Part 19: link
“So Arthur, I am curious. If you’ll pardon such a personal question, how is it that anda chose to marry a maidservant?” Prince Allard asks as they eat their breakfast.
“Not at all,” Arthur says, chuckling. “To be honest, it is nice to have someone pertanyaan my decision based on curiosity rather than contempt.”
“He is lobbying to be allowed to marry for cinta rather than politics as well, my lord,” Annis says with a smirk, looking sideways at her eldest.
“Aha…” Arthur says thoughtfully. “I shall choose my answer carefully, then.”
“I would prefer if anda chose to answer truthfully, Arthur,” Allard says with a grin.
“Well the truth is, my father was dead against it, so we kept our feelings secret for a long time. Father almost had her executed at one point, thinking that she had enchanted me with some sort of magic cinta potion. Accused her of being a witch, naturally, because he just couldn’t fathom how I could cinta a maid.”
“Uther was always quick to make such judgments,” Annis comments.
“Not one of his better qualities, unfortunately,” Arthur admits.
“So anda knew anda wanted her before anda were even king?” Garret asks.
“Yes. She… she was the only person, well, one of the only people who was willing to stand up to me and treat me like a real person instead of a prince.”
“And anda wanted that? To be treated as though anda were… ordinary?” Allard asks, as if this is a completely new concept to him.
“What I want is for people to be honest with me. How am I to truly know if I have any worth as a man atau to the kingdom if everyone automatically agrees with everything I say based on the sole fact that I am their king?”
Interesting indeed, Annis thinks, watching him. They are both wise beyond their years. I look meneruskan, ke depan to watching Camelot grow under their rule.
“So an impertinent maid with a pretty nose catches your eye oleh doing what? Yelling at you?” Allard asks.
“That’s about the size of it, yes,” Arthur laughs, and Gwen blushes.
“I admit that I was definitely impertinent,” she says. “But he was akting a prat, and a royal one.”
Allard and Garret laugh loudly at this.
“My lady, anda were impertinent several times,” he teases her, lifting her hand and ciuman it.
“And anda deserved it every time, my king.”
Annis cannot help but smile at this petite maid who seems to have completely ensnared the jantung of the king.
“I have learned much from Guinevere over these years,” Arthur says. “I didn’t want a mindless Lady who had nothing to offer apart from a pretty face and a fertile womb. I was not interested in someone who agreed with my every word. Guinevere is wise and loyal and brave and has the kindest jantung of anyone I know. That is why I made her my queen.”
“And the fact that she is beautiful has no bearing?” Allard asks with a friendly smirk.
“Well, it certainly helps, doesn’t it?” Arthur laughs.
“Who are the others?” Garret asks suddenly.
“Other what?” Arthur returns.
“You berkata that Gwen was one of the only people willing to stand up to you. I’m curious as to whom the others are.”
Arthur stabs a sausage with his fork and points it behind his head. “Him.”
Merlin’s head snaps up, caught off guard.
“Your servant?” Garret is stunned.
Arthur nods. “He is one of them, yes. He is also impertinent and stubborn and I wouldn’t trade him.”
“Pardon me, my lord, but did anda not pass him off as a fool that night in my tent?” Annis arches an eyebrow at Arthur.
“Ah, yes… um, I may not have been entirely truthful about that. No disrespect intended, of course, my lady,” he says, trying to talk his way out of a corner.
“Explain,” Annis says.
“I merely berkata that to save his life. I hoped that if anda thought him a simpleton who stumbled upon us anda might be merciful. Plus I was angry with him for following me,” he says, glaring back at Merlin.
Merlin smiles weakly. “Sorry,” he says.
“I know now that he was merely looking after my well-being. He does that frequently, often without thought for his own safety atau whether atau not I actually need looking after.” he says pointedly.
“But he is a loyal and trustworthy servant, my lady, and a true friend to us both,” Gwen adds helpfully. “There are so few people that Arthur completely trusts in this world, and he does try to keep those few close at hand.”
Arthur reaches over and puts his hand over Gwen’s.
