Viva la Vida
Arthur closed his eyes against the sun that drifted in through the high widows of Lady Vivienne's guest chambers. She had been so kind as to house the wayward king, though others did not trust her and preferred instead to stay hidden in their secret forest camp.
He knew he was a little too drunk, but he made Merlin bring him a flagon of ale every time the last one emptied. His servant looked upon him with concern; his last real friend, though there was an undercurrent of something he could never really place. An old man trapped in that gawky teenager's body.
Gwen had married him, but he barely saw her. She took to sulking when he got into these now familiar moods and avoided him. He was like his father; weak and stupid. He could have stopped Morgana, but now, since she declared herself Empress of Camelot and the Realm, it seemed that she would not stop until all Albion bowed at her feet.
"Sire?" Merlin said, startling his young king, "It will get better, I promise." Arthur turned slowly to face his companion.
"Better?" Arthur scoffed, "You can say that—you are well fed, taken care of; no one cares what you do or say, but I have put my people to death! My people," Arthur said in a broken undertone. Merlin looked wounded and opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it when he noticed the fourth empty flagon. "Morgana lines them up as we speak! They think I will ride in to save them without an army, outnumbered and without Ellian or Gwaine. You know as well as I do that the siege on Camelot FAILED. Get me more ale," Arthur said the last part in a near whisper, turning away from Merlin and out into the darkening courtyard.
"Father," Arthur whispered into the darkness, "Help me, please. Do something."
Silence.
Merlin brought in more ale, and Arthur took it from him, forcing a burning behind his eyes away. He took a long draught from the tankard, not even bothering to put in a cup, and noticed Merlin still standing there, looking wary.
"Have some then," Arthur slurred, mistaking the sympathetic look Merlin gave the amber liquid.
"No, I'm fine," Merlin shook his head.
"Have some." Arthur's eyes were cold. Not a challenge. An order.
Merlin came reluctantly over, and poured himself a small measure into a nearby goblet.
"Sit down," Arthur said. Merlin sat. "Why have you stayed? You should have buggered off years ago." Merlin was silent. Arthur repeated his query. When Merlin still did not answer, Arthur stood up and before Merlin could react, he had his dagger to his servant's throat.
"It was you, wasn't it? You all along; the one who betrayed me."
"No," Merlin gulped, fear in his eyes, "Morgana betrayed you, not me." Arthur considered him for a moment, then pressed the knife harder to Merlin's throat, drawing out a thin line of blood across his fair neck. "Please, Arthur, I would never do that." Arthur would not back down. Pressing still harder he said,
"Don't you think I saw the way you looked at her? She was better than you, but it didn't stop you from fantasizing about her, did it? You would have gone to the ends of the earth for her." Merlin gasped and the door opened.
Gwen looked horrified when she saw the scene before her, and Arthur dropped the knife, casting his eyes to the floor. He rubbed his neck and moved to the window, turning his back on Merlin and his wife.
"Arthur!" she cried, "What were you doing? You could have killed him!"
"Its fine, Gwen," Merlin muttered, "He's drunk again." A look of understanding flashed over Gwen's face and Arthur turned around, furious.
"Drunk? I am not drunk, you little bastard! Where do you get off talking like that? Are you suddenly at our level, peasant?" Arthur said it with venom, and Merlin, after giving one hard look at his master, strode out of the room past Gwen. When their eyes met Gwen pursed her lips.
"Is this how a king acts?" She demanded, coming in and closing the door behind her, "Do you think he deserved that? I thought I married a king, not a spoiled schoolboy." Arthur's nostrils flared and he moved to her with heavy steps. She backed away when she saw him coming, and flinched when he took her shoulders with rough hands. Some part of him was wounded at her fear of him; he would never hit her.
"Gwen," he said, ale heavy on his breath, "You should leave. Go with Merlin and swear fealty to Morgana. It would be easier for you." Gwen looked back defiantly.
"What would I do then?" she demanded, "with my husband, the king, left here to rot? I would never allow it." She closed her eyes and opened them, tears glistening on her long dark lashes. "Please, come back to me, I need you." It was the pleading sound in her voice that made Arthur take her in his arms and hold her like he would fall through nothingness if he did not. She was his, and he loved her, but she was being stupid. If she stayed with him what would she get? Nothing, and he would never bring a child into the world without an assurance it would be safe. She would not even get the baby he knew she wanted.
"You have to go," Arthur insisted, still holding her huddled to his chest. "I should never have gotten between you and Lancelot."
"I never loved him," she replied, looking up and catching his eye. "I regret everyday that you saw that."
"But I did," Arthur replied back miserably. He let her go and went to the half empty flagon of beer. Gwen looked at once concerned, but with one motion he sent to tumbling to the ground, the fine crystal decanter smashing into glittering fragments on the floor. When he saw Gwen staring in horror, he said in a nonchalant voice, "Merlin will get that."
Gwen's eyes grew hard once more. "He cares for you. Don't treat him like that or you will not have him."
"I'll always have him," Arthur replied, "he never shuts up about that. He still thinks I will be the Great King of Albion and that he must protect me."
"You will be," Gwen said.
There was a great crash and Arthur felt something smash into his shoulder, knocking him to the ground. He heard a sickeningly familiar voice.
"I found you, dear brother."
AN: needed to get this one out. Violence, lemons, drugs, you name it. Read and review. Gotta know what the thoughts are. More scary, sulky Arthur? In my version Morgana won and didn't get revived by that stupid little dragon and the knights in Camelot dungeon didn't escape. …. R&R!