AN: Some background: The Hearts of Camelot Challenge is a challenge on the Heart of Camelot site in which I have to pick a scene that a character (there are 8 assigned characters and 2 other characters I have to do) did something that made me respect them / see them in a different way. The purpose of this challenge is to explore my love of the characters and write characters I normally wouldn't write and delve deeper into scenes that genuinely touched me. So, these'll be sprinkled in here randomly. :P
Prompt: The Hearts of Camelot Challenge: Uther
Characters/Pairings: Uther, Merlin
Ratings/Warnings: Taken from 3x05
Word Count: 591
Pour
It had begun to drizzle outside. The pearly grey skies rolled with thickening and darkening storm clouds, and children, left unattended to play and unaware that their parents would be coming to herd them inside, squealed and romped about in the puddles.
And although Uther stared out at the scene, he didn't see.
He heard the door open behind him, and even before Arthur's manservant announced his presence with a gentle, "Sire," he'd known who it was.
The boy had an unfortunate habit of not knocking, he'd come to learn.
About a year ago, he had once asked Arthur why he didn't sack the boy for his impertinence—and had threatened that he'd do it himself if the boy woke Arthur late one more bloody time—but his son's answer had surprised him and had made Morgana smile—
The lump grew in his throat when he realized he might never see that beautiful smile again.
He might be the worst servant in Camelot…
"This is from Gaius. He thought it might…ease your mind."
He was too exhausted, too distraught at the image of Morgana's pale face and motionless form swimming before his eyes and at the flesh-memory of her ice-cold fingers and flaming brow to feel any frustration at the sympathy in the insolent fool's tone.
He might be a fool…
Merlin waited patiently for a moment, and just as Uther saw him incline his head and begin to turn away…
But he is loyal…
"You're Gaius' boy," he stated without thinking.
Normal servants would have cringed at the King's direct address.
…he is brave and isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks…
"He is my guardian," Merlin responded without hesitation.
"You're like a son to him."
"Yes."
In that simple agreement, it was clear that Gaius was more a father to him in turn.
"I see the way he cares for you."
In the way that he couldn't publically care for his ward.
Damn the secrets. Damn the lies.
Not his ward. His daughter.
It was killing him, chiseling at his insides like an axe—its need to get out. To be free. His emotions, which he bottled up time and time again—as was his duty as the King of this realm…
His love, his pain, his desire for someone to listen. Not to comfort or console. Just to understand.
But most importantly—when he stops chatting and disobeying my orders, that is—he listens to me, my troubles, and… despite what one might expect from the idiot, he understands, Father.
Uther blinked away threatening tears and turned his gaze to the stormy skies.
His Morgana. His beautiful Morgana. His vibrant, spirited, fiery-tempered daughter…
How could he bear to be without her in this life?
And he is a good friend for it.
Sorrow pressed heavily upon him, crushing him and overpowering him with its weight.
"You feel your child's every joy… and their pain," he said quietly. "You watch their failings, and you see your own. All you want is for their happiness, for them to escape the sufferings of life."
The king took a shaky breath, and half-turning to Merlin, whose unreadable blue eyes were fixated unflinchingly on him, Uther finally said what he had been unable to say to Gaius, to Arthur, to anyone aloud.
Until now.
"Wh—why has this happened? I woul—I would do anything. Anyth..."
And it was so that as Uther Pendragon covered his mouth to stifle the sobs and felt tears slide down his cheeks, it began to pour.
