Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, wish I did, but I don't.
My thanks goes out to Guardian of Inheritance, emrysmorgan, Meeeeeerlin (Guest), Dragoness of the Moon, Sherlock Holmes 4884, septimusromanseverus, Meri Ley, gaylelbf, Guest, and You10, thank you all for your reviews. I loved them!
A/N: The image for this story is now the symbol of Galdra, just so that you have a visual of what it looks like. I didn't design this! I found it on Pinterest!
A/A/N: There is going to be a lot of flashbacks in this chapter but they are important for background information for the rest of the story, sorry for the inconvenience. Also this chapter is going to be long! You also might be in for some surprises...
Please read and review!
Chapter 6
Ealdor
Hunith was grinding some herbs while her mind wandered. She felt her tears billow but she pushed them back. I have to believe that he was happy, she thought. The last few weeks had been difficult and she questioned herself about every decision she had ever made.
Should she have sent Merlin to Camelot? Should she have tried going to Balinor's kingdom when she found out she was with child? Any multitude of questions along those lines but every time she thought of Balinor her heart bled.
He never came back and he was a man who stayed true to his word, she thought as she put the pestle down and moved toward the open window looking out at the rain that had softened to a drizzle. He probably never made it back to his home. On a sigh she moved to her hearth and mantle, there she picked up a piece of intricate woodwork.
It was a beautiful design, the combination of a Triskelion, dragons and Eternity knots, the symbol of the magical kingdom of Galdra; Balinor, her love's homeland. She used to let Merlin hold it when he was a child, it was one of the few times he'd sit still. He would sit there just tracing his fingers along the looping lines again and again, because of that the design was worn down but it was still precious.
A knock on her door made her jerk then wonder why the person didn't just enter. All the villagers knew that her door was always open, then whoever it was knocked again making her place the wooden symbol back on her mantle and make her way toward the door. When she opened it the world around her lost focus.
It had been over twenty years but oh he was still able to make her heart do flips. He had aged but it only made him even more dignified and handsome. His fine clothes fit him impeccably but it was his smile, the smile he had passed down to their son, that brought more tears to her eyes.
"Balinor," she whispered scarcely believing that he was real. She barely got his name out before she was swallowed by his strong arms. This is real, she thought as she burrowed into his arms, this is really real. "Balinor."
"Yes, love, I'm here and I'm so sorry I left you for so long," he whispered into her hair. He breathed in her scent and for the first time in over twenty years, his heart was soring. To have her in my arms again, he thought as he pulled her closer. They stood there holding one another for what seemed like hours until Hunith stiffened and pushed away from him. She turned from him, hugging herself and he could see her shoulders shaking as she fought her tears.
"Hunith?" He came up behind her and encircled her in his arms. "What's wrong my love?"
"I'm sorry," she whispered harshly, she couldn't bring herself to turn to him for comfort. "I'm so sorry."
"Whatever for?" He tightened his arms around her trying to offer her some form of comfort.
"It's all my fault." Balinor didn't like her blaming herself for something he was sure was not her fault so he turned her, making her look at him. Her eyes, full of tears and guilt, was something he'd seen recently, that morning in fact, in a brave young woman who had returned hope to him. Then he saw it, the grief in her eyes, in the lines in her face and his heart broke a little.
"We have him," he whispered holding her face, watched as her eyes widened and searched his in return with hope shining through.
"Runa found him and Lady Morgana. She brought them home." The tears she had been holding back broke as she sobbed into his chest. He just stood there holding and rocking her. He thought back to when they had first met. How her kindness and good heart had helped him start to heal. How when his days had seemed the darkest she had been able make him see the light.
They didn't know how long they stood there but pulled apart when someone cleared their throat from the doorway. When they turned it was to see a knight in the doorway wearing the colors of Galdra, dark teal trimmed with gold and silver. Both could see the mirth that danced in the young knight's eyes. Balinor bit off a curse and was glad that that his beard helped to hide the blush that was quickly taking over his face. Hunith wasn't so lucky, her pale complexion made her blush extremely noticeable which she tried to hide with her hands.
Knox could see the woman's embarrassment was rising and had to hold back the smile that wanted to take over. He had heard stories about the woman that had won his Dragonlord's heart but to see her in person and the embarrassment clear on both their faces was a sight to see.
Knox had grown up within the Galdraian court, his father, having come with King Brynjarr from their homeland amongst the Vikings, had fallen in love with his mother who had been part of Queen Riana's Guard. He could remember the sad looks that would take over Balinor's face every now and then but to see the love and happiness that danced in his eyes, right along with worry for his son, made Knox smile.
"We should be on our way," Knox suggested.
"What? Why?" Hunith looked to Balinor with worry, making the worry return in full force which made hers rise in turn. "Balinor what's wrong?"
"Runa didn't find our son in good condition," he responded slowly, then he let out a mirthless laugh. "'Good condition' who am I kidding, Runa barely found him alive, had she gotten to them any later he would have died."
Hunith's heart stopped. She couldn't breath as Merlin's life flashed before her eyes. His first cry lighting all the candles and making the hearth flare. His infectious smile, his giggles that came from beneath the laundry when he was young. For every little bit she remembered a tear fell in turn until there was a steady stream of tears. Neither man felt comfortable with her tears but they also knew that she needed to get this out much like Morgana had. Finally as her tears slowed she turned her red eyes toward Balinor giving him a small nod.
Quickly Knox and Balinor got to work closing up her house and within minutes she was ready. Balinor had told her not to worry about clothes that as his wife the seamstresses in Galdra would be more than happy to create her a full wardrobe. She had sputtered at his words but Knox threw his head back and laughed heartily then added that they were probably already making things they could easily alter once she got there. Balinor had agreed with him much to the distress of Hunith, she didn't want anyone to have to go out of their way for her. Both men just laughed and assured her that they would take offense if she didn't let them. As they left the small home Hunith grabbed the crest that Balinor had craved for her so long ago.
