Fic reaction to Sweet Dreams (Vivian/Arthur)
Title: The Ache of Love Separated
Pairing: Vivian/Arthur
Spoilers: For Sweet Dreams/Merlin ep 2x10
Rating: G
Summary: Vivian remains in love with Arthur. Olaf is really tired of the whole thing.
A/N: I wrote this right after watching the episode a week and a bit ago, as the last scene bothered me tremendously. I wasn't actually going to post this up on the 'Net at all, as it's a bit terrible weird and someone already did it quite well. But now I've had a sudden change of heart. Perhaps the Merlin writers are scripting my life.
It took King Olaf twenty minutes into the ride home to tire of hearing Arthur's name. Out of love for his daughter, he did not ban any mention of the prince in his kingdom until two weeks had passed.
A further two days went by before all mention of Camelot itself was forbidden. News of Uther and his blasted son was whispered into Olaf's ear by nervous messengers, so softly that the princess could never hear it much as she tried. Vivian learnt not to ask whether they could go back to visit; Olaf had tried not to frighten her, but he had never easily controlled his temper before and...
He didn't want the only time she smiled to be at night, when she dreamed of Arthur and forgot the ache of love separated. He wanted his daughter, his giggling, pretty daughter, back.
Years went by; years filled with weeping or wistful smiling or whatever other mood possessed his daughter. Vivian saw numerous physicians, none of whom could help, until finally Olaf allowed her to simply sit in her room, play on her lyre and sing atrocious songs about "her unnamed love."
Word of Uther's death came. Olaf slumped in his throne and hung his head, reflecting on a long friendship he had been forced to neglect more and more as Vivian's... condition refused to improve, regardless of the suitors he'd finally allowed to try and woo her.
He looked up at the sound of soft footsteps on the flagstones. Vivian, her blonde hair whiter than ever, gazed at him, eyes wide.
"I heard the servants talking, Father. Arth- my heart is to become King?" Her voice held a sob Olaf wished he could banish.
He hesitated. "Yes."
"Could we... could we not go and congratulate him?" Vivian whispered.
Olaf considered this for a long time, long enough for Vivian to shiver, just once, having not put on the shawl she would have known she'd need, had she left her room the last week.
Finally, he spoke.
"I wish your mother was here."
His daughter seemed to shrink before his eyes. Olaf rose to embrace her, but she cried out and ran from him, skirt hitched up by the tight fists her small hands had become.
*
Merlin didn't have to be here, lacing up Arthur's cloak and readying him before the ceremony, but the soon-to-be-King was visibly anxious, in need of a friend.
"Ready?" Merlin asked. He swiped one hand in a final brush across Arthurs' shoulders.
"If I'm not, Camelot's in trouble," Arthur grunted.
Merlin smiled and stepped back. Arthur looked like a King, at least, and he was ready, even if he hadn't realised it yet.
A funny shudder ran down Merlin's back and he couldn't help twitching a little. Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Everything alright?"
Merlin nodded half-heartedly and Arthur made as if to leave. Merlin grabbed his arm.
"Have you ever wondered what became of the Lady Vivian?" he asked softly.
"Who?" Arthur snapped. "Stop being an idiot, Merlin, I don't want to be late for my own coronation." He pulled away and stalked out.
After a second, Merlin moved his head like he was shaking off water and followed.
Pairing: Vivian/Arthur
Spoilers: For Sweet Dreams/Merlin ep 2x10
Rating: G
Summary: Vivian remains in love with Arthur. Olaf is really tired of the whole thing.
A/N: I wrote this right after watching the episode a week and a bit ago, as the last scene bothered me tremendously. I wasn't actually going to post this up on the 'Net at all, as it's a bit terrible weird and someone already did it quite well. But now I've had a sudden change of heart. Perhaps the Merlin writers are scripting my life.
It took King Olaf twenty minutes into the ride home to tire of hearing Arthur's name. Out of love for his daughter, he did not ban any mention of the prince in his kingdom until two weeks had passed.
A further two days went by before all mention of Camelot itself was forbidden. News of Uther and his blasted son was whispered into Olaf's ear by nervous messengers, so softly that the princess could never hear it much as she tried. Vivian learnt not to ask whether they could go back to visit; Olaf had tried not to frighten her, but he had never easily controlled his temper before and...
He didn't want the only time she smiled to be at night, when she dreamed of Arthur and forgot the ache of love separated. He wanted his daughter, his giggling, pretty daughter, back.
Years went by; years filled with weeping or wistful smiling or whatever other mood possessed his daughter. Vivian saw numerous physicians, none of whom could help, until finally Olaf allowed her to simply sit in her room, play on her lyre and sing atrocious songs about "her unnamed love."
Word of Uther's death came. Olaf slumped in his throne and hung his head, reflecting on a long friendship he had been forced to neglect more and more as Vivian's... condition refused to improve, regardless of the suitors he'd finally allowed to try and woo her.
He looked up at the sound of soft footsteps on the flagstones. Vivian, her blonde hair whiter than ever, gazed at him, eyes wide.
"I heard the servants talking, Father. Arth- my heart is to become King?" Her voice held a sob Olaf wished he could banish.
He hesitated. "Yes."
"Could we... could we not go and congratulate him?" Vivian whispered.
Olaf considered this for a long time, long enough for Vivian to shiver, just once, having not put on the shawl she would have known she'd need, had she left her room the last week.
Finally, he spoke.
"I wish your mother was here."
His daughter seemed to shrink before his eyes. Olaf rose to embrace her, but she cried out and ran from him, skirt hitched up by the tight fists her small hands had become.
*
Merlin didn't have to be here, lacing up Arthur's cloak and readying him before the ceremony, but the soon-to-be-King was visibly anxious, in need of a friend.
"Ready?" Merlin asked. He swiped one hand in a final brush across Arthurs' shoulders.
"If I'm not, Camelot's in trouble," Arthur grunted.
Merlin smiled and stepped back. Arthur looked like a King, at least, and he was ready, even if he hadn't realised it yet.
A funny shudder ran down Merlin's back and he couldn't help twitching a little. Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Everything alright?"
Merlin nodded half-heartedly and Arthur made as if to leave. Merlin grabbed his arm.
"Have you ever wondered what became of the Lady Vivian?" he asked softly.
"Who?" Arthur snapped. "Stop being an idiot, Merlin, I don't want to be late for my own coronation." He pulled away and stalked out.
After a second, Merlin moved his head like he was shaking off water and followed.