Chapter 7 [Dreamscape]
[A/N: We're about to take an even more unique turn. Those of you who've read "Refuge" have seen a version of it. Enjoy! g]
Merlin twitched his nose. His nostrils for some reason detected strange and unique floral scents. A warm breeze ruffled his hair. His skin didn't dimple from the expected draft. Instead of sitting, he felt himself lying on something soft. His eyes snapped open. Surprise opened them ever wider and slacked his jaw.
A gigantic meadow went on in all directions around him. Tall grasses swayed in the aforementioned breeze. A brook meandered not far to his right through the land. Its water foamed ever so slightly against a few rocks in its path. Sol's light sparkled upon its surface. A few trees with their crowns of leaves dotted the area.
"What? Where am I?" He stood slowly. He surveyed the landscape. His mind spun trying to imagine who could have put him there. Morgause is dead. Morgana doesn't have her magic. Maybe one of the other priestesses? He raised an eyebrow. Alarm and Uncertainty jarred him onward.
On top of all of that, the familiar feel of the Link strummed across his senses. Mithian was there too. He could feel her.
"The Princess?" He paced. His heart beat furiously. He clenched his teeth. Princess? Princess Mithian?
For a couple of heartbeats, no response seemed forthcoming. Silence deafened his senses.
Then Mithian hesitantly called, Merlin? Is that you? What's wrong? We….Where are we?
I was hoping you could tell me. Where are you? I can feel you around here somewhere. He looked all about once again. Are you all right?
I think so. She eased herself to one elbow and then into a sitting position. From that, she slowly stood and emerged from behind a particularly massive oak tree. Seeing him there, Relief eased her mood. Still she inspected their surroundings.
I already looked. I don't see anything. He hustled toward her. With a single jump, he vaulted the stream. (Granted with very little to spare, mind you.) He stumbled on the far edge but urged himself to stable ground. He walked toward her.
She snorted. "So graceful, Merlin. You do have style, you know."
He rolled his eyes. "Very funny, Princess. Had to make sure a certain person was safe. Kind of worth risking a bath." He looked her over. He could see that her typical riding clothes—the white top over dark breeches cinched with a belt about her waist—remained intact. He saw no bruises or any apparent injury. "Everything seems in order."
"It is now." She did the same for him. Then she pulled him into an embrace. "At least as far as what it seems. You honestly don't know?"
"Wish I did, Princess." He held her close against himself as well. Their hearts beat as one. Her warmth eased his pulse and mood. "Thanks."
"My pleasure." She put the side of her face against his chest. For a half dozen heartbeats more, she soaked in as much of his strength and warmth as possible. "I wish we could stay like this."
"We do have to find out what's going on." He considered their surroundings. "Even if it does seem great, there's something off about this."
"And Arthur calls you an idiot? I knew you had a passable sense about yourself," she complimented albeit in a back handed way.
"Excuse me?" He exhaled sharply.
Triumph sparkled in her eyes and pulled her mouth into a smirk. She rubbed his arm playfully. "You do have those rough edges, my Warlock, to consider."
"Kind of like the way naggy royals can be," he jabbed back not giving an inch to her.
She shook her head. Once again she failed to understand how her former fiancé could so grossly undervalue his servant. Granted she wasn't about to show weakness in that setting. Still Merlin didn't either. Once again, he was rising to the occasion. He shoved Doubt out of the picture. He rammed his way past Insecurity and Hesitation. He heeded Discretion's and Strategy's respective plans. Rather than cower, he stood his ground. He took his place beside her. And he did so even if his wisecracks made her eyes roll in the process.
Ah yes…Merlin…her Warlock….her Someday Prince….
"Any ideas?" he prompted.
"Hmm?" She glanced around again. "It all seems very nice. Still it could be a gilded cage for all we know. I could use a drink to deal with this thirst."
As if by chance, a golden goblet appeared in her hand.
"What's that?" He studied the vessel.
"It looks like a goblet, Merlin."
"I can see that. Thank you, Princess." Irritation flushed his face cherry red. He peered into it. "Clear liquid. Could be water."
She jerked her hand slightly allowing said liquid to slosh around a bit. "It is clear like water. It moves like water does." She dipped her finger into it. "One way to find out."
"Princess! Don't! I can…." Horror paled his face. He tried to stop her from sticking the wet index finger into her mouth.
"I'm not going to use you as the poison tester, Merlin." She tasted the liquid on her finger. Then she sipped a little. "It's water."
"You sure? I can…."
She snorted. "I believe I know what water is, Merlin." She drained the rest of the goblet. "Interesting. It came when I wished for it."
He looked her over; his eye searching for symptoms of poison or worse. "It seems too easy."
"Maybe it is? This place isn't exactly horrible." She motioned with her hands. "Even if I have to put up with a certain worrywart."
"It's my place to worry about you," he retorted frankly.
She took a step back. Her eyebrow arched. "Is it now? My, my….Have we discovered something, Merlin?"
Uncertainty froze him in place. He felt as if his tongue had run several steps too far. He was exposed. Still he could salvage something from it. "I have to save royals from themselves. Kind of comes with the territory." Now it was his turn to smirk at her.
"Does it now? And what would Arthur say about that?" she fired back; Amusement accenting the words emerging from her lips.
"He doesn't. Gwen overruled him. He gets George. Now we can hope the castle doesn't blow up in the process," he informed her.
"Did she now?" A wry cough escaped her throat. "It almost seems that you'd be behind this."
