The next three days were spent variously reviewing finer details of the existing treaty and the proposed one, or being shown around Annis's lands.
Leaving Merlin to hunt down the librarian of Carlisle, Arthur joined Annis on a ride through the mountains, passing nearby some small druid establishments. These were not the tent villages he was used to seeing in Camelot, but cloths hung over cave openings in the mountains and herds of animals on the grass. The druids watched them ride past.
"I didn't realise druids lived in caves," Arthur commented.
"These days they live wherever they can find space," Annis replied. "Many took refuge in the mountains when Uther's war began. They are the only ones who can convince their herds to graze up there."
Arthur didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. He had the distinct impression that she was testing him. Her stoney eyes bored into him and followed him around the castle. Like she was waiting for him to slip up and give her an excuse to decline the alliance. He was determined to not let that happen.
Meanwhile, the knights of Camelot had also been teaching the Carlisle knights how to use the crossbows that they had been gifted. Leon would have been the best person, but being the regent did mean he had to remain in Camelot.
That left Lancelot in charge of instruction. He lined them up in front of the targets and took them through the parts of the crossbow. One of the younger knights tried to insist that he already knew how to use a crossbow. Tristan spoke up. "These crossbows are different."
He was going to explain further, but Lancelot stopped him. "No, no. He thinks he knows how to use one already. He can show us." Lancelot handed over his bow and a handful of arrows. "Show me what you know."
Tristan didn't want to outwardly show dissent in the ranks of Camelot knights, but he tried with everything he had to silently yell at Lancelot that this was a bad idea. He raised his eyebrows quite severely. Lancelot saw the message but shook his head.
The young knight confidently took up the bow and slid the arrow in the groove. He then grabbed the string to draw back the bowstring. However, the bows of Camelot were not built in the typical style. He could not pull it back far enough. He strained further, but only succeeded in snapping the bowstring against his wrist, dropping the bow in shock.
"As you have nicely demonstrated for us," Lancelot said, picking up the bow, "these bows are different than most crossbows you have used before. The tension is much greater. In order to combat this, it requires a different loading procedure." He then proceeded to demonstrate that the metal loop on the front of the bow was not for balancing weight or hanging on the wall, but as a foot strap to use so that both arms can be used to pull the bowstring taut. This strange sideways position also meant that the bowstring needed to be pulled back before the arrow was loaded or else it would fall out, or worse, the arrow would spin and potentially fly backwards.
Lancelot walked the knights through the motions of loading and then finally gave them the bows, walking them through it again without firing.
It wasn't until the following day that Lancelot allowed them to fire the arrows. Merlin saw them when he walked past on his way to explore the lower town. He hadn't explored much so far; Arthur had wanted Merlin to sit in on his meetings with Annis to take notes on the discussion. Then in the evening he copied out a slightly neater version to give to the queen for her own records.
Lancelot had brought him a late night snack on the first night of copying and asked why he didn't use magic.
"Well I don't want it to be exactly the same," he replied. "My handwriting is awful when I am taking notes. Nobility are so inconsiderate of people trying to write down what they say. They talk far too fast."
Lancelot snorted. "This is coming from you? The man who fires out words faster than a horse gallops when he's complaining about the amount of times he has saved Arthur's life? I've heard your rants, Merlin, and I don't think Arthur has ever spoken that fast."
"He works too hard to find the right words. It slows him down."
"And your filter, on the other hand, is full of holes. Sometimes it's a wonder you haven't let your secret slip to more people."
"I'm very careful about who I rant to. Saves that from being a danger."
Lancelot just shook his head. "I'm just saying I know you can do this with magic. You managed to create a believable crest to lie about my nobility. I know you can cheat a little so that you can explore some. You haven't been able to travel to many other kingdoms, and there is more to see than just the inside of your chambers."
"I've seen the inside of the dining hall, too," Merlin grinned.
Lancelot threw up his hands and walked out of the room. "I'm done. Enjoy the indoors." Merlin's laughter followed him out.
But Lancelot did have a point, which was why Merlin was glad that the meeting today ended slightly earlier, every issue having been resolved and a new treaty drafted up. Merlin resolved to do the copying that night and pulled on a spare cloak from the wardrobe to go outside.
Having been in Carlisle for a few days, it was easier to see the warmth and character in the buildings. It was like the people. Although they seemed stoic on the outside, they were merely less expressive than Merlin was used to. Yet if you were wandering through the streets, friends would call out to invite you inside for a meal, a candle was always burning in the window to welcome someone, and even in the castle, it was common to lend warm cloaks to guests who may not have their own. It was a way of life.
