Chapter 54
[Royal Bedchambers—About a Half an Hour Following Merlin and Mithian's Departure]
Arthur strode confidently through the royal apartments. With his loyal knights at his side, he'd surveyed the city, its defenses, goods and people. He'd met with several of his nobles. He knew a great feast awaited him and his allies on that night downstairs.
The damage done during the siege and retaking of Camelot proved less serious than he'd initially feared. Tar and mortar had already plugged the cracks in the town walkways' cobblestones. Only a few buildings would need reconstruction. While other houses would require shoring up, better that than totally rebuilding them.
Best of all, no lasting traces of evil remained behind in the respective wakes of Morgana, Morgause or Meleagant.
Life seemed great at that moment.
"Just get my new boots! Perhaps I can get some sparring in with the knights before dinner," he mused aloud. He swung the door open to find Gwen drafting a letter at her table. "Gwen, it is a great day, isn't it?"
She glanced up offering him a warm smile. "It is indeed, Arthur. Our friends are happy. The sun is shining. Everything is as it should be. Speaking of which, how is the state of the kingdom?"
"Running smoothly or so it seems at the moment. Just waiting for the next challenge to come around the corner," he noted while kissing her cheek. "I made sure to tell the staff to make that capon dish you love."
She chuckled knowingly. "Really? If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were trying to get me in a good mood for something." She stood and embraced him; her smile spreading across her entire face.
"I might be," he suggested in a low tone.
She pecked him on the cheek. "Yes well…perhaps after the feast? We do need to meet with King Rodor before it."
"Yes concerning our respective rebuilding efforts. We are fortunate to have such friends, Gwen. At least we don't have a hole in the wall such as the one at Whitgate," he noted seriously. "Merlin needs to understand…."
"Arthur…." She pulled back from him and turned toward the window.
"What? I'm speaking the truth! He destroyed several buildings with his magic. True he opened the gates but…." He shook his head in disbelief over her stance.
"Small price to pay especially since nobody was hurt by it…at least not directly," she pointed out. "Arthur, you wouldn't have a throne if not for Merlin. Please! Stop the intolerance! It does not become you either as a man, my husband or the great king you are." She gazed deep into his eyes. "Please."
He sighed. "I might as well ask him personally since I need my boots anyhow. Merlin!"
"Arthur, I…."
"MERLIN!" he called out expectantly. "Where is he?"
At that moment, George rushed into the room. "Terribly sorry, Your Majesty!" He huffed out several exhausted breaths before standing at attention.
"George." Arthur scratched his scalp trying to get at why the overly-enthusiastic/tedious servant had responded to his call. "You wouldn't happen to know where Merlin is, would you?"
"No idea, Sire. The Queen requested that I give you my personal attention. So here I am! What might I do next?"
As tempted as he was to tell the servant to jump out of a window, Arthur somehow restrained himself. Instead he cleared his throat rather emphatically. "Yes…and I do thank you for it. Perhaps you can fetch my boots and shine them for tonight?"
"I'd be delighted! They'll sparkle like the brass in your kitchens!" George accepted before opening the closet. He grabbed the boots in question. "These?"
"Yes, George. Thank you. If you could shine those for me in the workroom down the hall, I need a word with Queen Guinevere in private," Arthur declared while motioning for the door. "Now."
"Yes." George hustled off and down the hall.
"Terribly limited man. That one," Arthur sighed while closing the door. "And certainly not Merlin." He turned to her. "So you requested George give me his personal attention?"
"Yes I did. I arranged an exchange of duties," she indicated.
"An exchange?" Then it dawned on him. "So George is up here. Merlin is with King Rodor and Princess Mithian. Gwen, you are so transparent."
"Why not? Arthur, it is not such a bad thing," she pointed out. "Merlin can do them great service. George is a noble servant as well."
He cast her a strange glance almost like a strangling cat. "It's George. Merlin can outdo him. He…."
"Merlin needs more than this, Arthur. Did I not just ask you to stop?" she reminded him (again). She folded her arms across her chest in frustration. "Besides I think you need to get used to George."
"That'll never happen! Merlin is my manservant." He rolled his eyes before opening the door. "I'm going to put an end to this!"
"Arthur! Please stop!" She grabbed onto him. "Don't you dare go down there! We can speak on this soon enough!"
"Fine. Then we can both go," he insisted before taking her by the hand and marching toward the Nemeth guest quarters.
She grimaced dreading what this furor could start…..
[King Rodor's Guest Chamber]
Rodor set his quill down on the desk with earnest. After hours of deliberation, he'd finally finished crafting and writing his written request for Merlin's manumission. He set the lid back onto the gall jar carefully and set it in the corner. Then he dusted the parchment to dry the ink faster. He skimmed it again before rolling it up. He bound it with a white ribbon. Finally he dipped his seal in the red wax to his right and stamped the whole matter closed so to speak.
