The Beast of Caer Baddan (81 page)

“I never expected to be the Pendragon, Beauty,” Owain said, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

He seemed to understand her distress then and took her head in his broad hands, caressing her cheeks with the tips of his thumbs.

“And I do not want to be if I cannot have you,” he said.

Leola burst into tears.

“Owain!” she cried, but she could say no more.

The nurse came over and took little Euginius from her arms to comfort the baby. Leola could feel Owain slipping his arms around her own body to comfort her.

“There, Beauty,” he whispered in her hair. “Do not weep. Were you thinking of the kings? Of the Circle? My Beauty, forget about them. They are nothing at all compared to you.”

Leola laid her head down on his chest and let all of the anguish out. Her shoulders shook, and her breath turned short.

She could hear Gratianna’s troubled voice cry out to her.

“Mama!
Mama!” the child cried. “Why are you weeping? Are you sad?”

“No, no, my sweet,” Owain replied. “She is happy.”

Very happy
.

Owain said something in Brythonic to the nurses and they took all three children off. Leola could hear Gratianna's unheeded protest until the group was inside the house.

“Shh, my glorious cwen,” Owain whispered in Leola's hair. “You have wept enough for a whole life. Come, smile at me.”

Leola giggled through her tears.

He tilted her face up, and she could gaze into his deep eyes.

“I love you, Owain of Baddan,” she whispered.

“I love you, Beauty,” he replied.

She closed her eyes and felt his lips lightly tap each tear from her burning cheeks. His fingers ran over her neck and up the back of her head. She felt him guide her whole head up, until he could reach her mouth with his own. His lips caressed her and seemed to take her into himself.
Her own parted in a gasped as he released them.

“Owain,” she muttered.

Although her eyes were closed, she could feel him smile on her face as she said his name.

Owain and Leola had just finished an early dinner, when the servants came running into the hall.

“Master Owain!” they cried. “The city is being over ridden!”

Thinking that he meant that they were under attack, Owain was up immediately.

“Who has?” he said, as he strode out of the great hall towards the front doors.

“Everyone, Prince!” the steward replied.

Owain watched the busy courtyard from the window of the front hall. He could see the castle guards assemble and yet open the gates wide for the oncoming crowd. At the front of the parade was Cynan King of Venedotia.

“What shall we do?” the steward asked.

Owain was perplexed yet amused by the events, that he should leave the Circle but two hours before and that the Circle should now come to him.

“Let them in, I suppose,” he replied.

The servants obeyed and pulled the front doors open for the people to enter. To Owain’s surprise, Cynan King of Venedotia was followed by all of the kings of the island.

“God keep you, Gentlemen,” Owain said, when he felt he was compelled to.

His eyes caught sight of his father’s beaming face.

“Owain Prince of Glouia,” the King of Venedotia said, “all of Albion is most grateful for your many battles. The Circle of Kings has elected you as the Pendragon,” and he gave him the address of the emperor, “Dominus.”

Owain was beyond himself with shock, and for a moment, he could not utter a word.

“I thank you, great Kings of Albion and elder king,” he said, clearing his throat, “for this unsurpassed honor.”

“Dominus,” they replied.

They placed a long purple cape on his shoulders.

The Cynan King of Venedotia came forward, knelt to Owain, and kissed right hand. Then the kings of Albion, one by one did the same.

“Pendragon,” said Coel King of the Brigantae, “you have surpassed all expectations.”

He knelt in the same way and kissed Owain’s hand.

“My son,” King Irael whispered
, his eyes filled with proud tears.

Then he too knelt to his grown child and kissed his hand.

“God grant you long life,” King Gourthigern said, and he too knelt to his nephew and kissed his hand.

“I knew you wouldn’t abandon her,” Britu said, and acting as Governor of Powys he followed after his father.

“I pray that my words at the Circle do not offend, Dominus,” said the King of Colun.