Everyone cared for one another and looked out for each other. No one was ever thrown out. But just as he thought that, just up the road someone came stumbling out of an inn and the door was slammed behind him. The man laughed and, oh, Merlin knew that laugh well.
He walked closer. "Whose mother did you flirt with this time?" he asked.
The man turned around in surprise. "Merlin!" Gwaine flung his arms wide and captured Merlin in a tight embrace.
Merlin shoved him away. "Ugh you reek of ale. How long have you been in there?"
"Not long enough," he replied. "They tossed me out before I finished my drink." Merlin laughed with Gwaine before the rogue grew more serious. "I heard that Arthur was in Carlisle but I didn't know if you would be with him. However this means you did not see my message." He glanced over his shoulder and then started walking further away from the tavern. "I'm afraid it's nothing definitive, but there have been more whispers. Things on the move and the druids up north are saying they have felt something shift. They don't know what, but it feels unnatural."
"Any names? Specific places?" Merlin asked.
Gwaine frowned. "Unfortunately not. I wish I had more to give you."
"Any advance warning is good," Merlin reassured him. "I have been waiting for something like this for over a year."
"That long?"
"Yeah, the druids rely on their prophecies and seers a little too much sometimes. Their visions of the future do not come with a timestamp but they feel the need to warn me about upcoming danger as soon as they know about it." They had reached the edge of the city walls and Gwaine lead the way up the narrow staircase to walk around the perimeter. "Hearing something different from the usual line is a relief, even if it does mean the warned danger is closer."
"I understand. The eve of the battle is sooner; preparations can start without everyone being keyed up only to wait."
"Exactly. And I can only assume Fate threw you in my path tonight for a reason. You will stay close, right?"
"I'll stay around here until you leave and then follow. Do you have any scouts?"
"The knights keep watch, but they never stray far. You'll be safe."
They continued walking along the wall. From this higher elevation, Merlin could see the large river cascade down the mountains, across the flatlands, and widen into the glittering sea in the distance. Only the sparkle of the afternoon sun off the water made it possible to see the coast, otherwise it would be lost on the horizon.
Gwaine broke the silence, "Someday I would like to sail on the open seas. Travel north to the dark lands."
"I would've thought you had travelled by boat before," Merlin said. "I'm surprised."
"My horse objects mightily to the rolling waves. I tried once to get him aboard a boat to cross the Channel, but he refused to move. And you know my horse. Stubborn as a mule and heavy as an entire castle. Nothing will move him."
"You are the perfect match for each other." They were quiet again for another few minutes, content to watch the wind blow across the tall grass. "What is your opinion of Queen Annis?"
Gwaine took a minute to think, weighing words in his mind. "She is a good ruler for this land," was what he settled on. "She is harsh and often unyielding in her decisions, but the people respect her. She is fair in her rulings. I am only passing through so I don't get the top notch gossip, but apparently she throws amazing parties on occasion. They last three days and even the Stone Queen is laughing throughout. I'll believe it when I see it."
"I believe it now," Merlin said. "I think I managed to get a smile out of her while I was juggling. Arthur goaded me into it, but she seemed to think I was his jester. A ridiculous notion but I wasn't going to let Arthur watch me be humiliated."
"Woah, hold on. Juggling?"
"I learned as I walked up," Merlin said dismissively, knowing Gwaine would pick up on his meaning. "But the important part is I think she will be a good ally for Arthur. They have gotten along well in their meetings."
Gwaine nodded. "It will be good for both of them."
In the morning, the Camelot contingent dressed in their finest clothes and paraded into the great hall, joining the Carlisle party already inside. One of Annis's councilors stepped forward with the box containing the final version of the treaty. It was laid out on the table for a final inspection by both rulers.
In the forest, a message was passed through the minds of druids, moving west faster than any man could travel.
Queen Annis firmly declared that the treaty was to her satisfaction. Arthur declared the same right afterwards. She then stepped forward and signed her name on the line reserved for her. Arthur did the same. They each then called forward their witness to add their name to the document. Merlin stepped forward for Arthur and signed his name, first name only.
The message passed the last link in the chain and Gretael walked through the open gates of Carlisle.
A scattering of applause followed the final signature and the blotting of the ink. The royals shook hands and Merlin rolled up the treaty to make a copy of and then deliver the original to the library. This he would use magic on.
