CHAPTER 8 : COMING TO A BOIL
Arthur had again visited Gaius, he couldn't understand why Merlin was playing the stupid game of never being there when he passed by. His tune had changed though, he was no longer demanding and Gaius saw flashes of a man missing a friend. He reminded him of the young man who had first met his assistant and subsequently fallen for him.
"Gaius, I know I keep harping but I really need to see Merlin. No one seems to know where he is. I almost feel as if I should have the guards search the castle but I know that if he is found he will be furious with me. If he made you promise not to tell me, that I can accept. But if he is in trouble, you wouldn't keep it from me, would you, as he'll need my help?"
Gaius said nothing. He didn't believe that telling Arthur what Merlin was doing would make it any easier for Merlin when he came home. Anyway, who knew what information the three of them might unearth?
Within two days, Arthur was back; he sat in front of the fire, "Gaius, I want him. It's not fair that he went away without telling me."
He looked tired and Gaius could see that Merlin's absence was affecting him more that he had intended, when he had dismissed him. Gaius could see the Arthur he had always known, he still however said nothing.
"I miss him, when will he come back?" Arthur said placing his forehead into his hands.
Gaius took pity on him saying, "He'll be back soon…maybe within the next fortnight."
"But I need him now. He was right, Gaius, I made a big mistake and I've made as mess of things."
Gaius said, "I'm sure he will understand and everything will be sorted out. Tell me what happened."
Arthur shook his head but finally said hardly above a whisper, "Gaius, can an older person be the heir to a younger man?"
"I do not see why not, Arthur. If a lord dies without a rightful heir his closest male relative would take over. He could be an uncle or even an older cousin. Why has someone died?" Questions were running through Gaius's mind but he refrained from asking any.
-0-0-
Meanwhile in a chamber on the royal floor, Reginald said to Neville, "Either I'm getting really good at this or he is even more gullible than even I realised."
Neville stretched out on the bed, looked up at his step brother saying, "Don't get too cocky. He has yet to invite you to sit at the head table."
"But he will Neville, any day now, I know he will and then I'll be home free. Set up for a life of luxury! I knew once I got that useless manservant out of the way, things would take a change for the better."
-0-0-
The useless manservant, Leon and Spenser were making good time and luck was with them as they had met someone from the town where Sir Mordecai lived and he had happily allowed the trio to join his travelling party.
Merlin felt sure that the three of them could have made better time themselves but Leon assured him that as they had no clue where to go this method of travel was probably quicker. Leon had told Spenser that he wanted him along as company and someone in front of whom Merlin would be able to speak freely. He also told him in no uncertain terms, that any information which he learned while he was in their presence was to be kept in the strictest of confidence, until notified by Sir Geoffrey that he might discuss it with other people.
Spenser nodded, "You can count on me! I'll watch Merlin like a hawk." He grinned and continued, "I'll listen when you speak with Mordecai and you can bring me up to date later on with missing information I should know."
Leon smiled; he liked Spenser and understood why Arthur had him all the years as a friend.
The last three days had seemed never ending but finally they spent their last night on the road and arrived in Hedthorpe. They refused their travelling companion's offer of accommodation choosing instead to stay at the local inn.
The next morning, Leon and Spenser once again dressed as knights. Merlin carried their identification papers and letters from Geoffrey as they rode along the drive leading up to the mansion belonging to Sir Mordecai. They dismounted as Merlin went to the door to beg admittance for two knights from Camelot. Leon and Spenser walked in and waited to be announced to the Lord of the Manor.
Once Sir Mordecai learned that they were from Camelot, he invited the knights and their companion who was introduced as a confidant of King Arthur, into his private reception room, explaining that only the day before he had received a package from Sir Geoffrey de Monmouth. He was puzzled by the contents and was happy to have someone present who could help sort things out. He immediately called for his manservant Roger to be present as he had been trained in the de Bois family, explaining that he had taken the man into his confidence regarding the subject of Sir Geoffrey's missive.
