A/N (Ducks behind the couch in shame.)
I cannot apologise enough for the epic delay in updating this. I never expected this story to get so big or to get such a lovely response from it. A massive thank you for all those who are still reading this and everyone who has left such lovely reviews and encouragement.
It was because of this that I kept coming back and attempted to finish this chapter. So, a big thank you to all of you.
Le Mort d'Arthur. Part 2
Relief and sheer joy spilled out from the Castle and into the courtyard as the news slowly disseminated among the people of Camelot. It was announced in stages, in the manic grin of the Princes manservant, in the years that had disappeared off the King's face. The tears and smiles of the ladies of court. Unconfirmed mutterings and whispers past from knights to footmen, from the kitchen to the stables and slowly word spread to the people sitting vigil in the courtyard.
When the King emerged onto the balcony, hopeful faces turned upward and were rewarded with the most welcome and joyous news.
The Prince would live.
The crowd erupted into grateful cheers, as did the servants and courtiers. Those in the castle perhaps more acutely aware of what they had almost lost. A future king, yes, but one who showed more promise than his father who had delivered so much.
Arthur heard the cheers from his bed. Glyndwr had helped the rather weakened Prince bathe and dress before he gratefully returned to his soft, comfortable bed. Between them, Merlyn and Glen had arranged his pillows so he could sit when his father's voice could be heard from outside.
Although Merlyn had neglected to close the window, he could not make out his father's words, but the peoples reaction needed no explanation. He swallowed uncomfortably, his eyes meeting a proud, beaming Glen. Sensing his embracement, Merlyn ducked her head, busying herself with the linens.
The sound of the people seemed to excite the manservant who started talking as he collected the clothes and linen he had just used, never pausing in his movements or his lips.
"What did I tell you, Sire. Everyone is so very relieved that you are on the mend. You gave us quite a scare. The people have been out there all night holding a vigil. It was beautiful. And the King barely left your side, neither did Lady Morgana or Lady Guinevere or Eira, although of course Eira would be here too after all if the Ladies were there because they needed someone to help and I needed someone and Merlyn was helping Gaius find a cure and they did…"
"Glen take a breath!" Merlyn interrupted with an amazed laugh. "Breath!"
"I'm sorry, I'm just so happy. Everyone's so happy." With that Glen did an ill-timed skip and a jump. Ill-timed as, although he did not drop the bowl of dirty water the Prince had just bathed in, his sudden movements caused that water to splash over the side.
As at that moment, as could only happen with Glen, Eira had walked in with the Princes food tray. The food was spared the sudden influx of water; the maidservant was not.
The servants froze, Eira in shock, Glen in horror and Merlyn in horrified amusement. After a beat the Prince laughed, apologising between breaths, reassuring the young girl, that he was not laughing at her, but his idiot of a manservant.
Merlyn had busied herself with the tray she rescued from her fellow maid before turning her back to hide the wide grin that stretched across her face. It soon disappeared when Eira left to change and Glyndwr to do the laundry, leaving her alone with Arthur,
She nervously cleared her throat and move the tray to the Princes side, after a moment sitting on the side of the bed.
Although the Prince seemed to be gaining strength, he was very much weakened and would require help. She ducked and avoided his gaze, feeling it burn into her back as she finished preparing the meal.
He should be dead.
There was a cold certainty in his heart that tempered his joy at living. It was as if he was waiting for the other foot to fall. He could not explain it.
The memories of the past few days had come back in pieces. He remembered the patrol that cost Sir Bedivere his life, he remembered the beast and Gaius' warning.
"One bite, you die, and there is no cure."
And yet Arthur lived.
His father saw it as the mighty Pendragons besting the Old Religion once again. But Arthur was beginning to think differently. There had been too many lucky escapes and co-incidences lately for him to close his mind to the possibilities.
Studying the young woman fussing with his meal, he considered the change in his perception since she had wandered into his life. It had not even been a year and the thought of her not being there seemed…impossible.
He remembered running after her, in the forest, in his delirium. It must have bled into his troubled forgotten dreams as he had been sleeping. He seemed to be running after her for so long until he finally caught her. He swore he could feel the warmth of her hand slipping into his as he caught her. Then they were running together, fleeing the mists threatening to swallow them whole…then she had disappeared…and he had fallen.
