WOOHOO 100 reviews! Thank you Nance! That's the second time you've accomplished that for me. 101- Thanks Megami!
The fur lined boots did little to keep her feet warm as she stood in the courtyard. Pulling the cowl of her cloak tighter around her face against the wind, and also to hide the glare she shot at the incoming party of riders. Two days ago she received word that the self-proclaimed "Dragon of the Isle" King of Anglesey and most of the region north of Snowdonia was going to be paying a visit. Why anyone would ride out for a visit in this weather was beyond Morgana's understanding. However her mother aptly pointed out that the few inches of wet snow this close to the mountains was rather normal.
After the few months she spent in Ismere, Morgana thought she would be used to it, but the snow there was different. Being more inland than Snowdonia it had a drier and firmer quality. Here they were still close enough to the sea that the snow was wet and melted easily into a slushy mud ridden mess. As the riders began to dismount they looked around expectantly. The raven-haired regent of Dinas Emrys bit back the snide remark on her lips and put on her best apologetic smile as she walked forward to meet the king.
"Welcome Your Majesty, you'll have to forgive the lack of staff as we are but a humble hill fort and not a great castle as you must be accustomed to."
Blond curling hair stuck out of a long braid under a fur cap as the man shook the snow out his messily braided beard decorated with beads shells and leather ties. "Oh that's alright, and at least I now have a measure of your forces in case I ever decide to claim this as my own." He threatened with narrow sky blue colored eyes half-hidden under frost encrusted bushy eyebrows.
Morgana swallowed down a retort and thinking that unless he had a few sorcerers in his employment, he would find a fight on his hands if he ever dared try.
She was startled when he let out with an uproarious laugh, obviously seeing her thoughts played out. "It's a small matter, lass, not a thing to worry that pretty little head of yours over. I'm certain we can come to some sort of compromise, being as you are so close to my own lands," He smiled lecherously up at her. Although Morgana wasn't tall in the boots, she still stood a few inches over the man.
Putting a guarded smile back in place, she waved her arm to invite him into the keep, "Please enter and we shall share some mead while we speak of this compromise."
He motioned to his men to take care of their own horses and began to follow her, "So where is this new Earl? I've come to discuss my terms with him, no offense, lassie."
"None taken," she replied diplomatically while her thoughts finished the sentence with 'my ass'.
(*~*~*~*)
Currently the Earl of Snowdonia was riding with his companion, escorted by armed guards through the gates of a castle far to the south. The cobblestones gleamed from the recent rains as they dismounted and were brought into the throne room. Flanked by nobles and knights the man sitting on the throne was lavishly dressed and sporting his wealth with a flourish. His salt and pepper hair curled around the backs of his ears, the crown on his head barely covered the receding hairline above his forehead. If he was ever a warrior, it certainly didn't show in with his current waistline.
"My Liege," the mutton chopped commander bowed, "These men were found captive among your brother's hired thugs. This is the new noble from Camelot and his guard."
"Thank you, Lord Simon." The king pushed his way up out of the throne and walked casually down the dais steps, his hands clasped behind his back in an arrogant manner as he evaluated the two men, "Welcome to Southron Lord?"
"Emyrs, Your Majesty," Merlin responded with a bow. He resisted the urge to look at his feet out of trained respect towards a noble. "Thank you for allowing us to come, I'm sorry we didn't send word, but it wasn't until a few days ago that we even knew we would be entering your lands."
"Really?" The king said circling them, "And why is that pray-tell?"
"We were trying to find a healer known as Alice."
"Ah, I see. Well she is here." He said as he made his way back to the throne. "Dine with me tonight," He ordered before waving his hand in dismissal.
"Thank you, Sire, but I would like to speak with her at least first if I may."
The king polished his fingernails on his sleeve, appearing bored, "Why?"
Merlin took a breath, he loathed nobles like this king, who threw around their power like a spoiled child, "I need to at least ask her a question concerning my mentor's health. I fear if I wait until after we eat I might forget the details."
Sighing heavily the king rolled his eyes, "Very well. But just you, your guard will have to stay here."
Cai and Merlin glanced at each other. Something was extremely fishy about the way King Roderick spoke. A brief nod to each other in agreement that they would be on their guard in this situation, "Thank you, Sire."
Merlin followed Lord Simon through the halls and it wasn't that big of surprise to find himself led down into the dungeons. "Keep to the middle of the hall, these louts down here can get a bit vicious," Simon warned as they passed through the first gate.
