Chapter 12 [Not Far Away]
[A/N: Yet another of Chretien's characters makes her debut in my stories. Lunette and Laudine (mentioned only) are from Ywain.]
Merlin blinked his eyes. The spots and blurring gradually settled back into focus. His boots had settled onto the ground once again. His hand braced against a nearby oak. Breeze wafted against his skin…
…fighting clanged in his ears….
"Where is this?" Ywain drew his sword. He tensed as if ready for a fight. "Malodius?"
The lion recognized the border area. He saw crimson clad knights bearing down on that boundary from the wrong side. Wind carried a scent toward his nostrils…a familiar one….
…the scent of she under his charge exiled or not….
Princess Mithian…Sir Galahad….
He sprinted off in that direction.
"Malodius!" Josiane spat an Arabic curse. "He's not that rash usually!" She stepped back onto her carpet and took off toward the bridge.
"You might get your bearings, Young Warlock. I believe we are needed." Kilgarrah assumed.
"I can see that." Sarcasm flavored Merlin's reply. "See if you can help. I'll be right there!" He rushed toward the fight.
"As you wish." Kilgarrah flapped his wings and soared toward the fray.
"Come on, Ywain!" Merlin ran up the road and toward the developing fray.
[Bridge]
The Cawdorian patrol galloped hard up the road. Their scouts' reports proved accurate. For most of that day, they'd shadowed the Nemethian procession. Their pursuing horses rode but a half league from the targets through the forests. The ambush party waited just yards from the river.
Perfection ensnared Mithian and her escort in their net.
Four of their best knights dealt with Nemeth's guards and sacked the camp. Their blades sliced through Defenders' numbers akin to Scythe's sweep through Wheat. Screams punctuated the night. Blood soaked that camp ground. Looting would soon be underway.
A burly man mountain bore down on his horse's back. His hair ran every which way. Oil and Sweat slicked his beard against his chin. Gray eyes scanned the darkening woods.
Galahad's white horse stood out against the dimming daylight.
He curled his lip. Anger boiled up inside of himself. "Can we not keep them contained? I WANT ALL OF THEIR HIDES!"
The other four knights kept their replies to themselves. They knew better than to respond to Dynwald in self-defense. Instead they pressed onward. Their reins beat against their mounts' necks. Urgency fueled Pursuit's pace in turn.
Galahad crossed the bridge. He pulled up beside a stand of trees twenty yards into Camelot.
"BAH! I WILL SHOW YOU!" Dynwald stopped his horse just shy of the Severn. He jumped down. From his saddle, he grabbed his bow and two arrows. He allowed Galahad to move as he would. He sized up the shot.
The arrows flew from their string. They crossed the river and sliced through the air. They bore down on their target….
…until Galahad was yanked away at the last heartbeat…
"BLOODY HADES! THEY'RE THERE! GET THEM! CHARGE!" Dynwald sprinted toward the bridge.
The other knights urged their horses on. Within a pair of heartbeats, they crossed the river. Sol glinted against their raised blades….
…Shadow darkened the skies overhead….
Kilgarrah's fire cut the Cawdorians' potential retreat off.
Malodius and Josiane bowled right through the Cawdorians' numbers. Scimitar and Claws dispatched Adversaries in short order.
Dynwald spat on the ground. He'd heard of the Nemethians' pet lion. Still the warrior on the flying carpet and the dragon stunned him to say the least. Meleagant will kill us if we fail! He raised his crossbow once more. "COME OUT! I KNOW YOU ARE THERE!"
"Perhaps not." Canary flickered in Merlin's eyes. "Cadal!"
Dynwald blinked. He couldn't distinguish any of Merlin's shadow-enveloped features. His legs wobbled. His shoulders sagged. He wavered on his feet. "NAY! You…Witch!" He fell face first in the mud like a fallen tree.
Merlin shook his head. He leaned over the sleeping knight. "Na diochuimhnich mi." He slowly stood to his full height.
His eye caught something sparkle in Luna's light. What is that? He discovered an intricate golden necklace. Gilt strands interwove in Celtic designs along its length reaching down to an emerald centerpiece. Admiration and Wonder caught the breath in his throat. This has to be from their camp. "He has something here. I wonder…"
"RAISE YOUR HANDS, SIRRAH! I HAVE MY CROSSBOW POINTED AT YOU!" Mithian stepped out from behind the brush. She held her crossbow at the ready.
