Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin but the Sarmatian characters I created and would appreciate it if no one took them as their own. Thank you and enjoy.
Chapter One
Uther had no idea that when he agreed to shelter a Dragon Keeper in his kingdom from Odin, that he would get an ally from across the sea in the mainland. The Keeper he had given shelter to turned out to be the Sarmatian king's nephew. Now said king was on his way to Camelot to finalize peace talks. Along with the king were his three eldest children. It was Ygraine who talked him into agreeing with the nephew about peace talks. "It would be good for Camelot," she had said. "An ally across the sea." She was currently haggling with the servants getting the castle ready for their royal visitors. Over the years, Queen Ygraine was slowly coming out of her depression of losing Arthur. The birth of their daughter, Anna, twelve years ago helped a whole lot. It was good to see her smile again.
Ygraine found her husband on a turret staring out into the horizon. He had grown quiet over the last few days and she knew why. The end of the week brought them Arthur's birthday and not just any birthday. His twenty first, meaning he would've been crowned Prince of Camelot. Search parties were still sent out in the hopes of finding the lost prince, but they always came back empty handed. Uther and Ygraine devote most of their time to Anna and their ward, Morgana. "Uther?" she called causing him to turn around. "Are you all right?" she asked. Uther let out a sigh before turning back to the horizon.
"He would've been crowned Prince of Camelot in three days," he said.
"I know," she said coming up beside him.
"So many years have gone by," he said. "We've missed so much in his life if he still lives."
"He does, my dear," Ygraine said. "Have faith in Nimueh's predictions," she added causing him to scoff.
"She's been predicting his return every year, Ygraine," he said. "And every year goes by with no results."
They stood there in silence. "I think I should stop the search parties altogether."
"Uther, do you think you should?" she asked. "Arthur could ..."
"Could be dead, Ygraine," Uther snapped causing her to gasp. "Twenty one years, Ygraine, without a sight of him or Juliana. We don't even know what he would look like if he did come to Camelot."
"I ..."
"I know that you still have hope of Arthur's return, but I have just learned to accept it. Whoever marries Anna will be the next King. Most likely it will be Lancelot." Ygraine groaned at the mentioned of the knight's name.
"He's ten years older than Anna," she said.
"She'll be of marrying age in three years, Ygraine," Uther said. "It will be her duty for Camelot. You can't expect me to be here all the time." The Queen sighed out again and looked to the horizon. A flash of red orange caught her sight and she saw the Sarmatian banner.
"Our guests have arrived," she said. "Time to be good hosts," she added.
Uther and Ygraine were walking down the halls and stairs to get to the courtyard. Servants made a path in the halls while they tried to the castle ready for a royal visit. "Oh, Gwen," Ygraine said spotting her Ward's handmaiden. She had put Gwen in charge of preparing the chambers for the Royal family. "The rooms?" she asked.
"They are prepared, my lady," she said curtseying to the Queen and King.
"Good," Ygraine said motioning to Gwen to keep up. Gwen kept the pace of the Queen staying behind her.
"Is the Princess in need of a handmaiden during her stay, Your Majesty?" she asked.
"No, she and the elder Prince are bringing attendants," Ygraine said. "Make sure they are taken care of as well."
"Of course, my lady," Gwen said. "What of the younger Prince? The second son?"
"Oh, I forgot about him," she said as they came to the courtyard. "Have, uh, Merlin?" Ygraine asked not sure of his name. At Gwen's nod, she continued, "meet you at the Prince's quarters. He'll do," she added.
"Yes, my lady," Gwen said and with a curtsey, she left to find Merlin. Ygraine joined Uther at the bottom of the steps next to Anna and Morgana.
"Where is Lancelot?" Uther asked noticing his knight's absence.
"He went hunting," Morgana said causing Uther to groan. If Lancelot wasn't such a good knight or the commander of the Knights, he would've gotten rid of him long ago. He was too good to get rid of. A lone horseman entered the courtyard and announced the Sarmatian king. No sooner had he announced it, King Dmitri rode in flanked by two Sarmatian knights.
"He's quite handsome," Ygraine said out loud.
"Yes, thank you, my dear," Uther said sarcastically causing Anna and Morgana to chuckle.
