The next morning Merlin was bringing breakfast to the royal couple when a messenger arrived with a letter. Arthur lost no time and opened the letter immediately. He quickly skimmed the lines and passed them on to his wife. Meanwhile, Merlin had already prepared breakfast and waited impatiently for Arthur's explanation. Gwen put one hand on Arthur's shoulder and said, "But that's good, isn't it?
He said, "Yes, although I do not feel comfortable bringing the kingdom of Nemeth into the conflict. King Rodor did not reject the request and sent Princess Mithian to negotiate. She will arrive tomorrow. This undertaking will not be easy. I fear that she cannot offer much, since not much time has passed since her army was defeated by Odin's army. It remains to be seen if other kingdoms will send negotiators quickly."
Merlin cleared his throat loudly and with a movement of his head, pointed out to the royal couple that they should have some breakfast. Both took a seat and began to eat slowly.
"Arthur, you're going to do all this. No matter how big the enemy army is, you will win. I believe in you. You will find the right words at the right moment, you will gain more allies and prevent Camelot from falling," Merlin said, looking intently at Arthur.
"Thank you, Merlin," Arthur said softly, his eyes fixed on his breakfast.
"Gwen, did Arthur just thank me? You heard it too, didn't you? Maybe I'm dreaming too, who knows?"
Gwen could not help smiling and Arthur shouted threateningly, "Merlin!"
"Yes, sire?", the innocent asked.
"Shut up," Arthur said out of habit.
Gwen could only shake her head. She was already finished with breakfast because she was hardly hungry and said to Merlin: "Thank you too, Merlin. Actually, I should have done that yesterday already. I can't imagine what sensations you must have had when you used your magic so visibly in the courtyard of the castle".
Merlin grinned broadly, bowed and replied: "It was a pleasure. In the meantime I have a lot of practice in performing magic unnoticed in front of everyone. But why didn't you actually tell the people that not only a wizard, but also a Dragonlord was on Camelot's side?"
Gwen thought about it and then said, "I don't know exactly. Somehow it didn't work out. I had already formulated the opening in my mind and then rejected it. Did Aithusa actually speak to you during the encounter?"
Merlin grinned even wider and nodded contentedly.
"What did she say?", the queen asked curiously.
The magician replied: "Actually, I talked to her more and she listened. The main thing was that she didn't move hastily, didn't make herself unnecessarily large and didn't breathe fire. As the arrow buzzed through the air, I asked her to protect you, Arthur, and Tea. It was not a real command, but rather a transmission of a feeling followed by images. She trusted me to help her too. Either to stop the arrow, or to tend the wound. I asked her to remain calm, as the people present were very afraid of her. The people of Camelot must first learn that dragons can also be allies."
There was another knock and a messenger delivered a second letter. Arthur impatiently tore this one up as well and, as he read it, said, "Queen Annis has also replied." He also skimmed over this letter and his mouth remained open. Again he read the lines and could not believe what he had written. "Can this be true?" he said rather to himself. "Queen Annis is on her way here and has previously called her kingdom Caerleon to arms," he explained.
"So they are coming to our aid immediately?" Gwen asked hopefully.
"I do not know! Read it yourself," Arthur said in frustration.
"Perhaps it depends on the negotiations which side she takes," Gwen suspected.
"Yes, it's possible, though she's not hostile to us if she comes to Camelot and wants a talk."
Before they could discuss it further, there was another knock and a messenger came into the chamber with a third letter. Perplexed, Arthur held this letter in his hand and then asked his wife, "To how many kingdoms have you sent letters?
Gwen looked at him unmoved and said, "To all.
Arthur was speechless and could only stare at his wife questioningly.
"False pride doesn't stop me from asking for help. We have the best chance when many kingdoms are involved in the negotiations, because then we will not suddenly be dependent on just one. There is a danger that other kingdoms will become aware that they could ally themselves with this foreign army, but I doubt it. I have seen rulers allying themselves with Morgana over the years and it has never paid off for them, quite the contrary. Don't think I've written the same thing to every kingdom, either. Allied kingdoms know how desperately we need help in a timely manner, as the army is already on the move. Rather hostile kingdoms have received an invitation as a general approach, with different justifications and prospects. Whatever the excuses I used, it was clear that only a quick promise could have a positive effect on the relationship between Camelot and the respective kingdom".