Malodius bounded toward Merlin. He rubbed up against his side. Then he bowed to Mithian.
"Milady! It is Malodius!" Britomart realized.
"Aye! And me!" Ywain bowed before them. "It is good to see you unharmed, Princess Mithian. Where are our comrades?"
"Ambushed by that one's men, Sir Ywain." Galahad shook his head. "Sir Tristan warned me. We escaped the camp due to his foresight." He extended his hand. "I know the King exiled you. Thank you for your help."
Ywain frowned. "As if I would leave Princess Mithian or you? It is not your fault, Sir Galahad." He shook the other hand. "It is my honor. We should thank Merlin."
"Merlin?" Mithian kept her eyes trained on the warlock in question. "Is that you?"
"Aye. I'm Merlin of Ealdor. I just helped you. Can I turn around at least? I promise I am unarmed." Merlin kept his voice steady. "This Cawdorian had a necklace in his belt. Can I show you that at least?"
Mithian regarded the man in her sights. She didn't know what to make of him. His challenge and a wave of his hand disposed of Meleagant's lieutenant. Moreover, he claimed to have a necklace. "Really?"
"Merlin? Wait! I think I remember you." Britomart turned to Mithian. "Milady! Merlin's that Prince Arthur's servant! He was at Shalott with Camelot's forces."
Galahad narrowed his eyes. "He was?"
"Aye. I remember…" Britomart shuddered. "Milady, I helped Master Gaius stitch the wound and set his arm. I never thought I'd see anyone take a sword thrust and keep the arm." She stepped closer. "Merlin, show us the necklace please."
"Sure. Does she do this to everyone who helps her?" Merlin glanced toward Mithian who still had the crossbow pointing at him.
"Just the ones who sneak around and show magic without identifying themselves. Britomart?" Sharpness bit through Mithian's tone.
"I am showing the necklace." Merlin held it up in front of Britomart.
Britomart gasped. "Milady! That thug had your necklace! Merlin recovered it!"
"That's right. I was going to give it back. I took it from that Cawdorian just before you pointed that at me. Mind lowering it?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. Testiness peppered his tone. "I do not want trouble with Nemeth. My father was a knight."
"Princess, Merlin is Sir Balinor's long lost son." Ywain sheathed his sword. "Look at Malodius."
Mithian noticed Malodius rubbing up beside Merlin. "He is only like that with allies and friends." She lowered her crossbow. "You're a dragon lord?"
"Aye, Milady." Merlin bowed to her. "Pardon me. I would've bowed sooner but…well…. If you hold out your hands, I'll give this back to you."
"I believe I was the one who told you to stand still, Merlin." Mithian regarded Merlin with a keen eye. She held her hands out. "Aye. Please."
"There it is." Merlin placed the golden necklace in the Princess' hands. Then he stepped back and bowed again.
"Queen Taene's necklace!" Galahad stared at Merlin, the necklace and Princess Mithian. "The Cawdorian was going to steal it!"
"And Merlin returned it." Mithian ran the golden strands through her fingers. "And how shall I reward you, Merlin?"
"Reward? Princess, I just did the right thing." Merlin rubbed the back of his neck.
Mithian shook her head. "Britomart, can you pull up my hair?"
"Of course, Milady!" Britomart pulled up Mithian's chocolate brown locks. Approval prompted a nod and a smile in Merlin's direction.
Mithian placed the necklace around her own neck. Her fingers secured the clasp. "There! Now it will not get lost again. Thank you, Britomart." Once again, Merlin's eyes struck a chord within her mind and heart. "I know this may seem like an improper request. Might we see the scar?"
"All right." Merlin took off his jacket. He pulled his shirt's collar back.
Sure enough, the scar along the left shoulder stood out to everyone.
"You received that in the battle?" Galahad arched an eyebrow. "What were you doing on the battlefield?"
"I help just like I did with this knight." Merlin pointed to the sleeping Cawdorian.
"You…help?" Skepticism pushed a cough from Mithian's lungs.
