Poetic Advent - Weapon of Choice 4/7
Title: Weapon of Choice
Author:Poetic Advent
Rating: NC17
Pairing:Leon/Morgana
Disclaimer: Not mine unfortunately.
Spoilers/Warning: None
Summary: Written for the KMM prompt, Uther wants to marry Morgana off for political gain. Leon is merely a knight, a dogsbody. Prompt Here
MACE
def: a blunt club, utilizing a heavy tip to deal strong blows
A common weapon, it is simple, straightforward, and deadly when used with enough force.
As Uther went down the steps to greet the traveling party, Leon scanned the courtyard for any sign of Morgana. According to Arthur, Uther wanted her present to meet the visiting king and his son. Brennus's realm bordered Odin's, and the rumors were already flying that Uther wished to court the aging king into joining forces against Odin's encroaching threat. Leon had thought the idea brilliant until he heard how insistent Uther was about the circumstances of their arrival. Now, he was almost glad Morgana didn't seem as inclined to humor Uther as she normally did.
She remained absent from the initial meeting with the Council, as well as the evening meal. Gwen arrived with apologies, claiming Morgana was unwell, and though Uther made a joke about delicate females, Leon recognized the tightening at the corner of his mouth that noted his displeasure. Morgana would rue her choice once Uther confronted her.
A confrontation that occurred as soon as the guests had retired for the night.
Though he asked nobody to accompany him, Uther's path was clear, his steps heavy as he marched through the castle for Morgana's chambers. Leon's duties were done for the day, so he trailed behind, keeping far enough back not to be seen. Uther entered after a single knock. A moment later, Gwen came out, the door shutting firmly behind her. She frowned at the barred entrance, but when she turned to leave, Leon hurried around the corner he'd been watching from and blocked her path.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Another of their arguments. I wouldn't bother sticking around if I were you. Morgana will be in a foul mood when he leaves."
"Was she really unwell?"
"What do you think?"
He glanced at the door. Already, the voices were rising inside, Uther's gruff tones overshadowing Morgana's more strident ones. "She sounds like she was in a foul mood before he even got here." She was usually much better at softening Uther's moods, but only if she was in the mindset to do it beforehand. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Well, just this prince business."
Mention of Prince Lionel snapped his attention back to Gwen, who was having great difficulty meeting his eyes. "What business? Morgana's not involved in the treaty." Her lack of a response unnerved him as much as his encroaching fears. "You might as well tell me. I'll find out sooner or later anyway."
She sighed. "You won't like it. Morgana certainly doesn't."
"What?"
"Uther wants her to marry the prince. To ensure Brennus's cooperation."
The possibility had lurked in the corners of his thoughts ever since that afternoon, but hearing it spoken aloud turned his stomach to lead. He had no claims on Morgana-no public claims, at least-and dealt with her flirtations poorly. She'd ceased the games with Arthur, even if she loved how ferocious their coupling was when Leon came to her afterward. But that was a minor victory for him. She still preened in the company of men, adoring being the center of their attention, confident in her abilities to dazzle them. She might not be a princess in name, but she was viewed as such anyway. He'd always known he would some day lose her to another man. He'd only hoped some day wouldn't happen when he was around to witness it.
"It's a strong strategic move," he said, struggling not to let his disappointment show. "With Brennus's help, we stand a much better chance at stopping Odin, once and for all."
The way Gwen stared at him, like she didn't even know who he was, made him wish he'd never come to Morgana's room in the first place. "You sound like the king," she said.
He arched a brow, trying for supercilious but fearing Gwen saw through it without even trying. "There are worse men for me to aspire to be like. He's the king for a reason."
"I always thought you were a better man than that." She brushed past him, marching down the hall. "So did Morgana."
Chasing after her would satisfy neither of them, even if he could get his feet to obey. The arguments emanating from Morgana's room, however, kept him glued in place, his pulse racing every time Uther shouted at her. It happened so rarely, each time was a shock to the system. Morgana's reactions were Uther's fault, though. He'd spoiled her from the moment she'd come to live in the castle. The only thing he had ever denied her were the training lessons with Leon.
