Chapter 21 [Royal Bedchamber]
[A/N: Just a quick note without revealing too much. I will be making reference to Soredamors (who's from Chretien de Troyes) here. She was Gawain's sister in his stories. Back to the action…]
Rodor meandered into the chamber. Duty and Diligence suffered in council and judgements. Without Mithian, Lord Brumenwald and Master Wyngate there for support, the council proceedings meandered for a couple of hours before being tabled until further notice. Brumenwald's presence would've helped the judicial matters move on.
The Queen's absence smashed a big crater in the middle of everything.
I just hope Mithian and Brumenwald can convince Uther to send Gaius. He shook his head. The thought of owing his adversary anything made his stomach turn. Still, for his beloved wife's sake, he had no other choice. Short of agreeing to a marriage between Mithian and Arthur, he'd do anything. I just hope Brumenwald keeps his head. Uther will take advantage as he did ten years ago. He shook his head. He looked in on Taene's prone form.
A knock came from the door. Sir Paulus stuck his head in. "Sire." He bowed to Rodor.
"Aye? I was not to be disturbed." He noticed Disconcertment paling the other's face. "Well?"
"Sire, the Princess has returned with Princess Josiane, Malodius, Britomart, refugees from Camelot, Avalon's High Priestess and Master Gaius' apprentice," Paulus bowed again.
"Admit them at once!" Rodor sprang to his feet. Why is Gaius not here? Why just his apprentice? He recalled Merlin from his last visit to Camelot. He'd come to understand that the young man served as Arthur's steward and Gaius' apprentice. "I shall be back, Dearest." His lips brushed Amor's reassurance across her forehead. Hope and Expectation lent speed to his pace.
"Father." Mithian nodded to him. "Princess Josiane, Britomart and I have returned. We have brought Master Gaius' apprentice, Merlin. He is here to heal the Queen. Priestess Freya can assist him."
"Merlin?" Rodor considered the cobalt aura around Merlin's form. "Why are you glowing?"
"Sire, pardon me." Merlin bowed to the King. "I have magic." He glanced at Mithian. Then he continued. "I am here to help the Queen."
"And I thank you. But why are you glowing? Are you unwell?" Rodor looked Merlin over.
"I will be fine." Merlin sucked in a deep breath. "May I look at Queen Taene?"
"You may but first…where is Gaius? Surely he would be more skilled?" Rodor cleared his throat.
"He is in Camelot's southern shires dealing with the plague. I can help. Please! We've come so far tonight." Merlin bowed again.
"Princess Josiane's carpet is remarkable indeed, Merlin. I appreciate you coming so far to offer aid." Rodor saw Mithian touch his arm. Urgency lay in her eyes. "Daughter, what is it?"
Mithian moved beside Merlin. "Father, Merlin is not just a servant…or any mere sorcerer. He is not here simply from Camelot. Your life debt is to him now."
"My life debt?" Rodor narrowed his eyes. "But that was to Sir Balinor. How…unless…." His eyes went wide. "Are you saying?"
"Aye. Merlin is Sir Balinor's son. He rode Kilgarrah the Great Dragon from Camelot to the Valley of Fallen Kings and then back here. Only a Dragon Lord can do that. Malodius sensed his presence first," Mithian explained. Reverence cast its light through her eyes on her Warlock.
Gwen stared at that revelation. "Merlin…you…you are noble?"
Merlin shook the question off. "I just want to try. I went to boost my abilities. Priestess Freya and I can determine her state. Then we can attempt a cure,"
Freya placed her hands on Freya's forehead. She whispered a chant. For several heartbeats, she focused allowing the spell to reveal the situation to her. Then her eyes opened. "It is a sorcerous condition. She took a substance. Its poison was enhanced by sorcery."
"Sorcery?" Rodor stiffened. "But we have always protected sorcerers here! Why would they attack us?"
"They want Camelot and Nemeth to go to war," Lancelot deduced. "Whoever did it presumed you'd blame Uther for the attack."
"I would suspect him at the very least." Rodor nodded. "Very well, Merlin. I cannot stop you. I thank you for trying. Please take care."
"I will, Sire. Thank you." Merlin bowed to Rodor again. He glanced at Mithian. "Here I go, Princess."
"Have faith and be strong, Merlin." Mithian smiled. Her eyes sparkled into his. She motioned toward the bed.
Rodor raised his eyebrows. He rubbed his chin at his daughter's actions. Could it be she has fallen for him already? He made note to ask Merlin certain questions about his time at Camelot after he was finished.
Merlin sucked in a deep breath. He looked to Freya. "Ready?"
