Rubicon [Divides Crossed 9]
DJ Dubois
March 2018
Rating: T (Teen)
Notes Part 1: I am skipping ahead a bit. There was going to be another installment called "Melees" between "Mistletoe" and this one. Given some of the themes in that one (and 's potential reaction to them), I decided to just give summaries in this one.
Notes Part 2: This is the ninth 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's Yvain Knight of the Lion. Blancheflor is from Chretien's Perceval: Knight of the Grail. Please send comments to dante0220 .
Chapter 1 [Spring Equinox—Three Months Following "Mistletoe"]
Warm winds wafted from Tropics' clime in that fortnight. Snows softened and evaporated in their wake. Bits of soft ground peered through widening holes in that icy patchwork. Sap ran up through the trees toward the branches; Purpose guiding it toward blossoms and fruit to come. A few hardy birds sang strongly into the brisk air; their summons beckoning companions back toward the north.
Perhaps Hades seemed suited to release Persephone for her time with Demeter? One could hope.
After long time waiting, it seemed a new world finally would emerge…
[West Road Leading Into Whitgate]
A small party clopped along the path toward the capital. Despite the road's soft mud and puddles, their horses' hooves propelled them along at fair pace. While not as fast as Midsummer, the rate was a fair one nonetheless.
Morgana kept a stiff upper lip. Her eyes constantly scanned the woods. Experience had taught her to be ready for any ill news. Highwaymen could be anywhere. Falling branches from melting ice could block the road. Sudden storms remained a threat at that time of year. She bunched her cloak closely about herself. When she had her magic, she'd have cast a warming spell for herself. Now she'd do it for her companions as well.
That is if she still had it which she didn't…
I can't even look out for my knights! She sighed. Since her ascension to Tintagel's throne, Service had guided her efforts. Turning away from her uncle's mindset, she hit the ground running. Given that Gorlois had done the last surveys a generation earlier, she meant to assess the kingdom's current state. She'd instructed her courtiers to research the old laws favoring magic and the Old Religion. She opened her uncle's horded treasury. While she wanted to wait for the aforementioned surveys to come back, she knew some things needed to be done for good will's sake. New chain mail replaced the knights' battered and old gear. Allowances would be made for weaponry. She'd noted the strengths and deficiencies in Tintagel's defenses. New roads and improvements to old ones beckoned. Lonely stretches of back country proved too lucrative for brigands. Shrines to the goddess would have to be established once more.
Much remained to be done. Still, if her time in Camelot as ward, courtier and short-lived Queen, had taught her anything, she couldn't force her will on the crusty nobility. Rather Diplomacy and Skill would open them up willingly. She couldn't simply cast a spell. She had to discern how to achieve her agenda and meet the entire kingdom's ends in the process.
Even if he does take it too far, Arthur may have a point. She tapped her fingers on the saddle horn. She did admire somewhat how he promoted Equality's favor for all. He treated his knights, no matter how high or low born, with the same respect and dignity. His expectations and comradery extended across the board. He even raised Gwen from low born chambermaid to Queen. His efforts endeared him to the people (as she'd found out on both of her reigns). The other rulers had given him a latitude not offered to many so early in their reigns…..
….emphasis on had….
She shook her head. If someone had heard of Arthur's current issues, they might blame her. Not long before, they might have been right. She'd heard the whispers and Rumor's ugly talk skulking around her court. She ground her teeth knowing that her situation depended on doing just the opposite. And she would. Beyond just Gorlois' memory, her kingdom's needs cried out to her. And then there was Merlin's example.
Merlin….
She snorted. While Arthur's usual right hand, good luck charm and overly loyal spaniel, Merlin had fallen from his former grace. He'd endured demotions. No longer was he the personal servant and physician's assistant. Surprisingly he'd been confined to a former storage area. Even though Merlin performed his tasks (when allowed to) as he had before, his lot did not improve. Still she admired his diligence. In a manner she wouldn't have thought possible in recent years, she actually pitied and started to respect his fortitude.
Other rulers, it seemed, agreed with that sentiment. The aforementioned regard had withered. As many of Uther's contemporaries passed on, the new generation saw little reason to fear Camelot. While they appreciated Arthur's military prowess, they knew he had to be prodded toward governance. Prejudice soured their views of Gwen. Ironically though, Arthur's own stance against magic cost him at the negotiating table. His struggles against her and the Southrons damaged his standing. His treatment of Merlin especially after many of them knew of the latter's role in restoring him to the throne appalled them. To top it all off, while many of them knew Merlin's not-so-secret secret, the fact that Arthur remained blind to it and insisted that Merlin was a bumbling idiot and little more made him look ridiculous.
Arthur was proving to be his own worst enemy.
Who's the Idiot now, Arthur? She shook off Satisfaction's glimmer. No she knew that despite her defeat, Camelot's standing remained shaky. The inevitable fall from grace was under way. While not in danger of completely imploding, the knights' exodus had picked up. Following Percival's example, Leon and Elyan married into noble houses in Nuestria and Saxony respectively. Gawain, even if he was the only remaining member of the original round table, only took the First Knight position at Merlin's request. Many of Arthur's inner circle now were freshly minted from Youth's crop; their faces barely survived their first encounter with the razor it seemed. Gaius' new disciple, Simon de Longuemont, was every bit the idiot that Merlin pretended to be. Even the old man wouldn't say more than two words to Merlin any longer.
Gaius, you fool! That isn't what Nimue meant! Mithian, whatever you have planned, you'd best move on it. Merlin languishes. Even Gawain would be better suited as my jester than as Arthur's First Knight. At hearing her thoughts mention Mithian, her eyes spied the tops of Whitgate's spires over the trees. She turned to her retinue members. "Sir Stephen?"
A red headed stocky knight rode up to her side. He bowed to her. "My Queen?"
"How are you and the others?" She observed the building overcast moving in on Sol's position overhead. A slight chill rustled her hair. "The weather changes."
"Aye, my Lady." He glanced back toward their companions, two knights and a blonde slender serving woman. "I say we press on. While a break would help our spirits, a soaking in whatever comes our way will not. Whitgate is but another hour's ride. Perhaps we might find cover and a hot meal there?"
"Knowing King Rodor and Princess Mithian, I'd count on it. Very well. We press on for Whitgate." She spurred her horse and picked up their pace.
The race between weather and destination, it seemed, was on…..