A/N: Sorry for the late update, and thank you for all the continued reviews!
The storm had come in from the sea and surrounded Tintagel castle with a howling that could not be escaped no matter how deep you went into the fortress. Thunder pealed from the skies and echoed through the halls while lighting flashed in time illuminating the sea's dark waves. This was an ill omen, and he couldn't work out why he had decided to come here these last two months of his wife's pregnancy. They should all be in Camelot not in Cornwall. Thunder shook the halls and Uther cringed when he heard the strangled whines of that three year old girl and the strong voice of Gorlois trying to calm her. He poured himself a glass of wine and paced around; thankfully he was far enough away and didn't hear his wife's screams.
Kay was looking out a window, writing in some journal while sipping wine. The man hadn't said a word all night, clearly still upset at the argument they had earlier. How was he to blame? His wife was entering a difficult labor as both Gaius and Vivienne had predicted. Of course his nerves were heightened.
"Keep her calm Elizabeth." Gorlois said as he left his daughter's chambers and took his wine goblet up again. "Any more word Uther?"
"Not for an hour." The King sat down in a chair.
"You should be with her." Kay said firmly, finally speaking.
Uther didn't bother to respond but he heard Gorlois's grunt of agreement. He drank a little more wine. Vivienne came rounding the corner heading towards the Queen's chambers, two maidservants following her carrying more towels and water. She ignored the men and continued down. Uther's eyes tracked her retreating form.
Gorlois grabbed his shoulder and hoisted him to his feet, pressing his king against the wall. Kay jumped up and Uther snarled. "Who do you think you are Gorlois?"
"Again?" He hissed, his green eyes slowly losing their brilliance. "In my house Uther? You dare look at my wife!"
"Not in front of the girl." Kay said calmly. The dark skinned, six year old remained near a window, fascinated by the storm.
The Duke ignored him. "You should be with your wife, like I was with mine when she bore your seed!"
"Enough Gorlois!" Uther began forcefully, but felt his knees grow weak.
Kay put his hands on both their shoulders and forced them apart. "We are supposed to be brothers! We need to come together. Throw this behind us!" He came close and spoke low enough for only his two companions to hear. "You are my King Uther, but if I find out you have betrayed him again, I will kneel before Gorlois."
Uther paled, his only grace being that the Duke began to soften again. They remained facing each other, still basking in the awkwardness until they turned at the sound of approaching footsteps and saw a man entering carrying a sword. Tom or something, Uther thought his name was.
"Gwen!" He said with a disapproving shake of his head. "Attend to your mistress, get away from the window..."
"Father..."
"It's quite all right Tom. Elizabeth is with Morgana. Show me the sword." The Duke of Cornwall replied.
The tension was still in the air as the man unwrapped the blade, inlaid with the runes of the Old Religion.
"My Lord, this is the forged Sidhe blade Lady Nimueh gave you."
"Thank you Tom." Gorlois turned it over, began to admire the balance. "Such a sword! The power to do good or evil on either side. No greater weapon exists in all of Albion. The man who possess such a weapon will rule over all of this land, and none can defy him." He gave a sinister smirk and approached Uther.
Gorlois changed his expression into a small smile. "This is how you know the mark of a true friend Uther. But a man can only take so much betrayal," He whispered. "And I am only a man."
He offered the hilt towards Uther. "This is Excalibur my King, given in honor of the birth of your child, and may it be a son."
Two more agonizing hours, and all that was heard was the pouring of wine, Kay's quill moving from paper to ink well, to paper again, and the annoying humming of the blacksmith's daughter. A haunted and pale Nimueh moved down the corridors towards Igraine's room, casting a sad look at Uther. She was in her royal robes and normally would project fear or respect in her bearing but now she looked like she belonged in Gaius's infirmary.
A few more moments and thunder crashed again and their room shook with the piercing screams of that loud mouth child. Uther grimaced and gulped down more wine. Shut up little bitch. The blacksmith's daughter went running to her room and Gorlois raised his eyebrow.
"My poor little Fay." He muttered.
"Sire?" Gaius appeared suddenly and came forward, but with a confused look that could be construed as joy and sadness.
"Gaius?" Uther responded, his heart began to beat fast in his chest.
"You have a son." The sorcerer continued.
"What else Gaius?" Kay's voice boomed as he shut his journal.
"Uther...Sire, your Queen is dying. Nothing can be done."
Uther's goblet fell to the stone. He rushed towards her chambers. His mind was blank. What had happened? He couldn't lose Igraine, she was his life! He saw the assembled court waiting outside her chambers, a somber looking Tristan and Agravaine, Lord Ector pacing, and Sirs Caradoc and Gareth standing guard at the chambers.
Gorlois hissed in his ears. "You should have been with her."
He ignored the duke and they left him alone as he burst into her chambers, the smell of blood heavy in the air. Gaius entered behind him and shut the door. Uther held back tears when he saw the red sheets and towels. Igraine was as pale as her hair, and clutching the little bundle that must be his son.
"Igraine," His voice cracked and he began to cry. "Sweetheart." He knelt beside her bed and clasped her hand. So cold. He observed the two stoic priestesses watching him in the corner.
Igraine looked at him with a colder expression in her eyes. "Arthur..." She said weakly. "His name is Arthur."
"Gaius?" Uther began to sob. He tried to pick up his child but Igraine held onto the boy weakly and he stopped trying when Vivienne approached menacingly, her dark eyes storming.
