The next morning, Emogen awoke to a breathtaking sight. Her lover and future-fiancée-to-be was leaning over her with a look so pure in his eyes it caused her eyes to mist over.
"Hey, what's with those tears? Aren't you happy to see me?" he asked teasingly as he gently rubbed the skin under her eye. She smiled and as she placed her arms around his strong shoulders, they heard, "Lady Peace! Lady Peace! You are being summoned to the Council Hall! Come immediately!"
She sighed warily, dropped her arms, and called back, "I shall be there in a few minutes! Carry on with your summons!" "Yes, My Lady of Peace!" cried the voice. She looked into Lancelot's deep brown eyes and said, "Well, here I go." Lancelot smiled at her and said soothingly, "Don't worry. We WILL have fun today. I promise. Also, I shall be stuck there too as Arthur's bodyguard with Tristran again, so you have mine AND his support too." She smiled up at him with more cheer than before, and said as she huffed and pushed him off her, "Now, get off of me! I can't go walking into the Council Hall looking like this and dressed in what I am!" Lancelot grinned mischievously at her and asked, "I see nothing wrong with it."Emogen rolled her eyes as her hand ran down her bare chest and said, "Somehow, I didn't think you would."
Lancelot rolled off her and let her go. She huffed again, but quickly pulled out another one of her dresses from her chest of drawers. This time is was a hunter green color that had silver swirls over it. When she pulled it over her head, Lancelot gasped. It was a beautiful dress that seemed to be made especially for her. The swirls were eye-catching and dazzling. Her black curly hair was pulled up into a half-ponytail and her tiara was set on top of her hair to cushion the embedded line that would surly appear on her delicate skin thanks to the metal being made a hair's width smaller than her head. She ran by him and he languidly put his arm out. He effortlessly caught her in his embrace and kissed her once again. When he looked at her response, he smiled to himself. She had a dazed look about her. After a minute, she came to and lightly whacked him the shoulder. She gave him a look that said I'll deal with you later and ran for the Council Hall.
When she was gone, he stretched and pulled on his tunic and breeches. He blinked twice and swore. He quickly pulled on his boots, strapped his swords to his back, and ran towards the hut Arthur was staying in. He was an idiot sometimes! Arthur would have been informed late last night or early this morning! His friend was no doubt having fits over this!
He was right. When he arrived, in the clearing where his friends and fellow Knights had stayed the night, he found Tristran and Arthur already in a full body contact fight. He frowned.
"Arthur! It's time to go! You can yell at me while we walk slowly towards the Council Hall." He ordered as he pulled on his friend's black cape. Arthur over balanced and tipped over. Tristran relaxed his stance and nodded tiredly. That surprised Lancelot because Tristran is not one to show his exhaustion. Then he remembered that his scouting friend had been wounded badly like him not only a few days ago and he was pushing himself to hard to early. Which brought him back to the topic at hand: Guinevere and Cordelia.
Arthur glared at him, but complied as they journeyed across the Woad settlement.
"Lancelot, tell me, did Guinevere really try to kill Cordelia?" asked Arthur in a voice full of disbelief.
Lancelot sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He nodded.
"But why?" he asked. His once commander and eternal friend didn't even bother trying to hide his emotions during this question. Lancelot shrugged. That was one question he could not answer. Once thing was for sure, Guinevere was in deep trouble. When they arrived at the hall, Arthur had (thankfully) regained his calm outer façade.
When they arrived, Merlin, Merkin, and Duncan were all standing and yelling as loudly as possible at one another. Cordelia and Emogen were sitting in their chairs and rubbing their temples in an attempt to push the on-coming headaches away.
When they stepped inside, Arthur frowned and yelled, "SILENCE!"
All three men froze and stared at the half-Roman half-Briton. Emogen and Cordelia smiled at them and Emogen nodded in approval.
She stood up and said, "Now, gentleman, perhaps now would be a good time to regain our patience and await the arrival of Guinevere, Lady of War."
Merkin snorted but sat down. Duncan nodded in understanding and Merlin nodded regally and followed suit. When the two Knights sat down, Briac, Druidius, and Connor entered and Briac immediately announced, "I reclaim my vote for Seamus. I shall support Arthur in the role of Kingship."
Arthur blinked in shock.
Emogen could tell he was ready to pinch himself to be sure, but he caught himself and turned to her. She smiled and nodded slightly. She thought to herself I told you!
He nodded back and said nobly, "I thank you for your support Lord Briac. It is most helpful. I shall try not to betray the faith you have in me."
The old man, Briac, nodded in somber understanding and remained silent. The hall remained very quiet. So quiet in fact, that none of the gathered people missed Tristran's entrance.
He raised an eyebrow and said dryly, "Well, that's a first."
Lancelot, Cordelia, Arthur, and Merlin couldn't help themselves. They started laughing. The other leaders just stared at them, but remained politely silent. Emogen could tell that Merkin was getting antsy though because he was shifting in his seat and was fingering his throwing axe. Emogen met Lancelot and Tristran's gaze and then looked to her uncle. Both men followed her line of sight.
