I am not the owner of Merlin.
Arthur stood looking in the mirror as Merlin finished adjusting the red cape draped on his shoulders. It still felt strange for him to be getting ready to be crowned king, He kept expecting to wake up and find that it had all been a dream. That he had never found out Merlin and Morgana had magic, that He'd never found out Uther had lied about magic corrupting people that he hadn't died. However it wasn't a dream, He was being crowned into a reign in which he was going to have to clean up his father's mess.
"there, you're done," Merlin said giving Arthur's shoulders one last swipe with his hand to brush some imaginary dirt off.
Merlin stepped back to admire his work, Arthur rolled his eyes and turned away from the mirror.
"you haven't changed," Arthur said
"I told you before, you'd get bored," Merlin told him
"you are still such a girl's petty coat," Arthur said
"and you're still a prat" Merlin retorted.
Arthur was silent for a moment, he walked over and looked out the window at the people gathered bellow. Most of the people that had left the city over the past year had returned, not all but most.
Repairs on homes and the sections of city walls that had been destroyed during the battle with Essitire and Cornwall would take to time to rebuild. The Prince regent found it hard to believe it had happened just over a month before.
"you are going to be a great king," Merlin told him as he walked over and stood beside him at the window.
"what, can you see into the future now?" Arthur joked
"no that would be your sister and even then no future is written in stone" Merlin replied.
"how can you be so sure I'll be a great king?" Arthur asked
"I don't need to be able to see into the future to know you will be a great king," Merlin told him. "you've been showing me for years. You've always done what you thought was right, you put the needs of your people above your own wants. You went against your father's wishes when you knew he was wrong"
"but I've hurt so many innocent people because I thought I was doing the right thing," Arthur said
"people like you and Morgana, do you have any idea how many druids have died at my hands and the hands of the men that were under my command? How many people I watched, executed, for no other crime than having magic? How many of them were like you, born with magic and not given a choice in the matter? I've made so many mistakes I don't know if I'll ever be able to make up for them."
"Arthur one thing your father never understood was that in order to begin fixing your mistakes you first have to admit to yourself that you've made them" Merlin told him. "you've already taken that first step and already have plans to reverse the damage, and you won't have to do it alone."
A knock sounded at the door just as Merlin finished speaking.
"everything is ready sire" a voice called through the door. "we are ready when you are"
"I'll be a moment" Arthur answered him turning away from the window.
"I'll see you in the great hall," Merlin told him sensing the prince wanted a moment alone.
Arthur nodded his head quietly dismissing his manservant.
Merlin stopped just as he put his hand on the door handle, he spoke looking back at his friend.
"just remember, the purpose of a king is not to be held up on a pedestal. The king serves the people, all the people not just the noble families"
with that Merlin opened the door and stepped out of the room closing the doors behind him.
"so hows the princess doing?" Gwaine asked as he fell into step beside Merlin.
"He's nervous, but he'll be fine," Merlin told the knight "and considering he's going to be crowned king in less than an hour you should probably stop calling him princess"
"right," Gwaine said in a mock serious tone. "I'm going to have to start calling him queen".
Arthur watched Merlin leave through the corner of his eyes before sighing and walking over to the table. A box sat in front of his seat, his Uncle Agrivaine had brought it with him when he arrived the week before.
"your mother would have wanted you to have this" Agrivaine had told him.
The prince opened the box to reveal the pin with a white phoenix, it was the sigil of his mother's family. The Phoenix represents renewal and resurrection, Arthur took the pin from its place in the small box and attached it to his cape beside where it was tied together.
Arthur opened another box which had a pin with a dragon on it, The sigil of his father's family representing power. Arthur took the pin and placed it on his cape beside where it was tied together across from the phoenix.
The Prince regent stood up and walked over to the mirror to see, the phoenix and the dragon faced each other. Renewal, resurrection, and power, it was fitting for the beginning of his reign. A chance to start things fresh, he would have the power to renew the kingdom to set right the wrongs he and his father had done. Arthur thought it a bit ironic, that the sigil of the family of the woman who's death had marked the beginning of the twenty-two years of the persecutions of magic and the sigil of the family of the man who's death would mark the end of the persecution of magic were both creatures of magic.
