Mykonos 15/16
| Masterpost|Part Fourteen|
Ygraine was silent as they moved up in the shuttle, the luggage cluttering impatiently at their feet. She didn’t say a word until they exited the shuttle and walked to the small door that would take them directly to the palace.
“I can’t,” she said suddenly, stopping dead in her tracks and shaking her head. “I can’t do this.”
Arthur whipped around instantly, moving back to take Ygraine’s hands. He spoke quietly to her, out of Merlin’s range of hearing, but Ygraine still shook her head, like a frightened animal.
“No, I can’t,” she repeated, and Merlin nodded for Gaius to stay back as he walked forwards.
“Nimueh’s dead,” Merlin said, and Ygraine looked at him in shock. “Arthur killed her, so she can’t hurt you anymore.”
Arthur stepped aside slightly, watching Merlin closely.
“We need you to talk to Uther. I know you don’t want to, especially after everything he did to you, but look at Arthur. Arthur loves you, we all do. Wait until you meet my mum, she’ll love you too, and Mordred’s father as well. There’s Morgana and Gwen too, all these people who are just waiting for you to fit into our family, yet you don’t want to?” Merlin smiled softly.
“You should never have been exiled, but now that you have the chance to come back, your people need you.” He bit his lip, taking a risk with the next sentence. “You abandoned them back then, don’t do the same now.”
Something clicked behind Ygraine’s eyes and she looked over to Arthur, drinking in confidence from her son’s form.
“But-“ she began, only to have Arthur cut her off.
“We’ll be there. Merlin and me, probably half of the Court. They all need to see you, to understand that this isn’t s problem that can just be swept away. My father lied to me my whole life, told me you were dead and now we have a chance to prove to him that this is bigger than his reputation. Lives were risked and so many people died that he needs to realise…” Arthur trailed off, sighing deeply to calm himself.
“He needs to realise that what he did was wrong. It wasn’t just Nimueh, it was him.” He looked at Merlin, nodding to him, “Merlin helped me realise this, and the only person who can help Uther is you.”
Ygraine seemed to draw back for a moment, before she closed her eyes and nodded, reaching for Arthur’s hand once more. He took it without hesitation, leading his mother through the door and up a cobbled staircase, on and on until they reached the Obsidian Circle.
“They moved them,” she whispered, letting Arthur’s hand go as she took a step closer to the giant stones. “And they carved into them even more.”
Sadness tinged her voice, and Merlin scrabbled to pull his Obsidian from under his top, Arthur doing the same shortly after. Ygraine smiled and nodded, as if the sacrifice the stones had undergone was worth it just to see Merlin and Arthur with their own Obsidians.
“They moved them when I was young,” Arthur said, fingers curled around his stone. “It was Nimueh’s idea, but father said he couldn’t bear to go down to your garden anymore.”
Ygraine considered that for a moment before she nodded and left the stones, following after Gaius and letting Arthur and merlin trail her.
Gaius was already unpacking in his rooms, or so Hunith came to tell them, and she went over to Ygraine, introducing herself kindly and leading the former queen away so she could bathe and change, prepare to meet the king.
“What do you think will happen?” Merlin asked as he and Arthur returned to their rooms, changing their bog-stained clothes.
“I don’t know,” Arthur replied, stifling a yawn. Merlin couldn’t help but copy the action, and gave a jaw-cracking yawn of his own, looking at his bed forlornly.
“When we’re done we can come back and sleep, but we have to do this now or we’ll never do it,” Arthur reminded Merlin, who looked at him with a grin and nodded.
They dressed -Arthur back into his cloak and Merlin into some clean, plain clothes - and made to leave when Arthur stopped Merlin, something in his hands. It was a bundle of gold-embroidered blue fabric, a thick chain connecting the two ends of the cloak, designed to be fitted across the chest.
“I had this made for you,” Arthur said quietly, unfurling the cloak and spreading it across Merlin’s shoulders. The chain rested against his collar, a golden dragon - Arthur - dead centre over his chest.
“It’s akin to what the old sorcerers of the past would wear, and it also has our dragon to remind you of everything we’ve been through.” Arthur paused, looking suddenly nervous. “If you should accept… I want you to be my closest advisor as well as lead the Magicians. Without you, I’d be nothing and I can’t rule this City without you.”
He looked so young and uncertain that Merlin smoothed a hand over his cheek and kissed his lips gently, promising Arthur his allegiance.
“Thank you,” he said a moment later, running his fingers over the golden dragon, marvelling at the cool metal and the detail of the dragon. It was his dragon, their dragon, and meant more than any title or position ever could.
They left the room and entered the lounge area, seeing Hunith and Ygraine already there. Ygraine had washed, hair piled on her head and still with traces of the Wasteland, a reminder to Uther of what he had done. She was in a plain dress, but it worked for her, thin and frail and looking every inch the exiled queen she had become.
Arthur offered her his arm, and Merlin took Arthur’s other side, a trio of power moving silently through the castle.
As Arthur had predicted, Uther was in the middle of a council session, which would be perfect for Ygraine to make her entrance. Not only would Uther’s closest advisors be there - the very same who had helped him to banish Ygraine - but Morgana and a younger generation along with their servants would be in attendance. Servants would push the gossip mill faster, Ygraine’s return spiralling across the castle uncontrollably.
Arthur led them to a more open part of the castle and they passed others now, some shooting speculative glances at Ygraine before bowing at Arthur respectfully. They only met one person who tripped over himself to rest at Merlin’s feet, whimpering the name Emrys and how it was an honour to meet him. Merlin had flushed red and told the sorcerer to stand, making it clear he was just a normal person. The man didn’t seem to take it in though, scuttling off with a brilliant smile on his face at meeting the famous warlock himself.
A few of the older guards and servants looked at Ygraine first, eyes wide and muttering forms of ‘my lady’ or ‘your highness’ to her, staring in reverence as she bowed her head, traces of shy Eigyr buried deep down as Ygraine returned to what she had always been.
There were two sentries posted at the door to the council rooms, and they made as if to stop Arthur from entering until they laid eyes on Ygraine.
“If you don’t mind,” she said firmly, and Merlin was sure only he and Arthur could see the tremor of nerves in her shoulders and the way her hands shook. “You will step aside and open the doors. Your Queen and Prince demand it so.”
Merlin smiled to himself as the guards hastened to her order, pushing the doors inward with a groan of metal and wood, letting Ygraine, Arthur and Merlin into the room. Uther was listening to a councilman speak and he didn’t even look up as they entered, Ygraine now in the middle of the two men, but silence began to spread through the room as people turned, recognising the supposedly dead queen alongside her son.
They walked through the room, crowds parting to let them aside, and Merlin fought the grin that threatened his face as Morgana and Gwen noticed them, Morgana’s eyebrows shooting upwards and Gwen’s mouth opening slightly.
The king was still engrossed in the discussion, the small group gathered by the throne the last to notice the newcomers. He didn’t deserve the kindness Ygraine was showing him; it would have been so easy for her just to cut him down, publically release the truth and left him to deal with the consequences, but instead she had come to talk to him face-to-face, offer Uther one last chance to redeem himself.
Noticing the hush that had fallen over the room, the man who had been speaking cut himself off, looking over his shoulder with a frown before paling, looking back at Uther with wide eyes.
“You pledged to be a man of honour,” Ygraine said, the shake and uncertainty flowing from her as she faced the man she had loved and been betrayed by. “How far you have come,” she said, shaking her head in sadness.
That caught Uther’s attention, and he looked up with a jerk of his head, nostrils flaring as he saw Ygraine.
“Out!” he roared to the room, standing from his throne and waving his arms. “All of you, out!”
The room cleared quickly, everyone inside rushing to spread the news that the queen was back and the king had lied of her death. When the room silenced once more, it was only Uther, Ygraine, Arthur, Merlin, Morgana and Gwen left, the latter pair refusing to move even though Gwen was shooting worried glances to her Lady.
Ygraine stepped out of the protection Arthur and Merlin had afforded her and walked closer to the throne, taking careful and measured steps until she was a few arm lengths away from Uther.
“I remember a young man, not yet a king, who made a pledge to me and his kingdom in the safety of our room. I remember a young man who pledged never to knowingly cause harm to his people, to protect and serve them.” Ygraine gave a sad sigh. “Instead you chose the easiest way out, condemning thousands of people to a horrific life and ignoring their needs simply because they came from the Old World.”
She was angry now, and anger fuelled her words. “But you know what? I’ve lived in that world, been one of its people, and I found that barren landscape far more forgiving that you ever were as king. People lived and died easily, but I would rather be subject to that than the cruelty you brought on those you swore to protect.”
Uther was still standing, hands tightened into fists by his side. “Ygraine, please-“
“No,” she said with fury. “No, you don’t get to interrupt me. You said everything you needed to twenty years ago. It’s my turn now, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind this time.” She took a deep breath. “You’re not the man I fell in love with, not my husband or my king. I will not bow to you and I will not fear you.”
Uther’s body jerked in surprise at the words, as if he’d never considered Ygraine ever thinking for herself. By exiling his queen, he had made her into the woman she should be, empowered her to fight for her son’s throne, to call out the lies and the false promises Uther would make. She was the only one who could, the only one who had the right and need to do this.
“Nimueh wasn’t the only one who was responsible for the crimes. This all started way before we were even born, true, but you never once looked for an alternative solution.” She swallowed thickly, confidence wavering slightly. “Do you know how many people were taken? How many families were torn apart and how many children were killed by your police as a bit of fun?”
Merlin heard the sharp intake of breath from Gwen and looked over to her, worried. He noticed her eyes -Morgana’s too - were fixed on Ygraine, hanging on every word she spoke.