They quickly made their way through the light rain and Knox started to walk slower until Hunith and Balinor had a semblance of privacy. Hunith kept looking up at Balinor from under her eyelashes and he kept looking down on her. Neither could believe that the other was really there. For Balinor it was actually seeing his love alive while for Hunith it was seeing him in person, because in her heart she never wanted to believe he was gone, but there was question that was niggling in the back of her mind.
"Why did you never come back?" Hunith immediately covered her mouth, she hadn't meant to ask that aloud but her question brought Balinor to a stop and she could see the pain in his face at her question. He turned towards her and took both her hands bringing them to his chest, over his heart.
"I did," Hunith opened her mouth to speak but he just shook his head. "I came back about three months after I fled. I came back to get you but you weren't here so I went to your neighbor, Simmons I think was his name, to ask where I could find you. He told me it was my fault that you were gone. I didn't believe him at first, waited over a week but there was still no sign of your return, the old man kept telling me it was my fault and I shouldn't have but I finally conceded that you were gone."
"But the bond-," Hunith started, remembering the ritual that they had performed just days before he left, but Balinor just gave her a sad smile.
"The bond is still intact but he said 'gone' not dead so I assumed that meant that you were taken by Uther and were being held prisoner for helping me." Hunith could see the anguish in his eyes as he explained, her heart bled for him. All these years he's thought the worst happened to me. Why would Simmons do that… then she remembered just a month ago as she attended to the old man on his death bed and how he kept saying he was sorry which she had never understood, until now.
"I was in Camelot," Balinor made a strangled sound in the back of his throat, "but I was visiting Gaius. I had suspicions that I was pregnant but I wanted him to confirm it. I was unwed-,"
"The ritual-,"
"While valid in Galdra it wasn't valid here, so in the eyes of Essetir and almost anywhere else I was unwed and pregnant. I was scared, so scared someone would find out who his father was and take him from me or kill-," Hunith's voice broke and Balinor pulled her in not wanting to think about what could and would have happened had anyone found out their connection. She was precious to him, so precious and their son was quickly filling a void he hadn't known was there. He couldn't lose them, either of them and damn anyone who would try to take them from him.
Balinor felt the ground rumble and knew the dragons were getting impatient so he pulled back, cupping Hunith's face, he placed a quick kiss on her lips before looking down at her mischievously, a look she often recognized in their son's eyes. That look when it had been in Merlin's eyes usually warned her of an impending prank.
"What are you planning?" she asked her suspicions growing. His smile, the one he passed down to their son, shone on his face as he took her hand and led her through a dense grouping of trees she knew opened up into a large clearing. The sight that met her was one she would never forget.
Three dragons, two with ominous colors and the other the colors of a pinking sky, and they were talking! She knew they spoke, Balinor had educated her on dragons enough to know that, but still to see it for herself, especially after all the rumors and talk of them being mindless savage beasts. It was reassuring to see that those blasphemous words were unfound and untrue. The two larger ominous ones were speaking with the young man in front of them while the smaller lighter one was lounging soaking up the soft drizzle, it was the lighter one who noticed them.
"Well, well, it seems as if our Dragonlord did well for himself." The dragon's voice was distinctively feminine and filled with mirth as she opened her pale blue eyes. Her words alerted the others in the clearing, the young man immediately bowed to the couple, while the other dragons scrutinized her. Suddenly she felt very small but soon their scrutinizing looks softened and they bowed their heads in her direction. She let out a breath she hadn't known she had been holding, at her sigh the largest one, the colors of fire, let out a cuffing laugh.
"Relax Lady Dragonlord, we would never harm you; we are grateful to you."
"Why?"
"You gave birth, protected and raised the next generation Dragonlord, our kin, and for that you have our gratitude." Once again the dragons bowed their heads shocking Hunith that these proud creatures were bowing to her at all.
"Shall we go?" Knox asked as he entered the clearing. Balinor looked down to Hunith whose only answer was a nod. They made their way toward the largest one who introduced himself.
"I am Pyrrhus, leader of the Dragon Guard, the others are Balendin and Chiara," he nodded to each in turn who nodded back. Pyrrhus lowered himself as close to the ground as he could so that she had an easier time getting up. Quickly they were all mounted, with Balinor behind Hunith making sure she was secure.
"Ready?" he asked with mischief in his voice. Hunith nodded as she tightened her arms around his.
"Ready." At her assurance the dragons took off, as they did her stomach dropped out but within seconds her heart was soaring. It's exactly as he always described it, she thought, thinking back to those late-night conversations. They rose higher and she never looked down.
Camelot
Uther was looking out his window staring at the grey sky. Grey skies always reminded him of one of the biggest mistakes in his life, how he had killed the Queen of Galdra, at first he had tried to justify what he had done but Gorlois then Viviana wouldn't let him. His friend had seen what he refused to, that he had done what he was punishing others for.
~Flashback~
"Gorlois!" Uther yelled as he came down the courtyard steps, into the drizzling rain. "Where are you going? I haven't dismissed-" Uther stopped his tirade when he noticed the look on his long-time friend's face. Gorlois' face showed his anger and sadness intermixed.
"What is it Uther?" Uther was taken aback at his friend's tone and informality. Gorlois was always proper in public, addressing him as King. He shook himself and stood up straight pushing his authority forward.
"I have yet to dismiss you. I need you to go to the south, we have a large bandit problem-"
"No."
"Wh-what? You dare question your King?" Uther sputtered. This was the first time Gorlois had ever outright defied him.
"I said 'no', I need to return to Tintagel and prepare my people for war."
"War? What war?" Uther was getting fidgety, he hoped his friend hadn't heard of what happened.
"The war that you started the second you killed Queen Riana." The acid in his tone was surprising to Uther, Gorlois had never spoken to him like that and he did not like it.
