Thanks to all my faithful readers and especially those who have been kind enough to leave your reviews which encourages me to continue on. Thanks so, so much! I just need to respond to Sherri by saying that Mithian does have a son named William.
She should be elated; shouldn't she? Ariana's improving health coming as quite an unexpected yet happy surprise. During the evening before Katrina barely slept carrying around more than her fair share of guilt and humiliation. Remarkably Mithian still hadn't sent for her, however as the morning went on, she was being sent for. Along her journey, she bumped into Camilla whose once distraught expression had completely transformed into pure happiness.
"Lady Katrina, have you heard the splendid news?" she asked excitedly grabbing a hold of her hands. Katrina merely nodded her head. "My dear is there something the matter?" Camilla withdrew her right hand and placed in on her cheek.
"I'm just tired…," she sighed with weary smile.
"Of course, how can I forget the long hours you sat with my niece? You kept a strong vigil when some of us were either too stressed or exhausted to do so."
"It's the least I could do considering the circumstances."
"It seems that you are in a hurry to go somewhere; I mustn't keep you but promise that you'll stop by and see Ariana once you're able."
"I promise Lady Camilla."
"Take care…"
Her eyes lingered on Camilla for a little while as she walked away. She pondered was there finally a light leading her out of this darkness.
There was a knock at his door and when Edward opened it he greeted, "Lady Katrina…"
"Sir Edward, why have you sent for me? My duties only pertains to Princess Mithian. This is most inappropriate. I cannot be here…"
She hardly looked his way instead keeping her eyes focused straight ahead.
"And my wife is the reason why I've sent for you Lady Katrina. Please come in…" Reluctantly she entered strolling over near the table. "But first… I've noticed that you've done your best to avoid me but I chose not to say anything. After all it's between us…"
"It's not your place to say anything." She quickly turned to leave.
"Will you forever hold it against me?" his voice strained, halting her retreat.
"Forever and a day," she spun around and said harshly. "We were once such great friends. Strange isn't it? As I look back, it does seem strange after all. …You were more than capable of moving on with your life whereas I cannot. It's true what they say; love is a luxury for the few…"
"I didn't mean for any of it to happen. I didn't mean to break our bond of friendship."
"You took his side Edward; allowing him to go on betraying my trust and belief in our future together. You knew about it from the start and still you allowed it to continue. Is it because I'm a woman that you felt nothing regarding my emotions?"
"I-I don't really have an explanation," he said slightly turning away from her gaze.
The two of them had been friends long before they met the dashing Allister, nephew of Sir Ulric of Noels. Both were taken in, Katrina by his obvious charms while Edward appreciated his zeal for life and sense of adventure. Although Allister loved Katrina, he knew his heart could never be bound to one place for a prolonged period yet he kept that part hidden trying his best to settle with her. One day she came across his letter expressing his love thereafter listing the reasons why his promise of a life together would never come to pass; it almost broke her. When she tearfully ran to Edward for comfort, she saw the guilt written all over his face; their friendship ended on that fateful day.
"Perhaps I should be grateful that he and I never married; the pain may have been much deeper than it already was…I was already foolish in so many eyes…"
"Katrina I understand that I may never be able to say the right words. And I also know that it's not fair of me to ask… Katrina I beg of you…I need your ear to listen to me once again. I'm lost…hopelessly so. I don't know what to do…where else to go….," he remarked while shifting his body from side to side and lifting his arms in the air.
"What are you saying?"
"My wife is gravely ill…," he replied staring directly at her.
Katrina took in a sharp breath. It was at this moment that her eyes regarded him. She'd always known Edward to be an orderly man and yet this morning his hair and clothing appeared unkempt. She softly asked, "What has Braden been saying concerning her condition?"
"He's unable to form a concrete diagnosis. This illness has suddenly and completely overtaken her and he suspects that she may have ingested some sort of poison. Last evening she returned from some unknown journey inside the Nemeth forest…"
"Inside the Nemeth forest…" Katrina eyes blinked more than a few times.
"Don't ask me to explain because even the guards who accompanied her couldn't offer any reasonable explanation as to why she chose to go there. I just don't understand…"
Yet Katrina believed she understood. A determined Mithian always went about her own way. "Is King Rodor with her now?"
Edward sighed heavily. "Regretfully King Rodor and King Zane needed to leave for Surrey on an urgent matter…"
"Without any care for his daughter…"
"There is something I must share with you but promise not to leak a word of this to anyone."
