Yes, I'm still alive! =P
I'm so sorry for the delay. I've been having a lot of work here and less time to write than I'd like to. But that's life. I wish I had all my time to write, it's one of my favourite things! Anyway, here is a longer one.
Thank you very much for your reviews. They always encourage me a lot. Special thanks to SeverusHermioneForever, Maya, Chris, Someone from Ireland and Merlin's lover. Thank you too for the favourite and the alert as well as the messages, it always means a lot.
And now let's see who was the first guest to arrive in Camelot for the council... Have fun! :)
Previously...
"That's decided, Agravaine!" Morgause finished the topic, never caring about the others watching their conversation. "We'll keep the big table in the dining room and have a smaller one in our chambers, where we can have private meals." She smirked and Merlin did the same, wondering about how a private meal would be to those two...
Arthur rolled his eyes. Seriously, his uncle was still acting in such weird ways! He was in love and had recently become king... but he had just interrupted his father and Gaius!
"I hope you've finished discussing the new decoration of your home?"
"Arthur!" Seriously, Gwen couldn't believe how clueless Arthur can be in some occasions.
"I'm sorry, I'm worried about the council." Arthur said sincerely.
"Well, when you've parted to Essetir all the messengers had already gone to invite the kings and queens to come to Camelot." Gaius said.
However, instead of calming the young prince, it sent a block of ice to his stomach.
"Excuse me, my lord... my lady." Hildebrand, Uther's personal servant, entered all polite and formal as usual. "Some of your guests have just arrived at Camelot."
Chapter 48
"Please, ask them to come in, Hildebrand." Uther said, wiping his lips and getting up.
As the door was opened, the others got up too. An aged man entered, with a beautiful young lady.
"King Rodor of Nemeth and his daughter, Princess Mithian." Hildebrand announced.
"Uther!" The man greeted the king with a warm smile.
"Rodor!" Uther did the same as they shook their hands. "It's a pleasure to receive you both in Camelot!" He looked at the princess, who looked about Morgana's age. "Princess Mithian." He kissed her hand politely. "Welcome to Camelot."
The lady smiled and it grew wider as she noticed Morgana.
"Morgana!"
"Mithian!" The girls hugged each other, they were friends and didn't see each other for a long time.
"Let me present you properly!" Uther said, awaking from his daydream as he watched Morgana. "You surely remember Lady Morgana."
"Of course I do." Rodor smiled. "Some people are not easily forgotten." Merlin smirked at the comment, even if the king of Nemeth said it innocently.
"Well, we got married. Now Morgana is my wife and queen." Uther informed.
"So I've heard." Rodor said. "Congratulations, I hope you to be very happy!"
"I'm so excited to meet your baby!" Mithian said to Morgana.
"Oh, Vivienne is with Hunith, her nurse, probably taking a bath." Morgana said. "Soon I'm going to take her, I like to be the one to make her sleep. I bet she'll like you."
"My son Prince Arthur and his fiancée, Lady Guinevere." Uther continued the presentations.
They greeted Arthur and said their 'nice to meet you' to the lady. Gwen liked them, Morgana had told her how nice Mithian was and she knew King Rodor was an ally of Camelot and personal friend of Uther.
"Gaius!" Rodor noticed the elder man. "You changed nothing at all!"
"Oh, it's kind of yours! I was already an aged man last time we met!" Gaius said politely shaking Rodor's hand. "Mithian, child, you look so gorgeous!" He kissed the lady's hand politely.
"Thank you Gaius, it's very good to meet you again." The princess said.
"And this is Lord Merlin, our official warlock." Uther continued the presentations.
"Emrys!" Rodor greeted him looking at the lad with respect and admiration. "The wisest warlock to ever walk this land, right?"
"So said the traditions." Merlin said humbly, smiling and shrinking his shoulders. And then his blue eyes were locked at Mithian's brown ones. Gods! "My lady." He said and leaned in, kissing her hand politely. "People say you're beautiful, but I've never expected you to be like a summer morning."
Morgause smiled at that and Morgana did the same as the princess blushed lightly.
"Someone's in love..." Arthur murmured and both Mithian and Merlin blushed.
"Arthur!" Gwen reprehended him. "I can't believe how childish you are sometimes!" The prince smiled and kissed her hand.
"Well..." Uther said trying not to smirk at the youths. "And this is King Agravaine of Essetir and Queen Morgause."
"So it's true!" Rodor said shocked while his daughter was still smiling at Merlin. "Cenred is dead!"
"Indeed." Agravaine said seriously. He feared Rodor was an ally of Cenred or something like that.
"And people say you were the one who killed him." Rodor said a bit shocked.
