Chapter
Five: Deception
It was two days until Meridyth was allowed
out of bed. Within those two days she had been visited by over fifty
men. Each one tried to impress her one way or another, until Gawain
appeared and dragged the out of the room. In the two days she was
forced to remain in bed Meridyth had grown restless and grouchy.
When she was permitted to leave her rooms she leapt on the
opportunity. She dressed herself quickly and braided her hair before
Eirian could change her mind. She flew out the door, narrowly missing
a group of servants. She bolted down the hall before being stopped by
Gawain.
"Hold it! What's your hurry?" he asked
calmly. Meridyth sighed and pushed back some stray hair.
"I
want to get outside before I go insane from being kept inside!"
she replied quickly. Gawain nodded and instead of letting her go, he
turned her around and began to push her towards the conference hall.
"Well, you're going to have to wait. Galahad's requested
an emergency meeting in the conference hall and you aren't skipping
it, " replied Gawain. Meridyth groaned and allowed him to
continue pushing her for if she were given the chance to walk it
wouldn't be toward the conference hall. They were the last to arrive
in the hall that housed the legendary round table. Arthur, Guinevere,
and Bors sat at the table. Meridyth and Gawain joined the, Meridyth
fidgeting in her seat. Galahad was the only one who stood and before
him laid several letters.
"You may start, Galahad,"
Arthur said calmly. Galahad nodded and picked up a letter.
"For
the past two days I've been intercepting letters from Aneira to a
rebel leader," he began. "Each letter contains several
pieces of information on the surrounding walls and entrances to the
castle. The most recent letter talks about a plan to attack the
castle. Yet the point of the attack is to distract us, the soldiers
and such, from the main point. Aneira intends to lead a small group
of rebels into the castle and kidnap someone and hold them until
Arthur agrees to return all the lands he supposedly took from the
rebels.
"When the agreement occurs Aneira intends to kill
the hostage anyway." He glanced around the table, noting the
grim expressions that appeared on everyone's faces.
"Who
do they intend to kidnap?" Bors asked. Galahad lowered his head
as he answered. He had spent the last two nights worrying over that
small fact.
"Meridyth." Meridyth's eyes widened and
she frowned.
"Why me?" she asked, clearly as confused
and surprised as everyone else.
"Aneira believes you are
in some way related to Arthur," he replied. Meridyth smile then
laughed.
"That proves she's an idiot, doesn't it?"
she said with a giggle. Galahad didn't return her smile or laugh with
her, merely because he was worried for her. Who knew what horrible
things Aneira was capable of? She had already tried to poison
Meridyth as well as knock her off her horse and force her down a
hill. Aneira used her appearance as a way to gain trust
and faith then making her move within the chaos that she had created
among the male dominated fields.
"What do you propose we
do, then?" Arthur asked. Galahad grew serious once more and
cleared his throat.
"Well," he began again," I
think we should pretend as if we know nothing and allow it to happen.
Aneira assumes Meridyth is a mere lady of the court and unable to
fend for herself. The group will have to enter the wall using the
north gate, which will be unguarded due to the fact that the main
rebel army will attack the south gate.
"They will then
have to get into the castle which should be easy because all the
soldiers will be needed to fend off the rebels. They will capture
Meridyth, most likely when she's asleep. Then they will exit using
the north gate.
"Now, in order to stop them with few
casualties, I think we should have a small group of men wait in the
northern forest. Guinevere and Gawain will lead the group. We will
then capture the rebels and hold them in the castle until the battle
is finished. After they have been taken in the castle Guinevere and
Meridyth will position themselves on the south wall with the group of
archers who will be waiting in the stables.
"They will
then take out the rebel leaders. The rebels are mere farmers, so they
expect to be told what they must do. If their leaders are taken out
then they won't know what to do."
Galahad looked at
Arthur who had begun to smile. His slight nod signified that he
approved. A sudden sigh from Meridyth caught everyone's
attention.
"I suppose me going out to practice my archery
is simply out of the question, right?" she said miserably.
Gawain patted her hand and nodded.
"Do you know when they
want to attack?" asked Guinevere. Galahad nodded.
"Tonight,"
he replied. Meridyth sighed and stood up.
"Does this mean
I have to go back to my room and feign weakness?" she asked to
no one in particular.
"Yes, that would be wise. We must
pretend as though it is a normal day. Gawain I want you to organize
the archers and the group in the forest. Meridyth, tell your maid
about this. Have her light a candle in your bedroom window once she's
seen Aneira exit the castle for the second time," Arthur
instructed. Gawain and Meridyth left, Meridyth to her chambers and
Gawain to the barracks. The king and queen headed to the throne room
to listen to droning advisors, as they did every morning. Galahad
sighed and gathered the letters and threw them into the fire, in case
Aneira chose to snoop. He then left the room and halted suddenly when
he saw Meridyth waiting for him.
"I thought you were in
your rooms, he said finally. She shrugged slightly and moved closer
to him. She was still pale, but the same fire burned inside her as
before.
"I want to know why you read her letters,"
she said simply. Galahad inclined his head in understanding.