Still he understood the stakes involved.
He certainly did not want a war with Arthur. After the failed betrothal, he'd avoided such a bitter end by the barest of margins even with the disputed Gedref lands coming into Nemeth's possession. Certainly the friendship which had grown up between the kingdoms in the years since had benefited both sides. That alliance had saved them both in that week alone.
Yet however, he did not understand his younger counterpart at times particularly in how he treated people. While the matter had been forgiven, he hadn't forgotten how Arthur had brushed Mithan aside for Gwen. Nor did he completely understand the relationship between Merlin and Arthur. On the one hand, the latter treated his servant like a confidant and a best friend. On the other hand, Arthur could turn on Merlin like a maddened snake accusing him of things especially about the very magic which kept him on the throne.
And then there was the question of Mithian's feelings for the warlock. Rodor had never seen his daughter so taken by anyone as this. He'd clearly heard the special emphasis in her voice. He noted the glittering in her eyes. While he wasn't in on it, he could tell the two sorcerers had a special connection…
…a connection which went both ways….
He knew Merlin loved his daughter but respected their ranks and titles. He respected the fact that the younger man didn't overstep his bounds despite his considerable power and ability to do so.
I know Arthur doesn't mean Merlin any serious harm. Yet he holds Merlin back. And he holds the rest of Britain back as well. He sighed heavily while weighing the scroll in his hand again before setting it on the desk. With Kay gone, the succession is paramount. As Mithian would say, Merlin certainly has done enough to be accepted by Nemeth's law and by Camelot's. He set the scroll on the table and strode toward the window. He glanced out toward the wall and imagined the woods beyond.
Somewhere out there, the sorcerous couple enjoyed the impromptu afternoon ride, a bottle of Prince Bors' wine and a royal picnic provided by Guinevere herself.
Normally he'd insist on a chaperone. Hell he would have gone himself to share in the experience and ambiance….
…except he knew how reverent and dutiful Mithian was—jitters and feelings or not…..
…and in Merlin's case, he stuck by his earlier thoughts and faith in the warlock….
They both know the stakes. It is too important to ruin everything now. After the fortnight they've both had, we had to allow them this opportunity. I know they won't do anything inappropriate.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Now who could that be? Mithian said they'd be gone for a while yet. The feast isn't until tonight. He crossed the room and opened the door to find his hosts standing there. "King Arthur! Queen Guinevere! Please come in." He ushered them inside before closing the door. "Forgive me if I kept you waiting. What can I do for you?"
She glanced anxiously at the two men. She might have deflected the conversation toward the pending reconstruction of their capitals, perhaps helping each other in restoring their military capabilities or even something like nature or philosophy….
…anything to keep their ships of state away from the sharp shoals looming dangerously ahead….
Instead she bowed her head and remained uncharacteristically quiet.
"Queen Guinevere, are you all right? I would hate to think you were unwell prior to our celebration," Rodor observed carefully and with concern.
"Thank you, King Rodor. I am fine. I just have a great deal on my mind," she assured him while casting a worried glance at her husband. Please be careful, Arthur!
"Indeed. Our mutual rebuilding efforts will be trying to be sure. I have spoken with Queen Elena however. She assures me that the Amazons will assist us and…." Rodor started.
Arthur put his hand up effectively cutting the elder king off. "That can wait, King Rodor." He inhaled deeply while weighing his words carefully. "I'd like to know where my servant is." His eyes surveyed the chamber. "MERLIN!"
Rodor exhaled sharply. "Not here if that's what you mean. He and Mithian are taking a horseback ride through the forest as we speak."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Taking a ride? By themselves?"
"Yes by themselves. Merlin serves as Mithian's servant by Queen Guinevere's order. However, knowing Mithian, she allows him to be an equal in her company. I trust my daughter to comport herself in a manner dignifying a royal Princess. Merlin has led me to believe he will act honorably as well," Rodor pointed out rather frankly.
"As long as you look at it as a servant-royal relationship…" Arthur assumed before stopping at the sight of Rodor's facial expression. "King Rodor, you can't be seriously thinking…."
"Arthur, please. He made himself clear earlier. Please stop this," she insisted.
"Guinevere, I have to say it. This is ridiculous!" Arthur countered albeit stubbornly.
"No, King Arthur. The relationship between Merlin and Mithian makes perfect sense. Somehow she is now a sorcerer just as he is. They are bonded in ways I can't even fathom! So it is much more than a royal-servant relationship." Rodor rubbed his forehead in consternation. His anger billowed in his chest over trying to explain to the recalcitrant host. Instead he crossed the room toward the desk. Slowly he picked up the scroll as if it weighed as much as an anvil. He considered it anew. "I had hoped to discuss this with you and the others tomorrow. However if you wish to do so now…." He slowly shuffled back toward their side; each step weighing heavily as if he picked each foot off of a glued panel before setting it down again.
