Forks in the Path to Destiny
A/N: I am happy to see so many like my story. I promise you that it's just getting started and let's say that Brigid won't be becoming a widow before her wedding.
Chapter 2: Justice in Camelot
Arthur got up from the throne as soon as Malcolm was taken away. The Order of the Bear. This at least told us the name of the group that were going around and aiding sorcerers in their escapes. "Anyone have any input on this?"
Lord Calhoun stepped forward. "Well sire, I say that after this prisoner's execution we start on gathering information on this Order of the Bear and see to its annihilation."
"Sire," Gaius interjected. "Is that really necessary?"
"I would believe so Physician," said Lord Renmar. "You know the law. He committed treason. Helping a sorcerer to escape justice. He is an enemy of Camelot. The only thing that must be decided on his behalf is either the chopping block or the pyre."
"We have no reason to believe he is an enemy sire," said Sir Leon.
Lord Renmar looked at the knight in the manner of someone would to someone who said something foolish. "Did you not hear the prisoner? He supports this Order of the Bear. The Order is working against Camelot so that makes him an enemy. Because of him, a dangerous sorceress is now loose."
"I wouldn't say that Lord Renmar," said Gaius. He held up the poultice that Arthur had given him. "This poultice is filled with the necessary components in an enchantment for curing ailments. It's completely harmless."
"There is no such thing as harmless magic," said Lord Calhoun. "What transpired mere months ago could vouch for that. Practice of magic is illegal on the pain of death as well as conspiring against the kingdom and this man is involved in both."
"Alright, enough!" Arthur clenched his right hand into a fist as he took one last look at the poultice. He didn't know how to handle this. He knew what his father would do. He would already have this Malcolm condemned to death. Were it a simple attack on his soldiers like this then he would be teetering on an imprisonment anyway but there was also the matter of these sorcerers, this…Order of the Bear. The prisoner had said that he supported them which would mean that he had to know something about them. "Tomorrow, we will question him more on this Order of the Bear and if he still refuses to talk…then I believe then we'll be left with no choice. Foremost, the Law of Camelot must be upheld. If he does feel willing to talk then I believe banishment would be more than efficient yet if he does not…then he faces the axe."
With that Arthur got up from his throne and left for his chambers ending the meeting. Everyone started clearing out after him though Lord's Calhoun and Renmar lingered a little longer.
"Well, at least we'll have the starting entertainment for the Great Purge's anniversary in two days now. Uther's executions on these days always added certain flare." Calhoun chuckled at Renmar's remark.
"He's been taken?"
The sorceress Brigid was facing the two men in front of her after just telling them the whole story.
"Yes. He's probably before the royal court right now."
Sir Galahad kicked a stray rock in frustration. "Yes, that's how these things work. No doubt the King is ordering his execution."
His friend Sir Kay nodded in agreement. "These savages will want to make it a spectacle. Let's not forget how Uther liked to celebrate every five anniversaries of his despicable killing spree."
"Enough. Enough," said Brigid getting close to tears. "Malcolm was right. I shouldn't have left Albion and now he is going to die because of me."
Galahad went and embraced her with a hug. "Don't give up on Malcolm just yet Brigid. He knew that you had to help your family. You're forgetting...there is hope for those of magic now. It's in the form of Kay and I as well as every warrior and wizard in the Order of the Bear. Maybe this is a sign." He turned to his fellow order member. "Kay…let's show Camelot that their injustice is now about to meet its match of justice."
"Oh, this will be fun," said Sir Kay. "I've been wanting to ride into that hellhole and now I finally get the chance. Saving a noble man is always worth that."
Kay went off to prepare the horses while Galahad finished calming Brigid.
"You don't have to worry Brigid. By tomorrow night, you'll have Malcolm back in your arms and we'll be on the road back home."
"But…it's just the two of you," she said in disbelief.
Galahad just smiled. "I know it is bordering on unfair…but let's hope that Camelot does challenge us some."
Merlin was pacing back in forth through Gaius chambers, a hundred thoughts racing in his head, while the physician was mixing up some of his daily remedies.
"Merlin…keep that up and you'll be engraving a permanent trail in the floor."
"Hmm," the warlock said finally standing still. He then realized that he was pacing for the last few minutes and relaxed against the wall. "Err, sorry Gaius."
Gaius poured some powdered herbs into a potion. "Something you want to talk about?"
Merlin slowly went off to the table and took a seat across from Gaius and picked up an empty bottle and gazed at it. "What did you make of Malcolm?"
