Chapter Eight:

The evening air of Camelot brings magic to its air, which causes magic to run ramped through its streets. It is the time of Ostara when seeds are being sown into the ground as the March hare seeks its mate. It on the night that when day and night are equal in time that people souls call out to each other.

Verran stands in the bridal chamber in a gown that would make any noble woman green with envy; the high waist that came right under her small bust and showed off almost all of her creamy white shoulders. Verran knew that most girls would love the thought of being a queen, but not her, she wanted more than that. 'I don't want to die, and leave my child without a mother. Oh goddess of my faith, Mordon mother goddess I pray let me live so can serve you. Branwen goddess of love let my heart know what it can be, in the arms of the man who loves me and Ceridwen my patron goddess let my skills be used to serve you, I have faith that you will make what is written in the star about my love come to pass, let me be the mother of Merlin's sons so the line of the Dragon Lords may continue,' Verran prayed so fervently that she did not hear her grandmother walk up behind her. "Grandmother, tell me please, I know have felt the bond that has formed between Merlin and I… is he a Dragon Lord I know that, but what I ask who is father do you know," Verran asked trying to put her mind at ease.

"The Dragon Lord Balinor son of the Dragon Lord Taliesin the bard, the son of the last Dragon King Elphin, Merlin is as royal as you are my sweet one," Lady Brina answered her grandchild, think that she makes a lovely bride, but the saddest one she as ever seen.

"Does he know," Verran asked as she looked into the polished brass mirror seeing a stranger looking back, a princess with a tiara and circlet on her head showing statues complement by red roses in the back of her hair in its twist and braids piled high on her head; that show who she now belongs to a man who love another, who by virtue birth can never have, just like her she loves another that she also cannot have. That thought hurts more than anything in the world. Her lips covered in berry juice making then red as the roses in her hair and her eyes lined in black coal making them green as spring time, this was someone she Verran did not know.

"He knows who his father is that much I know but otherwise, I have no knowledge of it," Lady Brina answered.

"I don't want to die in a year," Verran told her grandmother as look into her eye from the refection in the mirror.

"That is why I brought you this, it your choice what you do with it. Know if you do use it will be breaking the code with live by," Lady Brina finished as place a small vile on vanity.

"I can't do it, make love with a man who is not my husband even if it means my own death and my child not having a mother," Verran said as knocked the vile of the counter breaking the glass.

"You are truly a Lady of the Dragon my sweet one," Lady Brina answered as wrapped her arms around grandchild. "If it truly your destiny for you and Merlin to man and wife. Than know this nothing will stop that from happening, than this of all night may cause that to come about when the light and dark are equal in time," She finished.

This was a day that Arthur never wanted to see, as he signed the papers making Gwen a free woman. He had sent for her he had to say good bye one last time.

"Milord, how can I help you," Gwen said curtsied to him keeping a cool demurrer.

"Gwen, please don't be like this," Arthur said as looked at her. "We need to talk,"

"I don't believe we have anything to say to each other," Gwen answered as looked at her feet not wanting to look into his eyes, knowing what she would see there.

"I have something for you Guinevere," Arthur answered as he picked up the parchment from the table.

"There is nothing that you have I could ever need," Gwen said as looked up into the said eyes of the man did not want to admitted to loving.

"Your freedom," Arthur stated as he hand her the papers.

"My freedom," Gwen gasped as she unrolled the papers.

"I can't have you stand by and watch me married to someone ells knowing that it should be you who becoming a princess… So I am giving the next best thing your freedom," Arthur answered as looked at the woman who made him fell for the first time.

"Thank you," Gwen answered as went up to him and kissed him with every fiber of her being and then ran out of the prince courters.

The whole court showed up for the wedding of its crown prince all eyes turned as the doors opened and saw the Lady Verran, dressed in a white gown that showed all of her white shoulders and soft curves, she looked every bite the royal bride with her rosy red lips, bright green eyes and golden amber hair piled up on top of her head. She would have been a perfect bride if sadness did not stream from her eyes. 'This can't be happening, it should be him I am walking to and not the man I call brother,' Verran thought as walked down the aisle. 'I have to do this, it's too late turn back now,' she thought as stepped slowly closer to her death. 'I will give him the heir he needs and love him as I should if I can,' Verran thought now stood in front of Arthur and took his arm and the tears came. 'I can't do this; I thought I could but it impossible. In one…two … three I am going to run,' Verran thought as stopped to turned around when the doors burst open as all six of her brothers marched in with Kenan at the head of them.

"What is the meaning of this Uther," Kenan yelled as stepped in the throne room of Camelot.

