Arthur didn't look at Merlin as he proposed to Elena. He didn't look at his father either, nor at Morgana. He focused on delivering his message loud and clear. He knelt on one knee and said the words mechanically. When it was done, Elena smiled gently, with a hint of pity in her face as she gave his hand a squeeze.
Arthur never felt more trapped in his entire life. He stood side by side with her, looking out at the court. He couldn't help it when his eyes found Merlin. Merlin kept his gaze stony and locked on the ground as Arthur held his fiancée's hand.
He didn't see her again after that. Not with the wedding preparations taking place.
oOoOoOo
Gwen made her way to Gaius' chambers. Gaius sent her a look and turned to look at Merlin who was busy grinding some herbs while giving Mordred a lesson on herbology.
"Merlin." She tried.
"I'm busy Gwen." Merlin said.
"We've been here for hours!" Mordred whined at Gwen with hope in his eyes that she would end his torture.
"Merlin… your husband is getting married at sundown." She said.
"I am aware. I was there at the engagement." Merlin said, grinding the herbs harder.
"Mordred, lady Morgana wanted to see you." Gwen said and Mordred cheered as he jumped off the stool and ran off.
"Thank you, Merlin!" He remembered to call back as he disappeared and Merlin sighed sitting himself down instead of calling him back.
"Maybe this is the way things should be, Gwen. Arthur, marrying a princess." Merlin said.
"Perhaps, but unfortunately, things will never be the way they should be because you are both already married." Gwen said.
Merlin kept quiet and looked up at her. "I was angry, I just wanted to… spite him. I said something cruel to him. He told me to leave."
"Congratulations, you got into one of many arguments that happen in marriage. Merlin, Morgana has a plan, you have to trust her." Gwen said. Merlin frowned as he thought about it.
"Arthur likes her, maybe we shouldn't separate them."
Gwen smacked him upside the head and Merlin winced, rubbing the sore spot. "Listen to me. I didn't lose Arthur to you just so you can give up when things get serious." She growled. "Now, you're going to make your way over to him and apologise if you must."
Merlin watched Gwen leave and looked at the ground paste of herbs he'd been grinding down.
"Merlin, she's right. What you have with prince Arthur… it's sacred."
"I blamed him for how this all started. How could I have said something so cruel?" He whispered. "This is all Uther's fault."
"I should have done just as much to stop you. I'm sorry, Merlin." Gaius placed his hand on Merlin's shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze. Merlin looked at Gaius and shook his head. Gaius handed him the potion.
"Come on… lets free Elena of the Sidhe." Merlin said.
oOoOoOo
Arthur paced in his room as he thought of his wedding. This felt wrong. It all felt wrong. He took a deep breath. He couldn't do this. The door opened and he looked up to see Morgana followed closely by Mordred.
She laughed softly. "You look like you're going to a funeral."
"Aren't I?" Arthur half joked.
"I told you I had a plan." Morgana said.
"Great, what is it?" Arthur said and clenched his jaw tight when she didn't answer. "I have to stop this." He made for the door and went straight to Elena's chambers.
"Arthur! You stubborn fool just be patient!" Morgana yelled after him but he didn't stop.
oOoOoOo
Merlin rose his staff against Grunhilda. She grunted as she was thrown back but still managed to lash out a blast of magic that sent Merlin back against the wall.
Merlin rushed to get to his feet when Sidhe magic blasted him. "AGH!" Pain burst from his side that made him fall to his knees. He looked to where the power came from. A blue speck of light moved quickly and Merlin let his eyes glow to slow everything down.
"Do you know how long I've been waiting for this day, boy?" The Sidhe creature said, growling at him with pure range.
"I won't let you succeed." Merlin hissed and raised his staff, only to get it yanked away by Grunhilda. The Sidhe shocked him once more and Merlin cried out.
He could hear the sound of approaching feet and turned his head to see Arthur drawing his sword as he came closer.
"Arthur stay back!" Merlin yelled.
"Not likely!" Arthur yelled and swung at the Sidhe who flew back. Arthur reached down and yanked Merlin to his feet. Merlin groaned as he felt a large bruise against his ribs.
"Arthur?!" Grunhilda gasped horrified.
"Eugh… what is that?!" Arthur demanded. Grunhilda looked offended.
"That's Grunhilda." Merlin grunted.
"Enough! Kill the boy, Grunhilda! I will erase Arthur Pendragon's memory!"
Terror coursed through Merlin's veins at those words.
Grunhilda raised the staff. Elena smashed a vase on Grunhilda's head and the pixie dropped to the ground.