"She
was the one, who poisoned you, and I wanted to know what else she
planned to do," came his also simple reply. Meridyth remained
silent as they walked to her rooms. Galahad glanced at her briefly,
noticing the sparks in her eyes and the color in her cheeks.
"I
see. Is she to die for treason?"
"She is bound by
the same laws as you and I."
"Good," Meridyth
said fiercely. Galahad gazed at her quietly for a few seconds, noting
the anger that had begun to color her cheeks.
"Does she
deserve to die?" he asked quietly. His question caused Meridyth
to stop suddenly. She looked at him with hardened eyes. Galahad
watched her knuckles grow white as her fists grew tighter.
"Did
my father deserve to die? Did Tristan or Dagonet? She deserves to die
more than those who have! If not death than what punishment does she
deserve?" Meridyth asked Galahad angrily, yet her voice remained
soft. She pushed past Galahad and continued to her rooms, anger
controlling her every move.
Galahad watched her storm off, her
words echoing in his head. He sighed as he continued to his own
chambers.
Meridyth did as she was told and explained the
situation to Eirian. The maid cursed Aneira several times and
complained about letting her kidnap Meridyth before she swore to do
as she was told. Meridyth thanked her and then asked her to tell
everyone who wanted to speak with her to leave for she was sleeping.
Technically it was true, but she wasn't asleep.
Meridyth lay
in her bed staring at the ceiling. Her mind was caught on the
question Galahad had asked her. Aneira deserved to be punished for
her crimes, but death seemed too good for her. Meridyth then though
of the many farmers and men who made up Aneira's rebel army. Did they
deserve to die? They were manipulated by Aneira and her company, they
deserved to return to their families and villages, not meet their end
in a battle they were not destined to win.
Meridyth blinked
and turned in her bed restlessly. She pushed herself into a sitting
position and buried her face in her hands. She jumped slightly when
Eirian opened the door suddenly.
"Sorry, Lady. Sir
Galahad is here to speak with you," she murmured. Meridyth
moaned and stood slowly. She pushed her hair from her face and
sighed. Galahad was the last person she wished to see as the
afternoon faded into evening. She opened the door slightly and peered
into the outer chamber.
Galahad stood by the fireplace,
resting his arm on the mantle and his head on his forearm. Meridyth
watched him silently as she slipped out of her doorway and silently
moved behind him.
"Um, yes. I wish to speak to you about..." he begun, but was stopped by a finger to his lips. Meridyth stopped his flaw of words and led him into her bedroom.
"It's harder to be overheard in here than out there," she said calmly, noting his confusion. Galahad nodded and sat on the bed. Meridyth leaned against the door and crossed her arms, listening to Galahad with polite interest.
"I wished to speak to you about tonight. I wanted to make sure you're ready. To be honest, I'm nervous," he said. Meridyth looked at him calmly and suddenly smiled. She then walked over to him sat beside him.
"I'm ready; don't worry about me, Galahad. I'm not afraid of the rebels or Aneira," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. He looked at her and noticed she was smiling. He gazed at her with confusion.
"Listen, go back to the outer room while I change for dinner," she said softly. Kissing his cheek equally as soft. He nodded, seeming unfazed by the kiss.
After he left her room, she shut the door again and changed. She slipped out of the midnight blue gown and chose to wear the black gown which seemed appropriate for tonight. Instead of having Eirian braid her hair, Meridyth let it hang loosely. She put on the silver necklace and entered the outer room. Galahad was waiting patiently by the door; his white shirt was loosely laced near the collar.
Galahad nodded in greeting and opened the door for her. She smiled politely and allowed him to follow her out. They began towards the dining hall. Meridyth's hand slipped into Galahad's as they neared the hall. At first there was no response to the sudden movement, but then he squeezed her hand.
When they reached the door Galahad began to release her hand, but she stopped him by placing her other hand on top of his. He turned and looked at her curiously.
"They will think us as lovers," he said.
"So?"
she replied, smiling. Galahad looked at her for a moment then smiled
as well before opening the door. When the crowd in the dining hall
saw her atop the stair they cheered.
Meridyth laughed with
delight as the people continued to cheer as she and Galahad sat down.
Galahad
started to tell Meridyth what she had missed the past two days when
Aneira walked over to them.
"Sir Galahad, would you
please escort me to my rooms," she said seductively. Galahad
looked up at the lovely blonde woman. Gawain looked on, along with
Bors and the king.
"I would love to," Galahad said,
"but I'm afraid I promised Meridyth that I'd be her
escort. She's still quite weak and I don't want anything to happen to
her." Aneira glared at him and stormed out of the hall. Meridyth
tried to hold back the sudden wave of laughter, but failed. When the
laughter subsided she turned to Galahad.
"Was it me or
did she seem cross?" she asked teasingly. Galahad smiled as he
sipped his wine. Gawain nodded as he chuckled. Shortly afterward
Meridyth excused herself, Galahad following her. He walked her to her
chambers and paused at her door.
"Should I go in with
you?" he asked under his breath.
"Aneira's rooms are
further down the hall. She won't leave until the attack. Anyway, I
want you to come in," she whispered in reply. With that she let
him in her rooms and closed the door.