Chapter five: Long live the King
It took Gwen a few days to feel ready to face her duty as Queen again. Some people whispered behind her back about the loss she'd suffered and how her power lessened as the ruler of Camelot. At first she ignored the hushed voices of rumours, but each day it became a little harder for her to do so. Slowly Gwen began to see there was a reason for concern; even though Merlin, Leon and Percival stood by her side without fail… and they ensured others shared their loyalty to her as well.
Inevitable the topic arose during the next council meeting. Some members wondered out loud about the throne and who would follow her after she was gone. There was no one left of royal blood; no Pendragon heir to follow in the footsteps of Uther and Arthur. Only a blacksmith's daughter sat on the throne. Though no one came out right to say it to her face Gwen knew they thought it.
Kings of neighbouring kingdoms seemed to take her less serious with Arthur gone from her side. Only Queen Annis understood a woman's plight and courage, but she had ruled at her husband Caerleon's side for so long that she earned a strong position by her fierce reputation alone. More and more every well put argument against her lone position of a widowed ruler made Gwen fear for the peace treaty which kept the five kingdoms united.
"Milady, it may not be my place to say, but marriage to a Lord of proper status would be the best option to ensure the position of our Kingdom", Lord Aldrich spoke up.
Gwen looked around the table and she noticed that a few of the older, more conservative members nodded in agreement with Aldrich. "One could indeed argue a widow's position is not the strongest", one said after some thought.
"But is it our place to tell the Queen whom she should marry so short after she lost her husband, our King?" Leon asked with a barely there shy glance to Gwen, "I think not. She should be able to follow her heart when and even if she is ready."
Lord Aldrich disagreed with Leon's last few words. It did not surprise Gwen how the old fashioned man wanted to marry her off to foreign royalty… and in a way she understood what he meant to do, even though he went about it all wrong. The court remained stuck in their old laws on matters of noble heritage in spite of what Arthur had achieved when he knighted commoners and he married someone without any noble blood in her veins for himself. In part Aldrich's attitude angered her, but Gwen was also a realist and she knew most of their neighbouring kingdoms would share his rather old fashioned laws.
Taking a deep breath Gwen calmed herself down enough to listen to the advice of the other Lords. Of course she agreed that Camelot had to stand tall amongst the kingdoms around it. War could return all too easy and it had the potential to rip apart the fragile peace of the Five Kingdoms if they did not have an accepted and strong ruler…
"What if…", Merlin's deep voice cut through the mumbles around the table. The instant he spoke everyone fell silent while Gwen saw him rise to his feet and walk over. "What if our Queen married a noble man from Camelot? A man born in our kingdom, one who has earned the trust and respect of everyone around this table. Maybe someone the Queen actually knows before she marries him and someone who will give her the time to grieve? What if there was such a man; could everyone around this table agree with me that he'd make for a good match?"
Confused by his suggestion Gwen narrowed her eyes at him. "Where would we even find such a man, Merlin?" Her friend smirked an infuriating smile of understanding while he stayed silent. A few Lords though nodded their hesitant agreement for they saw logic in the alternative idea.
As if sensing Merlin was onto something Percival rose onto his feet. For a moment he looked between them, back and forth a few times until a small smile appeared on his face. After a deep breath he faced Merlin with an unspoken nod of understanding. "I believe you may be onto something there, Lord Emrys. If such a noble man would agree on marriage, then they would have my allegiance and that of the other knights for sure."
At his side Leon spluttered, but he was too lost for words at the way the man he least expected to speak up about such matters did. Reluctant and quietly angry for how his advice was ignored by his two best friends Leon stayed silent. Gwen could see though that he was none too happy with Percival and Merlin.
Lord Aldrich looked between the two otherwise calm knights before he turned to Gwen. "Merlin makes a good point. If there was such a man of noble birth, who could evoke the loyalty of all our knights and the council…" Gwen heard him stretch the word 'all' as he looked to Leon. "Then it would offer Milady a strong tactical advantage. It could benefit Camelot indeed and so I will not stand in the way. I want it noted though that I do still believe a match with one of royal blood is the better option."
