Chapter 41 [Throne Room—Amazon Castle]

Gawain winced as he helped to heft the deceased Radegund onto the latter's former torture table. He huffed as they raised and set her down. Just how heavy is she anyhow? Like a bloody ox this one is!

"Careful! She's not luggage!" Britomart chided pointedly. "Honestly you are so clumsy!"

"Yeah but you like me anyway. Admit it," he bragged in a way to get her goat. He could almost feel the activity within her head at the moment. They worried about their missing friends. They despaired over the situation in Camelot and Nemeth….

…and that wasn't counting potentially Britomart taking the crown for herself….

He frowned at that concept. Why do I bloody care what she does? As Mith said, Brit will impress the horde crashing up against the barrier outside. I don't need a ball and chain holdin' me back anyway! Look at Arthur and Merlin. Stupidly whipped. Like I really want that?

"Hey! Mind focused!" Britomart tapped his arm firmly. "You still in there or is your skull really cracked?"

"Sure yours isn't? I mean this stinking castle's so drafty. Couldn't hold a bloody party in here to save your life!" he insisted.

She arched an eyebrow at him. While she hoped that Elena would take the crown, she knew that she might have to accept it at least for the time being. How does Princess Mithian deal with this? Terrific! "One does not hold tavern debaucheries in a fine palace, Gawain. Not that I expect you to understand that."

"I do too know the function of a castle!"

"That remains to be determined," she snarked back. She arranged the queen's corpse respectfully with the sword being held in the deceased's hands across her chest. "Meantime, Queen Radegund, may you be at peace. Once more I grant you respect." She bowed her head in due deference.

He offered a half-hearted salute. "Glad you didn't kill me, Lady. Whatever."

"I may yet if you don't grow up, Gawain," she noted morosely. "We need to keep going." She guided him around the room maneuvering the deceased bodies into proper position.

As they finished, Mithian called, Sir Gawain? Lady Britomart? Can you hear me?

"Milady? YES! We can hear you! Did you find them?"Britomart responded immediately; a relieved grin breaking out across her worn features.

They're here with us. We're coming to you. Merlin's going to get us back. We just need you to focus on us too. We need your thoughts to link us like a rope, Mithian told them.

"You got it. Like I'm going to let ol' Merlin down? Besides we need Gwen back here to beat some sense into Arthur's head,"Gawain interjected.

I'll see what I can do, Gwen replied while suppressing a smirk for dignity's sake. Still she could almost hear the chafing in the flamboyant knight's tone. Are we ready?

"We are. Everyone take hands. He placed his hand on top of Gwen's. Then he stated demonstratively, "Tilleadh gu Radegund caisteal!"

Within a minute's time, three of the four figures arrived in a brilliant white flash. Merlin, Mithian and Elena surveyed their surroundings. Each felt elated that they'd made it back and forth without incident.

"Milady Mithian!" Britomart forgot about the verbal judo bout and seized onto the former Princess. "I'm glad you're all right!"

"Of course we are! Merlin and I had things well in hand," Mithian insisted. She arched an eyebrow at the warlock. Not a word, Merlin.

Merlin stifled a chuckle as he clasped hands with Gawain. "Looks like you two have everything in hand here too. Nice work on laying the bodies out for proper burial."

"Yeah next thing I know, she'll have me doing the decorating if we survive this quest," Gawain complained while rolling his eyes for emphasis.

"If I decide to put up with you," Britomart retorted. "Where is Queen Guinevere?"

"I thought she was coming with us!" Elena looked pointedly at Merlin. "Where'd she go?"

"Maybe she was only there because Morgana put her there. Arthur and I returned to our bodies because we weren't bound by other spells. The Queen is under a trance. Perhaps that might have something to do with it?" Mithian supposed defending Merlin. You're so going to owe me for covering you on that one too. She added a knowing smirk for emphasis.

"We'll need to check when we get back to the cave," Merlin noted while keeping his voice even. Despite that, he worried for Gwen's sake. "Where's Arthur?"

"He's in the hall with the others. Is that the maid you all went after?" Gawain informed them.

"I am Queen Radegund's former maid, Elena. Where is she? I wish to apologize and…." Elena's mouth stopped cold upon seeing her sovereign lying in state. "What happened? Who did this?"

"Elena, please," Mithian tried to interject.

"No! She wasn't herself! Morgana did something to her to make her exile me! Even under the spell, she wouldn't execute me! She wasn't a monster! She didn't deserve this! WHO DID THIS?" Elena pressed; her anger enunciating each word with increasing volume and sharpness in the tone.