"And he did it in order to save me!" Morgause said dreamily, causing Arthur to roll his eyes.
"We crossed your kingdom to arrive in Camelot." Princess Mithian told them, awaking from her daydream. "And we expected to see the usual in Essetir: people starving and full of fears." Morgause and Agravaine looked carefully at the lady. "This time, however, we saw people taking care of their vegetable gardens and smiling, claiming the light was back."
"Oh, I loved them!" Morgause said sincerely with a beautiful smile. "That's because Cenred had never allowed them to plant vegetables, so people had to buy his ones for a high price."
"Typical!" Mithian said a bit angry and Morgause decided she liked the lady. Merlin thought she looked gorgeous like that.
"The first thing we said was that they were free to plant." Agravaine said. "That was our first change as king and queen, and there will be more."
"I want you to know Essetir earned my respect." Rodor said. "And after the council, we could talk and sign a treaty of peace. What do you say?" He asked Agravaine.
"It'd be great." Agravaine said, seeing his nephew smiling at him. Maybe the dragon was right, maybe unite the five kingdoms was possible. "I hope not only we can have peace, but also we can be friends." Rodor nodded at that with a hopeful face.
"Uther." Rodor said to his friend after some moments. "We're curious to know what the council will be about."
"On the truth, Rodor, my friend, Arthur is the one who required this council. He has news about the future of Britain." Uther informed him. "But as soon as the other kings arrive we'll talk about that. Meanwhile, you both look like you really need a good meal and some rest after a long travel." He looked at his manservant. "Hildebrand, please, have their luggage taken to their chambers." The manservant nodded and left. "Now, why don't you sit and have dinner with us?"
"She's lovely, Morgana!" Mithian said caressing delicately Vivienne's cheek as they arrived in Gaius' chambers.
"Isn't she?" Morgana smiled at her child. "Oh, sweet, mum loves you so much!" She cradled the baby girl as Vivienne yawned.
"Merlin, please, help me to take that book." Gaius asked. "Merlin?" The lad kept ignoring the physician. "Merlin!"
"Oh, yes! I mean, no!" He caressed his dark hair. "Sorry, Gaius, what?"
Mithian and Morgana smiled at Merlin's embarrass.
"I asked you to take that book. I can't reach it." Gaius repeated.
"Oh, of course!" Merlin quickly did as he was told.
"Vivienne is almost falling asleep." Morgana said. "Maybe it's time to go to bed, little one?" She smiled at her child and walked to the door with Mithian. "Have a good night!"
"Good night." Merlin said with a big smile. "And if you need anything from me you know where to find me." He looked at Mithian, who blushed lightly at his comment.
"Thank you Merlin." She managed to say. "Good night."
"Have beautiful dreams!" He said as the girls left, just before closing the door.
"Merlin!" He found Gaius looked at him with a puzzled smirk. "What was that about?"
"I... oh, Gaius, you see..." He blushed. "I was just... uh... I was helping Mithian to feel at home, that's it!"
Gaius looked at Merlin a bit amused, never believing an only word.
"So, Mithian..." Morgana smiled, tapping Vivienne's back. The baby girl was already asleep. "It seems Merlin has feelings for you."
"Oh!" She gasped with a blush. "He seems to be a good man, but..."
"But?" Morgana looked at her.
"I'm not the one to have romantic feelings." Morgana looked surprised at her. "My father is an old man, Morgana. I have to be very participative in running the kingdom and my tasks use to keep me constantly busy."
"No time for love?" Morgana joked.
"It's not like that." Mithian said a bit unsure. "I think I'm too focused on my job in the kingdom. I have no mind to keep a relationship now."
"You really should reconsider it." Morgana suggested. "Merlin is a very nice person."
"I see, he's special." Mithian sighed and Morgana smiled. "I don't want to hurt him, Morgana."
"Well, give it some time." Morgana said. "Things happen in its proper ways."
"I suppose so." Mithian agreed.
Morgana sighed. It'd be so nice if her friends decided to be together. On the other hand, she didn't want any of them to get hurt.
Arthur was training with his knights under the rain when George, his manservant, rushed to him.
"Sir! Sir!" George arrived panting a bit. The lad was soaked and he almost slipped when he stepped on a puddle specially large.
"Be careful, boy!" Sir Leon prevented him to fall.
"What's wrong, George?" Arthur asked him a bit worried. George was usually calm and controlled. Oh and he wasn't clumsy!
"Queen Annis of Caerleon has just arrived and she wants to talk to you." The boy said. "She has almost argued with your father, sir." He told Arthur. "Because she doesn't agree the way he used to deal with magic and she's angry for the urgency you mentioned in your message."
