"King Rodor is dead," Nemeth's messenger announced. "Long live King Meliant."
Arthur looked at Merlin. The young ruler who now wore Nemeth's crown was under no obligation to honour the treaty his father had made. His decision alone would determine the future of his kingdom and decide its allies and its enemies.
Arthur arranged for himself and his queen to visit Nemeth to pay their respects to the deceased monarch and forge ties with the new one. They took with them Merlin, Gwaine, Percival, and three more of Arthur's knights leaving responsibility for Camelot to Leon.
Tall grass came up to the horses' bellies on an open stretch of ground, the yellow stalks baked stiff by the sun. Clouds of dust stirred up by the horses' hooves hung in the stillness and mosquitoes disturbed by their passing whined into the air.
Guinevere rode on the king's left. As queen, she should be riding in a carriage but that would have slowed their journey and she had given Arthur a withering look at the suggestion.
Merlin nudged his horse up beside Arthur's right. "Do you think you'll convince Meliant to make the same treaty with you as his father did? He's never been as tolerant of your acceptance of magic." Merlin shifted in the saddle.
"Don't be too sure. Meliant has had time to see that far from falling into chaos and ruin, Camelot is stronger now than it was." Arthur gave his companion a searching look. "He allowed you to accompany us, which shows he's willing to suspend his own laws at least for a time."
"His sister might have had something to say about that," Guinevere said.
Merlin shook his head. "He allowed me temporary passage into Nemeth, but he's uncomfortable around me."
"A lot of people are uncomfortable around you, Merlin," Arthur said drily. "It might not be for the reason that you think."
"Marriage to Elena might have changed his attitude," Guinevere said.
Arthur raised his brows. "Lord Godwyn and my father were close friends and agreed absolutely on the evils of magic. That's why they wanted Elena and I …" His cheeks coloured at mention of the aborted wedding. "On the other hand, we can't assume Elena shares her father's views on anything; she's strange." He frowned at Merlin's smirk.
"You don't like her because she can out-ride you."
"For the last time, I let her win," Arthur muttered.
"Mithian was looking forward to seeing Elena again, despite her worry over her father's condition," Guinevere said. "I'm glad she got to Nemeth in time to see Rodor before his death."
The sadness in her voice clawed at Arthur's insides but he had tried every way he knew to ease her grief without success. Guinevere keenly felt Elyan's absence despite the months that had passed since his death.
A large insect landed on her arm. Its tubular blue body was pointed at the ground, transparent wings held out at right angles to its body, and its round eyes stared upward. She stared back, transfixed by the dragonfly. Then her horse lurched and the insect flew off in search of mosquitoes.
"We should be at Nemeth shortly after midday," Arthur said, his eyes on his queen. He hoped being with Mithian and sharing her grief would help Guinevere cope with the loss of her brother.
She gave her husband a reassuring smile.
Nemeth's new king greeted King Arthur and Queen Guinevere in the citadel's grand hall. The regal blonde beside Meliant looked every bit a queen with her hair neatly arranged and wearing a lovely gown in Nemeth's royal colour, but the corners of Elena's mouth twitched at Arthur's awkward greeting.
Camelot's royalty were shown to the suite of rooms prepared for their arrival. The knights accompanied them but, before Merlin follow, he caught the eye of the maidservant hovering in the background of the entrance hall. Gvynna beckoned him into a side corridor.
Gwaine gave him a knowing look and Percival glanced at him curiously when Merlin told them to go on without him. He followed Mithian's maid into the servant's corridor.
"She's sitting with her father's body," Gvynna whispered. "She asked me to bring you to her as soon as you arrived." The young woman led him to a chamber not far from the great hall, curtsied, and hurried off.
Two wide doors inlaid with silver scrollwork were guarded by sentries wearing bronze helms and holding tall spears pointed at the ceiling. Merlin approached the closed doors at the same moment that Meliant approached from the opposite direction. Merlin halted, his eyes scanning the corridor, but it was too late to escape the king's notice.
Meliant stopped at the sight of Merlin standing uncertainly in the corridor. The king hesitated a moment, then waved at the guards standing at the chamber entrance. They immediately swung the doors inward.
"You should go in," Meliant said, not meeting Merlin's eyes.
"Thank you," Merlin said.
The young king merely turned away, striding back down the corridor the way he had come.
Inside the chamber, Mithian was sitting in a chair near the dais on which King Rodor had been laid out. She was dry-eyed but there was an expression of such sadness on her face that Merlin's heart clenched.
She looked up at his entrance. When he came forward she stood to meet him, and as soon as he enfolded her in his embrace wracking sobs began to shake her.
Merlin held her and let her cry. They stood like that until he became aware that Meliant, Arthur, and Gwen had joined them along with Princess – no, Queen – Elena.
Mithian's sobbing quieted and she lifted her head. She swiped at her eyes, composing herself to greet Arthur and Gwen.
When Gwen came forward to give Mithian a comforting hug, Merlin looked down at Rodor's still form. He appeared peaceful enough, although his face looked older than Merlin thought it should. Then a jolt went through the sorcerer, drawing his eyes to a pendant around the king's neck. The pull of strong magic emanating from the gem was unmistakable, and Merlin's eyes went wide when he realized what that stone was, shining brighter than a jewel.
"What is it, Merlin?" came Arthur's voice.
