One Silver Summons [3/9]
Fandom: BBC Merlin
Characters: Uther, Merlin, Gwen, Morgana, OFC
Genre: Drama, Friendship, Gen
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: 3x13, "The Coming of Arthur"
Warnings: Character death
Words: ~13,500
Summary: Uther is determined to deliver a gift to Morgana. Arthur sends Merlin and Gwen, his most trusted friends, to ensure the king's safety during the perilous journey. *This is a semi-sequel, using two OFCs from Comedies End With a Wedding. It isn't necessary to read that one first.
Chapter 2: A Quest
Uther was in fine form for the next fortnight. Arthur was relieved but cautious, urging him to take things easy for a while. Gaius concurred, but Uther insisted that he was feeling fine and wouldn't be coddled.
They argued about who should be doing what until Arthur laid a hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I'm not trying to take anything before my time, so, with great reluctance and against the advice of the royal physician...I am willing to relinquish the Council meetings." That pleased Uther, but not nearly as much as it pleased Arthur.
"You'll note," Uther told Gaius later, during the weekly physical examinations Gaius had implemented, "That he left me with the dullest chore." He chuckled, and Gaius smiled.
"The opinion of the court physician is that you can handle even the most tiresome tasks. You seem to have made a full recovery, sire."
Uther nodded, but his smile faded and he seemed to drift away somewhere in his mind.
Outside the citadel, a letter arrived on the back of a snowy white horse fitted with magnificent tack...but no rider. Sir Leon had the horse put up in the royal stables and requested an audience with the king and regent both.
"It's Sigrid's mount," he said, meeting Arthur and Uther in the council chambers. "The same one she came on before - I'd recognize her anywhere." He handed the letter to Uther. "This was addressed to you, sire."
The letter was sealed with some sort of rune, rather than a house crest. As Uther skimmed it, his face darkened. "I will speak to my son alone."
Sir Leon nodded and left briskly.
When he was gone, Uther said, "The letter is from your sister."
Arthur scowled. "I have no sister."
"Don't be a child," Uther said impatiently. "I regret that my indiscretion has brought all this about, but what's done can hardly be undone."
"Fine, then. So what does Sissy have to say?"
"I have been thinking on a great many things since...that time, and I find myself returning to one idea again and again. Could she have been enchanted during the year she was missing?"
"It's possible," Arthur said slowly. Uther's desperate desire to believe was plain on his face. It was difficult for Arthur to see his father so vulnerable, when he had always been so strong. He wondered if this was new, or whether his father had simply hidden these kinds of feelings before.
"I sent Sigrid to find out. And Morgana has apparently taken her hostage." Uther held up the letter. "They're at Cenred's old castle."
"Then we should send an overwhelming force. It's time to end this."
"No," said Uther quickly. "I will go alone and speak with her."
"Father, she is a traitor. She will not rest until one of us is dead. Her army has fallen - this is the opportune time to eliminate her."
"Do not speak of her like some stray dog to be drowned!" Uther's voice shook with fury.
Most shied away from Uther when his blood was up, but Arthur moved closer. "You have never in your life treated Morgana as your daughter. Why should I treat her as a sister?"
"How can you say that? I have always treated her like a daughter!"
"Like a daughter, maybe. But you never recognized her."
"I didn't want her to claim a right to the throne, and it seems that was a wise decision!"
Arthur rubbed his eyes. He was used to mediating disputes. It was easy when you had no stake in the outcome, no consequences if you said the wrong thing. He was not used to giving his father his unvarnished opinion, but if any situation they had faced called for the plain truth, this was it.
"It would have shown trust. Whatever your reasons, you didn't trust her enough to tell her the truth. And your campaign against magic probably terrified her, since she wasn't to know you wouldn't chop her head off at any convenient time."
Arthur's words sank into Uther like the blades of an iron maiden. He bowed his head, unable to meet his son's clear gaze. He had been over and over this, yet never come to the same conclusions as Arthur. Had he really been so blind to what was happening in his own house?
Ever since Morgana's betrayal, despair had been hollowing him out from the inside; it took everything he had to summon enough resolve to go on, but now he saw that he must. Instinctively, he reached for the crystal pendant lying close to his heart. Sigrid had given it to him, instructing him not to take it off. If he accomplished nothing else, he hoped he could at least free her.