"I don't have a death wish. Arthur's mad enough at me right now. He'd stick me in the stocks for sure," he noted.
"Not while I'm there, he won't. Now I do get to run you ragged," she declared.
"So much for thinking things are different now." Still his eyes twinkled at her.
"I'm not like that, Merlin. You know that."
"I'll ask a buck or the birds in the woods some time," he sassed. He walked about. His eye inspected the ground looking for a suitable spot.
She sniffed. "They're prey. You're a servant. There's a difference."
"Those stories out of Gaul say they're the same. It's about pursuit. You're the master hunter. You want me." He shrugged. "Prince Bors just came from Gaul. He's taking Percival's place. Anyhow he brought a bard, Master Chretien, with him. Gwen had him perform for the court."
"And you listened, did you?" She had heard such bards tell their tales. Rodor had the few wandering bards recite stories at Whitgate's court in exchange for meals and a few days' respite from the road's uncertainties. For all of their less than desirable qualities, a couple of her past suitors had brought their own court bards with them. Still Merlin's discovery about courtly love impressed her. "Not many servants would." She rubbed his arm. "You're not prey, Merlin. Yes I am pursuing you. I want you but not as I would want a buck let's say. You are not a trophy to be snared and bedded. To some, your magic would make you so. Not to me. Never to me. And you know why?"
"Sure. I've never had anyone speak like this to me," he conceded.
"Because you treat me like a human being rather than the puffed up Princess. You gave me a second chance when nobody in Camelot would. You went out of your way to make sure my breakfast with Arthur had the best meal and location…even if you made him belch like the tavern drunk in the process," she assured him. "I don't see a servant or a sorcerer or a master reeve. I see a man with an incredibly warm heart. I see a King. My King. The one I want to be Queen for…."
His heart swooned. He embraced her again. Amor rushed up and down his spine. His lips brushed feather-soft against her forehead. "I want to believe that."
"It will happen, Merlin. We aren't alone. Still we have to believe." She looked at him firmly. "Before we do though, we do have our immediate problem."
"Yeah that." He set his jaw. Disappointment weighed on him.
"Merlin, we're not forgetting about it. We're at the beginning not the end. Have faith, my Prince." She caught herself saying the P-Word. While she'd said it at other points to the surrounding friends, she'd never uttered it to him.
"You mean it."
She nodded. Her eyes met his. "With all of my heart. I told you before. One day, I will come to you before my father. And only you."
He smiled; his mood picked up slightly. His eyes thanked her without words spoken or empathically passed.
And such are the moments like these, my Children, a familiar voice cut in.
The couple stopped cold. They slowly turned to find the triple goddess considering them in turn. They managed a bow apiece for the deity.
You both realize your destiny. That is a good thing. Rest assured, this is a safe place, the goddess assured them.
"What is it? It seems so great but…." He glanced around again.
It is a paradise created by the love you both have for each other. I gave it form and substance. Still your bond provided a powerful seed. Anything you wish for will appear. Here you will be safe. As long as you both serve me and look out for my followers, it will remain so, the goddess continued.
"And we're worthy?" Mithian wondered.
You serve others. You have sacrificed your time and bond for them. Now I give you a bit of grace. Continue on the road you have started down. I bless you both. Now believe in what you have, my Children. Farewell for now…. The goddess disappeared into the air about them.
He exhaled deeply. "We can have…this?"
"Yes, Merlin. It would seem so," she presumed. "You can stop worrying now."
"I want you to have the best. Have to stay passable after all," he cracked.
She rolled her eyes but said nothing. At heart, she was glad he could loosen up a little. "You do manage."
He chuckled. With a wave of his hand, he made a sheet appear on the grass. On it, a covered plate, two wooden cups and a flask materialized. "Figured you might be hungry."
"Did you now? Let's see what that devious mind came up with." She kneeled on the sheet. Her hand raised the cover. There she discovered a block of cheese, two pieces of wheat bread and a small bunch of red grapes huddling for her consideration. "You remembered. Granted the presentation needs work but…."
He coughed. "I'm learning."
"So you are. I can allow you some slack this once," she teased. Mirth sparkled in her eyes much as Sol did on the stream nearby. She gave him a gentle tug. "I do suppose you can join me?"
He followed her lead. He sat down beside her. Routine pushed him on. He broke her off some grapes and set them on a plate. Then he put the bread and a piece of cheese with it. "That is for you."
"Thank you, Merlin. Still here you are not my servant." She took a grape and held it out to him. "The first one for you, my Love."
He took it and considered it for a heartbeat. Then he bit into it. Little by little, he savored the fruit's sweetness mixed with her warmth. He looked into her eyes once more. "We serve each other." He squeezed her hand for emphasis.
Joy sprang within her heart. A sigh escaped her lips. "You only make my case for me, Merlin." She kissed him. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Princess." His lips pressed down on hers. Amor's warmth energized them and soothed their concerns. They only knew each other and their mutual feelings. And for several heartbeats, this was so.
After a while, she lamented, "We do have to go back."
He gently held a piece of fruit out to her. "I know. Kind of putting it off." He extended it allowing her to bite into it.
She chewed and swallowed savoring his offering to her. "Duty calls as it will. We will see each other again by midday." Her lips brushed his cheek. "Have faith."
"And you. I'll be waiting," he advised.
"And I for you, my Prince," she noted. She laid her forehead on his. "I love you."
"I love you," he echoed back.
And with that, a bright flash of light swept them away once again…..