Gold
Chapter Three
Back at Camelot, Arthur was standing in the Library, valiantly trying not to look bored as Gauis and Geoffrey pored over the great tomes that were usually left to collect dust. Merlin was standing just behind Gauis' shoulder pulling the odd face at Arthur who was facing the two scholars. While they were looking down at the books, Arthur didn't want to get caught laughing at his manservant, so he instead kept trying to put Merlin off by giving him threatening looks back.
It wasn't putting him off.
Gauis and Geoffrey seemed to be in a world with just the two of them in, having a whale of a time. Geoffrey had barely seen Arthur in the Library since he'd finished his education, and even before then, Arthur had to be dragged there sometimes forcibly by Uther. So Geoffrey wasn't going to lose the opportunity to bestow some history upon the King. The two older men were talking amongst themselves while Merlin was trying to put Arthur off, and as Arthur tried to stifle yet another yawn, he decided to hurry matters along.
"So," he said loudly, crossing his arms over his chest, "what have you found?"
Gauis looked up suddenly, almost as if he'd forgotten anyone else was there. "Sire!" he said, sounding surprised. Merlin stifled a laugh behind him. Gauis threw him a look over his shoulder, knowing exactly what Merlin had been doing. Merlin, in turn, tried to give Gauis his most innocent look.
"What?" he said.
Gauis shook his head and turned back to Arthur.
"Well, Sire, the legends are intriguing and varied, as legends are wont to be."
Arthur tried to prevent the impatience that he was starting to feel from showing in his demeanour. "Yes, but what do they say?"
"Sire," Geoffrey said, taking over, "there is a main story, which I shall try and condense for you."
"Please do," Arthur said flatly.
"Eons ago," Geoffrey started, and Arthur immediately scowled, making Merlin laugh a little at his master's response, "an evil sorcerer and a rogue villain with many powerful connections, made a pact together to attack a sorceress of great wealth and power who was the leader of her people. The rogue wanted her wealth and the sorcerer wanted her power. She held a great power, you see, over health and the magic of life," he added. "She was the Queen of a great kingdom called Nythfa, and she held court in the city of Arosslegne, although there are many spellings of this which are fascinating in their toponymy and etymology..." he tailed off, taking a deep breath. Arthur, fearful that this deep breath might lead to an analysis and far too much information, butted in before it could happen.
"What of the Queen?" he asked, "And how do people know her name, when so far, all you've told me is that she was a female leader and sorceress."
It was Gauis who answered that part. "The name of Alianor is one that has been passed down through the ages. It is entirely likely that that was never her name at all, but there is another legend of a High Priestess of the Old Religion with that name, so it's possible that it's the same person." He paused. "Or the legends have fused together."
Arthur sighed deeply.
"That is the way of the most ancient legends, Sire," Gauis admitted.
Geoffrey cleared his throat to carry on with his side of the story. "The legend goes on to say that the Queen refused to co-operate with the two evil men and so they imprisoned her, but when she still refused to give them what they wanted and reveal the resting place of the kingdom's great treasure, they did a most powerful and evil deed to her. The sorcerer was powerful enough to separate her body from her mind. They buried the body, technically still alive, in a catacomb for dead kings but it was surrounded by spells and charms to stop people from going near it. The tunnels were deep underground in burial chambers and they were sealed up and, in time, forgotten." That made Arthur's mouth curl in disgust at such a deed, mythical or not. Being buried alive was his idea of torture. Merlin had stopped making faces at Arthur to listen to the story and he was being unnaturally quiet. His face mirrored Arthur's in disgust. "The legend goes on," Geoffrey said, "to say that the Queen's mind was meant to be able to roam, able to touch the mind of the sorcerer in case she ever changed her mind, but she never did and all the people involved died and the story became legend." He finished, quite pleased with himself that he'd actually managed to capture the King's attention with, what he considered, was a history lesson.
Gauis closed the book before him and unconsciously waved away some of the dust that spiralled into his face. "Sire, the legends of the incredible wealth that comes with some of the tales of the Golden Queen have always attracted people- both with good and bad intentions."
"Yes," Arthur agreed, "but this time, these people are desecrating the burial grounds of the ancestors of the people- my people. It is causing concern and upset, not to mention that thievery is against the law," he added. "I don't mind adventure seekers finding out legends, but this band of men are too ruthless in their quest." With trepidation, he looked back at Geoffrey. "Is there any reference at all that says where they might be heading to? Anywhere that might mention burial chambers of kings or where this Arosslegne might be, if it's even within Camelot's borders?"
"Well Sire," Geoffrey started, "It doesn't say," he admitted. "But there is the obvious location, where the kings of old are buried."
"Where?" Arthur demanded.
Geoffrey looked at Gauis, who answered for him. "The Catacombs of Rosslyn, through the path of the Valley of the Fallen Kings."
"The Catacombs of Rosslyn?" Arthur asked.
"It's an ancient ruin, barely there at all now, or so I've been told," Gauis told him. "It was a great castle surrounded by a rockface and a great mountain on one side, and a river on another side. The Isle of the Blessed is nearby, so that put many people off from going there. It is meant to house the burial grounds of the most ancient kings of the land, although no one has ever found the entrance. I had heard tell from magical users, before the Great Purge, that magic was needed to find it." Gauis coughed. "The Valley of the Fallen Kings was usually enough to put people off from venturing that way."
Arthur nodded, believing it. "Anything else?"
"Nothing that we've found so far, Sire," Gauis said, shaking his head a little. "But we'll keep looking."
Arthur nodded his thanks to the two older men and started to walk out of the room, gesturing to Merlin to join him. Once outside, he took a deep breath of fresh air.
"Musty in there, wasn't it?" Merlin said right in his ear, making Arthur jump a little.
"Merlin," he said, hitting his manservant over the head gently. "The next time you pull a stunt like that again, I'll have you testing out the rotten vegetable provisions- again."
"Stunt, Sire?" he said with exaggerated innocence and a smile that belied his tone.
Arthur just huffed and turned away, striding towards the the Armoury to find Leon, and also trying to hide the smile that Merlin caused.
Merlin was tending to Arthur's supper in the King's chamber when Gwen came in to join them.
"Have you had a good day?" she asked them both.
It was Arthur who spoke up. "Yes," he said, smiling at his wife. "Despite Geoffrey's ability to ramble intolerably, I learned a lot. Tomorrow, I'm going to send some patrols to these supposed ruins to see if there are any there for starters. Leon is seeing to it personally." He sighed, looking down at the papers on the desk before him.
Gwen took the quill from his hand, placing it back in it's holder and pulled Arthur to his feet and over to the dining table where Merlin had set out food and wine for them.
"Paperwork tomorrow. Quests tomorrow. For now, let us eat and enjoy the company," she said.
Arthur smiled lovingly at his wife, and allowed all of this to happen, although at her last words he perked up, his eyes alighting on Merlin, still standing in the room. "Enjoy the company?" he said. "Well then Merlin, you'd best make yourself scarce," he said in a teasing tone.
Gwen playfully dug Arthur in the ribs, but laughed.
Merlin looked appalled for a moment, as was required for their banter, but too easily, his smile slipped through and he took the hint to leave the King and Queen to each other for the night, closing the door softly behind him.