Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.
Chapter 10 – The Alliance of Albion
The people of Camelot rejoiced at the news of the birth of a prince. Arthur was not seen outside of his chambers for three days as he spent his son's first few days of life with him and his wife. When he did emerge it was to smiles and congratulations everywhere he went though none more so than from his friends. It was them for whom Arthur had emerged so soon, though Gwen had said he need not stay by their side, that he couldn't for he had a kingdom to run, Arthur had insisted that the council could take care of matters until both Gwen and William had been given a clean bill of health. That day was today and now that both the midwife and Gaius declared The Queen and Prince healthy enough to receive visitors Arthur was going to see to just that. Unsurprisingly he found Leon and Percival on the training fields and it did not take much to pull them away, especially when they were told they would finally get to meet their Prince. Merlin met them at the entrance to the royal chambers having been invited as well, though he'd already seen The Prince, albeit briefly, when he came in search of Gaius one day and caught a glimpse of the babe before he'd been ushered out. Gwen was seated comfortably at the table in the royal antechamber that was laden with food, she also held a bundle of blankets within which was the object of everyone's attention.
"It is wonderful to see you so recovered, Your Majesty." Leon said, smiling brightly.
"Both you and our new Prince." Percival agreed.
"Sit. Eat." Arthur invited and the First Knights and Merlin took their places around the table.
"He fell asleep just before you got here." Gwen informed them. "Though he will not remain asleep for long."
"Unfortunately." Arthur commiserated. "I swear, babes should be born with the ability to sleep through the night."
"He is with you throughout the night?" Percival asked, quite surprised as everyone knew it was far from common for noble parents, let alone royal ones, to care for their own children when they were this young. Such duties were usually left to wet-nurses and governesses.
"I insisted." Gwen admitted. "He is my child and I will care for him. He has no need of a wet-nurse when I am perfectly able."
"It is commendable, My Lady." Leon said.
"So how much sleep have you had these last three days?" Merlin could not help ask Arthur with a smirk, seeing that The King was already beginning to nod off.
"Far too little." He grumbled, though here was no true annoyance in his words, it was clear he loved his son and did not begrudge him his numerous night time feedings. "Now, since he is asleep we will get to the point of this visit quickly and then you lot shall bugger off so The Queen and I may sleep while our son does."
"Be nice, Arthur." Gwen scolded.
"This is as nice as I get with as little sleep as I've had."
"You mean we are here for a reason beyond meeting our new Prince?" Leon asked.
"Yes. We have both something to tell you, and something to ask you." Gwen smiled once more.
"Allow me to formally introduce you to our son, Prince William Merlin Elyan Leon Percival." Arthur made the introductions and was met with silence.
"I'm sorry, what?" Percival asked when the shock had abated.
"You named your son after us?" Merlin asked in a whisper.
"Who better?" Gwen asked in return. "He is named for our fathers, albeit indirectly, for our oldest friend and the reason many of our people no longer need to hide-"
"Let's not go that far." Arthur interrupted. "I lifted the ban on magic not for Merlin but for-" Gwen gently reached over across the babe she still held to be able to grab a grape and throw it at her husband.
"As I was saying…for our oldest friend and the reason many of our people no longer need to hide, and for three of the bravest knights Camelot has ever known."
"And what is it you wanted to ask us, Your Grace?" Leon asked as they allowed what Gwen had said to sink in. The two monarchs looked to each other as if coming to a final agreement.
"We would like the three of you to be William's godfathers." Silence thicker than when they had announced they'd named their son after them reigned for awhile.
"But he's a prince, the future King of Camelot." Merlin protested. "Them I can understand, they are at least of noble birth, but not a year ago I was but a manservant, the lowest of the low."