Arthur swallowed his pride and asked objectively, "To whom exactly did you write?"
Gwen nodded and counted with her fingers: "Nemeth, Caerleon, Deorham, Cornwall, Mercia, Essetir, Deira, Tír-Mòr and Gawant," he propped up, pondered briefly and added: "King Olav I had forgotten.
Arthur shook his head in disbelief. "You have asked ten - TEN - kingdoms for help. Can you imagine how weak Camelot appears to be because of that and how quickly weakness can be an invitation to declare war," he reproached her.
"Camelot is not weak, and asking for help when it is urgently needed is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. Your false pride will get us nowhere here. If we try to stop this army alone, we will all perish. However, if we gain one or two allies who will support us actively, we can significantly reduce the overall losses. I also hope that the fight will not go down to the last man, but that this will make the opposing army pause - discourage them. Maybe Morgana will show herself and we can defeat her and all the bloodshed can be prevented or at least significantly reduced," Gwen sparkled at him coldly.
"Gwen, me," Arthur tried to apologize.
"No, Arthur! Remember first that your wife not only adorns your side, but also has a head she knows how to use. I also use my ears and get advice. Do you think the idea came only from me to write to so many kingdoms? You forget that I haven't even seen most of them, and that I've only met their rulers as a servant, if at all. Do you think it was easy to write and send these letters," Gwen ended and left the room without even looking at Arthur.
"Arthur," Merlin began.
He, however, shook his head to let him know that he wanted to read the letter in peace.
Merlin watched as Arthur read the letter again and sighed. Merlin tried again: "Arthur, who is the letter from? And Gwen..."
Merlin was immediately interrupted again by Arthur: "The letter is from King Bayard. It looks like we can expect help from Mercia as well. You don't have to say it, Merlin. I know that Gwen is right, and yet I cannot help but think about how this tenfold cry for help must work."
"Arthur, Camelot is by no means weak, but if reports of this enemy army are anywhere near accurate, then Camelot cannot emerge victorious from this confrontation without allies. Furthermore, we should not forget that Morgana has her fingers in the pie again. Negotiations with our allies and possibly with other neighboring countries are essential for our survival. In any case, negotiations are imminent. You should urgently speak with your queen. Even if it is not your strength, but try to put yourself in Gwen's shoes.
Arthur looks at Merlin in amazement and with a questioning
facial expression on.
"You don't get it, do you? How can you have so little sense for the feelings of others? Gwen served as a servant in this castle for many years. It is quite possible that there will be many rulers or envoys at the negotiating table whom she served before. She is the daughter of a blacksmith and was a servant. What impression do you think this has made on other countries?"
"Guinevere is strong, intelligent and completely loyal. She loves me not because I am a king, but for my own sake," Arthur tried to reply.
"Yes, we both know that, and it has taken you yourself some time to understand this, but in many kingdoms it is a tradition that a king or prince only marries a queen or princess. It could also be seen as a weakness that you married an insignificant blacksmith's daughter and thus broke with a 200 year old history. Gwen probably also fears the supposition that she has seduced or even enchanted you. She will enter the negotiations upright and with her head held high, but do not believe that she is not afraid or doubtful. She forces herself to be strong to support you, but it's time for you to form a unity together and think of a strategy for the negotiations. Are you aware that the different negotiating partners will be in Camelot at the same time and that the parties may be very distrustful of each other and that different demands may be linked to the support needed?
The conversation was abruptly interrupted when another messenger arrived with a letter. Arthur opened it without hesitation. While reading it, Arthur opened his eyes in astonishment. Even though Merlin grew more impatient with every passing minute, he waited until Arthur passed the letter on to him with the following words: "Read the letter and tell me what its message is.
