Out of Time

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: So… this took a very, very long time. MY BAD! But Hey, this is it. This is the chapter you guys have been waiting for. The chapter that's R-Rated, the reason this fic has such a mature rating. Which is why it's so long. If you don't wanna read R-Rated stuff, skip it, otherwise ENJOY! Remember reviews make me HAPPY!

Thanks to: Flolgd for being my 180th favourite. alliegator1217 for being my 250th follower! paulinebroadfoot10 for being my 190th favourite.

Shoutouts: Aliana06, Flolgd, Petalclaw's PatriceBethPorter, Marauder Heir, Fairy of stories, Half Winged Angel in Despair, KJMONSTER1, SassyGirl22, Sere15, HopelessDarkness, Akane Raikou, MoonVX, alliegator1217, 1967, Eponine42, Liz77629, ImaBiteChu, nycsinger16, sparkplugs, alexgodoy9, the real chosen 1, shadowhunter65, DWgeek2010, Paulinebroadfoot10 and maurice7899

Chapter 28: Out of Resolution

The very first thing that happened after the Black Knight's first challenge was Arthur locked Addison in her cell with the express order to the guards to not let her out. At All. It was infuriating, but she understood how he came to this conclusion. He had seen the Black Knight pause by her, had seen her flinch and cower, and he immediately slipped into protect-Addison mode. He feared a whole Knight Valliant situation all over again.

And the parallels between the two were uncanny. A strong knight using magic to cheat in a duel and seemed to want to kill Arthur for no undiscernible reason, it was almost as if Valliant had come back from the dead. Except this knight wasn't trying to bed her… she didn't think.

Across the castle, Merlin and Gaius were following a hunch. You see, Gaius had recognized the Black Knight's crest, his friend in the Archives, Geoffrey had confirmed who's crest it was. He had hoped that someone had just stolen the armour of the knight who was had been buried it the catacombs not so long ago. But when they got to the grave, they found the stone slab that had housed the dead knight had been destroyed, as if from the inside.

If they were right. They were dealing with a necromancer.

Up in the castle, Arthur was arguing with his father about why he shouldn't be battling this Black Knight. He was purposely avoiding the fact that he wanted to fight this guy himself, mainly because he felt Addison might be in danger the more this guy was around. But also because the guy kept throwing the gauntlet down in front of him, this was his battle to bear and the only reason he hadn't been allowed to take it up was because people felt as the Heir he shouldn't be entering into pointless duels anymore, especially duels to the death.

Regardless of what Arthur had said and what the knights were told Addison still managed to sneak out of her cell and get to Pellinore. She may not be allowed out of her cell the following morning and she was determined to give her luck to him. Just a little kiss on the cheek that had helped so many others.

But it didn't help Pellinore. And it didn't help the slew of knights that followed.

After the last knight was slain, Arthur beat his father to the punch. He threw down his own gauntlet, raised his own challenge to the Black Knight and at the collective moment, though Addison and Merlin were not together at the time, both Addison and Merlin came to the same conclusion.

They had to do something about this Black Knight.

It had taken a lot of planning and a little bit of magic to get to where she was at this moment. Hidden in the shadows of the main gate. Merlin was in a disclosed alleyway, he had no idea that she was there. And while Addison couldn't see him, she could feel him. So, when the Black Knight, who had been standing in front of her, suddenly was engulfed in flames, she knew who to blame. Not that she was about to go alert everyone of what had just transpired

The magic fire died and the Black Knight stood on as if nothing had happened. It took a moment, but Merlin's presence faded in her senses and Addison guessed that once the fire hadn't worked Merlin had ran off. That meant Addison could go forward with her own plan.

For good measure she counted to ten before slipping out of the shadows and approaching the Black Knight. She had purposely worn men's clothes for this, just in case, but her hair up in a tight ponytail would give away just how female she was. When she stood right in front of him, she took a deep breath and hoped that this wouldn't end in disaster.