"She has lost too much blood sire. There is nothing that I can do as a physician or as a sorcerer that can save her."
Uther began to tremble. This was impossible. This couldn't be happening.
Igraine spoke up weakly. "Send in my brothers."
"What?" Uther said, "Igraine please let me be alone with you and our son." His voice rose to a strangled shout. "Leave us!"
The priestesses ignored him.
"You lied to me Uther." Igraine began. "You betrayed me and Nimueh. I never gave you my consent to use magic. Send in my brothers."
"Igraine, please don't hate me, don't hate my son."
She grimaced at him. "How little you know me husband. I could never hate my son. But you, your precious prophecy and dynasty was more important to you than our love."
Tristan and Agravaine broke in, the elder struggling, and then failing to keep his tears in. Agravaine let out a small gasp. Both brothers went forward as the queen weakly motioned them forward. Gorlois and Sir Kay entered behind them and closed the door.
"Igraine..." Tristan said as he knelt down and grabbed her hand.
Uther rose dejected and turned away, stumbled until he was caught by Gorlois and lowered into a chair. His head was empty and the room began to spin.
"Please..." Uther said. "He looked at Nimueh. I will pay any price. Save the life of my wife!"
The High Priestess looked at Igraine and the Queen nodded. "Tell them all Nimueh."
"To create a life, a life must be taken. You knew this."
Uther trembled. "No, I told you to take..."
"A sacrifice?" Nimueh's lower lip trembled. "Not even I can determine who will be offered up!"
"Igraine? Why?" Agravaine said while Tristan buried his head on the side of the bed.
"Not of my doing brother."
Tristan's teary gaze fell upon the King. Uther saw the Lord's grief began to turn to rage. The King turned to face Nimueh. "I said I will pay any price!" His voice sounded so weak, so far away. He didn't realize he was still gripping the sword and dropped it clattering to the ground.
Nimueh's voice was haunted as she spoke drawing a knife from her robes. "To save a life, a life is..."
"Will be mine!" Tristan's voice boomed as the blonde ripped open his tunic to expose his heart, and walked over grasping the Priestess's arm and thrust it to his chest, yet it refused to pierce his flesh. He looked dumbly back at the sharp blade.
"Only the life of the man who requested the enchantment may suffice." Nimueh intoned.
Tristan stumbled back, shaking his head over and over again.
Uther noticed all eyes on him, and could hear Igraine's breathing getting shallow. Igraine could raise Arthur. But what about the Dragon? He couldn't fight destiny could he? Who was he to defy prophecy even to save his wife?
"Tristan, Agravaine..." Igraine called out weakly. "Swear to me on my soul that you will be loyal to Arthur until death."
"Both brothers bowed before their sister and queen.
"I Tristan of House De Bois,"
"I Agravaine of House De Bois,"
"Swear on the soul of Igraine de Bois Pendragon to be loyal to her son, Arthur Pendragon until death claim us by sword or by sickness."
"Uther..." Nimueh begged, coming closer with the knife. He remained passionless, dead. He would not accept her offer.
A few more moments of strangled breathing, and Igraine stopped. Gaius moved forward, checked her pulse, and then closed her eyes. Uther collapsed on the ground in a fit of sobbing. Moving forward, Vivienne took the infant boy, and placed him in the arms of her husband. Uther watched, his eyes fixed on Igraine, as his Lords and Knights filed out leaving him behind with his Queen and the two Priestesses.
He heard the Duke's voice from beyond the doors. "Queen Igraine is dead, yet her son lives! Long Live Prince Arthur Pendragon!"
No cheers, only the sound of the court repeating the words, and kneeling before his infant son. He got up, his sobbing controlled and quickly being replaced with anger. He moved towards Igraine but Vivienne stopped him and shoved him back.
"How dare you!" Uther yelled. "You disappear for two years and now come back you whore?"
Vivienne's eyes flashed yellow and he was flung against the wall. She cast a spell to ward the room from escaping sound and began to shout.
"Whore? True I betrayed my husband once, when I thought you were the better, less violent man, but one child wasn't enough, one time wasn't enough!"
She turned on Nimueh. "Why do you love him so much? You enchanted him to look like my husband so he could rape me two times? Be thankful I never told him once I discovered the deception." She turned back to Uther. "You live only because he knows Morgana is his!"
"Go sister." Nimueh said forcibly. "You're time here is done."
"So it is." Vivienne brushed past him with a snarl.
Uther turned upon the High Priestess once Vivienne left the room. "You knew this would happen!" He drew his own sword, forgetting about Excalibur, and leveled it at her neck.
"I told you not too! I offered you a son with me but you commanded me otherwise my King!" Nimueh glanced at the door. "And now Gorlois will lose his wife as well, for she foolishly believes she has seen the future and the culmination of your reign in a great wickedness."
Uther yelled and plunged the blade at her neck but it shattered on impact, leaving no mark on her pale flesh. He jumped back in alarm and made for the blade on the ground, only to find it in Nimueh's hands. "I am the High Priestess, you cannot kill me! You have taken your path Uther, accept it, but know that I am still at your side."
"Gaius!" Uther shouted. "Bring down these wards Nimueh! Gaius!"
"Sire?" He came in and closed the door behind him taking in the absurd scene before him, two people poised near the dead Queen.
