The palace of stars which I came to in the search for my son. That I aged that night isn't surprising. In the lighthouse at Cabra, I called on all my old powers in my frustration at not being able to reach Lancelot by any other means. I left the others behind on the stair, even Laurel. When I reached Lance, he was doggedly walking up stairs as he'd been doing for years by the look of him. One glance at his face was enough to tell me what I needed to know. My son. He did this for me. To gain the Rhyme of Opal Fire and revive his father from the dead.
When I arrived, Grayswandir was at the ready mere inches from Dara's throat. Would have filled me with goddamned great joy to end her right there. "Keep away from him, bitch!" I ordered.
"You must let him finish."
"Why? Tell me one goddamned reason why."
"He'll complete his quest."
Could I deny my son what he'd sought for so long, albeit for the wrong reasons? Just as I had quested for Amber. I know what it's like to go through hell for one all encompassing reason. And she knew I knew. Like being roasted slowly on a goddamn spit.
I gritted my teeth and backed off. Lance arrived at the top, his quest finally complete at the top of the lighthouse and watched him summon the palace of stars wherein Meredith sat. Then collapse.
How helpless does it make a father feel to see his son like that. It's Goddamn poison to your soul, I'll tell you that.
Lance rose and I went forward to help him.
"Lance..."
His gaze started at my boots as he lifted his head slowly, and saw my face.
"Father?"
"Too damned right," I said.
Then he hugged me and I did the same, tears rising to my eyes.
Just as Andi arrived in time to witness it.
My timing. Impeccable as ever for getting it wrong.
The truth of it all went around the group. Raven, Jake, then Andi. The second I saw Andi's expression I knew I was in trouble.
So, I tackled Lance first. If I could get him on my side, Andi would probably take it easier. Uh-uh. At the first mention of Darthene and who she was and who I was and thus who his lover had been, he keeled over. Laurel cast a spell on him and Raven took him away to a hospital somewhere.
My curse goes from strength to strength. Everything I touch falls apart in my hands. Come on, gimme a break here...
Andi was shocked. Well, I guess a couple of hundred years ago, it might've shocked me, but not anymore. That my son had a fling with my mother is just one of those things. Hell, if anything, I feel left out. But then, I was off in Shadow unknowing of who I was...and there was Elaine and there was Diane and...
Before I get distracted, where was I ?
Yeah...'Course, that makes Andi my grand-daughter which simply makes me feel old.
There was this Goddamned hurt expression written all over Andi's face. Fer pity's sake woman, I thought, let's not play this game.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.
"I didn't know" I told her, "not until a few moments ago. And I didn't want to tell you before I was sure, in case I was wrong." I began taking a step toward her, then thought better of it. "Look at yourself, Andi. How would it've been if I'd put you through this, then later had to tell you that it was all a mistake? Huh? How the hell would you have felt then? How could I put you through when even I didn't know for sure?"
I left her to ponder my words and hoped she'd see sense. It wasn't promising. She doesn't exactly have a great pedigree where good sense is concerned. Do any of us? I think not, myself included. Common sense is goddamned hard work.
Then, of course, Flora arrived. Jake had left by then so there was me...and all these beautiful women, and me absolutely exhausted after hellriding for hours, and not in any kind of state to take advantage of even one of 'em. Damn! Besides all four... Laurel would tear me apart! Get out those fangs of hers and...I grinned at the thought.
Flora carried a parchment letter which I wasn't inclined to take much notice of. Dara and I were due words, maybe even violent ones for what she'd let Lance do. When she knew perfectly goddamn well I wasn't anywhere near dead.
"Morgan!" It was Laurel calling me back. I looked at Dara; she eyed me back. She's a cool one, no mistake there.
Against my better judgement, I answered without taking my eyes from Dara. "Yeah. What is it?"
"I think you'd better come and read it for yourself."
"Goddamn, why can't you-" I turned around and saw their faces. OK. This looked serious. Dara'd just have to wait.
"I think they want you over there," she said.
"Yeah," I muttered darkly. "I'll be right back."
"Whenever..." She turned back to contemplating the stars, or whatever the hell that goddamn woman thinks about while I went back to Raven, Laurel and Flora.
"Here," Raven said handing me a letter. "You'd better read it."
Laurel put a hand on my arm. Afraid.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned.
"Just read it," she said.
So I read it.
And it spun everything around.
"Goddamn!" I swore out loud when I finished. "Don't Goddamn believe...he..." Words failed me at that point with how the little sonofabitch had managed to stitch me up.
It was real funny. You just gotta laugh when that kind of crap goes down and the joke is on you.
Dara smiled as it became clear this was Martin's will, and he'd just named me his Heir. Or was it more of a grimace?
"Morgan can't do that," Dara said. "Merlin has to be King. Of everything."
What an obvious ploy. Would've thought she could do better. This was the chance I'd been waiting for to gain a lasting peace, not just for Amber but for everyone.
It didn't take long to work out what I had to do. Laurel knew I'd accept, as well. She knew what that'd mean for Us, and she was willing to go through it anyway. That woman never ceases to amaze me.
So I said yes and a deal was brokered whereby Merlin would be revived to become High King and there would be Kings of each independent Kingdom. Merlin to keep the peace between 'em.
It was done. Oaths were made. Florimel went back to let it be known in Amber that I'd accepted the job. Andi ended up reviving Merlin mainly 'cause she was the only one there we could all agree was suitable for the task. I wasn't letting Dara anywhere near him during that time. She sure as hell wasn't letting me revive him for the same reasons I wasn't letting her do it.
And that was it.
Oh, did I forget to mention...Hell, I got married. It was appropriate. Went down on one knee 'cause I knew she'd like that with the stars shining behind us. Conjured her a rose, then gave her the ring. Had it with me for months but it was never the right time. Not until then. Then, it was perfect.
And let me be sentimental for a moment...I don't often get the chance. This was a night when everything changed. When I took upon myself a task that for once in this goddamned life, I believe in. We need peace. Before we tear each other apart piece by piece...that ending isn't right.
A task and a love that's been made for me since the day I was born. And Deirdre remains a bright star for me to follow. That I have the love of her daughter never ceases to amaze me.
Only time will tell if I can succeed where so many others have failed.
-- Morgan