Author Note: Here's another chapter for you all, and now you start to discover some of Dante's other flaws, too. You wouldn't believe it, but it would seem that she doesn't like large crowds and being the centre of attention. Who'd have thought? hehe. And as for the ceremony itself, what Arthur says is a combination of lines the ceremonies used in previous Merlin episodes (Arthur's coming of age, knighting ceremonies, etc). I really wasn't sure what the protocol was for becoming a First Lady, as Morgana is the only First Lady we've met in the series, and she was made one by being Uther's Ward, and therefore the title was given to her by default (or so we assume), so after puzzling over it for a while, I just decided to go ahead and make up my own version of the ceremony, lol. This is what I'd imagine it to be like...and who knows. Maybe in the future, we'll get to see an actual ceremony, if Arthur chooses another First Lady in the series?
Anyways, read and enjoy as always :) And thank you for sticking with me this far...
oOo
It had been decided at breakfast that Gwen should be the one to help Dante get ready for the ceremony. She'd had plenty of practice with Morgana over the years, so knew exactly what was required for such an occasion. She also wanted to make sure that Dante's nerves remained in one piece.
After Arthur had gone through the list of duties that the First Lady was expected to uphold, Dante had been bordering on a full blown panic attack as the reality of her situation dawned on her. She was being given control over an entire kingdom and its people! Ok, so she'd been a Lady - heir to her father's estate after her brothers had died - but that was different. Much different. And it had only taken Arthur's careful and precise explanation of her duties to make Dante slip from proud, excited, confident Lady to a nervous, quivering wreck. It had quite literally driven her to the brink of insanity - not that she hadn't been bordering there already, mind you.
Gwen had suggested putting the ceremony on hold until Dante was a hundred percent recovered, but Arthur had insisted that it needed to happen whilst Hunith was here. Otherwise she would have a wasted journey. He then assured Dante that he would explain her sudden and miraculous recovery as being a misdiagnosis on Gaius' part, and the old physician's incredible skills and talents with poultices and potions.
Gaius had been offended by the idea of having the 'blame' of a misdiagnosis laid on him at first, but then Arthur had talked him round, and assured him that the fact he was so 'skilled' and 'talented' would more than make up for this little 'error' of his. Eventually the old physician had agreed to go along with things, for the simplicity and sake of it.
Arthur had then offered Dante the use of Merlin for the morning to help her get ready, but this had only made Dante panic even more, so Gwen had very kindly stepped in and offered her services instead.
Arthur had protested, and Gwen had sent Dante to wait out in the hallway whilst she and her husband quietly argued. Then, half an hour later, she'd emerged from the dining hall, tying her long black hair into a ponytail with the yellow silk ribbon that had adorned her wrist in decoration. She wore a contrastingly businesslike expression, despite her triumph and without saying another word, took Dante by the arm and dragged her up to her room.
She appraised Dante as they reached Dante's outer chambers and she closed and locked the door behind them.
"Oh, look at your eyes!" She tutted in reproach. "What did you do? Stay up all night?"
"Almost," Dante shrugged. "I couldn't sleep." So I went for a walk in the snow to meet my mistress and find out the next part of our devious plan to overthrow your husband and claim his kingdom for our own.
Gwen glowered. "I've only got a certain amount of time to make you stunning, Dante! You might have taken better care of my raw material!"
"I didn't exactly expect this when I got up this morning," Dante countered as she sat on the window seat, leaning her head against the cool glass. "I think the bigger problem is that I might fall asleep during the ceremony and not be able to say 'I do' at the right parts. Then Arthur will realise what a terrible mistake he's made by asking me to do this, and he'll choose someone else, and I'll be laughed out of Camelot and never be able to show my face in public again."
"Relax, woman!" Gwen chuckled. "You're babbling. But don't worry! I'll throw my shoe at you when it gets close."
"Wow thanks!" Heavy sarcasm? Had she really degenerated to using heavy sarcasm now? Oh boy. This was going to be a long morning.
"So, things with you and Gwaine...how are they going?" Gwen was trying to distract Dante as she fished about in Dante's wardrobe, and as predicted, it worked like a charm.
