The Voice of Albion
Summary: Arthur Pendragon, son of famous blues singer Uther Pendragon and world-renowned violinist Ygraine de Bois, has run out of other options. A failed record contract was the last straw and now here he was, standing on-stage on the Voice of Albion. Modern Merthur AU (with other pairings) based on the Voice.
Chapter One - The Blind Auditions
Arthur had never been this nervous before anything, he realised, as he stood in the queue to the door. At the end of the queue of 50 or so people there was a couch where the presenters sat interviewing the potential acts. He clutched his audition slip tightly in his hand as he drew closer and closer to the doors.
The guy and the girl behind him were in a hushed conversation, which was not helpful as Arthur was frantically going over his lyrics and routine in his head. They're probably nervous too he told himself so be nice and just let it slide. That was until one of them tapped him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me." it was the girl, who now Arthur looked at her was rather pretty. "Are you... Sorry, I've never done this sort of approaching thing before, but aren't you Arthur Pendragon?"
"Uh... Yeah, I am." he replied, quite unsure of what to do. He had only ever released one demo EP, and had never up until now been recognised.
"I told you so." The guy next to her said. He was quite gangly with dark hair and the most ridiculous scarf on. "I'm Merlin, this is Gwen."
Gwen took over. "I wasn't sure if it was you. My father, Tom Smith, he was a cellist, worked with your mother Ygraine a lot." She paused as if unsure as to continue. "I'm ever so sorry for your loss."
Arthur waved a hand. "It's alright, long time ago now. I think I remember Tom, looked quite similar to you and he had that skeletal cello."
"He did." Gwen nodded. "And Merlin here, who wouldn't like to admit it in front of you, owns your EP. We both do."
Oh. "Really? Er... How did you find it?" Arthur asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer
"It was really quite good. 'Excalibur', despite the cheesy title, was the favourite for both of us. So much so that it seems surprising to see you in a queue for the Voice of Albion."
Arthur chuckled nervously. "Well, the whole EP didn't really go to plan." He turned, and saw that in the time they'd been talking he'd reached the front of the queue. "Oh, it's my turn. Good luck to you both!"
Glad to be out of that he told himself as he went and sat down across from one of the show's two presenters, Nimueh Cara. Whilst music was a strength of his, he did have undeniably good people skills. Well, when he wasn't jumped in a queue trying to be incognito that is. He talked about his parents when she asked and how they didn't know he was here, and about his failed EP. Nimueh seemed to know everything about him, likely that a big background check was done.
Soon enough he was walking through backstage and onto the main stage. Spread out before him were the four chairs, all facing away from him. One of you turn, that's all I want I swear.
A deep breath
The band started tapping drum sticks
Focus
Arthur raised the violin to his neck, and slowly began to draw the bow across the strings into the opening. Everything was fine; he was in his element on stage. With one last breath, he began.
How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
Because,
Now that I know what I'm without
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life.
Wake me up inside
Wake me up inside
Call my name and save me from the dark
Bid my blood to run
Before I come undone
Save me from the nothing I've become.
Bring me to life
Bring me to life
The final note he held, and held it high. He had even thrown in plenty of vocal gymnastics into the chorus, fitting well around his violin parts. He had been so engrossed in his performance that he hadn't given any attention to the chairs in front of him, three out of the four of which were now facing him.
On the right was the pop and soul singer Morgana LeFay, to the left was country singer Freya Bastet. Sandwiched between them was the chair still with his back to him - Gaius who was an old crooner - and the other turned chair of the lead singer and front man of the Camelot Knights, Lancelot DuLac.
The lights behind Arthur blurred into a frenzy as the audience cheered and whooped. Gaius' chair turned around as Morgana, Freya and Lance stood up to applaud Arthur.
He could feel himself blushing as he stood there, in front of the microphone. All at once, everything slowed to a halt.
"What's your name?" Morgana asked me, all of the coaches sitting back down in their chairs.
"Arthur Pendragon." I replied. The nerves had already started to get back to him.
Morgana looked like a light bulb had lit over her head. "Of course it is, how didn't I hear the voice. I have your EP."
Bloody hell. Twice in one day.
"Even worse." Gaius said. "Uther will never forgive me for not turning for his son. Is he out back boy?"
"No, he, well he doesn't know I'm here tonight."
They chatted backstory for another minute or so, asking about his EP and the pressure he must feel due to his parents musical background. They then began pitching, Morgana and Lancelot getting into a heated argument over him whilst Freya told him that she turned because he deserved more, though if he wanted to join her team he was more than welcome.
"Athur, I promise you, come with me and we can win this competition. I won it last year, I'll do it again with you!" Lance petitioned him
"Arthur." Morgana interjected, "I don't want you to win this competition I want you to take over the music industry. I loved your EP, you're a fantastic artist and I can take you to the top I promise you that."
