And so it was done.

Ian rode Horse slowly down the road towards Camelot. Behind him, the lights of Blackhawke Castle shined in the night. No doubt Alodar and Ascellon were discussing the night's events as Kyrie waited patiently for the chance to bid them goodnight. But the meeting was over.

Ian had arrived at Blackhawke Castle just as Lady Powin of Darkmoor was exiting the hall. Inside, Alodar and Ascellon were already seated waiting for Ian and Kyrie to arrive, as was Lady Xan. Ian's longtime friend was pale, her face drawn, evidence of the toll of her search for Blackhawke and then receiving such terrible news from Tav. Not long after, Kyrie had arrived, and Xan had set Ian's name in nomination as Blackhawke's successor as Guardian. Apparently, her thoughts had run along the same lines as Tav's.

The election had been over before Ian had even realized it had begun.

He'd accepted, pledged to carry on the work of Lord Blackhawke, and had pledged his sword to Xan if ever she needed him. There seemed little more to say after that, once he'd thanked the knights for their support, and when Xan had left the room, it seemed a good time for him to leave as well.

Ian eased his hold on the reins. Horse knew the way back to the stables and a bag of oats without being urged, and Ian gave his full attention to his new situation. He'd not mentioned all this at home, and no doubt he'd hear from Skye about it when she finally was told. But he'd not wanted to have to field questions from the children about what a Guardian meant, and why Lord Blackhawke was not going to be coming home soon. It was hard enough to deal with this all for himself. But he'd made his decision, and having made it, it was time to get on with it. Until Lord Blackhawke's return, he would do as his liege would want.

He would be Guardian of Camelot.

********

"S' not right, I tell you! It's not right at all!" The speaker slammed his beer mug down on the scarred top of the table, then glared as the room fell silent at the outburst. "Mind yer own businesses!" he snarled at the onlookers, then turned back to the others at his table.

The other customers of the Tattered Banner were more than willing to ignore the group in their corner table now that it was apparent the shout hadn't been the start of something of interest like a brawl. Not that brawls were common in a tavern whose main clientele were members of the Black Watch and guards from Blackhawke Castle, but the occasional brief exchange of curses and swings before calmer heads prevailed helped to pass the time. Since even that had brief diversion had failed to materialize, the speaker and his friends quickly lost the attention of the rest of the room, or so it appeared.

The shouter was named Edwin, and like the rest at the table, he wore a uniform that marked them as one of Blackhawke Castle's own. Taking another sip of what little beer was left in the mug, he lowered his voice. "It's not right! Lord Hawke gone, and that…that elf in his place! He had a hand in all this." this time he poked at the table top with a finger. "We all know the stories. He's a sorcerer; it would be simple for him to imprison Lord Hawke, take over in Camelot, and then Lord Hawke's lands!"

His listeners, or at least those who were as young as Edwin, nodded in solemn agreement. The two older men, both in Black Watch uniforms, gave the younger man skeptical stares. "Hardly seems like Blackthorn's style to me, Edwin. He's been loyal to our lord for years now. "

"It was all part of his plan. Go along; pretend to be loyal, then when Blackhawke was wounded and weakest…pfffft! Spirit him away, and take it all over." Edwin slapped his hand palm down on the tabletop to drive home his point.

"But he has a manor of his own, and is already the Commander of the Black Watch and General of the Army. Why would he need more?" the skeptic asked.

"Have you seen how many children he has, eh? Seven! You mark my words, he'll take the Castle next for his sons, and our lady and her children will be left without a roof over their heads! Something has to be done, and we have to do it!"

One of the other young guards nodded. "You're right, Edwin. But what?"

"Tomorrow, we call a meeting of all the members of the Watch and the guards that are left at Blackhawke Castle, before Blackthorn can send any of his men from Camelot to reinforce us. We get the others to agree, and then we move on from there. Are you with me?"

