A/N: Happy reading!
Long, long, long chapter but as I said, they will keep being long since nobody is protesting.
Important announcement: After the chapter all of you are invited to the funeral (Party) of Agravaine, Mersan123 and I already have started. Make sure to bring black flower(booze) and a written speech goodbye.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin but I own Owen the knight.
The Problems Left Behind
Every movement, even the faintest flutter of a butterfly, can cause a tragedy.
When the patrol returned late at night with a limping and bloody prince, an arrowshot knight passed out cold, a few knights looking worse for wear and the body of what used to be the King's Advisor, a little pandemonium broke lose in the middle of the night. Leon was one of the guards on the entrance and he hurriedly dashed down the steps of the main gates, another knight and a bunch of guards following behind him all with torches at hand.
"What happened?" Leon asked assessing all of his tired and injured friends. His stare traveled and fixed on Agravaine, who was face down on the back of a horse. Leon gulped. "Is he—"
"Don't ask." Arthur commanded. "We have more pressing matters to attend right now."
Leon just nodded but his eyes stayed glued to the body. The Advisor was dead, how? One look around his friends and Leon was sure they had been attacked, by whom? Morgana? It wouldn't be the first time. Seeing the faces of everyone around Leon decided that he would keep his questions till later realizing that this would be one of those nights that tended to never end.
Arthur turned around, aided by Lancelot, and started delivering orders taking advantage that it was the middle of the night and not a soul was outside to witness such a view or ask questions.
Alright, first things first.
"Sir Owen…. Cover my uncle's body and carry it to the morgue." He signaled a few guards to help Owen with the task. "The less people see you the better. You are not to answer to anybody who asks and do not let anyone enter the chambers till the King himself shows up. Gwaine will go along with you."
Gwaine looked towards Arthur with raised brows but quiet questions; he had never been good with seeing dead bodies on morgues and he honestly had more pressing matters that he wanted to acknowledge, for example, what the hell had went down in the clear of the sword on the stone.
"Gwaine, call another set of guards and knights to patrol around the courtyard once you are done there." Arthur gave a meaningful stare to Gwaine, the message quite clear. Agravaine was a traitor indeed, but the fact remained that neither Arthur nor Merlin knew if he was the only one, as much as Arthur hated to admit it he had to be careful with who he was dealing with from now on, if something weird or out of place happened he could count with Gwaine to inform him. If there were more traitors inside the castle they would want to see Agravaine's dead body themselves and Arthur was counting on that.
Owen, who from all the nights was the least injured, nodded and took another two guards and the knight with him to help him with the body, Gwaine in tow. Arthur faced the other way, not wanting to see Sir Owen take off his Knight's cape to cover his uncle's body, Agravaine didn't deserve such an honor in this life or the next.
"Leon, take Percival to Gaius." Arthur commanded without wasting time and Leon nodded as he instructed a guard to go and fetch a stretcher from the armory, as the guard dashed inside the castle Leon shook Percival just enough to get a response, at the sudden movement Percival grunted and there was a collective sigh of relief.
"He was shot in the leg." Arthur informed Leon as Merlin left his side to go and help with Percival, leaving Arthur to Lancelot. Arthur vaguely realized that Merlin, as long as strength was concerned, was useless but his kind demeanor forced Merlin to help in one way or the other. The guard was back just in time, and between all of them managed to get Percival into the stretcher. "Get ahead of the guards to inform Gaius of the situation. If the arrow was poisoned or not, we do not know but we have the arrow in the satchel of the horse, take it with you." Leon nodded and did as told while the guards carried Percival's unconscious body up the stairs.
"I can go and fetch my sister, Sire." Elyan suddenly said eyeing as the guards took away his friend. "Gwen can help."
"Gaius will need as much help as he can get." Arthur agreed. "But you have a broken ankle, Elyan, I did notice, Merlin will fetch her. You will be called later this night to a meeting, better that be with a treated ankle."
Elyan doubted for a moment and looked about to protest, then he saw the serious face of Arthur and bowed, Arthur motioned for the last guard in the courtyard to aid him and so he helped the last knight to get to Gaius's chambers without falling.
"Lancelot off you go too." Arthur said once Elyan was out of earshot. "And Merlin do as I say."
"Arthur, you can't—"Merlin started complaining.