Merlin turned a stricken look toward him before reaching for the pendant, snapping the delicate links of the chain to hold it in his palm. "It's an Eye of the Phoenix."
The sorcerer had fixed his eyes on Meliant, whose look of outrage at Merlin's action was replaced with a calculating expression.
"Is it magic?" the young king questioned coldly.
Merlin nodded. "It's a Firebird. Its eye burns with fire as it consumes a person's life force, until …"
"Did it kill him?" Meliant asked relentlessly when Merlin did not continue.
"Yes." The sorcerer did not take his eyes from Meliant, unsure what the young king would do at the news that his father was dead because of sorcery. Malicious sorcery. "He would have grown weaker, dizzy, the longer he wore it until it finally consumed his life."
Mithian gasped.
"Where did it come from?" Gwen asked.
"It was a gift from –" Meliant broke off and stared at Arthur. "We were told it was from you, to bring us good fortune."
Arthur shook his head. "Who delivered it and when?"
"A soldier, only a few days before," Meliant's voice wavered and he quickly steadied it, "only a few days before Father died. The man was still here this morning, I sent him to greet your party when you arrived since I believed he was one of yours." Meliant spun to fire orders at the guards.
The new king turned back to those waiting silently in the chamber, regarding him closely. His eyes fell on Merlin. Some of the rage faded from Meliant's expression and he glanced briefly at his sister before meeting Merlin's worried stare. He stood with the Eye of the Phoenix on his outstretched palm.
"I don't blame you," Meliant said defensively as though the others in the room were expecting him to fly into a rage and begin another Purge. "Nor will I take any action until we know who's behind this and why it happened."
Mithian gave her brother a look of gratitude and Arthur visibly relaxed. Merlin's heart began to slow its rapid beat.
"Thank you for exposing this," Meliant added, although the words sounded forced. He came closer and peered at the pendant Merlin held. "Is it safe to touch it?"
"No." The sorcerer closed his fingers around the Eye.
Arthur had been staring fixedly at the gem. "That looks remarkably like a jewel given to me as a gift once, although that one was mounted in a bracelet."
"Who gave it to you? Where did it go? Maybe this is the same one," Meliant asked.
"It was a present from Morgana," Arthur said. "To bring me good fortune," he added sarcastically.
There were several audible intakes of breath at his statement.
"But it cannot be the same one because I lost the bracelet in the Perilous Lands. I was truly sorry at Morgana's disappointment when I told her I had misplaced it." Arthur paused and looked at Merlin with dawning comprehension. "It disappeared about the same time you showed up during my quest."
Elena looked curiously at Merlin.
"You never lost it, I took it off before it killed you."
"What did you do with it? Could this be the same one?" Arthur asked.
Merlin shook his head. "I gave the other to the Fisher King. It vanished with him."
A puzzled look came over Arthur but before he could ask any more questions a guard returned with word of the man who had delivered the pendant.
"They found him," Meliant repeated to the others. "But he resisted arrest and has been gravely wounded."
Arthur frowned. "We need him to lead us to whoever sent him."
"I know. Come with me." Meliant went with the guard leaving Arthur, Merlin, Mithian, Gwen, and Elena to follow him.
The unconscious man had been dragged into the corridor outside the chamber, bleeding heavily from a stomach wound. An otherwise bald head was circled by a ring of reddish hair that was several shades darker than his thick red beard. A line of puckered, white skin traced across the man's cheek and disappeared into the beard.
"You recognize him," Meliant said, staring at Arthur.
Arthur met his gaze. "Yes, he's one of Odin's men."
"Are you certain?" Meliant demanded.
"I got a good look at him as he was holding me so that Odin could chop my head off," Arthur ground out. "At that time he had on the black helmet they all wear, but yes, this is the same man."
"So Odin is still in league with Morgana after all," Meliant growled.
"Wait," Arthur demanded when the younger king seemed about to begin issuing orders to his soldiers. "We don't know for certain that Odin himself is involved. This could be Morgana's doing alone, or someone else working with her."
The dark-haired king regarded him in absolute astonishment. "How can you make any excuse for anything that odious man has done? After his attempts on your life? The death of your own father? You should have killed him when you had the opportunity before he could cause the death of another king," Meliant muttered bitterly.
"I'm well aware of all that Odin is liable for and the destruction he has uncaringly caused. The blame falls to him for the assault on your kingdom, and your treatment and your father's under his soldiers, but we do not yet know for certain that Rodor's death was Odin's doing."
"You identified his soldier," the younger king said.
"But he is not able to tell us who gave him the pendant or why, or what Odin knew about it." Arthur turned to Merlin. "Will this man live?"
Merlin crouched to examine the wound more closely. "I don't think so."
"Will he regain consciousness enough to answer questions?"
"Maybe," Merlin responded doubtfully. "But it would not be soon."
"I will not wait for such a slim chance when we already know this man takes his orders from Odin," Meliant said. "I'll march my army to his doorstep and he can personally admit his guilt."
"That would be an act of war," Arthur cautioned.
"As is murdering a king," the dark-haired young monarch responded coldly.
Arthur laid a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Please, let me be the one to confront Odin."
"Are you going to invite him here?" Meliant's tone remained cold but he made no further move to rally his men, his eyes fixed on the other king. "He would not dare show his face in Nemeth."
"Then I'll go to him," Arthur said. "He will answer to me if he has broken the terms of our treaty by a deliberate act of aggression toward Nemeth."
