Puissance: Chapter Seventeen
Title: Puissance: Chapter Seventeen
Author: ArthurMerlin
Artist: blood_songs90
Pairings/characters: Arthur/Merlin (minor: OC/OC, Gwen/Lancelot)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 30,798
Warnings: None
Summary:The turbulent times of Prime Minister Arthur Pendragon, in which war looms, betrayal waits in the wings, and unexpected love blossoms.
Disclaimer: Neither ArthurMerlin nor blood_songs90 owns any aspect of Merlin. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Chapter Seventeen
“Ah, Arthur, do come in,” Agravaine said with a smile as he opened the door to the Number 11 flat, “what can I do for you?”
“A drink would be nice, Agravaine.”
“Certainly… water, squash?” he said, he always treated Arthur as a child, especially after he had learned that Arthur rarely drank.
“Tea,” Arthur replied, taking a seat in Agravaine’s lounge.
As Agravaine disappeared into the kitchenette to make the tea, Arthur made himself comfortable in the 19th century leather armchair he’d chosen to sit in. On the coffee table in front of him were copies of various newspapers and government papers that Agravaine had obviously been going over when Arthur arrived. Arthur felt the anger in him dissipate, to be replaced by grief at having to do this to his own uncle.
Speaking of whom, he came back into the room with a cup and saucer of tea for Arthur, and coffee for himself. He sat down and looked affectionately at his nephew; “what can I do for you?”
“I know,” Arthur said simply, and steeled himself to maintain eye contact with the older man. Arthur detected a slight flicker in those eyes before Agravaine regained his composure, but it was enough to confirm to Arthur that he knew what he was talking about.
“Know what, Arthur? About the increase in interest rates I’ve been planning? Yes, well, I was hoping to bring it up in Cabinet tomorrow, if we could…”
“Not the interest rates, uncle. I know about Morgana, I know about Mordred.”
The Chancellor’s smile dropped off his face as if he’d been slapped.
“Now, Arthur, whatever people have been telling you, I can assure you…”
“Enough!” Arthur said, raising his hand to silence his uncle, “I have proof. I have photographs of you with Morgana, and transcripts of intercepted messages between her and Mordred. You know what I need you to do now.”
“I’m not resigning, Arthur. They’re lies, can’t you see that?!” Agravaine said, in a persuasive tone which ordinarily Arthur would have fallen for.
“Yes, I do see your lies!”
“My lies?! No, I didn’t mean…”
“How could you, uncle? After what Guinevere did, how could you do this to me?” Arthur said, shaking his head, the anger building inside him.
Agravaine, sensing defeat, gave up trying to deny it; “what will you do to me now?”
“You will resign from the government, and you will present yourself to the police. Whatever charges will be brought against you will be at the police’s discretion.”
“You would do this to your own uncle?” he said, and Arthur looked down at his lap, “whatever would your mother say? What would your father say?! You know how much family meant to him!”
Arthur’s eyes snapped up, a fire raging in them; “and what does family mean to you, uncle?! You betrayed me! You betrayed Britain! You tried to orchestrate my death!”
“Your death?! Don’t be ridiculous Arthur, I didn’t know Mordred would try to sink the ship,” Agravaine said with a hint of laughter in his voice.
Arthur felt the anger rising up again, and he tried to push it down.
“You know, Merlin warned me about making you Chancellor. I should have listened to him.”
“Merlin?” Agravaine said with disdain, “what would your father say about him? Letting Guinevere go so you can have your way with a servant boy!”
Arthur shot out of his chair and grabbed Agravaine by the collar of his shirt.
“Don’t you dare speak of him that way! Merlin is the only one who’s stayed loyal to me, I trust him with my life! Get your things and get out of Downing Street, get out of this government. Now!”
And with that, Arthur thrust Agravaine away from him and left the flat. As he walked out of the door into Number 10, he found Merlin waiting for him, and allowed himself to be bundled into his arms.
“That was so difficult, Merlin,” Arthur said, as he was gently led up to his bedroom. No matter what Agravaine did, he would always be Arthur’s uncle, and Arthur would always love him.
The political fallout would be immense; the public would quite literally bay for the Chancellor’s blood when news leaked that he was a traitor. The same was true of Morgana, which would damage the opposition well into the next Parliament; so virtually whatever happened, Arthur could settle in for at least another term in office.
...
Chapter Eighteen