Chapter 6 [Camelot's Courtyard—A Third of a Turn of the Hourglass Earlier]
Camelot laid cowed under the invaders' boot. The Romans, Egyptians and Ethiopians herded the townspeople into the square. They finished lining up the defeated knights' bodies along the citadel's wall. On order of the Sultan and Emperor, they moved to follow Pillage's course.
The people shuddered and shied away. They wondered how Arthur could allow another such incursion. Their eyes turned toward the citadel's high tower. There their King suffered under their captors' malice.
But then, Fortune turned her fickle eye once again. The wheel turned on the apparent victors. Now, she unleashed a counter assault on the invaders.
Morgana's and Freya's spells cleared a path. The portcullis flew up. The drawbridge slammed down. The defenses came undone within five heartbeats' time.
Leon, Elyan, Gawain and Lancelot led the armies into the Lower Town. They crossed blades with those troops right in front of them. Having pushed his own horse there, Boeve added to their efforts with his own.
"REMEMBER! THESE MEN ARE VICTIMS AS WELL! DISABLE BUT SPARE THEM IF POSSIBLE!" Galahad bellowed.
"AYE! PUSH THEM BACK! TO THE UPPER TOWN!" Accolon insisted.
The combined armies' sheer numbers drove their adversaries back into the town. Like locusts before the overwhelmed farmer, they plugged up every way. They swept over the recently gained territory with ease.
The people cheered their former knights' efforts in that regard. Now liberated, they grabbed staffs, posts and whatever tools lying about. They charged at their oppressors.
Faced with hopeless odds, the soldiers fled toward their comrades.
In the meantime, Merlin and Mithian flew over the wall on Kilgarrah's and Aithusa's respective backs. Each dragon swiped at the enemy with their scaled tails. Fiery plumes scored the stone scattering the occupiers.
Merlin's eyes glowed. His finger pointed. "Cadal!"
The occupiers in that spot wavered on their feet. Slumber overtook them. They slumped to the stones and fell asleep on the spot.
"RUN! GO!" Mithian ordered them.
Shock froze the onlookers. They'd heard how Merlin, the uppity servant, had magic. They couldn't believe that he now ruled over Nemeth with Mithian. Now he commanded dragons and an army of his own?
Turnabout was indeed fair play….
Merlin shook his head. "Everyone, seek shelter! There are more of them still! We don't want you hurt! Please! Listen to Queen Mithian! MOVE!"
"YOU HEARD KING MERLIN, PEOPLE OF CAMELOT! SEEK SHELTER!"
Everyone looked up to find Arthur along with Josiane, Cligés and Prester John floating on her carpet overhead.
Merlin nodded. A grin cracked across his face. "About time you freed yourself!"
"Whatever, Merlin. Magic invades. Magic can clean up its own mess," Arthur assessed. He suppressed any reaction to the dragons. He swallowed Crow's bitter bile. "At least the Upper Town is ours. The despots are dead." He stepped off the carpet onto the stones. "Seriously. Thank you." He took a deep breath. Then, he extended his hand toward the other King.
Merlin took the hand in his own. "You're welcome." Then, he pulled Arthur into a deep embrace. "Just remember that we're all friends. Please see that."
"I get it! Quit being such a girl already!" Arthur protested. For Form's sake, he pushed back against his former servant. Still, he saw the other's point.
"So, we can see," Mithian assessed. She allowed the siblings a slight smile. "We still have their troops!"
"We are their rulers once again. It is our word they follow," Prester John strode forth onto the stones. He watched as the retreating tide surged back toward himself and the others. "ETHIOPIANS! EGYPTIANS! ROMANI! STOP!"
"YOU HEARD PRESTER JOHN! ON IMPERIAL ORDER, ROMANI, CEASE! WE HAVE DONE ENOUGH TO THESE PEOPLE!" Cligés ordered.
"EGYPTIANS, CEASE AS WELL!" Josiane added. "IT IS OVER!" She turned to Arthur. "I believe we have terms to discuss?"
"Nay. I know neither of you ordered this." Arthur looked around. He stared at the sleeping soldiers around them. "You did this, Merlin? Really?"
"Aye. Best way to deal with them without hurting them." Merlin's eyes glinted again. He waved his hands.
