.

The Party: Part 2

"So, it seems you have yet another hurdle to overcome before the Orkney Isles are yours again," Jekyll remarked.

"Here I thought it was just another walk in the park," Lot bitterly replied.

Jekyll winced a bit. He would have to tread carefully here, he noted to himself. "I'm sorry," he said. Lot huffed. Silence. "Perhaps a change of topic would help? I've been meaning to talk to you about a matter that's greatly concerning…" Jekyll began.

"Doctor, in case you haven't noticed I'm preoccupied right now. And no, changing the topic won't distract me from this," Lot said.

"Majesty, please, this is serious and…" Jekyll began.

"Physician, hold thy tongue!" Lot snapped sharply, spinning on Jekyll and making him jump back a bit. He blinked in surprise at the man who thereafter scoffed and turned, marching away from the rest of them.

"How rude!" Louise said.

"You have to forgive him his state, Miss Collin. He's… not in a good mental place right now," Galehaut said. He turned to Jekyll. "Doctor, might I offer advice?"

"Of course," Jekyll answered, looking forlornly after Lot.

"Don't put your stock in one knight, when seeking help for a problem. Far too many used to do that way back when. Poor Yvain got it full on once. Lords and Ladies and Maidens and youths all seeking his help specifically when there were over one-hundred other knights who would have willingly and happily taken up the task," Galehaut said.

"What do you mean?" Louise questioned.

"To sum it up, once upon a time a lot of people in crisis decided they were going to put their stock in Yvain specifically just because they'd heard good things about him. They were so determined to have Yvain as their champion that they refused to even entertain the thought of asking any of the rest of us for help, and that determination almost cost each one of them everything because they wouldn't deign to go for Yvain's father or his brother or any of his uncles or cousins who would have been every bit as eager to step in to help, if not more. So, doctor, don't put all your eggs in Lot's basket. I'm here, and unlike him I'm ready and willing to hear your concern. Please, tell it to me and I will prove myself every bit as great an asset to thee as thou believest he is," Galehaut said.

"Yes, of course, my apologies," Jekyll said, visibly flustered like the thought hadn't even crossed his mind, until then, to turn to Galehaut instead of Lot. "Forgive me, Sir Galehaut. I'm not thinking straight."

"I take it that has something to do with the issue you wanted to discuss with Lot?" Galehaut wryly asked.

Jekyll shifted, glanced at Louise, then looked to Galehaut again. "I'd like to discuss the matter in private. Just between the two of us," he said.

"Henry!" Louise protested indignantly.

"I'm sorry Louise, truly I am, but it is pertinent as few people know of the matter as possible. I'm reluctant to even share it with King Galehaut. Forgive me, my darling, but it simply isn't necessary for you to know," Jekyll said somewhat guiltily.

She frowned, put out by this, then sighed as she tried to console herself over the secret being kept from her. "Oh very well, but don't expect I won't go prying, doctor," she answered.

"I wouldn't dare to expect anything other than that you would," he replied, smiling at her. She huffed in annoyance, turning up her nose and sauntering away. Jekyll sighed. "I'm afraid I've stung her pride," he said, shaking his head hopelessly.

"Then the matter must truly be dire. Especially for you to risk her wrath," Galehaut answered half-teasingly, a measure of amusement in his eyes.

Jekyll snorted in derision then turned to Galehaut again. "Outside," he said. "Where no prying ears can hear. Or at least where there is a low chance of them hearing." Galehaut nodded and the two of them slipped away from the party to go out on the balcony.

Once the door was shut behind them, Galehaut looked at Jekyll. "I must admit, doctor, you have me enamoured of this secret you're holding back," he said. "Prithee speak it to me plainly."

Jekyll took a breath then told Galehaut all he could. About his dream and about Hyde's appearance in his home, and of his counterpart's condition as well as his confiding in Meleagant already. Galehaut listened solemnly, a frown on his lips. Jekyll finished the summarization and paused a moment for Galehaut to take it in. Galehaut didn't speak, so Jekyll assumed it would be alright to continue. "I know what must be done to save his life. And very likely my own as well. I must make him part of me again. Rejoin our two bodies into the one they were supposed to be."

"But he is dangerous," Galehaut noted.

"Yes," Jekyll answered. "Usually they aren't, but this one…" He trailed off, shaking his head.

"And you wish to hide this matter from the woman you're courting? This is a serious situation, physician. She deserves to know. Though you may not want to believe it, this means her safety as well," Galehaut finally said.

"I know," Jekyll quietly answered, looking miserably down. "Just not yet."

Galehaut nodded and placed a hand on Jekyll's shoulder. "We will help you as best as we are able, doctor, I promise. I can't guarantee it will play out as you hope, but we will try."

"That is all I could ask of you," Jekyll answered, nodding gratefully. Galehaut nodded in turn and the two went back inside to enjoy, as best they could, the rest of the party.

No sooner had they entered when a familiar voice said from the side, "You're a hard man to find, Dr. Jekyll."

