Previously:
"Hm, I'm going to be a bit late it seems..." Merlin frowned, staring ahead. His blue eyes snapped to Arthur, "But I'll see you again at the ceremony. If you follow this road down here and turn left at the apothecary, the path to the court yard becomes more or less obvious."
"You're going to be serving at the..." Arthur made a vague hand gesture, searching for his next words.
"Something like that." Merlin gave him a mischievous smirk that Arthur didn't see, "Best be going, yeah?"
Arthur looked away for a second, only to look back and find Merlin was gone.
Gwaine offered the crook of his elbow to Arthur with a wolfish grin, "Shall we get going, Princess?"
Arthur made his way up the courtyard steps, still marveling at the architecture around him when he heard an 'aw come on!' ring behind him, he looked back. Gwaine had been stopped at the gate house to the outerward, two guards had crossed their spears to bar his passage. There was a hearty laugh in front of him. Arthur looked to it to see a kind face.
"Hello, Prince Arthur," King Balinor told Arthur, warm chocolate eyes crinkled and twinkling in familiar crescent moons. Instead of looking like a ragged caveman on the run like the last time Arthur remembered him, Balinor looked regal and powerful. His dark long hair was braided back, thick, and healthy, with different ornaments that complemented his many embattled bells and whistles on his ceremonial garb fit for his status. His facial hair looked full and trim, accentuating rosy cheeks. His cheek line and side burns look very perfect… I don't know a barber who could-is it possible for magic to be used for something so domestic?
Noticing Balinor had taken off a glove and held his bare hand to Arthur, the blond quickly pulled off his hunting glove and clasped his hand with the larger man's.
"Oi, old man! You can't keep me out here forever!" Gwaine taunted, trying to capture his king's attention.
Arthur pulled his hand back and looked back at Gwaine with wide eyes, fearing for the idiot who would dare to speak to his (powerful, very dangerous magic) king like that. Do you want a death wish? He could smite you where you stand, you-
Arthur's panicked inner monologue was interrupted by more laughter from the man next to him.
One of the guards raised her helmet, her face full of disdain towards the rogue knight, who smiled prettily at her, his head cocked to one side. The guard to Gwaine's other side, snorted, while the woman with a raised visor looked to her king, question visible on her features.
"Let him through, I wager we've teased him enough." Balinor ribbed.
Gwaine sighed, dramatic. The two guards righted their spears to let him through. Gwaine winked at them as he walked by.
Arthur wasn't sure who looked more unimpressed-for having so much emotion on a face with a helmet on it was quite a feat for the guard with her visor still down. Still, the other rolled her eyes before fixing her stance and flicking her visor back down.
"No need to look so shy, son," Balinor told Arthur, slinging an arm around his shoulder and squeezing good naturedly, "We've met before and how tall you've grown since! I remember throwing you as high up in the air as I could-with your mother looking downright terrified, of course. Ha! I don't think I could very well do the same thing now, champ."
Gwaine flung his arm around Balinor's other side and flashed Arthur a cheeky smile.
"Nah pops, he's just wondering why you didn't throw me in the stocks for insubordination." Gwaine said, wiggling his eyebrows at Arthur, who scowled back at him.
King Balinor laughed once more-a sound Arthur was growing secretly fond of. "You see, Gwaine here is like a brother to my son. Just as Ser Lancelot and Ser Percival are. I'm very grateful to have them as a part of my royal house."
"He's basically everyone's dad, honestly. Very open and caring. Will spend fuck ever listening to the townspeople during open audience every two weeks," Gwaine would have kept on if Balinor hadn't elbowed him.
"None of that language, you know how visiting dignitaries are quick to point out your immaturity." Balinor teased.
"Hey-hey! It's just Camelot's lot, it's not like it's," Gwaine smirked at Arthur, "An important newcomer. Besides, Princess here is offended by everything."
Arthur rolled his eyes up to the sky, wondering how he was still saddled with this ridiculous name, as King Balinor ushered them inside the inner gates and through the inner ward to the large castle doors that were open invitingly.
"You know what's wrong? You flirt with a handmaiden once and you have a reputation. Ridiculous. Honestly." Gwaine grumbled.
"Once?" Leon raised his eyebrows, "through the years I've gotten to know you, Ser Gwaine, once is not the most accurate number I'd use."
"You wound me Ser Leon!"
"I'm sure." Leon stated, quirking a small smile to relay his teasing.
"Bold of you to assume math is Gwaine's strong suit," Arthur shot in.
"Oh, that was a good one, I have to give it to you, Princess. And here I thought you were all bark and no bite!" Gwaine laughed at himself.
-x-
The walk from the courtyard to the castle gates was a long one, as King Balinor and Ser Gwaine were both a similar kind of friendly chatty. They stopped for anyone who called out to them, and had lengthy conversations with a good handful of house members and commoners. Balinor excused himself as his royal manservant collected him, advising that it wasn't wise to be late at the banquet hall for the feast. Gwaine was quick to assure Balinor that he could get Arthur to the great hall in one piece, though Arthur had doubts.
"Gwaine! Oh, hey Arthur!" A familiar voice came from behind them. Arthur stopped and turned to look at William, who had rushed to meet them from the courtyard gates. Arthur, quite used to being addressed casually by Merlin and any friends of Merlin's, just turned an amused smile in William's direction.
"Surprised to see you on your feet, William. You looked positively pallid this morning." Arthur greeted.
"Yeah, yeah, Em already teased me when I brought him his breakfast. You were looking pretty green yourself, though, so you have no room to talk, your royal buttness," William taunted.
"I'm not sure what your prince lets you get away with addressing him as, but rest assured," Leon started, but was cut off by Arthur.
"It's alright, Leon," The blond prince started, and Leon looked on inquisitively, "Though I appreciate you coming to my defense. What do you expect but insolence from a friend of Gwaines, however?" Arthur finished.
" Hey! " Gwaine yelped, "What does that say about me, then?"
"You probably don't want the answer to that question," William mock-whispered.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Arthur questioned.
"I told you at the tavern this morning, Em and I are thick as thieves. Oh shit! Speaking of, I need to find his royal menace or we'll be later than usual, ta-ta!" William rushed out, and ran into the castle halls in front of them and ducked into a servant's passage.
"And here we are! The great hall!" Gwaine gestured to two ornate doors that were held open by two stewards and guarded by the same number of page boys and guardsmen.
Inside the great hall was beautiful. There were four long tables with benches to either side in rich dark wood adorned with blue table runners with silver trim. There were servants and what looked to be cooks bustling around putting down place settings and entrees. More striking of all, was the lighting in the hall. There were many small floating white orbs that reminded Arthur of the tales of will-o-wisps he was warned about as a child that lit the great hall from many different areas of the room.
However, that wasn't what had Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the thrones as if he saw a ghost. That honor belonged to the Queen Ygraine, who looked exactly like the portrait he talked to growing up, rosy cheeked, golden haired, and smiling, just as healthy as she could be. His mother. Alive. Right there in front of him.
Almost like a dream.
I'm so sorry for the wait! I want to thank everyone for the kind comments over the years. Any time I got one it encouraged me to open up the word document with this file in it and work on it. I have the ending done now, I just need to get to it. I feel like I've built up this fic so much in my head with this need that it *has* to be perfect, I've psyched myself out. Now I've decided I'm just gonna wing it. Hopefully you've enjoyed, and also hopefully I'll see you before this year is up!
Review or DM me with magical things you'd like to see! Or what you'd like to see a magical kingdom have/what type of casual magic you'd like Arthur to react to. Thanks to everyone for your continued support!