When the door opened, Leon ducked into an alcove before Uther could spot him. He didn't risk peeking out, but from the quick, heavy steps echoing through the corridor, Uther was just as agitated upon his departure as he had been when he'd arrived.
Leon waited for silence to return. He should go. Gwen's warning was wise. They'd made no arrangements to see each other for the duration of Brennus's visit, either. Morgana would hardly be expecting him.
But expectation lied to your face, even when you begged for truth. Had that not been the one lesson he had learned in his time in Camelot? From Morgana, from the knights, from fate. He was at her door, knocking the secret pattern that told her it was him, as soon as he felt it was safe. Not soon enough, if the pounding of his heart was anything to go by.
She opened as his knuckles grazed across the wood on the last rap, though perhaps tore the door free of its moorings was closer to the force of it. Her cheeks were fiery flushed, the glitter in her eyes dangerous. Without a word, she swept forward, throwing her arms around his neck in a possessive embrace that might have crushed him at the start of their relationship.
"You always know when to come," she said, her breath hot in his ear.
She still clung to him when the door was at his back, her lips mapping his neck, his jaw, nails sinking into sinew. Tremors ran beneath her skin, her anxiety about Uther's edict trying to find some means to break free, but when he held onto her more tightly, to convince her-him?-everything would be all right, they only became more violent.
"Uther's an idiot," she hissed. "An alliance with Brennus doesn't guarantee besting Odin at all."
It might not, but it certainly strengthened their forces. Leon didn't like the arrangement, but it wasn't as if it was the first time two royal families had married together to face a common enemy.
"Why didn't you come to supper?" he asked. The mundane often worked to calm Morgana's tempers. She fixated on details to the exclusion of everything else, a trait that had grown more intense as she grew older. He'd long ago learned that the best way to break those spells was to shift her focus to the other side of the problem.
As her arms loosened to allow space to look at him, Morgana slipped down his body, soft flesh tangible even through their clothing. "And perpetuate Uther's ridiculous offer?"
"Hiding makes you look afraid of it."
Her jaw hardened. "Joining them would've looked like I condoned it."
"So instead you make Uther come and confront you here." He nodded toward her dim chambers. An urn lay shattered against the wall, a recent casualty or else Gwen would have cleaned it up. One of them must have thrown it in frustration. "You don't usually fall prey to Uther's manipulations like that."
Yanking herself away from his embrace, she whirled and paced around the room. "I refuse to play this his way. I'm not going to marry Lionel, even if Uther throws me into the dungeons."
"He'd just send Geoffrey there to conduct the ceremony," he tried with a smile.
His joke landed on deaf ears. "I don't even know this Lionel. And Arthur's marriage should be the only one that counts. Why isn't Uther demanding that Arthur marry Brennus's niece or cousin or something like that?"
"Arthur isn't ready for a union like that."
"And I am?"
"It makes political sense, Morgana. Odin gets stronger every day-"
"You agree with Uther?"
If he'd thought it difficult to face the disappointment in Gwen's gaze, standing straight under Morgana's was a thousand times worse. "I didn't say that."
"Really? Because it sounded like you approve of my marrying Lionel."
The line between approval and understanding was the thinnest of slices, one sure to be fatal if he landed on the wrong side. Morgana would spot a lie as soon as it fell from his tongue, though, leaving him no option but to say, "The alliance is strong strategy. Camelot would be better for it."
"And me? Would I be better for it?"
"Any man would be honored to have you as a wife."
"That wasn't what I asked."
"I don't know this Lionel-"
"And neither do I!" She flew back at him, panic written behind the fury she tried to mask it with. "I don't want to marry a man I don't love, let alone a complete stranger."
"What other choice do you have?"
Morgana froze. This close, the heat poured off her, prickling even where they didn't touch. "I thought I had you." Her lips barely moved as she formed the words, her voice voided of the passion that had enflamed her just a moment before.
