Wrapped in a blanket she'd found at the side of the road Freya watched the funeral procession as they headed to the royal caves. She vaguely recognized the elderly man (Gaius) and the younger, blond man (Arthur), but she did not recognize the two men and the middle-aged woman that was with the group. They all had their eyes downwards, so she could peer out from behind the building and not be seen. The woman's shoulder shook from weeping, just as Freya's was. Merlin was dead and it felt like her heart was breaking.
Feeling a hand upon her shoulder, the young woman spun around. "Gwaine, why did you do that," she sobbed. "You scared me. I thought it was a guard!"
"I warned him," Elyan, the dark-skinned man said. He frowned at the long-haired rogue and then he turned a concerned eye to Freya. "What's wrong Freya? Why do you weep?"
The druid looked towards the funeral procession and sniffed. "A kindly man has died today," she replied. "I will be forever in his debt. He saved me."
"So, you really were captured by that rat-faced Halig? As soon as we heard, we headed for Camelot," Gwaine said.
Freya nodded. "Yes, I was. But, Merlin, he released me and helped me to escape," she whispered. "I tried to save him, too. He got sick. But, I couldn't…" Freya's voice broke off and Gwaine wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
XOXOXO
As Lancelot, Percival, Hunith, and Arthur along with Gaius pushing Merlin's corpse towards the tombs, Uther strode from the castle. He stopped in front of his son and grabbed his arm. This made the whole group halt. "A word," the King growled a wild glint in his eyes.
He pulled Arthur away from the small procession. "What do you think you're doing," demanded Uther, shouting a little so that he was heard over the rain. "He was a servant! He doesn't deserve your tomb. Besides, there are crypts for the domestics if you feel that he needs laid to rest instead of burnt."
The King glanced over at the cart where Merlin lay in clean clothes, oiled, and perfumed. Then, he looked at Arthur. "How do we know he wasn't the sorcerer? No one was seen leaving the castle, but that boy," demanded Uther as he noticed something behind Arthur's shoulder. It looked like a child running through the streets. After blinking, the kid was gone.
"Father, need I remind you again that this is my tomb. Mine! Not yours! I can give it to whomever I want and I choose to give it to my friend! You know as well as I do that those domestic tombs are made of dirt and crumble within ten years! Merlin deserves better than that! Yes, he was my servant, but father he was much, much more to me than that!" Arthur paused; the raindrops dripping off of his face and sandy blonde hair.
"I know very well who it is for. Do I need to remind you how long it took to craft it and how long it will take to craft a second one? We are in a time of turmoil. God forbid something happen to you, but if it did you would have no resting place. Furthermore, never in history has a peasant been buried in the royal tomb. It's a disgrace. What will the other Kingdoms think? Arthur, you can't just think about yourself. You have to think about the Kingdom and the other Kingdoms as a whole. Your actions affect everyone," said the King. Uther glared at his son.
"What makes you think that the other Kingdoms will even know? The only people here are Merlin's close friends, and furthermore father, I could care less what the Kingdoms think of this. It may be a disgrace to you because you are so set in the old ways you can't think past which servant of yours you are going to throw in the stocks for accidentally dropping your food! My actions affect everyone? So do yours father! You have no idea of the bridges you've burned. One day you'll call out for help and no one will come," Arthur said.
"You aren't exactly being discreet about where he will be placed. Servants will talk. The visiting royals will hear. The castle has ears and eyes you very well know," Uther pointed out as if it were the most obvious thing ever.
Uther shook his head. "I have been ruling for over thirty years. The kingdom is flourishing and stable. Sometimes bridges have to be burned," replied the King.
"Servants are not friends. They work for you. They serve you and Merlin was doing his duty. It was impudent and foolish to befriend him. I believe I made a mistake choosing him as your servant. I am not blind or stupid, Arthur. I saw how close you two were becoming. I should've fired him before this happened!"
"You do not understood do you father? Merlin has helped me in more ways than you think! Before I met him I was arrogant and foolish; he helped me to see past that! He has done more good for me than you ever will!" the Prince replied.