Morgana sat in front of her vanity brushing her hair while Gwen searched through her wardrobe for a dress for the princess to wear. When Morgana and Merlin had first gotten back from their time away Gwen had been a bit surprised when she came into find Morgana brushing her own hair. It had normally been something that was expected of the servant to do. Her mistress and friend explained that while it had been just her and Merlin there were things she had had to do for herself.
"how about this one?" Gwen asked holding up a red dress with a gold coloured belt and sleeves. The V-shaped neck line going down to just above where her cleavage would start.
"I don't think so," Morgana said looking at the reflection of the dress in her mirror. " I wouldn't want to take attention away from Arthur"
Gwen looked at the dress then back at Morgana then back at the dress.
"I suppose it would draw attention," Gwen said putting it back in the wardrobe.
Morgana watched her friend's reflection as she continued to look for a dress.
When she had been taken away Morgana had been semi-aware that Arthur was attracted to Gwen. She had suspected that the prince and her servant were dancing around secretly courting. Then when she returned it was to find that Arthur and Gwen were deeply in love. This servant could very well someday be the queen of Camelot ,her sister in law. Before this thought would have bothered her but Morgana knew now that those feelings she had been having were caused by the bracelet Morgause had given her and now that it was gone her real feelings had a chance to come.
Morgana had heard people talking about how Gwen had stepped up during the preparations for the siege to organize the servants and the guards making sure as many citizens were brought into the citadel as possible before the gates were closed. How she had helped Gaius treat the wounded, having barrels of water brought into the great hall's temporary medical base had been her idea. She had seen for herself Gwen's strength and potential leadership abilities.
Gwen while respectful was not to cowed to give Arthur a piece of her mind when he needed it. Morgana smiled as an image of Gwen wearing a beautiful gown and a crown being placed on her head appeared for a few seconds in the mirror before reverting back to Gwen searching for a dress.
"alright, I think I found the right one" Gwen spoke bringing out a green dress with a red waist that looked like thin a buckle-less belt and a red leaf design going up the sides of the skirt ending at the waist.
Morgana put her brush down and turned as she stood up.
"it's perfect Gwen," Morgana said walking over to her.
"alright, come on go change behind the screen and I'll help you with the ties," Gwen said bringing the dress over to the changing screen.
Morgana stepped behind the screen and started to undress.
"you know it's odd," She said as she slipped out of her top. "while I was traveling with Merlin I ended up wearing shirts that I just pulled on or buttoned in the front and I don't think I wore a skirt for well over a year before arriving in Ealdor, now I am back to wearing dresses and gowns yet I find that I prefer the pants and shirts sometimes"
"perhaps you could find a way to design some pants for women" Gwen suggested as she straightened out the things on Morgana's vanity.
"oh yes, I'm sure that would go over very well," Morgana said sarcastically as she stepped into the dress and pulled it up slipping her arms into the sleeves and the shoulders on.
Gwen came over and tightened the lacing in the back before tying it off at the top. She stepped back as Morgana turned around. Gwen followed Morgana back over to the vanity and helped her put her hair up into a french braid. When she was done Morgana stood back up and walked over to the full-length mirror.
"you look perfect," Gwen told Morgana as she checked her reflection.
"not quite," Morgana said, "would you please bring me that little green box from the vanity?"
"of course my lady" Gwen said, Morgana raised and eyebrow at her "sorry, of course Morgana"
Gwen brought the box over and held it for Morgana to open, Morgana used both hands to clasp the ends of a necklace made with red satin and a golden dragon pendant that had small rubies for eyes. Gwen took a gentle breath of awe, it was lovely and would go perfectly with the dress.
The necklace had been a belated twentieth birthday gift from Arthur, He told her he had had it made just incase she and Merlin made it home in time.
"Gwen, will you help me with the clasping please?" Morgana asked as she pulled the necklace up to her neck.
"yes Morgana" Gwen said stepping behind her and taking the ends of the necklace from her hands.
"Gwen promise me something?" Morgana asked her tone gentle as Gwen fixed the clasps of the necklace together. " no matter what, you will always help me pick out a gown for special occasions?"
"of course I will," Gwen told her stepping back as she finished with the clasp. She caught Morgana's eyes in the reflection. "why would I not?"
"no reason." Morgana softly smiled at her future queen. "I have a gift for you."
