Chapter 51 [Moments Later]
[Citadel's Reception Area]
Arthur strode into the fortress feeling both relieved and anxious as well. Even if he'd reclaimed his prerogative for a third time…and he enjoyed his subjects' support in the bargain, he still felt violated by Morgana and Meleagant's incursion into his more secure of places. This has to stop. I cannot allow my people to go through this again! He inhaled deeply from the air within the facility.
Perhaps he'd need to revamp security therein but he was home at least.
"It is good to see you back in your palace, Arthur," Rodor complimented. "May it continue for many years to come."
"Yes may it be so," Queen Elena concurred. "We need to build toward successful reigns for us all, Arthur Pendragon. As such, we should address the clean up efforts. Then we need a council of rulers to discuss the matter at hand."
Arthur suppressed his reaction. Perhaps magic had its uses such as opening the gates. However, something had nearly leveled the city. He bet it had something to do with the spell at hand. "First we attend to matters at hand." He motioned to his knights. "Sir Leon, please lead the other knights in escorting the remaining Cawdorian prisoners to the dungeon? Then assess the situation down there. We need to shore up those defenses."
"At once, Sire," Leon agreed as he and the others led their defeated counterparts toward the staircase.
"Lady Britomart, can you go with them and assess those measures as well? Due to Sir Ywain's report, Prince Kay and several of our knights came up that causeway. I wish to know their status."
"I can tell you that now, King Rodor," Queen Elena reported. "We discovered three deceased knights in Nemethian colors along with a dozen other Cawdorian knights. "Perhaps we could bring your warriors up here to be properly cleaned and prepared for their journey back to Whitgate?"
"Thank you, Queen Elena. I would deeply appreciate such a courtesy," Rodor accepted.
"I shall accompany Lady Britomart and see to those efforts, my Queen," Matilda volunteered.
"Please do. My thanks, Matilda," Queen Elena agreed. After the two female warriors had departed, she added, "We still have Meleagant to deal with. He's holed up in here somewhere."
"And we need to find Prince Kay, Princess Mithian and Merlin," Rodor insisted. "I pray they are all right."
"I trust in Merlin, King Rodor, to hold up his end," Lancelot declared enthusiastically. "Despite our numbers, we should be careful. Meleagant could have laid traps for us."
"Well suggested, Lancelot," Arthur indicated even if the thought turned his stomach. I shall need to have the citadel and palace checked from roof to dungeon AGAIN. Again, we need to be more secure!
"Hello down there! Can we get some help please?" a familiar voice called from the top of the stairs.
The assembled allies glanced up the staircase to find Merlin and Mithian stepping into view.
"Merlin! Mithian! How fare you?" Rodor called up to them.
"We're fine, Your Highness! Sir Hector and Sir Galahad are here!" Merlin reported. "In addition, we found Meleagant." He motioned with his hand curtly.
The bound monarch floated into view. Upon seeing the assembled group, he struggled but still couldn't break the enchanted transport.
"Well done indeed, Merlin. I do not see Prince Kay however. Have you seen him?" Arthur queried expectantly. Seeing Mithian bow her head and hug Merlin tightly, he inquired, "Has something happened?"
"Mithian, is there something….?" Rodor pressed.
"Father, I…." Mithian sobbed profoundly. "Sir Hector, Sir Galahad, please bring the Prince into view."
"At once, Princess," Hector concurred. He came into view along with his comrade as they held a different end of Kay's body. "My apologies, Sire, we attempted to save Prince Kay before Meleagant murdered him."
"Murdered?" Rodor's eyes flared fire.
Meleagant retorted just as fiercely. "Kay challenged me! It was a fair fight! I chose not to spare him." He sniggered. "Whatever shook the citadel knocked him off of his feet and gave me the advantage. I chose to take it." He glared at the two sorcerers. "I'd ask them about that."
"You defeated our Prince, Meleagant. You had him pinned with a boot to his chest. That was enough. Since he could not defend himself, stabbing him as such was in cold blood," Galahad disagreed.
"You chose to hold the city. I opened the gates. Maybe if you had surrendered, this wouldn't have happened. Even so Prince Kay chose to come in here. He engaged you in battle. Then you killed him not Mithian or me," Merlin pointed out.
