Chapter 93 I don't own Merlin. Sorry it's so short, I have no excuses.
"¿Listos?" Cassie asked as she, Ebro, Addie and Gildas lined up on the coast.
"Si, Alteza." Miro said, lining the men up and watching expectantly.
" Geopene þæm infærelde to āsēċenne hwider." Gildas chanted, all their eyes glowing golden as the air in front of them distorted and Cassie stepped through, throwing the pebble through it as their signal.
"Miro, forward!" Gundemar said, watching as Miro led the men through the portal and the three magic users on this side of the portal kept their eyes golden and trained at the opening.
"King Gundemar, after you." Gildas said, the last two on the beach.
" Beclȳsaþ." Cassie said, closing the portal and looking at Gundemar triumphantly as her eyes glew gold. "We are half a day walking from Narbonne, the path is clear and without danger. If you'd allow us a few minutes of rest before we keep travelling?"
"But of course, Princess. We will wait a half an hour before continuing. Miro, take a group and go on, ride as hard as you can. Let them know of our arrival." Gundemar said, handing him the reins to one of the horses they had gotten when they landed and nodding curtly.
"Yes, your Majesty." he said, bowing low and nodding to ten men to mount and follow him.
"The portals work wonders, you are a powerful Sorceress." Gundemar complimented.
"She's not a sorceress." Gildas said, looking between the two. "She's a witch. Her magic comes from within."
"There's a difference?"
"Only technically. We can do the same spells, only hers are more powerful." Addie said, taking a deep breath and accepting the water from Gundemar with a smile.
"Are you well, my Lady? Did the spell take too much out of you?"
"No, I am fine, my Lord. But I would appreciate some rest before we move on."
"Of course, take all the time you need, my Lady." he said with a bow to her, walking away and speaking with Ebro.
"It seems you've already been given the title of nobility, Gildas." Cassie said with a wicked smile, planning what his seal was going to look like.
"Hmm." he hummed in annoyance, walking away with a nod to Gundemar as Cassie kneeled in front of her friend.
"Let me check you over." she said, smiling softly.
"Okay, I don't think anything's happened, I can still feel them."
"And they are strong. I'll see if I can't get something for you to eat. Stay here."
"I won't move." she said, placing her hand on her swollen belly and smiling as Gildas walked back over.
"I believe it best for you to stay at Gundemar's castle while we get everyone else."
"I am fine, love."
"I know, but we don't really need you for the portals. And you need to stay strong. Gundemar's going to speak with Cassie, the four of us are going to the Generals and bringing them back for a war council. Once the strategy is set, we'll all take the portal to the forests outside of Reccopolis."
"I'll stay safe, do not worry for me."
"I cannot help but to." he said, smiling at her lovingly as Cassie came back with some cheese and bread.
"It's all I could find. Eat up. Rest." she said, looking at her pointedly.
"Are you all well? Can you travel?" Gundemar asked as the clouds began to hide the sun.
"Yes, my Lord. We can travel." Addie said with a smile, accepting his hand up and walking aside her husband as he ordered the men to begin the trek.
"Are you alright, Cassie? You've hardly said a word." Gundemar asked quietly an hour later.
"Nervous. Anxious, frightened. But otherwise, I am well." Cassie answered him, looking up at him.
"Frightened?"
"Every step we take brings me nearer to the nightmare I ran from." she said shakily.
"Then what you should consider is that every step brings you nearer to the end of the nightmare. We are shrouded with the spell Lord Gildas has placed upon you. Wherever you are, they cannot see. There is no way they can know!"
"What if they do? Before we set sail, Witteric sent for another mage."
"And Gildas placed the spell on you immediately. He cannot scry for you."
"What if he has other informants on the Isles?"
"Then he'll expect us, but months from now. You've managed to cut the travel time in half."
"Had we come back by land that would have mattered greatly. We wasted months at sea!"
"We did not have your secret strategy at the time that we set sail. Cassie, there is no way he can foresee this. If you'd like, once we gather all the Generals, we scry for him, we find out what he is doing."
"Yes, that would give me some solace in the meantime." Cassie said, nodding. "As for the battle itself?"
"We will discuss that with the Generals." he told her, his gaze drawn to her hands as she fingered the hilt of her dagger. "I've been your travelling companion for the better part of a year and I've only just noticed that; it's beautiful."
