The King had sent a message that Arthur was to join him that evening to eat so Arthur called George "I want Omega Merlin's meal collected an hour before I leave as I wish to be here when he eats, bring whatever the Court Physician has ordered and some honey cakes."
When the food arrived Arthur took the tray from a surprised manservant and dismissed him. Carrying it into Merlin's room he woke the sleeping teenager and picked him up bridal style and sat down with Merlin still on his lap at the table. Merlin had been too shocked to comment until he found himself being fed.
"I can feed myself I am not a baby!"
"I know that, but humour me, you are skin and bones" Arthur gave Merlin some more bread and chicken before Merlin snatched the food from Arthur and ate himself. "Finish that and I have a treat for you…..have you ever had honey cakes?"
Merlin smiled "I love honey, but I haven't had cake, Mum had a jar of honey for special occasions" he face fell as he thought of his mother.
"You may have honey whenever you want it now" Arthur knew that Merlin was missing his mother. "If you like we can write a letter to your mother, if you tell me what you want to say. Is there someone in your village who can read it to your mother if she can't?"
Merlin looked offended for a moment before what Arthur said sank in "We can both read and write! Do you mean that I can write to her?" he smiled his whole face lighting up.
"Of course you can, I will send the letter with the next patrol for her. One leaves in a few days" Arthur was pleased he could do something to cheer up his omega "Now eat!"
As soon as Merlin had eaten his supper including the honey cakes which he loved. It seemed the omega had a sweet tooth. Arthur left to go to join his father leaving Merlin with one of his books to keep him company and promising to have books brought for him the next day. Arthur's good mood lasted until he arrive at his father's side. His father was sat waiting and looked less than pleased. The moment Arthur sat down Uther started
"I heard of your treatment of the knights from the collection team. That was unnecessary and over the top. You had no business treating them as you did and telling them to leave and return home" he glared at his son "No omega is worth the loss of four knights nor the insult to their families. You will apologise and they will stay"
Arthur returned the glare before replying "It was completely justified and they should be grateful I didn't kill them. What sort of Alpha would I be if I didn't act after such an insult? I would have punished them even if Merlin had not been my omega, they broke the knight's code!"
"They made a mistake in judgement no more than that! It was a difficult task for any unmated alpha. Whilst I have to accept that you have a peasant as an omega you have to learn that all omegas are not like us, they are lowly creatures put on earth merely as a vessel for breeding. If you feel the omega is unclean due to it then cast him aside and take another. I have sent a message to tell the knights they may stay" Uther clearly felt the matter closed but his son was not going to let it go.
Arthur pushed his chair back and stood up his face red with anger "I will not give up my soul bond and you should not ask me to. And for your information Omegas have all the same emotions and needs as we do. If the men remain I will kill them for what they did and I cannot believe you would expect otherwise, would you have allowed anyone to treat either of your omegas in that way? What's more I suggested sending knights who already had omegas if you recall, that would have stopped this happening"
"Both my omegas were of Nobel blood and I doubt it was the first time that omega has been touched by a collection team after all he was from a village" Uther said scornfully "You are a Prince act like it and not let your hormones rule you. They will stay and you will accept it. I expect your behaviour to improve if you wish to keep the broodmare. Now since you can't act in a civilised way go and eat elsewhere"
Arthur stormed out, but knew he couldn't go back to his rooms or Merlin would sense his anger and feel it was directed at him. So after walking the parapets to cool down he then headed to see his sister. As he entered Morgana could see her brother was angry "Supper with Uther I assume" she knew only Uther could make her brother fume so. "Gwen go and get a tray from the kitchens so Arthur can eat please" she asked her maid. When Gwen left the room Arthur told her what had happened.
"I will kill them if they stay" Arthur meant it and nothing his father could say would stop him, he knew that.
"And they should know it, don't worry brother I am sure they will leave regardless. How is Merlin? Gwen tells me he is cute but very quiet and nervous as a result of his treatment, I couldn't believe it when I heard he had to watch the execution"
Arthur sank into a chair. "He is, he has lost so much weight it worries me, he was thin before all this, but he still has small flashes of spirit. I can't believe how strongly I feel, even before we mate, it scares me. The King will never accept him, he pretends to, but I know he is just looking for an excuse to get rid of him." Arthur ran his hands through his hair. "I thought finding ones omega was supposed to be a time of joy"
"It is, but Uther expected you to have a noble born omega as he did, you know that, and to have a male omega was going to be difficult. As to the knights they were from his group and he knows you were right about sending bonded knights but would never admit it. If it had been any other omega but the male he would have been the first to punish them." Morgana looked at her brother "Take care Arthur, do not let him use your attachment to Merlin as a weapon against you. I am glad you are finally opposing Uther in public but remember you have more than just yourself to worry about now"
Gwen arrived with the food and Morgana dismissed her "Go home Gwen I can sort myself out tonight"
The maid smiled "Thank you Morgana" with that she was gone.