For a long moment everyone in the corridor was still, all eyes fixed on the young king, waiting to know whether his first significant act as ruler would be a declaration of war.
Meliant looked from Arthur to Elena, then finally gave a slight nod as he returned his gaze to Arthur. "You speak with Odin, then. I will not take any action until I receive your confirmation of his guilt."
"Thank you," King Arthur said before he dropped his hand from the younger man's shoulder.
"What about this man?" Merlin questioned, crouched beside the wounded soldier.
"He comes with us," Arthur ordered.
"He needs rest if he is to have any chance to heal," Merlin said quietly.
Arthur looked at him steadily. "Will he recover if left to heal?"
The sorcerer shook his head. "Probably not."
"We take him to Deorham. Either he regains consciousness and speaks, or Odin confronts the evidence against him in the man's body. We leave without delay," Arthur assured Meliant.
Arthur expected word of their armed party to reach Odin within hours of crossing the border between Deorham and Nemeth. Only five of Camelot's knights had escorted the king and queen to Nemeth, so Arthur agreed a score of Nemeth's soldiers would accompany him, Merlin, and his knights to Deorham. In anticipation of Odin's men intercepting them the next day, Arthur called a halt at the most suitable place to camp inside Odin's kingdom.
When darkness fell, the king sat near the remains of their cookfire. His bench was the dead stump of a tree from which they had cut branches to build the fire. Leaves smoked on the smouldering embers to discourage the clouds of mosquitoes and flies, but a high-pitched whine was frequently followed by the sound of a slap and the soldiers' curses.
Merlin stared fixedly into the smoke.
"How is the wounded man?" the king asked.
Merlin shook his head in mute response. Then he looked up at Arthur. "He's probably a sorcerer."
"Why do you say that?"
"Someone would have activated the Eye by burning a tiny effigy, then setting fire to the ashes. That's why he remained in Nemeth; he would have performed the enchantment more than once."
"You didn't want Meliant to know the assassin had magic, did you?"
"I didn't want to fan his mistrust of sorcerers."
Arthur nodded sympathetically.
Merlin went back to staring at the smoking embers. "Do you believe Odin is at fault for this murder?" he asked at length.
The king ran a hand through his hair. "I truly don't know, but I am certain Morgana is involved and whatever her plan is, if there is war, she wins. She would like to destroy my truce with Odin and see Camelot dragged into fighting against Deorham or Nemeth or both if she could, and have us all weakened further."
"In a way I hope Odin is responsible, even if it means war with him."
"You don't mean that," Arthur said.
Merlin sighed. "No. But I fear what Meliant will do if it's a sorcerer in league with Morgana instead of Odin."
If Meliant could be convinced of Odin's innocence, then war between Nemeth and Deorham could be avoided. But if the sorcerer had acted on his own, then his reasons for aiding Morgana were likely due to Rodor's persecution of magic and that would incite Meliant's wrath against sorcerers and sorcery. Then the young king might follow Uther's example and redouble efforts to eradicate magic and sorcerers from his kingdom. Meliant could insist that Mithian remain in Nemeth and her son with her, and even if she refused it would devastate her to be estranged from the only living member of her family. Or he might renounce all ties with Arthur and ally Nemeth and Gawant with Urien who almost certainly would mount an assault against Camelot.
One of the Nemeth soldiers shouted for Merlin to attend to the wounded man, but it was too late to do anything more for him.
"Now he definitely can't tell us who sent him," Gwaine said, looking down at the body.
"Odin will confront us before we advance much further into his land," Arthur said. "Then he can explain to us himself why one of his men delivered a cursed pendant to Rodor that took the king's life. There's nothing further to be done tonight. We might as well get some rest." Arthur bedded down next to the smoldering remains of their fire, sword planted firmly in the ground beside him.
They had barely broken camp and advanced an hour further into Deorham when Odin met them. A party of armed soldiers at the older king's back outnumbered Arthur's forces two to one.
Odin signalled his men to hold their position behind him and remain mounted. Despite the early morning heat which warned of another hot day, the soldiers wore black helmets which partially concealed their faces. Only the king himself was bareheaded.
Arthur motioned for his knights and the Nemeth soldiers to halt likewise. His horse twitched restlessly as the other king rode closer.
"Arthur Pendragon," Odin greeted them, his black eyes cold. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your uninvited presence in my land with a group of armed soldiers?"
"You heard King Rodor is dead?"
"Yes, and his whelp has assumed the throne. What has that to do with your presence here?"
He sounded as though he was truly attempting to discern the reason for their journey.
"Did you know Rodor's death was the result of magic?" Arthur asked bluntly.
Odin's grey-black eyebrows knitted in a frown. "No."
Arthur indicated that the body of the dead man be brought forward. A Nemeth soldier dismounted and heaved a blanket-wrapped bundle to the ground between the two kings, flipping aside the coverings to reveal the scarred face with its red beard. Recognition was immediately apparent in Odin's expression.
"Your man?" Arthur accused.
Odin looked from the face of the dead man to the blond king. His expression was guarded but showed more bafflement than guilt. "Yes."
"This is the man who delivered the cursed item that resulted in Rodor's death." Arthur waited for the other king to respond. He was aware of the hostile looks being sent towards Odin's party by the Nemeth soldiers, but Arthur was confident they would not act without his orders.
