Chapter 60 [Castle Gardens—Central Courtyard—two hours later]
Fresh off of a splendid breakfast, Merlin admired the roses and their simple beauty for the first time. While he'd considered such things from afar, minding Arthur's needs and assisting Gaius had distanced him from a deeper view. His mind struggled to digest not having the household to run. He sniffed the blooms' scent.
"Enjoy nature and be one with them, Merlin," Freya advised. "It does make for a more peaceful existence."
"An existence I pray comes to Nemeth," Mithian hoped. "We can enjoy the moment now. Once we get back to Whitgate, I fear you're going to learn about the inner workings of ruling a kingdom."
"As someone said, I've got a great teacher, right?" Merlin quipped pleasantly with a warm smile for his bride-to-be.
Mithian blushed a slight pink. "The best as you've shown me."
Freya nodded with admiration. "As I said to you, Princess Mithian, I leave Merlin in good hands." Her eyes sparkled into theirs. "Be well and have a safe journey back to Whitgate."
"Wait, Freya," Mithian advised. "Just know that Whitgate is always open to you and our friends on the blessed isle."
"I appreciate that, Princess. Make sure our Prince fulfills his proper destiny. And yes, I will be popping in from time to time…just not at a private moment or anything. You two do need your space and we need our dragon lords. Don't we, Merlin?" Freya noted with a slight teasing barb at the end for him. She muttered a spell and waved her hands to open a portal in front of herself. "Please give my farewells to Arthur and Guinevere."
"Don't forget you're invited to the wedding," he told her.
"I wouldn't miss it. See you then, my brother and sister," Freya concluded before disappearing into the mists and closing the portal shut behind herself.
"You do make the most unique friends, Merlin. That I have to say," Mithian declared. "You have the most unique skill for diplomacy."
"Does that mean I can pass your inspection, Princess?" he hoped but with some humor.
She smirked at him. "With some rough edges smoothed down, it should be passable." She pecked him on the cheek. We have all eternity to work on such things, my Warlock.
That's what I love to hear, he concurred while breaking off a rose bloom and slipping it into her hair. "It becomes you."
"I'll treasure it indeed," she agreed while offering him an even warmer grin for his effort.
"Merlin! Mithian! Oh thank heavens!" Hunith exclaimed as she and Gaius rushed into the area. She embraced the new Prince and Princess tightly and out of worry. "When you weren't in your bed this morning, we were so worried!"
"I figured Gawain and the other knights pulled some immature prank of one sort or another," Gaius assumed while eyeing the knight in question and Britomart who stood not far away.
"Given what my Prince had just undergone, that would not have happened," Britomart assured the worried mother. "Thankfully Milady and the King were prepared with suitable accommodations." She arched an eyebrow at Gawain as well.
Gawain shook his head in frustration. "Can we help it if we wanted to properly welcome Merlin to the ranks?"
"Welcome yes. Make sick? No," Mithian clarified. "Fortunately King Rodor still had a bottle of Master Wyngate's hangover remedy."
"Really? I'd like to take a look at it for myself at some point," Gaius interjected. He scruntized Merlin's face, arms and hands carefully. "Well it seems you are certainly not that way now."
"Lots of water, food and bad tasting tonic," Merlin noted while making a face.
"Serves you right for drinking too much. You should enjoy in moderation and watch the company you keep," Mithian advised with a wink toward Gawain.
"It's all right, Gawain. You have to remember that you're committed now and…." Merlin started to tell his friend.
Gawain snorted. "I have feelings and now people are telling me to cut the carousing? Really?"
Britomart raised an expectant eyebrow.
"Best quit while you're ahead," Merlin advised his friend with a grimace. "Anyhow I'm glad you all are here. King Rodor wants to talk with Mithian and me. Mother, I was hoping to ask him something on your behalf."
"Ask what, Merlin? I won't endanger your standing or anything," Hunith fretted. "I'll be grateful enough if the rumors Gaius and I have heard this morning are true."
"What rumors?" Gawain queried. Then he saw the rest of the royal contingent without Meleagant enter the garden. "What happened now?"
"Our apologies for the brashness," Britomart interjected while offering a deep bow.
"I'm used to Sir Gawain by now, Lady Britomart. It is quite all right," Arthur assured them. "There have been several agreements reached this morning. King Meleagant and I have reached a truce concerning our fathers' issues. In addition we rulers have lifted Father's ban on magic in our kingdoms at least."
"Can it be? Merlin, say it's true!" Hunith demanded.
"Yes, Mother, it's true," Merlin assured her while embracing her tightly. "Magic is no longer banned. I can practice freely here and in Nemeth!"
