The time Arthur saved Merlin… and lost his dignity with it.
"And then when you less expect it… everything goes wrong."
In the middle of the night, a lonely figure made its quick escape past the deserted halls of the castle, making its way silently through the night, passing guards inadvertently as only a man who knew his way well could. He walked briskly, with silent and mute purpose. Soon he reached the unused door that led to the outskirts of the castle. The man unlocked it with one of the three keys that existed and pushed it open, covering himself with his black cape from the chilly air.
The man looked around the deserted place before he walked past the trees and into a stable designed to leave horses for night patrols. He mounted into his black horse with ease knowing perfectly well that the next patrol wouldn't arrive before dawn. He made a half-hour ride through the woods, not expecting to be attacked at such dark hours and making sure to stay away from the night patrols route, people would say it was a miracle that he could travel late at night on a horse without incident.
But as it turns out it was no miracle, it was magic, strong magic.
Sooner rather than later the horse stopped, knowing fully well how and when did he had to—like the horse always did—and the man quickly dismounted, black cape swirling behind him and, for his amusement, the flickering fire on the little hut was showing past the window. He will have to make a remark about this tonight. She had grown careless.
He walked to the front door and remembered the last time he had gone unannounced. Gulping, with his hand going to his throat, Agravaine knocked twice on the door before slowly it creaked open with no effort from the inside. For his great relief, Morgana was not only awake but expecting him. She was sitting at a wooden table while sipping hot tea from an old silver mug. Agravaine wondered how could she manage to look royal and elegant in a hut that was even smaller than the room she used to have back at the castle.
At the sight of him, she rose to her feet, snarky, and tall, and beautiful. Agravaine nodded in acknowledgment.
"Milady."
"Agravaine, what took you so long? You were supposed to come here yesterday's night," Morgana cut to the chase as her eyes looked at the face of the man, searching for any minimal change on it that could deliver this information, "What news do you bring?"
Agravaine took a steady breath.
"Everything went according to plan, M'lady Morgana, but some inconveniences...showed along the way," Agravaine was sure she could see past his fake façade of braveness.
"The sorcerer, is he dead?" Morgana demanded to know.
Agravaine sighed in defeat and shook his head silently. Morgana was still for two seconds flat before she slapped her hot cup to the side, throwing it to the other side of the room. The clattering ringing eerily around the place.
"My lady, Morgana, the—"
"The plan was foolproof, Agravaine!" Morgana snapped placing her hands flat against the table. Her voice was sharp and tinged with cold anger. "You didn't even need to do anything! All you had to do was congregate Every. Person. Around. That. Stone. That was it. The stone will shine on its own!"
"I did, my lady Morgana, everyone in the castle congregated around it. The stone never once shined, however…" Agravaine looked out of sorts as he clasped his hands behind him. "Gaius touched it before the gathering began, Uther wanted to test it, to see if the power that the stone held was true and it did turn a faint blue but—" He looked reproachful for a moment when Morgana didn't show any sign that this was news to her. "You knew Gaius used magic."
Morgana sat on the seat once again and nodded. "I always had my suspicions but I was never sure. Did he die then?"
Agravaine shook his head and Morgana for once wasn't surprised, she scoffed. "That old fool, of course he didn't die, he has saved Uther' wretched life way too many times in the past, thinking now I guess it was to be predicted."
Agravaine remembered as much. Uther had confided in him and him alone that Gaius had a bit of magic from his past 'dark days' as Uther had called them, however, Uther trusted Gaius completely 'If Gaius wanted me dead, he could have killed me, Arthur and half of Camelot already, I trust the man with my life and I hope I can trust you with this information too.'
Agravaine couldn't hurt the man or make Gaius's magic public without Uther knowing it had been him and he couldn't risk losing the just gained trust he had won from the King, however, Gaius was definitely not the so famous Emrys that Morgana had been looking for.
"But we do not need to despair, milady, Uther had made a show of keeping the rock and use it in the future." Agravaine complied. "If this Emrys is indeed in Camelot, we will know soon enough."
