Exposed

(A/N: Not sure how I feel about this chapter. Ulfius's confrontation with Igraine comes off a bit clunky, but that's how the scene played out in Le Morte de Arthur paraphrased dialogue and all. I did my best to make it make more sense though, so hopefully it's better. Enjoy.)

Lillian entered the throne room, holding an envelope and turning it in her hands with a curious frown on her lips. Arthur was literally napping on the throne, snoring away. She looked up and glared, eyes glittering. He was supposed to be holding court. Honestly, that boy. She harrumphed and approached. "Arthur," she said.

Arthur snorted and began sleepily blinking awake. Tiredly he looked over at her. "Aunt Lillian? What's up," he murmured, rubbing his eyes.

"A letter has come for you," she replied.

"For me?" Arthur incredulously asked, taking it from her. He opened it up and read through. As he read, his eyes widened slowly in unease and uncertainty and nervousness.

"Arthur, what's wrong? A declaration of war? A threat? A challenge to the throne?" Lillian concernedly asked.

"Worse! My relatives are coming to visit!" Arthur exclaimed. He'd been hopeful they would, but by the weekend his nerves had been eating him up and he hadn't even been sure what he wanted anymore. He hadn't slept a wink all night, so this time he actually had an excuse for dozing off on the throne, if Lillian asked.

Lillian blinked. "Relatives? Define what you mean when you say 'relatives'," she finally said.

"Oh let's see, only, hmm, the ones you never told me existed!" Arthur snapped.

Lillian stiffened. "Igraine?" she asked in a breath.

"Great! Another relative who knew everything and told me nothing. Thanks for nothing, aunty," Arthur bit. He was suddenly acutely aware of how much he sounded like Gareth and winced.

"Who else?" Lillian questioned after a moment of guilty silence.

"My… my half-sisters and half-brother… You know, the ones who didn't even know I was alive?" Arthur finally answered.

Lillian started. "You mean Morgause, Morgan le Fay, Elaine, and Cador of Cornwall?" she exclaimed, becoming a little excited.

"And their significant others," Arthur said with a groan. "Which means I'm letting three of the rebel kings hell-bent on killing me, right through my front doors. And hoping my… my mom… is enough to neutralize them. King Uriens of Gore, King Nentres of Garloth, and King Lot of Orkney. It'll be a party to remember for sure. I can't recall who Cador of Cornwall hooked up with. I don't think she's coming anyway, if she's even alive, but this means their children will be here too. It means Morgause's daughter, Soredamer, and sons, Gawain, Gaheris, Agravaine, Gareth, Mordred, and Loholt. It means Morgan's kid Ywain and Urien's kid Yvain. It means Elaine's kid Galeschin. It means Cador's kid Constantine. Need I go on?"

"Arthur, when did you plan this?" Lillian asked.

"The day Merlin finally told me what no one else would! I had a mother all this time, aunty? A living one? And siblings?! How could you keep that from me? Would it have killed me to know I wasn't an orphan, if nothing else?!" he demanded.

"It might have," Lillian seriously replied, refusing to be guilted. "Because you would have searched… And you might have followed the wrong trail right to your doom… We did what we had to, to protect you."

"Because that makes it so much better," Arthur deadpanned.

"I'm sorry, Arthur, but the political situation was complicated. Far more than you can even imagine. I know that to you it seems unfair and unjust, but to us it needed to happen. You needed to survive," Lillian said.

"And I nearly got replaced with Shrek. Yeah. I was so important," Arthur sarcastically said.

"Shrek's reign would only have been temporary. Until you found your way to learning who you were," Lillian replied. "You were born for this throne, my dear. Nothing would have stopped you from one day claiming it… It just came a little soon is all…" Arthur was quiet, looking away. "I'm sorry," she said again.

"Sorry won't give me all the years I missed out on back," Arthur replied.

"I know," Lillian sadly said, head bowed. "But sometimes what is necessary is also costlier than you ever wanted it to be." Turning, she left. Arthur stayed put, head bowed.

