CHAPTER 21 : FIGURES FROM THE PAST
Arthur wandered out into the sunshine and saw Merlin disappearing into the little courtyard to the right of the chapel. He followed him and was happy to see a sign for toilets. Merlin was crouched just beyond the archway and called for Arthur to stand where he was. He was the one person who could get Arthur to agree to pose and he waited for Merlin to twiddle with dials and stops. He finally stood up saying, "Got it! The sun was just right and you had the knight over your right shoulder."
Arthur spun around expecting to see a red cloak but then he felt stupid realising that Merlin was talking about the statue in the main courtyard. "Have you taken enough photos for now?" He walked past Merlin towards the toilets, "I'm ready for lunch but I need to pee."
Merlin followed him saying, "We'll come back up here after lunch, won't we?"
"Of course, this is your holiday and if I could have, I would have arranged for you to spend the night in the château."
"It would have been fun so peaceful, no one around just you and me….and all of this to ourselves."
"I said you not me! Count me out. I'm sure the place is crawling with ghosts!" He was dying to ask if Merlin had seen any knights but decided against it as he didn't want to give him ideas or he'd have him up all night.
They were walking back towards the portcullis when Merlin heard clattering of hooves as a group of red-cloaked knights rode through the portcullis…he moved out of their way against the wall, watching them as they swept across the courtyard, dismounting to dissolve into a haze of mist.
"Are you all right, did you lose your balance?"
"No, I was just considering a shot of the portcullis." But Arthur didn't believe him; he knew that something, to which he had not been privileged, had spooked Merlin. He reached out and took his hand and they made their way down to the village for lunch.
They sat in a little snack bar backing onto the lake. They had beer and rustic sandwiches with bread made fresh that morning. Merlin leaned back in his chair gazing up at the château. He saw it primarily as a benevolent guardian of the village. However he could see how over history it might have been seen as a gaoler. He wondered how bad the dungeons had been. Over the centuries, many must have been incarcerated and languished there for years.
A voice said, "Why so serious?"
He smiled over at Arthur, "Instead of knights and kings, I was thinking of prisoners." At the word knights, Merlin was certain that a shadow had crossed Arthur's face. Had he also experienced the knights? He felt it would be inappropriate to broach the subject in a snack bar. What if Arthur said yes? They could hardly sit and discuss things so personal with people at nearby tables, especially as the teenagers at the next table seemed very interested in the two of them. He would wait... maybe tonight in the hotel. He stood up, "Come on, back up the hill." They stopped off in the Tourist Bureau and picked up some pamphlets about the surrounding areas.
Arthur smiled, of all the places in France; he was so pleased that a mini-holiday in this particular village had been so well received by Merlin. He followed Merlin up the steps and once again stood and looked at the castle in front of him, it was spectacular.
Arthur sat on the wall before the portcullis in the sun; Merlin sitting in the shade checking his photos. "I need a couple more of the carvings on the arches in the portico. They are really fabulous. Then I think, I want to go up the main staircase, I can pretend I'm a resident and you Arthur, can pretend...you're the king...maybe I should be one of the staff. Yep! I'll be your servant. Come on, Sire, get off your backside as we have things to do."
"Merlin, you can't talk to the king like that," said Arthur with a smile immediately getting into the game and feeling to his surprise that it was the most natural thing to do in the surroundings.
"Sorry, Sire! May I help you off your royal backside onto your feet?" Arthur laughed and grabbed Merlin to him.
At that moment the two teenagers from the snack bar walked by and Merlin heard one of them say, 'Told you so!' Suddenly, he felt happy that the attaction between them was not only apparent to strangers but also in some instances accepted.
He smiled back at Arthur who said, "What brought that about?"
"Nothing, I'm just happy. Happy to be here…and happier to be here with you."
As Arthur knew he would have been, Merlin was thrilled with the gryphon at the top of the stairs. As there were so few people around, they practically had the place to themselves. Merlin's photo taken kneeling on the bottom step of the stairs looking up to the gryphon was to become one of Arthur's favourites. They wandered up the stairs and through the smaller rooms on that floor, looking out at the surrounding countryside from the window in the little room with the red tiles on the floor.
"This would make a lovely bedroom. Imagine a big fire, candles, and a canopied bed."
"Merlin, as the king, I want more luxury, I think I would be happier in the royal quarters. You can stay here but I'm on the lookout for better things."
"Arthur, as your manservant I would be with you. You know if you were very nice I might even share your bed," he said with a grin.
"Merlin, you said I was going to be the king, I wouldn't need to share with you as I'd have a queen."