"You will make certain he does. Make a line so every person in Camelot touches the damn stone if necessary but I want this Emrys found and dead!"
Morgana's eyes flashed gold and a golden vase on the other side of the room flew to her hands, Agravaine looked intrigued as to what had she prepared this time. The smile she wore was wicked and Agravaine was grateful that he wouldn't be on the other end of her anger.
"Now, now, Agravaine, sit, join me to dinner, you must be tired, after all." Morgana could pass from furious, snarky, and wicked evil to shining, beautiful, and charming in a matter of three seconds flat.
"Yes, thank you." Agravaine took his satchel from his back where, in fine pieces of cloth, he had wrapped bread, fresh fruit, and chicken meat that he had brought from the kitchens. He settled it in two plates and sat with Morgana for a very late dinner or a very early breakfast, depending on the point of view. The fire was still alive and he eyed the golden vaccine the woman kept on her lap warily. Agravaine talked about the whole ordeal of the test as Morgana listened carefully, trying to take any piece of information that could be used for future reference, she was disappointed to hear Agravaine hadn't been there during the gathering and explained in great detail what would happen to Agravaine if next time he dared to fail her.
"I need all the information I can get! If you are not in the place when it's happening, tell me, how we will get it?" She hissed as she finished her food, and then smiled. "But, be that as it may, after all these years patience is nothing but my friend, Agravaine, with the stone sooner rather than later the throne will be mine."
"But of course, m'lady."
"Very well—"She turned to him with a serious expression and her eyes shined in the eerie light of the fire. "I have a new mission for you."
"I'm yours to serve."
Morgana smiled wickedly as she finally delivered to Agravaine the golden vase she had been holding and her eyes turned golden.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Uncle!"
The adviser of the king turned towards the voice of his very much hated nephew, seeing him reminded him of better days when his sister had been alive. Agravaine, with his grave face, brown eyes, and dark hair resembled the total opposite of what his sister used to look, Arthur, on the other hand, was the living sight of his dead sister, and even then he couldn't find it in him to love Arthur, he never will. Arthur, just by being born, had killed the only person he had cared for, however, he smiled as he waited patiently for Arthur to catch up with him in the courtyard. He will have his revenge. Soon enough.
"Yes, Arthur?"
Arthur patted his back twice—harder than was necessary Agravaine was sure—and he cringed trying to not roll his eyes.
"I have been looking for you everywhere," Arthur said crossing his arms talking in a respectful tone. "I have a request. I'm planning to have a meeting at my chambers this evening. You, Gaius, and myself, it is something of great importance. I was hoping you could assist."
Agravaine started to walk motioning to Arthur to accompany him up the stairs of the entrance, King's Adviser or not Agravaine still had chores to do around the castle as long as Arthur and Uther were alive, hopefully, neither for too long. "Of course, Sire. May I ask, however, what this meeting is about? Taxes again? And is the King informed?"
Arthur looked around the courtyard as they stopped in the threshold where two guards where perched a few feet away. Arthur squinted his eyes and hesitates just briefly.
"Oh, I see, I understand," Agravaine interrupted before Arthur had to explain himself, even if they were half-siblings Arthur and Morgana were alike in that way, very secretive around other people when something important was about to be said, "Secrets are best to be shared with not so many prying eyes and willingly ears to hear. "
Arthur nodded in gratitude, "Exactly."
"Very well, then, I'll be there."
"Thank you, Uncle, and I would appreciate keeping this meeting away from my father's ears," Arthur said and he understood wrongly when Agravaine raised his brows. "It's for his own good. I swear. After we settle down an agreement tonight I will talk to him personally."
"I will trust your judgment, but I—"
"Arthur, Sire! There you are!"
Merlin was running in their direction from the entrance that led to the lower town, past the courtyard, and then he was running up the staircase. Agravaine stood his ground amused as Arthur crossed his arms and rolled his eyes in exasperation, however, he noticed when the prince sighed with a smirk on his face when they both watched the servant boy avoid hitting a few guards passing by because of his clumsiness. At the last step of the stairs, the boy finally fell and Agravaine cringed as he closed his eyes. Even he felt sorry for the boy's knees.