KAK

"You didn't need to be harsh," Ector said, entering the throne room as Lillian left, watching worriedly after her.

"Yes, I did," Arthur replied. "Just like I need to be harsh with you. Have I thanked you for nothing today yet?"

Ector winced and shakily sighed, bowing his head in shame and closing his eyes. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" he asked.

"No… I don't think I'll ever be… I don't even know if I want to meet them," Arthur said. "What would I say? What would it matter? I've lost so much time that…"

"Family is forever," Ector said.

"Not always, though," Arthur answered.

"Maybe not, but usually there's at least one or two who are," Ector replied, smiling. His smile fell. "Your mother won't care how much time you've lost. Nor will your brother or sister Elaine. They'll just be happy to see you. To know you. Anyone would be privileged to know you, son," he teased.

Arthur stared at the ground nervously. He wasn't so sure. "Where's Ulfius?" he asked.

"Brooding. He's… not a fan of Igraine's," Ector answered.

"Why?" Arthur asked.

Ector opened his mouth to answer, but just then… "Announcing Duchess Igraine of Tintagel, King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, King Nentres of Garlot, King Uriens of Gore, Duke Cador of Cornwall, and all their families!" the crier called out.

"No!" Arthur exclaimed in horror, blanching. They weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow! Ector too looked stunned.

The doors were flung open. Arthur leapt back onto the throne and turned quickly. He was shaking. What kind of King shook on his own throne, dang it?! He was pale as a ghost too, and no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't regain his composure! The three Kings and his four siblings—children in tow, he now saw—entered the throne room and approached. Arthur gawked in shock and wonder. Where was Igraine, he inwardly wondered? "G-g-guys! You-you weren't due until tomorrow!" he blurted out.

They paused. "That's an… interesting way to greet guests," Nentres remarked.

"N-no, I didn't mean it like that! I just…" Arthur stammered. Just then, though, in strode a beautiful woman. Arthur's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't even remember her, but he knew who she was nonetheless. Igraine… Arthur's heart began to beat out of his chest fearfully. What if she didn't want anything to do with him...?

KAK

The woman looked up at him. In her eyes was sadness, likely locked inside of her for years and years.

He wondered if that sadness was for him…

"L-Lady Igraine," Arthur said in a breath, rising slowly as emotions began to overwhelm him. He willed himself to keep it together. "W-Welcome, Duchess, to my kingdom. It's… it's an honor." More than she knew… He saw himself in this woman… Tears threatened to spring, but he willed them back.

"Thank you, your majesty," she answered in a soft and gentle voice that he could have sworn he'd heard before, but knew he couldn't have possibly remembered. He scanned the two siblings he'd never seen, Cador and Elaine… His brother looked so much like him… And Elaine shared similarities too. Like Morgan and Morgause did… There was sadness in his brother's eyes… His-his blood brother…

"I… thank you for coming. Um, the-the banquet hall is ready. Shall we?" Arthur managed to struggle through saying.

"Thank you, my liege," Igraine replied, bowing her head to him. They preceded him in and he let out a shaky gasp, falling into his throne and swallowing.

Ector placed a hand on his shoulder gently. "A little longer," his father assured. "You're doing great." Arthur was silent. Ector winced, hoping this wasn't the silent treatment. "I'll get Kay. We'll be there soon with Lillian." Arthur nodded.

KAK

"There will be no peace talks, Arthur, if that's why you invited us here," Lot said at dinner.

"It isn't," Arthur answered. "Your rebellion means crap all to me, Lot."

Lot scowled at him, unimpressed at Arthur's play for power. "Oh, it will," he promised. "And next time there will be more than six riding against you."

"And next time I'll actually be ready," Arthur retorted challengingly, eyes narrowed. "Funny how you sprang on me when I was totally unprepared and I still managed to drive you and the armies of your allies back practically single handed with the help of a couple hotboxing do-nothings and a bunch of barely armed villagers. Them versus an army and you were still sent running. Remember that before you ride against me with more people you'll just end up humiliated in front of."

