Thank you so much for reading. I am very sorry that it took so long for me to up-date. I planned to up-date sooner but I have had a few problems with my computer. It broke and when I sent it out to be fixed I was told that it could not be fixed. I had had it for about five years and it has been acting up a lot for the last year or so, so it was not a huge surprise. More annoying than anything. So I had to wait till I could get into town to get a new one. Anyway I'm back now. I am really trying to aim at getting close to the end of this part of the story by the end of the year, so I should be up-dating more often.
tung98bill. Thank you very much. I really hope that you will continue to enjoy the rest of the story. Oh, I'm sure they will it just may take a while. Which in my option is more interesting.
Lightsbane1905. That is very true. It's not like you can use something shiny to get people's attention. I am trying to think of it now as being about me getting better at writing. If not I will not get this done, and I hate leaving things undone. You may not have to wait very long for that, maybe. Good choice. She should appear in chapter 27, maybe.
The cool autumn sun streamed in from the large window behind him. Taking in a deep breath he closed his eyes, enjoying a brief moment of piece and quite. The day would be eventful for a number of reasons. His guest was leaving and so was one of the most loyal, if not the most loyal knight that he had. There was also another reason that it would be an eventful day. A reason that no one else knew but him. He was not fully sure about this action yet. That was why he was so grateful for these few moments to himself to think.
When he heard his door being opened he gave a small sigh. Opening his eye he watched as Princess Mithian, with a nervous smile on her face walking towards him. "My Lady."
She shook her head. Brushing off her title, so she could talk to him as a person. "I wanted to thank you personally for having me here as your guest. I also wanted to make sure that you knew that you are always welcome to visit Nemeth. I know my Father would insist on it. To repay your hospitality."
Now with a faint smile on his face the young King stood up and walked around his large desk. "It was a pleasure….Mithian."
"Arthur." She pressed. There was really no need for them to be so formal with each other. Especially not with what she wanted to talk to him about. "
"I hope that your Father-"
"Arthur. There is no need for you to be guilty. You nor I made any promises…..this was." She found it hard to find the right word. "A nice visit. Let's leave it at that."
Arthur visibly seemed to relax at this. "That is wonderful to hear. I truly wish to build a stronger link between our kingdoms. Based on trust and respect-"
"Arthur, I thought I told you that you didn't have to talk so formally with me." He nodded, but she knew that he still found the idea of talking to her normally a little uncomfortable. "There is something that I do want to say however."
He leaned back a little further on the desk, crossing his arms over his chest. "What would that be." He tried to sound as relaxed as he could, but inside he was worried, very worried about what she would have to say. The Princess had a very simple honestly about herself, not blunt, but he felt that she was a person that would always tell the truth.
"Your heart clearly belongs to another."
She watched the King buckle slightly under her simple words. It was a little surprising to see a fully grown man made to almost sink into himself at just a few words. While she had noticed very quickly that Arthur's heart already fully belonged to another, she did not allow herself to think too much on the matter of who this women could be. It would not help her, or change anything if she knew this fact. So she left it alone. Now seeing his reaction, she suddenly desperately wanted to know how this women was. Thought she did have a very good idea.
"I won't ask who she is." Though she wanted to, and hoped saying this would encourage him to tell her. After a few seconds pause, it was clear that he was not going to tell her, so she went on. "She is a very lucky women. You should tell her how you feel."
"It is not as simple as that." He sounded a little defeated, almost resigned to that fact.
"It never is." She smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"No it isn't." He smiled back, ever so slightly.
Thinking her next words carefully she spoke again. "If there was ever a time for change. To be brave and take a risk it is now. You will never have the freedom and bravery to do so a few years from now. I have seen my Father and I am sure you saw yours too. They become stuck in a way of thinking, of doing things. Before that happens to you, take this chance to change what you want to change."
Arthur was a little taken aback that this Princess standing before him, that he had simply thought of as being pretty and sweet, had much more to say than he had expected. There was also a little announce that she simply assumed that he too like his Father would become stuck in his ways. True he had not made any great sweeping changes in the time he had been King, but it wasn't as simple as just changing things. Everything seemed to be connected to something else, change one thing and another will ultimately be changed as a result. If there was going to be change, before you did so, you had to be sure that it was going to be worth it in the end. As well as being able to stand by what you have done, whether it succeeded or failed. For all her imbalance Morgana had if nothing else understood that.
