Chapter 53 [Whitgate]
Refugees crowded within the walls. Fear and Anxiety crackled in the air. They had fled from Meleagant's wrath. Nightmare still played images of homes, barns and villages in flames. Some brought their own food. The royal household and volunteers distributed bread and water to them.
Such was the cost of war….
A slender brunette woman moved amongst the displaced. Contrast marked her appearance. Abuse's patches marred her fine gown. Hairs stood up out of place on her head. Whereas most of her class kept from Sol's tanning rays, tan darkened her skin. Her forearms worked free of the rolled up sleeves. She lugged a tall wicker basket behind herself. She'd handed out just about every loaf from it but one. Then she spied a little red-haired girl with wide eyes. "Hello!" She kneeled down. "Where are your mother and father?"
The little girl shook her head. "Awful men in red killed them." She shrugged. "I live in the woods. Some times I try to work here. Nobody will hire me."
Sympathy panged in her heart. She watched the little girl grabbed a gnarled stick. "It is all right. Allow me." She helped her companion to her feet. "I am Elaine. And you are?"
"Just Marie." Remorse and Embarrassment weighed on Marie's spirit. "Thank you, Lady Elaine. You are so pretty. What are you doing?"
"I am helping. You are beautiful too." Elaine took a loaf of bread from the basket. "Want to share with me?" She held up a water skin. "I have water too."
"Lady, I am ugly and useless! Do not waste on me! I…" Marie declined.
Elaine shook her head. "Marie, you are not ugly or useless! I do not care about your leg! I know what is like to lose my mother. People hate me too. I do not have many friends. I just want one. Can you be my friend?" She tore the loaf in half. "Can you please?"
"You really want to be my friend?" Marie gasped. Disbelief bulged in her eyes. Her trembling fingers accepted the bread. She bit into the crispy crust and soft insides. Food beat back Hunger's fire in her stomach.
"Aye. We will be each other friends. All right?" Elaine embraced Marie's shoulders. "I have enough for a place to sleep tonight. You will come with me."
Marie bit into another piece of bread. Chill bit through her threadbare rags. She knew the stables would not allow her another night in the hay. "All right, Lady Elaine."
"Just Elaine. My father has a fancy house. I do not care for titles." Elaine bit off a piece of bread for herself. "I came to help." She handed the water skin over. "Just a mouthful. All right?'
"Really? You must be a Princess! Thank you!" Marie took the skin. Water's draught eased Thirst's parch in her mouth and throat. She handed the skin back to Elaine. "You are so kind. I cannot see why you are here."
"There is a Princess in that big building right over there. Her name is Princess Mithian. She is a most kind and talented woman. She has long brown hair and tanned skin like ours. You know what? She does not do Princess-things. She helps her father, our King, to govern fairly. She serves the poor and weak. She hunts and brings deer and fowl to the people so we can eat! She was so nice when my mother died." Elaine shook her head.
Marie watched as Mithian noticed them. She bit into the bread again. "Elaine, you mean like pretty lady coming?" She pointed behind Elaine and into the crowd.
"Pretty lady?" Elaine stiffened. "Marie, what?"
"There is only one noblewoman who would bring a basket to the poor in this way." Mithian signaled to the two knights accompanying her to stand at ease. "Lady Elaine?"
"Princess Mithian?" Memoria, despite the years, remembered the kindly Princess who'd reassured her. She turned to see Mithian watching them. "My goodness!" She sprang to her feet. Respect steered her into a curtsey. "Milady, it has been far too long."
"Indeed it has! Welcome back to Whitgate! I have news of your father. We shall have to visit. Do you have a place to stay?" Mithian looked Elaine and then Marie over in turn. "And who is your friend?"
Elaine gulped. "I was going to look for a night's lodgings. I will have to walk home. I fear I used my last fare for bread. At least Marie can eat."
"Lady! I did not know!" Marie gaped. Shame reddened her face. "You should not have to walk because of me!"
"I would walk to Jerusalem and back so that you can eat. Do not forget that!" Rebuttal came more sharply through her lips than Elaine had intended.
"I do not doubt that for a heartbeat, Lady Elaine." Mithian smiled. "You both can stay in the palace. We shall dine tonight. I have need of friends to speak with. The Prince fights with the knights. I wait for word." She kneeled beside Marie. "And might I know you?"
Marie struggled with her walking stick. "I…I'm Marie, Princess. A common beggar and a useless cripple." She tried to curtsey. Her leg gave out. She fell to the stones. "I cannot even show respect!" Embarrassment's tears streamed down her face. "Forgive me!"
Compassion wrenched Mithian's heart. "Forgive…? Why would I be offended? I see someone trying very, very hard. That is respect. I wish more people would be like you." She placed her hand on Marie's shoulder. "Look at you! This is terrible. Lady Elaine, do you know…?"
"Marie and I only just met ourselves, Princess Mithian. She said her parents were killed by the red knights. I was going to take her with me to find a room. Maybe Father will allow me to take her back to Astolat? I need to find him." Elaine curtseyed again.
"Count Bernard is in the dungeon, Lady Elaine. He insulted Prince-Elect Merlin and me several times. I am sorry. Perhaps you can convince him to apologize?" Mithian helped Marie to her feet.