Unsurprisingly Arthur had scoffed, rolled his eyes histrionically, and shared a laugh with the guards at the entrance, looking at Agravaine as if saying: 'Can you believe this idiot?' Surprisingly tho, Agravaine's nephew shook his head and walked down the steps, muffling a soft chuckle when he saw the brown old breaches of Merlin ripped by the knees.
"Perfect, I had just fixed these ones," Merlin grumbled and Agravaine saw as Arthur, the future king for god's sake! Lowered his arm for Merlin to take it, Merlin took his forearm, and Arthur pushed Merlin to his feet, not quite dropping the young boy's arm till the servant was steady on his feet.
"For god sake Merlin, I know I told you to sweep the floors but not so literally," Arthur grumbled but he amiably patted Merlin forearm twice as he looked him up and down making sure Merlin was not actually injured.
"Sire," Merlin nodded in acknowledgment of Agravaine, and Agravaine nodded in return. God, he hated to nod to a servant when they were the very less of the humankind.
"Sorry, uh—did I interrupt something?" Merlin asked.
Arthur crossed his arms and shook his head. "Not at all, we had just finished."
"Indeed," Agravaine spoke pleasantly and turned to Arthur. "I'll see you after dinner then Arthur. Now, if you excuse me…" Agravaine said and stalked away ready to see the positions of the guards for today's night patrol, he was rounding the corner when he saw Merlin saying something to Arthur, who laughed wholeheartedly before he schooled his features and kicked his manservant on the head.
Agravaine scoffed and finally, he was out of sight.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Merlin was having a midday break with Gaius at the quarters of the old physician, surrounded by books, potions, herbs, and every other trinket. Merlin had been in deep thought so far, his mind going to the meeting they would have later that evening. Merlin had told Arthur just yesterday that he had witnessed a man in black leaving Camelot a few nights ago. When Arthur had asked him if it had been a one-time thing Merlin had denied it, he had seen such an occurrence more than a few times (Merlin had thought he was a secret messenger or something of the sorts) but Arthur refused such knowledge, furthermore, Merlin was certain in any case it had something to do with Morgana.
"It's just a funny feeling I have, honestly. Who would leave at such hours?"
Neither of them wanted to go to Uther on just 'Merlin's funny feeling', so Arthur had agreed to investigate first, once they were sure what this man was doing so secretly they would go to Uther. That's why they had agreed to meet with Agravaine late this evening, Arthur planned on telling his uncle his plan and what Merlin had found out in order to catch this person. Agravaine was in charge of patrols, so no one will question him if he made a sudden change out of the blue.
Now, sitting in Gaius's office, Merlin wondered if it will be wise to alert Agravaine. He was sure Agravaine was loyal to the crown but there was something about him, he could not quite point what exactly, but he just didn't trust the man as completely as Arthur did, however, Arthur trusted him with his life and Merlin would have to tag along with it.
Someone knocked on the door and for the second time in less than three days, Merlin had to begrudgingly accept that Arthur was getting better at this thing called: Kindness.
For the common eye, it looked like everything was in order, this fine day in the chambers of Gaius.
But from Merlin's point of view, there are two things that by all means didn't quite belong there. The first thing was the food, Arthur had ordered that dinner would be served on the physician's chambers and demanded enough to eat for three people but as Merlin saw the quantity and quality of food that was delivered Merlin was sure that he could eat from it for two whole weeks and have enough left to share.
And of course, even more than the food, the most shocking part was the fact that the soon to be king was eating with servants. It was the most uncommon of sights. Merlin, to be honest, wasn't that surprised, he had always known Arthur had a good heart, however obnoxious he's at times (And a Prat, he was born that way, there's no helping it) and he knew that Arthur considered Merlin his friend, even if he had never quite said so out loud, however, to let other people see this act of friendship made Merlin smile and throw a quick remark about Arthur surely gain weight.