Heads nodded, some more enthusiastically then others, and the next few minutes were marked with hushed whispers as plans were made. Then they rose and quietly left the tavern. All except for the other older man, who lagged behind and then walked over to speak with two men dressed in worn uniforms of the town guard. They'd kept to themselves, playing dice and passing coins back and forth as wagers were won and lost. He stooped over to pick up a die that had rolled off the table, then whispered as he handed it to the larger of the two. "You heard most of that, I hope?"

"Aye, we did. And we are grateful for your telling us of this unrest among your fellows. We will see it reaches the proper ears."

The veteran nodded, then tossed the dice and then shook his head as if rueful at a bad roll. "I'll leave this to you, then." He trusted the pair would get his meaning, then turned and left the Tattered Banner to catch up with the others.

"Well, this had been an interesting evening, don't you think?" the taller gambler asked as he and his friend rose to leave as well.

"Yes, very interesting. We need to get word back on this fast."

Without another word, the two guardsman walked out of the tavern and into the night.

12/2002


Fealty V

It was shortly afternoon on the following day when three riders entered the main courtyard of Blackhawke Castle and dismounted. Even as they did, a tall figure hurriedly crossing the yard veered from his original course to approach Ian, Marcus, and Timmons.

"Why, hallo, Balfour! You didn't have to bother to greet us!"

The long time faithful retainer of Blackhawke and Lady Xan just shook his head worriedly. "You shouldn't be here, milord Blackthorn, neither you nor your aides. There's been some young fools stirring up trouble about you being Guardian. They've called some sort of meeting of the troops in the weapons yard and I'm on my way to inform Lady Xan of it."

Ian gave a wide smile. "Excellent! Just what I was going to do, call a meeting with the castle garrison. It's fortunate I happened along, then, isn't it? Please present Lady Xan with my compliments and tell her I ask her indulgence for a half-hour with her troops before she visits the wrath of the Goddess on the ranks." He grinned once more and then tossed the reins of Horse to a nearby guard. "Here, friend! Keep an eye on him, eh? Oh, and your two friends can take my aides' mounts as well. That's a good lad. You'll do fine. Just don't make any sudden moves." Satisfied that he'd thus kept the three guards from warning any of their fellows, he turned back to Balfour. "A half hour, Balfour. All will be well, I promise."

With that the tall half-elf and his friends stalked off for the weapons yards. Balfour swore softly to himself, then whirled and went off to find Lady Hawke, fervently hoping that Blackthorn was right.

********

Edwin had planned carefully. With the loss of so many troops in the attempt to rescue Lord Blackhawke, there was one sure way to ensure an audience of those left behind. The troops used the weapons yards in two shifts, and Edwin had chosen that brief period when the changeover took place to make his plea. Climbing atop the mounting block the children had used to mount their ponies when they were younger, he shouted to attract the attention of his fellow soldiers.

He'd started off slowly, admittedly; he wasn't used to speaking before so many people. But as he began talking about how vulnerable they all were right now, and how the elf Blackthorn must have had a hand in their lord's strange disappearance. "Now he's made himself Guardian, a title that should have gone to one of Lord Blackhawke's sons, and it won't be long before he rides here on his demon horse and with his henchmen to take this castle as well. We can't let him do that to our Lady and her children!"

There was a swell of voices from the men as some nodded approval while others argued Edwin's words amongst themselves. And someone was laughing, in fact, several people were. Flustered, the young soldier looked for the source.

"Henchmen! We're bleeding henchmen!" There, on the lowest step of the block, three men in the uniform of the Black Watch sat hunched over and red faced from laughing. Timmons wiped at his eyes. "And I'd so had my heart set on being a minion!"

"Never mind that! What about those poor bastards we left Ian's demon horse with?" answered Marcus. Beside him, Ian Blackthorn himself was looking up at Edwin, gesturing for him to continue on as he grinned.

"It's him! Blackthorn's here!"

Ian stood. "Well, yes, I am. But please go on. Timmons bet me you'd say I have a tail and cloven hooves. There's two gold pieces on it, so do go on!"

That brought some laughter from the onlookers, and Edwin had the sinking feeling he'd lost the crowd to the half-elf. " He's bringing his men to take control of the castle!"

