Chapter 34 [Half a Turn of the Hourglass Later]
Tragedy drowned out Celebration's overtones. Mourning's bells tolled to alert populace. Camelot's and Tintagel's knights maintained Citadel's and town's security. Vigil's candles popped up outside of Citadel's windows. With Hand Fasting and Transition complete…another was underway.
Kings were dead. Long live the Kings or so it seemed….
[Physician's Chambers, Camelot]
Gaius set his rag down on the table. Concerns ran through his mind. Swept floors in addition to cleaned equipment, table and folded linens spoke to Merlin's attentiveness. Dust held nary a place about the area. Tomes sat on the desk. Where the Devil is that boy? The Eyebrow arched.
Merlin's location…that was the great mystery….
According to Morgana and Arthur, Merlin was here this morning. Arthur said that he found Morgana in here by herself this afternoon. He's not in the tavern. Perhaps he would be picking herbs for me? Nay. He knows that I want them fresh for the elixirs and medicines. Morgana is another question. This handfasting and alliance is so sudden! King Ruthbert's death signaled Accolon's rise to Tintagel's throne. Strategically, it does make sense I suppose.
Of course, it does, Gaius!
He stiffened. Voice and its source chilled him. "Impossible!" His hands pushed against the examination table. Disbelief numbed his mind.
Giggle mocked him.
Nimue leaned against a bookcase. Snide smirk spread across her face. Triumph gleamed in her eyes. "Such a reception, Gaius! I am so hurt!" Sarcasm dripped her tone. "And here I came to say my farewells." A pronounced sigh (again with an extra heavy saucing of sarcasm) escaped her lips. She regarded Uther's corpse on the examination table. "My! My! How the mighty fell. Oh, I wish I had known!"
He set his jaw. "Merlin said he killed you on the Isle of the Blessed, Nimue. A lightning strike vaporized you." He studied her. Appearance and Cockiness appeared the same as before. Her power, if anything, increased.
"He tried." She rubbed her chin. "The lightning strike was a nice touch. Have to say…I never thought Merlin had that in him. At least not yet." Her eyebrow flicked at him. "Of course, with your holding him back, he might never have learned such spells. He is beyond that now." She regarded Uther again. Memoria recalled their relations as friends and then enemies. "Pity he never understood the forces he unleashed. You do remember? I tried to warn him."
"You did." He watched her walk about the body. "As did I. Uther would not be stopped."
"That precious male heir and his own sense of immortality. You remember?" Her fingertips slid across Uther's forehead. "Uther's blasted double standards. Genocidal fool. His last victim? Himself." Scorn rolled her eyes. "How many souls are on your conscience, Uther? How many? That is between the Cailleach and you. Even those I had to deal with in the goddess' service. The blood is on your hands." Disdain's sniff puffed through her nostrils.
"How convenient for you, Nimue. You did what you did. You forced Merlin's hand." He shook off her sentiments.
"How convenient for me?" Snigger spewed from her mouth. "Coming from you? Gaius the Traitor! Come! Come now!" Her hands clapped. "And how many people have you betrayed? HOW MANY? Oh, you have helped a few here…a few there." Her eyebrow arched ever higher. "And you do know that Aredian was supposed to hunt Merlin and the Lady Morgana…for starters?"
"He would have questioned them." He squinted at her. "But he did not. He focused solely on Uther. You did something!"
"Me?" Exaggerated Shock mocked him. "Well, I did capture him on the road here. The goddess did the rest. Do not worry. Aredian is quite under her control. I can assure you. Merlin is beyond him. Lady Morgana is as well. They are beyond you as well." Her glare cut back at him. "She knows about her magic now. Merlin…oh Merlin! How I wish I had known! Oh, did I underestimate him!" She rubbed her hands together.
"What. Did. You. Do?" He clenched his teeth. Schemes burned at his ears. Previous experience had taught him about her capabilities. Previous year's encounters had reminded him well on that front.
"Again, Gaius, I did nothing. Our lady, however…." Nimue shrugged. Amusement lit in her eyes. "She corrected Merlin's path. She allowed him to meet someone very close to himself. Sir Balinor of Nemeth." Her fingers tapped on the table anew. "It seems that Lancelot du Lac was bringing him for help. He and Merlin were brought to a mutual place. They talked before Balinor's passing. And then…then…oh! Merlin's world opened! You will never get him back here now."
"What did she do?" Gaius rubbed his forehead. Tension pounded at his temples. "Merlin's place is here at Arthur's side!"
"Oh, Merlin's place is at a royal's side. Just not the Pendragon's anymore!" Exultation poured from her. Canary feathers could almost be seen coming from the sides of her mouth. "You might wish to get the door. We are about to have company." Her eyes rolled. "Never mind." She waved her hand. Canary glowed in her eyes. "Fosgailte!"
"Company? I should know better than to ask! You do realize if you are caught?" Exasperation bounced between threats and potential issues for Merlin, Morgana and himself in that regard. He watched the door swing open. "Lady Morgana! Prince Accolon!" He bowed to them. "Pardon me. I just finished with the King's body. It seems we have other interested parties. Come in and shut the door please. I do not want trouble."
"I am King of Tintagel now, Gaius. Otherwise, I agree." Accolon ushered Morgana into the chamber. He closed the door. "It has been a long time. You seem well." He cleared his throat. His eyes assessed Uther's body.
Gaius pulled a blanket over Uther's stomach and lower body. "My condolences, King Accolon and Lady Morgana." He bowed his head. He backed away from the table.