Once they were alone the three men sat at the wooden little table and ate in amiable silence, Arthur once or twice breaking it to ask something about the trinkets around and Merlin complying and answering back, Gaius just ate with his eyebrow raised, barely touching the food that filled the whole table.
"Gaius, you look like you have seen a ghost, are you alright?" Merlin chuckled under his breath as he stuffed himself with some bread. Arthur scoffed at the sight,
"Merlin, I know I have seen tree branches thicker than you but please have some manners." Arthur nudged him sternly in the ribs and Merlin rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
Gaius turned his eyes from one to the other and then finally indulged himself on his fresh fruit, staring at each of them in quiet but happy amusement.
Merlin and Arthur had decided to confide in the old man the same night that Arthur had spared Merlin's life, deciding to leave Merlin with the task of doing so. That had been over a week ago, and even days later Gaius looked even more in shock as every day passed. Merlin could only chuckle and remember how Gaius had come to find out. In all honesty, Merlin didn't, really didn't have planned it that way.
Merlin smiled on his food as he recalled the past event.
He had been accommodating some books on the upper shelves with magic two days after the reveal, too much of Gaius dismay— the wooden ladder had broken a few weeks ago and it would look suspicious if Merlin repaired it, everybody in the kingdom knew about his clumsiness— and Merlin, tired of falling everywhere because of the amount of books piled on the floor, had given up and begun using magic to accommodate them.
Gaius had hissed for five whole minutes under his breath at his recklessness.
"Merlin stop it! What if Uther—"
"C'mon Gaius, is already past sunset," Merlin said as he merrily moved his hands, eyes shining gold as he accommodated the books by order of size just for his amusement. "Nobody comes past this hour, and even if the King shows up, he would knock first."
"Merlin—"
At that moment though, like if Gaius himself had called on it, Arthur stepped inside the room without knocking, Arthur had done so on purpose, he hated when Merlin didn't knock—that meant every day of his life—but for once he wanted Merlin to see how a horrible a habit that was. He had wanted to catch Gaius and Merlin in a verbal fight, or Merlin sleeping instead of doing his chores.
Of course, he wasn't counting that Merlin will be standing on the corner of the room, hands raised, eyes shining gold and books floating merrily above his head. Arthur blinked before he closed the door at once making sure no one was in the hallway and Gaius, oh dear god, Gaius had turned so pale and his eyes so huge he looked like a personification of a fish.
"Sire! I—we...we.—"English apparently had left Gaius for the moment.
Merlin had dropped the magic abruptly and the four books he had been levitating fell to the floor with a loud thud, one of them—and of course, the biggest and thickest one—fell on his head, he muttered a silent 'ow' as he massaged his skull, blinking away the pain.
Arthur glared from across the room, arms crossed. It wasn't the first time he had seen Merlin use magic, they both had spent the whole day after the 'revelation' of Merlin's magic in Arthur's room talking and putting as Merlin had said 'the magic on the table' telling Arthur all he didn't know about the past few years. Then he had performed a few tricks with Magic that had left Arthur astonished, of course, even if Merlin had escalated quickly on his ladder of intelligence he held of people, he was put on the bottom of it at once when he saw how reckless his stupid servant was being.
"There's nothing to explain, Gaius. I understand." Arthur said sternly and shaking his head in disbelief. "I understand that he's an idiot, a reckless one at that!" Merlin grinned and flashed his eyes gold in response, soon the book that was closer to the prince dashed to his head and Arthur ducked to avoid it.
"Merlin!" Gaius and Arthur screamed at the same time. One in despair and the other one in annoyance.
Merlin just put his hands behind his back and nodded in mock servitude. "Sorry, Sire, need to keep you uh—in form, you know, from future attacks of sorcery."
Gaius had turned almost transparent and he looked like was having trouble breathing, he moved to stand between Merlin and Arthur, ready to leap at the prince if he dared to raise a hand—or sword—against Merlin.
"Sire, please, he—he's a stupid and clumsy boy!" Gaius spluttered. "He, he meant no harm, I can assure you, he… please, you must understand…" Gaius turned towards Merlin for help, and quickly Gaius had this 'Do everything you need to do but get out of here!' look on his face.