The woman in question disturbed his thoughts as she came to help him sit up for his food. With her help he sat up, closing his eyes and breathing in as her hair came scant inches from his face. The dark, air-tangled locks held the smell of the earth, forest and sky, like fresh rain. And something that could only be described as Merlyn.
He must have lingered too long as the woman in question made a low delicate sound as she cleared her throat, a slight push on his shoulder with her fingertips encouraging him to rest back on the pillows she had rearranged behind him. She smiled slightly, a light blush on her cheeks as she reached for the tray.
He allowed her to feed him a few mouthfuls of the stew before he shook his head, raising a shaky hand to catch hers.
"What happened?" He asked her, he saw the swiftly disguised surprise in her eyes before she decided to pled ignorance.
"Pardon?"
"I should be dead." Arthur insisted. "Gaius told us that the beasts bite was fatal. There was no cure."
"Obviously he was wrong." Merlyn's face was blank. He could not read her.
Her eyes though, showed a hidden wariness. But Arthur had spent more time watching Merlyn than even she knew. He had seen her happy, sad, heart-broken, full of joy, scared and elated. He had seen her lie.
"I don't think he was." Arthur surprised himself, the words dropping heavily between him. His stomach squeezed at the fear that flashed in the maidservant's eyes before she banished it.
"What do you think happened?"
The silence was deafening. He sat there staring her face to face, knowing that she was hiding something from him. What had she done? What had Gaius done? Why?
Three quick knocks on the door made them both jump, Merlyn to her feet, as Glen entered.
"I can take over from you, Merlyn, Lady Morgana is asking after you."
There was no other word for it. Merlyn fled.
Merlyn was too scared to sleep.
She did not regret her actions; the bargain she had struck. She knew she would do it again. Even so, the knowledge that she would die before the end of the day made her acutely aware of how little she had lived. The past year of her life had been more amazing and fulfilling that all the others that came before.
It had also been the hardest. She had been sheltered in Ealdor. Hidden away. Coming to Camelot had changed her life, complicating it so thoroughly. The magic that had been a part of her for so long long had come to life. Useful, truly useful for the first time, it now had presence shimmering under her skin.
And it had burst to life on as soon as she had stepped foot on the Isle.
It felt like coming home. Every step felt lighter, the very air around fresh and crisp. She felt safe, like she belonged. Until Nimeah emerged. Her very presence displacing the harmony of this sacred space.
"I cannot tell you how pleased I am to finally meet you. Officially that is."
Merlyn could not say the same. Before her stood the woman who had come closing to killing Arthur. The woman who had almost killed her. Not to mention all the innocent who had fallen victim to the plague, the Griffin and now the Questing Beast. So many dead and all acceptable collateral damage to the Priestess. Not to Merlyn. Never to her.
Did Nimeah not realise how far she had wandered of course. Did Nimeah not feel the discontent of the Old Religion. Did she not realise that she was the cause? Had she picked up on the harsh vibrations and misunderstood them? Because the whole world
Her air was as arrogant as Uther's waving off Merlyn's disbelief at her being the one the Great Dragon had meant, dismissing her accusations.
"You tried to kill me."
"Before I understood your importance."
"You tried to kill Arthur."
Again her words were dismissed.
"Arthur was never destined to die at my hand, and now it seems I will be his salvation. But I do not have the power to mirror life itself and yet give nothing in return. To save a life, there must be a death. The balance of the world must be restored."
"I know that a price will be asked and I willingly give my life for Arthur's."
"How brave you are, Merlin. Once you enter into this bargain, it cannot be undone.
"Whatever I have to do. His life is worth a hundred of mine."
"I'm not so sure of that." Nimeah said quietly, almost to herself, surprising the young woman. But Merlyn ignored the ridiculous statement.
"Whatever I have to do." She repeated. "I will do."
Now lying on her bed. Merlyn was at peace with her decision. She considered herself fortunate to be able to see her Prince improving, to see the joy his recovery gave so many and the hope that so many had for a future under his leadership. He had scared her earlier. His certainty that she was holding something back. Had she done too good a job at making him think, at opening his mind to the world around him? It meant little to her now, but maybe it would change things for those like her in the future.
That was worth her life.
Betrayal. Anger. Rage. Emotions Merlyn had never properly felt before coursed through her as she watched her mother struggle to breathe. Nimeah's betrayal did not surprise her. The Dragons however…
"You knew this would happen! You had me trade my mother's life for Arthur's!