"It is for you to do, Merlin. I am here to support you." Freya gulped. Her heart wailed wanting to say much more. Jealousy nudged her. Still, she understood Duty's price. She set her jaw.
Merlin nodded. He focused. Magic seeped to the surface. The aura bleached and turned bright white. It dazzled the onlookers. He put his hands on the Queen's shoulder and forehead. He chanted. Then he commanded, "Litreachadh le tionndadh air ans! Begois puinnsean! Bi air do leigheas!" His voice raised several octaves. "BI AIR DO LEIGHEAS!"
Gawain shook his head. That's why that midget on the bridge called him 'Magic'. Bloody hell!
"I'VE SEEN YOU DO IT, MERLIN! YOU CAN DO IT!" Lancelot bellowed at his friend.
"STAY STRONG, MERLIN! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!" Mithian affirmed once more.
Merlin did not hear Lancelot's assessment. Concentration itself was fully engaged with the building storm from within and without.
Taene spasmed. Her eyes snapped open. Her mouth wrenched in a silent scream.
"BI AIR DO LEIGHEAS!" Merlin commanded a third time. He pushed further with his magic.
A dark cloud seeped from Taene. It floated upward. Much like Hurricane over dry land and cold air, it lost its form. It burned out in a flare of red energy and was gone.
Morgause screeched threatening to deafen their ears. Then Silence smothered all sound for a dozen heartbeats or so.
"What? I….Rodor?" Taene gasped. She trembled.
Merlin braced himself against the wall. "She's awake. She's really cured." His limbs sagged.
"And you are surprised? I am most certainly not, my Friend." Lancelot grinned.
Rodor rushed to his wife's side. "We are here, Taene. Mithian and I brought help for you." He motioned toward Merlin. "You remember Merlin, Arthur's manservant?"
"Aye." Taene sat up with slow deliberation. She looked at her savior. "I knew there was something familiar to you. I recognized your eyes but could not place them. There is only one, Sir Balinor."
"He…he is my father, Queen Taene. I was born with my magic. Neither he or my mother were sorcerers. I inherited his bond with dragons." Merlin huffed several efforted breaths. "May I sit please? Sorry."
"Of course!" Mithian pushed a chair under his rear end just before he slumped into it. "You nearly killed yourself!"
"That is what he does." Gwen shook his head. "Merlin is the most self-sacrificing person for his friends, Prince Arthur and our court."
"I can see that." Rodor kissed his wife's cheek. Then he turned to Merlin. "Once again, your family has saved mine. Thank you."
"As we promised…your father, his knighthood is yours, Merlin." Taene coughed. "Rodor? Can we?"
"Aye. Merlin though is still Uther's man. Tell me of three feats you have done for Camelot. I need something to take to Uther."
"He braved the Perilous Lands with Arthur and me on a quest! He pulled wyverns off of us with his bond thing," Gawain asserted.
"He saved Prince Arthur's life when he first arrived in Camelot," Gwen added. "He used his magic to stop the fight with the barbarians in Ealdor. He saved Morgana, Arthur and me in the process."
"Merlin used his magic to deal with Hengist. He kept Arthur and us safe," Lancelot added.
"I stopped an ancient sorcerer, Cornelius Segan, from destroying Camelot. I also stopped Kilgarrah from destroying Camelot. But Arthur's helped me too. Freya was here with me. So were all of you." Merlin shrugged off the feats. "I had a great example." He looked to Gwen.
"Me? Merlin, I do not think so. I do my best for Arthur and the court….I…" Gwen's voice caught in her throat. She blushed.
"Oh yeah. You were fighting at Ealdor at Arthur's side. Then you woke him up from that spell. You took Morgana's place so she could escape a kidnapping. So you have your three tasks as well." Merlin folded his arms. His eyes shone with a "so there!" look.
"I should say both of you are worthy! My word!" Rodor exclaimed. "Does Uther know of these feats? By the ancient laws of Camelot, you both are worthy."
"Don't hold your breath on Uther doing the right thing," Gawain hissed under his breath.
"Excuse me?" Rodor turned toward Gawain. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Lance…Lancelot and I were exiled for winning tournaments and saving the Prince's life. Nice!" Gawain curled his lip. Sarcasm dripped through his tone.
"They are good men, Sire." Merlin glanced up at them. "Each has saved Arthur twice. Gawain confronted two assassins on another occasion. There was the earlier quest although none can know. Lancelot is a good man who wants to be a knight."
