Chapter 13 [That Evening—Physician's Chambers]

Arthur stirred from his nap. Pain stabbed at his left side. He stared at the ceiling. He struggled to understand Rodor's outlook. His host's outlook bordered between insulting and ignorant. Despite its use to save his life, magic remained evil. Sorcerers couldn't be trusted. He tried to sit up. Pain's second stab dissuaded him in that regard. I am stuck in this bed. Rodor dictates terms to me? Gaius tends to me. Merlin as Prince of Nemeth and a sorcerer? Father would be rolling over in his grave.

It is ironic. Is it not? Nimue stepped from Shadow's blackness into the light. "That does look so uncomfortable." Exaggerated Grimace ridiculed his situation.

He frowned. Fury blazed in his eyes. "You!" He stiffened. "How did you get in here? GAIUS!" He scanned the chamber to no avail. "Where is he? Is there no one else here?" He ground his teeth.

Saccahrin-Sweet Smirk spread across her face. "Gaius and the other healer are with Rodor. I am watching over you in the meantime." She pranced about the chamber. "Do behave now. We would not want those stitches to break. Do we?" Lengthy Sigh escaped her mouth. "You'd think that bringing you into this world might merit some gratitude." Eyebrow raised.

"You murdered my mother, Witch! Be grateful I cannot burn you at the stake right now!" His eyes glared at the ceiling. "You are watching me?"

"You are quite safe. Even you still have your uses. The goddess wishes you to live. That is why she brought you here." Nimue poured water into a wooden cup. "Drink this. It is plain water. I have no reason to poison you." She held Offered Cup up to his eyes. "Wooden cup." She put it to his parched lips. "Very good."

He gulped down the last of the drink. Water alleviated Thirst's arid hold on his mouth and throat. Tongue discerned no bitterness or numbing effect from the refreshment. Surprise drove him to examine the cup again. He ran his finger around the inside of it.

"Satisfied?" She raised her eyebrow at him. "I told you. You really need to rid yourself of your father's blinders, Arthur Pendragon. His prejudice holds you back. You and he hold Camelot back."

"That goddess of yours wants Camelot destroyed. She takes and takes and takes. No wonder Father wanted her gone." He slumped back onto the bed again. "My best knights are gone. Helios betrayed me. The Amazons will not deal with Camelot. Accolon protects Morgana in Tintagel. Merlin, that lying traitor, believes he's a Prince! I cannot believe him! I thought he was against magic! I TRUSTED HIM!" His hand slapped the mattress.

Snort escaped Nimue's mouth. "Merlin lied to you. Now why do you suppose that was? Perhaps he had to survive? Perhaps the oppressive attitude forced him to hide his magic to remain in your service? He protected you. He saved your life how many times? He turned his back on his own kind how many times? He nearly killed me! To protect your citadel and you!" She sucked in a calming breath.

"Merlin…what? He manages a few spells but…" He tried to wrap his head around the notion of Merlin defeating her. "He cannot keep from tripping over chamber pots. I would like to see that."

She laughed at him. "You have no idea! You really don't know?" Amusement tickled her mind. Irony proved all too rich. "You do realize his clumsiness was a mere act?"

Nimue, enough! Proceed with what I had you say! the goddess reminded her.

Much like Cat robbed of its game with the mouse, Nimue pouted. Acquiescence compelled her to bow her head. Aye, Lady. She met his eyes once more. "Arthur Pendragon, it is time for you to stop your Purge. While she does not expect your conversion to her service, she wants you to tolerate magical beings, sorcery and her faith in Camelot. Extremes lead to pain on both sides. Morgana has been dealt with. You have already noted Camelot's declining fortunes. If you keep on your current course, Camelot will fall and be forgotten. If you decide to change and follow the way of co-existence, Camelot's fortunes could stabilize. As their leader, it is for you to decide which way Camelot would go. Survival as part of the emerging world? To be forgotten as a relic of a bloody past? The choice is yours." She held a coin up to the light. "This is your last warning." Coin set down on the table. "Turn back or lose everything."

Arthur picked up the coin. Consideration took in its carvings. "Some choice. You forget the mess my father dealt with upon his rise to power. You sorcerers terrorized people. Monsters roamed the landscape unchecked. He restored order."

Sarcasm's cough escaped her mouth. "I was there. You were not. I saw that 'order'. I dealt with your father. He did not understand the laws of magic. For your life, someone had to die. That is not my will. That is not even the goddess' will. It is the way. No more. No less. In response, your father took vengeance. He oppressed innocents. He and his knights slaughtered whole villages. He drove sorcerers to extremes with his methods. I am one of them. If Merlin and you had walked the proper path, I would not have had to do that. You are guilty of crimes. Repent and co-exist, Arthur Pendragon. This is your last chance." She pointed to the coin. "That is the Runemark. That is given only upon the goddess' command. Consider carefully what you would do. Uther is dead. You do not have to be him. You have said you want to be a different king. So be that different king."

Arthur considered her words. He'd expected Capitulation and Conversion. Tolerance and Co-Existence surprised him. "I rule for my people. They know the laws. They can live within them or not." He looked the coin over again. "How can I know that those sorcerers will co-exist? You have no rules. Neither do they."