Merlin first skimmed the message and found out that the sender was King Odin. "King Odin may have assured you of his support. He has already mobilized his army and he himself will arrive in Camelot tomorrow at the latest for the negotiations.
The silence in the room spread. Neither Arthur nor Merlin knew how to react to this news. They were torn from their thoughts by the entry of Gwen. "Now that we cannot afford a quarrel between us, I have returned. I know and love you, even if your lack of empathy and vision sometimes makes me despair. So who was the last letter from?" Gwen began her appearance.
Merlin just grinned at Arthur in a self-righteous way. He snorted and admitted: "Okay, yes, you were right, Merlin. And yes, I am an insensitive idiot! Are you two happy now?"
"YES!", Merlin and Gwen answered at the same time and burst out laughing.
When this faded away, Arthur replied: "Not only Mercia promises us support, but Cornwall has armed its army and Odin is on his way here for negotiations.
Gwen nodded and went through the other kingdoms in her mind. "Am I right in assuming that we can expect positive answers from King Olaf and King Godwyn as well?
"King Olaf will probably come, although I hope he will not bring Princess Vivian. King Godwyn has long been an ally of Camelot. Princess Elena herself refused to marry me, and her father was not at all angered by this. He is a forgiving father and has accepted Elena's idiosyncrasies. Merlin, why are you trying to suppress a laugh," Arthur turned to his servant, his shoulders trembling with laughter.
The magician calmed down and replied, "I believe that her so-called quirks have now disappeared and she has become a noble lady. I also hope that Princess Vivian has overcome her infatuation with you. It would be fatal if the spell of love was as strong with her as it was with you and if it could not be broken.
"Don't tell me now that magic was involved in these two matters as well," Arthur said annoyed.
"Of course I can't say it if you want me to, but that doesn't make it any less true," Merlin replied with an innocent expression.
Gwen asked Merlin to tell her everything.
Merlin cleared his throat and began to tell: "Uther had invited five rulers years ago to sign a peace treaty. King Alined's jester first cast a love spell on you, Arthur. But when the young princess Vivian did not find your wooing so irresistible, the jester probably cast a spell on her, too. King Olaf has an exaggerated protective instinct towards his daughter and demanded satisfaction. Since you were not quite yourself in this life-and-death duel, you did not just get a broken rib. Before the third and last round of the duel began, Gwen, luckily for you, stormed into the tent and broke the spell with a kiss. I have to say that I tried all kinds of spells before and I did not manage to solve the love spell. Since I didn't know what to do, I once again asked Kilgharrah for advice. He finally told me that only the strongest power could reach you, because the spell was already too far advanced. A power that is stronger than mine or that of a dragon, it is the strongest power of all, love. Only the person that you, Arthur, really love could undo the spell with a kiss.
Arthur was embarrassed at the words and a certain redness crept into his face. Gwen, on the other hand, beamed all over his face and went to her husband, who looked up and Gwen gave him a kiss.
Merlin continued: "Yes... and as for Elena. Unfortunately, she could not do much for her behavior. Inside her lived a fairy, a Sidhe, who had been hiding inside her since she was a baby. Fairies have a lot of time and patience. Her goal was to see a fairy on the throne of Camelot. The fairy would only reveal herself when she was married to you, Arthur. Then she would have taken complete control of Elena. I saw her servant, an elf in the service of the Sidhe, sprinkle Elena with elven dust that suppressed her pain from the Sidhe growing within her."
"And why didn't you tell me this when my father ordered me to marry her?" Arthur asked furiously.
"What would your father have done with his ally if it had come out that Elena was a cuckoo's child and he had an elf for a servant?" Merlin replied with a counter-question.
"You have to admit, Arthur, that the question is valid," Gwen replied placatory.
