Chapter 33 [A Sixth of the Hourglass Earlier—Whitgate]
Mithian stood on the eastern balcony. Nerves and Irritation ground at her. She shook her head. They treat me like I am delicate! Merlin's no better than Father or the knights! I cannot believe him.
"Being left behind really stinks." Gawain regarded her from the door. "I can handle myself. That is Merlin for you." He offered a half-serious bow.
She turned to see Gawain standing there. "He could use you. Honestly! He is being so stubborn!"
He shrugged. "It is Merlin being Merlin. He is always looking out for everyone else. He is just scared about running into Mercian knights." He raised an eyebrow. "I can handle a few of 'em. But he wants Lance to have all of the fun." He saw a bow and quiver of arrow. "You shoot with them?"
She smirked at him. She saw two men quarreling below in the square. "I manage." She sized up an apple on a nearby post. She strung the bow with an arrow. She reaffirmed the target. She released the arrow.
The shaft hit the apple dead center. It pinned the fruit to a nearby wagon.
The two men saw the impaled apple. They looked up toward her.
"Sirrahs! Perhaps you should take your argument indoors? We do not wish to hear it!" she called down to them. She watched them bow to her. Then her eyes watched them slink off toward the tavern down the street. "Get my point?"
Gawain chuckled. "You'd be good in a fight with that thing. Probably better than the Princess."
"Excuse me? And you have seen Josiane fight? She is worth five knights by herself." She curled her lip.
"Her Mom was like that too. Nah. I was talking about ol' Arthur. Now he gets himself in messes. Then Merlin's got to jump in and take care of it. I've been on three of them. If Uther would get his head out of his…"
She cleared her throat.
He rolled his eyes. "Fine! Uther's a blind fool. Save his life or Arthur's and he will still banish you. Look at Merlin. Uther banished him. He still mixed up that cure. Did Uther lift the stupid thing? Nay! Of course not! Does not matter that Merlin saved his life, stopped a war or saved a Queen's life last night." He snorted. "He is as bad as Cenred."
She still did not like his tone. Having faced Uther hours earlier, she understood his point. She also understood his loyalty to Merlin. "I just do not want you talking with the King and Queen here like that. They are not like Uther."
"And why would I do that?" His face wrinkled. "You all have given Josie a place to live. You are looking out for Merlin and Gwen. Your Dad deserves my respect. Okay?" He frowned. "Not many nobles or Kings who can say that. Hell you deserve that." He bowed in an exaggerated manner. "So thanks."
"You are welcome. And thank you, Gawain." She nodded.
"Yeah? What did I do?" He scratched his head.
"You are a loyal friend. I appreciate the compliment for my father and me. King Rodor will do his best to keep that level of respect. Just show it to him. He does not take well to irreverence." She bit her lip. "I will have to speak to Merlin about his bantering with Prince Arthur."
"Yeah that will take a while. Those two bicker and pick on each other. That is who they are." He shrugged the point off. "Thanks for letting me know."
"I want you around, Gawain. Merlin counts on you. You have been treated unfairly. I do not believe that will be the case here." She shook her head.
"Aye. Merlin though worries about everything. He is really my only friend." He glanced out toward the impaled apple again. "Keeps things interesting though."
"Why, Gawain! Are we looking for friends? I think you will find your share here at court. Who knows? You might even find love as well." Sauciness and Teasing hinted at her tone. She sniffed. "We could find someone."
He shook his head. "Not me. I'm too much for one woman." He smirked.
"You mean too much for one woman to take." Britomart rolled her eyes. She picked up his half-drank glass of ale.
"I'm still working on that, Brit." He looked at her. "You'd know. About being too much."
"Excuse me?" Britomart put her hand on her hip. "No wonder you have no friends, you Oaf!"
"Bet no guy can handle you either, Brit. Nag. Nag. Nag." He made a talking motion with his fingers.
Britomart trembled. Her face turned as red as her hair. "You use that sword or just polish it?"
Mithian raised an eyebrow at that comment. Incredulity widened her eyes. Did she just? I do not believe it!
