CHAPTER 20 : A CHATEAU IN FRANCE
Merlin finally rolled out of bed at ten o'clock. Leaving Arthur asleep, he made some coffee and then had a shower. The sound of the water and the smell of the coffee woke Arthur and he was sitting blurry eyed on the edge of the bed when Merlin came out of the shower wrapped in a towel.
"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes," he commented making Merlin laugh
"Sorry, can't say the same for you. Come on, get up we begin our mystical tour today. Do we have to take the train?"
"No, we're not going far from Paris."
"Can't you at least give me a hint?"
"Well, maybe one…the end of WWI."
Merlin looked puzzled. He knew enough about WWI history but he had visions of the WWII photos of German soldiers on the Champs Elysees but otherwise his mind drew a blank. "That's not much help!" He walked over to the end of the bed and said teasingly, "Arthur, if I do you a favour will you give me a better hint?"
"No, Merlin, you've had your hint and nothing you can do will change my mind." As he walked past him to the bathroom he smacked him on the rear, making him jump.
"Thanks, Arthur, I'll remember that."
By the time Arthur was dressed, Merlin had eggs, bacon and toast ready. He'd repacked his bag and was ready to leave. "Let me do the dishes, you get ready. I want to start this adventure."
The weather was fine and the roads almost empty as it was a holiday. Arthur drove north explaining that they could have gone by train but that the car would be useful and within roughly an hour, they were pulling into a pleasant town. "Are we staying here for the next few days?" Merlin wanted to know.
"No, this is just a side trip so we can get some history into that thick head of yours." He leant over and gave Merlin a peck on his cheek. "Prepare to be entertained and educated."
Arthur purchased a weekend pass for French Monuments and Museums, he smiled, "Saves, the trouble of having to pay each time." Their first visit was to the Château de Compèigne. Merlin was impressed, with the neoclassical architecture and the furnishings. The vintage cars appealed more to Arthur. They had a late lunch in a little café in the town near the statue of Joan of Arc who had been there in 1430 according to the inscription. They then took the car to drive into the forest.
Merlin was totally impressed as Arthur acting as tour guide gave him a few facts. As they entered the forest, Arthur told him to look out for wildlife, mostly benign but photographers and walkers were advised not to go off the beaten tracks as there were wild boar in the forest." Merlin laughed; Arthur said, "I kid you not, this used to be a hunting reserve and the people are very proud that the wild boar still exist." Merlin immediately reached for his camera but they saw no wildlife. They did however see the route of the Paris/Roubaix/Lille Bike Race through the Compèigne forest.
Arthur drove them to Armistice Clearing. In the distance they could see the Alsasce/Lorraine monument. He was dumbstruck by the beauty, simplicity and poignant history. He could feel shivers running up his spine and Arthur must have noticed because he said, "Merlin, if you're cold…"
"No, it's just being here, the sights and the sounds."
Anyway Arthur slipped off his jacket and put it around his boyfriend's shoulders. He was going to say that the silent forest was hardly a sound but looking at Merlin's face he realised he was miles away.
The big guns shook the sky. He could hear the sound of the harnesses of the horse drawn artillery wagons as they passed by. Riders with drawn faces and bandaged bodies, urging their horses on through the mud and mire.
He came back to the present with a jolt and all he could think of was the utter futility of war and then he remembered that peace had finally been restored but at what cost. Merlin felt a tear run down his cheek and he glanced apologetically at Arthur who put his arms around his shoulders and held him close. He loved him so much that it hurt him to see Merlin so upset.
"It's all right. It is very upsetting here but it was the end of WWI. Come on, let's go and see the other exhibits. Merlin followed him into the museum and saw a reproduction of the railway carriage where Maréchal Foch signed the armistice. They walked over to train rails embedded in concrete and read the date, November 11, 1918. Merlin thought that next year's Remembrance day would be different for him.
They then got back into the car and drove to Pozières where they visited the graves of the British shoulders.
