Hey I'm back sorry for the wait

Onwards

Arthur looked every inch a king dressed in full royal dress. Red shirt, black pants

even his cape and full stately crown sitting tall on his throne like it was his God giving

right to do so, with his wife by his side looking small but still beautiful. What caused the

whispers around the throne room was not the royal couple but the small woman kneeling

on the floor at his feet, head down, her dark hair hiding her face and the inward curve of

her shoulders as her eyes were focused on the floor.

Everyone in the room was wondering the reason for the royal summons the King

never summoned them outside of council meetings; their questions were answered as

their ruler's voice silenced the room.

"I am sure you are all wondering why I summoned you all frankly speaking, I did it for

a good reason, not that I answer any of you. I called you all here to clear up some

misunderstandings.

First of all I am your King and my beautiful wife is your Queen no one else. All

authority in this kingdom belongs to only us; the rest of you advise me as I see fit. Let it

be known that none of you have any real say in how I run my kingdom.

Secondly Lady Ambrose fully belongs to me no one may look, talk, or touch Ambrose

she is mine and if any of you even think of challenging me I will have her punish you for

treason. Trust me the way she kills you will be most unpleasant. The sorcerer Dredrue is

to be arrested and hanged for an assassin attempt on my lovely wife, 100 gold coins to

the man who brings him to me preferably alive but I'm not picky.

Thirdly I am imposing a new tax on the nobility for the protection and safety that my

knights provide for the kingdom, them and the people deserve the money more than any

of you.

Lastly I am disbanding my father's council and forming my own if you wish to have a

voice then send me your sons or heirs, I have no wish to listen to the words of bitter old

men. Most of you were involved in the purge which having looked into the accounts from

back then, magic users were killed with no evidence and murders are not welcome in my

castle. You can all retire to your estates and live out the rest of your small little lives it is

better than you all deserve. You have till nightfall tomorrow to leave the city or you will be

banished from the kingdom.

Now that all this is taken care of I am pleased to announce that tomorrow I will have the

lady Ambrose magically repair and protect the buildings in the lower town to make them

safer from rot and decay. The people have lived in squalor for too long. Magic is a tool

and I will use it for my people. You're all dismissed, get out of my sight."

Gwen watched as the stunned ex council left the room confused and hurt. Off to the

side leaning against the wall, Gwaine was looking between her husband and the

unmoving mage kneeling at his feet like a well trained slave, which thanks to the glinting

band on his finger she was.

***************************************************Birth********************************************

He eyed Arthur like he was a stranger in his kings body and Emrys was just sitting

there was not even a twitch of movement. Something was very wrong. He waited until

the large wooden doors shut and the four of them were alone in the room.

"Oi! princesses, what the hell was that? I've never heard you like that before and what's

wrong with Emrys?"

"Well Gwaine that was me being a King not that you are smart enough to understand

what that is like. As for Ambrose, my Gwen has shown me the error of my ways I gave

this creature way too much power to fix that I've taken away it's free will. It is nothing

more than a magic tool for my use I just can't believe it took me this long to take it in

hand."

"She is not a thing! She is a person, Leon's bride, Merlin's sister. stop this right now

it's like you're enchanted or something."

"Watch your tone Gwaine I give you a lot of leeway but as I said earlier I will not be

challenged my tool can and will punish you."

"As you wish, sire. I'll take my leave so as to not impose on you any longer."

"Good. Spread the word to the rest of the Knights and Guardians I am in control and

woe to any who challenge that."

********************************************birth***************************************************

All she wanted was to wake up, to restart this morning and leave the nightmare behind.

The man she loves overnight had turned into his father. The fair and just King Merlin

gave his life for is turning into a power mad tyrant and it was all her fault. Never had she

felt that she needed Merlin more then she did right now. Arthur was so happy and proud

of himself doing all this in her name she knew he wasn't enchanted. The three points he

made were both needed and welcome by the people but the threats and rude and

condescending words were not her Arthur and she had no one to turn to. Merlin was

gone, as was her brother, Leon was still unconscious and Emrys…

Her gaze fell to the still unmoving mage kneeling at his feet she entered their life so

strong and loyal full of fire and joy so very much like her brother. Over the past few

months everyone's lives have been improved by her kind soul, the soul that was a small

part of her dead best friend. The guilt building inside her chest had her fighting back

tears as she recalled this morning watching the beautiful mage beg for her freedom and

seeing the light leave those dark eyes and the red handprint on the side of her face all

because she was a foolish girl. So what if she was amazingly beautiful and smarter than

most people in the kingdom? Time and again she proved she was no threat to her

husband, love life, her Queen or kingdom. As Queen she should have been thrilled to

have such a wonderful person serving her people but all she saw was a personal threat.