"Just because I am now King does not mean that I can start changing things just because I can."
"Of course not. That would be even worse." Taking a step forward she placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Is she worth it."
Yes, he wanted so badly to say that, but something stopped him. Whether it was his own doubt or not wanting to hurt Mithian, he didn't truly know. A little bit of both he thought. Still not finding his voice, he nodded his head in answer.
Mithian smiled a little. "Then let her know."
Taking her hand form his shoulder, she turned and left. Leaving Arthur's previously calm mind now racing. She had pushed him to make his mind up about what he was going to do about the third event of the day.
His belongings had all been packed away the night before, but Lancelot still found himself having one last look around his small room. Checking in the drawers and wardrobe for possibly the third or fourth time. Satisfied that he had not forgotten anything he may need, he took a last look over the room that had been his home for the last few years. He knew that he would be returning, he planned to return. So why do did he feel like he was leaving for good.
Just as he was about to move towards the door, there was a knock at it. Calling out to however it was to entre, Lancelot took a step back into the centre of the room. As the door opened Gwaine, followed very closely be Leon entered. After a pause Merlin, Elyan and Percival entered too. They all had small smiles on their faces. They smiled, but he did not see any trace of real happiness or joy in their eyes. He could not blame them, he had none in his own eyes.
"We couldn't let you go without one last drink."
Gwaine, who never needed an excuse for a drink, especially not a drink with his friends, pulled out a bottle of whiskey from behind his back. The smile on his face was now real. Stepping forward Merlin pulled out seven small glasses from his pockets. He didn't have to ask who the seventh glass was for as Arthur soon appeared at the open door. Handing a glass first to the new arrival, Merlin then handed then out to the Knights of the Round Table. Gwaine then filled them to the point of over flowing.
All eyes seemed to turn to Arthur to say a few words before they drank. Despite having a lot on his mind, he reacted quickly and spoke.
"All of you in this room have stood be me, and Camelot when we were most in need. Neither of us would be here today if it was not for each and every one of you." As he spoke his eyes moved around the men he trusted with his life. "Gwaine's bravery. Percival's strength. Elyan's heart. Leon's principles, and Merlin's…cooking." Laughter filled the room. Expect for Merlin who rolled his eyes. "Or his honestly." He none turned his sight onto the Knight that would soon be leaving. The first Knight of the Round Table. "Or Lancelot's loyalty. We are going to miss that. We are also going to miss the man that gives such loyalty to those he cares for more, much more."
A cheer in agreement from everyone else filled the room, before they took a drink. Gwaine quickly filled the glasses again. All eyes this time were on Lancelot, they clearly now expected him to say something. He was not as good at public speaking as Arthur, or as experienced at expressing himself, but he had to say something.
"I don't know what to say. How to express what being a knight of Camelot means to me. What all of you mean to me. I never felt like I had a family or a home till I came here. Thank you." He nodded and lowered his head, a sign that he wanted them to stop looking at him. With a nod too in response, they all lifted their drinks, then downed them.
"I think that is enough of that." Leon said handing his empty glass back to Merlin.
"Such a lightweight Leon." Gwaine teased as he slapped the Knight in questions back.
Elyan quickly came to the defence of his friend. "Well we don't all have such a high tolerance for drink as you do."
"Don't we have a visiting guest to see off, and a friend." He was normally the most silent of the Knights, but when he did speak it was hard to ignore Percival.
A little reluctantly those that had not already given him back their glasses, handed theirs to Merlin. Who stood standing letting everyone pass him. Once everyone else had left Merlin turned to Lancelot. He tried to smile, but couldn't quit bring himself to smile fully.
"I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you to."
The smile now completely left Merlin's face as he let out a faint sigh. Moving forward quickly he hugged his friend briefly and then turned to leave. Once again Lancelot was on his own in his now empty room. Not wanting to dwell on it any more, he picked up his pack from its place by the door. He left the room with his back to it. With his free hand he reached behind himself to close the door. He did not want to look into the room while he closed the door on it. If he did that then he would think of it as seeing the room for the last time, which he would not let it be. By not taking a final look then in some way he felt that he would be unconsciously conditioned to come back. This was a slightly superstitious way of thinking that he would find himself falling into over a few other things in the next few hours.