The older king held Arthur's gaze levelly. "If he was involved in an attempt on Rodor's life, it was not at my command," Odin said with the same bluntness. He gestured to one of his men to collect the body. "I will investigate this man's actions. You are welcome to be my guest while the inquiry is conducted."
Arthur could not be sure whether the invitation was an expression of Odin's honest goodwill or an attempt to confine them within his citadel. But despite the litany of the other king's deplorable acts in hiring assassins to kill Arthur and attacking a peaceful kingdom, Odin had not displayed any aptitude for deception. He made no secret of his hatred for Arthur or his thirst for vengeance, nor had he ever denied any of the acts of which he had been guilty.
"We will accompany you and assist in any way we can with determining the true cause of this heinous murder," Arthur agreed.
He ignored the doubtful looks sent his way by both Gwaine and Percival who clearly saw no reason to trust their king's safety or their own within Deorham's stronghold and spurred his mount to follow the other king.
Deorham's citadel offered a comforting coolness from the ever-increasing heat of the afternoon. The Deorham guards escorted Arthur's party to the Great Hall while Odin investigated the actions of his dead soldier.
"Arthur Pendragon," said a tall woman who stood serenely in the corridor. Her hair was completely grey but her eyebrows were black and her eyes were a penetrating green.
"Your Highness." Arthur bowed his head deferentially.
Queen Athelis nodded respectfully in return. Merlin wondered if she harboured the same resentments against Arthur as her husband for the death of their son so many years ago. He glanced at Arthur to see the same uncertainty in his face.
"Not a day passes without a reminder that my boy is not here, but I don't seek revenge against you for his death. I know my son made it difficult for you to walk away from his challenge," the queen said. "Odin was a loving father in his way but also a demanding one. Some of his hatred of you is guilt at how he treated his son and the part that played in our boy's death. But despite what you think of Odin, he would not break his word, nor does he lie. He's not responsible for this assassination plot."
"Is Odin still in league with Morgana?" Arthur asked.
"So her hand is in this. He always had a weakness for a pretty face," she said. "But no, Odin has not been in contact with the witch since that ill-advised assault on Nemeth."
Arthur held her gaze for a moment before he nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness."
She gestured to the guards to continue. Arthur bowed his head again before following them towards the hall, his knights and the Nemeth soldiers at his heels.
Merlin was about to do the same, but stopped and bowed when the Queen stepped into his path.
"From the description I have been given, you would be the man who convinced Arthur not to plunge this land into a bloody feud last year by executing my husband."
Merlin glanced up while keeping his head lowered to find her sharp gaze fixed on him. "Yes, Your Highness."
"You are more than an advisor, are you not?"
Merlin could not think of a suitable response.
She did not seem to need one, however, merely giving him an appraising look. "I wish you and your king well in your efforts to keep the peace again now." With that, she swept away leaving Merlin to follow the others down the corridor.
Merlin returned to Deorham's great hall to take up his position near Arthur before Odin strode into the room. The Camelot knights and Nemeth warriors tensed and Odin's troops watched them sharply. Arthur waited calmly where he stood as Odin took his seat on the throne.
"I have questioned my deceased soldier's fellow troops. I have also spoken with his wife who advised that he made several trips recently to a ruined temple nearby, one that has been abandoned since Roman times." Odin paused and glanced around the room before returning his gaze to Arthur. "It is the same place where I held my meetings with Morgana."
The Nemeth soldiers cast dark looks at Odin.
"Had he previously accompanied you to meet with Morgana?" Arthur asked.
"Yes." Fury at being interrogated in his own citadel was etched in Odin's face, but he held his temper.
"Was he acting on your orders to carry out Morgana's plan to assassinate Rodor? Are you in league with her now?"
Odin kept his eyes fixed on Arthur, his anger barely held in check. "There is no indication anyone else was involved in her plot."
"But this man was sworn to obey you, was he not?"
"Enough! This is my kingdom. I do not answer to you, boy, and you are not welcome here." Odin's black eyes snapped as he glared at Arthur. His mouth was compressed into a tight line so that the salt-and-pepper hair of his upper lip nearly met that of his beard. "Were it not for our truce you would not leave here alive."
"A truce could only ensure my safety if you're a man of your word," Arthur said.
Odin's expression was outraged. "As I am."
"Then give me your word that you had no involvement in the plot to assassinate Rodor, and no one who participated was acting under your orders." No trace of animosity coloured the blond king's neutral tone.
For a long moment Odin stared furiously at Arthur. It was clear he would have preferred to give his men the order to imprison or kill them all, but he was conscious of the price of that action. The Nemeth soldiers were anxious to avenge their king's death and any aggression against Arthur or his knights could bring on a war with Camelot. Deorham would be hard pressed to defend itself on both fronts, especially as Nemeth controlled Gawant as well.
Odin stood on the dais in front of his throne as his black eyes scanned the room, noting the easy confidence of the Camelot knights, the barely-held-in-check hostility of the Nemeth soldiers, and the ready stance of his own soldiers. Finally Odin's gaze came back to Arthur. "You have my word that to the best of my knowledge that man acted alone to carry out whatever foul deed Morgana asked of him."
"Then I will explain to King Meliant that no retribution is due to Deorham and Morgana's only known accomplice is dead. I see no reason to remain here any longer." Arthur took his gaze away from Odin to meet the eyes of his own men, silently communicating there would be no hostilities, finally coming to rest on Merlin. Then Arthur turned back to face Odin where he stood stiffly in front of his throne. "Thank you for your assistance. With your leave, we'll return as quickly as we can to Nemeth."