"What do you mean 'things with me and Gwaine'?"
"Well are you together, or aren't you? And if you're not, why not?"
"I really don't know what you're talking about."
"What about the other knights, then? Surely one of them has to have taken your fancy? Elyan tells me that Percival's got a bit of a soft spot for you, and Leon used to until he saw what Gwaine did to Lot. Then he decided to back off because it was too much of a risk."
"They're my friends," Dante countered, although she was flattered that she'd caught the attention of so many handsome young men, and she was also annoyed at Gwaine for scaring them all off. "Nothing more."
"Keep telling yourself that and someday it may come true."
"I'm not looking for a man right now, Gwen! I have more important things to do than fall in love!"
"Seriously Dante, it's about time you got over this aversion to men. It's not healthy for a woman to dislike the attention as much as you do!"
Dante bit back her retort, glared groggily out of the window and let out a long frustrated sigh. Gwen decided to leave her to it for now. Dante's nerves had turned her mood incredibly sour, and Gwen had seen more than her fair share of Dante's temper tantrums to know when it was best to just remain quiet and out of the way. Dante was grateful. It gave her time to brood.
Eventually she must have nodded off, because the next thing she knew, Gwen was shaking her shoulders gently and nodding to the steaming bathtub in the centre of the room. Dante blinked in surprise, sniffed and was immediately assailed by the scent.
"What is THAT?" She couldn't help but wonder, as Gwen pulled the wooden screen across to hide the bath from view - and effectively preserve Dante's dignity in the process.
"Is it too much?" Gwen's voice was abruptly worried. "I'd hoped I'd got it right."
"It smells wonderful!" Dante assured her. The smell was almost intoxicating, but not at all overwhelming – the balance of the different fragrances was subtle and flawless. "Cherry blossoms...lilac...and something else. Am I right?"
"Very good! You only missed the freesia and roses."
Dante sighed again and slipped behind the screen to undress.
Then she lowered herself into the tub, her clothes lying in a tangled heap on the far side of the screen where she'd thrown them half heartedly.
For a few seconds the water was so hot it stung, and she was ready to leap back out again if it didn't drastically improve. But then it became soothing instead of painful, and she was able to tolerate the heat after all.
She cupped some of the water into her palms and smoothed it over her face, smelling the various incense that Gwen had used. They also helped her to relax and soon she could feel the soothing heat working its way through her skin and into her muscles. She let out another sigh then, only this time it was more of a contented one.
Gwen, meanwhile, pottered about on the other side of the screen, getting things ready for when Dante emerged.
After a while, she glanced towards the screen.
"You're awfully quiet back there. You haven't gone to sleep have you?"
"No!" Dante called back, her eyes flying open again. Damn it, she really should have gotten more sleep last night! After a moment, she heard Gwen humming lightly to herself and dared to close her eyes again. Then she slid completely under the water's surface. It closed over her like a dream - like a balm - and the heat worked in toward her bones.
Now she was free for the moment to think on other things, whilst she couldn't be disturbed. And what she really wanted to think about right then was how the hell she'd gotten herself into this mess, and more importantly how the hell she'd get herself out of it again.
After all, there was no backing out now. It was too late. Even if Arthur understood her reasons for backing out and refusing his offer now, Morgana would never forgive her.
She could hear the witch in her mind, even now.
This is your chance! You've been given an opportunity Lady Dante. Don't waste it! Arthur wants to give you more power? Then damn well let him! Remember who you serve, Lady Dante! Don't fail me!
She shuddered all over, just thinking about what Morgana may do if she did back out now. Then she decided that it simply was not an option.
Her lungs burned. The heat continued to burrow in through her muscles, soothing and healing. Her pounding head gave one last heave, then subsided, and the aches in her muscles from her trek through the snow last night began to ease.
I don't know how I'm going to go through with this...large groups are NOT good! Arthur's birthday was bad enough...but this is going to be in front of hundreds, not just those closest to him! I suppose if I have my back to them...but then...all those meetings where I have to sit in front of everyone! All those times people will look to me for guidance!