The warlock was a bit shocked at the volume of yelling and cursing as he followed the commander. The dungeons were packed full of ill-seeming characters. He found himself asking, "Why are there so many prisoners?"
Simon chuckled, the shadows from the torch sconces playing off his features and highlighting the scar across his face. "It's a time of war between the king and his brother."
"I see, so King Roderick is compassionate in that way."
The commander let out with a hearty laugh, "Compassion has nothing to do with it, it's good politics. If enemy forces surrender, you keep them locked up, or put them to work. Many of these louts will get sent to the mines as we need them once their spirit is broken a bit, or shipped off and sold to France. They don't care where they go, so long as they get to keep their heads. Some, once the war is over will be given a chance to swear allegiance, and if they do they'll be put to work in the fields, unless they can prove themselves with a blade. Ah here we go." He pulled a set of keys off his belt and unlocked the door to a cell near the back end of a corridor.
Merlin peered into the darkened cell. He saw a figure sleeping on a straw mat near the far corner.
"Wake up, you have a visitor," Simon bellowed into the cell, his voice echoed off the bare stone walls. He moved back to allow Merlin to enter.
The figure on the mat shifted and pushed herself up to see what the commotion was about. Alice looked at Merlin, no acknowledgment that she knew him on her face. The warlock entered cautiously, half expecting his escort to slam the door shut behind him. Instead Simon just nodded and moved down the hall to speak with one of the guards. "Hello Alice," He waited to see if she remembered him.
"Hello, are you someone else the king has decided to send to try and convince me I have the skills he needs?"
"No, actually," Merlin chuckled, running a hand through his dark hair. He moved closer to her and spoke softly. He was thankful to see she didn't seem to have been mistreated. "I'm here to try and get you out of this place."
"Who are you?" She asked distrustfully.
"You might remember me from Camelot, I'm Gaius's ward," he waited and watched as recognition finally dawned on her. She gasped and smiled, "Merlin? Why you have become a man since I last saw you!" Her eyes narrowed as she recalled that he was the one who was responsible for her near execution in Camelot. "Come to hunt me down for your king? Or did the queen send you when I refused to go anywhere near that place?"
"No, actually I came to ask for your help."
The old healer rolled her eyes at him, "That's what the queen said, but she wouldn't elaborate on why."
Merlin took a breath, "Gaius fell, he injured his hip badly and I don't possess the skills to help him."
Her eyebrows shot up in sudden concern for her lost love, "How badly?"
"Very. If he is able to walk again, that would almost be a miracle of its own," he chewed his lip figuring out the best way to word Arthur's request. "Uther died a few years back, and Arthur is willing to speak with you about the events that took place, especially if you are able to help Gaius at all. He gave his word that he would consider pardoning you because of the manticore, if he chooses not to, then you would simply be banished, not sentenced to death."
Alice gave him a tight-lipped smile, "That's all very well and good, but you will have to forgive me if I don't really trust the word of a Pendragon, or you."
"Well, that's understandable. I'm sorry for turning you in last time we met. Gaius didn't want to believe…" He turned away for a moment and closed his eyes. He looked back at her, his eyes set with resolve, "And I had to do what I could to protect Camelot, Arthur wasn't ready to be king yet."
They stared at each other for a few moments. Alice was trying to decide if she should believe this boy who betrayed her years before. She sighed heavily, "I would go to help Gaius, even if it meant my death sentence, but unfortunately I'm a bit detained for the time being."
"About that, I thought you were brought here to heal the king's son?"
She chuckled, "Alas, what plagues the boy is not a sickness and the ability to cure him is beyond even my magic. The King thought a few days in the dungeon would change my mind about that."
Alice was about to say more when they were interrupted by Lord Simon coming back to the cell door, "Time's up Lord Emyrs, the king will be expecting you to look presentable at his dinner table."
Merlin nodded his acknowledgement and stood up. "I'll see what I can do about getting you out of here," he promised and followed Simon out of the dungeon.
(*~*~*~*)
AN: I wanted to write more on this before posting, but I've been hit with my yearly sinus infection. So the screen is kind of blurry tonight and I don't know how much sense I would be able to make. Add to that it's tech week for our next show, so … it might be a few days before the next chapter, but I will make it a long one to make up for the days missed.