Mumbled agreements followed, but Gwen did not listen to them. Instead she stared at Merlin and silently demanded an answer. Again Merlin only smiled before he addressed the council, "I know of such a man, but I will not speak of him here. It is best that I do reveal his identity to the Queen in private. After all; matters of her heart concern her alone." With a bow he walked back to his seat, leaving Gwen to watch him do so.
Just like that the matter got dropped and the council moved on to the next topic of taxes, even though Gwen could not. The rest of the meeting passed her by while her mind kept going over the unknown man Merlin had referred to. Who could it be he was thinking of and, maybe even more to the point, would she be able to come to terms marrying someone so soon after Arthur?
Not long after the meeting had ended Merlin knocked on the door of the royal chambers. For once he waited until he was called inside. With hesitation he opened the door and he walked into the room. Merlin knew why he had come, but was he ready to throw the truth out there? Gwen had been so patient with him since he returned to Camelot and here he was pushing her forwards while she still grieved for Arthur.
It was unfair what the people asked of their Queen at times. Merlin felt more than glad that he was not of royal blood or even of noble birth himself, because for one all of the ceremonies and rules made his head spin. On days like today he got why Gwaine had hidden the side of himself he could not reconcile with and he saw that Percival did too. The large knight though had become a beacon of support to Merlin from the moment he figured out his line of thought. "Gwen and Leon will understand, I know they will."
It was that firm believe which carried Merlin forth towards his friends. "Gwen… Leon", he greeted them, not in the least surprised to find Leon had arrived before him.
"You have some explaining to do", the knight said with a hint of anger in his voice. Merlin knew that he had upset Leon with coming forth about Gwen's future the way he did during the meeting. Over the last few moons the knight had become protective of Gwen, even more so since the day she lost her unborn child.
"Milady, I wish to apologize", Merlin began before he fell back to their friendship with a wry smile. "Gwen… I never meant to push you into doing anything. All I wanted was for the Lords to be silenced on the matter. Neither one of us in these chambers will ever forget Arthur. Believe me, I can't for the life of me erase him from my heart and so I shall not. It is just everything we have fought for, including our King. If we wish for Camelot's allegiance with the five kingdoms to be strong then we should find it in our hearts to move on from where we are now."
Gwen nodded and gestured at a chair. "Sit down, Merlin. I am not angry at you. Over the last few days I have been thinking about my future as well as that of our Kingdom. I fear the council is right in saying an unmarried Queen is not the best thing for Camelot. Earlier you said you had a suggestion. I am willing to listen to it."
Merlin sat down with a smile. In the past Arthur had often bragged how wise Gwen was, and while it was also love talking there was a truth to it. When the going got tough Gwen knew how to step back from a problem and look at it from a fresh point of view. Merlin had seen her do it during the final part of the council meeting. Her thoughts seemed to have strayed, but now Merlin could see that she'd considered his suggestion all along.
Risking a glance at Leon and seeing the wonder in his eyes as well Merlin decided to face the music. In spite of the knight's nearly over protective stance it was clear that he too wanted to hear what Merlin had to say. Merlin had a feeling though that Leon would not react well if he had a disappointing answer for them. With a smile to himself he began to speak, knowing full well he'd at worst would render his friends speechless. "Gwen, I can think of only one man who would stand by you no matter what. He is a loyal friend, a trusted knight of Camelot and a man born of noble blood. Arthur believed in him too. In fact, he bestowed the man I had in mind with the honour of senior knight…"
Two pairs of wide eyes filled with stunned realisation and shock. Merlin wasn't surprised when by the time he trailed off Leon looked at Gwen at the same time she turned to face him. "But…", Leon's quiet voice couldn't quite form the words.
"You mean you had Leon in mind?" Gwen asked once she found the courage.
Merlin nodded his answer. "No one doubts Leon's loyalty and you two are close friends already, have been for a long time. Just think about it and take your time. No one knows who I had on my mind, so my suggestion is only for the two of you. I have seen how much you care for Gwen, Leon. You will always stand by her and you can wait for her for as long as she needs you to. Gwen, he can't replace Arthur, but this way neither one of you has to live out their days alone." Merlin got to his feet and he walked out to let his words settle between his still speechless friends.