"It was a gift from Prince Arthur. I saved Morgana from some bandits and he gave it to me." she said. "I'd lost my own. Well, it wasn't mine, really. I took it from the armoury in Reccopolis the morning I fled. It was a simple wooden dagger."
"This one is beautiful. He has fine taste."
"Yeah, he does." Cassie commented. "Although, I have a feeling this was with Morgana's help."
"The beautiful dark haired one? Or the charming brunette?"
"Yes, her." Cassie said, smiling fondly. "The raven haired girl. Morgana. Guinevere is the brunette. You'd do well to call them by their names. I doubt either one would be very impressed to know that's their moniker."
"Well, you would be the beautiful fair-haired one if that makes any difference, Princess." he said jokingly.
"Gundemar, c-may I request something?" Cassie said quietly, pausing ever so slightly and stopping him.
"Of course, Princess."
"Don't tell the Generals I've abdicated yet." she said, waiting for him to nod before walking ahead.
"Of course. We'll wait until after you've sentenced them to say anything formal."
"Thank you for understanding, Gundemar." Cassie said, taking his hand and squeezing it gratefully.
"It's my pleasure, Cassie." he replied, smiling at her as they kept walking hand in hand.
"Reina Casiopea, Le presento a mi hermano, Abilio. Abilio, la Reina Casiopea." Gundemar spoke grandiosely as they walked through the heavy wooden doors into the finely decorated atrium.
"Un placer conocerlo, Duque ." Cassie said with a smile, curtseying as he bowed to her from his position on the far side of the room.
"Alteza, la hemos estado buscando mucho tiempo. Espero que su viaje haya sido tranquilo." Abilio said, taking her arm and escorting her into the council chambers.
"Lo contrario, Duque." she said with a polite chuckle. "It was quite eventful, actually. If you- Disculpe, hace mucho tiempo que no hablo en nuestra lengua. Como sin duda sabrá, tengo el poder de la magia en mí. He traído a dos aliados para que nos ayuden en nuestros esfuerzos. Tal vez podamos hablar más tarde. Tenemos que esperar hasta que todos los Generales estén aquí para que podamos continuar esta conversación. Como bien ha dicho, mi viaje fue largo." Cassie said, looking around at the Ladies and Lords that were gathered there.
"Por supuesto, alguien la llevará a sus habitaciones." Gundemar said, nodding to his brother and watching as a few servants rushed forward eager to do the job.
"Sus huéspedes son bienvenidos en el castillo, Majestad." Abilio said, sweeping his arm around the Great hall and nodding to a group of Ladies.
"Gracias por su hospitalidad." Cassie said, smiling in greeting as they walked closer.
"Estas son sus damas en espera por el momento. Pídales lo que quiera." he told her amiably.
"Un placer. ¿Me acompañan a mis habitaciones?" Cassie asked them sweetly, allowing them to walk forward and introduce themselves as she was led up a grand marble staircase to the upper floors.
"Mi Reina, nos permitiría arreglarle su corte?" one of them asked, looking at her hair as they called a servant and had them bring water up for a bath.
"Se lo agradecería. Llegó a un punto en que no podía pelear sin que se enganchara con algo."
"¿Ústed sabe pelear?" a petite blonde asked with wide eyes as she watched the servant trudge up with two buckets of water. "Majestad." she quickly aadded.
"Si, mis hermanos me enseñaron. En contra de su voluntad, pero siempre fui una niña obstinada. Los Caballeros en Camelot son muy buenos guerreros, pero su técnica no es como la nuestra. Fue fácil vencerlos." she said, turning around and addressing the serving girl. "No tiene que seguir trayendo agua, yo lo puedo llenar. Simplemente ponga los aceites necesarios."
"Muy útil." one of them said as Cassie stripped off the dirty clothes. behind the screen.
"Lo es. Me puedo bañar todos los días si quisiera." Cassie answered kindly, looking at them curiously. "¿No lo temen? Las damas que tenía en Recópolis no les gustaba cuando usaba mi magia así."
"Es la Reina. Nunca nos haría daño, Excelencia." the first one to speak said bravely, brandishing scissors and watching as she sunk into the hot water with a content sigh. "¿Cómo quiere el corte?"
"Me pongo en sus manos, Baronesa Adela." Cassie said, closing her eyes as she stretched out her legs and smiled blissfully.
"Quedo hermosa, mi Reina." Diana, the petite blonde, said, holding up a mirror and handing it to her.