“Not only that, but you grew greedy. When we couldn’t conceive a child, you went to Nimueh and asked her to sacrifice more magic and another life for our son.” She turned to Arthur, love in her eyes. “I do not regret the product of that choice, only the consequences. I love Arthur with all my heart and more, but what you did was wrong and there were other options.”
“You chose your exile,” Uther said, eyes raging and voice firm. He’d had years to build up his convictions, ease the guilt by convincing himself there wasn’t another option and they’d had to do what they had done.
“The alternative was turning a blind eye to what you were doing. We were your friends, people who trusted you, and yet Balinor couldn’t convince you to see sense and you cast Gaius aside as easily as a spoilt apple.” Ygraine clenched her jaw before continuing.
“I was too afraid back then. I was a afraid that losing you would be the worst thing that could ever happen, but I was strong enough to know what was right and wrong, and I still do. You lied to your kingdom, twisted the truth, how can you still be fit to rule?” Ygraine’s question caused Uther to sink down until he was seated in his throne, expression thunderous and eyes fixed on her as if nothing else existed.
“You threw away your friends, the woman who loved you and all so that you could look good for the public.” She shook her head with a bitter smile, glancing at Merlin and Arthur. “And now you’ve lost your son and the man who is the sole reason Camelot stands right now. Think about that; Merlin here solved all of your problems because he wanted to save the people you’d condemned. He could have been on your side, but you chose to lie and twist the truth so that a dead woman gets the blame.”
“I haven’t lost them,” Uther muttered, voice angry and low.
“Haven’t you?” Ygraine countered. “Merlin is loyal to Arthur and Arthur… how can he trust a man who has lied to him his entire life and continues to lie?”
Silence filled the room, Uther locked in eye contact with Ygraine. Morgana was shooting looks at the pair of them, unsure where to settle her gaze, while Gwen was looking worriedly at Ygraine. Beside him, Arthur shifted his weight uncomfortably, running a tongue over his lips as if to speak up.
“You are not worthy to bear the crown,” Ygraine said, breaking the silence and looking away from Uther. “If you had any respect for yourself and Camelot, you would pass the throne to Arthur and learn from him.”
There was no room for negotiation in her tone, but Uther wasn’t buying it.
“How dare you,” he said quietly, the volume no less diminishing the power in the words. “How dare you enter my kingdom and tell me what to do? I may have loved you, but it is clear to me that you are not that woman anymore.”
Ygraine tilted her chin defiantly. “This is who I was supposed to be, before you stole my heart. I loved you Uther, but do you know how much it hurt to have you betray me? Twice?”
Uther didn’t reply, eyes sliding over Merlin, then Arthur and finally back to Ygraine.
“I’ve had enough,” he announced, pushing himself from the throne once more. “You can choose to leave now or I shall have guards escort you, either way I want you gone.”
With one pitiful look at her husband, Ygraine turned on her heel and left, Arthur and Merlin following her closely, Morgana and Gwen trailing them in turn. No one spoke, the procession marking forwards in silence until they returned to their wing of the castle, tucked out of Uther’s sight but hopefully still clear in his mind.
Hunith and Gaius were waiting as they entered the lounge, the pair standing up from their seats and looking at the group in trepidation. Ygraine went to the sofa first and sat down, sinking heavily as the weight of her actions settled around her and the realisation that she had seen Uther again for the first time in twenty years sunk in.
“How did it go?” Hunith asked as she sat down beside Ygraine, looking at Merlin and Arthur for answers.
Arthur sighed. “As expected. He’s as helpful as a wall of rock and as willing to move. I just thought that if it was her…”
He trailed off and Merlin squeezed his hand gently, letting go again a moment later.
“Come on,” Merlin said to Gwen and Morgana. “I owe you an explanation I supposed.”
It would be better to get everything cleared up now, so Merlin nodded for Arthur to stay with Ygraine while he would talk to Morgana and Gwen.
He led them into their bedroom, throwing open the large windows as soon as he entered, smiling as a gentle breeze entered through the open glass. He shucked his cloak off, carefully hanging it in the wardrobe next to Arthur’s empty hanger, before he returned to the bed, sitting down on the comfy mattress.
“I’m so happy to see you,” Merlin began, smiling at the faces of his friends. He wanted to reach out and hug them, but he didn’t have that right at the moment. The only thing Merlin could do now was explain what he had done and why, and hope that they could bring themselves to forgive him.
Morgana stared at Merlin, frown on her brow and a disgusted look on her face. Gwen sat beside her, twisting her hands in her lap and shooting speculative glances between him and the door, clearly thinking of Arthur.
“You snuck out of the house like a traitorous rat,” Morgana hissed, folding her arms over her chest. “Not even a note, not a hint of you even being there… do you know what we thought?”
Morgana arched an eyebrow as she leant forward, looking directly at Merlin. Merlin shook his head slowly, unable to look away from her.
“We thought Nimueh had snatched you in the night. We searched everywhere for you, any sign of you, and then, after days of worrying, Morgause tells me that you left to protect us.” Merlin kept her gaze as she stood, narrowing her eyes and stepping towards him.
“I don’t need protecting,” she said. “And the fact that you couldn’t even face us to tell us about it, instead cowering like a beaten dog?”
Gwen put her hand out, catching Morgana’s and she looked at her meaningfully, calming Morgana a little.
“What Morgana means,” Gwen said calmly, ever the diplomat. “Is that we were worried about you, and hurt. Morgause said that you’d been in contact with her, but why? Why would you go to Morgause when we could have helped you?”
Merlin knew he had fucked everything up. He’d wanted to protect Morgana and Gwen, but in the end he’d just ended up hurting them more.
“You won’t believe me when I say that I didn’t have a choice but to leave without notice,” Merlin began, and Morgana gave a bark of cold laughter.
“Before, I didn’t tell you the entire story,” Merlin said, recounting a shortened history for them, including Arthur this time.
“When I ran from your forge,” Merlin said, but Gwen cut across him.
“You realised that it was Arthur you’d been looking for all this time?” Merlin nodded. “But back at the Isle… you… I mean Arthur hadn’t for ages, but there was you and you two…” she trailed off, but Merlin understood what Gwen was asking.
“I didn’t enchant Arthur,” he said, and Gwen nodded, as though she hadn’t thought it likely anyway. “I honestly don’t know how. My magic… I can use it to sway people, for example I think that it helped you to see who I was so that you’d help me, but to actually enchant people? I don’t know if it’s even possible for me.”
Merlin licked his lips, focusing on Gwen and trying not to look at Morgana.
“I think my magic knew who Arthur was, could send the Obsidian or the magic in him. I was drawn to him, and him to me.” Merlin received a small smile from Gwen, and he knew that they would be okay. Now, there was just Morgana.
“What did you mean when you said you didn’t know if it was even possible for you?” Morgana asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Exactly what I said,” Merlin replied, finally looking at her fully. She had calmed a little, but Merlin knew he wasn’t out of the woods just yet.
“But it can be done,” Morgana persisted. “I’ve seen it happen, learnt the spells myself for times when there is no other choice.”
Inclining his head, Merlin explained about his connection to the Old Magic, and how his magic was now around him. Morgana’s eyes widened when Merlin told her of the balance struck at the Obsidian Circle, and how his magic inside of him was a hybrid of the magic he’d been born with and that or the earth.
“So the earth magic won’t let you enchant someone?” Morgana asked, voice dubious.
“Maybe if I was in danger and really needed to,” Merlin admitted, thinking on the subject. “I don’t really know what I’m capable of and my boundaries. It’s not like there’s someone I can learn from, and I doubt Uther’s going to hand over the records of past, powerful Magicians.” Merlin frowned, “Though Gaius and I established that I’m not like them even, that my magic doesn’t work in the same way the magicians of the past used theirs.”
Morgana was interested now, some of the hostility fading into curiosity.
“Now that Nimueh’s gone,” Morgana began. “I mean, before, Morgause didn’t want me to practice with the Magicians because of Nimueh. If… if you’re going to take them over…”
She trailed off, uncertain for the first time since they’d met. Morgana didn’t wear uncertainty well, so Merlin spoke, easing the hardship for her.
“If I take them over, I’ll be system in which Magicians are selected.” While Merlin hadn’t exclusively planned to become the leader, he was Emrys and respected. He could use his name for good, to encourage magic and help those who possessed it. It would be just a start in their lifetime, but one day, magic would return to Albion like the days of old, and no one would have to worry about where their shelter would be or their next meal would come from.
“If it’s in my capacity,” he added, shooting glance at Morgana. “Then I’d like to help those that seek it from us, no matter how powerful or knowledgeable.”
As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulder, Morgana nodded thankfully, not quite smiling yet a softer look appearing on her face.
“You’ll have a plethora of titles then,” she said dryly, smirking as she looked to Gwen. “Emrys, leader of the Magicians, saviour of Camelot and the King’s consort to name only a few,” she said slyly, the words filtering into Merlin’s brain slowly.
“What?” he said, suddenly panicked. ”Consort?” he laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous Morgana, why would you say that-“
“Because of the way you look at each other,” Morgana said, smiling openly. Gwen moved forward slightly, a smile on her face too. “A blind man would be able to see how you feel, so naturally it’s all over Court. And don’t think that everyone has no idea that Arthur was by your side when you defeated Nimueh, because they do.”
She smirked. “Castle gossip is a vicious rumour mill, but in this case, almost every word was true. A few discrepancies here and there, but it’s what you’d expect from a story that everyone whispered, yet no one was really there.”
Merlin knew that he wasn’t out of the woods for a long run yet and his relationship with Morgana and Gwen was still strained, but they were offering him bones, trying to patch up their bond while they could, in the peace before Arthur had to force his father from the throne.
That worried Merlin more than he wanted to admit, and he knew he could trust Morgana and Gwen, so he asked without reserve.