"I promise."
"The King believes a member or members of his household have been in league with Queen Marion..."
"He suspects the Princess…" The words barely left her mouth when suddenly she clasped her stomach, finding it hard to breathe. Edward quickly went over to her side, assisting her to a chair.
"Katrina…are you alright?"
"I-I just need a moment." She took in deep, shallow breaths, leaning her head back, forcing her mind not to think about the ramifications of King Rodor's enquiry. She dared not. She couldn't endure it. "I must see her," she stated lifting her head.
The guards were apprehensive about leaving her alone in the presence of Queen Marion but she reassured them that she was more than capable of looking after herself; after all Marion didn't seem the formidable force as once before. Gone were the regal gowns and jewellery which accentuated her eminence. Now she appeared rather plain donning a heavy, grey gown and white, linen coif secured neatly over her head, her pale skin having lost its lustre.
"Did you come here to gloat?" Marion asked a pensive Mithian cloaked in Gwen's imagery. "Or do you come bearing a sliver of sympathy," she added with sarcasm.
Marion was none the wiser to her appearance and neither were the few whom she briefly interacted with which included her ladies-in-waiting. She learned their names quickly enough; Ellen the older, Amelia the younger. These two sisters cared for their Queen very much and asked after her wellbeing especially now that King Arthur was off fighting in Cumberland. She didn't know of this. She hadn't counted on Arthur leaving already. It ignited a sort of unease inside of her. Soon after Ellen asked about their return to Camelot. She responded vehemently that they would remain in Nemeth until the King returned. What a foolish question for them to ask, she scolded before requesting for some time alone which the ladies hastily acquiesced.
"Gloat? It would have been prudent of you to join your fallen companion," Mithian glowered at Marion.
"Join her?" Marion scoffed at her implication and lifted her chin. "I will not be remembered for such a despicable act…"
"What does it matter? Look at where you are now. Your crown is already tarnished. All your people will remember is the disgrace you brought upon them and your beloved Surrey. Just look at yourself…"
"Look at you!" Marion shot back. "A commoner parading around like a Queen."
"A commoner you say." Mithian chuckled at her inference. She strolled over next to her, leaned over then whispered by her ear, "I recall that time when you gave me a tour of the castle garden? You stated that the garden is merely a representation of innocence lost and now I'm about to embark along that same pathway."
Marion slowly turned to face her. Mithian delighted in Marion's astonished expression. "Indeed I am Princess Mithian sheathed in this miserable form. I'm in the midst of accomplishing something you failed to do."
"That's not right," Marion said in a dubious tone.
"You allowed a broken heart to keep you from taking your place my Uther's side. I will never be that naive."
Marion started laughing uncontrollably. "You are so like me in many ways and you will come to the same bitter ending as I am," Marion continued chuckling.
"Be quiet you useless old shrew," Mithian seethed. "Your bitter end will come much sooner than you ever expected."
Guinevere perceived herself trapped between two worlds – the world of the living and that of the unknown. Her body remained weak and she hadn't regain her ability to speak. She needed assistance in doing even the most mundane tasks. She couldn't tell where she was but surmised that she must be in Princess Mithian's room. Of the few who came to visit her, she only recognized Sir Edward. It all brought to bear her grim reality. Trepidation and despair threatened to overwhelm her heart. Where was Merlin? Why hadn't he come? What was the cause of his delay? Those who remained by her side didn't have the ability to overcome such sorcery.
"As you can see, her condition has worsened. She can't speak. She's barely able to move. There's nothing much that can be done for her now only to provide comfort…" Edward went over and eased himself unto the bed. He gazed down at her unable to escape the sadness in her eyes. "Her eyes are so distant. I'm not even sure if they see me anymore."
Katrina walked over slowly to where he was; pondering what may have gone wrong to place Katrina in such a state. It seemed all who were a part of this evil plot were touched by either sickness or death. What fate awaited her?
"I came to care for her but I'm sure you're very much aware that she has never felt anything…We were quickly thrust into this marriage…Your parents and mine would have been more understanding of the circumstances…"
Katrina carefully placed her hands on his shoulders. "Edward don't speak like this. She has given you little William. She does care for you…it's just…"
"It's just that I'm a poor substitute for King Arthur and all he would have bestowed upon her if they were married," he finished her thought, taking Gwen's left hand into his and caressing it. "So you see Katrina, I too am being punished for my misdeeds."
