...And I'm back again, with another chapter. Mostly feels, not really any serious forward movement. I am going to attempt...(beats muses into submission) Saturday updates for this story. SO look for it each week, and if you don't see it, feel free to review the hell out of me with threats of pitchforks and torches if need be.
Thank you so much all for sticking with this! Thanks to Nance for proofing!
Lindsey and Marie: I do live! LOL glad you liked that last update.
Nance: Yes Booboo, Bubo! I have way too much fun with Gwaine, as you already know hehe
Monkeymail: Yippee! Here ya go! So glad you're still with me!
SpangleyPony: Here's a bit of Arwen feels and emotional whump for ya!
Frankie: yep front too! LOL It's rolling again :D
lightbane1905: Thank you! Same to you!
IcarusLSU: I knew you'd really enjoy the Grettir part hehe Thanks for helping to keep me rolling.
For all those who are catching up to this story, since I edited and reposted Two Sides of the Coin back to the one shot it was meant to be, Thank you and welcome to this monster of a story :) I'm not going to say how much is left, because I honestly don't know, but I do hope you enjoy the ride!
Please Review if you would be so kind. Happy Holidays!
Arthur slumped onto his throne. The sun was going down, long shadows and light, colored by glass, painted the floor. Duran was to be a year old in a day. Arthur thought about how he and Gwen had dreamed of having a child for years. He never once considered that it would have been a spell that kept her from conceiving. It was rather amusing, under different circumstances, to think that the boy had been conceived on his cousin's wedding night.
He rubbed his temples, attempting in vain to will away the splitting headache. The entire citadel was under lockdown…for all the good it did. His son was still out there…somewhere. Was he cold, hungry, or as frightened about his surroundings, as his parents were about his welfare? Was his abductor taking care of him? What was the purpose for it?
If someone wanted to use him as leverage, why didn't they leave something, anything, to illustrate their demands?
"Sire." Gilli said, in a hushed voice. "The guards have completed their search of the town. There has still been no sign of Prince Duran."
"That is not the news I wanted to hear, Gilli." Arthur's voice was weak and scratchy from hours of yelling out orders. The king felt useless. He had led one of the patrols in the search of the castle and city. However, he was constantly worrying about what the other groups were finding, and if they would be able to, in turn, find him to pass along any information. Finally, he had given up and gone to sit on his throne, where the patrol leaders could find him easier.
Morgana's vision, when she had described it, had been less than helpful. It all seemed as if his son, had been taken by magic. He began to wonder if he had been wrong. Were his father's choices, after Ygraine had perished, actually correct…or were they just Arthur's own insecurities and stress over the loss of Duran, making him rethink the issue of magic? The past year had been trying; magical creatures appearing everywhere and creating havoc for all the kingdoms.
A recent report from Caerleon told of mermaids and sea monsters. It seemed to help with the issue of the Gaulish pirates, but it opened up many other problems.
He took off his crown and threw it across the room. What would Uther have done in this situation? Arthur shivered at the thought. Uther would have torn apart the kingdom, looking for Arthur. That much was certain…But at what cost? The late king's madness and grief had cost the lives of so many, when Arthur's mother died. How much was Arthur willing to give up for his son? How many lives would he be willing to sacrifice, to have his boy returned to him? What kind of king would he become, if he allowed that to happen? Could he really justify genocide, as his father had done…all for the sake of one child...even his own?
Gilli said nothing. He went to the fallen circlet, which was encrusted with gems, and embellished with symbols meant to inspire leadership. The young man sighed silently, noting the new dent. From the look on Gilli's face, the king knew it would have to be taken to Wygar to see if it was fixable. Arthur waited to be chastised for it.
He was able to see the witty retort die on the servant's tongue. Merlin would have made the comment, regardless of the circumstances, but Gilli, wasn't Merlin.
Arthur's dejected countenance hung thick and heavy in the air. "I'll let you know the moment I hear something, Sire." Gilli bowed and waited for acknowledgement.
Arthur simply waved his hand dismissively. Over the next hour, other men would approach him, but the news was always the same…nothing…not a hair…not a scrap of cloth. Gaius and Alice had concluded what had already been suspected. The throats of the guards had been cut, and not with a knife or sword…but something much thinner. So much so, that there were no visible edges to the wounds.
The window…there was no way a normal man could have climbed to it and gotten inside, without breaking the glass…unless, it had been opened from the inside. Arthur began to wonder if it was one of the guests in the palace. There were so many who had come for the celebrations. He didn't know where to start looking. Something else bothered him too, but he couldn't seem to put his finger on it.
"There you are." Morgana's sharp tone cut through the room like a banshee.
A blond eyebrow moved up the king's forehead. "Unless you have news, Morgana, I am not in the mood for your verbal abuse."
She paused, and visibly reined herself in. "Nothing yet."
"Have you been able to contact that half-wit husband of yours?"
"…No. I mean I have, but he seemed to be under duress and pushed me out."
"What could he possibly be doing that is more important than coming back here and finding my son?!" Arthur roared, shoving himself off the throne.
"I can't just force my way into his head!" Morgana snarled back. "Wherever he is, it felt like he was in the middle of a battle. Would you like me to disturb him, and possibly cause him to lose focus?"
The king bit his tongue and turned away. He heard his sister exhale. The clack of her shoes on the stone floor moved closer. He stiffened when he felt her hand on his shoulder, when he really wanted nothing more than to sink into the comfort of her touch. He felt like a lost child, but he was a king.
"You need to go see your queen."
"That would accomplish nothing." His tone was cold.
"Uther used to shut everyone out." She admonished him in a snarky tone.
The glare he sent her way, caused her to re-evaluate her words.
