Rain; Camelot was in need of it that year and Uther sat on a bench looking at the drops on his window and smiling. It was just in time. The season had been hard but the effort they went through to endure was worth it; the sight of lightning and the roar of thunder meant the crops would once again be healthy. He hadn't wanted to trouble Arthur but the boy had found out somehow. Uther chuckled; there was a lot of himself in that young man. 15 years Arthur had been in his life and he was glad. Determined not to curse the storm for making such loud noises Uther put a pillow over his head and slept with a grin. The weather had taken a good turn.

Midnight and Arthur was still lying on his bed in his chambers, scowling at every lightning flash and every roll of thunder. He was supposed to be getting an early night. So much for that plan. Another roll of thunder rudely interrupted his thoughts and attempts at sleeping. He had tried everything. One pillow over his head. One on each ear. Blanket over head. Humming. He had even tried reciting poems at one point, but realised what he was doing after two minutes. If this storm lasted all day Arthur didn't know what he was going to do.

Early morning. The clouds had started to get a glow in the east from where the sun was lighting them up from behind. But it needn't have bothered. The lightning was doing a perfectly good job in lighting up the town. A tall figure in a grey coat by now had finished walking through the lower village. Nothing could be seen of the person underneath by people peering out of their windows at the sound of someone braving the wind and rain. The coat was long and a deep grey with a large hood that covered everything beneath. It barely moved up and down as the figure progressed. It was almost as if they weren't walking but gliding. The figure continued through the city and over the castle's drawbridge. The hood's fabric shook as it moved down for a moment; a greeting nod to the shivering guards under cover nearby.

The figure continued up the steps and into the public square on the outskirts of Camelot's Castle. Their eyes fixed momentarily on a boy in a white shirt, swirling a sword in his hand under a roof nearby in an absent-minded way, occasionally throwing an annoyed glance to the sky.

He glanced over when he heard the figure's faint footsteps through the rain. With a frown he leapt up, sword in hand and motioned for three guards chatting nearby to follow him. They intercepted the figure as they were about to enter the castle.

'Who are you?' demanded the boy.

A rasping, throaty voice came drifting back from under the cloak. 'I have travelled a long way to seek audience with King Uther Pendragon.'

'But who are you?'

'… … I request an audience-'

Arthur rolled his eyes; slightly exasperated. 'Fine, follow me.' He sheathed his sword and turned into the castle, the figure drifting behind him.

'So how far have you travelled?'

'A great distance.'

Arthur squirmed, trying not to turn around and peer at the strange person tailing behind him. 'Right. Why do you want an audience with my father?'

'…'

'Okay…' Arthur muttered under his breath. His eyes softened when he saw the council chamber doors. 'Here we are!'

'Thank you.'

Arthur pushed the door open and stood aside, letting the still hooded figure pass. He stooped down a little as they did, trying to see anything under the hood. He could put it down to a young man's curiosity.

Uther looked up. 'Yes?'

'This is um…' Arthur paused with a blink as he realised he didn't know the person's name. 'Someone who has travelled a great distance to have an audience with you, father.'

Uther frowned slightly at his son. 'Who are they?' he spoke only to Arthur.

The boy shrugged a signature shrug and shook his head slightly with a hopeless demeanour. It's not like he hadn't tried asking but they hadn't been very forthcoming.

Uther sighed as he pondered the stranger in his chambers. 'Very well. I will hear you.'

'I beg an audience with the king only.'

Arthur hesitated. Would his father be alright?

'… Very well. Leave us.'

Once everyone had filed out of the room two arms clothed in purple reached from under the grey cloak. Both hands clasped themselves together in front of the figure.

'What can I do for you?'

'I have come to offer an ally.'

Uther frowned once more. 'An ally?'

'Yes. Myself.'

His head lowered. 'You?'

The hands unclasped each other and Uther noticed the sleeves properly. They were like that of a dress; tight at the elbow but very loose around the wrists. Fingers clasped the heavy fabric of the hood and pulled it down.

Uther couldn't stop his eyes widening as he saw the person that lay under it. Out of everything his mind had considered, this had been none of them.

With a lot of brown hair pulled tightly back into a low, loose bun, startling, deadly turquoise eyes, a long neck, shaped eyebrows, long eyelashes, a round yet definitive jaw and pale skin; the girl in front of Uther had certainly given him a shock.

Her face had remained the same as Uther studied it in a transfixed state. She had to be Arthur's age, nearly exactly.

Her voice was no longer raspy or obscure. It was strong, even and had a ring as if someone was singing or humming in the background. 'My Lord, I understand that you hate all magic. I understand the risk I place myself in by being here.'