"A servant's job is not to advise or show you anything. A servant is hired to serve… nothing more, nothing less. You were far too lenient on the boy if you allowed him to change you," Uther said.
"The only reason Merlin was running away from the castle was because I sent him to go chasing the sorcerer," Arthur lied, "Like Mrs. Collins, some sorcerers and witches can vanish but they can only go so far. Merlin was just trying to see when the sorcerer would reappear. He wasn't supposed to continue to follow him or her. but he did and you can see the result! Now please father, I beg you...leave us alone and let us continue this funeral in peace."
When he was younger Arthur hated to lie to his father, but now he was used to it. He couldn't tell Uther the truth. Not only would the king destroy Merlin's body, but who knew what he would do to his own son for already knowing about a sorcerer and not telling him immediately.
"Arthur do not lie to me. Why would you send a servant for the filth? There were knights and guards," snapped Uther.
"All of whom take minutes to gather; by that time the sorcerer would have been long gone!" Arthur countered.
Uther eyed his son and shook his head. "You have ten minutes….fifteen at the most. Then, I want you back inside changed and to the council meeting. There have been raids in nearby villages, even Ealdor is being attacked and for some reason Cenred is doing nothing about the matter."
"Ealdor? Father you have said time and again that Ealdor is not within Camelot's lands and that it's protection is Cenred's duty. It was you that said if we sent soldiers in to his lands then it would be an act of war! Now you are changing your mind?!" Arthur asked.
"Indeed, I am. He is allowing Camelot's men be killed. Just this morning when you were running off to God-knows-where, the patrol returned, sans five of our men. They were killed by the bandits who attacked Ealdor. Those same men have been attacking Camelot. These bandits have been thwarting trade routes and destroying commerce. If we don't do something now, the foundation of Camelot will fall," explained the man. "Now go. Finish with this dastardly funeral and be inside within the hour." With that, the King left Arthur.
XOXOXO
A middle-aged man with long, graying hair and a massive fur coat hobbled through the streets of Camelot. Last week, he'd gotten briars into his leg and one of the cuts had caused an abscess in his calf. Of course Balinor could treat it himself, but he was out of sage and salt – two things that would clean out the wound. So, he had come to Camelot to buy those items. The dragon lord had planned on leaving as soon as he got those things, but something stopped him.
There was a small funeral for a dark-haired young man. The precession was small (only 5 people). Three of them he did not recognize, but two he knew quite well. Balinor had been about to go over to them when Uther came over and pulled the blonde man aside. With that gesture, Balinor knew exactly who the young man was (King Uther's son).
As soon as the King was gone, Balinor went over to the group. "What's going on here," asked the man. "Hunith? What is the matter?"
It was clear that Hunith was very shocked to see the middle-aged man standing before her; a man whom she thought that she would never see again. "Balinor," she murmured softly, her voice still shaky and wracked with grief.
"Yes, Hunith, it's me," whispered the man. His voice was uncharacteristically gentle as he spoke to her. Behind bushy eyebrows, his eyes shined with worry. Even though twenty years had passed, he still remembered Hunith clearly. She had been so full of life – smiling, laughing, joking. Her demeanor now did not seem right or proper. No one or anything should cause her grief so deep.
"My son, Merlin...he's...he's..." Hunith couldn't say it, instead she meekly gestured to the body that was covered by a blanket so as to keep the rain off of it.
Hunith cupped her hands over her face as she bent her body over. It hurt to stand; even breathe. How could she go on without her son? Merlin meant everything to her and now even he had been taken away. It just wasn't fair. Why hadn't he gotten the antidote? Arthur had ridden out and had procured the flower that was needed; Gaius had told her that, so why hadn't Arthur given her son the remedy? Was this what he had in mind all along? Deep in her heart Hunith blamed the prince; he had Merlin's life in his hands and he had failed. Nothing could bring her son back now.
Gently, Balinor wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. The Dragonlord leaned Hunith against him as he eased her into a mostly erect position. Holding her tight, he led her along with the small procession. Every step hurt his leg, but the man did not flinch.
