At his words, tears paused at the rims of her eyes, and then fell down her wind-burned cheeks. He realized how cold she must be and yet she had not complained once.
He swept his cloak off his shoulders and wrapped her in it.
“No. You need it for yourself. I will fetch an extra cloak from the keep later. Keep it,” he held out his palm to stop her from taking it off. “I am from the north. It is much colder in Denmark.”
She nodded and smiled, and they were silent for a few moments. Then he looked at her and said. “You know how she feels about her mother?”
She nodded and swallowed, and Wolf hoped Camelee gave her a chance to make up for the lost years.
“She thinks I gave her up because I did not love her. But it almost killed me.”
“You have much to tell her then,” he said in a low voice.
“You are a good man, Chief. I will make certain the king knows.”
He nodded, but he didn’t care what anyone thought of him.
“What are your intentions with my daughter, Chief?” Genevra asked in the still of the morning.
“I wish to bring her back to Denmark and make her my wife.”
“To Denmark? You would not prefer to go into the future with her? ’Tis much easier to live.”
He shrugged his shoulders “We shall see. First, I must find a way to get to her. Unfortunately, we do not know anyone who practices magic.”
“Hmm, aye,” she agreed, then leaned in and whispered, “but mayhap, he knows, since he just appeared out of thin air.” She motioned with her chin to a man weaving through the trees, coming toward them.
He had dark hair tied back and a beard just as long. He appeared of middle age and as he drew closer, Wolf unsheathed his sword. He was prepared to do what he must to get Camelee back.
“Guin! Guinevere! Is that you, my queen?” the man called out.
Wolf felt his hair rise off his skin. It was happening.
“Merlin?” she called back.
Who was Merlin? Wolf wondered as Gen—Guinevere’s eyes filled to the brim with tears.
She flung off Wolf’s cloak and took off running straight into the man’s arms. “Oh, Merlin! Blessed friend! ’Tis good to see you…to remember you! Tell me, where is the king?”
“He searches for you each day, my queen. Nothing eases his pain, not even having his children back.”
Wolf took a small step closer. The king had Camelee.
“Merlin, why have my memories returned and why were they taken from me at all?”
He explained about a witch called Morgan, who was free and looking for them. When Genevra heard the name, she gasped. This Morgan, thought Wolf, must be a formidable enemy if everyone was hiding from her.
“Take me to the witch,” he demanded. “I will kill her!”
Merlin would hear nothing of it. His duty was to protect Wolf from her.
The insult was strong in Wolf’s ears. Protect him? He didn’t need anyone’s protection!
“You are to wait here while I take her to the king. I will return to you shortly.”
Wolf nodded his consent, but his plan had been to take hold of Camelee’s captor and put a blade to his neck while he took Wolf to her.
But Genevra was about to go to her husband, a man whose love had kept her heart from all others, without even remembering him. She was going to be reunited with her daughter, whom she loved. Camelee needed that. She deserved to have a good mother, a mother like Genevra.