"Okay, I think that you've been trying to talk to me, or at least… you tried once, am I right?" she asked him, her small voice breaking the eerie silence around them. She tried not to look too scared, especially since she had chosen this path. She had gone and walked up to him and everything, there was no turning back after that.

The visor of the knight turned to her immediately and she felt that buzz in her head again. For some reason it still wasn't translating to her.

"I can't understand what you're saying," she said quickly. "Is there a way for you to speak up or something, or maybe use your actual words? I mean I know you can talk."

"Fight," came the scratch Scottish voice again. Addison just stood there staring at him, not sure if he understood what she was trying to say. He unsheathed his sword and said it again: "Fight."

"No, no, I don't want to fight you, I just want to talk," she said, hastily taking a step back and putting her hands out to ward him off. Like her hands would help her against a sword.

"Must fight," he said and Addison narrowed her eyes at him.

"What? If I fight you, I'll be able to hear you?" she asked him. The black knight managed a nod before settling into his battle stance. Addison's mouth dropped in shock. "Look, dude, I'm not very good at the whole fighting thing and I don't even have a weapon, can't you just use your mouth like a normal person?"

The Black Knight swung his sword at her and Addison threw herself back, the blade narrowly missing her neck. Addison landed on her butt but as she fell, she heard a nice normal Scottish voice in her head.

It's easier to talk this way.

Addison looked up at him, he was just standing there, he could have finished her off by now, but he hadn't. His sword was by his side as he watched her. "Okay, if we do this, you have to try to not kill me."

He swung his sword again and Addison had to roll out of the way just to avoid it, but as she did so she heard him clear as a bell in her head.

I'll do my best.

Arthur was in the Great Hall listening to his father's lecture. About how it was fool hardy to issue that challenge. That this Black Knight was something they had never seen before, as if Arthur hadn't realized that already. His father actually begged him to withdraw it. But would Camelot want their future King to be coward?

What Arthur didn't tell his father was that he wanted to withdraw that challenge. The Black Knight was much more formidable than he had ever thought. He was certain he saw one of his knights deal the man a death blow but it hadn't affected him in the slightest. Even Arthur had doubts that he would be able to conquer this foe, and the thought of leaving Addison alone with Merlin and his father terrified him to no end. Because he was afraid of what he'd do, or what Addison would do, he had had her confined to her cell. No outings, not even if Merlin were to be accompanying her, and he had refused to go down. It had taken every shred of his will power to not descend the stairs into the dungeon. Especially late at night when all he could think was that he wanted one night with her before her went to his death. Hell, he'd settle with one last kiss for luck.

He had been ignoring his father's lecture when Merlin burst into the hall catching both of their attentions simply because it had interrupted the lecture and he had let himself in without knocking or asking permission. His father rounded on him immediately and Arthur stepped forward to save he boy.

"How dare you interrupt!" he shouted.

Merlin was breathless, he helplessly shot a glance at Arthur would could only stare at him with thinly veiled concern.

"It's an emergency sire, I need to speak with Arthur," he said between gulps for air.

"Then speak," Uther snapped and Merlin shot another plaintive glance to Arthur who had no choice but to wave his servant to continue on.

Merlin took a deep breath and lowered his eyes as he said: "It's Addison, sire."

His father scoffed and rolled his eyes, turning his back to Merlin to show how he felt of that particular topic.

"What of her?" Arthur asked. Fear had not gripped him like it usually did when someone came to him with news of Addison. He knew where Addison was, she was in the dungeon.

"She's locked in a duel with the Black Knight," Merlin finished and there it was. The fear. Lancing through his chest with each word.

Merlin had Uther's attention now, he had turned to him in shock. "No that cannot be," he whispered and then before Arthur could be grabbed, he was out of the Great Hall and rushing towards the court yard.

He had no time to wonder how she got out or why she got out. He could only think of getting to her, of saving her, of keeping her from using her magic to save him. He reached the court yard to find a wall of soldiers, palace guards, and what was left of his knights watching from a distance. He paused to try and see over them, to catch a glimpse of Addison and what was happening to her, and that was enough of a pause for his father to both catch up and to grab him.