“What will happen if Arthur has to fight Uther for the throne?” His question met with silence, and Gwen shook her head, looking to Morgana.
“That depends,” she said, looking out of the window. “But I can’t see anything good coming of a battle.”
A breeze rolled in through the window and they paused, letting the sea air cover them. It was a reminder for Merlin of where he’d come from, but for everyone else it symbolised their future and the hopes they now carried to help all others in need.
“Arthur has the sword?” Morgana asked, voice light, as if she wasn’t really invested in what she was saying.
“Excalibur?” Merlin questioned. “Yes, he has the sword.”
Morgana shook her head slowly, eyes still fixed outside, a soft smile creeping over her lips.
“Then I do not think that there will be bloodshed. I see peace, prosperity, and a world free from the cruelty of our ancestors.” Morgana took in a deep breath and seemed to come back to herself, rising from her seat.
“You should rest a while,” she said. “Evening will be here soon and you need to be ready.”
At Merlin’s shocked look, she added, “Wear comfortable shoes. I think Arthur wants to show you something.”
Morgana strode from the room and Gwen approached Merlin, hugging him close.
“It was a horrible thing you did,” she said, pulling back. “But I’m glad you’re safe. Morgana is too, though she’d rather die than admit something like that.”
Smiling, Merlin watched Gwen leave, knowing that regaining Morgana’s friendship wouldn’t be easy, but that she wasn’t frosty to the idea. Merlin knew that leaving them would have its consequences, and they were kind enough to give him another chance.
He fell back onto the bed, looking up only when the door opened, a splash of red twirling in the light as Arthur closed the door behind him. He took his clothes off, dressing down until he was just in his trousers, slipping under the covers and letting his head fall back on his pillow with a groan.
“I miss sleep,” Arthur moaned, and Merlin turned on his side, giving a low chuckle.
“You can issue a royal decree then, that every Wednesday you have to sleep as much as you can. We can rename it Sleepday, and the entire kingdom will remember your name in all of history as the man who brought the wonderful Sleepday to us all.” Merlin smiled as Arthur’s eyes crinkled and he opened one of them with a laugh.
“I suppose that’s what all the prophecies mean when they say we’ll unite the whole of Albion. If there’s one thing people can do, it’s sleep, so why not manipulate that thinking?” The mood shifted suddenly and Arthur’s face grew grave.
“It’s treason to be talking about this,” he said, voice low. “Even after all he’s done, I know my father wanted what was best for his people. If there had been an easy way, he would have done anything… he was just too scared and too comfortable to risk his neck.”
Merlin shuffled closer, tucking an arm under his cheek.
“It’s hard,” he began, and Arthur’s eyes slid over to watch him. “For him I mean. For us it was easy. I have all this power and prophecies behind my back, you’re the king destine to wield Excalibur… nothing was there to stop us.”
Arthur made as if to say something, but Merlin shook his head.
“Think about it. Uther knew that there was a prophecy one day someone would save them. Everyone knew it, though not many suspected the truth in it. You read that someone will do the saving for you enough times and you end up sitting back and letting them, not because you don’t care, but because someone else already has a solution. A solution that will work and won’t cause unnecessary suffering on the people you want to protect.” Merlin sighed.
“I’m not saying he made some good choices, because he betrayed those he loved. But not everything Uther did was completely awful or unjustified, and I think people will forget that if you have to force him off of the throne.” Arthur was silent, and Merlin hoped that it was a thoughtful silence for good reasons.
“He won’t listen,” Arthur said after a while. “Not to me, not to my mother… I’d ask you to try, but he’d just insult you.”
Shifting his arm, Merlin rested his hand against Arthur’s temple, stroking against the skin there and threading long fingers into Arthur’s hairline.
“We haven’t tried everything yet,” Merlin whispered, eyes closing. “We’ll think of something.”
Arthur was silent a moment more, before, “I just want to sleep.”
Merlin shifted closer, burrowing Arthur against him. They fell asleep shortly after, wind gently flowing in through the open window.
.
It was dark again when they woke, and Arthur startled up, eyes wide and only half-awake.
“Oh,” he said dumbly when Merlin joined him, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “I thought…” he trailed off.
“Never mind,” he added a moment later, turning to look at Merlin. “Shall we go for a walk?”
Hungry though he was, Merlin knew this was what Morgana had been referring to earlier, and he changed quickly, slipping on comfortable shoes.
No one was around in the lounge, an oddity, but the reason why was clear when they passed through the room, a glowing, digital clock shining in the dark, pinned against the wall. It was midnight, and they were off for a walk.
Arthur began telling Merlin about parts of the castle they were walking through, drawing him down and down, back to the dungeons and the fork where Excalibur had been displayed. They didn’t take the path to the Obsidian Circle this time, though, instead walking the other way and passing through empty dungeons, door hinges rusty and useless from remaining empty for decades.
When Merlin tried to ask where they were going, Arthur simply gave a secretive smile, fire from their flambeau flickering against his teeth and eyes, making him look half crazed. His hair was still tousled from sleep, which didn’t help much, but he looked so innocent and carefree that Merlin didn’t have the heart to tell him.
The temperature dropped and the flambeau flickered dangerously, threatening to die out. Merlin reached out instinctively, letting his magic flare up around the flame and shield it from the sudden gust of wind, smiling as the flame settled.
He realised belatedly that he’d felt the pull of his magic that time, that it was slowly building inside of him as his body got used to the new, merged magic. Perhaps in time Merlin would be able to manipulate magic completely outside of his body, though that was as far-fetched as the best of them so Merlin put little stock in the idea just yet.
They’d come out of the castle now, further than the Circle, and were winding through the Tower itself, moving down into the very heart. There was only one place that they could be walking to, and Merlin smiled, stepping up beside Arthur and taking his hand.
It took a while longer, but they reached the Queen’s gardens and it was just as Merlin remembered, though alive and real. He could smell the must of age and the decay. It was no less beautiful and impressive as it had been before, and Merlin spotted the throne a way off, and for a moment thought that there was something lumped on it, though he turned away, magic not reacting to any outward threat, and turned his attention to Arthur.
“I was talking to my mother,” he began, walking through the ruined plinths and columns, heading to the throne. “And I wanted to build a memorial garden for the people we lost.” He paused. “For the people you lost.”
Merlin’s stomach dropped and his shoulders dropped slightly. He’d been putting that off of his mind as much as possible, pretending there was a chance that Will and the other villagers were surviving out there in the mass of refugees. It was futile - Merlin knew there was no chance they could have survived, and even his magic wouldn’t have been able to save Will - but he’d clung to the hope nonetheless.
“She was the one who suggested we use this garden,” Arthur said, running a thumb over the back of Merlin’s hand gently, reassuring him and reminding him that he would always be there.
“But it’s her garden,” Merlin protested, shaking his head a little. “She loves it.”
“The stones were moved from here,” Arthur countered gently. “Uther let it fall into decay and the whole garden is dying. Not in the sense that it was ever really living, though there are plants and life down here, but it’s dying from people’s memories.”
Arthur swallowed heavily. “I don’t want people to cling onto the past when they need to move forwards.”
Merlin bristled at his words, but Arthur was quick to soothe.
“I don’t mean just you, but everyone. Our mothers, Mordred, Morgana and Gwen… even the people of Camelot. This garden had its day, but it was abandoned and we need to look ahead. My mother can’t have happy memories of this place anymore without thinking of the Obsidians, and they were cut down cruelly and moved.”
He understood what Arthur was saying, and it was true. But Merlin didn’t know if he was ready to let go of the people from Ealdor just yet, and said as much. They’d drifted to the main square of the gardens now, and they sat on the ground, opposite the throne. The flambeau threw oddly shaped shadows around them, casting an even deeper darkness over the throne.
“It’ll take a while to sort the garden out,” Arthur replied. “And I don’t want you to let go of those people. I want you to keep them with you, to remember them. It’s the people you love and lose who shape the harsher side of you, and it’s better to keep them with you even if they’re lost, because then you know that they’re still there.” Arthur shifted uncomfortably at revealing so much about himself, but Merlin smiled and pressed a small kiss to his cheek.
“My father pushed those he’d lost away. He still does it now. He can’t accept help, has got that into his head for whatever reason, and can’t see that my mother would welcome him back with open arms if he just admitted that he was wrong and was sorry for what he did to her.” Arthur let Merlin tuck himself against him, taking comfort and warmth from each other.
“He was a good king,” Merlin muttered. “But his time has ended. Bloodshed is the last thing you want, so there won’t be any, I promise it on all of my magic. Talking won’t work, but there has to be another way we can prove to your father that he cannot sit on that throne any longer.”
Arthur nodded his head slowly.
“Thank you,” he said in reply to Merlin’s promise. “I could get the council on my side and force him that way, but it’s underhanded and messy.”
He loosened his hold on Merlin to run his hands through his hair, tilting his head back.
“I just want families to be reunited. I want the people that we’ve saved to be happy, it’s the least they serve after everything. I want to search the world and pick up the people who live in fear and bring them straight here, if they’re willing.” Arthur took a breath. “I want to help them all, save them all and keep them safe. At the moment, with my father on the throne, I just can’t do that.”
There was nothing that Merlin could say, so he kept tight against Arthur, recounting stories that had been too painful to tell before, about Will and the other Islanders. There were horrific ones, like the exorcisms that had been performed, and hilarious ones like the time Will had been caught with his trousers around his ankles in the baker’s home, swearing it was an accident and not what it looked like. It had been a genuine accident, but it was a story that never failed to get a rise out of his friend, so Merlin had always twisted it to his own advantage.
The point was though that Merlin had never told these to Arthur before, for it had always been too painful. A slow process though it would be, Merlin was healing from his losses, remembering them how they would have wanted him to rather than raging for reasons he couldn’t change.
