For Love of a Falcon is the ninth story in the Rejected by Royalty series.
CHAPTER 1 : OF FODDER AND FLOODS
Winter thankfully was uneventful weather wise; a few good snow storms to keep the pages and squires amused; some cold weather yet food and wood were plentiful.
In the spring, most villages reported that there had been minimal fatalities due to the weather and illness, that the seeding seemed to have taken and livestock numbers were up. Another year had begun in Camelot.
For Arthur, this year was a stepping stone as he entered his thirties. He assured Gaius that he felt the same as he had when he was nine. He was strong, solid and capable, much to Merlin's annoyance, of picking him up effortlessly. Merlin surpassed him by being fleet of foot and that had on a few occasions resulted in his not being thrown over Arthur's shoulder and carried to their bedchamber.
Merlin wasn't the only one excited about Arthur's upcoming thirtieth birthday. The king had announced that the Summer Tournament would be dedicated to Arthur and it would be open to all comers. There would still be knightly competitions but most events would be open to any able bodied man. "…or girl!" Arthur had whispered to Merlin, with a wink and a nod in his direction!
'Wouldn't you just love to see what I could do in all those categories?' thought Merlin and he smiled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, I was just imagining, Sire, you in a dress, riding side saddle on Mulgan!"
It was going to be an event to be remembered and the castle would be packed to capacity. Already the kitchens were planning for wonderful feasts and farmers were viewing their stock with the though of supplying meat for the occasions. The ladies of the court were also looking ahead to refurbishing their wardrobes and planning outfits. Families would be reunited and great fun would hopefully be had by all. For the squires being invested to the knighthood it would be of double excitement as once invested, they would be competing for the first time as Knights of Camelot.
Uther smiled to himself, he was now in his mid fifties. He'd held the kingdom together, enforced laws for the betterment of its residents and made unions with neighbouring kingdoms as well as doing his hardest to rid it of the despicable followers of magic. He intended to give Arthur more responsibilities; as he felt that he had some way to go to be able to rule in his stead. His one big regret was that his son had yet to produce an heir. Twice he had attempted to pave the way for such a happening; the first seemed to have possibilities and the second never materialised.
Maybe one day, Arthur's eye would be caught by the right woman and with all the guests invited to the castle over the summer, there was hope!
-0-0-
Arthur's thoughts were far away from regal responsibilities. He had been reviewing the condition of the older squires and younger knights after their winter lay off. The training grounds were still soft so, he had groups of riders complete obligatory cross country outings. It was on one of these outings that one of the squire's horses had dropped dead. Luckily, the nineteen year old had bailed as he felt the horse collapse under him. Robin was unhurt but shocked as his gelding was only seven and had come from his father's Northanger stables. A sober group of riders returned to the castle.
Not that horses didn't die, they did! Usually it was from breaking their necks in a fall and having to be put down due to broken legs or horrendous battle injuries. The recently appointed Master of the Horse, questioned the knights and then sent the stud manager from Castle Farm to check on the body but the exam was inconclusive.
One morning, three days later, another horse was found dead in the stable. Sir Rook insisted that his twelve year old mare had been in good spirits the previous day, dancing around anticipating going out. The knights agreed as they had remarked on his lack of equestrian form, as he tried to mount her. He'd given up and had chosen another horse from the castle stables and rode out with the others.
Merlin had heard the news and told Arthur. "It wouldn't hurt for you to mention it to him, to acknowledge how he must feel." Arthur did so, he also realised that no one was any wiser over the horses' deaths. He decided to have a groom on duty all night with Mulgan and told the man, he should also keep an eye on Gidun. If the horses were being poisoned, he wanted to get to the bottom of this.
Three days passed and all the horses seemed healthy and performing up to standard. During a training for the melée à cheval with four knights, one of the horses collapsed. Arthur was furious, there was no excuse for injuring a horse in a tournament, let alone in a training sequence. He strode over to the knight now kneeling beside his dying horse and roughly grabbed him, "Who did it? Who the hell is responsible for this?"