"Help me hold him!" he ordered and even though his knights seemed reluctant to do so, they still obeyed their king. Holding Arthur down to his knees as he struggled. At least with them moved he could see the peril Addison was in. Weaponless, dressed as a man and doing nothing but dodging the attacks of the Black Knight.

Desperation had him squirming, trying to pry the hands of his father and his knights from him so he could go to her. Fear had him scream her name, and the second it came out he wished he hadn't.

Addison, so beautiful but completely untrained, stopped what she was doing and turned to where his voice came from. The Black Knight's sword was coming down at her shoulder, it would cleave it off of her. The strangled cry that escaped him was enough to bring her back to her senses but she didn't have the time to move fully out of the way.

Miraculously the Black Knight's aim was off, at the last minute he veered off missing her arm completely as she threw herself to the ground.

Addison shot him a look before shouting back: "Stop distracting me." She got to her feet and artfully dodged the next attack with an unnecessary twirl and hand flourish.

"Well don't just twirl about! Get away from him!" Arthur roared but Addison wasn't listening to him anymore.

"What is she doing?" Uther asked the people who had been watching long before they had arrived.

"We don't know, sire," A near-by guard answered.

A knight somewhere behind him spoke up. "She seems to be speaking to him, Majesty. Though we cannot hear him answer. And he hasn't landed a single blow though there have been several opportunities, it's almost as if he's not really fighting with her, just playing."

"You do realize you're fighting the wrong one then?" Addison asked. "So why don't you just not fight him?"

There was stretch of silence as Addison danced backward and the knight swiped his sword back and forth as if attempting to slice her midriff, but missing every time.

"So, like, she's making you do this?" she asked when the slicing motions stopped. There was another charge that Addison side stepped easily. "Well what do you mean you kinda want to do it?"

The Black Knight was coming for her again and Addison seemed confused or concerned. "Well, sure I guess Uther's a bit of a dick but that doesn't really explain why you have to go for Arthur," she said. Uther suddenly lurched to his feet, taking half a step forward fear on his face.

Whatever the Black Knight said to her next shocked her still. "You're WHAT?!"

Addison turned a shocked stare to Uther and he suddenly shouted: "Get her, get her now!"

Arthur struggled, wanting to be the one to go and get her but still he wasn't allowed up. Addison was dancing out of reach of the Black Knight as he took a few more swipes at her when a Guard managed to snag her arm and pull her away from the Black Knight. Everyone watched while he stepped back to where he had been originally and returned to his original position keeping vigil with his sword out.

They waited to see what would happen but the Black Knight made no move to follow them, and Addison seemed uninterested in talking or explaining what the hell she had been doing. Addison was brought forward to Uther who, with hands on hips, was glaring down at her.

A soft smirk turned up on her lips. "Oooohhhhh, you got some s'plainin' to do," she said to him with a cocky smirk on her face.

Uther immediately grabbed her upper arm and dragged her away, despite her protests to have him let go. Arthur finally managed to get the upper hand and get out from under his knight. He shot them all glares to warn them of the punishment to come before falling in step beside Merlin who was rushing after Uther at a respectable distance.

Neither of them got to the Great Hall before the doors slammed shut.

Addison was thrown into an awaiting chair as Uther paced before her. He fumed for a bit before turning to her and asking: "What the hell did you do?"

Addison turned her eyes up to him and blinked them at him innocently. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Addison, this is not a game," Uther growled.

"No, I suppose it's not," she said carefully. She crossed her arms neatly over her chest and suddenly became very, very serious with him. "It was going to fight Arthur, I had to see what was going on."

Uther took note of this, that her concern for Arthur's wellbeing was as strong as Arthur's concern for her. If there was something going on between them, it was mutual and that could serve to be a problem in the future. But at that moment he had bigger issues to deal with.

"What did he say to you," he snapped. "The Black Knight. What did he say?"

"That his name was Tristan, that he's your brother-in-law, and that he vowed to kill you because he holds you responsible for his sister's death," she said with an off-handed shrug as if this information was nothing.