"You do," he said automatically, then grimaced. As much as he needed the hope for himself, he couldn't give it to Morgana and make this worse. "But it doesn't matter. I can't marry you."
"Can't? Or won't?"
He backed off, trying to get his thoughts in order again. "Uther would never allow it. He wouldn't even grant you permission to train with me."
"That was different," she scoffed. "He didn't want me ruining his image of the perfect lady. But that's not me, Leon. You know that."
"That doesn't change the fact that I'm just a knight."
"And I'm not a princess."
"You are to Uther."
And wasn't that the whole point of it? Uther might respect him as a knight, but Leon hadn't even been good enough to spend time with Morgana in a platonic capacity. As a potential husband? He'd laugh himself silly, then order her to marry Lionel anyway. Leon would be embarrassed in front of his fellow knights, if not outright stripped of rank, and nothing would have been changed.
He knew the moment Morgana saw the course of his rationale, though there was no doubting she'd seen it barreling for them when she'd stiffened against him.
"I always thought you were too kind to be a knight," she said. "But that wasn't it at all. You're too much of a coward."
"Morgana-"
"Don't!" The air went brittle between them, as broken as the urn on the floor. "I don't know why you bothered to come here if your only intention was to try and convince me to behave like a good little girl. I'll tell you the same thing I told Uther. I don't care about what would be politically strategic. My future is mine to choose. Not his. And definitely not yours."
Though that hadn't been his intention at all, he'd never be able to convince her otherwise now. She was too hurt and her walls impenetrable. He might rarely find himself on this side of them, but he knew her well enough to know there'd be no scaling them this evening.
Considering the changes about to be wrought in both of their lives, it might not be possible to ever scale them.
All the way back to the door, he prayed she would stop him from going. This was not how he wished things to end. He'd loved Morgana for too many years for it to be this bitter. There was even a voice in a hidden corner of his heart that begged her to keep fighting for them.
But she didn't.
Part 5
Author:Poetic Advent
Rating: NC17
Pairing:Leon/Morgana
Disclaimer: Not mine unfortunately.
Spoilers/Warning: None
Summary: Written for the KMM prompt, Uther wants to marry Morgana off for political gain. Leon is merely a knight, a dogsbody. Prompt Here
MACE
def: a blunt club, utilizing a heavy tip to deal strong blows
A common weapon, it is simple, straightforward, and deadly when used with enough force.
As Uther went down the steps to greet the traveling party, Leon scanned the courtyard for any sign of Morgana. According to Arthur, Uther wanted her present to meet the visiting king and his son. Brennus's realm bordered Odin's, and the rumors were already flying that Uther wished to court the aging king into joining forces against Odin's encroaching threat. Leon had thought the idea brilliant until he heard how insistent Uther was about the circumstances of their arrival. Now, he was almost glad Morgana didn't seem as inclined to humor Uther as she normally did.
She remained absent from the initial meeting with the Council, as well as the evening meal. Gwen arrived with apologies, claiming Morgana was unwell, and though Uther made a joke about delicate females, Leon recognized the tightening at the corner of his mouth that noted his displeasure. Morgana would rue her choice once Uther confronted her.
A confrontation that occurred as soon as the guests had retired for the night.
Though he asked nobody to accompany him, Uther's path was clear, his steps heavy as he marched through the castle for Morgana's chambers. Leon's duties were done for the day, so he trailed behind, keeping far enough back not to be seen. Uther entered after a single knock. A moment later, Gwen came out, the door shutting firmly behind her. She frowned at the barred entrance, but when she turned to leave, Leon hurried around the corner he'd been watching from and blocked her path.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Another of their arguments. I wouldn't bother sticking around if I were you. Morgana will be in a foul mood when he leaves."
"Was she really unwell?"
"What do you think?"
