So let's share a little good news amongst ourselves. My home(ish) team won the Stanley Cup this week and my parents celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary. They are now the answer to life, the universe, and everything. (Who gets that reference?) What good things are happening for you?
Summary: Camelot's danced around wholly accepting magic back for months now. Now Arthur must come forward with his final choice. How will he undertake the biggest change of his rule?
Chapter 14: Forging the Future
"So this, this Dragonlord power, it's just going to be another exemption your servant has from the law?"
Arthur barely managed to stop a sigh. Not even five minutes in and already the controversy was starting. "For the time being yes," he answered, true regret evident in his tone. "It's a temporary measure I assure you." A few courtiers, mistaking the meaning behind his words, start trading smirks among themselves. The king let them have their moment of supposed triumph before adding, "If all goes well there soon won't be a law anyone will need exemption from."
Disbelieving looks turned his direction.
"Sire?"
"You are well aware of what I'm speaking of, I don't need to spell it out for you."
And three, two, one.
"You mean to remove the restrictions on all magic? Restrictions that your father spent your entire life enforcing?" Lord Osbert's gaze flicked to Arthur's right. "This was your idea sorcerer!"
Merlin snorted and several knights groaned. Conversation paused as hands dug into purses and coins were slapped into the warlock's outstretched palm. "I warned you this would happen. Not even ten seconds passed before it all became my fault. One would think members of this council don't believe their king capable of making his own decisions."
Sir Isaac nudged Gwaine with his elbow. "You pay up too."
"Oh no, I'm in the clear with this. I learned a long time ago, never bet against Merlin. And don't play dice against him either. The man took me for thirty silver one night, I learned my lesson after that."
"Shh, you're giving away my secrets."
"Merlin has a valid point however," Arthur redirected the conversation before he thought too hard about the night his servant had all too willingly gone along with his suggestion the two of them play dice. "My father, who you seem so anxious to remind me of, also spent most of my life teaching me what happened to those who challenged the king's decisions. Do you need a reminder of such lessons?"
Worry flashed in the old man's eyes momentarily though it quickly turned to distrust and defiance. "Your father never gave any doubt he was in control of his own mind."
Merlin started to lift his hand again and Arthur pushed it back down. "Not yet."
The lord blinked and then continued. "This man has been beside you in every choice you've made in magic's favor. How do we know he hasn't been behind them. How do we know he hasn't enchanted-"
"There it is."
This time Arthur joined in the simultaneous expressions of dismay, adding his own payment to the gradually increasing pile in front of his friend. Gwaine and Merlin again shared a mutually smug grin.
"You said the magic word there oh shriveled one," was the knight's further comment.
"And he clearly has all of you under his thumb as well!" Another lord spoke up.
"If placing even a portion of Camelot's knights under magical control were possible, would not Morgana have taken advantage of it?" Percival asked firmly as yet another payout was handed over. "She wouldn't have had the need for half of the spies or armies she employed if she could have simply made the kingdom give itself over to her."
"That proves nothing. This traitor-"
"Silence!" Guinevere snapped. "These baseless accusations will cease at once or each and every one of you will be held personally accountable for bankrupting the kingdom. You are being informed of these changes not asked about them. You can listen and learn or resign, right here and right now. Your choice."
The following quiet was absolute and stretched on for several minutes, each member of the round table regarding their queen with varying amounts of respect and terror. Finally, after a near invisible signal from his king, Leon spoke up.
"What do you propose to replace the current law with my lord? Merlin's power over the dragons will only ever be used for the good of Camelot but can we say the same would hold true for others whose power over magic might be just as strong?"
"A very good question Sir Leon and, if there are no further interruptions, I will commence with this meeting's actual agenda. And that is how we will be moving forward with reintroducing magic back into everyday life. Without requiring its users to request special exemption before proceeding with their task."
"Before King Uther instituted the ban there was a very fair and proactive set of laws regulating the use of sorcery." Geoffrey began. "It was perfectly sufficient in those days although I can't say it would hold the same influence in light of current events."
"Agreed. Those laws are in the process of being examined in detail by all interested parties to see which will work best in granting freedom to those with magical capabilities and allaying the fears of those who do not. This decision was not made lightly nor will it have a short resolution. But I encourage you to look at this as reintegrating a part of our society, not creating a new one a new society altogether. There will be trial and error on both sides, regulations that are drafted up might have to be revised the first time they are used. But I don't foresee it being as difficult as it might appear."
