Chapter 28 [A Few Hundred Yards from Camelot's Western Gate]
Nemeth's delegation had cleared the woods' edge. Rodor, Mithian and Lord Brumenwald rode at the front of the procession. Malodius and Josiane proceeded just behind them. Britomart and Gwen (veiled of course) rode next in line. Galahad and the remaining knights guarded the rear. They all watched for Camelot's knights to ride in on them.
Mithian fretted in her saddle. Concern occupied her mind whereas Josiane, Malodius and Gwen were concerned. Worry flared over Merlin's possible straits. What if Uther finds out he is a Dragon Lord or a sorcerer? He could have Merlin executed! Serenity somehow kept her mask across the Princess' face.
"It will be all right, Daughter. You will see." Rodor patted her arm.
"I know, Father. Forgive me. I should have more faith." Mithian sighed. "Merlin helped Mother. He has so much potential as a Prince. I…."
"And you love him?" Rodor arched an eyebrow at her.
She bowed her head and blushed.
"It is all right to care. You balance concern for Nemeth with your heart. That is what we must do." Rodor saw two riders emerge from the gate. "Hold!" He held his hand up.
The delegation stopped in its tracks.
"Steady! Wait for my signal!" Rodor commanded. He watched the two riders galloping toward them.
"One has a white flag of truce!" Mithian pointed. "It is Merlin and Prince Arthur!" She glanced back toward her veiled companion.
Gwen smiled at the sight of her beloved's approach. Arthur is well at least. I just hope Uther does not try anything! She bit her lip.
"As King Rodor just said to Princess Mithian, have faith, Gwen." Josiane leaned close to her friend.
"Aren't you worried?" Gwen retorted.
"Where Boeve is concerned? Let that tyrant try something. I believe we would have an answer." Josiane clenched her jaw. "Let us see what they say."
Rodor watched Arthur and Merlin ride up to him. "Good Morrow, Prince Arthur and Merlin."
"King Rodor." Merlin bowed as best he could on horseback. He turned to Mithian. "Princess." He did the same.
Rodor noticed the full saddle bags on Merlin's horse and staff in his hand. "I see you are packed. That was extremely efficient, Merlin. Where are you going?"
Merlin sighed. "I hope to return with you, Your Majesty." He frowned. "Someone told Uther about me."
"Merlin, my father would have found out eventually. He would have done the same thing to you that he did to Balinor. This way, it is out in the open. He cannot come after you now." Arthur motioned to the saddlebag. "I will make sure of that."
"So what will happen to Merlin now, Prince Arthur?" Mithian rode up to him. "Will you let him go?"
Arthur sighed. "After what Balinor told me last night, I did not have much of a choice. I will not be a hypocrite like my father, Princess. In his saddlebag, Merlin has his manumission document. I wrote and signed it. Father signed and sealed it before he knew who Merlin really was. He is angry. Still, given Merlin's service, my father will not try to execute him. Merlin is banished from Camelot. He is to leave the city by sunset and never return." He shook his head. "I did not want this."
"Thank you for your honesty, Prince Arthur." Rodor nodded. "As you know, there are long standing issues between Camelot and Nemeth. You are not your father. I would not ask you to go behind his back and make an agreement with me of any kind. Accordingly, I have taken care of your situation."
"My…situation?" Arthur glanced at the two royals and then at Merlin. "Merlin?"
"If it's what I think it is, oh yeah. You are going to want this, Arthur." Merlin nodded. His eyes twinkled. "They brought the most noble of noblewomen for you to marry."
Annoyance flared in Arthur's eye. "Merlin! This is not funny!"
"Nay, Prince Arthur, it is not. You are most certainly correct. Will you have faith in us?" Mithan raised an eyebrow. "I believe you will be pleased with our selection." She looked back into the entourage. Her eyes twinkled. A smile formed. "Let's just say you protected my heart. Merlin and I will protect yours." She motioned for Gwen to ride forward.
Gwen nodded. She rode as best as she could manage with the veil over her face. Her hands sweated in the gloves. She trembled. Tears blurred in her eyes. Happiness trembled throughout her arms and legs.
Arthur sucked in a heavy breath. He looked at the approaching bride in the exquisite white dress. Her fine gloves obscured her hands. The veil disguised her face for the most part…
…except when the veiled eyes met his…
…their hearts met one another….
"Gwen!" Arthur grinned. "How? Father has you locked up under house arrest!"
"Merlin has some unusual friends, Arthur. They kidnapped me you might say. I ran into Lancelot and Gawain last night. We ran into Merlin in Whitgate. The rest is a very long story. I have something else I want right now." Gwen reached out to him.
