A/N – As always, appreciated the reviews and story alerts.

This next one was a pretty big chapter so I've actually broken it into two. If I'm lucky I might be able to get the second part out later today.

Disclaimer in Chapter 1

So... what is Uther's problem?...

Chapter 14 Rumours and Revelations Part 1

Tayla stepped out of her room, crossed the hall and knocked on Arthur's door. Merlin opened it.

"Good morning, my Lady," Merlin said, smiling.

"Good morning Merlin. Could I speak to Arthur please?" Tayla said. She needed to speak to him about yesterday.

"Sorry my Lady, he is not here. I came to serve breakfast and he was already gone," Merlin replied with a frown.

"Oh," replied Tayla, disappointed. "Where would he go this early?" she asked.

"No idea my Lady. He usually never leaves the room until he has eaten. He isn't going to be in a good mood today," Merlin said. Arthur never was, if he didn't eat breakfast. Merlin heard Tayla laugh and a smile formed on his face again. She had a lovely laugh.

"Do not worry Merlin. I will make sure he joins me for breakfast. It would not do for our Prince to be grumpy," Tayla said. She liked Merlin and she knew what Arthur used to be like without food. She would do what she could to help, even if it was just guilt Arthur into eating with her.

"Thank you my Lady, that would great," Merlin said with a sigh of relief and a big smile.

"Merlin, do you think the guards would know where Arthur is? I really do need to speak with him," Tayla said, looking toward the guards at the end of the corridor.

"He may have said something to them. Would you like me to ask?" Merlin replied, happy to do something for the Princess, especially since just having her around tended to make Arthur easier to work for.

"No, that is alright Merlin. Since I promised you I would ensure that Arthur eats, perhaps I will take a walk and see if I can find him," Tayla replied, as Tristan walked out of their chambers.

"My Lord," Merlin greeted the knight.

"Merlin, good morning," said Tristan.

"It will definitely be if the Princess can get Arthur to eat. Excuse me my Lady, my Lord. I should get going. Gaius has plenty for me to do this morning."

"Of course, Merlin," Tayla said with a farewell smile. Merlin liked that the Princess was always willing to give him a smile. He nodded to them both and started to walk away.

"Oh Merlin wait, please," called Tayla.

"Yes my Lady?" Merlin stopped and turned back to her.

"I know you are busy, but could I ask a special favour if you have the time?"

"Anything, my Lady," Merlin said.

"My parents should be arriving later today and I was wondering, since you have such a wonderful gift with flowers," Tayla smiled, remembering the flowers he had organised for her room, "there is a particular flower here in the Camelot gardens, it is a beautiful blue colour, though I am not sure what it is called. My mother adores that flower. I was hoping that there might be some that you could put in a small vase beside her bed. Just one or two."

"I will see what I can do my Lady," Merlin replied, with a little bow and headed off.

"Thank you." Tayla turned to Tristan, "Would you care to take a walk with me to find a missing Prince?"

"I would be delighted, my Lady," Tristan replied.

"Father, you called," Arthur said to his father as he arrived in the throne room. Uther had sent Leon to him earlier, before he was even out of bed, asking, no demanding his presence at once.

"I did. Why are there rumours amongst the servants about you proposing to Tayla? Where would they get that idea?" Uther said, a frown on his face and getting straight to the point.

"Probably because I did," Arthur replied, surprised. He had thought they were alone.

"You should not be proposing to anyone without asking me first," Uther snapped. What was wrong with his father this morning?

"Father, what is the problem? Why is this bothering you so much? Tayla fits all the requirements that you have for me. I thought you would be pleased." Arthur didn't bother telling his father that she had refused. Arthur was confused about his father's reaction. Yes, he didn't ask him first but that wasn't really that big an issue was it?

"I forbid you to marry her," Uther stated firmly, glaring at Arthur and not answering his question. Arthur did not miss that fact.

"What?" Arthur asked, even more confused than before.

"You heard me. You will not marry her," Uther replied.

"Why not?" Arthur asked. Surely his father can not be serious. It was a good match even if both of them were in love with other people, they still cared for each other and Tayla was a princess, this is what she had been born to be.

"Because I told you you can not," Uther said, getting Arthur's back up. That usually happened when Uther used the "Because I said so" answer. Normally Arthur would just go with it. Usually it wasn't important enough to fight about, but not this time.

"No Father, that is not good enough. There is more behind this. What aren't you telling me?"

