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Words can not describe just how Arthur was feeling. To lose a parent was terrible enough but to lose the only one you had ever known… Well, it was devastating to say the least. The young Pendragon would have given almost anything to get his father back, and he meant it. It wasn't that he wasn't thankful that Alethea was still alive, far from it, but in an ideal world both his father and the Princess would be alive. Unfortunately, life didn't work that way. He had not only lost his father that day, but also his councillor. Now who could he turn to for guidance in running the kingdom? Who would advise him on political affairs? It was all well and good telling him that his friends would help him, and he knew that they would in the best way they could, but they were inexperienced. Merlin hadn't yet seen enough of the world whilst Alethea was out of her time and neither of them had any experience in running a kingdom. He would have to learn as he went along, though one mistake could be fatal and so he just had to make sure that he made the right decisions.

He had adored his father even though he didn't agree with some of his policies. To have lost him so suddenly… Well, he hadn't thought that Uther would have died that day. Even with his last words being those of tying things off, Arthur hadn't really expected for them to actually be Uther's last words to him. He supposed that he should have done, but it was too late for that now. It was pointless him looking back at what he could have done for there was nothing he could do to change it. He now had to look to the future, one where he was king and Alethea was his queen.

"Arthur…" Alethea said softly and Arthur looked up. He had been staring at his father for the past few hours since they had returned from the battle and hadn't moved. He had just sat there in complete silence and deep thought whilst time had moved around him. He had no idea when Alethea had left him alone, but she had returned now with concern etched across her face.

"It's getting late." He supposed that he should have replied but he couldn't find the words. His throat felt dry and a lump was forming, tears threatening to overwhelm him once more. Prince's didn't cry, he kept on telling himself, but it wasn't stopping the tears from spilling. Alethea looked at him with understanding and compassion as she stood beside him.

"I…The men?" he finally asked after swallowing.

"I have spoken with them and sent them home. I've done what I can Arthur, and the surviving magicians have agreed to stay away unless we call for them. They are all very apologetic." she said as she led him to her room, away from his father.

"Sorry won't bring him back."

"Nothing will Arthur, I know that. But they had no choice but to fight for the sorceress tricked them." she explained, keeping her voice quiet and soft. "But anyway, come to bed? Please?" It was then that he realised they'd arrived at Alethea's room and he knew that he couldn't refuse her. Absent mindedly changing into his nightshirt, Arthur climbed under the covers beside her. Alethea was being his rock at the moment, her being strong for him. She was acting like a real queen by being able to deal with all of this, but at that moment in time Arthur didn't realise that it was going to take its toll on her.

"Thank you." he simply said as he snuggled up close to her.

"It's alright. We'll sort everything out tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yes." They were silent for a few moments, both just lying in each others arms, content to simply listen to their breathing.

"My parents always told me that when we die we become stars in the sky. Your father will be looking down on us at this very moment you know, and he'll always be with us." Alethea told him.

"But where?" She just smiled as she moved her good hand to his heart.

"In here." Kissing him gently on the forehead, she watched as he gave in to sleep.

It was late morning when Arthur finally opened his eyes and for one tiny moment it was as if the battle had never happened. Alas the truth dawned on him and he miserably got out of bed. Finding no sign of his wife nor his good for nothing servant, Arthur changed into some clean clothes before going in search of them. Sadness was clear in his eyes as he walked down the corridors to the Great Hall. He wasn't meant to be king yet. His father was supposed to have died of old age after teaching Arthur what he should and shouldn't do. Instead he had been cruelly torn from him. Walking past one of the soldiers, Arthur's heart sank as he realised what he had to do over the next few days. There were families to be informed, a funeral to be planned and then there was a coronation. That was an awful lot to do for him, especially in his current state. He finally arrived in a bit of a daze and found that his wife was currently stood talking to a number of advisers with a pile of parchment on the table in front of her.

"…so perhaps you could do that for me sir…?"

"Sir Oliver my lady."

"Then perhaps you could do that for me please Sir Oliver?"

"Of course." With a bow the young dark haired knight left the hall to go and do something. Arthur reached Alethea's side and peered over her shoulder, finding her scratching out something on what appeared to be a 'to do' list. Some were crossed out, like informing families of the fallen, whilst others were still waiting to be done.

"Arthur, how are you feeling?" she asked as she let a few of the ministers attend to something.

"I could be better." he told her truthfully. "But what is left to be done?"

"We need to arrange your father's funeral, his monument and so on, then arrange your coronation."

"Our." he corrected her. "Our coronation."

"I am not yet of age." she explained but Arthur simply shrugged.

"That does not matter. You will be my queen Alethea."

"As you wish. Now, to your father…" she hesitated, watching as his face fell.

"This is all too fast, too surreal." he told her.

"We'll get through this you and me." she assured him, meeting his gaze. It was then that he noticed the dark rings around her eyes and realised that she mustn't have gotten much sleep.