"You little sh…" Lot began, shooting to his feet.

"Sit down," Igraine sharply warned. Lot glared at his mother-in-law then relented, sitting. Igraine turned to Arthur. "You're a very brave boy," she said, favorably impressed.

He flushed. "Thank you, mo…ma'am," Arthur replied. He noted Morgan's nervousness. How she was shifting uneasily. Uriens was watching her in concern. Gently he squeezed her hand under the table. She settled slightly, giving him a worried look, and tried to focus on her food again. She'd probably told Uriens she suspected that her brother had figured out the truth and was scared. He, of course, would have vowed to be there with her every step. Likely after he demanded to know, like Arthur intended to demand to know, why she didn't tell her brother the truth.

"Why was it you invited me here as well?" Igraine questioned.

"I… You used to live here, didn't you? I thought it would be a bit nostalgic for you to come back," Arthur replied. "To see it was in good hands? Or, at least I hope you approve of the way it's been tended since… then."

"I do… It's more bittersweet than anything to return," she said, looking around the grand banquet hall.

Arthur felt Morgause's eyes boring into him. He felt like she wanted to rip his eyes out. He glanced over at her and offered a smile, hoping to try and take a step towards reconciliation. She looked away and he grimaced. So much for that. Maybe it was for the best anyway. "I'm sorry if it's bringing you pain, my lady," Arthur said. "Why is it… bittersweet? I know that Uther's death… it couldn't have been easy."

"That isn't why. I'd lost a husband before. Uther's death was painful. Agonizing… But I'd dealt with it before… What hurts more is that it's where… where my youngest child was taken from me…" she answered.

Arthur shifted. "My lady, I…"

Just then Ulfius entered the banquet hall and froze. The tension was instant and intense. The second he saw Igraine, he reacted.

KAK

"You!" he exclaimed. Igraine caught her breath on seeing him, eyes wide. "You witch! You are the falsest lady in the world, and the most treacherous I've yet to meet!"

"Hey, watch it! Do you have any idea who you're talking to or what you're saying?!" Arthur immediately demanded, instantly reacting to the threatening demeanor. Had the teacher just accused her of treason?! That wasn't okay!

"I am well aware of what I'm saying, Arthur! And here's my glove to prove it upon any man that says anything contrary, that this Queen Igraine is the cause of all the problems you're facing now up to and including the rebel kings marching against you! If she'd spoken up while Uther was alive, about your birth and how you were born, you'd never have had to contend with Lot and his little band of scum," Ulfius replied. Lot scowled, jumping to his feet again like a caged animal and looking ready to attack.

"What the hell is my mother supposed to know about the young King's birth?!" Elaine defensively replied for her mother, angered at this accusation.

"Everything!" Ulfius snapped, practically snarling. He turned to Arthur. "Your barons didn't even know whose child you were, nor who your mother was, and she should have made it known openly, so I prove her false to you and to all your realm. Whoever says different, I'll prove it on his body," Ulfius continued, glaring challengingly at Lot just begging him to try it.

Merlin, meanwhile, sat face-palming. Okay, so maybe he kind of should have told Ulfius that Igraine didn't know Arthur was her lost son, but it wasn't his fault Ulfius had assumed as much when he'd told him she was coming!

Igraine, startled and taken aback, heatedly replied, "How dare you?!" she demanded.

"How is my mother supposed to know who the new king's parents were?!" Elaine added viciously and determinedly. Ulfius looked confused now then seemed to realize it. He shot a sharp and deadly look at Merlin, eyes narrowed accusingly. Merlin twiddled his thumbs avoiding Ulfius's gaze.

