Chapter 32 [Ealdor—A Turn of the Hourglass Later]
Much as with every previous Solstice, the peasants remained within their hovels. They sat by the fire trying to remain as warm as possible. Smoke escaped through the hole in the straw and thatched roof. They ate their bread and stewed vegetables.
Eyes kept toward Spring's warmth. Few would expect the visit they were about to receive….
Freya opened the mist portal at the forest's edge. She checked both woods and meadows around them for potential threats. From what Merlin and Gwen had told her, she knew the Essetir lay within Cenred's domain. She knew the triple goddess' protection should shield them from Morgause or any sorcerer. Still she did not want to take a chance with Merlin or the traveling party. "It is clear."
"Thanks, Freya." Merlin rode out onto the familiar meadow. He sucked in a chilled breath. Despite the tense feelings surrounding his childhood (especially where it came to magic), his home called to him. He relaxed.
Malodius harunged at him. Even if Merlin lowered his guard, he would not. He motioned toward the village. This is Ealdor?
Aye. Merlin nodded. He watched Gwen, Ywain, Galahad, Percival and Lancelot ride into view on their horses. As with him, everyone dressed like common travelers. "Let's go. I would like to give Mother time to pack. Yah!" He pointed to the village and urged his horse onward. He watched as the meadows around them streaked by on rapid horse lengths. In too short of a time, he entered his old village. He guided his horse to his mother's dwelling. After today, Mother, you will have what Father meant for you and me!
A few villagers stuck their heads out. The Essetir (that part of it anyhow) had few travelers. They stiffened and eyes went wide. Alarm worsened their moods.
Merlin waved to them. He smiled to his former neighbors.
Gwen let herself be recognized as well. She hoped that her role in defending the village three years earlier would be remembered. "Lancelot, help me." She undid the sack hanging from her saddle bag.
"Allow me." Lancelot removed the sack and set it on the ground. He did the same for the one on his horse. "Merlin, can we do this for the rest?"
"Aye. Mother should help us get it to the other villagers." Merlin knocked on the door.
The door cracked open. "Aye? Who? MERLIN?" Hunith swung the door open. She grabbed onto her special boy. "You came here in this cold? What is with you?"
"Hello to you too, Mother." He smiled at her lecture. He embraced her. "It has been an unusual week. Are you all right?"
"It is winter. The village gets by. It was a good harvest. If we are careful, we will survive. Tom Arundel sees to things now. He is the elder." Hunith looked over the others. "Gwen? Is that you?"
"Aye, Hunith. It is a pleasure to see you once again!" Gwen embraced her as well. "The men with us are Lancelot, Ywain and Percival. They are knights of Nemeth."
"Nemeth?" Hunith raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here with Nemethian companions, Merlin? Where are Arthur and Gaius? What is going on?"
"Mother, please." Merlin shook his head. "Father was in Nemeth. He was a knight there."
"He what? Gwen, do you know anything about this?" Hunith put her hands on her hips. "Merlin, for decades, we heard nothing of him! You cannot know!"
"Mother, Arthur and I met Father before his death. He sacrificed himself for us. I held him in my arms. His last thoughts were of you," Merlin disagreed.
"Truly?" Hunith leaned against her hovel's outer wall. She rubbed her forehead in an attempt to digest the information.
"Hunith, we have seen his armor and surcoat. King Rodor knew him." Gwen pointed to their companions. "These are Lancelot, a friend from Camelot, Ywain and Galahad from Nemeth. This is Merlin's mother, Hunith."
Galahad bowed to her. "Milady, it is an honor to meet you at last."
"Indeed so." Ywain added his own bow out of respect.
"You are bowing to me?" Incredulity stiffened Hunith's response.
"They fought at Father's side, Mother." Merlin walked into his old hovel. His eye determined that everything was as it had always been.
"I had just received my spurs when Sir Balinor departed," Ywain explained. "It was sudden."
"He was on his way here, Lady Hunith. His thoughts were of you. King Rodor's father had granted him permission to bring you to Whitgate." Galahad inspected the humble village. "Charming."
"You respect us?" Hunith regarded the First Knight anew.
"He respects the people much as we all do." Lancelot stuck his head in the hovel. "So this is where you grew up, Merlin?"
"Aye. It is home. Time to move on." Merlin filed a mental picture of the hovel for his memories.