"Prince Kay had his back turned. Meleagant had his sword raised. I…may have played human shield." Merlin grimaced.
"You were the hooded man!" Ywain's jaw slackened. "By the goddess! You saved our King's life!"
"So you have magic and a hero complex." Mithian laughed. "I've heard the rumors. Stories say you follow Prince Arthur and the knights on patrols and such."
"I most certainly do. Someone has to protect Prince Arthur." Merlin bit his lip. Exposure left him feeling positively naked. "I did one other thing at Shalott. Do you remember what turned that battle?"
"Sir Galahad?" Mithian looked to her First Knight.
Galahad shook his head. He struggled to connect the slender unassuming servant with the legendary feats. However Malodius hadaccepted his presence. Ywain had identified Merlin. Kilgarrah looked down at them. Merlin bore the scar. "Aye." He rubbed the back of his neck. "We were badly outmanned, Princess. Cawdor had our armies flanked. We should have been slaughtered. And then…" He shook his head.
"And then what?" Mithian frowned. She detested bards' cliffhangers in their ballads and tales.
"And then the ground shook. Cracks opened in the field. Trees fell around the field. The Cawdorian horses reared and threw their knights. Their formation fell apart. Prince Arthur and Sir Galahad rallied. They charged the Cawdorians. Because of that, we won the field. Meleagant is still bound by that peace agreement with King Rodor and King Uther, Princess." Ywain raised an eyebrow.
Merlin sucked in a deep breath. "Brace yourselves." His eyes flashed again. He slapped the ground anew.
The ground shook. The group lost their footing one by one.
Josiane marveled from her elevated perch atop the flying carpet. "By the Prophet! That is amazing. I have known other sorcerers. That is a feat for the few indeed!"
Merlin muttered another spell. The earthquake ceased. "That's how I did it." He looked to each person. "Aye. I have magic. I use it to help Camelot and my friends. I also have to hide who and what I am because of Uther and his laws." He climbed to his feet. Then he walked over to Mithian. "Might I assist you, Princess?" He bowed once again.
"You most certainly may, Merlin. Thank you." Mithian grinned. As she took his hand, Shock jolted her. She seemed to float rather than stand on her own two feet. Warmth and Giddiness took her. "I will have to think what to do with you."
"Do with…me?" Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"Aye. If you are Prince Arthur's servant then you will be mine as well. He and I are to be married." Mithian felt the word married catch in her throat. Duty called to her mind. Heart however stopped for a beat.
"You and he…are…?" Merlin grimaced. Now Shock seized his thinking. It didn't take much to imagine Uther grasping at straws to tie Arthur down to a diplomatic marriage…any diplomatic marriage. He remembered that Prince…now King Kay took Uther's perspective on many issues during his visits to Camelot for tournaments and diplomatic events.
Now Opportunity seemed to beckon to Uther and Kay both….
Of course Arthur wouldn't be truly happy in the arrangement. His heart would pine for Gwen always. He'd be even more of a Prat to deal with especially after years of George's polishing jokes.
Pragmatism seemed to guide Mithian's course on the other hand. Duty assigned her the course. She followed it…at least on the surface. Still Reticence unsteadied this purpose. For her kingdom and people, she'd marry Arthur. Still, Second Thoughts seemed to be forming.
And then, there was something about Mithian that tugged at Merlin. The softness of the hair. The impetuous smirk. Her caring heart. The fact that she valued him as a human being. For the first time since Freya's death, his heart skipped a beat. His eyes drifted toward hers. He felt himself lost in the dark ebon pools therein. He….
A hand shook him from Reverie and Amor's prospective grasps.
"Merlin? Merlin, are you all right?" Mithian quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Huh? I…Oh!" Merlin stiffened. "Princess? I…" He rubbed his forehead. "What were we talking about?"
Kilgarrah snorted. Princess Mithian just told you that she's engaged to the Young Pendragon. That set off quite an interesting thought process. It seems you like her, Young Warlock.
Dragon! Even thought Merlin is worthy, Princess Mithian has her duty, Malodius disagreed.
We shall see, Great One. We shall see, Kilgarrah rebutted.
