Chapter 65 [Next Morning]

[Camelot—In Front of the Palace]

Merlin sat on the granite stairs somberly while gazing up at the early morning sky. He beheld the stars twinkling back down at him. Luna sat nestled amongst them; her gentle beams bathing him in their radiance. He held up his hand studying it through the fairy dust radiating in the dim lighting. So much changing…so much to never be the same again! He exhaled sharply while looking back over his shoulder toward the palace proper…

…the place where a lot of his coming out into the world had taken place…

…the place where he'd developed his magic and purpose….

…the place where he'd met his greatest friends and allies…where he'd met his love….

He sighed and rose from his perch. Descending the last two stairs, he stepped down onto the cobblestones. His mind flashed back to that fateful day….

[Adapted From "Hunter's Heart"]

He stood in the midst of a retinue of knights and palace household at Arthur's back. He still thought this was all happening too fast. Gwen wasn't gone long enough to be gotten over especially not how Arthur had felt about her.

And yet, they awaited this Princess Whoever She Was anyhow.

'How can he be doing this? How?' the Warlock fretted to himself while trying very hard to keep his feelings to himself.

Then the horseshoes clopped distinctly against the cobblestones echoing to their ears. Although faint at first, the sounds, a whole flock of them, intensified with each stride closer to the group.

Arthur stood tall and resolute. His determination to achieve some political stability weighing clearly on him.

Then a group of knights rode into view before stopping at the base of the stairs. In their center, a woman sat on a white charger; her white wedding dress and veil seemingly pristine despite the dry dusty conditions on the trail.

One of the escort dismounted and helped the woman do the same. With a slight bow, he retreated a couple of steps back.

She nodded politely to her man. Then she closed the distance to the bottom step.

Arthur stepped down to meet her. "Greetings, Princess Mithian."

Mithian pulled back her veil to reveal her sparkling eyes, gentle complexion and warm smile. "And greetings to you, King Arthur."

And the rest was history….

[Modern Day]

Merlin smirked and rolled his eyes. "Whoever would have thought that meeting would change everything?" He stood in the spot where she'd introduced herself to them all that day and concentrated.

Although watered down by Tempus' passage, he dimly felt her hopefulness and energy rising to assuage his anxious mind. He smiled at the thought of her in a wedding gown….

…this time however it would be for him and him alone….

Please don't let there be any problems! He looked about in anxiety.

Now why ever would there be, Merlin? Mithian queried over the link. Look up.

He followed her cue and toward the balcony overlooking the plaza. There he saw her watching him in turn. Couldn't sleep either?

Not when a certain warlock can keep the whole palace up with his nerves. Are you all right? she pointed out. Just a minute. Her eyes flashed golden. "Fleòdradh sìos!" Then she stepped over the edge into the night air. Much like a feather, she drifted slowly toward the ground. As her feet softly kissed the stone surface at his side, she giggled at her nerves. "Everything's fine, my Warlock." Her lips softly whispered Amor's notes across his left cheek. "Good morning. Now what's troubling you?"

"I can't believe the time's here. I'm looking forward to everything of course in Nemeth. It's just that…." he started.

"It's just that Camelot's been your home for a long time now. That's understandable." She rubbed his forearm supportively. "I felt like this the day before we first met, you know."

"What?"

"That day you were remembering down here just now. I recall thinking that I'd never see Father or Kay again. I felt out of sorts because I thought I would be Camelot's prize rather than a Nemethian queen. Little that I suspect that I'd be bringing back the Real Prize from here to my kingdom." She let her eyes sparkle at him.

He felt shy for a minute not being used to the reference as "the Real Prize" by a woman. He blushed.

She giggled; the peals of her laugh setting his butterflies into a frenzied flight. "Whoever would believe the warlock behind opening the gates of both kingdoms is so easily embarrassed?"

"I am human, you know." His eyes glowed and he motioned with his hand.

She felt the magical grip sweeping her toward him. Of course she didn't fight it riding the energies into his arms. Her lips eagerly surrendered to his in an earnest kiss. For several heartbeats, their vibrations flowed back and forth between each other.

"Honestly, you two. You just can't stop making a scene. Can you?"

The two sorcerers looked back toward the palace to find Arthur, Gwen, Gaius and the knights watching them intently. Around the newcomers lay several bags and items waiting to be loaded onto the horses.

"I couldn't sleep. Just thinking about the last decade or so, Sire. Thank you," Merlin explained.

"And I figured he shouldn't have to be alone while doing so. Somebody needs to get him looking toward the future," Mithian suggested.

"A great idea indeed," Gwen concurred. She pointed toward the stables where the castle pages were leading their horses into view. "It seems the horses are ready. We have a great day for the ride."

"A fine starry sky and a little color in the east with nary a cloud. Good portents indeed," Arthur concurred with his wife. "Merlin, you're on your way to better things. Remember that. Don't worry the Princess with such base nonsense! Let's get you to your new castle. Shall we?"

"Listen to him, Merlin. We're all going to be all right. Just trust in that," Gaius reassured his former charge.

And if any prat wants trouble, I'll set them straight! Mithian noted confidently as she climbed up onto her horse.

I just hope I can do the same! Merlin tied his bundle to the saddle's back horn. Then he got up into the saddle and noted Sol's increased light in the eastern sky. He looked toward his beloved Princess. "Our day is dawning."

"Perhaps the day before the day, Merlin. Still any day we have is our day," she informed him with a smirk and an arch of her own eyebrow. "Carpe diem. Carpe vitam."

"Listen to her, Merlin." Arthur looked to his former servant. "Despite the fact you are now a Prince of another land, you and Mithian are our allies. As such, you're welcome back in Camelot at any time."

"As long as you don't try to give us George or anything. King Rodor might take that as an act of war," Merlin jabbed warmly.

"We won't, Merlin," Gwen assured him. "I'm sure we'll need him enough. Won't we, Arthur?"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "On that note, move out!" He spurred his horse onward into the lightening day ahead.

As they galloped out of the main gate, across the drawbridge and toward the woodland path beyond, Merlin smiled. He did steal a glance backward at the castle fading from view behind the oaks and beeches increasingly. Still, as Mithian had just reminded him, it wasn't forever. It was just a transition of sorts….

…maybe home would be in a different place from now on but visits would be encouraged….

That made the future less imposing….Less imposing indeed…..