Jekyll turned quickly, eyes wide. "Gabriel John Utterson?" he asked in disbelief. A grin began to spread across his face. "Good gods man, what are you doing here?" he asked, going quickly to his friend and warmly taking his hands. "Don't tell me you were invited as well."

"I wasn't," Utterson replied, a smirk crossing his lips and a glint in his eyes. "In fact, I'm being quite the party crasher right now I'm afraid, so the sooner I depart the better. Can't have scandal over my head now, can I?"

"Never you, John," Jekyll replied, smirking in turn. His smile soon fell, though. "So then why have you come here? Surely not just to find me."

"No. In truth I was called to confer with a client of mine. The one hosting this party in fact. They're considering quite a large land deal, I'm given to understand, and wanted me on hand," Utterson replied. "I wasn't supposed to join the party, but I wasn't about to sit it out either when I learned, completely by accident of course, that my dear friend Henry Jekyll was in attendance, among some mutual acquaintances of ours. Speaking of which, there's actually a two-fold reason I've come to find you. Those strange companions of yours spotted and recognized me. They approached me as I was by the buffet and asked me to find you."

"Strange companions?" Jekyll asked, frowning curiously.

"Oh yes. The ones named Gwyar and Melwas? With them was a child. Medrod. Frankly I don't want to know," Utterson bluntly said.

Jekyll sighed. The names, he knew, were familiar to Utterson. The lawyer was well-read and had undoubtedly crossed them in his perusing. "Utterson. Always too clever for your own good," he ruefully replied, shaking his head.

Utterson put up a hand. "I don't want to know," he reiterated flatly. "Gwyar was most insistent on seeing you."

"What was the matter?" Galehaut questioned, frowning in concern.

"Something about the child regressing and his not knowing what to do about it," Utterson replied. "Talk about the whole 'you're not my father' spiel, the whole 'ward' versus 'son' matter, the boy calling himself the former. All those brilliant little complications that come with the wonders of adoption." He rolled his eyes for emphasis. "Come on. Let's bring you to them. The sooner the better I suspect."

"I never even realized the man had brought the child," Jekyll said, mystified. He looked at Galehaut questioningly.

Galehaut sighed. "Apologies, physician. The child wouldn't be parted from him," he said. "There are other children here. They all stay separate from the party in a little playroom as far as I understand things, but clearly something we didn't anticipate triggered a negative reaction in Medrod."

"Oh for goodness sakes," Jekyll said, rolling his eyes in annoyance. "Very well. I'll try my best then."

"Good. The less of a stir this makes the better," Utterson said. He beckoned for them to follow and led the way back to where Lot and Meleagant were with Mordred.

Frozen

Upon seeing Jekyll, Lot rose in relief. "Henry," he greeted.

"Gwyar," Jekyll answered, nodding. He looked at the other two and smiled. "Hello Melwas. Hello Medrod."

"I don't need a doctor," Mordred whined at Lot in annoyance.

"Oh for goodness sakes, we've been through this. I'm not repeating the argument again. Doctor, if you would please to take him?" Lot said, offering the child to Jekyll.

"Of course," Jekyll replied, taking Mordred's hand and drawing him away from Lot. Mordred held onto Lot and it took a couple of tugs to prompt him to release his adoptive father's hand, but eventually he did so, if only reluctantly. Jekyll smiled reassuringly down at him. "Come along. Let's go for a walk, shall we? Nathanial and Melwas will accompany us if you'd like, but I think Gwyar has things to do." Really, he had noticed that Lot was getting testy with the boy and so knew he probably needed a break from dealing with the situation so that he could cool down and get his head on straight before he lost his temper. Meleagant could do any filling in that needed to be done. Mordred looked at Galehaut and Meleagant ponderously, then nodded in agreement. Jekyll smiled and looked to the two. "Give us a bit of space as we go," he murmured to them quietly. They nodded in acknowledgement and gave Jekyll and Mordred a head start before following.

Frozen

"You're calling yourself his ward now, Mordred?" Jekyll asked the child as they strolled along the paths outside the manor.

"I am. He isn't my father," Mordred replied firmly. "My father is dead. Then the one that was after him died too. It was because of your friend."

"People make mistakes," Jekyll answered. "Sometimes very bad ones they can't take back even if they wish to."

"Does he wish to take it back, or is he just afraid to die?" Mordred challenged, looking up at Jekyll.

Jekyll frowned a bit. That… was a mildly disturbing tone. And a mildly disturbing take on the matter. One that hadn't sprung from the mind of a child, and one he hadn't even considered himself, frankly. The question was a little unsettling. Armor-piercing, he would say. It seemed the boy was good at that. Penetrating one's armor where it was weakest and digging in. "He wishes to take it back," Jekyll answered finally. Could he say for certain that was the case? No. But he would be willing to bet on it if he had to vouch for his friend. Mordred scoffed doubtfully. "Did something happen?" Jekyll carefully breached after a moment. Mordred set his jaw. Clearly the boy wasn't inclined to answer that. "Mordred, please," he said.

Mordred looked at him ponderously, then back at Galehaut and Meleagant suddenly seeming like he wanted them near again. They seemed to realize as much as well and closed the distance a little. "I'm having bad dreams," he confessed as they neared, somewhat ashamedly. It was clear the remark was directed more to them than to Jekyll.