"I use it, Sweets!" He got in Britomart's face. "Why? You want to try polishing it?"
Britomart snorted. "I would not want you to be bored. I assume that is what you do in the tavern by yourself?" She curtseyed to Mithian. "Pardon me, Milady. The air is vile." She wrinkled her nose at him. She hustled back into the palace.
He laughed. "She sure thinks she's something else."
She coughed. "I have never seen her like that before. Be careful, Gawain. She might challenge you."
"She can try. I would like to see the maid handle her sword." He grinned.
She shrugged. "She holds her own with the knights. By the way, watch for her this afternoon."
"Watch? Why?" He scowled.
"I am not saying. Just watch." She turned toward the square below. She saw the mists forming down there. "Look! Is that them?"
"It's just fog. Could be." He studied the spontaneous fog. "Yeah it's them." He pointed toward the horse and two riders emerging.
"It's them!" She saw Merlin and Hunith emerge on the horse. "MERLIN!" She waved to him. "If you will excuse me, Gawain?"
"Yeah sure." He bowed again. "Women." He shook his head. Merlin's going to have his hands full. And that redhead? Sppt! Like she could handle me? Sure! Whatever! He followed Mithian's path.
Mithian rushed down the staircase and toward the front door. She could care less about Elegance's demands or such things. Her heart beat away. He's all right!
"Princess?" Owain bowed to her. Then he opened the door.
"Thank you." Mithian sucked in a deep breath. She glanced about knowing that everyone watched her. Let them gawk. I can be a woman and relieved that her partner is all right! She set her jaw. Somehow she kept herself composed. "Merlin, how was your trip?"
"Everything went well while we were there." Merlin remembered to bow. He decided not to mention Morgause's potential threat. "Princess, this is my mother, Hunith. Mother, this is Princess Mithian."
"She really is a Princess?" Hunith curtseyed to her hostess. "Lady, thank you. I do not understand."
"Understand?" Mithian embraced the older woman. "Sir Balinor and Merlin are both heroes. They wish for you to have the best life possible. Welcome to Nemeth! I am sure King Rodor and Queen Taene will welcome you soon enough." Despite the difference in rank, Anxiety's butterflies banged against her stomach. "It is my pleasure, Lady Hunith."
"Your Highness, I am no Lady. Please." Hunith trembled.
"You are now. My grandfather wished that for you. My parents and I want that for you now. Tomorrow it will be official. For tonight, you are our guest. No more worries!" Mithian turned to Merlin. "I thought you might not come back."
"I know how some Princesses can be." Merlin smirked. "I…was talking about Gwen."
"Really?" Gwen scoffed. She exchanged looks with Lancelot. Then she motioned back toward Merlin with a grin.
"I think he's in love." Lancelot shrugged. Even if I cannot be with whom I wish. Perhaps some day….
"I believe you were as well, Merlin." Mithian smirked. "I would lead knights into Mercia myself if I had to. I can be like that."
"Merlin, that's not nice!" Hunith lectured.
"It is quite all right, Lady Hunith. I know Merlin cares." Mithian smiled at him. She placed her forehead against his. "I am glad you are all right."
"I wish you could have seen Ealdor. I did not want to risk Cenred's troops." Merlin kissed her forehead.
"Always my gentleman." Mithian squeezed his hand. "Come. You all have time to clean up before the ceremony. You too, Lancelot and Gawain."
"If he can, Milady." Britomart raised an eyebrow.
"Why? She got to be in there too?" Gawain frowned.
Merlin considered Gawain and the maid. "Seems he's made a fan."
Mithian shook her head. "I have never seen her like that."
"Gawain has that effect on people. I know how some make me feel." Merlin lifted the back of Mithian's hand. His lips whispered across her knuckles.
Mithian sighed. Her heart skipped a beat. "We do have the ceremony." She leaned close to his ear. "There is tomorrow night, my Prince."
Merlin straightened up. His pulse raced. His mind went numb.
"I have never seen him like this!" Hunith raised an eyebrow.
"We have. I do believe he is in love." Gwen sighed. She followed them and the others toward the main staircase.
Ceremony and Pomp awaited….