Forbidden Love - Merlyn [2]

Chapter Fifty-One: The Meeting Of Five Kingdoms

I hope you are all well and healthy. In the UK we are in lockdown and I have all of Sweet Dreams ready to go to keep you from boredom for like half an hour and it is a longer episode. Would you like it all at once or one chapter daily?

Not sure what this is like exactly, hope you enjoy it and keep safe!

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The old land of Albion was made up of several kingdoms though it was dominated by the Five Kingdoms including Camelot. For so long these Kingdoms had been fighting, it was rare for one of these Kingdoms to not be at the throat of another - which dragged in the other three Kingdoms in some way. But at that moment, for the first time in centuries, the Five Kingdoms were all wanting peace. They were meeting in Camelot, the chosen kingdom of peace, to discuss a treaty. It was a momentous occasion that few had thought was ever possible - momentous yet terrifying too. As Arthur had heard off his father:

"If these talks are successful, Camelot will enter a new era of prosperity. If they fail, we will almost certainly be at war."

It was one prospect everyone was hoping to avoid. However, the expectancy of the kings had meant more work for all in Camelot especially those in the castle from the kitchen staff through to the prince himself - Merlyn had been forced to learn the foreign kingdoms and kings as well as help Arthur with his work. Everyone had to know the basic: the Five Kingdoms, their kings, their sigils and the kings' companions - King Peter and his wife Queen Alice, King Edward and his wife Catherine and daughter Lady Lucy, King Alined who ruled alone, and finally King Olaf and his daughter the Lady Vivian. Each of the kings was known for their own achievements and characteristics from being kind kings to being overbearing protective kings or even sly kings. Everyone had to be weary of each one and know what they were facing. Though no one was really prepared for what the event brought with it. Camelot was bustling with life. So many people in such a small space. It was great for business though it was hectic in the castle and few people liked it.

Arthur and subsequently Merlyn had been there to greet each king and their entourages. The two kings who stuck the most in both their minds were that of King Alined and King Olaf with his daughter, Vivian. Alined was a mean man to his servants especially his jester named Trickler whilst King Olaf was a larger than life man though he was immensely proud and protective of Lady Vivian, his daughter. Merlyn could only guess the trouble she was going to be.

The Lady Vivian was beautiful. She wore a lavish light blue gown that was perfect for her complexion with her blonde long curls. She was a petite woman who was the typical Lady but her countenance was anything but Lady-like. Arthur was not impressed with the Lady Vivian that was for sure. As prince he had had the so-called privilege of escorting the Lady to her guest chambers where she would be staying. This only resulted in the Lady stalking around the room as if she owed everything, if her nose had gotten any higher Arthur was sure it would have disappeared into the ceiling. The chambers were "adequate" and "she feared for Camelot" due to Arthur announcing Guinevere as one of their finest workers. Arthur did not know how to respond to that - he knew she had insulted Guinevere but he couldn't reprimand her as she was a visiting royal whom they were trying to make a treaty with, he couldn't risk war by insulting the Lady.

That didn't stop Arthur from severely disliking her; truth was he couldn't stand the woman! He had escaped when it was deemed appropriate and ran straight back to his chambers. She was such an arrogant, entitled woman who saw herself well above everyone else whom she could berate however she pleased. Often royals and nobles behaved as their ranks allowed but she had no respect for anyone and that aggravated Arthur. There was such a thing as being polite to strangers.