The early morning dew covered the lawns of the castle. Down below in the surrounding valleys, mist was rising into the air. Everything seemed perfect, which made Merlin all the more wary about what was to come.
The evening before, after he'd awoken refreshed from his nap in the garden, King Rodor had summoned him. Merlin had entered the king's solar with his head bowed in supplication, just as he would have with a king like Uther. Around Arthur, Merlin only did it for show when there were visiting dignitaries. He'd realized after his discussion with Mithian that he'd probably never thought of Arthur as being above him. Even in their first encounter, Merlin hadn't treated the future king as anything but an equal.
With Rodor it was different, and he approached the meeting much as he would have with Uther. However, he was much more nervous after having fallen asleep in such an intimate position in the garden on Mithian's lap. He knew he was in the king's debt for being allowed to stay in Nemeth. But it didn't mean his behavior was acceptable and he feared the repercussions. Merlin's fate was in Rodor's hands.
He had hoped to be able to find out more about Balinor, but the king seemed to have other issues to discuss, namely Merlin proving himself. The conversation hadn't lasted long. He'd been quickly introduced to his father's cousin, Lord Sebastian. The lord was unlike anyone Merlin had ever met. He was burly and square-jawed; not necessarily tall, but certainly no dwarf. He had a large, well-fed belly that hung out over his trousers, proving that the man ate more than used the sword slung from his hip. Even though he was noble, he acted and spoke worse than some of Gwaine's shadier acquaintances down in the tavern. There was something about him that Merlin couldn't quite pin down. It wasn't a bad feeling of something underhanded or evil, but neither did it make Merlin comfortable to be in the man's presence.
Rodor explained that in order for Sebastian and his other lords to take Merlin seriously as a potential consort for his daughter, he'd have to prove himself by summoning a dragon. The lie had fallen easily from Merlin's tongue when he tried to pretend that there were no more dragons.
Sebastian's snort had been silenced quickly by a look from the king, who explained that this was not Camelot and Merlin didn't need to pretend anymore. With another pointed glance from Rodor, Sebastian had excused himself from the room.
Merlin had breathed easier after that, asking for Rodor's forgiveness. The king brushed it off with a wave of his hand, telling Merlin that he understood for now, so long as it didn't become a pattern. He wanted Merlin to be ready for the morning and the test he would be put through. It wasn't anything he hadn't done before, which would simply be summoning Kilgharrah. The kicker was doing it in front an audience. He almost feared the lecture that would follow from the Great Dragon for putting him on display.
His soul felt freer than it ever had before, even with the potential pitfall.
When he first decided to tell Mithian everything about himself, he'd worried that she would think of him as some sort of monster. Perhaps she hadn't understood how serious he had been when he told her the prophecy of the Once and Future King - or, maybe she had. Either way, his heart had lifted when she told him that they would find a way to be together.
That feeling of elation had all but disappeared when he had finally returned to his chambers, the same one that Arthur had been given use of. Merlin had laid down on the bed, only to find himself tossing and turning, unused to the soft down-filled mattress. After what seemed like hours, he'd gathered a blanket and pillow to stretch out on the floor in front of the fireplace, where he finally fell into a restless sleep.
The long night translated itself into even more apprehension as he stood next to his horse, awaiting the rest of the royal party to be ready. He trembled in the chill of the morning air, but it wasn't from the cold, it was the anticipation he felt. Rodor had informed him over an early breakfast that they were going deep into the Forest of Gedref to a place near the foot of the mountains, where the hills rose up into sharp cliffs from the great labyrinth.
Having only been there once before, when Arthur had gone to placate Anhora after killing the unicorn, unsettled him. Merlin remembered his determination to not allow his prince at the time to sacrifice himself for his people along the rocky shore. He also recalled how Anhora's magic seemed to be part of the maze itself. The whole area was enchanted. He had felt the power of the land, but at the time, he had been so focused on his mission to save Arthur that he hadn't taken a chance to really see or feel the area.
"Is something on your mind?" The princess' soft voice broke Merlin from his thoughts. He turned to see her standing next to his horse and quickly slid out of the saddle to stand next to her.
"You," he lied smoothly and wondered if Gwaine's smooth flirtatious nature was rubbing off on him. He'd never really had a chance to court a woman
Mithian threw her head back in a full, musical laugh. "I'm flattered, but tell me truly."
Merlin shrugged, feeling a sudden bout of shyness overtake him. Her dark brown hair was braided and pinned back on her neck to keep it out of her face while they rode. Enough of it was left loose that it framed her face like a portrait and accentuated her beautiful, dark eyes. Mesmerized, he chuckled along with her, questioning how she knew him so well when just two days earlier he had wondered if she even knew he existed.
"I don't even know where to start," he finally confessed, taking her hand in his. He marveled at the silky-soft texture of her skin and reminisced about how her fingers had held the back of his neck when they had kissed. Licking his lips, he stared into her eyes. She didn't know him, not yet really, but in her returning gaze he saw the acceptance he had craved for so long. It didn't matter to her that he had magic and was the son of a Dragon Lord, nor that he'd been a servant and a peasant his whole life.
"I can't even imagine what it must be like for you, to learn all these things about your father. If I had known, I would have told you what I learned about him from my own father long ago."
