Chapter 64
[Camelot—Mithian's Chamber—An Hour Later]
Fresh off of her walk in the gardens with Gwen, Mithian felt refreshed. As with the courtship trip years before, she'd discovered that Camelot's gardeners cultivated a truly special paradise for the court. During the visits, she'd wandered amidst the hedges cutting herself off from the world's concerns. She savored the range of flora, the colors parading before her eyes and their respective scents. It was there that she could think and collect her feelings.
On this particular stay, she'd shared the wanderlosts with others. Mostly she and Merlin had strolled the blissful ways together pondering their magic and the nature of their special bond. While she and Gwen had long moved past the insecure footing of jealousy and rivalry in their dealings, the afternoon together solidified their own friendship. Much as Arthur and Merlin had done, they'd moved on in a positive direction toward the future.
She peered into the looking glass. The color in her cheeks reflected the elation she was feeling at the moment. Yes she and Merlin were about to embark on their service to the larger political and magical communities. Still, with the breakthroughs they'd achieved on that particular afternoon, they had more support to do so. Still she wondered why Merlin felt even more elated on his ride back from the lookout point than earlier. Something happened. Now what? Her eyes narrowed. Her suspicions, while not exactly raining on her parade, left her outlook with heavy scattered clouds looming over its horizon. Her mouth quirked curiously as she finished brushing her hair out. Merlin?
Hi! Valiant's back in his stall. I'm heading up the stairs now. Are you all right? he queried through the link.
That's my question for you. Can we talk please? she requested urgently.
All right. Nothing bad happened. In fact, it's great news. I'll be right there! he reported allowing his excitement to color his response.
She nodded absently. While some relief assuaged her concerns, she still wanted some clarification. She tapped her fingers on the oak table.
The knock at the door jarred her from her reverie.
She walked over and opened it to find her Warlock waiting with a warm smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. "You beat Arthur again, didn't you?"
"Hi to you too," he jabbed good-naturedly. "No we didn't race on the way back. We just had a spirited ride. We both have a lot to think about. Have a good time with Gwen?"
"Yes we did. I'm glad that she and I are finally connecting. Don't get me wrong. She's always been courteous. This time, however, she's opened up to me. Maybe it's because we're together and moving past that courtship experience," she reported. She eyed Caliburn on his back. "Is that a new sword?"
"Yes it is. After Arthur and I reached our understandings about magic, Freya showed up with this sword." He stepped back and carefully drew it from its scabbard. "This is Caliburn. Like Arthur's sword, it's forged from the dragon's breath."
"Arthur's sword. She returned his sword to him then?" she queried cautiously.
"As I said, we're both ready to wield these blades now." He admired the glint of the blade and its runes enscribed on its face. "I remember when Excalibur, Arthur's sword, was made. Kilgarrah warned me that it could cause harm in the wrong hands. I didn't listen. Uther got hold of it. I managed to get rid of it until Morgana's invasions forced me to use it." He shrugged. "At least now, we both understand the gift and responsibility we both hold."
"That we all hold," she corrected him gently.
And it is good that you realize that. The time ahead will be full of trials, Kilgarrah advised over the link. Use it in good faith. Wield it for the Greater Good. My congratulations on an afternoon of breakthrough and discovery—both of you. Then he went silent.
"Guess he approves?" Merlin supposed wryly.
"Guess so. I think we deserve something too," she suggested with a smirk.
"Oh you do, do you?" He chuckled before embracing her. He peered into her eyes deeply. "Arthur thinks you're having a good effect on me."
"Nice of him to say. What do you think?" she approved.
"Kiss me and we'll find out," he proposed.
She giggled before locking lips with him. Their energies flowed back and forth between them strengthening each other.
Seemed that the time before dinner had an appetizer of romance in the air after all…..
[An Hour Later—Main Banquet Area]
Merlin pushed his plate back and reclined in his chair contentedly. While he'd only had the rare treat of roast venison on a handful of occasions previously, he'd developed a taste for the luxury meat. Combined with the fruit and wine from the stores, his palate sang with happiness.
The happiness around the table also had something to do with it. Too often such state meals or even the expeditions had some brewing bad news or a threat barreling down on the kingdom beforehand. Now, for one night at least, the participants had a bliss of sorts before Merlin's departure for bigger and better things.
Arthur smirked at his friend. "You see, Merlin? I remembered you liked that. Guess I'm not always a prat, am I?"
"You have your moments, Arthur, but no, you aren't," Merlin jabbed back with an air of sauciness in his voice.
"I may make a hunter out of you yet, Merlin," Mithian supposed with a twinkle in her eye. "Sport aside of course."
"Yes well…if we have to hunt to eat, that's fine, I guess. I just respect life," Merlin sighed.
