25Chapter 91 I don't own Merlin.
"This is too difficult." Ebro panted out, collapsing on the floor in cold sweat as the portal he'd managed to open closed immediately.
"I agree. Perhaps it's not the wisest strategy." Miro said, handing him the waterskin and some bread. "There's no way anyone would get through that portal even at a run."
"Maybe we're going about this all wrong." Cassie said. "If we build the portal from the Earth's magic-"
"It's too dangerous, Cassie. It'll get out of hand, grow with every second." Gildas said, interrupting her impatiently.
"Fine, then we build a frame, contain it within that!" Cassie argued back, jumping slightly at his angry cry of "No!"
"Okay, fine, then what are we going to do?"
"We are all powerful enough to open a portal- even if it closes quickly." he said, not letting himself be interrupted by Ebro's move to object. "We do what we did with the phrenic magic, you channel the magic to me or Cassie, we guide it and hold it with your help."
"Is that not dangerous?" Gundemar asked, looking at the four of them, ignoring the obvious tension between the two.
"The spell isn't contingent on all our magic. Ebro and I can help by giving them some magic whenever it's needed, right? Stabilising it when needed." Addie said, looking at Gildas and Ebro.
"Try it." Gundemar said as Miro got ready to walk through the portal once more.
"Geopene þæm infærelde to āsēċenne hwider." Gildas chanted, holding one of his hands out for the others to channel their magic into him.
"Miro, are you ready?" Gildas asked, looking at him.
"Yes," he said, walking through the portal and into Cassie's room at the inn. "All good." he said, peeking his head through the portal while the rest of his body stayed in the other place.
"Don't do that. Go back and stay there. We'll measure how long it lasts." Gundemar ordered, taking a seat and watching the sorcerers closely. "Are you even doing anything?"
"Just monitoring the magic, still strong." he said, opening his golden eyes and looking at Gundemar.
"The one I opened two nights ago lasted through the night and well into the day. And I cast it alone. I don't think it's the longevity that we're worried about right now. They fluctuate so much…" Cassie said, trailing off.
"Perhaps we need to see how many people can walk through before it closes?" Ebro suggested, looking between the two royals.
"Yes, that's probably what we need to do. The problem is keeping it a secret. These spells are old, powerful and if they fall into the wrong hands, catastrophic. There's a reason they are well hidden. If I didn't believe it was completely needed, and if I didn't trust you wouldn't use it for the wrong purpose, you wouldn't know about it." Gildas said seriously, looking right at Cassie as he spoke his warnings. "If there's a way we can do this without the locals finding out, then we can do it. If not…"
"I will speak to them. Order them to meet us on the beach at night. Not a word to anyone." Gundemar said, choosing to ignore his obvious threat.
"Of course, that's the best strategy, my Lord." Ebro said, bowing respectfully. "I will inform Miro and we will begin telling the men."
"Only our soldiers can know about this. And you must emphasise that they cannot breathe a word of it to anyone under any circumstances."
"Yes, my Lord." he replied, crossing the portal and setting off with Miro.
"So, now what?" Addie asked, looking at the others.
"We monitor the portal, without channelling any more magic than what we've already given it. Tonight, we open another portal to the other side of the clearing from the beach. Cassie, you'll be first through, monitor the magic from here. I'll stay on the beach and be the last through." Gildas said.
"Shouldn't the Princess be with someone else, in case she has to do magic?"
"Casiopea is strong enough to do magic by herself, and a good enough fighter she doesn't need anyone to protect her." Gildas said with a chuckle. "But if it soothes your worries, Addie can come through with her."
"Two women, how comforting." he said.
"You doubt our ability to protect ourselves, my Lord?" Addie asked, her smile wide and a challenge in her eye.
"I wouldn't say that."
"Then what would you say? We can show you how well we fight, if that's your concern."
"Under no circumstances am I fighting you in your condition."
"I am pregnant, not ill. I can still fight and protect myself and my friend."
"And I can skin a person alive if I really need to, we're not damsels in distress, Gundemar." Cassie added, smirking at their discomfort.
"Have you skinned a person alive before?" Gildas asked her with crossed arms, his eyes flashing golden as he quickly checked the portal before they faded back to their normal colour.
"No, but I know enough about the human body to be able to do it." Cassie replied, her smirk disappearing.
"So, you can feign danger, but you're not dangerous?" Gundemar said, looking at Gildas as she fumed and bit the bait.
