For six weeks, Arthur tried desperately with all the possible reasons there could be to not attend the wedding. But whatever he came up with, his father would not accept. In the end, Arthur had just straight up begged him not to force him to the wedding, but Uther made it clear there was no other option than going.
''Perhaps I should just drown myself?'' Arthur said as Merlin dressed him for the trip ahead. Merlin stopped and looked at Arthur angrily.
''Oh, stop being so dramatic, Merlin. I'm joking,'' he said but Merlin remained unpleased. He eventually continued dressing Arthur as Arthur thought to himself 'mainly', but that he did not say out loud.
The two carriages rolled up to the courtyard and Arthur looked at them.
''We have to get moving,'' Merlin said and with that, Merlin and Arthur entered one of the carriages as Uther and Morgana entered the other one. Leon, Lancelot and Mordred were the knights that escorted Uther and Morgana's carriage, and five guards escorted Arthur and Merlin's carriage.
Arthur looked out the window with an empty look.
''You'll be okay,'' Merlin said eventually and Arthur now looked over at him. Arthur was grateful for his wispy friend, he had always been there for him.
''I'll be fine,'' Arthur repeated with a nod, trying to convince himself of the words just spoken.
It was a long journey, one that Arthur wished never would end, but after some days they rolled up towards the gates of the west and Arthur looked outside, letting his eyes run up the wall.
''I'm going to puke,'' he said and leaned back in his seat. Eventually the carriage stopped.
''Uther!'' Arthur could hear Anthony's voice as the greetings began. He took a deep breath before exhaling through a sigh.
''I'll be fine,'' he repeated once more. Merlin gave him a compassionate look before he opened the door to the carriage and stepped out. Arthur followed him. The sun hit his eyes when he stepped out and he squinted.
''Arthur!'' Anthony's voice was heard again and the man appeared in front of him as Arthur started to adjust to the light. They collided in a hug and Arthur let a smile escape between his lips.
''It's good to see you again, sire,'' Arthur said and Anthony chuckled.
''It really is. I grew quite fond of you since our last visit,'' he said. Arthur shared the feeling, however - a year had passed fast, he thought.
''Likewise, sire,'' he replied and looked discrete around. His heart started to beat a little slower when he noticed that Elena did not seem to be there.
''Come, come, you must be exhausted after the journey,'' Anthony continued and they followed him into the castle. Their castle was huge, Arthur was mesmerized by it's beauty.
''I give you our biggest congratulations, Anthony. It truly must be like a dream for you,'' Arthur heard his father say and with those words he remembered why they were here.
''A blessing I hope you all get to experience with your own children too. It's almost equal to the happiness I felt when Elena was born,'' Anthony said and smiled. You could tell that the smile came right from his heart.
''Where's the beautiful bride? And her soon to be husband? Surely we must meet the lucky man,'' Uther asked and Arthur debated if he should throw himself out of the window now, or later.
''Yes, of course! Lincoln must be in the big hallway, and Elena... well she could be anywhere really. They have quite a lot to attend to as you can imagine,'' Anthony chuckled and everyone started to nod to show understanding.
They walked a little further before they spotted Sebastian. He was talking to a tall and handsome man dressed in navy blue. By his appearance, Arthur stopped. He understood that it was Lincoln.
The man had a good jawline, curly brown hair that looked like it shimmered from where Arthur was standing. He had golden-brown eyes, good face features and was a little taller and a little more muscular than Arthur. Arthur's jaw tense, all he wished for was for him to be at least a little ugly so that this nightmare would be slightly more endurable.
''Lincoln, you must meet the royal family from the south,'' Anthony said and Lincoln and Sebastian now turned towards them. Lincoln smiled and headed directly towards Arthur.
''It's an honor to have you all here. You must be Arthur, I have heard amazing things about you,'' Lincoln said and extended his hand. Arthur looked at him before shifting his gaze towards his hand. Unwillingly, he took it and shook it with a forced smile on his face.