"Wish to do what now? What is that?" Arthur queried in confusion.
Rodor handed the scroll to Arthur. "I don't mean to be rude. This is my demand on the subject."
"Your demand?" Arthur queried in shock as he surveyed the parchment scroll for himself. He broke the seal and unrolled it. His eyes scanned the text on it growing wider with each word. He stared incredulously at the guest. "You're serious?"
"Serious? Serious about what?" she pressed fearing that Rodor had just officially broken off negotiations or worse declared war on Camelot.
"Very much so, I fear." Rodor folded his arms across his chest. His mouth formed itself into a frown. His eyes glared at Arthur. "You will not see the truth when everyone else around you acknowledges it. By the laws and traditions of both Nemeth and Camelot in addition to his own realm of Mercia, Merlin has more than proven himself worthy of elevation to noble status. Before coming here, I researched this point. I might add that your man, Geoffrey of Monmouth, was more than helpful to Mithian and me in the archives. Besides Merlin is Mercian. What would King Reynald think of this? You would use his own subject as if he was your own?"
Arthur returned the glare with a fiery one of his own. His body language grew more rigid and unyielding. "Have a care, King Rodor. Do not insult me after…."
"Arthur, you cannot create an affront just from that!" she interceded. "King Rodor was simply trying to lay out one explanation."
"His interpretation, you mean," Arthur corrected her. "My father made Merlin a subject of Camelot when he was named as my personal servant. Cedric and Reynald have had most of the last decade to protest. They have not. Rodor, I'd advise you not to pursue this. It is still unseemly especially as a justification for the course you are pursuing."
"Then you are saying you should never have married Queen Guinevere then?" Rodor proposed indignantly. He put a finger up in front of her in a tacit signal to let him pursue the point for its own sake. "Nemeth is well aware of her worth. Why do you think we accepted Gedref in place of Mithian's position as Queen of this place? Much as you are arguing now, there are still nobles in both of our lands who feel that you should have married Mithian…that Guinevere is ineligible as a glorified servant wench. Fortunately for you, Mithian and I are not among them. On the contrary, she has more than proven her worth." He turned to her and bowed respectfully. "I wanted you to hear that. Thank you for your patience with that."
"I appreciate that, King Rodor," she accepted. "Still I will not let you come between Arthur and me."
"That is the farthest thing from my mind, Queen Guinevere. Still I would ask that you both not come between Mithian and happiness again. I am prepared to go by the customs of my kingdom. I respect yours. I only request that you honor Camelot's traditions as her King and Queen. Please, Arthur, I understand how close Merlin and you are. I am not asking you to foreswear that bond. I am simply asking you to allow him and Mithian to be happy. Is that not what you want?"
"I am his friend…true. Yet, King Rodor, I am also his King and lord," Arthur reminded the other royal pointedly.
She cleared her throat understanding what Rodor was getting at. "Arthur, Rodor is actually correct in what he's saying."
He stared in wonder at her. "Excuse me? How would that be?"
She fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Forgive me but you speak often of breaking unjust traditions and parting ways with customs that might seem that way. You do so much in other regards. Can't we make that break as well? It's not like we'll never see Merlin or Mithian again. We can still help each other. There are other examples of how breaking tradition in cases of merit has been allowed by your father and you both. Look at how you knighted your brethren at the Round Table on the basis of valor. You insisted Merlin sit at the table and take part when you needed him. Yet you went back on that after the battle and the dust had settled. No, Arthur, you can't keep doing that. What will our subjects think of the double standard? As the other knights had done, Merlin earned his spurs then and so many other times over. Just the fact that he earned the position in the royal household for saving your life makes the point clearly."
Arthur frowned while realizing that they had fortified their arguments in ways he could not refute. Worse still, he knew they were both correct. He sighed heavily knowing that his own knights, despite their issues with magic, would support the endeavor as well. "And I suspect that Sir Gawain would fall into this as well?"
"What of him?" Rodor queried before seeing where his host was going on that particular point. "Ah…I see. We have seen how he and Lady Britomart have shown increasing interest in each other. I expect we shall hear from them at some point soon. We are all part of something bigger. Let's make it so."
Arthur rubbed his chin while considering Rodor's supposition and proposal. He weighed the logic in his mind ruminating over each detail as he progressed. For several such minutes, he paced back and forth. His brow furrowed as his brain labored over the process. His eyes gazed out the window toward the woods where his friends enjoyed their time below.
Rodor and she exchanged glances toward each other and him uncertain of which direction he'd go in. They both knew so much could weigh on this decision…
…for Camelot…
…for Nemeth…
…for all of Britain as a whole….
