Chapter 53 [Royal Dining Chamber—Two Hours Later]
[A/N: Cligés is Chretien's character]
Arthur and Gwen walked into the dining chamber. He assessed the area. Memoria reminded him of two previous dinners in that place. Neither of them had gone well. They had represented opportunities lost.
That was then. This is now…
He saw their royal counterparts already sitting and talking to each other. Morgana, Accolon, Elena, King and Prince Bors, Count Boeve. Princess Josiane (in strange robes and head covering) as well as a strange man dressed in Imperial purple. With them, Gawain, Britomart, Lancelot and a woman he'd seen before but could not place. Merlin and Mithian talked to everyone in equal fashion.
"Arthur, it is quite the gathering! A world full of friends." Gwen nudged Arthur toward the table.
He nodded. Granted, Gratitude prompted him toward that dinner. On the other hand, Familiarity (or the lack thereof) slowed his pace. They had used their magic to take back Camelot and repair the invading knights' damage. They had enabled Gwen and him to be together. "Let's not swell Merlin's head too much."
Gwen rolled her eyes.
"It's all right, Gwen. It's Arthur." Merlin shrugged off the barb. He stood and put his hand out toward the two empty seats across from Mithian and him. "Arthur, Gwen, this is Emperor Cligés from the Eastern Empire."
"Cligés, thank you." Arthur shook his hand.
"You are welcome. When Sultana Josiane told me of your peril, I wished to assist. Family should help family." Cligés pointed to Gawain. "Uncle Gawain can never stay out of trouble or so my mother says."
Arthur coughed. "That is a true assessment."
"Your mother?" Gwen raised an eyebrow. "I did not think she was still alive."
"Aye. She recovers from my Uncle Alys' treachery back in Constantinople. When Sultana Josiane appeared at my court, Mother confirmed our ties. We helped each other with the usurpers. Then we came to assist you. The priestesses' magic astounds the mind," Cligés explained.
"They enabled our victories." Josiane nodded to Merlin. They turned to Morgana and Accolon. "Once the Usurper Mustafa was deposed, I assumed my rightful place. Boeve and I wish to be together in Cairo, King Arthur."
"Of course. Boeve is an excellent knight and count. He will support you well." Arthur shook Boeve's hand. "You will be missed."
"Thank you, King Arthur." Boeve stood and bowed to his liege.
"We all have change to consider." Mithian stood. "Merlin and I will leave for Cenred's former castle day after tomorrow. Sir Gawain and Lady Britomart will work with the knights there. Then we will be in Rivermore to help Blancheflor and Sir Percival get started."
"I have faith in you, Princess. It's Merlin I have to wonder about." Arthur shook his head.
"You have a lot to learn as well, Arthur." Gwen cleared her throat. "Do not worry, Merlin. We all work well together. King Rodor and the council will give good advice."
"We have the local ministers in both kingdoms." Merlin exhaled. "I cannot believe this day! We fight that battle. We have agreed on treaties. That is why Mithian and I wanted to have you all here."
"The Amazon Sisterhood and I desire the agreement, Prince Merlin." Elena raised her goblet.
"As do we all." King Bors followed Elena's example. "We shall speak soon of treaties. For now, get a feel for your new territory. The nonaggression agreement and sorcery agreements will suffice for now." He shook Merlin's and then Mithian's hands. "We have much to consider and remember. In many ways, it feels more like Samhain than Solstice."
"Aye. We honor our departed monarchs as well as celebrate our new ones." Prince Bors chimed in. "Are we ready for the sorcery agreement?"
"Lord Brumenwald, they wish to sign. May we?" Mithian requested.
"Of course, Princess." Brumenwald bowed. He hustled into the next antechamber. He returned with a parchment document. It already had two seals and signatures on it. "Queen Annis and King Rodor have already signed it, my Lords and Ladies."
"That is a great start." Merlin skimmed the agreement. "It is as we agreed." He handed it to King Bors.
Bors looked it over. "As we agreed, Prince Merlin. Well done." He scratched his signature. Then he dripped wax on the document and set his seal." He handed it to Accolon and Morgana next.
