A/N: This chapter is appropriately somewhat tedious because the entire thing takes place in the council chambers with the politicians of the day. It had to be done because Arthur must make the case for the neutrality of magic and the innocence of many magic users. Also, warning: traumatic listing of deaths and details of Purge victims. It was hard to imagine and hard to write but, again, to make the point, it had to be done.
Chapter 4
It was so surreal to be awakened the next morning -late, as usual- with an annoyingly cheery "Rise and shine!" as though nothing had changed. Merlin was much as he had always seemed, a competent-enough, well-meaning servant, a familiar companion with my best interests at heart, making me feel as though the past few weeks had been only a strange dream. But everything had changed. And it was time to confront the challenge.
As I entered the council room with Merlin trailing me, looking as innocuous and docile as ever, the nobles at the table looked ready to jump at me like hunting dogs. I knew we would have to address the issue of yesterday's very public declaration of clemency before settling down to seeing to the physical needs of my people. I glanced at Geoffrey. He gave me a slight nod. Merlin retrieved a jug of watered wine and stood ready at the side.
"Good day, Gentlemen. We have items of great import on today's agenda, so let us begin."
Lord Ordwin immediately stood.
"Sire, I speak for all when I say, welcome home. Our prayers were heard when you returned to us healthy and wholly victorious."
"Thank you." I tried to remain calm and gracious even though I -and everyone in the room- knew very well what was coming.
"Sire, before we begin with other matters, we wish to address the remarks you made publicly yesterday."
"Go on."
Lord Fenmore, a less measured and balanced man, inserted himself before Ordwin could continue.
"Sire! Is it true that you know of a sorcerer here among us and you intend to shield him and allow him to continue living here?"
"Yes."
"But, but," his outrage made him splutter ridiculously, "it's against the law!"
"You forget yourself, Fenmore. You are addressing your king. And it is well within my rights as king to extend pardon to whomever I find deserving."
"But, Sire," began Lord Mellet, "you are putting your people at risk of enchantment, harm, aggression! It's a terrible risk!"
"I appreciate your point that it is a risk not an actual fact of harm done, Lord Mellet. I feel that I must point out though, that it is hardly new. This man has been living among us for many years. This is his home. This is why he chose to defend us."
"Think of the terrible things he's been doing in secret, my Lord!"
"Actually, Lord Mellet, having observed his noble actions and kindly disposition toward us all, I find myself wondering what terrible things he's endured in secret."
"It makes no sense, Sire! Why would a sorcerer protect us?"
"I asked myself the same question. This question, of course, presupposes that magic is inherently evil and that no possessor of magic could ever feel love and loyalty. Once I realized that any possible answer made no sense, I began to suspect that the question's premise was false. If, gentlemen, if magic is not inherently evil, could it be possible that a magic user who has formed bonds of friendship and love would choose to make his life in Camelot and actually be helping to protect us?"
Very few of them looked ready to honestly entertain such an idea. Okay, I thought, Time for solid evidence.
"I wish to gather what clues I can from the past regarding this question. Many of you have memories from the time before the Purge to draw upon but I must seek answers outside myself. In an effort to learn what I can, I have asked Lord Geoffrey to bring the last ten years' worth of records pertaining to the arrest, trial, conviction and execution of any magic-user. Bear in mind that this record will include information on people who had already lived here during the first ten years of the Purge. They would have been well aware of the consequences of having magic in Camelot yet made the choice to make a life here anyway. Lord Geoffrey, please read aloud the records."
He opened the thick volume beside him.
And so it began, a rehearsal of only a very small part of the injustices suffered by my people. A horrifying litany of shame.
"Gertrude, washerwoman, age 37, convicted of placing so-called protection charms over the cradle of an infant, death by fire.
Elizabetha, age 9, made figures appear in smoke, no trial, death by fire.
Belinda, mother of Elizabetha, accused of sorcery by association, no trial, death by fire.
Brian, age 17, accused of using sorcery to seduce the baker's daughter, death by fire.
Aron, age 40, convicted of thievery by sorcery, death by fire.
Mikal of Willowdown, healer, age 44, healed diseased villagers by sorcery, death by fire.
Unknown Druid, no trial, death by beheading.
Gregory, husband of Belinda, father of Elizabetha, unknown age, attempted to assassinate the king, death by the sword.
George the silversmith, age 36, convicted of using magic in his craft, death by fire.
Edith, unknown age, convicted of using sorcery to produce more abundant crops, death by the pyre.
