Arthur watched as his father walked into the room and sat on the throne. The throne had always intrigued him with its Celtic designs on it and the whispers of forgotten ancestors that sat upon it. His shoes pit-patted on the flagstones as he stopped on the first step, his mind on Merlin and the look he had on his face as he left. Uther sat down and rearranged his cloak so it draped over his legs and brushed the floor. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the guards but let them keep the door open.
"Arthur, it has occurred to me over the past years that your actions have gotten out of hand," Uther spoke in a regarded voice as he picked up a sliver goblet and tasted the tang of the bitter sweet wine.
Arthur crossed his arms and let his weight settle on his left knee. He had no idea what is father spoke of and wondered if perhaps his mind was failing. As far as he was aware, he had up kept his duties as the sole heir and prince of Camelot. He watched as his father put back the cup and refilled it once more, the red wine it looking like rubies in the sunlight.
"I don't know what you speak of father; surely I have done my part in running the kingdom? I have trained the knights accordingly, have I not? For without them Morgona would not be where she is now: dead!"
However, thought Arthur as he let his footfall back on to the steps, it wasn't really the knights; Leon, Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Gwen's brother- it had been Merlin. Merlin who had defeated her, not that his father would ever know.
Uther slammed the goblet down as his face filled red with anger. Surely, his son was not blind but then again, maybe he was, yes, it would explain things.
"You will leave your sister out of this! What I speak of, Arthur, is the company you keep: those feeble peasants! They are no better than thieves and fools! They carry nothing to them like you or I do, Arthur, and frankly, it will destroy you and make you soft! A king is supposed to be stronger than those he rules, not to be equated with them!"
Arthur gawked at him, his father who he was supposed to look up to, in disbelief. He strode up the steps so he was face to face with Uther.
"I don't think the company I keep is any of your concern, father, as long as I do my duty."
Uther leered, took a simple, small, unnoticeable peek out the door, and said, "But it is Arthur. As the prince, you have duties beyond the ones I give you. Now, why would you be so simple as to befriend these simpletons? Is it because you think you will gain from it, or perhaps you are doing right by stringing them along?"
Arthur did not say a word as he watched his father stand up and move about him to the table. He plucked up a yellow fruit and ate it. He offered one to his son but he did not move. He tisked, "will you not answer me? Fine I gave you a choice: you drop this so called friendship with these rift-raffs or you will lose the crown and your right to the throne."
With his jaw set and his mind wavering, Arthur thought: was this not the question Merlin proposed to him a little while ago? He started forward and opened his mouth but nothing came forth, and he watched his father smile.
From the open doorway Merlin watched as his friend (was he his friend?) stood in front of his father and he began to feel doubt creep up on him. Behind him, fanned out in a u was Lancelot, Gwaine, Percival, Gwen, Sir Kay and Arthur's other friends… or were they just play things to?
They waited for Arthur to speak.