Arthur couldn't sleep that night. Or the next. Everything he had thought or known felt wrong. Uther didn't seem to notice. A relief if anything. A couple of his closer friends began to suspect something. At first they asked him questions, hoping to get some kind of response from him. But after a week or so they let him be. Arthur kept up the pretense of spying on The Magic Room, going off into the night if only to disappear. He stayed far away from the speakeasy knowing he wasn't welcome. Instead he just wandered Camelot.
It had been three weeks since Arthur had had any contact with the Druids. He was out, another evening stroll, when he caught sight of a form he recognized.
"Morgana!" he called out. She had always shown him kindness.
She turned, her face falling from mild curiosity to disgust. "Pendragon."
A sneer marred her beautiful features. Arthur was confused. "What is wrong Morgana?"
"You betrayed me, you betrayed my kind. You and your father are the scum of the earth," she hissed.
Arthur was dumbfounded. "I don't know-"
"Please, don't embarrass yourself. Spying is certainly a form of betrayal."
His shoulders drooped. "Is there anyway I can make it up? Please I just need to speak to Emrys."
She reared back. "You have no right to say that name. No right to ask anything of me."
From behind her came another voice. "Morgana, are you coming?"
Mordred appeared from the shadows, a scowl grew on his face when he saw who she was speaking to. "You," he spat out. "Get away from my cousin."
He pulled her away, and before Arthur could call out they had vanished into the crowd. Arthur leaned against the facade of the building. Everything was a mess. He knew if only he could get close enough to Merlin to explain, then perhaps everything could work itself out. But Morgana had rejected him, telling him to stay away. He knew he ought to respect her wishes, but something inside him wouldn't let this go. Something he had inherited from his father, he thought cringing. He kept walking. It was early yet, so Arthur made his way to The Rising Sun. Perhaps if he could find Freya she would be understanding.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for one of your waitresses? Her name is Freya," Arthur said speaking to the hostess.
She smiled up at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry, but she had to quit her job just yesterday."
"Do you know where I could find her?" he asked desperately.
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't give out that information," the hostess apologized.
"Do you know why she left?" he asked.
"Something to do with her guardian worrying about her safety. Apparently she was being stalked by some gentleman or another," the hostess looked at Arthur, as if he could be the stalker.
"Please can you tell me anything more?"
A steely look came into her eyes. "I'm afraid I really am quite busy."
"Come you must know where she is," Arthur protested.
"I think it would be best if you leave now," the waitress said coldly.
"Arthur?"
He turned ready for another verbal beating, only to find a kind face looking up at him. "Gwen?"
"It's lovely to see you. You haven't been around in ages," Gwen said grabbing her coat and following Arthur outside.
"Yes, well I'm not really welcome," Arthur muttered.
Gwen laughed. "Morgana and Mordred getting to you? They can be a little over zealous when it comes to Merlin."
Arthur nodded. "I thought all the Druids hated me. Why are you even talking to me?"
She smiled. "I saw the way Emrys was around you. Everyone did, really. He's not like that anymore. He barely smiles these days. He's worried about the Syndicate, his business, and Freya of course. Nasty bit that she been followed about."
Arthur nodded. "I am sorry for that. I hope she's alright."
"She can take care of herself. We Druids are a strong lot," Gwen said cocking one hip. "But I can try to find a way to get you in to speak with Merlin."
"Why would you do that?" Arthur was taken aback.
"You made quite a few friends at The Magic Room, Lancelot, Elyan, me, Gwaine. We want to help you out. Well and Gwaine misses Percy," giggled Gwen. "But that's beside the point. We're just as loyal to Emrys as Morgana and Mordred are, but we aren't blinded by loyalty. We can see love when it's in our presence. Something those two haven't had the chance to truly experience."
"Love?" asked Arthur, blood draining from his face.
Gwen laughed. "Of course, it's obvious! You should see the way Merlin sulks about."
Arthur nodded, he had been pretty out of sorts lately, but he wouldn't have pinned it on love.
"Arthur?" Gwen said.
"Hm?"
"You were looking off into space," laughed Gwen. "Well I better get going to the club. Meet us for lunch tomorrow at The Rising Sun for lunch. We can formulate a plan then. Oh, and bring Percival. I had to promise him, even to get Gwaine to consider helping you out."
She turned to leave. "Gwen?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you," and he meant it, from the bottom of his heart.
She just gave one of her sweet smiles before joining the crowd. Arthur decided to keep walking the streets, but as he did so he found that his heart felt lighter. There was a metaphorical bounce to his step, and Camelot no longer felt like it was made up of strangers.