"I have no idea-"
"Don't lie to me Uther!" Gorlois swung around to fully face his friend, though it was getting harder to call him that. "You killed Riana. You called the Dragonlords here and slaughtered them. You are the reason that Balinor is running for his life and the life of his niece, whose mother you killed in front of her. And you are the reason that Brynjarr is going to bring war to Camelot." Gorlois' voice rose with each word; all the while Uther was trying to hush the man.
"Quiet your voice," Uther hissed. Gorlois' didn't look like he wanted to but then he looked to the carriage that held his wife and Camelot's only chance to avoid war.
"No one is going to side with us in this battle," Gorlois hissed back.
"Yes, they-"
"No they won't, Galdra is too powerful, too well connected. They own the seas of Albion, they have the best merchant and naval fleets, they have allies that lay beyond our borders. And no matter how much you hate it they have magic and dragons on their side. We don't stand a chance."
"The dragons will no longer be a problem." At his words Gorlois' heart sank to his feet.
"What did you do?"
"All the Dragonlords should be gone within the next few days."
"What. Did. You. Do?"
"I sent knights into Galdra and the other kingdoms with Dragonlords when they left."
"And what were their orders?" Sickening feeling his stomach grew and he had to hold the bile that was growing back.
"To kill all those associated with them." As if to go along with how harrowing his words were the rain started falling harder. Gorlois couldn't believe what he was hearing, Uther, his friend had just sentence Camelot to burn.
"Have you lost your mind?" Both men's eyes were pulled toward the woman who had at some point gotten out of the carriage. "Do you really think getting rid of the Dragonlords will deal with the dragons themselves?"
"Viviana-" Gorlois tried to calm his wife, but she was having none of it.
"No!" She whirled on her husband silencing him before she turned back to Uther. "Dragonlords are kin to the dragons do you think they will overlook what you've done? The blood on your hands? They loved Riana, they love Balinor and they love Runa. You have one of their own chained up in a cave beneath the citadel like a common criminal."
"You give the beasts too much credence Viviana-"
"And you don't give them enough! If you actually kill Balinor or even think of hurting Runa I can assure you there will be nothing left of Camelot except cinders. You have doomed us to burn like all those you've burned."
"Watch your tone-"
"I will not! It is time for you to wake up Uther! Your crusade against magic has now doomed Camelot far more than sorcerers running amuck."
"Control you wife." Uther ordered Gorlois, who in turn just looked at him as if to say, 'you're joking, right?'
"You've gone too far," Viviana hissed. "What would Ygraine think of what you've done?"
"Do not bring my wife into this!"
"Why not? For reasons you won't explain, you blame magic and those that practice it for her death, with no proof that you will give to anyone. Well Uther there is irrefutable proof that you killed Riana, that you killed another man's wife, a king's wife." Uther paled at her words, the words he had been ignoring, pushing to the back of his mind, those words he didn't want to acknowledge because she was right. Just as Uther opened his mouth one of his knights galloped into the courtyard and immediately upon sight of his king rushed over.
"Sire!" the knight yelled. Uther turned from the angry couple not noticing Viviana turn her back and march back to her carriage.
"What is it?"
"It is Mercia, they have declared war." Gorlois just looked to Uther because he knew that this war with Mercia was Uther's doing as well. Mercia while not having as many Dragonlords as Galdra, did have two, one of which was King Bayard's brother-in-law, both were now dead.
"We will dispatch troops at once." The knight bowed and left. Uther turned toward Gorlois. "Gorlois-"
"No."
"I am your King and Galdra has not declared war yet, Mercia has."
"Bayard is a concern but Brynjarr is the bigger threat."
"He has not declared war-"
"He doesn't have to!" Gorlois' voice rose again but he took a deep breath before he continued. "You killed his wife, five of his Lords, made his brother-in-law and daughter flee for their lives AND sent men into his kingdom to kill more. If that's not a declaration of war then I don't know what is. By his account and anyone else's you declared war first. His retaliation will be his answer."
Uther hated to admit that his friend was right but he refused to believe that they would lose and Gorlois could see the stubbornness in his face.
"You've never seen Brynjarr in a fight before." It wasn't a question but Uther shook his head regardless. "I have. He and the men that came with him from his homeland, I've never seen fighting styles like that. Each one could take on a squadron and win, without any use of magic." Uther opened his mouth to talk but Gorlois continued.
"Uther, we don't stand a chance."
"They why are you going, why bring your wife back to a war?"
"Viviana hopes that she can try and talk Brynjarr down. That and well she refuses to be here."
"Why?" Uther was truly baffled that Viviana wouldn't want to be in Camelot proper, Gorlois just looked at him incredulously.
"You murdered her best friend, right here in this courtyard. She's letting her anger lead her right now but that will only last for so long, she knows that. I don't think she'll ever return here. She's lost too many to this place." Uther knew Gorlois meant Ygraine and Viviana's daughter.
"What about you?" Uther asked. Gorlois just let out a long sigh because he didn't know how long it would be till he could face Uther again but he had other pressing concerns.
"You are still my King, but Uther right now I don't know if I can call you friend. Friends listen to one another and take heed of their advice which is something you haven't done since Ygraine died. Maybe if you had we wouldn't be in this mess. I am needed in Tintagel, both Viviana and I are. We can prepare the people and maybe both of us can appeal to Brynjarr but Uther for him not to go to war he might ask something of you, something you might not want to give."
"What do you think he may ask for?" Uther had a multitude of ideas most involving his death.
"Your head, maybe. The lifting of the laws against magic or, and I hate saying this, he might ask for Arthur."
"What? They can't-"
"He can and he might. Arthur is one of the few things that you would do anything for. If he wants assurance that what happened here won't happen again then using Arthur as a hostage is most likely his best bet. If you don't want to lose your son then I suggest that you start thinking of ways to appease him."