Trust, Merlin thinks, feeling slightly ill. There’s that word again. That blessing and a curse I have placed squarely on my own head. He glances over at Gwaine and sees the knight give him a sympathetic smile.
“Trust is indeed a rare commodity for a monarch,” Annis says wisely. “You are shrewd to keep those anda trust close to both your jantung and your side.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Arthur says.
“I had suspected as much anyway,” Annis finally admits.
“What, that Merlin wasn’t a fool?” Arthur asks.
“When I saw him yesterday oleh the light of day, I could see that he was no fool,” she says, glancing back at Merlin, who gives his thanks oleh nodding respectfully.
“Well, he does have his days,” Arthur chuckles.
A page enters the hall and Annis looks up. “Yes?”
“King Odin’s party has been spotted, my lady.”
“Thank you. Allard, will anda tampil Arthur and Guinevere to the council chambers? I must prepare to greet our guests.”
“Of course, Mother, when they finish their breakfast.”
Queen Annis makes to stand, and the men also stand respectfully.
“Annis,” Gwen says softly, standing as well, catching her as she passes. “A word?”
“Of course, dear,” she says, walking a few steps away for some privacy.
“The… offer anda made last night. I should like to take anda up on it.”
Annis’ eyebrows rise in slight surprise. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, I’m sure everything is fine. Arthur, on the other hand, would like reassurance,” Gwen says with a sigh.
“You did tell him after all, then.”
“No, he guessed,” she says with a small smile.
Annis chuckles, then says, “I think perhaps I will send for the royal midwife. She will be able to give your husband better peace of mind than the physician.”
“Thank you.”
“Do not give it a thought.” She smiles at the young queen and makes her exit.
Gwen sits back down beside Arthur and pats his hand. He takes her hand and lifts it to his lips, ciuman her knuckles.
“What’s going on?” Gwaine whispers to Elyan, noting the wordless conversation between Arthur and Gwen.
“No idea,” Elyan jawaban behind his goblet.
“Too much bloody secrecy around here,” Gwaine murmurs.
“King Arthur,” Odin says coolly as he enters the council chambers. He is accompanied oleh one knight and a man who appears to be a council member.
Arthur and Gwen stand. “King Odin, thank anda for agreeing to this meeting,” Arthur says. He steps forward, extending his hand. Odin does not acknowledge it, walking past.
“Okay,” Arthur says quietly and walks back to the table.
“You have brought no advisors, Arthur? Are anda that arrogant?” Odin says incredulously, pausing in his course towards the table.
“I have brought my queen,” Arthur nods in Gwen’s direction. “That is the only counsel I require.” He attempts a smile, then continues. “King Odin, my wife, queen Guinevere.”
Odin hadn’t paid her much attention when he entered the hall, being too busy scowling at Arthur. He turns his eyes on Gwen now. She carefully extends her hand, and Odin takes it gently. “Queen Guinevere,” he says quietly, studying her face. “Word had reached my kingdom about the maid that had captured the jantung of the son of Uther Pendragon.” He pauses and quirks his head to the side. “Perhaps the young king is not as foolish as I have thought him all these years.” He lifts her hand and kisses it once before releasing it.
“It is an honor to meet you, King Odin. It is my fondest wish that the rift between our kingdoms be repaired and that we return to our homes each with a new ally,” she says, curtseying—not too deeply—to Odin.
Arthur watches the exchange between Gwen and Odin with his mouth open. He looks at Merlin. What the hell is going on here? Merlin shrugs helplessly.
“Please, let us sit,” queen Annis announces as she strides into the room. “Forgive my delay, I had a small matter to attend,” she adds, glancing at Gwen and giving her a small nod.
They wait while Annis sits at the head of the table, followed oleh Guinevere. Merlin scoots her chair in as the men sit.
“You must know I did not intend to kill your son, Odin,” Arthur says a detik time. “He challenged me to a fight; I had to accept, even though I had no quarrel with him. I hardly knew him. But he laid down the challenge. Rules of chivalry.”
“Rules of chivalry be hanged! You—” Odin starts, his voice raising.