"That was an order, both of you." Arthur hissed as he withdrew his arm from Lancelot's shoulders, leaving only Merlin to hold the prince weight. "Lancelot you are injured, you have a deep gash on your left shoulder and you haven't been able to move it for a while. I'm not stupid, besides I need someone there who knows what is going on when the King demands Gaius to check—"
"Arthur." Lancelot pressed cutting Arthur off, incredibly annoyed that now that Arthur needed their help Arthur refused it so blatantly. "What about the rest of the knights? Your alibi has to fit what they will say. Your Father is an intelligent man and you are not his son, not tonight Arthur, and he will see treason if you are not careful with your words."
"I know what I will tell him." Arthur grunted. "You are the ones who are not listening. Gaius needs to be informed about what happened and Merlin, your magic can cure Percival's leg faster, both of you standing here is nothing but a waste of time!"
Merlin and Lancelot both sighed annoyed but did not move and Arthur looked aghast as how, apparently, his orders as prince were less and less effective on these two, from Merlin? That was expected; the bloody idiot loved contradicting Arthur on a daily basis but Lancelot?
"I told you, we need to work together if we want to make it alive out of this." Lancelot said in a low but firm voice and his eyes flickered to Merlin's direction for the briefest of moments to make his point clear. "Don't make the same mistakes again."
Merlin was quiet as he watched the little discussion, not for the first time he wondered what exactly had happened the night Lancelot and Arthur talked about his magic since neither of them had ever talked about it with Merlin and Merlin was quite certain he would die not knowing.
After three seconds of silent battle Arthur finally scoffed and relented.
"Your arm, how long do you think you can hold?" Arthur asked suddenly and both Merlin and Lancelot blinked.
"What?"
"Your arm, can you hold to be unattended a while longer?" Arthur repeated annoyed, sighing in defeat. "Agravaine's chambers will be empty and unguarded, but they will not stay that way once my father finds out, search his chambers for anything suspicious, maybe we can have some insight on whatever Morgana is planning." Then he turned to Merlin. "Any chance they might be enchanted?"
"The room?" Merlin asked bewildered as he repositioned Arthur's arm across his back to get a better hold of the prince, Merlin was aware that Arthur looked weaker than he had looked a few moments ago and anxiously stared down at his leg.
"No, not the room. The enchanted—magical… trinkets." Arthur said vaguely with a hand, annoyed with the little vocabulary he had on magical terms.
Merlin just shrugged and looked up again. "Maybe but I can't be certain, all I know is that if they are indeed enchanted they must have a spell that recognizes is Agravaine holding them to use— maybe a way to contact her while inside the castle— a blood spell maybe? Nut they must be safe enough for maids and servants to hold if by mistake they touch it when they are cleaning." He said more to himself than to his friend and then he turned to Lancelot. "Make sure you do not touch anything with your bare hands just to be safe, hide everything you find in Arthur's room, there is a loose board under the closet, the one at the left, no one ever bothers to look into it."
Lancelot just nodded dutifully and Arthur was having a hard time to have a stoic face. Even though they had talked over this it was the first time the three of them ever talked and acted on something related to magic, furthermore, it was the first time ever that Arthur had heard Merlin giving orders and someone actually following them.
Sometimes—that meant always—Arthur panicked because there was really another side of Merlin that Arthur had never expected and as days passed since the discovery that Merlin was a sorcerer it became more and more engraved into Arthur's brain. Merlin was actually a very intelligent man…
Who would have known.
"Alright, you listened to him." Arthur said with a fake calm voice. "You will only have a few minutes. Don't let anybody see you but if somebody does tell them you are there under my command. Voice will get out sooner rather than later that Agravaine is dead, the suspicion of seeing a knight inside of his chambers will be nothing compared if Merlin is caught inside himself, after all, he had accused Merlin from magic and we won't be certain anybody else knew besides Leon until this mess is cleared up."
Arthur was taking all the precautions necessary but then again the "if" in his plans were higher once again. If Lancelot it's not discovered, If nobody else knew besides Leon, If Uther doesn't make the connections that in the end it had been just Arthur and Agravaine alone in the field. If, If, If.
Lancelot smiled just barely and nodded to both of them, indicating he had heard quite and clear, hen turned and ran up the stairs—holding his injured arm to his chest— quickly making his way down the halls taking the fastest route to the Advisors chambers.
Merlin looked around, Arthur and him where the last standing on the courtyard.
"What happens now?" Merlin asked softly as Arthur took a big breath to brave himself before he disentangled his arm from Merlin's shoulders.
"You go get Gwen." Arthur swaged on his spot but he refused Merlin's help with a grave stare and Merlin just sighed annoyed as he saw as Arthur stubbornly made his way up the stairs without aid. Arthur hated to spell it out for Merlin but apparently he had to when he noticed that Merlin had yet to move, stubbornly rooted to his spot. "Merlin, Elyan has a broken ankle, Percival got shot, Lancelot has a broken arm, Gaius needs Gwen and they need you. Go."