Guidance? Ha! I can't lead! I can't be a good role model! I'm plotting bloody treason behind Arthur's back! What kind of an example is that? "That's right people, smile at your king as you drive your dagger into his back..."
The burning in her lungs became suddenly painful and she remembered where she was.
Surfacing in a rushing splash, she shook her head, droplets of water flying everywhere as her hair remained slicked to her face.
"That's why you don't fall asleep in the bath!" Gwen called from the other side of the screen. "Or were you perhaps trying to drown yourself, instead? You can't get out of it that easily, you know!"
Dante couldn't verbally reply. All she could do was blink away the droplets that clung to her eyelashes and inhale, mouth gaping open to take in a deep gulp of air.
White light hit her eyes, scouring through the mishmash inside her head. Eventually, her breathing deepened and evened out, with only a slight hitch at the end of each exhale.
"Everything alright?" Now Gwen sounded alarmed.
"Fine," Dante managed to rasp finally as she rose from the tub, only now discovering that the water had turned lukewarm instead of the soothing heat it had previously held. As she took the towel that Gwen had draped over the screen for her and wrapped it about herself, she shivered violently, though whether this was through the coldness of the air in the room compared to the heat of the tub, or because of her returning anxiety, she could not say.
Drying herself quickly, she pulled on the clothes that Gwen had also draped over the screen for her, only emerging once she was descent.
Gwen took one look at her and folded her arms across her chest, not at all amused.
"Dante, you look like a prune!"
Dante glanced down at her hands, which had wrinkled in the water. She grinned then, despite everything.
"I told you this wasn't a good idea! Maybe we should take this as a sign?"
"And maybe YOU should stop trying to stall the inevitable. It's happening, girl, whether you like it or not. So just enjoy it!" Gwen took her shoulders then, steered her over to the dresser and pushed her down into the low chair.
"I don't know how Morgana put up with you," Dante muttered quietly, so that Gwen wouldn't hear, before leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes, hoping she would be able to nap through the whole thing. She did drift in and out a little bit as Gwen worked, but not as much as she'd have liked.
...
It was after lunchtime when Gwen finally finished her hair and made her stand, so that she could admire her from all angles to make sure everything was perfect. Dante's knees shook so badly that the satin of her pearlescent dress quivered in little wavelets down to the floor.
"Deep breath, Dante," Gwen said. "And try to calm yourself. You're going to sweat off your new face."
Dante gave her the best sarcastic expression she could manage. "I'll get right on that."
"I have to get changed now. Can you hold yourself together for ten minutes?"
"Um...maybe?"
Gwen rolled her eyes and darted from the room, leaving Dante to concentrate on breathing, counting the movements of her lungs, and staring at the patterns that the light of the candles in the nearby wall brackets made on the shiny fabric of her skirt. She was afraid to look in the mirror – afraid that the image of herself would send her over the edge into a full-scale panic attack.
Gwen was back before she'd taken two hundred breaths, in a dress that flowed down her slender body like a silvery waterfall.
"Gwen...wow!"
"It's nothing. No-one will be looking at me today. Not while you're in the room."
"Ha ha."
"Now, are you in control of yourself, or do I have to go and get your boyfriend?"
"Gwaine's not my boyfriend!"
"No...but it worked," Gwen grinned, and Dante realised that once again, she'd played her distraction and it had worked. She forced a helpless laugh then and shook her head as there was a loud knock at the door.
Merlin peered in.
"Are you almost ready?"
When he saw Dante standing in the middle of the room in the beautiful pearlescent gown of Morgana's, her hair twisted and braided up intricately at the back of her head with little crystal beads woven throughout, the slightest hint of make-up to highlight her soft, gentle features and her hands clasped in front of her to keep them from trembling, he beamed. "Wow...you look...AMAZING!"
A hysterical giggle burst through Dante's lips then she begin to hyperventilate. Gwen glared at Merlin.
"Well thank you. I'd just got her to calm down!"
"Sorry," Merlin winced.
"So, are you escorting her then?"
"No. Leon is. He's Arthur's right hand man, apparently, in all but title, so Arthur said it should be him escorting her."
"Right, and where is Leon?"