Merlin laughed and turned to Arthur slipping his arms around his waist, "…and a very lonely woman she would be!" He angled his head to find Arthur's lips and kissed him. Things were just heating up when they heard voices and Merlin scurried to the window and Arthur suddenly became very interested in the carvings on the mantelpiece.
They nodded at the people as they passed them in the corridor and wandered towards the stairs. There was a little alcove on the left and Merlin pulled Arthur into it, moving slowly against him saying, "This is because we were interrupted." He held Arthur against the wall and kissed him, the knowledge that someone might come upon them made the situation even more intense.
"Wait till I get you alone…" was all Arthur could say.
Merlin pulled away from him saying, "I'll keep you to that!"
They took turns with the camera, Arthur insisted on taking a photo of Merlin standing alone with the gryphon. A man coming up the stairs offered to take a photo of the two of them which Merlin happily agreed to. They stood on each side of the gryphon, hands on its paws. Merlin heard the camera click and glanced at Arthur and smiled, he then heard the camera click again. The man handed the camera back and accepted their thanks. Merlin glanced along the corridor and was interested in the shadows, as he took a shot, he was sure that he saw something red in the distance. He said nothing to Arthur. He'd wait until later to check it.
Merlin took a photo of Arthur coming down the stairs. Then again outside at the top of the main stairs, "Look regal!" he told him. "This is all yours and all these people are your servants. At least, look impressed!"
Arthur reciprocated when he had the camera in his hands, telling Merlin to look subservient as he took his photo with the bull on the balustrade. "Cringe!" he said, "As I intend to have my way with you once we get to the royal chambers."
"But, Sire, have you not already had your way with me?"
"Not quite!" said Arthur with a knowing smile. Merlin blushed and ducked his head and Arthur put his arm across his shoulders saying, "Come on, if we want to see the keep and the private chambers we should keep going. They crossed the courtyard and entered the keep.
Merlin was engrossed with the formal rooms and the beautiful carvings, the outstanding painted walls, the wood panelling, the decorated ceilings and the magnitude of the rooms. Arthur of course, decided he was desperate to pee once he saw the water closet in the king's bedchamber. Merlin said, "Arthur if you embarrass me, I will never have anything to do with you again."
Arthur grinned, "But just think, it is an 'imperial loo', if I used it could become a regal one!" Merlin grabbed him by the hand and pulled him away from temptation into the next room.
By far the most spectacular room was La Salle des Preuses with the twelve statues, the lovely panelling, the windows and the vaulted ceiling. "Aren't you taking pictures?" asked Arthur.
"No...I wanted to let my eyes get used to the overall splendour and then we can return tomorrow for me to take photos." Merlin then promptly changed his mind in one of the upper corridors which had arrow slits and windows. "Look, there's our hotel. Hold a sec, Arthur; I have to take this one." He glanced back at Arthur absolutely certain that he was not standing alone but surrounded by red-cloaked knights. He closed his eyes and when he reopened them, Arthur was alone leaning against the wall.
Soon they were back on the main level. They walked along the portico with Merlin pointing out some of his favourite carvings. They sat on one of the stone benches admiring the view across the courtyard. Merlin suddenly said, "I'm glad I'm not a window washer, can you imagine cleaning all those windows?"
"I can't see you on a ladder; I think you're safer at your desk." Merlin agreed.
Looking at Arthur he said seriously, "Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself."
Arthur leant forward took his hand and held it to his heart. "Trust me, Merlin, I do…" he said gently. Merlin grinned at him and let his lips brush over Arthur's.
They had decided to leave the crypt until the following day. They came into the courtyard near the portcullis and taking one last look around made their way slowly to the châtelet and the parking area. Arthur was suddenly conscious of hoof beats, he turned nothing was near him but in the trees on the hill he was sure he saw flashes of silver and red.
Merlin didn't really want to leave but he knew that he would be back tomorrow. They descended the stairs and walked back to the hotel. It was already close to six o'clock.
They had reservations for the hotel dining room, Arthur choosing a filet mignon and Merlin salmon-en-papillote. Cooked in a bag with a white wine sauce and vegetable, the fish was steamed in its own juices and wine. For Merlin piercing the bag and releasing the fragrance was second only to tasting the fish. Arthur as usual smiled at him as he was encouraged to taste the fish. They sat talking as they finished their wine but both passed on dessert, just having coffee.
It was raining, so they decided to have an early night.
-0-0-
They lay there talking. "Arthur, did you feel that there were other people in the chateau besides the visitors and the staff?"
Arthur propped himself up on one elbow, "At one point, I thought I saw a red cloaked figure and stupidly it reminded me of Gawaine. Can you imagine that? Gawaine a knight in a castle, living according to the Code of Chivalry, he'd have been booted out after one night!"