"Enough questions Arthur. I have spoken. You will go to her and tell her that the marriage is off and you will cease your relationship with her."

"You can not be serious Father. I will not cease my relationship with her." This was just getting more confusing, now it wasn't just you can't marry her but you can't see her either.

"I am, and you will," stated Uther firmly.

"I am serious, too. I will not cease my relationship with Tayla. She is one of my best friends."

"I FORBID IT!" yelled Uther.

"WHY?" Arthur yelled back.

"Because she is your sister," Uther snapped.

Arthur just stared at his father. Sister? Arthur was speechless for a few moments.

"Sister? No," Arthur finally said.

"Yes, she is your sister, Arthur. This relationship can not continue."

"How?"

"Did you hear me Arthur? I said.."

"I heard what you said Father, now answer my question. How can Tayla be my sister?"

"Because her mother and I...we..."

Uther stopped as he saw Tayla standing in the doorway. She looked pale. As she walked toward him, Uther saw her shake her head. Arthur turned around to see what had stopped Uther from speaking. He saw her looking so pale, and at that moment he really hated his father, not so much for the lies of the past, but for the pain he could see on Tayla's face. There was only one other time he had seen that much pain and that was on Guinevere's face when her father died.

"No, you lie," Tayla said, anger making her soft voice tremble. Arthur started to move toward her, he could see her distress and wanted to comfort her. Uther stopped him.

"My mother would never betray my father," Tayla continued. Arthur noticed that Tristan walked beside her, somewhat closer than normal. He relaxed a little, knowing that his presence, so close, would help her.

"She did. I suspected for a while and then knew it for sure when I first saw you as a baby. You looked somewhat like Arthur did," Uther replied.

"No. How could you...Liar!" Tayla was obviously distressed now. "Arthur?" She turned her head to look at him. He saw the tears in her eyes, saw how desperately she wanted him to deny it. But he couldn't help her.

"I don't know Tayla. I don't know," Arthur said, hating how helpless he felt. By now Tayla was standing right in front of Uther, Tristan standing protectively by her side. Tayla looked back at Uther.

"Why would you say this? Why?" Tayla asked, a mix of distress, anger and confusion in her voice.

"Because it is true and you can not marry Arthur," Uther stated firmly, glaring at her. Arthur knew his father did not know what he was dealing with. Tayla was bordering on furious, something Arthur had only witnessed once and would have preferred not to see again. His father really should try and be a bit more sensitive.

"Why would you do that to my father? He was your friend." Tayla's thoughts were all over the place, she was suprised she could actually form a reasonable sentence.

"It wasn't me, it was your mother and her seductive ways," said Uther with a sneer.

In that moment, when Uther said that about her mother, Tayla lost control. Arthur saw the anger flare in her eyes like fire and before anyone could see it coming, Tayla had slapped Uther hard across the face.

"How dare you!" exclaimed Uther, as he had reached up automatically to retaliate.

Before he could though, Arthur had hold of Uther's arm, stopping him. Though Tristan had already pulled Tayla back behind him, holding her securely, whilst his eyes narrowed and locked on Uther.

"Father! Enough." Arthur was glaring at his father, shock on his face at what Uther had been about to do.

"You are not my father," Tayla cried desperately, "you did not raise me, you did not hold me when I cried, you did not tell me stories at bedtime, you did not..." She stopped and took some calming breaths, closing her eyes. Everyone in the room knew she had not finished and for some reason, perhaps it was the look they had seen in her eyes, everyone waited.

"You are not my father, you will never be my father. My father is King Henry," Tayla stated, desperate for it to be the truth. Arthur breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting but that was much calmer than he had expected.

"I am, and this relationship between you and Arthur has to stop. I forbid it," Uther said firmly, looking at both of them.

Tayla stepped out from behind Tristan. As she made to walk closer to Uther, Tristan held her. "My Lady, is this wise?" he asked, softly but firmly, wanting to protect her.

Tayla looked at him, "I am alright Tristan," she said. He nodded and let go, though stayed close, ensuring he was always between her and Uther. His eyes remained firmly focused on Uther.

"This relationship, between Arthur and I. It is none of your business. But I will say this. Nothing you have said today will change the way I feel about him. I will always love him. No matter what." Tayla looked over at Arthur, tears in her eyes then she turned and fled, with Tristan close behind.

"Arthur, I forbid you..."

"Oh shut up Father, you have said enough today." And with that, Arthur turned and walked out on his father, who was, for once, left speechless.