“I tried to convince him to withdraw!” Arthur interrupts, shouting. He continues, speaking normally again. “I begged him to withdraw. He… he wouldn’t. He berkata something about needing to prove himself.”
“Prove himself? To whom?”
“You, I imagine. Sons often go to great lengths to prove themselves worthy to their fathers, particularly if their fathers are powerful men. This I know,” Arthur says.
“Do not pass this blame on to me, boy, you were the one who dealt the blow!”
“Well, your henchman succeeded in killing my father, so I’d say that puts us about even!” Arthur shouts back.
“Is that so? Well—”
Gwen slaps her hand down on the meja and stands. “Enough!”
The room falls silent as several pairs of very surprised eyes turn to the petite form standing and glowering at them.
“Every person at this meja knows that the death of another does not bring back the already dead. All it does is create another hole in another heart. anda may think that it will make anda feel better, but it doesn’t. It can’t.”
“I will admit that I felt no joy at the news of Uther’s death,” Odin says quietly.
“We have all done things for which we feel regret. Things done hastily; things done out of ignorance atau fear,” Gwen says gently, taking her kursi again.
Merlin steps meneruskan, ke depan and places his hand on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur turns and Merlin leans down and whispers something in his ear.
Arthur looks at him, his face questioning. Merlin nods encouragingly. Arthur sighs and nods. He turns back to face Odin.
“Throughout my young life, I have been responsible, both directly and indirectly, for the death of many men. Most of those deaths have been justified. But there are a handful that I regret. A handful that cause a pain in my jantung when I think back on them.” He speaks quietly, carefully, his voice edged with sadness. “Within this handful, there are three names are most prominent in my mind, three names for which if I could turn back the hands of time and change my actions on those days, I would. One is your son. The detik is King Caerleon,” he looks at Annis. She nods, noting the pain in his blue eyes. “And the third is Tom the blacksmith,” Arthur looks at Gwen, who smiles sadly.
“Who is Tom the blacksmith?” Odin asks.
“My father,” Gwen says quietly.
“You killed your own father-in-law?”
“He wasn’t my father-in-law at the time. And I didn’t kill him. But I could have stopped his execution. atau at least tried to convince my father to stop it. I was young. Afraid. Afraid of my father, afraid of his power, afraid of… of everything. Hiding behind my arrogance like a fool and a coward. And because of that, an innocent man, a good man died.”
“And anda have forgiven him for this,” Odin looks at Gwen.
“Yes.”
“And I have forgiven him as well,” Annis says quietly. “Odin, it is time. Surely anda have one atau two things done in your youth that anda would take back if diberikan the opportunity, yes?”
The chamber doors open a crack and Norah’s face appears. Annis looks up at her and nods.
“Guinevere?” Annis says, indicating towards Norah.
“I beg anda both pardon me, Sirs, I must take my leave,” Gwen says. Merlin steps meneruskan, ke depan to pull out her chair. The men stand as she rises, her hand in Arthur’s. He kisses her cheek.
“Behave yourself,” she whispers to him and he smiles at her.
“You, too,” he winks, releasing her hand.
“You have chosen your wife wisely, indeed, young Pendragon,” Odin says once Gwen has left them.
Arthur inclines his head, curious. “You have no issue with the fact that she was not born of noble blood?”
“That young woman,” Odin nods to the doors, “has lebih true nobility about her than any Lady I have met, present company excepted of course, your highness.”
“Of course,” Annis nods, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “And I agree. Far too much weight is diberikan to birth and not enough to a person’s true qualities, and I, for one, am glad to see King Arthur championing this new way of thinking.”
“Arthur,” Odin says, addressing him directly and familiarly for the first time. “Your words and the words of your queen have not fallen on deaf ears. Nor have they fallen on a jantung of stone.”
“Thank you, Odin.”
“Do not thank me yet, I’ve done nothing deserving your thanks. The death of my son grieves me still, as I’m sure does the death of your father. But I agree: lebih death will not bring either man back. We must honor their memories oleh putting our hurts behind us and moving forward, as allies.”