"Embrace the darkness," Meleagant said.

"Ignore him," Galehaut flatly said. He sighed and knelt. Jekyll stopped walking so the man could address Mordred. "Are they dreams about the Wicked Prince and your parents?" he gently asked. Mordred nodded. "Do you remember what your parents look like?" he asked. Mordred hesitated a moment, then nodded. "What they sound like?" Galehaut asked. Mordred nodded again. "How are you certain if you were too young to remember?"

"I wasn't!" Mordred protested.

"A child's long-term memory doesn't begin to develop until around the age of three. You were much smaller than three when they were taken, little one," Jekyll said. "Weren't you?" He wasn't actually certain, he noted to himself. Mordred was quiet, looking down.

"Never mind him," Galehaut said. "He tries to educate, but you and I know better. If you are very certain you remember them, then I believe you. Despite what the doctor says." Mordred glanced up at him again looking grateful for the perceived understanding.

"What did they look like?" Meleagant questioned. Mordred shifted. "We want to know about them. Prove to Jekyll you remember."

Mordred looked back at the doctor, then at them. "Father had blonde hair that was darkening as he was getting older, becoming more brown. Mother's hair was black and long and beautiful. She sang to me. So did father. I liked father's songs better than mother's," he said.

Meleagant nodded. Galehaut glanced up at Jekyll with a serious look. Jekyll guessed, then, that the parents Mordred was describing were not the ones Hans had killed… Perhaps those parents had looked similar, but they certainly weren't the parents Mordred was talking about currently. He damned the fact there were no portraits to go by. That could have helped him in this endeavor.

"Did your father love your mother?" Galehaut asked.

Mordred was quiet. "No," he finally answered.

"Then why were they killed together? Why did he die protecting her and you? Why did she grieve him in the short time she lived before she too was killed?" Galehaut asked. Mordred gave him a hard, wary look. "I only seek to understand. I don't doubt you," Galehaut explained.

Mordred was quiet, staring at him. "I want to keep walking now," he finally said, sounding a bit uneasy.

"Of course, little one," Galehaut replied, standing up with a reassuring smile.

"Perhaps we should get you back to your father instead," Jekyll offered.

"My father is dead. I can't go back to him," Mordred replied.

"Your father is alive, and you will go back to him," Jekyll sternly answered. Mordred gave him a dark look but didn't say anything. Clearly he had no intention of speaking anymore about this, and Jekyll didn't press. He felt like if he did, Mordred would jerk away from him and run off, and that would be a whole other disaster to address that they couldn't afford right now. Maybe in a bit he would try again, but they would see what the boy's temper was like after they'd finished their stroll. Right now, he felt like he'd just taken a very wrong turn. Given the look in Galehaut's eyes, he was probably right. He assured himself, though, that everyone made mistakes. It was a minor setback, and he could fix it in time. Just to play it safe, though, he held his tongue for the rest of the walk.

Frozen

At some point during the stroll, Meleagant had excused himself claiming he needed to meet up with Dinadan, Hoel, and Alexander to continue drumming up interest in Lot's 'business venture'. Galehaut had stayed near, but had departed Jekyll's company when Mordred began to fall asleep on his feet. The man had taken the child to return him to the playroom, and Jekyll had been left utterly alone. Sighing, he leaned on a railing and looked out over the lake nearby. It was beautiful at night.

"Henry, what's wrong? Not enjoying the party?" a familiar voice asked. Louise.

Jekyll smiled ever so slightly and turned to her approaching and taking her hands. "I was enjoying it most thoroughly, but a bit of a crisis came up with a young patient of mine and I had to take some time to address it."

Louise smiled at him. "There is a reason they call you the best," she teased.

Jekyll's smile fell slowly. He wished he could believe it too. "Walk with me," he murmured to her. "It's all so beautiful. The moonlight becomes you, you know."

She blushed, grinning, and nodded in agreement. He smiled, offering her his hand, and blushing even more, she took it daintily. He pulled her close to his side, their arms wrapping around one another, and resumed the stroll. "Dr. Jekyll, such a romantic place for a walk," Louise teased as she walked with him through the large garden. "I hope a proposal isn't to follow. I still haven't decided you know."

"Neither Franz nor I are getting younger, Louise," Jekyll answered. "But no, my intent was just to walk. No proposal attached. I… had a matter I wanted to bring up to you, but it is such a beautiful night. The matter can wait. No use spoiling it."

"Is it a matter as grim as that?" she asked in a measure of concern.

"Never you mind, my dear girl," he said.

"Henry," she replied with a stern frown. He sighed, looking a little troubled, and drew a hand through his brown hair which was starting to tinge with gray as the years passed. Louise had to admit the look appealed to her. It was also a reminder of their large age gap though, which was a little annoying but something she dismissed outright. If there were whispers, there were whispers, but it wasn't as if age gaps as large as theirs were all that rare these days, so she wasn't much concerned about it. Even less so given he was such a handsome and kind man. More likely any whispers would be ones of envy if they made a go of this.