"Move on? Merlin, what is going on? Where are we going?" Hunith insisted.
"We are going to Whitgate. It is in Nemeth, Hunith." Gwen looked into the hovel. "Merlin, Lancelot, maybe you should explain to her?"
"Aye." Merlin stepped back out. He winced at his mother's fierce expression. "Mother, Nemeth is my home now."
"What about Camelot? What does Gaius have to say about this? MERLIN!" Hunith demanded. She threw her hands up in the air.
"Uther has become even more extreme, Hunith. He came between Arthur and me. He…found out about Merlin's magic." Gwen bit her lip.
"Merlin was banished as I was by King Uther. I am sorry," Lancelot interjected.
"Lancelot." Merlin rolled his eyes. He face-palmed himself knowing the eruption that was about to happen. "Mother, a lot has happened since we were last here."
"I can imagine so!" Hunith shook her head. "I sent you to Camelot to keep you safe! I wanted you to have a chance in a good kingdom to have the life I never had! You blew it!"
"Nay, Lady Hunith. Merlin has earned greater opportunity through his service and valor. In addition, Sir Balinor's knighthood is his by hereditary right. He is to marry tomorrow." Galahad smiled. He bowed. "My Prince."
"Prince?" Hunith frowned.
"Mother, I am marrying Princess Mithian. Wait until you meet her. You will really like her. So I am going to be that. Gwen is a Princess now." Merlin pointed to Gwen.
"Merlin, Uther refuses to crown me." Gwen shook her head.
"What?" Lancelot turned to Gwen. "Merlin said you married Arthur!"
"She did. Lord Geoffrey conducted the vows. Kings Rodor and Uther agreed, signed and sealed the documents. Then King Uther lost his temper. King Rodor kept the situation in check. It is quite legal. We know you are indeed a Princess, Lady Guinevere." Galahad bowed to her.
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Now I understand how you feel, Hunith."
"You are a Princess, Gwen. Uther can get over himself. He drove Father away. I am not letting him take everything else from me." Merlin shook his head. "Nor should you have to stay here, Mother. Not any longer."
"Merlin, this is our home. You have what? A hovel? Have you seen this palace?" Hunith demanded.
"Aye I have. It is the citadel not any hovel." Annoyance reddened Merlin's face. He had to admit that he might have doubted that assessment if someone had made it to him.
"I can assure you that what Merlin says is the truth." Ywain looked to his future Prince. "King Rodor waits to dub Merlin and Lancelot back in Whitgate."
"It is as they say, Hunith." Gwen nodded. "Arthur freed Merlin this morning. He was made noble both in Camelot and Nemeth. Then, after Uther found out about the magic and Balinor, he banished Merlin. King Rodor has taken us in. He and his Queen want to honor his father's invitation to you." She held up the burlap sack. "This and the other sacks are a gift from King Rodor to the village."
"They are fresh bread. It is Nemeth's gift to the village of Ealdor." Galahad gathered the sacks. He carried them to Hunith and placed them at her feet. "This is not our kingdom, Good Lady. We still care for you and your people. Even if we would ask you to come with us now, we remember this place for Merlin's and your sake. We honor it."
Hunith peered into a grain sack. She marveled that the bread smelled and still felt warm as if only an hour removed from the oven. "Your King and Queen sent these for the village?"
"Aye, Mother, he did." Merlin smiled. "This is our chance! I am there now. We can see each other every day. I can give you the life you deserve." He embraced her. "I can make sure you are warm. You will have plenty to eat. There will be no more ground to sleep on."
Hunith shook her head. For so long, she had believed Balinor had forgotten her and Merlin. She accused him of deserting them. Now she had heard from Merlin and these men who had known Balinor personally.
Balinor wanted to give her a better life. He was blocked by Uther…the King she'd sent her special son to…
Hunith considered the hovel. She looked around the village. With the eldership passed on, she had little to say about the village's affairs. She was the Grand Lady, a nice title but with little regard attached to it. She sighed. "You are right, Merlin. Help me to pack?"
Merlin grinned. "Sure! Gwen, remember where Arthur spoke to everyone? Can you and the others put the sacks there? Lancelot, stay here with Mother and me?"
"Right." Gwen grabbed a sack. She saw Galahad and Ywain do the same. "Follow me." She led them toward the common.