Indeed he was handsome. For a man in his sixties. Thinning brown hair without a touch of gray. The same couldn't be said for his beard which had just a hint of the salt gray in it. He had deep blue eyes that seemed to shine like sapphires. He was dressed in his country's warm colors of red, orange and gold. A Camelot servant approached and held the reins and Dmitri dismounted his white stallion.
"Welcome to Camelot, King Dmitri," Uther said holding out his hand.
"It's a pleasure to be here," Dmitri said shaking Uther's hand. "I've heard so much about it from my nephew."
"And how is Trisian?" Uther asked.
"He is well, but apologizes for not being here," Dmitri said. "His children have grown sick with a Sarmatian childhood malady and stayed to care for them."
"Family first,"Uther said causing Dmitri to nod. "Speaking of family, my wife, Ygraine," he said.
"Your Majesty," Ygraine said offering her hand to him.
"My lady," Dmitri said taking her offered hand and kissed it. "My nephew spoke highly of your beauty, Queen Ygraine."
"Now I see where he gets his charm from."
"Well he certainly didn't get it from his father, my brother." Uther and Ygraine chuckled as a second party arrived in the courtyard. These were the king's children. As Ygraine introduced Anna and Morgana, Uther observed the three children.
The first was Prince Jasper, the Crowned Prince and heir to the throne. He was a spitting image of his father, minus the gray hair. His black hair fell just in front of his face to his chin which was graced with a beard much more thick than his father's. His brown eyes, from his mother, were warm and inviting. He too was dressed in his country's colors. He dismounted from his black stallion and stretched with a groan.
"Morgana, you're staring," twelve year old Anna said.
"He's handsome," she said. "I can't help it."
Next was the Princess Anastasia, the Crowned Princess of Sarmatia. She inherited her mother's looks without a doubt. Her lightly tanned skin went well with her red curls which were pinned up with jewels and a small crown of golden flowers. Her eyes matched that of her father's, blue as sapphires. She wore a rust orange traveling gown and a matching wrap around her shoulders. Jasper helped his sister down from her gray speckled mare and she craned her neck.
However, it was the second son, the Prince Royal, Artorius, that drew Uther's attention. The moment he came into view he could see nothing in looks similar to his siblings. His blonde hair shined in what sun peeked through the clouds. If Uther didn't know any better, he would say he saw more of Ygraine in the young Prince's face which was devoid of any facial hair. In truth, the only feature he shared with either siblings were a matching pair of blue eyes with his sister. He climbed off his brown mare and helped Anastasia's maid, Ezra, off her's.
"I present to you my children," Dmitri said and the three lined up to be introduced. "My eldest, Jasper."
"Your Majesties," he said bowing and Uther and Ygraine nodded their heads to him.
"My daughter, Anastasia," Dmitri introduced. She curtseyed to them before offering her hand to Uther.
"My lady," he said before kissing it.
"Anya, my lord," she corrected. As she moved down the line, Uther and Ygraine seemed shocked when the younger Prince, Artorius, came into view.
"And my second son, Artorius," Dmitri said. The young Prince bowed before the two royals.
"Your Majesties," he said. When he straightened, he noticed the two staring at him and looked to his father.
"Uther? Are you all right?" Dmitri asked getting Uther out of his stupor.
"Oh, yes, forgive me," he said shaking his head. "You seem to be familiar to me somehow. Have we met before?"
"No, this is my first time in Camelot, my lord," Artorius said. Jasper paid no attention. He was busy getting acquainted with Morgana.
"I am Lady Morgana," she said curtseying. "Uther's ward," she added presenting her hand to the handsome Prince.
"My lady," he said taking her hand and kissing it.
"Morgana," she insisted.
"Then you may call me Jasper," he said reluctantly letting go of her hand. The interaction did not go unnoticed by Anya and Artorius. They watched their brother with the Lady Morgana before looking at each other and shrugging. Jasper was a resident bachelor back in Sarmatia and had yet to find a bride. Perhaps he had to come to a foreign country to find her.
"Well, why don't we get you all settled into the castle?" Ygraine suggested. "You've traveled a long way," she added.
"Of course," Dmitri said. Servants were deployed to get trunks unpacked from carriages as the Uraeuses were led into the castle.