"I can be very dangerous when I have to be, my Lord." she muttered, walking forward like a tigress. "And I can be very imaginative when I have to be."
"We believe you." he said with a wide smile, watching as she shook her head and walked toward him, going through the portal and laughing at herself. "Stupid."
"Very, Princess." he said, laughing as he appeared behind her and she jumped. "Gildas and Adenora want to be alone. They said they could monitor the portal by themselves and that we didn't need to be there. I got the hint."
"Okay. I'm going to gather herbs, then."
"Herbs?"
"Yes, in case someone falls ill as we travel to the Asturias. And the monthly potion for my friend, as well. She needs to care for those children." Cassie said, pushing past him.
"Children? Magic can tell that as well?" he asked in awe.
"Yes, only if you know how to look. And before you ask, no I cannot tell if she's having a boy or a girl." Cassie told him with a chuckle. "You're growing even more curious about magic, my Lord. Is there a specific reason?"
"It's good policy to understand dangerous weapons." he replied, following her out the door as she walked across the square towards a local apothecary and stopped in the middle.
"We're dangerous weapons, now?" she asked with flashing eyes.
"No, not you. You're allies and friends. At least on my part. But you should know that Witteric has his own sorcerers. I would be foolish not to try and understand this weapon."
"I do, it's how he discovered where I was. Listen, the only thing about magic you have to understand is the person who wields it. I would never harm anyone just because I like the power. It's repulsive. But someone who practices Dark Magic, someone who has a weak will, they will do anything to feel powerful. It intoxicates them." Cassie told him, looking at him seriously and turning back around. "Hello, I'd like some yarrow, henbane…."
"You overpaid, you know?" he said as they walked away with all their herbs.
"And I used my own money. From the Isles, not yours. We're just lucky they accepted the currency."
"Yes, we are. It's still gold."
"Another good thing is my unwillingness to spend it in Camelot. I do not want the vaults to be empty by the time we get there, my gold will pay for the quarters and the dock."
"You'll be left penniless."
"And I don't care. I live in a castle in Camelot and I'll live in a Castle in Hispania. I want for nothing, the people do. There will be no more discussion. The gold is locked safe, no one will ever get to it. I am the only person who can." Cassie told him, handing him the rest of her gold. "That's what you'll use until we run out. There's nothing else you can say."
"Gildas can get to it." he told her, rolling his eyes as she scoffed at him. "You will be compensated."
"Only after you are crowned and the Kingdom is in good hands will I accept anything more than a thank you. And the only thing I'll accept then is a party. I miss the music and the food. And the orujo." she said, shrugging by way of explanation.
"Thank you, my Lady." he said, bowing to her and tucking the purse into his chest pocket. "You drink?" he added, looking at her in shock as he caught the last part of the sentence, eliciting a light laugh from the blonde girl as she walked away from him with shaking shoulders.
"Your Majesties." the soldiers greeted as they walked onto the beach at midnight, lining up and awaiting orders as everyone showed up.
"What we're doing is secret, not a word of this to anyone." Gundemar said as he started walking among the ranks and looking at every soldier. "Our voyage to the Isles was long and gruelling. There is a chance, however slight it may be, that we can substantially reduce the time it takes to get to Reccoppolis. There is also a chance that it fails. Tonight is an experiment. You have all pledged your lives to me. To our cause. This may be dangerous, but, if it succeeds then we are certain to be victorious. Before we begin I need to know if there's any of you that do not want to participate. I cannot force you into unknown circumstances, however safe or dangerous they may be." he said, standing in front of them in silence and looking to see if any of them wavered. "None? Good. Gildas, Princess. The four of you may proceed." he said, moving aside and letting them gather in a line and hold hands before Gildas said the spell and made the air distort in front of them.
"I will go first and toss this pebble when I'm at the other side." Cassie told them all, nodding to Gundemar as he met her eyes and stepping through, tossing the pebble as soon as she was in the clearing and stepping aside with golden eyes, her magic feeling the ebb and flow of the portal's as the men started to walk through the invisible seam, looking around in awe and fear.
"No puedo creer que sirva." one of them told his companion, walking to the other end and leaning against a tree as the rest of them filled up the clearing.
"Still strong." Gildas declared as he walked through, closing the portal with a single word. "Beclȳsaþ."
"So it works? It's safe?"
