Chapter 22 [A Quarter Turn of the Hourglass Later]
Rodor led Mithian, Merlin and their companions down three flights of granite stairs. He glanced back at periodic intervals to insure everyone followed him around the turns in the staircase. He headed down the passage. Then he stopped in front of a particular door to the left.
Merlin looked about the passage. He appreciated the potential answers to his questions. Still, the clock ticked away in his head. At any point, Leon or another knight could look for Gwen or him. Blumenwald and the other Nemeth knights still waited in the camp. Arthur could be forced to marry someone. Morgana's choices remained ambiguous. Morgause remained at large.
It will be all right, Merlin, Freya assured him.
We have to get back to Camelot. You know how Uther can be. Merlin clenched his hands and unclenched them.
I do. I know that the goddess has the matter in hand. King Rodor knows the situation's importance. Let's see what he wants to say. Freya motioned toward the door to Rodor's left.
"You will like this, Merlin." Mithian smiled. A bit of spring added to her step.
Rodor waited for the others to join him in front of the door in question. "This is our Hall of Heroes. It is where Nemeth remembers our most valorous knights and victories." He produced a heavy metal key. He opened the door.
Inside, a literal historical treasure trove sat on display. Old suits of armor with frayed surcoats and swords stood alongside older spears and crossbows. Helmets and hauberks remained in other places. A strange dark surcoat stood apart from the others in one corner flanking a large tapestry. On the tapestry's other side, an old set of chain mail and helmet sat tarnishing under a frayed surcoat.
"Hey. That's a Mercian surcoat!" Gawain pointed out the unique item. "Sorry. Who's was that?" He rushed over to it. He looked the fabric and armor over.
"That?" Rodor motioned for the others to follow them to that point. "That came from a Mercian knight who died at the Battle of Rogerness, Robert d' Arbourne. He stood his ground and insured the victory for my father's forces against Cawdor."
Gawain fingered the fabric. For the second time in an hour, he was overwhelmed. "So that is what happened." The breath caught in his throat. He closed his eyes. "Josie, come here."
"What? Uncle?" Josiane rushed to his side. "What is it?"
Gawain sighed. "He was your grandfather."
"Oh." Josiane considered the robes again. She kneeled and put her head to the ground. She whispered a brief chant. Then she got up. "I just prayed for him. Mother never said what happened."
"Yeah." He turned to Rodor. "Sorry, Your Kingship. Thanks for the answer to that."
"Father, perhaps we might offer him something as well?" Mithian suggested.
"Aye. Gawain, when this matter with Camelot has been settled, I will make you a knight. After Sir Robert's sacrifice, it is the least Nemeth can do for you. I am glad that Princess Josiane has stayed at court as well. Forgive me. We must answer the other question before we depart." Rodor cleared his throat. "In a way, it is fitting that Sir Robert flanks one side of the tapestry and Sir Balinor is on the other." He motioned to the tapestry. "This tapestry depicts the Battle of Etralburg. You will all notice several dragons and riders in the battle scene?" Rodor pointed to the dragon-rider pairing in the upper right hand corner. "There, Merlin, are your father and Kilgarrah."
Merlin examined the tapestry. Pride swelled within him over Balinor's efforts in the battle. He admired the other dragons and riders' respective efforts in that victory. He even noted Malodius in the fighting's midst as well. "He really was there." He turned to the armor and Nemeth surcoat next to it. The dark dragon patch sitting by where the left shoulder would have been left little doubt. "He was really a knight. I used to wonder about that."
"Aye. He was that and more. This is also the battle where he saved my life and Malodius' life as well." Rodor clapped Merlin on the left arm. "You are his son. There can be no argument save for Uther's prejudice."
"Hey! That means Gawain's exile can be overturned as well!" Merlin realized.
"Merlin, Uther won't do that." Gawain shook his head. "Dad was disgraced. I was still a churl as far as he's concerned. Thanks for the thought though."
"I can make a case, Gawain. I promise Princess Josiane and you that I will do my best. I am sure Lord Brumenwald would do the same if he knew about it." Rodor considered Gawain again. "I wish you could accompany us. I would not risk Uther executing you. I have to ask Lancelot and you to stay back here."
"We will get the exile overturned," Gwen vowed.
Rodor allowed the group to look at the suits of armor and tapestry for a few more heartbeats. Then he called for them to follow him back out into the passage. "It is time for us to go. Merlin, can you call Kilgarrah?"
Merlin raised his head. "OH LEA GIT RO, DRAIGON!" Then he pressed on toward the stairs.
"Did he just...?" Gwen looked to Mithian and then Gawain.
"He just called Kilgarrah." Rodor motioned toward the staircase.
Josiane focused. "My carpet will be at the door as well. Now come." She continued up the stairs.
This was an eye opening experience….