Comments | onceuponatable: Baddest man in the whole damn town

veryrheged in onceuponatable

Baddest man in the whole damn town

May 01, 2011 01:51

It should not be a surprise that shortly after the miraculous resurrection of Merlin, there would be an official demand from Rheged on behalf of its king.

An ambassador, without any power to negotiate, arrives with a parchment listing a number of demands:

Compensation for the slander against his name as no one was actually murdered.
A demand for ( Read more... )

urien

Comments 21

Don't Expect A Polite Reply... kingnotclotpole May 1 2011, 06:01:19 UTC

Apparently it shouldn't be a surprise, but Arthur is. If only because of the completely outrageous demands it contains.

His first reaction is to ask 'Is he serious?'

His second is to call for Merlin and Morgana to come to the Main Hall and see this ridiculousness for themselves.

Re: Don't Expect A Polite Reply... exiledskeptic May 1 2011, 06:22:55 UTC

It is a rare occasion since Merlin's return to find the couple separate. At least Arthur can be assured this betrothal isn't a political match, unlike the one Urien's proposed.

As it is, Morgana is the one who arrives first. "Arthur, I was summoned?"

Re: Don't Expect A Polite Reply... kingnotclotpole May 1 2011, 06:50:07 UTC

Arthur is indeed assured, and pleased, he's always wanted a love match for his sister.

"For this," Arthur holds up the piece of parchment. "It's...well you have to read it to believe it!"

Re: Don't Expect A Polite Reply... exiledskeptic May 1 2011, 07:03:24 UTC

She always thought she would marry for politics, which, in an odd way, she is as well. They were both right, strangely.

Taking a moment to read the list of demands Morgana visibly pales. The fire in the hearth in the room gets a lot brighter. For all of Merlin's attestations he's practically immortal, this isn't a theory Morgana wants to test again. "But we know, from the community --" her betrothed did just come back from the Avalon, so excuse her if she's not as eloquent as usual. She's well aware how lucky she is in this case.

There's an expression reminiscent of the ghostly one she wore for the three days Merlin was gone. "Arthur, this cannot happen."

Thread 14

secrettalents May 1 2011, 14:43:37 UTC

It must be said, that for someone recently returned from the dead, Merlin has been a bit unusually quiet. That may be the fault of Morgana, who has not allowed him out of her sight since his return to her. Something that he predicted quite correctly.

He arrives sometime after Morgana now however. Having been working on something of his own desire. The return of Excalibur and the ring are foremost on his mind. Though he knows that Lancelot has been attempting to bring the matter of King Urien up as a more pressing concern.

Calmly, unnaturally so, Merlin enters and waits for his future bride and brother in law to tell him what the trouble is.

exiledskeptic May 1 2011, 14:56:36 UTC

There's probably only one person in the palace quieter than Merlin, but she is small, as much as she doesn't like that, and currently in her lessons. If she wasn't, she might've come to take a peek at what's going on, or her sister would. Checking Merlin's still here has become a part of the daily routine for both, even if they don't say much.

Merlin missed Morgana in the depths of mourning, but he would get a fleeting idea here. She is pale and drawn as she's looking over the demands.

She starts without preamble. "Urien thinks your death was a hoax. He's demanding compensation for any and all accusations." Considering the lengths he went to before, the various scenarios running through her mind are what's causing her current pallor.

secrettalents May 1 2011, 15:05:09 UTC

His reaction to the news is perhaps a little disturbing.

Merlin laughs. The sounds is not one that his family and close friends would be familiar with. Instead it is a dark amusement. "Shall I go and inform him of his mistake? I believe it is entirely within my rights to demand some compensation for his murderous act against me."

All in all, Merlin has been Arthur's tamed warlock. He has never shown any real indication of the sheer destructive power at his will. Through diplomatic and careful efforts, Arthur and Merlin have build a lasting legacy to be proud of. But there was once a time when Merlin did not have such strict control over his magic.

When he'd been banished from Camelot, he'd traveled a great distance and through circumstances found that what he was capable of was beyond what even he suspected.

For Arthur's sake alone, Merlin did not advertise the fact that he could bring destruction so easily to these lands. In fact. There were those among the druids that believed it was his destiny to do so.

exiledskeptic May 1 2011, 15:12:54 UTC

What no one in the room knows is Urien's alternative plans. He can play things either way, if the palace admits it was a hoax -- as he doesn't know Vanadis has talked, otherwise he would've arranged for the girl's death -- or keeps to the story of the resurrection. This is a calculated move.

The laugh is even more upsetting to Morgana, and she responds in a typical fashion, sounding angry, instead of upset. "This is not humourous. Look at what he has done before. I once thought him harmless but greedy, but his avarice knows no limits."

She's worried about what he will try next. Still, she wants to make one thing clear, "And I cannot marry him, as he demands."

Thread 7