The sleeping soldiers stirred. Their eyes slowly opened.
"I'd stay right there," Mithian advised.
"Better!" Arthur rolled his eyes at Merlin. "I suppose you've done that to me a time or two?"
"Not exactly like that. But…well…" Merlin rubbed the back of his neck. Like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Crimson streaked his cheeks.
Mithian giggled. "He has made you burp and spill your soup in front of me. I'm sure there have been other things." Her eyes sparkled at her King.
"That was YOU?" Arthur ground his teeth.
"I did that for Gwen. You know that!" Merlin protested.
"You're such an idiot, Merlin," Arthur hissed. He rolled his eyes. "How you got Mithian to love you is beyond me."
"How did you get Gwen to love you?" Mithian supposed. "Maybe we might revisit this debate later?"
"Indeed." Arthur gazed upon his deceased knights. "They're gone." Lament shook him to the core. He quaked from Anger.
"They died as heroes. We all know that. We honor them when this is over. Then, we rebuild Britannia for all of us," Merlin asserted. "You get that, Arthur. I know you do."
Arthur shook his head. "Once again, Merlin, you confuse me. How does such an idiot come off as wise? Really?"
"All part of the act, I guess. That and having to put up with the Biggest Prat in Britannia," Merlin replied. "As she said, later." He turned serious once again. "Let's honor their sacrifice."
"Aye." Arthur looked about. "I don't suppose you know where Gwen is? I sent her away with Boeve to be safe."
"Knowing Boeve, she's safe, Arthur," Mithian assured him. She watched the former occupiers setting their swords on the stones underfoot. "We should be able to find her soon enough."
"ARTHUR!" Leon rushed toward him.
"Aye. I'm fine. You fought well it seems." Arthur nodded. Approval shone for his former First Knight.
"Except for Percival, we're all here for you, Arthur," Lancelot insisted.
"We had to stand beside Merlin too." Gawain wanted to say more. Still, he wasn't about to ruin the moment. Instead Pride and Relief swelled in his chest at the sight of his niece and nephew. "Bloody Hell! Didn't I tell you both to stay out of trouble already?" He rushed toward them.
"We take after you," Josiane retorted without missing a beat. She seized onto him. "Glad you're safe too."
"Yeah. Hey who's going to deal with Brit if I'm not?" Gawain sassed. "So, the robes and all that?"
Cligés sighed. "Uncle, we've dealt with Mustafa and Alys. We've taken back our thrones. Now, we have our kingdoms and people to think of."
"Someone has to." Britomart beamed at the siblings. She bowed to them. "One of us is proud at least."
Gawain scowled. "Says you! I'm proud too! I've got a fight on my mind."
"We have that witch. Suppose, Merlin, you can deal with her?" Arthur supposed.
"We already have, Brother. Together," Morgana insisted. She noted the lack of blood spilled around the courtyard. "Perhaps you might take something from that?"
"Morgana," Accolon cut in.
"Nay. I want peace. Let Arthur deal with that!" Morgana disagreed.
Arthur sucked in a deep breath. "I don't like it. Still, Morgana, for our subjects' sake, you're right. I can't deal with unchecked sorcery."
"Nobody here wants that either, you Prat. Will you get that through your head already?" Merlin lectured.
"Perhaps we might have an agreement to march our forces together?" Josiane proposed. "We can deal with the remaining threat together?"
"All of us together?" Cligés added. He put his hand out.
Arthur looked around at the five kingdoms' rulers. Given his disastrous state, Gratitude filled him. "Thank you. I would rather look to the future." He sucked in a deep breath. "I wish I could fight with you. Still I have to be here for my own people."
"Let's talk." Merlin motioned back toward the citadel. "Meantime, Galahad, can we prepare the fallen knights for burial?"
"Right away, Sire." Galahad bowed. Then, he motioned to the others to help him in that regard.
Arthur marveled at how Merlin gave the order. He could see Change working in his friend. He nodded. "You have potential, Merlin. Just keep listening to Mithian."
"As long as you keep listening to Gwen. Now shall we talk peace before you get us both in trouble?" Merlin retorted.
"I believe, Merlin, has a good idea." Mithian insinuated. Amusement twinkled in her eyes. She ushered them all inside.
Understandings, after all, had to be fostered and maintained….