[Merlin and Mithian's Bedchamber]
Merlin glanced around a corner. His eyes ran over every granite crevice. His ears listened for any sound of boot falls. Mischief gleamed in his face. His smirk spread ever wider.
"I can't believe you talked me into this. Father will have a fit," Mithian lectured. Granted her heart lightened over his magically-enhanced escape for them. She glanced both ways. "It's clear, my Prince."
"See? Not bad for the new Prince? Is it?" he supposed.
She rolled her eyes. "Nay. It isn't." Her lips brushed Amor's brush strokes across his cheek. "You do have potential."
"Potential huh?" His eyes glowed.
"Merlin, what are you…?" She found herself floating into the air. "Merlin! Put me down!"
"Husband gets to carry the wife over the threshold. Right?" he reminded her.
She sighed. "Except I'm the provider here. I should get to do that."
"You did last Solstice back in Camelot. Now I get to return the favor." He beckoned her closer. His lips planted a feather light kiss on hers. "And I get to kiss you more than once."
"Oh you do. Do you?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah I do. You can trust in that." He kissed her forehead. I love you, Mithian.
And I love you, Merlin. Her eyes glittered into his. She blushed. Despite his naughtiness (at least where the courtiers and King were concerned), she couldn't help but be entranced by him. Her heart skipped yet another beat. She barely kept herself from swooning over his surprises. I suppose you're going to float me over?
I could. He shrugged. His eyes glowed again.
She descended slowly into his arms. Her inner feminist wanted to protest for a heartbeat.
But then it was a very short heartbeat at that….
Just go with it, he urged. Then Hesitation locked him in place. A familiar yet unwelcome vibe strummed across his psyche…
…chill…darkness…Evil….
…the sensation from Ealdor….
Merlin, what? Mithian's eyes went wide. That woman! She….
It took you both long enough, the Voice challenged.
The doors' locks unsecured themselves on their own. The doors opened as if bidden by some unseen force.
"Mithian, stay behind me," he instructed.
"Merlin!" Mithian protested.
The cloaked stranger coughed. "I'd listen to him. I'm not some mere boar. Now am I?" She sauntered across the varnished oak floor.
The couple looked at each other. Then Realization struck at them.
"You stirred up that boar knowing I was close by?" he challenged.
The intruder's eyes glowed crimson. Her grin baited them from under her hood. "You do disappoint, Boy. Of course I arranged for that beast! Consider it a mutual benefit."
"Mutual benefit?" Mithian challenged.
"You are familiar with the mutual nature of agendas. Aren't you? You both get to explore your feelings for each other. Emrys is now free of that dolt-brat. Balinor is recognized as Dragon Lord and knight. Camelot totters on its last legs. Morgana Pendragon is no longer High Priestess. The others are inexperienced. Magic can come back. Everyone is happy or should be so."
"And you don't care about the collateral damage?" he fired back.
"Collateral….?" The stranger scoffed, "They're beneath us!"
"We serve them not the other way around." His eyes narrowed and glowed faintly once more.
"So this is all…?" Mithian wondered. She froze for a few heartbeats not sure of what to think.
He squeezed her hand. "What we have is real."
"Aye," the stranger concurred. "Your presence, Princess, did enough to stir the cauldron. I would never have anticipated you two proceeding down this road. So I watched. I waited. I allowed you your love. Perhaps I played someone's feelings or exterminated some vermin to suit my needs. But nay. I don't cast love spells. They sicken me." She noted his eyes' glow. "Have a care, Emrys. I'm still your superior."
"You've said enough." He nudged his Princess back toward the door.
Annoyance flicked the stranger's finger. Almost like the overbearing school marm of a later age, her digit motioned.
The doors slammed shut. The locks secured.
"I decide that, Boy. Not you!" Crimson deepened in her eyes. Her hood moved slightly.
The newlyweds were held in place. Neither of them could move much less fight back.
"Merlin? What? I?" Mithian gasped. She struggled while trying to move.
"I am making a point." The stranger's eyes flickered once again. "Cadal!"
The ensnared royals slumped into a deep sleep.
"Sleep that off." The stranger rolled her eyes. "The Great Emrys indeed!" Dark ebony energy flared across her finger tips. Then she looked up toward the closed door. "And now her?" She opened the doors once again.
Morgana stumbled into the chamber. She beheld the entranced couple floating in midair. She considered the stranger's sorcerous ability in being able to cast three spells at once. "Who are you?" She tried to shake the couple back awake. "What have you done to them?"
"Just another sorceress as you were, Morgana Pendragon. You were such a useful tool." The stranger coughed again. "And you should know a sleeping spell. Surely it hasn't been that long? Do step aside."
"I will not!" Morgana forced herself to stand straight and tall. She stepped between the sorceress and her victims. "And what do you mean tool? We've never met!"
"Perhaps not. You were a convenient pawn nonetheless. Now step aside. I will not tell you again!" the stranger commanded.
Anger flared through Morgana. "You caused everything to fail! Helios is dead because of you! And now Bors' patrol!" She called, "GUARDS! GUARDS!" Then she took one step toward the stranger….
…one very ill advised step….
"I tried not to." The hooded sorceress scorched Morgana with a dark fiery burst.
The former priestess turned Queen screamed. Her fingers clawed at the air. Then she collapsed to the oak underfoot in an unfeeling heap.
"Redemption has sickened you too. Pity. I could have found further uses for you as well. What a waste. As if she can direct you all?" The stranger considered Morgana once again. "How weak you are, Sister." She cast the body aside. Then she disappeared in a flash.
Britomart and Gawain rushed into the chamber barely two dozen heartbeats later.
"What the Hell? MERLIN! MITH!" Gawain held his sword at the ready. Fear and Concern chilled him. Anger pushed him to use his sword.
"PRINCESS MITHIAN! MY LADY!" Panic seized Britomart in its vice. "WHAT HAPPENED?"
"Someone needs to ask Morgana that. Bloody hell!" He batted his hand in front of his face. Ozone clogged his nose. The stench made his eyes water. He shook his head. "Can't believe that now after everything that someone killed her. She was genuinely trying!" He glared at his fiancée. "And Merlin finally gets everything! He…."
"STOP IT! GAWAIN, GET YOURSELF TOGETHER!" Britomart grabbed onto her knight. She shook him by the arms. "We can't help Queen Morgana. We can save the Prince and Princess! DEAL WITH YOURSELF!" She stuck her head into the passage. "HELP! WE NEED HELP! IT'S THE PRINCE, PRINCESS AND QUEEN MORGANA!"
Lancelot and Josiane sprinted toward them.
"What struck her?" Lancelot wondered.
"Let's get them downstairs. We will save them. Josiane, help me with Princess Mithian. Lancelot, Gawain and you get Prince Merlin. Let's go!" Britomart directed.
The quartet began moving the two royals.
A puzzle had just opened threatening the balance of everything…..