The corridors of the palace where rather empty for the time of day. Every seemed to be making their way to the main square to see the visiting guest leave. Gwen wanted nothing more than to hide away in her chambers till all of this was over. In a few days, or maybe weeks she may be able to be around Arthur without feeling guilty, or Merlin without feeling like she was being judged. Then she could put the last few days behind her and move on. Till then she just wanted to hide away. She knew that she wouldn't be able to move on unless she faced them, it was just so hard.
She had been so focused on her own thought that she did not hear her name being called. She was only aware of the person trying to talk to her when they placed a hand on her shoulder. Turning round she found herself face to face with a smiling Princess Mithian.
She tried to smile back. "My lady."
As she had done with Arthur, Mithian shook her head in an attempt to brush on her title, and therefore the difference in class between the two women. "I wanted to tell you that you are a lucky women." Thinking it over, Mithian was sure she was right about where Arthur's hear truly lay.
At these simple words Gwen felt her eyes burning as tears built up and started to over flow. She was lucky, very lucky. She knew this, she had always know this. The change in her fortune had over the years made her forget where she came from. Leading to her taking for granted what she now had. Hearing someone else say it made her realise how lucky she was and how close she was to losing it.
The second that she say the tears begin to build up in Gwen's eyes, Mithian took a step forward and gentle wrapped her arms around her. Despite not knowing the Princess very well or for very long Gwen found herself relaxing into her comforting embrace. Mithian gently rubbed her back as she sobbed onto her shoulder.
After a few minutes, once the sobbing began to lessen, Mithian pulled part slightly. "It's okay, there is nothing to cry about." She smiled and tried to laugh a little.
Gwen rubbed and her eyes and pulled, trying to compose herself. Mithian let her hands slid up to rest on Gwen's shoulders. "I'm sorry I …"
"You don't have to be sorry. I am sorry, I did not mean to upset you."
"You didn't." Gwen's voice started to regain some of its strength. "I did that myself. I am very lucky, I just forgot that for a while. Thank you for reminding me."
Gwen this time moved forward, hugging the Princess. It had come out of the blue, and had caused a reaction that she had not expected, but in the end she was grateful for Mithian's words. They made her realise what she wanted, Arthur. She would do anything not to lose him. Merlin's view was what was mainly stopping her form committing more to Arthur, spending time with him. Now she wasn't worried about that. By showing him how committed she was to Arthur and her future with him, then he would not be able to judge her so harshly.
The women pulled apart. "You welcome." Mithian sounded a little confused.
Gwen herself now found herself being a little confused as she just realised something. "How did you know."
"It was not very hard. It was clear that his heart already belonged to another, and the way he looked at you. Made it very easy to tell that it was you that held his heart. As for how you felt for him, how could you not return the feelings of one that looks at you like that." There was a tinge of sadness to the Princess's voice. "I hope to have someone look at me with that much love one day."
"If it is possible for a servant, it has to be possible for a Princess."
Mithian laughed. "I think we both now that we are each more than a servant and a Princess."
Gwen again found herself a little confused. Did she mean as people, just simple people. It was also possible that she meant as future Queen's, an idea that Gwen could still not, no matter how long it had been a possibility fully contemplate. Mithian did not say any more, making her last point clear. She simply patted Gwen on the shoulder and carried on the corridor that way she had been heading. Quickly Gwen turned and followed her to the main door of the palace.
The main square was filled with the citizens of the city as it had been the day the visiting Princess arrived. The Knights and members of the court stood on the steps. The main doors were opened and Arthur, with Mithian holding his arm walked through. Standing at the top of the steps the crowd clapped at their arrival. Letting the Princess's arm go, Arthur stepped forward.
"These last few days have been of the greatest importance. Not just to the relationship of trust and support that has been created between our two kingdoms, but also because it is the first step towards a united Albion. An Albion were all five of her great kingdoms work together in mutual cooperation with each other. Were no goods or lands are out of bounds to other kingdoms when they are in need. Were the united good on the citizens of all five kingdoms in put before land and power."
