Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

MERLIN

My heart ached for her. I wanted to hold her tight, shielding her from the pain radiating off of her in waves. We could all see the vision, and I had a feeling that was the queen’s doing.

"There's more we must discuss, but it’s late and we're expected at the Night of the Ancients feast. I’m sure your knights have filled you in on what this celebration means for us here in Avalon."

How could we have forgotten? First, the Dawn of The Ancients, and now the Night when the entire realm of Avalon reveled in magic. How strange and slightly suspicious that it happened to coincide with Arthur’s arrival…

She turned to all of us, knights and myself included. "You're all welcome to join us; it would be an honor to have Camelot's knights and the infamous Merlin with us." She glanced at Gaius and winked.

I looked at Arthur, trying to read her thoughts. Her face remained composed, but I saw the turmoil in her eyes and how she clenched her hands into small fists. I stepped closer, my shoulder brushing against hers.

"What do you say, Wart?" I whispered. "A feast might be just what we need. A bit of wine to forget about the prophecy for a few hours.”

If there was one thing I knew about Arthur, it was that she never passed up a chance to have some fun. For a moment, I thought she would refuse, then she let out a long sigh and nodded.

"Fine. But I'm not doing this for any prophecy or destiny. I'm doing it because I'm starving and I need a damn drink."

Even Queen Tatiana laughed at that, some light returning to the faerie queen’s face. She summoned several servants into the room and instructed them to take us to the guest wing of the palace to get cleaned up and ready for the feast. I could tell that Arthur still had more questions on the tip of her tongue, but it would have to wait.

I lingered for a moment, my lips brushing against Arthur's cheek in a fleeting kiss. Her skin was soft and warm, and I could have kissed her again and again. I gave her a reassuring smile and promised I’d be up in a moment.

As Arthur followed Queen Tatiana’s servants out of the library, Tristan, Lancelot, Percival, Gawain, and Galahad filed out after her. I watched as they nodded and greeted several fae guards who’d been stationed around the exits. It reminded me that this was once their home, and they probably know everyone here. It made more sense why they were so willing to trust Queen Tatiana with Arthur.

I hung back, my gaze drifting to the towering shelves and the ancient tomes they held. The scent of parchment and ink mingled with the sweet aroma of magic.

It wasn't until the echo of footsteps faded that I realized Gaius and I were alone. He stood near the massive tree, his purple robes shimmering in the golden light that filtered through the leaves. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"You knew," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "All this time, you knew, and you didn’t tell me."

Gaius sighed, his shoulders sagging as if the burden of centuries rested upon them. "Yes, Merlin. I knew. And so did you, my boy. You just didn’t want to accept it."

I stepped towards him, thrusting out my finger. “It was a possibility , remember? You said the prophecy spoke of a halfling. There are hundreds of halflings in Albion, Gaius. But you knew about Morrigan and Adriana. You were there when it all happened and you chose not to tell me.”

I glared at Gaius, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The betrayal stung like a slap to the face. "You lied to me," I said through gritted teeth. "You let me believe that Arthur's destiny was uncertain, that she might not be the one the prophecy spoke of. I could have prepared her for this."

Gaius met my gaze unflinchingly. "I did what I had to do, Merlin. For Arthur's sake, and for the sake of all Albion."

"What about my sake?" I demanded, my voice rising. "Did you ever stop to think about what it would do to me, living with this secret, not knowing the truth about the woman I—" I caught myself, the words dying on my tongue.

Gaius's expression softened, understanding in his eyes. "The woman you love," he finished gently. "I’ve always known it was inevitable, Merlin. I've seen the way you look at her, the way you protect her. Your bond is something special, something rare and precious."

I shook my head, refusing to be placated. "Then why keep me in the dark? Why not trust me with the truth?"

Gaius sighed. "Because you had a role to play in Arthur's destiny. She had to be protected from the corruption of royalty until the time was right. She needed a companion and a protector. Arthur needed you as you were, Merlin, and I won’t apologize for that. Prophecies are incredibly delicate, and one wrong move could disrupt it all.”

I felt my shoulders slump as the fight drained out of me. As much as I wanted to hold on to my anger, I couldn't deny the truth. In a way, I already knew the truth. I was just angry, and I didn’t know what I should do with it.

"What comes next?" I asked. "Now that Arthur knows the entire truth, what happens?"

Gaius smiled, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "For now, you enjoy the Night of the Ancients. Revel in the magic. Let it fill you up and renew your reservoirs. Because come morning, her quest continues."