Uther could only stare at her. It was impossible of course. He had assumed someone had just stolen Tristan's armour. But the fact that she, who had no previous knowledge of this situation, could describe it so accurately meant that she had spoken to him. She had truly spoken to him.

"But I couldn't hear him speaking."

Addison made a face. "He was doing it in my head," she replied. "It was easier for him."

"And the fighting?"

"He was raised from the dead. He didn't climb out on his own. Some woman helped him, gave him back his purpose, being an undead corpse makes it hard to talk. The only way I could hear him clearly was if he were fighting. I don't make the rules, I just follow them," she said softly.

"The woman…."

"I wouldn't raise a corpse from the dead," Addison interrupted and Uther found himself pausing to turn at her. "Firstly, terrified of zombies, so of course I'm not chancing that sort of apocalypse. And Secondly, I don't hate you enough to want revenge so bad I'd get your son killed just to spite you!"

"I never thought it was you," Uther said but Addison hardly heard him. She merely continued talking.

"And even though he doesn't really want to fight Arthur cause he's sure his sister would be super mad if he were to kill her son, he's bound by the spell to keep killing until he kills you, so you went and screwed your own son over and he's going to die and…"

"ADDISON!" Uther thundered and only then did she finally fall silent. She stared up at him her blue eyes wide with her deep-seeded fear for Arthur's safety. And he knew that whatever he was about to ask her to do, she would do it, without hesitation. Uther took a deep breath and said: "I need you to help me with something."

When Uther appeared in Gaius's chambers, Gaius was surprised to say the least. The fact that Uther led with an apology for the harsh words he had said to Gaius earlier that evening, because Gaius had been right after all, was even more surprising. The fact that Uther had just told him he planned to take Arthur's place took the cake, as Addison would say.

"Do you know what you're saying?" Gaius asked him.

Uther frowned but nodded. "She gave her life for him, now so must I."

The she referring to Arthur's Moher, and Uther's Wife Ygraine. She had died giving birth to Arthur. A birth that had been fueled by magic, and due to the laws of magic, a life for life. Uther got himself the heir he wanted, and lost the love of his life. It was because of this that Uther despised magic, why he sought to eradicate it from him kingdom, from the world.

Uther must have seen the panic on Gaius's face for he added: "I have no other choice."

Well, Gaius begged to differ. "There must be another way," he said, trying to make the king see reason.

Uther had just gotten a visit from the one who caused this Nimueh, she had basically confirmed that if the wraith killed him it would stop. Not that he didn't believe Gaius when Gaius told him that earlier, but Nimueh was the one who resurrected Tristan in the first place, so he trusted her to want to taunt him with the nasty particulars of her newest attempt at revenge.

"My death with stop the wraith and Arthur will live," he reminded Gaius. "But it means that you are the only person left who knows the truth about Arthur's birth. I want you to swear to me that you will keep your oath."

Gaius sighed inwardly. Of course, Uther didn't want Arthur to know the truth even though Gaius kept telling him it was stupid to keep this a secret. Arthur would find out eventually and wouldn't it be better if he found out from someone he trusted and loved like his father instead of an enemy witch? Still looking at Uther, Gaius knew what he would have to say.

"I will take it to my grave."

Uther's face shined with relief, he put an awkward had to Gaius's frail shoulder to say: "You have always been a good friend, despite my temper."

This caused Gaius to smirk a bit. "I always thought that would be the death of you," he admitted.

Uther let himself laugh at that comment before sobering up seconds later and saying: "I have one other favor to ask."

And Gaius let him talk him into that too.

*This is the part of the chapter with the smut in it. If you would like to avoid it, skip this part*

Arthur, still not trusting himself, had not stayed to make sure that Addison was alright once she was released from his father's care. He let Merlin take her to the dungeons, and ordered the knights to be stricter in guarding her but he knew that they wouldn't. They doted on her like he did, and they did not like to see her caged either.