"Oh…" Merlin said under his breath and he looked guilty and in panic, raising his hand towards Gaius to hold him still, the man looked about to faint. Arthur's angry demeanor (At being called fat by her servant, he noticed the remark) quickly diminished when he knew at once that Merlin had forgotten to tell Gaius. Ugh, he wanted to kill his manservant. He took one step towards Gaius to help and that made Gaius bolt from where he stood, pushing Arthur's hand away.
"Merlin, go!" Gaius had turned on his heels as he shook Merlin's shoulders.
"Gaius—"
"Stun him and leave! I will find an excuse to explain this later, just go! Go before Uther finds out. Merlin!"
"Its fine Gaius, It's fine. I won't kill him. It's fine. Jesus Christ Merlin, didn't you tell him?" Arthur said where he stood astonished. Since when his people liked Merlin more than him he wasn't sure, but he was divided between being amused at Gaius protective behavior or angered that Gaius was so ready for Merlin to use magic on him and fled the city.
He chooses to be amused, as every day passed he came to realize just how hard Merlin's life actually was. So anger was the least of his feelings towards the sorcerer. Merlin apparently came out of his own stupor and took Gaius' shoulders as to avoid the old man to faint.
"Oh, Gaius, I didn't mean for you to find out like this, I didn't know how to tell you!" Merlin babbled. "I mean, yesterday we were so busy, and I came late at night and you were asleep, and today—I wasn't sure if- I didn't want to…. You know, rise up your hopes…I'm so sorry."
Merlin gave a shameful look at Arthur before he returned to Gaius. "Arthur knows, Gaius."
Merlin shined his eyes gold and a stool crossed the little room so Gaius could sit heavily on it. Arthur patiently took another one—of course, the stupid servant couldn't do anything for him!— Gaius was silent for a moment, he looked to Arthur, who didn't raise his sword and didn't look angered. If anything he looked annoyed at Merlin's forgetfulness.
"But—but… your mag—your… abilities Merlin." Gaius whispered out of habit.
Merlin smiled gently as he kneeled on the floor to be a little under Gaius stare level and pointed to Arthur with his head. "He knows everything. He knows about my magic. He was the one who covered up for me with the stone? Two days ago?"
Gaius nodded absently. "I thought… I thought it had been a coincidence, that he— I never…"
Merlin made a sound of regret. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, I know I should have but in all honesty, I didn't know how to do it, you are always telling me to be careful and for you, it was the most dangerous idea if Arthur were ever to find out." He sighed. "I didn't want to put you in the position of having to choose between Arthur and Uther, if it ever came down to it."
Arthur looked to the floor with crossed his arms. It pained him really. That the people he trusted wouldn't trust him back, as to reassure the old man Arthur just nodded.
"It's alright, Gaius. My father doesn't know about Merlin, as far as I'm concern he never will." Arthur said in a low but firm voice. "I trust Merlin." He finished hastily not wanting to dwell much on the issue. After the long day Merlin and he had just a few nights ago, where they didn't leave his chambers if they weren't needed, he was done with having emotional talks for a lifetime.
Arthur threw an accusatory look towards Merlin, "You told me you were going to talk to him, you idiot!"
Merlin had the decency to look guilty. "I forgot! Kind of—I mean, It was too good to be true, isn't it?"
Gaius and Arthur both sighed annoyed in his direction. Gaius had a firm hand on Merlin's shoulder, almost afraid that the young boy would disappear where he stood. Arthur noticed and made himself scarce to give Gaius and Merlin some time to talk freely—not before ordering Merlin to do a hundred chores by tomorrow morning and practically demanded Merlin to be more careful. 'For pity's sake just put the damn lock on the door if you are going to—well, practice!.'
He closed the door behind him and Gaius knew right then and there that everything would be, indeed, alright.
Merlin chuckled, his stroll by memory lane over now. So, Gaius this time was not having a heart attack, he just threw the boy he loved as a son a stern look over his food, his eyebrow going up a few inches up.
