Chapter 49 [Whitgate Royal Square—A Quarter Turn of the Hourglass Later]
Nerves and Desire crackled across cobbled expanse. Emerald knights stood in their platoons' square formations. Reverence kept their eyes glued to Citadel's granite stairs. Duty coaxed Mind, Heart and Soul toward Ordeal to Come. Anxiety quaked more than a few knees over Cawdor's war machine. Uncertainty sapped Confidence's order to follow their soon to be new Prince into battle. Glances stole over and over again toward Kilgarrah.
Galahad, Ywain and Malodius awaited their Prince, Princess and newest comrades. Resolve buoyed their spirits. The First Knight and his lieutenant sat astride their own steeds. The Great Lion paced back and forth. Emerald Eyes swept over the entire scene. His tail swayed back and forth.
Does the assembly meet with your approval, Great One? Kilgarrah narrowed his eyes.
That is for the Prince and Princess to determine, Dragon. I fight for them. So do you on this day. Malodius growled ever so slightly. His eyes flicked toward the stairs. He stiffened.
You may relax, Creature. I am here on the triple goddess' bidding. Nimue slipped into view from within the palace itself. "Mmm…this is a most impressive army."
"Priestess Nimue?" Galahad offered a nod of the head. "Our Prince and Princess should be out in short order."
"Aye I know, Sir Galahad. Thank you." Reverence seemed an uneasy fit on Nimue's tongue. She shot a glance toward Malodius. Reassurance added a nod. "They are coming now, Good Knights."
Josiane glided forth on her carpet. Gawain, Britomart, Boeve and Lancelot followed out the door. They took their places in the procession.
Regius the Herald stepped out next. "ATTENTION, KNIGHTS OF NEMETH! WORTHY ALLIES! THE CROWN PRINCESS AND CROWN PRINCE-ELECT OF NEMETH, MITHIAN AND MERLIN!" He stepped off to the side. "Priestess." He bowed his head to her.
"Herald." Acknowledgment granted him a nod from her.
Merlin and Mithian emerged from Citadel's obscurity onto the top step. Their eyes took in the assembled host. Support and Confidence surged in their hearts. Despite Anxiety's knives stabbing at them for the dual threats spilling across southern Britannia, they remained strong for their subjects. Hands raised in Greetings.
"THANK YOU, FRIENDS AND LOYAL KNIGHTS FOR HEEDING OUR CALL!" Mithian stepped away from Merlin. She summoned up Regality's poise. "AS YOU KNOW, MY FATHER, KING RODOR, BELIEVED IN THE VALUE OF ALL PEOPLES WITHIN NEMETH'S BORDERS! HE PROMOTED EQUALITY! KING KAY VALUED STRENGTH IN ARMS AND DIPLOMACY! THEY STOOD AGAINST THREATS BOTH FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT! BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, OTHER THREATS LOOM FOR US TO FACE! MELEAGANT OF CAWDOR LEADS HIS ARMY THIS WAY! HE SEEKS TO CONQUER AND ENSLAVE US! I KNOW YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST NOT TO LET THAT HAPPEN! OTHERS BELIEVE IN YOU! TINTAGEL AND HER KNIGHTS WAIT OUTSIDE THE GATES! THEY WILL JOIN US IN THIS QUEST! GO NOW WITH OUR BLESSINGS! I HONOR YOU!" She bowed before them. "My Prince?"
"Thank you, Princess." Merlin nodded to her. "Priestess Nimue, thank you."
"You are welcome, Merlin. Morgana and Accolon are waiting." Nimue motioned toward the waiting knights.
Merlin suppressed his reaction to Nimue's spoken barb. "I suppose Bors made it to Camelot?"
"Aye he and Gaul are outside of Camelot right now. You can worry about them later. Your priority is here and right now, Prince Merlin." Nimue cleared her throat for emphasis.