"I've been thinking about Hyde," he finally said.

She frowned a little. "Hyde? Whatever for?" she questioned.

"He is still out there, Louise. Unchecked, wreaking havoc wherever he goes probably," Jekyll lied. At least mostly it was a lie, but presenting the matter to her in this matter would make it easier for her to come to terms with, if he decided to confide in her his plans for how to deal with his alter. "I dread to think of what he may be doing. There are whispers of murders in the city, mostly of prostitutes. The perpetrator has yet to be found," he said. "Grisly, disgusting, bloody murders."

"I've heard," she answered gravely. "But do you really think Hyde is behind them?"

"I do not doubt the likelihood of it," he replied.

"Then we should attempt to stop him," she said. "Call on your friends. You have the resources to find and handle Hyde."

"Yes. Yes, I do," he replied.

She frowned, looking at him. "Henry? I don't like that tone," she said, stopping and turning to him, taking both his hands in hers and looking seriously up at him. "I swear to the gods, if you're thinking what I suspect you are."

"He was checked when he was part of me," Jekyll cut off bluntly. She was silent, looking up at him. "He can be checked again," Jekyll continued.

Now she was uncomfortable and uneasy, shifting in place. "Don't," she finally found the words to say. He glanced away. "They'll hang you, should they trace those murders back to him. Henry, they'll hang you."

"They won't get the chance to," he replied, and she liked that response even less than the suggestion of his rejoining with Hyde. She didn't trust its many implications. "But even if they do manage to put the pieces together and trace the deaths to me—which, I will add, is highly unlikely given Hyde is a separate person right now—then so be it. At least it will get rid of Edward Hyde for good."

"And Henry Jekyll," she insisted.

"They're one and the same," he said.

"No, they aren't!" she argued. "We'll find a way to deal with Mr. Hyde without you sacrificing yourself. Now don't entertain this thought further or I shall tell Franz on you!"

Jekyll grimaced at the thought. Franz likely would be no less keen to stand for such a thing than Louise was. He sighed heavily. "You are so very naïve, my dear," he murmured to her, starting to walk once more with her on his arm. "I hope you remain as such for as long as possible. It is a refreshing change of pace."

"I am hopeful, not naïve," she argued. He smiled down at her fondly as she leaned into his arm, then looked ahead once more, expression grave and tired. Whatever he had to do, to stop Hyde, he would do it. At the end of the day, if merging with him again was what had to happen, it would happen without question. He was done being selfish about this. The stakes had become far too high now.

Frozen

Once he and Louise went back inside, they went their separate ways again. Jekyll approached Duke Charles, who was lingering off to the side with Edvard. Edvard looked like he was nodding off on his feet. Carl was surveying the party and looking quite exhausted with it himself. "Carl, Edvard," Jekyll greeted, stopping in front of them. Edvard snorted awake and blinked a few times at him. Carl smirked in amusement at him then turned to Jekyll.

"Henry. I must thank you again for deigning to come to this soiree after all. You've done wonders for keeping me sane," Carl said.

"I've spent most of the time with Louise," Jekyll answered, amused. "It seems Edvard's done a far better job than I."

"True, true, but you've been around just enough to help get me through this relatively unscathed as well," Carl answered.

"Too bad Dickens couldn't make it," Edvard said.

"Familial strife," Jekyll said with a sigh. "The man cannot help but make things difficult for himself, I fear. At least in regard to family."

"Some people aren't cut out for it," Duke Alexander answered.

"Carl, be kind," Jekyll chastised with a frown.

"I speak from the perspective of one who isn't cut out for it," Carl answered, shrugging. "But I'll manage it anyway."

"Yes, your recent marriage. We're all still offended you never invited a single one of us," Edvard said with a frown.

"To witness my shame? No thank you," Carl answered, smirking.

"I'm sure she's a lovely woman," Jekyll said.

"She is," Carl confirmed. "I'm afraid I'm hardly deserving of her, to be wholly honest. Nor am I convinced our union was appropriate at all, for that matter, but aristocracy and expectation and all that nonsense. I was told to leap so I leapt. Not that I had much choice."

"A prison all its own, to be nobility," Jekyll sympathized.

Carl snorted in derision. "You know, you should hurry up and get with Miss Collin already so that you can share in my misery."

"Hans, Kristoff, and Charles, among others, are already sharing with you in that misery," Jekyll answered, smirking.

"Fair enough. Anyway, I think it's high time I called it a night and said goodbye to our hostess," he said.

"Who is it that is hosting, again? I never did learn," Jekyll said.

"The woman you were speaking to with Duke Gwyar," Carl said, smirking wryly. Jekyll started, frowning a bit curiously. If she was the hostess, that also meant she had been the client who had sent for Utterson. My, my, this woman was creeping up a good deal, wasn't she?

"She knows how to throw a party," Edvard remarked, impressed.

"Does she really live in this mansion all alone?" Jekyll asked.

"All alone? If you don't count the dozens of servants she has hanging about, then I suppose alone would be the term to use," Carl answered. "I feel I should forewarn you, as well as Gwyar and Nathanial, not to let your guards down around that particular woman. She's…"

"Abrasive?" Jekyll asked.