"Kenan," Verran breathed when she saw her brother and then quickly threw herself at his feet. "Please don't make me do this brother," Verran cried as clung to the king of Carmelide.

"Is true that you have bonded, little one," Kenan asked quietly as pulled up his baby sister off t he ground.

"Yes," Verran whispered as looked up into Kenan kind eyes.

"Uther you may be able to look beyond the pain in these young one eyes but that is something I cannot, my sister shall not marry your son… there must be another way for peace," Kenan stated as pushed Verran behind him.

"There is… we have whole new treaty written," Verran stated as she peek out from behind her brother. "Merlin has it in his hands,"

"Then Let have a look at Uther it cannot hurt," Kenan answered.

An hour later after both Kenan saw that his little sister's and Arthur's treaty was in fact a much better than one his father and Uther had pained years ago. "A new order of knights to protect the trade routes and the people with a counsel to govern them work communicate with their ruling powers, it's an idea of pure guineas, who came up with it," Kenan asked from place at the end of the table.

"Gwen did brother, it was all her idea, all the rest of us did was put it in writing," Verran popped in from her spot at the table. "I think for her help she be put up for the people's choice of ambassador of Camelot for the counsel," Verran stated.

"I agree on that Verran, that is if you Father and King Kenan agree on the treaty," Arthur agreed from his seat next to his Father.

"The treaty that you and Lady Verran have put together with others is quite remarkable, but I do not think women should hold the role of ambassadors it goes against their more gentile nature," Uther said from the head of the table.

"That is the beauty of the trails that we have set up, that will be judge on skill and if one is of more gentile nature then will be shown they will be cut out of race, because I have known many a man who it could be said to have a more gentile nature, and in the end it will be up to the people who vote on who will be their candidate," Sir Kay put in from spot next to King Kenan.

"I can see your point, Sir Kay and since most my people would agree with me I don't I have anything worry about when it comes to that, so that leaves it just for us to sign and make it a pack," Uther answered as he motioned for a quail and ink.

"Let, us sign it then and save these young people from life time heartbreak," Kenan agreed.

Tonight the whole courtyard was lighted up with candles, which bring a warm graceful glw. Verran had suck out of the main hall to get a breath of fresh air and knew that he would follow her. She felt his magic streaming off him sweet as honey and feeling that gave her hope that there could be a tomorrow. "Are you following me," Verran asked as she turned to face him and bright blue eyes. "Should I fear for my honor good sir," She asked as swayed passed him into dark alcove.

"I think that it my honor that is in trouble, not yours," Merlin answered as followed her into the shadows.

"No, it's my honor and your head that would be in trouble… if we are caught," Verran coed as her hands reached out to Merlin.

"That would be true," Merlin agreed as leaned over her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Is that going to stop you," Verran whispered into his ear as she stood on her toes.

"No," Merlin answered as he kissed her and he shot magic through her as he pulled her close.

As they gave into their love waves of magic came off them, which Lady Brina felt in the hall. "I would go and check on your sister your majesty if I were you," Lady Brina whispered in the ear of King Kenan who was on her left.

"Is she with that boy, she has bonded with," Kenan whispered the older woman who only shook her head yes. "I'll be back in a moment," the younger king said as he stood and quickly made his way out the courtyard where he heard a memorable giggle coming from the shadows. "I will ask nicely once before I kill to please remove all appendages for my sister…now," Kenan order as stood in front the alcove.

"Your majesty, forgive please know I… know this looks bad," Merlin said as pushed Verran behind him.

"Kenan I did not hear you coming," Verran answered as peeked out from behind Merlin.

"I could see that and I am going to get the point is this the Dragon Lord that you have bonded with," Kenan asked his younger sister.

"If I say yes, do I have your word that you won't hurt him?" Verran asked as looked at her brother who would have been the same age as her mother if she lived.

"Boy, do you think that this is love or just your magic being pulled towards Verran's," Kenan asked as stared down young man that caused remember a time when it was him in that spot.

"I love her, but I know that she is above my station and that it is impossible for to be anymore than her servant and if that is all I can be, if only to be near her, then so be it," Merlin answered as he pushed Verran towards her brother.

"No Merlin, there can never be anyone but you," Verran said as clung to Merlin not wanting to leave his side.

"If you were the only man, to love a Lady of the Dragon you are very much mistaken and since I swore on my first loves death bed that I would care for her child in the way that her people called for and since never break my word, I will do as she asked. Do you Merlin wish for my sister hand in marriage," Kenan asked the Dragon Lord before him.

"I would… ," Merlin started when he was cut off by Verran.