"Your destiny is to protect the young Pendragon until he claims his crown, and when he does, magic can be returned to the realm. Only then will I be free."
"You will never be released. For what you've done! I'll make sure you never see the light."
She had stormed from the dungeon, unafraid by the bellows of fiery rage from the ancient beast she left behind.
"You won't see me again."
She thought it impossible to feel any more, her emotions wild she struggled to keep them in check. She would go back to the Isle. She would force Nimeah to honour their bargain. As she hurried though the courtyard, her eyes unconsciously flickered to the window of the Princes room.
We need Arthur to live! Your destiny is to protect the young Pendragon!
She paused in her tracks. Drawn to the room the Prince currently occupied. She felt guilty for her decision, but she was not going to sacrifice her mother. She couldn't. And she was certain that she wasn't meant to.
He sat by the window, looking out at the dark and somewhat gloomy evening that seemed to empathise with his mood. The news from Glen had not been good. Hunith was not expected to survive the night. Gaius had been seen leaving the castle at that afternoon, apparently headed to a colleague for help, but he had not yet returned. Merlyn had not left her mother's side for hours.
He wanted to go down and see the woman who had been so kind to him on their past encounter, but just making it to the chair had weakened him. Instead he had to settle from updates from Glyndwr and Ladies Guinevere and Morgana who visited him frequently throughout the day. But each visit brought the same news. Hunith was gravely ill and not expected to live.
He was therefore surprised when a gentle knock at the door preceded the arrival of the young handmaiden who had been close to his thoughts all day. She was as pale as he had ever seen her Not with illness but grief. Eyes red-rimmed and a deep blue of storming emotions. She looked exhausted.
"Merlyn...Hunith..." He asked, a heavy knot in his chest twisting at the sight of her.
Merlyn paused a second, her brow furrowed in confusion before his meaning dawned on her.
"She lives. I think she may even be a little better." She told him, as if she were willing the words to be true. His strong little Merlyn, keeping everything together even though her heart was breaking. "I'm here to check on you. Gaius is not back from his rounds yet."
"I am fine, Merlyn. You should be with Hunith."
"And I will after I have seen to you, Sire." She insisted. Opening her little bag and pulling out a book. She checked him methodically, writing her findings in her dainty hand he couldn't help but admire.
"You are getting good at this." He remarked, joking weakly. "Are you batting for Gaius' job?"
Merlyn merely smiled. "I think that is his intention."
"Is it what you want?" He asked her, prompting her when she did not respond. "Merlyn?"
"I haven't given it much thought." She told him honestly. Concentrating on tidying up her notes and returning them to her bag. "I don't think it's up to me."
Arthur stilled one of her hands with his own. Halting her quick movements and giving it a tug until she reluctantly looked up and met his eyes.
"You know if it was up to me...you would always have a place here. In Camelot, I mean."
Merlyn blushed slightly, covering his hand with her free one, sandwiching it between both hers. "I thank you for that, Sire. I'm sure I will be fine."
There was something wrong. Something not quite right. Arthur felt it deep in his bones. There was something different about her. She had been so careful in his presence, since the incident at the lake. But now she seemed at peace. Resolved. It sent a chill down his spine although he had no idea why.
She lifted his hand to her lips, pressing her lips to the smooth skin, leaving it burning in her wake. She seemed to swallow back her emotions, blinking her eyes and setting her shoulders as she sat up straighter in her chair. She smiled, a sweet smile that he could see was a mask.
""I declare you to be officially on the mend, Sire." She told him, genuinely happy. "I must return to my mother."
"Thank you." He murmured, his mind searching for a reason to prolong her visit, but the quick knock at the door and the entrance of his father made it impossible. As was the speed at which Merlyn had distanced herself from him at the Kings arrival.
His eyes followed her as she reported to the King, gathered her things and left the room. It was the last look back that convinced him. The quick glance as she backed out the room, eyes meeting his with a small sad smile. How he got though the conversation with his father he did not know, but somehow he had, pleading fatigue when he could contain himself no longer.
When the King left the room, he pulled himself from the bed, looking down at his legs in disbelief as they shook at the effort of standing. The journey from the bed to his chair took painstakingly long minutes, only to be rewarded by the sight of Merlyn fleeing the Court yard in a reckless hurry.