Arthur kissed her hand. "Morgana and I tried this morning. Father refuses to free you or accept your claims to nobility. He will not allow us to marry."
"Typical Uther." Rodor frowned.
"Another thing, King Rodor. He threatened Princess Josiane and your lion since they are linked with magic. I thought you should know." Arthur squeezed Gwen's hand.
"I have urgent business with your father." Josiane rode up to Gwen's side. "It concerns my uncle and his exile from this city."
"Uncle?" Arthur frowned.
"She means Gawain." Merlin cleared his throat. "You remember anything about the Battle of Rogerness?"
"Yeah I heard about it. I…wait! He could not have fought in that! That was twenty-five years ago!" Arthur realized.
"Robert d' Arbourne fought there. He was my grandfather and Uncle Gawain's father." Josiane clarified with narrowing eyes and an increasingly terse mood.
"Wait! Gawain's noble?" Arthur grimaced. "Why did he not tell my father about this? He would have been pardoned."
"He wants nothing to do with it. He has a great deal of anger." Merlin shook his head. "After what I have learned, I cannot say I blame him."
"We seek his pardon and Lancelot's as well," Rodor added. "I was prepared to bargain for Merlin. Since that was taken care of by his banishment order, it is of little matter now."
"Princess Josiane has the family crest. Perhaps your genealogist can verify it?" Mithian added.
"Aye. Lord Geoffrey can do that." Arthur grinned. "Gawain's a good man. I hope he can be a knight."
"I intend to make Lancelot, Merlin and him knights, Prince Arthur. Thank you for the recommendation." Rodor nodded to Arthur. "Merlin, is there a way you can start for Whitgate? I would not risk your safety."
"So you accept him then?" Arthur looked to Gwen and then to the elder King.
"Aye. The last hurdle has been cleared. Thank you, Prince Arthur. Merlin will be crowned Prince as soon as I can manage it. And then there will be a marriage I believe?" Rodor hissed out a terse breath. "I am sorry Guinevere and you are stuck in the middle of his prejudice. She is a fine woman. Queen Taene sends her support as well."
"The marriage." Arthur nodded. "So it's going to happen? Merlin's going to be a Prince?"
"Aye. He is worthy." Mithian raised an eyebrow. "Certainly that does not bother you?"
"Merlin's a fine chamber servant…even if he does trip over a chamber pot or two." Arthur smirked toward his former servant.
"Arthur!" Gwen protested.
"Oh it's all right. He has to get his last word in." Merlin dismounted. He pulled his sack and staff from the saddlebags and across its back. "I will see myself back to Whitgate."
"You will? Merlin, it is a hundred miles. Do you intend to walk?" Arthur scoffed.
"You will see." Merlin shrugged with a grin. "Good luck, you two. King Rodor, might I make a request?"
"You may. I will see if I can grant it," Rodor agreed albeit with conditions.
"When this is over, I wish to bring my mother to Whitgate. Is that possible?" Merlin requested.
"Lady Hunith and you should have been there all along, Merlin. Of course! First however, we have the business at hand. I will not allow Malodius or you to be endangered for Uther's attitudes. I would ask you to bring him with you." Rodor looked toward the lion in question.
"I think we have it under control." Merlin focused. Freya?
Aye, Merlin? Look to your right. Freya answered.
The mist portal formed not far from the group. She stepped onto the grass. "King Rodor, Princess Mithian and Prince Arthur." She bowed.
"Priestess Freya, thank you." Rodor expressed. "Can you see to Merlin's return to Whitgate?"
"Aye and Malodius' as well." Freya considered Arthur. "I can assure you I am no longer the cursed Druid girl. My death cleansed me."
"It…did?" Arthur saw Gwen shake her head.
"She brought us to Whitgate last night." Gwen motioned to Freya. "We have hope because of that. She wants to be part of this world you'd build here, Arthur."
Arthur nodded. "Priestess Freya, did Nimue tell you what Merlin, she and I spoke of before?"
"Aye. I heard the whole thing. The triple goddess wishes to express her gratitude. She realizes Uther will not listen to you or anyone. We have to wait for the end of this age and the start of the next one. Even now, Prince Accolon and your father speak about Morgana and his marriage. That, your marriage, your promise and the accord between Merlin and Mithian are all a part of that, Prince Arthur." Freya bowed again.
"What promise?" Rodor looked to Merlin and then Arthur.
"We made an agreement Prince to prospective Prince, Sire." Merlin cleared his throat. "Maybe if sorcerers can work with everyone and use our magic for peaceful means, the persecutions can stop? We can all co-exist? Of course, we would have to bring any idea to King Uther and you." He bowed again.
"You are most ambitious." Mithian nodded. Pride and Approval shone in her eyes for her fiancé's proposal.