Tristran's voice echoed eerily in the silent hall, "If you even think about harming Guinevere before her fate is declared, you'll have to deal with me."
Merkin gulped but Emogen knew he'd obey the younger man. She cast her gaze upon her cousin and frowned. Cordy doesn't look any better than I feel. She thought. This was bad. I can't believe Guin…no…Guinevere has done this! Now Cordelia is automatically queen. How could she attack her own flesh and blood? We grew up together! Hell! Cordy and Guin's birthdays are on the same day! Why can't they go back to how they used to act like before all the competition between them started up. Now this council will decide her fate: death or banishment?
When she finished that thought, Galahad and Gawain entered the hall-Guinevere was in between them. She was glaring at everyone-especially Cordelia and herself. She was also bound hand and foot by chains and rope.
Merlin stood up and said slowly and with great importance, "Brothers, today we are to discuss the future of our people's princess. In an act of selfishness, my daughter, Princess Guinevere of the Woads, accidentally attempted to send our fellow Princess, Cordelia, to a watery end. This was clearly an accident made during one of their childish fights. Please, I implore you, do not make a hasty decision."
Merkin snorted and said, "I'll do no such thing! Your precious Guinevere has always been the most important one in our family Merlin! Now, it's my daughter's time! I demand that Guinevere's head belong to Cordelia by sunset TONIGHT!"
Emogen sighed. She had foreseen this and was ready to combat it.
"Dear Lord Merkin, calm yourself please. We are not here to discuss Cordelia's heirloom. Her position as Queen has been assured because of Lady Guinevere's actions last night. What we are here to do, is decide whether or not Guinevere's punishment should equal her crime or to show her mercy."
Merkin glared at her, but she did not rise to the bait. She was too tired for that.
Merkin sat back down and Arthur asked, "What would her mercy be?"
Cordelia sighed and said, "Her mercy would be to have her hair cut off, her war paint taken away, her war tattoos as Lady would be seared off, and she would be banished from our lands with nothing but the clothes on her and a small bag of food. If she returns, her head will be removed and placed up on a high tree for all to see what become of betrayers."
Lancelot nodded. It seemed like an ordinary banishment for betrayers and traitors.
Duncan added, "Plus, she'll have to give up her title, her lands, and her royal accessories and hand them over to the next in line for the thrown, Emogen."
Emogen glared at her father. Now was not the time to get into this!
Merlin jumped to his feet in anger. Merkin did too. Emogen groaned and sank into her seat-too late!
"My families heirlooms will NOT go to your daughter, Emogen! She is not apart of the tribe any longer, and as such, she is no longer a contender for the crown!" roared Merlin as he pointed a finger at Duncan, her father.
"Merlin! For once in your life, FOLLOW THE BLOODY LAWS YOU HELPED TO ESTABLISH!" yelled Merkin back as he joined her father in trapping Merlin within his words. Emogen glanced at Cordelia. Cordelia was glaring at something or rather SOMEONE at this very moment. She didn't need to be a seer to know who she was loathing at-Guinevere. Emogen cast her gaze upon her cousin. She had to quickly calm herself because Guinevere was smirking at the disarray and chaos that had occurred due to her childish antics. She met Guinevere's eyes and was startled to see the superiority in her cousin's brown/amber eyes. She planned it this way! She gasped in shock.
Arthur and Lancelot amazingly enough heard her and with their eyes asked if she was all right. She absently nodded back and tilted her head in thought. If this chaos was the reason for Guinevere's plan, what is her goal? Cordelia still remains Queen and even now, Arthur's support circle is growing. Our father's are fighting and the other three leaders' are just sitting there and watching them with an obsessive light in their eyes. Then her eyes widened It couldn't be! She looked outside at the position of the sun. It is!
She gasped and yelled, "All of you, QUIET!"
Immediately all the men, silenced themselves and Cordelia looked at her curiously.
She sighed in relief and said snarkly, "Merlin and Guinevere almost played us up as fools."
At the groups' lost look, she added, "Look at the time Uncle, father, cousin. What time is it?"
All three looked outside and gasped. The Knights did too. Emogen couldn't believe that she had forgotten that the Silent Knight was there for protection.
Her eyes brightened as she asked, "Would you care to hold our prisoner, Tristran?"
He tipped his head in acknowledgement and placed a strong unmovable hand on Guinevere's much smaller arm. Gawain and Galahad took a step into the hut from their position by the door as well. Her cousin's glare turned into that of a poisonous snake that wanted to truly disembowel her and eat her entrails.
"Gen, not to be a smart-aleck but it IS getting close to midday and we've yet to come to a suitable conclusion to this situation."
Emogen smiled proudly at her cousin and said, "Exactly."
Arthur shook his head and said slowly, "I maybe new to this situation, but that sounded clearly enough to be mud, Emogen."