He could hear the sounds of the battle, the roar of the guns, the screams of the men and artillery horses and his heart was broken. Someone stopped as they passed him saying, 'Have you see my brother? My mother entrusted him to me and…' He noticed a soldier lying on his side his leg blown off, holding out his hands and begging, 'Help me!' There was a captain trying to assembly his men and in the distance the roar of the guns. He ducked as he felt clods of mud hit his face and he felt himself falling…
Merlin was quiet on the way back. His mind was bombarded with the fact that many of the dead had been younger that he was. The tablets on the walls of the cemetery listed the names of the British soldiers whose bodies had never been recovered, missing and presumed dead. He found himself praying for all of them.
He said quietly, "Arthur, when you said it was a magical mystery tour, I thought it was going to be all fun but so far it has been very sad."
"Don't worry, I promise happier times tomorrow."
-0-0-
The sun was setting as they returned to Compeigne to continue their travels. Arthur said, "Merlin, can you do one thing for me?" Merlin nodded. "When I tell you to, could you keep your eyes closed not looking at anything?"
"Sure! Is it part of the surprise, Arthur?" Arthur nodded.
The road curved and Arthur said, "Merlin, eyes closed from now on." Merlin did as he was told and could feel the car turn to the right. Arthur pulled the car to a stop and said, "Here we are the Hotel Beaudon, your home for the next three nights. Open your eyes and hop out."
Merlin did as he was told and stopped dead, to his left in all its glory lit by a lone ray from the setting sun was a fantastic grey château. He was speechless.
"Like what you see, Merlin?"
"Arthur, how did you know about this place? It's wonderful, is it open to the public? Can we visit the inside?"
"Yes, yes, yes and more. Now shut the car door and get your bag. It won't be a great holiday if you get knocked over by an irate pedestrian!"
'Or a knight in shining armour…' thought Merlin.
-0-0-
Arthur dragged Merlin into the hotel. He would have spent the evening standing outside the hotel looking to the east. They checked in and were given their key, before leaving to walk upstairs, Merlin checked out the window. "What's up?" said Arthur.
"Just checking the château that it is still there," said Merlin with a grin. The owner of the hotel smiled, he'd probably heard it all before.
That statement made Arthur feel on top of the world. He'd found something to please Merlin; something which in the past had pleased so many people. He thought, 'Let's hope that when he gets inside the château he will be as happy."
They had an excellent supper in the hotel dining room and then crossed the road to look at the little lake and the paddle boats. Arthur said, "I would think that the water is quite cold this early in the season but they must expect some adventurous souls to give it a go."
"That's not for me as tomorrow I intend to be waiting up there for the gates to open," he looked expectantly at the castle which was now bathed in the orange of the street lamps. He put his camera away and smiled at Arthur. There were still a few visitors wandering around the village and one restaurant on the water was still ablaze with lights and music. They walked hand in hand past the end of the lake towards their hotel. "I bet you get a great view of the village from the castle. I intend to take lots of photos." Arthur smiled; he knew Merlin would do just that.
-0-0-
It took Merlin a long time to get to bed, he wanted to see the chateau but their room faced south and lying in bed you saw a church tower so Merlin angled the open window so that the castle on the left was reflected in the glass. This took three tries before he was satisfied and then only he could see it. "Arthur, don't worry we can change places during the night so that you can also see the reflection."
"Merlin, I go to bed to sleep…not look at things. When my head hits the pillow…that's it!"
"Not always Arthur, sometimes you settle much later when you…" The rest of the sentence was whispered for Arthur alone.
Arthur glanced at Merlin and could but laugh. He was daring him to remember that many nights sleep came later. He rolled over and pulled Merlin to him. As neither of them was really sleepy it seemed a shame to waste a perfectly good evening.
Later, Merlin said, "I think the window must have moved as I can't see the chateau." He went to get up but Arthur restrained him.
