Conclusion

Eager to get away from the royal court's burdens, the newlyweds raced Valiant and Rosebud up the dusty woodland trail and into the forest beyond. Their hearts needed each other unencumbered by such things. Revolts, usurpers, rules and council meetings only served to drag them down.

They needed simple….they needed it now….

Natura eased the tension for her part. Their mounts' hoofbeats soothed their souls. The wind rustled their hair gently. The mid-morning sunshine warmed their skin. The birds' calls to each other caressed their ears….

Amor did the rest. Through the couple's shared link, they felt each other's heartbeat. They stole looks of varying emotions at each other; the sun playing off of their eyes much like the sparkling waters of a pristine stream. They'd share a carefree laugh. Their fingertips would touch. Their hands would join for a couple of seconds….

…then one of them would press an advantage getting a couple of strides' lead…..

Such as it went…..

[Woodland Clearing—Ten Miles from Whitgate—Two Hours Later]

Merlin sat under a knotted oak tree relaxing for a few minutes' time. He relaxed to the gentle swishing of the leaves' dance in the breeze. The swaying grass almost seemed hypnotic. His mind drifted back to earlier such escapes in Ealdor and Camelot….

…when he could be himself away from the burdens of magic and societal connections…

Great power has its responsibilities and dead weight, I guess. He sighed and leaned back against the tree. As awesome as the new title and privileges were to him, his mind chafed under the heavy leaden strings attached to them. He knew his Princess felt the same. How do we find balance?

Such things are a struggle, Young Warlock.

Merlin sighed in defeat. Kilgarrah, are you close by?

I took a pass over you both to insure your safety, Merlin. Your time with Mithian is your own. I respect that, the Great Dragon informed him. But yes, we do keep watch over you both.

We?

Freya watches from Avalon. If Talesin so wished, he could discern your location. We watch over you both because of your importance to the Greater Good. Others would seek to control you, to destroy what you would bring into the world. Certainly the aborted rebellion would have shown you that, Kilgarrah explained.

So we don't have freedom. We can't have this? he lamented.

Yes but not alone. You both gave that up when you stepped into your roles. Merlin, you aren't a peasant any longer. When one is that far down your mortals' social structure, it is easy to conceal yourself in the world. Now that you are a Prince, you can only do so with great care, Kilgarrah continued. Do not worry. I would not pry like that into your affairs.

Except when it suits you.

Hrumph! I have my reasons. We all do, Kilgarrah insisted. We care, Merlin. We want Mithian and you to enjoy life. Do so. Just be aware that if you have need, we shall be there. With that he went silent.

Guess that answers that question. Merlin grabbed for a pebble and tossed it away in a huff. Just because we're royalty, doesn't that mean we deserve some peace?

Now what's wrong? Mithan cut into his funk.

Sorry. Kilgarrah was giving me the 'be careful because we're watching' lecture. How are you doing out there? There's a patch of grass here with your name on it, he explained.

In a minute, I'm almost done! I hope you're up to a good lunch, she supposed while breaking through the underbrush and into the clearing. Over her shoulder, she carried her crossbow.

Behind her, a deceased boar floated into view.

He just barged out in front of me. Imagine that? She smirked. Father will lecture me but this is what I love doing. She shrugged.

Just as long as you're careful, I'm glad you're all right, he noted with concern. He pulled his knife out. "Let's get this cleaned up. Then we can eat."

"Good. I'm hungry. Glad you want to do something," she teased.

"Excuse me?" he countered.

She giggled. "Just get to cleaning him up." She took her turn leaning against the tree and waited for the task at hand to be done.

At that moment, a few wisps of stray mist blew through the breeze. It congealed into a pillar formation and then into a portal.

Freya stepped onto the grass with a small bottle and a covered wooden cup in her hands. "Good afternoon, my Friends. My apologies for disturbing your private time." She held up her items. "I brought some things to improve your feast."

"Thank you, Freya. You're fine," Mithian assured the priestess. She considered the viscous dark yellow liquid in the bottle. "What is this?"

"It's oil squeezed from Roman olives. The cup has a fresh herb called rosemary in it. Perhaps once Merlin finishes cleaning and dressing the boar, you might wish to baste the meat in this seasoning before you set it to roast," Freya explained. "I have never tried it with boar. I like it on lamb. Priestess Romalia can't stop talking about it."

"I didn't think you all could eat meat," he presumed.

"Only on special occasions. Otherwise you're right, Merlin." Freya shrugged. "Actually I have a suggestion. Perhaps you might walk it into the kitchen directly? Allow your cooks to clean it? I presume you were going to share it with the others in the castle?"

"That was exactly what I was thinking," Mithian concurred. "It would save us from cleaning it."

"Then go ahead and put it in there," Freya indicated. She waved a hand in front of the portal. "Just cut off a flank or a small piece to split between yourselves."

"Be right back," he indicated before disappearing into the mists.

"I wish we could do that," Mithian lamented. "It would make travel so much easier."

"If the goddess allows it, I would be happy to teach you both. It is her secret to impart as she will," Freya declined. "I am sorry, Princess. I wish I could."