"No!" Cried the Sidhe. Gaius rushed past her and grabbed the staff, throwing it at Merlin.
Another fluttery light came from Elena's room, which began to chase her. Merlin allowed time to slow and reached up with a shaky arm to blast her away but missed. He could barely keep his arm up.
Arthur reached out beside him and held the staff, supporting him. "Come on, Merlin!"
Merlin gripped the staff hard. Blue lightning shot forth, striking and turning the three creatures to dust, sighing as time returned to normal.
"What are you doing here?" Merlin asked, frowning at him.
"What kind of question is that? First tell me where you're hurt." Arthur said feeling at him and frowning as he found the bruises.
"Your highness… there you are, come the wedding is almost upon us." Sir Leon came in and began to pull Arthur away.
"No, wait, I-"
Merlin sighed as Arthur disappeared around the corner and looked at Elena who was studying him with curiosity.
"I hope you're feeling better, princess." Merlin said. She smiled.
"Much better, thanks to you." She looked at the pile of ashes and sighed. "Grunhilda's always been there… I guess I now know why." She said. "I should get ready for the wedding, shouldn't I?" She said, looking at Merlin for an answer.
Merlin hesitated before finally nodding. "Yes, my lady."
"…Very… well then." She turned round hesitantly and returned to her room.
Merlin avoided Gaius' gaze and took a deep breath. "Well, I better get dressed to see my husband married off to someone else." He said.
oOoOoOo
Merlin came up slowly behind Arthur. "I have your ceremonial sword, Arthur."
"Is it for me to fall on?" Arthur asked and Merlin forced a smile, gripping the sword a little tighter.
"I certainly hope not." He said and came closer. Arthur turned to look at him and Merlin longed to reach for him and kiss him. "I'm sorry." Merlin said softly.
"Me too." Arthur said softly, taking the sword and putting it in place. "How do I look?" He asked. Merlin reached up and straightened out his cape and adjusted his circlet slightly just so he could touch him a second longer.
"Regal. Your highness."
Arthur looked at him with what Merlin could only describe as longing. Merlin's heart squeezed painfully and he leaned in. Arthur kissed him tenderly, as if wanting to engrain the memory of Merlin's lips into his mind.
"Please don't… Arthur…" Merlin whispered between kisses.
"I'm sorry, Merlin." Arthur said, pulling away as the doors began to open. Merlin reached for him, grabbing onto his cape.
"Please, Arthur. I didn't mean it."
Arthur didn't answer and Merlin let go, taking a deep breath as he stepped back. Arthur walked ahead into his wedding ceremony. Merlin couldn't bear the thought of following him into the hall, but he did. He made his way through the guests to stand beside Gwen who smiled at him sadly. Morgana was the only one that seemed joyous about the whole event.
As Elena entered the room, people admired her with awe, whispering about her beauty. Merlin looked at the ideal match for Arthur. Merlin looked at Uther, who smirked with satisfaction and glanced at him. Merlin's heart stopped. Did Uther know? No. He wasn't looking at Merlin. He was looking at Morgana.
"My lords and ladies and free folk of Camelot," Geoffrey began to speak, his voice booming through the hall. Merlin gathered what courage he could to look up. "We are gathered here today to celebrate, with the ancient rite of handfasting, the union of Arthur Pendragon and princess Elena of Gawant."
The words struck a painful pang in Merlin's chest. A pain that gradually got worse as Arthur turned to glance at him. Merlin felt his vision blur with tears and had to glance down to stop himself from crying in front of the entire court. When he looked up again, Arthur was no longer looking at him, but Elena was. Merlin avoided her gaze but couldn't help but feel that she knew.
"Is it your wish, Arthur, to become one with this woman?" Geoffrey continued.
"…It is." Arthur said, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Is it your wish, Elena, to become one with this man?"
Elena's gaze flickered between Arthur and Merlin. "…It is."
"Will any say nay?" Merlin took a deep breath but said nothing.
"I do!" Morgana said suddenly and Merlin looked at her in shock. "Arthur can't marry Elena! He can't!" She cried out.
"Morgana! What are you doing?" Uther demanded.
"Arthur can't marry Elena because…" Morgana looked back at Merlin and finally back at Uther. "Because I love him and he loves me!" Morgana said and everyone in court began to whisper.
"Morgana! What are you doing?" Arthur demanded, coming down to her. "Is now the time?! Are you out of your mind?!" He hissed.
"Play along." She hissed for only him to hear. She grabbed onto his arm hard and turned them to face Uther.
"Step away from each other this instant!" Uther yelled.
"No! I had to speak the truth. We love each other!" Morgana exclaimed. "I know princess Elena is a better match but… with matters of the heart you can't think like that!" Morgana said.
