Chapter 25 [Throne Room]
Meleagant grimaced profoundly. His temples resonated from the impact with the wall. What the Hell? He ground his teeth and cracked his eyes. His brain somehow registered that his arms and legs were still attached.
As he numbly started to move however, a sword point pushed up against his throat. His eyes slowly moved upward.
Prince Kay towered over the fallen usurper while holding the sword to the latter's throat. "Get up slowly. Don't even think about doing anything." He watched his antagonist like a hawk in case the other did try something.
Meleagant stood with great effort. Every joint and bone ached from whatever had hit him. He slowly surveyed the throne room with growing amounts of incredulity.
A half dozen of his best warriors strewn about like rag dolls.
While a few treasures lay shattered on the oak underfoot, most of the ornate items remained unharmed.
The councilors that he'd consigned to the dungeons sat around their meeting table.
Excalibur and his scabbard were missing. For that matter, the entire belt was as well.
"You didn't think I'd leave you with Arthur's sword, did you?" the regent queried with an edge to his voice. He snickered sarcastically.
"Milord, despite what he and his army have done, they deserve a trial," Lord Edwin reminded him respectfully.
"Yes…you do have protocols, do you not?" Meleagant added. "How weak you are! How easily your king was eliminated!"
"We will find a way to wake him, Meleagant. Until that happens, I will make sure his will is done," Prince Kay stated firmly. "Unless anyone objects, I am his regent." He glanced toward the councilors.
As one the group all rose, nodded and bowed to him.
"I'm sure….And the business surrounding the Princess?" the defeated usurper supposed. His eyes turned toward the door as rapid footfalls echoed closer and closer off of the stone stairs. "You know the royal will and law where her indiscretions are concerned."
Lord Aethelred cleared his throat. "He…is right, my Prince….He…"
Just then Merlin and Mithian rushed into the room out of concern.
"Kay! You're all right!" she cheered. "We were worried!"
"I imagine you were given the pest here. I am glad you are as well. Merlin, I appreciate you looking out for her. I will speak to King Arthur on your behalf after he is rescued. I do need you…however…to leave at once…." Prince Kay frowned darkly.
"It is my duty and pleasure, Prince Kay," Merlin affirmed while bowing to the regent. "But…I cannot stay?"
"Sorcery has no place in Nemeth even among heroes, you stupid servant," Meleagant scoffed.
"I say he stays! He saved my life and everyone here!" Mithian protested. "We can ennoble him, Kay. He's earned that…."
"No! I wish I could, Sister." Prince Kay bowed his head. "He is Arthur's man. I cannot simply take him like that. Besides you have shamed the throne by consorting with him!"
"Kay, how dare you? We have done nothing wrong! A greater power has decreed he and I are fated to be together! Merlin has more than earned his freedom and nobility. I love him! He and I are beings of magic!" Mithian lectured; her eyes glowed bright yellow as her emotions flared.
"I am the acting king, Mithian. Show respect or I will have you confined to quarters until you see reason!" Prince Kay snapped. At that moment, Britomart, Malodius and Camelot's knights reached there. "I suppose you all are going to disrespect me as well?"
"What disrespect, my Prince?" Britomart queried curiously. "I can certainly teach the usurper some manners if need be."
"And now the maid believes she can best me?" Meleagant laughed loudly and sarcastically. "Quite the royal prerogative you possess, Kay."
"Be silent!" Ywain commanded while backhanding the defeated foreigner in response. "You will respect him."
"Even if he doesn't respect others? Princess Mithian and I have done nothing but help you, Prince Kay," Merlin insisted pointedly.
"You used witchcraft! You consort with monsters! You are darkness itself!"Aethelred accused.
Camelot's knights looked at each other in confusion. While they knew sorcery to be dangerous and treason in their own realm, they also understood that Merlin was one of them. They knew he'd saved their lives several times over…with that magic….
…and yet the regent was closer to the law than their brother….
Seeing everyone's fear and anxiety, Merlin demanded, "Why are you being like this?"
"Can you be trusted?" Perceval queried. "Forgive me, Merlin, but you were terrible riding the dragon and casting those spells. You will need to come with us."
"We can sort this out at least. Perhaps King Arthur will simply exile you. We…." Lionel added.
"Bloody no!" Gawain protested. "Did those Cawdorians scramble your brains? This is Merlin! Stop this!"
"He defiled my sister. Either he leaves now or I will put him to death," Prince Kay declared firmly. "Knights of Camelot, deal with him and his pet! No magic or creatures of magic here! You saw what happened outside!"
"I saw a man come to save the woman he loves," Britomart insisted. "My Prince, I have been with Merlin just about every minute before the battle. He has not defiled anyone."
"And yet my sister is defiled. She is now a witch!" Prince Kay countered. "Now I have to find a cure."
"There is no cure!" Mithian lectured strongly. "I am a witch! All right! Merlin is a warlock. Yes! But we are as loyal to Nemeth and Camelot as anyone. Do not disavow us!"
Prince Kay looked at the couple and the newcomers for a long minute. He considered well his actions. "And that is your final answer, Mithian?"
"It is. I stand with Merlin. I don't care what the cost is," Mithian affirmed.
Prince Kay sighed heavily. He did not want to pass this sentence. "Then so be it. Mithian, it is with a heavy heart that I strip you of your title and place at court. For the crime of sorcery and for consorting with a commoner, I exile you and your paramour from Nemeth. No one will help you or give you aid. Go!" He pointed toward the door.