Arthur just snorted in frustration and Merlin continued: "I had no idea, since I knew nothing about sidhe magic, but luckily Gaius had books about it. We finally found a potion that could drive the fairy out of her. Unfortunately, the Witches of Meredor were not very precise in their recipe and the ingredients were sometimes hard to get. Nevertheless Gaius managed to brew the potion before the wedding ceremony. Well, unfortunately the servant had seen me and the leader of the Sidhe was not pleased that the prince's servant had just heard about the cuckoo child. He came to the castle and surprised me in my sleep. It was not the first time I had dealt with fairies. Even though Arthur already knows the details, I mention it again anyway. Aulfric wanted to sacrifice the soul of a prince to enable his daughter Sophia to return to Avalon. In that battle at that time, I kept the staff of Aulfric, which helped me a lot in my defense. Although I don't like to admit it, two Sidhe and the elf lost their lives in that fight, because the potion also drove the Sidhe out of Elena's inner being."
Gwen asked Arthur after a while: "How exactly did it happen that you did not marry Elena out of duty?"
"I not only asked Merlin for his opinion, but I had ordered him to speak his mind. He said I was crazy, that everyone here was crazy. Marriage should only be for love and not for duty. An unhappy king would not result in a stronger Camelot. It would be my decision and my choice," he answered her question.
Gwen looked Arthur in the eye and added, "It was my decision and my choice.
Merlin cleared his throat and the royal couple broke the eye contact in love. Gwen tensed her shoulder and said, "So that means we are expecting at least four high-profile guests, probably more like six or even more. I will let them know that several rooms are being prepared. Merlin, go to the kitchen and tell them that they are expecting distinguished guests.
We will not have a party, but there will be no lack of food. Arthur, you will look after the army's needs. It is to be expected that tomorrow the first allies or negotiating partners will already appear. Until then there is still a lot to prepare and discuss. Even if the enemy army is approaching, we must not lose sight of other urgencies. Merlin, you should pay more attention to Tea, since she is not only a lovely girl, but also has knowledge that could save us losses. You should also talk to the Dragon Lady, as not only can she quickly provide valuable information about the army movement, but she may also have picked up on something concerning Morgana. Arthur, have you taken care of the archer who accidentally shot the arrow? Have you heard from Sir Baron if he's made contact with the druids yet? Do you have any idea how we should proceed with the sorceress Kara? We agree that this case requires tact and time, since Sir Mordred would not take a death sentence for her well."
Merlin bowed and said with a grin: "Very well, my queen" and left the room quickly.
"After Sir Baron, I will send immediately to inquire the current state of affairs. We can certainly use the healers very well in the upcoming war. As for the sorceress - I am absolutely at a loss. I have the feeling that I can only make the wrong decision, which is why I am postponing the decision for the moment."
There was another knock at the door and Tea came into the royal couple's room with a bright smile on her face. "What a great day! I knew that I would find it simply wonderful in the castle. I am still impressed by the white dragon lady. What a wonderful creature. A white dragon is a good omen. Did you know that Aithusa means 'Light of the Sun'? I am still excited that she wants to be my friend. Unfortunately, most of the children were afraid of me, which is why I always had only broncos. Can you explain to me why you should be afraid of power? I somehow never understood that. Since there will soon be many guests in the castle, we can also clear the noble room in which we are accommodated. It is far too large and far too luxurious. A smaller, simpler room would be perfectly adequate for both of us. Gwen, if I am welcome at any time, does that also apply to the negotiations that are due tomorrow? I could take over Merlin's service again and be responsible for refilling the wine?" it gushed out of Tea.
"But Merlin is well again, so you don't need to take over his work," said the king with a frown.
Tea began to laugh as bright as a bell.
Arthur looked startled. Gwen shrugged her shoulders, too.
"Ooh, this is too good. The most powerful wizard and last dragonlord literally stands at your side - and pours you wine. Where is Merlin anyway?"
Since Arthur still hadn't understood the joke, Gwen replied: "He wanted to go to Aithusa and then to you and Bronwen. It is likely that an army is marching directly on Camelot. It is possible that the castle will not be safe in the near future."
"Pah, if it's not safe here, it's nowhere safe anywhere. It's a pity I didn't see Merlin before. Anyway, then maybe I'll catch them both together. Oh, yes, even if it spoils the surprise, but King Lot will probably be at the bargaining table tomorrow."