Chapter 38 [Kilgarrah's Cave]
[A/N: And it seems the Muse has an unexpected twist for us. Wow…as if anyone expected the new pairing about to be unveiled here. lol!]
Hunith leaned over the entranced sorcerers almost frantically. She wiped their brows with a cool wet cloth. Constantly she checked for any sign—a breath, a raised heartbeat, a twitch of a finger or a foot—to see if they would wake up. "Why did they take this chance?"
"It is part of their destiny, Hunith. They are to stand for magic," Kilgarrah stated.
"But who stands for them?" The exasperated mother frowned. "All Merlin wants is to live in peace and serve his king. I don't know Mithian that well but I do know she wants the same thing. They love each other. Can't there be others who will fight the battles? When will these conflicts stop?"
"They won't unfortunately," Tristan noted somberly. "Life is a struggle as you're well aware. The key is to let love strengthen and guide you as you make your way through the challenges."
"And give that strength back to your companion," Isolde agreed conceding a smile for her love. "Even if he behaves like a prat some times." She smacked his arm good naturedly.
"We also serve that love even if it's unattainable," Lancelot added from where he kept his vigil over Gwen. He glanced down at her sleeping features. "To love is to make someone else happy. It has to be without strings. Gwen has a greater destiny than making me happy. She and Arthur are building a better kingdom. If I am called to serve them, it will be my honor to do so." He sighed heavily.
"Then you will never be truly happy, Sir Lancelot. You deserve something," Britomart declared. "I serve Princess Mithian—and yes, to me, she's still that despite the Prince's misguided action. Both she and I will do whatever it takes to make Nemeth better for all. However we both know what it means to be alone in this struggle as Tristan puts it. The Princess has found her man in Merlin. Regardless of rank, he has proven to me his worthiness for her. She loves him. I hope one day I will find such a man." She blushed.
Ywain considered her for a couple of heartbeats. Then he smirked. "Truly it is beyond belief. Our aspiring Amazon fancies someone!"
Britomart glared at her fellow countryman. Admittedly a certain flamboyant devil may care knight had wormed her way into her heart. She arched an eyebrow. "You'd do well to find yourself a lady, Sir Ywain, rather than critique me. You aren't married to Malodius either."
"BAH! All of this womanizing over philosophy is pointless! We live to serve! Other than to provide heirs, what else is there?" the Black Knight spat impatiently. He stomped over to the warlock and his witch and considered them for a minute. "Theirs is an important road. Magic must be brought back into the light if all are to co-exist. That is for Emrys and Mithian to do. Perhaps my sister was not happy to die in childbirth. Still it happened. My nephew has ascended to the throne of Camelot and serves his kingdom well. All that remains is to provide an heir to carry on continuity. Through that, Igraine is happy. I know it."
"Duty and happiness can coincide indeed." Lancelot concurred. "And yes, I do know it would make Guinevere happy to see me content with someone else. I have yet, however, to meet her match in this lifetime." He smiled at Britomart. "Truly, Lady, whoever you fancy, you should be happy especially if that feeling and your service can coincide."
"If so and I have the grace of Nemeth's court, I shall endeavor to be so. Thank you, Sir Lancelot," Britomart acknowledged with a respectful bow of her head. "But as Sir Tristan notes, we are in the midst of a war for Camelot's and Nemeth's survival. We need Camelot's knights and King Arthur. We need my lady and Merlin at their full strength. The Lady Morgana and the Red Knight must be dealt with. I don't know as much about this Amazon queen I fear."
"Easily proposed. Typical of you, Britomart," Ywain dismissed.
Malodius harunged dismissively. He strutted pointedly over to the battling maid's side and nuzzled against her in support.
"Seems I have a key vote, Sir Knight," Britomart supposed in satisfaction.
Before the discussion could proceed any further, Camelot's knights and Talesin appeared in a flash of white light. They stirred and groaned from the remaining aftereffects of Morgana's sleeping spell.
Kilgarrah stiffened. "What are they doing here?" He braced himself fully expecting a conflict. "Talesin, what is the meaning of this?"
"The triple goddess herself sent us back here, my friend. It is all part of her greater design," Talesin assured the Great Dragon. "What of the Queen?"
"She still lies entranced. Certainly Morgana should be defeated first," Lancelot presumed.
"Morgana has been dealt with," Mordred reported. "How can the Queen still be in that trance if our comrades have revived?"
"It is for Arthur to awaken her. It is a failsafe on the spell, I imagine," Kilgarrah assumed. Seeing the two sorcerers stirring, he added, "And it seems you all are not alone."
"What do you mean it is for Arthur to revive her?" Elyan demanded.
"It's…a love spell," Merlin muttered while opening his eyes. Instinctually he turned toward his Princess checking on her situation.
"MERLIN! Oh you're back!" Hunith realized while seizing onto him in relief.
"Yes, Mother. I'm back. Good to see you too," the warlock assured her while returning the embrace. "Are you all right?"
"Just worried sick about you two!" the nervous mother lectured. "Going off into war like that without a care?"
"He…did it to help me," Mithian pointed out. "I really need to learn about these gifts." She rubbed her forehead. "At least we were able to deal with Morgana."