Arthur smiles.
“Now anda may thank me,” Odin’s face cracks a small smile.
“Thank you, Odin. Allies, it is. Perhaps one day, friends, even.” Arthur stands and extends his hand again. This time Odin stands and the men clasp one another’s forearms.
“This pleases me. I am happy that the two of anda have come to an accord,” Annis says. “Now: Arthur, anda had some other information anda wished to share with King Odin?”
“Ah, yes,” Arthur says. “On our journey here yesterday, we were ambushed oleh a small band of men. Perhaps twelve. Now, we know that it was a ruse, but these men were dressed in your colors, Odin.”
“I sent no one!” Odin declares, his face going stony again.
Arthur holds his hands up, “Yes, I know that. They were hired thugs that another party wanted us to think were your men. We knew immediately that they were no knights; no soldiers.”
Odin’s advisor leans over and mutters something.
Some advisor, he’s berkata nothing until now, Arthur thinks wryly. Even Merlin leant a hand, and he’s not even my advisor. Yet.
“Apparently some of our tunics were stolen recently,” Odin says.
“Indeed,” Arthur nods.
“Who sent them? Do anda know?”
“We are fairly sure that it was the Lady Morgana.”
“The witch? She lives?”
“All evidence is pointing that way, yes. It was a sloppy effort, so I do not think the planning was hers. But it was orchestrated oleh one in her employ, we believe.”
“How does she manage to find allies still?” Odin wonders, leaning back in his seat.
“Despite the fact that her hunger for power and revenge has twisted her mind, she is still crafty. And do not underestimate the power of her beauty; that alone still can sway many weak-minded men.”
“Such as?”
“Lord Roderick of Clarence.”
“That weed? He is as useless as a three-legged horse.”
“Precisely why he aligns himself with Morgana. He undoubtedly thinks that he will gain some power oleh bowing before her.”
“King Odin, we were hoping that we may add anda to the ranks of those who stand against Morgana Pendragon and her dangerous grabs for power,” Annis says, tired of this beating around the bush.
Odin ponders this for a moment. “Yes. Yes, I think so,” he nods. “She is dangerous, and no good could come from her being in a position of power. anda have my support, Arthur, Annis.”
“Thank you, Odin,” Arthur says, heaving a sigh. I wonder how Guinevere’s doing?
Odin shakes his head. “Honestly. Sending out men disguised as mine to ambush anda while anda journey to make peace with me. Amateur,” he remarks.
Arthur laughs, “That is exactly what we thought.”
“Guinevere!” Arthur jogs down the corridor when he spots her. He grabs her and picks her up, spinning her in the air.
“Arthur, put me down!” she squeals, embarrassed, but she is laughing. He puts her down.
“Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have… did I hurt you?” he asks, suddenly worried.
“I’m fine, it’s just…” she trails off, looking down the corridor to where Annis and Odin are walking towards them.
“So everything’s good then?” he asks softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
“Yes, the midwife berkata I have nothing to worry about and can carry on with my usual activities.”
“All your usual activities?” he asks, smirking.
“Even that, yes,” she laughs. “I’ll tell anda lebih later; they’re getting closer now.”
“Okay,” he says, ciuman her forehead. “And the meeting went well even after anda left. He’s forgiven me and has agreed to stand with us against Morgana should the need arise. When the need arises, I should say. And I have anda to thank for it.”
“I did nothing,” she says.
“You did everything, Love. Odin wasn’t listening to me. He wouldn’t listen to me. He only started listening when you stood up and yelled at both of us.”
“You were bickering like children.”
“It seems the impertinent maid with the pretty nose wins over lebih than one noble oleh yelling at them,” Arthur grins at her, running his finger down her nose, tapping the tip lightly just as Annis and Odin reach them.
“Ah, queen Guinevere, anda will be joining us for lunch, I hope?” Odin asks.
“Of course. I am sorry I had to leave the meeting. I had a personal matter to attend,” she smiles at him, taking Arthur’s arm. “And please, do call me Gwen,” she adds.