"Yes, it works and as you can see for yourself, it's safe. We must test the distance now; we cannot be more than four hectares inland. There's a portal still open that takes you into the Princess's chambers in the inn. Be quiet and make sure no one sees you going out. The four of us are going to walk through the night and get to the other side of the island before we open another portal. We'll send word to you, Majesty, when we are there and let you know at what time to expect us." Gildas said, standing just beside the portal and waving his hand in front of it.
"Very well, take some soldiers with you." he commanded, nodding at a couple of soldiers. "I assume you can contact us in case of emergency?"
"Of course, my Lord. Expect a missive next evening." Gildas said bowing and nodding at the same group of soldiers to begin their trek as the others filed through slowly.
"Can we take a break?" Addie asked, finding an upturned tree and sitting on it.
"Of course, here. Drink some water." Gildas said, sitting next to her and handing her the waterskin.
"Iremos a cazar, Majestad." the soldiers said, taking their bows and quivers as Cassie smiled and thanked them.
"They're going to get married?" Gildas asked in confusion, picking up some words here and there as Cassie tried teaching him during their journey.
"Hunt. Cazar is to hunt." Cassie said with a giggle.
"I thought that was marry."
"No, that's casar." Ebro told them sharing an amused glance with Cassie.
"Makes more sense, certainly." Addie said sarcastically, giggling at Gildas's confused expression.
"Do you think this'll work?" Cassie asked them as she nervously paced.
"I sure hope so. We'll be able to get back to our sons quicker if it does. They're excited at the news of brothers." Gildas said, looking at his wife lovingly.
"You have children?" Ebro asked them curiously, looking at them closely.
"Two sons." Addie replied happily, her magic bringing some firewood and arranging it in a circle before she lit it and conjured their images in the flames.
"They're big." he said, looking behind as the two guards came back with a large hare.
"No tenemos en que cocinarlo, Majestad." they said tentatively as they brought the hare into the small clearing.
"Dejemelo a mi." Cassie said, her eyes glowing golden as she conjured a shallow pot and accepted the fresh kill.
"Tiene talento, Majestad. Está delicioso." one of them complimented, eating more of the food.
"Gracias." she said, giggling at his appalling manners before he looked up at her and blushed, apologising profusely.
"Disculpe, Majestad. Se me olvidó con quien estaba." he said, slowing down and eating his food slower.
"No. No se tiene que disculpar. Me encanta que le guste mi comida." she told him with a sincere smile.
"Le quedó muy rica, señora." the other guard agreed, standing up and collecting all their plates.
"No somos todos un montón de inútiles, veiron?" she teased goodnaturedly, nodding at the fire and extinguishing it immediately as they all stood and continued walking, conversation sparse as they did.
"Well, we're on the other side of the island, shall you, or I?" Gildas asked, sitting on the sand and writing a missive before looking at Cassie.
"Go ahead." Cassie told him as she walked closer to the shoreline, looking out at the horizon and thinking about how much fun she'd have had with her baby on the beach.
"Missing him?" Addie asked quietly, going to stand next to her.
"I was just thinking about how much fun Owaine and I would have had with Iorwerth." Cassie answered quietly.
"You would have been driven crazy with worry trying to keep him from drowning in the waves." she told her, looking at her knowingly.
"Really?" Cassie asked with a small smile, tears shining in her blue eyes as she thought of the impossible future.
"Yes. Come, we've been walking for hours and hours. My feet are hurting." she said, hooking her arm through Cassie's and leading her back to where the others were, sitting down and looking out at the waves as they crashed steadily before them.
"Done. I'm going to look around, anyone want to join me?" Gildas asked, looking at Ebro to translate for him.
"I'll stay, thanks." Cassie said, pulling her knees up to her chest and looking out thoughtfully.
"Yo me quedaré cuidándola, Alteza." one of the guards said, nodding to his companion and standing just behind her as the others left.
"Gracias." she said absentmindedly, looking up at the sky as they sat in quiet contemplation. Well, contemplation on her part, vigilance on his. "¿Usted tiene familia?" Cassie asked suddenly after some moments in silence.
"Disculpe?" he asked, slightly surprised that she was making conversation with him.
"Tiene familia?" she repeated, looking up at him.
"Mis padres y mis hermanos. No tengo mujer ni hijos." he answered truthfully.
"Porque he venido a pelear, entonces? Por sus padres?"