He slammed his fist against the window plane in frustration just as his door swung open unannounced. He quickly turned to see his manservant heading towards him in concern.
"Glyndwr, I need your help…"
It wasn't until they ferried back across the still waters to the mainland that recent events hit her. With the great force of a catapult, Merlyn was stuck with the enormity of what she had done.
She had held the power of life and death in her hands.
Even as it began to heal in the wake of Nimeahs death, like a wound which had at last been cleansed, part of the sacred Isle mourned the loss of its last resident Priestess. Although Merlyn had the impression that the Isle had long been mourning that loss as the devoted Priestess had slowly morphed into a dark entity, so lost in its pain, anger and madness, that she could no longer feel the presence that was now clearer to Merlyn than it had ever been.
Never had she felt like this, or even heard it's like. The world was all around, open and calling out to her. It was as if every blade of grass, every lump of stone and every piece of sky was part a single entity who sung to her. Was part of her.
No, Merlyn realised. She belonged to it too.
As did Gaius, Arthur, Glyndwr, everyone. Yet they were unaware of the fact. Few were. Merlyn had always felt the barest thrum of magic around her before, but now it was as if everything was clearer. As if her senses had been dulled her entire life until that moment. She could feel the life of everything around her, taste the possibilities and anticipation in the air.
She felt the Cup of Life burn against her thigh. She wanted to leave it behind. Along with everything it represented. But reason won out. It was simply too dangerous to be left behind. Gaius had said he knew of a place. He didn't tell her were and she wouldn't ask. She didn't want to know, and her silence seemed to relieve her Uncle and soothe her fragged nerves.
"We will part here." He broke the silence, pulling his horse and allowing Merlyn on Prince Arthurs Warrior to catch up. They had ridden though the night, eager to return to Camelot and escape the nightmare.
He had been amazed and slightly horrified that shed dared take off on the Princes horse. A sheepish Merlyn had reasoned that sheep had needed the fasted horse and she didn't think she'd face the consequences. She planned to sneak the beautiful best back in.
"Do you need to rest first Uncle? It's been quite a day." She herself was exhausted.
"I'm feeling quite lively." Gaius replied, certainly looking it before blanching at his choice of words. He hurried over them. "I want this hidden as soon as possible, he confessed. And Merlyn could not deny that, that was her fondest wish also.
She looked toward the citadel, standing tall and proud in the morning light. No storm clouds passing over Camelot. She thought of those waiting for her inside. Her Mother, Iain, Alun the closest she had had to a father growing up who had desperately travelled the distance with her ill mother in search of help. Then there was Glyndwr, Eira, Lady Guinevere and Lady Morgana. Arthur.
Everything will be well." He Uncle assured her. "Your mother will be recovering, so will the Prince."
Merlyn nodded, her manner so subdued that her Uncle still hesitated. "Merlyn, will you be alright."
"Yes, Uncle." Merlyn visibly shook herself. I'm just so tied."
"It's been a long week."
"The longest," she agreed.
"But we made it though." Gaius reminded her, and in an uncharacteristic manner reached an arm out and gave her a quick impulsive half hug, quickly righting himself on his horse, slightly embarrassed by the gesture.
"You are a gift, Merlyn. I'm so incredibly proud of you. I'll be back by nightfall." He rode off at a fast clip, leaving a teary-eyed niece watching him leave.
Merlyn sat for a long moment, contemplating her next move. Sitting on the Princes prized stead she pondered the trails in front of her, turning the beast in one long last circle as she thought. One headed to West toward Ealdor, one back toward the Isle of the Blessed, which branched out to the forest. One to the East and further on to the wilds of the North.
Then there was the trail to Camelot.
She took a long breath in and sat in the stillness, feeling the air around her, the strands of time, fate and possibilities all pulling at her. And tuned back toward Camelot.
Hidden amongst the trees, Glyndwr watched all in silence.
"What was he going to hide?" Asked a tired Arthur. He sat in front of the blazing fire, the flames casting shadows and flecks of light over his calm, blank features, although Glyndwr was sure the older man had spent the night awake worrying over their friend.
"I could not see. It was in a satchel but both Merlyn and Gaius wished it miles away."
"I see." Arthur paused, contemplating what he had heard, which was admittedly not much without context.