"Si, tiene las manos de un ángel, Baronesa Adela! ¡A la Dama Morgana le habría encantado conocerla!"
"¿La Dama Morgana?"
"La pupila del Rey en donde estaba viviendo." Cassie explained conversationally, drawing the screen magically as a knock sounded at the door.
"My Lady, may I come in?"
"Yes, Addie, enter." Cassie called out, leaning back in relaxation as she heard the door click shut.
"Señora." the ladies all said respectfully, curtseying.
"How nice to meet you." she said, smiling at them as she walked in and found a chair. "It's a beautiful necklace you have." she complimented, smiling at the redhead.
"Dice que es muy hermoso su collar, Condessa Florentina." Cassie translated smoothly, her eyes closed as she sank deeper into the water.
"Gracias! Se ve muy hermosa a esta altura de su embarazo. Una madre radiante."
"The pregnancy suits you." Cassie said, opening an eye and smiling as they all looked rather annoyed behind their courtly facade.
"Se lo agradezco, Condessa." Addie said in clipped Spanish, smiling widely.
"Es de lo poco que logró aprender. No debo ser muy buena profesora." Cassie told them, puuting down the washcloth and lathering up her hair as she washed it quickly.
"¡No! ¡Seguro que no es buena estudiante!" the ladies all negated, shaking their heads simultaneously.
"Addie, ¿puedes abrirlo?" Cassie asked, looking at the necklace hopefully.
"Come again?" she asked, looking at the others for clarification.
"I apologise, changing languages so often confuses me. Can you open it?"
"I can try, but the spell you've cast on it is powerful enough I might not be able to." she said, placing it on the ground and reciting the spell.
"No, I cannot, my Lady." she said, sitting back in disappointment as she tried in vain to open the enlarged trunk.
"Impresionante!" the Lady Genovéva said, looking in awe at the trunk that appeared before their eyes.
"No es lo más impresionante de la magia." Cassie said, getting out of the water and wrapping herself up in a towel as she walked closer, pricking her finger and whispering the spell. "Diganme, ¿cuál me pondré hoy?"
"Son hermosos sus vestidos, Reina. ¡Nunca he visto algo así!" they said, marvelling at the heavier dresses and their embellishments.
"Las Damas de Camelot dicen lo mismo de nuestros vestidos." she said with a knowing smile, looking at the dresses she had in her trunk.
"No hay comparación con los encajes nuestros, pero es hermoso este vestido. Se lo debería poner hoy."
"No, sabe qué… creo que hoy no es el día adecuado para usar un vestido. Necesito verme seria y capaz de pelear. Me gustaría ponerme este conjunto." she said, taking Owaine's tunic and her trousers. "Si me podrían traer un cinturón…" she said, looking at them as they all stood up and curtseyed, saying they would come back with many for her to choose from.
"I can see you relax as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Are they really that bad?" Addie asked, letting her disappear behind the screen and change quickly.
"No, it's not that. I just forgot how tiring it was to always pretend to be a good princess and smile all the time. They are good Ladies. Kind, clearly." she answered, sitting down at the dresser and sniffing all the perfumes she found there.
"You miss this life? The life of a Princess?"
"There are luxuries from here that I could never find in Camelot, but I've grown used to not having them. Besides, I live very well in Camelot."
"That was your husband's, wasn't it?" she asked softly.
"Yes, it was. ¡Entre!"
"Mi Reina, aquí tiene para que escoja." the eldest, Josefina, said.
"Son hermosos todos! A ver… ayudenme a escoger." Cassie said, smiling widely at them and taking the first one, a thin leather with a sabertooth imprinted in the bronzework, and putting it on.
"Se pierde en el pliegue." reasoned the pretty blonde.
"Si, tiene razón. A ver esta…" she said, taking the belt off and laying it over the back of the nearest chair, tying the string of another tightly around her waist and arranging the metal beads to lay over her right thigh.
"Se ve muy hermosa, Reina." Diana said, nodding at the others while Cassie perused the other belts they had brought.
"Tal vez esto se verá mejor?" Cassie said thoughtfully, taking the wide leather and clasping the belt just above her navel, the wide bronze clasp engraved with vines and roses.
"También le luce, pero una mujer tan hermosa como lo es no necesita mucho para que eso sea verdad." Genovéva said with a wide smile.
"Gracias, Baronessa. Me quedaré con esta. Aunque, me gustaría comprar las demás. Son tan hermosas."
