Chapter 20
[Throne Room]
Courtiers and castellans scurried about the area. Garlands dipped their way around the chamber's periphery. Carefully spaced vases sat in raised containers. On the next day, roses and lavender would fill them. The floor practically sparkled from the recent varnishing.
Rodor admired the preparations. He of course recalled his own magical day in that very place twenty-five years prior. He could see Taene step into the room under Balinor's escort. The duo marched toward him, his father and then High Priestess Nimue.
And now, Irony had a field day…for Balinor's Son would wait for him to escort Mithian to the front.
How the roles reverse! He chuckled. Balinor, my friend, I told you Father and I would hold your place for you. After tomorrow, Merlin will be officially of my family. Your beloved and he are safe. We shall honor you. He noticed Awe widening Mithian's eyes and slackening her jaw. "It is something. Is it not?"
"Father! I…I cannot believe this! I can never say thank you enough!" she gasped.
"It is my proud moment, Mithian, before the world. Besides, Merlin, Hunith and Balinor all deserve their moment too. And then there is the love Merlin and you share for each other. That is truly something to behold. We will hopefully share our moment with all of Britannia," he explained.
"Father, I would be happy with a small ceremony and a few guests," she assured him. "Merlin and I have you, our friends and his mother. That is all we want." She glanced to the hall. "I'd rather distribute the feast to the needy."
"I am sure you will be outside tomorrow morning to distribute bread," he assumed.
"I have looked forward to that as long as I can remember," she affirmed. "Nobody should be hungry in our kingdom."
"We have been making sure they have what they need. Merlin and our sorcerer friends have seen to that," he noted.
"As you have taught me, without the people, we are nothing, Father," she insisted.
"I can count on you to remember that. Merlin shares in that as well," he agreed. "Just one more day, Mithian. Then your happiness will be yours."
She nodded. Joy's tears welled up in her eyes. "After all of the negotiations and rejections, I found my perfect Prince."
"For Nemeth and you both, Dearest Daughter." He saw Josiane hustle into the area. "Princess?"
"Princess Josiane, are you all right?" Concern pushed Mithian toward Josiane.
"Of course. I am sorry to interrupt your preparations." Josiane looked around the chamber. "You have transformed this place!"
"Thank you," Rodor accepted. "What is going on?"
"It is Prince Merlin. He needs to see you both at once," Josiane notified them. As beautiful as this place is, they will never believe the garden! "Follow me please."
"What is it? Is he all right?" Worry seized onto Mithian.
"He is well. There is something you need to see. Come." Josiane started back toward the door.
"We can come back here, Father. Let us see what Merlin needs." Mithan started after Josiane.
What can it be? Merlin knows we are all preparing! He shook his head. Then he strode toward the passage.
[Courtyard—A Quarter Turn of the Hourglass Later]
Gaius ambled out of the passage. Bewilderment pushed him throughout the castle. He needed to speak with Merlin prior to the next day's coronation and handfasting. The previous week's trips into the countryside to treat the invasion's victims had left him with no time before that point. Merlin has not stopped. I do not want him being ill for his big day. The Eyebrow raised a few inches. As he peered into the courtyard, Incredulity dropped his jaw. "My word!"
Merlin turned to see his former mentor standing there. "Gaius! So, what do you think?" He motioned Gaius into the garden.
Gaius stared at the various exotic plants. He shook his head at the enormous glass and metal dome overhead. "Good grief! How did you do this?"
"Magic, Gaius." Merlin held his arms out encompassing the whole area. "I imagined this whole thing. I had help but it's all due to magic."
"It is impressive, Merlin. But you do not have the skill to do something on this scale. Who did you ask for that help? What will it cost us?" Gaius assumed.
Merlin sighed. He rolled his eyes. "Gaius, this was a gift. It is to show the good magic can do. Trust me. There are no strings."
"Where have I heard that before?" Gaius frowned. "Merlin, you should know better!"
Storm's overcast swept in overhead. The wind blew hard even through the dome.
"Where did this come from? Merlin!" Gaius lectured.
"This isn't me! I…." Merlin stared skyward. Confusion over the change of events muddling his thinking.
I am doing this. Gaius, Emrys is correct. I boosted his magic so this beautiful place could shelter our allies. He has the faith in me you do not, the goddess interjected. Anger and Terseness bit into the elder man's ears. Do not speak further. I would not tarnish the festivities' mood with talk of betrayals past.
"I had no choice! I helped when I could! What was I supposed to do?" Gaius protested.
Indignation bit through her response. You were supposed to remain loyal to ME! I remember when you turned your back on your fellow priests and priestesses. You swore an oath to me! You are best at making sure your own purposes are served first. I will not forget. For now, let Rodor and Mithian enjoy their sanctuary. You have been advised…both of you.
The clouds dispersed. Sunlight streaked down through the dome anew. All was as it had been before.
"I told you, Gaius," Merlin insisted.
Gaius rubbed his forehead. "You did indeed." He rubbed his forehead. "I will leave you to this. Come and see me before the ceremony tomorrow. Will you?" He ambled back toward the passage and down it. He bowed quickly to Mithian, Josiane and Rodor. Then he disappeared up the stairs.
Josiane stopped in the doorway. She motioned toward Rodor and Mithian who waited behind her in the passage. "Princess Mithian, close your eyes."
"Close my….?" Mithian narrowed her eyes. "Is he all right or not? I am not in the mood for games."
"King Rodor, proceed." Josiane motioned for him to go ahead.
Rodor marched into the domed-in area. As with Mithian, Impatience put him in no mood to tolerate gamesmanship. He began to sweat at the warmth and humidity under the dome. Wonder and Disbelief overtook him at the different flora's colors and scents. "Amazing!" He stared at the architectural wonder overhead. "Mithian, do as Princess Josiane says! Trust me!"