"It's part of being who and what you both are, Merlin," Gaius interjected from where he sat across the table.
"Being what, Gaius?" Gwen queried curiously.
The physician exchanged momentary glances with the sorcerers before continuing on with his thoughts. "To use magic, one has to be in tune with the energies around ourselves. I had to learn it. Mordred, Morgana and you both were born with the gift. In fact, you both are magic personified."
"Magic personified?" Arthur wondered aloud.
"I guess we're one with that energy," Mithian supposed. "I'm still figuring this out."
"We both are. We're in tune with our surroundings. The trick is not to let our duties distract us from that harmony. Morgana, for instance, wanted respect for us all. She let her hatred for Uther and the Great Purge drive her agenda. Question too is where to move on from here, I guess," Merlin theorized.
Gwen raised her goblet. "To moving on toward peace."
"Hear! Hear!" they all chorused.
Arthur set his goblet down after a hearty gulp. "Merlin, where was this wise man all of these years? I mean you'd have these fantastic insights. Then you'd trip over the chamber pot or do something stupid to sully it. Why couldn't you be this way all of the time?"
"I was a servant. I couldn't outshine you. Besides you would have been intimidated," Merlin noted somberly. "Uther thought I was a buffoon."
"Father respected your loyalty and courage, Merlin," Arthur disagreed. "He overlooked your contributions because of your status."
"I am afraid I had to caution him in that regard, Sire," Gaius admitted. "Merlin was well inexperienced when he first came here from Ealdor. Over the years, experience drilled certain lessons through that thick head of his." He smiled warmly at his former charge. "Uther would have killed him if he'd known about Merlin's magic."
"You certainly did some foolish things," Gwen recalled with a chuckle. "You certainly spent enough time in the stocks familiarizing yourself with the produce."
"Oh you did, did you?" Mithian inquired with a smirk.
Gaius quirked his eyebrow. "He did a few times until he learned some discretion. We all grow, Merlin. I think we saw the experience showing through."
"The support was appreciated. It helps when you're not alone…even if you're hiding your true self. At least I don't have to hide any longer," Merlin expressed.
"Never again, Merlin, as long as Father and I have anything to say about it," Mithian vowed earnestly. She warmly squeezed his hand and kissed his cheek.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Merlin, you're being such a girl. Stop already." He took another pointed draught from his goblet.
"I think it's sweet," Gwen disagreed. "We could benefit from some of that as well."
"As I recall, Arthur, wasn't it you who didn't care if we saw you kissing Gwen?" Merlin supposed.
"Yes…well…." Arthur sighed heavily in defeat knowing he'd been outmaneuvered.
"And don't deny it," Gwen gloated in satisfaction. "We made our stand. They are now. Maybe it's time for our gift to them?"
"Gift?" Merlin wondered. "This dinner is gift enough. So's everything you've done."
"Nonsense!" Arthur disagreed. He brought out an oblong box hewn from fine mahogany wood and set it on the table in front of the two guests of honor. "As a thank you, congratulations and a reminder."
Mithian exchanged curious glances with Merlin before opening the box in question. She gasped in surprise. "Oh my!"
Merlin stared incredulously. "It's too much." He removed two fine goblets from their cushioned resting place and set them where all could admire them. He admired the vessels' golden base not to mention the rubies, emeralds and garnets encrusted into each one.
"Those were forged together," Gwen noted. "They belong on the same table serving the same function. While they can do so separately, the goblets work better together. You two work that way as well. We've all seen that over the past two weeks."
"She freed me with her consideration that day at the picnic," Merlin noted warmly.
"You deserved consideration when a certain prat played his games," Mithian replied. "I saw your heart and earnestness, Merlin. That's why I risked everything twice to talk with you about Morgana. She caught me both times. Still your insight and caring make you worth it."
Merlin blushed.
"Now you're a matched set as much as Gwen and I are," Arthur informed them letting the jab go lest he get another look from Gwen. "Granted the wedding needs to take place and you need to be crowned, Merlin, as Prince. Mere formalities. The goblets symbolize the relationship between our realms. We're a matched set as well. May we remain so."
"I'll drink to that," Gaius concurred before taking a small sip from his own goblet. "We've certainly seen enough upheavals to last a while. May we all be able to live in peace."
"King Rodor invited Gwen and me for the coronation and your wedding. We all leave at first light. Enjoy the evening and this time, Merlin. Let it carry you through the duties ahead," Arthur insisted.
"We will," Mithian concurred. "We shall indeed."
Merlin exhaled contentedly. He knew the road ahead would not be easy. Challenges would pock mark their path. Still with such great friends and allies not to mention the others from across Britain and the great sea, they would thrive and succeed….
Succeed mutually and in all regards…..