"Here, Milady," Leon said as he pushed politely past Merlin and stepped up to Dante. He smiled pleasantly as he stepped up to her and discovered that the scent of roses and cherry blossom and freesia enveloped her in a soft mist.
He was dressed in fresh chainmail that sparkled in the light, and his cloak was not the usual rough scarlet material made to withstand all weathers. Instead, now it was a soft silk that rustled and shimmered just as much as Dante's dress. His hair had been neatly combed and his beard trimmed. As he extended an arm to her, Dante began to hyperventilate again.
"Easy, Milady," He said softly. Then he turned to Gwen nervously. "She looks a little sick, Majesty. Do you think she's going to make it?"
His voice sounded far away. She couldn't feel her legs.
"She'd better."
Gwen was in front of her again, on her tiptoes to better stare her in the eye. She gripped her wrists in firm hands. "Focus, Dante. You can do this. Do it for Gwaine, if no-one else."
Dante took a deep breath, willing herself into composure.
"Dante?" Gwen asked, still holding her gaze.
"Yes," she squeaked finally. "Gwaine. Ok." She let Gwen pull her from the room, with Leon tagging along at her elbow. They descended the grand staircase and moved towards the huge set of intricately carved oak doors. They stopped to the left of the doorway and could hear several voices chattering excitedly from within. Arthur stepped out from the shadows of a pillar then, and Dante gasped, her heart climbing into her throat.
"Is she alright?" he asked Gwen anxiously as his wife looped her arm through his.
"She will be," Gwen assured him. Then she glanced back to Dante. "It's our turn. When Arthur's announced you, just relax! Everything will be fine."
As the wooden doors opened to allow the royals into the hall, a sudden fanfare trilled. Dante jumped again, and Leon placed his free hand on her arm.
"Relax," he told her gently. "Everything will be fine. You're the daughter of a Lord. This isn't anything you haven't already done before."
"I've never been given such power before," she retorted, her voice far too high pitched for her liking. Leon chuckled. "And there's going to be so many PEOPLE! All staring at me! I...I don't do big crowds, Leon. I just...don't!"
"Is that what's worrying you?" He smiled sympathetically. "Then may I offer you a piece of advice?"
"Please do."
"Forget the power and the responsibility for now. Forget about the people in the room...forget about everything else, and think only of this. Hunith is in there. She's the spokeswoman for all the people you helped to save. She just wants to thank you and present a gift to you. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. There is nothing to worry yourself over. I promise you. Just imagine it's you, and Hunith and Arthur in there. No-one else."
As Arthur's voice filled the suddenly silent hall beyond the doors, announcing to everyone gathered the circumstances for the ceremony, Dante turned and looked up at Leon, giving the first genuine smile she'd been able to manage all morning.
"What would I do without you, Leon?"
"Get yourself in a right state, by the looks of things, Milady," he grinned back, patting her arm as Arthur continued to announce all about the escapades in Ealdor, and the daring rescue in Fyrien.
Finally, she heard her name, and knew that her time had come. Trying to embrace what Leon had just told her, she looked up at him again. "Don't let me fall," she whispered.
"Never," he whispered back as both doors were opened wide and they stepped through, to a steady fanfare, not quite as elaborate as the one Arthur and Gwen had received, but still grand enough to make her nerves return tenfold.
She didn't lift her eyes as she walked, concentrating solely on putting one foot in front of the other, but she could hear the murmurs and rustling of the audience as she passed. Then, about half way down the aisle, Leon's encouraging squeeze on her hand gave her the courage to finally look up, and instantly she started to look for Gwaine. For a brief second she was distracted by the profusion of white blossoms that hung in the garlands from everything in the hall that wasn't alive, dripping with long lines of white gossamer ribbons. The hall was huge, and elegant in itself, beautiful carvings adorning each wall and the ceiling, and around each arch way up over their heads. Banners bearing various family sigils also fluttered overhead, and on any other day, the room would have been impressive, to say the least.
But the decorations for this particular ceremony had pushed it beyond beautiful into full on, amazingly stunning. It had now become something you could only ever imagine to exist in a dream.
