Chapter 53 [An Hour Later—Scenic Overlook Spot]
[A/N: Yes, this is the same spot from "Hunter's Heart".]
Despite the gloom from that morning, the elements seemed to be work in their favor. Their gallop through the city was only observed by a few passersby. The guards did not accost them at the gates. The sun broke through the clouds warming the air and mood. A gentle breeze billowed their hair and made their skin tingle ever so little.
As they passed under the respective canopies, the birds serenaded their ears with gentle notes of bliss….
The flowers blooming along the sides of the forest path offered up their best scents for their nostrils' pleasure.
And so the mood was set…..
[A/N: I'm adapting some of the dialogue from "Hunter's Heart". Hope it's okay….]
Almost by memory, Mithian pulled up on the reins stopping her steed a safe distance shy of the cliff's edge. She inhaled almost dreamily recalling the best part of her first trip to Camelot….
Arthur asking her on a picnic…and choosing the most scenic spot possible….
…putting together a breakfast beyond compare….
…having a most splendid of servants trying to deal with the ideal spot….
She shook her head frowning for a brief second at the memory of Arthur's haranguing Merlin. Even then, he couldn't give Merlin a break. Honestly! And then she recalled….
"Arthur, that's enough!" She took some of the traveling goods from his servant. "Let me, Merlin."
Arthur shrugged. "Merlin's all right. Aren't you, Merlin?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," Merlin relented siding with his master even if he wasn't.
"Well. I have some of this." She locked eyes with him for the first time…really for the first time.
Instead of the resistant, overprotective butler/valet type she'd taken him for, she discovered something else….
…something warm and special….
"Hey. Are you all right?" he interjected stirring her from her reverie. He had let his horse canter into position beside hers.
"Hmm? Oh yes. I'm splendid! I was just remembering our last picnic here," she noted.
"I was just hanging out. That was for Arthur and you," he clarified not really wanting to think of her with somebody else.
Sensing his mood shifting, she sighed. "That's not what I meant, Merlin. This is where we really met…not at the palace or in the throne room or in that dratted feast!" She closed her eyes and inhaled of the pristine air partaking of Memoria's sweet ambrosia once more. "This is where I realized who you really were."
He chuckled. "Oh you did, did you?"
"What's so funny? I was trying to be romantic," she supposed. Then her eyebrow arched. "Wait! You made him belch, didn't you?"
Now it was his turn to shrug and smirk at her. "Both times."
"Both times?" She stared at him. "And I suppose at the feast when he dropped the soup in his lap?"
"Me again." His eyes sparkled into hers like Sol's gentle reflecting off of the brook far below their position.
She snorted feeling the full emotional underpinnings of those insights before adding an eye roll for effect. "At least I got to step out of character for a bit." Instead of being angry, her eyes sparkled into his over his admission of prior mischief. "As I said, I got to know the real you here…well behaved or not," she teased while dismounting.
"I sabotaged the whole thing…or tried to. You were trying to be happy, Mithian," he admitted albeit sadly.
"You were protecting something greater. Arthur and Guinevere have something special. So do we," she assured him. She embraced him. "At least because of it, you're with me."
"And I have someone like myself that I can be open with at last," he concurred as he held her closely against himself. "Besides this is going to be a better picnic."
"Says who?" she supposed wryly.
"Says your personal valet…attendant…whatever…" He grinned while taking their gear off of the horses.
He spread the blanket out over the ground smoothing all of the wrinkles out of it.
"Yes the one I ordered to accompany out here." Her lips brushed Amor's brush strokes across his cheek. "That's a thank you for being here with me." She set the basket down beside them.
"Never thank me for that. It's my absolute pleasure," he assured her almost dreamily. He put a serving bowl and a couple of glasses out.
"So glad to hear that." She poured some red wine for him. "I recall you like the Southern Gallic wine. Prince Bors' contribution to our tryst." She smirked even wider.
"Oh he knows we're here?" he queried expectantly.
"It's quite the conspiracy. Poor Arthur. He has no idea what he's up against. Prince Bors contributed wine. Gawain and Lancelot are making sure Arthur remains away from the quarters. Guinevere put George in your place. My father and Queen Elena occupy him with matters of state," she explained.
"King Rodor knows we're here?" Merlin queried not believing that nugget of information.
"He knows. He trusts you with me, Merlin." She handed him his glass. "I hear the apples and grapes are to die for."
"That's not the only thing." He murmured.
Her cheeks turned rosy red. Her retorting quip stopped short not wanting to ruin the moment. Instead she silently squeezed his hand and gazed deeply into his eyes. Her mind peered deeply into his. Their souls touched once more.
In that moment, the issues of the world paled to that event….
…that place…
…that wonderful woman….
"Wish I could just run away with you," he blurted out. "Just you and me. No titles. No powers. Just us."
"Might be a bit difficult with Father and Arthur chasing us," she supposed. "Still I know what you mean. This is proving quite the struggle. Just do me a favor?"
"Anything," he agreed.
"Don't give up. I know you want to serve Arthur for the Greater Good's sake. You can still be his ally and friend…even more so now. Just…well…from Nemeth." She smiled at him. "Maybe rule beside me one day?"
"Two sorcerer kings? Whatever would the world think?" he queried half-seriously, half-fearfully.
"Let the world think what it will. I don't care as long as you at my side." She bit into an apple with a healthy crunch. "As I said before, the world isn't as opposed as you think. Arthur needs to deal with things. Everyone else of importance either has or will. We just need to believe."
"I want nothing more. I…just want everyone to accept us for who and what we are," he admitted.
"So we allow the process to take its course," she assured him. "Let the others deal with it. Father is about to demand your freedom. You are worth it to us…to me. I can't bear watching you in this life, Merlin. It's very noble but I need you too."
"I know. But who'll protect Arthur and Gwen? Who…?" he wondered.
"That's what the knights are for. Besides we're not that far away." She touched her forehead and reminded him telepathically, I can be anywhere in a thought. So can you. If anything happens to Camelot, Nemeth will be there for our friends. You can't do any less. Neither can I.
"You have a point," he conceded. "And then there is the other matter…."
"Oh?" She sipped on her wine while trying to probe his intent.
He smirked cheekily at her. "There have to be dragon lords and ladies, right?"
She nearly choked on her wine gulping the mouthful down before laughing with him. She gibed, "Yes. There is that. Why, Merlin! There is some dirt on that white armor after all."
"You'd be surprised how much. Guess we all have layers," he admitted but with a wide grin.
"And I'm looking forward to finding out more about each and every one," she noted warmly while biting into a grape. "This is almost perfect." She glanced across the panoramic scene far below. "Wish we could stay out here until sunset."
"Then we'd miss the feast. Arthur would put me in the stocks for sure over that," Merlin joked.
"And I'd have to vaporize those stocks. Now wouldn't I?" She kissed him gently again. "My Prince."
"My Princess," he echoed savoring the word's sweetness across his tongue. "Watch." His eyes glowed.
In response, sparks danced in the air. Much as fireflies in the night, the embers floated on the breeze forming different shapes and glittering a spectrum of colors for their delight.
She said nothing simply choosing to admire the show he was putting on for her. She leaned up against him allowing his chest to comfort her head.
He caressed her hair gently; his fingertips savoring their soft gliding across them. He kissed the crown of her head affectionately.
When that show ended, he created another…and another…and so on….
And so that day went….