Arthur walked up the last steps of the stairs as new guards came to take the just recently abandoned places of the last patrol. As it was their duty they didn't ask or question the prince as he passed, a grave stare on his face, Arthur half walked-half limped towards his chambers, Merlin in tow, and it took all of Arthur's self-control to not snap at him.
"Merlin, are you deaf or something? I told you to go and get Gwen, may I remind you she lives on the lower town and not in the castle?" Arthur said rounding on his feet and pointing Merlin in the right direction.
"What about you?" Merlin asked not moving an inch. "What will you do? I cured your leg but it has been an hour and it will start getting worse, Arthur."
Arthur nodded in dread and looked down at his leg. He had not forgotten. He could feel the pain growing and the blood had began to leak again but he didn't have time to worry about that. "I know but I have something to do first— and I won't allow you to try and cure it again." He added when he saw the idea crossing Merlin's mind.
"What can be more important than that?!" Merlin hissed annoyed. "You will faint in front of Uther if—"
"Agravaine is dead, Merlin." Arthur said gravely and Merlin pressed his lips on a thin line. "Do not forget who is ruling this Kingdom. Leon probably already left to advice Uther as it is his duty. A meeting will be arranged soon and I have to decide what I will tell my Father if I don't want to be accused of treason. I'm not stupid. I know how this looks but I also know how this works. I promised myself I would see this through and I will, Merlin."
Merlin looked at his feet for a second. If he was being honest, now under the shadow of the castle in the middle of the night Merlin had just started to see the big picture, now safe and sound back at Camelot Merlin realized their problems had just begun with Agravaine's death and even if he had not been aware of it Arthur had. They had committed treason. As long as Merlin's magic was a secret along with Morgana's rank infiltration they would probably be found guilty.
"Just trust me on this one." Arthur finally said. Merlin was a warlock, nobody knew better about magic than his friend but also nobody knew better about laws and Uther than Arthur. "I might not be Prince Arthur but I know how to deal with my Father, memories or not."
"You are the prince." Merlin hissed annoyed and Merlin for the first time ever snapped at the situation. It should have ended with Agravaine, at least part of their problems, but fate would have it that it would never be that simple. It never was. The dots connected one with another and soon the downfall of each piece on the chess board collided with the rest. Merlin wondered if Morgana was even aware of how she always managed to trap them in yet another impossible task. "Jesus Christ this is so stupid. Why did you Father had to forget you. This shouldn't even be happening."
"A lot of things shouldn't be happening, Merlin." Arthur said softly and placed one hand on Merlin left shoulder in order to calm his friend. "Off you go, inform me of the knights progress if they get worse and don't worry Gwen too much. I'll see you in the meeting room."
Merlin corners of his mouth raised against his will, at least Arthur knew that invited or not Merlin would find a way to sneak in.
"I would wish you good luck, really I would…" Merlin said as he tried to keep his emotions in check just like Arthur was doing. "—but since you seem to think you never need it… I won't, Sire."
Arthur scoffed and shook his head, Merlin was unbelievable. He released Merlin's arm after one last pat and walked away. Merlin stared at his back for a moment longer noticing how Arthur had begun to limp again, but he just closed his eyes, bottled up his emotions like Arthur had just done and dashed on the opposite direction.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Uther being enraged when he was woken up by Sir Leon and Sir Percy would be an understatement. Uther didn't know what was so important that they didn't even wait for him to get up and order them to come in, any other time Uther would have been furious, would had demanded an explanation and even thrown them at the dungeons for a day for their incompetence and blunt actions but the next words Sir Percy said were enough to silence the erratic thoughts of the King.
"Sire, is Agravaine." Sir Percy said hurriedly as the King's manservant entered the room and quickly helped the king into his royal robes. "He was found dead."
Uther stood motionlessly in his room for half a second; his eyes grew huge as he rounded to see the solemn faces of his personal guards. The next moment he was hurrying down the hall, knights in tow.
He didn't ask as his mind tried to process the impossible. He had seen Agravaine just the day before and he began to think about all the scenarios. Agravaine could be passed out cold, maybe sick, unconscious certainly but surely not dead.
He was confused when they walked away from the hall that would usually lead to Gaius's chambers and began to be lead to the farthest place of the palace, with each step Uther's face grew somber and sooner rather than later he was in front of the morgue doors which were guarded by two knights.
"Sire." Sir Gwaine stepped to the side and let him in with a bow as Sir Owen opened the doors for the King.