Sir James Rohallion stood scowling, "No one touched him. Let me go, Sire!" and he fell back to his knees, while he tried to loosen the girth figuring it was maybe impeding his horse's ability to breath. The gelding shuddered and died. Sir Malcom the knight's Horse Master, walked over and put his arm on Sir James's shoulders and walked him across the training field back to the castle, motioning for the others to remove the tack and notify a groom to make arrangements for the carcass to be dragged away by the heavy work horses from Castle Farm.
Merlin had watched the whole episode and agreed with James that no contact had been made by another rider. Three good horses lost within two weeks.
In Camelot, horses were a necessity not a luxury. Years went into the training of a good destrier and the partnership between the knight and his horse was paramount. The horse relying on his rider to ask him to do only what he knew he was able to do and the rider knowing that the horse to the best of its ability, would provide a safe ride. Merlin cringed, he knew that Gidun wasn't trained to the same calibre as the others but anyone up to no good, not knowing the individual horses might class him as one of them.
All three horses belonged to the riders in question. Some knights rode horses belonging to Camelot but these three had belonged to the individual man. For Sir Rook and Sir James to find the same calibre horse, enabling them to compete in the summer tournament would be iffy. 'Why had these horses died?' was the question on everyone's minds.
Merlin was having supper with Gaius as Arthur had a supper meeting with the king and the senior council members, so had told him to take the evening off as the young squire Charles could see to him. Merlin told Gaius all about the horses and asked if it was coincidental or was there a problem. "I know Gidun isn't important to anyone but me…but, Gaius, I can't imagine being without him. I think Arthur is nervous for Mulgan as he has placed extra grooms overnight in the stables, also asking that the head groom at Castle Farm do the same for the king's horses there."
"What do you about the ages of the horses?"
"Rook's mare was twelve, James' gelding was ten and Robin's gelding was six. They all seemed healthy until they died and hadn't been off their food or listless at all. None of them are related, and none were stabled next to each other. Apart from poison or coincidence, I don't understand it. The last time, a horse dropped dead was Sir Madox's twenty six year old Rolf…and that was what, five years ago?"
"Maybe, there is something in the hay or seeds in the grain which is poisonous. You've got my interest; if I have time, I will speak with Sir Malcolm tomorrow. Maybe he will have an idea as well. There is nothing that you can do by worrying about Gidun. Keep your eyes open and check on him in your spare time." He smiled, as if Merlin had much spare time, dealing with Arthur.
Gaius and Sir Malcolm visited the stables, taking samples of the oats and hay. They questioned all the stable hands, nothing seemed any different. No new staff or strangers seen around the yards. Sir Malcolm went back through the stable records and found that the hay currently being fed had been purchased last summer from a farm near the moors. It was the first time that that farmer had been used as a supplier. Gaius advised holding off feeding it until further information was available.
Gaius learned nothing from the grain samples but he was able to find worrying amounts of aconitum napellus in the hay samples. He assured Merlin that normally horses would avoid fresh monkshood but in hay they would be more likely to ingest it.
A knight and the head groom visited the farm in question and came back with the news that the farmer had lost two cows and a farm horse over the winter. He had subsequently stopped feeding the hay from that harvest and had had no further fatalities.
It was accepted that the hay must have been the problem as no other horses were sick that spring. All remaining amounts were burned. Sir Rook received a young mare from his family, Sir James commandeered his younger brother's destrier and the squire was given one of the castle horses. Arthur was disappointed as Sirs Rook and James were competitive and capable tournament contestants, now their chances of winning would be lessened by their new mounts.
Merlin was happy that no other horses had fallen ill, especially a certain bay gelding.
-0-0-
Arthur was told by the king that he needed to take a handful of knights to check reports of bad flooding on the western border.
He figured it was preferable that staying cooped up in Camelot so five knights Gielbert, Simon, Rook, Aislin and Thomas with ten guards followed Arthur through the portcullis one sunny morning with Merlin tagging along with Evan who had a packhorse with food supplies in tow.
