Chapter 70

[Two Hours Later—Mithian's Bedchamber]

After the wonderful lunch, Mithian reclined on her own bed for the first time in weeks. Her subjects' welcome indeed meant the world to her. Her father's hospitality raised her spirits as well. Her friends' happiness and being there for the dual events on the following day meant a great deal. And then there was Merlin….

…at last…her Warlock was about to get his due rewards…

…and then they'd get each other….

That thought should have sent her heart soaring to Olympian heights frankly….

…except the whole matter of Kay's death and the lack of closure dampened her spirits.

As Arthur told Merlin, Kay brought his own death on himself. We tried to help him. He rejected us. She moped morosely. He's been away on pilgrimage for so many years rather than being here for us. Still he's your brother. She put her chin in her hands and stared toward her favorite tapestry on the far wall, a wine colored with a simple white scrolling design around the edges.

A knock on the door interrupted her lament.

She jarred herself back to her senses. Now who would…? The familiar sensation identified itself to her. Merlin?

I felt you down the hall. Are you all right? Mind opening the door? Merlin called to her.

She slowly stood and walked across the floor. She opened the door to find him waiting for her in the hallway. In his hands, he bore a vase of lilacs, roses and baby's breath. "What?"

"I wanted to surprise you. You've been so down. Figured this would pick your spirits up," he explained while holding the vase out to her. "Maybe a smile?"

She accepted the flowers and inhaled deeply of the fragrances therein. "How did you know these are my favorite flowers?"

"I arranged a few bouquets for you back during the…you know. And then…well…I kind of asked Britomart for a suggestion just in case. I know I should have done it by myself. I…just wanted it to be…" He squirmed shyly; his heart beating like an anxious stag in a wood full of hunters.

She arched her eyebrow. "Perfect?"

"Yes." He could barely look at her out of anxiousness. "Besides…well…after dinner, I can't see you until the ceremony tomorrow. Before that, I wanted to make sure you're okay." He shrugged. "Not exactly a macho prince thing, is it?"

She smirked. "No it isn't the most masculine thing to admit. Still, Merlin, I don't care. Arthur tripped over himself asking me on that picnic, you know."

"He did?" he queried in disbelief. He always envisioned his former liege and brother-in-arms as a ladies man extraordinaire. To hear otherwise was frankly a surprise.

"Yes he did." She giggled like a dastardly schoolgirl spilling the Big Secret. "After he let go of my hand, he asked me if I ate breakfast. I of course said yes. He caught himself and asked me on that picnic." She assessed him before nodding knowingly. "I should have known how he had such a masterful meal whipped up so quickly."

"I worked all night to make sure it was perfect. He did pick the spot though. Give the Prat credit for that at least," he admitted.

"And then you started the belching contest between us. Oh you made sure that it was so perfect all right," she recalled with a slight sarcastic lilt to her voice. Despite how depressed she felt about her late brother, she felt her spirits being back to where they should have been. She sniffed deeply of her blooms again. "Did you make these appear?"

"Actually no. Again Britomart showed me where they grow in the woods. Sorry that I leaned so heavily on her. Gawain arranged for the vase. I know Arthur would call me a girl or something for going through the trouble when I should be worried about the ceremonies tomorrow or talking to your father about things. But you're important too," he conceded.

"Father won't mind you being sensitive." In spite of herself, she wiped a tear from her cheek. "This is so incredibly sweet and considerate!" She set the flowers down on the nightstand. "Maybe you need to give Arthur lessons. I'm sure Gwen would appreciate that."

"Yeah right. If he finds out about this, he and the other knights will never stop teasing me," he worried.

"Britomart will deal with Gawain. Somehow I suspect Gwen would curb Arthur in that regard as well. And that's not counting Father either. I will tell him about this," she assured him.

"I asked him for permission before doing this. I know I can just knock but he's been so good to me," he revealed.

She nodded approvingly to him. "And that, Merlin, is why Father likes you."

"And you?"

"And me what?" She arched her eyebrow in a fair imitation of Gaius'.