The body was easy to spot, the morgue as unusually empty besides the wooden table at the end. There laid the body of his Advisor. It was impossible, unthinkable even but there was no mistaken it. Uther walked closer with uncertainty almost waiting for Agravaine to stand up, once he got near enough to see his face under the pale light of the moon shining past the hole on the wall that functioned as a window he felt like he had been kicked in the stomach full force and he paled under the vision.
"God had mercy." Uther said quietly, horrified at the two deep gashes on Agravaine's chest and the empty look on his advisor's eyes. So it was true.
Ygraine's brother was dead.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
A meeting on the throne room was demanded not even half an hour later. All the knights who were on the patrol, a few trusted members from the conclave, the court and the King himself were all due to attend.
Uther Pendragon was seated on his throne, face pale and somber. Nobleman and important figures of the city were scattered at the sides of the room while six knights were aligned in the middle of the throne room facing the king. The noblemen were scrubbing their faces in efforts to stay awake but all of them were curious and aware that this was unprecedented. Having meetings with knights presents was not an anomaly, having one way before sunrise was, and the few smart people from the court that didn't see Agravaine pacing behind the King had started to get worried that something had happened.
The whispers and talks around the room ceased at once when the king stood up from his throne, silencing everyone around.
"I have called you here tonight on not good news I'm afraid. A terrible event has taken place tonight." Uther said solemnly from his throne as the room quieted even more under his ominous voice. "Agravaine, my advisor, has been found dead."
Agravaine was dead? The Advisor of the King. How? Why? Who?
Uther waited a few moments to collect his thoughts and demeanor.
"We are here to find out in which circumstances this occurred." Uther looked around the room and then at each of knights in the eye.
From right to left there was Leon, captain and second in command after Arthur, beside him Sir Owen, loyal friend and knight from years, then Elyan— who was standing right thanks to an improvised cane, ankle still broken— beside him was Gwaine, who had never looked so solemn and Lancelot, his arm in a cradle.
The one closing the rank was Arthur.
The only man missing on the line was Merlin himself, his status of servant didn't guarantee him a place in the line, however that was only because Uther didn't know Merlin was involved and Merlin for that part would have to wait and see how it would play out.
However, Merlin was indeed in the room, hidden behind a column out of Uther's eyes vision but clear enough for the noblemen to see, it would arouse no suspicion since the whole Camelot was used to the presence of Merlin everywhere Arthur went but Merlin thought wise that the best Uther didn't know about him or see him the better.
"Here are the knights that were on patrol and the ones who found his body, we shall hear what they say and come to a conclusion, we need an announcement to be ready by the morning." Uther commanded. "So, knights, speak."
Leon understandably looked towards Arthur, the last on the left, but before Arthur could motion for Leon to speak the silence had grown long enough to Uther to snap.
"Sir Leon." The King demanded with an authoritative voice. "You are the highest on command here, please do speak."
In any other circumstances Arthur would be standing in the front of his knights, the first to talk and explain what had happened and Leon was internally having a heart attack that whatever test Uther was putting Arthur through went as far as to negate Arthur his rightful place even at this moment.
Leon opened and closed his mouth but in the end did as he was told.
"I was at the entrance of the castle, Sire when the patrol arrived—"
Merlin listened as his friends submitted the events of the night but even then he only feared what Arthur would say because what could he possibly say? Merlin risked a look at Uther's face and as the story was told Merlin began to get scared of the actions that the King might take. His son wouldn't be in trouble, Sir Arthur was another story.
After Leon filled the general information to the King—explaining why Percival couldn't be there, since he was still being treated by Gaius in the physician chambers—Owen and Elyan were next; they both explained little, saying they had been snatched on the way out by the rest of the knights under the orders of Gwaine, however, they did explain how the ambush that had taken place in the forest and how they had gotten divided there.
Elyan was the first to make a mistake. Unknowingly, granted, but a mistake nonetheless.
"We got separated during the fight, Gwaine and Merlin were the ones who fell on the other side of the path." Elyan said as gripped his cane till his knuckles went white for the effort of being standing. "When we managed to get things under control Lancelot got ahead of us to look for them."
Uther blinked and looked around, confusion on his face. "Merlin?"
"Arthur's manservant, milord." Leon said with creased eyebrows, he had always known Uther didn't pay much attention to Merlin but asking about him so blatantly was another story.
Merlin closed his eyes in dread, afraid that Uther might call for him and find him already there, the nobleman would wonder if he had even permission but Uther did nothing of the sorts, might be because Uther thought that Merlin was fool or that maybe his word counted for nothing, whatever the reason he didn't ask for an explanation but he did look at Arthur with something close to dark curiosity.
