Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, it belongs to BBC. Also, I cannot assure that the characters won't be kind of OCC, so read if you want to read this story, you're warned that you're reading it at your own risk.
A/N:
I'm sorry that the smut is not strong in this story, but we'll get there (after a lot of angst, drama and other things, muahahahahahahahahaha).
Thank you larasmith for the review. Please, have patience with me, it'll all be explained in its proper time. Look at my profile picture, it gives a hint about the pace I do things when I'm on dry ground.
And my special thanks for yesthenLucky9 and mgaudry too, for following this story. I really didn't expect this, reviews and follows so soon, I got emotional.
Sorry for the "engrish" too, yo no soy engrish nativo hablante, neither Spanish, so grammar mistakes are expected.
Chapter 2
A small crowd was reunited in front of the citadel's gate, the sound of many whispers could be heard from the townsfolk in the area. In the center of the courtyard the distinctive figures of Camelot's king, with his ward by his side, facing a clearly distraught prince – whose arm was laced with his true love, Guinevere.
Letting the rage show in his features, the King spoke:
"This is madness Arthur! How can you abdicate your place as Crown Prince for a mere servant? You're my son! You have sworn to obey me until the day of my death! I am your father and your King and I command you to stay here in Camelot instead of going with her!"
It was painful for the young prince to see his father so distressed, but he couldn't do it, he wouldn't condemn himself and Gwen to a life in misery, without love. There was no other way. He'd follow his heart desire. That wasn't only a selfish reason to do so because he knew, deep inside, that if he let Guinevere go by herself, something would die inside of him, his best part would perish and he would probably become like his father – bitter, harsh, with a hardened heart that sometimes stopped him to do the right thing – not the king he wants to be, not the ruler that the people of Camelot truly deserved after all the fear, all the work just to survive year after year with the few resources they had left when all the taxes were paid. No, when his kingdom needed his heir he'd came back, with his queen by his side and possible some new heirs. That last thought could almost turn the depressive mood a little brighter, but he still hadn't answered his father, so, breathing deeply and correcting his posture, Arthur spoke:
"Father, my decision is final. I love Guinevere and I would rather die than to live a life without her by my side. So wherever she'll go, I'll follow. If you want to keep me in Camelot, then you have to accept her as my future wife."
Almost losing all his composure, Uther yelled:
"NEVER!".
Making no effort to hide his sadness, Arthur spoke: "Then you give me no choice. I, Arthur Pendragon, relinquish my entitlement to the throne of Camelot."
Clenching his teeth, Uther said:
"And I, Uther Pendragon, accept your resignation. Beware of this, from now on you are no longer my son! You'll have no valid claim to my throne! You're no better than a common peasant!"
Glancing one last time to his son, the king turned his back to the former prince and returned to the palace, being followed by his guards and knights. Some of then gave their prince empathetic smiles meanwhile others were casting him a loathing gaze. The crowd started to disband, leaving Arthur, Gwen and Morgana nearly alone, aside from occasional passers.
Releasing a sigh, the prince spoke: "Well, it went much better than what I expected! Nobody is incarcerated or beheaded!"
Giving a soft squeeze to his hand and turning her head slightly to look at his eyes, Gwen whispered: "Arthur…"
To reassure his beloved, Arthur held her in his arms in a comforting hug, commencing a small smile to form on her lips.
Watching the touching scene, Morgana approached her former best friends and joined their embrace, holding both of them at the same time a single tear left her right eye. They stood there in the middle of the square for a few moments. Then Morgana stepped away from the lovers. She took a hand of each, they both looked at her, and so she began: "Arthur … Gwen … I don't know what to say to you …". She took a deep breath as if to make a point that their conversation was a difficult one and continued, directing her gaze to Arthur at first: "You were remarkable today. So brave, Arthur, I'm really proud of you. You didn't let Uther intimidate you and we both know that it's not an easy task. You stood your ground like a real man, in fact, like the better man that we know you are. I'm only desolated that you have to leave, both of you. Camelot will never be the same. It's going to become extremely dull". She gave a small laugh with the last sentence and kept talking, this time alternating her glance between her once friends: "and Gwen, you must beware that what you two have, the true love that you share for each other is something really precious, I'm certain that you'll treasure and dote on it. Seriously, both of you must be cautious not to lose one another in this life.". She felt a treacherous pang in her heart as she finished that phrase, but proceeded with her speech: "Oh, now I'm babbling random things. Just promise me one thing, so that I can keep my peace of mind, promise that the two of you will be happy, please." Then she made her best "I'm having a really painful moment" face and looked at them with pleading eyes.