Gratael walked into the only tavern that was already rambunctious this early in the day. Her contact was either still sleeping, or already partying. She found him at the table with the dice game. He seemed to be winning, but everyone was still cheery. "Excuse me," she said as she pushed her way up against the table to the man's left. "I need to borrow your friend here for a moment." She tapped her hand against his, making sure he saw the ring she also wore.
"Pardon me, lads. I will let my winning fingers take a break while I speak with this woman," Gwaine said, collecting his coins in his purse. "And then I'll return."
The treaty was signed, but Queen Annis had not finished her evaluation of Arthur yet. He had merely made it to the next stage. However, she sensed that he had things he wished to speak candidly to her about now that they were allies. So she invited him for a private lunch. Arthur gladly joined her in a small study, a servant having set up lunch before they arrived. It really was a private affair. Neither of them were much for small talk, but Annis broke away from it first.
"Your fool is your primary witness?" she asked.
"He may act like a fool, but he is not one," Arthur conceded. "He is my new record keeper. My previous one, his guardian, passed away last winter. But Merlin had been groomed for the position before either of us had realised."
She assumed he was referring to Sir William. She remembered him being a voice of wisdom during previous meetings between their two kingdoms. If this boy was raised by him, then there was more to him than meets the eye. "And yet he juggles."
Arthur laughed. "Yeah, that one surprised me as well. I don't know what I thought he would do— perhaps recite humorous poems—but he took me by surprise as well."
"That seemed to be his aim," Annis commented. She'd seen the satisfied grin on his face. "He is a good friend, if I guess correctly."
"The best. He keeps me honest. He was giving me advice before he was on the Council even."
So her intelligence was correct. Still, she wanted to see if he would admit it. "There have been rumours that reach us and I admit they puzzle me. I noticed he signed his name as Merlin. Is this the same man who was your manservant?"
"Still is actually." Arthur took a sip of wine and Annis raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. "He insisted on it. I tried to tell him he had no need to continue to serve me in that way. I'll admit I did not try very hard; it was difficult enough to let someone else share his duties. I only succeeded by having someone else present the idea in a different way, a way that made it unavoidable."
"He sounds like a loyal friend. Keep him close to you."
"He doesn't leave me any choice in the matter. He is always at my side." Arthur smiled as he took another bite of food.
"I sense there is something you wished to ask me." She wasn't going to dance around the subject. Things only got muddled that way.
Arthur took the hint and didn't mince his words. "I wanted to speak with you about magic. It is not banned here the way it is in Camelot. Neither do I see it freely practiced. We may be allies, but unlike my father, I have no wish to tell you how to govern your own lands. I am simply curious."
Annis said nothing for a while, simply studying him as the king tried his hardest not to squirm in the power of her stare. She weighed what her spies had told her against her own impressions and her tentative hope for the future of Albion. "You are correct; the practice of the magical arts is not banned here. Laws that predate your father's rule govern its use and are strictly enforced. However, the Purge spread far beyond the borders of Camelot. Even though the laws stayed the same, the attitudes of the people changed.
"Many practitioners used to reside within this kingdom. They used their skills the same as any craftsman. But then a wave of distrust swept Albion. Citizens of Camelot fled their death but could not find safety here. The only ones who remain are the village healers." Plus some druids, but as they didn't all have magic, she would leave them out of the conversation. "And even then, the prejudice is great. Every healer knows that they could be used as a scapegoat for any issue, even if it bears no relation to healing. Only two years ago a healer was stoned by her village when the heavy rains flooded their crops."
Arthur's eyes widened. "That's horrible."
"Your response tells me some, but why are you interested? Camelot is the center of the anti-magic prejudice."
He took a sip of water while he collected his thoughts, considered the best wording. "Of late, I have been forced to look beyond my own borders in ways I never had before. It's made me question some of my teachings and it forced me to see what is within my borders in a new light. I want to do what is good for my lands, and I can admit that Camelot is not perfect. I wish to learn from rulers, like yourself, who have been managing their lands longer than I."
Annis smiled brightly, with renewed hope for the future. "You will be a wise king, Arthur."
Gwaine wasn't sure where to find Merlin, but he knew where to find the squires. He asked them if they knew where Merlin was, but none of them had seen him all morning either. Not to be hindered, he asked them to deliver a message if they saw him. And like a virus, the message multiplied and spread. The squires swarmed as they went about their duties for the day until one of them happened upon Merlin just returning to his guest room.
The squire hurried up to him and said he had a message to relay from someone in town. Merlin assumed he knew the source and smiled. But his face grew grave as he thanked the squire for the message and swiftly entered his room.
It was time to contact the whole network and gather their resources. As the message said, the northern wind was blowing.