"No, not really. She's just… something. We'll go with that. She's something," Carl answered. "Not least of all something to keep an eye out for."

"Thanks for the warning. I'll be sure to pass the message along," Jekyll said, now watching the woman in question warily.

"I think Louise and I will follow your lead and call it a night," Edvard said. "If, that is, I can part her from Henry."

"Mention Franz and I'm sure she'll scamper off," Carl said, rolling his eyes. "She does so like to play coy games with the both of you. Of course, your encouraging her to do it probably lends to that."

"I don't encourage it," Jekyll said.

"Have you given her an ultimatum? In more than just a passing remark?" Carl asked.

"She will keep doing this, Henry. She loves the thrill of the chase, Franz certainly loves it, and I know that you don't share the sentiment with them so why on earth you haven't put your foot down yet is beyond me," Edvard said.

"I know, Edvard, I know. Just Hyde… He makes things complicated," Jekyll said.

"In what sense? Do you love my sister or not?" Edvard asked.

"Of course I do!" Jekyll said.

"Then why are you holding back because of Hyde? It isn't like he's part of you anymore," Edvard said.

"He's dying, Edvard! And if he dies, I will end up dying with him!" Jekyll blurted, and if Carl and Edvard weren't awake before, they were certainly awake now. Both stood bolt upright, eyes widening in shock and staring at him in disbelief. "He may not be within me anymore, but our lives are still so firmly intertwined that neither of us can escape all of the other. He is still a part of me, divided or not! And his body is dying because it was formed by the mirror's corruption, and when I entered Ahtohallan—I hope to the gods Hans has told you that sordid tale—it sensed that corruption and began to kill it. If I cannot find a way to remedy the situation…" He shook his head. He didn't need to elaborate. "I let your sister go on like she does because if her heart remains divided between two men, then should one die, should I die, then perhaps my loss will not be as bitter a pill to swallow for her."

Edvard and Carl was quiet. Edvard glanced at Carl. "Can I borrow one of your rings?" he asked.

Carl raised a curious eyebrow but handed one over to him nonetheless. Edvard took it, turned to Jekyll, and got down on one knee. Carl's eyes widened before glittering with mirth, a grin crossing his lips. Jekyll stared blankly down at his friend, utterly puzzled, before catching on and blanching, looking quickly back into the party room hoping no one was looking over. He turned back to Edvard. "Will you stop fooling around?" he hissed urgently. He didn't need rumours right now!

"Henry Jekyll, will you be my brother-in-law?" Edvard asked, smirking a bit.

"Oh for gods' sakes Edvard, get up! This is serious," Jekyll hissed, glancing quickly back and forth continuing to hope no one saw this sordid display.

"Doctor, he's already developed some tantalizing rumours with Hans. It's your turn now!" Carl teased, laughing.

"If you aren't going to take this seriously, then good day gentlemen!" Jekyll testily said, in a huff.

Edvard smiled, getting up, and handed Carl's ring back. A serious expression crossed his face once more. "All joking aside, Jekyll, why on earth would you keep something like this secret from us? It isn't fair to Louise. She deserves to know what's happening. Anyone close to you deserves to know. Strong and healthy men don't just up and die out of nowhere! And what if she'd been the one to find your body for goodness sakes? She would never be able to rest until she knew what happened to you."

"Fortunately, I'm quite sure Hans and Elsa could put two and two together and give her that answer," Jekyll replied.

"There's a fine line between being selfish and being selfless, and you're dancing it my friend," Carl said with a sigh. It was down to a matter of perspective in the end for this one, he knew. "Is there anything we can do to help you? Anything at all?"

"When I know the answer to that, I shall let you know," Jekyll said.

"I don't like being on the sidelines unable to aid you while you go through this. Neither of us do," Carl said with a frown.

"I know, my friend, I know. But it is what it is. At least for now. Should I discover anything at all any of you can do for me that isn't already taken care of, I will let you know," Jekyll said.

"Have you at least told Utterson?" Edvard asked.

"I will. If I do not see him again tonight, I will write a letter to him," Jekyll answered.

"Very well. I suppose for now we will have to be satisfied with understanding what is going on with you," Edvard said with a sigh.

Carl smiled. "It was good to see you, Henry. Don't be a stranger, alright?" he said.

"Of course not, Carl," Jekyll answered.

"Thank you again for your presence. And for keeping me sane," Carl said. Jekyll chuckled and nodded. Carl nodded back, then turned and left. Jekyll watched after him.

"I should bring Louise home. It's getting late," Edvard said. "I'm guessing you need to stay with the knights this time, don't you? If one of them is here to help you."

"Yes. But I think they're about ready to go now as well. Give me a moment and we can all leave together," Jekyll said.

"Very well. We'll meet you by the front doors," Edvard said. Jekyll nodded and went to find Lot and Galehaut again.

Frozen

It was Dinadan, Hoel, and Alexander Jekyll found first. Meleagant had gone off somewhere, and judging by the concerned looks on his companions' faces, it probably wasn't good that he had. "Gentlemen," Jekyll greeted, approaching them.