Before he would discuss anything, he arranged for their horses to be stabled and rooms prepared for them. He then ordered lunch. Afterwards, sitting before the fire, he compared the papers he had received from Sir Geoffrey with the copies he had in front of him handed to him by Sir Leon.
He then began to tell what he knew about the de Bois family. He kept turning to his manservant who nodded and agreed with what he said. He himself knew neither Queen Ygraine nor the Yvette in question, but he had known Lord Landon and Lady Elisabeth of Chertsy and their ward the young Reginald.
Sir Mordecai reread the section of Geoffrey's letters referring to the claims that Reginald was the bastard child of Lady Yvette de Bois and a Sir Maurice of Blogwort.
Leon said, "Sir Geoffrey has searched for references to the Lady Yvette and finds that there was one possible reference to a female child in the family called Yvette but is unable to testify to any of her offspring which might be understandable in the circumstances."
The two men studied the letters from Lord Landon stating that his ward whom he had received from the de Bois family was one and the same child. "There is something missing as Lord Landon never specified the child's parentage beyond the immediate parents," remarked Sir Mordecai.
"Exactly!" says Leon, "The most important fact is omitted, that is that through this Yvette, the child in question would have been the oldest, albeit illegitimate, grandson of minor royal personages. If that fact had been stated and true, that would make this man called Reginald, the first cousin and closest heir to King Arthur Pendragon."
Merlin was actually more interested in hearing what the manservant Roger who was now seated beside his master's chair would have to day.
As if on cue, the man said, "If I might speak, Sir. I was in training with the de Bois family and I remember the Lady Ygraine but she had no sisters by blood only two brothers. There was a little girl called Yvette. She was a playmate of the Lady Ygraine, who had treated her like a little doll when she was a baby."
"Where did she come from?" Leon asked suddenly very interested in the man's revelation.
Merlin heart was thumping double time. He thought, 'If the Lady Ygraine had no blood sisters, then Reginald is not a blood relative.' The news filled him with hope.
"I remember when she was a baby; Yvette was looked after by a housekeeper called Mrs. Hollis who was the wife of the man who was training me. When the baby was older she went to be looked after by one of the younger maidservants of Lady Ygraine. I wanted to know why she had left Mrs. Hollis's care but all Mr. Hollis would say, was that it had nothing to do with me but that she had landed on her feet. I remembered that as a strange thing to say as Yvette couldn't even walk unless she held someone's hand."
"But, who did she belong to?"
"Well, I know she wasn't Mr. and Mrs. Hollis's."
Merlin said, "My guess is that they took her in as a baby, as a favour to someone in the castle." He turned to Roger and asked him how old he was when he left his former employers.
Roger smiled at his master saying, "When the king died, few of his royal staff was retained but I had the fortune to be picked up by Sir Mordecai. I must have been in my late twenties. The Lady Ygraine had already left to be married and Yvette was no longer around."
"Do you remember Yvette ever being in the family way?" asked Merlin.
"No, Sir, but I remember that there was a slight kerfuffle about something and I helped carry travelling chests and the young lady left the castle for a prolonged visit but she returned the following summer. In the years that I was there, I never knew of a Reginald."
Sir Mordecai said, "Thank you, Roger, you will no longer be needed here. Please check on the chambers assigned to our guests and we will be having supper at the usual time."
The manservant bowed and left.
-0-0-
Merlin had been away a week when Arthur had a nasty fall while out hunting. Gawaine was beside himself, he had promised to keep on eye on him while Merlin was away. The side of a hill had collapsed sending Arthur and Sir Rook hurtling to the bottom among a pile of boulders. Rook scrambled to his feet but Arthur did not move.
Simon, Romney and Gawaine slid down to where he was. Romney examined him saying that nothing seemed to be broken.
Simon smiled sadly and said, "We need Merlin to tell him to get up and stop playing the fool!"
"Well, that's not going to happen," Gawaine told him quietly, "Merlin is not in the castle and has not been there for a week. He and Spenser are accompanying Leon who is visiting his ailing family member."