"Merlin, no matter your birth you are now The Lord Mage, Earl of Ealdor, one of my Privy Councillors, The Last Dragonlord, and Emrys, the most powerful warlock to ever exist." Arthur said. "But what's more, you are my friend, arguably my best friend, the wife notwithstanding." He amended. "Should anything happen to me or Guinevere I know that you will not only care for William and protect him, but you will tell him how much his mother and father loved him, and help guide him in his role as King as you have helped me." Merlin and Arthur stared at each other for a moment and although he allowed no tears to shed, the warlock's eyes watered and emotion was clear in them as he nodded his acceptance.
"And if you ever mention what he said to anyone outside of this room it'll be back to mucking out the stables for you!" Percival beat Arthur to the punch, knowing his King as he did and his relationship with his former manservant, successfully lightening the mood.
"Naturally." Merlin mumbled good-naturedly.
"You won't be the only ones, though." Gwen felt compelled to add. "As the future King he will have many godparents to ensure he is cared for should the worst happen."
"Especially since two of us may die in battle, and the other has a price on his head as a powerful warlock." Leon acknowledged in total agreement.
"We intend to ask King Rodor, and Princess Mithian both, so he may at least have some royal training as a monarch should we be unable to give it to him, along with several members of the nobility." The three godfathers to be nodded their heads and both Gwen and Arthur were happy with the way things had went.
"And now that that is over with, got out the lot of you." Arthur said. "I intend to seek my bed while I have the chance." Laughter followed Arthur's pronouncement, thought they kept it quiet so as to not wake the little prince. However, it was all in vain, for no sooner had the door shut behind them that the babe in Gwen's arms began to cry. Arthur groaned and flopped down into his chair, placing his head on the table.
"I'm not going to get any sleep am I?" He asked.
"That depends on what he wants." Gwen returned. "Come on. You can check his cloths then I'll feed him and we'll see if he goes back to sleep." She handed the crying babe to his father who looked down at the infant most unimpressed.
"I am the King of Camelot. I should not be changing dirty cloths."
"And I am the Queen of Camelot, yet I've changed several."
"Yes but it was you who insisted we care for him ourselves, not I."
"Oh please, as if you would allow anyone else to care for our little one." Gwen scoffed as Arthur dutifully, though hesitantly, laid his son down to check his cloths.
"I agreed that you should break from tradition and feed him from your own breast, not that I should change him when he soils himself. It is simply not done, Guinevere. We are King and Queen, not nursemaids, people of our stature do not perform such duties."
" 'Simply not done' is not in our vocabulary, Arthur." Gwen retorted. "We have never acquiesced to tradition before simply because it is tradition and we are not going to start with our son."
"Perhaps we should in some cases." Arthur muttered.
"What was that?" Gwen called.
"Nothing, sweetheart!" He assured her before turning his attention back to William who had stopped crying for the time being, though who's teary eyes threatened more cries should something not be done. "Right…right…how does this thing work?" Arthur spoke to himself and debated his plan of attack until William began to cry once more and he decided to simply wing it, though it proved to be a mistake.
"Uh…Guinevere?" He called urgently when the babe began squirming causing the cloth to slip out of place and forcing Arthur to hold it closed.
"Admitting defeat already?" His wife asked amusedly from where she was leaning against the doorframe.
"Yes." Arthur sighed grudgingly causing Gwen to laugh as she came over and showed him the proper way to change their son's cloths.
"To think that the great King Arthur, who has never lost a battle, can strategize better than any man, and who can accomplish feats where all others have failed…is stumped by a babe's cloths."
"Rub it in why don't you?" he mumbled, quite put out that what she said was true, though also glad that his son calmed down now that he was in his mother's sure hands.
"I am not rubbing it in, Arthur." She said. Now finished changing him, Gwen sat on the bed and undid her bodice, suckling her son at her breast. "But you should learn."
"I don't know, Gwen." He responded as he too sat on the bed and watched his son feed, quite mesmerized by the sight and the feeling of complete peace, as if there was nothing more natural in the world.
"No, you will learn." She said, quite sure of herself.
"Oh? And why do you say that?"
"Because I challenge you." She said with a mischievous glint in her eye. Arthur smiled.
"Well then…I have never failed a challenge before."