"Why you like me?"

She snorted impetuously. "Things like this make you tolerable." She sighed demonstratively making a big show of it in the process. "I guess you deserve a reward." She locked lips with his sending energy and a boost of energy through him.

When she released him, he gasped. "Wow."

"I never leave a good deed unrewarded," she informed him with a suggestive sparkle in her eye and a bit of mirth in her voice. Seeing him breathless over the whole exchange, she rolled her eyes. "Need a minute?"

He regained his composure. "I'm fine. And here I was going to ask if you wanted to go and see Kay. I don't want to ruin the mood but I want to make sure you have closure."

"You aren't ruining the mood. In fact it's just the opposite." She smiled as she led him out of the room and shut the door behind them. "Follow me."

Now where? He wondered while trying to keep up with her…..

[Royal Crypt—Twenty Minutes Later]

With only a stop at the entrance to light torches for themselves, she guided him into her family's burial vault. Using the flames' flickering light as a guide, she pointed out the most noteworthy figures interred in that place and other historical highlights.

Due to the research he'd done with Sir Geoffrey back in Camelot, Merlin followed along with the history lesson easily. He recalled Aethunwald's valor on the battlefield at Cardegald against the Romans two centuries earlier which earned him the fiefdom…the territory forming the current kingdom…. Ralfulf, her great-grandfather, had codified the laws seventy years earlier. Maeldreth, Rodor's father, had updated them and set the current tax collection system in place. In addition, he'd set forth the toleration for sorcery in Nemeth…

…a sanctuary-honing mentality insuring magic users' safety even during the darkest days following Uther's Great Purge….

"So if we follow Reywalda's suggestion for the travelers' inn, we'd be following precedent," he murmured to himself.

"What?" she queried in surprise.

"Sorry. I was thinking. After reading up on your predecessors in the archives, each have some signature thing or deed they did for the kingdom." He smiled. "What if we work with Arthur on building a string of inns along the road between Whitgate and Camelot? I'm talking maybe one in each kingdom and one more on the border where we camped last night."

She nodded in admiration. She had to admit that learning all of her genealogy took a while….

…and here Her Warlock had done it in a week…and then found a way to apply that knowledge constructively…

…to make their subjects' travels easier to bear…to enable them to have a hot meal and a comfortable bed if money permitted…

"We'll bring it up at the council meeting. Father will be pleased. See? You're going to be passable as a Prince." She squeezed his hand warmly while leading him deeper into the catacomb. In front of the last marked places, she stopped them. "My grandfather, Maeldreth, is here along with his wife, Aeflwyn. My mother, Taene, lies in the next row. She passed away when Kay and I were very young." She stopped for a minute to allow herself to catch her breath.

"She must have been very special," he deduced.

"She was the most kind and warmest person. Father has never cared for another woman since. He will love her until he dies," she clarified. "He has a portrait of her in the gallery." She stooped down another level. "Kay's here. And right under him…well…are our spots." She sighed. "I can almost sense you're about to say you're not worthy. Merlin, you will be a king, goddess willing, one day. You will be my king. I will be your queen. The people already love you. We've only arrived back here three hours ago and already you're coming up with ideas to improve the kingdom's lot. Our allies already respect you. The knights will follow us into Hades itself. You will win the royal council over." She sucked in a deep breath and rubbed his shoulder supportively to drive the point home.

"One day at a time, Mithian. Let's make sure we give Kay his time now," he noted respectfully.

"Indeed. Thank you for the reminder," she concurred. She held the torch in front of the late Prince's name plate reverently. "Greetings, Kay. It is our hope that you are at rest. I am sorry if we missed your attempt to speak with us during the battle. I do miss you. I wish I understood where your sudden hatred for us comes from. It is true that Morgana and Morgause misused their magic. But others such as Merlin only seek to help and serve others with their craft. I hope to learn more from him in the coming time. We shall bring magic into the light once more. Accordingly we will make sure it is used for good purposes rather than ill. That I swear to you. Speaking of Merlin, he already shows some potential as a Prince. Father and I will help him grow in that regard. Just know we shall keep the flame burning in your memory. We shall not forget you. Once again, be at peace. We forgive you. May you be able to forgive us." She kissed her palm gently and placed it over his name plate. "I love you, Kay."