"Give me a fortnight before sending the army," said Uther. "Then do as you see fit."
Arthur considered this for a moment. "A week. That's enough to get to Cenred's castle."
He held out his hand, and they shook on it.
Merlin and Gwen looked at each other, then back at Arthur, then back at each other. It was as if they had choreographed their response.
"It would be useful to know what we're supposed to be helping him do," Merlin pointed out.
"You don't need to worry about it," said Arthur. "My father's mission is on his shoulders alone. Once he gets to Morgana, I doubt there will be anything either of you can do to change the outcome."
"But why us? We aren't knights. We don't go on quests."
"Obviously I'll send an escort as well. I can't send too many without leaving Camelot exposed." Arthur's fists clenched in frustration. He had considered the situation from all angles, and he could not ignore the possibility that Morgana meant to lure Camelot's force away from the castle town. "You two are my most trusted friends. I would not ask if I could go myself."
"I understand. Camelot needs you here," said Gwen, taking up his hands and smiling reassuringly. "I will be honored to go."
Arthur murmured his thanks, kissing her hands.
"It was getting dull, all this regular eating and not being in mortal peril," said Merlin. He held his hands up for kisses too. Gwen and Arthur each punched one of his arms. They left one another's company all smiles, though the cheer quickly faded as they each set about their preparations.
Arthur trusted Gwen and Merlin implicitly, but his father was both unfathomable and more volatile than ever. He didn't even have time to wallow in his frustration and helplessness; he had to consider military strategy in the likely event that his father was unsuccessful in bringing Morgana back to Camelot.
His sister would only cause more suffering if she were allowed to live. She had forced this situation and she would have to pay the price. He had no choice but to protect Camelot. Arthur knew all this, and still he hated himself for what he was about to do.
He took a moment to lock these feelings away as if storing some obsolete armor in a chest. Then he drew himself up to full height and summoned the Council to discuss war.
Gaius had a number of tinctures lined up neatly on his workbench, and was just stoppering a final one when Merlin returned that evening.
"Merlin, I'd like you deliver these to the king tomorrow morning," he said, eyes on his work.
"Might as well just hold onto them, then. I'm going along."
Gaius looked up in surprise. "But why?"
"Arthur wanted me to go." Merlin shrugged. "Maybe he thinks Uther needs someone around to talk rubbish and fight like a girl."
"This is no time for jokes, Merlin. You know as well as I do that this is a suicide mission."
Gaius was genuinely agitated; Merlin suddenly felt extremely awkward, but he sucked it up and smiled as reassuringly as he could.
"Aren't they all? Don't worry. A man who's destined to hang can't die by drowning." That was meant to be a joke, but it didn't lighten the mood much.
"Merlin, promise me something. I know subjects have a duty to die for their king, but -"
"Say no more. This might be a suicide mission, but it's not my suicide."
Gaius folded Merlin into a bear hug.
"See that it isn't. I'm counting on you."
"This is madness," said Elyan. "Why wouldn't Arthur send me, or - or any of his Round Table?"
"He can't leave Camelot unguarded. Elyan…this trip is a state secret. You can't discuss it with anyone."
"But -"
Gwen reached up and stroked her brother's cheek, taking him by surprise. "Arthur needs you here, Elyan. And he needs me to go with his father."
She turned away and returned to her packing.
"The man who had our father executed." Elyan frowned, flexed his fingers. "And now he goes to slay his own daughter? I don't know how you can stand to serve him."
"I don't. I serve Arthur. Whatever Uther's actions bring upon his head is nothing to me. And the same goes for Morgana. If he does intend to kill her, then…either way, the world is well shot of a tyrant." She said all this in a rush of breath, forcing the words out of her mouth when her heart wanted nothing more than to hold them back.
Hearing the note of sadness in her voice, Elyan touched her hand. "You can't fool me with that hard attitude. You've been Arthur's strength through all this…but who is yours?"
"That depends. Will you still be here when I return?" This time she meant her words to be gentle, but they came out filled with reproach.
Resigned, Elyan left her alone to her packing.
Author's Notes: In case you were wondering, the handshake has been around in its current form since at least Roman times. But if you prefer, you can imagine Arthur and Uther doing the macho, sexy gladiator handshake that Uther and Alined do in "Sweet Dreams."
[ Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 ]
Characters: Uther, Merlin, Gwen, Morgana, OFC
Genre: Drama, Friendship, Gen
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: 3x13, "The Coming of Arthur"
Warnings: Character death
Words: ~13,500
Summary: Uther is determined to deliver a gift to Morgana. Arthur sends Merlin and Gwen, his most trusted friends, to ensure the king's safety during the perilous journey. *This is a semi-sequel, using two OFCs from Comedies End With a Wedding. It isn't necessary to read that one first.
Chapter 2: A Quest
Uther was in fine form for the next fortnight. Arthur was relieved but cautious, urging him to take things easy for a while. Gaius concurred, but Uther insisted that he was feeling fine and wouldn't be coddled.
They argued about who should be doing what until Arthur laid a hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I'm not trying to take anything before my time, so, with great reluctance and against the advice of the royal physician...I am willing to relinquish the Council meetings." That pleased Uther, but not nearly as much as it pleased Arthur.
"You'll note," Uther told Gaius later, during the weekly physical examinations Gaius had implemented, "That he left me with the dullest chore." He chuckled, and Gaius smiled.
"The opinion of the court physician is that you can handle even the most tiresome tasks. You seem to have made a full recovery, sire."
Uther nodded, but his smile faded and he seemed to drift away somewhere in his mind.
Outside the citadel, a letter arrived on the back of a snowy white horse fitted with magnificent tack...but no rider. Sir Leon had the horse put up in the royal stables and requested an audience with the king and regent both.
"It's Sigrid's mount," he said, meeting Arthur and Uther in the council chambers. "The same one she came on before - I'd recognize her anywhere." He handed the letter to Uther. "This was addressed to you, sire."
The letter was sealed with some sort of rune, rather than a house crest. As Uther skimmed it, his face darkened. "I will speak to my son alone."
Sir Leon nodded and left briskly.
When he was gone, Uther said, "The letter is from your sister."
Arthur scowled. "I have no sister."
"Don't be a child," Uther said impatiently. "I regret that my indiscretion has brought all this about, but what's done can hardly be undone."
"Fine, then. So what does Sissy have to say?"
"I have been thinking on a great many things since...that time, and I find myself returning to one idea again and again. Could she have been enchanted during the year she was missing?"
"It's possible," Arthur said slowly. Uther's desperate desire to believe was plain on his face. It was difficult for Arthur to see his father so vulnerable, when he had always been so strong. He wondered if this was new, or whether his father had simply hidden these kinds of feelings before.
"I sent Sigrid to find out. And Morgana has apparently taken her hostage." Uther held up the letter. "They're at Cenred's old castle."
"Then we should send an overwhelming force. It's time to end this."
"No," said Uther quickly. "I will go alone and speak with her."
"Father, she is a traitor. She will not rest until one of us is dead. Her army has fallen - this is the opportune time to eliminate her."
"Do not speak of her like some stray dog to be drowned!" Uther's voice shook with fury.
Most shied away from Uther when his blood was up, but Arthur moved closer. "You have never in your life treated Morgana as your daughter. Why should I treat her as a sister?"
"How can you say that? I have always treated her like a daughter!"
"Like a daughter, maybe. But you never recognized her."
"I didn't want her to claim a right to the throne, and it seems that was a wise decision!"
Arthur rubbed his eyes. He was used to mediating disputes. It was easy when you had no stake in the outcome, no consequences if you said the wrong thing. He was not used to giving his father his unvarnished opinion, but if any situation they had faced called for the plain truth, this was it.
"It would have shown trust. Whatever your reasons, you didn't trust her enough to tell her the truth. And your campaign against magic probably terrified her, since she wasn't to know you wouldn't chop her head off at any convenient time."
Arthur's words sank into Uther like the blades of an iron maiden. He bowed his head, unable to meet his son's clear gaze. He had been over and over this, yet never come to the same conclusions as Arthur. Had he really been so blind to what was happening in his own house?
Ever since Morgana's betrayal, despair had been hollowing him out from the inside; it took everything he had to summon enough resolve to go on, but now he saw that he must. Instinctively, he reached for the crystal pendant lying close to his heart. Sigrid had given it to him, instructing him not to take it off. If he accomplished nothing else, he hoped he could at least free her.
