A/N: I've taken several classes in University about Arthurian legend.  Even there, my favorite stories have always revolved around either Gawain or Galahad. I even wrote a paper on Sir Gawain for a final project.

I always felt he was short changed in Merlin. Mostly treated as comic relief instead of the incredible Knight he was. The bravest of them all in the tale of the Green Knight, he really outshines everyone. He may not be the most noble (that would be Lancelot, who is often also the most arrogant), but he was the one with 3 dimensions. His anger, his fiery temper, his courage, his honor... rarely was that showcased in the show. He was also one HELL of a brother. I hope to bring some semblance of the real legend into Gwaine. Here's a chapter to do just that I hope.

“You should go to bed, Gwaine.” Fira watched him carefully as an hour later, he was still up.

He had even gone to get his own stash of alcohol and was currently chugging an ale. Gwaine stood and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He had no desire to go to bed. “I'm fine, Fira. I could say the same about you.”

She folded her arms. There was no way she was going to bed until Gwaine did. “I am going to bed when you go to bed.”

“Take a seat, then.” Gwaine snorted as he took another swig of his drink. “It'll be awhile.”

He was more drunk than he was comfortable with when having her around. Or anyone for that matter. He knew he needed to stop, but he couldn't. Something was wrong.

He turned back to her. “Go to bed. Please. I'll be fine.” He forced a small, playful smile to his lips.

“Why are you doing this, Gwaine?” Fira leaned forward from where she still say at the table.

He sighed and put the drink to his lips again before letting his arm fall. It spilled the drink a little. Without turning to her he spoke. “You know I’m not superstitious.” He paused before continuing. “But something… something doesn't feel right.”

She snorted. “This whole affair doesn't feel right, Gwaine. I could tell you that much. But when has that ever troubled us?”

He smirked. “Yeah you're right. I'm overreacting. You should get to bed.”

Fira rolled her eyes. Gwaine was hardly subtle when he was drunk. She had to hand it to him though. He kept it together pretty well.

“Fine.” She stood. “I'll leave you alone. But let me at least cast a spell so you won't be hungover in the morning.”

Gwaine turned and grinned. “Now that is a useful spell.”

She said the correct words and her eyes flashed gold. Gwaine felt no different but he trusted her. As she left to go to bed, he sat back down with his drink.

Leon found him asleep at that table early the next morning, three empty bottles of ale and another with a bit left sitting around him. He said nothing, but made his footsteps extra loud so Gwaine would wake up. The Knight rubbed his eyes and turned to Leon, acting as though nothing was wrong. For his part, Leon didn't press.

“Good morning!” Gwaine grinned as Leon and the inn keep both entered the room at the same time. “Thought I'd get down here a little early.”

Leon nodded. “Might send you out to get food then. Gaheris is up, too.”

Gwaine put on a false grin and took the last swig of his third drink since Fira left. He’d gone through half his stash in a single night.

“Hand over the money, then!” Gwaine stood from his spot.

Leon rolled his eyes and tossed a sack of coins to Gwaine. They both looked up as Gaheris came down the stairs and joined them.

“Go with Gwaine. Get some food and drink for the journey. Everyone has ten gold pieces to spend on their own for whatever they choose.” Leon handed them both a small sack containing the bonus money. “But spend it wisely, please.”

Gaheris nodded. “Always.”

Gwaine beckoned Gaheris to the door. “Let's get going.”

The brothers walked silently together down the street of Oxfordshire. Neither spoke, each lost in his own thoughts. Neither, until Gwaine stopped and shook his head.

“Mum wouldn't want us at each other’s throats, we both know that.” Gwaine pinched the bridge of his nose.

Gaheris sighed in exasperation. “We're doing this now?” He spun ‘round to face his older brother.

“Yeah,” Gwaine muttered. “Being drunk helps.”

Gaheris rolled his eyes. “How many drinks did you have last night?”

Gwaine smirked. “Far too many.”

Gaheris let out a sigh once more and gestured with a nod of his head for them to go to a more secluded spot. Both men went to speak at the same time.

“Gaheris,” Gwaine frowned. “I do in fact care for you and Gareth. Whether you know it or not. I know too well that I failed as a brother, and as a son.”

Gaheris held up his hand. “I spoke to Fira.” He watched as Gwaine’s face melted into shock. “She told me what you've done for her, and for the other knights. You may not have been a brother for myself, or for Gareth, but at least you were, and are, one for her.”

“I was so bitter when you were born.” Gwaine sighed, leaning against the outside wall of a store. “Bitter because mum had chosen to marry and have more than just me.”

“Now mum is gone.” Gaheris felt tears in his eyes. “Gwaine, I was so angry with you. I was furious. I blamed you because you weren't there. I blamed you because I didn't want to blame myself. I should've been there.”

“You weren't?” Gwaine’s head shot up. “Where were you?”

Gaheris paced back and forth, his hands moving frantically. “I took Gareth on a camping trip. He had always wanted to go off with just me. We left for three days. When we got back, she was gone.”

“Gone?” Gwaine scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. What did he mean? “Gone? Any signs of struggle, any blood?”

“None.” The younger son of Morcades shook his head. “She was just gone.”

“That doesn't make any sense, Gaheris!” Gwaine looked at his brother in confusion. “How could she just be gone?”

The man shrugged, face betraying the agony he felt inside. “Gwaine, I thought she had gone to find you. Gareth and I, we began to search for you. It took two years before we heard tell of the Knights of the Round Table, one called Sir Gawain.”

“Gawain?” Gwaine looked in surprise at his brother. “That's not my name.”

With an eyeroll he nodded. “Obviously the name got a little messed up in translation to the public.” He sighed. “I knew it had to be you. And man I hated you. I hated you Gwaine. With all my heart. Because you were now, in my mind, the reason we lost mum.”

They looked at each other and after a small pause, Gwaine gave a short laugh without humor. “Funny. You were the reason I lost mum.” He paused. “We might find her someday, you know. Maybe.”

“Maybe.” Gaheris nodded. “I hope.”

“Sometimes all we have is hope.” Gwaine placed his right hand on Gaheris’ shoulder. “For now, I hope I can call you a friend, and perhaps even a brother.”

“Indeed.”

Together they got to work buying food for the trip. Gwaine ended up using his ten pieces to buy more alcohol, not anyone’s surprise when they saw this. Only Fira, Gaheris, and Leon knew of how much Gwaine had drunk that night, but they knew enough to know Gwaine enjoyed a drink.

As they returned to the inn, the whole crew was up and about. Half had already gotten what they wanted with their ten gold pieces.

Fira had bought several rare herbs she felt might come in handy from the magic shop she’d visited the day before. Galahad had purchased a new dagger, one that fit in the side of his boot.

“Let’s pack up and get a move on,” Leon told them once all had eaten. “We’ve no time to waste.”