guinevere's heavy lidded eyes and shaky form. She forced a smile to her lips, her mouth closed in determination. Blood-stained teeth would do nothing comfort Guinevere's obvious worry.

The glare of a blade made Emery bite down on her tongue, fists clenched and jaw tightened. Still she smiled, hoping to ease Guinevere's fears more than her own.

They watched a young boy die today; no more than ten summers old. The blonde hair and green eyes reminded Emery of the beautiful land lying just outside this hellish place. His passing was quiet; welcomed. Emery envied him. She was selfish to covet his fate, wishing it was her own. But, she would not bid this life on her worst of enemies.

The boy had a right to rest peacefully. In time death would come for her as well.

She cried out in shock, twisting her head out of Guinevere's view. The guard laughed gruffly, grabbing her wrist. He pried her fingers open roughly, using the heel of his hand to steady it above her head. She moaned, trying to pull out of his grasp.

The knife dug into her skin with disturbing ease. Emery screamed at its depth, feeling as if the blade was grating against bones. Her lungs burned, desperately seeking relief from her shouts that were becoming exceedingly hoarse, until they diminished completely. Whimpering pitifully, her body shook with quiet sobs.

"Hush now lass. There may be hope for you after all," he cooed, yanking her limp body to the floor and dragging her back against the far wall of her cell." I must not risk you running off. What a shame it would be after all your atonement."

Emery's vision swam with spots of black and blue, her head tipping back and forth in an effort to stay awake. The guard was careless and slow on his way out. He did not need to fear her escape, despite his mocking words; she could barely feel her own legs.

"Emery?" Guinevere called weakly. Her voice sounded so far away, as if a mountain lay between them.

Emery tried to answer, but no words came out. Her hands trembled with the effort to speak, lips parted readily for the sound. Her eyes shot open in alarm, another attempt ending in the same failure to form a response.

Nothing.

Her hands rose, clawing at the skin over her throat. She wanted to cry, shout, whisper…anything.

"Eme-" Guinevere trailed off, her fatigue not allowing her to finish the plea.

Emery squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head in denial.

Each time she thought they could take no more from her, that she had nothing left to give, and each time she was proven wrong. The blue and black spots returned as she battled the exhaustion, her mind desperately trying to send her to a safer place. But not even her panic could delay the need for sleep from taking over.

Emery fought it no more, closing her eyes to green grass and blue skies, the rough hair of a horse's mane tickling her face. She soared willingly into the memories of spring rain and a warm bed; a harmless place far away from here, that no longer existed.

.

.

Author's Note: Okay, so this is a very short chapter, just a prologue to give you a small taste. I really wanted to do a GawainOC story. Being that he is my favorite knight and I don't think there are enough stories with him.

Please review, they help motivate my writing and I will try to have the first real chapter out by late tomorrow!

Thanks for reading!:)