"What if I returned his wife?" When Gorlois looked at him confused he elaborated. "I could- couldn't just burn her. I've entombed her with the ancestors for now." Gorlois looked at him then shook his head.
"Returning her body for proper burial in Galdra might go a small ways so I suggest you start the process of sending her to Tintagel. What did you do with the Dragonlords?"
"Burned them." Gorlois just sighed and pinched his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
"Do you at least have their swords?"
"They're in the vaults."
"Send those along with her. If they can't offer the Dragonlords a proper burial a symbolic one with their swords might help, but Uther this won't be enough, you know it won't."
"What else can I do?"
"Stay out of this."
"But-"
"Stay out of this Uther. Let Viviana and I handle this and pray we can find a solution without war."
"Try to keep Arthur out of it, if you can."
"I'll do my best but we don't have a lot to offer and if that is what he asks for-"
"Then it's war." Gorlois looked at Uther disbelievingly but ultimately he relented knowing Uther wasn't going to budge on this. He understood to an extent but Uther should have thought of what the ramifications of his actions could have been before he did what he did.
"What makes you so sure that Brynjarr will go after Tintagel first?" Uther asked bringing Gorlois out of his head.
"Tintagel is one of the most profitable ports that Camelot has, and it's on the same coastline as their main port." When Uther opened his mouth no doubt to make a suggestion that would doom Camelot, Gorlois stopped him. "We don't have the naval abilities that they do so a preemptive attack would be foolish. As for trying to go at them from land, we would have to take an army through Essetir and Caerleon or through the Perilous Lands." Gorlois paused. "How did you get knights into Galdra to kill those innocents anyway?" Uther took the jab that Gorlois meant his words to have before he explained.
"I only sent five knights the rest were hired mercenaries. One knight for each family, they were to lead the attack." Gorlois' eyes shuttered closed at Uther's orders, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"None of those men are coming back you know that right?" Uther looked confused and a little affronted that Gorlois had so little faith in his men. He didn't really care about the mercenaries.
"Do you have so little faith?"
"In your knights' abilities against Galdra's?" Uther only on answer was a nod. "Yes, the second they started spilling blood their fate was sealed. You did that Uther and you are going to have to live with that, because it is thanks to your decisions that those men are dead." Not able to talk anymore about what Uther had done Gorlois turned and made for his horse. As he passed the carriage that held his wife he looked in.
He could see Runa curled up in the seat next to his wife with her head in Viviana's lap. Viviana was stroking Runa's hair while she hummed a lullaby. His eyes softened, even before they had sent Morgause to the Isle it had been quite a while since she had allowed Viviana to do that for her. They had wanted more children but so far they hadn't been blessed with a second child and now a part of them feared having another. Morgause had a natural affinity for magic and Viviana was a Seer so they feared that a child of theirs might also have magic, but if they were blessed with another they would welcome and love them no matter what. Uther came over as Gorlois mounted his horse.
"Do keep me apprised of what is going on."
"I'll do my best but I must tell you again to stay out of this. Leave this to me." Gorlois' beseeching eyes bored into Uther who could only nod as he backed away and with a call Gorlois and his people moved out. Uther watched them go for a time before he thought of what his friend had said. I would do anything for Arthur, he thought. Maybe Brynjarr would do the same for his child?
So unbeknownst to Gorlois Uther didn't stay out of the Galdraian affairs. He sent men looking for Balinor and Brynjarr's daughter to try and use as leverage against the powerful kingdom but they were not successful. At one point his men had been close but they had slipped through their fingers, then around a week or two later Gorlois sent word. He and Viviana had been able to come to an agreement with Brynjarr. Uther was relieved by the news so he returned his efforts toward the war with Mercia, by the time Uther saw his friend again it had been over a year.
When Uther rode into Tintagel's courtyard he was greeted by Gorlois but no Viviana. Uther was a little perturbed that his wife's close friend was still angry at him.
"Where is Viviana?" He asked as he dismounted.
"She'll join us later," Gorlois replied as he grasped Uther's forearm as Uther did the same to him. They spoke as they made their way inside, mostly about more trivial things, the harvest, trade, other topics along those lines but Uther knew he needed to ask what the agreements between Gorlois and Brynjarr had been. As they settled in Gorlois' study Uther broached the subject.
"How are our relations with Galdra?"
"What relations?" Gorlois responded.
"What agreements did you come to with King Brynjarr?" Gorlois had not been specific about what their agreement had entailed, Uther just knew that Arthur hadn't been a part of it. Gorlois continued to just look at Uther, making the other man want to squirm but Kings did not squirm. Finally Gorlois sighed, signaling to Uther he was going to get his answers.
"They've closed their boarders and no ship with ties to Camelot may enter their ports unless it is an emergency at which point they will be under constant guard and the slightest infractions can and will result in punishment."
"That seems kind of harsh-" Gorlois' raised brow made Uther stop because he knew that look on his friend's face, it meant that he had no leg to stand on.
"They will still trade with me-"
"That's good-" again Gorlois cut his eyes to Uther signaling that he did not want Uther to interrupt him again.
"They will only trade with me and under the condition that we are to never search their ships." When Uther opened his mouth Gorlois' glare cut him off. "There's more so please hold your comments until I've laid it all out." Uther nodded his head and gestured for Gorlois to continue.
"You are to spread no slander against them, also if they hear of you unjustly slaughtering people like you have been they will interfere. If you send anyone into their kingdom it will be considered a breach of this agreement and they will not hold back. If they have people in Camelot and they have broken a law then they are to be handed back over to Galdra for judgement. If you go back on any of this it will be seen as an act of war and the agreement is void. There are other things but it was part of the deal that you not know about it. It's my part of the bargain and I alone have to uphold it."
"How are we supposed to know whether or not they're from Galdra?"