"I will arrange for an escort to ensure your safe journey to our border."
The offer was meant as an armed guard rather than due to any concern for Arthur's safety. "No need," he politely declined.
"Then I wish you well, Arthur Pendragon."
Arthur gave Odin a nod of deference which was returned in kind. Then the younger king strode through the ranks of Deorham guards who parted silently to let him pass, the Camelot knights and Nemeth soldiers following him.
Merlin watched Odin, looking for any sign the man had lied about his involvement in the plot to murder Rodor. There was no indication of triumph or deceit – only grudging respect for Arthur and relief the confrontation had ended peaceably. Merlin turned away to trail the last of the Nemeth soldiers out of the room.
As he followed Arthur's party down the steps of the citadel into the bright sunshine to await the grooms bringing their mounts, Merlin saw the body of the red-bearded soldier who had delivered the Eye of the Phoenix to Rodor. It lay in the courtyard covered in the blanket he had been wrapped in for the journey from Nemeth. A woman was hunched beside the dead man, her sobs drowning out the buzzing of flies.
Merlin approached the dead sorcerer's wife. "I'm sorry for your loss. I did what I could."
The woman looked up at his sincere expression of sympathy. Dark circles under eyes red from weeping indicated she had been worried at her husband's long absence even before receiving word of his death. "You're the physician who treated his wound?"
Merlin simply nodded.
"They were asking me questions, but no one told me what happened." Her pleading look tore at him.
"He was wounded when he resisted arrest in Nemeth," Merlin explained.
Her eyes closed briefly. "What was he arrested for?" she asked with a resigned expression.
Merlin hesitated. "He was responsible for the death of the king," he finally admitted.
The woman passed a hand across her face. Then she looked directly up at him. "Was Morgana involved?"
Again Merlin nodded. He crouched down to lay a hand on the woman's shoulder.
She looked at the body of her husband. "He kept talking about how the king gave up his claim to Nemeth too easily, and how Odin would have ensured those with magic would no longer be persecuted. I told him it was no concern of ours, but he kept talking about liberating all the lands and how Morgana was the only hope for true freedom." The woman met Merlin's eyes. "She isn't. She's a madwoman. And now my husband is dead." Fresh tears welled up and she looked back at the body under the sheet before covering her face with her hands.
At a loss as to what comfort he could offer, Merlin looked over to see the rest of Arthur's party mounted, ready to leave. Gwaine was astride his horse, next to Merlin's waiting mount.
Merlin joined him, leaving the woman to mourn, saddened the same story was playing out yet again: Nemeth outlawed magic, a sorcerer retaliated by committing murder, and the king would take his revenge on all those who practiced magic.
By the time the sun neared the western horizon, they had put several leagues between themselves and Deorham's citadel. The temperature began to drop along with the disappearing sun, but the heat that had built during the afternoon was slow to relax its hold. The whine of mosquitoes grew as the weight of the sun's warmth eased and the horses' tails swished frantically.
Once they had tended to the animals and fed themselves, Merlin settled beside Arthur. The king sat on the rough ground in the growing dark lost in thought. What he said to Meliant the next day and how he said it would influence the young man waiting anxiously to know who to blame for his father's death. He might even declare war against Odin despite Arthur's advice.
"You've kept peace between Camelot and Deorham, but can you do the same between Nemeth and Deorham?" Merlin said. "We have no proof Odin wasn't involved in Rodor's death." And if Meliant did accept that Odin was blameless in Rodor's death, how would the new ruler react to the knowledge that two sorcerers had carried out his father's assassination?
"I hope Meliant will trust my judgement," Arthur said.
"What will happen when you tell him the murderer was a sorcerer?"
"I believe he'll base his next actions on his respect for you."
"Me?" Merlin asked in surprise. "I'll be lucky if he lets me leave with my head attached to my shoulders. Nemeth is his kingdom, and sorcery is banned. It will be worse now that magic has been used to kill his father."
Arthur gave him a cryptic look. "Don't be too sure. You were the one to expose the plot."
"If I hadn't said anything, we would all have been better off."
"Morgana would have ensured the truth about Rodor's death came to light, and in the worst possible way."
Merlin berated himself for not having foreseen Morgana's plan soon enough to save Rodor. If he had gone to Nemeth earlier, he would have recognized the pendant immediately, then the new king would have reason to thank him rather than blame him. "How can I convince Meliant magic can be used for good as well as evil?"
"Meliant is aware he can trust you and rely on your advice."
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Merlin asked, staring at Arthur.
"I see myself in him."
"You never listen to me, either," Merlin said.
"Yes I do," Arthur said. "Even when I don't admit it. There's something about you, Merlin, and Meliant knows that."
Merlin stared at Arthur in consternation but instead of an explanation the king merely announced that they had best get some sleep.
"We've got a long ride yet tomorrow." Arthur gave Merlin a pat on the shoulder as he got up and went to stretch out on his blankets, sword planted in the ground beside him.
Nemeth's royal guard met them the moment they rode into the citadel courtyard. Arthur was not even given time to shake the dust off his cloak before he was escorted to the chamber where Meliant awaited their report.