"Claro, mi Reina! Son un regalo."
"Bueno, se los acepto solo si me dicen quien las hizo. Quiero mandar a hacer otra."
"¡Por supuesto!" Josefina said with a proud smile, curtseying deeply. "Si me dice lo que quiere yo lo encargaré."
"Déjeme lo dibujo y ¿mañana se lo doy?" Cassie asked, looking at her with an expectant smile.
"Lo que quiera, Alteza." she said, bowing her head in respect.
"Gracias. Addie, ve algo qu- Sorry, do you see something you like?" Cassie asked her, sitting down and fixing her hair atop her head then letting it fall down and brushing it out.
"I don't think a belt is the best thing for me right now." she said with a chuckle, moving her hand over her belly in a large circle.
"Okay, perhaps some other time, then. Are you hungry? Gracias, Condessa Josefina." Cassie said, thanking the short redhead as she took a brush and began combing her hair back, braiding it in five strands and tying it off with a leather string.
"Starved."
"¿Aceptarían una invitación a comer conmigo?" Cassie asked them, smiling widely as she admired the braid.
"Sería un honor, Majestad. Pero creo que el Duque y el Conde la están esperando para almorzar." Josefina said, bowing her head.
"Bueno, por la noche, ¿entonces?" Cassie offered, smiling when she saw them nod in agreement. "Las espero. ¿Nos acompañan al comedor?"
"Siganos, Reina." Genovéva said, standing up and walking proudly out of the room.
"Un segundo." Cassie said, placing the belts and the dresses back into the trunk before she locked it and hung it around her neck. " Be min æðeling, betȳn ond scrinc."
"Majestad, Señora." they said, curtseying and leaving them at the door to the council chambers a few minutes later.
"¡Ah! ¡Reina Casiopea! ¿Me imagino que su habitación esta a su agrado?"
"Si, Conde. Está perfecto. Y son verdaderamente encantadoras las damas en espera." she said gratefully, taking her place at the head of the table and looking at him with a smile.
"Me agrada. Mi hermano me dice que tiene planeado traer a nuestros Duques y Generales aliados para convocar un consejo de guerra?" he asked her, looking impressed.
"No puedo tomar todo el crédito, Duque. El General Miro fue quién primero me lo sugirió hace meses." she said, raising her goblet to him.
"No, Alteza. Se le hubiera ocurrido sin mi ayuda. Es más, la mayoría de lo que hemos planeado ha venido de su boca."
"Me engrandece, Miro. Estoy segura que sin el consejo de ustedes estaría perdida o atrapada."
"Puede ser, pero escaparías en menos de nada, Casiopea." he said, looking at his companions. "Forgive us, we've been rude to exclude you from our conversation."
"That's quite alright, we've got the gist. You're giving her a big head, she's trying to be modest." Gildas said, raising his glass and looking at Cassie with mirthful eyes.
"You let him speak to you this way?" Abilio asked, looking at her in confusion.
"Yes, I do. It's why he's my friend. That and he reminds me of another great friend I left back in Camelot. Both don't know when to shut up."
"And we're both ruggedly handsome and very powerful." Gildas added smugly.
"Yes, and modest, clearly." Addie added with a light laugh, the four of them making light conversation for the rest of their lunch.
"My Ladies, my Lord, brother. It is time for us to get to work. You lead the way…" Gundemar said, bowing to Cassie and swinging his arm out in a regal flourish.
"Of course. I don't believe we will need you or Ebro for this Addie. Perhaps some air will do you good?" Cassie told her, smiling lightly.
"Of course, my Lady, my Lords. I will find Ebro and inform him he is not needed for now." she said, curtseying as well as she could.
"You do not trust your friend?"
"No, I trust her. But she is with child. The less lives I put at risk the better. Are you ready, Gildas?"
"The cities aren't far away, I'm sure you can open the portal yourself." he said, nodding at her meaningfully.
"You're right." Cassie said, taken slightly aback at his confidence. "I think you can still find Addie. You two haven't been truly alone in over a year. Go on."
"We had a few moments on the island." Gildas corrected her, bowing to the three of them and leaving quickly before she changed her mind.
"¿Está listo, Conde?" Cassie asked, looking at him to make sure he was before she did any magic.
"Si, mi Reina, adelante." he said, stepping aside and holding his hands behind his back patiently, exchanging a glance with his older brother.