This is probably the last chapter. You'll see why.
The Once and Future King
She doesn't know how they've managed to pull this off, but they have. Morgause and Merlin stand by either side of her, Cenred's men ready to attack. They're lucky Cenred has a soft spot for Morgause, and that Nimueh offered to keep Mordred safe at the Isle, just in case the Druids somehow get involved in this. This is their final battle, their last stand against Uther Pendragon.
She scowls, realising that Nimueh was safely watching everything from the Isle of the Blessed, probably grinning gleefully at the sight of sorcerers storming Camelot.
But that doesn't matter, now. They need to save Arthur. It was time. If they succeed, Camelot will have its golden age with the prince crowned the new king. If not, then returning to the past would be all for nothing.
Her heart constricts when she can see smoke rising from the town square, even from so far away. The pyre has been lit, perhaps as a warning to all those who dare question the king. Even his son.
His head rests against the cold, hard stones. His wrists are chafing due to the shackles, and he wonders if this is how Morgana and Merlin must have felt, trapped and alone. Where had he gone wrong? Did his father despise magic so much that he was willing to murder his own child? Perhaps Morgause was correct, and Merlin lied to protect his feelings. Maybe the ghost really was his mother, and Merlin lied (again with the lying) to prevent him from killing his father.
He's tired of people trying to protect him. He knows they care, but he was a knight and crowned prince, not some child who would fall apart at the truth. He admits that he can be a bit of a prat and irrational at times, but he means well.
He looks up at the sound of footsteps, breaking him from his thoughts. It's Sir Leon, who looks grim and terribly apologetic. He opens the door to the cell silently, unable to look the prince in the face.
"It's alright, Leon," Arthur says quietly as the knight frees his wrists, leading him out.
He nods, ashamed that he was following orders. They climb the stairs out of the dungeons, to see Gwen standing morosely by the door. She offers a nervous, sad smile, and Arthur just wants to hold her, one last time.
It's as if his steps go by in a blur, when before he knows it, he's outside in the glaring summer sun. His people, his subjects are gathered around, waiting to watch him die in a fiery flame. He chokes back a whirlwind of emotions. He will die with dignity, with honour, with pride.
"People of Camelot," Uther's voice booms from the castle. He's standing on the balcony, refusing to meet Arthur's eye.
"This is what happens when magic corrupts the soul. I hereby condemn Prince Arthur to death for aiding the sorceress Morgana and sorcerer Merlin. Let this be a lesson to those of you who dare defy the laws of Camelot."
The crowd whispers amongst themselves, terrified. They like Arthur, but no one dares question Uther. And no one notices the lone tear that slides down his cheek.
"Sire," Gaius tries to make him call the entire thing off. He's ignored.
"Any last words?" Uther tries to keep up his heartless facade. He blames magic for all of this. For Ygraine's death, for the corruption of his daughter, and now for the corruption of his son.
Arthur walks up to the pyre, looking at the subjects. He will get to say what he wants.
"I am doing this for the future of my kingdom. Magic is not an evil, but as the Lady Morgana says, a force for good," he licks his lips, scanning the crowd. Gwen stands alone, hands covering her face, shoulders shaking, "I die not in vain, but for the end of prejudice."
The crowd is silent as the executioner begins to tie him to the pyre, ready to set fire to the prince.
"NO!" comes a roar from the back of the crowd.
Shouts are heard from the assembled as they part to reveal three sorcerers. Merlin has his arms outstretched, eyes glowing, Morgana and Morgause on either side of him. The bindings that hold Arthur fly off, tying up the executioner instead. Morgana takes out a sword from the hilt of her belt, tossing it to her brother.
Uther watches in shock and anger as the evil sorcerers barge into his kingdom, daring to defy him. But they are only three people, no match against the army of Camelot.
"Seize them!" he orders.
Some knights make half-hearted attempts to capture the magicians, only for Morgause to wield a sword of her own. She disarms them easily, and they remember that she's beaten the prince in combat.
"Morgana!" Gwen joins the clamor, holding two swords. She passes one to Morgana and they share a smile. Fighting side by side reminds them of being in Ealdor, helping the villagers ward off the invaders plaguing Merlin's town.
"Good to see you again," the sorceress smiles as they ward off more knights. Townspeople run off, to their homes in order to escape the violence. Sir Leon ushers the women and children away, and Morgause stops him.