"What is it, Father? I want to see!" Mithian insisted.
"Keep your eyes closed. I will walk with you," Josiane assured her. She guided the soon-to-be bride out of the passage and into the garden. "You can look now."
Mithian sighed. "This had better be good. I…." Her eyes opened and then bulged. Her jaw slackened. "By…the goddess, I…." She took in the entire scene. "Unbelievable! I never knew plants like this exist!"
"I have seen some south of my homeland in Africa. The distant sea islands have many more, Princess." Josiane motioned. "Come. Prince Merlin awaits us at a special place."
"Special place? In here? That must be something wonderful," Rodor assumed. He followed the two Princesses up the path through the greenery.
"For my Princess, it is, Sire." Merlin waved to them in front of a certain raised container. "There is one special tree she loves." He stepped aside to allow the others to see the flowering tree. "For you."
"Merlin, how?" Mithian staggered up to the fully-grown and developed tree. Scent enveloped her nostrils. "Somehow it is the tree! It is a miracle!"
"Merlin, there were two for the entire isle. How did you…?" Rodor pressed.
"I had some help." Merlin shrugged. "Our newest priestess."
Freya stepped out from behind a particular large bush. "Greetings, King Rodor and Princess Mithian. Prince Merlin told me how disappointed you both were after the Mercians destroyed the old tree. With the goddess' permission, I harvested the seeds from the remaining tree and planted them around that one. All but one that is." She pointed to the tree. "While this garden sanctuary is his handfasting present to you, Princess Mithian, I wanted to have a hand in bringing your favorite tree back. It is a thank you for your trust and friendship."
"Thank you, Priestess Freya! Oh thank you!" Mithian embraced the priestess.
"Merlin grew it though with his own magic and love," Freya pointed out.
"I know." Mithian turned to Merlin. "I cannot believe this special place! Is this what you meant the other day?"
"Yeah it was." Mischief spread the grin across Merlin's face. "It was a team effort though. Freya brought the wood and spikes. I used my magic to hold everything in place. Princess Josiane changed them into metal frameworks and the air to a special glass." He squeezed Mithian's hands in his own. "But this is your special place. It is a monument to you, Mithian, and our love."
"To think you planned this behind my back? All of you!" Mithian smiled. "Just wait, Merlin! I will have a surprise of my own!"
"You surprise me every day," Merlin declared. "And, Sire, what do you think?"
Rodor stared at the dome and then at the flowers. "What can I say? You all have collaborated on the Eighth Wonder of the World! This is a truly amazing place!"
"As long as peace and harmony exist in this place…as long as the goddess' presence is tolerated and co-existence is the way, this place shall stand, King Rodor." Freya bowed her head to him. "The goddess appreciates your good will."
"And we appreciate hers," Rodor replied. "This will definitely serve as a reminder of the good magic can do. A true reminder of beauty indeed!" He rubbed Merlin's shoulder. "Well done! Well done indeed!" He looked to Josiane and Freya. "All of you. And to the goddess, our humblest thanks."
You are very welcome, Rodor of Nemeth, the goddess replied.
"I heard a voice!" Rodor looked around. Surprise unsettled him.
"You heard the goddess speak to us in our minds," Freya explained. "That is how she communicates and…." She stopped her words in mid-sentence.
"What is it, Priestess?" Josiane wondered.
Merlin! I am on my way to you! The Witch Morgana! She is free and endangers your guests! Kilgarrah advised.
"Why now?" Merlin grimaced. "Morgana's free of the tomb. She is attacking our guests. Josiane, I am sorry but…."
"Of course! I will be ready in a quarter turn of the hourglass. I will summon the others!" Josiane turned to Freya. "Forgive me, Priestess. Can I…?"
"Indeed." Freya created a portal. "Step through and find yourself in your chamber, Princess Josiane. I prayed that prison would hold Morgana Pendragon until after your handfasting tomorrow." She chanted in a low dialect. Her eyes flashed at Merlin. Then she pointed at him.
A bright white light enveloped the new Prince. Tingling stabbed in tiny needles across his skin. He felt a heavier garment burdening his shoulders and arms. He felt something like a helmet on his head. When it subsided, he found himself in a set of chain mail and helmet. His father's sur coat draped over the chain mail without any of Age's marring. Excalibur hung over his left hip. He felt Magic surging through himself.
"There now! You are now Emrys in every way…Prince, Dragon Lord and Warrior Priest," Freya acknowledged. "Go and recruit the rest of your knights. Malodius and Princess Josiane await. Even now, Lancelot, Gawain, Prince Bors, Galahad and Ywain prepare. They will meet you in the plaza. I will accompany you as well."
"You will be there? Freya, we can handle this! Don't…." Merlin protested.
"Merlin, I know you think I'm made of crystal and glass. I am the High Priestess! Duty demands as much from me as it does from you. I will see the blood stain cleansed. Morgana abused her power and rank. It is time she answered for her crimes. It is time."
"Sire, I am sorry. This ruined the surprise. I…." Merlin apologized.
"Nay. It did not, Merlin." Rodor regarded the new Prince. "Sir Balinor's armor is restored. You wear it well indeed. I could not be more proud of you, my Boy." He embraced Merlin. "You take care and come back to us. Finish this once and for all."
"Aye, Sire. I shall." Merlin held his hand out. "Walk with me, Princess?"
"As if I'd say no? Come along!" Mithian seized his hand in her own. "Freya, please make sure he comes back to us…to me."
"If the goddess so wills…." Freya replied with the condition attached. "Come along." She enveloped the couple and herself in the mists sweeping them away from there.
"Incredible." Rodor stared at the wonders he'd just seen.
Eighth Wonder of the World indeed…..