Ellen, age 15, convicted of attempting to use magic poultices to heal her mother, death by beheading.
Kent, age 50, innkeeper, accused of aiding a sorcerer, no trial, death by hanging.
Merry, age 28, farmer, accused of cursing a neighbor's cow to go dry, death by fire.
Christine, age 21, milkmaid, accused of attempting to heal younger sister's sweating sickness by sorcery, death by fire.
William of Watly, age 19, convicted of smuggling magical artifacts into the city, death by fire.
Colum, age 28, tailor, accused of sorcery, no trial, death by fire.
Little Colum, age unknown, child of Colum, no trial, death by drowning.
Crissa, age 13, exhibited signs of magic, death by beheading.
Unknown Druids, 5 in number, entered the city for supplies, no trials, death by fire.
Catharine, age unknown, seamstress, convicted of using healing charms to recover from the pox, death by fire.
Warren of Munford, village headman, age 59, convicted of setting so-called protective wards around his village, death by fire."
On and on it went until I felt I could endure no more. Surely my weakness was an insult to those who had perished, I thought. Guilt lay heavy upon me.
"Liam, age unknown, convicted of paralyzing victims using sorcery to accomplish banditry, death by fire.
Michael, age 7, seen moving objects by magic, death by beheading.
Ethan, age 62, cloth merchant, convicted of using sorcery to defend his traveling companions from bandits, death by fire.
Adam of Eaton, age 33, accused of sorcery, no trial, death by fire.
Jody, age 11,.."
"Enough," I groaned. "Enough. How many cases in the records I requested?"
"Hundreds, Sire."
"How many in total from the start of the purge?"
"Thousands, my Lord. It wasn't ever calculated exactly but there are three more volumes like this one containing records of the first ten years."
"So many didn't even have trials," I lamented.
"Sire, it is admittedly distasteful to hear such things but your father was protecting us all.." began Mellet.
"From banditry and depredations, yes, I can understand, but how do you explain dealing out death for mere hear-say, child's play, healing, protection and making gardens grow?"
"Magic corrupts.."
"No more than any other power as far as I have seen."
"But, Sire! Magic is different. It is unnatural and corrodes every soul it touches!"
"The evidence does not support such an extreme conclusion, sir! It does not withstand examination by rational thought!" I answered back. Hadn't they been listening? Fenmore obviously hadn't gone to the trouble of thinking about what he'd heard. No problem. I could spell it out for him. "An elderly man of 62 years had surely lived long enough to be corrupted but still, at that age, risked revealing himself in order to save his companions. A village headman of similar age seeking to protect his village? A 40-something year old healer sacrificing himself to save an entire village from disease? All selfless acts. And speaking of healers, what of the Druids? They have the reputation of being a peaceful people. If they were as corrupted as you insinuate, they would have repeatedly attacked us. Instead, they are known as gentle people, healers. No, my lords, it does not add up. These actions speak of selflessness not evil. I fear that, in endeavoring to protect his people, my father was not entirely rational in his dispensation of justice. We all knew that he was deeply stricken by the death of my mother at the hands of magic. I loved him but I believe that, in regards to matters of magic, he was personally compromised and his decisions were emotionally driven."
"Your father was a strong ruler, Sire. It is a heavy thing to be king. He did what he thought he had to," said Ordwin.
"Yes. He did. And yes, it is a very heavy thing to be king. But, my Lords, I too must do as I see right. I cannot rule in this matter as he did. I cannot punish someone who has not harmed another. Fear does not inspire justice."
"Your father's fear, as you put it, Sire, saved us many times from the worst .." began Fenmore.
"My father's fear condemned this land to war against its own people!"
"The Lady Morgana is a prime example of why your father took the measures he did, Sire!" he argued.
"On the contrary, the Lady Morgana is a prime example of the result of his actions. If she had felt understanding and acceptance do you honestly think she would have turned on us as she did? Do you remember how she fought this injustice even before her magic made itself known? She was a magnificent champion of compassion and tolerance. When magic manifested itself in her, she was terrified. Who wouldn't have been? To have grown up under my father's hand, seeing people like herself treated like monsters and sent to their deaths whether wrong had been committed or no. She was afraid, my Lords. Afraid, desperate and alone. Like a cornered animal. Fear is what changed her. And, gentlemen, fear destroys. It destroyed my father, it destroyed my sister and it is still at work attempting to destroy this kingdom. I am asking you to turn away from the fears that have driven us and to have the courage to accept the truth and face our mistakes honestly."