"I know."
oo00oo00oo
The following weeks passed slowly for which everyone was glad. For Arthur and Gwen it felt like they had more time with their son, who had recently had his christening and been introduced to the people via an appearance on the balcony overlooking the courtyard afterwards. The nobles the monarchs had asked to be godparents were only too happy to be named such, including Arthur's uncle Agravaine who while he had retired from court life some years ago, was happy to be a godfather to his great-nephew. Both Rodor and Mithian happily accepted as well, though the latter's look of longing at Merlin as she held the child was not lost on Arthur and Gwen, nor was Merlin's decision to ignore the feelings Nemeth's Princess had for him. They were certain King Rodor knew nothing about his daughter's feelings, for Merlin had not been called out nor had an enraged father come to Arthur in complaint. Even so, Camelot's monarchs breathed a sigh of relief when King Rodor decided it was time to return to Nemeth and he and Mithian rode out the palace gates. They hoped that the separation would quell the feelings Mithian could not act on, though in truth neither held out much hope.
oo00oo00oo
As May began news arrived that Morgana were once again on the move and it appeared that the entire Saxon army was behind her. Arthur sent word to the other monarchs of Albion who gathered at Camelot knowing that Morgana would be coming for Arthur and his throne. Camelot's monarchs did all they could to make their guests welcome but it was not easy given the sheer number of them. Knowing this was likely Morgana's last strike, each monarch had brought their army, leaving behind only those necessary to guard their capitals. Each army was camped outside Camelot Castle's walls, there both being not enough room for all of them inside the city but Arthur and Gwen also not wanting armies aside from theirs, even allied ones, inside their walls. However, although the soldiers themselves remained outside, Arthur and Gwen had welcomed the monarchs inside the castle, along with their families whom many had brought with them not trusting the few guards that remained to be sufficient protection. With so many royals in one place it was unsurprising that the castle servants were run ragged, nor that tempers were running high as each King or Queen sought to be heard above the others.
"Deorham does not possess the land necessary to hold a battle the size of which the Saxon forces demand." King Alined repeated for what he was certain was the tenth time since the monarchs had resumed their meeting from the previous day, which had gotten them nowhere.
"You jest, Alined." Cenred scoffed. "All of Albion knows that Deorham possesses vast plains that would be perfect for a battle. And your kingdom lies between the Saxons and Camelot. You merely do not wish to have the battle on your lands simply because it is your lands and not another's."
"I do not hear you offering Essetir as the battlefield." Alined sneered in return. "Perhaps it is you who merely does not wish the battle to take place in your kingdom."
"For the battle to take place in Essetir we would have to lure the Saxons through Deorham and Caerleon both! Where is the sense in that?" Cenred retorted.
"My Lords please." Arthur tried to intervene. "Arguing will get us nowhere."
"I quite agree." Said Queen Annis. "Besides, I do not believe that it will be entirely up to us where the battle takes place. It will depend more on which route the Saxons take, and where they stop marching and start attacking. If Caerleon ends up being this location we shall play our part."
"Queen Annis speaks true." Said Bayard, King of Mercia. "And in all honesty I am more concerned with this High King than the battle."
"You buy into that drivel?" King Odin of Meredor asked derisively.
"You don't?" Bayard returned. "All of our sorcerers have given credence to the ancient legends."
"I agree with Bayard." Said King Godwyn of Gawant. "The time of The High King is coming."
"I am not fighting to protect my kingdom to merely hand over my crown to some upstart who declares himself the King of all Britain!" Alined snarled.
"You would prefer to allow war to continue?" Arthur countered. "If the legends are true, and after hearing their validity from The Lady of the Lake herself I believe they are, then The High King will unite the nine kingdoms and bring about a peace like never before throughout all of Britain." This was one fact none could dispute; The Lady's power was known to all and none could refute her claims. At some point each monarch had sent their own court sorcerers to see her, though only Merlin, Arthur and Gwen had been granted an audience, and not only that, but had been summoned, for word had spread that The Lady herself had wanted to meet Emrys and The Once and Future King and Queen. The sorcerers returned to their kingdoms with this tale after seeing it when bathed by the rampant magic at the Isle of the Blessed, though none had managed to see The Lady herself; that she had not only granted an audience with only one monarch but had instigated the meeting herself spoke volumes. "Who are we to deny our people that? Do we really place a higher importance on our thrones and our power than we do on peace for our kingdoms and our people's lives?"