The flowing, angled line of her jaw, her thin nose, luscious lips... they all set his blood flowing and his breathing came in shallow shaky gasps. Merlin wanted nothing more than to bend over and kiss her in that moment. He always dreamed of a day when someone would see him, would want to know him beyond the face he showed to the world.
His hand moved of its own accord and lifted to cup her face. Leaning in, he prepared to kiss her. Mithian's face tilted to accommodate his unspoken desire.
Voices of men and the clopping sound of hooves on cobblestone announced that the king had arrived. Embarrassment flooded Merlin's cheeks and his movement turned into a quick, darting peck on Mithian's cheeks. It wouldn't do for her father to catch them in an embrace in the courtyard.
He mouthed an apology. She smiled in acceptance, though he could see the mild irritation in her eyes at being denied what they both wanted.
King Rodor either didn't notice or ignored their sudden awkwardness as he came up to Merlin and his daughter. "Are you ready, son?" he asked.
Merlin nodded and tried to drop Mithian's hand, even though she stubbornly held on. "I think so, Sire, though I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to do. You said you wanted to test my abilities to prove that I am who you say."
Rodor inclined his head towards the gates where a group of noblemen sat waiting. The whole entourage seeming eager to be on their way. "Those are Lord Bertrand and Lord Travis. They are my two most trusted advisors, along with Sebastian. They knew your father, though I dare say they didn't exactly see eye to eye on things. Not many in my kingdom did, sadly."
Pursing his lips, Merlin evaluated the nearby lords. He felt Mithian tighten her grasp and made a mental note to ask her about it later. "Why is that?"
"They thought after Myrddin died that Balinor should take up the cause against Camelot, both for the last dragon and for the magic that had been lost. Sebastian especially felt Balinor was a fool to try and parlay with Uther for peace. They got into a very heated argument and all but disowned each other over it.
"Years later, when Camelot declared that the dragon had been killed following his escape, it hit Sebastian hard. He swears that he has seen the dragon, though and that the herald from Camelot had been mistaken. If the dragon did survive it gave him, and myself, hope that Balinor still lived...which did not sit well with any of the others. They considered him a coward and a liability for the way he walked into Uther's trap."
Gulping, Merlin shook his head nervously. Arthur now knew that the Great Dragon was still alive, and he wasn't happy about finding out. Merlin really wasn't sure he was ready for others to know, but it seemed that calling Kilgharrah was the only thing that would assure King Rodor's lords that Merlin was indeed who he claimed to be. Exhaling loudly, Merlin rubbed the back of his neck. "I understand, I think."
The king smiled and started moving toward his waiting horse. "We'll discuss this more as we ride."
Merlin bit his tongue. Each bit of new information only served to pile on more anxiety. Turning to Mithian, he saw something he hadn't seen since he'd left his mother back in Ealdor to find his fate in Camelot...someone there for him, standing with him, no matter what.
"No matter what happens, I won't give up what we have found," she reassured him.
"What about your kingdom?"
"It would mean nothing without you at my side."
He wanted to believe her, but he couldn't fully convince himself. His destiny with Arthur still hung over his head, despite all the new developments.
"You're thinking again."
"Me? Thinking? You really don't know me that well if you can accuse me of that."
"Well, since I can't seem to stop you, at least let me distract you as you help me on my horse."
Merlin grinned and didn't argue. The opportunity to touch her while helping to lift her up as she climbed into the saddle was simply too tempting to pass up.
Her horse moved at an easy pace and her eyes automatically scanned the surrounding forest for signs of game. As per her father's wishes, however, she had left her crossbow behind. Today wasn't for hunting. Her father was riding near the head of the group and had Merlin alongside him to discuss various aspects of what was expected once they reached the high knoll that overlooked the Labyrinth of Gedref.
That left Mithian to ride by herself behind them, but in front of her father's Lords. She felt self-conscious with them at her back, especially Sebastian and Travis, whom she had overheard involved in a discussion earlier that morning in the castle. While she couldn't be certain what they were saying to each other, the secretive tones and the mention of Merlin's name mentioned hadn't sounded benign.
They were talking about some sort of plan that had already been put in place long before Merlin's heritage had been revealed. She had nearly gasped and given away her position, hiding behind a corner pillar, when they also spoke of Morgana's efforts to bring magic back. However, from their tone, she wasn't certain if they agreed with Morgana's methods. There was a brief mention of a judgment coming for both the Pendragons.
Suddenly, the men stopped speaking. Their hushed conversation was thwarted as a group of knights passed by on their patrol of the castle. Their loud footsteps and their swords clanking against their armor overrode the men's voices. By the time they had passed, Sebastian and Travis had moved on from the area and Mithian wasn't in a position where she could follow them.
It seemed as if their conversation was done, though, when she finally saw them standing apart outside of the castle. The two looked on normally and spoke to their own men. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. Their conversations with Lord Bertrand during the ride, at least from what she could hear, centered around issues of the kingdom and rebuilding from Odin's assaults.
Why then, couldn't she shake the feeling that they were up to something?
She desperately wanted to tell Merlin about what she had heard, afraid of what the others might be planning. Although, it didn't seem like their plot was against him. Still, if what he had told her about his destiny was true then Arthur could be in trouble.
Shaking her head, she realized there was nothing she could do about it for the time being. She looked up when she felt her horse stop and noticed they were there. Down below the hill, a great valley spilled out to the sea, filled with the hedge and stone walls of the Labyrinth.