Hunith rolled her blanket up. She placed an old wooden cup that resembled Merlin's inside of it. She put them in the sack. She put the fire out. "One thing about being here, we do not need much."
"Simple is a good thing," Lancelot agreed. "You should be very proud of Merlin, Milady. He is the bravest man I know."
"Lancelot, you are just as brave!" Merlin protested.
"He is right, Merlin." Gwen smirked at him. "You can be rash at times. Arthur will miss you at his side."
"And this Princess? Does she care about you as Arthur does, Merlin?" Hunith pointed out.
"Aye she does. And who's to say that the Royal Prat and I have to stop? We are of different kingdoms now. We are still allies." Merlin looked at Gwen. "That is why King Rodor supported Arthur and you this morning, Gwen. He has his issues with Uther but he wants what is best for the future."
"This morning? Merlin, Camelot is a day and a half from here even by horseback! You cannot…" Hunith started to argue.
"Milady, we have been several hundred leagues today. The day has not ended yet." Lancelot looked around the outside yet again. Gwen's safety elicited Concern's outlook for her welfare. Relief loosened his nerves when he saw her and the knights come back with a slender dark haired man. "Gwen?"
"This is Tom Arundel, the village elder. Merlin?" Gwen explained.
"Tom! It has been a while." Merlin shook Arundel's hand. "Thank you for watching out for Mother and the village."
"It is my pleasure, Merlin. Are those loaves your doing? Your master is certainly kind to give all of this food to us. It will fill our stomachs for a month at least." Arundel assessed the younger man. "Camelot has been good for you."
"It was. The bread is from my new master, King Rodor of Nemeth and his wife, Queen Taene. They send their best." Merlin smiled.
"So you're an official at their court? Attaboy, Merlin! I knew you would go far when you left! Gwen said they offered your Mum a place at court too." Arundel looked him over. Far from the boy who'd left for Camelot or even the boy who'd fought at Prince Arthur's side before, he saw far more strength and capability there. "We will see to everything, Hunith."
"Thank you, Tom. I cannot believe Merlin has this opportunity." Hunith shook his hand. "Look after the village."
"I will. Be well, Hunith. We will always remember you." Tom smiled. He stepped back again. "Look after her, Merlin!"
"We will! Thanks!" Merlin helped his mother onto the horse. He got on behind her. "Can you take her sack, Lancelot?"
"I will indeed." Lancelot grinned. "We head for our future. After you." He bowed with a smirk.
"Fine! You are the one who wanted to be a knight, Lancelot." Merlin shook his head. He allowed a laugh before he spurred his horse onward. As much as he was glad to provide the bread and give regards to the elder, he wanted to get his mother back to Whitgate before Trouble reared its head yet again. "Let us go!" He spurred his horse back toward the woods.
Gwen, Lancelot and the knights followed close at hand. Urgency matched their pace to the Soon to Be Prince's. Their eyes kept drifting across the entire meadow.
Ride straight ahead, Merlin. I am opening the portal in front of you. We should not delay, Freya alerted him.
Now what? Merlin detected magical energies collecting across the valley. He frowned. What about Malodius?
He is already back in Whitgate. Ride hard, Merlin. Morgause is close! Freya urged.
That is all we need! Merlin shook his head. "Mother, get ready for a strange sight."
"What?" Hunith saw the fog bank in the midst of the clear meadow. "Where did that fog come from? Merlin, what are you doing?"
"We are heading right for it! That is our way home!" Merlin pushed them into the mists' encompassing vapors.
"What is this? Where are we?" Hunith shivered in the chill. Her skin dampened from the conditions.
Merlin glanced back to see that the others had made it as well. He rode toward the light off in the distance. "Hang on!" He urged their horse through the brightening mist.
Hunith felt the warmth on her face anew. She looked about to see them in Nemeth's Upper Town Square. "Where are we?" She saw their companions emerge right after them.
"Welcome to Whitgate, Mother." Merlin dismounted. Then he helped her down. Thank you, Freya.
You are welcome, Merlin. I am glad I could help, Freya replied.
"MERLIN!" Mithian called. She waved from the second story window. Relief flooded her heart.
Hunith shook her head. "Who's that? She seems very nicely dressed indeed."
"That is Princess Mithian. She is my fiancée." Merlin shrugged.
Hunith sucked in an anxious breath. She could not believe this would be their new home.
Quite a step up….