"As Geoffrey has pointed out, some laws do not age well. We need a system that works well with current and future ages not past ones."
Arthur nodded in acknowledgement of his queen's point. "Therefore I don't intend to rely solely on old texts and imperfect memories when it comes to instituting our kingdom's new policies. Through wise counsel and no small amount of good fortune Camelot has established and maintained open and friendly relations with several of our neighboring kingdoms who have more...relaxed views on the subject of magic.
"Because of this difference in policy, there have never been formal treaties with some of these kingdoms and the treaties in place with others are so old that they weren't even signed by the current rulers. As such the queen and I have issued an invitation to the leaders of said kingdoms to discuss either the forming or renewal of alliances. It has been made formally known to them, if they need such reassurance, that Camelot is revising the way it treats magic that is used within its borders, and requests that our allies do the same. The invitation also made it clear that insight on how those kingdoms that allow magic manage problems involving it would not be unwelcome. Or better still, insight into how they prevent problems from occurring at all."
"They've agreed to this my lord?" One of the younger councilors asked.
"So far we can expect guests from Nemeth, Gwynedd, Deorham and Gawant," Gwen informed him.
"Gawant? Lord Godwin would not agree to tolerate magic under his rule. He was loyal to Uther."
Endeavoring not to lose his temper at the dig, Arthur pulled a letter from the pile in front of him. "If you doubt my word Lord Osbert you can read his reply for yourself."
The Lord accepted the command and the rest of the round table spent the next few minutes watching as his face alternately paled and flushed. At last he put the paper down and sat back with the look of a man trying to swallow a mouse.
"For those of you who may have missed the announcement" Arthur explained, barely withholding his amusement, "Princess Elena was wed less than six months before Queen Guinevere and myself. What was kept quiet for the sake of our alliance was that her husband was from an ancient line of sorcerers indigenous to the Western Isles. A small group established residence in Dyfed and the westernmost border of Gawant. One of their members was the closest living relative to what remained of a royal family and as such petitioned for peaceful relations with Lord Godwin. The young man and the princess quickly grew attached to one another. Given Drystan's power and the fact that Elena had refused all other suitors, her father did not think it wise to discourage the union and the opportunities it presented."
"The princess and her husband replied to our request by saying that they are happy to lend their full support to Camelot's reunification with magic. Lord Godwin added that while he remains personally unsure on the issue, in the interests of a peaceful future for his current and future grandchildren he is open to discussing it." Guinevere's typically warm gaze hardened fractionally. "His party will arrive at the end of next month along with all others who have agreed to attend. When they arrive they will find the members of this kingdom as open and welcoming as they would be if a treaty on any other subject was being celebrated."
"Welcomed by all except you Lord Osbert." Arthur fixed the man with a stern glare. "You were wrong earlier. My father's mind was not always his own. Rather, over the years it became possessed by guilt and rage, and not one person living in Camelot has remained unaffected by the consequence of his unfettered hatred and fear. Only those who prove that they are willing to set aside such deficiencies are of any use to me in directing the future of my kingdom. Effective immediately I am retiring you back to your estate. You will remain there unless your presence is required by the crown. Thank you for years of service. Council is dismissed."
_pb_
"Do you think this strategy will be effective?" Arthur wondered aloud as Merlin helped divest him of his formal attire.
"I think it's brilliant. It'll do everyone good to hear unbiased opinions. If nothing else, hearing other kingdoms have a working relationship with magic beyond merely using it to fix their problems will help reassure the people. Better still, if there could ultimately be one policy for magic's relations with all kingdoms, that would help further a united Albion."
"Hmm," the king rubbed his forehead slowly, "still not sure about that."
Merlin cocked his head. "You're not sure about having the kingdoms be united?"
"Uniting the kingdoms yes, your idea that I'm the best one to lead said kingdoms however..." He'd never expected such a proposition. It was both alluring and terrifying.
"Well, we can argue about that later. In the meantime you have the afternoon free, I would suggest taking a nap."
Arthur stretched slowly, willing the tension in his muscles to ease. "This one time Merlin I'm going to agree with you." He turned around only to startle at arms wrapping themselves tightly around him. "Um, Merlin."
"I know you don't like them but you're going to have to get used to it once in a while. What you've started today, what it'll ultimately mean for people like me, I don't have the right words. Hugs are how I was taught to say thank you without them."
Recognizing the gratitude and also the request for reassurance the gesture doubled as Arthur bit back a sarcastic comment and settled into the embrace. Merlin let him pull away after a minute but kept a grip on his shoulders.
