Chapter 22

[A/N: Happy Passover and Easter to everyone out there!]

[Whitgate—Mithian's Chamber]

As Nimue and Morgana confronted Gaius, Mithian looked out her bedroom window. Through it, she surveyed the city's ramparts and beyond the walls. She gazed upon the yellowing grasses between the moat and the woods' edge. She could see the sporadic remaining colored foliage adorning the oaks and maples extending from the top of the ridge. She spied nary a bird remaining nor any flying through the overcast sky. She could see the aforementioned leaves rustling in the chill wind.

Her skin dimpled. Granted it wasn't just from the wind. No. She felt it inside. She recoiled from the Link. She couldn't understand why her entreaties received no response.

Merlin struggled with some sort of darkness. Desperation drowned Hope. Anger swamp Reason.

What now? We just left three days ago! Freya was supposed to be watching! She ground her teeth.

Pain seared at her from his wounded side. Power bowled her over knocking her straight back against the bed.

"What did he do?" Her eyes went wide. Panic seized her. It was too much. He broke down and lashed out. Oh please, please! Don't let him have hurt anyone! Don't take him from me now that we're so close! She frowned. A tear creased her cheek. Father and the Council count on me to participate in governance. How can I when Merlin needs me like this? What is Arthur doing? He made Merlin do chores or something. He would! She slapped the wall.

Suddenly the clouds parted over the castle. Sol cast his light intensely on her chamber…and mysteriously only on her chamber. Warmth shoved Chill aside. Light burned away Dark.

Then the Link snapped on. She braced herself. Pain increased its intensity. It seemed so much closer.

"M…Mithian?" his scratchy weak voice croaked.

Her ears perked. Her eyes went wide. Her jaw dropped. She wheeled around. "Merlin?"

"Where are Gaius and Morgana? I…I...Ah! Ow!" He gasped in short bursts. He grabbed his injured side. His face contorted in a tortured grimace. "This…isn't Camelot?"

"Most assured not. Welcome to Whitgate, Merlin. You're in my bedchamber," she informed him. "Let's get you into bed. I won't have you hurting yourself any further." She helped him off of the floor. "Not far and there you go." She helped him to lie down.

"You're supposed to be helping your father. I'm a distraction. I…." he doubted.

"Father will understand. We just finished our council meeting." She pulled his boots off. Then she pulled the covers over him. "Now you will stay there. We'll get those bandages changed. You will stay put until you're properly healed."

"Mithian, I…." he started to protest.

"No objections! And I mean none!" She looked him in the eye pointedly. I mean it, Merlin. Arthur couldn't wait. Could he? Despite what Freya told you, you just had to do work.

He needed a crate moved. It didn't look that heavy so I did it. I lifted it. I walked away. A little while later, the pain started. That's when I went back upstairs to Gaius' chamber, he explained.

She nodded before heading for the door. She opened it. "BRITOMART! SARAH!"

The red headed maid ran at the Princess' summons. She skidded to a halt right in front of her. "Milady? You're pale! What's the matter? What could be….?" She peered into the open chamber. "Who is that in your bed?"

"Merlin. Somehow he was teleported here. I don't know how." Mithian shook her head. "Arthur pushed him to lift a crate of some kind. Merlin reinjured himself. He went to Gaius' chamber." She quivered. "Get Master Wyngate. Please hurry!"

"I'll be right back, Milady!" Britomart rushed off toward the stairs. She passed Sarah on the way. "See to Princess Mithian! She needs you!"

"What?" The blonde maid hurried toward her mistress. "Princess?" She curtseyed. "Forgive me. I didn't hear."

"It's all right. I need the bed made up in the guest chamber. Merlin will be staying with us until he's well enough to travel," Mithian instructed.

"Aye, Princess." Sarah walked toward the guest room and the next set of preparations.

Mithian shook her head. I can't believe this is happening! We just got back here last night! What are they doing there? I would have given Arthur more credit than this!

He likes giving orders. So do you. Happy? Merlin cracked.

Kind of the deal with us Pushy Royals. And I'm ordering you to close your eyes and sleep. Mithian returned to his side. We can answer the other questions later.

Before he could disagree, a soothing rush cascaded through him. Pleasant voices serenaded his ears. His eye lids sagged and drooped. Relaxing under her protective gaze, he fell asleep.

She frowned. We will get to the bottom of this, Merlin. That I promise you!

First treatment. Then rehab as accorded a Prince. Then answers would be forthcoming.

And you could take that one to the treasury, write it on the parchment and seal that too…..

[Sometime later]

Merlin drifted in and out of consciousness. He floated on the warmth. He bobbed and weaved on the gentle breeze feeling almost buoyant as if floating on water. The Sirens continued their serenade guiding him from Pain's bitter voyage toward his Princess' care. Then something disrupted that pleasantness. Something squeezed his middle. His wound burned further before something numbed that sensation. Voices argued.

His eyes slowly blinked and then opened. They blurred into focus to spy Mithian, Freya and Britomart all watching him intently. "P…Princess, what?"

Mithian placed her hand on his shoulder. Relief brightened her face returning some color to her pale complexion. "Merlin, you've been asleep for three days. Master Wyngate, our Court Physician, had to cut into your side. He had to reset the ribs. Then he stitched the incision and rewrapped you. Priestess Freya gave you an herbal balm for the pain." She shook her head and averted her eyes.

"That bad?" he wondered.

Freya rubbed her forehead. "Merlin, the rib broke from your exertion. It grazed against your lung. From how it was pushing against it, the bone almost punctured it. You almost killed yourself working like that. Your breakdown didn't help either." She looked at him. "I know it wasn't your fault. Still…."

"Breakdown?" Mithian asked. "I felt an icy cold surge before he showed up here. Was that?"

"It was. Gaius pushed Merlin beyond the edge of reason. He struggles to deal with your relationship. He now knows he has little choice in the matter," Freya explained. "Priestess Nimue made that very clear."

"Nimue? Morgana was arguing with him. It was weird. Morgana came in and agreed with me? Then she said some sort of prayer as I was blacking out. Next thing I know there's this bright light and I'm here," he reported. "Nimue hates Gaius. She wants him dead."

"She restrained herself. He will not reveal your secret anytime soon," Freya assured him. "Morgana was responsible for our intervention. She called for your deliverance."

"My…?" He stared at the women. Incredulity disrupted any thought process in his head. "She almost didn't… She's not my friend. Still she seemed concerned. I… "

"She stood up for you in front of the other rulers and Arthur," Mithian recalled. "She was very supportive." She chuckled. "She was here."

"Morgana? Here?" He coughed.

"Two days ago. She sat with you overnight before Priestess Ninane returned her to Tintagel," Freya clarified. "I brought her here myself at her insistence. She asked to know when you woke up. I will give her the good news." She opened a mist portal. "Meantime, Merlin, you will listen to Princess Mithian. Stay put!"

"I'll make sure of that. Thank you, Freya," Mithian expressed.

"It is my pleasure to serve. Certain stubborn Warlocks need constant supervision," Freya observed before disappearing into the mists.

"Yes. They do." Mithian kissed his brow. "I am here, Merlin. And you will rest. My Father's orders."

"Arthur's going to kill me," he replied.

"Father has already sent word to Camelot. He can deal with you being here." Mithian smirked. "And you're not moving until I say you move." She arched her eyebrow. "And you can deal with that."

He slumped back into the pillow. Duty had met its match at last…..