"Henry," Hoel greeted first, nodding at him.

"How is your quest going?" Jekyll asked. "Well, I hope?"

"I'll say. The interest we drummed up in our venture was beyond what we expected!" Dinadan said, grinning widely down at a group of papers filled with names of interested parties who expressed their desire to be a part of the experiment and advertise it to their communities.

"Here come Lot and Galehaut," Alexander said. They looked over as the two joined them.

"All," Lot greeted, nodding at them.

"Two," Hoel said with a smirk dancing on his lips.

Lot looked to Dinadan. "Progress?" he asked.

"Immense," Dinadan answered.

That had to be the most basic conversation he'd ever heard, Jekyll noted to himself. How much had been conveyed in it was surprising, for how few words it had taken.

"How you swung it I'll never know, but I'm glad you three did," Lot said. "Now it all hinges on me to sell another matter holding us back."

The others frowned, curiously looking at him. "That sounds cryptic. What happened?" Hoel asked in concern.

"We found the woman who holds authority over the Islands," Lot replied. "She agreed to sell in exchange for a marriage partner that would ensure she retained her current status and perhaps even earn her love."

"Say no more. I'm on it," Dinadan said with a laugh.

"She's a mix of Morgause and Morgan," Lot deadpanned.

Dinadan's smile twitched. "Say no more, I'm out," he rectified with a scowl, turning back to his papers.

"Then it will fall to me, if no one else accepts her," Galehaut said. "My hope is that if none of you do, either Raynold or Meleagant will. They would be the best options aside from Lot himself."

"Wait, Meleagant?" Dinadan asked.

"I get it," Alexander said with a sigh. "Morgan was interested in Meleagant for a while, so if this woman is basically a mix of her and her sister, odds are she will be too. Meleagant probably would have ended up one of Morgana's would-be-lovers, if he hadn't flat-out friend-zoned her. If this woman is witty, sharp, maybe a bit cruel and biting, then she'll have her match in Meleagant. Aside from Lot, he's the least likely of all of us to be ruined by her if the front I assume she put on for Lot and Galehaut turns out not to be a front at all. If it was a persona just for show, well, then Meleagant earns something greater than he thought he would ever have."

"But failing anyone else's agreement, I'll take her on myself," Galehaut said. "I'll weather her well enough."

"You and Meleagant both would probably be more equipped to handle her than I am," Lot dryly said.

"Don't sell yourself short," Hoel sympathetically said. "You d-dealt with Morgause like an old hand, just made a couple mistakes on the way that you probably wouldn't make again. As far as soul mates go, you would probably be the c-closest thing we could offer without Uriens around. Just Mordred, I g-guess, is the complication there. It was always your children who were the complications in that whole do."

"Don't tell Gawain and the others that," Dinadan dryly said, rolling his eyes. "They'd just blame themselves more than they already do."

"Death take me if I subject Mordred to a woman like Morgause again," Lot agreed with a scoff. "Where did Mele go?"

Dinadan, Hoel, and Alexander grimaced, exchanging looks, then turned back to him. "An episode," Hoel gravely said.

Lot sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Who wants to find him?" he asked.

"I will," Jekyll said.

"You're sure?" Lot asked.

"Yes. The sooner we collect him the better. Edvard and Louise are eager to leave. I would like to leave with them," Jekyll said.

"Very well," Lot relented.

Jekyll nodded and looked around. "Anyone have any idea where I can start to search?" he asked.

"Well, you can usually tell the Dark Prince is about to make an appearance if Meleagant has locked himself in his room. Or a room. Any room that seems safe and isolated. If Meleagant locks himself away, he suspects the change is coming on. He shuts the curtains, puts out or dims the lights, and sits in darkness. The Dark Prince relishes that environment. Relishes it more if anyone should happen to stumble on him there. He's creepy like that. Sadistic. Psychotic," Alexander said.

"He sounds like Edward Hyde," Jekyll dryly said.

"The Dark Prince would be the creepy to Edward Hyde's murderous," Lot replied.

"I confess I am not sure if my relying on Meleagant is a good idea," Jekyll said. "Should the Dark Prince meet Edward Hyde…" He trailed off, shaking his head.

"Edward Hyde isn't in you anymore," Lot answered.

Jekyll was quiet. "No… He isn't," he finally answered.

Galehaut eyed the doctor up curiously then seemed to catch on. A sympathetic look came to his eyes. "But you want him to be again," he murmured to the doctor.

Jekyll sighed, turning to look out a nearby window. "At least within me I had some measure of control over him," he finally answered. "At least when he was within me, there was a chance Dr. Jekyll would come out again in time to stop some nefarious scheme of Edward Hyde's. After he was taken from me, I lost track of where he even was most of the time! For a while he watched me, but then I lost him and after that? I lost track of where he went, what he did, the crimes he committed… But what I know for a certainty is that he was out of control and uncatchable, and there was no buffer for him anymore, when I was not there as well. So now I intend to fix that… It will mean my life besides…" Before the others could pry, he hurried off to find Meleagant and give the rest of them time to digest his words.