"I am a woman with little to no fighting experience, so I myself cannot fight, but rather than be dishonored I promise you I'll have a good man take my quarrel for me if you keep this up, wretch! Moreover, Merlin knows just as well as you, Sir Ulfius, how King Uther came to me in the Castle of Tintagel in the likeness of my lord that was dead three hours, and conceived with me a child! The thirteenth day after it happened, King Uther wedded me. You were there!" Igraine pushed on, continuing to barrage Ulfius.

"How does that have any bearing on his majesty Arthur anyway? Why does what happened between my mother and Uther matter? My brother is dead, another king has taken the throne that would have been his, and that's it. She knows nothing about this new ruler," Cador quietly spoke up. Igraine was silent. Cador frowned, looking at her. "Mom?" he asked. "My brother died in childbirth. You said so. You wept for him for days."

Igraine remained quiet. "I thought he had died… Until Uther couldn't bear my mourning anymore, I believed him when he told me my baby was dead… I let you keep believing it…" she finally answered.

"What do you mean?" Elaine instantly questioned, tensing up.

Igraine looked over her children then sat with a shaky sigh, head bowed and tears threatening her eyes. "I believed he was dead… He wasn't…"

"What?!" Cador immediately demanded. "What do you mean? What happened to him? Our brother is alive?! Where?! How long?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I don't know!" Igraine exclaimed with a sob. "I don't know… When Uther told me the truth I just… He said that by his commandment, when the child was born it was delivered unto Merlin and taken away by him. The wizard took my baby and gave him to a man in the kingdom to nourish and raise as his own, for his own safety. Uther believed that if our son remained with us, he would die or be killed or be taken captive or worse. That's why he allowed it. He didn't intend to leave him with the one who fostered him! He intended to go back and bring him home to me, to us, when it was safe… But he died before he could… And so I saw the child never after, nor knew what his name was, for I never knew him or even had laid eyes on him… I didn't tell you he was alive because I thought, I knew, that I would never see him again… And you would have gone searching if I had shared the truth with you, and you would have gotten yourself killed, and I couldn't lose another child!"

Cador looked stunned, totally bowled over. Arthur gazed at his brother in longing. He really, really wished he'd gotten to know this guy. He seemed like the kind of person he'd really have liked. He reminded him of him… Kay, meanwhile, watched slightly jealously and uneasily as Arthur gazed at his blood brother. He shifted restlessly, feeling a bit left out. Or forgotten. "Then Merlin is more to blame than you?" Ulfius said, visibly calming down but still looking unconvinced.

"Yes! I bore a child by my lord King Uther, but I don't know where he went or what happened to him," Igraine said.

"Then I'm finding him even if it does kill me!" Cador shot, rising swiftly. "Surely I'm old enough now," he all but sneered. Turning, he started to leave.

"Cador, please!" Igraine begged. "You can't just…"

"If I may?" Merlin spoke up. All eyes went to him and the overwhelmed looking Arthur. Merlin rose and prodded Arthur to his feet. He looked to Igraine, sitting next to the king, who looked confused. "My lady," he said, gesturing for her to stand. Curiously Igraine did so. Merlin turned to Arthur and smiled. He took the boy king's hand, and he took Igraine's, and he placed Arthur's hand in hers. Slowly it began to dawn on Igraine what this meant. She caught her breath and looked quickly at Arthur, eyes wide and filled with a desperate hope. He looked up at her, eyes wide and frightened, and she let out a shaky breath. She knew those eyes… And that hair, and that face… They were Uther's, all of them… Shakily she raised a hand, reaching out and gently touching the hair. Arthur looked up at her vulnerably and hopefully. "This is your mother," Merlin said to Arthur.

KAK

Igraine quickly looked to the wizard, eyes wide, then to Arthur. "No…" she whispered, gently touching his face. "This can't… Is it really you…?"

"It's him," Ector spoke up. "I'm the one who Merlin gave him to, to raise. And the one who continued to nourish him all his life."