"It is a dream now. But as Gwen said, it is part of the Camelot and world we would build, King Rodor. I cannot bind my father to it. Perhaps we might keep in mind?" Arthur turned to Gwen. "And when I say we, Gwen, I also mean you and me."
"Arthur, I want you but…." Gwen bit her lip. "Your father will disown you. I will not…"
"Gwen, Father can do that. I will not marry anyone else." Arthur looked to Gwen.
"And you are not alone any longer either in that dream." Rodor looked to Mithian and Merlin. Then he turned back to the couple in question. "Guinevere, you have served your city and kingdom well. I witnessed how you stood by Merlin as he did his service. If you are exiled, you will return to Whitgate with us. There you will be safe. No strings or pressures on Camelot or you, Prince Arthur."
"I appreciate that, King Rodor." Arthur bowed again.
"I am not your father. I do not ignore a neighbor or friend in need. I do not pressure them at their weakest moment for my own agenda. I do not ignore my own laws to suit my own ends. I intend to remind him of this when we speak inside." Rodor looked to Merlin. "Now it is time for you to depart, Merlin and Malodius. We shall see you upon our return."
"All right." Merlin sucked in a deep breath. "Princess, be careful. I do not want anything to happen." He raised the hem of her dress and kissed it.
"Merlin…." Arthur rolled his eyes. "Will you stop acting like a girl already?"
"Prince Arthur! Is there something wrong with a man worrying about someone he cares about? One might think you were threatened by that?" Mithian shook her head. She leaned over. "I will be fine. Thank you, Merlin. Even if some people do not understand, I appreciate it."
"Thanks." Merlin smiled to her. "Be careful, Sire." He bowed to Rodor.
"I shall. Thank you, Merlin. It is time." Rodor reiterated.
"Arthur…" Merlin felt the sass and gibes abandon him. Sadness weighed on him.
"Merlin, this is not good bye. You are acting like we will not see each other again. We will." Arthur dismounted. "Should I?"
"Arthur, go." Gwen smiled. Her eyes twinkled.
Arthur walked over to Merlin. "Girls, Merlin. They think they know. Do they not?"
"They might." Merlin shook his head. "We are of different kingdoms now."
"Aye. We are. Merlin, remember, you are not a servant anymore. You will have a deeper responsibility now. You have the people of Nemeth. You have your King and Queen. You have Princess Mithian first. That is serious." Arthur told him.
"I know. I would tell you the same." Merlin extended his hand. "Thank you."
Arthur shrugged. "Someone had to put up with you. You are the Worst Servant in the Universe."
"It is the last time I can call you a royal prat. From here on, I have to respect you." Merlin shook the hand. Then he pulled Arthur into an embrace. "One day."
"Aye. Just do not be such a girl already!" Arthur protested anew. "You listen to them, Merlin. And try not to make such a mess!" He added an eye roll for effect. "Just take care of him."
"We will." Rodor looked to Mithian and then him.
"That goes for you as well, Princess Josiane. Uther hates all things magical." Merlin advised.
"I know. I will be ready. I survived the Usurper Mustafa's attack. I can handle myself in there. Thank you, my Friend." Josiane pointed to the portal. "I believe King Rodor instructed you to return to Whitgate?"
"I will." Merlin took one last look at Camelot. Years of service came and went. Now Transition brought something new. He patted Malodius' side. Are you ready?
I follow my King's orders. Besides, Balinor's Son, I am proud to share our path. Malodius bowed his head to Rodor and Mithian. Then he strode into the mists.
Merlin looked to Arthur, Gwen and Mithian once again. Then he vanished from view again.
"It is done. Best wishes on a fruitful negotiation, King Rodor and Prince Arthur. May we have those days you spoke of sooner rather than later." Freya offered them a nod. Then she disappeared as well.
"It is a new age." Arthur exhaled. He glanced toward Gwen. "I just want this. Everything else will come from it."
"Why, Prince Arthur, perhaps you realize that we girls might actually know something after all?" Mithian sassed.
Josiane coughed.
"No time like the present. Prince Arthur, perhaps you might wish to ride ahead with the white flag? We are only here for talks after all. Guinevere will ride in our procession. Trust that I have a plan." Rodor looked to Gwen.
"It will be all right, Arthur." Gwen pulled her veil back down. She rode back into place next to Josiane.
Arthur got back on his horse. He raised the white flag back up. "Follow me." He turned his horse back toward the city. Seeing Leon and the assembled knights waiting at the west gate, he waved the flag. "They're here for peace! Let them through! Merlin and the lion have already departed as my father wished!"
Leon motioned for the knights to allow Nemeth's delegation through. He wondered what would happen next.
That would be a question….