At their arrival the young king stopped pacing and sat at the head of a long table and motioned Arthur to take a seat. The Camelot knights took up positions near the chamber door and Merlin stood next to Gwaine, looking down the length of the table at the two royals.
Meliant was drumming the hard surface with his fingers. "Odin isn't with you but there has been no word of war."
"There was no evidence of his involvement in your father's death," Arthur said calmly.
"The assassin?" Meliant questioned.
"Dead of his wounds."
"Did he tell you who his accomplices were?"
"Apparently he was in contact with Morgana, but he was not acting on Odin's orders."
"How do you know?"
Arthur paused before he answered the last rapid-fire question from the young king. "Odin questioned those who knew the man."
Meliant's fingers stopped their drumming. "This information is from Odin himself? How can you trust him?"
"He kept the terms of our truce, I have no reason to distrust him." Arthur said.
The dark-haired king sat unmoving while his eyes searched Arthur's face. "You are asking me to accept Odin's word that there were only two conspirators in my father's death, and that Odin himself is innocent?"
"I am asking you to accept my word," the blond king replied.
"What reason did the assassin have to take on the dangerous mission of killing a king using a magical item in a kingdom where sorcery is banned? Why would he do such a thing?"
"He was a sorcerer," Merlin said. "He believed that killing Rodor and seeing Nemeth fall was the way to end the persecution of magic. He wanted to join Morgana in her fight for freedom."
The young king's hard gaze swung to Merlin, staring down the length of the long table.
Merlin held his breath, but before Meliant could react the door to the chamber was thrown open to admit an anxious-looking Mithian followed by a worried Gwen and a serene Elena.
The knights respectfully moved aside. Elena proceeded calmly to take the seat at Meliant's left and Gwen took her place next to Arthur. As Mithian sat in a chair near Meliant, she examined her brother's face closely but his gaze remained fixed on Merlin.
Finally, the young king broke off his stare to meet his sister's eyes. "Arthur assures me Odin had no hand in Father's death," Meliant said. "The sorcerer with the scarred face and red beard was the only one plotting with Morgana."
"It's my fault," Merlin said. All eyes turned to him in surprise. "I should have stopped him, I'm familiar with the Eye of the Phoenix and I know what Morgana is capable of. I'm supposed to prevent these things from happening."
Meliant regarded him in disbelief. "You cannot be personally responsible to stop every attempt to use magic for some evil purpose."
Merlin shook his head, knowing what was at stake in this case, what his lack of foresight might cost if Nemeth's new king turned against Arthur. "If I had been here I could have saved Rodor."
"You're not to blame, I am," Meliant said slowly.
Puzzled, Merlin looked at the young ruler.
"Mithian tried to explain, and Arthur tried to explain, how this hatred of magic makes enemies for no good reason. If evil were inherent in magic then my sister would not feel about you the way she does, nor would Arthur respect your opinion the way he does." Meliant turned to Elena. "You are right, we cannot continue to ban sorcery in our kingdoms."
Meliant had laid a hand on Elena's arm, and she laid her hand on top of his.
Merlin did not realize he was staring with open-mouthed astonishment at them both until Gwaine gave him a poke in the ribs.
Meliant turned back to Arthur. "Thank you for keeping me from a rash response when we discovered the identity of the man responsible for hastening Father's death. I shouldn't have immediately assumed Odin's guilt. And I am sorry Nemeth did not follow your lead sooner to make peace with those who practice magic."
"It was your choice to allow me to speak with Odin before you acted, as it is your decision to change the laws of your own kingdom. You'll make a good ruler."
Meliant's cheeks pinked. The dark-haired young king cleared his throat and looked toward Merlin. "Thank you, Merlin, for exposing this plot. You're not to blame because you didn't discover it sooner."
Merlin tried to respond graciously but nothing intelligible came out of his mouth.
"Do you still have that … thing?" Meliant questioned.
Merlin reached into his pouch where he had stowed the Eye of the Phoenix so no one could touch it. All eyes in the room fixed on the bright jewel-like stone.
"What will you do with it?" Meliant asked.
Uncertain, Merlin frowned down at the object in his hand. He could feel it pulsing with life, drawing into itself the life force of everything around, pulling at his own energy. He squeezed his fingers tightly around the Firebird, whispering an incantation as his eyes flashed. The pull faded away as the life force turned inward on itself, then he slowly opened his hand.
Mithian caught her breath.
On his palm sat an insect with a blue, tubular body the length of his palm, two pair of transparent, oval-shaped wings stretching out at right angles from the middle of its back, and a pair of bulbous eyes. Its six legs crooked outward as it perched unmoving on Merlin's hand with a slight tickle, staring back with round unblinking eyes. Then its wings quivered and it flew over to land on Meliant's chest, looking up at him with its long tail pointing to the ground.
He started in surprise and eyed the long, thin body nervously. "Does it sting?"
"No, it's a dragonfly, it can't bite a human being and it doesn't have a stinger," Merlin said.
Meliant sat unmoving as the dragonfly fixed its eyes on him as though it had a message to impart. Then it flew over to rest on Mithian's arm. She stared back at the insect, apparently not the least bit repulsed by its intense gaze. Finally it lifted into the air again and soared higher until it darted from the room.
When Merlin took his eyes from where the dragonfly had disappeared, he caught Arthur regarding him with a curious look.
"What did you mean when you said you gave the other Eye of the Phoenix to the Fisher King? He had been dead for years."