This left Arthur watching his door, waiting to see if she'd come through it and when he wasn't waiting on baited breath for her he was debating whether or not he should go down to her instead. Tomorrow was his fight with the Black Knight, tomorrow might very well be his last day on earth. He wanted to spend it in her arms, and not just because he wanted sex. More so, he wanted to feel her and the calm happiness that she instilled in him when she wasn't terrifying the soul out of his body.

It wasn't until after dinner that Addison appeared. She shut his door quietly behind her and then just stood there assessing him. Arthur watched her, he had been in the process of making his bed ready for sleep, which meant throwing half the decorative pillows around the room. He didn't need decorative pillows, he just liked giving Merlin more things to do.

Addison had changed into a simple navy blue serving gown, nothing too fancy, but the sight of her in it, her hair loosely plaited with tendrils falling out set him ablaze with desire. She was fiddling with a small vile in her hands and he wondered if Gaius had sent him up a tonic to help him rest before his big match.

Addison lowered her eyes to her feet and whispered: "You never came to check on me."

Arthur stood there not sure what to say he hadn't thought she'd want to see him. Addison continued to talk when Arthur didn't reply.

"I know I said that I didn't want you around anymore, but after all that pushing you did and me nearly getting killed by your soon-to-be-opponent, I thought you'd come to see me," she said. Arthur found himself taking a step forward. "I thought you'd at least come for your luck."

Arthur found himself breathless, the need to thread his fingers through her hair to comb out her loosely done plait was itching through him like a wild fire. He wanted nothing more than to throw her up against that door and kiss her over and over.

Addison finally brought her eyes up to him and Arthur found himself lowering his gaze to her hands in case she saw the heat burning in his eyes and decide to leave. She followed her gaze and show him the vile, offering it to him.

"Gaius was going to bring this to you. It'll help you rest before your fight tomorrow. Your father used to take it before all of his battles…" she started but she was cut off.

Arthur had every intention of taking that vile out of her hand but instead he found that he had gripped her wrist and pulled her to him instead. He had every intention of just holding her but when Addison tilted her head back, those perfect lips open and ready for a kiss Arthur couldn't stop himself from lowering his own to her and plundering all she had to offer.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, opening her mouth farther for him and their tongues dueled in silence. His hands came to rest at her back, pressing her against him, feeling the softness of her curves against the hard planes of his chest. A growl escaped him, soft and possessive and she answered him with a quiet whimper, her fingers tightening in the fabric of his shirt practically scratching him through it.

Arthur lost what was left of his self-control.

In a matter of seconds, he had Addison up against the door, she hooked both legs around his waist and Arthur found himself pushing the fabric of her skirt up to feel all that was underneath. He could feel the liquid heat already through his pants and he wanted more, wanted it all. Her fingers threaded through his hair and Arthur's lips trailed down her jaw to her throat. Addison threw her head back, stifling back a moan, her fingers were now digging into his shoulders as Arthur rocked his hips towards her relishing in that delicious friction.

His name came out in a haggard moan and Arthur found himself stilling. He couldn't do this to her, he couldn't take what he wanted knowing he'd be going to his death. He couldn't leave her to raise a love child, without him there to protect her from Uther's rage. He slowly pulled out of her grasp, her legs slipped away from his waist and found the floor and he stopped, keeping her trapped between his arms and his chest as he tipped his forehead to hers. His breath ragged as he tried to catch it.

"I shouldn't do this," he whispered to her.

Addison eyes searched his but Arthur could say nothing else. Addison pushed him away from her, she crossed to the table and put the vile on it. When she turned back Arthur could see the determination on her face.

"I'm done playing this game with you, Arthur," she said, her tone low and serious.

"What do you mean?" he asked, because he honestly wasn't playing with her or toy with her emotions. Or at least he wasn't trying to.

Addison answered him by crossing the distance between him, and enveloping him in her arms, her lips finding his as quickly as his had found hers. He couldn't keep himself from responding, pushing deeper into her mouth, grabbing her thigh to hook it around his waist once more.