"You loved my mother, brother why did you never say anything before," Verran asked unsure of what to make of this revelation as move to look into her brother dark eyes.

"The one a Lady of the Dragon bonds with is not always the one she loves; but that bond is stronger than love and can draw a Dragon Lord from his darkness, it's that connection that will never die and shares the link to all blood that stains this courtyard and that is why want you to marry for love," Kenan answered as he saw the same green eye of his first love look back up at him.

"What about Elowen, you love her more than anyone," Verran asked.

"That was another of your mother last request for me to fall in love with my wife and that was most wonder full thing I ever did, but now I have a question to ask of him. Would you young Merlin whish for my sister's hand in marriage when magic is free in Camelot," Kenan asked.

"I would do anything to have her," Merlin answered quickly not thinking that this moment even be possible, but what about her… Freya… 'I want you to love again, to show someone what you gave me'. A voice breathed in his mind.

"Then this is what I ask if Verran is willing, that you wait become engaged till May when we return and then for the wedding must wait till you are free to use magic openly in Camelot," Kenan stated as he looked at the young ones.

"I will agree only if Verran is willing," Merlin answered as looked down to the golden head.

"Yes, that is what I want," Verran answered quickly with a bright smile.

"Good then you should be happy to know that I plan to put you up for the noble candidate for ambassador," Kenan stated as he turned to leave.

"Thank you," Verran answered her brother as she smiled up at Merlin.

"It's time for you to come in Verran," Kenan said as he looked back at his sister.

"You should go, Verran," Merlin said as brushed her cheek. "Since my wife will be a woman of honor," He fished as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"You will be my Lord husband, can I honest marriage scares me," Verran whispered Merlin as she leaned into his hand.

"It scares me to," Merlin answered as he let her go. "I will see in the morning before you leave," he state as Verran started to head her brother.

The dawns early morning light flouted across the courtyard as the horses for the royal Carmelide party are being prepared to leave. Verran stepped out in the courtyard as the wagons pulled up take back her belongings.

"Can I help you load that wagon Lass," Familiar voice asked from behind her.

"No thank you I can handle it," Verran answered as pulled into a hidden alcove.

"Are you sure of that," Merlin asked as pulled Verran into his arms.

"No, I can't, only if you can teach me again," Verran teased as she fell into Merlin's embrace.

"I will gladly teach you anything you ask," Merlin answered before he kissed her. "Remember this only a temporary parting Lass," Merlin reminded Verran.

"I know that, but is this real or just infatuation that will be over within a week," Verran rambled as looked up into Merlin Blue eyes.

"Your babbling, Verran and your right this maybe nothing more the infatuation, but my heart tells me that not the case," Merlin said as he cupped her face in his hands.

"I hope your right," Verran agreed as she pulled out of his embrace. "I must go, so I will say far well my love," Verran finished as stepped into the light and stopped when Merlin said. "Fare well Lass."

Verran saw that her family was waiting for her as stepped back into the Light and beside them her foster family along with Gwen. "Gremlin, are you here to say far well, because you know you'll start crying and that will get Kay going then you are in for another beating," Verran greeted her old friend.

"You know that is a lie Imp, it you who will start crying and then I'll get another beating because I made you cry," Arthur said as he walked towards his foster sister.

"You may be right… no wait you are never right on anything," Verran grinned up her foster brother.

"You know that I am not going to miss seeing you at all, Imp," Arthur stated as looked down at the diminutive Lady.

"I will not miss you either, Gremlin," Verran said as she looked up at her foster brother.

"But you will miss me won't you Verran," Kay asked as walked over to her.

"What do you mean," Verran asked as looked up at the dark knight.

"My Lady wife and I will be staying behind to help with perpetrations for the tournament in May," Kay answered.

"Guess I can understand, that since Arthur can hardly get dress by himself," Verran teased.

"And to see if can find who wanted us to believe you dead. Someone wanted this wedding not happen beyond the two of you," Rosslyn joined in the farewells.

"Do think someone wants me dead," Verran asked quietly.

"Maybe or someone want Arthur to stay single, or wanted Camelot at war," Kay answered.

"Then I will be careful, my brothers and sister," Verran answered as went to give Rosslyn a hug goodbye and then turned to Gwen. "Do not give up hope, things can and do change," Verran whispered as went her mount and joined her brothers.

"Let's move out," Kenan said his party as he rode away with his party behind him.

A.N. Thank you for all the reviews from Vera Rose Nightingale, ruby890 and Everythingchanges. This only part one and I hope to have part two Beltaine more than just outlined soon.