He smiled supportively. "Nice sentiments. I hope he understands." He bowed his head. "I only wanted to save this kingdom. I also wanted acceptance as well."

"Everyone understands that, Merlin. Kay didn't have the chance to meet you as Father and I both did. Take heart," she assured him.

At that moment, the air chilled. The torches flickered and dimmed. A bit of mist wafted through the chamber.

The two sorcerers surveyed their surroundings warily. From the signs around themselves, they knew they were not alone.

Be mindful, Little Sister….

Prince Kay's spirit manifested itself about five feet away. Careworn wrinkles lined his face. His hair hung heavily over his shoulders. His eyes seemed sullen and moody as they beheld the duo in front of them. "Much lies with you both now. Be mindful of your ambitions and the future, Mithian. Emrys, protect her please."

"You know I will," Merlin vowed without hesitation. "As I did you and this kingdom."

"Yes. I was wrong about you. Still, I overheard some of what the triple goddess has said to you. Do not seek to cower others with your gift, Merlin. As with me, you will create the wrong impression." Kay nodded. "Even if I disagree with your open use of sorcery, I know you are a good person, Emrys. As Mithian said, you have potential. I feel the goodness in your heart. You have the ability to be a great king one day. Take heed of Father's council. I beg of you to learn as much as you can."

"I shall do that. King Rodor has much to offer," Merlin concurred.

"He does indeed." The spirit turned to her. "I did not want to banish you, Mithian. Still the council would have ordered your death."

"I doubt that, Kay," she disagreed feeling the sting of his words. "Perhaps confinement but not death. I wish you had spent more time with us rather than on pilgrimage or diplomatic missions. Perhaps you might have the perspective that you lecture Merlin about. You might have been better prepared for the regency or to know when to retreat in battle." She put her hand up stopping a reply in its tracks. "While skilled and polished as a diplomat, I fear you lacked that instinct on the battlefield."

"War is to be avoided, Mithian," Kay rebutted.

"And yet when conflict comes, we have to defend what's dear to us," Merlin interjected.

"True. Suffering under Meleagent's and Morgana's respective vices has taught me that well. Accordingly work hard and well. Assist Arthur Pendragon in forging this land into a united Albion. For a storm will swell off of our coast threatening everything. Leadership and discipline will determine how you meet it and your fortunes therein," Kay prophesized.

"Another war?" she queried in exasperation.

"Not yet but it will come, Mithian. As I said, be mindful." Kay looked toward the ceiling and nodded. "My time is almost up. I have to return. I wish to bless your marriage. I am glad that Love has finally found you a worthy partner, my Sister. Be well." With that he melted back into the darkness of the catacombs.

Mithian wiped a tear away with her free hand. "I had hoped for understanding on all fronts."

Merlin sighed heavily. "At least he blessed our marriage and acknowledged me as a worthy Prince. That's a start. As much as he disapproves of our magic, he at least said that much."

"Yes he did. And this war he spoke of? When? What?" she pressed.

"It sounds like its way off in the future. Meantime, as Kay said, we work with Arthur and the other realms to unite the land. We start now and work toward the goal. When the threat comes, we'll be ready if we do that." He raised her chin so that their eyes met. "Together."

She nodded. "Yes. Together." She squeezed his hand affectionately in her own. "Thank you, Merlin."

"You're welcome, Milady." He bowed in exaggerated fashion before her. "On that note, shall we return? I do believe the others will be eating shortly."

"Yes. We can return here from time to time to visit. For now though, the present does indeed await." She smiled warmly. "As well as our wedding."

"Indeed," Merlin noted. "Lead on." He motioned with his hand.

"I shall. Thank you." She guided them toward the exit and back into the castle proper where their merriment and duty awaited them…..