Merlin didn't miss it and gulped.
After a moment, Uther nodded, and then his gaze fell to Gwaine. Gwaine was struggling to keep his hands steady behind his back but his face was solemn and he didn't look away, not for a moment, when the king stood in front of him.
"From what I've heard you are the knight who was aware of the absence of Agravaine, am I correct?" Uther asked.
Gwaine nodded jerkily more to himself than to the king. Just how much could he say and be safe? How much could Gwaine say that sounded like a believable half lie or a very well planned truth?
"I was the one who saw Arthur leave Camelot along with Agravaine, Sire, I'm in charge of the patrols rounds so I found this strange, seeing that uh—Agravaine is the second in command after you. I found only proper to send a patrol after them, just in case, as protocol demands."
Uther hummed in approval. "But before that… you brought that servant, Merlan or whatever to Gaius… did you know then—about Agravaine that is?"
No. Merlin chanted in his head. Say no! But of course, Gwaine then did this brave something that made Merlin cringe internally: He took part of the blame and Merlin closed his eyes in dread.
"Yes." Gwaine admitted. If he had said that he didn't he would have been spared because the King himself had been in the room at the moment when Merlin had been brought in but accepting that he knew and he chose not telling the King about it was not treason, of course, but it was definitely looked down at. No one hides anything from the King. "I was on my way to inform Leon and Lancelot when I found Merlin unconscious, Leon was occupied so I talked with Lancelot about the right course of action, I—I honestly didn't think such a thing would be worthy of your time and attention at the moment milord, I suspected that you knew about Agravaine's trip to Annoraa and you were busy at the moment so I did as I saw fit, milord."
There was a moment of silence before Uther asked the dreading question looking up and down the line. "Who found Agravaine first?"
"Me" Lancelot said instantly and Uther snapped his eyes at him. Gwaine furrowed his brows just for a flicker of a second before he regained his stoic face. Gwaine was pretty certain that it had been Merlin but then again he had never asked…
Uther moved to steps to stand in front of Lancelot.
"What did you see?" Uther said as his eyes traveled to Arthur's face for a flicker of a moment. Arthur was respectfully looking to the front, face stoic but Merlin didn't miss the glance and apparently Lancelot didn't either because when Uther turned towards him for the last bit of information Lancelot took a second longer to speak.
Merlin felt like this had to be one of the worst nights of his life, seeing as each of his friends— the ones who knew about Agravaine and his treason—had to lie to get alive out of this and what made it worse was that for the first time ever Merlin had everything and nothing to do with it. He was not stupid, they were not only lying for Arthur they were lying for him too, Gwaine unknowingly, granted, but still…
"I was guarding your door, Sire, when Sir Gwaine came with an unconscious Merlin, after leaving Merlin in the care of Gaius, Sir Gwaine told me what he had seen, we didn't think it was a matter of great urgency seeing that it was only Arthur and Sir Agravaine going for a short trip to Annoraa—one of the safest routes of the Kingdom—but we do agreed that a patrol was needed and, therefore, we arranged one. We thought that it had been a misunderstanding of orders and after arranging and taking a few knights we headed after them, everything else, the ambush and how we found them you know."
"But you were the first to find Arthur and Agravaine, yes or no, knight?"
"Yes" Lancelot said solemnly.
"And what did you see? Who else was there? How did it happen?" Uther pressed and Lancelot's lips didn't tremble when he answered.
"Thugs, milord, thugs and Agravaine already dead, Arthur barely hanging for his life." Lancelot shook his head. "Nothing else."
Merlin wondered if there was a spell that could turn back in time to the day Uther lost his memory, he had never appreciated Uther being the father of Arthur until now and Merlin resisted the urge to swear out loud in frustration.
Uther hummed as he looked down, processing what he had just listened from all his knights, but still the last piece of the puzzle as missing, the reason behind this and he gave his knights his back for a moment not ready to hear what Uther suspected had happened. Then he turned and his eyes set on the young blond knight.
The boy who had the same eyes he had once loved, before he got any ideas Uther assessed each of his knights standing in front of him, they all looked tired, all of them in different states of ware, Sir Lancelot even had a bandage around his shoulder while Elyan, was it?, had blood dripping from his cheek along with a broken ankle, but even then it was Arthur the most injured, Uther was not stupid, no matter how hard Arthur was trying not to show it.
Uther had noticed that he was favoring his right leg and the dried blood was clinging into his breaches on his left and even then Arthur was still standing straight—kind of royal if Uther said so himself— not trembling and not even wincing but just taking everything in stride. He reminded Uther of how he used to be when he was young; reckless, egocentric… proud.