Arthur rolled his eyes and glared at his fellow rulers. He'd definitely raise this unfortunate side effect at the upcoming discussion meeting. "Merlin does have a point, Meleagant. I will have words with him later. For now, I am containing you in the guest quarters. As a king, you are still entitled to certain privileges. Still we will be in touch with your kingdom for restitution."
"How about the restitution for my father's blood, Arthur? Your father did that!" Meleagant bellowed defiantly.
"As with Odin of Mercia, you would seek chaos? Our fathers are both gone. As you know, I had nothing to do with your father's death. I understand that it was Morgana who held Camelot during the usurpation. I am prepared to release you to King Rodor's authority. You violated Nemeth and its people during your holding of Whitgate," Arthur continued.
"And you brought the witch here for trial. How conveniently you forget that, Arthur. And what about your sorcerer-servant here? You still may yet burn him at the stake due to your hate of magic. Who's being the hypocrite?" Meleagant derided.
"Sir Galahad and Sir Hector, take Meleagant to the guest chambers. Secure him in there then post a guard. We will take him back to Nemeth for a proper assessment of guilt," Rodor commanded.
The two knights set their Prince down respectfully on the granite floor. Then they turned to Merlin. "May we?"
Merlin nodded and set Meleagant down, allowing the spell to wane. "Take care with him. He is still dangerous."
"Thank you, Merlin. We shall take care," Galahad noted before he and his peer led the defeated king toward his prison.
Merlin motioned toward Rodor and advised his love. Go and be with your father. It's all right.
She nodded somberly while descending the stairs quickly yet as regally as she could manage. Caught between the continued relief of her father's recovery and her brother's death, the inner storm buffeted her at that point. Still she would not allow the others to see her waiver. She grabbed onto Rodor and hugged him fiercely. "Father, I am glad you are well!"
"As am I to see you well, Mithian. Merlin and you should both be proud. You saved many lives today through your efforts. Do not blame yourself for Kay's death," Rodor comforted her. He gratefully enjoyed her presence at his side once more.
"If only we could have been there sooner! We could have stopped the duel!" she argued sadly.
"He defied me and came up here. Granted it was for a noble cause. Still if he had done as I wished, he may have survived. Then again, he may have died in the fighting outside. If the fighting had gone on any longer, something might have happened again to you or to Merlin. My point is, Mithian, don't blame yourself. You did all you could." Rodor kissed the top of her head. "I love you, my Daughter." He looked toward Merlin. "That goes for you as well, Merlin. Am I clear?"
"Perfectly, Your Highness. I am grateful for your consideration," Merlin accepted with a courteous bow. "Perhaps we might discuss this more later? With Arthur's permission, I'd like to assist in the treatment efforts outside."
"Go on, Merlin. And thank you," Arthur agreed conceding his servant a smile despite disagreeing with his methods.
"My pleasure, Sire," Merlin noted. As he passed by Mithian, he squeezed her hand briefly.
"Perhaps you might wish to assist, Mithian? I will have Lady Britomart join you upon her return," Rodor presumed with a kindly smile.
"I would like that, Father. Thank you," she accepted before following her love's path toward the square.
"I never thought I'd see her hustle after a man like that." Rodor shook his head in wonder. "Especially here."
"Truly it is a day for wonders despite the Prince's death, Milord," Ywain assessed.
"Truly it is, Sir Ywain," Rodor accepted despite the sadness in his heart for his son's passing, "and for the rest of our friends as well." He ruffled Malodius' mane to further make his point.
Truly it was a day for all allies—magical or mundane….
[Out on the Square]
Recovery efforts pressed on in the square. Once the fighting had ceased, the townspeople emerged from cover to assess the damage and plan their rebuilding efforts. Some assisted in treating the wounded. Others went to the Lower Town and returned with water from the cistern there.
The time was nigh for moving on, it seemed….
Gaius shuffled slowly across the area in his overseeing duties. He had organized the patients by their wounds and conditions. He despaired for some individuals wishing that he had his chambers and books available at the moment.
Alas, as long as Meleagant remained at large, he'd have to manage….