"The prisoner? He seemed like a nice young man. A little bit of big headed when it came to insulting Arthur…yes, I can see why you would like him."
Merlin broke into the first real smile all day. Though it faded pretty quickly. "Gaius, he was just trying to save his friend. A friend who might've just been a healer. You said it yourself, that poultice was harmless."
"But it was magic and it was seen. You above all know the consequences of that."
Merlin huffed impatiently. "Yes, I know. Magic that's used to help people like that is good as long as no one sees it."
Gaius raised an eyebrow in concern. "Merlin, you know that's not what I meant."
Merlin put the vial he was holding down with another huff. "I know. It's just that…I guess I'm just getting tired of seeing this now. I thought once Arthur finally became king that I would see an end to this but this morning I almost saw Uther during that meeting instead of Arthur."
"Merlin, you have to remember that Arthur's time as king is still new. He hasn't had too many good experiences with magic. Also, it was magic that placed him on the throne with the death of his father. Though he is more open than Uther, a lifetime of contempt for magic can't be gotten rid of so easily. Especially with what's happened lately."
Merlin couldn't help but feel a slight bit annoyed. Arthur was more open, yes, but he could be a bit of an idiot when it came to magic. Even with everything he had done for him, for Camelot, Merlin sometimes still felt he was no further in getting magic accepted then he was when he first started. Then there was that other bit of news this morning. "What do you think about what those reports said? This Order of the Bear going around and freeing captured sorcerers?"
"I must say I never thought something like that was even possible. During the early days of the Purge capture meant certain death for those with magic and the accused. This Order seems to want to change that."
"I don't know whether I should be working on trying to stop them or drinking to them," Merlin said getting back to his feet.
"Yes, well Merlin these people still are attacking the five kingdoms. Even if no one has been killed it could all very well change in an instant. They can't just take the law into their own hands like this."
"But it's okay for the law to take them even if they are not guilty," he shot back.
"Merlin!"
He instantly regretted getting cross with Gaius' hurt look. "Sorry Gaius." Merlin felt like sinking into the floor at raising his voice to his friend. "I…guess I'm just stressed today. I better go. I still have some more work to do."
When Merlin left Gaius stared after him feeling very sullen. He knew that it was unfair on Merlin to not let him feel a little frustrated. Everything was working out for everyone else and yet Merlin still had nothing just for himself. Destiny was leaving little room for Merlin to be able to be happy and not feel alone all the time. He may have friends here in Camelot but there was always a part of him that he could never share with them.
In the dungeons, the air was filled with a soft bit of music and humming. Malcolm was sitting with his back to the wall of his cell playing his lute which thankfully the guards didn't take away. He didn't think he could stand not have something to calm him. He gazed around his cell and couldn't help thinking that he didn't belong there. He was supposed to be with Brigid, praising her for saving the life of her cousin's child and playing his music for her. He would play and fantasize about finally being her husband and having children of their own. He still couldn't believe that he was going to marry Brigid. They had known each other since they were small children being from the same village. He always thought her beautiful from when he first saw her. Then he learned that she had magic but that did nothing to hinder him. To him, it only made her even more special. He was happy to defend her from any who would tease or threaten her and he did when Knights of Camelot and some soldiers came to their village to kill the magic users that had sought refuge there. They had been barely seven years old themselves when that day came. Brigid's parents had been cut down as had her older sister for their magic and Brigid would have joined them if Malcolm didn't tackle the knight. He still sometimes had nightmares about that day. He could still see the look of playful glee the knight had when he was raising his sword to try and cut Brigid down. What would have happened if he didn't stop him or if that knight had recovered quickly enough to do just that and spill her blood all over him?
Today, he got a good look at the man who was raised to carry on this legacy of hell. Here he was, a simple musician, and he was getting killed in the name of the late Uther Pendragon's Great Purge. It was no secret in Albion why Uther had started it. Thanks to the connections of Connor's past, he knew what sparked Uther's reasoning for it and Connor wasn't shy to tell them about it. The Purge even spread to the neighboring kingdoms as a way to try to build an alliance with Camelot. He felt disgusted that both every breath that Arthur Pendragon took and his kingdom's prosperity was at the cost of good and kind people like Brigid's family and others whose only crime was their birth or way of life. It turned his stomach being here in the heart of this kingdom and so close to this man that lived through the death of others. Everyone in Albion suffered some form of loss thanks to him and his father and they dared say it is in the pursuit of peace and justice. Malcolm couldn't find two words that were the total opposite to their actions. He may not be a warrior or a magician but he still had his words and convictions and if he could use them against Arthur in honor of those good people like he did in the throne room then he would use it. He stopped playing his lute and gazed down at his stitched crest of the Order of the Bear.