Uther couldn't bear to look at Nimueh. "Give me my sword you witch."
"This blade was not Gorlois's' to give. I will give it to your son."
Uther laughed. "No. You will not. I only wish I could be there to watch you sell your body for meager coins to keep yourself fed. You are cast of all titles that have been bestowed upon you."
"Sire," Nimueh began. "You will need me for what is to come..."
"Gaius exile your mistress ensure that she leaves the city."
He didn't hear Gaius's response, and didn't listen to Nimueh's tortured pleas as he left the room, and ignoring everyone proceeded to his chambers while the storm continued to rage around Tintagel.
Uther woke up with a whimpering scream and fought with the covers around him.
"Sire?" His manservant Cedric replied, coming in from his side quarters.
"Get out man get out!" Uther yelled, then fell panting on the bed. In a few moments he composed himself, got up and looked in the mirror. God when did I get so old? He usually never looked at his own face. Maybe it was just the stress from recent events and his dream. He closed his eyes for a spell, and upon opening saw Igraine's reflection looking at him in the mirror with a small smirk.
Uther spun around, his heart pacing but saw no one. Calming himself he went and poured himself some wine, before calling Cedric in to get him breakfast.
"Well, that could have gone worse." Arthur groaned as Kay lifted him from the muddy ground. He rubbed his shoulder were Kay's practice sword had hit him.
"I surrounded your numerically superior forces, slaughtered them, and you are now cut in half. How could it have gotten worse Arthur?"
Lot laughed cockily besides them. "Let's not have a repeat of this Arthur. The mud suits you, hopefully a few more scars. You look like a courtier not a warrior."
Arthur scrunched up his face and ignored the King focusing on his argument with his mentor. "Kay, you have taken the best soldiers, look, Percival actually broke one arm today! He's going to make us lose soldiers!"
"Of course I am taking the best soldiers, if our men fight our very best, they will be prepared for whatever Cenred throws at us. Come, walk with me."
They made their way across the fields, Camelot in sight, and moved towards the tents for afternoon refreshment before the next drills. They passed Sir Bedivere as they walked.
"A glorious victory for Camelot forces Kay, though it appears Sire your company was annihilated."
"Thank you for reminding me Sir Bedivere." Arthur groaned. "I should have never let us get so separated."
"You also shouldn't have gone to the flank." Kay began.
"A leader should be in the thick of the fighting, the flank was the most vulnerable." Arthur argued.
"Yes and he should if he is on horses." Kay retorted. "I had you placed with infantry today to prevent your mobility."
They were alone once again as Bedivere waddled off to a refreshment tent. Arthur and Kay entered their own and sat down, George loosening their armor, before Arthur sent him away. At least he didn't start singing about brass again.
"Has my father spoken to you Kay? I am supposed to command this army and yet here you are telling me where to go this morning." Arthur was beginning to get furious and not just over the initial embarrassment of getting his company annihilated.
"Arthur, your father has insisted he will be overall battle commander. You know I do not think like your father. You are perfectly capable of running this kingdom and leading an army though Uther doesn't see it." Kay sipped some water. "You still have never commanded a pitched battle, having only been on the lines against Mercia. You will command in the coming months, but I intend to put you in the most compromising positions to help you learn how to react. I will be with Cornwall's forces come the war Arthur, you will be alone but I know you will make me and your father proud."
Arthur scoffed. "Have fun. You will be lucky if Morgana doesn't try to tag along."
Kay smiled lightly. "She will be staying in Camelot with Agravaine, and hopefully she can work out an understanding between Annis. We still have no word and Isca Augusta has defeated Caradoc's finest spies."
Arthur groaned. "There is no way, especially now as a Duchess, that she will remain behind."
"She will do as the king commands."
"Kay stop dancing around the issue." Arthur sighed. "Merlin had a problem in his home village, in Essetir actually last year. We all went with him, but I left only realizing that Morgana and Gwen had gone with him first. You will need to talk to her before she shows up in armor on a battlefield."
"You all seem very fond of Merlin." Kay began, staring at him.
Arthur looked away at this irrelevant turn of events. "Well he is a good servant..."
"He is a terrible servant Arthur." Kay said sharply. "Is it that hard for you to admit, even to me, that you care for the boy as a friend? That he has given you sound advice?"
Arthur looked back at his mentor. "I...Merlin. I don't know Kay! I feel oddly bored and lost without him, and Morgana and Gwen."
"There is something about the boy." Kay muttered.
"Yes! Yes exactly!" Arthur looked like a light had gone off in his head. "But I don't know what it is. The first day I met him he got me to stop bullying a servant and then saves my life. Gwen apparently immediately fell for him briefly when he was sitting in the stocks, and Morgana," Arthur continued with a hint of jealously. "Allowed him to come to her room in the evening, and they would talk. Talk? Morgana would never do that to anyone I knew, well there was Sir Dagonet..."
"You feel something for her." Kay stated. "I guess it took me escorting her to knock some sense into you."
"Well, maybe..."
Kay's face got dark. "And then you proceeded to insult her."
"I was drunk Kay."
"I know, we have talked about this." Kay sighed. "Her father was my friend, Morgana is dear to me. I don't want anything to happen to her Arthur."
