The following morn, Arthur stood on the walkway with a smile. One by one Camelot's horses had returned to the castle. Arthur had made sure they secured the purchase of the black powder before he allowed his people to search for Holun's horses. They found all except one. Arthur couldn't help but laugh as he watched Holun sitting, miserably on the front of the red caravan as they made their way out of the citadel.
Merlin sat in silence with Gwaine. He had woken up that morning to find Merlin sitting at the table instead of Ragnelle. When Merlin relayed what had happened the previous night, Gwaine became angry at himself for sleeping through everything. It made no difference to him that he was drugged. Regardless, he should have been present.
"She did it for you, you know." Merlin explained. "She knew you would resent her eventually for taking you away from Camelot."
"I couldn't!" He protested, "I wouldn't!" But deep inside, he knew she was right. They made their way outside, and there they sat. Waiting. The hills surrounding them had echoed with Gwaine's whistle, and eventually two sets of hooves clapped towards them. Ragnelle had attached Fortunata's reigns to Gringolet because she knew the younger horse would have not returned with the others. Gwaine choked up when he saw her final act of consideration. "I need to be alone." He told Merlin sadly as he walked the horses into the stable, heartbroken.
Merlin went back and took his place beside Prince Arthur. "How is Sir Gwaine doing?" The young monarch inquired.
"As well as can be expected." Merlin said, wistfully. "Perhaps you should hold a tournament soon."
"Perhaps I should." Arthur agreed. "You know, it's quite a coincidence that the dragon showed up when he did."
"Isn't it? Perchance he was on his way somewhere." Merlin innocently remarked, "A lucky coincidence I call it, I had only planned to let the horses out as a distraction, which may or may not have been enough."
"If you call losing a quarter of the west crop-field to fire lucky, then I suppose so." The Prince mused.
"It could have been worse." Merlin looked up at him optimistically.
"True." Arthur conceded. "Well, it all worked out in the end." He pushed himself away from the wall and hesitated for a moment. "Merlin..." he started.
"Yes, Arthur?"
"I feel like a well-deserved rest, now." He threw over his shoulder as he went inside. "Don't you have a stable fence to repair?" Arthur did nothing to disguise his chuckle as Merlin breathed a heavy sigh.
Ragnelle stopped at a lake. Studying the map, she determined that they had to go past the hill shaped like a lion, and on the other side, their passage to Europia awaited them. While she rested, she felt the bittersweetness of the moment as she watched Kendo and Altani taking a long drink of the cool water. She longed for Gwaine, but knew that although he would have been happy for the first few months, his duty was ultimately with Camelot. With a sigh she recalled their last night together and cried for things past and things yet to be. Calling out to Kendo, she steeled herself for the long journey ahead, determined to continue on to find her family. Not only for herself, Ragnelle reasoned, but because deep inside her belly, she held a secret. A secret that would reveal himself in the coming eight months.
THE END