"Give me a fortnight before sending the army," said Uther. "Then do as you see fit."
Arthur considered this for a moment. "A week. That's enough to get to Cenred's castle."
He held out his hand, and they shook on it.
Merlin and Gwen looked at each other, then back at Arthur, then back at each other. It was as if they had choreographed their response.
"It would be useful to know what we're supposed to be helping him do," Merlin pointed out.
"You don't need to worry about it," said Arthur. "My father's mission is on his shoulders alone. Once he gets to Morgana, I doubt there will be anything either of you can do to change the outcome."
"But why us? We aren't knights. We don't go on quests."
"Obviously I'll send an escort as well. I can't send too many without leaving Camelot exposed." Arthur's fists clenched in frustration. He had considered the situation from all angles, and he could not ignore the possibility that Morgana meant to lure Camelot's force away from the castle town. "You two are my most trusted friends. I would not ask if I could go myself."
"I understand. Camelot needs you here," said Gwen, taking up his hands and smiling reassuringly. "I will be honored to go."
Arthur murmured his thanks, kissing her hands.
"It was getting dull, all this regular eating and not being in mortal peril," said Merlin. He held his hands up for kisses too. Gwen and Arthur each punched one of his arms. They left one another's company all smiles, though the cheer quickly faded as they each set about their preparations.
Arthur trusted Gwen and Merlin implicitly, but his father was both unfathomable and more volatile than ever. He didn't even have time to wallow in his frustration and helplessness; he had to consider military strategy in the likely event that his father was unsuccessful in bringing Morgana back to Camelot.
His sister would only cause more suffering if she were allowed to live. She had forced this situation and she would have to pay the price. He had no choice but to protect Camelot. Arthur knew all this, and still he hated himself for what he was about to do.
He took a moment to lock these feelings away as if storing some obsolete armor in a chest. Then he drew himself up to full height and summoned the Council to discuss war.
Gaius had a number of tinctures lined up neatly on his workbench, and was just stoppering a final one when Merlin returned that evening.
"Merlin, I'd like you deliver these to the king tomorrow morning," he said, eyes on his work.
"Might as well just hold onto them, then. I'm going along."
Gaius looked up in surprise. "But why?"
"Arthur wanted me to go." Merlin shrugged. "Maybe he thinks Uther needs someone around to talk rubbish and fight like a girl."
"This is no time for jokes, Merlin. You know as well as I do that this is a suicide mission."
Gaius was genuinely agitated; Merlin suddenly felt extremely awkward, but he sucked it up and smiled as reassuringly as he could.
"Aren't they all? Don't worry. A man who's destined to hang can't die by drowning." That was meant to be a joke, but it didn't lighten the mood much.
"Merlin, promise me something. I know subjects have a duty to die for their king, but -"
"Say no more. This might be a suicide mission, but it's not my suicide."
Gaius folded Merlin into a bear hug.
"See that it isn't. I'm counting on you."
"This is madness," said Elyan. "Why wouldn't Arthur send me, or - or any of his Round Table?"
"He can't leave Camelot unguarded. Elyan…this trip is a state secret. You can't discuss it with anyone."
"But -"
Gwen reached up and stroked her brother's cheek, taking him by surprise. "Arthur needs you here, Elyan. And he needs me to go with his father."
She turned away and returned to her packing.
"The man who had our father executed." Elyan frowned, flexed his fingers. "And now he goes to slay his own daughter? I don't know how you can stand to serve him."
"I don't. I serve Arthur. Whatever Uther's actions bring upon his head is nothing to me. And the same goes for Morgana. If he does intend to kill her, then…either way, the world is well shot of a tyrant." She said all this in a rush of breath, forcing the words out of her mouth when her heart wanted nothing more than to hold them back.
Hearing the note of sadness in her voice, Elyan touched her hand. "You can't fool me with that hard attitude. You've been Arthur's strength through all this…but who is yours?"
"That depends. Will you still be here when I return?" This time she meant her words to be gentle, but they came out filled with reproach.
Resigned, Elyan left her alone to her packing.
Author's Notes: In case you were wondering, the handshake has been around in its current form since at least Roman times. But if you prefer, you can imagine Arthur and Uther doing the macho, sexy gladiator handshake that Uther and Alined do in "Sweet Dreams."
[ Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 ]