Camelot

Six - The Rules of the King

*Author's Note*

Please note that much of the storyline from this novel and the characters have been adapted from the BBC TV series 'Merlin'. This is purely a fanfiction written for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.

This chapter has been edited November 2017. Please feel free to leave any comments/suggestions you have down below. Thank you, as always.

Six – The Rules of the King

It seemed that the dawn came all too quickly the following day. One moment I was battling with a restless sleep and the next there was light creeping through my drapes. I didn't believe I'd slept at all, yet there was still no way to slow down the time. Inevitably, it was time to leave my home and replace it with a new one.

The moment the light had shown itself, I knew it was time to pull myself out of bed and begin the fateful day of returning to Camelot. I was a mix of nervousness, excitement and terror. Who knew what I would face there.

I looked longingly at the chainmail and armour as I pulled on a pale blue gown and a dark travelling cloak. Since we were only travelling to Camelot along a well-known track, it had been decided that the more regal I looked, the better. Particularly because I was sure word would have reached Uther by now of my decision to take his son's hand in marriage. A proposal he had not even approved of.

In a fleeting decision, I strapped a dagger to my side, deciding it was best to be slightly safer than completely unarmed and leaving Arthur to protect me entirely. We did not need any more encounters with bandits. I tucked it carefully away beneath my travelling cloak and starred at reflection. I looked scared.

I slowly pulled my hair out of my face so that half of it was fastened in a bun on the top of my head, while the rest of it hung loose. I needed it to be out of my face during the ride, yet still looking appropriate enough to match my attire.

I took a deep breath. Finally, I was ready.

Madeline and Leith were already breaking their fast in the dining hall when I arrived, sitting in what appeared to be a strained silence. The two of them nodded to me as I sat down and continued to eat their porridge and fruit in silence. Clearly, they'd disagreed on something. That much was imminent.

"Okay, spill it!" I snapped, looking between the two.

Leith shot a fleeting look at Madeline, who took the cue to explode with whatever she'd been giving him the silent treatment over. I should have known immediately that the conflict was on her end.

"Leith here seems to have arranged to travel with me back to Ganden and transfer there permanently," she explained, her brows furrowed. "He believes that I'm the next target given my own heritage and has decided to go about this all secretively and not alert me of what he had done."

Even though Madeline and Leith could barely be seen apart over the past days, it still came as a shock that he would willingly leave his home for her. He had lived here all his life and had never had anything to do with Ganden or the men stationed there. I had known his position was in doubt in my leaving, but I had assumed he would take charge of the soldiers, not abandon the unit entirely.

"You see, she disagrees too," Madeline told Leith, noting my silence.

"Emalia, see reason," Leith pleaded. "You are Queen. Make it an order if you must. She needs to be protected. She's too stubborn for her own good."

Madeline gasped and her eyebrows knitted even closer together.

"Don't you dare," she growled. "I rank higher than you in titles. She would not order me to do anything on the instruction of you."