Lancelot nodded, but his eyes did not stray from her person. Which was a good thing because it made her feel safe and confident.
"Well, as tradition states, the accused has the right to defend themselves during the first twenty-four hours. If they fail to do so, the charges are placed upon the accused without preamble. OR, if the Council fails to hand out justice, then the accused is free to go with honor and all his or her standings and titles are regained!"
The Picts froze and Merkin glanced outside in horror again! In a frenzy of shouting and hitting, Arthur finally had enough.
"SILENCE THIS INSTANT!" he roared finally releasing his tight hold of calmness.
He turned to Guinevere, shook his head, and said calmly but strongly, "I think it would be okay to assume that all here, with the exception of Merlin, wish Guinevere to receive some kind of punishment-correct?"
The council nodded.
Arthur nodded back and said, "Then here it is, if you want to contest it, go ahead, but keep in mind, we have only ten minutes left before she is free once more…Guinevere, you shall be henceforth banished from these shores. You cannot step foot in Briton at all. Your name will be erased from the family archive and all your Woad accessories will be taken and distributed to both Cordelia and Emogen. If you comes back to Briton, for whatever reason, you will be hunted down and killed."
Duncan chuckled and said, "It's perfect! It's about time Merlin and Guinevere get their plans screwed with! They need to be brought down from their ego-highs."
Merlin glared at Arthur she saw, but his shoulder dropped seconds later. She knew that Merlin knew that this was probably the best mercy Guinevere would receive and a part of her felt badly about it. But when she looked into Guinevere's dark smoldering black-brown eyes, that tiny part quickly vanished.
She sighed. Now, for the official part of all this.
She stood up and said regally, "Guinevere, Daughter of Merlin, Son of Robert, and Daughter of Aidia, Daughter of Cerwen, you are henceforth banished from these lands. Your Lady of War accessories will be apprehended and your titles shall be taken away. No long are you a Lady of War but a simple traveling warrior. Your royal blood means nothing, and nothing you say will return to you the honor in which you lost when you attempted to murder your cousin, Lady of War-Princess Cordelia, Daughter of Merkin, Son of Brent and Daughter of Kornelia, Daughter of Cerwen. Should you ever return to these shores, your life is forfeit and may the Goddess have mercy on your soul, for we will not. Here in this council, I, the Lady of Peace-Princess Emogen, Daughter of Duncan, Son of Herdic and Daughter of Etain, Daughter of Cerwen, command it! SO MOTE IT BE!"
Cordelia stood up and said strongly, "I, Lady of War-Princess Cordelia, Daughter of Merkin, Son of Brent and Daughter of Kornelia, Daughter of Cerwen, seconds this punishment. Those apposed?"
Only Merlin raised his hand, and he did so grudgingly because he had to admit the facts. His daughter attempted a terrible offense.
"All in favor?" continued Cordelia.
Immediately the eight other people in the room raised their hands and said, "Aye!"
Cordelia stood straighter and said, "Then I, Cordelia, Daughter of Kornelia hereby take up my mother's mantle as Queen! As my first order of business, send her to the pits! Sear off her Lady of War tattoos and then send her on her journey."
Gawain and Galahad, who had remained perfectly straight and quite by the door, bowed once and said, "As you wish My Queen."
They moved to Tristran and changed places with him. They tightened their grip on the still bound Guinevere and pulled her out of the Council Hall. When the ex-pict princess was gone, the entire room sighed in relief. Well, she thought to herself that's ONE problem solved! But, what's Lancelot thinking of? For indeed, the First Knight was thinking about something. But, this time, it wasn't anything perverted or serious.
He glanced up and stated firmly, "We are calling a recess now. This has been a stressful day and it's just past midday. Plus, we're all hungry and irritable. Let's reconvene again in two days to discuss the points from yesterday's meeting. That way, we can meet once again with clear and unbiased thoughts and actions."
Arthur smiled lightly and said, "I agree. This has been a trying time for everyone here. Please, go, eat and enjoy the rest of the day."
Briac, Duncan, Druidius, Connor, and Merlin did as they were told without complaint. Merkin had to be…encouraged…by his daughter to leave the hall though. But, he finally did leave. When he did, the Knights and the Ladies sighed in relief.
As Tristran joined them at the table, he said, "Should I go get Ula? You all look like you need a good Healer."
They just stared at him like he was crazy.
He looked up from his apple, which he was currently carving out to eat, and asked curiously, "What?"
Arthur shook his head and said, "I do know this, if I become King, I am making sure that all people are tried equally with an unbiased jury. I can't help but feel that Guinevere never had a chance to defend herself."
Emogen smiled. Arthur was definitely the man they needed as King.
She nodded as Cordelia said, "You're right, she wasn't. But that's how the laws work here. I hope to change those too with my husband's help."
Arthur and Cordelia were staring at one another and Lancelot and herself were grinning like stupid fools, but they didn't care! Arthur and Cordelia both had dark lives because of the absence of love. If they found love together while creating a brand new world full of equality and fairness, all the better!