"There's an army outside the city walls, ready to attack if the king does not step down. Make sure people are safe," she informs the knight, who nods, both a bit wary and intrigued by the woman. He's ready to lay down his life if it means Arthur will be king.
Merlin runs to Arthur, "Are you alright?"
Arthur merely looks at him with wide eyes and hugs him.
"I am now," he says quietly.
Before Merlin has a chance to make a clever remark, there's a noise behind them. A sword is pointed at Merlin's throat, and he whips around, immediately knocking back one of the knights loyal to Uther. Arthur spins his sword around in anger, holding it at the man's neck.
"You ever try and harm him again, and you won't have a head," he growls, kicking him.
He and Merlin leave the fallen knight, running towards the midst of the battle. It's Morgause, Morgana, and Gwen against several of Uther's knights. So far, the sorceress have been able to render most of them unconscious (or all three of them have run their swords through them).
"Where are the townspeople?" Merlin asks.
"Leon and a few knights have gotten them to safety. They should be outside of the city walls by now," Morgana informs him. A knight barrels towards her and she runs the sword through his stomach in a bored fashion. Morgause lets out an un-ladylike snort at the younger woman's fighting skills. She spins, blonde hair fanning out when she spots another of Uther's men. She slashes her sword across his arm and a few feet away, Gwen kicks a knight before stabbing him in the leg, looking apologetic and worried.
He nods, and Merlin's blue eyes turn gold and he speaks in a language Arthur didn't understand.
A rumble is felt from the earth, and Uther storms out of the castle, sword in hand. His men are defeated (three girls defeated his men, impossible! he seethes and figures it must be sorcery), and he stands alone. Camelot has never been so empty before. It dawns on him that everyone has evacuated, no one left to rally behind him.
"Stop! I command you!"
"You are not our king, Uther," Morgana scowls at her father.
"I am King of Camelot, and while you are in my realm, you will obey me," he grits his teeth.
Arthur holds his sword limply, biting his lip.
"Tell me the truth, Father. Please," his eyes are wide and Uther thinks he looks like a little boy again, "the truth, just this once."
Morgause glares at Uther and frowns, "Tell him, Uther. If you resist us, there's an army waiting outside the city walls. We don't want innocent people hurt. Just tell him."
Tears prick the old king's eyes and he heaves.
"I employed Nimueh to help Ygraine become with child. I did not know that she'd take your mother's life. She tricked me!" his voice held tinges of regret and he pleads with his son.
Arthur looks down, biting back a cry. So it was true. His father's desperation led to his mother's death.
"She told you of the consequences," Merlin scowls, matching Morgana's expression, "she warned you that the price is a life for a life. She didn't know it'd be Ygraine's life, she can't control that!"
Uther turns his gaze from his son to the sorcerer.
"She's a sorceress, of course she had control over it," he glares.
"That's not how the Old Religion works. You can't pick and choose who lives and who dies," Morgana crosses her arms.
"Magic is the reason everything I hold dear is lost," the king says quietly, solemn.
"No, father, you brought it upon yourself," Arthur manages to choke out, staring him in the eye. His grip tightens around the sword, and he raises it. Morgause looks surprised and happy (because he's the man who slaughtered her people), Morgana shocked, and Merlin disbelieving. Gwen watches from the sidelines in fright.
The sword presses upon the king's chest, and Uther sinks to the ground. He closes his eyes, ready to be killed.
"Arthur, no! That'll make you no better than him," Merlin whispers, and Morgana takes his hand. It's Arthur's decision, they can't stop him.
"You are no longer king, father. You will call a meeting immediately, renouncing your title in front of court. Then Cenred's men will leave for good, and you will be punished for your crimes," Arthur states evenly, not letting emotion get the best of him.
"You won't kill me?" he opens his eyes in relief.
Arthur regards him for a few moments, drawing his sword away.
"I could never kill my flesh and blood, even if you are able to," he states. Uther's heart clenches, and he feels guilty for nearly killing his son.
The throne room is filled to the limit. The members of court nobility occupy the first few rows, donned in their glamorous dresses and elaborate tunics. Even commoners stand watch attentively, more people still in crowds outside holding a vigil, because this is the dawn of a new age. A dawn of fairness and equality for everyone.
Morgana stands at the forefront, wearing her white dress (as a signal of renewal), Merlin by her side. He's got a goofy grin on his face and wears what appears to have once been Arthur's coat, because he is now court adviser. She clutches his hand and grins.
