Conclusion [A Week Later]
The next week passed by. At some points, it blurred by in a flash. At others, things seemed to plod through tar. Pain juxtaposed with still more Bliss. Spells burned and pinched accelerating the healing process. Walks, hesitant and around the chamber at first, gradually expanded to the garden and then toward the Grand Hall with Rodor, Mithian and various nobles to share in exquisitely prepared food in the Warlock's honor. As much as things seemed up and down, time passed.
Still it seemed a dove tailing of sorts….Perhaps it was….
[Camelot—Outside of Arthur's Study]
Merlin bit his lip. Anxiety's butterflies battered his insides. His steps seemed slow. Despite the rehabilitation, he labored a bit with his pace. Still, as he'd survived his close call barely a week earlier, he wasn't going to complain any time soon. Rather his attention lay with Arthur and Gwen at the moment. He leaned against the wall outside of the chamber. It's going to be all right. We know it was an emergency. You almost died. King Rodor made sure Arthur knew that. He shook his head.
Before going there, he'd stopped off in the Physician's Chamber to find it empty. Given his condition, he expected Gaius to be jumping at the bit to examine him. Even with Nimue's intervention, he hadn't anticipated such a response in his mentor.
Interesting all around….
What's with Gaius? I know Master Wyngate and Freya did what they could. Still you think he'd want his own diagnosis. This is so unlike him! Merlin frowned. Speculation threw several distinct possibilities at him; none of which he really wanted to consider. Frankly he was hoping the older man was all right.
Perhaps he was helping a patient? Don't create a situation before there has to be one, Merlin, Mithian advised over the Link. Focus on Arthur, Gwen and the court. After that, you can seek Gaius out.
He's always been there before though. I don't understand why he isn't here now, he questioned.
And you'll find out in good time. Straight ahead. One issue at a time, she affirmed.
Yes, Dear, he cracked.
What was that? she shot back.
He rolled his eyes. A playful smirk flitted across his face. Oh nothing.
Her snort echoed through his head. Well now! It does seem you *can* learn something after all.
Takes one to know one. He coughed.
You think so, do you? she supposed; Sauciness played across his ears.
I could find out.
Oh you will. Trust me on that. She allowed a few heartbeats to pass. I have to remind myself to be patient. You should be too.
It's hard. For so long, this was everything and more. Now it seems incomplete. It needs something, he assessed. Maybe someone?
It does. Not everyone is there, she agreed.
I know! Maybe Percival or Galahad, he teased.
Them? You think they'd….? Then he felt her smirk growing wider.
Got you. Do you really think I would be talking about them? I miss you, he assured her.
And I you, my Prince. I love you. Eyes front now, she concluded.
Merlin nodded. He looked about the passage. Still he didn't see anyone coming or going. Strange.
At that moment, the door opened. Leon stuck his head out. "Merlin, they're ready." He motioned into the chamber with his head. He opened the door further.
"Thanks, Leon. I appreciate it," Merlin expressed.
The First Knight answered with only a tacit nod. He silently led the other man toward the dais.
Merlin looked around the chamber. While it really wasn't that big overall, it seemed to expand to almost the size of the throne room below. With it empty save for himself, Leon and the two awaiting monarchs, it intimidated him. His footfalls echoed back to his ears. He could almost feel Arthur's piercing blue eyes burning into his psyche.
Arthur grimly sat at his desk. He regarded his servant. He sensed a difference in the man before himself. How he wished they could go back to how things had been years earlier. He'd heard such sentiments from Gwen and the knights. He endured the lecture from Rodor's emissary. Still those reminders of past and present only prompted further questions. There were no warm greetings, barbs, half-meant vows of overwhelming chores or the like. Doubt burned in his eyes. He glanced toward Gwen seeking direction.
She frowned. Convention and Friendship yanked her back and forth like a rope in a tug-of-war. Still she tired of Tension's rift between them. She took a deep breath and put her best smile on. "Merlin! We're glad you're safe. When you disappeared, we had no idea what happened." She embraced him.
"Oh we know that much. Don't we, Merlin?" Arthur tapped his fingers across the polished oak desk top. His eyes peering deeply into Merlin's. "Interesting isn't it?"
"What is, Sire? Are you all right?" Merlin disengaged from his embrace with the Queen. He looked to her and then back to him again.
"Oh. I'm fine relatively speaking. It's been a most curious week to put it mildly. George's polishing annoys more by the day. I can't get fresh sheets or anything." Arthur complained. "If only it was that though." He resumed the beat of his fingertips across the desk. "Merlin, what's going on?"
"What do you mean?" Insecurity ate at the Warlock. His voice betrayed a bit of that storm within himself.
