Chapter 32 [Hampton Castle]
Gwen trudged along the ramparts. Once more her eyes gazed through Crenelations' spaces and over surrounding town. She passed from vantage point to vantage point. She'd gaze over Eastern Sea for Merlin, Kilgarrah and Josiane. Most of the time, however, she stood at the north wall. Her eyes riveted toward the north….
…toward Camelot…
…toward Arthur…
Lamentand Worrychilled her heart. She folded her arms across her chest. The deep breaths that normally composed her had no effect on that day. Arthur, where are you? Are you all right?
"Ol' Arthur and Merlin are tough. They will be back here without a scratch." Gawain smirked at her. Emotions ground at him. Still, he would be the needed friend. "Meantime we exiles need to stick together."
She rolled her eyes. "I still cannot believe this!" She slapped at the granite. "I have proven myself! I am worthy!"
Gawain shrugged. "Pompous nobles. They play with the rules, Gwen. We cannot trust them." He sniffed. "Boeve's a good guy but he's family. He and Arthur fight and are fair. Merlin will never be the typical noble or Prince or King. Mith' isn't that Princess or Queen. Face it. We are all misfits."
She raised an eyebrow. "You wish you went with Merlin and Princess Josiane, Gawain? I am sure they would have liked that."
"Then who would make you laugh, Princess?" He grinned at her. "Someone's got to do it. We all need friends."
She nodded. "I appreciate that. Thank you." Despite Rogue's appearance, she glimpsed Warmth and Caring within him. "We can all use friends right about now."
"Aye." He released a terse sigh. "It figures that the Red Cans are going to try again. Cenred too." He curled his lip. Memoria reminded him of Betrayal and Death. "Before Josie, I thought I was alone in the world. At least I have her…and well…Boeve."
"Gawain, Arthur and Merlin care. You have the rest of us too. You are not alone in the world despite what you might think. Princess Mithian could find a place for you with the knights of Nemeth. Once Arthur's time comes for the throne, he would welcome you back to Camelot." She coughed. "Then we would have to find you a wife."
He snorted. "Not me. I have too many taverns and good times ahead. I love battle not nagging and harping. Give me a tavern with my mates any time! Maybe Boeve and Josie can have a family. More nieces and nephews!" He pumped his fists.
She shook her head. "There is someone for everyone, Gawain. Be patient." She rubbed his shoulder.
Observation scrunched up his face. "Yeah well…you think what you want."
Flash lit up the courtyard below.
"What in blazes?" He turned to see what was going on. His eyes widened. "Really?"
She gasped. Her hands went to her mouth. "COME ON, GAWAIN!" She sprinted toward the door and stairs beyond.
Who'd believe this? He ran after her.
Trouble was about to come….
[Courtyard Below—A Dozen Heartbeats Earlier]
Arthur stretched his arms and hands out. For three or four heartbeats, he felt nothing under his boots. "What madness is this? What sorcery?" Light dazzled his eyes.
"Sire, I hear you!" Gaius called out. He leaned on his staff.
"By the goddess! I heard her voice! I…." Mithian winced.
Malodius roared. His eyes blurred into focus first. Rather than in Camelot's adjoining forest, he found himself back in Boeve's castle. Milady?
Aye, Malodius. I have returned you all to Hampton. The others will see this soon enough for themselves, the goddess informed him.
"I heard a monster! Gaius, Morgana and Princess, come toward the sound of my voice! I will protect you!" Arthur braced himself for a possible confrontation.
"We are in no danger, Arthur." Morgana opened her eyes. Foresight had prompted her to keep them closed at the goddess' declaration. "Focus! The glare will subside soon enough."
"Prince Arthur, stop! That is only Malodius." Mithian rubbed her eyes. Blur coalesced slowly. Her eyes focused to ascertain their new surroundings. She relaxed. "We are back at Hampton. Malodius, you are all right?" She squinted. Her feet shuffled toward the lion.
"Malodius? Whatever is that?" Arthur blinked his eyes back into focus. Seeing the lion, he jumped back several steps. "Princess!" Disbelief strained his mind. Just a few heartbeats earlier, they were in his chamber in Camelot. Now, they stood in Hampton Castle, a day's ride away. "This is sorcery!"
"Malodius has served Nemeth for three generations, Prince Arthur." Galahad looked at Gaius and then the Tintagel knights. "I believe we will be all right."
"Prince Arthur and Princess Mithian?" Boeve hustled to their side. "Thank the goddess you are all right." He bowed to them. "You are back so soon?"
"Back so…soon?" Arthur motioned Boeve to his feet. "We are really here? It is magic!"
"Of course it is, Arthur. Did you not hear that voice in your mind?" Morgana rolled her eyes. "It was the triple goddess."