Simon whispered to him, "I know about Spenser…but you expect me to believe the rest? Merlin would never leave Camelot not with the state of things in Arthur's private life at the moment. I don't believe you, Gawaine!"
"We will take Arthur back to Gaius and you can ask him. You should really have been told the whole story from the beginning but Geoffrey felt that the fewer people involved the better."
"What in heaven's name, does Geoffrey have to do with Merlin's leaving Arthur alone?"
"Simon, keep you voice down! I'll tell you later. Please don't make a fuss…"
"What's going on down there? Are you a bunch of imbeciles? Get the king up here immediately and we will return to the castle," said Gawaine's least favourate person, Sir Reginald.
"Who the shit does he think he is?" mumbled Gawaine.
"The way he's going on, someone one day is going to do us all a favour and take that man out!" said Romney.
Nevertheless, they constructed a litter with saplings and someone's cloak and carried Arthur carefully up the hill. Romney checked his breathing and pulse as he had seen Merlin do and it was steady. He was however, still unconscious…
-0-0-
The three Camelot visitors had gathered in Merlin's room, discussing what they had learned from Sir Mordecai's man Roger. His information certainly put Reginald's claims in doubt. They felt very positive about the situation. Reginald regardless of who he was, was not a blood relative of Arthur's. He had lied. He had fabricated the whole story about his mother's blood relationship with Arthur's mother.
Leon said, "It looks as if Reginald's only claim to fame, if one is to believe Lord Landon's declaration and I can see no reason not to, is that his birth mother grew up in the de Bois family as a companion to the Lady Ygraine."
"All those stories about knowing his aunt, from when he was little were false. He must also have made up all the stories which he insisted came from his mother." Merlin continued, "I even doubt that he had met his birth mother. He was a sad little boy with an overly active imagination who built a family for himself and grew up to be a consummate liar…!"
Spenser glanced at him; he knew that Merlin was more affected by the news than anyone. He had lost Arthur and now he would need to start rebuilding the trust and faith the king had had in him. Spenser also knew that Merlin wasn't going to let Arthur slip away.
Merlin would never forgive Reginald for the pain he had caused him. He had no idea how they were going to deal with Arthur who had believed everything he had been told. It had made Arthur feel connected to his mother and Merlin was sorry to have to break that bubble but it had all been a pack of lies. Thankfully, only the three of them, Gawaine, Geoffrey and Gaius knew the truth.
Leon was determined to get the facts but if what Reginald has said proved to be true they could do no less than stand down and accept him as Arthur's cousin. As things were looking at the moment the alternative seemed more probable, once Leon and the knights have convinced Arthur that his new confidant was an impostor, he could be unceremoniously driven out of Camelot.
Tomorrow, Leon intended to sit down with Sir Mordecai to prepare a document to take back to Sir Geoffrey, then they would be on their way but another visitor's arrival put a stop to that plan.
-0-0-
Gaius was worried, he didn't like the fact that Arthur had been brought back still unconscious. Usually, he would have been coming around but not today. Arthur always bounced back with Merlin's encouragement, without Merlin things might not be the same… Gaius sighed as his room was overcrowded with worried knights.
Reginald was competing with Romney for Gaius's attention. He had shoved himself between the two of them and was interrogating him, "Hey you, what are you planning to do? Whatever your name is, do you think you will be able cope? The king deserves immediate attention."
Gaius raised one eyebrow, knowing full well who the fool was, "You, Sir Knight, are annoying me! Will someone see that he is put in the corridor before I lose my patience?"
Gawaine stepped forward laying an arm on Reginald's shoulders. The knight raised his arm, swinging to punch Gawaine in the face. He'd picked the wrong opponent as with one punch, he was flat on the floor.
Gaius signed, "Get them both out. No, on second thought, all of you out! Romney and Simon, remain here."
The others left subdued giving Reginald dirty looks as he walked alone with his blue cloak clutched to his broken nose. Gawaine followed him grinning, he had a spilt lip which he wore proudly. He had done something none of the others had; he'd had the satisfaction of hitting the damned man in the face. He thought, 'That was for you, Merlin!'
