Chapter 30 [Somewhere Over Gaul's Countryside]
Merlin hung onto Kilgarrah's neck. Landscapes swept past his eyes. Clouds passed around and pushed past them. Wind billowed through his hair. Worry and Concern numbed his mind. Doubt sagged down on him. A sideways glance found Josiane staring straight ahead. She steered her carpet. Still Meditation and Contemplation occupied her thoughts.
"It seems she has a great deal on her mind as well. You see? You are not alone, Merlin." Kilgarrah flapped his wings faster. Despite Leagues Passing beneath them, he was just reaching his stride. "We all have our concerns."
"I know that." Merlin looked at her again. Exile, a lost throne. Concern and Amor all contended for her attention. Serenity and Contentment steadied her. Disbelief made it difficult for him to believe her situation. "It helps when people understand."
"Indeed. Your world is expanding, Merlin. It is a good thing," Kilgarrah complimented.
"It helps when one does not feel isolated and alone, Good Dragon." She shrugged. "Boeve is good in that way. He reaches out when few others did before." She pointed to the river below them. "We are following that. It will take us to our destination." She descended through the clouds.
"And that is?" Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"The Gauls' capital, Paris." Kilgarrah followed her path down through the clouds. He and Merlin saw the old Roman city coming closer. "Aye. It still looks much the same. Your father came here."
"Really?" Merlin nodded. He filed that observation away for future use. His eyes took in the Roman marble and granite buildings and their Gallic wooden counterparts. He urged Kilgarrah after her path toward the palace. "She seems to know where she is going."
"She has been here before as well. So have I." Kilgarrah alighted on the dirt under claws. He noted the locals rushing away from them. He braced himself for the blue clad knights rushing toward them.
"Peace, Good Knights, and Greetings!" She rolled her carpet up. "We seek an audience with King Bors! We come on behalf of Camelot and Nemeth!"
"Camelot and Nemeth?" A particular muscular knight strode toward the front of the local knights. He raised his visor. "Princess Josiane? It has been too long, Milady!" He bowed to her. "Bienvenue à Paris."
"Merci, Prince Bors." Courtesy prompted a nod from her as well.
Prince Bors turned toward Merlin. "And your companion? I…Wait! I know you…" He pointed. "You are Prince Arthur's servant! What are you doing on that thing?"
Merlin climbed down. His eyes never left the Prince's even as he bowed. "Kilgarrah is a dragon, Prince Bors."
She shook her head. "Merlin was Arthur's servant. Uther exiled him. Our situation forces him to reveal his true nature. We have learned he is the son of Sir Balinor of Nemeth, the Last Dragon Lord. By order of the late King Rodor and his father, he is a nobleman and knight both by hereditary right! He deserves your respect, Prince Bors! King Bors will recognize his right."
Prince Bors nodded. "Indeed he has told me of the dragon lords. Very well. I will take you to see my father." He turned to his knights. "You will allow the dragon to remain in peace. As long as he does not harm us, we will not harm him." He bowed to Kilgarrah. "I apologize, Kilgarrah. I have one question. Are you the same dragon who bore Balinor at Orleans?"
"I am indeed." Kilgarrah added a nod.
Shock stiffened the Gallic knights. Disbelief slackened jaws and widened eyes.
"Aye. Kilgarrah is an intelligent being." Merlin nodded to his brother.
Thank you, Merlin. Kilgarrah looked to Prince Bors. "Your father, if he was at Orleans, will recall a life debt."
"Indeed he does. And what of the Great Lion? Does he still live?" Prince Bors rubbed his chin. His mind worked over the revelations in his mind.
"Aye. He guards Camelot's southeastern shore with Count Boeve at Hampton Castle." She bore her carpet on her shoulder. "Pardon me. I have my request. Time is short. Invasion is imminent, Prince Bors."
"Invasion? Follow me!" Prince Bors led them into the palace and toward the throne chamber. Astonishment tried to digest how Merlin served Deception's role as well as Uther and Arthur in Camelot. Urgency pressed him down the passage. "Might I call for refreshment while you are with him?"
"Nay. We are fine. Our thanks." Memoria knew the castellans' dress and customs of course. She watched the others' eyes staring at them.
"Of course. We are here." He stopped just short of an open oak door. "Sir Denis?"