Part 21: link
“So Arthur, I am curious. If you’ll pardon such a personal question, how is it that anda chose to marry a maidservant?” Prince Allard asks as they eat their breakfast.
“Not at all,” Arthur says, chuckling. “To be honest, it is nice to have someone pertanyaan my decision based on curiosity rather than contempt.”
“He is lobbying to be allowed to marry for cinta rather than politics as well, my lord,” Annis says with a smirk, looking sideways at her eldest.
“Aha…” Arthur says thoughtfully. “I shall choose my answer carefully, then.”
“I would prefer if anda chose to answer truthfully, Arthur,” Allard says with a grin.
“Well the truth is, my father was dead against it, so we kept our feelings secret for a long time. Father almost had her executed at one point, thinking that she had enchanted me with some sort of magic cinta potion. Accused her of being a witch, naturally, because he just couldn’t fathom how I could cinta a maid.”
“Uther was always quick to make such judgments,” Annis comments.
“Not one of his better qualities, unfortunately,” Arthur admits.
“So anda knew anda wanted her before anda were even king?” Garret asks.
“Yes. She… she was the only person, well, one of the only people who was willing to stand up to me and treat me like a real person instead of a prince.”
“And anda wanted that? To be treated as though anda were… ordinary?” Allard asks, as if this is a completely new concept to him.
“What I want is for people to be honest with me. How am I to truly know if I have any worth as a man atau to the kingdom if everyone automatically agrees with everything I say based on the sole fact that I am their king?”
Interesting indeed, Annis thinks, watching him. They are both wise beyond their years. I look meneruskan, ke depan to watching Camelot grow under their rule.
“So an impertinent maid with a pretty nose catches your eye oleh doing what? Yelling at you?” Allard asks.
“That’s about the size of it, yes,” Arthur laughs, and Gwen blushes.
“I admit that I was definitely impertinent,” she says. “But he was akting a prat, and a royal one.”
Allard and Garret laugh loudly at this.
“My lady, anda were impertinent several times,” he teases her, lifting her hand and ciuman it.
“And anda deserved it every time, my king.”
Annis cannot help but smile at this petite maid who seems to have completely ensnared the jantung of the king.
“I have learned much from Guinevere over these years,” Arthur says. “I didn’t want a mindless Lady who had nothing to offer apart from a pretty face and a fertile womb. I was not interested in someone who agreed with my every word. Guinevere is wise and loyal and brave and has the kindest jantung of anyone I know. That is why I made her my queen.”
“And the fact that she is beautiful has no bearing?” Allard asks with a friendly smirk.
“Well, it certainly helps, doesn’t it?” Arthur laughs.
“Who are the others?” Garret asks suddenly.
“Other what?” Arthur returns.
“You berkata that Gwen was one of the only people willing to stand up to you. I’m curious as to whom the others are.”
Arthur stabs a sausage with his fork and points it behind his head. “Him.”
Merlin’s head snaps up, caught off guard.
“Your servant?” Garret is stunned.
Arthur nods. “He is one of them, yes. He is also impertinent and stubborn and I wouldn’t trade him.”
“Pardon me, my lord, but did anda not pass him off as a fool that night in my tent?” Annis arches an eyebrow at Arthur.
“Ah, yes… um, I may not have been entirely truthful about that. No disrespect intended, of course, my lady,” he says, trying to talk his way out of a corner.
“Explain,” Annis says.
“I merely berkata that to save his life. I hoped that if anda thought him a simpleton who stumbled upon us anda might be merciful. Plus I was angry with him for following me,” he says, glaring back at Merlin.
Merlin smiles weakly. “Sorry,” he says.
“I know now that he was merely looking after my well-being. He does that frequently, often without thought for his own safety atau whether atau not I actually need looking after.” he says pointedly.
“But he is a loyal and trustworthy servant, my lady, and a true friend to us both,” Gwen adds helpfully. “There are so few people that Arthur completely trusts in this world, and he does try to keep those few close at hand.”
Arthur reaches over and puts his hand over Gwen’s.