"If anyone understands duty, it's us," Mithian assured her. Then she saw him return with a sizeable boar filet on a wood skewer. "I'll bet Gaston loved seeing that."

"Actually he needed something for dinner. He definitely loved seeing that boar. He sent his thanks," Merlin recounted. "So how do we season this meat?"

"Romalia pours the oil in with the rosemary and rubs it on the meat. Then she puts it over the fire and lets it roast away," Freya remembered. She took the cover off of the wooden bowl revealing the fragrant needle-like leaves. "It's how they cook along the Great Inland Sea. Let me see. I pour half of this bottle into the herbs…" She emptied the designated oil into the rosemary and gently stirred it through with a stick. "Merlin, rub this on the meat. Sorry but I can't touch the boar…at least not today."

"Of course." He dipped his fingers into the heavy liquid and smeared the mixture all over the filet. Then he stuck it over the fire to cook down. He watched as a few stray drops smoked in the flames. "Was that what she wanted us to do?"

"That is what she does…at least from watching her," Freya surmised. She stepped over to the mist portal. "Forgive me but I do need to be getting back for our meditation and prayers. Enjoy your meal, you two. Just be careful out here. If you need help, just let us know. Okay?" She nodded to them affectionately before disappearing into the mists and allowing them to dissipate in her wake.

"We are so fortunate to have friends like that," he noted while feeling guilty for how he had talked to Kilgarrah earlier. Kilgarrah?

Yes, Merlin? I sensed Freya with you. Is all well? the Great Dragon queried allowing a bit of a perturbed tone to color his words.

Yes…well no. Freya's gift made me realize the value of your words from earlier. Merlin inhaled deeply. I wanted to thank you for your concern.

I appreciate that, Merlin. Thank you for saying that. By doing so, you show how much you've grown as a man. Rest assured, we will not pry overly much. Still we want to make sure you're safe, Kilgarrah indicated. Enjoy your feast.

"I agree with him. That was really nice of you to say," she complimented as he turned the meat to let it start browning evenly on the other side as well.

"I don't want to offend anyone. I just want our time however," he indicated morosely.

"As we've both have said, we'll just have to make due and carve it out of whatever time is available, Merlin," she reminded him. She savored the first hints of the boar's aroma. "That smells wonderful!"

"I can't wait to see how it turns out myself," he concurred while sitting down at her side and watching the meat cooking. He had to admit that the process made his mouth water.

And so it went….

[Two and a Half Hours Later]

Mithian sat contentedly curled up against his side. She'd enjoyed their oiled boar's distinctive flavor. She treasured his companionship even more. "Your cooking was all right," she teased.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm learning how to do this and…." Then he stopped as he saw her eyes twinkling at him. His personal frustration cooled under Amor's soothing balm. "Oh."

"We both need to relax. The crises aren't going to end. We need to hold onto our humanity if we're to survive and accomplish our goals," she informed him.

"Kind of the story of our relationship," he surmised wryly.

"Yes. Remember though what Father said to us this morning, we shouldn't get so occupied with business that we can't have time for ourselves," she reminded him. She looked into his eyes pleadingly. "I need you to get through this."

"And I need you." He gently laid his lips on her forehead.

"Mmmm….now that's what I want to hear," she murmured. "Just promise me that the progress through the provinces will be like this."

"Whatever I can do to make it that way, you know I will," he vowed affectionately. "I just hope we can avoid trouble for a change."

"It would be nice if trouble would avoid us for a change, you mean," she corrected him gently. She stood up slowly. "Unfortunately Father will be looking for us if we're gone much longer."

"True," he conceded in disappointment. His eyes flashed yellow putting out the still-smoldering embers of the fire. Then he took her hand. "We face the challenges together."

"Together." She embraced and laid a passionate kiss on his mouth, allowing her energy to pour into him for a full twenty seconds.

He returned the gesture as he could before allowing her to break off the contact. He mounted Valiant and indicated, "No way you're beating me this time." He spurred his ride on before taking off toward home.

"Typical!" she sassed before sending Rosebud off in hot pursuit.

And so ended the first month (more or less) of their relationship. Although relatively brief, their bond had already shaped events and trends across Britain and adjacent dimensions. Crowns had been preserved. New dynasties forged. Avalon turned back toward the right path. Sorcery emerged from the shadow of oppression.

Yet as much as they had already accomplished, they had only scratched the surface of their journey together…

That is a journey for future tales. For now however, let us allow Merlin and Mithian their space. Shall we?

THE END (for now)

[Author's Note: Well I hope you've enjoyed reading "Refuge" as much as I have writing it. Merlin and Mithian are quite the pair. Too bad they didn't get more time in the series. Ah well….

So anyhow, I would like to pursue more installments of this AU. In addition to the honeymoon/progress through the provinces, there are other things—both royal and magical-that our couple needs to deal with. We could also see a crossover pop up as I do have some ideas for that too.

Suggestions and ideas are welcome if you want to PM me.

Thanks for the reviews and for reading "Refuge"!]