Arthur shook his head and sobbed, letting the dam break and all but falling into her arms and clinging tightly to her. She gave a cry, wrapping her arms around him in disbelief. Was this real? Was she dreaming? This was real! He was here! She suddenly broke down, pulling her child closer to her so tightly Arthur could barely breathe. Crying, he kissed her tenderly and the two wept upon each other in front of the whole court who watched on, stunned…

"You are my son. You're really my son!" Igraine said, grinning... and all the implications crashed down on the stunned Morgause like a ton of Egyptian bricks.

"What?!" Anna cried in horror, bright red and looking anguished. "No, no, that's not true! It can't be!" If this boy was Uther's long lost child, it meant she had… Oh god! She felt sick to the stomach suddenly, holding it and covering her mouth in dread. Oh god…

Igraine laughed, tears in her eyes. "He is the child of King Uther Pendragon," she stated, mistaking her eldest daughter's dread for shock. Morgause nearly passed out, now a sickly green. He was her brother?! The brother she could have sworn was dead? The brother who'd stolen her birthright and who she'd hoped to god had died before he could claim it?

…The brother who she'd gotten to know better than any of the others could ever hope to…

All at once she burst into tears and fell to her knees, covering her face. Quickly Lot fell at her side, holding her close and looking guilt-stricken. Mordred started in surprise and looked concerned for his mother, stepping tentatively towards her before stopping and just watching from afar. Igraine was too overcome with joy to have her lost son back to notice her daughter's distress or think it was anything more than tears of joy, so she paid no heed instead lavishing kisses on Arthur's head adoringly.

And then the moment was ruined.

KAK

"Wait!" Agravaine freaked. "The school loser is our Uncle?!"

"Oh yeah, and Morgan knew it too," Merlin pointed out, throwing her under the carriage.

"What?!" Gareth freaked, turning on her.

"And as of the little siege on Worcestershire, Lot and Nentres also. Uriens had already known," Merlin continued.

Morgause stiffened in Lot's arms and Lot braced himself for severe retribution. He felt his wife shaking, but this time it wasn't sorrow. It was building rage. "Morgause, I…" he began desperately.

"You bastard! How could you not tell me?! You didn't even let me know my brother was alive?!" Elaine screamed at her flustered husband Nentres, snapping Morgause out of her own rage and shocking everyone. Elaine was about the most laid back one of all of them, so that she was reacting to the news like this threw them all for a loop. Apparently they'd expected it from Morgause or Cador, not from Elaine.

Totally taken aback, Nentres began stammering all over himself. "I-I-I would have told you, Elaine, I would have! I only recently learned it myself. There just hadn't been an opportunity to say anything, then I got busy with Lot and…" he started to defend.

"You got busy with Lot to plot to murder and usurp your wife's brother! The Uncle of your son!" Elaine freaked.

"Mama, papa, stop," Galeschin, now frightened, pled.

"Someone take the boys out of here!" Elaine ordered, pointing at a stunned Galeschin, Ywain, Yvain, Mordred, Loholt, and Constantine, because this was going to get really ugly.

"Morgan?" Igraine asked in shock. "You… you knew…? How could you not tell me? Tell him?!"

"I didn't tell him because I didn't think he'd even want to know!" Morgan, flustered, immediately defended. "I mean, he hates everyone here. I had no clue how he'd react to learning he was related to them all! And I knew he'd probably blame you if I told him about what had happened and hate you too, and just… I'm sorry! I didn't think that…"

"You didn't think period! Were you so absorbed in your own world that it never dawned on you it would be mine and Arthur's decision to make?!" Igraine, incensed, shouted, holding her son so tightly she was practically smothering him. Arthur's eyes were tightly shut as he continued to cling to her in tears.

"She only tried to protect you! And him too probably," Uriens immediately defended. Morgan gave him a grateful look. "For all you know she was going to tell him when she felt he was ready to know. It's not like Arthur makes his feelings obvious, Igraine!"

Igraine sobbed, burying her head in Arthur's hair and kissing him. "And you, Lot… What's your excuse for silence…?" she hissed.