"At least she has you and me to protect her." Arthur shook his head. "My father, of all people, was commenting a few days on how beautiful she was, and practically asked me to bed her. He's lost all sense of his honor." Kay gripped the side of his chair but Arthur didn't notice. "Then he proceeds to say that we would make a terrible match. Who says that? Take her virtue Arthur, have some fun but don't think of marrying her?"
Arthur started as Kay flung his goblet and rose from his chair. "The bastard!"
"Kay?" Arthur moved over to his mentor. "Kay?"
The knight turned around hissing. "Uther's insults to Gorlois continue. First he strikes her, puts her in chains now offers her up to you instead of protecting her."
"Kay, I would never..."
Kay put his hands on the Prince's shoulders. "I know Arthur, but what if you weren't the honorable man I helped raise? Uther praises her in public and insults her in private."
"Agravaine thinks she may be a danger to me." Arthur said, changing the subject slightly. He had been disapointed in his father recently but didn't want to draw Kay along with him.
Kay nodded. "If you make her your political enemy, then yes. Agravaine has a touch of the dramatic however, yet if you were to follow in your father's footsteps were magic is concerned..."
"Kay..." Magic. Another thing he didn't want to talk about.
"Arthur listen. You asked for my help because of what you had to do, assisting those druids with suicide." Kay's voice was lowered. Arthur winced recalling that moment. "This is not enough. Your father is wrong. Sorcery is not the enemy."
"Sir Kay..." Arthur said forcefully.
"It's like the sword Arthur. Good or bad. Morgana is a friend of magic, and I suspect Merlin is. Would you make them enemies by following your father?"
"Would you have them condemned to death by speaking treason? Enough of this Kay! I have seen the evils of sorcery!"
"Quiet!" Kay hissed. "You have also seen none of its good."
"What good Kay?" Arthur flung his arms around. "I see no good in sorcery."
"I cannot count how many times Gaius cured our wounds. With sorcery Arthur, not science." Kay continued. "Sorcery protected us when we fought a rogue dragon and Uther won your mother's hand. And sorcery helped us, when we hunted them all down."
"No…" Arthur began. "My father would never condone the use of sorcery."
"Arthur, wake up." Kay's voice took on a tone of remorse. "The first night we came with knives and blood red cloaks to cover up the filth we were drenched in. If we truly fought the magicians, the sorcerers, dragons and the Sidhe without magic we may have prevailed, but Camelot would have been a shadow, nothing more. Not even Aredian, for all his hypocritical piety, was immune."
"But magic is evil." Arthur almost shouted before Kay sternly looked at him. He lowered his voice from prying ears. "You used it to kill!"
"Yes, for your father, for you Arthur." The knight said. "Uther has remained blinded by his own hatred all these years. Do you think we can defeat Cenred and Mercia with our knights and Lot's mercenaries? Cenred has a sorceress with him of whom we have no record of, which means Anatiss is most likely an alias and she is one of the three priestesses we never caught!"
"What? We will prevail Kay. Camelot has always prevailed against magic in the past. Even Nimueh and her revenge was nothing to Gaius and our knights! He told my father he slaughtered Nimueh with a knife in Avalon!"
Kay scoffed, and Arthur felt angry. "Nimueh was greatly diminished Arthur. This is a war of aggression, you have spoken against it before…"
"I will no longer betray my father…"
"Your affections and loyalty are admirable, but we both know it is an act because you fear magic Arthur. Look around you, you are losing your father's favor because he is obsessed with a war that could be our undoing."
"We are going to war Kay. Nothing can stop that now. Our honor demands we uphold our alliance with Lot."
"Indeed." Kay began, turning to fully face Arthur. "And we will help you, and your father, in all ways necessary. But you must trust me Arthur, completely in this." His eyes flashed yellow and flame appeared briefly in his hands before disappearing.
"Sorcerer…" Arthur said but was disarmed as soon as he reached for his sword. He felt lost and betrayed. "Kay?"
"Gaius taught me some things years ago." His mentor said calmly. "Now, you can turn me in for my treason, or you can accept who I choose to be and welcome my help. Become your own man, or become your fathers."
Kay left the tent, leaving the Prince emotionally drained. Kay had been his mentor and one of his friends since he had been a small boy. His emotions screamed for him to turn the knight in, but his rational side prevented it. Kay was always right. He needed to talk to Leon, get his sense of all of this. How he wished for Morgana at this moment as well, and Agravaine. He was caught up in a dangerous web, a game of loyalty between him and his father and the knights. Dammit I wish Merlin was here.
Kay left the tent knowing that he had planted the seed. Even if Arthur turned him into Uther, the King had always known, and with war coming not even Uther's hatred of magic would have him dispose of the knight. He would be reprimanded, but most likely Uther wouldn't even believe Arthur. Still he felt worried. He had tried to mold Arthur, which path would the Prince choose? Kay couldn't see a path that they could win without magic and still have Camelot remain strong. Still, if they were to mess up, if Arthur was to say something…Kay wasn't sure anymore. Uther was like his old self, but was his hatred of magic so deep that he would execute his own knight, and possibly forgo winning just because of a hypocritical anger?
Uther sat down to dinner, observing the place set to his left. The doors opened and Morgause stepped through dressed in Camelot colors. She waited until the guards removed themselves to speak.
"Are we alone?"
"Yes I assure you." Uther began, thankful for the watchful eyes of Caradoc hidden in the dining chambers. "We are free to speak openly. No one will disturb us." Uther still was smart to only include Caradoc, he didn't want Morgause to say something in front of someone who he knew he may not be able to trust.