They eventually left, returning to the castle and to their beds, lying down and Arthur falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Merlin took a little longer, tired brain trying to process and oddity he’d felt in the garden, as if someone else had been reacting to his stories, but he pushed the task from his mind and joined Arthur in sleep shortly after.
.
Camelot life returned to almost-normal for the first time since the network had been shut down. While Merlin hadn’t ventured from the castle, Hunith and Ygraine had walked through the City, delighting in the normalcy (for Ygraine) and the new sights (for Hunith) and getting to know each other better. They looked as though they’d be good friends, something Merlin was relieved at.
Merlin and Arthur had woken up late that day and the women had already been gone, so during breakfast when Morgana rushed in to find Ygraine, Arthur and Merlin were ready to take her place, Arthur’s face growing steadily more stony with every step toward Uther’s summons he took.
They entered a smaller council room this time, comfortable with a fire on - decoration more than anything, for heating was a necessity all over Camelot - in the ornate fireplace, crackling merrily with Uther seated at the head of the table.
“Arthur,” he greeted, not overly surprised that his son was there and not Ygraine. “And… Merlin, was it? Forgive me if I sound rude, I haven’t been that good with names lately.”
Beside him, Merlin felt Arthur bristle at the change of tone in his father, and Merlin tested his magic slightly, trying to feel whether he could judge Uther’s intentions. Nothing alerted Merlin, and if he wasn’t so unsure as to whether it had worked, Merlin would have guessed that Uther was being genuine with what he was saying.
“Father?” Arthur questioned tightly, but Uther waved his question off with a gloved hand.
“Sit down Arthur,” he chided gently. “I notice Ygraine isn’t with you though,” he continued, voice sounding strained.
“She’s out with my mother, shopping or… something,” Merlin substituted, not liking the sour look on Arthur’s face as they took their seats, at the side of the table and next to each other.
Uther looked surprised. “Your mother?” he asked gently, probing yet not in an uncomfortable manner.
“Yes,” merlin replied, still blunt despite the effort Uther was putting into playing nice. “My magic saved her from drowning when our boats tipped over. We’d both be dead if not for my magic, though she was taken by the Pickings so we haven’t been reunited for that long.”
A low blow though it was, Merlin wanted to know if the king was capable of regret. From the look that crossed his face, however momentarily, Merlin knew that he was, but would that be enough?
“I had planned to talk to your mother first,” Uther said, moving forwards in his chair to rest his hands on the table. “But you can’t help these things.”
He stood and tucked his chair in, pacing before the fire for a few moments. Then Uther turned to face them, a smile on his face and an expression that Merlin would never have associated with him. He couldn’t put a name to it - pride, love, acceptance were a few that it could be - but it made Uther look human, less of the stern figurehead Merlin had always seen him as in his head.
“I need to apologise,” he said, looking first to Arthur and then focusing on Merlin. “Last night, I needed to think so I went to your mother’s gardens,” his gaze flickered back to Arthur. “I sat behind the throne.”
Merlin remembered the strange presence he’d felt, and nodded slowly, but Arthur rose from his seat, hand moving to Excalibur (the sword was always at his side, mostly from Merlin’s insistence) and unsheathing the blade. Uther, to his credit, didn’t even flinch, but Merlin stood too, catching Arthur’s arm.
“Wait,” he said, looking at Uther. “Let’s hear what he has to say.”
For a moment, Arthur looked as though he wanted nothing more than to wrench his arm from Merlin’s grip and lunge for Uther, but he calmed a moment later and nodded, laying Excalibur on the table and sitting back down with Merlin.
“I heard you,” Uther said, nodding to Merlin. “Your stories of your Island and your friends.”
Arthur’s hand twitched, itching for his sword, but Merlin moved forwards a little in his seat, drawing Arthur’s attention and letting Uther continue.
“I also heard you talking, Arthur,” were the next words, and Arthur didn’t move a muscle, tensed up, obviously expecting the worst.
While he hadn’t been expecting it, Merlin wondered if Uther had changed his mind. They’d tried forcing him from the throne, but instead it looked as though he would abdicate from an accident, eavesdropping when he wasn’t supposed to. Morgana had seen a future without bloodshed, perhaps this was the future she’d seen.
“I never wanted you to be the king that I was,” Uther said, pacing slowly. “I never wanted you to learn of the terrible things that I’d done, that our family has done, even though there was no other option.”
Uther looked at Merlin. “There wasn’t another option, but that doesn’t mean that I should have stopped looking. I realise that now, and so am indebted to you both.”
He took a deep breath, looking at Arthur. “That is why I’m choosing to abdicate the throne. I am not the man who will lead our people to greatness. I am not the man who will defy everything and everyone on an impossible mission that will save his people.”
Merlin watched as Uther paused, directly before the fireplace. He could see the young king he had once been, but more importantly the real person he was. A man who was worried for his son, a man who had made many mistakes, yet wanted to finally set things right.
“I shall make a public announcement, and I hope you’ll forgive me for stating reasons as poor health. Perhaps the truth could be revealed, but I am not the person to do so.” Uther stepped forwards, face grim.
“It’s not easy, but I know you’re ready.” He looked at Excalibur. “There are many legends behind the origin of that sword and why it will not yield to just any master. Every Pendragon king, and the kings before, has tried to wield the blade, a few queens too, though none have ever been able to.”
Merlin could see Arthur listening in interest, eyes fixed on Uther.
“Some people say it belonged to the gods, others to mythical creatures. There is one alive who might remember its origin, but if he was the very same dragon that forged that sword, I do not know.”
At the mention of Kilgharrah, Merlin wondered if it was possible, that he had been alive for all that time. It wasn’t impossible, but to imagine the dragon chained in the dark for so many centuries was almost unbearable.
“The only certainty with that sword is the man who can wield it.” Pride shone in Uther’s eyes, and there was definitely love this time. “To be able to say that my son is such a man is more than I’d ever expected, but you don’t need a sword to prove your worth.”
Merlin watched as Uther stepped beside Arthur, resting his knuckles against Arthur’s cheek tenderly, before pulling back a moment later.
“I am not perfect,” he admitted. “But non man should be. Ygraine was there to keep me grounded, but I foolishly cast her aside for my own gain.”
His eyes flickered to Merlin, surprisingly warm. “You care for each other,” he said. “Always remember that, and never be afraid to challenge each other. You need each other; don’t make the same mistakes that I did.”
Uther sighed, and a weight seemed to slide from his shoulders.
“We all want to think that we’ll be a good king,” he said, taking the coronet from his head and placing it on the table. “But you, my son, have proved your worth already. You’ve done so much for our people, and I know that you will continue to serve and protect them. There’s no place for a man like me to be in power, which is why I presented my decision to the council before I told you.”
Arthur’s eyes widened and he shook his head, but Merlin took a hold of his forearm, calming him.
“Arthur,” he said, drawing Arthur’s attention. “It’s okay. You know you’re ready, we can do this.”
Merlin could feel Uther’s gaze, and as Arthur looked down to gather himself, Merlin looked at the former king, seeing nothing by a father who loved his son dearly. This was the Uther who had taken his oath to be a king, the Uther Ygraine had fallen in love with, the man Uther would have been if he had strove for what was right instead of what was easy.
There was a grinding sound and the door to the corridor opened with a click. Uther stood as Ygraine entered, eyes blazing. She frowned, taken aback as she noticed that Merlin and Arthur were seated comfortably, and Uther’s expression was open and honest.
“My Lady,” he said, bowing his head. “I’d wanted to tell you first, but you were busy.”
Ygraine frowned, looking at Merlin. He could see the worry in her eye, but she seemed relieved by the expression on his face, and relaxed a little.
“I’m to abdicate,” Uther announced and Ygraine’s eyes widened, almost comically. “I was informing Arthur that he’d be crowned within the next few days, most likely the day after tomorrow. The official announcement will be made in the mornings and -“
“Why?” Ygraine cut in, shaking her head. “Why now?”
Uther looked at her sadly for a moment before he shook his head.
"Someone reminded me that I'm not the person I promised to be. Arthur is more the king than I ever could be, and it's more than time for me to step down." He paused, glancing at Merlin and Arthur, as if he'd rather not say this in front of them, yet had no choice.
"I was wrong," Uther said. "If I'd carried on the way I was, I would have caused unnecessary pain and suffering. That wouldn't only make me a terrible king, but a horrible person as well."
He sighed. "I'm not expecting forgiveness, far from it," he added, as if sensing Ygraine's pending question. "But I can try to be a better person, and that's all I ask for you to remember. That I'll try, and I don't expect anything from you."
While they may still love each other, Merlin realised, Uther wasn't expecting Ygraine to welcome him with open arms. Maybe in time they would grow closer again, but that wasn't possible with all that had happened. Uther would try, though, and maybe, for Ygraine this time, he would become a better person.
Arthur sheathed Excalibur once again and turned to Merlin, sensing it was their time to leave. Ygraine remained behind, needing to hear more from Uther on why he’d done it, and Merlin knew Arthur wished to give them privacy.
The door closed behind them, and Arthur sank against the wall, eyes wide and mouth opened slightly. When he hit the floor, he looked back up at Merlin, frowning with the shock.
Merlin smiled, crouching on the balls of his feet.
“The Once and Future King,” he murmured, pushing Arthur’s hair back from his forehead. “My dragon and the man I’d cross the entire Ocean for.” He moved forwards to kiss Arthur softly, pulling back to whisper against his lips.
“We can help them all,” he said. “We can help them all and unite the entire world if we have to. We’ll do it together, you, me, our mothers, our family… we can do it.”
The smile that broke Arthur’s shock was beautiful, and Merlin leant in to kiss him again, smiling for the future they would ensure for their people.