"Actually, it's just the three of us. There's men coming, aye, but not from Camelot. Lord Ascellon is sending men from his citadel. Surely you don't think he has designs on Blackhawke Castle as well, lad?" Now Blackthorn took the steps to stand beside the young guard. "Edwin..it is Edwin, isn't it? Edwin, Sir Tav urged me to become Guardian in our liege's absence. Lady Xan herself put my name in front of the knights of Camelot. Do you accuse them of conspiring against Blackhawke as well? Think it through, Edwin. Think it through."

By now Edwin wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the crowd and it must have shown on his face. Blackthorn nodded. "You aren't a malicious man, Edwin, I can see that. But more harm has been done by good intentions than any from evil. If you will allow me, I have some things I wish to speak of with your fellow guards." Edwin simply nodded back, not trusting his voice to be steady, and then gratefully stepped down to join the others and listen. "Thank you, Edwin." Ian turned now and looked at the crowd, which waited quietly.

"We are all anxious for the safety of Lord Blackhawke. It tears me and the other knights of Camelot apart to know our liege is in need of our help, and there is naught we can do about it. This does not mean we will give up trying to find a way to open the portal and fetch him home, but it will take time. And we have another task before us, one that I know Blackhawke expects every one of us to perform as part of our duty to him."

"Camelot stands today largely because of Blackhawke. It was ...it is…his life's work, to build a strong, proud Camelot, a beacon of Light and Chivalry. When I swore my Fealty to Lord Blackhawke, I swore it also, through him, to Camelot. Now I don't know about the rest of you men, but when he comes home, and he will come home, I would not want him to be greeted by the spectacle of a Camelot ruined by dissension and rumors and suspicions of treachery. I took the title of Guardian to keep Lord Blackhawke's dream alive, and when he returns, I will gladly set the title aside in his favor. Lord Blackhawke is alive, and so is his dream of Camelot, and any man who dares try to destroy that dream, will answer to my sword!"

Still there was silence. Ian crossed his arms and stared at the faces before him. "Now, if any of you here still doubt my oath, step forward, and I will defend my honor with your fellows as witnesses. If there are more than one, I'll take you on in twos or threes. Time is short." he said with a straight face. "Any second now, Lady Xan will come storming in here and give me what for, and that will make me late for dinner, and my own ladywife unhappy. We all know how soft-spoken Lady Skye is, now don't we?" There was a roar of laughter, and Ian grinned back at the men of Blackhawke Castle. "Alright then. Everyone get off to where you're supposed to be, and a Merry MidWinter to all. We hold the dream until Blackhawke returns!"

There was a loud roar of approval and then with a cheer, the crowd dispersed. Ian descended to where a sheepish l Edwin stood with Marcus and Timmons. The boy stammered as he tried to apologize, until at last Ian just patted him on the shoulder. "Go on, Edwin. You were concerned for your Lady and her family. I hold no ill will." The boy nodded and then hurried off to wherever his duty led him.

Timmons chuckled. "Well that went well, thanks to our friend's warning last eve." The trio began the walk back towards the gates. "Pity you interrupted him before he got to the tail and hooves part."

"You would have lost anyway, Timmons. The lad could not possibly have believed that, could he Captain?" Marcus asked as they left the weapons yard.

Ian looked at his friends with a half-mocking smile. "I haven't really the time to consider it yet. At the moment, I'm more concerned about the poor men guarding my demon horse."

Across the weapons yard, a cloaked figure scowled, and then quickly walked away.

12/2002


Fealty VI

"Yarrow, for Fire's sake, can't you sit still! That infernal pacing of yours is distracting. Do sit, or come join me in here." Mornaur, Lord of Tol Dolen, lounged in the warm waters of the tiled pool and waited for his elven ally to reply. Yarrow stopped as if considering doing as Mornuar bade. Then he glanced at the woman in the pool with the dragon lord and shook his head, beginning to pace once more. The woman gave a low laugh at his discomfiture. Mornaur was less amused.