Well aware that she was bordering on another panic attack, Dante tore her eyes from the lavish decorations and searched across the rows of people filling the room on either side – blushing deeply as she took in the crowd of faces all focussed on her – until at last she found him, standing right at the front where he was supposed to be, with the other Knights of the Round Table.
She was barely conscious that Arthur and Gwen stood before their thrones, with Merlin, Tamina and Kahlee standing behind them both. She didn't see Gaius or Hunith, or any of the other guests – they would have to wait till later. She didn't even see the extra, smaller and less lavish, but no less impressive wooden throne standing beside the two golden ones.
All she really saw was Gwaine's face. It filled her vision and overwhelmed her mind. His eyes were a deep, sparkling mahogany, his face almost severe with the depth of his emotion. And then, as he met her awed gaze, he broke into a breathtaking smile of exultation.
Suddenly all her fears melted away in that instant, and Leon squeezed her arm lightly to get her attention.
"That's better," he breathed, feeling her relax.
She didn't say anything in return, not completely trusting her voice just yet, but as she finally reached the front and stood before the two thrones, she offered him another grateful smile, watching as he moved back a few steps to join his fellow knights, giving her a respectful bow. Gwaine gave her a wink and another smile of encouragement, and then her attention was drawn back to Arthur, once more.
"Lady Dante," he spoke loudly and clearly, for all to hear, and the murmurs and stirrings she had caused by her entrance suddenly died down to leave the room silent once more. "We are gathered here today to acknowledge your dedication to our kingdom, and to the bravery and courage you have displayed in the name of duty. Camelot is not your home by birth, but it is your home by choice, and we wish you to remain as a permanent resident within our lands. As such, we wish to also honour you with a gift. And that is the gift of power, and responsibility. Do you accept this gift that I extend to you, on behalf of the Kingdom?"
"I do, Your Majesty," she spoke out, amazed at how confident she suddenly sounded.
"Then kneel, My Lady."
She did as she was told, and knelt on the silk cushion that had been placed before her by Merlin just seconds before. She tried to remember everything that she'd been told about how to act and what to say, and when, but discovered that when it came to it, the words just came naturally to her anyway, and she truly had no need to worry, after all.
"Do you, Lady Dante, solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of Camelot and its dominions according to the respective statues, laws and customs?"
"I do, Sire."
"Will you, to you power, cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?"
"I will, Sire."
"Do you swear to ensure peace, freedom, justice and security are brought to the lands through your actions, and through those under your influence?"
"I solemnly swear so to do."
"And do you swear allegiance to Camelot now, and for as long as you shall live?"
"I, Dante Quincailan, do pledge life and limb to your service, and to the service of the kingdom and its peoples."
"Then, having taken the sacred vows before King and Country, you shall henceforth be known as First Lady of Camelot. You have been accorded a great honour, but with that honour comes great responsibility. From this day on you have sworn to serve Camelot as its role model and example. Your actions and judgements will influence hundreds of lives and you must conduct yourself with the appropriate nobility, honour and respect. Your word is now your sacred bond, My Lady."
As the hall erupted with cheers and applause, Arthur held out his hands, which Dante took carefully. He helped her back to her feet and directed her to the small intricate wooden throne that had been set beside Gwen's larger and more lavish throne. She took her seat, feeling her cheeks once again colour as she looked out upon the crowd, who were still cheering and applauding. It had been so much easier when her back was to them, she decided, fighting back the nerves once more. She'd never been very good at being the centre of attention, after all, and preferred to blend into the background whenever possible.
But then Gwaine's voice cut across all the others, and she had to laugh as he whooped and punched the air, hollering like a young teen. It didn't take long for the other knights to join in and it sounded like there was a pack of rabid wolves at the front of the hall.
Even Arthur couldn't keep a straight face at that.
And then Hunith was stepping forwards and the hall fell silent once more. She dropped to her knees before Dante's chair, offering a silk cushion with a beautiful necklace on it.
"A gift, from the people of Ealdor, Milady," she explained, bowing her head to Dante. "We all came together and gave what we could to pay for it. It's not much, I'm afraid, but - "
"It's beautiful," Dante breathed, reaching out to touch the sparkling silver, and the diamonds that shone within it. "You really shouldn't have Hunith."