Once outside of the door he released the breath he wasn't aware he held. His heart hurt for his fallen friend. What would Arthur think about all of this? Would he understand how his wife needed to marry again for the sake of the Kingdom they all build? Merlin hoped that if somehow one day he got the chance to tell him that Arthur wouldn't judge any of them too harsh for feeling forced to move on in his absence.
In the next summer Camelot celebrated as one. A knight kneeled before his Queen, looking up at her in silent happiness and determination for a moment before he bowed his head. Of all the changes in his life this was the biggest one he had ever faced.
Gentle hands placed the crown upon his head. "By the sacred laws vested in me, I crown you, Sir Leon… King of Camelot", Gwen announced to the court and her husband. Every word filled Leon's heart with pride and joy. For his entire life he had fought for Camelot and now to be crowned ruler of his home seemed like an impossible dream, one he… if he were honest… felt honour bound to embrace.
Leon looked up when Gwen grabbed his hands. Smiling at his brand new wife he stepped up to the dais to stand by her side. An unexpected surge of love bubbled to the surface while he locked his eyes with hers. At last… in this moment… he was not afraid to admit that he began to lose his heart to the woman he called a friend after all.
"Long live the King", Gwen called out into the courtroom.
While his knights returned the shout with pride for their commander Leon felt himself get pulled closer to her. A kiss was pressed onto his lips before Gwen admitted in a whisper, "Thank you for being patient with me. Leon, I do believe I love you."
Under loud whistles and cheers from the gathered crowd Leon pulled her close for a second, more passionate kiss. "I love you too", he whispered against her ear as they walked out of the courtroom together to begin their married life.
"Thank you", Leon mouthed the words when he walked passed Merlin. Everything he had in this moment was all due to the warlock. So many sacrifices the younger man had made for his Kingdom and here today he offered Leon his full trust…
In spite of their shared happiness for a brighter future though there was something of a sadness on the face of the man he called friend. The two of them were survivors. They had outlived the man they served, and even now in the cheerful atmosphere of his coronation Leon understood why the both of them could not celebrate in the same way as those around them did. Arthur's shadow lingered in the crown placed on his curled hair. His legacy was gone… except that Leon swore to Merlin earlier that he would hold on to it for as long as he lived.
To show one last time that he intended to keep his promise Leon nodded to Merlin. Deep blue softened and just before the royal couple walked out of the room Leon caught the shout rolling from their friend's lips. "Long live the King."
Two summers later…
Merlin dropped his heavy book filled with spells when a guard knocked on his door. The man walked in without awaiting his reaction. "Milord, the King calls for you. He says the time has come." With a big smile of recognition of what Leon had meant Merlin leapt out of his chair and he ran out into the hallway. Walking up the stairs two steps at the time he then turned to run the final stretch and burst inside the royal chambers, catching his two friends laughing together at his stormy entrance.
"Arthur was right… you will never change, will you, Merlin?" Leon crossed his arms and looked at him with a mock serious look. After a while though he faltered and grinned, "Take care of my wife, Warlock."
Merlin nodded while he chuckled a little at the amused way Leon had reacted to his arrival, "Always, Sire." In truth he knew that the longstanding joke between them held no ill feelings for he had the key to the royal chambers anyway. Ever since Arthur had died and Gwen had lost her first child it had become his and Leon's way to ensure that Merlin could always get inside if he had to. He had once promised he would try and learn to knock, but in his excitement of today he had honestly forgotten.
Leon clapped his back in agreement of the sentiment and amusement at their shared awe at was about to happen. Then more nervous no doubt than he let on the King walked out of the door to wait outside together with Percival, who had been a quiet and solid presence throughout his reign so far.
It was about a day later when Merlin and his three friends sat staring at their little miracle. Princess Sarah had her mother's tinted skin, but her father's smile and alert stare. She was just perfect in each and every way, or so her proud parents thought. Merlin could not help but be just as amazed by the first royal child he'd brought into the world with a little help of his magic.
Percival looked at the infant girl. After a breath he admitted with a fond smile that they would all be wrapped around her little finger in the seasons to come. Hope for their kingdom made them all smile in answer to his quiet remark. It seemed to them that at last the future of Camelot was safe…