"That's part of it, we have to figure it out. You can't just arrest someone on suspicions and then sentence them the next day. You have to investigate and prove without a doubt that they are yours to punish."
"But-" Gorlois' stare said that they got off easy so don't push it. "That's not right."
"Neither was murdering his wife, his lords or making Balinor and Runa go on the run," the voice came from the doorway, when Uther turned he was met with quite the sight. It was Viviana, and she was quite a bit… larger than the last time he had seen her. She rested her hand on her protruding stomach, cupping it, protecting the life inside.
"You- You're-"
"With child?" She arched her brow at him. "Yes."
"You're supposed to be resting. The midwife said you should." She waved off Gorlois' words but he come to her side regardless. When he placed his hand on her lower back, where he knew she was hurting, she smiled up at him. Neither one noticed Uther just staring at her stomach then his face twisted. The last time he had been near an expectant woman was with Ygraine, the sight made his heart hurt. Outwardly he was happy for his friend but inside it hurt.
"How-," Uther's voice cracked just a bit before he cleared his throat. "How far along?"
"We suspect seven to eight months, closer to eight we believe." Gorlois offered.
"Do you have names picked out yet?" Gorlois turned toward his wife who had stiffened, but he looked at her expectantly, finally she relented.
"We haven't decided on a boy's name yet, but if it's a girl her name will be Morgana. I have a feeling it will be a girl."
"That's a beautiful name, for what I'm sure will be a beautiful girl."
"Yes, it means dweller of the sea. It also shares the 'ana' part of mine and Riana's names. Ria would have been her Godmother." Uther took the jab because he could still see her hurt and anger at what he'd done.
"I'd like to stand for a bit, and the midwife agrees that it would be good for me." She said to her husband who was still looking at her worriedly. He searched her face looking for any signs of distress, finding none he released her and returned to his conversation he had been having with Uther.
"Back to what we were talking about… right or not he won't budge on that or any of his other demands. He knows that we don't have a lot to stand on for negotiations." Uther's face took on a look on contemplation. Essentially as long as he did not touch anyone from Galdra they would stay out of his way.
"Understood. So you've already signed and agreed with him?"
"Yes, another part was he never wants to see you."
"I can live with that." There was silence for a second before Uther spoke again. "I'm surprised that he backed off for so little." He turned to Gorlois. "I think you were overly worried for nothing my friend."
"No he wasn't," Viviana said, defending her husband. "Brynjarr is a formidable enemy and the only reason that Camelot hasn't been laid to waste is because of his love for his wife."
"Wouldn't that be the opposite?" Uther asked. "Wouldn't he lay waste to the thing that took her away." Both Viviana and Gorlois noticed that Uther was still trying to distance himself from what he had done but Viviana was not going to allow him to.
"No," she said resolutely. "He is refusing to tarnish his wife's memory with bloodshed. He knows if he goes to war because of her murder the only thing people would remember about her would be that her death was the catalyst for more. He doesn't want that for the memory of his wife or his daughter's future. He wants her love, generosity and her life to be what is remembered about her, not her death." Uther was put out by Viviana's tone, because to him it was as if she was saying he was in the wrong.
"Riana will be remembered for her life because of what Brynjarr has done, but what about you Uther? What have you done to preserve Ygraine's memory? I'll tell you, you've done nothing but tarnish it. Ygraine will be remembered for her death, and that is your fault."
Uther could feel his anger rising, Gorlois could see it and he was getting ready to get in between Uther and Viviana if need be, when color quickly started fading from Viviana's face. Gorlois was by her side in an instant and caught her just as she fainted. Uther was on his feet quickly, worriedly he yelled out into the hall for a physician and the midwife. The next hour was spent making sure Viviana was okay along with her child. Once she was settled back in hers and Gorlois' chambers, the men made their way back to Gorlois' study.
"Your wife needs to learn to control her tongue." Uther said as he sat, Gorlois' only response was a raised brow.
"What woman in her state can?" Gorlois challenged back and Uther had to concede that Gorlois was right. "But part of what she said was correct. Do not think because we are not at war with Galdra that Brynjarr is weak. If he hadn't wanted to honor his wife and her beliefs then I can assure you Camelot would be no more." Uther looked at his long-time friend in disbelief but he wasn't going to argue about that anymore. It was done and he had Gorlois to thank for that.
~End Flashback~
It wasn't till years later that Uther finally learned of how formidable Brynjarr truly was. He had heard the tale from a visiting Lord from Caerleon about a Saxon invasion. Apparently Caerleon was one of the few kingdoms that had kept their alliance with Galdra over Camelot, which had made sense. Camelot didn't share a large border with Caerleon while almost their entire west border and the entirety of their northern border was with Galdra, not to mention Uther had heard somewhere that Caerleon's Queen was related in some way to the Galdraian royal family.
The visiting Lord had spoken about the small group of men who had come to their aid. He had not believed them to be enough, there were only five of them, two of which had not made it to manhood yet, but he admitted he was wrong. The five men alone took out half of the invading Saxon army, without so much as an injury on their side. The Lord had been on the back lines and had watched, had been amazed at their skill. He couldn't properly explain about what those men had done, that it was something one had to see to believe and he said the group had been led by King Brynjarr himself.
Hearing about the other man's exploits made him remember his friends words and he was grateful that Gorlois had been able to mediate a compromise between the kingdoms. Uther owed a great deal to Gorlois, more than he could ever repay. Once again Uther looked toward the sky and made a promise.
Don't worry my friend I will get your daughter back, on this I promise.
Galdra
"Father?" Brynjarr turned around at the sound of his daughter's voice. He had been staring out at the sea ever since he had entered his study, awaiting Balinor's return. He had already alerted the Druid leaders and Elders of the meeting in two days and had word sent to his advisors and each Noble family. He was not looking forward to that meeting. When he caught the concerned look in his daughter's eyes he couldn't help but smile. Though her eyes were lighter they were most certainly her mother's and while he missed his wife with every fiber of his being, she would have lectured him till his ears bled if he wallowed in her death.
