Chapter 16 [A Quarter Turn of the Hourglass Later—Courtyard]

Mithian led Merlin down a flight of stairs. She navigated a few corridors. With each step, Intellect tried to calm Emotion. Love wrestled with Politics. Silence clamped down on her.

He tried to get a conversation going a few times to lighten the mood. Alas, Futility finally dissuaded him from that. Worry unsettled his mind. We took an oath to think of the kingdom first. I love Mithian. Is it wrong to care about Freya too? She and I both understand. He followed her out the far door. He remembered it as the gateway to the palace gardens. Expectation and Hope wished that the blooms there would help Mithian calm down.

Hope was dashed….

He looked around at the area. He'd helped the court gardener, Phelps, to plant several roses and other native blooms on an earlier trip. Outrage burned through his mind. Disbelief at Axe's and Fire's handiwork around them. Several burnt stumps stuck up out of the ground. Ash irritated his nose and eyes. "I…I cannot believe this. Odin had no respect!"

"Did you expect him to, Merlin? Nay. He did this with cruelty. He made sure Father and I watched." She walked across the soot-stained stones to a large granite planter in the center. "Do you remember what was here?"

He nodded. "The flowering tree. It was one of two left in all of Britannia." He frowned. "I am sorry you still suffer, Mithian."

"Sorry for that? Merlin! You are not responsible for what happened. In fact, you helped to defeat him. I am grateful for that. One day, I know you will help me to bring this garden back to its former glory. Our subjects need us first." She rubbed her hand on the dirt.

"Aye they do." He touched her arm. "But, Mithian, we still need each other."

Consideration cracked Jealousy's icy grip. His words warmed her heart. "We do. Merlin, can I be honest?"

"All right." Nerves twisted his stomach in knots.

"When you took Freya to the Lake of Avalon, that was a long journey. I wonder what would make you risk Arthur's wrath like that?" she asked.

"Freya needed a proper burial. I saw her there and off into the burning boat to free her soul. I did the same thing for Lancelot," he explained.

She nodded. "I can see you doing that. But Lancelot is like a brother more than a friend to you. And Freya? You and she cared for each other. Did you not?" Her eyes probed his.

He shrank back much like a shade plant exposed to Sol's searing rays. He sighed. "Truth?"

"Please."

He sighed. Trepidation ate at Resolve. His mind worked through several evasions and half-truths. Still, he knew he could not lie to his Princess. "I wanted to help Freya. She was in that bounty hunter's cage. I got her out of there. Then, I hid her in a drain under Camelot. I…umm…borrowed food and candles for her. I even stole one of Morgana's dresses for Freya." He squirmed.

"It sounds like you and she had serious feelings," she deduced.

"I was determined to leave Camelot with her. Freya would not let me. She saved me from the bounty hunter. After her curse took over, she confronted Arthur and the knights. Arthur killed her although he does not know that. She passed away in my arms. Then I took her to the lake. I saw her once more just before Lancelot and I went to deal with the Cup of Life. Through the Fisher King's device, she told me to have hope. She endeavored to repay her debt she owed me," he told her.

She gulped. Insecurity unsteadied her. She had to sit against the planter. "You have had no other love since?"

"You. Freya knows what we have. She has her duty. So do I." He bit his lip. "Mithian, you are so much more than just a Princess. You're kind and compassionate. You care about my feelings. You asked me for a second chance. You stood up for me when Arthur was harassing me at the picnic. You looked to me during the hunt. I was invisible. Not to you. I really admired how you handled your departure. Anyone could be angry. Not you. Thanks for your respect."

Embarrassment blushed her cheeks crimson. She dabbed her eyes. "I felt so alone when I arrived in Camelot. Arthur was so nice at first. You were so cold to me. I just needed a friend at court…any friend. I knew we had to at least tolerate each other if my engagement had any chance. Everyone treated me like some prize. When Arthur proposed the picnic, I could not believe he came up with the perfect flowers and food for breakfast. Then, as I prepared to leave, you snuck the meal into my room. Merlin, that gave me the strength to get through that scene in the courtyard. I saw you in the midst of those castellans. You think I'm strong. You are my rock, Merlin. I want to be yours. I want you to be mine."

"You are." He embraced her. "I love you, Mithian. Freya knows that. She has her road in service to the triple goddess. We have ours here in Nemeth. She is a special person. You are my Princess. You will be my wife. We are partners now and always."

"I am sorry, Merlin. I should never have doubted you," she apologized. "Can you forgive me?"

"Forgive what?" He grinned and winked at her. "Just say 'yes' when the time comes."

She snorted. "So should you." She looked around. "Maybe we can work on this area? All of your hard work gone."

"Let's make sure our subjects are taken care of first. Then a surprise could be coming." He chuckled.

"You are going to make me wait. I cannot believe you!" She rolled her eyes. Her hand smacked at the air in front of his face. "All right! Fine!" Imagination conceptualized potential scenarios for that space.

All of them took her breath away….

He kissed her forehead. "You will like it."

"You think so. Do you?" She coughed. "I happen to have high standards."

"Typical royal. Yak, yak, yak…."

"What was that?" she cut in half-seriously.

"Oh nothing. You're being like Arthur is all. High standards." Sauciness accented his tone.

"You'd best get used to them, my Prince. I like my high standards." She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Merlin, for making me feel like a person."

"You did for me." He pressed his lips against hers. "And we will do that for Nemeth."

She blushed once again. Perhaps the Marriage Market had played her wrong in the past. This time, she had her Perfect Prince. She didn't care who knew it either.

Prince in Petticoats indeed….