Chapter 2
Meanwhile, in a VERY different part of London.
Arthur stood in the ballroom, barely able to comprehend what was just said to him by his father. In the far right, his sister Morgana sat sipping a martini, trying not to get involved. Her face was fraught with concern.
"So, you want me to hold a party for three consecutive nights to find a WIFE?" he asked aloud, "I'm only twenty, for goodness sake!"
"Not a party, a ball," Uther corrected, "And yes, I understand your concerns, but at your age I was already engaged to your mother!"
Arthur rolled his eyes as Morgana eyed them both wearily.
"I still want my bachelorhood!" the young prince shot back, "I want to be free of a wedding ring. I still have another year and a bit of university left."
"I'm not saying that you should wed immediately- you can get to know each other for a year before you actually start thinking of such a commitment."
There was an awkward moment as Arthur stared at his father, livid. The other people present in the room were silently wishing that they were invisible. Morgana really wanted the situation to be over soon- someone was going to say something that they would regret later and would cause an argument. An even bigger one than the one currently brewing.
"So you're going to invite several hundred teenage girls here for three nights? Are you actually insane?"
"No, of course not," Uther chuckled, "I've paid your university to do it."
"WHAT?" Arthur turned red, "Everybody knows me there- I'm not going to live it down!"
"Everybody knows you anyway, you're the Heir Presumptive."
Arthur desperately wanted to give away a fantastic comeback but he realised that his father had made a valid point.
"Can I not wait a couple of years?"
"No."
There was more silence as the staff members trickled out, trying to be as quiet as possible. Morgana was still sipping her drink, even though it was more or less empty.
"You are dismissed son," Uther nodded at the young man, "We will talk more of this later."
'I'll be waiting,' Arthur mused.
-ARWEN-
BANG!
The door of Arthur's room shot to a close as he bounced onto the bed, anger building up in his body. His bedsheets crumbled underneath him.
A knock graced it and he begrudgingly let the person enter.
"Hey," Morgana popped her head in, "Can I come in?"
"Sure, seeing as most of my life has already been violated enough as it is."
The raven-haired teenager almost smirked, before realising the situation. She pushed the door open and entered into the room. Her long locks had been pushed into a messy bun with a single curl coming down from each side of her head. She wore a night-coloured blouse with blue jeggings and grey slippers.
Morgana sat beside Arthur's form and smiled sympathetically.
"You know, I think that it could be a good idea."
"That's father talking," her older brother hissed, "Did he say anything else once I'd left?"
"He started droning on about how you won't uphold the family honour," she explained, "But then he said something which I think you should hear."
"What?"
"He said that this is what mother would have wanted."
Hurt filled Arthur's eyes.
Once upon a time, Lady Ygraine de Bois was the much loved fiancée of a young Uther. The people of England believed that she should marry somebody who was much less of a…tyrant than the King. However, she had married him because of a little thing they called love. They were wed in a lavish ceremony and within several months, Ygraine was with-child. The time flew by and the new queen produced a son (Arthur). Within six months of her first pregnancy, she had a bun in the oven. This time it was a little girl. However, because of a medical problem, the young woman began bleeding heavily. With a final breath, she uttered her last words to her husband:
"I love you all. You, Arthur and Morgana."
Morgana. Morgana Ygraine Pendragon. Beautiful like her mother, with all of her wit and intelligence. However, unlike Ygraine, Morgana was extremely outspoken.
At eighteen years old, the teenager sat beside her brother.
"I don't want to do this."
"I know," Morgana soothed, "But it's for the best- you might meet someone you never expected. Somebody from a different class who you would not usually interact with."
"I bet you anything it will only be upper and middle class girls- all born and bred rich," Arthur shuddered, "Those who put their noses up at just about everything- they won't wear any dresses under two hundred pounds."
"That's a bit rich coming from you, Arthur."
"Actually," the young prince looked highly affronted, "I have a hundred and ninety pound Debenhams jumper."
Morgana rolled her bluey-green eyes, "Yes, because that is so far away from two-hundred."
"Anyway," Arthur pushed to change the subject, "Why are you so pleased? Father is going to have you marry when you are my age."
"Actually," Morgana smirked, "Daddy dearest told me in the strictest confidence that he would rather you marry because you are first in line to the throne- I am fine, because unless you die childless, I will not get the crown."
"If he told you in the strictest confidence, why are you telling me?" Arthur attempted to hide his anger.
"It's me we're talking about," the princess flipped her long hair.
"Fair," her brother realised that she was the biggest blabber-mouth he knew.
"Anyway," Morgana stood up, "You should think about this- in time you may realise it is not as bad as you think. It may not ideal, but it is…manageable."
Arthur threw a pillow at her.
"Ow!"
Hello people. How are you enjoying the superb weather? It's so hot! I went down to the seafront and had ice cream on (well, near) the beach! It's gonna be nice for the next couple of days and will be raining on Friday (opening day of the Olympics). After that, it will be normal 'British' sunny. This is courtesy of every weather forecast I've looked at. Great.
Listening to: Rita Ora- How We Do (Party).
Thank you to Crystal1998, whitecrossgirl, Guest and larasmith for your reviews! Thank you to all alerters also. Can you please review too?
Semper Fi xxx
P.S I watched a better version of the Merlin Series 5 trailer and almost screamed in both fear and excitement. If you have not seen it, I suggest you get your butt onto YouTube right now!
