Author's Note:

Thank you everyone who reviewed, I greatly appreciate them! I'm a bit slow on the writing front, but I blame it on being a newbie. Thanks for sticking with me!

This is my first attempt at a Merlin fic: I hope you like it! I'd love to hear any comments you might like to offer.

All characters belong to the BBC. No copyright infringement intended.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING

Time passed.

Uther's wish was granted as Camelot became Morgana's home in her heart; she loved Arthur as a brother, and fought him as a sister should. As she blossomed she grew into her title, a Lady beloved by the people for her kindness and humility.

Arthur, too, began to win the respect of his people. He was, by all accounts, becoming a very fine young man, destined to be a great king. His skills on the field were matched by none his age, and, while still impressionable, his manner was pleasing.

The air was crisp as Arthur made his way towards Morgana's chambers. He rapped smartly on Morgana's door, but did not wait for an answer before turning the handle.

"Morgana, my father wants us to – oh!" He stopped in surprise for the lady before him was not, as he had expected, the Lady Morgana, but rather her maid.

"Milord." she curtsied. "I'm afraid Lady Morgana isn't here. She has gone to the gardens."

Arthur nodded, looking casually around Morgana's room, his tongue tying itself rather unhelpfully into knots as he tried to think of something to say. The young lady quietly continued arranging the sheets neatly on the bed.

"Right," he finally forced himself to say.

She looked up at him and smiled.

His stomach swooped and he was out the door before he had a chance to register his feet were moving. On the other side of the door he blinked, confused. As he strode away, his head held high, step determined, he pushed away the nagging feeling that he might have just run away from a girl…

oOo

While Arthur was earning the love of his people effortlessly, he strove for the acceptance of the one man he truly esteemed; his father. He trained day and night, attended the Council meetings and supported his king on every point. And yet, his father's gaze seemed to pass right over him, through all he had achieved, seeing nothing. Still he persevered, believing that, as king, his father must know best, until one day he found his heart pounding heavily in his chest as a Council meeting took an unusual turn.

A young man in chain mail stood before the throne, a red cloak around his shoulders. A girl stood beside him, dressed simply, her light hair flowing down her back, eyes pinned to the floor. Her hand was clasped tightly by the knight beside her, and for some reason, Arthur found it difficult to tear his eyes away from the simple symbol of their entwined fingers.

"No!" commanded Uther, his voice echoing dangerously around the great hall. "You are a Knight of Camelot; you are of noble blood, you will not sully the name of the Knights by marrying a commoner."

"Sire," the knight began boldly, "this is a matter of the heart, not of blood; may I not choose my own bride?"

Uther stepped closer menacingly. "When it comes to matters of the heart there is nothing more important than blood; the noble blood line must be preserved."

The knight faltered under his king's gaze.

Uther returned to his throne.

"May a free man not choose his own wife?" The knight's words came quickly and loudly, with no small trace of fear.

Uther's hard eyes narrowed. The tension in the hall was thick as the Court watched the events unfold.

"Continue on this course of action and I will see to it that you are stripped of your title and banished from Camelot. As for your temptress," Uther paused, sneering down at the pale young woman, "she will be given to Cenred. To do with her as he will."

Uther surveyed the shocked looks before him with grim pleasure. "Is that understood?"

The knight looked down at the young woman by his side for a moment. Slowly, he released his hand from hers. He turned to Uther and bowed low in silent submission.

Uther's response was cold. "Council dismissed."

Arthur's gaze wandered around the Court as figures began to move. His eyes met, for the briefest second, Morgana's handmaiden's. It lasted only a second, but that brief connection with those dark, handsome eyes left Arthur's breath a little short, and he discovered his hands gripped the arms of his chair with no little strength. He let out his breath in a huff as he relaxed his fingers.

"I know," his father raged, misinterpreting Arthur's exhale; "that he could even think of forming a union with a commoner, utterly absurd!"

"Is it?" The words were out of Arthur's mouth before he could stop them. Uther stared at him as though he were mad.

"Of course it is!" He approached Arthur, a finger pointed in his face. "There is a reason for the separation; if commoners truly thought they could marry and enter Camelot on an equal level, havoc would arise! As future king you would be mobbed on the street; loose women looking for an easy way into a better life, unruly men looking to bring down and ruin our women." Uther drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We are better off leaving them to marry amongst themselves. At least we know when we choose within our own rank that there is no foul intent."

Arthur was silent. Uther clapped a hand on his son's shoulder. "Keep your distance, Arthur. You cannot rule friends."

Arthur watched his father leave, his heart pounding heavily in his chest, though he was unsure why.

oOo

I'd appreciate your opinios!