Thank you for all your kind feedback. A slightly smaller section today to set the scene for the drama *gasp* Hope you enjoy!
The castle hallways were near impassable with the hustle and bustle of people running to and fro. The tension that Mithian had hardly noticed lingering in the air had broken, like a bow string had now been let go and the arrows were flying through the air.
Mithian gathered her dress and inelegantly pushed through the crowds, slipping into the war chamber, full to the brim with Camelotian and Nemeth knights.
"-Morgana has set up base here, in the flat lands to the east," King Arthur was saying. He and her father stood at the head of the long table, a large map of Albion spread out beneath them. "We have reason to believe she will attack at first light."
"Then we shore up our defences," the King intoned. "The castle is impenetrable-"
"The prowess of your castle's defences are widely known, and I know Morgana, she would not attack if she didn't think she had a way around them."
Mithian watched her father straighten, shifting the lay of his fur cloak with his shoulders. "Well, what do you suggest?"
"That we engage the sorceress and her army on their own ground." Arthur indicated to the fields on the map before them. "We approach from the trees, it will grant us ample cover and we will still have the higher ground. Lady Morgana may have powerful magic on her side, but I have been trained in war strategy since I was a boy: this is the only way we can beat her."
The king studied the map before him, his eyes tracking different paths. Mithian could almost see various plans being made and rejected in her father's mind before he let out a small sigh. "Very well, King Arthur, the future of Nemeth rests in your hands; we will gather some men to aid you."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Arthur nodded graciously.
"My sons are experienced swordsmen, they will be a great asset to your attack, and I am not so feeble with a weapon myself."
King Arthur allowed himself a small grin. "Alright then, we will prepare, ride out before the sun and attack before she has time to move, agreed."
The meeting broke in a murmur of agreement, each man onto their next task to prepare. The room drained quickly, the tide pulling Mithian along with it. She tip-toed, raising her head above the swarm but only managed to catch a glimpse of brown before he disappeared and she bowed to the movement of the masses.
-M-M-
She tried to convince herself that she was looking for King Arthur, to find more news on the happenings around Camelot these past months, perhaps to enquire about Guinevere's wellbeing. But as her hand came up before her, knocking lightly on the hard wood, she felt her palms sweat and her heart flutter in anticipation, and she didn't know who she was trying to kid.
And then the door was open, and he was there. Unbelievably solid and real in front of her. His hair was a little longer but still as rich and thick. His jacket discarded and sleeves rolled up, showing the new lines of definition along his arms. She stared, her hands clenched at her sides to stop them from just reaching out and touching. Her limbs trembled from the effort.
She cursed herself for being this weak, for giving in and coming up here knowing that nothing at all had truly changed in their absence.
"Merlin," she spoke, breaking the silence. She stepped forward, allowing the door to swing shut behind her. The sound seemed to break Merlin from a kind of trance.
"Mithian" Merlin replied, an exorbitant amount of fondness in that one word.
She swallowed. "How have you been?"
Merlin snorted a laugh. "How have you been?"
Mithian responded with a chuckle at her polite conversation, as if he hadn't been closer to her in all ways than anyone before. "Yes I know, but I am at a loss as to what else to say."
He returned himself to the desk in the chambers, creating needed distance between them. "I know, I'm sorry for just all of us dropping on you like this, I would have stayed away but…"
"But by Arthur's side you must be," she nodded, resignation in her voice. She watched his careful ministrations, the packs, the armour spread before him and the second sword by his side. "You are riding out with them." It wasn't a question, she couldn't be surprised.
"Yes."
Mithian watched the length of metal in his hands getting sharper, more deadly with each stroke. There would be thousands of those things on the field tomorrow… "I want to ask you not to go."
He looked up then, his large blue eyes startling in the low light. "But you won't."
"No."
She wanted to say more, but they had both nothing to say and too much to say to each other. He knew everything that had meaning, but that did not stop her from wanting to repeat it all until the words were carved deep into his bones.
Oh, how she wanted to reach out, just to feel the warmth of his skin beneath her hands, but she couldn't, because she knew she wouldn't have the restraint to end it there and the only thing that could make this any more heart-breaking would be to add a child born out of wedlock.
Mithian stepped away, she had other ports of call to make that night, she was not at all surprised at herself that Merlin had been first. They'd all be out there tomorrow though, all the men in her heart offered to the same beast of war. The likelihood would be that at least one wouldn't return.
"My brothers…." She started before she could stop herself. She knew it was selfish that Merlin had a thousand other things to worry about… but he just smiled at her warmly.
"I will make sure they come back in one piece."
"Thank you," she sighed.
"It's no problem, I managed to get one prince through his formative years, and I'm sure your two aren't nearly as much trouble."
She chuckled, and she really was leaving now, she had a hand on the door handle, the catch unlocked but she looked over her shoulder one last time. His eyes were on her and they didn't start away when she looked, unashamed in their viewing.
"You'll come back too?"
"Where else would I go?"
They stared at each other for a long moment, Mithian breaking first before she escaped. She leant back against the closed door, letting her breathing and heart settle. Even as stupid and pointless as that had been, she still had to force her feet to move away from the door, giving it one last glance before she left.
-M-M-
Her father was leaning back relaxed before his fire, staring serenely into the flames. He looked up when Mithian closed the door behind her, the sound of the catch interrupting his peace. But a peaceful smile crept onto his face when he caught sight of her.
"Mithian, my daughter." He held out a hand towards where she stood. "Come sit with me."
The fire before her tingled its warmth across her face and she sat in one of the comfortable chairs, her hand reaching for her father's own.
"Have you seen to your brothers?"
"Yes, Kay is with Lady Francis now."
Her father chuckled. "Ah, young love. I remember mine well."
"You and mother have never left that phase." She smirked at him, receiving a mirrored one in response.
"It will come for you one day; love. And when it does it will change your world. It may come burning fast like lightening, or it could be the slow amalgamation of your brother and Lady Francis. But when it does, it is spectacular."
"The only experience I have of it is pain."
Her father's gaze softened squeezing her hand tightly. "As strange as it may seem the larger the hurt, the greater the love."
Mithian didn't respond to that out loud, she let her stare get lost in the oranges and reds of the roaring fire. There was just so much going on, after what had felt like an age of quiet calm and peace, this war was thrust upon them all, knocking her already teetering world into spin.
"Mithian you seem… shaken. It's not like you."
Mithian took a deep breath, wondering how she could possibly explain it all. "It's just a bit of a shock…the battle." She added at her father's questioning glance.
"It shouldn't be." Her father frowned. "This storm has been brewing on our borders for some time. We are more than ready for the fight."
"Perhaps I've just been wilfully blind."
"Ah, that's the worst kind of ignorance," he replied, no censure in his voice.
"Well, I assure you father, I am aware of what is going on now." Her gaze fell to the newly polished armour and sword laid out on her father's table, knowing that he would be donning it in a few hours and joining her brothers and Merlin upon the battlefield.
The door creaked open as her mother entered the chambers. She smiled fondly upon the father and daughter, their hands still clasped between them. "Come, Harold. You need some sleep."
The king nodded and helped Mithian rise from her seat. When Mithian left the chambers she glanced back quickly. The last image she saw before the door closed shut was her father cupping her mother's cheek lovingly.
The army rode out before first light, hoards of men and horses melting into the woods as shadows. Mithian watched with her mother upon the royal balcony, the dusky light not good enough to discern anything in detail but she had to be there, bear witness to these men and the feat they were about to undertake.
And then they were gone. And all there was to do, was wait.