"Thank you, Gaius." Morgana inspected Uther's body. "When Sir Garreth told us, I did not believe it." A heartfelt sigh blew from her lungs. "Why did you all let him do it? He could have remained in Tintagel!"
Accolon stifled a cough. "Gaius?" He assessed Uther's face and chest wound. "It is a shame he could not accept magic and sorcery. We all could have lived together." Lament ate at him. Much as with Ruthbert, Pity moved him over Uther's fate. Igraine's death destabilized Uther. Purge's fire scorched Britannia's landscape. Tantrum burned and drowned victims. Dominance pressed across borders. Prerogative stomped on.
"You know the answer to that as well as I, Your Highness." Gaius exhaled a deep breath. "King Uther saw magic as evil. Sorcerers did not help themselves either. They attacked Camelot."
"Maybe it was Camelot who provoked them?" Nimue challenged Gaius' point. "Bigotry and Ignorance. You would expect them to simply lie down and do nothing? Or perhaps they should allow you to suppress their magic with…sleeping powders? Or should they collaborate to save themselves? Should I let you speak with Elaine of Astolat?"
"I did what I had to. I helped people escape when I could!" Gaius stood tall against the arguments. "I was protecting with the sleeping powders as well!"
"You were keeping me from my magic, Gaius!" Morgana fired back. "Who do you think you are? No wonder Merlin can be the way he is! Well, he is not your problem anymore." Defiance's smile spread across her face.
"The King told me! You do know that King Arthur wants Merlin and Gwen back? He will not stop in that regard." Gaius shook his head. "You know how he is."
Accolon shook his head. "Guinevere—we can negotiate about. Merlin? Out of the question. Gaius, I granted Merlin his freedom and transferred his service a few turns of the hourglass ago. I would say Merlin has accomplished his third task by the Capability Laws. King Arthur will have to deal with that."
"Transferred? What?" Gaius threw his hands up in the air. "What have you two done?"
Accolon narrowed his eyes. "HOW DARE YOU? I AM STILL KING OF TINTAGEL! LADY MORGANA IS LADY OF THE REALM AND QUEEN-ELECT! YOU WILL RESPECT US, GAIUS!" He curled his lip.
"Uther granted Merlin and Gwen to us. King Accolon decided to put Merlin where he would be most needed." Morgana calmed herself down. Tone, however, resembled a master's to apprentice. "I know why you gave me those sleeping draughts! I have my magic!"
"I tried to protect you from Uther and hunters like Aredian!" Gaius fought to keep a poker face. Frustration burned at him. Morgana's ingratitude burned at him. Exposure, however, opened his methods to the others. I will not apologize for protecting Merlin! Never! What have they done with him? "I still need to know where Merlin is."
"You will find out when King Arthur does, Gaius. Merlin is a free man and a knight. His magic is accepted. He knows his true heritage. He even has an advantageous marriage. He will not have to hide any longer. Trust me. There will be no deal. Arthur can beg and threaten. Uther was sane during our negotiations. His magic had only started to manifest. I am sure Lord Geoffrey will agree with me." Accolon shook Gaius off.
"Arthur is surrounded. The Amazons, Tintagel and Nemeth oppose Uther's Purge. They will not allow the Young Pendragon that course. Whatever will he do now?" Nimue snarked.
"Camelot's army is still considerable, Nimue. Prince Arthur will still press to conduct the Purge. You are all provoking a war." Gaius puffed out an efforted breath.
"None of us want that, Gaius. All I would ask of Prince Arthur is to live alongside everyone else." Accolon looked Uther over. "You have done a fine job in cleaning him up. We can dress him. I will have knights standing guard outside."
"I am sure Prince Arthur will appreciate that. Still, I would caution Lady Morgana and you, Milord. Do not seek to use Gwen and Merlin as hostages to achieve your ends. The Prince will not respond well." Gaius met Accolon's and Morgana's respective eyes. Experience reminded him of Arthur's dogged determination to protect his friends and loved ones. After Uther's loss, Arthur would do anything to hold his inner circle together.
Morgana coughed. "Gaius, I do not believe you are listening to us. As King Accolon just said, Merlin is not a hostage. He is a free man, a nobleman and soon to be a knight. He will have privileges, responsibilities, and duties. He is better off than he would be here. He is in the role he should have been in all along. His magic is accepted and valued. What else would you want for him? Or is it that you're thinking of what you need from him?"
Nimue raised an eyebrow. "Now that is a question."
Gaius stewed. Restraint, however, held his voice in check. "I care about Merlin! I have to protect him! Whatever you all are planning, it is for your advantage not his."
Accolon cleared his throat. "You forget yourself, Gaius. I believe it is was Uther who gifted Gwen's and Merlin's service to Lady Morgana and me? He was your King and Prince Arthur's King as well. I understand Merlin was your ward and in your care. Uther changed that to ensure Prince Arthur had more traditional servants in his household. He had the right to that decision not Arthur and not you." Canary flashed in his eyes. "I am a priest as well. I believe I know how to handle such things in the goddess' service."
"You? How? Your father?" Gaius stiffened. He shook his head. Memoria recalled Accolon's quarrels with Ruthbert during their visits to Camelot. Rumor had reached him of failed engagement and negotiations with Nemeth. Sudden departure for Gaul's eastern warfront and King Bors' service had stunned him.
Old Religion and Service had fueled rifts it seemed….
Before Argument could continue, Banging sounded from the door. "GAIUS!" Arthur called from the other side.
Nimue waved her hands. A flash of light conveyed her away from the scene.
Accolon headed for the door. He glanced towards Morgana and then Gaius. Then, he opened it.
Some things were never easy…