CHAPTER XXXVII.
AURELIA AT CAMELOT.
THE shadow of d**h lay on Aurelia, as on all when the dearly loved ones pa** away, with gradual lightening. This did not seem so at first; but the pain recurred in waves or throbs, like all else of outer or inner world-life, each seeming not less than those before it, with blankness between. The work that she drove herself to, and held herself to, irked her greatly; but, excepting at the very first, she did not in any degree fail or shrink. She was aware of kind faces that felt for her, and the bright things in earth and air and heaven which had been her pleasure; but all such touched her now as on the surface only, not deeply stirring.
So, too, she thought not, in the very beginning, on Arthur or Cian, or any grievance or affection, beyond her first yearning to lean and be strengthened, when she knew that the Prince had pa**ed on his northward way. Later, she heard the tale of their doings in broken fragments brought haphazard overland. What went most against her therein was the rumor that men spoke ill of Cian's good faith, [Page 353] holding his cloud of armed men to be a real menace on the northern border, and deeming that the Emperor must needs fall upon him to abate it; though mostly her London people were of more gentle judgment. For they had forgotten neither the stoutness of Cian's shield, nor the weight of Arthur's mailed hand. Aurelia listened to all, wearying her soul, doubting what to do; and in the midst of her doubt came the bidding to the imperial nuptials at Camelot. Eager to render all honor, and hoping also for her opportunity, she departed thither with a great train.
She found before her, and coming in daily, many more of high degree – lords of provinces, and city rulers, commanders of great fortresses like that on the height of Sorbiodunum, left over by Rome or the giants. Kings were some styled, others chiefs, or consuls, or princes, but it mattered little. All manner of wealth and sumptuousness came with them, and a prodigious throng of people, but not so very many fighting-men; for, after Cerdic's mishaps in the west, and the long peace on that southern border, there was no thought of molestation.
Yet, when Aurelia looked abroad in that marvellous and glowing town, an old memory came to her, a tale of the days of Hengist. Never since the great feast of the Long Knives had there been such a banquet-gathering of British leadership as here; and otherwise the lure was far more tempting than [Page 354] in that day of feast and slaughter. Then she blessed the two good legions which Arthur still held about him, and the sufficient store of arms in that hill city; and so took heart again. Yet she felt the burden of warning upon her.
It was not easy to find speech with the Emperor; but one bright noon on a tower of his palace castle, watching him come from Guinevere and seek the battlement, she drew near doubtfully, and uttered what was in mind. He woke from his meditation with gentle greeting, but at first gave seemingly no more heed nor weight than courtesy compelled. She paused a moment. He swept his glance over the pinnacled riot of strange beauty that filled the plateau, and went overflowing down the great cone of the hill beneath them on every side – rainbow walls, and scroll-work carven forms, and faceted j**elry of architecture sparkling in the sun. Standards flaunted here and there, marvellous in device and gorgeous in hue, the bright figures on them moving with the wind as if alive. Away below all wound the triple wall-girdle, earthen, broad and high, with solid front of masonry, sentinels walking their rounds on the level crest of every belt, and many armed men stretched at ease along the slopes and terraces between. All the streets were thrilling and humming with gay, multitudinous human life.
It was a scene such as no other ruler could have looked down upon; such, indeed, as not Britain itself could furnish elsewhere. For here was naught of Rome and her white. ancient majesty, the life of a far time still slowly dreaming away. Its glory was of the young Celtic exuberance, warm, gay, and vital; of baffling conceptions, mystic yet impulsively human and not yet wholly at ease without or within. Power was there, and will and waywardness, earnest zeal and ecstatic daring; above all, a surpa**ing and exalted wizardry. For Camelot was the city of Arthur, and the city of Merlin.
"It may well tempt them," said he; "but if the kernel be rare, the shell will endure some hammering.
"The walls of Vortimer the Great," answered she, "are Saxon ground to-day."
He watched her face gravely. "It would be ill for any kind guest of ours to suffer disquiet. Is there new cause for it?
"No. Yet Cerdic has a great force, which may grow quickly. And it is near, while your armies are far away. Would it not be well to summon them? All of my kingdom, at least, are at command."
Arthur smiled. "They would scarce bar Cerdic; and London, too, must be guarded."
"Then – Lancelot?"
"Suppose that has been tried. Some things are hard to understand."
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"What! – then there have been warnings before?" He bowed.
"And Maelgwn – Lancelot – will not come?"
"He offers reasons. There may be more force in them than one can see."
"The warning has most force, my Emperor. I pray you send with all speed to the army near Caer Ligion."
"Unhappily, a great part must be left to watch Prince Cian, whom I trusted more than any other of old."
Her face flushed. "I am sure that is needless." Then a spirit, half saucy, half resentful, moved her to cry aloud. "How easily a great commander may be taken in a snare!"
He looked surprise, then laughed. "Your Emperor was not the commander this time," and she knew he meant the summoning letter of Guinevere.
"But," he added, "I will call Llywarch to me, with every man that he may safely bring. And to ease you, dear lady, all nearer forces of town and country shall be summoned. Meanwhile, we are not defenceless, and Cerdic has rarely prospered in his dealings with me. I shall hardly resign my bride, or vary either time or ceremonial for any uproar of heathendom."