Merlin sighed. "Guess that explains why Morgana wanted to have me sacked. King Uther expelled Guinevere and me from Camelot. I do not know what I did. I serve Arthur as best as I can. He does not know about my magic. He cannot know."
"He does not know about your true nature on many levels, Merlin. Did you consider the good that you can do with these people? Uther expelled you. You are your own man now. In Camelot, you hide. In Nemeth, you can be a knight and serve the King and people. I remember Galahad and Ywain. Malodius and I have…met over the past century."
"Besides, according to the Capability Laws, you have more than the three required feats, Merlin. As Balinor's son, his knighthood is yours. You are a noble by birth and right." Mithian sighed. "King Kay may not want to recognize you. He is much like King Uther." She shook her head. "I recognize you, Sir Merlin."
"Princess, I am not…" Merlin denied.
"Merlin, please stop." Mithian put her hand up. "I understand why you hide in Camelot. You do not have to hide any longer. You are more noble than most of our knights. Besides you saved my virtue and life. You could have kept my mother's necklace from me. You returned it and turned down any reward." She smirked at him. "And that is on top of the four life debts my family owes Sir Balinor and you."
"I…" Embarrassment flushed Merlin's face bright red. "I have to serve. Arthur needs me."
Mithian shook her head. "Camelot expels you. Uther would burn you alive for being who you are. And still you wish to serve?" Admiration shook her head. "You are a wonder, Merlin. How I wish I could deny this marriage. I would not risk a war between Camelot and Nemeth."
"Princess!" Incredulity stabbed through Galahad's sensibilities. "You are obligated to Prince Arthur and Camelot!"
Merlin rubbed his forehead again. "I think I better get a fire started. Britomart, can we get some dinner ready for them?"
Mithian cleared her throat. Her eyebrow raised. "You are my guest, Merlin. Nay." She turned back toward the bridge. "We will have to wait until First Light. We will honor the knights. Perhaps we can set up a suitable campsite?"
Or perhaps you might come with me?
"Who said that?" Galahad jumped to his feet. Once more he held his sword at the ready for any fight.
Ywain looked around. "Lunette?"
Mist formed around the small clearing. It flowed to one spot where it became a column.
A slender brunette woman in a blue robe stepped onto the grass. Her piercing eyes looked to each person. "Greetings, Friends. As Sir Ywain has said, I am Lunette."
"Greetings!" Ywain nodded to her. Seriousness and Regret clouded his face. "My King banished Malodius and me from Nemeth. I wanted to set matters right."
"So I have been told." Lunette motioned to another in an emerald robe. A hood obscured the newcomer's features. "She is of the goddess' priestess order. She will guide you to Boeve's castle. There you shall find rest. Sir Ywain, come. Lady Laudine requires her husband's company."
"Husband?" Mithian approached her. "Sir Ywain, you are married to this Lady Laudine? Then why did you not tell Father, Kay or me? She is certainly welcome at our court."
Lunette bowed to Mithian. "Milady will appreciate that, Princess Mithian. I fear as the Mistress of the Fountain, she would not be so welcome in Nemeth or Camelot for that matter. I understand you need his sword. She'd like her husband home more often. Perhaps we might find a mutually agreeable solution, Milady?"
Mithian shrugged. "If I was in that position, I would agree. Please let your mistress know that I would do what I could."
"For the moment, aye. However, one can never tell…." Lunette took Ywain's hand. "We shall return in two days' time. You are to rest with Count Boeve at his castle. The ones known as Guinevere and Morgana are already there. Until then, my Friends." She bowed again and disappeared with her knight in tow.
The hooded figure bowed to them. A single finger pointed toward the mist.
"That is the way to my beloved's castle?" Josiane followed the other's cue.
The hooded guide allowed only a nod. She stepped back and motioned into the mist.
"I will go first." Merlin strode into the mist.
"Merlin! What is he…?" Mithian clenched her teeth. "Does he care about his own safety at all?"
"Usually not, Princess," Kilgarrah snarked.
I heard that! Merlin stuck his head back out of the mists. "This really does go to Boeve's castle. Follow me!"
"We really need to talk about your rashness, Merlin." Mithian followed him into the mists.
Seeing their cue, the others followed as well.
Short Cuts proved helpful….