Uther found himself he didn't want to know what Arthur had to say, knowingly perfectly that so far everything had lead to the young knight.
Arthur hadn't spoken since they had entered the room and Merlin feared for what could Arthur possibly say to explain Agravaine's treason, would Uther even believe him? In other times Arthur would had been the first to talk, the first to be taken to the infirmary and Uther would never had made Arthur stand for a whole hour of discussion with an injured leg— that had started to bleed again— but Arthur was no longer Uther's son and it was something that Merlin had to acknowledge when Arthur refused to.
So fate had it that it had to be Arthur the one speaking last. Uther nodded towards him and Arthur told his part of the story while Lancelot, Gwaine and Merlin had to listen and watch with contrite and serious faces as the Prince lied to everyone in the room.
"I—it was my fault, my King." Arthur said with a solemn voice and Uther scoffed annoyed. Let the young knights always start with an excuse. You don't start a report on excuses; you just relieve the facts and let your superiors ponder over it.
"Just tell me what happened, Sir Arthur. I will be the one deciding that." He spat as he walked back to his throne and leaned on his seat. Arthur nodded stiffly. The whole room going still as nobleman just shared anxious glances over the strange exchange.
"Agravaine had wanted to go and oversee a few political matters on Annoraa, as you know, my King, Annoraa is a city just a mere hour away by horse and he requested me as his guard and patrol. He told me he would leave the decision of patrol in my hands… Annoraa is one of the safest cities on the Kingdom and one of the most used paths so I thought… I thought just me would be enough." Arthur gulped and forced his eyes to stay open when his leg throbbed painfully but he kept on talking.
Lancelot—the one immediately to the right of Arthur— and Merlin had noticed but Lancelot didn't dare to aid Arthur knowing perfectly well that the King would disapprove, so he closed his eyes and kept still. Merlin wished he knew any spell that he could cast that could help, but for the first time in forever Merlin could not help Arthur, not this time, and he only wished he had been more persistent on Arthur seeing Gaius first before this.
"We were in the middle of our way back when we were assaulted and ambushed by thieves; we were outnumbered, ten to one, maybe more," Arthur said gravely. "Agravaine and I got separated in the middle of the fight. He—he d-died before I could reach him, Sire. When I was about to die myself was when Sir Lancelot found me and then the rest of the patrol."
The silence rang heavily on the enormous room after his words. Uther was watching Arthur with a calculating stare and collected face; he had listened but made to move to acknowledge it, nor a nod or an angry scoff. Noblemen were exchanging glances and quiet murmurs that grew like wild fire began to fill the room. That's when the King rose from his throne, elegant, tall and dangerous.
Red on the face and disappointment and anger edged in every line of his face.
"What were you thinking!" Uther snapped and the room grew silent. "So foolish, so stupidly leaving not only a few hours before dark but unguarded!! Don't you know the routes? Don't you realize the importance that Agravaine held to this Kingdom? Annoraa is a village close to us, one of the safest ones, yes but in the past month the route has been filled with thugs that are moving south, winter is coming as so they are moving and you should know this—you are a knight of Camelot and yet you bring disgrace to all of your kin tonight!""
"Milord—" Leon interrupted and Uther growled.
"I will advise you, Sir Leon, to refrain from comment." The King spat.
Arthur shot a look to Leon and the knight bit his tongue and stepped back nodding.
"I know there's little I can say milord, since there is no way to amend it." Arthur continued "I did everything in my power, Sire, to keep Agravaine alive but the truth is we never stood a chance." Arthur said and Uther sat again heavily, however, his cold and angered demeanor had not subsided for an instant. After all the second in command had died and by all means it had been Arthur's fault.
"It is your duty to protect the realm and their people entrusted to you and here you stand: Alive when my advisor is dead, you should have tried harder, Arthur." Uther said with deep disappointment. "And Agravaine should have known better than to go alone to any village, these are dangerous times and tonight the negligence of you both caused me to lose not just an advisor but a close friend."
"Sir Agravaine died for the noblest of causes. He died serving you my king and he died for Camelot." Merlin's eyes grew huge when Arthur kneeled on the ground and Uther, even in his anger, looked mildly surprised. "I can't hope for your forgiveness but I request of you that this anger you feel towards me don't let you cloud the image of your Advisor."
"Oh, Arthur…" Merlin sighed with mixed sadness, anger and impotence. The moment Merlin saw Arthur kneeling in front of his Father apologizing for something that had to be done, apologizing for actually saving the kingdom, was the day Merlin swore that he would kill Morgana.