"Milady, perhaps this is not the time…." Gaius grimaced. Anticipation deduced Arthur's pending outburst.
"Triple goddess? She is a myth! I…." Arthur started.
"ARTHUR! ARTHUR!" Gwen sprinted out of the far doorway. Her shoes barely touched the cobblestones under them. She pounced on her Prince. Her lips crushed his.
Hesitation had no hold on Arthur either. Rather Instinct fueled Response. His arms snaked around Gwen's waist. Amor pushed his lips back against hers. Relief ascertained that she was indeed safe. His heart beat in tune with hers. He touched foreheads with her.
"What madness?" Galahad scowled. "Milady…?" Sympathy cast a look toward Mithian.
Confirmation evaporated Doubt's hold over Mithian's thoughts. Amor's encounter clarified where Arthur's heart, feelings and loyalties laid. Best of all, she knew Arthur would not hold her to their former kings' pact against her will. "I knew of their feelings already, Sir Galahad. Besides, I am promised and hold a promise. Nemeth has her new Prince. Camelot, it seems, has its Princess."
"Milady! That is most understanding of you." Gaius marveled at Nonchalance's outlook in Mithian's demeanor. "What do you mean there is a new Prince? Lord Aethelwald and King Uther negotiated your marriage to Prince Arthur only a day ago. Who else is there?"
"I am grateful for your understanding, Princess Mithian." Gratitude coaxed a nod from Arthur in Mithian's direction. "But there is someone else?"
"Arthur." Gwen considered the best way to break this bit of news to Arthur. "Just take this seriously."
"Of course! Whoever it is, if he can make Princess Mithian happy, he is a worthy ally. Whoever this Prince is, I probably know him." Arthur grinned. He squeezed Gwen's hands. "We can all help each other!"
"Oh you know him." Irony forced a cough from Morgana's lips. "Very well." She raised an eyebrow at the Prince.
"Well then! I will have to wish him well! Princess, I am sure King Rodor would be relieved." Arthur nodded.
"Indeed, Sire. I would still like to know who this mystery Prince is." The Eyebrow lifted Gaius' hairline still further under his snow-white mane. He felt Familiarity's pang as well. Then he wondered about Merlin.
"You know him very well, Master Gaius." Mithian smiled. "It is Merlin."
Arthur laughed. "Merlin? Princess Mithian, please! Merlin can not even keep from tripping over the chamber pot! He…." He staggered on his feet. Tears streaked down his face.
Annoyance raised Mithian's eyebrow. "Peace, Prince Arthur! Do I react to your embrace with Guinevere? Have I not said that I accept your feelings for each other?"
"Aye but…Merlin?" Disbelief puckered Arthur's mouth. "Gaius? Did you know?"
"I cannot say I did." Gaius sighed. "I am afraid that I do not understand, Princess Mithian. He had never mentioned you to me. How could this be so quickly?"
BECAUSE I WILLED IT TO BE SO, GAIUS, the goddess snapped at him. EMRYS CANNOT BE CAGED IN CAMELOT TO SUIT YOUR DESIRES OR THE PENDRAGON'S. THIS IS HIS TRUE DESTINY! CEASE THE ARGUMENT NOW!
Gaius leaned heavily on his staff. His legs wavered.
Mithian supported the elder physician. "I have you, Master Gaius. Let us find a place for you to sit down." She walked him over to a nearby bench. "I believe this will suit our purposes." She eased him onto it.
"Thank you, Milady." Gaius took a composing breath. He determined to find out from Merlin about this engagement. He intended to remind his former apprentice of his duty to Arthur and Camelot.
"That magic must have scrambled my brain. Merlin?" Arthur cleared his throat.
"Aye, Arthur. Merlin proved himself again yesterday. He and Princess Josiane went to Gaul. They…" Gwen started to explain.
The knights by the eastern ramparts stiffened. They turned toward the courtyard. "MY LORD, COUNT BOEVE! PRINCE ARTHUR! WE SEE THEM! THEY ARE RETURNING!"
"SEEING WHO?" Boeve called back. Hope pined for Josiane's presence back within his castle's walls and his arms again.
"THE DRAGON! IT APPROACHES WITH GREAT SPEED, COUNT BOEVE!" The lookout knight pointed out toward the sea. His eyes affirmed Kilgarrah's approach.
Relief relaxed Mithian. Gratitude expanded the smile across her face. "Everyone, get back! Kilgarrah requires space!"
"Kilgarrah? What is that?" Arthur raised his eyes slowly toward the eastern wall. Dread wondered where a dragon would have come from. He had thought that the Great Dragon died the previous year outside of Camelot from his own lance….
…obviously he'd been mistaken…
…or Merlin had lied to him….
"Gaius? Is there something you wish to tell me?" Arthur fumed.
Gaius shook his head. He didn't know how they were going to get out of this mess….