Questions? Questions anyone? Of course if you have just finished reading Part I of The Last Priestess, you have many questions. This was done mostly intentionally. I wanted there to be questions to answer in Part II.
How did Anabelle and Arthur become as close as they are?
Why is Gwen still Morgana's puppet? Why hasn't Arthur tried to retrieve his adored Queen again?
How does Anabelle know that Merlin is Emrys?
And those are just a few of the very important question that I plan to answer and resolve in Part II of The Last Priestess.
Happy Reading!
The Last Priestess:
Chapter 1: The Tears of a Heart
"Why was she alone? This is precisely the reason I insisted she be guarded at all times."
"She was guarded. But you know Anabelle." Merlin tried what he could to subdue the still uneasy King as he ranted through his room. "She is quite a stubborn woman."
Arthur looked like he might start to breathe fire in Merlin's direction. "You're welcome to leave Merlin." He paced back and forth. "I need to go see her." His anger was subsiding in marginal degrees as he paced the room.
"You can't yet." Leon spoke after his King had finished the thundering lecture. "Gaius has said that she needs to rest now. He and Gwaine refuse to let anyone to see her."
"I am the King!" Arthur yelled like a petulant child.
"Medical attention currently outranks us all." Mordred winced in more pain, shifting his arm around in the tourniquet it rested in. "Gwaine won't allow me and Leon even near her door."
"That is about to change." Arthur was determined more than anything to see his Anabelle. Enough was enough.
"Arthur…" Anabelle murmured. "Arthur, don't let me go."
Gwaine put a hand to her cheek, calming the exhausted woman. She had slept on and off over the past three days, but her enervation did little for her recovery. When she slept, he kept watch, listening to her endure and relive her pleas to Arthur and the men charged to keep her safe. Losing Anabelle, coming to the recognition that she had been taken by force from him, had set a fire within him. When they found her half alive in the darkness of the woods, he had not felt as whole as he had in that moment. He vowed everyday to her to never let that happen again. He stood, crossing the room as Gaius quietly entered.
"Has she said anything more?" He asked, but Gwaine only shook his head.
"She continues to have nightmares. She calls out to Arthur, to me, to Mordred, and to Leon. I should've been there." He growled, slamming his fist onto the wood table.
"You were there Gwaine." Gaius and Gwaine both heard Anabelle weakly speak, sitting up slightly to see him. "You found me."
Gwaine was at her side in a blink, helping her to sit up. "You should be resting Princess."
She refused. "Every time I close my eyes, I see it all happening again."
"Are you ready to talk about any of it?"
Anabelle ran her fingers through his hair sweetly. "I know you are trying to help."
"At least tell me how Mordred knew where to find you. If not for him…"
Anabelle drank another draft given by Gaius before saying anything more. "You are going to think I'm insane to tell you. The truth is completely mad."
"I trust anything you would say Anabelle."
"Mordred knew where to find me; he knew how to get to me because…" pausing shortly, she looked to her door, hoping to see him. "He has saved me the same way in the same place. The tree, the rope, my injuries… it's all the same. It is how I knew his face perfectly when I arrived seeking Arthur."
"Did you?"
"I did not know his name or that he was a Knight, but I knew the kindness of his eyes and his heart."
The two men stared back at her, perplexed by what she told them.
"I told you I would sound absolutely mad."
"It sounds as if the lines of time that bring you to us, experienced a sort of deja-vu." Gaius reasoned. "An echo of things to come."
"That can happen?" Anabelle and Gwaine asked.
Gaius did not answer either as the door was burst open. Arthur walked resolutely into the room, dead set on reaching Anabelle.
"Arthur." Anabelle thankfully said. She too had been on edge for days, unable to see him.
"Anabelle." He maneuvered by Gwaine, taking Anabelle lightly into his arms, holding on as if she might disappear.
"Your highness." Gaius objected. "She really must take her time to recover."
"I am King." Anabelle chuckled under his threatening tone. "I will have ten minutes alone with my friend.
Neither Gaius nor Gwaine argued further, hearing the express tone of Arthur. Both exited the room, closing the door behind.
"You look wrecked." Anabelle laughed, holding her throbbing ribs.
"I am." He admitted. "I nearly lost you." Looking away from her, he tensed at the thought of losing her again. "You cannot be so careless Anabelle. Your safety is in jeopardy."
"You are lecturing me? I did what I was told to do Arthur." She debated with him.
"The arrow that hit Mordred was meant for you Anabelle. If it had hit you…"
"I don't think it was meant for me Arthur." She halted the undeserved reprimand he was about to give. "Be rational with me for a few minutes while I put this all into a logical perspective we can agree to."
Arthur still didn't turn to her. He didn't say anything, so she went on speaking.
"The arrow that hit Mordred was meant to strike him-or any other Knight with me. If the arrow had been meant to hit me, I would not have been taken from the castle."
Arthur conceded her point. Anyone who planned to kill Anabelle with an arrow would not need to knock her out or kidnap her from Camelot.
"That makes sense Anabelle." He stood, walking to the other side of the bed. Crawling in beside her, the two repositioned into a comfortable spot together. "But that must imply that if Trystan is trying to get to you, he has help. He has magic, and he has others willing to assist him."