Arthur was looking contrite at the floor waiting for a reply, even when Uther wasn't aware this was his son and Arthur was behaving exactly like the knight he was supposed to be. Merlin felt like kicking something, even dead Agravaine was deciding to make Arthur suffer. God, if Merlin could kill him himself again he would have done so.
"I implore your forgiveness my King and can only hope one day I can amend for my mistakes." Arthur said solemnly.
Uther had been silent after that, the knights themselves holding their breaths as Merlin quietly clasped his hands on his back trying to keep himself from screaming in frustration. After a moment Uther rose from his throne and walked towards Arthur. The face he held was one that Merlin knew well and Merlin punched the column with his left hand unable to do anything else.
"You disappoint me, Sir Arthur." Uther said looking at Arthur down his nose. "I know humans are not perfect, that they make mistakes and that sometimes losing instead of wining is the way of life— however, you are a knight of Camelot and your imprudence and ego has cost me dearly tonight." Arthur kept looking to the floor as the rest of the Knights faked deafness, looking straight ahead in honor of the prince. Lancelot closed his eyes as his good hand came to rest on the hilt of his sword, letting his frustration go by sheer power will. "Let Agravaine's death be your pain and grief for this day forward and your burden to carry till the end of your life. You failed Camelot, Arthur, and you have proven that you are yet not worthy of the title. You will step down from your knighthood it till the time is right again and Camelot needs you. You have a long way to go, Arthur, I am only saddened that we had to find this after such a tragedy. "
Arthur nodded to the ground, stubbornly blinking the tears away, even though he knew he had done nothing but right it hurt him deeply that his Father had accused him of ignorance and disobedience, that he had called him a failure. Arthur was aware, he really was no matter what Merlin thought, that his biggest fear was to fail his father or the kingdom in any way, and even though tonight he had come victorious it hurt. It hurt to hear it and it hurt that unknowingly Uther had taken yet another privilege away from him leaving him to deal with the pain on his own.
Arthur was still kneeling as Uther looked at the rest of the knight stills unmovable lined in the middle.
"The rest of you did as you were expected to do." He said gravely as he walked to stand in front of Lancelot and Gwaine. "You telling me sooner or later would have not changed the course of events, however, do not make this mistake again. Next time I won't be so understanding. Am I making myself clear?"
Gwaine and Lancelot bowed and Uther nodded at the rest of the knights who bore returned the gesture. Uther then assessed the rest of the room not bothering to order Arthur to stand up, now that he wasn't a knight he didn't deserve the same honors and courtesy as the rest of them.
"Court dismissed." Uther finally said and then signaled the few court men and nobleman present to follow him for Uther, the king, it was going to be a long, long night.
The door closed behind the king, leaving just the knights behind and for a minute neither of them moved.
Lancelot let all the air on his lungs go in a huff, eyes still closed, he felt like if he dared open them he would snap at the nearest knight in pure frustration, none of them could see what he had just seen, after all, only Merlin and him knew that Uther had lost his memory and that reason alone made it more painful to watch.
Merlin was resting his back against the column, eyeing Arthur like if by power will he could make this better, heal him, protect him but he knew sometimes not even he could protect Arthur. Owen and Elyan were silently shocked too. Gwaine was looking to the floor like it was the very reason of their problems and stubbornly he flipped his hair out of his face. Leon was the most astonished of them all as he had his huge green eyes open wide as he looked at Arthur from the other side of the line. Arthur, his friend, a man he loved like a brother still kneeling on the floor.
Gwaine had the horrible feeling that Arthur couldn't stand up even if he wanted, the brunette knight had never been one to hate or love the king, he just accepted it but now he was sure he wasn't going to be able to look at Uther the same again.
Then the silence was broken.
"I don't understand , Arthur— this knights way or whatever Uther has been testing you through has been enough." Sir Owen said, breaking the line and then snapped. "For God's sake, get on your feet! You are his son, the prince! This is nonsense! I'm sure you did everything in your power to protect Agravaine, I'm sure of it and I would die for your word. Jesus, taking away your title of knight was steeping a little bit over the edge."
Owen was, from Arthur's knights, the most outspoken and rightful, he hated to see injustice where he went, no matter who delivered it.
"I made a mistake Owen, knight, prince or heir." Arthur said with a husky voice but he did not raise. "Agravaine is dead because of me."
"But surely Uther should be grateful you are breathing?" Elyan said worriedly as he looked around for someone to support him, everything that Uther said made some kind of sense but usually the King would always be grateful that Arthur returned unharmed to matter what.
