Arthur and the knights rode back into Camelot. Gwen stood on the steps. She saw Arthur enter the courtyard. The queen couldn't stop herself, as he dismounted, from running to him and throwing her arms around her husband. She kissed him deeply, ignoring the road grime and filth.
He broke the kiss and just held her tightly; whispering compliments of her beauty and how much he had missed her, into the thick dark curls.
She pulled back and smiled, but it faded, when Gwen looked into his eyes. A deep sadness creased his forehead. "Arthur, what's wrong?" She looked at the rest of the knights in the yard as they each greeted their loved ones. She noticed more than a few were missing.
She felt her breath go out of her, not one of Arthur's elite knights were there. "Did you not find Merlin and Gwaine?"
"We found them. They are fine. I sent Percival on an errand for me as soon as we reached Caerleon." His hazel blue eyes were filled with sadness.
Wagons rolled into the courtyard and Arthur cringed as heard a piercing wail from Enid, the wife of Sir Geraint. Soon all those around realized that not everyone had returned from the battlefront.
"Where is Sir Leon?" Gwen asked softly, not yet daring to ask about her brother.
Arthur shook his head sadly. "He may still yet be saved, but Guinevere… "
"What about Mordred?" She interrupted, not wishing for him to say the words she feared.
His face hardened at the thought of the boy. He quickly shook it away. "Elyan… I am so sorry, my love."
Gwen released her husband. "No, no, no…" She repeated over and over, as she walked slowly to the carts. People moved out of her way, but she didn't notice. She reached one of the wagons. The knight who guarded it looked at the king.
Arthur nodded and the man pulled back a blanket, revealing the face of her brother, peaceful in his deathly slumber. Gwen screamed in denial. Her knees went weak. Arthur caught her and held her tightly, as she cried against him.
(*~*~*~*)
The following day, funeral pyres were built for the knights who had lost their lives on the peninsula. Arthur proclaimed a week of mourning. They were told that Sir Percival would be returning soon, and that Sir Gwaine, accompanied by Merlin, were finishing up their business in the north. Neither Arthur, nor any of the other returning Knights spoke a word about Sir Mordred. When questioned, they would silently shake their heads and change the topic. The betrayal of one of their own, still too fresh in their hearts.
(*~*~*~*)
One week later…
Arthur sat in the throne at the head of the council table, Gwen sat to his left. He'd tried to tell convince her to take more time to mourn her brother, but she wouldn't hear of it. It was she, who had been left in charge of the Kingdom while he was gone...and the queen wasn't about to let her husband just ride in and take over. In the time he had been away, she felt she had made great progress in the garnering of support from the nobles, and bringing them around to new ideas.
"What if we don't agree with your new ideas, Sire?" Lord Edmund challenged. He was a portly man with a balding head, whom Arthur remembered as one of his father's bootlickers.
"Then you are free to move on to a kingdom that feels as you do. Perhaps Caerleon…no, they embrace the druidic ways. Lothian, and what remains of Essitir? Wait…they also allow magic. Odin's kingdom? But he has no issues with using magic, and from what I hear, has a bit of training himself." Arthur chewed his bottom lip in concentration. "Mercia! I can honestly say I don't exactly know what King Bayard's thoughts are on the subject." His eyes moved around the room, landing on each individual of the council, challenging each of them; his patience was growing short.
Only two refused to meet his stare, including Lord Edmund, who chose to roll his eyes. "But what about Morgana, Sire?"
"Morgana has been dealt with. She now sees the error of her ways and will bother Camelot no more." He pulled out a rolled parchment and held it up. "Here is her agreement. Sealed with the mark of Gorlois." He passed it to Geoffrey to verify that it was indeed as he said.
At a motion from the king, Geoffrey broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. He read it out loud to the gathering. "I, Morgana, born of the House of Gorlois of Cornwall, do renounce any claim previously made upon the Kingdom of Camelot, and the Royal House of Pendragon. I accept the benevolent judgment of His Majesty, Arthur Pendragon, Rightful and True King of Camelot, and will remain in exile for the rest of my days.
"It is with the utmost sorrow that I realize what my actions have cost to the people of Camelot. I understand that nothing I can do, will ever compensate for the hardship I brought among you all.
"I ask not for forgiveness, as it is something I do not deserve, but please know I was not acting fully of my own volition. Although, I am certain that will hold no sway in your hearts, as I would feel the same.
"I ask only that I be allowed to live in my chosen place of exile, far from you all, in peace.
"Signed, Morgana, second daughter of Gorlois of Cornwall."
The council was silent.
Arthur gave them all a few moments to digest the letter of intent. "I can assure you, there are measures in place to ensure that she will never threaten Camelot again, some magical."
"Sire, you trust this 'magical' method of keeping her from attempting to ruin us again?"
Arthur knew that Lord Edmund's son, was among those lost in the north. Geraint had been third in the heirarchy of knights, and was slated to become Seneshal, if the need ever arose. The king tried his best to be patient with Edmund. "I do."
The council looked up when the large doors, at the end of the hall, opened. Percival entered. He smiled and nodded at Arthur, then stepped to the side. Cautiously, two cloaked men entered behind him. Arthur stood and made his way towards them. The taller of the two men pulled back his hood, gray untamed hair fell around his face.
"Iseldir." Arthur greeted the Druid Chieftain, holding out his arm. "Thank you for coming."
"I am honored to accept your request King Arthur." He responded politely.
The king turned to the other man as he revealed himself. His head was shaved bald and his neck was ringed with tattoos. "You must be Alator. Welcome to Camelot. I think we all would appreciate your input on what can be done as we look to the future, for all of our peoples."
"I am honored to meet you, King Arthur. May I ask where…" His eyes narrowed slightly, trying to find the right words. He did not know how much information the king was privy too.
Luckily, Arthur was quick to catch on and spoke softly to the men. "He is away at the moment. We will discuss it more later, in private. For now, I ask, please continue to keep his confidence." The two men nodded their understanding. Arthur turned back to the council and introduced them. To the dismay of Edmund and a few others, the king invited the newcomers to join the discussions at the table.
A new era, the golden age of Camelot was being born.