"A small token of our appreciation, Milady," Hunith replied as Arthur stepped forwards then.
"May I?" he asked, motioning to the necklace. Dante nodded and sat forwards a little so that he would find it easier.
Lifting the necklace from the cushion, he undid the clasp, placed it carefully round her neck, and fastened it again. At first Dante was worried that it would not work to wear both this necklace and Morgana's pendant at the same time, but it turned out that this necklace sat above the pendant, and they both complimented each other. She traced the string of diamonds for a moment, then beamed at Hunith.
"It's beautiful," she beamed. "Thank you!"
"An honour, Milady," Hunith grinned. Dante wanted to stand and embrace the woman in a huge hug then, but was afraid that it wouldn't be proper for her now, in her new station. So she held herself back reluctantly, making a mental note to catch Hunith alone later and do it then. After all, just repeating 'thank you' over and over didn't seem quite adequate enough, somehow.
...
The rest of the afternoon comprised of Arthur naming and commending every man who had helped to free the slaves in Fyrien, and giving special mention to the Round Table Knights who had fought in Ealdor alongside himself and Dante. Even Merlin was given a mention and a verbal commendation for his part in the events, along with Gaius, for his skills and talents at healing.
Finally it had been declared that there would be a great feast to honour the occasion that evening - in a few hours time. And then the ceremony was over, but still Dante was unable to escape the huge crowd, because it seemed that everyone wanted to personally congratulate her. She forced a grin and gave polite answers to each question posed. She said her thanks whenever a compliment was paid and as far as anyone else was concerned, she was perfectly at ease in her new seat of power. Only Gwaine could see how uncomfortable she actually was, and finally took her hand, announcing to the crowd that she needed time to prepare for the feast that evening.
"Thank you SO much!" Dante had cried in relief as he'd dragged her out of the hall and into a silent, deserted corridor.
"Don't mention it," he grinned. Then he turned and held out his arms to her. "Come here, you."
She stepped into his embrace immediately, without hesitation, feeling his strong arms encircle her. And it felt like such a natural thing to do. So snug and perfect, like this was where she belonged.
"Did I do well?" She asked into his chest as his chin sat lightly on top of her head.
"You did brilliantly," he assured her. She looked up at him then, and caught his eye for just a moment. Gwaine expected her to look away then, and it seemed as if she wanted to, but surprisingly she didn't.
Instead, she found herself falling deeper into his eyes, and he into hers. She seemed a bit tentative, a bit scared even as she stood in his arms, staring up at him, but she wasn't pulling away.
"Gwaine, there's something I need to tell you," she said quietly, her voice soft and full of some strange emotion that he'd never heard in her before. "And it's something I should have told you a long time ago..."
"What are you talking about?" He asked, confused.
Just as she opened her mouth to say it, however, Merlin burst round the corner, carrying a pile of Arthur's dirty washing. He could barely see over the pile as it was, and almost ran into the couple before he even realised they were there.
Gwaine and Dante sprang apart at once, moving to opposite sides of the hallway to let him through. He shouted apologies over his shoulder, but when he'd gone, so had Dante's chance.
The moment was ruined now, and if she said what she'd been wanting to say, it would have lost all meaning. She groaned in frustration, as Gwaine made a show of examining his boots.
"I'll, ah...see you at the feast then," he said, breaking the awkward silence between them. She nodded sadly.
"Yeah, I suppose you will."
"May I escort you?"
She glanced back at him then and just the tiniest hint of the moment they had 'almost' shared resurfaced. Just enough to raise a smile from the new First Lady, at least.
"I'd like that."
"Me too. I'll see you soon then, My Lady." He turned and started off down the corridor in the opposite direction, but paused after a few steps and glanced back. "You look stunning, by the way."
"Thank you," she blushed, and this time her gratitude was real and genuine. She watched him go then, and her eyes did not leave him until he had rounded the corner out of sight.
Why was nothing ever simple?
She had to wonder, as she started back for her own room, choosing to take the smaller, less well known and used passages, so as to avoid the crowds and the hundreds of people who had still to congratulate her.