"Strange. Sire." She smirked, making her way towards him. "Because I seem to recall a rather bumbling spy following me today."
Uther hid a groan. Of course she would have seen Caradoc's minions. His best spies were with Cenred or trying to infiltrate Carleon. Uther had even sent a few after Mithian. "You can hardly be offended after what you told me."
She sat down and began eating. Uther spoke. "Usually it is customary to ask permission..."
"We are done with such formalities father. For your sake I still retain formalities with my brother."
Uther felt sick at the thought, and placed his fork down opting instead for more wine. "How arrogant of you. What makes you think I will give you the crown over Arthur? The son I have raised myself?"
"Instead of the daughter you didn't?" Morgause said coyly. "The Law."
"I am the Law. You said as much last night. I enjoy more liberties than all the kings of Albion."
"Yes, but how much will you have to break to forbid my legal birthright?"
"As much as is necessary."
"Then I bed Arthur."
Uther scoffed. "Go ahead." He smirked. "Arthur may be horrified when he knows the truth but he'll enjoy fucking you if you let him. I'll let him have some fun."
"I don't believe you."
"Go to his chambers right now. Apparently he is quite angry at me and something happened between him and Kay. Calm him, seduce him, I might even watch Morgause."
I've taken her blackmail away. His sister is attractive. He won't mind at the time and later he will get over it.
Morgause had the grace to look disgusted. "Or I will simply tell Arthur the truth. The truth Anatiss told him."
Uther scoffed. "He would never believe that truth a second time."
"Maybe, but who knows how many witness he will question, Kay, Caradoc."
"They are loyal to me!"
"Of course, but their loyalty to you will start to disintegrate each time I bed poor Arthur. Uther I'm sure they all know who I am. You would have told them. Eventually they will defend their prince from the continued insults, if only to save his sanity."
"Be quiet!"
"Do not think you can push me around! You may be able to chain my sister, but given my positions at Lot's hand you will not confine me. You are going to have little choice but to accept me father. Camelot and her lieges follow laws. Your righteous pursuit of sorcery has seen to that. I am the rightful heir, once you legitimize me."
"Yet if I do, if I made you crown princess you have been leading Arthur on all this time, what do you suppose his reaction will be?"
Morgause took a small bite of her food. "Oh I suppose he will be furious and disgusted if I've slept with him at least, but I'm sure you will be able to keep your dear boy in line."
Uther laughed. "Morgause you no doubt have spent a long time trying to blackmail me, but I would rather have Arthur hate me. I would rather have him know the truth then place you on the throne."
"What would he do if he found out? If he found out for certain he was conceived by magic?" Morgause said innocently. "He would kill you, as he tried before, and lose Lord Erral and Idres in the process. Camelot, your legacy, wouldn't last a fortnight with your son, especially if he was your murderer."
Uther clenched his fists, knowing some of this was true, maybe all of it. Annis may dispose of Arthur in favor of Morgana. Essetir and Mercia may march together and divide up Camelot Lands. Arthur could control Errall, and maybe cow Idres, but it might be too late. Nemeth may even break off their trade. Worse of all would be the boy's weakness to sorcery. He may be able to hold the kingdoms at bay but once Arthur took command, when sorcerers realized he wasn't as hard on magic as his father Camelot would become infested, and all that had been done in the Great Purge, all he had done in vengeance for Igraine and against himself would be lost.
Uther fought the shake in his voice. "You would see your own Kingdom destroyed, you would see your father die and your brother fall?"
"You are both but relatives in blood only Uther. I know what I want. And I can protect this kingdom from sorcery." Morgause scoffed. "You know Arthur was conceived of magic, his sympathies will ever lie there. As Crown Princess I can ensure your legacy, and give Arthur the place in the army he deserves. He was meant to be a great warlord, not a great king. Who knows, after this war you can always make him Prince of Essetir, with allegiance to you and me of course."
Uther said nothing, still staring at his plate. Could she be right? "How many lands would you bring into Camelot?"
Morgause didn't smirk. "All of them. I would unite Albion. So you see...father, Arthur will have tracts of land to rule larger than Camelot now. He will have everything he desires, he just won't have the crown."
"And if I am to die." Uther began. "In this coming war, if you are to take the throne, how can I be sure that Arthur will survive, that you will not kill him out of spite?"
Morgause raised an eyebrow. "I have no hatred for Arthur. He may hold my birthright but that is your doing, not his. Like you Uther, I can't kill my own flesh and blood."
"And your sister?"
"Concerned about your Ward, or I should say your Duchess?" Morgause sighed. "I would not harm my mother's own child. She is far more useful then she appears to be."
Yes. And dangerous Morgause. I doubt Vivienne told you much about her old husband.
Uther sighed. "I, truly will think on what we have discussed Morgause," a tone of pleading entered his voice. "But stay away from my son. Do not defile yourself just to get what you want. You have made your points."
Morgause was tight lipped. "I will keep his company only enough to ensure he stays interested."
Uther grimaced, but said no more. Dinner finished in an awkward silence, and she bowed before leaving the room. Uther remained alone until Caradoc came in, followed by Kay, Gaius and Geoffrey. Ector was attending a late council with King Lot and Lord Errall.
Caradoc bowed. "I briefed them on what was said tonight."