"Pleased, my lady?" he asks her quietly.
"This is how it was supposed to be, Merlin. We've done it," Morgana whispers, tears sparkling in her eyes. He pecks a quick kiss to her lips, and Gwen smiles at them, blushing. Sir Leon stands next to her, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Behind them stand Morgause and Nimueh, both extremely satisfied. The latter sends triumphant smirks to the former king, who glares at her, enraged at the mere fact she stands in court like she used to. Gaius stands between the two as a buffer, just in case.
Uther looks at the pair in front of them in confusion and disdain. To think his ward (daughter) had fooled him for two years while cavorting in secret with that commoner (sorcerer) and he was none the wiser. But looking at the wide smile on her face melts his anger, just a little bit. He'd rather focus his attention on glaring at Nimueh than feel his heart warm to the thought of Merlin marrying his daughter. He has a feeling he can blame the old High Priestess on their union anyway, because never has he seen two of the most unlikely people be betrothed (except once almost thirty years ago). He shivers at the thought. Nimueh sends him another icy stare before turning to Gaius, leaning towards the old man.
"It'll be better this way," she says hopefully, sounding almost like the young girl he used to know.
"I do hope so, my lady," he replies.
Her breath hitches at being called 'my lady', what he used to call her, oh so long ago. When she was just a girl at court and he was the king's manservant and sorcerer. How things had changed when her powers surpassed his and he cowed to the orders of the tyrant king. How things had stayed exactly the same as she looks in his eyes again. She blames Uther Pendragon for all of her losses. Her sister, her love, her people, her happiness. Funnily enough, he blames her for those exact same losses. Her gaze once again strays sadly to the man she once knew, now old and gray and with the most powerful nephew the world will ever see. He could've been her nephew, too, if their loyalties to the crown hadn't shifted so. She shakes herself of any emotion that could cloud her judgment. It's too late for them.
Merlin and Morgana stand in front of her and she decides to focus on them, smiling and happy. It's not too late for them, and she's glad she helped give them their happy ending, even if she could not have one. They'll never know of her motivations, and she's okay with that. She sends another sneaky glance to Gaius before training her eyes at the front of the room.
The doors to the throne room open, and Arthur strides inside, looking around. He smiles at his friends, catching Gwen's eye. She grins back, cheeks colouring a bright pink.
He looks at his people, his kingdom, and kneels before Geoffrey of Monmouth.
"I pronounce thee King Arthur of Camelot," the crown is placed on his golden hair, glistening under the light streaming from the windows.
"Long live the King!" Merlin shouts, inciting the entire room to roar with the same sentiment.
King Arthur stands, trying to keep a calm face, but fails and breaks out into a grin.
"Long live the King!" Morgana's arm is wrapped around Merlin's, her head resting against his shoulder, smiling. Morgause sends him a smile and nod of approval, clapping politely. Leon claps loudly, and Gwen's smile reaches from ear to ear.
Arthur catches her eye and smiles at her, receiving an even brighter grin and blush in return. Gaius looks immensely proud of him, and even Nimueh has a slight smile on her face. She nods in acknowledgment of his reign and he feels relieved that she won't try and kill him.
What is most surprising is the former king's reaction. He claps along, louder than the others. A tear streams down his face.
"Long live the King," he whispers, radiating with pride. Arthur meets his gaze and Uther nods with a small smile.
It had been wrong of him to try and kill his son. To imprison his ward (daughter) and the manservant (sorcerer). As he looks around the room, he knows this is for the best. The people have never appeared so hopeful for the future. His children are happy (even if it is Merlin Morgana has found happiness with) and he's ready to live the rest of his days in prison for the atrocities he'd committed.
He feels Nimueh's glare on him and he looks at her, nodding slightly. She regards him coolly and finally nods ever so slightly. It's a stalemate. They'll never forgive each other, but the least they can do is put the past behind them.
It's the birth of an era. The Golden Age of Camelot has begun.
So this is most likely the end. I'm of the opinion that there must of been something between Gaius and Nimueh all those years ago, and I feel like Gaius was to Uther what Merlin is to Arthur. (I may write a one-shot about them). Anyway, I can either end it here or I can continue with a completely AU season 3 full of happiness and weddings and some magical things.
Let me know which you'd all prefer. Please review!