He held out his hand to Runa in a known gesture. She smiled softly before she moved to hug his arm as she laid her head upon his shoulder as she had often done when she had been a child. For several minutes neither spoke, just looked out to the sea. Finally Brynjarr sighed and turned back toward his study. Runa moved around as well and sat at his table.
"Were you able to set up the council in two days?" she asked.
"Yes. I've included the Druid leaders and Elders." Runa only nodded at his decision. "How's Morgana?"
"She cried herself to sleep," she said her voice full of compassion. "Poor girl hasn't left Merlin's side."
"Does Lenus have any ideas on what we can do to help?"
"Lenus, doesn't…"
"But?"
"I do, you're not going to like it." When Brynjarr just raised his brow Runa sighed.
"Merlin and Morgana have a bond like I've never seen before. I want to create a mental bridge for Morgana to see if she can 'find' Merlin. Part of his problem is that he was ready to give up. He needs to want to live."
Brynjarr sat back and just looked at his daughter. He knew of what she wanted to do, she'd done it before, by accident when she was a child, and it had nearly killed her. She was exceedingly gifted in the magics of the mind and soul, something she got from her mother. It was still risky but by the set of Runa's face she wasn't going to be persuaded to do anything else, however he was curious, she rarely allowed anyone else to put themselves in that kind of danger.
"Describe the bond to me." Runa caught off guard by request thought for a second on how to accurately to explain what she had seen.
"The best I could describe it is that Merlin is like the sun and fire, all-encompassing and can shine so brightly that it can blind. Morgana on the other hand is more like the moon and stars and water, soothing and a guiding light in the darkness. Merlin's golden strands have intertwined with Morgana's sliver ones. Their magic, I've never seen anything like it before. They feed off each other, whether that's good or bad I'm not sure but their destines are interwoven so thoroughly that there is no way to break that connection except in death, and I'm not even sure that would work."
Brynjarr was impressed by her description of their bond. If even a fraction of what she spoke about was true Merlin and Morgana's bond was a truly special one. However the concerns surrounding what Runa wanted to do were quite valid. If anything went wrong it could result in several different consequences, the least of which was only Merlin slipping away. Brynjarr didn't want that for his brother-in-law, he had already lost enough time with his son. Brynjarr threw his mind back over twenty years earlier, how he had been so consumed in grief and rage.
~Flashback~
Brynjarr was looking out over the sea to the port of Tintagel from the deck of Galdra's largest naval vessel. He could feel his rage, grief and worry coursing through his veins, feeding the fire that had ignited the second the bond to his beloved wife was severed. In her last seconds he had seen through her eyes, her demise. He had seen the face of the man who took her life. He had only met the man a handful of times before the man went mad after his wife's death, but Brynjarr knew who her killer was, Uther Pendragon, King of Camelot.
He will pay, Brynjarr seethed. He started this war but I will finish it. His heart was bleeding, the hearts of his adopted people were bleeding. Uther with his ignorance fueled hate were an illness and it was time for a cure, even if it was a bloody one. Brynjarr could feel the bloodlust of some of his warriors and that added fuel to his fire. Part of his magic was taking emotions of others and directing it for use. Rage, anger, hate, the emotions that could be easily directed, were the more powerful fuels, and those he could pull from were not just his comrades but from all.
Many people feared him due to his magic but like others before him, his magic was no choice of his and he had hated it. That was until it allowed him to meet his wife and win her hand. He had never expected to rule, he had eight older brothers that could take over the throne from their father and in a way he had never wanted to. Viken was his forefather's land but he had always wanted to explore, see what the world had to offer outside of their borders.
At fifteen his father gifted him with a long boat and a crew of men, by twenty-five he had over twenty vessels that fell under his ultimate command. He was one of the best merchants on the seas. He had learned Greek, Latin, Gaelic, Arabic, Gaulish and English, both new and old. He had considered himself a man of the world, but even he hadn't been to Galdra. Of course he had heard of the powerful naval abilities of the magical kingdom but what had intrigued him was the tales of dragons. Of men who commanded them, yet they flew freely in the skies. Finally curiosity got the better of him. He knew he would be leaving his merchant fleets in good hands while he and his closest friends went on a little adventure. Fate had led him there at the right time.
He met the love of his life and five years later they were graced with a beautiful daughter. Now three years after that his love's life was snuffed short by a mad king added on he had no information on his daughter's whereabouts. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard the cry of a hawk. When he looked up the bird was circling before it veered into a dive. When it landed on ship's railing he noticed the message it carried.
'Brynjarr,
There are no words that I can express for the betrayal you have all suffered at the hands of Uther but please rethink a bloody war. I know we have no right to ask this of you as we have shown none to yours but please grant our people mercy. They do not deserve to pay for Uther's deceit. Please come speak with me, perhaps we can find a compromise.
Gorlois'
As Brynjarr read he took note of Gorlois' use of informal language when addressing him. So he's making this plea not as a Lord of Camelot but as an old friend, Brynjarr thought thinking over the words.He's putting a lot on the line if this doesn't go as he hopes.
"What is it Bryn?" The man who asked lumbered over. As one of the men who had come with him from Viken, Baldr showed the coloring of their ancestors, blond hair with light blue-grey eyes, eyes he had passed down to his young son Knox, who had just turned seven. Standing next to him was his wife and head of the Queen's Guard, Sloane, whose fiery red hair she had passed down to both of their children.
Brynjarr stopped on thoughts of their children, both back in Galdra, growing up without one or, All-Father forbid, both of their parents made his heart hurt. He knew they were raging as much as him for Uther's betrayal and were ready for a fight. He also knew they were gifted fighters but it just took one lucky blow from an opponent and their lives were cut short, leaving their children behind. Uther's left yourdaughter without a mother, his dark thoughts taunted him. He tried to push those thoughts aside.