The area had been hit with a very wet and snowy winter so the rivers were overflowing their banks and causing damage to barns which held grains. Most of the livestock had been moved to higher ground but the townsfolk needed help and, as it was an important border town, Uther had decided to send manpower to open waterways and if necessary build temporary bridges and dykes.
It would take them four days to reach the village of Dunsford. If inns were available, they would stay in them but it was more than likely that they would be sleeping rough. Early April could be wet and cold but so far this season in their region, had been dry. Merlin hated wet feet, he found them more depressing that cold feet. Arthur had reminded him to bring extra socks but there was just so much luggage a self respecting servant could carry with him. He grinned thinking of all the things he would have brought with him given the chance, Arthur's and his fisherman's sweaters, a couple of quilts and lots of warm clothes, especially socks.
Night one, they arrived at an abandoned farm. The knights had commandeered the farmer's cottage for themselves, it was hardly big enough for three let alone the likes of Gielbert, Rook, Thomas and Aislin. They scouted around and found a cowshed and decided that they would be happier there, leaving the cottage to Arthur and Merlin who had suggested that Simon stay with them. The guards were able to stay in a disused hay barn with Evan and all the horses.
Three of the guards and Merlin got fires going and cooked up some stew which was doled out to everyone. They also each had a measure of ale. They sat around talking until it was too dark to see each other and then turned in. Merlin had already been in the cottage and had managed to lay a fire in the hearth. He had laid out Arthur's and his sleeping rolls to one side of the fire and told Simon to lie on the other side. Simon was the youngest knight on the expedition as he had been invested the previous June and Merlin was determined that nothing untoward was going to happen to him. The others were all experienced men.
The cottage was cosy with the fire and although there was no door or shutters, it was perfect and preferable to sleeping outside. They sat talking in the firelight and Simon finally rolled himself up in his blanket and soon, he was snoring gently. Merlin reached out towards Arthur and slipped his hand into his. He would have loved to have been alone but sometimes these stolen moments could be precious. He slid along the wall until he was sitting against him and whispered, "Oh, the wonderful things, I could think of doing if we were alone."
"Me, too! Today wasn't bad, everyone seems to be getting along and maybe tomorrow night, we will have more private sleeping quarters."
"I felt that we would be better in this big group if we had someone else with us," explained Merlin. "Whereas, I trust the knights, I am not that confident with the guards. Just one whisper of an indiscretion and I would be hauled up before your father…and that is not going to happen!"
Arthur reached for him and enfolded him in his arms. "Don't talk like that, not now, not ever! We are a couple, maybe a couple of fools in love but we are a couple!" He turned and gently kissed Merlin. Slowly, he pulled away and whispered, "If we don't get any sleep, we'll regret it in the morning…" They settled onto their separate bedrolls still holding hands and drifted asleep to the crackling of the fire in the hearth and a fox barking in the hills.
-0-0-
Before they knew it, people were up moving around, horses were being taken to the stream to be watered and someone was cooking for the guards. Merlin slipped out of his bedroll and stretched. He'd slept well and made his way to the fire to get it going again. He put a pot of oatmeal over it and nudged Simon with his foot, "Wake up Sleeping Beauty! We won't be waiting for you if you are not ready to leave with the rest of us. Get up and tell the others to join us in here for breakfast."
Simon got up groaning and made his way to the cow barn to round up the others. Merlin walked over to Arthur, knelt beside him and ran his knuckles up his cheek, whispering, "You, Sire, will soon need a shave!" He ran his hand down Arthur's neck and leaned in for a kiss.
"Umm, Merlin," he asked, "Did you wake me for any particular reason?"
Merlin chuckled "Not this morning, my Love, maybe tomorrow!" Arthur was disappointed to open his eyes and find Gielbert walking in the door.
Breakfast finished, they mounted and set off for Sparrow Hill, which was to be their next stop. The weather was great and everyone was in a good mood. So, Gielbert said, "Did anyone hear the fox last night? Reminded me of home, they used to raid the chicken coops at the manor house and the cook used to threaten them with dire consequences."
Rook added, "Rather that than a wild boar, imagine waking up and staring into the beady eyes and sharpened tusks of one of those fellows."