"I see." Arthur said. "I'm going to talk to her, thank you, George." He put his cloak and looked at Sir Leon. "Please, keep them training."
"Annis, please..." Uther said for the thousandth time trying to make the woman see some sense. "I've already told you! I know I'd committed many mistakes, but..."
"Good that you know that!" Queen Annis was furious. "Seriously, Uther! Murdering people with magic just because they're different from the rest of us?"
"Woman, can't you see?" Uther almost yelled at her, annoyed with the conversation. "My wife has magic, I've already told you! She had saved my life using magic and I'm completely in love with her! How could I still be against it? Even my daughter has magic!"
The doors were opened and Arthur entered, leaving a trail of water behind him. The rain was much more intense.
"Father." He said politely. "Queen Annis, be welcome to Camelot." He said to the woman.
"Prince Arthur!" She said angry. "Finally you're here. I want you to explain me the reason of the council since your father here can't be trusted."
"What do you mean my father can't be trusted?" Arthur looked at her in shock.
"Oh, you surely won't expect me to trust a murderer!" She explained.
"What?" Arthur almost laughed. "You must be joking! My father has changed a lot recently. Ask anyone in Camelot and they'll tell you." He said casually and Uther sighed in relief.
"I can't believe it." Queen Annis insisted coldly.
"Hildebrand." Uther called his manservant. "Please, ask the queen to come here." The man nodded and left. "You'll see, Queen Annis, my wife probably will tell you her own point of view of what had happened."
"Caerleon and Camelot didn't have a good relation because of yours barbarian ways, Uther Pendragon." She said. "If things changed, I'd be glad. But I must add I strongly doubt it."
In some moments the door was opened and Morgana entered wearing her delicate white gown. Vivienne was into her arms, making baby sounds and pointing to something curious at storm she could see by the window.
"Queen Anis, meet my wife and queen, Morgana." Uther presented, walking to his wife.
"Nice to meet you." Morgana said politely.
"The Lady Morgana?" Queen Anis was very surprised and looked at Uther with questioning eyes. "I was a close friend of your mother!" For Uther's great surprise, the woman had a warm smile to Morgana. Or maybe it was Morgana who had the power of earn people's attention. Vivienne laughed at her father's smile. "Oh, is this cute little girl yours?"
"Yes." Morgana smiled. "We named her Vivienne. Like my mother."
"She was a special person, Morgana." Annis said and the lady just smiled. "But tell me, child, how could you marry him?" She pointed Uther with contempt and sounded sincerely worried about the lady.
"You see, Annis, first of all I'd like to welcome you to Camelot. Let's sit and we're going to talk properly."
Morgana walked to the council table and Uther helped her to sit. Then all of them sat too.
"Maybe first of all Prince Arthur could start telling about the council." Queen Annis suggested.
"Well, Queen Annis, I only will talk about the topic of the council when all the kings and queens are present." Arthur declared. "All I can tell you for now is that it's about the future of Britain."
"Meanwhile I hope we can solve the situation between us." Morgana said sweetly at the woman. "I assure you, Annis, Uther has changed his opinion about people with magic. Since I found out about my magic, it has never been a secret. Of course Uther's reaction was a bit... exaggerated, I'd say, at the beginning."
"You just told him?" Queen Annis looked in shock. The baby seemed to found her expression funny.
"Yes. At that point we had already confessed our feelings." She blushed a bit and Arthur rolled his eyes and made a disgusted sound, but apart the baby, nobody seemed to have noticed it.
"As time passed and things happened, I finally could accept magic." Uther told her. Queen Annis looked at the king with a surprised gaze. "Morgana is able to do beautiful things with her magic. And, wanting to be a fair king, I had to believe other people with magic were able to use it for good as well." Uther sighed, lost in memories. "The law about magic, it was changed. Thanks to Morgana loving ways."
"Really?" Queen Annis asked Morgana and the prince. "Was the law really changed?" She couldn't believe it.
"Yes, finally." Arthur said in a flatted voice.
"The people voted and as most of them agreed with the new law, it was signed." Morgana told her. "Now magic is allowed. It only will be punished when used to commit a crime."
"It's fair." Queen Annis said.
"So I believe there are no problems between us anymore, right?" Uther said a bit unsure, offering her his hand.
"Not only between us, Uther Pendragon." She said seriously. "Now I do believe Caerleon and Camelot can have peace." They shook hands.
Arthur was in his chambers, Merlin was with him. They were sat at the prince's desk, studying some papers and old books. Probably the fifth king was about to arrive and Arthur had to be ready for the council.
"I don't know, Merlin, they will never agree in making me a high king." Arthur said unsure.
