Ahhh we are on the penultimate chapter!
The Home Truths
Balinor walked in between the guards. He had no idea why they were there. It wasn't like he was going to run or anything. He smiled widely when he recognised one of the knights waiting at the entrance.
"Sir Ector. It is nice to see you again."
Ector matched his smile before turning around and leading them on.
"How is your father? I heard he wasn't too well when I was last here. Oh please say that your daughter grew up to be just a beautiful as her mother. What was her name again?"
Merlin kept in step with them but shook his head at his father. This was the man that could be a king. He cared about people.
"My father died not long after you left and yes Brelde looks just like her mother." Ector said after a while. "You were stupid to return Balinor."
"Isn't it what Uther wants, Uther gets?"
The knight turned around. "I forgot about your sharp tongue. Uther won't like it." He chuckled. "I suppose you are right. You would know wouldn't you?"
Balinor smiled a little wider as he reached the council chamber.
"Do they really need to be here?" Balinor said, gesturing Arthur and Morgana.
"I would like to remind you of your banishment terms." Uther said, ignoring him.
"The terms of my banishment? Says the man that risked going to Essetir to find me. I have fixed your little dragon problem haven't I? My word as an Eorðdraca always means something to me. The few times that I have returned were only by your request."
"But you escaped from prison."
"Good thing I did. You would have a kingdom now if it wasn't for me" Balinor's voice dropped to a mutter. "Not that you had one to beginning with."
Merlin shook his head again at his father before catching Morgana's eye. She gives him and smile and he returns it. Balinor looks between her and his son.
"May I ask who this fair maiden might be?" He said, turning his attention to her.
"Nows not the time Balinor." Uther said.
Morgana smiled wider. "Morgana Le Fay."
"Le Fay. As Gorlois Le Fay?" He waited for her to nod before he continued. "I never got the honour of meeting Gorlois' bride." He gave a sharp look to Uther. "I hope you have something from your father. We were good friends and he was a good man."
"My father did mention you. He spoke very fondly of you."
Uther's face dropped.
"Is that a crime?" Balinor asked.
"What do you want Balinor? You would have left as soon as you had spoken to the dragon unless you want something."
"You were the one to bring me here. I only wanted to see Gaius before I left once more. He has always been good to me." Balinor stroked his beard. "But as you are asking, there is something that needs to be put right. A wrong that happened in this castle when I was 17. I mean I think this is what everything has been leading to."
Uther shook his head. "No, it isn't possible."
"Why not? I never gave up my claim. The throne is mine by right. You may have killed my father and brothers but history and legacy means more than whether you won it." He raised his voice. "I mean how did it feel when you placed a sword through my father's belly? He believed in you. He would have listened to you. He treated you as if you were his own."
Uther stayed silent.
"And when that wasn't enough, you had to go and murder my sister. Was it worth it?" He gestured towards Arthur. "Do you look at him and think that he is the most precious thing in the world? Do you tell him that you are proud of him every day? Or do you treat him like your father treated you? Were you even by her side when the light left her eyes?"
"I … I don't know that it would happen."
"You do realise she was barren for a reason. If you had actually read half the books that Geoffrey assigned us to read you would have found out that every girl born into a dragonlord clan are barren because the power can only be passed from father to son."
"Wait what?" Arthur said. "I don't understand. Please just tell me what you are on about?"
Merlin stepped forward next to Balinor. "I am sorry Arthur but what my father is saying is that your mother was barren and what Morgause said was true. I know that might be hard to take in. He is also trying to say that your father had no claim to that throne while we are still alive."
Arthur sat opened mouthed.
"How long have you known?" Uther asked Merlin.
"I first found out when I arrived in Camelot. I knew I was an Eorðdraca but you were the one to tell me my father's name. Gaius was wrong I could hear everything you were saying. I could have tried to take the throne but I thought that no one would believe me."
Uther sat up straighter. They had revealed his darkest secrets and he had to stop them from taking it all away from him. There was only one thing he could do.
"Guards! Take them away." He shouted.
"Why?" Morgana asked as the guards grabbed them. "As Balinor has reminded you, he would have already been on his way by now but you were the one stopping him. They are only here because of you. After everything that you have done wouldn't they deserve a bit better? You killed Balinor's father, drove him from his home then asked for him to come back before he left again of his own accord. Would you have really accepted him back into Camelot if he had given up his claim?"
Uther turned to her. "Do you wish to join them?"
Merlin shook his head at her as she got up and walked over to them. "It would be the right thing to do."
