Would it surprise you if I said that I was getting behind again?

PART TWO

THE ISLE OF THE BLESSED

Chapter Twenty Four

Uther's Annoyance

TO SAY THAT UTHER WAS unhappy was an understatement. Uther wasn't just unhappy about the whole situation. He was furious.

He sat on the throne, attempting to keep his anger in check as the scout described how Morgana was alive and well but had probably been on the Isle of the Blessed since her disappearance and the mass movement of druids to the Isle of the Blessed. The only problem was when the scout mentioned the people standing by Morgana as she gave her inspiring speech. It was only the mention of one name that his rose from his throne and strode across the room to grab the boy by his throat. He lifted the boy off his feet and only let him go once the boy started to still in his grip.

"Gorlois is dead." He shouted at the boy.

"Milord." The boy coughed, trying to get his breath back. "I have heard the stories of Gorlois Le Fay. I am certain he matched that description."

"And I have said that Gorlois is dead. I know because I killed him."

"Sire." He stopped when Uther turned to him again. "I think they will be heading for Camelot."

"They could head here but they are never getting in. This is my kingdom and it is not going to fall to them. It will not fall to magic."

"Sire."

Uther growled before dismissing the boy before he killed him. The last thing that he needed was to try and cover up another murder. There had been many in his purge against magic. Ones that had been rightfully killed and others that were just on speculation. Those on speculation were the hardest. It is always hard when people are out searching for their loved ones.

It was probably why Gorlois' death was the easiest to cover up. The man had died in the catacombs underneath the castle with only Uther to be his witness. Morgana would have been the only one to miss him and it was one of the reasons that he had her locked away and forgotten about. After what Gorlois had tried to do, he didn't deserve a proper burial but Uther may have felt a tiny bit of remorse for what he did to an old friend. Everything was put under wraps when Gorlois' body had disappeared.

He knew that he had just told that scout one of Camelot's best-kept secrets but no one was going to believe a word that he would say. No one spoke out against the King and lived. There was only really one person that Uther could talk to about it but it would mean that he would have to go and visit him. He still wasn't over the fact that Morgana had gone missing.

With a huff, Uther left the council chamber.

One of the reasons that Uther hadn't yet gone to visit Gaius in the dungeons was the fact that he knew that when he saw his old friend, he would be overcome with guilt and want to release him. As soon as Morgana disappearance was discovered and that serving girl had vanished as well, there was only one person that Uther could ask about it and Gaius had confessed immediately. The sight of the old man made Uther regret that he had such a quick temper. Even after a few months, the wounds made by the guards as they dragged him away were still visible, probably reopened up a few times.

Arthur didn't know Gaius was here. Uther had spun so lie that Gaius was visiting family when the new physician started. It was best that Arthur didn't know.

"Sire," Gaius said.

"Gorlois?"

"What about him?"

"When your nephew was here before he made off with my daughter. Did he ever mention that Gorlois was alive?"

Uther knew that the old man was thinking about lying to him. There was always a look that Gaius had whenever he was about to lie or say something that would make bad news not seem so bad. It was clear that he had got used to Uther's quick temper.

"He did. I didn't believe it due to the injuries that you told me that he had sustained. We frequently spoke about his reason for being alive."

"I killed him."

"The Triple Goddess was obviously not finished with him."

Uther growled. "Tell me what you know."

"Gorlois is alive, apparently to Merlin. We believe that there is a reason due to the injuries that you described that you dealt him. Uther, he should be alive but he is. It is something higher than both of us."

"Could it be..." Uther started. "I boosted to Gorlois that he didn't want Morgana losing her father but we both knew that I would win. I was going to send him to a losing battle anyway. He was going to die anyway. Could that have had some effect on whether he died or not?"

"Because the Triple Goddess had decided that Gorlois was Morgana's father? It is possible."

There was an uncomfortable pause and Uther knew that he wasn't going to be the first to talk. There was more that Gaius could say or wanted to say. With the potential that they are heading to Camelot, was it that they were coming to overthrow him?

"Morgana is the Once and Future Queen. It is quite possible that they all have their tasks. Gorlois' might be alive for one task only."

"To kill me?"

"Maybe your reign has come to its end."

The bitterness in Gaius' voice was something that Uther had never heard before and he knew that maybe he had just overstepped the mark. The guards were obviously not looking after the physician and Uther should have taken more care for an old friend. There was nothing that Uther could do now to make it up to him. He was alone and potentially going to lose his kingdom.

The march of druids had raised more than a few questions and Uther found himself heading a war council. Part of him knew that the druids weren't on the warpath. They were just following their Once and Future Queen towards her throne. Uther had also found himself accepting the fact that his reign might be over. He would go down fighting but if Gorlois' task was to kill him, then he didn't stand a chance. Gorlois was already a dead man. What do dead men have to lose?

He had watched Arthur as he took more of a senior role and it was great to see him start to fall into the role that he had been training for since birth. But was it never to be his?

But it was his by birthright. The throne was for the heir to the throne. Arthur was his son. Morgana, an illegitimate child, would never have priority over Arthur.

Unless the reason that the purge started would come back to haunt him.

Maybe Arthur was never his son due to the use of magic. It obviously wasn't him that was barren due to Morgana. There would be no denying that Arthur was Ygraine's son. It was the reason he had a good heart as well as her golden hair and blue eyes. He had only turned into his father through nurture rather than nature.

Uther tried not to dwell on it. He knew that he needed to throw himself into the war preparations. He knew that he had to be prepared and ready for when they did get to Camelot.

But the conversation that he had with Gaius plagued him.

Was this all in vain?

Was Uther going to fall?

Was this the end of the reign of Uther Pendragon?