Merlin nodded. Meleagant's enough to deal with. Arthur has to fight his own battle. Mithian and I have ours to deal with. He raised his hands. "FRIENDS! NOBLE KNIGHTS! GENTLE MAGICAL CREATURES! I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TO PRINCESS MITHIAN'S! WE ARE GLAD TO SEE YOU! INDEED I AM FORTUNATE TO GO INTO BATTLE WITH YOU ALL AT MY SIDE! AYE! I WILL GO WITH YOU! AS I LEARNED FROM PRINCE ARTHUR, A LEADER CANNOT GUIDE ANYONE FROM THE REAR! A LEADER CANNOT ASK OTHERS TO DO WHAT HE OR SHE IS NOT WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR OR DO THEMSELVES! WE HAVE EXPERIENCE AGAINST MELEAGANT'S FORCES! MANY OF US WERE AT SHALOTT YEARS AGO! WE WON THAT PEACE AT GREAT COST! SIR GALAHAD! SIR YWAIN! MALODIUS! LADY BRITOMART! ME! WE WERE ALL THERE IN SERVICE TO OUR CAUSE! PRINCESS JOSIANE AND COUNT BOEVE ARE VETERAN WARRIORS! KILGARRAH HAS FOUGHT WITH NEMETH BEFORE! IN ADDITION, SIR GAWAIN AND I TAKE OUR FATHERS' MANTLES IN THE BATTLE TO COME! WE HAVE OUR CONSIDERABLE FRIENDS IN KING ACCOLON AND QUEEN MORGANA STANDING AT OUR SIDE! WE CAN STAND TALL! WE CAN WIN TOGETHER! TOGETHER! TOGETHER!" Merlin kept motioning toward the sky. How does Arthur do this? How do I get them to respond?
"COME ON! THREE CHEERS FOR PRINCE MERLIN AND PRINCESS MITHIAN! WHO'S WITH US? COME ON!" Gawain bellowed at his comrades.
Cheers peppered the assembly. Crescendo's small sounds elicited Spirits to rise amongst the knights. Confidence warmed their hearts. Fear dimmed before Merlin's Purpose. Heads nodded at his vowed involvement. While some had followed Kay because of duty, Reluctance would have held them back for their former King's lack of acceptance for some of their number. Furthermore, Kay's break with his father's and grandfather's policies strummed Discontent's strings still further.
Merlin and Mithian seemed a return to Rodor's Tradition at least in Promise. They knew she'd served at Rodor's side on Council and Court. While some chafed over her presence there, Experience granted her Leadership and Foresight to steer Nemeth's ship of state. Stories surrounding Merlin and his battlefield exploits had circulated around Barracks' Mouths to Ears. Galahad's and Ywain's respect drove Impression's wedge into their minds. Sir Balinor's rank and feats at Rogerness and in Gaul drew them into Loyalty's bond still further.
"PRINCE MERLIN! PRINCESS MITHIAN!" Galahad raised his sword. "FOR NEMETH! FOR BRITANNIA! PRINCE MERLIN! PRINCESS MITHIAN!"
"PRINCE MERLIN! PRINCESS MITHIAN!" Knights' cheers rattled the very cobbles and stones within the walls and structures surrounding them. Sound threatened to deafen ears. Affirmation raised all.
"THANK YOU, MY FRIENDS!" Merlin put his helmet on. He turned to Mithian. "We will be back. That is with goddess willing."
"I know. Be careful, my Prince. Come back to me." Mithian embraced him. Emotions threatened to reduce her to a weeping shadow of her station.
"Pray then." Merlin kissed the crown of his Princess' head. "Sir Galahad, start the march."
"Aye, Prince Merlin!" Galahad turned to the assembly. "KNIGHTS! IT IS TIME! FORWARD MARCH!"
As one, the knights turned in perfect alignment. Infantry's boots clip clopped against stones. Horses cantered alongside them. Galahad rode toward their head. Ywain and Malodius followed behind them.
Merlin hustled across the square toward the waiting Kilgarrah. Nerves swelled with each step. Purpose beat them down. He reached his brother's flank. Are you ready?
I have done this before, Merlin. So have you. You are your father's son. You are better prepared than you know. Now come. It is time. Kilgarrah laid his neck down on the stones to allow Merlin to climb onto it. He nodded to Mithian and Nimue.
"He will be all right." Josiane nodded to Mithian. "May my god stand by us." She sent her carpet streaking skyward, over the walls and out of sight.
Merlin smiled once more to Mithian. Then he added to Kilgarrah. "It is time."
Kilgarrah flapped his wings. He lifted off in pursuit of Josiane's carpet.
"And there they go." Mithian watched the last knights march out of sight. Dread ate at her. Duty's purpose warmed her as well.
"The goddess tests as she will. Have faith." Nimue disappeared in a flash of dark light.
Merlin, just be safe. Our people need you. I need you. Mithian sighed. She strode back inside of the citadel. Maybe Blancheflor would share some mulled cider.
Nothing ever got easier…