“Never, King,” Owain said. “It is the Circle and the words were meant for the Circle alone. Nothing therein could offend me.”

The King of Colun then knelt like the others had done and kissed Owain’s hand.

Even King Gadeon, Owain's Dumnonni cousin, was carried forward on his chair and paid Owain homage.

“You were correct about, me, Dominus,” King Gadeon said.

“I'm glad,” Owain replied.

“Now that we are here in Caer Baddan,” King Irael said to the company. “I order a feast! Steward!”

While King Irael made the arrangements, Annon sauntered up to Owain.

“Dominus,” he said, a large grin bursting on his young face.

“Annon,” Owain said.

He was still in amazement over everything that was happening around him.

“You know, you really are the greatest of men,” Annon said.

“Thank you, Annon,” Owain replied.

He took the boy about the shoulders and gave him a hearty clasp and then a hug.

Britu returned to Owain's side, and Swale with him.

“Dominus,” Swale said, grin on his usually serious face. “God keep you always.”

“You told King Cynan that I thought of retiring, Swale,” Owain said. “You convinced him of this. You convinced him to call the meeting and make me Pendragon.”

Swale smiled but did not deny it.

Owain put his arms around each one.

“You were correct about what you said of the ancient Pendragons,” Annon said. “If we can touch their souls within us, we too shall be great. That is what you did. That is exactly what you did.”

Owain laughed at this, but he knew in his heart that it was true.

Leola stood in the doorway and watched the scene play out before her, her heart swelling with both relief and gladness. Relief, that the kings had elected Owain in spite of his marriage to her. Gladness, for she could see from Owain’s face that he was glad.

Her eyes wondered throughout the front hall and caught the steady gaze of Queen Severa among the vast company of strangers. The queen gave Leola an approving nod of her head. Leola suddenly realized that, with that gesture, Owain's aunt had admitted that Leola had won. Leola was uncertain whether it was Owain's decision to stay married or Leola's refusal to listen to the queen that had caused this change, but she was grateful for it.

Leola then looked back at Owain to find that he was watching her, that all of those with him were waiting for her.

Her heart fluttered, and at first she could not move, but then she found her legs beneath her and came to where Owain stood surrounded by his friends.

“Yea?” she said, and she took his offered hand.

“Cymst,” he said, in Saxon
“Come.”

She could not help but smile, and as she looked up into his eyes, she knew that she was home.

They went into the great hall, and all the great company of the land followed after them to celebrate.

Chapter Sixty Seven: The Pendragon

On the first day of autumn, a tired messenger entered the sitting room and bowed to Owain.

“From Lord Meirchion for the Pendragon,” the messenger said. “Eire pirates have been spotted in the Sabrina. They are approaching the port.”

“I go then,” Owain replied.

He went up to his rooms were the servants fitted his armor on him and painted his face with red spirals.

The door opened and he looked over to see Leola slipping into the room.

“You are off to fight again?” she asked.

Her blue eyes stared up at him as if she felt he could feed her heart with his gaze.

“Yea, Beauty,” he replied. “It is what I do best.”

“You do everything best, Owain,” she said
, a shy smile lingering on her lips.

He did not argue with her.

Her hands clasped his cheeks and pulled his face down to her to kiss his lips.

“Return to me quickly,” she whispered.

“I shall.”

Leir fastened his weapons belt around him and handed him his shield.

“I shall be back before dinner,” Owain said, to Leola.

He strode out the door and went off to war.

Leola went back down stairs to the sitting room, where Gratianna was practicing the harp and the babies were making cooing noises at each other. She took up her sewing and listened to Gratianna’s new song.

There are reasons for things.
Even if we never see them. Even if we never understand them. Even if we still do not want them to be so.

Two years ago, I began working in the mead hall to repay father’s court debt. Now, I have three children, a kind father, and a wonderful husband. I suppose they were correct about the stag in mother’s garden, after all. I was destined for great things, for this is truly great
.