"Arthur, please." She shook her head. For the previous few days, she'd argued with him off and on about this very conversation between them. While she knew the meat of it and hated lying to her beloved King, she wouldn't see their dear friend and trusted servant go to the pyre because of it either.
"Gwen, the questions need to be asked. I'm sorry. I don't why I didn't see this earlier." Arthur sucked in a troubled breath. "You remember Ealdor?"
Merlin frowned. "I suppose. I grew up there. We've been there three or four times. What of it?"
Arthur nodded. In the past, he'd have bought the response and moved on toward the next reply. Still now, Suspicion wormed its way into his thinking. "Strange that magic has its way of finding its way around you."
"Magic? What?" Merlin scoffed. "Arthur, every time we've been there, there's been a fight of some kind. You really think I'm some sorcerer? That I can just wave my hands and just do things? Well that would be a great thing especially when you keep dumping me in the stables and…."
"Merlin, don't avoid the question." Arthur's eyes burned into his. They reeked of Seriousness and Determination. "You couldn't be a sorcerer yourself. You're too stupid and an Idiot for that. How do you know?"
She bowed her head. Arthur, please. Don't insult him. That wasn't called for!
Merlin burned. He ground his teeth. Still he wouldn't blow his top. Not now. Not when his Princess counted on him. Is this what it means to be a diplomat? How does Mithian do this? "Dumb luck, I guess. They do watch us."
"So it would seem. And how do you know that?" Arthur tilted his head to the left ever so slightly. "Isn't it the least bit curious what happened? You show up in the chamber. An explosion shook the castle. Then something else fixed all of the damage. Then you disappear and show up in Nemeth." He nodded. "That's some luck, Merlin. You do realize that my father would be dragging you to a cell right now? He'd call a witch finder. You do remember that."
Merlin grimaced. He recalled how he'd only been playing with smoke dragons. He'd made sure he was far in the woods. He thought himself secure. Yet he hadn't accounted for the stray landless peasant who saw him. He'd ridden himself and his friends along that razor's edge towards safety. "It's not one of my favorite memories. You don't forget something like that."
"Well now it does seem you have some brains after all, Merlin." Arthur rubbed his chin. "And you would tell me if you knew where they were?"
"They, Sire?" Merlin queried.
"Sorcerers, Merlin." Arthur peered deeply into his eyes. "Sorcery is evil, Merlin. Maybe it's Meleagant getting to me. Still, as grating as he is, he is very observant. He had a point."
Merlin rubbed his side. The mention of the tyrant elicited phantom pain. "I was in the chamber. Gaius started lecturing me. I felt overwhelmed. I saw Queen Morgana rush in. Then there was this bright light. The next thing I knew I was in Whitgate." He shuddered. "Meleagant is so observant! He knew exactly how to pick fights! And you're letting him manipulate you like this? Do you realize I nearly died? I'm here because of magic and medicine! Science and sorcery together! That's at least what the court told me."
"Rodor tolerates that nonsense more than he should." Arthur curled his lip. Bile ate at his stomach.
"Arthur, he's alive because of that. We're here because of the priestesses. We…." she pressed.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "All manipulations. They want to lure us into trusting them. Then they and that *goddess of theirs* will push us back into darkness and superstition. It's not going to happen." He shook his head. "We will hunt down this new coven and deal with them accordingly."
She somehow kept her composure. Even if he'd let Merlin off, she couldn't believe Arthur's blatant threat not even a heartbeat later. Moreover, Disbelief struck her numb at Merlin's stolid poker face. She marveled at how Merlin didn't react at least not on the surface. Is this what it's been like for him all of these years? Pity and Lament weighed on her heart.
"Justice should be done. No, Sire, I don't know where they are. It's not like I can just ask where their secret place is," Merlin supposed half-honestly. "And do we have to? You do know the pain that King Uther's left in its wake? With respect…." He cleared his throat dispelling the bile there.
Not missing the edge in it, Arthur growled, "Be careful, Merlin.'
"I had dinner three nights ago with one such person, Lady Elaine of Astolat. She's very pleasant company. She played the harp a few times for the court while I was there. Her mother was like her. She healed people. She never harmed a fly. Pity Meleagant's insight focused on Nemeth. Uther pushed King Rodor into having burned Elaine's mother burned at the stake for healing people," Merlin informed them.
"And here I thought you were my resolute ally against magic. You're getting soft, Merlin." Arthur rubbed his chin. "You really should be grateful. I could have told Nemeth to keep you. Given your attitude recently, I considered it."
"Arthur!" She gasped; her eyes narrowed at him.