"He was alive when we got to the Dark Tower, alive and waiting."
Merlin felt Gwaine's sharp gaze fix on him.
Arthur looked askance. "Waiting?"
"Waiting for death, and to give me the gift," Merlin said.
The king rolled his eyes at the cryptic explanation.
"What he gave me made it possible for me to get to the Cup of Life and empty it so the immortal army would be destroyed. In return, I gave him what he asked for – the Eye of the Phoenix – and he died."
Arthur briefly rubbed his right wrist where he had worn the bracelet with the deadly charm. "When I crossed the bridge into the Fisher King's lands, the little man who guards the bridge recognized the Eye but he never gave me any warning. He just chuckled to himself."
Merlin's brows drew together. "He must have thought you would be all right, or he knew it was important to bring the Firebird into the Perilous Lands. Maybe you were meant to bring it there and I was meant to have it when I found the Fisher King."
"Strength and Magic," Arthur said thoughtfully.
"What?" Merlin asked.
The king looked at Gwaine. "The Keeper of the Bridge, Grettir, he said I was Courage but I would need Strength and Magic." Arthur looked at Merlin. "I guess we know who he meant by that now."
Elena regarded Arthur with a knowing look. "Isn't a quest supposed to be completed alone and unaided? To prove your worth as a future king?"
Flustered by the queen's amusement, Arthur began to stammer a reply but Merlin cut him off.
"That's a ridiculous rule. What kind of leader thinks he can rule alone and unaided?"
Arthur, Meliant, and Elena all looked at Merlin in amazement but Gwen smiled to herself and Gwaine laughed aloud. Merlin crossed his arms and looked back at them defiantly.
Arthur glanced at Gwen and then back at Merlin. "Point taken," he said. Then he stood and faced Meliant. "By your leave, I would appreciate the opportunity to return to my chamber and clean up."
Nemeth's dark-haired king straightened in his chair. "Thank you again, Arthur." He gave a respectful nod to both Arthur and Gwen. "I must speak with my Council, but I'll attend you as far as the Great Hall. Any advice you can offer about how to ease the change of laws would be appreciated."
Mithian joined Camelot's king and queen as they accompanied Meliant out of the room, talking quietly together. Gwaine and Percival followed with the other knights. When Merlin turned to go with them, Elena called him back.
She had risen from her seat. Merlin looked down to confirm that despite her royal gown and beautifully-styled blonde hair she was shoeless. He hid his grin as he gave her a respectful bow.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"I never thanked you for what you did in Camelot."
Merlin gave her a shocked look.
She arched her brows in response. "Did you think I wouldn't remember? It was quite an event in my life, to be rid of the Sidhe, having grown from infancy with that thing inside me." Elena gave him a grateful smile. "I'm much better now. I feel like there had been a tug-of-war for control of myself, and now it's just me. Except I'm not sure how much of who I am is because I had that other presence living in me all those years."
Merlin could not stop himself from glancing at her bare feet when she admitted that. She smiled and tipped her head to the side.
"Is Grunhilda okay?" Elena asked. "Did she go back to wherever she came from when you destroyed the Sidhe that was possessing me?"
For a moment Merlin was at a loss to explain that he had annihilated the former nursemaid.
"She's dead, isn't she?" the queen sighed.
The sorcerer settled for a nod. He suppressed a shudder at the memory of the pixie who could only be stopped by several volleys of the Sidhe staff which had destroyed others with one blast.
"She would have fought to the death to protect her Sidhe master," Elena continued sadly. "I like to think she cared for me, too; that a part of her had grown fond of me as she watched over me."
Despite his doubts about the pixie's good intentions towards Elena, Merlin made a sympathetic noise that he hoped assured the blonde queen of his agreement.
"She always gave me good advice. 'Petal,' she would say, 'you know your father is doing what he thinks best.' And it was true. He's a good king and he was a loving father, especially when I was such a difficult child." Elena smiled fondly. "I used to see things. I mean, when I looked at things I saw them the way everyone else does but then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw them the way the Sidhe see things. I could see the colours of magic." The queen smiled at Merlin. "You had a beautiful rainbow around you. I can't see it any more but I know it's there."
The sorcerer looked at her in astonishment.
"I miss those glimpses into the Otherworld. You are so fortunate to be able to see things like that all the time, things other people miss or sense only vaguely. Not that I want to have a fairy inside me again," Elena hastened to add. "I really do thank you for releasing me. I could never decide if my thoughts were my own. The only times I was certain of myself were when I was riding. I believe that thing was afraid of horse riding; the Sidhe may know how to fly but they know nothing of how to ride a horse."
"You're welcome," Merlin finally managed to say.
"Well, I assume Mithian is waiting for you."
Merlin gave Elena another look of shock.
"Oh, I'm not supposed to mention that, am I?" Elena said, not sounding at all embarrassed. "Forget I said anything. Rodor's funeral is tomorrow, but perhaps I'll see you before then. Good night."
"Good night, Your Highness," Merlin collected himself enough to reply but she had already given him a smile and departed the room.
With a shake of his head at the queen's forthrightness, wondering himself if being possessed by a Sidhe had changed Elena or if she would have been just as unconventional had she grown up normally, Merlin made his way to Mithian's chambers.
As he expected, she was waiting for him. When their embrace finally ended, Merlin leaned back to look into her face. "How are you doing?"