''The honor is mine,'' he said. Lincoln nodded before moving towards Uther to continue the greeting. Arthur observed the man carefully and despised how well-mannered he was in the way he moved and spoke.
''Good to see you again, Pendragon,'' Sebastian said as he stepped forward, now standing side by side with Arthur. Arthur looked over at him as a real smile found its way out.
''Likewise, how have you been?'' Arthur asked, but returned his gaze towards Lincoln again.
''I don't like him either,'' Sebastian said with a chuckle.
''Yeah? Why is that?'' Arthur asked, not bothering to object to the accusations.
''I don't know, there's something about him. No one can be this perfect,'' Sebastian said and to this Arthur didn't reply.
''Besides, I think you're better suited,'' Sebastian added and Arthur now turned surprised towards him.
''What do you mean?'' he asked and Sebastian smiled.
''Nothing, nothing at all,'' he said and with that, he walked over to greet Uther and Morgana too. Arthur looked after him but stood remining on his spot, nervousness washed over his body.
They walked towards the chambers of the castle as Anthony showed them each of their rooms for the stay.
''Arthur, yours are a little further down, Henry will walk you,'' Anthony said and by the mention of Henry's name, Arthur turned to look at the big man that had appeared. They locked eyes, last time he saw him Arthur had confessed his feelings for Elena and convinced him of the plan that would exculpate Henry's name. And now they were here. He was happy though that his father kept his word to handle the relationship between Anthony and Henry.
''Of course, shall we?'' Arthur said and Henry nodded. They walked away from the group but could still hear their chatter when they arrived to Arthur's appointed chamber.
''We hope you'll feel comfortable here during your stay,'' Henry said and Arthur gave away a nod. Henry was about to walk away when Arthur stopped him.
''How is she?'' he dared to ask. Silence followed as Henry seemed to think about his reply.
''She's... strong,'' was the words he finally decided to say. Arthur was not sure how to interpret that but knew better than to continue this conversation. He walked into his chamber and looked around, it was bigger than his fathers at home. He spotted the newly plucked flowers almost everywhere, they made the room smell really nice.
''Would you believe me if I told you that my chamber is as big as yours at home?'' Merlin now walked in.
''I would, father have told me that the west is the wealthiest kingdom,'' Arthur replied.
''Yes, it shows,'' Merlin chuckled.
''Anyway, I came to get you – dinner is served to welcome the royal families,'' Merlin continued and Arthur nodded. His heart started to beat faster, surely he would meet her at dinner.
They walked over to the dining room, that looked like something taken straight out of a dream. The table was set and everyone took a seat.
''Anthony, my friend, I have to come visit you more often,'' Olof was the first one to say what everyone else was thinking and they all started to laugh.
''You flatter me, I promise you it's a bit extra now because of the wedding,'' Anthony smiled and Arthur admired how humble he was even after everything he possessed.
Arthur was asking Morgana to pass him the turkey as he saw the chair beside him move.
''It's good to see you again, Arthur,'' he had learned to recognize her voice anywhere, even after all this time. His heart skipped a beat and his body went numb for a few seconds.
''So good to see you, Elena!'' Morgana burst out and Elena turned to her.
''Likewise. And congratulations to the two of you,'' Elena said and smiled at Morgana and William that were sitting next to each other.
''Thank you. And to you too!'' Morgana said with joy and Elena thanked her with a big smile.
''I hope the journey was comfortable,'' Elena continued and turned back to Arthur, their eyes met. Somehow, she had grown even more beautiful, he thought. He could stare at her all day if he was allowed to.
''It was, thank you... and I guess congratulations are in order,'' Arthur said with a steady voice, climbing into his coping mechanism - being diplomatic. He noticed that she analyzed his face for a while before she opened her mouth.
''I guess it is,'' was her reply.
''Elena!'' Uther shouted as the whole table turned into chatter about the wedding.
You'll be fine, Arthur repeated in his head.