Merlin exhaled. Temptation prodded him to say 'Fine! When do I leave?' Still he composed himself. "You're the King. If you want me to stay, I stay. If you want me gone, I don't have a choice." He bowed to emphasize the point.
"Trust seems to be an issue where the court's concerned, Merlin. You've raised serious doubts. Even Gaius. Congratulations, Merlin. You've even managed to push him away." Arthur saw Shock in his servant's eyes. "Oh so that got your attention. Did it? WELL GOOD! WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!"
Merlin bowed his head. "I went to our chamber. He wasn't there."
"He's looking for a new apprentice. He seems to think you don't care anymore. I wonder why he would think that?" Arthur shot him a pointed look.
"I do care! I've been doing my best. I…." Merlin argued.
"Oh I agree. You did prevent a war. You managed to get us all to your home village. So, Merlin, how does your mother like the Princess' maid. What was her name? Oh yes! Britomart," Arthur recalled.
"Mother likes her. Britomart and I are friends. I have lots of friends." Merlin shrugged.
"Friends don't take each other on picnics, Merlin. Perhaps that's why you've been spending so much time with Princess Mithian? You want to impress Britomart." Arthur chuckled. "I should have known."
What? Gwen stiffened.
Merlin coughed. Incredulity struck him dumbfounded. He had to laugh. He couldn't help it. "Sire. You got me. I mean…wow. You figured it out."
Arthur reclined back in his chair. "See? All things do come out in the end, Merlin. Please go on." Satisfaction pumped his ego up several notches. A grand smirk spread across his face.
"Yes well. I was spending all of that time with Britomart. She wanted my help in figuring out how to best introduce King Rodor to the Princess' mystery suitor. Well, given everything that's happened in the past, I did my part of course…." Merlin started in.
Gwen rolled her eyes. Somehow she didn't face palm herself.
"Of course." Arthur peered straight at his liege man. "And given what's happened in the past, you were fulfilling my promise to her. I do appreciate that, Merlin. I'm sure the Princess does as well. So anyhow, do continue." He motioned with his hand to prod onward.
"So, as I was with Princess Mithian and King Rodor, Britomart and I arranged certain exchanges of gifts between the Princess and her suitor. They actually went on a hunt together. And you know how she enjoys hunting. They had a good day. She proposed to him. He accepted. Rodor approves. Now he has to speak with the man's liege lord." Merlin grimaced. "Sticky business."
"Yes. Not well planned out on that suitor's part. Was it?" Arthur observed.
Merlin shrugged. "King Rodor and his liege lord have an oral agreement in place. I was helping to get everything in place. I saw the man in question. He seemed really great but we weren't introduced."
"So he does exist?" Arthur coughed. "I thought Princess Mithian was making him up."
"I actually sat with them in her garden. They're happy and want to be together. And I guess Britomart met someone in the process." Merlin sighed. "There's this knight. She's fallen for him but won't admit it. He's resisting it but likes her too." He shook his head.
"Really?" Arthur smirked. "And you've been caught up in this melodrama all of this time?" He rolled his eyes. "Merlin, you're being such a girl. And you know who this knight is?"
"Oh yeah but they want it to be secret. If we expose them, well…you know…sparks would fly and who knows what else? You get what I mean, right?" Merlin supposed. He rolled his eyes, raised his eyebrows and offered another exaggerated shrug to sell that image.
Gwen bit her lip so as not to laugh and blow Merlin's account sky high. Still she couldn't believe he was actually turning the tables on Arthur in this way. And to do so in as smooth a fashion as he was doing. Has he been doing this all of this time? Really?
"Cat and mouse games do have a way of blowing up in people's faces. Look at what happened with Gwen and me, Merlin. You think Princess Mithian would know better especially since she was the hurt party in all of that. She should tell her maid to just come out with her feelings. If that knight's interested, then fine. Otherwise she can move on." Arthur sniffed. "I mean I heard she stormed into Camelot over Gawain. It's not like he'd care about a single woman out of the tavern." Arthur shook his head.
"Who knows about Gawain? Someday there'll be someone for him," Merlin supposed.
"With all of this, the Princess should come up with someone for you, Merlin. And…" Arthur nodded. "She has, hasn't she?"
"She has what, Sire?" Merlin asked.
Arthur laughed. "You have a woman. Don't you? Don't deny it, Merlin! You met someone in Nemeth!"
"Sire, I…" Merlin nodded. "Yes. We're kind of figuring things out. I was going to talk with you about it. King Rodor was going to speak with you after Solstice about it."