"I miss Father terribly and I keep thinking it was a horrible way to die. Then I think he was already ill and maybe that thing only shortened his life by a few days, anyway, and then I think I would give anything for a few more days." Mithian leaned her head against Merlin's shoulder.
He wrapped his arms more tightly around her.
"At least I got to see him once more before he passed away. I will forever be thankful for that, and that he got to see Erec, if only that one time. I wish Father could have seen the next baby, as well." Mithian raised her head to give Merlin a significant look.
He opened his mouth to say something comforting and then it hit him. He fixed his gaze on her flat stomach. "You mean …."
She nodded and took his hand to lay it on her belly, holding her hand on top of his. "Is it wrong to be happy about that when Father is dead?"
"Of course not," Merlin said. He tore his gaze away from their joined hands and looked into her eyes. "You can mourn your father and still be glad for life."
"I'm glad you are here with me," Mithian replied before she reached up to bring his head down to hers.
The kiss was more tender than passionate. When it ended, they held each other until Mithian spoke again.
"I'm glad Meliant has Elena to help him through this." Mithian looked up at Merlin. "What is it Elena wanted to speak with you about?" she asked curiously.
"We were catching up on old times," Merlin answered with a small smile.
Mithian frowned at him. "Were you the reason Arthur didn't marry her, either?"
"No," he denied, although a guilty flush crept up his face. "I may have suggested that he had a choice, that's all."
"But you didn't go to quite the same lengths as you did to prevent my marrying him?" Mithian suggested shrewdly.
"I was occupied at the time with getting rid of the Sidhe that possessed her," Merlin said defensively.
Mithian gave him a quizzical look. "I don't know why I'm still surprised to hear stories like that." A thoughtful expression came across her face. "Elena does seem different now. Our kingdoms are side by side so we saw each other regularly as we were growing up, despite how close Lord Godwyn was to Uther and the difference of opinion between Uther and Father about Gedref. Elena was the only one who could beat me in a horse race, and since we had both lost our mothers, well, I considered her a friend, even though I found her rather wild," Mithian said. "Even now she's a little strange. She can still out-ride me but she seems less outrageous and more at peace with herself."
"I'm glad she's happier now."
"She has you to thank for that?" Mithian asked.
Merlin nodded.
"As long as she kept her thanks properly modest. She's very pretty," Mithian added in response to Merlin's puzzled look.
A knowing smile spread across his face. "Yes, she is."
"And married."
Merlin raised his eyebrows. "I thought you said royal marriages were just for show."
"I think my brother may have been exceedingly fortunate in his choice of bride," Mithian said.
"If he is even half as grateful to have her as I am to be with you then he's lucky indeed."
Mithian smiled at the flattery and ran her hands up his back while she pressed closer. He bent down to kiss her, and this time it was filled with passion. When they broke apart her eyes had darkened and he reminded himself it was late and they were in her brother's kingdom.
"I should go," Merlin forced himself to say although he made no move to leave.
"Oh, Merlin, you don't have to be so careful of my reputation. There's no one left to fool and I cannot bear to be alone again tonight. Please stay."
With those words she kissed him again and banished from his mind any thought of leaving.
The morning following Rodor's burial dawned warm and sunny. The banners hung limply, the polished chain mail of Nemeth's soldiers and Camelot's knights reflected flashes of sunlight, and the jewels on the royals' clothing glowed with multi-coloured sparkles.
King Meliant and Queen Elena stood at the centre of the assembly ranged along the citadel steps to bid a formal farewell to King Arthur and his retinue. Merlin noticed that in honour of the occasion Elena was wearing appropriate footwear, however she abandoned any trace of formality to throw her arms around Queen Guinevere.
"I'm glad Arthur married you and not me," Elena whispered to Gwen. "He still looks at you the way he did that day."
Gwen tried to hide her embarrassment as Nemeth's new queen turned to hug Mithian.
"Good luck giving Arthur hunting lessons," Elena said, causing Gwen to stifle a chuckle and Merlin to pretend his snort of laughter was a cough. "Invite me to visit when your baby is born," Elena added with a wink at Merlin.
Arthur looked at Mithian in disbelief. "Another baby so soon? That one is still in swaddling." He nodded at the nurse waiting patiently with the boy in her arms.
Gwen elbowed him in the ribs.
"Erec is almost nine months old," Mithian said.
Gwaine gave Merlin a sly look which he studiously ignored.
Lastly Elena turned to Arthur and held out her hand.
Unsure whether she expected him to shake her hand or kiss it, Arthur finally bent to quickly brush his lips over her knuckles and murmur a farewell appropriate to a queen.
"You must visit us again, Arthur. It's unfortunate there was no opportunity this time for me to beat you in a horse race."
Pretending to pay no heed to the renewed snickers, Arthur turned to Meliant and grasped his outstretched arm.
"Thank you, Arthur, for keeping the peace. You have my undying support in your quest to unite all our lands in harmony and justice for all." Meliant sent Merlin a significant look. Then, with a regal nod to Guinevere, Nemeth's king turned to take his sister's outstretched hand.
"Father would be proud of you. You'll make a good king," Mithian said quietly, squeezing his fingers.
"Thank you," Meliant replied.
After the farewells they mounted. From the back of her horse, Mithian looked at her brother where he stood next to Elena. The queen waved, then grasped her husband's hand. He looked down at her and she met his eyes, smiling. Mithian waved back.