"You were thinking about how Arthur found out, weren't you?" Merlin asked good-naturedly and then shimmed in like a servant girl. "Get over it, Gaius it's so over last week."
"So over last…It's still very fresh in my mind, Merlin! You attacked him for god's sake! (Merlin grumbled that it wasn't an attack) For years we kept your secret and now you go around Arthur, The Prince of Camelot doing magic. I still feel like anytime you could be snatched away! It's nothing to be taken lightly." Gaius said angered and then turned to look at Arthur apologetically; his voice subsided for a moment. "I'm not worried about you Sire, if just my normal and daily worries I'm afraid."
Arthur and Merlin shared a look before they returned to their meals in silence, almost like little children after a reprimand. Gaius was right of course. Merlin would still be killed if he wasn't careful, and Arthur, for all he was good, was sure that there was just so much he could to keep him alive.
"I will protect him, Gaius, you have my word," Arthur vowed to both himself and the old man.
Everything was silent for a few moments before Merlin, with feigned dignity because of course he couldn't let this opportunity go, touched as he was with what Arthur had said.
"You protect me? I have a list, you know? Of all the times I have saved your sorry ass from—Ow"
"Have some respect will you? I'm still your prince, you idiot!"
"Very well then, your royal sorry ass," Merlin said, and this time, he ducked before the punch collided with his head.
"Ugh, I fucking hate you," Arthur said and when Merlin straightened his back again with an impish and proudly grin, Arthur didn't lose time and pushed Merlin with both his hands and strength, ending with Merlin toppling off the seat comically as he muttered a row of profanities from the floor. Arthur then looked smugly towards Gaius, just like a little kid who was proud of his doings. "Just so much you can avoid, Mer—Agh!"
Arthur fell to the floor when the stool he was sitting on magically—literally this time—moved from under him and Arthur fell on his royal ass with a surprised face before he snapped his head towards Merlin, glaring daggers at his direction. Arthur was already making a list of impossible chores on his head.
Merlin was glaring back with a grin, "You were saying, sire?"
Arthur moved his left foot and it collided with the stomach of the servant, who in return flashed his eyes gold and the still full plate of the prince fell on top of his head, clattering around the floor and rolling away till it landed near the entrance.
None of the occupants in the room had noticed over their own havoc but someone had been knocking at the door for a while now, at the sound of crashing and angry mutters Gwen opened the door hurriedly thinking than an accident had taken place. Gwen took the scene before her with silent amusement as the three men snapped their heads in her direction. She waited for any of them to explain themselves. Such an explanation didn't come.
She looked towards Merlin, who was hunched on the floor, snickering and holding his sides with tears on his face, from pain or from laughter Gwen was not sure. Then her chocolate eyes turned to Arthur; who was sitting a foot away from Merlin with food all over him, his feet raised to kick Merlin or just for the benefit of it was still a question to be answered, and then to Gaius, who looked like he wanted to kick both of them out the window or hang them was still to be decided.
Arthur babbled something about falling down and Gwen just nodded with a silent smile, choosing to ignore both of her friends and turned towards the physician. Hands clasped in front of her dutifully.
"Uh— Gaius? The king request… request your presence in his chambers immediately, he uhm… just hurry, he says is of the most importance." Gwen let out a giggle that she tried to cover with a hand when neither of the boys had moved at all and then turned on her heels and closed the door behind her. A second later they could hear her soft laugh carrying past the hallway.
Everything was quiet for three seconds. Then Merlin laughed uncontrollably punching his fists on the floor as he rolled on his side, trying to get any air possible on his lungs as tears of mirth rolled down his face.
"Oh gods, did you—did you… see her face?" Merlin rolled away from Arthur, already seeking for a place to hide. "No, forget that, did you, did you see your face!"
"MER—LIN!"
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Agravaine stood respectfully behind the king who sat on his velvet chair patiently waiting for the physician to come. He remembered what Arthur had told him about the evening meeting later that day and furrowed his eyebrows. Whatever the meeting was about would definitely come to his advantage and had decided to comply and keep the secret away from Uther, after he learned what this was he could turn his back on Arthur, or if he was lucky, against him.