"That is easy for you to say. As The Once and Future King you clearly believe yourself to be The High King and will not only not have to give up your throne, but will gain all of ours!." Odin snapped.
"I believe no such thing." Arthur's voice had gone deathly quiet at he stared Odin down. "The prophecy naming me The Once and Future King speaks not of The High King of Britain. I do not know who it is, but whether it is I or not, I will do right by my people and give them their best chance at life and peace."
"And that is why I believe Arthur is The High King." Merlin spoke up from where he, and the several other advisors allowed to attend this meeting, stood. "He is the only one who does not hesitate to give up his kingship if it means peace and prosperity for all."
"Not a word out of you, Merlin."
"So sorry, I just thought since we were discussing your destiny as The Once and Future King, and as my destiny is attached to yours, that I should have a say."
"You let your servants speak to you so?" Alined demanded with Odin nodding his agreement, these two kings being the largest opposition to basically everything that was said.
"Merlin is no longer my servant, he is my Court Mage. He is also my friend." Arthur defended. "He has always spoken his mind and has yet to lead me wrong."
"Yet to lead all of us wrong, it seems." Annis declared. "My own sorcerers highly praise Lord Emrys and his deeds for Albion and Britain. They claim that even before magic returned to Camelot that Lord Emrys was responsible for saving us all on more than one occasion, even knowing as he did that if Uther ever discovered his magic he would be put to death. I have been cautioned more than once to not underestimate The Immortal Mage's power. If he says that Arthur is The High King, I am inclined to believe him."
"You do me great honour with your praise, Queen Annis, but please do not misunderstand." Merlin said, his courtly manners and formality returning when not addressing his own King. "My power may be great but it is not infinite, it certainly is no match for The Lady of the Lake, and there are no doubt others who could defeat me, Morgana herself poses a great threat. I am also not a seer, I do not see the future and so regardless of my own feelings on the matter I cannot say with certainty that Arthur is The High King." Annis nodded her acknowledgement at Merlin's statement but did not retract what she had said.
"What would you have us do, Annis?" Rodor asked, truly curious if any of the monarchs had changed their tune.
"I would have us do right by our people, as Arthur says. We must be willing to give up our own power if it is in their best interests."
"But how will we know if it is in their best interests?" Bayard asked.
"I think that will become clear when we see who stands before us as High King." No one missed how her eyes landed on Arthur as she said this, though none commented on it.
"There is little else we can discuss in regards to The High King the ancient prophecies speak of until such as time as he is revealed." Said Rodor. "Let us at least agree to keep an open mind, if nothing else." No matter their personal feelings, Rodor was not asking much and so each monarch nodded their assent.
"Now may we get back to convincing Alined that Deorham is the best place to intercept the Saxons?" Cenred asked, starting off King Alined's protests once again. They did not last for long, however, before the doors to the council chambers opened and Sir Leon and Sir Percival burst in, quickly making their way to their King.
"This has just come, Sire." Leon said.
"The messenger was quite insistent that it reach you immediately." Percival added, leaving unspoken the assumption that such insistence probably meant it was bad news. Arthur took the roll of parchment from Leon and began to read. The other monarchs looked to him for a sign of what it said, but Arthur's face gave nothing away.
"Thank you, Leon, Percival. Prepare the men, we ride at dawn." The two Knights bowed before practically running out of the room to obey their King's orders. When the doors closed Arthur turned to his fellow monarchs.
"It looks like you will get your wish, King Alined. Morgana and the Saxons have moved faster than we anticipated, and are at my borders. The battle will take place in Camelot."