OoO
The next afternoon couldn't come soon enough. In the morning Arthur busied himself going through papers for his father. Percival had promised to join Arthur, and things were beginning to look up.
The Rising Sun was crowded for lunch, as it was everyday, making it optimal to plan and not be overheard. When Arthur and Percival arrived the Druids were already at a corner booth. Gwaine grinned toothily, and Gwen sent them a small smile of welcome. The other two men had furrowed brows and pursed lips.
"Hello Arthur, Percival," Gwen said merrily.
Percy slid down next to Gwaine, causing the brunet to smile even more. Arthur took the seat opposite, sitting beside Gwen.
"Look here Pendragon," Lancelot said. "It's not that I dislike you, but know that what I am doing I am doing because I owe Merlin. He has done a lot for me, for all of us, and we don't want to be in his debt any longer."
Elyan nodded. "We like you, Arthur. You seem like a good guy, but know that if you or your family tries anything –"
"We will not hesitate to end you," Gwaine finished.
Arthur nodded. He understood. Everyone seemed to relax just the slightest bit. "So where do we start?"
"We have to show Emrys that you aren't your family. That you have not intentions of following along with the Pendragon Syndicate's reign of terror," explained Elyan.
"How?" Arthur asked.
"Talk to Gaius," Gwen said from under Lancelot's arm. "Merlin trusts Gaius, he trusts the old man's opinions and judgments. He doesn't always listen to the advice, but it doesn't hurt."
Arthur nodded. "Doesn't seem to hard."
"Prove to him you won't hurt Merlin. That's what he fears. He loves the boy like a son," Lancelot said.
"It won't be easy regaining Merlin's trust," cautioned Gwaine.
Gwen nodded. "Not since the incident with Nimueh."
"Who?" asked Arthur.
Gwen sighed. "Awhile back, when Merlin just started out there was this dame. She was one of the last of the original Druids. She promised to help Merlin fight back against the Pendragons."
"Instead she poisoned him, almost killing him," Elyan added, "and blamed it on a rival gang."
"Almost?"
"He drank the poison, but Gaius found a way to draw it out of his system," Gwaine continued.
"But it just about killed the old man. Merlin was at death's door as well." Gwen added. "That's when Emrys decided to be more wary of any outside threats. That one girl destroyed any trust he felt towards outsiders."
Arthur nodded. "What happened to Nimueh?"
Elyan looked a bit said. "It turned out she was an assassin. She kept coming after Merlin, until he finally got her in the end."
Arthur sighed. He had his work cut out for him, but as he looked around the table he felt some hope. These people were willing to help return to what felt like his family. They were risking so much to help him.
"Two sides," muttered Gwaine.
"Huh?" asked Arthur.
"Of the same coin," Lancelot murmured.
"What are you going on about?" Arthur asked.
"It's just something we heard, can't remember where we picked it up," Gwaine shrugged, but clearly he was disturbed.
Gwen nodded. "Yes that does sound familiar. I just wish I could remember where I heard it."
"Was it that fortune teller at the county fair?" asked Lancelot.
"Perhaps," Elyan looked perturbed as well. Suddenly all eyes were on Arthur.
"Have you heard that expression before?" asked Gwaine.
Arthur shook his head.
"Funny, I've got this feeling that it has to do with you," Gwen said shaking her head.
"Don't tell me you've started sensing things in your bones. Next it'll be a love of smoking pipes," teased Lancelot.
Suddenly the heavy mood broke, and everyone was laughing.
"What is with Kilgharrah anyway? How can he sense all those things?" asked Arthur.
Elyan shrugged. "I don't know, he just does."
The rest of lunch was spent quite merrily. It was full of jokes and laughter, as if they had all been friends for ages. When they got up to leave no one even noticed the couple in the booth behind them.
"Pendragons and Druids getting along?" seethed the woman. "This spells trouble."
"Calm down, Morgeuse."
"We need to execute our plan even sooner," she glowered at her partner. "Have you found enough hired guns yet?"
Senred nodded lazily.
"We strike tomorrow," she muttered.
Senred had learned to just go with his partner's plans. It was all much easier if he did, so what if some innocents got in the way. The sooner she was mayor, the sooner he would have his promotion. That was all he cared about.
Oooh trouble's brewing! Want to get all the news first, then follow and or favorite to find out when I update! Ha, anyway thank you to everyone who has already. Please leave a review? They make me update faster, I promise! The next chapter has a lot of drama, just warning y'all now. Hope to hear from you. Buh-bye ~T.W.o.W.