"I will speak honestly then, my Lord," responded Lord Ordwin. "I presume the actions of the sorcerer at Camlann are what have prompted your change in attitude toward magic. Is it not weakness to change our laws based on the actions of one man, as though we feared having him as an enemy instead of a purported ally."
"Purported, sir? Because of him, I as well as hundreds of our men have returned alive and well. But no. His actions may have spurred me to think and consider carefully but my conclusions are based on serious reflection and on the evidence you just heard from our own court records."
"And what exactly are your conclusions then, my Lord?"
"That the law punishing magic is unjust and must be abolished."
Silence.
I had not meant to state it so baldly, to move so quickly toward removal of the ban. I knew it would take time to win over hearts and minds. And yet, they had pushed me and I had revealed all my mind.
"You think that I do this for that man either out of a sense of gratitude or perhaps fear but this is not the case. I do it because it is right. Gentlemen, the question before us is simple: is it right to punish someone who has done no harm?" I let the question linger in the air as I looked at each one of them. "Is it right to punish someone who has done no harm?" I repeated. "My conscience says no. I must therefore abolish this law because it was erroneously established. I can no longer condone it now that my eyes are opened. I will have justice, my Lords, for all people in my kingdom! When justice is equally dispensed, there is room for mercy. And I dare say, those innocents who've never harmed another but who've suffered our harshest persecution for simply having magic would consider true justice itself a great mercy!"
I frowned at the council and gave them all time to think about it.
I heard a tiny sniff and I couldn't help it. I had to glance over at Merlin who surreptitiously and somewhat disgustingly used his sleeve as a handkerchief before affixing his moist gaze on the ceiling.
My conscience suddenly stung. If the preceding hour had been difficult for me, how torturous must it have been for him. I knew he felt responsible for Morgana's feelings of loneliness and betrayal. I knew he felt the weight of the expectation and disappointment of every Druid who'd been waiting for him to accomplish his destiny since before he was even born. I knew his gentle spirit would be wracked with sorrow at the fates of the innocent. He should never have come to the council and been made to bear it all while standing off to the side holding a ridiculous pitcher of wine. He looked utterly wrung out.
I felt such a fool.
I wanted to relieve his suffering but dared not draw attention to his indisposition.
"My Lords, in order to give us all time to be clear that this change to the law is based on careful consideration of evidence rather than emotion, I ask the Court Historian to undertake the task of compiling a tally from the last ten years' execution records of every person who received no trial, of every person who used magic for evil, and of those who used magic for apparent beneficent purposes or, in the cases of young children, out of innocence. We will see what conclusions are to be drawn from the numbers. I want to see the cold hard numbers." I turned to Geoffrey who by this time had grown quite hoarse. "How long would such a task require?"
"If I had the help of several clerks, I believe it could be done in five days, your Majesty," he rasped.
"Thank you. I will see that trusted scribes are assigned to aid you. Please send a sealed copy of the tallies to each council member."
It was time to smooth ruffled feathers before sending the birds winging away.
"I wish to thank you, gentlemen. I value the wisdom you bring to this council. I do not want a roomful of 'yes men'. I appreciate it when my view is challenged. And I trust that you have as great a love for Camelot as I. With your help we can have the moral courage to right our wrongs and strengthen our land."
For the most part, they looked thoughtful and concerned, ready to think more than to simply react. It was really all I could hope for at the moment.
"My Lords, I require that this sensitive matter will not be mentioned outside this room. We will meet again tomorrow to discuss other matters of the kingdom but this topic will be tabled for one week. At that time, I wish to hear any new concerns or insights that occur to you as you ponder the information Lord Geoffrey provides. Rest assured that we will thoroughly and thoughtfully discuss the matter before making any changes to the laws. Council dismissed."
I watched the men shuffle from the room but stayed in place at the head of the table and signaled Merlin to bring the wine. As soon as he was near I took the pitcher from his hands, filled my goblet and gave it to him with an apology.
"I'm sorry. I should've anticipated.. Just take the rest of the day off."
"I'm fine," he protested predictably.
"No, you're not. I'm not either for that matter but I doubt it would give you much relief to follow me to the training field and watch me hack at the dummies with a 'sharp pointy stick' as you usually put it."
He dredged up a small smirk that quickly dissipated.
"Arthur—What you said ..at the end.. about justice and mercy.."
"Yes?"
"I couldn't have written a better speech, myself."
I punched his arm lightly and left.