They had reached the tomb by the time Arthur had caught up with them. His face was a mask, showing no emotion save for the sorrow he felt that Merlin was dead. With only a slight nod given to those that carried Merlin's body, Arthur watched as his friend was placed in the tomb on top of a smooth granite slab that was in the middle of the room.
As the tomb was shut, Balinor looked at the odd group of people gathered. There was his brother, Gaius; his lover, Hunith; two strangers who must've known Merlin or the Prince; and of course, the Prince himself. It was a very odd group indeed.
"Come, we ought to go in before we all catch pneumonia," Gaius said.
"Agreed," muttered the man. Without another word, he led Hunith to Gaius's chambers. It was in the same place as it had been before the purge, Balinor discovered – which was refreshing.
Balinor and Hunith were the first to enter, soon to be followed by Gaius. He looked oddly furious. "What are you doing here, Balinor," snapped the elderly man. "I thought you were dead! You will be dead as soon as Uther gets whiff of your presence here."
"Nice to see you too, brother," Balinor said, easing down on the bench. "I came for some sage and salt is all."
Gaius frowned. "You've hurt yourself," muttered the man as he bent beside Balinor and examined his leg.
"I'm not afraid of Uther…not anymore. I'm tired of hiding," Balinor balked while Gaius got a salve and gauze.
"You should be" Gaius said, treating the wound and standing. "Well, I will…I will let you catch up. I'll be in my room."
Balinor nodded to Gaius as the older man left. He then looked at Hunith and took her hands in his. "I missed you," he whispered.
The man frowned as he stared at the ground before him. "Did you marry, Hunith, after I left? You had a son, after all, so you must have. However, where is he? He should be comforting you, not I," he asked. He didn't sound hurt or sad – more inquisitive. "You deserve to have a husband and to have happiness and to be taken care of. I am sorry that it could not have been I to have given it to you. It would not have been safe for me to stay." He sighed as he stroked her hand with a thumb.
Hunith was still trying to fight back her emotions and tears which was why she stayed silent and let Balinor talk. She was glad he was there, she needed to see him; know he was safe. She only wished that Merlin could have known him too. Merlin; thinking about her son made Hunith whimper and close her eyes as fresh tears ran down her cheeks.
"No," she mumbled after she realized that Balinor was waiting for a response. "I never married. There was never anyone I loved more than you, Balinor. I missed you as well; every day I watched Merlin grow in to the loving boy he was...I could see you in him. He was our son Balinor; yours and mine."
Balinor looked at Hunith. Shocked that he had had a son and never knew was clearly written on his bearded face. The sadness of never knowing his child or helping Hunith raise Merlin flickered through his eyes. Anger at Uther for forcing him to run turned his eyes steely. However, both emotions were soon gone and his protective mask of indifference had returned. It still didn't mean the loss didn't make his heart ache. Knowing nothing to say, Balinor drew Hunith close and stroked her hair.
XOXOXO
Nimueh lurched within a stone alcove nook in the basement of the castle. Here she watched the funeral without anyone noticing her. It was the perfect spot for viewing the preceding without fear of being caught. It wasn't well lit and the space was deep, so deep that if someone did look her way, Nimueh could just press herself Farther back.
This was too easy. After leaving Arthur for the spiders, she had come back to Camelot. Donning a maid's uniform, Nimueh went about the castle as if she belonged here. Then, when Arthur had returned, she had discreetly followed and watched over him. By doing that, the sorceress gathered all the information she needed. Getting Merlin would be a synch, especially since she had overheard the price would be putting the servant in his royal tomb. Nimueh couldn't help but thank the gods for the rain. If the day has been nice, Merlin would've been burned and his magic would be lost with the smoke. Oh, how deliciously perfect!
After the mourners left, Nimueh strode from her hiding spot. Standing before the tomb, hate sorceress raised a hand. Whispering a few choice words, her eyes flash and the lid slides forward. Chanting another spell, she levitated Merlin's body from within it. Cradling his corpse to her, she hissed out a third spell. In a little whirlwind, Nimeuh and Merlin disappeared from the castle.