Frozen

"There you are," Jekyll said, finally tracing Meleagant to a balcony on an upper floor. He was leaning against it, looking out over the world below. No doubt he could still picture in his head, as clear as if it had been yesterday, what this land used to be. The world lost to him a millennia ago. Meleagant was quiet. "You must miss it terribly… Your time. This place." Meleagant tensed up, bowing his head. Jekyll winced and backed off a bit. "King Lot intends to discuss a matter with you and the others soon." Meleagant didn't answer. "I am speaking to Meleagant, aren't I?" Jekyll said.

"You are," Meleagant answered. "Something tells me you aren't here just to bring me a message from Lot either."

"I was… concerned," Jekyll replied.

"You don't even care for me much," Meleagant said.

"Maybe not, but I am beginning to. That tends to happen as strangers get to know one another," Jekyll answered. Meleagant huffed. "Did he come?" Jekyll asked after a moment.

"Yes. But not for long," Meleagant answered. Jekyll was quiet, choosing not to pry. For a while there was silence between the two. It was Meleagant who finally breached it again. "Shall we discuss the Hyde matter?" he asked.

"Yes," Jekyll confirmed.

Meleagant nodded. "So old man, what do you think we should do about him?"

"My goal is to merge myself to Hyde once more, as you well know," Jekyll replied.

"Then tell me something I don't," Melegant answered.

Jekyll was quiet. "I should like you to meet him at some point," he soon said.

"If I go with you to meet your counterpart, we risk a lot. There's no telling how the Dark Prince and Edward Hyde will react to one another, if they meet up," Meleagant replied.

"I suppose…" Jekyll said, reaching up to a lilac flower on a bush growing nearby, and taking in the sweet scent.

Meleagant watched him quietly. A frown spread across his lips. "What do you plan to do, when Hyde is within you again?" he suddenly questioned. Jekyll froze. Meleagant's frown deepened. He couldn't say he was surprised, he suspected already what the man's answer would be, but he wasn't pleased to have this reaction all but confirm it for him.

Jekyll let out a breath, shoulders sagging as he bowed his head. He shook his head. "I plan to take my own life," he said quietly, barely above a murmur. Meleagant was quiet. "I don't want to, but if I feel him consuming me again, if I know I have no choice…" He let out a frustrated sigh. "I would sooner die than unleash that monster upon the world."

"So, this is your suicide mission," Meleagant said. Jekyll was quiet, not meeting his eyes. Meleagant drew a hand frustratedly through his own hair and bowed his head, closing his eyes. "People like us can never live normal lives… But we can try. We can try, and we can succeed, and we can lead a somewhat fulfilling life. Maybe it won't be everyone else's normal, but it'll be ours. This malady of the mind you and I share… it doesn't have to doom us. It doomed me once upon a time, but you shouldn't let it doom you too. Not if you can help it."

"It already has," Jekyll tiredly answered, staring at the flowers woefully. "I either die as Jekyll, or I hang as Hyde."

"You aren't beholden to a liquid drug that makes him stronger each time you turn, anymore," Meleagant replied. "You don't have to be doomed a second time. Neither do I. Let's work on not being doomed together."

Jekyll was quiet. "Perhaps they knew what they were doing after all, when they sent you back for my sake," he finally said. He turned to the young man. "How did it doom you?"

"You've read the stories," Meleagant replied, looking away. "You know what happened."

"I know a perspective of it," he replied. Silence from Meleagant. "What's yours?" he pressed. Meleagant chuckled and turned to the man, then sat with him and told the story as he remembered it while Jekyll listened quietly.

Frozen

Presently, Jekyll and Meleagant returned to the others. As they drew near, they looked up at them. Meleagant nodded at them in acknowledgment, and they nodded back. "Are you alright now?" Hoel asked.

"Yeah. I am. Now what's going on?" Meleagant asked. Lot sighed and began to explain the situation with the thus far nameless woman and her price for the Orkney Isles. When Lot and Galehaut had finished narrating the experience, Meleagant stared blankly at them in disbelief. Even though the two had addressed the whole of the group, by the end of the summary all eyes were on him.

Meleagant finally leaned back in his chair, once the shock and disbelief passed, and stared at Lot with a hard gaze. Lot seemed to catch on to what the hard gaze meant and started. "Mele, it isn't like…" he quickly began, but Meleagant wasn't inclined to give him the chance to explain right now.

"So, you want me as a sacrifice," the young man flatly said. "Is that why you brought me up here? To play political pawn?"

"No! And I'm not going to push you to do anything if you don't want to," Lot answered. "Not you or anyone else. I told you all what happened in the hopes of getting your opinions on how to deal with it. If it turns out we have no other choice, then a list of potential suitors will be just as welcome. What I'm not doing is singling you out." He gave the other men a hard look. "I'm as annoyed that they chose to do so as you are." Sheepishly they all looked away, flushing in a measure of shame and guilt. Lot turned back to Meleagant. "Galehaut has already volunteered to marry her should no one else agree. If you don't want to do this, don't." Meleagant gave Galehaut a dubious look. "Don't give him that look. He's the best equipped aside from you, Lamiel, Raynold, or me to handle that woman, if the front she put on turns out not to be just a front," Lot explained.