"I want this," she whispered as his lips found her jaw line again. Arthur couldn't respond, but only growl in her ear. These were not good things for her to say, not when he was so dangerously on the edge. "You want this," she continued. And she was right. How happy he was that she could see it now. She took his head between her hands, and forced him to look at her.

Arthur found himself lost in her eyes, knowing that her next words would undo him.

"Take what I'm freely offering, Arthur," she whispered and he did. "Let me give you all the luck I have left."

He swooped in possessing her mouth first, his hands travelling to the laces of her dress, tugging them loose with a few skillful sharp tugs. Addison's hands went underneath his shirt to his chest, the cool of her palms against his pecks made him suddenly more frantic. He shook his hands loose of her draw strings and pulled the shirt over his head. Once bared her lips found his collar bone and kissed a path down. Arthur swept her hair aside and pushed the dress from her shoulders, the fabric slid off her with ease and then slid down the rest of her body.

Arthur took that moment to take in the sight of her, her pale skin shining in the candlelight was everything he had dreamed of and more. His thoughts immediately went to covering her, for she was for his eyes and his eyes only, and he didn't want her to be cold. He picked her up before she could argue and had her on his bed without another word. He pulled a blanket up over them and they disappeared into that shadowy realm where it was just two them.

His hands explored her, his fingers tracing the softness of her breasts down to her hips, skimming her nether curls before travelling back up to her face. He kissed her everywhere he could, her lips, her neck, they valley between her breasts. When his lips found those soft rose-budded tips she took in a soft inhale that drove him forward. Her captured one of her breasts in his mouth and sucked until she squirmed beneath him. Her hand found his free hand and lead him to those nether curls.

She showed him what she wanted, where she wanted his fingers to go, and though he knew what to do he let her have that bit of control. When he started to play with those soaking lips her hands travelled to the waist of the pants he still hadn't gotten off. One hand slipped past the waistband to grab hold of his pulsing hardened member. Just the cool touch against the heat of him made him twitch. Within two pumps of his shaft and he was practically ready to explode.

He grabbed her hands at that point, pinning them above her head with one and then returning to her own silken pulse to drive her mad. He traced the opening until she was writhing beneath him, but before she could open her mouth to plead with him, he sunk not one but two fingers into that soaking heat feeling as it tightened around his grasp. The pleading that came from her, begging him to let her touch him, was music to his ears.

Arthur didn't relent, he covered her mouth with his and stole the word from her, relishing in the whimpers and moans that echoed through him as he kissed her. His fingers were slick, but deftly moving, stroking the inside of her. He knew what he was priming her for, and he wanted to see her do it once before he moved on, but the look in her eyes, was blinding him.

"I want you," was all she needed to whisper and then Arthur was up again. His pants came off faster than her dress did, and he didn't even have to climb back onto the bed, Addison had fairly grabbed him and yanked him down.

This was everything Arthur had dreamed of. He was moments away from what he had wanted for two years. The need to drive into the very core of her, to become one with her was a desperation that should have embarrassed him. Still he found himself pausing, hovering about her, letting her hands travel up and down his chest, resting at his hips and trying to tug him down to her. For some reason Arthur was immovable.

"You deserve better than this," he found himself whispering and hating himself for it.

Addison propped herself up and stared into his eyes. "Arthur," she said plainly. "I know you don't want to hear this, but I've done this before. And let me tell you it has never, ever, felt like this with anyone else."

Arthur's eyes locked with hers but he found he couldn't say anything to that, the joy he felt in his chest was smothering any witty or romantic response he could think of.

"I know you'd like to think I'm pure, but I'm not. I want this, just as bad as you do, so stop fretting about it," she whispered. Her lips found his jawline, her hands went to the back of his neck she was lowering herself back down to the pillows, her black hair fanning out behind her, bringing Arthur down with her.

She raised her hips to meet his and as soon as their skin made contact Arthur lost the war in himself and thrust in.

It was like she was made for him. He fit perfectly, and her body tightened around him, enveloping him in that delicious heat. Arthur found himself shaking, unable to believe that this was happening, her fingers dug into his lower back and he relished in the biting pain for it meant that it was real and he wasn't dreaming.