.
| Part Sixteen|
Ygraine was silent as they moved up in the shuttle, the luggage cluttering impatiently at their feet. She didn’t say a word until they exited the shuttle and walked to the small door that would take them directly to the palace.
“I can’t,” she said suddenly, stopping dead in her tracks and shaking her head. “I can’t do this.”
Arthur whipped around instantly, moving back to take Ygraine’s hands. He spoke quietly to her, out of Merlin’s range of hearing, but Ygraine still shook her head, like a frightened animal.
“No, I can’t,” she repeated, and Merlin nodded for Gaius to stay back as he walked forwards.
“Nimueh’s dead,” Merlin said, and Ygraine looked at him in shock. “Arthur killed her, so she can’t hurt you anymore.”
Arthur stepped aside slightly, watching Merlin closely.
“We need you to talk to Uther. I know you don’t want to, especially after everything he did to you, but look at Arthur. Arthur loves you, we all do. Wait until you meet my mum, she’ll love you too, and Mordred’s father as well. There’s Morgana and Gwen too, all these people who are just waiting for you to fit into our family, yet you don’t want to?” Merlin smiled softly.
“You should never have been exiled, but now that you have the chance to come back, your people need you.” He bit his lip, taking a risk with the next sentence. “You abandoned them back then, don’t do the same now.”
Something clicked behind Ygraine’s eyes and she looked over to Arthur, drinking in confidence from her son’s form.
“But-“ she began, only to have Arthur cut her off.
“We’ll be there. Merlin and me, probably half of the Court. They all need to see you, to understand that this isn’t s problem that can just be swept away. My father lied to me my whole life, told me you were dead and now we have a chance to prove to him that this is bigger than his reputation. Lives were risked and so many people died that he needs to realise…” Arthur trailed off, sighing deeply to calm himself.
“He needs to realise that what he did was wrong. It wasn’t just Nimueh, it was him.” He looked at Merlin, nodding to him, “Merlin helped me realise this, and the only person who can help Uther is you.”
Ygraine seemed to draw back for a moment, before she closed her eyes and nodded, reaching for Arthur’s hand once more. He took it without hesitation, leading his mother through the door and up a cobbled staircase, on and on until they reached the Obsidian Circle.
“They moved them,” she whispered, letting Arthur’s hand go as she took a step closer to the giant stones. “And they carved into them even more.”
Sadness tinged her voice, and Merlin scrabbled to pull his Obsidian from under his top, Arthur doing the same shortly after. Ygraine smiled and nodded, as if the sacrifice the stones had undergone was worth it just to see Merlin and Arthur with their own Obsidians.
“They moved them when I was young,” Arthur said, fingers curled around his stone. “It was Nimueh’s idea, but father said he couldn’t bear to go down to your garden anymore.”
Ygraine considered that for a moment before she nodded and left the stones, following after Gaius and letting Arthur and merlin trail her.
Gaius was already unpacking in his rooms, or so Hunith came to tell them, and she went over to Ygraine, introducing herself kindly and leading the former queen away so she could bathe and change, prepare to meet the king.
“What do you think will happen?” Merlin asked as he and Arthur returned to their rooms, changing their bog-stained clothes.
“I don’t know,” Arthur replied, stifling a yawn. Merlin couldn’t help but copy the action, and gave a jaw-cracking yawn of his own, looking at his bed forlornly.
“When we’re done we can come back and sleep, but we have to do this now or we’ll never do it,” Arthur reminded Merlin, who looked at him with a grin and nodded.
They dressed -Arthur back into his cloak and Merlin into some clean, plain clothes - and made to leave when Arthur stopped Merlin, something in his hands. It was a bundle of gold-embroidered blue fabric, a thick chain connecting the two ends of the cloak, designed to be fitted across the chest.
“I had this made for you,” Arthur said quietly, unfurling the cloak and spreading it across Merlin’s shoulders. The chain rested against his collar, a golden dragon - Arthur - dead centre over his chest.
“It’s akin to what the old sorcerers of the past would wear, and it also has our dragon to remind you of everything we’ve been through.” Arthur paused, looking suddenly nervous. “If you should accept… I want you to be my closest advisor as well as lead the Magicians. Without you, I’d be nothing and I can’t rule this City without you.”
He looked so young and uncertain that Merlin smoothed a hand over his cheek and kissed his lips gently, promising Arthur his allegiance.
“Thank you,” he said a moment later, running his fingers over the golden dragon, marvelling at the cool metal and the detail of the dragon. It was his dragon, their dragon, and meant more than any title or position ever could.
They left the room and entered the lounge area, seeing Hunith and Ygraine already there. Ygraine had washed, hair piled on her head and still with traces of the Wasteland, a reminder to Uther of what he had done. She was in a plain dress, but it worked for her, thin and frail and looking every inch the exiled queen she had become.
Arthur offered her his arm, and Merlin took Arthur’s other side, a trio of power moving silently through the castle.
As Arthur had predicted, Uther was in the middle of a council session, which would be perfect for Ygraine to make her entrance. Not only would Uther’s closest advisors be there - the very same who had helped him to banish Ygraine - but Morgana and a younger generation along with their servants would be in attendance. Servants would push the gossip mill faster, Ygraine’s return spiralling across the castle uncontrollably.
Arthur led them to a more open part of the castle and they passed others now, some shooting speculative glances at Ygraine before bowing at Arthur respectfully. They only met one person who tripped over himself to rest at Merlin’s feet, whimpering the name Emrys and how it was an honour to meet him. Merlin had flushed red and told the sorcerer to stand, making it clear he was just a normal person. The man didn’t seem to take it in though, scuttling off with a brilliant smile on his face at meeting the famous warlock himself.
A few of the older guards and servants looked at Ygraine first, eyes wide and muttering forms of ‘my lady’ or ‘your highness’ to her, staring in reverence as she bowed her head, traces of shy Eigyr buried deep down as Ygraine returned to what she had always been.
There were two sentries posted at the door to the council rooms, and they made as if to stop Arthur from entering until they laid eyes on Ygraine.
“If you don’t mind,” she said firmly, and Merlin was sure only he and Arthur could see the tremor of nerves in her shoulders and the way her hands shook. “You will step aside and open the doors. Your Queen and Prince demand it so.”
Merlin smiled to himself as the guards hastened to her order, pushing the doors inward with a groan of metal and wood, letting Ygraine, Arthur and Merlin into the room. Uther was listening to a councilman speak and he didn’t even look up as they entered, Ygraine now in the middle of the two men, but silence began to spread through the room as people turned, recognising the supposedly dead queen alongside her son.
They walked through the room, crowds parting to let them aside, and Merlin fought the grin that threatened his face as Morgana and Gwen noticed them, Morgana’s eyebrows shooting upwards and Gwen’s mouth opening slightly.
The king was still engrossed in the discussion, the small group gathered by the throne the last to notice the newcomers. He didn’t deserve the kindness Ygraine was showing him; it would have been so easy for her just to cut him down, publically release the truth and left him to deal with the consequences, but instead she had come to talk to him face-to-face, offer Uther one last chance to redeem himself.
Noticing the hush that had fallen over the room, the man who had been speaking cut himself off, looking over his shoulder with a frown before paling, looking back at Uther with wide eyes.
“You pledged to be a man of honour,” Ygraine said, the shake and uncertainty flowing from her as she faced the man she had loved and been betrayed by. “How far you have come,” she said, shaking her head in sadness.
That caught Uther’s attention, and he looked up with a jerk of his head, nostrils flaring as he saw Ygraine.
“Out!” he roared to the room, standing from his throne and waving his arms. “All of you, out!”
The room cleared quickly, everyone inside rushing to spread the news that the queen was back and the king had lied of her death. When the room silenced once more, it was only Uther, Ygraine, Arthur, Merlin, Morgana and Gwen left, the latter pair refusing to move even though Gwen was shooting worried glances to her Lady.
Ygraine stepped out of the protection Arthur and Merlin had afforded her and walked closer to the throne, taking careful and measured steps until she was a few arm lengths away from Uther.
“I remember a young man, not yet a king, who made a pledge to me and his kingdom in the safety of our room. I remember a young man who pledged never to knowingly cause harm to his people, to protect and serve them.” Ygraine gave a sad sigh. “Instead you chose the easiest way out, condemning thousands of people to a horrific life and ignoring their needs simply because they came from the Old World.”
She was angry now, and anger fuelled her words. “But you know what? I’ve lived in that world, been one of its people, and I found that barren landscape far more forgiving that you ever were as king. People lived and died easily, but I would rather be subject to that than the cruelty you brought on those you swore to protect.”
Uther was still standing, hands tightened into fists by his side. “Ygraine, please-“
“No,” she said with fury. “No, you don’t get to interrupt me. You said everything you needed to twenty years ago. It’s my turn now, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind this time.” She took a deep breath. “You’re not the man I fell in love with, not my husband or my king. I will not bow to you and I will not fear you.”
Uther’s body jerked in surprise at the words, as if he’d never considered Ygraine ever thinking for herself. By exiling his queen, he had made her into the woman she should be, empowered her to fight for her son’s throne, to call out the lies and the false promises Uther would make. She was the only one who could, the only one who had the right and need to do this.
“Nimueh wasn’t the only one who was responsible for the crimes. This all started way before we were even born, true, but you never once looked for an alternative solution.” She swallowed thickly, confidence wavering slightly. “Do you know how many people were taken? How many families were torn apart and how many children were killed by your police as a bit of fun?”
Merlin heard the sharp intake of breath from Gwen and looked over to her, worried. He noticed her eyes -Morgana’s too - were fixed on Ygraine, hanging on every word she spoke.
