-32-
Miles away, in a large stone mansion away from the city, three men sat around a large table. Each one was wrapped up in his thoughts, but when one of them raised his head to look at a candle that suddenly flickered to life, the other two took notice.
"Ah," Kilgarrah remarked, a smile spreading across his lips.
The faint scent of lavender permeated the room and disappeared just as quickly as it came.
The old man sighed with contentment and settled back into his chair.
"What happened?" Galahad asked, his eyes darting from dragon to wizard, bewilderment clear on his face.
"The spell is in place, young Knight," Kilgarrah said. "Your Queen is at peace."
Galahad dropped his head into his hands, sighed in relief, and then straightened.
"Then why do I still remember?"
"Patience, Galahad," the dragon's voice was soothing. "Things will take their course. I have not forgotten my promise to you."
Galahad was troubled and his fear ate at Kilgarrah's conscience.
"You want to hear the truth," a statement, not a question.
Galahad nodded and Kilgarrah smiled.
"The spell will take place," the older man clarified. "Your Queen will have no memory of her past; she will not remember Arthur, Merlin, or the witch."
He gave a quick nod to Merlin who gave one of his own.
"But how is this different from her punishment?" Galahad was confused. Could he have led his Lady to a trap?
"Remember what I told you, young Knight," Kilgarrah's voice bore a gentle reprimand. "They are two halves of a whole. As one suffers, so does the other."
He raised an eyebrow.
"But as one rejoices and finds peace, the other does as well," he explained softly. "The Queen will bear no guilt from her past, and her forgiveness ensures that Arthur will be free from his as well."
He smiled.
"They are free to find each other once more," a note of peace came into Kilgarrah's voice. "To love each other..."
"To complete each other," Merlin said softly and Galahad turned to look at the wizard. "The Queen's happiness is tied to her love for Arthur."
Merlin saw that his answer still wasn't enough to pacify the knight.
"I know you distrust Arthur and myself still," Merlin said. "And you are right to do so, but, Galahad, it is time to trust that, now, your Lady will know how to guard her heart as well."
Merlin's eyes moved to Kilgarrah before settling once again on Galahad.
"She may not remember her past now that the spell will take place, but that doesn't mean that the lessons she learned will not take root in her being," the wizard told the Knight.
"This mission was meant to free your Lady, Galahad," Kilgarrah spoke again. "And that meant unshackling her from the pain and burden of her past."
The knot in Galahad's chest eased. They were right. The past chained the Queen to her pain; being free of them meant that she would—at least—be able to live again.
To love again.
"We are not here to take advantage of Guinevere," Kilgarrah said softly, hoping to relieve the last traces of doubt from Galahad's mind. "This was not a game for me, Galahad. I wanted her to be liberated from her ties to the past. And only she could choose to be free."
And then it all came together.
The Queen was never given a choice when it came to her fate. She followed the edicts of her father, the demands of her station, the bidding of her king, the desires of her husband, and the cruelty of Camelot. Her life hung in the balance of every decision she made.
This time, in this age, she was given a choice—for the first time. Whether or not she forgave, she would be free of her past, but it was only when she made the right decision—for herself and the people she cared for—would she be happy. Only then would she be at peace.
Because it is not in her nature to be cruel.
Galahad's lips bowed into a smile. He understood now. His Lady would never be happy with exacting revenge. The Queen would never condemn anyone to pain and misery—because she knew how easily it could poison a person's spirit.
Hope was Guinevere's balm. And it was a gift she always gave freely.
He looked at Kilgarrah with eyes blurry with tears.
"I should never have doubted you," the Knight said.
"Nonsense," Kilgarrah brushed aside Galahad's words. "You swore to protect her, and you did that admirably."
He smiled at the young man.
"I am proud of you, Galahad. And your Queen thanks you."
He looked to Merlin and saw that the wizard's eyes were swimming in tears as well.
"You led us, Galahad," Merlin told the knight. "You convinced Arthur to come to Kilgarrah, you comforted the Queen enough to let her see that you were still her champion—your devotion to your Lady saved Camelot."
Galahad bowed his head.
"You secured Albion for all of us."
Galahad looked up at the wizard and shook his head.
"I saved my Lady," he declared. "Camelot by chance."
An unspoken truce settled between the Knight and the Wizard. They had both done well.
"And now it is time for you to go back home, young knight," Kilgarrah stood up and placed a hand on Galahad's shoulder. "But do not fear, you will see your Queen again—although, I'm afraid you will have no memory of her as well."
Galahad nodded. In truth, he rather welcomed the thought.
"It would mean a far less complicated life," he admitted with a rueful smile.
A laugh burst from Merlin's lips and Kilgarrah chuckled as well.
But Galahad posed another query.
"What of Merlin, Elyan, and the witch?"
Kilgarrah smiled indulgently.
"I suppose you deserve answers," he told the Knight. "Very well...Merlin will remember and he will stand guard over the Once and Future King and Queen. His hand played too heavily in their fates for me to exempt him from his due."
Merlin nodded. He looked no more burdened by his lot, in fact, he seemed rather pleased by it.
"Morgana," the dragon's lip curled slightly at her name. "A shadow hangs over her still. I cannot completely see light in her soul, but I am offering her a chance at redemption—without her power and her memories, but with Elyan. He is a protector and she needs a rock. They alone will decide how intertwined their futures will be."
Galahad was pleased by this. Fate had been cruel to Morgana as well, but the Queen never lost hope with her former mistress, perhaps it was time that the rest of them had faith in her as well.
"There you have it, Galahad," Kilgarrah said. "Are you satisfied?"
The Knight nodded.
"Rest now, Galahad. Remember that you still have your examinations to complete."
Galahad chuckled as darkness washed over him.