"It's time." Gaius spoke, silencing Lance's attempt at a counter-pitch. "Arthur, please pick your coach."
Who will I pick he thought. Lance seemed the obvious choice due to their similarity in style, but something else was drawing him to Morgana, almost like fate. "I think I'm gonna go with Team Morgana."
Rapturous applause followed his choice as Morgana leapt out her chair, somehow ran to him in her 6" heels and pulled him into a hug. "You've made the right choice." She told him, before leading him down to be congratulated by the other coaches.
Nimeuh stood waiting outside and instantly interviewed him about his experience and how it felt to be on Team Morgana. After that, the production queue showed him to a seat in the audience where he could watch more of the acts. Most of the audience was either production crew or other singers and their families used to act as a live studio audience.
He had gotten a seat near the front, and Morgana raised her eyebrows at him as the chairs turned.
Onto the stage came the two Arthur has spoken with in the queue. Merlin looked somewhat awkward next to Gwen, holding a guitar whilst the crew adjust the height of the microphones. Gwen, also holding a violin which she did not have in the queue brought it up and placed the bow on the string.
As the band kicked in, Merlin began.
It was a crush
But I couldn't, couldn't get enough
It was a rush
But I gave it up
Holy shit he can actually sing Arthur thought. The timbre of Merlins voice was deep, unlike his speaking voice but pleasant and soothing. Gwen then came in.
It was a crush
Now I might have went and said too much
But that's all it was
So I gave it up
Gwen's voice was sweet, high, the perfect contrast to Merlin's tone. Turn! Arthur thought. Gaius was clearly not going to, looking bored. Freya looked excited, as did Morgana, whilst Lance was mouthing to both that there wasn't much he could offer them.
The chorus kicked in with Merlin and Gwen dueting, the voices blending together.
I live my day as if it were the last
Live each day as if there was no past
Doin' it all night, all summer
Doin' it the way I wanna
They were better soloists, definitely Arthur thought as he watched Freya's face fall. Morgana however, slammed her button, turning around.
Yeah Imma dance my heart out 'til the dawn
But I won't be done when morning comes
Doin' it all night all summer
Gonna spend it like no other
Morgana started directing them halfway through the verse, pointing at Merlin and indicating that he should go up a key, whilst indicating Gwen should go down. Both did for the final reprise of the Chorus and honestly it sounded much better.
The other chairs swivelled once the song ended, Merlin and Gwen hugging each other laughing and cheering. So they were on Team Morgana.
The chit-chat was similar with him, asking about what they did. There was one different question however.
"So..." Lance asked. "You two?"
Merlin laughed. "No, nothing like that. Gwen is like my sister."
So they weren't together. Arthur wasn't sure why he particularly cared. At the end of the day, they were competition and would likely either face him in the Battle rounds or the Knockouts should they get through.
After the pair went off stage they went to sit next to Arthur in the only two available seats at the time. Gwen asked about his audition and he congratulated them on theirs. They were obliged to watch at least another ten auditions as part of the audience.
The next singer was a teenager who sang Style completely off-key. No turns for her. Next however was a complete banger. A blonde woman in a full bodysuit started belting out Ariana Grande's Focus. The woman, called Morgause, also joined Morgana's team. A male and rather attractive singer called Leon followed up with a cut-down performance of Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez which shouldn't have worked but did. He joined Team Freya, being the second consecutive four turn. Following that was Percival, who joined Team Lance after covering the Foo Fighters and a singer called Sophia who joined Team Freya after four turns for her cover of Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men.
Arthur stayed to watch a few more of the auditions after that, though none were particularly interesting and nobody got more than two turns. In the end, he got up, said goodbye to Gwen, Merlin and Morgause who had also started talking to them and left. An executive took some extra details from him and informed him that he would be told in a few days when rehearsals for the battles would take place.
Morgana caught him at the door however.
"Arthur!" she called out. He paused while she caught up to him. "I wanted to congratulate you. We don't really get time to under the cameras." She pressed a piece of paper into his hand. "This is for your father. He'll be able to explain it to you, so you can read it, but not here. And not a word should go out to anyone about this.
Arthur opened the paper when he got on the train back home. It had a sentence, artfully scrawled in pencil across it.
The daughter of Gorlois
Authors Note: This came about after some inspiration from reading some other works of fanfic, and as a method to distract myself from the exam revision that I really should be doing right now. The songs featured were Bring me to Life by Evanescence and Lush Life by Zara Larsson. I'm hoping this get's an okay reaction, so reviews and follows etc. would be appreciated. The next chapter is coming out tonight (hopefully) so you can have a bit of a start.