“Not only that, but you grew greedy. When we couldn’t conceive a child, you went to Nimueh and asked her to sacrifice more magic and another life for our son.” She turned to Arthur, love in her eyes. “I do not regret the product of that choice, only the consequences. I love Arthur with all my heart and more, but what you did was wrong and there were other options.”
“You chose your exile,” Uther said, eyes raging and voice firm. He’d had years to build up his convictions, ease the guilt by convincing himself there wasn’t another option and they’d had to do what they had done.
“The alternative was turning a blind eye to what you were doing. We were your friends, people who trusted you, and yet Balinor couldn’t convince you to see sense and you cast Gaius aside as easily as a spoilt apple.” Ygraine clenched her jaw before continuing.
“I was too afraid back then. I was a afraid that losing you would be the worst thing that could ever happen, but I was strong enough to know what was right and wrong, and I still do. You lied to your kingdom, twisted the truth, how can you still be fit to rule?” Ygraine’s question caused Uther to sink down until he was seated in his throne, expression thunderous and eyes fixed on her as if nothing else existed.
“You threw away your friends, the woman who loved you and all so that you could look good for the public.” She shook her head with a bitter smile, glancing at Merlin and Arthur. “And now you’ve lost your son and the man who is the sole reason Camelot stands right now. Think about that; Merlin here solved all of your problems because he wanted to save the people you’d condemned. He could have been on your side, but you chose to lie and twist the truth so that a dead woman gets the blame.”
“I haven’t lost them,” Uther muttered, voice angry and low.
“Haven’t you?” Ygraine countered. “Merlin is loyal to Arthur and Arthur… how can he trust a man who has lied to him his entire life and continues to lie?”
Silence filled the room, Uther locked in eye contact with Ygraine. Morgana was shooting looks at the pair of them, unsure where to settle her gaze, while Gwen was looking worriedly at Ygraine. Beside him, Arthur shifted his weight uncomfortably, running a tongue over his lips as if to speak up.
“You are not worthy to bear the crown,” Ygraine said, breaking the silence and looking away from Uther. “If you had any respect for yourself and Camelot, you would pass the throne to Arthur and learn from him.”
There was no room for negotiation in her tone, but Uther wasn’t buying it.
“How dare you,” he said quietly, the volume no less diminishing the power in the words. “How dare you enter my kingdom and tell me what to do? I may have loved you, but it is clear to me that you are not that woman anymore.”
Ygraine tilted her chin defiantly. “This is who I was supposed to be, before you stole my heart. I loved you Uther, but do you know how much it hurt to have you betray me? Twice?”
Uther didn’t reply, eyes sliding over Merlin, then Arthur and finally back to Ygraine.
“I’ve had enough,” he announced, pushing himself from the throne once more. “You can choose to leave now or I shall have guards escort you, either way I want you gone.”
With one pitiful look at her husband, Ygraine turned on her heel and left, Arthur and Merlin following her closely, Morgana and Gwen trailing them in turn. No one spoke, the procession marking forwards in silence until they returned to their wing of the castle, tucked out of Uther’s sight but hopefully still clear in his mind.
Hunith and Gaius were waiting as they entered the lounge, the pair standing up from their seats and looking at the group in trepidation. Ygraine went to the sofa first and sat down, sinking heavily as the weight of her actions settled around her and the realisation that she had seen Uther again for the first time in twenty years sunk in.
“How did it go?” Hunith asked as she sat down beside Ygraine, looking at Merlin and Arthur for answers.
Arthur sighed. “As expected. He’s as helpful as a wall of rock and as willing to move. I just thought that if it was her…”
He trailed off and Merlin squeezed his hand gently, letting go again a moment later.
“Come on,” Merlin said to Gwen and Morgana. “I owe you an explanation I supposed.”
It would be better to get everything cleared up now, so Merlin nodded for Arthur to stay with Ygraine while he would talk to Morgana and Gwen.
He led them into their bedroom, throwing open the large windows as soon as he entered, smiling as a gentle breeze entered through the open glass. He shucked his cloak off, carefully hanging it in the wardrobe next to Arthur’s empty hanger, before he returned to the bed, sitting down on the comfy mattress.
“I’m so happy to see you,” Merlin began, smiling at the faces of his friends. He wanted to reach out and hug them, but he didn’t have that right at the moment. The only thing Merlin could do now was explain what he had done and why, and hope that they could bring themselves to forgive him.
Morgana stared at Merlin, frown on her brow and a disgusted look on her face. Gwen sat beside her, twisting her hands in her lap and shooting speculative glances between him and the door, clearly thinking of Arthur.
“You snuck out of the house like a traitorous rat,” Morgana hissed, folding her arms over her chest. “Not even a note, not a hint of you even being there… do you know what we thought?”
Morgana arched an eyebrow as she leant forward, looking directly at Merlin. Merlin shook his head slowly, unable to look away from her.
“We thought Nimueh had snatched you in the night. We searched everywhere for you, any sign of you, and then, after days of worrying, Morgause tells me that you left to protect us.” Merlin kept her gaze as she stood, narrowing her eyes and stepping towards him.
“I don’t need protecting,” she said. “And the fact that you couldn’t even face us to tell us about it, instead cowering like a beaten dog?”
Gwen put her hand out, catching Morgana’s and she looked at her meaningfully, calming Morgana a little.
“What Morgana means,” Gwen said calmly, ever the diplomat. “Is that we were worried about you, and hurt. Morgause said that you’d been in contact with her, but why? Why would you go to Morgause when we could have helped you?”
Merlin knew he had fucked everything up. He’d wanted to protect Morgana and Gwen, but in the end he’d just ended up hurting them more.
“You won’t believe me when I say that I didn’t have a choice but to leave without notice,” Merlin began, and Morgana gave a bark of cold laughter.
“Before, I didn’t tell you the entire story,” Merlin said, recounting a shortened history for them, including Arthur this time.
“When I ran from your forge,” Merlin said, but Gwen cut across him.
“You realised that it was Arthur you’d been looking for all this time?” Merlin nodded. “But back at the Isle… you… I mean Arthur hadn’t for ages, but there was you and you two…” she trailed off, but Merlin understood what Gwen was asking.
“I didn’t enchant Arthur,” he said, and Gwen nodded, as though she hadn’t thought it likely anyway. “I honestly don’t know how. My magic… I can use it to sway people, for example I think that it helped you to see who I was so that you’d help me, but to actually enchant people? I don’t know if it’s even possible for me.”
Merlin licked his lips, focusing on Gwen and trying not to look at Morgana.
“I think my magic knew who Arthur was, could send the Obsidian or the magic in him. I was drawn to him, and him to me.” Merlin received a small smile from Gwen, and he knew that they would be okay. Now, there was just Morgana.
“What did you mean when you said you didn’t know if it was even possible for you?” Morgana asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Exactly what I said,” Merlin replied, finally looking at her fully. She had calmed a little, but Merlin knew he wasn’t out of the woods just yet.
“But it can be done,” Morgana persisted. “I’ve seen it happen, learnt the spells myself for times when there is no other choice.”
Inclining his head, Merlin explained about his connection to the Old Magic, and how his magic was now around him. Morgana’s eyes widened when Merlin told her of the balance struck at the Obsidian Circle, and how his magic inside of him was a hybrid of the magic he’d been born with and that or the earth.
“So the earth magic won’t let you enchant someone?” Morgana asked, voice dubious.
“Maybe if I was in danger and really needed to,” Merlin admitted, thinking on the subject. “I don’t really know what I’m capable of and my boundaries. It’s not like there’s someone I can learn from, and I doubt Uther’s going to hand over the records of past, powerful Magicians.” Merlin frowned, “Though Gaius and I established that I’m not like them even, that my magic doesn’t work in the same way the magicians of the past used theirs.”
Morgana was interested now, some of the hostility fading into curiosity.
“Now that Nimueh’s gone,” Morgana began. “I mean, before, Morgause didn’t want me to practice with the Magicians because of Nimueh. If… if you’re going to take them over…”
She trailed off, uncertain for the first time since they’d met. Morgana didn’t wear uncertainty well, so Merlin spoke, easing the hardship for her.
“If I take them over, I’ll be system in which Magicians are selected.” While Merlin hadn’t exclusively planned to become the leader, he was Emrys and respected. He could use his name for good, to encourage magic and help those who possessed it. It would be just a start in their lifetime, but one day, magic would return to Albion like the days of old, and no one would have to worry about where their shelter would be or their next meal would come from.
“If it’s in my capacity,” he added, shooting glance at Morgana. “Then I’d like to help those that seek it from us, no matter how powerful or knowledgeable.”
As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulder, Morgana nodded thankfully, not quite smiling yet a softer look appearing on her face.
“You’ll have a plethora of titles then,” she said dryly, smirking as she looked to Gwen. “Emrys, leader of the Magicians, saviour of Camelot and the King’s consort to name only a few,” she said slyly, the words filtering into Merlin’s brain slowly.
“What?” he said, suddenly panicked. ”Consort?” he laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous Morgana, why would you say that-“
“Because of the way you look at each other,” Morgana said, smiling openly. Gwen moved forward slightly, a smile on her face too. “A blind man would be able to see how you feel, so naturally it’s all over Court. And don’t think that everyone has no idea that Arthur was by your side when you defeated Nimueh, because they do.”
She smirked. “Castle gossip is a vicious rumour mill, but in this case, almost every word was true. A few discrepancies here and there, but it’s what you’d expect from a story that everyone whispered, yet no one was really there.”
Merlin knew that he wasn’t out of the woods for a long run yet and his relationship with Morgana and Gwen was still strained, but they were offering him bones, trying to patch up their bond while they could, in the peace before Arthur had to force his father from the throne.
That worried Merlin more than he wanted to admit, and he knew he could trust Morgana and Gwen, so he asked without reserve.
