Chapter 9 [Avalon]
Arthur opened his eyes. The transporting light left his eyes dazed. Spots floated in the air. He rubbed his forehead trying to stop the pounding in his forehead. Where's Gaius when I need him? He frowned and sat up. By now everything had started to coalesce.
Instead of pure white, now everything was a giant blur.
Where am I? Can this be any worse? He ground his teeth.
"You're alive, Arthur Pendragon. Be grateful for small favors," a familiar voice hissed.
"That voice! I know it!" He looked this way and that. He made out several shapes resembling human forms moving around himself.
"You should. Now hold still!" the voice commanded.
He grimaced as something—a person's fingers most likely—smeared a cold and slimy substance across his forehead. "Can that be any colder?"
"Now who's whining like the girl, Pendragon? Give it a few heartbeats."
True to the Voice's word, the headache stopped. His eyes blurred into focus. He noted the thatch roof overhead and mud daub walls around himself. He sat on a rudimentary wooden cot. Then he saw his benefactor. "You! You're the witch, Nimue!"
Nimue rolled her eyes. "Priestess to you, Arthur. You certainly owe me enough. Without me, you wouldn't exist much less be alive! "
"Gaius said you were dead. You died…" he presumed.
"The triple goddess brought her back. As she did me," Freya interjected from the doorway. "You do remember me as well?"
He stared at the High Priestess. His eyes narrowed. "You're the cursed druid girl! Merlin mourned you for months. We had no choice!"
"Because of my curse, you're right. Still it was for Merlin to give me peace. He showed warmth where none had. He released my soul in the lake outside. I do my duty for the old religion much as you do for Camelot," Freya clarified. "Merlin and I saved you from Morgana in the throne room. Nimue and I risked a great deal to retrieve your body from Cawdor."
"Magic is never good in its own right. You want something," he accused.
Freya shook off Nimue's brewing barb. "I want you to follow the Greater Good with as much care as you enforce Uther's repressive laws against magic and my kind. I want you to make Guinevere happy. I want you to learn statecraft and handle your nobles. I want you to look after your subjects…all of them…with equal love and consideration. And to recognize Merlin as your equal without argument. Magic is responsible for you being here. It has saved your life hundreds of times without you knowing it. Your father blinded himself to magic's benefits through his hate. Be the statesman to match the warrior and commander."
"I promised Balinor. Did I not?" he insisted. He rolled his eyes. Once again, the split between his parents' positions ate at him.
"You have your body back. You do realize what we risked to steal it from Cawdor?" Freya fired back. "I don't understand why Merlin has such regard for you. Honestly!"
He is important, my High Priestess. The goddess appeared in front of them. Greetings, Arthur Pendragon. I do have your promise. It is not worth much given our history however.
He coughed. "I had a kingdom to govern. My father fought to bring Camelot from the darkness."
You mean bring about anarchy for the sake of his own ego? He might as well had tried to grasp a handful of slop with how he handled matters of state. He made a bigger mess of things. He engendered the hatred of Morgause and Morgana. He brought about the current state of affairs. It is for you to correct Uther's oversights. End the suffering. Be a just King. I do not ask your conversion. I just want you to allow my people to co-exist within your borders. That would be a start, the goddess disagreed.
"The nobles would never allow it. You don't order me when it comes to Camelot." He looked about the hut.
"But another you rules there now. Guinevere and you have no army. If you fight alone, you cannot win. However if you work with the rest of Britannia, your friends and allies will assist you," Nimue pointed out. "Quite a quandary. Is it not?" She sniggered.
It seems we need each other, Arthur Pendragon. If you choose to resume your previous course, you will isolate yourself. Moreover you will find yourself in a war with Nemeth and Tintagel to the south as well as Cawdor to the north. Not even at its peak could Camelot have won a two front conflict. Your kingdom is at its nadir rather than its peak. Nimue's proposal is the only one you can honestly consider if you care for your people as you claim to. The goddess made Arthur float in front of herself. I could crush you like a spoiled grape if I wished to. Be grateful my servants value you as a King and friend. I will be watching. The triple goddess rubbed her chin.
"You brought my kingdom to ruin?" Arthur accused.
It was your own mismanagement that led to Camelot's ruin. You delegated far too much. You prefer your military role to the political. You must balance yourself. Learn that for everyone's sake. The goddess looked to the sky. It is time for you to return. Remember if you wish to remain on Camelot's throne, work with my people. End the repression and bloodshed. Ally with your neighbors against the Red Knight. The goddess' eyes glowed emerald.
He felt himself being swept away once again….