Tintagel's royal couple read it over together. They signed and put their seal on it.
Elena readily signed in the proper place. "Our shamaness favors this agreement. We Amazons stand ready to help however we can."
"As do we across the Sea." Josiane signed and sealed the document.
"For a better world. Perhaps we should apprentice our Uncle?" Cligés smirked at Gawain.
"Now you wait…." Gawain felt the steam coming out of his ears.
"If Freya can help us, we can meet your sister." Britomart shook her head. "We can speak with his Chief Minister and learn from him for a few days?"
"Euphates would be happy to show you the books." Cligés nodded. "Mother will be overjoyed to see you both." He signed and sealed the document. "There! King Arthur, I believe you are next?"
Arthur looked to Gwen. Disbelief raised an eyebrow. He read the document over one more time. He could well imagine his father's protests from beyond the grave. Still, he understood the need to watch over magic and its users. He also knew Camelot needed allies and to be part of a bigger world. This document did not mandate wholesale conversion. Rather, it only asked for co-existence.
That he could agree to.
"Well?" Gwen glanced at him. Expectation lit up in her eyes.
"We all have to live together in this world. I will not lie. I still have my doubts. At least it will be managed. Merlin, Morgana, Accolon, we cannot have anyone living in fear. We have seen what that does." Arthur took the quill. He scratched his signature. Then he sealed it. "Merlin, Mithian, you are next?"
Mithian scratched her signature onto the parchment. She put the wax by her name.
Merlin signed right below her name. Then he watched her repeat the action. "Ready?" He handed her Cawdor's seal.
"Ready." She pressed in with Cawdor' s seal just as Merlin did the same with Mercia. "And now, Queen Morgana, King Accolon, Lady Elaine, my Prince, we are all free."
"Ready." She pressed in with Cawdor's seal just as Merlin did the same with Mercia. "And now, Queen Morgana, King Accolon, my Prince, we are all free."
"You? Why you?" Arthur frowned not getting the context. He looked at Merlin and Morgana.
"Mithian, it seems, has made a discovery, Dear Brother." Morgana coughed. Teasing and Mocking spread a smirk across her face.
"Why does he not understand? I am what I am." Mithian shook her head.
"It's Arthur. Sometimes you actually have to show him." Merlin snorted.
"Merlin!" Exasperation raised Arthur's hands.
"Arthur, it is not that big of a deal. Princess, we're sorry," Gwen apologized.
"Nay. It is fine." Canary glinted in Mithian's eyes. She flicked her brow.
A goblet floated off of the table. It bobbed through the air. It nudged against Arthur's arm.
"Go away. I am not thirsty." Arthur declined.
The goblet kept at his arm.
Gwen saw the enchanted goblet. She shook her head. "Arthur."
"Gwen…" Arthur started.
"Look behind you to the left." Gwen put her hand in front of her mouth.
"What?" Arthur turned to find a goblet floating there. He grasped the goblet's base. "You did this?"
"I have been practicing. Why, Arthur? Certainly someone so wise should not be surprised by a novice like myself." Mithian raised an eyebrow at the guest. Then she turned back to Merlin. "Now where were we, my Prince?"
"Free." Merlin kissed Mithian's forehead. "We have our new beginning."
"To our new beginning." Mithian touched Merlin's lips with her own. "Father and Mother will be pleased."
"Indeed we are." Rodor strode into the chamber with Taene.
The guests stood. With Merlin and Mithian, they nodded to their hosts. Gawain, Britomart, Lancelot and Lady Elaine bowed.
"And we have a great deal to commemorate and celebrate. We will speak further on that tomorrow. For now, let us celebrate the beginnings of our new Britannia and world." Rodor nodded to King Bors, Josiane and Cligés. "Thank you all."
"We are part of this world together, King Rodor." Sultana Josiane raised her goblet of mead.
"Aye." Queen Taene toasted the entire group.
The servants brought in fresh pork and capon. Vegetables and breads bowed the oak table.
Celebration was on….