"Gaius warned me not to let the King see how much he meant to me" Arthur admitted "But it is hard I want to protect him. I have to look after you as well, I can't believe I ever wanted fathers respect so much!"
"Of course you love him Arthur, it has taken you long enough to find him after all. But take care and don't push Uther to hard. Now can I meet this omega of yours soon?"
"Tomorrow, I will come for you after training and the council meeting. I wondered, if you like him, would you consider having the passageway opened so you could visit each other privately" Arthur was sure his sister would agree
"Yes of course, but let me raise it with Uther, that way he might agree. After all as your omega Merlin should have access to the garden, he will have some benefits for having to put up with you" she said in a teasing tone hoping to lighten the mood. She paused "Arthur have you thought of getting one of your beta knights to befriend Merlin, he will be lonely and might crave a male friend. Sorry but George is hardly likely to fill that need. I know I couldn't be without Gwen. Perhaps make one of them responsible for your chamber guards? Even Uther couldn't object to that is it a normal procedure to have a beta knight in charge, and his isn't to know that he will also be a friend."
Arthur smiled for the first time since entering the room "An excellent idea, I can think of just the man. I will ask him in the morning, after all if he is to be a friend he should have the choice"
"Who are you thinking off?" Morgana asked
"Lancelot, he would have made an excellent first knight had he been born an Alpha. He is loyal to me and although he is a very good fighter he is also a very friendly man"
Morgana smiled "Excellent choice, then perhaps he might see more of Gwen and finally get round to asking her out. They have been mooning for each other for so long"
Arthur again looked surprised "Lance and Gwen since when? I have never noticed"
"Men seldom do notice such things. Now eat up then go and see your omega. And don't worry I am sure the knights will have left in the morning no matter what Uther says. And if they don't I am sure you can remind them how nice their home estates are" Morgana smirked, she might be stuck in her rooms most of the time but that didn't stop her knowing things. She fully realised that whilst Uther was feared Arthur was respected, and with that respect came the knowledge that he would carry through what he started and also that he had a very loyal group of men behind him. No she was sure the men would leave regardless of Uther's edict.
Morgana got her chance to speak to the King far earlier than she had expected. The next morning the King arrived at her chambers. "Morgana I know you are unhappy that you are not part of the selection, but I have arranged for King Bayard to bring his eldest son when he comes to discuss our treaty. He will be a good match and the King is happy for the Prince to wed you, one day you will be Queen of Mercia"
Morgana looked at her father and paused before saying "Uther I want to find my true bond, not to be married for political advantage no matter how good, why can you not understand that!"
Uther glared at his headstrong daughter, why could she not be the docile omega she should be "That is nonsense, you do realise your alpha may be a man unable to support you in the fine ways you are used to? You are not getting any younger and need to be wed. I will hear nothing more of this"
"Had you allowed me to attend the den for selections I would've found my true bond years ago, Please father let me go to the selections this time." She seldom called her father anything but Uther and it often got her, her own way when she did. This time however it did not.
"I am sorry my child I am doing what is best for you, now is there anything else I can help you with" he was clearly hoping to pacify her before her temper rose and got the better of her. "The Queen wondered if you would like something different, new dresses perhaps."
Morgana nearly lost it at the thought of Catrina, but decided now was her chance, she would deal with the Prince of Mercia later, and after all she should be able to scare him off as she had the other suitors she had been presented with. Looking at her father her eyes wide and with a small smile on her face she took her opportunity. "There is something I should like if it pleases your majesty"
"Name it my dear, it shall be yours" Uther was pleased he had diverted another argument.
"I understand my brother has an omega, could the passage be opened so we can visit each other. It would please me greatly." Morgana kept her eyes down so Uther could not see the gleam of satisfaction in them.
"I hardly think that is appropriate, you may not realise but he is a male. That would be unsuitable" Uther said "It cannot be done ask something else."
"But you said what I named could be mine. Please. If he is a male he is still an omega and was in the den. He is no danger to propriety and I will ensure my maid is present at all times and I can bolt the door on this side when I don't want a visit. Also that way he can share my garden without you having to provide another just for him. I am sure Arthur will want his omega to have some fresh air" she added something else that might make Uther think. "My maid informs me he is from a village. I can teach him court behaviour and save embarrassment to you and the court. After all there will be some occasions, albeit rare, when as Arthurs's omega he will need to be at court functions."
Uther drew in a deep breath and thought for a moment. His daughter had made valid points and also he knew it would take her mind off the selections "All right, I will ask the steward to arrange it. Now I must go I have duties to attend"