Trust, Merlin thinks, feeling slightly ill. There’s that word again. That blessing and a curse I have placed squarely on my own head. He glances over at Gwaine and sees the knight give him a sympathetic smile.
“Trust is indeed a rare commodity for a monarch,” Annis says wisely. “You are shrewd to keep those anda trust close to both your jantung and your side.”
“Thank you, my lady,” Arthur says.
“I had suspected as much anyway,” Annis finally admits.
“What, that Merlin wasn’t a fool?” Arthur asks.
“When I saw him yesterday oleh the light of day, I could see that he was no fool,” she says, glancing back at Merlin, who gives his thanks oleh nodding respectfully.
“Well, he does have his days,” Arthur chuckles.
A page enters the hall and Annis looks up. “Yes?”
“King Odin’s party has been spotted, my lady.”
“Thank you. Allard, will anda tampil Arthur and Guinevere to the council chambers? I must prepare to greet our guests.”
“Of course, Mother, when they finish their breakfast.”
Queen Annis makes to stand, and the men also stand respectfully.
“Annis,” Gwen says softly, standing as well, catching her as she passes. “A word?”
“Of course, dear,” she says, walking a few steps away for some privacy.
“The… offer anda made last night. I should like to take anda up on it.”
Annis’ eyebrows rise in slight surprise. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, I’m sure everything is fine. Arthur, on the other hand, would like reassurance,” Gwen says with a sigh.
“You did tell him after all, then.”
“No, he guessed,” she says with a small smile.
Annis chuckles, then says, “I think perhaps I will send for the royal midwife. She will be able to give your husband better peace of mind than the physician.”
“Thank you.”
“Do not give it a thought.” She smiles at the young queen and makes her exit.
Gwen sits back down beside Arthur and pats his hand. He takes her hand and lifts it to his lips, ciuman her knuckles.
“What’s going on?” Gwaine whispers to Elyan, noting the wordless conversation between Arthur and Gwen.
“No idea,” Elyan jawaban behind his goblet.
“Too much bloody secrecy around here,” Gwaine murmurs.
“King Arthur,” Odin says coolly as he enters the council chambers. He is accompanied oleh one knight and a man who appears to be a council member.
Arthur and Gwen stand. “King Odin, thank anda for agreeing to this meeting,” Arthur says. He steps forward, extending his hand. Odin does not acknowledge it, walking past.
“Okay,” Arthur says quietly and walks back to the table.
“You have brought no advisors, Arthur? Are anda that arrogant?” Odin says incredulously, pausing in his course towards the table.
“I have brought my queen,” Arthur nods in Gwen’s direction. “That is the only counsel I require.” He attempts a smile, then continues. “King Odin, my wife, queen Guinevere.”
Odin hadn’t paid her much attention when he entered the hall, being too busy scowling at Arthur. He turns his eyes on Gwen now. She carefully extends her hand, and Odin takes it gently. “Queen Guinevere,” he says quietly, studying her face. “Word had reached my kingdom about the maid that had captured the jantung of the son of Uther Pendragon.” He pauses and quirks his head to the side. “Perhaps the young king is not as foolish as I have thought him all these years.” He lifts her hand and kisses it once before releasing it.
“It is an honor to meet you, King Odin. It is my fondest wish that the rift between our kingdoms be repaired and that we return to our homes each with a new ally,” she says, curtseying—not too deeply—to Odin.
Arthur watches the exchange between Gwen and Odin with his mouth open. He looks at Merlin. What the hell is going on here? Merlin shrugs helplessly.
“Please, let us sit,” queen Annis announces as she strides into the room. “Forgive my delay, I had a small matter to attend,” she adds, glancing at Gwen and giving her a small nod.
They wait while Annis sits at the head of the table, followed oleh Guinevere. Merlin scoots her chair in as the men sit.
“You must know I did not intend to kill your son, Odin,” Arthur says a detik time. “He challenged me to a fight; I had to accept, even though I had no quarrel with him. I hardly knew him. But he laid down the challenge. Rules of chivalry.”
“Rules of chivalry be hanged! You—” Odin starts, his voice raising.