"I know, I know…" He sighed, and so they began to arrange King Uther's funeral, deciding where to place his monument and that it was to take place three days hence.

Once the Court was dismissed after the final arrangements had been settled, Arthur was left alone with Alethea, who simply sat there with her arm in a sling, watching her husband through tired eyes as he paced up and down. He couldn't settle and stay sat down like she could, but then again, it wasn't her father that had died. Pausing, he stopped and looked at her, noticing that she really did look exhausted though that was to be expected after everything that she'd done on his behalf. He was very grateful for it as he doubted that he would have been able to manage on his own.

"I appreciate it you know." he commented, not knowing if she already knew or not.

"I know Arthur." she said quietly.

"I doubt I would manage without you."

"You've got Merlin." she pointed out to him and he suddenly felt rather guilty. He hadn't meant to lash out at his friend like that, but grief had overwhelmed him so much that he hadn't a clue what he had been doing.

"I need to apologise to him…"

"He'll understand Arthur. He lost someone yesterday. His lady got injured after saving his life."

"The lady in the red dress? On the battlefield?"

"Apparently so. He lost her."

"Oh… Alethea?"

"Yes?"

"Will you come with me?" Smiling at him, she simply nodded.

It wasn't very hard to find Merlin and so it didn't take them long either. The young warlock was sat on the staircase by Gaius' chambers with a pile of parchment in his hands. He looked rather glum and had a black eye, presumably from where the young Pendragon had hit him. Arthur hesitated at the corner, not being very good at apologies but went and sat by his friend after being given a dig in the ribs from his wife. Finding that Merlin was looking at a series of sketches of himself, Arthur noted that whoever had drawn them was a good artist.

"Merlin I… I, um, need to apologise for what I did to you yesterday so erm, I'm sorry." The warlock said nothing, simply staring at one of the drawings.

"Merlin, forgive me, please?"

"I… I thought I'd lost her for good." the warlock said quietly.

"Who?"

"My raven haired beauty, but she's not gone." Alethea appeared then and sat on the stair beneath both of them.

"How is she?" she asked him softly.

"She'll recover in safe hands."

"And she's got you." Alethea smiled. Watching as two men came out of Gaius' chambers, Alethea knew that she and Arthur ought to leave Merlin. "Come on Arthur, let Merlin have some time with his 'raven haired beauty'."

On the night before the funeral it finally dawned on him that he would not see his father again. Watching the pyre being built, Arthur knew that this time tomorrow that it would be blazing. Unable to watch through his window anymore, Arthur knew he had to say his final private goodbyes and so he walked to his father's chambers. The whole of Camelot had been dressed in black since the end of the battle as a sign of respect and he and Alethea were no different. There was to be no merry making until the period of mourning was over, and so there was no music, no singing, no dancing. It was eerily quiet in Camelot town at night, especially considering the tavern had closed for the time being. Thinking quietly to himself, Arthur's heart sank as he found the door to his father's chambers open and heard sobbing. Stepping inside, he discovered that the tears belonged to his wife, who was currently sat by the fallen King, crying into his chest. Arthur realised that he hadn't seen his wife cry since the battle and knew then that she had been hiding her grief from him. She had been staying strong and keeping everything together for his sake, but now that she was alone… her body shook from weeping and Arthur could not watch her any longer. Stepping inside, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Letting her sob into his shoulder, he just soothed her as she had soothed him. As she had said before: they were going to get through this, no matter what life threw at them. Together they were going to get through this.

Just less than an hour before sunset the inhabitants and friends of Camelot and of Uther were gathered around the funeral pyre. Many had travelled fair distances for today, but Arthur was grateful for them to have showed. As the sun began to fall in the sky, silence fell among the gathered people as Arthur and his most trusted knights carried the King's body to the pyre. Alethea followed behind, ready to comfort her husband if needs be, with Penny hovering nearby. No torches were to be lit for they had decided to charge the young dragon with lighting the wood. Standing by his wife and with her hand in his, Arthur knew that he had to address his people.

"People and friends of Camelot, we stand here today to say our farewells to my father and our King, Uther Pendragon. Never has there been such a heroic king who has united our kingdom and kept away evil. He risked his life for his people, and he proved this when he fell at the Battle of Camlann. He sacrificed himself for the good of his people and saved the Princess Alethea, giving his life for hers. He died a hero's death and though he may not have always made the right decision, he was a great king. So I ask you now, my people, that we do not forget him as we look to the future… A future where Camelot will be greater than ever."

As his people clapped, Arthur turned to his father who looked so peaceful, so much like he was sleeping, but he wasn't. His father was dead and he would never return to this life.

"Goodbye father. Until the next life." He whispered as the final rays of sunlight disappeared beneath the horizon. Penny padded over and set the wood alight whilst Arthur stood side by side with his wife. The people stayed for a while, but as time progressed they started to go their separate ways until only he and Alethea remained. And in the chill night air, Arthur Pendragon watched his father's body burn until even the flames had gone…