My contribution to our second drabble challenge: "Prelude to Darkness"
Write about a positive experience Uther might've had with magic before Arthur was conceived.
Category: Gen (Canon)
Characters/Pairings: Uther/Ygraine, Nimueh
Rating/Warnings: K
Word Count: 300
The heavy doors burst open, jarring a pair of drowsy guards back to full attention as the slight figure rushed into the council chamber. "Sire, I was told it was a matter of dire importance," she gasped upon reaching the enthroned figure who'd watched her approach with curiously placid eyes.
"Ah, Nimueh." the king smiled, gesturing to one of the ornate chairs beside him. "Join me."
"Uther, what is it? What's wrong?"
He frowned in confusion as she dropped wearily into the closest seat. "Wrong? Nothing. Ygraine's birthday is two days away and I've no adequate gift to give her. She has a king's ransom in jewels already, fine clothes and countless fripperies… she must have something special this year. Something beautiful…"
Nimueh stared at him, aghast. "You sent me an urgent summons so that we might discuss a birthday gift?"
"Something magical, a gift she'll never forget. Can you come up with something?"
Hot anger flared inside her as she thought of the thrice cursed, possibly dying child whose care she'd had no choice but to entrust to barely tested initiates in order to respond to her "urgent" royal summons. Dire importance indeed… did Uther honestly think she had nothing better to do than await his beck and call like some hapless servant?
Obviously, he does, she thought, never aware of the humorless smile that Uther mistook for assent as he reached over and patted her hand – such a tiny, but affectionate gesture that had always warmed her heart in the past. And although she was forced to swallow an uncomfortable twinge of shame for failing to call him out on his selfishness, refusing a friend simply wasn't an option in her world.
"It would be my pleasure, sire."