"I am sorry, Lady. I cannot understand. Did you say Prince Merlin? I thought King Kay had been the only Prince?" Confusion creased a frown across Elaine's face.
"King Rodor and King Kay have passed through the Great Veil. The goddess has blessed Nemeth and me with our new Prince. We are to be married if we rebuff Meleagant's invasion." A heavy sigh escaped her lips. "After that, he and I will be crowned."
"Milady, you have found someone! That is reason to celebrate! You deserve someone who loves you. You are always thinking of us." Elaine squirmed. Reason dawned on her. "This Prince…he has magic?"
Mithian nodded. "Aye. Lady Elaine, I am sorry."
Elaine bit her lip. "Father never changes. He kept me locked away because I am a dumb witch. I…."
"Nay! You are not dumb!" Protest spat from Marie's lips. She grabbed on to Elaine's arm. "YOU ARE NOT!"
"Indeed not, Marie." Mithian placed her hand on Elaine's left shoulder. "Your father and others who share his views need to understand. I cannot abide that prejudice. Your mother serves as reminder enough for me. Never again. I will never allow it."
"Father will never change, Princess. I love him. He believes in what that awful Uther says in Camelot." Elaine fell to her knees. She trembled. "What did we do to hurt him? WHAT?" She clenched her fists. Tears streaked her cheeks. Canary flashed in her eyes.
Floral Petals fell from the Cloudless Sky. For a dozen heartbeats, Blizzard White obscured that spot. Eyes went wide. Shock and Surprise stiffened Populace and Guards alike.
"Princess!" The knights moved closer to her side. "Are you…?"
"You see? I cannot control it! I am cursed!" Elaine whimpered.
Mithian scooped up a handful of petals. "Nay, Lady Elaine. You are not accursed. This reflects the warmth in your heart. It is beautiful." She put them up to her nose. "Lilacs and roses! These are my favorite flowers! Thank you!" Scent filled her nostrils. "Mmmm! Aye. I believe you will come to court. You have suffered in the darkness long enough." She smiled to Marie. "And you too, Mistress. I…" She stopped cold at the sight coming over the trees. Relief warmed her heart. "May the goddess be praised!"
"That's a Dragon? Mama and Papa told me!" Marie stared skyward. "They are real?"
"This one is." Mithian watched Kilgarrah land. She saw the spelled Meleagant and Dynwald fall to the stones underfoot. "Unbelievable!" Amazement took her aback. "Merlin?"
"Kilgarrah and I captured them. Accolon and Morgana are leading our forces against the Cawdorians right now." Merlin climbed down Kilgarrah's flank. "Thank you, my Brother."
"It is my honor, Merlin." Kilgarrah bowed his head. "I smashed their battering rams and catapults. We have their leaders." He motioned to the two leaders. "They sleep unharmed until Merlin wakes them up."
"I contained many of their knights. Accolon will overwhelm their numbers, Princess Mithian." Josiane nodded to her counterpart. "Perhaps we may put these two in a proper place and under guard?"
"Aye." Mithian raised an eyebrow. "You just cannot stay out of trouble. Can you?" She smirked.
"Nay…not me." Merlin shrugged. Mischief gleamed in his eyes. "I know the battle is not over. I wanted to gain an advantage while hurting as few as possible. I wanted to give our people and you peace."
"I know, my Prince." Mithian embraced him. "I am so proud of Princess Josiane and you. I am proud of our allies and knights." She turned to Kilgarrah. "That goes for you as well, Kilgarrah. Thank you for watching out for our ambitious Prince."
Kilgarrah snorted. "It is a task but one I am happy to do."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "And who are our friends?" He considered Elaine and Marie.
"Well this is Lady Elaine of Astolat, Count Bernard's daughter. The young lady beside her is Marie. Her parents died unfortunately. We should make arrangements at court for them both," Mithian introduced. "Lady Elaine and Marie, this is Prince Merlin. She is Princess Josiane."
"My friends." Josiane nodded to the two newcomers.
"My Prince!" Elaine curtseyed.
"Sirrah." Marie tried to curtsey. She stumbled before Elaine caught her. "I did it again!"
Merlin noticed Marie's leg. "You have a withered leg. You tried."
"I was telling her the same thing, my Prince." Mithian turned to the sleeping Meleagant and Dynwald. "We should put Meleagant in a chamber under guard. Dynwald can sit in the dungeon. I have a memory for such accounts. We will have fair but just treatment." She motioned to the attendants. "Sir Randolph, Sir Harold and Sir William, please bring them inside. King Meleagant will be brought to the royal guest suites. I want him put under guard. Sir Dynwald will go to the dungeon. He will receive due treatment for a knight of his class until we can decide what to do with him."
"I will help them with Dynwald." Josiane flopped Dynwald onto her carpet. "I will bring him to the dungeon. I will see you soon." She vanished into the citadel.
The three knights carried Meleagant into the citadel and toward the royal guest chambers. Marvel and Wonder regarded their soon to be Prince. Hope implored the goddess for Victory's grace in the ongoing battle.
"Maybe I can help out here?" Merlin offered.
"Nay, my Prince. I believe we have done enough for now." Unlike Merlin, Mithian had noticed their knights' responses to his feat. She shared a look with Kilgarrah.
Kilgarrah nodded back at her. He had noticed their facial expressions as well.
The Good and the Bad would have to be dealt with….