With tears in their eyes, Arthur, holding a sob, and Gwen, not concealing her emotions and openly crying in front of her former mistress, said simultaneously: "We promise." and initiated another embrace that turned into a bear hug when the prince squeezed the ladies with a little more strength than necessary.
Escaping Arthur's death grip, regaining some air and at the same time trying, unsuccessfully, to smooth her dress with the movements of her hands, Morgana spoke: "Now, enough of sad moments. You have an endless adventure ahead of you, but not before I deliver my parting gift." She took a piece of parchment from the inside of her sleeve and gave it to her brother.
He opened it, revealing its content. It was a map, depicting the city of Camelot and its surroundings.
Confused, Arthur asked: "What is this, Morgana? Just because I lost my title doesn't mean that I suffered an age or mental regression. What are you trying to do, a treasure hunt, with map and all? How old are you, twelve?"
Sounding annoyed, she crossed her arms above her breasts and replayed: "And it's one of the biggest mysteries of the nature: how can Gwen love such an obnoxious, irritating, arrogant prat like you! It's as if an angel has fallen in love with a troll! Yes, you dollop head, that's exactly what it is. A map to my real parting gift, because, if you are capable of remember anything after all the hits that you received in that big head of yours, Uther prohibited you to take any of your possessions from the castle and extended it to me. Anyway, as I never obey him, I sneaked out in the middle of the night and left it there for you and Gwen!" She ended, obviously irritated.
"Oh … thank you, Morgana … for everything … I'll really miss you …" Arthur said and Gwen added: "Me too, you are really a good friend to us." So they hugged her again, briefly.
"Nonsense, I'm partially at fault in this whole mess. If I hadn't asked Uther to accompany me in that particular horse ride your secret would remain that way." Morgana pouted and released a sigh in order to appear frustrated in front of then.
"Well, Morgana, this is certainly not the best case scenario, but I'm relieved that Gwen and I don't have to hide our feelings for each other anymore. Indeed, the truth can set us free and regardless of everything, I'm actually happy that I can spend the rest of my life with the most comprehensible, good-hearted and astonishingly beautiful woman that I have ever met." At saying those words, Arthur directed his smiling face to Gwen, she mirrored his smile and the two shared a small brief kiss. They were really the definition of "in love".
"There is just one thing that is making me suspicious. Father's reaction lacked an enormous amount of harsh words, rage and bickering that was expected. He gave in too fast." Arthur spoke and frowned.
"The reason behind it was a long conversation that I had with him previously. Knowing Uther and you very well, I knew that he would do something harsh as imprisoning you or threaten Gwen of execution if I didn't intervene and, obviously, nor I or you would let such things happen. So I simple told him that if he acted in a ruthless manner you would hate him forever and he could also count me in. Apparently, that worked, both of you are in one piece and moving."
"Then I guess that we own you another 'Thank you' for that." This time Gwen was the one speaking.
"I just did what any of you would do for me in such situation. I know you would do anything for me." Morgana said with a reassuring smile to them. Nevertheless, she saw their expression briefly change to one of guilt, which vanished as fast as it appeared. They were both smiling again as they voiced their farewells.
"Alas, this is where we part. I'll miss you, Morgana, you're like the sister that I never had." Listening to his words, she felt another sharp ache in her heart. How could he be such a prat? Striking her with the truth when he is painfully unaware of it. "But do not fret, one day we'll come back as king and queen. In that day, Camelot will be everything that we hope of it; it'll be our own piece of paradise on this earth." Arthur said smiling to her.
Putting her hands in their cheeks, Morgana told them, as if whispering: "And I'll miss you". She looked at her former servant as she spoke: "Gwen, you know that I adore you with all my heart and that will never change.". Turning to face her brother, she continued: "And you, Arthur, I … don't exactly dislike you … only when you're being an arrogant, haughty, overbearing …" She was speaking with a wicked smile forming on her face, only to be interrupted by her brother. "Yes, I know you love me, the flattery isn't really necessary" he said.
"Okay, then I guess … this is goodbye. Oh, don't forget to send me news wherever you are, telling me everything!" She gave them her best impersonation of her once genuine smile. Well, in reality she was indeed joyful; she was getting her father's recognition as sole heir to the throne shortly, and her biggest threat to it was basically eloping with her meddlesome maidservant, probably taking someone else (a big eared bastard that shall not foil her humor in the future) with him. But seeing them so utterly in love and content for much longer would definitely ruin her good mood.
One last hug and more fake shed tears and Morgana, wait for it, Pendragon (for all of Albion to know, because she was a Pendragon the moment she was conceived even if that notion was distasteful for her) went back to the palace, going up the staircase that led to her king's study.