Gaius went over Arthur quickly, he found no broken bones. He had Romney help him strip Arthur to his smalls before going over him more thoroughly. He was still unconscious but his heartbeat seemed normal and he was warm to the touch.
"So, what exactly happened?"
"Rook and Arthur were standing there and the side of the hill just slid away dumping them amid the boulders at the bottom. Rook seemed all right but Arthur was out for the count." Romney shook his head, "Actually, more than one count..."
Gaius covered Arthur with two blankets. "Simon, find a page and send him to get Thomas down here, immediately." He walked to the fire and swung the kettle over the flames. He checked on Arthur again as he walked past. He was worried, he should have come around by now.
Simon returned and said quietly, "He needs Merlin...!"
Gaius nodded silently.
-0-0-
The gentleman joining them at Mordecai's table for supper was from Cornwall and at supper Sir Mordecai mentioned that the knights from Camelot were searching for members of the de Bois family or household staff who had served them. The newly arrived guest explained that the best place to visit would be where the de Bois family came from. He gave them some names they might contact and wished them luck.
They left the following day, Merlin thanking Sir Mordecai for not only his hospitality but his help in furthering their mission. Leon promised that he would keep the elderly knight and his manservant appraised of any information they stumbled upon in their travels.
They went south to Ygraine's country of Cornwall. The family had broken up and although people remembered them, they were unable to tell Leon where he might make contact with any of the distant relatives. They recommended that he talk to King Arthur Pendragon who was known to be Ygraine's son and when Leon admitted that he was there on Arthur's behalf, they shook their heads sadly as they could be of no help.
One man, Lord Solan and his wife Gladys invited the travellers to stay with them. The wife's mother was still living, very, very old but on her good days she remembered lots of information.
"Merlin, my mother used to be a junior lady in waiting to Ygraine's mother and she often talks for hours about her times in service."
Merlin was thrilled, "Would it be inconveniencing your mother, if I might visit her?" He asked Lady Gladys, thinking 'Maybe this elderly woman will be the key to unlocking Arthur's mind and heart.' He pleaded with Leon and Spenser to be able to stay around until he could talk to Lady Annabella, "I feel that I am so close to solving this mystery."
Leon wasn't too sure about staying away so long but Spenser said that if they got all the necessary information, Arthur in the long run would be glad that they had persisted.
They spent five days in Heart's Rest until one day, Lady Annabella was in good enough health to meet Merlin. She fell for him immediately, "Such a charming man!" she confided to her daughter Gladys who smiled as her mother had taken Merlin to her heart. "He is a wonderful man and any girl being lucky enough to capture his heart would be very fortunate," insisted Merlin's latest champion.
Daily, between naps and meals, Merlin and Spenser sat and listened to Annabella's stories. Spenser acting as a scribe wrote down all the pertinent points.
Merlin's heart leapt to hear that Ygraine had two brothers now deceased but Lady Annabella could never recall their being another daughter. "I remember that there was a young ward called Yvette but certainly she was in no way related by blood. I would be one of the first to have known if Her Ladyship had had another child."
Asked what had happened to Yvette, Annabelle confided to Merlin, "She disgraced her adoptive family. She had to be married off quietly as she was found to be with child." She could not remember any man being named as father but she knew that the future husband had been told of the situation and had accepted it.
Merlin smiled, "Lady Annabella, you have a wonderful memory!"
"I do not, Young Man, ask me what I had for breakfast and I can't remember but I clearly remember things which happened years ago. Once day, it will happen to you, so I hope that you are living a wonderful life now as that is what you will remember when you are old like me."
Spenser leant over and said, "Lady Annabella, he is! He is loved by a wonderful person and the two of them are very close, like peas in a pod."
Lady Annabelle, chuckled saying, "Off the two of you go now. I am ready for a nap and should I remember anything else I will let you know."
The following day, Lady Annabella was under the weather and Merlin never did see her again before they left to make the trip to Chertsy which they found out was on an indirect line to the kingdom of Camelot. They'd gone so far they decided to get as much information as they could. Arthur had to be convinced.