"Princess Mithian told me as much. She wouldn't say who it was. She wanted to leave that to King Rodor. She's really hoping that Merlin can be with this person," Gwen continued. She hated misleading Arthur. Still he had promised to help after all…even if he wouldn't like doing it.
"This misdirection isn't like King Rodor. Still I can wait. Unfortunately, Merlin, so will you. I'll need you here. The Solstice feast is even more important now. I'll need you to get everything in order. You're so good with arranging things and putting up girly things and all. Just don't let it get into our other business." Arthur sighed. Much as the sky might change prior to a storm, his face darkened again. "As happy as I am about this woman, it doesn't excuse that you hid sorcerers and consorted with them. If it wasn't for Solstice, I'd speak with King Rodor right now. Still you should return to Gaius' chambers and pack."
"I'll get right on that." Merlin bowed to him. Regret dampened his spirits. What did Nimue do to him? He made his way out of the study and into the hall. What's going to happen now? He marveled at the story he'd just fabricated. What will happen when he speaks to King Rodor?
It will be all right, Merlin, Mithian assured him. That was most creative. I am impressed.
You heard that? I… Merlin grimaced.
When you said Arthur wanted to talk about what happened, I listened in. I can't believe him! Can he be any more like Uther? Well let's not talk of that right now. Just know, I will tell Father about your fabrication. He won't be happy about the deception. Still it will serve Arthur right and you didn't really lie…much. Have faith, Merlin. In the end, it will all work out, Mithian explained.
He promised. He has to help us or lose face in everyone's eyes. I know he hates what I am. Still we should be friends still. I want that! We need that, he declared.
We both want that. Gwen wants that. The question is can Arthur be a friend? Can he accept you? What he said was hurtful. I'm glad Britomart and Lady Elaine weren't there. Merlin, just be strong. You can do that. I am with you. It's only a moon and a half until Solstice. Until then, you can meet me in our special place? Mithian affirmed.
He saw Gwen walking toward him. Speaking of Gwen, she wants to talk with me. I love you.
I love you, Merlin. Thank you for being strong for us. Take care, my Prince, Mithian concluded.
Be strong. You can do this. Merlin sucked in a deep breath. He noticed Gwen watching him. "I'm sorry I didn't see you." He bowed to her.
"That's quite all right. I imagine you have a lot to think about after what just happened," she presumed. "Follow me. I'll show you that room. We can talk in there." She led him down the passage and a flight of stairs. In the next passage, she pushed the door open to their left. "And here we are. Hope you like it."
He stepped inside. He could see it wasn't very big. In the far right corner, a small bed awaited him. A folded blanket and a pillow rested on top of it. On the left side, a candle sat on a table waiting to be lit. Light streamed in through a small window. "Gwen, I appreciate this. I thought he'd have me out in the stables."
"I don't care how he sounded in there. Arthur would never do that to you. You know that," she reminded him. "This will get you through until Solstice. During the festival, I'll assign you to the Princess once again. After that, we'll see. This will be here as long as you need it." She shut the door. "Merlin, about the other matter…." She cleared her throat.
"If Arthur would stop with the double standard, it wouldn't be necessary. He's trying to keep the Princess and me apart. I…" He trembled. "I hate being like this!"
"I know. I'll speak to her at Solstice. That way she'll know what to tell her father." She exhaled. "Merlin, you only want equal treatment. You fought for Arthur and me. You've earned the same nobility as the knights. Princess Mithian wants to be happy after what happened here. She has helped us. It's only right." She looked into his eyes. "Merlin, she'd tell you to have faith. Do that. Meantime focus on really decorating a storm up for the festival. Think of how she'll like it."
"She will, Gwen. Thank you," he expressed. "I can't believe this. Gaius and now Arthur. Why?"
"I wish I knew, Merlin. I have to be getting back. You need to be getting moved. Arthur needs you outside." With that, she left.
Outside. Yeah that…. Merlin frowned. He eased out of the chamber and down the hall toward the Physician's Chamber once again.
A moon and a half….. Luna would definitely drag in her pace across Autumn's eves in that span.
Even so, Amor turned her hourglass. From its full top container, the first few grains of sand fell turning to a small trickle toward its lower counterpart. A small spot began to appear beneath.
Sand would fall. Solstice would work its magic with Mistletoe's grace along its flow. At the end, the situation would reach its climax.
And the reactions would shape not only Camelot and Nemeth but all of Albion itself…
THE END (for now)
(A/N: Hope you liked this one. At this point, the story goes through "Mistletoe". After that, think on the hint in that last paragraph. It isn't going to be any easier. Thanks again! Look again at "Mistletoe". Sometime this week, I'll be back with "Rubicon".)