Gwen's eyes filled with tears. This wasn't her home. He wasn't her husband to touch her like this. She sensed his pain but it wasn't her pain to endure on his behalf. When and how would this nightmare end?
They both saw the tears trickling down Guinevere's cheeks. "You see Edward, she's still here with us and is affected by your words. I'm certain this is not the end of things. Soon Braden will find the anecdote and this will all be over. " She hoped.
"I wish I was as certain as you are," he said wiping Gwen's tears away.
Guinevere closed her eyes thinking, if they only knew her condition was far worse than mere poisoning. She then thought of Arthur. Of possibly never seeing him again and falling prey to Mithian's plans of taking over her entire life. She needed to hold on to some sort of hope. Their love had weathered and overcome so many storms for it to end in this fashion.
"By the looks on your faces, I can tell something is terribly wrong."
Ellen and Amelia were anxiously awaiting Gwaine's return to the main tent in the courtyard. Earlier he had been called to the Tower to witness the lifeless body of Queen Marion, slumped over in the right hand corner of the room. Outwardly there weren't any visible signs of a struggle or markings on her body and that was the most troubling part of his observation.
Upon seeing him approach with a few of the men, Ellen immediately ran towards him then asked, "May we speak with you in confidence?"
Gwaine stared at Amelia who chose not to speak. She looked a little pale; worry etched on her face. "Certainly." He continued staring at her briefly before leading the way inside the tent. Once inside he offered Amelia a chair to sit in and a cup of wine which she quickly consumed. Afterwards she nodded indicating she felt much better.
Amelia began, "It's the Queen…"
An alarmed Gwaine questioned very alarmed, "What has happened?"
"The Queen's behaviour has become very peculiar of late..."
"Peculiar?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"At first we attributed it to the King's departure and everything else that is happening around us…"
"She went off somewhere and when she returned she requested that we immediately draw her a bath…"
"When I retrieved her discarded cloak and gown, I discovered a section of her gown splattered with…blood…"
"Blood? Are you certain of what you saw? Perhaps you are both mistaken."
"I'm certain of what I saw," Amelia exclaimed, immediately rising from her seat.
Ellen continued, "And deep down I'm certain that something is happening to the Queen. Do not be too hasty to dismiss our observations…"
"When did you last see her Sir Gwaine?" Amelia enquired.
Gwaine cleared his throat then admitted, "Not since last evening."
"Then I suggest you pay her a visit and judge for yourself."
"Alright I will do as you ask…shortly."
Outside the skies darkened and a steady rain began falling. The rain, the wind, the cold didn't matter as Gwaine paced back and forth with his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Depressing thoughts kept bombarding his mind. He recognized what Ellen and Amelia were inferring without declaring it outright.
"Sir Gwaine, you've sent for me?"
Fabian came running inside the tent then proceeded to remove his cloak, shaking off the excess water. In the meantime, Gwaine poured them both a cup of ale.
"Fabian there is a great favour I need to request of you."
"Alright," Fabian responded a bit unsure while accepting his drink.
"I know you have been recovering from an unknown illness and you haven't had a chance to speak to the Queen regarding your visit to Lady Ariana's chamber. Was it as the Queen speculated?"
"It is as she feared." Fabian corrected, downing a mouthful of ale. "There is darkness in Nemeth. To what degree, I'm not aware. Sir Gwaine we must leave this place at the earliest…"
"I'm afraid it may have already come upon us. …Ladies Ellen and Amelia believe that the Queen has now become affected by some dark force." Fabian's eyes glared at him. Gwaine took a quick sip. "I want you to come along with me and observe her behavior."
"Sir Gwaine…"
"I'm aware that only a few know of your magical prowess."
"I'm not Merlin," he stated emphatically. "My magical prowess as you say is miniscule in comparison."
"Yet you have it! It's better than none. At this very moment you're our only hope. I don't want it to be this way. I'm the person the King has put in charge to take care of the Queen. It has suddenly become a most difficult task to achieve. …Merlin hasn't come and by the time he arrives it may already be too late. I'm not willing to take that chance…are you?"
Fabian took in a deep breath. "Then I'll do what I must. I hope neither of us is disappointed in the outcome."
Before he could respond, Gwaine heard distinct voices. These voices were fast approaching his tent. He hurried outside to see what may be going on. The rain had eased somewhat and he saw whom he believed to be Amelia and some of the guards rushing towards him.
"My Lord, My Lord…the Queen is missing!"
