Truce [Divides Crossed 14]

DJ Dubois

May-June 2018

Rating: T (Teen)

Notes: This is the fourteenth installment of the "Divides Crossed" series. Merlin and his cohorts (this version at least) belong to the BBC and Scyfy. Britomart is from Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene. Ywain and Malodius are from Chretien de Troyes' Yvain Knight of the Lion. Blancheflor is from Chretien's Perceval: Knight of the Grail. Cligés and Soredamors are from Chretien's Cligés. Josiane, Edgar and Boeve are adapted from the Boeve de Haumtone. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Chapter 1 [Physicians' Chamber, Whitgate—Hours After "Confirmations"]

Merlin climbed the granite stairs with surprising effort. Lament weighed down on his shoulders. Indecision muddled his pace. He sighed. He shuffled across the last few steps between him and the oak door. He exhaled deeply.

The oak door ahead seemed all the more imposing with each passing heartbeat.

What Mithian and I have is right. I know that. Still why did everyone have to turn it into a war? Maybe it could have been avoided? He reached the door. Surprisingly Rodor had left it unguarded especially given whose body was inside. Still he wasn't about to challenge his father-in-law on that front especially with everything else going on at that point. He pushed the door open with a loud lengthy creaking noise.

"Hey! Who goes there?"

Merlin cracked a grin. Relief sparkled in his eye. Realization lightened his steps. He noted that everything had been tidied up. The used sheets and cloths had been taken away. Best of all, he saw Lancelot and Gawain with hands on their swords. Meantime Elaine and Britomart were washing Gaius' body. Gwen wiped down a desk in the corner. "I should have known."

"What?" Gawain shrugged. "You really didn't think we'd leave Gaius with an unlocked door? Right?"

"And yet you're here," Merlin jabbed.

"He has a point," Lancelot teased. He grinned at his comrade and then at the Prince. "We do have our expedition. Gaius deserves our best."

"He does indeed." Merlin looked to Gwen. "Gwen, you shouldn't be doing that. We have maids who can dust and clean."

"And what do I do, Merlin? I'm not a Queen here. I might as well help Mithian and you. You're my friends," Gwen countered. She held up a rag. "And don't tell me I can't do that. You're not the best example in that regard."

Merlin smiled. "No. I'm not. We're not exactly what we're supposed to be. Are we?"

"It works. Why knock it?" Gawain swatted at the air effectively batting the idea aside much like a gnat or a black fly.

"Even if you still need a bath, my Lord Windbag?" Britomart supposed.

"You could take one too. Give me one reason why I should," Gawain fired back.

"Her feet don't stink. Yours have a most unique aroma," Gwen pointed out.

"I'll tend to Master Gaius, Lady Britomart. You can help Sir Gawain," Elaine suggested.

"I could make it an order," Merlin told them.

"Yeah you could. You won't. Brit's got a bee in her armor. I'll worry about it later," Gawain retorted.

Merlin's eyes glowed. He motioned toward a vat of suds where several linens soaked. Then he coughed. "I think the King will agree on this."

The vat slid across the stones like a predatory snake. Stealth glided it behind Irreverence's chief agent with nary a sound.

The others bent lower over their tasks. They choked back any laugh or betraying sound.

"What?" Gawain looked about. Instinct whispered that something was going on.

As he did so, Merlin guided the vat away from his glance. A left look meant a right move. A right look dictated the vat move in the other direction. His smirk only widened. He pointed at Gawain.

"Oh bloody hell no! We got to leave in a few hours! I…." Gawain protested before he floated off of the stones. "MERLIN!"

"Aye? Who's the Prince here?" Merlin asked.

Gawain started to argue. Then he pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. "You."

"Aye. That's what they tell me. Princess Mithian says I should have more confidence in certain things. I'm confident you need a bath," Merlin declared. Satisfaction glittered in his eyes. He folded his arms across his chest.

That's one way to be confident, my Prince, his Princess interjected over their Link. I approve.

Glad you do. I figured you'd like how I supported Britomart. Merlin waved his hand dropping the floating spell.

Gawain dropped into the soapy water. His clothes clung to his skin….

…that is until they vanished as well….

"HEY! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?" Gawain protested. He sank lower into the suds to cover himself.

"So Discretion does have your acquaintance, Sir Knight?" Britomart walked over toward the vat and her fiancé. Triumph raised her confidence. "You're going to be clean for our expedition."

"Brit, Gaius has been waiting. I…." Gawain argued.

"Gaius would tell you to pipe down and clean up already." Gwen picked up a brush.

"Gwen, you're not going to do that. What would Arthur say?" Gawain frowned even more so.

"He'd agree with Merlin. Just scrub down or we'll do it for you," Gwen told him. "Here."

"I'll deal with his feet." Britomart intercepted the brush. She scrubbed for several heartbeats over his feet and wiped between his toes. She took care of his chest, armpits and back. Then she took several handfuls of the bathwater and dumped them over his hair.

"Aw…sppt!" Gawain winced. Soap stung his eyes. He spat out the offending water from his mouth. "You missed a spot."

"We aren't married yet. Deal with that on your own," Britomart informed him. "Besides your feet are tolerable. Wish I could say the same for what passes for a brain between those clogged ears." She dipped a cloth in the water. Then she rummaged the soapy rag through his hair. Finally she dunked him back under again.

Gawain surfaced. He spat out a terse mouthful of water. "Some warning next time!"

"It works better that way." Britomart noticed a young page standing in the doorway. "Aye?"

The group turned toward the young blonde haired youth. Expectation clearly held their attention fast.

"Prince Merlin and Lady Elaine." The page bowed to him. "The King wishes to see you immediately. Can you follow me?"

"What did I do?" Elaine worried.

What's this about? Merlin glimpsed to the others. Then he looked toward Gaius. I won't even get a heartbeat much less more with him before we go. Wish it could be so. He nodded. Then he turned toward the courtier. "I'm sure we're all right, Elaine. Let's see what he needs from us."

"Thank you, my Prince." The boy bowed and then led Merlin from the chamber.

"What was that about?" Lancelot looked to Gwen and then the others.

"Has the Prince displeased King Rodor?" Elaine worried.

Gwen shrugged. "It's Merlin's first expedition as Prince. I suppose Rodor will have some things to say. Meantime we can all get ready to depart."

"Including getting someone his armor before he scares the castle out of its wits," Britomart snarked.

"Yeah well…lots of women have been happy that way," Gawain sassed. He shook his head.

Change it seemed was in the air on that day….