"It wasn't your fault, Arthur." Lancelot said gently. "I bet Uther would be relieved… in other circumstances, let's just remember Agravaine was Queen Ygraine's sibling and the King's most trusted advisor, Uther has to oversee a lot of things now."
"Still—I mean for all we know Morgana—" Owen started but was interrupted.
"Leave the family matters to the royal family, Owen." Leon advised sternly but he did walk to Arthur and put a hand on his arm to put him straight. Arthur too tired to complain rose to his feet and Leon only talked when Arthur looked into his eyes. "It's alright Arthur. I'm sure he'll come to his senses soon enough, for what is worth we are happy you are alive."
All the knights nodded in reassurance, Leon even gave Arthur his best soft smile. Everybody in the room knew Leon was like a mentor and an old brother figure to Arthur, having knowing him the longest, but Arthur didn't even look around and simply pushed Leon's hand away, shaking his head.
No one could understand, not really.
A murderer… a murderer from the moment he had been born.
Arthur turned on his spot and limped his way to the doors. Merlin instantly tried to follow but Arthur just looked at Merlin and shook his head, asking silently for what he wanted. Merlin didn't like it but obliged and with that final act Arthur left the throne room leaving his knights and Merlin behind, that alone spoke volumes of the gravity of the situation.
Once Arthur was gone the knights began to troop out the door too, Owen and Elyan going to check on Percival—who was still with Gaius and Gwen— Leon went to oversee the guards new posts and shifts for the night, none of them lingering on the throne room, no one wanted to talk about it anyway, the most respect they could show Arthur was acting like they themselves were fine.
Merlin finally pushed himself off the wall and walked to the center of the room where he met Gwaine and Lancelot, the three man exchanged solemn looks and without another word headed for the exit.
"For having won…" Gwaine said tersely as he closed the doors behind them and turned to assess the other two. "It surely feels like we lost."
A/N: Angsty. Sorry if you found this chapter dull but I had to close Agravaine's death somehow. It was a headache to write since there were so many people in it and so different levels of knowledge and they just wanted to do things and I was like no, please let me just have Arthur and Merlin that as much as I can cope with, the rest of you go and do what you do in whatever chapters you don't appear!
Poor baby Arthur but it was about time Uther just snapped at him, there's just so much Arthur can do to cover for his father's loss of memory. Jesus. I re-read the chapter and God it was sad but things will get better, you will love the next chapters, they are good and happy ones and we have some good deserved banter between Merlin and Arthur, some surprises, some Gwen of course for the ones who had been asking, all in all the next chap will be the day off you had been expecting, but you know what they say…the calm before the storm, guys, the calm before the storm.
Thank you for the reviews! I can never thank you enough.
Confession (9) Im sorry guys but I just love to write long chapters so as long as I don't get a review that tells me otherwise they will be long. (But hopefully never boring)
xAPRAx: I'm really glad you are liking the story so far, im honored you say it really is somewhat good but all in all I'm trying my best. Thank you and hope to hear what you think of this chap.
write that wrong: Glad you liked the fight, it really stressed me out, anyways yes, I believe that if Arthur had ever found out in cannon he would be marveled all the time of all the things Merlin can do. I think I will never be able to get over it. *sighs* BBC.
NerdGirlAlert: Oi, don't Outsmart Arthur and Merlin! I have not forgotten about the vase, don't worry, they will get there but bear with me, everything is planned but yes, don't forget about that golden vase just yet. You have been the only one who had been asking! Clever, and yes and no about Gwaine but I will reveal that later.
Cromick: I was hoping I didn't go too OOC, Arthur is growing up but he's still Arthur at heart. Glad you liked the chap and can't wait for your thoughts on this one.
mersan123: The Little part where Uther finds out in his chambers is all yours, after reading your review the part of Uther finding out popped into my head and ta-da! Im not lying guysss when I tell you your reviews inspire me, they really do.
Saimiri: I had been thinking that maybe Arthur did overdo it right? Merlin was bleeding but Merlin will get his revenge, worry not and thank you! Really, your review came just when I needed it. So glad to hear you are liking the story so far.
Suricata: I looked and I was told that it would air until 2017(?) (i might die from anxiety, does BBC does not realize that?!) I will watch Doctor Who and tell you how it went, too many seasons and that's good. Well, Arthur and Merlin are two sides of the same coin so sometimes I just play with the idea that even when they are so different they have things in common. Glad you liked the fight and hope to hear from you this chap. About Morgana you will have your answers next chapter.
Coolestbee: Indeed, It was necessary, yes, next chap is the so waited day off in Camelot. Cant wait for you to read Merlin's idea as how to spend it.