Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter nine: A new Knight of Camelot
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Freya wraps her arms around Merlin's neck as he enters their shared quarters. Merlin hugs her back, resting his head in her hair and shutting his eyes.
"I'm so glad you're back, my lord." Freya whispers, still not letting go of her husband.
"It's good to be back, my lady." Merlin answers, stepping out of the embracing and taking Freya's hands in his own.
Merlin bows, kissing each of Freya's hands. His eyes flash gold and a small red rose appears in his other hand, which he presents to her, with a somewhat cheeky grin and a mischievous glint it his eyes.
Freya beams at him and takes the rose, sniffing it and shutting her eyes at the sweet sent, before placing it in her hair behind one ear and looking back at Merlin.
"Why always a rose?" Freya asks.
"Because a strawberry does not look half as beautiful as a rose," Merlin answers. "Yet a rose cannot even begin to compare to your beauty."
Freya blushes and bites her lip nervously. "You still think I'm beautiful?"
"To me you'll always be beautiful." Merlin answers.
Mordred who was standing near the door, rolls his eyes. The two of them always did this, it was almost like they had a script they followed. But it wasn't just recited words, the two of them meant every single word they said to each other. They had a love that would never die or lose its flame.
Freya grins, before pressing a kiss to Merlin's lips. Mordred looks away, he'd seen Emrys and the lady of the lake kiss many times before, but it never got any less awkward. It was even worse when there were other people around umming and ahhing at the two of them.
"Father!" Three voices suddenly yell, almost making Mordred jump.
Three five year old children by the names of Sibella, Hunith and Balinor run past him heading for their father. Merlin knelt down and quickly pulled them all into embrace.
"Father! I so happy you're back!"
"Where have you been father?"
"Father what happened? Did you find Aithusa?"
All three of them asked at the same time, in a mixture of excited voices.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!" Merlin exclaims. "One at a time."
"I'm happy you're back father." Sibella beams, hugging her father even tighter.
"I'm glad to be back to, 'Bella." Merlin smiles.
"Why does she get to go first?" Balinor complains.
"Because I'm the oldest." Sibella answers.
"Did you find Aithusa, father?" Hunith asks next.
"It's complicated, Hun'." Merlin answers, sadly. "But I promise I'll find him and bring him home soon."
"Hey!" Balinor complains. "I'm older than you, I should have gone next."
"Ladies first." Hunith answers, sticking her tongue out at her brother.
"But you're not a lady." Balinor replies.
Hunith glares at her brother, before pushing him. Balinor grabs her hair and pulls it, causing Hunith to cry out.
Mordred chuckles as Merlin and Freya pull the two fighting siblings apart. It had been a while since he had been part of a family and he was glad Emrys had accepted him into his.
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A large crowd had gathered in the great hall, all dressed in fine cloths and awaiting the king and queen's entrance. The servants had spent most of the morning cleaning and decorating the hall, fresh flowers had been picked and new drapes made. The old ones had been ruined at a feast that had got out of hand. Merlin and Gwaine still swear they had nothing to do with it.
Gaius and Alice stood in the front row, along with Elyan, Gwaine, Leon and Percival, all of whom were dressed in their armour had had there royal red cloaks on, proudly displaying the Pendragon crest. The only person missing was Merlin, but he had things to do and a kingdom to run.
The door off to the left of the throne was opened by a servant and King Arthur and Queen Guinevere entered, hand in hand, as they made there way towards the thrones. Everyone bowed and the guards stood to attention, until the king and queen had taken their seats.
On Queen Guinevere's right, just behind her throne, stood Isolde. She had been made the queen's personal guard. She stood in armour not much different in style to that of what Morgana used to wear. It was light weight and easy to move it. She had a newly forged sword at her waist and her blonde hair was pulled back and held in place by a piece of silk and a series of pins.
"To day we are gathered here to honour those who were lost in battle and those who fell at the hands of Morgana and her wicked scheme at Ismere." Arthur stands from his throne and address the hall. "But we are also here to celebrate our victory and rejoice for those who were saved. For once more we were able to stop Morgana and the threat she poses to our kingdom and to our lands."
The gathered crowd applaud and Arthur holds up his hand for silence, the crowd quickly fall back into silence.
"My life was almost lost more than once on our perilous quest," Arthur continues. "None more so than when Morgana had me at her mercy in the mines below the Ismere fortress. It took a great act of bravery and courage to do what the one who saved me did and I owe him my life."