"Alright! What is it, elf? We're safe here on Tol Dolen for the moment. If your nephew knows we were here, he still has to sail back, since I've set wards against the Road. That would take weeks, so stop worrying."

"I know that!" Yarrow shot back." It's not Iannon. Do you seriously think he frightens me? "

"Then what the blazes is it?"

"It's MidWinter and…"

Mornaur's eyes narrowed. "Elf, if you break into some song and prance all about the place, I'll gut you like a fish." There was faint gasp from his lady companion. "Truth be told, it's what made me start hating your kind in the beginning. All that noise." He turned to the woman. "Could you get my calves? That's a love." . The servant smiled, then dove beneath the water, her tail rising up out of the water to smack the surface, and not coincidentally splash some at Yarrow. The elf wiped a few drops off his face.

"How can you stand to be so close to that creature?"

"If you stop to think of it, she's a distant relation of sorts." The mermaid's head popped back up and she nodded as Mornaur waved dismissal and climbed out to wrap himself in a large towel. "Besides, she works for scale. Alright, so if it's not worry over pursuit by a vengeful Blackthorn that has you wearing a hole in the tiles, what is it?"

"It's MidWinter-"

"You said that already."

"-and my brother is very happy."

"He is? Why, the nerve! More singing and dancing?"

Yarrow scowled, then took a seat in the ancient Greek styled chair opposite Mornaur's couch. "It's more than that. Ashe has blocked me off from MindSpeak with him, but we are still twins. There's a soulbond there, and strong emotions still get through to me, no matter how he tries to separate himself. He's happy."

Mornaur regarded his ally closely. "Is this such a bad thing? Does it change anything in your plans?"

"No. I still intend to have my vengeance on Blackthorn. Why, has something happened to change yours? This wasn't your fight to begin with, Mornaur."

The dragon lord picked up a cup of wine and stared into it before answering. "It became mine when your impudent nephew breached my defenses and dared to invade my home looking for you and those wretched girls. No, nothing has changed for me." He took a swallow of wine. "So tell me, does this bond with Ashevathallion give you the reason for his joyous state?"

"No. All I can feel are his emotions. I'm in the dark as to what has caused it." Yarrow looked at his hands, not daring to look up, afraid Mornaur would catch him in the lie. He'd had dreams the last few nights in which he'd seen the face of an elven woman, a Sithryn elf, and had woken with the knowledge he'd shared those dreams with his twin. Ashe was in love. Despite the alienation between them, Yarrow was genuinely happy for his brother. And he would do nothing to jeopardize that joy.

Nothing, if he could help it.

Aware suddenly that he'd been silent for at least a minute, he looked up to catch Mornaur studying him. "I've heard from my agent. Our little ruse failed."

"It was a gamble, `vathallion. My agent planted many seeds of doubt and mistrust in the young human's ear when they met, but even you must admit that a few days conversation as they traveled to Camelot was not enough time to ensure our plan would succeed. Patience, elf. When we strike, it will be on a more personal level, and it will be at more than just your grand-nephew." He rubbed the large scar on his neck, a memento of the fight at the Mirror. "We wait for some opportunity to present itself, and capitalize on it when it does. Pretend you are watching a tree grow. Patience!"

*********

Ian swore softly in exasperation as he read the note in his hands. Even written in haste Xan's elegant handwriting was unmistakable. How it must have torn at her to send this message!

"What is it, Ian?" Skye leaned over the back of his chair to read Xan's letter. "Oh, Ian! How will Ascellon find Stephan now?"

"I don't know love." He took her hand to kiss it, then stopped as he caught the scent of herbs on her hands. "Or maybe I do. Ibrahim has dealings with many merchants in Toledo with connections all over the East."

"Do you think he can find out where Stephan's ship is bound?"

Ian folded the letter back up and twisted around in the chair to look gravely up at his wife. "It might take awhile. We've no ship name, nor that of the spice merchant to whom he is indentured, but Ibrahim will do his best. Meanwhile, what we need, my love, is patience."

12/2002

(still in progress...)