The Death of Uther

"Either you had help or your gift buying is getting better." Arthur said as he leant over to his cousin.

Merlin scratched the back of his neck. "I would try and take the credit for it but … Morgana helped me chose what would be best."

Arthur could see that she was smiling because of his honesty. He shook his head and smiled as well.

The hall was full to the brim with people, coming far and wide, to celebrate his birthday. There had been a lot of talk about whether it should go ahead or not. Merlin had stated that they should carry on as planned but just to be more vigilant. It was the council that said that they should postpone the celebrations. But Merlin was right. If they carried on as normal, then they wouldn't let people know how worried they were about these assassination attempts.

"We should probably start to mingle." He said.

"Probably but you know half these people, I don't."

"Well." He said, patting him on the back. "Get to know know them."

"I remember your father when he was just a little younger than you are now. He was such a bright man and so handsome as well."

Merlin just smiled at the woman. It wasn't the first time someone had mentioned his father that night. He had actually enjoyed it slightly. It was nice to hear about how other people remembered him. It was also nice to hear that everyone literally said the same thing about him.

"As I have heard many a time."

"I was disappointing when we got the news that his father had been killed and that there was a new king. I had always hope than he may marry my Elaine. I was also disappointed when I heard that you were already engaged. However after meeting your bride-to-be, I am sure she will make a wonderful queen."

His eyes wondered over to Morgana. "I am more than sure of that."

"I mean Gorlois was another handsome chap and his wife was a beauty. I hope that she is a mix of both of them. Her mother was as stubborn as they come."

He laughed. "We are both as stubborn as each other, that is what I have learnt."

"Lady Lunete, it is a pleasure to see you again."

Merlin took a sip from his goblet as Uther kissed her hand.

"Well the last time I saw you was in your father's own hall. Then I had heard that you had taken this place."

He allowed himself to take a bit of pleasure in smiling at what she said. It was something that was more outspoken now but never to Uther himself.

Uther blinked a few times before opening his mouth to speak. "Sorry to interrupt but would it be okay if I had a word with the king? Just I have something that I wish to speak to him about."

If anything, Merlin was a bit suspicious of this. He could never really trust him but then again, he was sure that he wouldn't place a sword in his back. Uther knew what Merlin meant to Arthur and their relationship had been damaged enough over the past year.

"Of course." He turned back to Lunete. "I am sorry Milady."

His eyes meet with Morgana's and she raised her eyebrow at him. He kept the eye contact as he followed Uther out.

Merlin stood in the middle of the room as Uther leant against his desk. It was weird to watch him. It had been the first time that he had been alone with him since his lineage was announced.

"You know, there is … I have always missed a few things when it came to the Eorðdracas, mainly Ygraine. See Arthur looks like her but you … you and Balinor just remind me of her personality. She was so kind. She loved everyone and everything. I have always seen as magic as something bad and I will never see it any other way. But she … she could always see the beauty in it. She used to watch Nimueh, Balinor and her other brothers and sister all the time.

"I thought that change wouldn't be good. I had control that I wasn't prepared to let go. I have had something to do with the resistance of the Council. I played a part in Balinor's assassination and in the multiple attempts on your life. I know that you haven't forgiven me for what I did before you were born and I know that you will never forgive me for this."

He looked pitifully at the older man.

Arthur placed his head gently on the door. He had heard his father's confession. Why had he tried so hard to rip their family apart?

He had started to walk back to the hall when he heard Merlin's shout for help. He rushed back as fast as he could to see a man lying face down and his father in his cousin's arms. He looked up at him.

"We will find a way to save him. There must be a way."

They had poured over the books. They had them all laid out in front of them, using their magic to flick through them. Arthur asked why he couldn't use the spell that he used on Morgana. Merlin argued that even though Uther's wound was life threatening that he wasn't almost dead. He had been told only to use it when the patient was on death's door. Also Merlin could feel Kilgharrah's resistance from using it.

They had found this spell. He allowed Morgana to do it. She was the better one out of the two of them for these things. Merlin was too scared that something would go wrong.

"Efencume ætgædre, eala gastas cræftige: gestricie pis lic forod." She confidently said.

Maybe his confession should have been a sign but the didn't check him. The colour returned to his skin and he turned to smile at Arthur. If anything it was a sweet scene to witness, until it turned sour. Merlin felt it as the spell as it reversed and increased the effects. He ran to his side and started to chant the spell but stopped halfway through when he realised it was too late.

Gaius came over and confirmed his fears.

Arthur's knees gave out and he dropped to the floor, placed his head in the sheets. He held his father's hand tighter. Merlin was going to leave him when he noticed something that he didn't recognise. He took it out of Uther's tunic before he stormed out of the room.

Morgana was crying outside and Gaius was trying to tell her that it wasn't her fault.

"No, it wasn't your fault." He said, gathering her up in his arms when she ran into them. "He confessed and they wanted him gone. There is a necklace that I don't recognise around his neck. I believed that we could have done nothing to stop his death."

If it gave her some comfort, she didn't let it show. And Merlin knew that once more, the castle had fallen into mourning.