Morgause gave her husband a dark glare. Mordred went to his mother and hugged her, glaring dangerously up at Lot. Lot was quiet. "He's the bastard son of the man who murdered your husband, your children's father. I don't need any other excuse. He was dead to me and your eldest daughter before he was born. It's more than a little disappointing he wasn't dead to your other children too," he soon said, giving a disgusted look at Morgan, Cador, and Elaine all and finding his way out of Morgause's wrath. If her hand tightening on his was any indication, he'd said exactly the right things to pacify her from her wrath and shake her siblings to the core. Mordred too seemed to approve of the answer and stopped giving him a death glare.

"That was Uther's crime, not his!" Cador defended instantly, recovering himself as a protective surge tore through him for Arthur. Anna kept silent, tears still slipping down her cheeks.

He was her brother... That meant Mordred... Oh gods...

Cador turned to Arthur once more. "Arthur…?" he said in awe and wonder. Arthur sniffed, looking up at him with clenched teeth. The boy swallowed and nodded at him before nuzzling against Igraine. "You're-you're alive… If I'd known, I… I'm sorry…"

"It's not your fault," Arthur said. "Ector was a good man and a good father, and Kay was…" He trailed off. Kay felt like he'd been punched in the gut and scowled downwards. Subtly Ector squeezed his son's hand reassuringly. Arthur was just emotional right now. It wasn't like suddenly he'd forgotten about them or stopped caring just because he'd finally found his real family. Kay looked up at his dad uneasily then back down again.

"A good brother," Cador finished sadly, head bowed. "I wish I could have been too… I wanted so badly to be…"

"Now you can," Arthur said, drawing reluctantly away from his mother to look at his brother. Cador's mouth quivered and quickly he moved, seizing his sibling in a tight hug. Elaine moved to do so too.

"Elaine…" Nentres began.

"Get out," she ordered. "Now."

"Mama, but…" Galeschin, near tears, began.

"Quiet," Elaine warned. "Get out, Nentres."

"Elaine please, I…" Nentres began.

"Get out!" she ordered again. Knights began to approach carefully.

"Mama don't! Daddy!" Galeschin exclaimed in alarm, trying to run to his father. Elaine caught him, holding him back.

"Galeschin!" Nentres exclaimed, trying to move to his son only to be seized.

"Papa!" Galeschin screamed.

"Elaine, don't do this! Arthur, please!" Nentres begged, struggling and looking to Arthur desperately, praying he called down the knights.

"Elaine, not here. It's okay. Deal with it later. For now, leave him alone. I don't resent him," Arthur said. "Or any of them! You're here now. All of you. I've found you. That's what matters."

Elaine glared at her husband then turned to Arthur longingly. "Alright," she relented in a whisper. The knights let Nentres go, and Galeschin pulled free, racing to his father and leaping into his arms. Elaine determined she'd deal with Nentres in their guest chamber. Right now, though… Right now, there was this… Quickly she went to her brother and embraced him. Even Soredamer, Morgause's daughter, approached excitedly to hug him. Arthur clung to them tightly. For the first time in a long time, he felt almost complete… He dreaded how his nephews would treat him at school out of the sight of their parents and Igraine, though. Maybe he could just chill with Soredamer and her friends for a while and hope her brothers warmed up to him too. Besides Gawain, that was, who he already was getting on with pretty well. Soredamer seemed pretty cool at school, and here now, so she'd probably be okay with it, right?

Morgause watched on chillingly, eyes burning with hate and expression blank. These events were going to throw a wrench in her plans. She couldn't let the three kings back out of this war on Arthur. Especially not now. Nentres would be the problem one. Now her mother would be an issue too. However, if Elaine stormed out on Nentres, Nentres would have all the motive for revenge he'd ever need. She should really thank her sister for making her job easier. Mordred glowered darkly and coldly at Arthur. Anna wrapped a hand around her son's, reassuringly squeezing. Mordred looked up at her then back at Arthur dangerously. Softly Anna began to hum his lullaby…