"It is… true, father." Arthur said, looking at Uther as he held Morgana's hands. Uther looked at them with utter disgust.
"I told you to step away from each other!" Uther yelled.
"Why, my lord? Surely being of highborn birth I'm eligible for Arthur's hand too!" Morgana exclaimed. "We wish to marry!"
"Absolutely not!" Uther yelled.
"But why? Why do you hate me so?" Morgana said with mock tears.
"I-I do not hate you! Morgana, you two cannot marry!" Uther exclaimed.
"But why? Father?" Arthur insisted.
"He doesn't believe us! Oh, Arthur…" Morgana turned to him and reached up to cup his cheeks. She began to pull him down and Merlin felt his magic fighting viciously just under his skin.
"M-Morgana?" Arthur said.
"Stop!" Uther yelled. Morgana kept pulling Arthur closer. "You're brother and sister for heaven's sake!" Uther finally yelled and everyone gasped. Morgana smirked faintly before pulling back with as much shock as everyone else.
"What?" She said horrified. "But I am Gorlois' daughter." She said.
"No, Morgana, you are not. You are mine." Uther said. "And as such you two cannot wed."
"Uther… it is illegal to lie with another lord's wife." Morgana said and Uther seemed taken back by those words. "Furthermore, now your lack of re-enforcements to Gorlois in the battle field raises more questions."
"That wasn't-"
"How can we know? You've been lying this long! To your people! To your court! My mother was executed on the grounds that she defended magic. Or was it to cover up your secret?" Morgana demanded.
"That is not-!"
"How many innocents have died to cover up your lies, Uther?" Morgana yelled passionately. "You have broken Camelot's laws. Now I ask the court for a motion of abdication. The king must either surrender his right to rule to his heir as is mandated by the law, or be tried for his crimes in front of the whole kingdom and risk execution! It's your choice, father."
Uther was left speechless as was the rest of the court. It almost seemed like hours before anyone dared to speak, but clearly no one in the court wanted to risk having their king executed. They all knew the laws. Even Uther.
"I second the motion." One of the lords said, raising his hand.
"And I."
"And I."
"And I."
Merlin looked around as most of the lords rose their hands with great hesitation. He couldn't believe it. It worked? Morgana's plan worked?
oOoOoOo
Arthur smiled as he walked Elena to her horse. "It's a shame you have to leave so soon. I really was looking forward to another race."
"I can beat you another time." She smiled and looked up at Merlin, who was helping to pack with the other servants. "As for your… true love… I hope for an invitation for the wedding."
Arthur smiled. "That would be against the law, wouldn't it?"
"Yes… but while your father never changed his laws… you can." She said and smiled, giving his hand a squeeze and moving to catch up with Lord Godwin's horse.
They left in the morning. The abdication was signed by Uther at noon. Arthur's coronation would take place in a few days time but it was already as good as done. Arthur was king of Camelot.
oOoOoOo
Uther paced his room like a caged bear. How dare they, how dare they force his hand like this? Arthur was still just a stupid boy, he had no idea how to be king! He would bring ruin to Camelot!
"Oh dear. Looks like you're having a difficult time, Uther Pendragon." Uther swung round, his sword in his hand as he aimed it at the apparition. No, not an apparition.
"Morgause." He whispered, eyes narrowed. "You think I won't burn you to the stake just because I've been usurped?" He hissed. "My laws still stand."
"The same laws that forced you to step down, I hear." She smirked, not looking at all concerned with the sharpened blade held by Uther. "I can't say I'm not enjoying it, but I believe there is something I can help you with, if you help me too." She said, standing tall and proud and looking just like her mother did all those years ago.
"Why would I join forces with a filthy sorceress like yourself?" He hissed.
"Because if you don't, Arthur will bring magic back to Camelot and undo twenty one years of your hard work." Morgause said. Uther shook his head.
"Never."
"Go see him for yourself. I'll wait right here." She smirked, sitting herself on his chair this time, leaning back, grabbing a grape from the fruit bowl and sighing as if enjoying a relaxing picnic in the forest.
Uther stepped away from her, shaking his head. He could just call the guards. But if what she said was true… Arthur would set her free. He put his sword away and slammed the door to his room as he stormed out.
Uther marched a straight route to the throne room. The boy wasn't ready to be king! Morgana probably found out about Vivienne from Morgause. Combined with everything else he knew it looked bad but…
Damn it! This was such a mess! He would talk to Arthur. He would make sure the boy listened to him. If he didn't, Uther would make him regret it. His reign on Camelot could not end like this! He would not end like this!