Uther nodded. "She has memorized everything. It is perfect, is any flaw found it what she has proclaimed?"
Geoffrey shook his head with a sigh. "I observed the bracelet she had, on your request. It is immaculate, and has come from House Gorlois."
Gaius interjected. "And on your...suggestion Sire. It...has no trace of magic."
"Thank you Gaius." Uther nodded. Asking his old physician to use magic to verify that the bracelet wasn't a clever forgery must have tasked the old man. Gaius hated sorcery like he did.
The Assessor continued. "I also had Sir Gareth visit the convent." Uther shivered. He should have placed her even farther away from Camelot. "The Reverend Mother is getting older but remembers the day well, and was able to identify Kay from a set of portraits. Records show the child remained there until she was sixteen, and ran away. She had multiple visitors, always women, no description was given."
Kay spoke up. "No doubt she was visited by Vivienne, or maybe other Priestesses."
"And yet you hold to what she claims as you said?" Uther began. "That she has no magic?"
"She has no magic Sire." Kay replied quickly.
"Then I have no need to summon Aredian. Yet. Do we have any idea where she went when she left the Convent?"
"No, that would have been three years after the Purge." Geoffrey said. "She may have visited Gorlois, this was two years before his death."
Uther shook his head. "And Gorlois would have never mentioned it to me. He never mentioned her when he was dying either." He drank some wine. "Is there any proof that she is not my daughter?"
Geoffrey and Gaius sighed. "There is actually proof she is."
Uther paled. He already knew it in his heart, but wanted some form of doubt he could possibly fall back on. Now that was gone. "Go on."
Gaius cleared his throat, looking nervous. "Sire, it is a sensitive issue..."
"Go on," Uther said through gritted teeth.
"I, and...Nimueh. We confirmed through magic that the child was yours on the night she was born."
Uther grimaced in concealed rage. "That proves that the child was mine, but what proves that Morgause is that child besides her looks, and that bracelet which might have been stolen? The child wasn't even named Morgause!"
Kay interjected. "No. They had called her Elaine, but I had Geoffrey send Gareth along a recent drawing of Morgause compiled by Caradoc's second. The Reverend Mother identified her immediately as Sister Elaine. Why she took the name Morgause is beyond me. And the Reverend Mother is without guile. I knew her when I delivered the child from Gorlois, on your orders."
Uther drank more wine. "Then what is to be done?"
Caradoc began. "If she can rule like you Uther..."
Gaius interrupted him. "And betray Arthur? It is his birthright..."
"According to the laws, which Geoffrey verified it is not his, it is hers. Primogeniture. And we have not been agnatic since Uther's great grandmother took over before the fall of the Western Empire."
"Uther, " The physician implored. "He is all that is left of Igraine have you lost your mind?"
"Silence!" Uther rose up. "Have you lost your own physician? I am your King, and my duty is to Camelot! If I had two sons, and the younger proved the wiser, the more ruthless, I would raise him up and placate the second and damn the law! Here the law is on Morgause's side."
Kay interjected. "Arthur will make a good king, and the nations are beginning to recognize him..."
"The nations recognize him as an exemplary knight, not an exemplary Prince. Cenred and Lot have no respect for his ability to rule. Nemeth alone may follow him, probably because that princess of theirs gets wet at the sight of my son! My own Lords would not cow before his presence."
Kay continued. "Caradoc and Ector are loyal, as well as Agravaine..."
Caradoc grunted with assent.
"And Ector is older than I, and you Caradoc may not see many winters far past my death. Gaius and Geoffrey are old, we are all old Kay! Will Lord Mark's son be content to live a lord when I took his birthright to be a king away? Will Lord Idres and his three sons be content once I am gone? Knights are to be loyal, chivalrous and honorable but not kings or queens!"
Kay grew angry. "I have helped to raise Arthur. I demand that you do not do this!"
Uther shoved Kay's shoulder and both men put hands on their swords. "At times you have manipulated me Kay but those times are over. I do not see Gorlois among us anymore! I have made no decision, but you will obey when the time comes or I will nail you myself to your cross!"
Uther strode from the dining hall, eventually leaving only Gaius and Kay.
"Why did you lie to him Kay?" Gaius said slowly, raising his eyebrow. "We have a sorceress in our midst, a very powerful one, one in line to the throne."
"And become like you Gaius? Betray your own kind?"
Gaius grew angry and spoke in a hushed tone. "I am loyal to Uther first and foremost! And 'our' kind? You may practice sorcery but you were not born with it. I taught you all you know and that is very little. Yes I betrayed my kind because of the oath I swore to Uther. Now you Kay, have trapped yourself. Tell him that Morgause is a sorcerer, and he will notice you have betrayed him. Worse, he won't believe you!"
"Loyal to Uther? And yet how many times have you wished for a sorcerer to be on that throne?"
"Never. And never Vivienne's daughter." Gaius grumbled. "We do not know if she is good or evil, but regardless she will hurt Arthur, his pride at least if she is crowned. And if they are to sleep together...The Old Religion has no qualms against incest but Uther, and most of this kingdom are Christian along with Carleon, Mercia and everyone of the Saxon bands. I have also received word that Aredian has returned from Rome with the blessings of Pelagius. If he was to get word of this..."