Arthur had all this planned in his mind, how smooth and controlled he'd be. He'd amaze her with his passionately perfect love-making but once in the moment Arthur lost that steeled control. His thrusts were erratic, quick but sure, and with each thrust she'd raise her hips to meet him.

Arthur tried to hold on, but with the skin to skin contact, the friction between them and the way her back arched when he hit that soft spot deep inside her, he couldn't. With one roar and the deepest thrust he could manage Arthur finished, just as she reached her own apex. He collapsed on top of her rolling off before he could crush her. They were both breathless and sweaty but that didn't stop him from pulling her against the length of him and holding her tightly.

"The potion Arthur," she whispered to him and while Arthur had been close to dozing he forced himself up. He pressed a small kiss to the space behind her ear and relished in the soft moan that came from her as he did so.

"If it will make you feel better," he replied, before forcing himself to leave her side and get out of the bed. He crossed to the table and took the vile, downing the potion in one large swig. "Ugh, that was horrible."

He returned to the bed and wrapped her up in his arms again, being sure to cover her with his blankets so she wouldn't get cold. "You're worth it though," he added.

Addison turned in his embrace, putting a hand to his face to stroke the stubble now lining his jaw. "Just remember," she whispered as his eyes grew heavy, too heavy to keep open. "I did it because I love you."

Arthur wanted to ask her what she had done, wanted to tell her that he loved her too, but by the time he thought to answer, it was too late, he was out cold.

A knock came on Uther's door, soft and quick. Uther turned and watched Addison let herself in, keeping her back to him until he said: "You can turn around."

Addison did as she was told, she crossed to him and put the key to Arthur's bedroom into his hand. "He took it," she said softly and Uther could only nod.

"Thank-you," he whispered. "Gaius didn't give you any trouble?"

Addison blinked her eyes at him. "No, actually, not even a little bit. Only had to ask twice," she said she had made her way to the door. She was going to leave when she suddenly stopped and turned back to him, she crossed the distance between where she had been standing to where Uther was now sitting on his bed and stood in front of him.

"I know you've never liked me and we don't see eye to eye, but that doesn't mean I want you to go to your death tomorrow," she told him. Uther looked up at her and quick as a sparrow she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "For luck," she whispered.

She had gone to run from him, probably before he could react but she only got to the door before Uther called out to her. "Addison, you've always been loyal to me and Camelot," he said. Addison paused at the door and turned back to him, surprised and a little bit concerned. "You have saved my son's life countless times, and mine and yet you allow me to mistreat you. Keeping you in the dungeon like a common criminal."

Addison turned fully at this point. "Oh, that's… uh… that's okay. You know. Magic and what not, me having it or absorbing it or something. I understand, really, it's not that big of a deal," she said trying to wave it off.

"Your magic was not of your making. It was inflicted upon you and you've used it with honor to save the lives of others," Uther concluded.

Addison looked him up and down her eyes narrowed at him in surprise. "Uh… are you okay? Did you hit your head while I was gone?"

"If I do survive tomorrow, I will move you out of the dungeon and make you a member of the court. You can stay in Arthur's wing and be free to go about the city on your own so long as you're properly escorted. And if I don't, then I'll leave orders for Arthur to do that, though I doubt he'd need orders to do that for you," Uther told her. Though he had a feeling if he actual did manage to perish tomorrow as he expected, Arthur would probably marry Addison.

Addison curtseyed to him. "Thank you," she said stiffly. "But it's all the same, I'd rather not be a member of court. I'd rather you were alive and mad at me as you usually are. It's more fun that way."

Uther laughed at this. "You were always such a good girl. I'm sorry I treated you so poorly."

"Well, apology accepted. Good night Uther, and good luck tomorrow," she replied and then stepped out of the room.

Uther sat in silence for a bit before forcing himself to lie down. Tomorrow would decide everything. He should have gotten his own potion from Gaius. He was never going to sleep now.