"Gorlois wishes to talk," he finally answered.
"Talk?" Sloane asked incredulously. "Talk about what exactly? His King murdered our Queen, five of our Lords and sent men in to slaughter their families. We don't even know what's happened to our princess, your daughter, or Balinor and Gorlois wants to talk? Has he lost his mind?"
Sloane's voice had risen allowing other to overhear her tirade, many were nodding along. Brynjarr understood their anger but he also wanted to honor what his wife might have wanted. She hadn't been one for war, in fact she found it tasteless and that the 'rewards' never justified for how many lives were lost in the process.
"I'll go and speak with him." His announcement was met with outrage. Many people were questioning his decision but when he cut them with his glare their protests quieted.
"I'm going with you," Baldr stated and Brynjarr knew there was no arguing with the giant man.
"We will go with you," Sloane added. Several others started nodding their heads stating their intent to come as well. It warmed his heart that the people loved him enough to come with him into enemy territory, especially in light of their reasons for being there. Brynjarr wrote back, giving it to the hawk before it soared back to its master for a treat.
As he watched the bird fly off Brynjarr started giving out orders on who was going with him and who would stay with the ship. He also signaled to the other ships that were barricading the port and had those gifted in mind speech spread the word amongst their ships as well. Within the hour those going into Tintagel had moved to one of the smaller ships and were making their way farther into port. When they reached the harbor there was a small company of soldiers waiting for them.
"Lord Gorlois asked us to escort you to the keep," one of the soldiers said, puffing out his chest trying for intimidation. He failed miserably. Brynjarr knew that as a group they looked daunting and that's what he had wanted. He wanted to show that Uther had chosen the wrong kingdom to anger, that if there was not a solution made these were the warriors they would face.
As they moved through the town they noticed how silent it was, many had been there previously and knew that silence was the last thing anyone would have heard in this bustling port. Then they heard the hushed whispers and took note of the people huddled in doorways and glancing out windows, a part of them felt guilty for the fear they knew they had caused while another part was glad for the fear, because when people were afraid they didn't think clearly.
In no time at all they reached Tintagel Keep. Gorlois met them at the doors and Brynjarr immediately took stock of the man. His normally well-groomed hair was longer than normal, curling at his nape, while his beard was more than just a day's growth, but it was his eyes that told Brynjarr the most. They were haunted but he could see the anger behind them, that anger wasn't directed toward him and his party but toward somewhere, or someone, else.
"Gorlois," Brynjarr greeted
"King Brynjarr," Gorlois responded back. "Thank you for speaking with me. Why don't we go inside?" Gorlois moved to the side and gestured for him to enter. When the soldiers moved to follow Gorlois held them off.
"But my Lord-" Gorlois cut the man off with a glare.
"Return to your stations." Gorlois commanded. The men stiffened but eventually bowed before taking their leave. Brynjarr's party followed Gorlois winding their way through the spacious keep, finally the reached Gorlois' study. As they settled Brynjarr got right down to business.
"Do you know where Balinor is?"
"Yes," was Gorlois' immediate response.
"Does Uther have him?" asked Sloane.
"No."
"Where?" Brynjarr asked.
"Essetir, but-"
"Do you know where in Essetir?" asked Baldr.
"Yes, but-"
"Where?"
"He doesn't have Runa with him." Gorlois' statement stopped the rapid-fire questions and he could have sworn the temperature in the room plummeted.
"Balinor would never abandon Runa." Sloane gritted out.
"He didn't."
"Then how can you say that she's not with him?"
"Because-"
"Where is she?" The question was asked softly but the anger and rage radiating off in waves added a threat behind it. Brynjarr stood and in a split second had Gorlois by the front of his shirt.
"Where is my daughter?" he snarled. Gorlois held his ground, even though he could see the promise of death in Brynjarr's eyes.
"Brynjarr." Brynjarr turned, as he did his world zeroed in on the child who was half asleep. She was rubbing her eyes but when her gaze caught on his, her eyes brightened and a smile took over her entire face.
"Papa!" Brynjarr dropped Gorlois back as he hastened over to his squirming daughter. He scooped her out of Viviana's arms and almost crushed her to his chest.
"Papa, Papa, Papa," she kept chanting as she burrowed into his chest. All Brynjarr could do was hold her to him and breathe in her little girl scent. He could feel some of the darkness he had felt, since his bond severed, lift. His wife was gone but a part her was still here, he could breathe again. He felt a hand on his arm, looking down he could see the sadness that had taken over Viviana's beautiful face, without thinking he pulled her to him and just held on.
Viviana was shocked when Brynjarr pulled her to him but soon her arms came around him and encircled Runa as well. She had not allowed Gorlois to comfort her, she felt a part of her blamed Gorlois for not being able to stop Uther, however Brynjarr had just lost half of his world, he needed comfort and to offer it in return. Finally the tears started to fall however there was no loud crying, no, instead both only had silent tears that streamed down their faces as the loss of friend, a wife, a sister, a mother, a queen came to bare on their hearts.
The others in the room let out sighs of relief, for those that came it was relief that their princess was safe, for Gorlois it was seeing his wife finally accepting comfort in her grief. He had seen what it had done to Uther and he didn't want his wife to go down the same path.
"Where's Balinor again?" Baldr asked not disturbing the trio.
"Essetir." At Gorlois' answer the man bowed and left so suddenly that it took a second for Gorlois to register that he had left.
"Wait, you impulsive twit. You don't know where in Essetir." Gorlois heard several snorts as he followed the man from his study.
Brynjarr and Viviana pulled apart neither hiding their tears. Content and happy curled up in her father's arms, Runa was half asleep. Silence reigned over the large study as the group resettled. It took some time but finally Gorlois returned shaking his head.