"Oui, mon Prince." Denis bowed to Prince Bors. "Your father completed his hearings for the day. We were not aware of guests."
"They but just arrived. I am with them. The King will wish to see these guests." Prince Bors turned to Merlin and her. "I will be right back." He walked into the throne chamber.
Waiting began….
[Throne Room—A Few Heartbeats Earlier]
Dignity had held regard over August assembly on that morning. Justice settled Dispute and Grievance alike between those walls. Knights and Councilors alike observed the process. Defendant and Plaintiff heard Judgment from royal lips.
A man with white and blonde streaked hair reviewed a parchment. His blue eyes reviewed Detail's scope as it pertained to the last case. He turned to a slender man in dark robes. "I am ready, Pierre."
Pierre snuffed out a small candle. "When you are ready, Sire."
The King nodded. He set the document on a small table beside the throne. He waited as Pierre dribbled wax onto the parchment's surface and stepped back. He pressed the seal ring's imprint into the cooling wax. "Make sure that is recorded, Pierre."
"I shall, Sire." Pierre collected the parchment. He slid it into the pile with the others. He saw the Prince stride through the door.
The King nodded. Experience taught him that his son would not return without the matter's resolution. "Wait, Pierre. I wish a second set of ears." He waited for Prince Bors to stop before his throne. "My Son. You have the look of urgency about you."
"Sire." Prince Bors nodded to his father. "There was no threat. We have three distinguished guests. Princess Josiane formerly of Alexandria has returned. She is not alone. The long lost son of Sir Balinor of Nemeth accompanies her. The Great Dragon, Kilgarrah, waits outside. I knew you would want to receive them at once."
"WHAT?" King Bors sprang from his throne. Astonishment widened his eyes. "Show them in at once!"
"Aye, Sire." Prince Bors hustled back for the door.
King Bors rubbed his chin. Recollection brought the shared victory at Orleans twenty years earlier. Balinor and Kilgarrah had accompanied Malodius and a combined Nemeth-Tintagel force across the sea. Together with Gaul's best knights, they repulsed a southern invasion force. In the process, the then Prince took a spear through his arm.
Balinor dispatched the would be assailant. He and Kilgarrah flew him back to Paris for medical help. Then they returned to the battle.
King Bors watched the visitors approach with his son. Recognition grasped onto both figures immediately. He knew Princess Josiane's situation well. He puzzled over Merlin however. He remembered the servant who'd waited on Prince Arthur, King Uther and him at Camelot. How can he be a dragon lord? Balinor had no children! "Welcome, Friends!"
"Your Highness." Merlin bowed before King Bors. "Pardon us. Thank you for receiving us, King Bors."
"You are welcome." King Bors raised an eyebrow. "You are Merlin, Prince Arthur of Camelot's servant as I recall. Pardon me. Prince Bors tells me you have an emergency. You are Sir Balinor's son?"
"Aye, Your Highness. I did not know until last year. Prince Arthur and I had to save Camelot. We searched for my father well into Mercia. We found him. Unfortunately Mercian knights found us. He and I fought to protect Prince Arthur. My father died protecting me. I inherited his talent. Kilgarrah and I knew each other before that. But after Father's death, I had the bond with Kilgarrah as well."
"And you did not know this? You did not know your heritage?" King Bors glanced at his son.
"Nay, Sire. Father was only in our village of Ealdor for a season. He did not even know Mother carried me in her belly. King Uther pursued him through Nemeth and the Essetir. He fled rather than expose Mother to that danger. She and I presumed he abandoned us." Merlin frowned.
"Sir Balinor would not do that. The warrior who died to protect your life was the man I knew two decades ago." Distaste curled his lip. "Uther would hunt him down out of spite and prejudice. And yet you were in Camelot?"
"Mother sent me to Gaius for an opportunity at court, Highness," Merlin informed him. "I met Kilgarrah not long after. King Uther imprisoned him under the castle."
"Goddess, pity that poor creature." King Bors rubbed his forehead. "And yet she guided you to your brother."
"And to Nemeth once more." Josiane cleared her throat. "Cawdor and Mercia invade southward toward Whitgate and Camelot. Your goddess herself informed us that King Uther and King Kay have passed through the great veil. Prince Arthur is under house arrest in Camelot. Princess Mithian prepares to return to Whitgate. Her situation is complicated."