"I'll be strong for all of you," he said quietly. "In your names will I not be wavered in my loyalty to all of you and your cause for peace and justice for all." He stared in front of him with new resolve filling his very being.
It was the following day and Arthur was getting ready to head to the interrogation of the prisoner. He was just glad Gwen wasn't here for this. She had Elyan, Gwaine and his newest knight Tristan with her seeing that the villages close to Camelot were getting back on their feet after everything that happened those months ago. He still smiled at the thought of having Gwen as his queen. She was everything he ever hoped for when he ascended the throne and more. They've finally put the past behind them and have started over.
Arthur then remembered that he was on his way to declare the fate of the prisoner brought in yesterday. This Malcolm had grated on his nerves but despite that didn't seem to be an evil person. Still, he was allied with magic and if he didn't speak of this Order that was going around releasing dangerous sorcerers then he would be left with no choice. It seemed that there was no escaping from magic anymore. Growing up, he would hear about his father's stories on how magic corrupted people and drove them to commit vile acts but thankfully he rarely saw any. But in recent years it seemed like he was caught up in magic's hold every other week or so. Magic then came into his life and personally took Morgana from him as well as his father's life. He remembered that old sorcerer and couldn't help but feel a little of contempt for him. Then he remembered Gaius words about how he didn't mean to kill his father. He was still a little skeptical about that but he couldn't deny that he was more curious about the magic that old man used more than ever. That's why he had ordered that anyone caught practicing magic was to be brought straight to him first. He even slightly raised the bounty on them but stressed that it must be alive. He had hoped that maybe one of them might know where he could find the old man again.
Unfortunately, he had no new leads in finding him but perhaps this Malcolm could shed some light on that. If he knew the sorcerer or of sorcerers that knew him then he would be one step closer to finding him. But he had to remain calm. Arthur also had to remember that this man was still guilty of treason and conspired with these sorcerers that were conducting raids in the neighboring lands. He just hoped he didn't come off as too eager or Malcolm would see an opening for bargaining for his life.
He arrived in the throne room with most of the council already there as well as Leon and Percival. As he sat down, he saw Gaius and Merlin come in and take their places to the side. Arthur saw that Merlin looked a little tense today. He hadn't had a chance to talk to him this morning or yesterday but he could tell that something was bothering his servant. He couldn't dwell too much on that because the guards were now bringing Malcolm in. He was looking different from yesterday. Instead of being timid and sullen, he looked proud and defiant. His eyes were not on anything or anyone in the room except on Arthur himself.
When he was placed in front of Arthur again he made an audible yawn as if someone just woke him up. "What do you want now Pendragon? You could have had a guard tell me my sentence without me leaving my cell. I was starting to get myself comfy in there with all the filth and grime."
He talked as if he had been pulled out of a leisure time for a waste of his time. Arthur had to use a lot of self-restraint to not roll his eyes at his tone but thankfully years with Merlin's sarcasm helped him develop this. He just wasn't expected someone other than Merlin to speak to him that way. "Well, I'm sure that being in the dungeons may be a great deal of fun but this is important and if it just might save your life."
Malcolm didn't seem relieved. He looked just as bored as ever. "Really? I find that highly doubtful."
"I've decided that you will merely be banished from Camelot if you tell the court anything that you may know of this Order of the Bear that you mentioned?"
Malcolm twisted his lips up in a smirk. "I see that you supported my doubts. If you think I'll betray the trust and safety of good men then you are mistaken."
"Those "good men" as you call them are attacking patrols through the five kingdoms and freeing dangerous prisoners."
Malcolm stature and bored expression didn't change at all. "Really? It's more like they're stopping sieges and liberating innocent victims you mean to exploit for your own personal kingly whims though I can't blame you for being dumb enough to confuse the two."
The people of the court gasped at the audacity of the prisoner to say that to the king and in such a manner at that. The nobles looked at Malcolm with disgust while Leon put an arm out to stop Percival from going to the prisoner and giving him a whack. The only one who didn't react so strongly was Merlin who simply raised his eyes at Malcolm's shrewdness.
Arthur bit back a retort and tried to maintain his air of authority. "You do realize that this trial does determine your life, correct?"
"Really? I thought it was an opportunity for you to squeeze out information before my goose gets cooked." This time Malcolm couldn't help but let out a little chuckle.