"How does the goddess know you will order your knights to set a village to the sword? Rodor of Nemeth and Accolon of Tintagel wish to revive the ancient Sorcerers' Code. It is akin to that Knights' Code that you hold so dearly, Arthur. There will be rules. Magic can be regulated. Consider that Morgana had your precious Camelot in her grasp. And yet, the goddess saw fit to present another alternative for everyone concerned. I spoke to Accolon as her representative much as she has instructed me to speak with you now. He offered Morgana her place in Tintagel. In exchange, she had to let go of her extreme methods. Merlin has his place here. Hunith, Gaius and that fool, Gawain, are here as well. In exchange, he has to embrace who and what he truly is. He cannot hide simply to wipe up after you." She nodded. "I have to say Merlin does surprise. He is growing. Then again, he did defeat me on the Isle of the Blessed. I have learned to never underestimate him. You should not either."

"I can see that now." Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I cannot believe he used magic right under our noses at court. Father did not even suspect. Nor did I." He shook his head. "So, when Merlin was acting like an idiot, it was all an act?"

"In part, aye. He does have his moments. You can talk to him about that yourself." Her face turned serious once again. "In the meantime, remember the goddess' message, Arthur Pendragon. Rodor of Nemeth has invited you to take part in his gathering at Solstice. I suggest you accept his invitation." She pulled his blanket back.

"What are you doing now?" His hands started to grab at the blanket yet again. "Did Helios not to do enough to me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Hold still. This is yet another demonstration of magic's positive uses." She pulled up his shirt. Her finger slid under the wrap and over the wound. "Leigheas an leòn agus dh' fhalb e!" Canary flashed through her eyes. Spell's energy coursed from her into his wound.

For a couple of heartbeats, he felt nothing. Then, Tingling jabbed at the affected area. Burning ate away at infection. Bruised Ribs and Muscles healed. Stitches disintegrated. "What did you do?" Grimace contorted his face. "It hurts! You said it was supposed to be positive!"

"Healing does mean some pain, Pendragon." Patience bit back her desired response. She undid Britomart's knot. "Now, sit up." She saw his hesitation. "Well, come on now!"

Skepticism simmered in his eyes. Previous Burning had subsided. "The burning has stopped." He sat up ever so gingerly. Expectation did not meet Reality in that case. "There is no pain! How?" He felt at his left side.

Coy Shrug raised and dropped her shoulders. "I told you. Magic can be a force for good. In this case, I healed you." She unwrapped his torso. "There now! You should get dressed. I believe you can eat with the others?" She stepped back. "Remember the goddess' message and what she has had me do. The choice is yours." She pointed to the door. Canary glowed through her eyes. Then, she vanished in a flash of light.

Gaius shuffled through the door. With Wyngate out at Sir Berthold's side, his mind moved between cases of fever within the citadel. Tinctures awaited mixing and delivery. How I wish Merlin were still my apprentice. He could do that. He stopped cold at Arthur standing up. "Sire? Sire, you should still be in bed! What are you doing?"

Arthur pulled up his shirt. There, Scar revealed healed wound and little else. "That witch came back. She and that goddess of hers wanted me healed. I do not believe it of course."

Gaius hustled over to Arthur's side. Examination showed the wound to indeed be healed. "I should say so. I can hardly believe it! Still, Sire, Nimue has considerable magical abilities. She has healed in this manner before." The Eyebrow arched. "Still, Sire, there had to be a price for this."

"Aye that." Arthur's mouth twisted akin to eating Prune or Sour Apple. "That goddess of hers wants me to stop the Purge and to co-exist with magic and her followers. As if they could?" Decades of programming made Consideration's initial steps difficult.

"Nimue brought you into the world. Merlin and I practice magic. Merlin is a being of magic like Kilgarrah the Great Dragon and Malodius the Lion. May I speak honestly?" Gaius weighed his words carefully.

Arthur released a snort. "Of course. Please."

Gaius nodded. "Thank you. Arthur, perhaps instead of thinking of the harm magic and sorcery can bring, you should consider the good it can do as well? You have a kingdom. You have people waiting to be recognized and accepted. There will be laws and codes governing magical use. Apparently, King Accolon watches over Morgana as well as ruling beside her. You and I both know Merlin. He knows the good and bad where magic is concerned. Have faith in him."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Have faith in Merlin?" He frowned. "I want to, Gaius. There were the lies."

"He had to survive under your father's and your rule, Sire. Remember that." Gaius brought Arthur's chain mail and robes to him. "I can help you to dress. I may not be Merlin in that regard but…."

"Your help is appreciated, Gaius. Thank you." Conscience pricked Arthur's heart. He allowed Gaius to slip Chain Mail and then Surcoat over his head. "Gaius, I am sorry. I let Merlin's situation get to me when I banished you. I am glad that King Rodor brought you into his court. When I get back to Camelot, I am rescinding your banishment. I understand that your place is here. I just…wanted you to know that." He cleared his throat.

"Thank you, Sire." Gaius bowed his head. "We both did what we had to do. You allowed me to come here rather than execute me. You showed mercy. I appreciate that." He looked at the tears and stains on Arthur's garb. "You might have Merlin look at that. He may be able to help you."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "I am sure he can. I wonder how many times in the past he has done that?"

"I can tell you that Merlin did so many times." Gaius pulled Arthur's belt around his waist. Aged Hands buckled belt into place. "There! I am sorry I do not have anything to fix that tear." Disbelief still nagged at him. "Are you sure you can walk to the Royal Dining Chamber? I can guide you."

"I am fine, Gaius. I would appreciate you showing me the way. If King Rodor will have me as a guest, we have some matters to discuss." Arthur walked to the door. Pain produced nary a twinge in his side. "Whatever she did, it works."

"I am sure. Nimue is a very skilled healer with powerful magic indeed." Gaius opened the door and stepped aside. He watched Arthur walk out into the passage. Hope warmed his heart. Whatever Nimue had said, Arthur had softened in some regard. Perhaps, it would be long term. Perhaps not.

A new start might be coming…