Uther had told Agravaine that he needed, in great urgency, to see Gaius the second Agravaine had spotted the King at midday. Agravaine had sent the servant girl to retrieve him with no delay. After that Uther had been silently staring at his hands, not sharing anything else with his advisor.
This unsettled Agravaine, Uther was not usually like this, and for a moment he looked towards the golden vase on top of the wooden table on the corner of the huge room, blending perfectly along with the other vases, tapestries and rich artifacts that adorned the king's chambers.
Morgana had not told him what the vase did, all she did was tell Agravaine to find blood from Uther and then drop just one single drop inside, then to leave it anywhere in the king's chambers.
"The vase will work on its own." He could remember the wicked look in her eyes, even days later. "And don't worry about what it does, you will find out soon enough, don't come to see me before it happens. You have risked enough trips as it is."
To this moment Agravaine had not seen any changes in the king, but he would wait patiently for it, so immersed in his thoughts he was he didn't notice that Gaius had already knocked and entered, choosing to stand a few feet away, respectfully waiting for the king to talk.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
"Gaius, my friend, you have come at a moment of great importance," Uther said as he rose from his seat and paced slowly around the table. Gaius nodded in return.
"Sire?"
"I can't think of anyone better than you to help me in my predicament at hand," Uther said in a serene tone. "I trust only you and Agravaine can help me with my predicament."
"Whatever that is, Sire."
The king smiled a soft smile towards his friend before he turned to face them. "I know I had waited years, trying to come up with a solution but I'm getting old, my friends, and there is just so much a king can do to keep their lineage."
Gaius's eyebrow went up on his forehead. "Sire?"
"I am sure that between the three of us we can manage to… find, an heir to the throne."
The silence that followed could almost be touched, it settled around the room like a dark tangible sheet. Gaius opened and closed his mouth twice, surely, he had heard wrong.
"Good joke, Sire." Agravaine scoffed after a moment.
Uther raised a brow, dignifying himself. "Agravaine, I assure you, this is of great importance. It's not a matter to be taken lightly. Now, what do you suppose we can do about it? After all, we all have had years to think about it."
"Sire? A… an heir? To—to t-the throne?" Gaius spluttered as he looked towards Agravaine. Agravaine shook his head silently. He didn't understand, was this a joke from the king?
Uther clasped his hands behind his back to face both men and he nodded as solemnly and seriously as only a king could.
"With no heir to the throne, we need to think of the future of Camelot. Camelot needs an heir. Someone I can train as soon as possible." Uther then looked ashamed and to the floor for a moment before he raised his head. "No marriage will… come fruitful, if you understand, so other methods have to be taken."
"Sire… you, uh—Has Arthur done something wrong?" Gaius asked worriedly. "Are you punishing him? He's a good boy, Sire. I'm sure your son—"
Uther raised his brows and then he barked a very sad laugh.
"Sire?"
Gaius had lived for many years, had seen lots things, had faced terrible illnesses and basically had already experimented every kind of feelings there could be, having Merlin as a sorcerer and son living in the castle of Camelot, however, Gaius could swear on fire that to this day, the next phrase made him feel something completely wrong.
He had never witnessed a father denying their own son.
"Son? Gaius, my friend. I beg of you to not joke about this. I don't have a Son. He died long ago with my sweet Ygraine." Uther was silent for a moment, remembering in sadness such a moment. He looked so crestfallen that Gaius was having a heart attack in silence. Was this really happening? As intelligent as he was he couldn't begin to understand the meaning of this.
"But, your highness. Arthur—" Agravaine couldn't even speak any further.
Uther looked at each man in the eye before he asked, completely baffled as to who this Arthur was and why they insisted on calling his name.
"Who's Arthur?" The King of Camelot asked in all honesty.
Anyway, instead of doing the small 6 shots I had been thinking they morphed into a story. Still a very short one.
Read and review if you please? And THANK YOU for all the follows and reviews.