Wrapping his arms around him he said, "No, you don't! I don't want you bringing cold air into the bed. Stay where you are, I want you beside me now and forever."
Merlin said quietly, "That is also my wish. You know, since I've been going around with you, I've never been happier. Fun days which lead to nights like this…"
Warm, satisfied and relaxed Merlin fell asleep. They had their arms wrapped around each other and the sentinel on the hill watched over the village and the two lovers…
Merlin had strange dreams, soldiers, tanks, knights and horses. He had woken Arthur twice; once crying that he was lost in enemy territory and again when he said distinctly, grabbing Arthur's arm, 'Sire! The men are ready and mounted. We should be leaving!' Each time Arthur told him that everything was all right.
The next morning, he was in top form so Arthur mentioned nothing about being disturbed during the night.
-0-0-
"You promised you'd take me up to the château this morning. I can't wait, Arthur, it's calling to me."
Arthur lay back in bed smiling. Merlin was standing near the open casement window, smiling as he turned his eyes back to the château.
He came over and sat beside him on the bed, rubbing his hand up Arthur's stomach, "I know it's silly but there is something about it." He dropped his head and traced a path up Arthur's chest and then leaned in and kissed him gently. It was almost a thought of a kiss and Arthur raised his head and slowly claimed his lips.
"Merlin, you're killing me!"
"If you are not out of bed by the time I'm out of the shower, I'm going to breakfast alone and then I'm off ..." Merlin walked into the bathroom, he no sooner got the shower to his preferred temperature than he felt a hand in the middle of his back, he smiled to himself making room for Arthur
-0-0-
They walked up to the castle hand in hand. There were few people around and as they passed under the little archway halfway up the stairs to the parking lot, Arthur pulled him to a stop and wrapped his arms around him saying "You make my life so interesting." He let go of Merlin grabbing his hand saying, "Come on, let's visit this château of yours!"
Reaching the top of the stairs, Merlin stopped in shock. It was so large, he just wanted to run toward it but he walked beside Arthur and let his mind take it all in. Two huge towers and various roof lines struck him at first and then he began to see the carvings and the intricate stone work. They walked through the entrance gates and showed their passes.
"Merlin, at least look around you, you don't want to remember the visit through the lens of your camera."
Beaming, Merlin lowered the camera his eyes sparkling. "Arthur, there's nothing much that you will be able to do that will top this."
Arthur smiled to himself thinking, 'Merlin, one day we'll see, about that!'
They walked through the portcullis into the entry and Merlin was again snapping picture this time of one of the salamander downspouts. They came around the corner and the courtyard was laid out ahead of them. Merlin could hardly contain himself and he threw his arms around Arthur, "It's perfect, bloody perfect!"
He walked into the middle of the courtyard and starting on his far right let his eyes sweep around. It was perfect the windows, the central staircase, the knight on his horse, the covered walkway. He shuddered; he knew that in a past life he had already been here. It was all so familiar yet also so new. He wanted to share that with Arthur but he couldn't find the words. He wanted to dance and sing as he was so happy.
They walked around the courtyard as Merlin took pictures of arches and doorways. The carvings were spectacular telling a story in themselves. The cats on the parapets above the windows, the bull on the stairs looking at the little snail, everything had to be photographed so, Arthur left him to it.
It would be hours before Merlin was satisfied with his photos if he ever was. Arthur went up the main stairs and turning left was confronted by the gryphon at the top of the interior stairs. He wandered up the staircase. Merlin would love this, the carved roof and the window like steps, the imposing statue. He wandered through the rooms on that floor and then as he descended he could have sworn that he saw a red cloaked figure below him near the fireplace. He shook his head figuring that Merlin's imagination was rubbing off on him.
It was weird as he really felt that he'd seen Gawaine. He laughed at himself, Gawaine had wanted to come but he would have hardly dressed in a red cloak and even if he had by now he would have been back grinning and congratulating himself on his successful prank.
Arthur stood in the doorway and surveyed the courtyard…it just felt right.