Prince Bors regarded them. "I heard she was to marry Prince Arthur."
"Aye. That is true. We were to leave in a few more days for Camelot." King Bors leaned back in his throne. "What changed in that regard?"
"The goddess wished a different arrangement." Merlin bit his lip. He hated to contradict Royal Prerogative to a king's face. "Prince Arthur loves another woman. The goddess wishes for her to marry Prince Arthur. She wishes for Princess Mithian to marry me." He took out a sealed letter. "She gave me this letter for you."
"You?" Prince Bors held back a laugh at that observation.
King Bors held up his hand. "PEACE!" Correction flared in his eyes. "Merlin is not simply a servant. Circumstance thrust him into that role." He nodded. "I have seen Merlin on the battlefield. He fights without armor. Several times he has kept blows from Prince Arthur's back." He shook his head. "And yet Prince Arthur does not dub you a knight, Merlin. That astounds me." He broke the seal. His eyes read over the document twice. "It is as you say. I had never thought I would hear Princess Mithian speak of any man in this fashion. She truly cares for you, Merlin."
"I am loyal. Prince Arthur values me as his servant. Princess Mithian values me as a person." Merlin shrugged. "I am to protect him."
"He has saved Princess Mithian from the Cawdorian Sir Dynwald just last night. He also took Meleagant's blade for Kay's behalf." Josiane nodded to Merlin.
"It was my duty, Your Highness." Merlin squirmed.
"Your humility knows no bounds. Does it? A servant who saves his master repeatedly? A servant who would save a Princess and stand up to Meleagant's chief lieutenant? A servant who saved another kingdom's Prince in battle? Aye. I know of you. You are your father's son indeed!" Interest and Intrigue wrestled with Merlin's situation. "You were right to keep your secret at Uther's court, Merlin. Prince Arthur will not be so kind either if he knew the truth."
"Uther exiled me. I do not care. I wish to help Prince Arthur. I was free to accept Princess Mithian's proposal. I do not want a war with Camelot however." Merlin rubbed the back of his neck.
"Arthur loves a servant girl any way. Too bad she does not have the required tasks." Prince Bors shook his head.
"Gwen does, Prince Bors. King Uther would not recognize them. Gwen is a brave woman. She is not afraid of danger. She fought beside Arthur and me at Ealdor. She took Morgana's place to let her get away from Hengst last year. She tended the wounded during the sorcerer, Segan's assault. She is prepared to fight for and die for Arthur if necessary," Merlin clarified.
"Well now! Two servants who are denied their status by Uther's madness!" King Bors rolled his eyes. "I trust the triple goddess' word." He rose from his throne. "Lead me to Kilgarrah please."
"Follow us, King Bors." Merlin took an end of the carpet to help Josiane bear it down the passage. He led the group out of the chamber, down the passage and out the front doors. Kilgarrah, the King wished to see you himself.
Kilgarrah nodded. He bowed his head. "King Bors, thank you. I see you have recovered."
"Thanks to your brother and you. And now, Merlin is your rider?" King Bors patted Kilgarrah's leg. "Welcome."
"Aye. Merlin inherited Balinor's bond. It seems the goddess has seen fit to restore him to Nemeth as well. She has ordained Merlin's marriage to Princess Mithian." Kilgarrah regarded Merlin anew.
"Dragons do not lie. I take your word, Kilgarrah." King Bors nodded. He turned to Prince Bors. "The knights are to be prepared. We cannot wait. I will let Pierre know." He smiled to the trio. "Might I get you some refreshment?"
"I fear we have one more place to go, King Bors." Josiane sighed. "She helped Merlin unroll her carpet on the stones.
"As do we. Go in peace, my Friends." King Bors nodded to them.
Merlin climbed up on Kilgarrah's back. "Thank you!" He waved to King Bors as he, Kilgarrah and Josiane ascended into the sky. Within a few heartbeats, they disappeared into the clouds once more.
"Incredible!" King Bors regarded the letter. "To think Merlin was there under our noses all along. Truly the goddess works miracles!" He turned to his son. "We should prepare the knights. I wish to leave as soon as possible for the coast."
"Aye, Sire." Prince Bors bowed and hustled off.
We shall not desert you, our Friends. King Bors strode back into the palace.
Preparations needed to be made….