Uther shifted, uncertain as to what to do just yet.

'I am 15 years old, am a high priestess of the Old Religion and wield incredibly powerful magic.'

As she had expected; Uther stood up.

'But I have seen this world fall to the mercy of evil magic.'

'All magic is evil.'

'My Lord, with all due respect I disagree. From my position in the world I can see the powers of many people. I despise the use of magic to harm innocent people, whether peasants or nobles alike. Without magic I am incredibly skilled with nearly all weapons. I daresay I could defeat both you and your son in a duel. I know nearly everything there is about magic and that which I don't know I can find out in a matter of hours. I am resilient and consider myself a wielder of magic for the power of good.'

She finished as strong as she started and Uther's world had started turning. Was it possible? A sorcerer that isn't evil? An ally that could tell them anything they needed and a superb fighter? But why should he trust her?

'Come. Walk with me.'

The girl nodded and waited for the king to reach the point beside her and started walking as well.

'What is your name?'

'Thalia, sire.'

They walked through the castle, Thalia knowing not to say anything and that the king was thinking. They walked through large back doors and to a large landscape where usually the only living thing was grass, save the occasional walker or group of knights training. Thalia knew why the king had steered them here.

'Do you have family?'

'Yes, sire. My mother.'

'And what of your father?'

'He died in a battle when I was three.'

'I'm very sorry. Might I ask which one?'

'I do not know the name. I do however know that it was taking place nearby. King Bayard's men had invaded land belonging to Camelot. Both my parents decided that they had no right and so fought alongside the knights of Camelot. My mother survived but my father did not.'

Uther's face softened as the girl casually told him this with a hint of pride in her voice.

'I still don't understand; who taught you magic?'

'No one. I was born with it.'

'That is unusual.'

'It is, sire, yes.'

They kept their slow and comfortable pace as Uther kept turning everything over in his mind. 'I suppose you know why we are out here?'

'Yes. You have given me the perfect opportunity to kill you and run away. I notice a lot of things around me, my lord. I wish not to kill you or harm any of your people. I wish only to kill those that pose a threat to them. I will swear allegiance to Camelot if it would help you trust me. I'm not sure how I can prove this to you but I ask that you consider this opportunity deeply.'

Uther considered this once more. But how did he know she could be trusted? Yet at the same time; a high priestess of the Old Religion, fighting against the evil it brings. How could he say no? Especially since he was confident she could protect his young and foolish sun and seemed wise enough to be involved in more counsel than simply magic.

'What do the other sorcerers think of you?'

'Most do not know I exist. The ones that do are the high priests and priestesses. The ones that are evil like Nimue despise me because they know I am a serious threat. The ones that are not evil stand behind me, supporting my views.'

Uther's eyes widened. 'After I've killed so many of your kind… you still come here now. Why?'

'While you may have killed many good sorcerers, the majority you killed were not. In doing the world a grievance you have also done it a favour. The sorcerers that were doing no one any harm and humbly want to live will be the ones being careful and helping others around them. The ones that stand out are the ones that make a mess and harm people. It therefore stands to reason that most of the sorcerers you have found were evil.'

Uther considered this with a lighter heart. 'I see.'

'I believe that the majority of sorcerers left in the world are good. You may believe that only two or three are. In this we are different. But we both want the evil side gone. Why should we fight separately when there is an alternative to being weaker alone?'

Uther found himself convinced, much to his incredible surprise. He suddenly stopped walking. 'I agree. We may have our run ins but I will always try to listen to you, you are wise beyond the knowledge of magic, you may save many lives just by offering an opinion on even food distribution. I will give you a high place in the royal courts and reinstate a long lost traditional title for people such as yourself.'

Thalia gave a slow nod. This was more than she had expected.

'Your mother must come live here as well and you can have your own chambers each. Do you ride?'

'All my life. I was one of the best in my kingdom, sire.'

'Then you must bring your horses as well. I see this as a chance to protect my people and an opportunity for more things that neither of us may imagine.'
Thalia grinned slightly; Uther was getting carried away with his newfound inspiration.

'Of course, no one is to know you have magic. We shall say that you are a warrior and that is why you have been welcomed by me. This is incredible. I have only three people that I think should know what you really are.'

'Who are they, my lord?' Thalia spoke calmly in attempt to get Uther to calm down.

'My ward; Morgana. The court physician; Gaius and my son; Arthur. None else I can think of. What say you?'

'Sire, I agree. I am pleased you accept this.'

Uther took her outstretched hand and shook it with a happy glint in his eye. Thalia could only guess at what sort of revelation this meant for him but she was happy nonetheless.