Mithian stared incredulously at her brother. "You can't be serious!"
"You just said that you didn't care," Meleagant gibed. "That cost was steep, was it not? You really need to learn how to bargain, Milady."
"How can you do this? She's loyal! The King will be outraged when he hears!" Britomart protested.
"You can go with them if you like, Britomart. Perhaps exile will put you in your place as well," Prince Kay rebutted. He glared at the lion. "Sir Ywain, that goes for your beast as well!"
Ywain stared dumbfoundedly at the Prince. He struggled to understand how the Prince could suddenly come to this position after being so tolerant for years. "Milord, Malodius has always served you faithfully!"
The lion shook his head. He stalked over to the two sorcerers and nuzzled their sides in a show of solidarity. He snarled at the regent.
"You see? Your companion threatened me!" Prince Kay insisted.
"He reacted to your comment, Prince Kay. No more, no less," Ywain insisted. "You slander him. I admit that Merlin's magic had me uneasy too. Still I have seen nothing but good from him. I am sorry, Milord. I cannot send my companion away. I shall depart along with the Lady Britomart and Malodius wherever the road shall take us."
"I am sorry too, Sir Ywain. You have always been a loyal knight and friend. You will be missed," Prince Kay noted while not giving an inch. "Good bye. Leave my sight!"
"Kay, please stop…." Mithian requested. Despite keeping her voice steady, her eyes watered. She trembled.
"You had your chance! Either recant or leave!" Prince Kay insisted. "Your place, Sister…your place or Merlin and your blasphemy!"
Mithian's eyes watered. She buried her head in Merlin's chest and wept.
"After everything we've done for you and your father? After I saved his life and yours, you do this? Prince Kay, Princess Mithian and I care about each other. We are born to this!" Merlin argued.
"Show respect, Peasant!" Prince Kay interrupted. "You certainly have done enough to her!"
"That's enough! Merlin, I will miss this but I shall not endure this slander! Nor will I allow you to be slandered in such ways! King Rodor, when he is returned to us, will overturn this miscarriage of justice, Kay. Rest assured of that!" Mithian declared as regally as she could manage. "Good bye, Brother. May your throne be fruitful. It has certainly cost us all enough." She squeezed Merlin's hand in her own. "Let's go."
He patted her hand with his free one and offered her a firm and supportive look. Then he motioned to the others who awaited their departure. "Come on, Everyone. We have better places to be then." He led her from the room.
"Perceval, Leon, Elyan? Come on!" Gawain argued. "You can't be serious!"
"They are sorcerers, Gawain. At least they're leaving with their lives," Elyan noted.
"You guys are hopeless! Fine. We find Arthur. He'll wake Gwen up and straighten this load of bullocks out!" Gawain groused. "Merlin!"
The two sorcerers turned to face him with heavy expressions on their faces.
"We will get to the bottom of this. Hang in there! I'll stay with 'em but I disagree with this," Gawain assured them.
"We know, Sir Gawain. Thank you," Mithian expressed allowing the knight a small smile. Then she pulled Merlin from the room and down the stairs.
"Adieu, my Liege," Ywain indicated before he and Malodius made their way out as well. "Lady Britomart?"
"Aye!" Britomart glared at the whole roomful of men and curled her lip haughtily. "She loves you all and this is how you treat her? How you treat Merlin? You should be ashamed!" With that she stalked out of the room and down the stairs.
Outside the rescuing contingent awaited the quintet. They were confused by the sad expressions on their faces instead of the expected jubilation.
"I am truly sorry, Merlin. You would think that they would be more grateful. Humans never cease to amaze me," Kilgarrah noted sympathetically.
"What happened?" Isolde wondered not getting the context.
"More than likely, the Prince has exiled them for sorcery," Talesin deduced.
"He stripped me of my title and place then he exiled Merlin, Malodius, you, Kilgarrah, and me for being creatures of magic," Mithian informed him.
"I am truly confused, my friends. The Prince has never taken such a stance on magic! I cannot understand!"
The Great Dragon rolled his eyes. "Things never change." He turned to Talesin. "Can you get the others to my cave?"
"It shall be done," the revived wizard agreed before teleporting the rest of the rescue party away from there.
Mithian choked back several sobs. "Merlin, I…."
"It's me who am sorry. I cost you everything," Merlin apologized.
"Without you, I have nothing. Promise we'll start a life together and rebuild our path?" she requested.
"We will. I promise," Merlin vowed and sealed it with a passionate kiss over her lips.
Kilgarrah noted the scurrying of the knights and saw the glint of weapons approaching. "Ahem! If you two would climb onto my back, we might get underway."
"Right," she concurred while getting up on his back and allowing Merlin to put his arms around her waist. "Just be a gentleman, Merlin."
"Giving orders again?" he countered.
She arched an eyebrow at him but said nothing else.
Kilgarrah flapped his wings and took off into the gathering gloom. His breast burned with indignation over the ingratitude shown by mortals toward those who were different than they were. Rubbish!
Gawain watched from the tower window forlornly. "Damn bloody hell!" He shook his head at the other knights before stalking away toward the stairs.
He wouldn't rest until this situation was set right…..
Likewise Prince Kay watched sadly as his sister and Merlin rode away over the horizon on Kilgarrah's back. His eyes watered in anger and sadness over what he had to do. "Mithian….why?" He rubbed his forehead in consternation.
Upholding the law could be such a bear sometimes….