The great hall was filled with nobles and some of the higher-ranking servants. Merlin and Gwaine walked up and joined Leon, Elyan, Lancelot, Bedevier and Percival. They all stood at the front of the room waiting for Arthur, there was a bit of a murmur from some of the nobles when they saw a servant standing by the knights rather than with the other servants at the back of the room.
Merlin ignored them, Arthur had specifically told him to be at the front, he was staying at the front.
"you servant" one of the nobles hissed from behind him.
"yes my lord" Merlin said turning his head slightly to look at the man.
"what do you think you're doing up here? " the man demanded taking a hold of Merlin's arm "servants are meant to be in the back, you need to learn your place"
Merlin didn't need to respond Sir Bedevier did it for him, as he pulled the lord's hand off Merlin's arm and gently pulled him out of his reach.
"He is Prince Arthur's personal man servant Lord Talin and Prince Arthur has specified that he wants Merlin up front,"Bediveir told the noble in a hushed voice. " are you suggesting he should go against the prince's orders?"
Lord Talin stepped back a little.
"no of course not, I am sorry I didn't know," Lord Talin said to Bediveir
"I'm not the one you should apologize to," Bediveir told him glancing at Merlin.
Lord Talin followed his gaze then turned back to him and gave him a, you can't be serious look. Bediveir gave him an oh I'm serious eyebrow.
"I am sorry Merlin," Lord Talin said not sounding sincere at all " I was unaware you were following orders.
"it's alright my lord,under normal circumstances you would have been right" Merlin told him.
A moment later a murmur went through the crowd as two people walked into the room and walked up the isle toward the front pausing only for a moment as the two women spoke about something then one of then wrapped her arm around the other's and guided her up to the front.
Gwen looked around and back at the other servants whom she should be standing with guided her over to stand beside Merlin and the knights before she finally let go of her. Merlin and the knights eyes followed Gwen and Morgana.
"my Lady I really should be back with other servants" Gwen spoke quietly.
"you may technically still be a servant Gwen but you are also the sister of a knight," Morgana told her "plus I want you up here with me"
"my Lady" Leon and Bediveir greeted Morgana with a bow each of them giving Gwen a respectful nod.
"Gwen you look gorgeous," Elyan told his sister
"thank you Elyan," Gwen said giving him a peck on the cheek.
Gwen wore a heather purple dress with periwinkle sleeves, her hair had been put up in a partly braided updo.
"you both look wonderful," Merlin said
""you were right, purple is a good colour on her."" Merlin telepathed to Morgana.
"Gweneviere, Morgana you both look lovely today," Gaius said walking up to stand just behind them.
Just then the trumpets announcing the arrival of Prince Arthur sounded and the room fell silent. Morgana noticed Agrivaine glancing over at her with a confused look on his face which quickly hid before turning his attention back to Arthur.
The prince walked up to the front where Geoffry waited for him with the scroll of the royal coronation oaths and a squire holding the crown on a pillow.
Arthur kneeled down in front of Geoffery and the thrown.
"We gather here to Crown Prince Arthur Pendragon son of King Uther Pendragon and Queen Ygrain Pendragon ne Du Bois as King of Camelot if there be any who protest let them speak now." Geoffery said.
There was a moment of silence as no one spoke against crowning Arthur, so Geoffery continued.
"do you Arthur Pendragon swear to up hold the laws of Camelot, to be fair and just in all of your rulings to serve the needs of your people."
"I so swear." Arthur said solemnly
"Do you swear to defend the people of Camelot from her enemies and keep her people safe from those that would do them harm"
" I so swear"
"let all here witness I with the power vested in me crown Arthur Pendragon," Geoffery said as he picked up the crown.
"King of Camelot" Geoffery placed the crown on Arthur's head.
Arthur stood and turned around to face the people in the room his eyes scanned the people. Merlin and Gwen stood at the front of the room with Morgana and the knights. The new king found he was not surprised to see Morgana was not standing with Agrivaine his only other blood relative in the room which was customary.
Sir Leon was the first to start up the call.
"Long live the king" Sir Leon shouted
Merlin, Morgana, Gaius and Gwen joined him
"Long live the king"
soon everyone in the room called out.
"Long live the king, long live the king".
yeah Arthur is king, a bit earlier than he was in the show but this is alternate universe.
My plot gremlins have many ideas but no real plot direction. Hense the one shots.