As much as they did invade here, Ranulf did keep the knights in check. At least most of the arrow wounds were minor. He mulled that point over while binding a middle-aged farmer's wounds. He peered into the brown haired man's eyes to rule out a possible concussion. Then he smiled and let the other man go about his business.
"Water, Sir?" a teenaged girl of no more than sixteen asked kindly. Her blonde hair lay bound beneath a kerchief.
"Yes please," he accepted while taking the wooden ladel and dunking it into the bucket. He drew a full scoop and sipped on it savoring the cold wet drink for a long minute. Then he replaced it in the bucket. "Thank you. Are you all right?"
"My family and I were fortunate, Sir. We weren't hurt. Thank you!" she assured him. After a small bow, she moved on toward the patients at large.
If only it could be like this even if there's no trouble. He admired how the other denizens threw in together on the collaborative efforts. Perhaps this calamity might have a silver lining after all. We can hope we're past the fear and prejudice. He inspected an unconscious man's bruises and cuts making sure that everything healed up nicely.
"Never fails. You just can't let them heal up, can you?"
Gaius grinned. Within a heartbeat, he'd sprang to his feet and embraced Merlin in a tight hug. "You made it all right!"
"Yeah I did. Spell I used had more punch than I intended but it got the job done, right?" Merlin supposed albeit sheepishly.
"You might say that again," Gaius concurred while considering his next words carefully. Granted he was grateful that his young charge opened the gates and enabled the siege to be broken as quickly as it was. Still something needed to be said about the sonic explosion and the earthquake. "Merlin, what you did was a great thing. You ended the conflict before many more people were hurt. Still you might consider not throwing full power at something that might require half of that?"
"It wasn't my intent. I was just trying to get the gates open. As King Rodor said himself just now, the devastation could've happened anyhow during a prolonged siege, bombardment or battle for the city. That's not saying that I shouldn't worry about the side effects…." Merlin started.
"Which you should be," Gaius interjected.
"I know. Seeing the damage really makes that point." Merlin moped a bit. "Things happened other than that, Gaius."
"Really?" He quirked the Eyebrow at Merlin. "Is Princess Mithian all right?"
"I'm fine, Gaius. Thank you for asking," Mithian assured him while rubbing Merlin's shoulder. "What did Father tell you about that, Merlin? It wasn't either of our faults."
"I know. He's so forgiving. I just wish Prince Kay was still with us. We might be able to convince him as well as Arthur that magic's not evil in itself," Merlin sighed deeply. He rubbed her hands affectionately.
"Good luck. Uther's programmed that into a generation's mindset. Despite what happened today, it will take a while. Meantime we have to do what we can to be the examples," she noted while kissing her love's brow. "Have faith."
"Princess, pardon me but King Arthur still has to release Merlin. If he says no, Merlin cannot just leave," Gaius pointed out.
"Leave that to my father," she disagreed. "He, Queen Elena and Prince Bors have already expressed their support of our relationship and noble status for Merlin. Unless Arthur wants a war—even a symbolic one—he'll let Merlin come with Father and me back to Nemeth." She dunked a fresh rag into a water bucket and wiped a patient's brow caringly. "Perhaps Queen Guinevere will help us."
"I can see her doing that," Gaius noted. "Still Arthur will not let Merlin go lightly, Princess. He depends a great deal on our wizard here."
"So do we all, Gaius. Nemeth isn't the end of the world. We can be back here in short order if need be," she pointed out.
"Gaius, I told you. If Arthur's not going to accept my magic, I'm going to have to leave. I can't hide any longer," Merlin determined.
"And if he doesn't release you? I suppose that will be the question. He can't stop you. However, given the state of Nemeth's knights, King Rodor can't defeat Camelot either. Are you ready to start a war?" Gaius supposed.
"Arthur will be the one starting the war. My father is preparing for negotiations. Shall we press on with the treatment of these wounded?" Mithian declared.
Merlin squeezed her hand affectionately. While he knew Gaius had a point, he hoped for the best.
Still Gaius worried to himself, It seems everyone else recognizes Merlin's true worth to Britain and Albion. Will Arthur? That is the question….
Time itself would tell the story it would seem…..