How could she be so shallow? She needed to fix this and free Emrys but how as long as

Arthur wore that ring… Gwen was pulled from her thoughts by a light kiss on her lips.

"Welcome back my love I was starting to get worried I was calling to you what were

you thinking about? if it is about Ambrose don't fret it is completely under my power it

can't harm you any longer."

"Thinking oh nothing much I was just wondering if Leon was doing okay would you

mind if I went for a visit?" She had to hide her flinch as he referred to Emrys as an it no

one deserved that. She hoped Leon was still unaware seeing Emrys enslaved would

result in someone's death his own, Emrys' or Arthurs.

"Of course not my dear, go check on him Iwas wondering myself, then come find me

in the dungeon and we will have lunch."

"Dungeons whatever for?" oh god what has he done now?

"Nothing for you to worry about just Dredrues' partner, he came to me and confessed

last night so I just want to finish interrogating him before I kill him."

"Wait, are you talking about Gilli? I remember you saying that this morning. What

about a trial he deserves to defend himself." Kill him,he wanted to kill someone who

confessed for the good of the kingdom!?

"Yes I am! see that's why I love you so observant but you need not think of such

unpleasant things he confessed so a trial is not needed and a waste of time worry not

my love I'll handle all the hard stuff. You are Queen of the people later you should go into

town and play with the children or something. I'll be king and deal with the hard things.

together we are perfect and we balance. Now go see Leon and I'll have your favorite

lunch ready for you. Ambrose come, we have work to do."

The faint "yes my king" that floated across the room sent a chill down her spine as she

watched her husband stomp out of the throne room followed by the broken mage on

their way to murder someone she had to stop him!

************************************************************birth********************************

Arthur was nothing if not a professional his poker face gave nothing away as he

demeaned, threatened and insulted the nobility. The tax and new council was Merlin's

idea and he agreed fully way before they started this. Gwaine was harder than he

thought but in the end he succeeded. He turned to his wife to see her lost in thought

staring at Merlin's prone body, her eyes wet and shiney it was working, he could see the

guilt in those brown eyes. He said nothing as she stared but followed her gaze.

Merlin was gone. Emrys was gone. What he had in front of him was a simple shell how

he wanted to rip off the blasted ring and toss it into the fire but not until Gwen made him.

He brought her back with a kiss and played his next card yes he was going to visit Gilli

but not to question or kill him but to enlist his help but he hoped Gwen would try to stop

him from committing murder.

He tried to belittle her but not too much he needed his Gwen back, the strong wise kind

woman he fell in love with, not this insecure stranger. As he left the room with Merlin

trailing behind he had to bite his gloved fist to hold off the wimper wanting to escape

after the dead soft monotone "yes my king" followed him down the hall. Once he

rounded the corner he stopped and turned to face his soulmate. He knew she would

respond to him and he just hoped that somewhere inside this shell she would hear him.

"I don't know if you can hear me but it will be over soon just hold on a little longer I

will make this up to you on my word as a king and a man I can't lose you if I had know it

would affect you like this I would have never agreed but it's working so please just hold

on a little longer please!"

"Yes my king I can hear you I shall hold on as you say."

"Emrys' could you answer a question for me?"

"Yes my king, what would you like to know?"

"The armbands' this ring, if I remove them temporarily and then replace them will it harm you?"

"Yes my king' these we made for one time use if you were to reapply insanely will

follow. The human mind cannot be thrust in and out of submission without shattering the

personality."

"Oh bloody hell! there goes that idea, come along then we have places to be."

************************************************Birth***********************************************

Gwaine had not been this mad in a long time there was no way in hell that was the real

Arthur he was just speaking with. He had met a lot of kings in his life as a traveler and

that man in there reminded him of Oden in his rudeness and ego. He would be damned

if he was going to relay the message to the others. Arthur was clearly enchanted and

with Emrys under his thumb the physician was his next best bet. God just remembering

the small frame of the court mage kneeling, empty made him want to run the imposter

through with his sword. To take away someone's free will and treat them like an object

and not a person was beyond his tolerance for injustice. He never really embraced

knighthood but he could not let that stand. He would make Merlin proud and free his

sister and save his king. He found himself standing outside the door of

Hunith and Gaius. "Well sir Gwaine time to save the day." he mumbled to himself as he

knocked on the large wooden door.

Ending it there I know it is a little short but I only had a few days off to get it written. with the pandemic and everything I might find myself posting another chapter sooner the later

I wish for all of you to stay safe and those affected to get better

Thank you to all mandatory workers and health care providers out their keeping us safe and supplied

Until next time

Stay tooned