Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(95)

"Here is the truth, good people," Gwen announced. "I have been untrue to the kindest man I have e'er known. Our king."

Oh, for land f**king sakes, Isabel thought. She feels the need to pour her heart out now? Isabel drained Gwen's goblet, then asked for another. If there was a time to be drunk, this was it.

"I accept the consequences of this," Gwen continued. "Should you all decide to punish me, that is up to you. But I will not ever regret or rescind my love for . . . another."

Arthur planted his hand over her mouth, probably before she helped her executioners pick out just which ropes on which to hang her.

"Who is he?" several shouted. "We will hunt him and exact the punishment!"

"'Tis not treason!" Arthur yelled. "Not when I condoned that love. I knew and gave them full permission to follow their hearts. 'Tis not treason when your king said aye to them. I wanted, desperately, for the two to follow their hearts. Any who would lay harm to either will answer to me. How we resolve the issues will be up to us. This I demand. No harm to either. Is this understood by all?"

"Aye, King Arthur," many said.

"And while we are at admissions of truth," he began.

No, Arthur, please! Isabel thought, although she knew he and Gwen were on a truth-telling roll that was not about to end anytime soon.

Arthur glanced over at her first.

"I'll take Shut the Hell Up Right Now for a thousand, Arthur," she said.

"What is, no way, Countess?" he shouted back at her.

"Oh, good gods," she whispered.

Mary ran over to her and grabbed her hand. "'Tis for the best," she said.

"The best for whom?" Isabel asked.

"For all here. The queen had need to speak her heart. And by the by, you truly do talk funny."

"Great. And now you are turning on me as well, Mary?"

"Have you not been listening, Isabel? No one is turning on you. All are standing up for you."

"I'm sorry, Mary," Isabel said. "I just don't want the king and queen to be scorned by the people of Camelot."

"HERE is the rub, ladies and gentlemen," Arthur said, figuring he wasn't letting Gwen fall on the sword alone. He knew not what provoked her unhealthy honesty, but if she felt the need to spill to all, he was not allowing her to do it by herself. "I have also found myself deeply in love. 'Twas not meant to happen, I did not seek it out, but the fates decreed it so.

"Can you believe I have fallen for that funny-speaking woman?" he asked, pointing straight at Isabel. "'Tis true. I am desperately in love with Countess Isabel. And Queen Guinevere is in love with another. We are all happy about it. So should one of you set out to harm the queen or the countess while we work out the details to make certain the right men are with the right women, I will invoke my power as king. We have the right to certain mistakes in the past and the right to fix those mistakes to the happiness of all. Should any hold judgment against our women, take a good hard look into your very own hearts."

"Happiness to all!" James bellowed, holding up his stein. "'Tis what Camelot is about, after all."

"Happiness to all!" most, if not all, of the guests, called, also holding up their various steins and goblets in toast.

But Arthur noticed that way too many people were now looking askance at Isabel, as if she had sprung straight out of Hades. "Do not," he warned again, "cast blame against Gwen or Isabel. You do so at your own peril. For the people who know us best will be at our sides. Now please enjoy the rest of the evening," Arthur said. "And remember to tell the ones you love just how much. Often."

He jumped down and headed straight to his woman. He probably should have been prepared for the thump to his chest he received upon his arrival. He was not.

"Ow!"

"What were you thinking, Arthur?

"Just, perhaps, some form of happiness that I was honest about my feelings for you?

"Did it even occur to you what might happen to Gwen?"

"Did you not note that 'twas Gwen who made the decision to announce her feelings first?"

"Okay, that's true. What in hell was that all about?"

"I was not standing over here talking to her. You were. How about you tell me?"

"She wanted to be truthful to the people of Camelot, is my guess," Mary said. "Do not blame Isabel, as I saw her attempt to stop the queen. Or you answer to me. Your Highness," she added with a slight curtsy. "Shall I stay, Isabel?" she asked.

"I think I can handle him," Isabel said with a grin. "But thank you, Mary."

Mary glanced back and forth between them. "Okay, I shall be right over there with that very large, very strong, very loyal man, in case you have need, Isabel." She stomped away.

"Why do I feel as if I am suddenly the bad guy, here?" Arthur said.

Isabel shook her head, laughing. "Not the bad guy, Arthur. But why, for crying out loud? You couldn't just say, 'I support Gwen, end of story.'"

"Because once she decided to say as she did, my only choice was to announce that I too am in love with another, so the people did not consider her the only one who had broken vows."

"So it was more for her protection?"