Meleagant gave Lot a look again and said, "Fine. Then I won't volunteer. I'm not giving you the satisfaction of getting away with something I didn't even let my own father get away with."

"Oh for goodness sake, he never wanted to use you as a political pawn, Mele!" Alexander spoke up in protest, annoyed now. "He didn't even resort to suggesting it until you kept shutting down any possibility of a marriage! He just didn't want you to be alone."

"I was better off alone!" Meleagant snapped. "He just wanted his family line to keep going."

"He wanted his son to be happy!" Lot sharply shot. "You were depriving yourself of every other good thing in your life. What, did you expect him to let you deprive yourself of love too? If he wanted his family line to continue and nothing else, he never would have urged you to join the Round Table and even if he had, he never would have let you stay with it when we began falling apart."

"Brothers, brothers, we don't need to argue," Galehaut cut in before things could escalate. "If Meleagant is firm in his stance, so be it. The conversation doesn't need to go further." Galehaut looked at Lot. "I'll find her in the crowd and state my intention to marry her," he said to the man. Lot looked uncomfortable with the notion. "I know you'd sooner sacrifice yourself than let that happen, but remember that it wouldn't be just you that you'd be risking."

Lot shifted, thoughts going to Mordred immediately, then looked defeated. "If you're certain of this course of action, so be it," he said tiredly. "Go."

Hoel shifted then sighed. "Wait. I volunteer myself as well," he said.

"I would too if I weren't already married," Alexander said, glad for that excuse.

Dinadan sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "Fine," he hopelessly said. "I'll throw in my hand too. And I'm sure if we brought it up with the others, plenty more would jump at it as well, if none of us appeal to her."

Lot visibly relaxed. Meleagant stared at the others silently, cheek twitching a bit. He looked frustratedly at the ground and sighed in exasperation. "Never mind, I'll do it!" he all but spat.

"What about the Dark Prince, Mele?" Hoel spoke up. Meleagant stiffened a little. "If you don't know for sure that you can handle a marriage despite him, then it isn't worth the risk. We shouldn't have put the pressure on you. We're sorry. Honestly, you were the only one Lot was dead set against suggesting it to. It's not like he was oblivious to the whole issue with the Dark Prince. None of us are."

"In truth I was the one who suggested you," Galehaut confessed.

"Why?" Meleagant demanded.

"Because you're young, attractive, sharp, biting, smart, and more than adept at handling Morgan despite the Dark Prince, so I assumed you would be more than adept at handling this woman too," Galehaut said.

"Damn right I would be, so I'll do it," Meleagant growled through clenched teeth, fists balled tight. He released the tension and sighed in frustration. "You're right. All of you. Among those of us up here, I'm the most equipped to handle a woman who may or may not be a cross between Morgause and Morgan. I guess I'm just being petty. My biggest concern about this though is the Dark Prince and what he'd do to her. I don't…" he began. He trailed off, sighing in frustration and drawing a hand through his hair. "I don't want to hurt anyone else!" he spat out, closing his eyes and looking away.

"That wasn't you, Mele," Alexander insisted.

"It was as much me as it wasn't me," Meleagant answered. He looked at his brothers in arms, then, with an expression of such complete trust on his face that it caused Jekyll to straighten up a little in surprise. "When you come with me, help me to explain the situation to her. If she'll take me despite that, she takes me. If not, then someone else can step in."

It wasn't a question, Jekyll noted. Meleagant hadn't asked 'will one of you come with me', he'd said 'when you come with me'. That level of faith in another person… He could hardly fathom it. The only ones he'd ever been even halfway so close to were Utterson and Lanyon.

"We will," Hoel vowed. "All of us will go to her together, then if you still want to present yourself as first choice, fine, but if you change your mind by then, another will take your spot."

"That or we'll play the suitor game as equals until she's made her final decision," Dinadan said.

Meleagant nodded gratefully. "Let's not do it tonight. Please? Just… I need time to prepare and figure things out," he said.

"You aren't alone in needing some time to yourself to wrap your head around it and figure out how you feel about the whole thing," Dinadan said. Another Morgan or Morgause was the last thing any of them wanted to deal with, so here was hoping she wasn't that bad.

Alexander nudged Meleagant lightly. "Hey, if you need to talk to someone, we'll be here," he said.

"I know," Meleagant replied, a small smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "You always were."

"You don't have to volunteer yourself for this at all, Meleagant," Jekyll spoke up in a gentle and concerned tone.

"But I choose to," Meleagant replied. "It benefits us all, in the end, if at least parts of the Orkney Isles fall under Lot's rule again. Besides, I'm… curious. About if I might be able to do it. Curious if I could have maybe had something of a normal life, if I'd let myself try. Maybe it's a way of giving myself a second chance too. In that respect, at least."

Lot nodded. "We'll meet up with her whenever you feel ready," he said. "Until then, I think it's time we all left this party. We've been here long enough." They nodded in agreement and got their things together to go. Jekyll watched Meleagant in quiet concern.