Chapter 82 [Four Hours Later]
The morning sped by rapidly for Nemeth's royal court. Heralds announced that, despite the attempted coup, all remained well. The visitors quickly offered their support of course as needed to secure Whitgate's military void. Rodor knighted Tristan and Isolde offering them the estate of Gunswold in exchange for their oaths of fealty. In addition Ywain, Galahad and Hector each accepted the vacated council seats and holdings.
The trial went fairly quickly for the coup's conspirators. Clear evidence and eye witness accounts denied any potential defense. With unanimous guilty verdicts for the accused, only the sentences remained in doubt.
Rodor, after hours of deliberation, pronounced death sentences for most of the prisoners. The rebellious knights would meet their end on the gallows. Master Wyngate, Aethelred and Edwin had appointments with the headsman.
Only due to Galahad's account and the newlyweds' request for clemency did Rodrick avoid the same fate. Instead Rodor stripped Rodrick of his rank, title and lands. He sent Rodrick to the furthest corner of the kingdom to grovel as a peasant and work the rockiest dirt for poor returns.
Rodrick prostrated himself and thanked the King for sparing him. He rose and stumbled forth from the room never to be seen in that assembly again.
Now, in terms of the coup, one other matter awaited…and that was for Merlin and Mithian to investigate….
[Down the Hall from Meleagant's Prison Chamber]
Merlin stopped short of the chamber; his mind swimming with details surrounding the aborted coup attempt. Is this what it's like? Are we always going to be looking over our shoulders? He cast a defensive look toward his Princess hoping he didn't just suck her into a toxic morass of such things nonstop.
Mithian quirked an eyebrow at him. Merlin? What's troubling you?
It's that uprising from earlier. I hope I'm….
Hope you're what? She could see he was trembling. Instinctively her arms surrounded him drawing him against herself supportively.
I hope I didn't invite this trouble upon your father and you. I feel like I have. He let a mournful sigh out.
She shook her head. You did no such thing. Morgana awoke my latent magic. Uther, if anyone, started this fight a generation ago. Merlin, we love each other. We're willing to share our duty to Nemeth and Albion. Nothing else really matters beyond that. All right? You saved us twice with your magic. You earned my respect and caring *before* our bonding. So it is real. It is ours.
Yes it's ours. But I'd die before I see you come to any more harm, Mithian, he asserted.
I know. She smiled serenely and pecked him gently on the cheek. That's why Father approves of you as he does. And I too would die for you. You just have to remember, my Warlock, that there are those who will always disapprove of us. Those people who will want the throne. Those who resent our service to the Greater Good. Attempts will come. Look at what Morgana has put both Camelot and Nemeth through. At those times, we have our friends of singular quality. We have friends who are allowed to certain rewards. She smirked at him.
Certain rewards? You mean like later time?
She rolled her eyes. I was talking about my heart but yes, that comes with it too. She exhaled in exasperation while allowing him to have his teasing barb if it picked his spirits up.
By the way, thanks, he expressed.
It's okay. It's what we do for each other. She allowed her eyes to sparkle into his. Just remember you're worth the risk…whatever it is. She rubbed his arm supportively. Ready to deal with Meleagant?
Are we ever? Duty and all that, he noted ruefully.
She nodded as they pressed on down the passage. Turning the corner, they found Alain and Nicholas standing guard outside of the chamber. She stopped short not recognizing the two knights despite their emerald surcoats and Nemethian crests. "Greetings, Sir Knights."
The guards immediately bowed, recalling her from the near execution outside. "Greetings, Princess Mithian." Seeing Merlin, however, drained their face of color. They quaked in dread.
"I'm not going to hurt either of you," Merlin assured them. "In fact, I wish to thank you for your service. Please rise. Forgive us. With everything going on, King Rodor neglected to mention you to us."
"I am Sir Alain. He is Sir Nicholas. We were of Cawdor but Meleagant deserted us when he fled to Camelot following your attack," Alain introduced them.
"We guarded King Rodor until he awoke from the enchantment. After which, he inducted us into the knights of Nemeth and provided for our needs in exchange for our service," Nicholas explained.
"And a worthy service you do indeed as Prince Merlin has already said," Mithian complimented. "Now per my father's orders, I am here to see the prisoner."
"Yes, Milady. Queen Annis will be back within the hour. She will be escorting him back to Cawdor," Alain noted as he opened the door. "And Princess?"
"Yes?" she queried.
"We are sorry for our part in your pain. That is why we wish to serve…to make restitution and be better men. May we be of service to you both," Nicholas apologized not hiding his own guilt and shame.
You see? We are not alone in our service after all, my Warlock, she assessed over the link. Then she turned back to the contrite duo. "It speaks to your character, Sir Nicholas, and to you, Sir Alain. With our kingdom being as it is, you both will have ample opportunity to serve my father. Thank you both." She opened the door and beckoned Merlin to follow her.
Meleagant looked out the window toward the walls below. He deliberately kept his back turned to the royal duo despite hearing their interchange with the guards. "So your father poisoned my knights' minds, did he? The little traitors! If this was Cawdor, I'd…."
"I believe your actions did that well enough, Meleagant," Merlin asserted.
"So the servant-prince can speak other than in spells, can he?" the prisoner taunted. "Take care, Boy. You might provoke a war one day with your mouth. I see Arthur Pendragon is a bad influence on you."
"And your actions brought the deaths of thousands not to mention a revolt back in Cawdor. Take care, Meleagant, we survived this morning because of our loyal knights and friends. You teeter on the edge of a poison dagger. Take care not to stumble and cut yourself," she retorted not giving an inch.