He glanced at the door. Already, the voices were rising inside, Uther's gruff tones overshadowing Morgana's more strident ones. "She sounds like she was in a foul mood before he even got here." She was usually much better at softening Uther's moods, but only if she was in the mindset to do it beforehand. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Well, just this prince business."
Mention of Prince Lionel snapped his attention back to Gwen, who was having great difficulty meeting his eyes. "What business? Morgana's not involved in the treaty." Her lack of a response unnerved him as much as his encroaching fears. "You might as well tell me. I'll find out sooner or later anyway."
She sighed. "You won't like it. Morgana certainly doesn't."
"What?"
"Uther wants her to marry the prince. To ensure Brennus's cooperation."
The possibility had lurked in the corners of his thoughts ever since that afternoon, but hearing it spoken aloud turned his stomach to lead. He had no claims on Morgana-no public claims, at least-and dealt with her flirtations poorly. She'd ceased the games with Arthur, even if she loved how ferocious their coupling was when Leon came to her afterward. But that was a minor victory for him. She still preened in the company of men, adoring being the center of their attention, confident in her abilities to dazzle them. She might not be a princess in name, but she was viewed as such anyway. He'd always known he would some day lose her to another man. He'd only hoped some day wouldn't happen when he was around to witness it.
"It's a strong strategic move," he said, struggling not to let his disappointment show. "With Brennus's help, we stand a much better chance at stopping Odin, once and for all."
The way Gwen stared at him, like she didn't even know who he was, made him wish he'd never come to Morgana's room in the first place. "You sound like the king," she said.
He arched a brow, trying for supercilious but fearing Gwen saw through it without even trying. "There are worse men for me to aspire to be like. He's the king for a reason."
"I always thought you were a better man than that." She brushed past him, marching down the hall. "So did Morgana."
Chasing after her would satisfy neither of them, even if he could get his feet to obey. The arguments emanating from Morgana's room, however, kept him glued in place, his pulse racing every time Uther shouted at her. It happened so rarely, each time was a shock to the system. Morgana's reactions were Uther's fault, though. He'd spoiled her from the moment she'd come to live in the castle. The only thing he had ever denied her were the training lessons with Leon.
When the door opened, Leon ducked into an alcove before Uther could spot him. He didn't risk peeking out, but from the quick, heavy steps echoing through the corridor, Uther was just as agitated upon his departure as he had been when he'd arrived.
Leon waited for silence to return. He should go. Gwen's warning was wise. They'd made no arrangements to see each other for the duration of Brennus's visit, either. Morgana would hardly be expecting him.
But expectation lied to your face, even when you begged for truth. Had that not been the one lesson he had learned in his time in Camelot? From Morgana, from the knights, from fate. He was at her door, knocking the secret pattern that told her it was him, as soon as he felt it was safe. Not soon enough, if the pounding of his heart was anything to go by.
She opened as his knuckles grazed across the wood on the last rap, though perhaps tore the door free of its moorings was closer to the force of it. Her cheeks were fiery flushed, the glitter in her eyes dangerous. Without a word, she swept forward, throwing her arms around his neck in a possessive embrace that might have crushed him at the start of their relationship.
"You always know when to come," she said, her breath hot in his ear.
She still clung to him when the door was at his back, her lips mapping his neck, his jaw, nails sinking into sinew. Tremors ran beneath her skin, her anxiety about Uther's edict trying to find some means to break free, but when he held onto her more tightly, to convince her-him?-everything would be all right, they only became more violent.
"Uther's an idiot," she hissed. "An alliance with Brennus doesn't guarantee besting Odin at all."
It might not, but it certainly strengthened their forces. Leon didn't like the arrangement, but it wasn't as if it was the first time two royal families had married together to face a common enemy.
"Why didn't you come to supper?" he asked. The mundane often worked to calm Morgana's tempers. She fixated on details to the exclusion of everything else, a trait that had grown more intense as she grew older. He'd long ago learned that the best way to break those spells was to shift her focus to the other side of the problem.
