Chapter 14

A Week After the Battle of Badon Hill…

Merlin held out a goblet and walked through a row of torch-bearing woads to Arthur and Guinevere. Guinevere raised the goblet to her mouth and drank. She passed the goblet to Arthur. Arthur raised the goblet to his lips and drank while looking solemnly at Guinevere. Both turned to look at Merlin.

"Arthur. Guinevere. our people are one..." Merlin said, nodding slightly, "...as you are."

Arthur and Guinevere kissed and the crowd broke out in cheers.

"Now I'm really going to have to marry your mother," Bors said as he held one of his bastard babies.

Vanora rolled her eyes while reaching for the baby. "Who said I'd have ya?" she retorted, causing Lillian to cover her mouth in attempt to stifle her laughter.

Merlin, still holding torch loftily looked at Arthur, "Hail King Arthur!"

The crowd cheers and follows suit yelling, "Hail Arthur!"

Merlin knelt, everyone following suit soon after.

"Let every man, woman, child bear witness that from this day, all Britons will be united in one common cause," Arthur said thrusting Excalibur toward the sky.

everyone thrust his or her fists in the air as they yelled, "Arthur! Arthur! Arthur!"

Bors drew his sword, "Artorius!" he yelled saluting Arthur with his sword.

Tristan, Dagonet, Gawain and Galahad also saluted Arthur with their swords. Guinevere wrapped her hand around Excalibur's hilt so both she and Arthur were holding it. They then signaled to the woads. Woads shot off flaming arrows across the cliff into a water source.

One Month After the Battle of Badon Hill…

Merlin and Ninianne smiled at the couple before them as she handed Lillian's ring to Tristan.

"With this ring, pledge your troth," she instructed.

Tristan looked into Lillian's eyes as he spoke, "I give you my love and my hand, for you are my beloved, the keeper of my heart."

Merlin looked at Lillian and handed her Tristan's ring. "With this ring, pledge your troth," he repeated.

"I give you my love and my hand, for you are my beloved, the keeper of my heart," Lillian said, her face shining in the sun with happiness and the new life that had begun to grow in her womb.

"Hold to your pledge," Ninianne said, "for such a vow is not given lightly. Honor each other in all ways."

"Hold to you pledge," Merlin continued, "for such a vow is not given lightly. Walk the path of the Old Ones together, and Their light will always guide you."

As the Lord and the Lady join in the Sacred Marriage, so does this couple. Blesséd Be," Ninianne consecrated the wine.

"By the power of the Goddess granted to me by Her as Her earthly representative, I declare to all here that this couple is joined in marriage, Blesséd Be," Merlin continued.

Ninianne handed the chalice to Lillian and Tristan saying, "This symbolic joining of athame and chalice seals your vows."

Lillian sipped the wine then handed the chalice to Tristan who sipped as well. Tristan then placed the chalice back onto the altar.

Merlin smiled at the couple, "Now is a time of rejoicing with our friends. Let us celebrate this happy occasion, for the Goddess and the God are honored by joy and love," he proclaimed.

The crowd, including Bors and his family, Dagonet and his adopted son Lucan, Gawain, Galahad, and their King and Queen, Arthur and Guinevere, erupted into applause and shouts of joy before everyone began filing into the courtyard for the reception afterwards.