"Por mi patria. Witerico es un tirano. Maltrata la gente, mata a quien le da la gana. Es un déspota y debe ser acusado de traición y debe pagar por sus crímenes." he told her, looking forward with a clenched jaw.
"Está dispuesto a dar su vida por la Corona?"
"Estoy dispuesto a darle mi vida a usted, Majestad. Usted es la Corona, no Witerico."
"Me tiene mucha fe." she observed, looking at him sadly.
"Su familia ha gobernado nuestro reino por mucho tiempo, y han sido muy buenos. Estoy seguro que usted es mejor que lo que tenemos ahora."
"Sabe que renuncié. Tan pronto termine el juicio contra Witerico, voy a abdicar del trono y ceder la corona a Gundemaro. ¿Creen en él?"
"Si usted confía en él, nosotros también." he said with utmost confidence in her.
"¿Darán sus vidas por él?" she asked, looking at him closely as he thought it through.
"Si." he said, nodding to himself.
"¿Que piensa que debe pasar con Witerico?" she asked, turning fully to look at him.
"Debería pagar por sus pecados. Lex talionis, creo que es el término." he answered immediately.
"An eye for an eye." Cassie said to herself nodding thoughtfully. "Gracias. Me ha ayudado mucho."
"Alteza." he said, nodding respectfully and falling into silence once again as she pondered his words.
"Well, the moon is in position, do you believe the troops are as well?" Gildas asked as they stood on the deserted beach, looking at Cassie expectantly.
"Only one way to know." she said, holding her hand out for him to take it as they lined up and chanted the spell. "Geopene þæm infærelde to āsēċenne hwider."
"Go on, Cassie." Gildas told her, watching as she walked through the portal and waiting for a signal.
"Princess, all is well?"
"Very." she said with a wide smile. "I'll stay here just in case. Monitor the magic. Pueden empezar a pasar."
"I'll keep you company, then." Gundemar said, nodding at Miro to lead the men through. "How's the magic?" he asked, watching as her eyes glew gold momentarily and then faded back to blue with her wide smile.
"Strong and stable. It'll work." she told him walking forward the moment the last soldier walked through and looking at Gildas with pride and triumph. "If only we could figure out a way to cut the sea travel in half."
"No!" Addie and Gildas said at once, exchanging startled glaces with each other.
"Why not?"
"Moving target, Cassie. Too dangerous, do not even try it!" Gildas told her sternly.
"Have experience with that?" she asked him curiously, her magic checking the portal once more.
"Not personal. Just anecdotal." he answered. "And it was not pleasant to hear. No moving portals! We've already managed to cut the time of travel by far more than half."
"You're right. Let's go back." Cassie acquiesced.
"So quickly?" Gundemar asked, looking at them in question, thinking about the possible danger.
"Well, we need to measure how many people can go through it. I figure a round trip would be the same as if it were double one-way." Cassie told Gundemar logically.
"As you wish, Princess." he said, calling out to the men to go back through the portal.
"How are you all? Is your magic depleted?"
"Mostly." Ebro and Addie said simultaneously, breathing heavily while Cassie and Gildas too looked slightly weak.
"It'll pass, King Gundemar. You needn't worry. A good night's rest and we'll be good as new."
"Good. We have two days left on this island before we ship off again. Shall we practice more tomorrow or are you confident enough with the spell?"
"I'm the one casting it, they're just helping me channel magic to keep it strong." Gildas answered, looking at him seriously. "I am confident, but I need to study the maps more. I do not know the terrain."
"I do." Cassie said. "I travelled it alone when I left, I know it well. I can be the one to cast it."
"My magic is stronger and more practised, Cassie. I should be the one."
"I agree with Gildas. It's nothing against you, Princess. But their lives are on the line. I cannot put them in danger."
"I understand." Cassie said, thinking back to the conversation she'd had with the soldier in the afternoon.
"Recuerden: ni una sola palabra." Gundemar told his men as they waited for their orders. "Pueden irse. Descansen, hagan lo que se les dé la gana." he said, muttering the rest under his breath as he walked back to the inn.
"King Gundemar!" Cassie called after him, stopping him in his tracks as she ran up to catch up to him.
"Princess?"
"Gundemar, I need to ask you something. And, please, answer honestly." she said, looking at him seriously.
"Yes, of course I will. Come, let's speak privately." he said, leading her into the inn with a gentle hand on her back.