"I am trying to spare your life but it is quite clear you are not appreciating this gesture of mercy."
Now it looked like Malcolm was getting angry because he went from looking bored to glaring at the king. "I didn't think the word mercy even existed in Camelot especially to its king. Didn't exist when I lived in this dump of a kingdom as a kid. It's as disgraceful now as it was then, the only difference is that despicable crown on a different head."
Arthur clenched his fists at that remark. Everyone in the room was starting to lose their patience. Even Merlin stopped being blank and was looking a little angry. He may have sympathized for Malcolm but insulting Arthur's worth and the honor of Camelot like that was a step too far.
"So I take it you won't be talking?" said Arthur.
Malcolm stopped glaring and broke into a slight smile. "I misjudged you King Arthur. You do have some brains after all. You're right. I will never tell you or anyone here anything. I'm too loyal for that. You might as well kill me now and get it over with. The sooner I can have this place out of my sight the better."
Arthur just shook his head in pity. "You will come to regret this. You are sentenced to be executed tomorrow by beheading. I feel truly sorry for you."
"The only thing you're truly sorry for is that you are no closer to finding out about the Order of the Bear then you were yesterday. And what I regret is not be able to keep the promises I made back in Albion."
At that last word, Merlin and Gaius shared a look of horror unbeknownst to anyone in the room as Malcolm was being led away. How did he know that word?
Arthur was sitting in his room as Merlin came in with his supper. He didn't know why but even though his mind kept telling himself that he did what was right, he still felt like he did something wrong.
"Arthur, you alright?" asked Merlin noticing that he barely reacted to the food in front of him.
"Huh? Oh, yes I'm fine Merlin. It's just that I have a lot on my mind right now."
Merlin smiled sympathetically. "I know the feeling."
Arthur's face broke into a smile. "I doubt that Merlin."
"Care to talk about it?"
"Just some random things but the one that is on the top of the list would have to be Malcolm."
"The prisoner?" he asked a little confused.
"I never had to order someone's execution before. I wonder if this is what my father felt every time he did. I remember I felt a little resentful sometimes for him doing it but now I see how hard it is."
Merlin seriously doubted that Uther got that torn up but the fact that Arthur was kept him from saying as much. "You're the king Arthur. Sometimes these kind of things you will need to decide on."
"But did I make the right one?"
"What do you mean?"
"Malcolm. He had the chance to live but instead chose to let his anger take away his chance. I don't know why he would choose those sorcerers over himself like that."
Merlin felt his insides go a little numb at that. He said it like sorcerers were worth nothing. "Well…you heard what he said. He's loyal to them and the only reason he even struck at those guards were to help his friend."
"Are you defending him Merlin?"
"What? No, I'm just saying that I can understand his motives…that's all."
"Yes, well apparently his motives are strong enough for him to die for. When are people like him going to learn that there is a reason for laws against magic in the first place?"
Merlin felt that Malcolm's motives for his behavior were clear ever since he heard the word Albion leave his lips. Could this Order of the Bear be believers in his destiny?
Outside Camelot, three riders had come to a stop right outside the city and watched as the dark night had fallen. Sir Galahad dismounted from his horse and put his hood up. "Okay, you remember the plan?"
Sir Kay dismounted his horse and also put his hood up. "Every last detail Galahad. I'm ready as I'll ever be."
"Brigid," Galahad said turning to her still on her horse. "Stay here with the horses and have them ready to move when we're back with Malcolm."
"You're crazy. This will never work. This isn't some little rescue operation in the woods. This is Camelot you're breaking into. Malcolm wouldn't want this."
"Don't worry. I know the chances. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think there wasn't one. You forget…I was once served here and I remember the city's layout."
"And he has me," added Kay. "My magic is on a higher level than those who foolishly try to strike at this place time and again. Leave it all to us."
"Just…be careful please. And…bring Malcolm back safely."
"Let's go," said Galahad. "Albion isn't going to lose its best musician not with its anniversary coming up."
"We're going to make Connor proud."
End of Chapter 2
A/N: I realize that I'm making Camelot and Arthur seem a little heartless but I am trying to capture the point of view of Albion as well as Camelot. You know like they say there are two parts to every story well this is kind of like that. I saw the response to my first chapter and I was so happy and proud of it that I rushed this one in a day or so early in gratitude. I hope you liked it just as much.
The next chapter will have a bit of action in it. As well as a little bit of revelation that would explain some questions this chapter might have made for all of you.