The understanding that there would be more than one person searching for Anabelle was more of a problem, but neither Anabelle or Arthur wanted to further discuss things any longer. Anabelle fell asleep with Arthur following suit shortly after, sleeping restfully for much of the day. Evening rolled around as Anabelle woke, the feel of Arthur's arms no longer holding her close. He was not beside her or anywhere in her room. Carefully, she swung her legs from her bed, standing for the first time in days. Her legs were sore and bruised, nearly giving out on her as Gwaine entered.
"Anabelle." He started to chastise, silenced by only a hand in the air.
"I will not stay locked in a tower simply because the dragon roams the dark streets." She informed her Knight, even if he did not understand the reference she made. "I am going for a walk whether you approve or not. I would like to find Arthur."
Gwaine knew it was not a good idea for her to walk anywhere in her condition, but he could not stop her. He could only defend and guard her. He also knew that it was not wise of her to go seeking Arthur this night. But under the thumb of her determination and stubbornness, he agreed.
"I will go walking with you." He promised. "But we will not walk alone. If you will wait here a short time my lady, I am sure that there are at least three more Knights who are infuriating the shit out of me to see you."
Anabelle grinned. "They would not give you trouble if you'd let them in." She told him. "How are they?"
"Worried. Crazed. Lifeless. Tortured. Take your pick of words Princess."
Anabelle agreed to wait for Gwaine who as promised was gone only a short time. She could soon enough hear the running footsteps making their way down the hallway to her. Standing as skillfully as possible, she was upright by the time Leon and Percival unlocked her door, more elated to see her.
"Are you well?" Leon stoically asked.
"I am well enough to hug you both." She demanded, her arms lifted only above her waist.
Both men hugged her gently, praising her bravery under fire as they called it.
"You did the right thing Anabelle." Percival claimed.
"Arthur doesn't think so. He told me that I was careless."
"The King has been distraught over the possibilities he faced." Leon defended. " As time passes, he understands more that you were not reckless."
"Careless."
"You were neither and I will continue to let the King know that." Anabelle heard the low honeyed voice that made her stomach flip. "You did as I told you." Mordred stood in her doorway, waiting for Percival and Leon to step away.
Anabelle did not wait. Pushing by the two men, she felt as though she flew into the man's arms. She looked down at his arm, running her hand over it.
"You saved my life again. Twice in one night. You found me."
Mordred said nothing yet. Ignoring his pain and hers, both arms reached to her, pressing her entire body to his. "I will always find you Anabelle." He whispered, also ignoring the look Gwaine gave him.
"I know you will." She acknowledged, pulling away. "But my ribs are still fragile. Less pulling, more wrapping."
Mordred released her as if she were on fire, keeping one arm to her shoulders. Walking out of the room with all four men surrounding her, Anabelle felt safe again.
"Now, where can I find my Arthur?"
Gwaine gave a sympathetic gaze in her direction. "The King is in a place of the castle that he generally prefers to be alone in."
"This is not the time to be cryptic Gwaine. I am welcome to his side at any time and in all places of the castle."
"Anabelle," Mordred whispered to her, " this is an anniversary that Arthur would sooner forget than share."
"I do not understand."
"This is the night that the Queen was permanently banished from his life after she chose Morgana."
Standing still in place, she might have stomped her foot to the floor if not for her ribs.
"It was the Queen who made the choice." Anabelle mused aloud. Deep down she had known that Arthur had his reasons for refusing to discuss Guinevere, but she had never assumed it had been so tormenting.
"Come along Anabelle." Leon helped. "If you insist on seeing the King-if there is anyone who can mend his grief, it may well be you."
The company of five reached a large door that Anabelle had never once thought to peek behind. The room on the opposite side once belonged to Uther, and Anabelle did not like to pry when it came to the former King. Percival opened the door, stepping to the side to let Anabelle through. What she saw when she walked into the expansive and ornately decorated space was not expected.
Arthur looked up at her from where he knelt in the middle of the room. His cheeks were stained by the tracks of his heartbroken tears. Anabelle knelt by him, taking his hand. His arm swept around her, keeping her to him.
"This is where she left me. This is where I lost her."
Anabelle did not like seeing him like this. He had been through so much, and now to be forced to give further account of what happened seemed too much-even for the King of Camelot.
"Arthur, what can I do?" She desperately wanted to know how to help him.
Lifting his arm away, he stood over her, wiping his face, looking presentable again. Helping her stand, he kept her in place, looking at her far different than he ever had. Anabelle did not recognize the look in his eyes this time.
"What can I do my sweet?" I would do anything to take away this pain for you."
"Anything?" He trailed his fingers over the bare skin of her shoulders.
"You know you can ask anything of me and it is yours."
Time felt like it were standing still in the room. The air around Anabelle grew warmer with each passing second. She felt his hands move to her waist, pulling her as close as they could get. Without question or answer, his palm rested to her back. His mouth grazed her neck, giving Anabelle the strangest sensations. Her best friend was kissing her. His loneliness and loss were clear to her. What he had needed for so long after the Queen left, was comfort. He did not love his Anabelle in the same way, but she could help to console his grieving heart. Tilting her head to him, she allowed him to kiss her, fiercely taking her mouth with his.