"It would let her know, she's not alone. There is only so much the friendship of her ladies can do, to give her strength, at this time. Duran is her son, too." Morgana didn't allow him to argue. She linked her arm through his and led him out of the Throne Room, and towards the Nursery.
(~*~)
Clarissant looked up when the door opened. She steeled her face, ready to snap at whoever was disturbing the already distraught queen. Her mouth snapped closed when she saw it was the king. Her brown eyes danced between Gwen and Arthur.
Morgana stood a step behind her brother. Her eyes caught Clarissant's and she gave a silent nod towards the hallway.
Clarissant stood, and gave a small curtsey as Arthur approached. The king didn't even seem to notice her. He walked to his wife, who was staring blankly out the window.
Closing the door quietly behind her, Morgana shook her head in sadness. "How's she doing?"
"Not well. What about the king?"
"Hmph. About the same. At least, he's not screaming his head off now." Morgana sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Hey!" Percival called from down the hall.
"Anything new?" Clarissant asked, wrapping her arms around his massive chest. The solidity of his body always gave her comfort. She had spent most of the day apart from her own children, to be with the queen.
He gave her a squeeze and began to walk with the two ladies. "Nothing. I've just come back in to check on you, and see if you had heard anything."
Clarissant shook her head. "You should come with us. I am going to go see the twins, and find out if Lisanor needs a break from them."
"I can at least walk with you. Then, I must return to keeping everyone on task for the search." He turned to Morgana. "Your magic has found nothing?"
"No." There was no other way to phrase it. The simple answer was enough. She had desperately attempted every means she could to locate the prince.
The trio walked the rest of the way in silence. Just as they reached the door, and Clarissant started to open it, a voice called out for Percival. He turned to see Vortimer jogging towards him. "Sir Percival, I think I might have remembered something else."
The large knight kissed his wife gently, before allowing his long strides to carry him toward the young knight. Lisanor's head popped around the edge of the door suddenly, startling both Morgana and Clarissant. "Is he gone?"
"Who?" Clarissant wondered aloud.
"That sleazy, little creep, Vortimer?"
"I thought he and Loholt were friends?" Morgana asked, voicing her confusion.
Lisanor opened the door wider, and ushered the two women inside. "If I had my way, Loholt would stay far away from him. Even my husband thinks there is something not right about him. But, because of his family's status, and the fact he is indeed a knight, there's nothing that can be done, based on feelings." She moved across the room, the swish of her skirts whispering along the floor. She motioned to a pile of blankets in front of the hearth. "Your two little ones have worn themselves out. They just fell asleep, not but a candle mark ago."
Clarissant smiled and brushed her hair back from her face. The two toddlers were piled on top of the blankets, oblivious to the world around them. "They're always so beautiful when they sleep." She commented, more to herself. Turning back to Lisanor, she saw the younger woman glancing at the door. "Does he really bother you that much?"
"Instead of out searching with the others, he's been 'searching the halls.' I've seen him pass by here at least five times since the None Bell."
"He's probably just looking for your son." Morgana reasoned. She shared a glance with Clarissant. Neither women fully believed that was true. "Where is Loholt, anyway?"
Lisanor sighed, picking up her infant from his cradle. She sat down in a seat near the fire to nurse him. "I haven't a clue. He probably got stuck with Sir Hector, or something, out patrolling the walls…or else, he decided to go searching for Duran himself. Without Leon or Cai around to keep him in line, he does his own thing, and there doesn't appear to be a single thing I can do about it."
Morgana snickered, "Reminds me of a prince I once knew."
(~*~)
The door latched behind him, and he stood there, feeling like an idiot. What was there to say? After a few moments, Guinevere turned from the window towards him. Her haunted eyes were red from hours of crying. There was nothing he could say that would have made up for the guilt they both felt. He should have listened to his instincts.
"Arthur…where is he?"
The king finally forced his feet to move. The weight of each step was as heavy as the grief in her eyes. He opened his mouth to respond, but found all the words soured on his tongue before he could even utter them. Night was falling, and there was still no sign. Reaching out, he moved to put his hand on her arm, but dropped it back to his side, before it arrived at its goal. He choked back a sob, his eyes falling to the floor.
Suddenly, she was standing and her arms were around him. The small blanket was still clutched in her hand. Instinctively, he embraced her. Only with her, could he truly be himself. He gave into his own emotions; releasing the heartbreak of losing their son.
A knocking at the door, broke their moment. Arthur pulled back, and allowed his wife to wipe his face with her sleeve.
"I swear, Guinevere, I will find him. Whoever took him will pay for this." He promised quietly, kissing her fingers that were wrapped tightly around the cloth.
She forced a smile, trying to find faith in his words.
"Enter." He called to the door.
"Sire. Sir Lancelot and Princess Mithian have arrived from Caerleon. They are at the main gates, requesting entrance." A servant said, hesitantly. The gates had been sealed to all since the abduction was discovered, with the exception of a select group of knights and hired trackers, who searched outside the city.
"I will be there shortly, to greet them personally."
The servant bowed and closed the door, as he left to relay the message.
"You shouldn't stay in here by yourself."
"But, Arthur…"
"But, nothing. Duran is not in this room. You are still queen, and I need you to remain strong. Forgive me, if that sounds harsh, but Lancelot's arrival reminds me there are many other guests who have arrived for Duran's birthday. We need to show them, that this will not break us…"
Gwen nodded and lifted her head. "Do you think one of them had a hand in this?"
"I don't know…" His eyes went to the window. "…But we need to be strong. I want you to try and meet with them. See if you notice anything."
Despite simply wanting to curl back up in the chair, Gwen knew he was right. She couldn't allow herself to wallow in her loss, not when there was something she could do about it. Crying would not find her precious boy.