"What do you think is going on." Glyndwr was blunt. Arthur did not blame him. He had asked him to spy on a friend and the younger man was extremely uncomfortable in the position he had been forced in. However, his loyalty to his friends was exceeded by the Loyalty of his Prince. Arthur stared into the fire before coming to some sort of decision. After all, he had known Glyndwr for years and trusted him, as much as some of his most faithful knights. Perhaps more because Arthur knew that Glens loyalty was to him first.
"We keep this between us." Arthur was quiet and solemn, speaking to the flames. "Not a word to anyone, is that clear."
"Of course," Glen's agreement was swift and binding.
"Things don't…haven't been making sense recently." Arthur started haltingly, seemly disbelieving his own words. "The past few days perhaps most of all."
"I should be dead." He let the words ring out. Glen listened, hesitant to break the Princes narrative. "Gaius said the Questing beasts bite was fatal. He believed it, Glen. He was terrified for me. I didn't believe he was mistaken either." He paused again before deciding to speak it all.
"Valient's Shield, the Griffin who could only be killed by magic, Gaius could not be wrong so many times. No. And there was something else. When I went after the morteous flower, to save Merlyn, something magical helped me."
"Are you saying that you think Gaius has magic? Merlyn? That they are using it."
"I think they know someone that does." Arthur admitted. "And I'm worried for them, because from what little I know and have seen, I imagine it has a price."
"What are you going to do?" Glen asked, his mind reaching another conclusion the Prince hadn't seemed to consider.
"I have no proof of anything." Arthur said quietly. "It's just conjecture. And I trust Gaius, I've known him my entire life. And Merlyn is…" The Prince struggled.
"Merlyn." Glen finished with sad fondness which caused the Princes eyes to dart quickly to the manservant who only looked somewhat sympathetically back at him.
"We will be vigilant. Wait and watch. But this stays between us."
The pair jumped at the knock at the door, which swung open, heralding the arrival of a radiant Lady Morgana, a content Lady Guinevere and two tired looking maidservants. Merlyn looked exhausted Arthur thought with a prang of sympathy.
"Have you heard? Arthur. Hunith is recovering. Her fever broke during the night and she rallies as we speak." Lady Morgana was obviously pleased over this news.
"That is excellent news." Arthur replied honestly relieved, watching with a flash of envy as Glyndwr gave Merlyn's arm a quick squeeze. A weight lifted at the welcome news, although the latest stroke of luck was added to his mental list of odd occurrences. "It's lucky that she was able to get to Camelot in time for Gaius to save her."
"Alun and Iain brought her." Lady Guinevere told him, sitting down on one of the offered chairs, Lady Morgana quickly taking another closest to Arthur. "If they hadn't ridden so quickly things could have been a lot worse. As it is she will need a few days to recover."
"Have they a place to stay?" Arthur asked, looking toward Merlyn, concerned. He had liked the wise calm older man he had met those few months ago, and Iain who had impressed him in the battle. Gaius's chambers were so tiny with just him and Merlyn, although thinking back to the small little homesteads in Ealdor he supposed it made no matter.
"They are fine, Sire." Merlyn assured him quietly.
"I don't think Alun wants to be far from Hunith." Lady Guinevere teased, causing Merlyn to blush slightly. "Looks like Merlyn maybe getting a second father soon."
"Really." Lady Morgana picked up on Merlyn's slight discomfort. "He was very attentive."
"I would not be surprised if they did marry." Lady Guinevere continued. "How do you feel about that Merlyn? You'll get a father and plenty of siblings." Alun had four children with his first wife who had died two winters past.
"Means she can't marry Iain though. He'd be her brother then." Lady Morgana's tease caused Arthur and Glyndwr's back to straighten although Merlyn only response to roll her eyes amused.
"I would be happy for them." She protested honestly, rising above the teasing. "Alun was the closest I had to father growing up and I've always seen Iain as a brother. Mother deserves to be happy."
The teasing lapsed into friendly conversation between the three royals, observed by the three servants who held one silently of their own as they tied the chambers, exchanging eye rolls and suppressed smiles at the conversations they were privy to.
They were the best servants of Camelot after all. Seen and not heard.
XxXx
I won't mark this story as complete because I don't feel it is. I have so many ideas and scraps of paper with half chapters but I can't honestly say when I will next update.
Thank you for reading.