"Yes, I heard about that pathetic excuse for a coup." Meleagant snorted sarcastically. He wheeled about sharply with a smug smirk on his face. "They tried to offer me the throne, you know."
"So they said. And?" Mithian insisted; her eyes narrowing to slits. She folded her arms across her chest.
"You let her speak for you now, Merlin? Some man you are," Meleagant scoffed at the warlock.
"She has the experience dealing with politics and you. It's about being partners. You might try it some time," Merlin insisted. "Answer her question."
"Already whipped and it's barely more than a day. Mithian, you certainly work fast and…." Meleagant started before he was thrown backward and pinned against the wall.
Merlin strode forward forcefully. His eyes glowed golden with red specks. "I love and respect my wife but I can think for myself!" He waved his hand releasing the spell and allowing Meleagant to slump to the floor. He nodded to his wife to resume.
Mithian frowned knowing that Merlin's response was controlled. Still she couldn't help but wonder if that was what the goddess meant. What is the right response? Will we really know until after the deed is done? She ground her teeth before pressing, "As the Prince bade, I'm waiting for my answer, Meleagant."
"What I could have done with you…." Meleagant realized while regarding both of the sorcerers in front of himself. He could almost feel the power emanating off of their forms. His mind immediately thought of several possibilities of how they might've been turned to his ends….
…ends cut off by the revolt back home…
"I declined. Do you think I want it? I have enough trouble back home without trying to piece together this broken and worthless land," Meleagant scorned.
"A state which your alliance brought to our door," Merlin reminded him.
"Besides Rodor's council would have stabbed me in the back at some point. I trust you're dealing with it?" Meleagant presumed.
"The King has dealt with them. Be grateful you're still a king for the moment. Otherwise I'm sure you'd be joining them on the scaffold. Be grateful I'm not you. Otherwise I might stack that oiled up wood and hay around the stake for you," she informed him frankly. "Have a safe trip back to Cawdor, Meleagant. May you survive your storm there."
"And may you survive yours here, Mithian. The people will never accept a witch ruling this land. Much as with Morgana or Radegund, they will scorn you," Meleagant presumed.
"We shall see. Farewell," Merlin retorted seriously. "Coming?"
"Aye. We're done here," she concurred while following him from the room. She knew they all had enough to do without belaboring the encounter with the incorrigible prisoner.
Both of them stopped as Queen Annis entered the chamber with a satisfied expression on her face.
"Good morning, Prince Merlin and Princess Mithian. Giving your guest one last bit of entertainment, are we?" the visiting Queen supposed with a bit of mirth.
"I realized I needed practice with my juggling." Merlin shrugged. "I figured an oversized giant would suit that. Forgot about that wall though." He winced sarcastically.
"Juggling?" Mithian queried in confusion.
"I visited Camelot a few years back. Arthur volunteered him to be the night's entertainment. I requested that he juggle for me. He did a masterful job," Queen Annis noted with a bit of wry humor in her voice.
"Did he now?" Mithian smirked while filing that notion away for future use. "The Prince is a faster learner when he needs to be. Queen Annis, safe travels to you and yours back to your city. We appreciate your assistance. I'm sure Arthur has said the same."
"Arthur and I just spoke." Queen Annis nodded in high regard. "We shall be speaking again at some point. Perhaps, Princess Mithian, you and Prince Merlin might consider a visit to Caerveron? I promise safe passage of course."
"Of course," Merlin noted remembering the first trip to her land.
"We are past old grudges now. Most of us anyhow," Queen Annis assured the Prince. "Besides I value allies such as yourselves. Not only do you have power, you have developing political acumen. Much as your situation taught this morning, we need our allies in the coming days." She peered outside into the hall.
Four of her own knights hustled into the room.
"Escort King Meleagant to his horse, Good Knights. Make sure everything is taken care of. We have a long ride ahead of us," Queen Annis bade the subordinates.
The quartet nodded silently. They guided Meleagant from the chamber and down the passage toward the stairs.
As he left, Meleagant glared at the duo with deep malice. "Enjoy your time, Witches! It will not last!"
The Prince and Princess said nothing more; their eyes met his stonily. Their hands clasped each other in support.
"I wish we could gag him. Good day, congratulations on your marriage and blessings for the future. Until our next meeting, my Friends," Queen Annis concluded before departing.
Mithian sighed and slumped onto the bed. She quivered.
In a flash, Merlin embraced her supportively. "He's gone. Queen Annis will see him out of the kingdom. He can't hurt us any longer."
"Oh, Merlin…I…." She sobbed and buried her face in his chest. Her tears soaked the front of his tunic. "What will we do?"
"What we always do. We persevere. We trust in our friends. We rebuild and care," he reminded her. "Something a very wise person once told me."
"Really? She must have been something else," she replied feeling herself pick up a bit from hearing her own words echoed back at her.
"She's one in a universe," he assured her while laying a gentle kiss on her forehead. "You survived because you're you. You're still special no matter what Morgana or her horde did to you."
"I kept hope because of you, Merlin. Remember that, my Warlock. You are my strength and heart. Thank you for putting Meleagant in his place," she revealed.
"Nobody messes with my Princess. He had it coming. I didn't want to go overboard." Seeing her questioning look, he shrugged. "I could have suspended him out the window. Decided not to. I made my point. Now how about we talk with Gaius?"
"And then we get our break?" she supposed.
"Just try and stop me," he declared as he took her hand and led her from the chamber. He wanted to put the impertinent former resident and his malicious ends behind them as soon as possible. He also needed to think more on the goddess' point himself.
Still for the present, they had all survived and were moving forward. That's all that counted….
At least for the time being that is….