Written for one of the Heart of Camelot Drabble Challenges:
Word Challenge: Diabolic
Category: Gen (Canon AU)
Characters/Pairings: Arthur, Gwaine
Rating: T
Word Count: 297
Soft voices greeted him as he entered the Hall of Records. He wasn't sure if he'd even been in this part of the castle before. He found Arthur sitting at a desk next to Geoffrey, pouring over what appeared to be a genealogy book of families and crests.
As he glanced over the page they were on, he felt his heart stop. On the parchment was a white phoenix on a black background. It had been decades since he even thought of that particular coat of arms.
Arthur didn't even bother looking up. "Sir Gwaine, I need you to take Percival and a contingent of knights and ride to Ismere. I received word that Morgana may be in the vicinity. Check it out and report back to me."
The king waited for a response. He glanced up at his knight. "Did you hear me, Gwaine?"
Startled, the knight nodded, "Yes, Sire." He couldn't help the curiosity that came to him looking at the crest again. "What're you doing?"
"We are trying to establish a true line of succession. Unfortunately, there is little to go on."
"Is that...one of the lines?"
"Yes. This belonged to my mother's eldest brother, Tristan de Bois. He was a high ranking noble, and a knight of Caerleon. It appears, he had a son before his death, and we're trying to find out anything we can about him. Not only for the succession, but also...I don't want to be blindsided by someone as diabolical as Agravaine."
Gwaine guffawed, "I don't think you should worry about that." He bowed and left before Arthur could question him. He knew for certain the child of de Bois wanted no part of the throne. Except for Arthur...Gwaine still wanted nothing to do with nobles.