"Mother?" Rodor watched as the duo embraced each other. He turned to his daughter. "Is she…?"
"My apologies, Father. King Rodor of Nemeth, this is Hunith of Ealdor, Merlin's mother. Hunith, this is King Rodor," Mithian introduced.
"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Hunith," Rodor greeted. He kissed the back of her hand ceremoniously.
"Please, Your Majesty. I should bow to you," Hunith disagreed.
"Nonsense! You are to be my daughter's mother-in-law. That makes you a member of my court," Rodor insisted.
"Actually, Sire, I wanted to ask if Mother could come with us? Perhaps she could have a room in the castle?" Merlin requested.
"Merlin, please…." Hunith begged fearing the worst.
Rodor smiled pleasantly to reassure the worried woman. "There is nothing to fear. I assure you. What Merlin asks on your behalf is a perfectly welcome request. When we are finished, you shall return to Nemeth with us, Hunith. I would not have you suffering a peasant's existence."
"I am set to meet with King Reynald to discuss our common border. Perhaps I can offer some assistance?" Queen Elena offered.
"As can Father and I," Prince Bors chimed in. "Perhaps we may simply see if Ealdor can be moved to within Camelot's borders seeing as it is only three leagues over them now?"
"A workable solution indeed, Bors," Arthur agreed. "I would be grateful if that can be arranged. Camelot would be more than happy to assume that if Reynald is agreeable."
"Cedric and he rarely if ever venture out there other than to collect taxes," Hunith informed them. "I'd be grateful, King Arthur, if you could improve their lot."
"For their hospitality toward Gwen and me both, it would be my pleasure," Arthur noted pleasantly. "Of course you all did give us such a servant for the last decade, we…."
"Arthur, please!" Gwen interrupted him with a sharp look. "Hunith, have faith. This will work out. Take heart in that Merlin has his good fortune and all of us—his familia—to look out for him and you. Either way, you are done living in that village."
"Well in that case, I accept!" Hunith embraced her son with pride. "That is if you can deal with your mother being around all of the time again."
"I've missed you, Mother. It's going to be a pleasure," Merlin declared. "Thank you, Sire, for your generosity."
"As you said, it's my pleasure, Merlin," Rodor noted warmly. "We are family. That is what we all do."
"I told you in Kilgarrah's cave that you'd be welcome. Please stop fretting," Mithian reminded her mother-in-law pleasantly.
"While we're on the topic of leaving…." Gawain interjected with a heavy sigh. "I was going to wait until later, Arthur, but…."
Arthur grimaced. "Now you wish to leave, Gawain?"
"Yeah, Arthur, I'm afraid so. I think it's really great that you signed that accord on magic and everything. Still things have changed for me over the past couple of weeks. Also there's more for me now in Nemeth. They're going to need knights to train their remaining forces. I was going to speak to King Rodor later but since you're both here, I may as well say it now," Gawain revealed.
"You wish to return to Nemeth with us?" Britomart queried hopefully (even if she wouldn't admit it to his face).
"If we can work it out, I'd like that, Brit," Gawain noted; his eyes twinkling at her. "Of course I still want to have my tavern time too."
"I do not wish to poach another ruler's knights, Sir Gawain. I'd be honored to have your sword of course. Sir Lancelot has already accepted such a role. Still it is up to your king," Rodor noted.
Arthur frowned. His disappointment threatened to tear his heart from his chest. He sucked in a deep breath collecting his resolve. "Of course you should go to Nemeth. Sir Lancelot, Lady Britomart and you would be excellent teachers indeed for a new corps of knights there. Certainly somebody has to watch out for Merlin." He smirked at his friend.
"Guess George will be watching out for you now," Merlin supposed wryly.
Gwen put her hand up in front of her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Arthur rolled his eyes derisively. "I might find a way to borrow you back, Merlin."
"George takes pride in his job though," Merlin pushed.
"I might give him to you as a wedding gift, Merlin," Arthur suggested/threatened.
Merlin sighed. "I thought you were distressed about losing your attentive servants."
"I can always make exceptions to that rule," Arthur clarified feeling rather smug about that prospect.
"Yes I'm sure you could," Rodor presumed. "On that note, perhaps we might speak, Merlin and Mithian?" He turned to the others. "Please excuse us."
"Of course. We shall see you at dinner then?" Gwen queried.
"We shall look forward to it. My thanks to you all," Rodor concluded.
"Thank you for the breakfast. Mother, we shall speak later," Merlin indicated before following the other members of the Nemeth royal party back into the castle proper. He understood that things would be different between Arthur and him. Still, serving a king other than Arthur proved an adjustment….
…an adjustment he wanted but still one that would take time to get used to nonetheless….