Fic: Merlin - Uther/Morgana - 5 Reasons Why Morgana (Begrudgingly) Loves Uther
Title: 5 Reasons Why Morgana (Begrudgingly) Loves Uther
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Uther/Morgana (Gen)
Rating: PG
Words: 560
Summary: The title pretty much says it all, really.
Author's Note: Written for the merlin_rarepair 5 Things challenge. Or, well, I should say rebooted for the challenge, since this was originally written for a meme (but it was all rough dafty, so I've tried to shape it into an actual fic and completely replaced #5). And, dudes, I can't believe that I kept it completely GEN. Not a trace of romance unless you really, really squint. That's just... craziness.
I.
Exactly one year to the day that Morgana had arrived at Uther's castle, he sent her a gown made of the finest silk she had ever seen and he had his servants prepare a special meal just for the two of them. In not so many words, he raised his goblet to her and smiled. It was the first time that Morgana had felt like she had a home since her father died.
II.
The first time he caught her pummeling Arthur in a sword fight, instead of admonishing her for being unladylike and daring to stand equal against the prince, he laughed. It was quiet, and a sound that she suspected he hadn't made in a long time, but she was certain it was a laugh. He nodded his approval to her and walked on, and for a fraction of a second Morgana was flustered as she felt a stirring of affection for the man, though she tried her damnedest to deny it to herself later.
III.
When she told him that her maid was an insufferable old hag whom Morgana was positive turned children into frogs, she caught the half smile that Uther failed to contain before he grew ominous and asked her if she had evidence for such a serious accusation. Morgana stared at him in silent defiance before slightly crumbling and saying, "No... but she's certainly insufferable. Spend five minutes with the woman and you'll have all the proof you need." He burst out laughing, a low grumbling that was annoyingly pleasant to her ears. She huffed and stomped out of the king's court in a truly dramatic fashion. Three days later Gwen arrived at her door saying that she was to be her new lady's maid. She was the greatest gift Uther had ever given her, and a part of her will always love him for that.
IV.
When she caught him crying, he didn't tell her to leave. He turned away, but he spoke her name, as if it was some kind of permission for her to see the man behind the crown. She sighed wearily, wanting nothing more than to be away from this contradiction of the man she knew, and yet a seemingly inherit need to comfort him kept her rooted to the spot. She slowly sat down on the bench next to him. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on his shoulder. He wiped his eyes and gave her a brief glance of thanks, and they sat together in silence, looking blankly out the window, their faces lit only by the moonlight. She understood his pain all too acutely despite the fact that he never once spoke of it. In that moment, she no longer felt alone.
V.
To find herself in his embrace was a rare thing. Such a gentle gesture shared between them never failed to surprise her, and yet nothing in the world ever felt more right to her. The slight stubble on his face catching in her hair, the smell of sweat and metal and lavender all mingling together, his steady heartbeat beneath her hand, his warm breath caressing the back of her neck, his reassuring arms so easily molding her to his body, his lips softly brushing against her forehead before he finally releases her. In his embrace, she allows herself to be vulnerable without fear. To love him without thought.
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Uther/Morgana (Gen)
Rating: PG
Words: 560
Summary: The title pretty much says it all, really.
Author's Note: Written for the merlin_rarepair 5 Things challenge. Or, well, I should say rebooted for the challenge, since this was originally written for a meme (but it was all rough dafty, so I've tried to shape it into an actual fic and completely replaced #5). And, dudes, I can't believe that I kept it completely GEN. Not a trace of romance unless you really, really squint. That's just... craziness.
I.
Exactly one year to the day that Morgana had arrived at Uther's castle, he sent her a gown made of the finest silk she had ever seen and he had his servants prepare a special meal just for the two of them. In not so many words, he raised his goblet to her and smiled. It was the first time that Morgana had felt like she had a home since her father died.
II.
The first time he caught her pummeling Arthur in a sword fight, instead of admonishing her for being unladylike and daring to stand equal against the prince, he laughed. It was quiet, and a sound that she suspected he hadn't made in a long time, but she was certain it was a laugh. He nodded his approval to her and walked on, and for a fraction of a second Morgana was flustered as she felt a stirring of affection for the man, though she tried her damnedest to deny it to herself later.
III.
When she told him that her maid was an insufferable old hag whom Morgana was positive turned children into frogs, she caught the half smile that Uther failed to contain before he grew ominous and asked her if she had evidence for such a serious accusation. Morgana stared at him in silent defiance before slightly crumbling and saying, "No... but she's certainly insufferable. Spend five minutes with the woman and you'll have all the proof you need." He burst out laughing, a low grumbling that was annoyingly pleasant to her ears. She huffed and stomped out of the king's court in a truly dramatic fashion. Three days later Gwen arrived at her door saying that she was to be her new lady's maid. She was the greatest gift Uther had ever given her, and a part of her will always love him for that.
IV.
When she caught him crying, he didn't tell her to leave. He turned away, but he spoke her name, as if it was some kind of permission for her to see the man behind the crown. She sighed wearily, wanting nothing more than to be away from this contradiction of the man she knew, and yet a seemingly inherit need to comfort him kept her rooted to the spot. She slowly sat down on the bench next to him. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on his shoulder. He wiped his eyes and gave her a brief glance of thanks, and they sat together in silence, looking blankly out the window, their faces lit only by the moonlight. She understood his pain all too acutely despite the fact that he never once spoke of it. In that moment, she no longer felt alone.
V.
To find herself in his embrace was a rare thing. Such a gentle gesture shared between them never failed to surprise her, and yet nothing in the world ever felt more right to her. The slight stubble on his face catching in her hair, the smell of sweat and metal and lavender all mingling together, his steady heartbeat beneath her hand, his warm breath caressing the back of her neck, his reassuring arms so easily molding her to his body, his lips softly brushing against her forehead before he finally releases her. In his embrace, she allows herself to be vulnerable without fear. To love him without thought.