The gathered crowd cheered and clapped the King's speak. It was a long way of, the Albion that he spoke so passionately of. That was not important at that moment. What was important was that it was a possibility, it was something to hope for, to aim for. The people knew this and accepted it. Arthur left out a breath that he did not realise that he had been holding. The easy part was over, now came the hard part. Waiting for the crowd to quite a little he prepared himself for what he was going to do next.
"This Albion will not be easy to create. It will take a lot of hard word. Work that I am willing and eager to do…however I will not be able to do it myself. It will take our united effort as citizens of Albion. It will also take for me the support of someone very important to me."
The crowd all now feel into an excited silence. All waiting to hear what the King would say next. All but two sets of eyes were on him. The two that were not belonged to the Princess, and the Knight that would be returning with her, to help create the strong link between the two kingdoms. Their eyes were on Gwen who stood just to the right of the King on the top step next to Gaius.
"Being King is an honour and a privilege that I will try to be worthy of. It is a daunting job, one that only the strongest could do alone. I am not one of those strong people. I can push myself to most anything, the truth is that I don't want to do it alone, and there is only one person that I want to have by my side. As my Queen, my confidant, my wife, and most importantly as my friend." Arthur now like Lancelot and Mithian turned to look at Gwen. "The lady Guinevere."
The eyes of everyone else now turned to the lady in question. Her breath caught in her chest. She could not believe that is was happening now. It was one thing for him to ask her to marry him in private, but this was in-front of everyone. This was him standing by her, standing up for them. She was shaking as she walked over to her, but he looked so confident.
"Will you do me the great honour of being my wife."
All she could do was nod her head. Her voice, as well as all air had left her body. With a smile he took the last step forward to reach her. Placing his hands on either side of her face he bent down slightly to kiss her. She was still too shocked to speak, yet alone kiss him back. So this kiss ended quickly. Then subtly he unfastened the chain she wore around her neck, the chain that her engagement ring was held on. Removing the ring from the chain he slipped it onto her left ring finger. Where it always should have been worn.
The cheering of the crowd filled her ears as she found herself being pulled into a tight embrace by Arthur. Looking over her shoulder she saw Mithian and Merlin smiling broadly at her. She felt a sigh of relief leaving her at this.
"I love you." He whispered into her ear.
Looking down to the crowd she saw Lancelot atop his horse ready to leave. He smiled up at her. There was not a trace of pain sadness or anything that showed he was unhappy with what had just happened. Of course there would not be. He was too noble for that. He had accepted this a long time ago, always knowing this day would come. In the end he was happy for them and wished them all the happiness they deserved in the world.
She closed her eyes and held him tightly "I love you too."
The heavy stone lid began to rattle. It was moved, or at least it was trying to be moved. The sound grew louder, muffled sounds from beyond the lid started to funnel down the long narrow pit. With it came a bright light. It was a faint light, torch light most likely, but it was bright enough to burn its way into the pit. The pit that existed in pure darkness. The fresh air that now started to seep through the ever growing gap that was created by the lid being slowly pulled away, was cold and sharp. Though it was not enough to negate the stale air that had for so long been trapped in the pit. After a few minutes of rattling and pushing the lid was fully removed from the opening of the pit. Looking down into the bit with a pair of pale grey eyes, two larges sets of larger and paler eyes looked up to the sudden burst of little and air. They could only look for a few seconds before they had to turn away. The light was too bright for eyes that had not seen any light for so very long. With the air and light beating down on them the stronger of the two seemed to absorb it into themselves, fuelling a burning rage that now had been set free.
I hope that you enjoyed the chapter. As always I would love dearly to hear form from you if you have any comments or ideas for the story.
The next chapter will not just be the halfway point in this story, but the halfway point in the whole story. I had planned to have a competition made up of your fan works inspired by this story. And the top three winners would get a prices (don't get to excited.) as no one really seemed interested then I gave up on the idea. Something important will happen in the next chapter, but I wanted to mark the event in another way. I can't think of anything so if you have any ideas about how to mark the halfway point in the story, then please let me now. I would need to know by the end of next week. When I should have the next chapter up.