Merlin smiled and nodded. "Yeah… Remember when I leant against the wall near the portcullis and you asked me if something was wrong. It wasn't but I had had to get out of the way of the knights as they came cantering into the courtyard and once they dismounted they faded away. I also saw you surrounded by knights in the upper corridor but then they disappeared. They didn't frighten me; it was as if it were right that they should be with you."
Arthur looked at him askance, "I felt that when we were alone there was always something or someone looking out for us. I felt that I saw knights and horses on the hill above the parking lot."
Merlin reached over and took his camera to show Arthur the shot he had taken in the corridor near the gryphon. "What do you see?" he asked handing it to him.
"The tiled floor, the dark hallway, the doors, the entrance to the alcove… Merlin, what is that? There was nothing there that colour." Arthur pointed to a flash of dark red near the door.
"I know…I can only think that is a reflection from the windows.
"Behind you the windows were leadlight with clear glass…colourless!" Arthur brought up another photo, "See?"
"Maybe it was just a random flash of light on my lens. I can't explain it but it looks red whatever it is…"
Merlin zoomed into the photo as far as he could before it became over pixelated. "It's red! When I get back to Geneva, I'll send it to Leon's father and ask him if he can explain the colour." He leant over, putting his camera safely on the floor beside the bed.
Merlin settled back beside Arthur mentioning the areas of the château he wanted to revisit. Arthur again propped himself up on his elbow and leant in for a kiss.
Merlin obliged finally making his way down his chin to his neck. He stopped looked up and said, "Arthur, when you were growing up, did you ever think that you would love another man instead of a woman?"
"It never entered my mind. My sister always had lots of girls over to the house and I just used to tag along. My classmates at boarding school all lived farther away so we never met up over the holidays. How about you?"
"I don't really know, I was never crazy about girls as some of my friends were. Then they started pairing up and I found myself left out of the group, soon after that we moved to Wales. You know you were only the third boy I had ever kissed. I guess I was a slow learner…"
"Better to be a slow learner and have a good teacher," Arthur said smiling, "...than think you are so clever and know really nothing."
"I knew nothing when I met you. I had had lots of offers but I wasn't attracted to the other person. It was easier to keep to myself and watch from the sidelines and then you came along and I was literally catapulted into the thick of things. You really swept me off my feet. You know, I would have done anything for you that very first night in your flat in Paris."
"But, I didn't want you to get in over your head. I knew that I could wait as I'd never met anyone who made me feel the way you do. I wanted you to make a conscious decision without any pressure that you were willing to give yourself entirely to me…"
Merlin blushed and said, "I've been waiting so long."
"I wanted you to be sure."
"I am…"
"Come here, then…"
-0-0-
The château was still reflected in the window when Arthur looked at Merlin who was moaning his name as he came back to earth. Slowly, his breathing returned to normal; Arthur stroked his face and pushed the hair out of his eyes. He leaned on his elbow and looked down at him lovingly, saying his name quietly. Merlin opened his eyes and smiled up at Arthur. Arthur kissed him gently saying, "Merlin…?"
To which Merlin whispered, "Yours forever, Arthur!" He snuggled into Arthur, tucking his head under his chin and fell asleep.
The moon had risen and was shining on their bed when Merlin next stirred. Arthur on an emotional high unable to sleep just watched over him. He smiled to himself as Merlin opened his eyes and said dreamily, "Arthur…"
"Are you all right?" Merlin nodded. Arthur continued with a smile, "It takes prowess from one partner…and the all important trust from the other."
Merlin chuckled, "I trusted you, Arthur, and I'm glad you waited."
Arthur leant over saying seriously, "We waited…Merlin, we waited."
Merlin smiled to himself, it had been a big step forward in his life, something he would never have considered if not with Arthur. He felt as if a benevolent breeze had swept through his mind clearing cobwebs and chasing away long held misconceptions.
He shifted against Arthur and said, "Do you think you could do that prowess thing again?"
Arthur burst out laughing, wondering what he had done in a past life to deserve the likes of Merlin in this one. He ran his lips over Merlin's temple saying, "You'll be the death of me... I've created a monster."
"Was it nice like this for you the first time?"
Arthur had flashbacks of bullying, impatience and pain. "One day, I'll tell you but this night is all about you, My Love."
Umm!" said Merlin as he snuggled into Arthur's chest.
Arthur wrapped his arms around him and said, "Sleep now, Love!" He had never felt so responsible for someone in his life. For this man, he would climb the highest mountain or descend the lowest valley. He knew that he would put his life on the line and he prayed that together they would have a long and happy life. Changes would happen but he was certain that Merlin and he would eventually live in London…together.
Merlin snuffled and Arthur pulled him closer into his arms and fell asleep.