Camelot (Divides Crossed 19)
DJ Dubois
March-April 2019
Notes: Merlin and his cohorts (this version at least) belong to the BBC. All other characters belong to their respective copyright holders. Please send comments to dante0220 .
Chapter 1 [Camelot—Citadel]
The throne room buzzed with activity on that day. Boundary disputes brewed. Reeves' duties questioned. Issues with religion or lack thereof hung heavily in the air. In each case, both sides stood at the bar. Each side wanting to present their case and expect the King's justice….
…at least that's how it was supposed to work in theory….
Much as in recent days, however, Neglect hampered those efforts. Litigants lined the halls and staircases between the front door and the throne room. They lingered in the vain hope that Arthur would hear their case and do justice by it. The nobles chafed at the lack of attentiveness toward the old religion's resurgence. They thirsted for expansion and glory. They wanted Arthur to lead the knights even on the most routine patrols.
Uncharacteristically, the royals were nowhere to be seen. Arthur had remained in the citadel. He sent the knights out on their own. He did nothing when Inexperience caused as many problems as it solved. Gwen had vanished without a trace.
Restlessness stirred…within and without the kingdom.
[Royal Chambers]
The troll guzzled down a goblet of wine. He brooded over Gwen's betrayal. Tedium rendered him less than attentive to most matters. He couldn't stand dealing with the rank and file's issues. He saw little use to the patrols. Instead he'd shift his appearance so as to pass unmolested. He deserted the palace often for days at a time. He'd searched for Gwen in every dale and shire. Fixation unbalanced him.
On this day, the creature shuffled across the polished floor. His eyes skimmed a survey. After a rather cursory glance, his quill scratched across the parchment. His seal imprinted in wax on its bottom. Then he cast it on a mounting pile with other such records. He glanced toward the door. Doubt dogged his mind. I do what I have to! He ground his fangs. His tapping fingers scratched the fine oak desk.
Geoffrey of Monmouth, it seemed, had missed another audience.
I should deal with that human! Then the others will understand! The troll smacked a chair back. Respect, it seemed, was in short supply. Perhaps it was time to make an appearance.
"You are tiresome." The Sorceress stepped into view from behind a drape. Crimson glowed in her eyes. She clenched her fists. "You can't even do what you're supposed to do."
"I'm here. They don't listen. They…." the troll protested.
"SILENCE!" She pointed at her creature. "Toisich!"
"Wait! I…." The troll disappeared in a dark flash.
She glowered at the disheveled chamber. "That one couldn't even keep up appearances! The way he moons over the servant-Queen, he could be the Brat-King." She hissed. Incompetence unwound several parts of her scheme. Even as she transported the allied armies from their kingdoms to Cawdor, Meleagant and his soldiers had allowed Arthur to escape his cell. The knights thirsted more for their aims than following orders. Suspicion smoldered in Camelot. Thanks to the troll's ineptitude, Revolt threatened to steer Camelot in a different direction than her desired ends. Intervention was desperately needed.
Subterfuge had brought Camelot to its knees.
Her eyes glowed again. She swiped at the air with her hand. "Come!"
Meleagant stormed through the mists. He savored standing in the midst of the Pendragons' inner sanctum. Still he hated being summoned like some mere servus or worse. "At last!" His eye swept the chamber. He assessed the furnishings noting their potential value. "My knights have cut the city off. There is no escape."
"So you claimed with the Boy-King, Meleagant. The triple goddess' priestesses took him right from under your nose." She wheeled to face him. "Are you done sizing up your pillage, Dread King?" Sarcasm dripped from her tone.
"I've waited years for this moment." He fingered the tapestries' fine material one by one. His eye lingered on the gold candelabras. He anticipated his coming inspection of the vault. "All in good time."
"I've waited long enough." She disappeared in a puff of smoke. Five heartbeats later, she reappeared. "That's better." She motioned for him to join her at the window. "Come watch."
"What have you done?" Disgust over having his triumph intruded on brewed in his craw. He stalked over to the window. He glared down on the square. Then his eye moved across the rooftops and toward the lower town.
Far below, a crimson deluge swept over the now-open drawbridge. With little resistance, the Cawdorians filled the lower town. Their swords overwhelmed the inexperienced Camelot knights. Then they surged into the square. After dealing with the two sentries at the citadel's front entrance, the invaders entered the palace. Even with her machinations and Cawdor's might, the conquest happened with unbelievable pace.
"After decades of waiting, it is this easy." He nodded to her. "My compliments on an effective invasion, Lady."
"It is necessary. If you are done here, your throne awaits. Our allies desire their goals as well," she reminded him.
"I've been a good host. They can wait a couple more turns of the hourglass." He sucked in a terse breath and marched out of the chamber toward the stairs.
The ingrate! Without me, he would still be fuming in his backlands. She scowled and disappeared yet again from view.
Deception had run its course. Now Occupation stood plain to see…..