Chapter 26 [Early the Next Morning]

[Garden]

Merlin walked about his sanctuary. Between the previous night's revelry, the just completed feeding of the masses out front and these blossoms, his soul relaxed. He sniffed deeply of the various blossoms there. Five hours to go. Admiration left him in wonder and awe.

Rodor had definitely pegged this place…Eighth Wonder of the World….

Leave it to Mithian to already start planning for a Grand Handfasting next week. He rolled his eyes at the festival to end all festivals the following week. We have yet to finish our own ceremony and she wants to jump right in. They are our friends. He coughed. Let's see if Gawain really gets there. He loves Britomart but is scared of commitment. I'm glad for Lancelot and Elaine. They'll be really good for each other.

"Merlin?"

He turned to see Gaius amble toward him. "Gaius? I would have thought you'd still be sleeping?"

"Nonsense! I wanted to talk to you before the ceremony." Gaius eyed the area. Discomfort still unsettled him.

"Is something wrong?" Merlin folded his arms across his chest.

"I still disagree with this place, Merlin. You know that. I know how you feel. But enough of that…." Gaius composed himself. "Merlin, I just wanted to wish you well. I have complete faith in Princess Mithian and King Rodor where you are concerned. I am glad for Arthur and you that you have found yourself a place here. May it be wonderful."

"It will be. You're already seeing it." Merlin embraced the older man. Still, he saw Reticence in Gaius' eyes. "Gaius, you're still not comfortable with the goddess' role, Freya and magic here. Are you?"

"Merlin, I have my own feelings. You are Prince over many different peoples not just one group. Can you be fair to all of them like this?" Gaius insisted.

"Gaius, were you fair to them? Morgana is rotting in a cell because in part of the poison we gave her. How many other times did we play court politics? Were you with Uther when he burned Lady Elaine's mother? I killed Nimue to defend Camelot. I betrayed Kilgarrah. The goddess wants co-existence not domination. King Rodor's willing to give her that. I know we have others to think about. Look at our court here! Josiane follows an eastern god. Cligés and Bors are Nazarene. Let the other faiths be inspired by this, Gaius! Let them bring their miracles and good will."

Gaius nodded. Pride beamed in his eyes. "You have certainly grown. I don't think that even a year ago, you would have made such a distinction. This has definitely been good for you."

"And it will be for both of us. Have you had anything to eat?" Merlin felt glad to change the subject.

"Nay. Hunith requested to eat with us. We should not keep her waiting," Gaius noted.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Merlin agreed. His mind continued to float toward his beloved Princess several floors above.

The sands in the hourglass flowed through too slowly where he was concerned….

[Mithian's Bedchamber]

Mithian considered her wardrobe. During the previous day's activities, Jocelyn and her handmaidens had moved most of her dresses and possessions to Merlin's chamber. The chamber's emptiness struck her. It's finally here. We're going to get married! She smiled. She considered the yellow dress hanging in front of her….

…Rejection's own banner that one…

She sighed. I could never ask Father for a new one. Not with our current financial shortfalls. She ran her fingers across the fabric. Think of it as what you were wearing when Merlin walked in. Will that be so bad? She shook her head at her first memories. He did not hate me. He was looking out for Gwen. He is so loyal! She sighed deeply. And he will be to me now! To me! Her eyes sparkled in the early morning light. He even defied tradition and beat me outside to feed our people! He wants to serve so badly! She considered the sackcloth dress with its plain rope tie around her waist. Much as with her ancestors, she wore it on that morning. Before Happiness' pursuit, she followed Service's way first and foremost.

And wouldn't she know it? Merlin found a way to beat her to the punch….

Be fortunate that we have what we do. She grimaced at the nightmare from two nights earlier. She'd dreamt of Odin forcing her to marry him. She saw her father with a dagger to his throat as she mumbled the vows. She endured his touch in the bedchamber and far more horrors for her liking.

Disgust's shiver jarred her from that moment fortunately for her. Sweat beaded across her forehead.

"Merlin saved us. It will be him," she told herself. She filled a goblet with water. She took a draught from it.

A knock came from the door.

"Aye?" She walked over to it. She opened it to find Britomart and Josiane waiting for her. "Britomart? Josiane? Jocelyn will be here soon to help me get ready! Should you not be with the other knights?"

"We have a surprise from Prince Merlin and our Princess here," Britomart informed Mithian. She handed her a wrapped bundle.

"What is this?" Mithian ushered them inside and closed the door.

"Prince Merlin knew how you would feel about that dress. He asked me for help in making another. And so I did." She motioned toward the package. "Open it please."

"Josiane! I cannot believe Merlin and you did this! There is no extra money. I would not spend…" She beheld an exquisite white gown. The lightweight material refracted Sol's light and slid effortlessly through her fingers. Three elegant gemstones matching the one in her mother's necklace flanked each side of her neckline. Golden strips adorned the cuffs and skirt's hem.

Beside it a matching veil of equal quality sat where it had unceremoniously fallen to the desk.

"How did he…?" She shuddered. Tears welled in her eyes. Joy's sob escaped her lips. Awe and Wonder numbed her brain. She'd seen her Prince dealing with his own issues. She thought him overwhelmed with his own neuroses surrounding Arthur, the throne, pleasing her father and measuring up to Expectation's high bar.

And he'd given her Paradise's garden worthy of the Nazarene Eden…. …then it was topped off by a dress worthy of the triple goddess herself….

All for her, his Princess above all Others…his Mithian….

"Oh, Merlin. I…I know I didn't want to wear the yellow dress but…you…I…" Mithian stammered. "Milady! How? I have never seen fabric like this!" Britomart admired the dress' sheen and delicate nature. She knew Queen Taene's necklace would go well with it.

"It is called 'silk'. I recall it from the Cairo bazaar. It is like the garden dome. I bring some of my home to here. Why not? Does Princess Mithian not deserve the best?" Josiane supposed.

"Aye. It is truly wonderful!" Britomart complimented.

"I've never seen its like in Britannia or Gaul. I am almost afraid to wear it," Mithian declared. Worry creased her brow.

"Perhaps you might change into another dress for the dinner? Still for the ceremony, our Prince has sent you a message, my Lady. He loves you. He wants you to outshine everyone else. This is your day." Britomart suggested. "Still I wish I could be surprised he'd do something like this. Does the King know?"

"He does. He approved it." Josiane grinned. "You will astound Prince Merlin and those men downstairs, my Friend. This is how it should be on a bride's wedding day. And Merlin asked that you wear your mother's necklace."

"It will match the neckline. I can't wait to see him in the chamber downstairs. It'll take his breath away," Britomart predicted.

"That's my hope as well," Mithian agreed. She admired the dress in the mirror in front of herself.

Today she would indeed shine…..