"I mean it," he murmured softly. He then cleared his throat noisily. "I'll uh, I'll let you get some rest."
The king clapped his friend on the arm and shooed him off with orders to do the same. He collapsed into bed the moment Merlin closed the door and was out before he even remembered to remove his boots.
_pb_
"Gwen? What's wrong?"
The queen rose from the bench she'd been occupying and hurried over to him.
"Are you alright?" They uttered simultaneously. She rolled her bottom lip under her teeth, waiting for him to answer first.
"I..yes. Why do you ask?"
"I just," she sighed nervously. "I know we planned for them, and you played them off better than we could have hoped. But I also know the council's accusations had to have bothered you, and I'm here to tell you that sharing the fact you're upset about their words does not make you a burden to anyone."
Merlin sighed, blinking back the mist that tried to gather under his lashes. "Only one of the lords refused to back down, and it's safe to say the others have learned from his example. Although…" He shrugged, unsure how to put his disappointment into words. He'd known it was foolish to expect the charge of enchantments placed upon the king not to come up - no matter how the others had insisted none of the lords were that stupid. But a pile of coins didn't make up for hearing one of his greatest fears voiced loud and clear.
Gwen watched him, her own eyes brimming with tears. "I just wish I could do something to help."
"You have. You've listened. You spoke up for me even when you didn't have to. And you fixed this for me without me even asking." He pointed to the mended rip in the blue jacket he was still wearing. The stitches she'd used were so fine and even it was almost impossible to see there had been a tear in the first place. Still the visible sign of the threat made against him caused her face to fall.
"Changing the law can't change people's hearts Gwen. People without magic won't automatically trust it and people with magic won't automatically trust Camelot. And they might never. It takes a brave person to be willing to change their way of thinking. The rest of us have to live with that. And that's okay. At least this time if I have to wait for acceptance, I know I'm not waiting alone."
"Certainly not! You are my friend, and I will support you for as long as I draw breath."
He smiled warmly and thanked her. "Now tell me, what else is it that's bothering you?"
"I didn't- I wasn't going to ask." She broke eye contact, twisting the pearl ring Arthur had given her for their last anniversary around her finger.
"What?" he asked gently, taking her hand to stop the nervous fidget.
"Have you found any answers to the problem I asked you about?"
His expression shuttered. "I looked but it was as I suspected. The only way magic can ensure you conceive would be at the cost of another person's life."
"I'm not asking for help conceiving Merlin, I just want you to tell me if something is wrong. I can't stand this anymore! The looks, the whispers - you know what it's like all too well. The more vicious the rumor, the more people delight in spreading it. If I'm not with child soon -"
"Arthur would never set you aside Gwen. You are the most important person in his life, heir or no heir. You know this."
She shook her head. "It's not just having an heir, I love him with all my heart. I want to have his child. I keep imagining what it would be like to feel the life growing inside me, to lay our newborn in my husband's arms. He nearly died Merlin. He could again at any point and I… I need to know I'll always have a piece of him with me, no matter what happens."
The faint connection he felt to Balinor every time he uttered the dragon tongue passed through Merlin's mind. "I can understand your longing Gwen. And no one could have a purer motive. But the power to bring a new life into the world is a fickle and poorly understood gift. Why it works in some people and not others can be impossible to determine. I know Gaius has explained this to you both. We may find you are in absolutely perfect health, no curses or deviations from what is necessary to conceive, and it still may never happen."
"Either way I need to know. If we can't have a child of our own, then we'll have to find another means of securing the kingdom's future. Especially now that Arthur wants to expand our pool of alliances. The rulers of those kingdom's deserve to know who they'll be dealing with should Arthur pass before his time."
They'll deal with you Gwen, Arthur's declared it so multiple times. She clearly wasn't in the mood to hear that however. "I'll do what I can. I don't know a lot about this subject, for obvious reasons, but I know where to find the druid healers, one of them might have a better idea of what to look for. When I know how to do a proper test, I'll tell you. Both of you."
"I don-"
"No." He interrupted. "You face this together or not at all. Arthur would say the same."
"Alright." Impulsively she threw her arms around him. "Just try your best. Please."
He hugged her back, a sad smile on his lips. "I always try."
These poor people. :(
By the way, does anyone know what Geoffrey's official title would be historically? He was a nobleman and seemed to be in charge of the library. Would he be the kingdom's record keeper? Historian? Something else? Any ideas would be appreciated.