Finally, after what seemed an eternity but in truth was only three minutes, Arthur stepped over to the desk and considered the heated wax, quill and gall bottle. He'd signed other such documents—many of them to be sure over the years—but none of the significance that sat in his hand. He'd used other quills such as that one but none would hold the importance of that one. He turned to Rodor. "May I?"
"Of course," Rodor agreed as Relief's cool balm washed over him.
Arthur slowly and laboriously dipped the quill into the ink. With great effort, he scratched his name to the document. Then he powdered that spot dry before producing his royal seal. He dipped it in the wax before stamping the imprint onto the document. "I hope you appreciate this, Merlin," he said to himself. Then he stepped away before he could change his mind and exhaled deeply. "There."
"Thank you. You'll see that Merlin will still be your greatest friend, ally and now brother," Rodor expressed allowing his facial expression to lighten a bit.
"I pray you're right." Arthur's chest still felt hollow and empty as if its heart had been ripped out.
"I am so proud of you right now," she complimented; her face beaming with pride and happiness. She embraced her husband to support and reassure him. "As we are happy, so can they be."
"That has always been my hope. I just have to keep the kingdom's stability as well," Arthur noted while accepting her comforting presence. "I…well…."
She let her eyes shine into his. For several seconds, they told him, Perhaps Merlin won't be as close but I'm here. I love you, Arthur.
He inhaled feeling Amor washing over him and dispelling the pain. He felt lighter than before as if a weight had been lifted from himself. He smiled and nodded silently as if in understanding.
Then she assured, "You don't want to lose Merlin's advice or presence. I know. We won't, Arthur. You're opening his world. Now Merlin doesn't have to hide anymore. He can love and practice his art freely. And look at Mithian. She won't be alone any more either. They can love each other. You've made it so. How can they not still be our friends?"
"How not indeed?" Arthur concurred. "Perhaps though we might keep this between us until tonight?" A plan sprung to his mind over how to announce this turning point and put his friends in the best possible light. Seeing their confused expressions, he put his hands up reassuringly. "It's a surprise-a good one for tonight at the feast if you both will work with me."
"Go on. We're listening," Rodor indicated.
"We can have Merlin enter the hall with Mithian and you. As soon as everyone is seated including Guinevere and myself, I will make the proclamation and call Merlin forward. I will then raise him to noble status. Then I will leave it to you to knight him," Arthur proposed.
She wiped a happy tear from her eye while imagining the scene in her mind's eye. "I'll definitely play my part."
"As will I. I suspect there may be something else going on if you get my meaning?" Rodor supposed.
"Yes well…that is if Merlin can stop from tripping over his own tongue and fat feet and ask her already," Arthur interjected half-seriously and yet warmly.
"I think he'll get it just right," she agreed.
"Remember we have to keep this from the rest of the palace. There are some that I want in on it. I need to speak with Gawain, Britomart and Talesin. Can we fetch them all to our chambers? Again, discretion is the key. I want this to be a complete surprise for Merlin and Mithian both." Arthur smirked at the thought of surprising the couple.
"It is a noble gesture. I shall do what I can," Rodor concurred with a warm smile. "It is an act befitting a great king." He held out his hand in friendship. "To peace and love?"
"To peace, love and understanding," Arthur declared while grasping the outstretched hand eagerly in his own. "I think this provides a solid foundation for the rebuilding. Wouldn't you say?"
"I couldn't have said it any better myself," Rodor indicated with a big smile on his face; his heart warming over the anticipation of his daughter's reaction to their surprise. "And I propose we might reschedule our other discussions today? We do have this project to attend to and only a short time to do it in."
"I think we can do that, King Rodor," she agreed for them both. "Come. We need to find the others. We shall see you soon?"
"At the banquet? Yes of course. I shall say nothing to Merlin or my daughter as per this arrangement. Pardon me however if my joy as a father and a king is hard to conceal," Rodor pointed out.
"As is mine. It is perfectly understandable," Arthur assured him. "See you at the feast." With that, he led his Queen from the room and shut the door behind themselves.
Rodor marveled at what had just happened. He had just participated in a historic moment. Two kingdoms sat perched on the brink of war…a war that fortunately did not happen…because one king realized the Greater Good. Now perhaps Arthur will rescind the ban on magic. One thing at a time, Rodor. Today is a celebration for Merlin and Mithian. I have already lost a son. If things go right, perhaps I will gain one? Just a few more hours to hold this in. Then I can celebrate openly. He slowly drew his sword from its scabbard. He considered it in the light allowing the nicks and wear to reflect before his eyes. He'd won many battles and led his people against obstacles….
…now it would win another great battle with just two taps…
"Some small things can mean so much," he mused while sheathing the blade and setting about his preparations.
Much needed to be done indeed…