"Let's see their reaction before start worrying." Merlin said. "We already have good points here." Merlin took one of the papers. "Moreover, it's your destiny, Arthur. If they don't accept it, I know some methods to show them the truth."
"Oh, you keep being all mysterious!" Arthur said getting up and pacing.
That was when someone knocked. Arthur walked to the door and opened it himself.
"Uncle?"
"Hello, Arthur." He entered nervously. "Merlin." He greeted the lad and Merlin nodded at him with a smile.
"You look nervous." Merlin said absurdly calm.
"I am nervous." Agravaine confirmed.
"So am I." Arthur said, still pacing.
"Well, if you both would stop pacing, we could talk and find a solution to whatever is bothering you." Merlin suggested a bit amused.
Agravaine and Arthur looked at each other and went to the desk, sitting with Merlin.
"What are you worried about, uncle?"
"Oh, Arthur, not even Morgause is succeeding in keep me calm today!" Merlin smirked at the man's sincerity. "I'm worried about King Mark's possible attitude." Agravaine told him. "I came to tell you before the man arrives... our relationship was never the best one."
"Cornwall and Camelot never had a nice relationship too." Arthur said. "But I always thought you and King Mark were friends."
"No. Well, he needed me in his court. I was better than him in thinking about strategies, as well as analysing documents." Agravaine explained. "Although he always needed me around, King Mark has never bothered to consider me a friend."
"So the man is an idiot." Arthur concluded.
"An idiot with his pockets full of gold." Agravaine completed calmly.
"That's why you used to live in his court." Arthur said and Agravaine nodded.
"He uses to reign having only royalty in mind. At that time, it seemed right to me."
"But not anymore." Merlin said.
"No. A king would never be king without his people. We should reign for all, not only royalty, your father and you thought me." He looked at Arthur. "Now, I fear Mark may feel betrayed. I mean, I have my own kingdom to take care now."
"Well, Agravaine... The most sensate attitude would be recognise the way you helped him for so many years and do the same for you. I don't think you have a reason to worry about." Merlin said.
"Didn't you listened to my uncle, Merlin?" Arthur said. "The man is a..."
"An idiot, I know." Merlin said. "But maybe we could make him see some sense." Merlin said. "If Arthur is to unite the kingdoms, so the first thing we have to do is having a treaty of peace signed." Merlin pointed.
"Indeed, Geoffrey told me he has already finished preparing them." Arthur said.
"Good." Merlin approved. "The next thing is establishing some common laws, so not only the relationship between the kingdoms will be easier, but so will the commerce, the travels..."
"Sounds very good." Agravaine said.
"The only thing you forgot to say, Merlin, is the first task, and the one that is bothering me: making all of them agree in uniting the kingdoms under a high king." Arthur said annoyed.
"I've already told you, Arthur, I have everything under my control." Merlin said very seriously. "You just keep calm and..." But Merlin was interrupted by a loud knock.
"Yes?" Arthur answered.
"Sir!" George entered looking clearly worried. "The last guest has just arrived. King Mark of Cornwall."
"Thank you, George." Arthur tried to look calm while Agravaine wiped the sweat from his forehead nervously and Merlin smiled in excitement.
"We'll be there in a moment." Merlin added. "There is just one more thing I'd like to say to Arthur and Agravaine before we go." Arthur not even was surprised by the way Merlin dismissed his manservant.
"So Merlin? What would you like to tell me before my possible death?"
"Oh, don't be a prat!" Merlin rolled his eyes. "I want you both to change these faces now."
"Easy to say..." Agravaine said. "God, where's Morgause when I need her?"
"Probably already going to the great hall." Merlin said casually. "Anyway, if we are to build Albion, you must change your faces and your attitude." He said. "Arthur, where's the bold and cheeky prince I've ever knew?" Arthur looked at him a bit shocked. "Where's the prat I've always knew?"
"What?" Arthur couldn't believe his ears! "Merlin, you can't talk to me like that!"
"That's the spirit!" Merlin smiled. "Now you, Agravaine!" He smirked. "Remember Morgause will be watching you while you talk to King Mark."
"Oh." If possible, the man looked even more anxious.
"And whatever happen in the great hall will have a consequence on your bed." Both men looked surprised at Merlin. "You won't want to look like a silly boy, so take a breath, go there and make your magic!"
So? I borrowed King Mark from The Mists of Avalon. Well, fine, he's not a king, but a nobleman who used to take care of Cornwall, since it belonged to Morgana. Well, I had to make some changes...
A little taste of next chapter: "King Mark, there's no reason to be so pissed up!" What do you think?
Please, reviews are appreciated. See you soon! :)