"Everyone should have their chance, King Rodor." Josiane piped in from the passage. "My mother talked of how her father earned a knighthood in a neighboring province to this one. He saved his King's life. Still when the Prince took the throne, he cared little for such things. When the knight died, the Prince did not care. He threw the knight's family off of the manor. Barbarians came. My mother went with them so as to protect her brother and mother." She pulled a chain from under her armor. A small metal pendant hung on it. "This is all I have of my mother, the Sultana Soredamors."
"Soredamors?" Gawain frowned. "Can I?"
Josiane nodded. She removed the chain from her neck. She held it up. "Is this our family's crest?"
Gawain considered the pendant's heraldry. Disbelief widened his eyes. "That's…that's what Dad gave her. I…" He held up his shirt. A scar streaked across his right side. "Your grandma refused to tell me. Bugger!"
"Mother told me to ask you about that! She wanted me to find out if you were alive!" Josiane grabbed onto Gawain. "Sorry. I would not ask you to do anything embarrassing."
"You don't get off that easy, Kid!" Gawain seized onto her. Relief flooded into him. "I just wish we could find her. I have you though."
"Always, Uncle. Always." Josiane squeezed him tighter.
"Hey, Merlin. Thanks. You too, Freya." Gawain sighed. His voice broke uncharacteristically.
"When this is finished, Gawain, I believe Lancelot and you are in need of a knighthood apiece? Merlin, you and I have other matters to consider." Rodor smiled at them.
"Thank you, King Rodor. What of Gwen? Can we help her?" Lancelot looked to his unrequited love.
"I appreciate that. I only want to serve Camelot. I know Uther will never let me be with Prince Arthur. That…would be my wish."
"Alas I cannot force Uther to do that. I will do what I can for Merlin and you of course." Rodor looked to his wife and then his daughter.
"We will speak on your behalf, Guinevere." Mithian agreed. "And Merlin's. I will not take nay for an answer."
Merlin blinked. He looked at Mithian. Purpose set her firm. Her eyes blazed stubborn fire. "Really?"
"I believe her mind is made up, Merlin." Taene sucked in a deep breath. "You are acceptable to us."
"I will travel to Camelot and do so." Rodor shook Merlin's hand. "And you have my answer."
"I…do?" Merlin bit his lip. He knew how big of a step that would represent. He pulled himself to his feet. "Thank you." He reached for Mithian's hand. "I cannot explain this. Everything's just changed."
"I know. Let us just go with it." Mithian squeezed Merlin's hands in her own. "Freya, you are welcome here any time. Thank you for helping Merlin."
Freya smiled. Gratitude prompted a nod. "It is all part of my duty, Princess. Thank you. Happiness such as this is part of the triple goddess' design. Perhaps I might bring you to join your Prime Minster and remaining knights at their camp? You can ride into Camelot together."
"King Rodor? Queen Taene?" An elderly man stumbled into the room. His tired eyes took in the entire group.
"Master Wyngate?" Josiane supported the older man. She helped him to a chair. "Are you all right?"
"I am now." Wyngate settled into a chair. Exhaustion left him wan and pale. "I worked in my chambers. The last thing I remember is drinking some wine. After that, I saw this blinding white light. You were in the middle of it, Merlin! You muttered something. I felt this jolt of energy. Then my eyes opened." He looked around. "Where is Gaius?"
"He is still in Camelot's southern provinces treating the plague. I came to help all of you," Merlin informed him.
"And you did this by yourself? Gaius said you were his finest apprentice. I say good job! Very well done indeed!" Wyngate expressed. "Did I hear you say you were riding for Camelot? I would go with you to speak my praise to Uther himself."
"Under most conditions, I'd agree. I would rather you stay back here. Queen Taene woke up herself. That would be the best option. Everyone, come with me. Before we leave, there is something I wish to show Merlin." Rodor ushered the others out.
"We will be back before we leave, Mother." Mithian rubbed her hand.
"I know. Mithian, Merlin is a fine young man. You have chosen well." Taene cleared her throat. "I believe your father feels the same way."
"I hope so. Merlin wants to prove himself. I cannot believe how I feel after such a short time," Mithian marveled.
"Arranged marriages take place in many cases before a couple meets one another. I fell in love with your father at first sight as well. We understand. Go. I believe he wants Merlin to see his heritage." Taene smiled.
"Thank you, Mother!" Mithian rushed out the door.
"Such enthusiasm! Pity Merlin is just a servant." Wyngate shook his head.
"He's Sir Balinor's son. Besides he has done more for Camelot and Nemeth than many knights. Nay Merlin is her choice and ours." Taene nodded.
The die it seemed was cast. Nemeth and Camelot were about to square off over something else….