"I don't think, we want to remember boars on a day like this. I think we had our fill of them last year, didn't we Merlin?"
Merlin momentarily, experienced phantom pains in his thigh and groin. "I've sworn off boars for a few years that is unless one of you weaklings is beginning attacked and you need my help!" The others groaned at him.
The knights rode ahead planning to eat at the next alehouse. Sure enough, before noon a hamlet appeared and they took a break for a light meal and felt forced to take advantage of the landlord's kind offer for them to taste the local ale. Simon laughed, "This is better than soup and bread for lunch."
"Well, don't get used to it, as it rarely happens that we get treated this well when we're out with Arthur," said Aislin.
Thomas laughed continuing, "Yes, usually we're fed twice a day and neither of the meals is that appetising."
"Well, looking at you, it doesn't seem to have done you any harm, my rotund friend," said Rook. Everyone hooted.
"O.K. Before we really start getting on each other's nerves," laughed Arthur, "Let's mount up as I'd really like to get a cot in Sparrow Hill this evening."
The knights returned to the road and by late afternoon they were arriving in the village. Gielbert and Merlin went ahead to check on accommodation. They were in luck two communal rooms were available and they took them both. Simon once again bunked with Merlin and Arthur and the other four were happy to be on cots not on the floor.
Simon took Merlin aside and said quietly, "If Arthur and you want to be alone; I can sleep on the floor in the other room."
"Don't be silly, there's room with us actually there'll be an extra cot but hopefully it will be just the three of us. Thanks all the same…" Merlin smiled and put his arms around the young man and gave him a hug just as Arthur walked in.
Simon went to join the others in the ale room as they waited for dinner and Arthur said, "What was that all about?"
"He'd just offered to let us have the room to ourselves as he was going to sleep on the floor in the other room."
"Great!" said Arthur, "Now you can show me what you had in mind last night!"
"No, I can't as I told him he was welcome to stay with us."
"Merlin, I sometimes think that you need your head read…" but he got no further as Merlin took advantage of their being alone to remind him why there was absolutely no reason for that.
They made their way downstairs where the others had already started drinking. Gielbert, holding up a brimming mug, laughed saying, "Come on, Arthur, you have to take the opportunity when it arises."
Arthur smiled and thought, 'Exactly!' as he winked at Merlin who in true Merlin fashion blushed and Simon grinned up at him.
Supper was excellent, the knights were relaxed and the food was plentiful and good. They sat around reminiscing until Arthur mentioned an early morning departure and they all trooped upstairs. The landlord agreed to have breakfast available, just after dawn.
-0-0-
True to the plan, all were mounted and ready to leave. Gielbert had settled with the landlord for the accommodation and the liquor consumed. He wished them a good journey and mentioned that he would look forward to seeing them on their return.
The lay of the land was excellent for riding, open pasture and predominantly flat. They had to cross two rivers and they noticed that the second one was noticeably higher as they had to ford it, the old Roman stone slab bridge being underwater.
Merlin not wanting his feet to get wet had crossed them over the pommel of his saddle and he almost slipped into the river when Gidun hit a deep area and started to swim. Arthur thought the whole thing was hilarious until Mulgan hit a deep part as well and water lapped up over the top of his boots. Merlin perched up high and dry, was grinning from ear to ear and Arthur rounded on him saying, "What the hell's so funny!"
Merlin had the decency to drop his head but inside he was laughing not only at the thought of Arthur's little wet toes but his use of language. He must have been really pissed off, he decided.
Suddenly, the horses were floundering up the bank on the opposite side and stood their dripping. Arthur told them to move ahead onto the flat area above and dismount. He had no wish to experience a shaking horse when he was in the saddle. Gidun decided that he should roll to dry off and Merlin quickly saw what he had in mind and moved him ahead a few steps to change his mind. He still kept pawing at the ground but Merlin held his head high and finally he decided that maybe, he'd stay on all fours.
Arthur gave them a half an hour to get reorganised and then knights and guards mounted and continued on their way.
Arthur asked, "Gielbert, where are we staying tonight?"
"Looks like, we're roughing it according to the map!"