“I tried to convince him to withdraw!” Arthur interrupts, shouting. He continues, speaking normally again. “I begged him to withdraw. He… he wouldn’t. He berkata something about needing to prove himself.”
“Prove himself? To whom?”
“You, I imagine. Sons often go to great lengths to prove themselves worthy to their fathers, particularly if their fathers are powerful men. This I know,” Arthur says.
“Do not pass this blame on to me, boy, you were the one who dealt the blow!”
“Well, your henchman succeeded in killing my father, so I’d say that puts us about even!” Arthur shouts back.
“Is that so? Well—”
Gwen slaps her hand down on the meja and stands. “Enough!”
The room falls silent as several pairs of very surprised eyes turn to the petite form standing and glowering at them.
“Every person at this meja knows that the death of another does not bring back the already dead. All it does is create another hole in another heart. anda may think that it will make anda feel better, but it doesn’t. It can’t.”
“I will admit that I felt no joy at the news of Uther’s death,” Odin says quietly.
“We have all done things for which we feel regret. Things done hastily; things done out of ignorance atau fear,” Gwen says gently, taking her kursi again.
Merlin steps meneruskan, ke depan and places his hand on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur turns and Merlin leans down and whispers something in his ear.
Arthur looks at him, his face questioning. Merlin nods encouragingly. Arthur sighs and nods. He turns back to face Odin.
“Throughout my young life, I have been responsible, both directly and indirectly, for the death of many men. Most of those deaths have been justified. But there are a handful that I regret. A handful that cause a pain in my jantung when I think back on them.” He speaks quietly, carefully, his voice edged with sadness. “Within this handful, there are three names are most prominent in my mind, three names for which if I could turn back the hands of time and change my actions on those days, I would. One is your son. The detik is King Caerleon,” he looks at Annis. She nods, noting the pain in his blue eyes. “And the third is Tom the blacksmith,” Arthur looks at Gwen, who smiles sadly.
“Who is Tom the blacksmith?” Odin asks.
“My father,” Gwen says quietly.
“You killed your own father-in-law?”
“He wasn’t my father-in-law at the time. And I didn’t kill him. But I could have stopped his execution. atau at least tried to convince my father to stop it. I was young. Afraid. Afraid of my father, afraid of his power, afraid of… of everything. Hiding behind my arrogance like a fool and a coward. And because of that, an innocent man, a good man died.”
“And anda have forgiven him for this,” Odin looks at Gwen.
“Yes.”
“And I have forgiven him as well,” Annis says quietly. “Odin, it is time. Surely anda have one atau two things done in your youth that anda would take back if diberikan the opportunity, yes?”
The chamber doors open a crack and Norah’s face appears. Annis looks up at her and nods.
“Guinevere?” Annis says, indicating towards Norah.
“I beg anda both pardon me, Sirs, I must take my leave,” Gwen says. Merlin steps meneruskan, ke depan to pull out her chair. The men stand as she rises, her hand in Arthur’s. He kisses her cheek.
“Behave yourself,” she whispers to him and he smiles at her.
“You, too,” he winks, releasing her hand.
“You have chosen your wife wisely, indeed, young Pendragon,” Odin says once Gwen has left them.
Arthur inclines his head, curious. “You have no issue with the fact that she was not born of noble blood?”
“That young woman,” Odin nods to the doors, “has lebih true nobility about her than any Lady I have met, present company excepted of course, your highness.”
“Of course,” Annis nods, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “And I agree. Far too much weight is diberikan to birth and not enough to a person’s true qualities, and I, for one, am glad to see King Arthur championing this new way of thinking.”
“Arthur,” Odin says, addressing him directly and familiarly for the first time. “Your words and the words of your queen have not fallen on deaf ears. Nor have they fallen on a jantung of stone.”
“Thank you, Odin.”
“Do not thank me yet, I’ve done nothing deserving your thanks. The death of my son grieves me still, as I’m sure does the death of your father. But I agree: lebih death will not bring either man back. We must honor their memories oleh putting our hurts behind us and moving forward, as allies.”
