This was written for the 'Score to Settle' drabble challenge on the Heart of Camelot website:
Write about a moment on the show where a character did something that really pissed you off. Vent your feelings, and show us exactly why that character/situation made you so angry.
I've chosen a scene in Season 1, Episode 4 – Poisoned Chalice. It always bothered me how pointless it was for Uther to crush the Mortaeus flower.
Dialogue shown in italics is from the episode.
A/N Thanks again to beta LyricalSinger. I've been spamming her with drabbles lately!
Mortaeus Flower
Arthur grabbed the bars caging him in his cell, and peered out at his father. The Prince could almost understand his father's reasoning – that Arthur, or rather 'the heir to the throne', needed to weigh 'the good of Camelot' in all of his decisions. Unfortunately risking his life on a wild quest that was unlikely to be successful was not in the land's best interest, especially not when the goal was saving the life of a servant, something that really did not bring any benefit to the Kingdom.
But Arthur's ill-advised mission was in the past and he was now paying the price for his actions. The Prince hoped that his father would deem that this punishment brought the whole affair to a close.
Still, just in case, the Prince decided that he'd better remind Uther of Merlin's courage,
"He knew the danger he was putting himself in, and he knew what would happen if he drank from that goblet, but he did it anyway. He saved my life," said the Prince.
Surely Uther could not help but agree that it was only fair to save Merlin's life in return. Besides, the quest had been successful, and the mortaeus flower had been obtained. What possible good would it do to withhold the cure?
"Gaius knows what to do with it," Arthur said, holding out the flower and waiting for his father to take it.
Arthur's breath of relief turned into a shout of horror as Uther closed his fist around the blossom, and dropped it, crushed, to the floor outside the cell door.
"You have to learn there's a right and a wrong way of doing things. I'll see you're let out in a week. Then you can find yourself another servant," the King declaimed.
Arthur could only gape in shocked disbelief. A 'right way'? The Prince failed to understand how condemning a brave and kind-hearted young serving boy, and the beloved ward of one of Uther's only friends at that, to a painful death had anything even close to 'right' about it.
About the only thing he was certain of, was that he no longer had absolute faith and trust in his King.