As her arms loosened to allow space to look at him, Morgana slipped down his body, soft flesh tangible even through their clothing. "And perpetuate Uther's ridiculous offer?"
"Hiding makes you look afraid of it."
Her jaw hardened. "Joining them would've looked like I condoned it."
"So instead you make Uther come and confront you here." He nodded toward her dim chambers. An urn lay shattered against the wall, a recent casualty or else Gwen would have cleaned it up. One of them must have thrown it in frustration. "You don't usually fall prey to Uther's manipulations like that."
Yanking herself away from his embrace, she whirled and paced around the room. "I refuse to play this his way. I'm not going to marry Lionel, even if Uther throws me into the dungeons."
"He'd just send Geoffrey there to conduct the ceremony," he tried with a smile.
His joke landed on deaf ears. "I don't even know this Lionel. And Arthur's marriage should be the only one that counts. Why isn't Uther demanding that Arthur marry Brennus's niece or cousin or something like that?"
"Arthur isn't ready for a union like that."
"And I am?"
"It makes political sense, Morgana. Odin gets stronger every day-"
"You agree with Uther?"
If he'd thought it difficult to face the disappointment in Gwen's gaze, standing straight under Morgana's was a thousand times worse. "I didn't say that."
"Really? Because it sounded like you approve of my marrying Lionel."
The line between approval and understanding was the thinnest of slices, one sure to be fatal if he landed on the wrong side. Morgana would spot a lie as soon as it fell from his tongue, though, leaving him no option but to say, "The alliance is strong strategy. Camelot would be better for it."
"And me? Would I be better for it?"
"Any man would be honored to have you as a wife."
"That wasn't what I asked."
"I don't know this Lionel-"
"And neither do I!" She flew back at him, panic written behind the fury she tried to mask it with. "I don't want to marry a man I don't love, let alone a complete stranger."
"What other choice do you have?"
Morgana froze. This close, the heat poured off her, prickling even where they didn't touch. "I thought I had you." Her lips barely moved as she formed the words, her voice voided of the passion that had enflamed her just a moment before.
"You do," he said automatically, then grimaced. As much as he needed the hope for himself, he couldn't give it to Morgana and make this worse. "But it doesn't matter. I can't marry you."
"Can't? Or won't?"
He backed off, trying to get his thoughts in order again. "Uther would never allow it. He wouldn't even grant you permission to train with me."
"That was different," she scoffed. "He didn't want me ruining his image of the perfect lady. But that's not me, Leon. You know that."
"That doesn't change the fact that I'm just a knight."
"And I'm not a princess."
"You are to Uther."
And wasn't that the whole point of it? Uther might respect him as a knight, but Leon hadn't even been good enough to spend time with Morgana in a platonic capacity. As a potential husband? He'd laugh himself silly, then order her to marry Lionel anyway. Leon would be embarrassed in front of his fellow knights, if not outright stripped of rank, and nothing would have been changed.
He knew the moment Morgana saw the course of his rationale, though there was no doubting she'd seen it barreling for them when she'd stiffened against him.
"I always thought you were too kind to be a knight," she said. "But that wasn't it at all. You're too much of a coward."
"Morgana-"
"Don't!" The air went brittle between them, as broken as the urn on the floor. "I don't know why you bothered to come here if your only intention was to try and convince me to behave like a good little girl. I'll tell you the same thing I told Uther. I don't care about what would be politically strategic. My future is mine to choose. Not his. And definitely not yours."
Though that hadn't been his intention at all, he'd never be able to convince her otherwise now. She was too hurt and her walls impenetrable. He might rarely find himself on this side of them, but he knew her well enough to know there'd be no scaling them this evening.
Considering the changes about to be wrought in both of their lives, it might not be possible to ever scale them.
All the way back to the door, he prayed she would stop him from going. This was not how he wished things to end. He'd loved Morgana for too many years for it to be this bitter. There was even a voice in a hidden corner of his heart that begged her to keep fighting for them.
But she didn't.
Part 5