"You mean the goddess did. You took a big chance," Merlin clarified.
"She protected us before you got there, Merlin. Put a sock on it already," Gawain countered. He staggered to his feet. "Bloody tree." He grimaced while dealing with his pounding headache and the smaller pains throughout his body.
"Sit back down, Sir Gawain!" Britomart lectured. She recognized the signs of a concussion when she saw them.
"Bloody blazes, Brit! We have a battle. You…." Gawain started to argue. He saw the purpose in her eyes. "You're serious about treating me now?"
"Shut up and sit, you Muttonhead. I won't have your brain falling apart before you can get yourself killed in battle," Britomart insisted while just about shoving him into place. She looked at his eyes and frowned. "That witch all but scrambled your brains."
"Not much different than what's there now," Perceval cracked eliciting a few sniggers from the other knights.
"So not helping, Percy!" Gawain snapped. Granted he appreciated the attention. As with her, he knew their bond had progressed beyond simple friendship or brothers-in-arms relations. Still for her to be fussing over him like this in public rankled his pride to say the least.
"Just deal with it," Britomart told him frankly. She couldn't see any permanent wounds marring his long brown hair or his body for that matter at least on a cursory level. She shook his head at his bravado.
"You just can't resist me. You know you…."
She leaned over and stopped his mouth with her own in response. For several heartbeats she poured her own energy into him allowing her desire to fuel her actions for once. When she broke it off, she smirked in satisfaction. "Think what you will of that, you Prat."
He stared at her in shock. Granted he respected her sword and abilities before that. However now he noted other things. He peered deeply into her dark eyes. He admired her fiery red hair—as powerful as her temperament it seemed. His heart beat faster in spite of what he wanted it to do.
"I think you've definitely gotten to him," Merlin observed.
Gawain recovered enough of his wits to furrow his brow. "So not helping, Merlin. Never figured you for a turncoat like that."
"Just pointing out the obvious," the Warlock replied honestly. "I'm happy. Why can't you both be?"
"And if I'm happy, that does count too, right?" Mithian teased.
"Of course it does!" Merlin shook his head. "Looks like we both have things to figure out, Gawain."
"We should perhaps postpone the discussion until after the battle?" Mordred assessed.
"Wait!" Leon interjected on behalf of the other knights. "We still want some assurances about all of this. The dragon torched our citadel and now we're supposed to trust it? You all are casting all sorts of spells doing who knows what around us and it's all right? How do we know?"
"That is what the triple goddess said, isn't it?" Mithian reminded him. "We're in this predicament because of a lack of trust on everyone's part toward each other. We work together and we can resolve it. If we are to achieve a greater realm for all, it will have to be."
"I would prefer to come out of the shadows and use my abilities openly," Merlin pointed out. "How many times have I had to do so in battle when you all weren't looking? Arthur's going to be difficult to say the least."
"Good luck on that one," Perceval conceded.
"As I said in Nemeth, let anyone who would harm this peace deal with me. Even Arthur is not above that, King of Camelot or not," the Black Knight groused.
"Have a care, Sir Knight. Do not threaten our king," Leon insisted.
"He is my nephew. I would not say that lightly. I only do my duty to the larger order. As you do your duty, I shall do mine. Pray that he sees reason in this matter," the Black Knight noted. "As for the plans at hand, I say we teleport into the castle, strike hard and fast, take Arthur from them before the Amazons know we're there and return. There is no need to create a vacuum where none is currently in place."
"Arthur will be well guarded," Gawain insisted. "Great plan otherwise. We get a chance to go in there and break some heads." Seeing Britomart shaking her head, he arched an incredulous eyebrow. "And you're thinking what?"
"You break something and I may break your head," Britomart almost hissed at him.
"Bloody hell! You really are smitten with me, aren't you?" Gawain sassed. Getting a sharp cuff on the arm from her, he glared at her. "What was that for?"
"Think you'd best quit while you're ahead," Tristan advised while helping Gawain to his feet. "You all right to be holding a sword?"
"Sppt! It's Arthur. I've got duty to think about." Gawain checked himself over. "Sides, Brit, you'll be there with me. Right?"
"As with you, I have my duty as well." Britomart declared while pulling her belt and sword around her waist. "Can't have you getting your half-witted ass sliced open. Now can I?"
"Hey! I'm the one covering you, Lady," Gawain fired back defensively.
"As he said, Gawain, quit while you're ahead," Merlin reiterated the larger sentiments. "Are we decided then? We teleport into the castle, take Arthur and return here with minimal losses."
"If possible. It won't be that easy. It can't be," Perceval pointed out.
"Given our other options, it is the most prudent. We can't outflank the Amazons with our current numbers," Leon assessed. "We have to trust that is the best option."
"Anything for the King and Queen," Elyan conceded while stealing a glance at his entranced sister close by.
"Are we decided?" Mithian insisted. Getting no dissent from anyone, she continued on, "Then we go!"
Talesin nodded. With a wave of his hand, he made the knights, Britomart, Merlin, Tristan, Isolde, Bors and Malodius vanish from sight.
"Back to the worrying again, I imagine," Hunith fretted. She frowned while sitting down next to Gwen and wiping the other woman's brow.
It would be a tough morning for her. That was for sure…..