"What was that thing he rides? It's half horse." When he looked around the room he took in each face. His wife's face, while tear streaked, was looking better, not as angry, and the same could be said about Brynjarr. Not to say the anger was gone but it was no longer encompassing their entire being.
"Baldr's left to retrieve Balinor." Gorlois supplied.
"Good," was the curt response. Gorlois looked uneasily at Brynjarr and the rest of the Galdraians. He knew they had the right but he did not want war with them. He looked to his wife and that one glance spoke volumes, all of which ended with 'we need to find another way'.
"Brynjarr-," Gorlois was cut off with a glare.
"Why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't I go to war with him?" The question asked so harshly it made the others flinch. "He started this, he killed my wife, my lords, my people, and apparently has no qualms or regrets about it. So why should I show him any mercy?"
"Because he's not the one who will pay the price! Uther wouldn't be the one you'd be showing mercy to it would be the innocents of Camelot, the soldiers and Knights who have no choice but to do as their King demands or face death. They are the ones you would be showing mercy to, not Uther."
Both men were glaring at each other but Brynjarr had to concede that Gorlois was right. Uther would not be the one to pay for his wrongs it would be his people, a people who were already suffering from his Purge, but still.
"Please don't let her name be tainted." The plea made so quietly, so full of grief, made them all turn. Viviana's eyes were full of unshed tears but it was the plea in her eyes that made their voices stick in their throats.
"Don't let this be her legacy, a legacy of blood and war. That isn't who she was. Please," silent tears were running down her face. "Please, let her legacy be one of forgiveness, love, hope. Don't let people forget who she really was. The people have already forgotten Ygraine don't let Riana fade too." Her voice broke on a sob and the dam fully broke.
No one moved, no one knew what to do, they had never seen Viviana like this, even when she had had to send her beloved daughter to the Isle, she had not broken down like this. Only one sought to offer comfort, and she did so with the tiniest of touches.
"Vi, okay?" At some point during this Runa had wiggled out of her father's embrace and had toddled over to Viviana, placing her little hands on her thigh. "Vi no cry?"
Viviana choked back another sob as she gathered the girl to her and held on tight. Runa just curled into Viviana's hug, hugging her in return. The sight dimmed some of the fire that had been ignited allowing Viviana's words to sink in.
Do I want Riana's legacy to be one of death and blood, Brynjarr thought, after a second he shook his head. No, that wasn't who she was. He looked to his people and he could see many of them had come to the same decision he had. He looked to Gorlois upon seeing the sorrow in the other man's eyes alongside a fierce determination he could conclude that he was going to push to see that Viviana's wish was heard. Brynjarr just shook his head then crouched down in front of the two.
"Viviana," she did not lift her head. "Viviana, look at me please." The please is what did it, she looked up at him with such sorrowful eyes, silent tears still spilling down her face. Brynjarr just cupped her cheek brushing away the tears with his thumb.
"Okay." At his one-word hope started to fill her eyes where once was only grief and despair. "No war. However, I am not letting Uther or Camelot off without consequences but none of them will be bloody. You're right that's not the legacy I want for my wife or my daughter."
"Thank you," she said as she threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you thank you thank you." Brynjarr just gave her a tight squeeze before he pulled back and a dark look over took his face.
"But one thing will be non-negotiable."
"What?"
"If I ever see Uther again, and I mean ever, he will die by my hand." The promise in his voice was dark and deadly but Viviana looked to Gorlois who gave a mirthless smile.
"I can understand that," Gorlois agreed. "Shall we?"
~Flashback end~
It had taken two weeks of negotiations until they had come to a full agreement, which was the agreement still in place, though it was the people of Tintagel and the Harbor Master who upheld the agreement rather than whatever Lord Uther had replaced Gorlois with.
"Father?" Brynjarr was pulled back into the present.
"Yes?"
"What were you thinking about?"
"The last time I saw Gorlois or Viviana. She must have gotten pregnant right after we left."
"Or while we were there." Brynjarr just gave her a look which she returned with an innocent expression, but soon her expression dropped.
"They should have waited," she said quietly.
"There was no possible way that Balinor or Baldr could have waited for Hunith, you know that." Runa harshly stood and went to glare out the window.
"I know. I know I know that but still-"
"Baldr saw a small army heading for Ealdor when he flew over and Hunith was aiding in a birth. Balinor knew that she wouldn't leave and he didn't want to put her in that position. He thought he would be able to go back quickly for her but…" He did not have to elaborate as to why it had taken three months for Balinor to go back, they both knew.
"But if they had… if somehow they had, Merlin would have grown up here, safe-"
"And who knows what would have happened to Morgana. Merlin would have never been in Camelot, would have never met her, you saw for yourself how terrified she was at the mere mention of meeting me, another king. You also know how fear like that can corrupt a person. People that scared make rash actions, and not always the right ones."
Runa looked at her father and knowing he was right, she deflated. She felt so selfish, she wanted Merlin to be safe but because of the circumstances Morgana was safe as well. She could not begrudge Morgana that. The situation could not be changed no matter the number of 'what if's' and thinking that way would not allow them to move forward. Finally she let out a sigh and gave her father a slight glare because she hated feeling small, his answer was a slight smile, which suddenly grew bigger.
"They just crossed the border."
"Well let's get down to the courtyard then, shall we?" Runa held out her hand to her father who took it, tucking it into the crook of his arm, made their way to a homecoming well overdue.
Okay this chapter is done, another 10,000 words sorry it took so long! I was planning on it being longer but decided all of you loyal followers deserved a quicker update.
I know this was a lot of filler-ish content but it's important to the over-all story so it needed to be done.
Were any of you surprised that Morgana isn't Uther's daughter? If you don't like it well that's your opinion. I didn't want her to be Uther's in this story.
I'll try and get the next one out faster next time. Also Morgana is going into Merlin's mind is in the next one so that's something to look forward to!
Until then~Midnight