Arthur singled the guards and the door to the great hall were pulled open. Standing on the other side of the doors was Tristan, dressed in armour and a sword at his side. He begins walking forward, heading towards Arthur, who stood at the top of the steps leading to the thrones.
Reaching the steps, Tristan kneels before Arthur and bows his head, but not before sharing a look with Isolde. Arthur beckons to Geoffrey of Monmouth, who quickly moves forward holding a ceremonial sword and a folded red cloak.
Arthur takes the sword and taps it on each of Tristan's shoulders, before taking the cloak and fastening it around Tristan's neck. Arthur takes a step back before addressing Tristan.
"Arise, Sir Tristan, Knight of Camelot." Arthur announces.
The crowd breaks out into applause as Sir Tristan gets to his feet.
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Tristan stood in his new quarters, struggling to undo the clip on his cloak. Isolde was with the queen and wouldn't be returning until later in the evening. To Tristan, all of what had happened, still didn't feel real. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever though he'd be a knight of Camelot and a knight serving a Pendragon no less.
But then Arthur was nothing like this father, he had proved that many years ago. Arthur was a fair and just king, he didn't ask too much of his people and he was loyal to his people. He'd do what ever it took to protect them and he'd risked far more than Uthur ever would have, just to save one of his subjects.
"Here," A voice behind him speaks. "Let me help you with that."
Tristan spins round and comes face to face with Merlin.
"Merlin." Tristan greets.
Merlin smiles. "I'm sorry I missed the ceremony, but there were matters in Peryglus I had to take care of."
Tristan nodes, as Merlin unclips his cloak.
"Thank you." Tristan mutters as he takes the cloak from Merlin's hands.
"Tell me something." Merlin walks over to the bed and straitened the covers out of habit.
"Of course." Tristan replies. "Anything."
"You saved Arthur's life. Why?" Merlin questions. "Isolde could have been killed for what you did, why risk it?"
"Because Arthur is right." Tristan answers. "The love that binds us is more important than the power we wield… Arthur didn't deserve to die and I knew Isolde would have wanted me to save him, she almost died saving his life once before."
Merlin smiles. "You'll have to stop by one night, you and Isolde. I don't believe you've met my family yet… Right I've got to go, Gaius is expecting me."
Before Tristan could answer, Merlin disappears. Reappearing in the physicians chambers, Merlin is greeted by the sight of Gaius setting the table. Only two places though, just like it used to be when Merlin first came to Camelot. Alice was eating with Freya and the children and possibly Mordred too.
Gaius turns around and jumps, as he sees Merlin standing behind him. He raises a hand to his heart and glares at Merlin.
"Don't do that, my boy." Gaius reprimands him. "You'll give an old man a heart attack."
"Sorry." Merlin replies sheepishly.
The two of them sit at the table and begin eating, Gaius watches Merlin closely, who shifts nervously under his uncle's gaze.
"So," Gaius finally breaks the silence. "Are you going to tell me what's troubling you?"
"It's nothing, Gaius." Merlin answers.
Gaius raises an eyebrow at him.
"Fine," Merlin sighs. "It's the potion Morgana used to suppress magic. I gave to Alice, but she couldn't identify one of the ingredients… It's just, I've felt it before, the magic... I recognise it, but I can't work out what it is."
"Let me see it." Gaius holds out a hand.
Merlin summons the vial into his palm and passes it to Gaius. Who quickly takes it and walks over to one of his work benches. Merlin gets up, follows him and sits down opposite him, watching him work. After a couple of minutes Gaius frowns at the liquid he's testing.
"What is it?" Merlin asks.
"I cannot say for certain," Gaius looks at Merlin, meeting his gaze. "But I believe the final ingredient is…"
"Is what, Gaius?" Merlin prompts.
"The blood of a dragon." Gaius finally answers.
Merlin just stares at Gaius.
"Aithusa." Merlin whispers, horrified.
"This can not bode well for Albion." Gaius sighs, thinking of all the horrors Morgana could unleash using the blood of a dragon if she knew the right spells.
"I feel that the die is cast..." Merlin mutters, in one of his moments of wisdom. "And that, for good or ill, Albion's great trial has begun."
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Hello, I hope you enjoyed reading that chapter. The next time will be posted as soon as I finish the first chapter of the death song of Uthur Pendragon. Until next time,
Blessed be,
TreeOfLife1997.