Kay mumbled. "I never dreamed this could happen. I have fought for Uther my whole life, but in these last twenty years I have fought for his son, seen him shape to be a King whose kingdom I may never live to see, and whose legacy I definitely will not. Now it could all be destroyed from within and then without. She must be stopped."
"No. Uther's will comes first. If he wishes his daughter on the throne, then so be it."
"How well you hide Gaius, when you forget who I am, that I see as good as Aredian." Kay smirked. "You wear your loyalty to Uther to cloak your own injustices and deceits. It eats you, like a cancer, the betrayal of Nimueh, the purge we both participated in. Like me you would see magic restored."
"I can't say I know what you are talking about..."
"Be quiet Gaius!" Kay's voice rose. "Do you not suffer from nightmares of killing children! Do you not feel regret for the dragons we killed, their young that we slaughtered! We killed harmless hedge wizards and poultice makers! Thousands of us died against Sidhe armies and we defiled Avalon, beat Nimueh into submission! I am haunted at the genocide we caused. I still remember when you and Nimueh burnt the ground and bodies to ash in your duel!"
"Nimueh betrayed us. She did not explain the ritual..."
"She obeyed her king!"
Gaius nodded. "Very well, as do I."
Kay laughed. "You are so easy to read Gaius. What are you afraid of? Why won't you just tell me?"
"I don't know what you are talking about. Kay, excuse me but I must go. I have errands to run to ensure this war proceeds smoothly."
Kay chuckled. "A shame that your precious ward isn't here to help you. Hiding a warlock, and one of his power, directly under Uther's nose?"
Gaius paled.
Kay was grim. "Since the battle on Avalon I swore never to betray another person with magic. I know of his power Gaius, I saw it the moment I first examined him in Arthur's chambers. Do you deny it?"
"No." Gaius said with a feeling of relief.
"And the Lady Morgana as well," Kay began. "Strange I did not sense her power when she was younger, but then it struck me. Her magic has been growing. It is able to burst through the layers of placebo you have drenched her veins with."
"I was protecting her Kay." Gaius said forcefully. "From Uther."
"You stunted her growth!" Kay yelled. "With her magic in full swing, of which I am sure she is now very aware of, who knows how powerful she may become!"
"I understand the dangerous Kay, I am working on a stronger remedy..."
"Would you drive her insane?" Kay yelled pushing Gaius against a pillar. "She suffers enough as it is. Her eyes are always cold and haunted. Remember when Gorlois got like that? His sickness?"
"I will do what is right..."
"What is right," Kay said with a whisper. "Is to realize that we are hopeless with a sorceress with questionable allegiances in our midst and with this upcoming war. What is right is to place Arthur on the throne by force."
Gaius grew red. "I shall forget you have said that Kay."
"In the past few days Uther has shown me he is growing more unfit to be King." Kay implored. "Join me Gaius. Is your loyalty so strong to Uther that you would allow him to place his sorceress daughter upon the throne? Who knows what vengeance she might reap upon Uther, or Arthur. We have no clue who this Anatiss woman was. She could be Morgause. She could even be Vivienne!"
"Morgause will do no such thing." Gaius said slowly. "She will unite Albion. It is her destiny."
"What do you mean?" Kay paled slightly. "Tell me Gaius."
"Every night I stir awake to the faces of the children that I poisoned, to the faces of lesser sorcerers screaming as I lit them ablaze with magic or commanded them to be nailed to crosses! And every night I see myself stand by while Uther condemns them for their gift. I sit in the shadows and pay obedience to Uther because he is my King, while the souls of the betrayed laugh at my back every night!" Gaius had tears in his eyes. "My loyalty to him has always been tested, even though I swore it on the Goddess, but these past months I have been reduced to a broken old man. Uther, alone of us seems revitalized, he seems young, and he will conquer this land until my kind is but a memory!
But most of all I see the face of the woman I loved, though she did not love me in return. I saw the price of blind loyalty to a king, but am only recognizing it now. If Nimueh had defied Uther, Igraine would have never died. The Purge would never have started. Yet instead of standing beside my Mistress I dragged her and cast her in shame from the court."
Kay nodded as Gaius began to recover from sobbing. "I was there when you pronounced her sentence that next morning."
Gaius sniffled."So you want to know what I have done Kay? I have turned back to the Old Religion. I have sworn allegiance to my new High Priestess. A Pendragon will be placed upon that throne, but it will not be Arthur."
Kay shook his head. "And you believe Merlin will follow you?"
Gaius did not answer and Kay gave him a smile. "And I know Morgana will follow me. Is this what you want Gaius, a civil war?"
"Go to Uther." Gaius said. "Tell him of my betrayal, oh but you won't." Gaius smiled. "You don't betray your own kind anymore.
The man had no trouble entering the city at night. He was not as young as he was but almost twenty years of living in the wilderness had given him a body stronger than other men his age. He chuckled as he landed softly on a thatched roof and began to move into the lower city. Once he was done tonight perhaps hundreds of people would be punished. It served them right, Camelot guards and knights. To do a job or to fight for what you believed was right was one thing, but to fight for a tyrant? His life had been destroyed. His friends were gone and he would never see the woman he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with again. He would embarrass the man who dared take a dragon as his sigil! This would surely have an effect on this so called war the king was planning.
