Hey I'm back sorry for the wait
Onwards
Arthur looked every inch a king dressed in full royal dress. Red shirt, black pants
even his cape and full stately crown sitting tall on his throne like it was his God giving
right to do so, with his wife by his side looking small but still beautiful. What caused the
whispers around the throne room was not the royal couple but the small woman kneeling
on the floor at his feet, head down, her dark hair hiding her face and the inward curve of
her shoulders as her eyes were focused on the floor.
Everyone in the room was wondering the reason for the royal summons the King
never summoned them outside of council meetings; their questions were answered as
their ruler's voice silenced the room.
"I am sure you are all wondering why I summoned you all frankly speaking, I did it for
a good reason, not that I answer any of you. I called you all here to clear up some
misunderstandings.
First of all I am your King and my beautiful wife is your Queen no one else. All
authority in this kingdom belongs to only us; the rest of you advise me as I see fit. Let it
be known that none of you have any real say in how I run my kingdom.
Secondly Lady Ambrose fully belongs to me no one may look, talk, or touch Ambrose
she is mine and if any of you even think of challenging me I will have her punish you for
treason. Trust me the way she kills you will be most unpleasant. The sorcerer Dredrue is
to be arrested and hanged for an assassin attempt on my lovely wife, 100 gold coins to
the man who brings him to me preferably alive but I'm not picky.
Thirdly I am imposing a new tax on the nobility for the protection and safety that my
knights provide for the kingdom, them and the people deserve the money more than any
of you.
Lastly I am disbanding my father's council and forming my own if you wish to have a
voice then send me your sons or heirs, I have no wish to listen to the words of bitter old
men. Most of you were involved in the purge which having looked into the accounts from
back then, magic users were killed with no evidence and murders are not welcome in my
castle. You can all retire to your estates and live out the rest of your small little lives it is
better than you all deserve. You have till nightfall tomorrow to leave the city or you will be
banished from the kingdom.
Now that all this is taken care of I am pleased to announce that tomorrow I will have the
lady Ambrose magically repair and protect the buildings in the lower town to make them
safer from rot and decay. The people have lived in squalor for too long. Magic is a tool
and I will use it for my people. You're all dismissed, get out of my sight."
Gwen watched as the stunned ex council left the room confused and hurt. Off to the
side leaning against the wall, Gwaine was looking between her husband and the
unmoving mage kneeling at his feet like a well trained slave, which thanks to the glinting
band on his finger she was.
***************************************************Birth********************************************
He eyed Arthur like he was a stranger in his kings body and Emrys was just sitting
there was not even a twitch of movement. Something was very wrong. He waited until
the large wooden doors shut and the four of them were alone in the room.
"Oi! princesses, what the hell was that? I've never heard you like that before and what's
wrong with Emrys?"
"Well Gwaine that was me being a King not that you are smart enough to understand
what that is like. As for Ambrose, my Gwen has shown me the error of my ways I gave
this creature way too much power to fix that I've taken away it's free will. It is nothing
more than a magic tool for my use I just can't believe it took me this long to take it in
hand."
"She is not a thing! She is a person, Leon's bride, Merlin's sister. stop this right now
it's like you're enchanted or something."
"Watch your tone Gwaine I give you a lot of leeway but as I said earlier I will not be
challenged my tool can and will punish you."
"As you wish, sire. I'll take my leave so as to not impose on you any longer."
"Good. Spread the word to the rest of the Knights and Guardians I am in control and
woe to any who challenge that."
********************************************birth***************************************************
All she wanted was to wake up, to restart this morning and leave the nightmare behind.
The man she loves overnight had turned into his father. The fair and just King Merlin
gave his life for is turning into a power mad tyrant and it was all her fault. Never had she
felt that she needed Merlin more then she did right now. Arthur was so happy and proud
of himself doing all this in her name she knew he wasn't enchanted. The three points he
made were both needed and welcome by the people but the threats and rude and
condescending words were not her Arthur and she had no one to turn to. Merlin was
gone, as was her brother, Leon was still unconscious and Emrys…
Her gaze fell to the still unmoving mage kneeling at his feet she entered their life so
strong and loyal full of fire and joy so very much like her brother. Over the past few
months everyone's lives have been improved by her kind soul, the soul that was a small
part of her dead best friend. The guilt building inside her chest had her fighting back
tears as she recalled this morning watching the beautiful mage beg for her freedom and
seeing the light leave those dark eyes and the red handprint on the side of her face all
because she was a foolish girl. So what if she was amazingly beautiful and smarter than
most people in the kingdom? Time and again she proved she was no threat to her
husband, love life, her Queen or kingdom. As Queen she should have been thrilled to
have such a wonderful person serving her people but all she saw was a personal threat.