“What will happen if Arthur has to fight Uther for the throne?” His question met with silence, and Gwen shook her head, looking to Morgana.
“That depends,” she said, looking out of the window. “But I can’t see anything good coming of a battle.”
A breeze rolled in through the window and they paused, letting the sea air cover them. It was a reminder for Merlin of where he’d come from, but for everyone else it symbolised their future and the hopes they now carried to help all others in need.
“Arthur has the sword?” Morgana asked, voice light, as if she wasn’t really invested in what she was saying.
“Excalibur?” Merlin questioned. “Yes, he has the sword.”
Morgana shook her head slowly, eyes still fixed outside, a soft smile creeping over her lips.
“Then I do not think that there will be bloodshed. I see peace, prosperity, and a world free from the cruelty of our ancestors.” Morgana took in a deep breath and seemed to come back to herself, rising from her seat.
“You should rest a while,” she said. “Evening will be here soon and you need to be ready.”
At Merlin’s shocked look, she added, “Wear comfortable shoes. I think Arthur wants to show you something.”
Morgana strode from the room and Gwen approached Merlin, hugging him close.
“It was a horrible thing you did,” she said, pulling back. “But I’m glad you’re safe. Morgana is too, though she’d rather die than admit something like that.”
Smiling, Merlin watched Gwen leave, knowing that regaining Morgana’s friendship wouldn’t be easy, but that she wasn’t frosty to the idea. Merlin knew that leaving them would have its consequences, and they were kind enough to give him another chance.
He fell back onto the bed, looking up only when the door opened, a splash of red twirling in the light as Arthur closed the door behind him. He took his clothes off, dressing down until he was just in his trousers, slipping under the covers and letting his head fall back on his pillow with a groan.
“I miss sleep,” Arthur moaned, and Merlin turned on his side, giving a low chuckle.
“You can issue a royal decree then, that every Wednesday you have to sleep as much as you can. We can rename it Sleepday, and the entire kingdom will remember your name in all of history as the man who brought the wonderful Sleepday to us all.” Merlin smiled as Arthur’s eyes crinkled and he opened one of them with a laugh.
“I suppose that’s what all the prophecies mean when they say we’ll unite the whole of Albion. If there’s one thing people can do, it’s sleep, so why not manipulate that thinking?” The mood shifted suddenly and Arthur’s face grew grave.
“It’s treason to be talking about this,” he said, voice low. “Even after all he’s done, I know my father wanted what was best for his people. If there had been an easy way, he would have done anything… he was just too scared and too comfortable to risk his neck.”
Merlin shuffled closer, tucking an arm under his cheek.
“It’s hard,” he began, and Arthur’s eyes slid over to watch him. “For him I mean. For us it was easy. I have all this power and prophecies behind my back, you’re the king destine to wield Excalibur… nothing was there to stop us.”
Arthur made as if to say something, but Merlin shook his head.
“Think about it. Uther knew that there was a prophecy one day someone would save them. Everyone knew it, though not many suspected the truth in it. You read that someone will do the saving for you enough times and you end up sitting back and letting them, not because you don’t care, but because someone else already has a solution. A solution that will work and won’t cause unnecessary suffering on the people you want to protect.” Merlin sighed.
“I’m not saying he made some good choices, because he betrayed those he loved. But not everything Uther did was completely awful or unjustified, and I think people will forget that if you have to force him off of the throne.” Arthur was silent, and Merlin hoped that it was a thoughtful silence for good reasons.
“He won’t listen,” Arthur said after a while. “Not to me, not to my mother… I’d ask you to try, but he’d just insult you.”
Shifting his arm, Merlin rested his hand against Arthur’s temple, stroking against the skin there and threading long fingers into Arthur’s hairline.
“We haven’t tried everything yet,” Merlin whispered, eyes closing. “We’ll think of something.”
Arthur was silent a moment more, before, “I just want to sleep.”
Merlin shifted closer, burrowing Arthur against him. They fell asleep shortly after, wind gently flowing in through the open window.
.
It was dark again when they woke, and Arthur startled up, eyes wide and only half-awake.
“Oh,” he said dumbly when Merlin joined him, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “I thought…” he trailed off.
“Never mind,” he added a moment later, turning to look at Merlin. “Shall we go for a walk?”
Hungry though he was, Merlin knew this was what Morgana had been referring to earlier, and he changed quickly, slipping on comfortable shoes.
No one was around in the lounge, an oddity, but the reason why was clear when they passed through the room, a glowing, digital clock shining in the dark, pinned against the wall. It was midnight, and they were off for a walk.
Arthur began telling Merlin about parts of the castle they were walking through, drawing him down and down, back to the dungeons and the fork where Excalibur had been displayed. They didn’t take the path to the Obsidian Circle this time, though, instead walking the other way and passing through empty dungeons, door hinges rusty and useless from remaining empty for decades.
When Merlin tried to ask where they were going, Arthur simply gave a secretive smile, fire from their flambeau flickering against his teeth and eyes, making him look half crazed. His hair was still tousled from sleep, which didn’t help much, but he looked so innocent and carefree that Merlin didn’t have the heart to tell him.
The temperature dropped and the flambeau flickered dangerously, threatening to die out. Merlin reached out instinctively, letting his magic flare up around the flame and shield it from the sudden gust of wind, smiling as the flame settled.
He realised belatedly that he’d felt the pull of his magic that time, that it was slowly building inside of him as his body got used to the new, merged magic. Perhaps in time Merlin would be able to manipulate magic completely outside of his body, though that was as far-fetched as the best of them so Merlin put little stock in the idea just yet.
They’d come out of the castle now, further than the Circle, and were winding through the Tower itself, moving down into the very heart. There was only one place that they could be walking to, and Merlin smiled, stepping up beside Arthur and taking his hand.
It took a while longer, but they reached the Queen’s gardens and it was just as Merlin remembered, though alive and real. He could smell the must of age and the decay. It was no less beautiful and impressive as it had been before, and Merlin spotted the throne a way off, and for a moment thought that there was something lumped on it, though he turned away, magic not reacting to any outward threat, and turned his attention to Arthur.
“I was talking to my mother,” he began, walking through the ruined plinths and columns, heading to the throne. “And I wanted to build a memorial garden for the people we lost.” He paused. “For the people you lost.”
Merlin’s stomach dropped and his shoulders dropped slightly. He’d been putting that off of his mind as much as possible, pretending there was a chance that Will and the other villagers were surviving out there in the mass of refugees. It was futile - Merlin knew there was no chance they could have survived, and even his magic wouldn’t have been able to save Will - but he’d clung to the hope nonetheless.
“She was the one who suggested we use this garden,” Arthur said, running a thumb over the back of Merlin’s hand gently, reassuring him and reminding him that he would always be there.
“But it’s her garden,” Merlin protested, shaking his head a little. “She loves it.”
“The stones were moved from here,” Arthur countered gently. “Uther let it fall into decay and the whole garden is dying. Not in the sense that it was ever really living, though there are plants and life down here, but it’s dying from people’s memories.”
Arthur swallowed heavily. “I don’t want people to cling onto the past when they need to move forwards.”
Merlin bristled at his words, but Arthur was quick to soothe.
“I don’t mean just you, but everyone. Our mothers, Mordred, Morgana and Gwen… even the people of Camelot. This garden had its day, but it was abandoned and we need to look ahead. My mother can’t have happy memories of this place anymore without thinking of the Obsidians, and they were cut down cruelly and moved.”
He understood what Arthur was saying, and it was true. But Merlin didn’t know if he was ready to let go of the people from Ealdor just yet, and said as much. They’d drifted to the main square of the gardens now, and they sat on the ground, opposite the throne. The flambeau threw oddly shaped shadows around them, casting an even deeper darkness over the throne.
“It’ll take a while to sort the garden out,” Arthur replied. “And I don’t want you to let go of those people. I want you to keep them with you, to remember them. It’s the people you love and lose who shape the harsher side of you, and it’s better to keep them with you even if they’re lost, because then you know that they’re still there.” Arthur shifted uncomfortably at revealing so much about himself, but Merlin smiled and pressed a small kiss to his cheek.
“My father pushed those he’d lost away. He still does it now. He can’t accept help, has got that into his head for whatever reason, and can’t see that my mother would welcome him back with open arms if he just admitted that he was wrong and was sorry for what he did to her.” Arthur let Merlin tuck himself against him, taking comfort and warmth from each other.
“He was a good king,” Merlin muttered. “But his time has ended. Bloodshed is the last thing you want, so there won’t be any, I promise it on all of my magic. Talking won’t work, but there has to be another way we can prove to your father that he cannot sit on that throne any longer.”
Arthur nodded his head slowly.
“Thank you,” he said in reply to Merlin’s promise. “I could get the council on my side and force him that way, but it’s underhanded and messy.”
He loosened his hold on Merlin to run his hands through his hair, tilting his head back.
“I just want families to be reunited. I want the people that we’ve saved to be happy, it’s the least they serve after everything. I want to search the world and pick up the people who live in fear and bring them straight here, if they’re willing.” Arthur took a breath. “I want to help them all, save them all and keep them safe. At the moment, with my father on the throne, I just can’t do that.”
There was nothing that Merlin could say, so he kept tight against Arthur, recounting stories that had been too painful to tell before, about Will and the other Islanders. There were horrific ones, like the exorcisms that had been performed, and hilarious ones like the time Will had been caught with his trousers around his ankles in the baker’s home, swearing it was an accident and not what it looked like. It had been a genuine accident, but it was a story that never failed to get a rise out of his friend, so Merlin had always twisted it to his own advantage.
The point was though that Merlin had never told these to Arthur before, for it had always been too painful. A slow process though it would be, Merlin was healing from his losses, remembering them how they would have wanted him to rather than raging for reasons he couldn’t change.