Arthur smiles.
“Now anda may thank me,” Odin’s face cracks a small smile.
“Thank you, Odin. Allies, it is. Perhaps one day, friends, even.” Arthur stands and extends his hand again. This time Odin stands and the men clasp one another’s forearms.
“This pleases me. I am happy that the two of anda have come to an accord,” Annis says. “Now: Arthur, anda had some other information anda wished to share with King Odin?”
“Ah, yes,” Arthur says. “On our journey here yesterday, we were ambushed oleh a small band of men. Perhaps twelve. Now, we know that it was a ruse, but these men were dressed in your colors, Odin.”
“I sent no one!” Odin declares, his face going stony again.
Arthur holds his hands up, “Yes, I know that. They were hired thugs that another party wanted us to think were your men. We knew immediately that they were no knights; no soldiers.”
Odin’s advisor leans over and mutters something.
Some advisor, he’s berkata nothing until now, Arthur thinks wryly. Even Merlin leant a hand, and he’s not even my advisor. Yet.
“Apparently some of our tunics were stolen recently,” Odin says.
“Indeed,” Arthur nods.
“Who sent them? Do anda know?”
“We are fairly sure that it was the Lady Morgana.”
“The witch? She lives?”
“All evidence is pointing that way, yes. It was a sloppy effort, so I do not think the planning was hers. But it was orchestrated oleh one in her employ, we believe.”
“How does she manage to find allies still?” Odin wonders, leaning back in his seat.
“Despite the fact that her hunger for power and revenge has twisted her mind, she is still crafty. And do not underestimate the power of her beauty; that alone still can sway many weak-minded men.”
“Such as?”
“Lord Roderick of Clarence.”
“That weed? He is as useless as a three-legged horse.”
“Precisely why he aligns himself with Morgana. He undoubtedly thinks that he will gain some power oleh bowing before her.”
“King Odin, we were hoping that we may add anda to the ranks of those who stand against Morgana Pendragon and her dangerous grabs for power,” Annis says, tired of this beating around the bush.
Odin ponders this for a moment. “Yes. Yes, I think so,” he nods. “She is dangerous, and no good could come from her being in a position of power. anda have my support, Arthur, Annis.”
“Thank you, Odin,” Arthur says, heaving a sigh. I wonder how Guinevere’s doing?
Odin shakes his head. “Honestly. Sending out men disguised as mine to ambush anda while anda journey to make peace with me. Amateur,” he remarks.
Arthur laughs, “That is exactly what we thought.”
“Guinevere!” Arthur jogs down the corridor when he spots her. He grabs her and picks her up, spinning her in the air.
“Arthur, put me down!” she squeals, embarrassed, but she is laughing. He puts her down.
“Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have… did I hurt you?” he asks, suddenly worried.
“I’m fine, it’s just…” she trails off, looking down the corridor to where Annis and Odin are walking towards them.
“So everything’s good then?” he asks softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
“Yes, the midwife berkata I have nothing to worry about and can carry on with my usual activities.”
“All your usual activities?” he asks, smirking.
“Even that, yes,” she laughs. “I’ll tell anda lebih later; they’re getting closer now.”
“Okay,” he says, ciuman her forehead. “And the meeting went well even after anda left. He’s forgiven me and has agreed to stand with us against Morgana should the need arise. When the need arises, I should say. And I have anda to thank for it.”
“I did nothing,” she says.
“You did everything, Love. Odin wasn’t listening to me. He wouldn’t listen to me. He only started listening when you stood up and yelled at both of us.”
“You were bickering like children.”
“It seems the impertinent maid with the pretty nose wins over lebih than one noble oleh yelling at them,” Arthur grins at her, running his finger down her nose, tapping the tip lightly just as Annis and Odin reach them.
“Ah, queen Guinevere, anda will be joining us for lunch, I hope?” Odin asks.
“Of course. I am sorry I had to leave the meeting. I had a personal matter to attend,” she smiles at him, taking Arthur’s arm. “And please, do call me Gwen,” she adds.
Part 21: link