How could she be so shallow? She needed to fix this and free Emrys but how as long as
Arthur wore that ring… Gwen was pulled from her thoughts by a light kiss on her lips.
"Welcome back my love I was starting to get worried I was calling to you what were
you thinking about? if it is about Ambrose don't fret it is completely under my power it
can't harm you any longer."
"Thinking oh nothing much I was just wondering if Leon was doing okay would you
mind if I went for a visit?" She had to hide her flinch as he referred to Emrys as an it no
one deserved that. She hoped Leon was still unaware seeing Emrys enslaved would
result in someone's death his own, Emrys' or Arthurs.
"Of course not my dear, go check on him Iwas wondering myself, then come find me
in the dungeon and we will have lunch."
"Dungeons whatever for?" oh god what has he done now?
"Nothing for you to worry about just Dredrues' partner, he came to me and confessed
last night so I just want to finish interrogating him before I kill him."
"Wait, are you talking about Gilli? I remember you saying that this morning. What
about a trial he deserves to defend himself." Kill him,he wanted to kill someone who
confessed for the good of the kingdom!?
"Yes I am! see that's why I love you so observant but you need not think of such
unpleasant things he confessed so a trial is not needed and a waste of time worry not
my love I'll handle all the hard stuff. You are Queen of the people later you should go into
town and play with the children or something. I'll be king and deal with the hard things.
together we are perfect and we balance. Now go see Leon and I'll have your favorite
lunch ready for you. Ambrose come, we have work to do."
The faint "yes my king" that floated across the room sent a chill down her spine as she
watched her husband stomp out of the throne room followed by the broken mage on
their way to murder someone she had to stop him!
************************************************************birth********************************
Arthur was nothing if not a professional his poker face gave nothing away as he
demeaned, threatened and insulted the nobility. The tax and new council was Merlin's
idea and he agreed fully way before they started this. Gwaine was harder than he
thought but in the end he succeeded. He turned to his wife to see her lost in thought
staring at Merlin's prone body, her eyes wet and shiney it was working, he could see the
guilt in those brown eyes. He said nothing as she stared but followed her gaze.
Merlin was gone. Emrys was gone. What he had in front of him was a simple shell how
he wanted to rip off the blasted ring and toss it into the fire but not until Gwen made him.
He brought her back with a kiss and played his next card yes he was going to visit Gilli
but not to question or kill him but to enlist his help but he hoped Gwen would try to stop
him from committing murder.
He tried to belittle her but not too much he needed his Gwen back, the strong wise kind
woman he fell in love with, not this insecure stranger. As he left the room with Merlin
trailing behind he had to bite his gloved fist to hold off the wimper wanting to escape
after the dead soft monotone "yes my king" followed him down the hall. Once he
rounded the corner he stopped and turned to face his soulmate. He knew she would
respond to him and he just hoped that somewhere inside this shell she would hear him.
"I don't know if you can hear me but it will be over soon just hold on a little longer I
will make this up to you on my word as a king and a man I can't lose you if I had know it
would affect you like this I would have never agreed but it's working so please just hold
on a little longer please!"
"Yes my king I can hear you I shall hold on as you say."
"Emrys' could you answer a question for me?"
"Yes my king, what would you like to know?"
"The armbands' this ring, if I remove them temporarily and then replace them will it harm you?"
"Yes my king' these we made for one time use if you were to reapply insanely will
follow. The human mind cannot be thrust in and out of submission without shattering the
personality."
"Oh bloody hell! there goes that idea, come along then we have places to be."
************************************************Birth***********************************************
Gwaine had not been this mad in a long time there was no way in hell that was the real
Arthur he was just speaking with. He had met a lot of kings in his life as a traveler and
that man in there reminded him of Oden in his rudeness and ego. He would be damned
if he was going to relay the message to the others. Arthur was clearly enchanted and
with Emrys under his thumb the physician was his next best bet. God just remembering
the small frame of the court mage kneeling, empty made him want to run the imposter
through with his sword. To take away someone's free will and treat them like an object
and not a person was beyond his tolerance for injustice. He never really embraced
knighthood but he could not let that stand. He would make Merlin proud and free his
sister and save his king. He found himself standing outside the door of
Hunith and Gaius. "Well sir Gwaine time to save the day." he mumbled to himself as he
knocked on the large wooden door.
Ending it there I know it is a little short but I only had a few days off to get it written. with the pandemic and everything I might find myself posting another chapter sooner the later
I wish for all of you to stay safe and those affected to get better
Thank you to all mandatory workers and health care providers out their keeping us safe and supplied
Until next time
Stay tooned