He drew his short sword, blackened with pitch and thrust it into the back of a patrolling guard. Before his hapless companion could react he also lay on the ground, wheezing from the hole in his chest. With their red garments, it almost looked as if nothing happened here. Almost. He entered the small culvert, filled with vegetables stale water and excrement, and began moving under the citadel. He was lucky his memory of the castle tunnels was still exact. He wondered if Uther had modified anything in the last twenty years. He secretly hoped so. This wasn't exactly a challenge.
A solitary guard blocked his exit, but like the idiot his liege was this man was facing away from the culvert opening instead of towards it. The man shook his head. He thought through the small spells he had. He did not enjoy killing. They may serve a tyrant but each man could be a brother, father, son. Again something he would never have.
In the end his mission mattered more. He stabbed his blade through the bars up into the guards scrotum. The man fell silently and convulsed on ground. Opening the culvert he made his way to the citadel itself. Here he would have to be more careful. Soon enough the three guards would be found and the warnings bells would be signaled. He needed to get to his destination. Voices in the corridor, not the bantering of guards, the bantering of drunk guards. He hid in an alcove, sword raised. The enchanted blade burned in his own blood, was thirsty for more to be spilled, was ready to cut the steel it had been forged to do. He brought it over his right shoulder and waited.
"I...told you sh'e wanted me." A rather inebriated man was saying.
"So that the real reason you don't want to be a knight Gwaine?"
"Shut up Elyan. Just try notafall on your ass tomorrow."
"You're having enough trouble as it is."
"Oi Percival? I knew you were lying you cheat! You didn't drink as much as me."
"Nobody is that stupid." He heard the one called Elyan say as their voices faded away.
He was relieved. Stupid youngsters. He had remembered those days fondling before he was betrayed. He had moved from the alcove when the bells struck. He parried and then slashed the first guard's arm off, his victim shrieking, knees hitting the ground.
He caught the next halberd between his left side and armpit, twisted and slashed through the wooden haft. He swung back to his right but the guard nimbly dodged and began to draw his sword. The man was too quick and brought his blade down. The helmet dented and the guard's eyes shot up in his head as he crumpled to the ground. The smell of blood and shit invaded his nostrils. The intruder cast off his cloak revealing his long hair and bearded face. He heard movement from the corridor he had come from.
"Oi!" The drunk man made three steps towards him before falling on the ground. One enormous man stood before him, but swaying slightly. The other dark skinned warrior looked demure, but the man could see the danger in his eyes. The intruder smiled and spoke as the bells continued to ring.
"This corridor is too tight to take me both at the same time. You cannot take me alone. Go, do not throw away your lives for a tyrant king. Hundreds of knights died when Uther had them kill my brothers and sisters."
The dark warrior glared at him with conviction and drew his sword at low guard. "I fight for Camelot, for Arthur."
The intruder was correct, this man was dangerous. They exchanged seven blows and all his had been parries. He was being forced back into an open hallway, the tall giant behind his opponent rolling his shoulders and staring at him, getting ready for combat. Behind him he heard the footsteps of more guards.
He got a quick blow in and cut the man's shoulder right as he stepped into the open passage. Three guards advanced from behind and now the giant stood next to the dark faced warrior. I will not fail my brother again. He closed his eyes. He had little magic, but there was something all his brothers and sisters had complete command of. He lowered his sword to the ground. The men rushed to take him captive but were thrown back by the flames. He picked up his sword. The intruder, with blade blazing ran towards the northern passage. The confused men running behind him. He struck down one more guard, then another, his tunic and face sticky with their blood. The fire began to swirl around him, driving his pursuers back, opening a way for him in front. Their screams continued as they backed away from the inferno and shouted for shields to drive forwards. He knew he could not continue this for one minute longer.
He was drenched in sweat and his muscles ached. His head pounded and his vision became blurry as the fires died and he lost his pursuers. He found the stairs down and began to stumble, banging his forehead against the wall. He was so close, but could get no closer. He had failed. Camelot's warriors were getting closer, heavily armed, and he could no longer fight them.
Then the magic called to him, his brother's strength surging in his veins. His blood burnt and his clothes began to smoulder as strength poured back into his body. Picking himself up he began to run down the stairs, taking them in bounds. He raised his sword and began to chant, his voice echoing in the depths. He heard the voice of his brother respond, and the walls began to tremble.
"Ic bebeod thisne swurd..."
He reached the cavern, the dragon leapt across the chasm and landed, placing his neck on the ground, together they yelled.
"...thaet he forcearf tha bnede thara dracan. Unclce!"
Balinor brought the sword down on the chains. Both blade and chain shattered on impact. The collar shuddered, then fell from Kilgharrah's neck. The dragon inclined his head, and Balinor grasped his neck, flinging himself upon the creature's back.
Kay and Caradoc ran towards the cave entrance with Arthur behind them. Kay knew they had little chance. Last time he had fought a dragon they had used Nimueh's amulets. Those were now locked in the vaults and they had no time to retrieve it. He flung off his cape as he ran and was glad he had adorned no other armor. He had one chance to fling himself from the lip of the cavern and onto the dragon. He was too late. The wind blew him back as trees snapped and the three men were pushed to the ground by power of his wings.
Kilgharrah rose from the chasm with a roar and flew over Camelot, the power from his wings ripping apart banners and smashing windows. The beast's maw was molten red as he shot flame towards the large banner on top of the tallest tower. Kay watched as the material burnt to ash as the dragon and its Lord flew off towards the east, leaving them alone and Camelot in panic.