Britomart stepped forward with measured steps. She somberly faced the mourning Elena and admitted, "It was me, Elena. I defeated her in a duel. She and your Amazon sisters threatened us. While I have no direct tie to King Arthur, I acted out of loyalty to Princess Mithian and Sir Gawain. Please understand that I begged her repeatedly to stop her attack. I respected her too much to want to kill her but she left me no choice. You understand the duel of honor?"

"I do. You challenged her?" Elena insisted.

"I did. She was about to harm this braggart," Britomart motioned to Gawain eliciting an eye roll from the latter. "I assure you there was nothing but honorable exchanges of swords during the time. As she died, she honored."

Elena nodded. "Meaning you're our new Queen—that is if the warriors choose to accept you. You're a maid like me. They'll never…."

"They can check my sword against Queen Radegund's armor. Besides did we not make sure that your sisters are lying respectfully as honored warriors instead of so much flotsam? Even if my time as Regent is temporary, Elena, I wish that you all are treated with respect and dignity." Britomart considered the crown in her hands. "Actually I do not wish to be Queen. That is not because I do not honor or respect your kingdom. As an outsider, I wish for one of you to govern. And it was King Arthur himself would nominated the successor."

Elena snorted incredulously allowing her disdain for Arthur's prattish behavior to come to the fore. "And this is where we're conquered and forced to be brood mares for your men, right?" She shook her head sarcastically.

"Will you let her finish? With all due respect, we would never stand for that!" Mithian interjected cutting off the accusations.

Britomart held the crown out in front of herself. "He strongly recommended you, Elena, for the position. He spoke to your heart, sense of duty and desire for justice. While I may not have the greatest respect for him at the moment, you inspired that in him. You are my choice."

Elena gaped in shock as everyone else in the room nodded in agreement with Britomart's offer. "Y…you would ask me? I…can't! I'm not a warrior!"

"But you have inner strength and fortitude. I was a maid and a healer before this quest, Elena. Merlin is Arthur's manservant beside his magic. My lady, Princess Mithian, adjusts to her own exile—a situation we will deal with. You also observed Queen Radegund first hand, did you not? Lead from her example. Appoint a counsel of the most trusted Amazon sisters to assist you. Remember, despite this, we want an alliance with a strong Amazon kingdom. Will you carry on and preserve the realm?"

Elena bit her lip anxiously. She slowly staggered across the room to where her beloved Queen lay in state. "I wish you were here to advise me, my Queen. I am but a servant. Still I learned from your example." She stayed quiet for several heartbeats before nodding. "I appreciate your candor and honor, Britomart of Nemeth. I accept on behalf of my sisters. I will expect peace against all enemies."

"You can speak with Arthur about such matters," Merlin hedged. "We however will do what we can for you."

"We're your friends, Elena. I wish I was still a full Princess. I could sway my brother and father upon his awakening," Mithian lamented.

"I've heard such things about you as well. Morgana admitted her role in your situation before the Amazon court. Let us see how things proceed now." She kneeled before Britomart and bowed her head. "I am ready."

Britomart looked to Mithian who nodded with a pleased smile. She stood over the kneeling Amazon and insisted, "Elena of the Amazons, do you swear to govern this realm in the interest of your subjects? Do you swear to keep in mind how your actions affect the other kingdoms within this realm? Will you defend the traditions and matriarchal culture here against any and all incursions? Will you seek to get input from your subjects so as not to be a dictator? What say you?"

"I so swear on all fronts. In memory of Queen Radegund, I shall do my best. I accept the crown on behalf of my sister Amazons," Elena affirmed while trying to keep her voice even.

"Then I crown you Queen," Britomart proclaimed before setting the golden tiara on the former maid's head. "Rise, Queen Elena."

"May I be so worthy," the new queen murmured almost in a prayer.

Gawain breathed a sigh of relief that the transition had been made in spite of himself. Still he grimaced at the smirks from the sorcerous couple to his left. "Don't even start…."

"Who? Us?" Merlin queried with mock innocence.

Mithian smirked toward her former maid. "I'd say that's a matter for you to address, Lady Britomart, with your knight there."

"After we deal with the situation outside. My sisters need to be assured that honor has been met duly. Follow me if you would?" Queen Elena led the group out toward the brewing standoff.

Time for peace and affirmation if a battle could be avoided first…..