They eventually left, returning to the castle and to their beds, lying down and Arthur falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Merlin took a little longer, tired brain trying to process and oddity he’d felt in the garden, as if someone else had been reacting to his stories, but he pushed the task from his mind and joined Arthur in sleep shortly after.
.
Camelot life returned to almost-normal for the first time since the network had been shut down. While Merlin hadn’t ventured from the castle, Hunith and Ygraine had walked through the City, delighting in the normalcy (for Ygraine) and the new sights (for Hunith) and getting to know each other better. They looked as though they’d be good friends, something Merlin was relieved at.
Merlin and Arthur had woken up late that day and the women had already been gone, so during breakfast when Morgana rushed in to find Ygraine, Arthur and Merlin were ready to take her place, Arthur’s face growing steadily more stony with every step toward Uther’s summons he took.
They entered a smaller council room this time, comfortable with a fire on - decoration more than anything, for heating was a necessity all over Camelot - in the ornate fireplace, crackling merrily with Uther seated at the head of the table.
“Arthur,” he greeted, not overly surprised that his son was there and not Ygraine. “And… Merlin, was it? Forgive me if I sound rude, I haven’t been that good with names lately.”
Beside him, Merlin felt Arthur bristle at the change of tone in his father, and Merlin tested his magic slightly, trying to feel whether he could judge Uther’s intentions. Nothing alerted Merlin, and if he wasn’t so unsure as to whether it had worked, Merlin would have guessed that Uther was being genuine with what he was saying.
“Father?” Arthur questioned tightly, but Uther waved his question off with a gloved hand.
“Sit down Arthur,” he chided gently. “I notice Ygraine isn’t with you though,” he continued, voice sounding strained.
“She’s out with my mother, shopping or… something,” Merlin substituted, not liking the sour look on Arthur’s face as they took their seats, at the side of the table and next to each other.
Uther looked surprised. “Your mother?” he asked gently, probing yet not in an uncomfortable manner.
“Yes,” merlin replied, still blunt despite the effort Uther was putting into playing nice. “My magic saved her from drowning when our boats tipped over. We’d both be dead if not for my magic, though she was taken by the Pickings so we haven’t been reunited for that long.”
A low blow though it was, Merlin wanted to know if the king was capable of regret. From the look that crossed his face, however momentarily, Merlin knew that he was, but would that be enough?
“I had planned to talk to your mother first,” Uther said, moving forwards in his chair to rest his hands on the table. “But you can’t help these things.”
He stood and tucked his chair in, pacing before the fire for a few moments. Then Uther turned to face them, a smile on his face and an expression that Merlin would never have associated with him. He couldn’t put a name to it - pride, love, acceptance were a few that it could be - but it made Uther look human, less of the stern figurehead Merlin had always seen him as in his head.
“I need to apologise,” he said, looking first to Arthur and then focusing on Merlin. “Last night, I needed to think so I went to your mother’s gardens,” his gaze flickered back to Arthur. “I sat behind the throne.”
Merlin remembered the strange presence he’d felt, and nodded slowly, but Arthur rose from his seat, hand moving to Excalibur (the sword was always at his side, mostly from Merlin’s insistence) and unsheathing the blade. Uther, to his credit, didn’t even flinch, but Merlin stood too, catching Arthur’s arm.
“Wait,” he said, looking at Uther. “Let’s hear what he has to say.”
For a moment, Arthur looked as though he wanted nothing more than to wrench his arm from Merlin’s grip and lunge for Uther, but he calmed a moment later and nodded, laying Excalibur on the table and sitting back down with Merlin.
“I heard you,” Uther said, nodding to Merlin. “Your stories of your Island and your friends.”
Arthur’s hand twitched, itching for his sword, but Merlin moved forwards a little in his seat, drawing Arthur’s attention and letting Uther continue.
“I also heard you talking, Arthur,” were the next words, and Arthur didn’t move a muscle, tensed up, obviously expecting the worst.
While he hadn’t been expecting it, Merlin wondered if Uther had changed his mind. They’d tried forcing him from the throne, but instead it looked as though he would abdicate from an accident, eavesdropping when he wasn’t supposed to. Morgana had seen a future without bloodshed, perhaps this was the future she’d seen.
“I never wanted you to be the king that I was,” Uther said, pacing slowly. “I never wanted you to learn of the terrible things that I’d done, that our family has done, even though there was no other option.”
Uther looked at Merlin. “There wasn’t another option, but that doesn’t mean that I should have stopped looking. I realise that now, and so am indebted to you both.”
He took a deep breath, looking at Arthur. “That is why I’m choosing to abdicate the throne. I am not the man who will lead our people to greatness. I am not the man who will defy everything and everyone on an impossible mission that will save his people.”
Merlin watched as Uther paused, directly before the fireplace. He could see the young king he had once been, but more importantly the real person he was. A man who was worried for his son, a man who had made many mistakes, yet wanted to finally set things right.
“I shall make a public announcement, and I hope you’ll forgive me for stating reasons as poor health. Perhaps the truth could be revealed, but I am not the person to do so.” Uther stepped forwards, face grim.
“It’s not easy, but I know you’re ready.” He looked at Excalibur. “There are many legends behind the origin of that sword and why it will not yield to just any master. Every Pendragon king, and the kings before, has tried to wield the blade, a few queens too, though none have ever been able to.”
Merlin could see Arthur listening in interest, eyes fixed on Uther.
“Some people say it belonged to the gods, others to mythical creatures. There is one alive who might remember its origin, but if he was the very same dragon that forged that sword, I do not know.”
At the mention of Kilgharrah, Merlin wondered if it was possible, that he had been alive for all that time. It wasn’t impossible, but to imagine the dragon chained in the dark for so many centuries was almost unbearable.
“The only certainty with that sword is the man who can wield it.” Pride shone in Uther’s eyes, and there was definitely love this time. “To be able to say that my son is such a man is more than I’d ever expected, but you don’t need a sword to prove your worth.”
Merlin watched as Uther stepped beside Arthur, resting his knuckles against Arthur’s cheek tenderly, before pulling back a moment later.
“I am not perfect,” he admitted. “But non man should be. Ygraine was there to keep me grounded, but I foolishly cast her aside for my own gain.”
His eyes flickered to Merlin, surprisingly warm. “You care for each other,” he said. “Always remember that, and never be afraid to challenge each other. You need each other; don’t make the same mistakes that I did.”
Uther sighed, and a weight seemed to slide from his shoulders.
“We all want to think that we’ll be a good king,” he said, taking the coronet from his head and placing it on the table. “But you, my son, have proved your worth already. You’ve done so much for our people, and I know that you will continue to serve and protect them. There’s no place for a man like me to be in power, which is why I presented my decision to the council before I told you.”
Arthur’s eyes widened and he shook his head, but Merlin took a hold of his forearm, calming him.
“Arthur,” he said, drawing Arthur’s attention. “It’s okay. You know you’re ready, we can do this.”
Merlin could feel Uther’s gaze, and as Arthur looked down to gather himself, Merlin looked at the former king, seeing nothing by a father who loved his son dearly. This was the Uther who had taken his oath to be a king, the Uther Ygraine had fallen in love with, the man Uther would have been if he had strove for what was right instead of what was easy.
There was a grinding sound and the door to the corridor opened with a click. Uther stood as Ygraine entered, eyes blazing. She frowned, taken aback as she noticed that Merlin and Arthur were seated comfortably, and Uther’s expression was open and honest.
“My Lady,” he said, bowing his head. “I’d wanted to tell you first, but you were busy.”
Ygraine frowned, looking at Merlin. He could see the worry in her eye, but she seemed relieved by the expression on his face, and relaxed a little.
“I’m to abdicate,” Uther announced and Ygraine’s eyes widened, almost comically. “I was informing Arthur that he’d be crowned within the next few days, most likely the day after tomorrow. The official announcement will be made in the mornings and -“
“Why?” Ygraine cut in, shaking her head. “Why now?”
Uther looked at her sadly for a moment before he shook his head.
"Someone reminded me that I'm not the person I promised to be. Arthur is more the king than I ever could be, and it's more than time for me to step down." He paused, glancing at Merlin and Arthur, as if he'd rather not say this in front of them, yet had no choice.
"I was wrong," Uther said. "If I'd carried on the way I was, I would have caused unnecessary pain and suffering. That wouldn't only make me a terrible king, but a horrible person as well."
He sighed. "I'm not expecting forgiveness, far from it," he added, as if sensing Ygraine's pending question. "But I can try to be a better person, and that's all I ask for you to remember. That I'll try, and I don't expect anything from you."
While they may still love each other, Merlin realised, Uther wasn't expecting Ygraine to welcome him with open arms. Maybe in time they would grow closer again, but that wasn't possible with all that had happened. Uther would try, though, and maybe, for Ygraine this time, he would become a better person.
Arthur sheathed Excalibur once again and turned to Merlin, sensing it was their time to leave. Ygraine remained behind, needing to hear more from Uther on why he’d done it, and Merlin knew Arthur wished to give them privacy.
The door closed behind them, and Arthur sank against the wall, eyes wide and mouth opened slightly. When he hit the floor, he looked back up at Merlin, frowning with the shock.
Merlin smiled, crouching on the balls of his feet.
“The Once and Future King,” he murmured, pushing Arthur’s hair back from his forehead. “My dragon and the man I’d cross the entire Ocean for.” He moved forwards to kiss Arthur softly, pulling back to whisper against his lips.
“We can help them all,” he said. “We can help them all and unite the entire world if we have to. We’ll do it together, you, me, our mothers, our family… we can do it.”
The smile that broke Arthur’s shock was beautiful, and Merlin leant in to kiss him again, smiling for the future they would ensure for their people.
.
| Part Sixteen|