TOAFK - Dawn of a New Age
Title: The Once and Future King
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Pretty Gen, like The Sword in the Stone, but with eventual (by fan vote) Merlin/Arthur and Gwen/Lancelot. Other pairings will be added as chapters with them are posted.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or its characters in any way, shape, or form.
Warnings/spoilers: up to 3x08
A/N: This is a sequel to The Sword in the Stone, and you should definitely read that before reading this.
Summary: Arthur knows of Merlin's magic, but their destiny has only begun. The journey to uniting the lands of Albion is long and filled with danger. Presented in 14 parts. Click Here for Masterpost.
Chapter Summary: With Uther's death, the dawn of a new age is upon all of Albion. But before Arthur takes the throne of the future, he decides to travel back to his birthplace and lay to rest the ghosts of his past. Secrets are revealed and an old friend appears, this time as a prince. Arthur has an announcement to make.
...
...
Part VI - Dawn of a New Age
...
...
It was Arthur's first journey after his father's death. After the funeral, after a brief mourning period of almost two weeks, after the nobles had all gone home, after Agravaine's execution, that's when he left. Back in Camelot, Sir Leon, Gaius, and Geoffrey were getting ready for a coronation. Out in the wilds, Arthur and his entourage were riding southwest.
Morgana and Gwen had chosen to accompany him and his knights on their ride. He'd thought about making Morgana stay home to help with the coronation and the celebration, but he was glad he'd let them come, now. His sister's acerbic quips kept things interesting and she didn't let silence take hold for too long. He, Morgana, Gwen, and Merlin made up the front of the traveling party, with a dozen knights following behind for protection. With Merlin along for the ride, Arthur didn't think the knights were necessary, but he wasn't about to share that information.
Merlin was like a child who had received a desired toy after months and months of waiting. As soon as he'd heard they were headed for the place of Arthur's birth he'd started smiling. Even three days later, whenever their destination was mentioned, once again his face would break into a wide, toothy smile. Merlin's excitement lifted Arthur's spirits a bit, though the heavy cloud left from his father's passing remained, but it was still curious.
"It's exciting," Merlin had said when first asked about it. "I'll see where you were born."
Even Morgana telling him that Arthur had only spent a grand total of a week in Tintagel before leaving for Camelot didn't dampen his enthusiasm.
"But it's where his mother lived and where he was born. That makes it special."
As the days passed and they grew closer to the old castle, Merlin's glee only seemed to grow. He went about his duties with a skip in his step. It was infectious and the knights and Gwen were soon smiling and chatting amiably as well.
"I just feel like something amazing is waiting for you in Tintagel," Merlin had confided in him the night before, seated next to Arthur by the dying fire.
Arthur hadn't had the heart to tell him off. The knowledge that soon he would be in the place where his mother died, so soon after the death of his father...It had put him in a rather somber mood.
Beside him, Merlin suddenly stiffened in his saddle, his smile freezing on his face. Arthur cast him a curious look, but before he could comment on the change Morgana spoke.
"We've arrived," she announced calmly, her tone just as it had been for the entire trip.
They came to the edge of the forest abruptly, the trees cutting off almost without warning. And there, standing before them at the top of a hill on the edge of a cliff, was the castle. Time had already taken its toll: the stones were beginning to crumble, the grounds were overgrown, the glass in every window was broken. Still, the sight of the old castle warmed Arthur's heart. This was where he was born, where his mother grew up.
No one had visited Tintagel since his mother's death, since the purge began. Still, Arthur knew he had to come back here before he could take his place on the throne. It held answers to questions Arthur didn't have the words to ask.
...
...
It was easy enough to find the nursery: the room that was supposed to have been his. There were still tapestries on the wall, a rug in front of a barren hearth. A basket sized bed for his newborn body was on its side on the floor. Arthur righted it and then just stared.
"When I last held you, you were a tiny baby."
Arthur closed his eyes, remembering the meeting Morgause had given him with his mother. Merlin had told him it wasn't really his mother, and his father had claimed it all to be lies as well. And yet...
"I remember your eyes. You were staring up at me. Those few seconds I held you were the most precious of my life."
That had been his mother. He could feel it in his heart. Perhaps her words were false, perhaps Morgause did something to turn her spirit against his father, but he was certain that it was his real mother's arms he'd been held in.
What had he been hoping to find in this castle? In this room? Absolution?
"It's a lovely room."
Arthur jumped to a standing position, almost upending the tiny bed once more. He let out a shaky breath when he saw that it was Gwen in the room with him. She smiled at his shock.
"Guinevere," he said, calming down. "I didn't hear you come in."
The servant girl simply nodded her head, clasping her hands lightly in front of herself. Her eyes flicked around the room, while Arthur's eyes stayed fixed upon her. When her eyes found his again, her cheeks reddened, making her skin look warmer than usual. She quickly lowered her gaze to the floor and cleared her throat.
"Do...Do you remember it? Tintagel?" she asked cautiously, glancing up at him through her hair, falling free from its updo.
"Hm? Oh." Arthur looked at the open doorway beyond Gwen instead of at her. "No. After my mother..." He cleared his throat. "My father moved us to Camelot right after the funeral. All of my memories are from there. Tintagel was my mother's home. Once she was gone, my father never came back."
Gwen stepped further into the room, her hand drifting along the wall and the broken table in the middle of the room. The air was silent around them.
She stopped several steps away. "Are you worried about being king?" she asked quietly.
Arthur opened his mouth to say 'yes' but paused and shut it, thinking. There were many things about being king that his father had sheltered him from. But after he pulled the sword from the stone, his father had given him more tasks to complete, more knowledge to learn. That wasn't to say he was a master of all that being a king entailed, but he was much more prepared for it than he might have been otherwise.
And he had Merlin. And Morgana. Morgana was practically his sister and a talented seer, who had promised to protect him. Merlin was the powerful sorcerer prophesized to stand by his side and help him bring a golden age to Camelot, to Albion. Besides which, he was Arthur's closest companion and most trusted confidant.
That prophesy was a lot to live up to, but both Merlin and Morgana thought he was up to the job. Gaius had mentioned his faith in Arthur once or twice as well. So...Arthur believed he could do it. With their help, he could become the king they all saw in him.
A gentle smile graced his lips, which seemed to surprise Gwen. "A bit. But I have so many good people to help me, I know everything will be alright."
"Ah, yes," Gwen agreed with a nod. "You have Morgana, Gaius, Merlin," she said like that was obvious, "the knights, Geoffrey, the council. You'll be a magnificent king."
It was clear to Arthur what Gwen wasn't saying. She was doubting her own worth.
He took a step forward and placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. She jumped, eyes snapping to his face, and he smiled. "Guinevere, I also have you. You have done so much for me over the years. I would not be who I am today without all of you - Merlin, Morgana, the knights, everyone. Including you."
Her eyes glistened in the fading light through the broken window. "Arthur," she whispered, "I am just a servant."
"True," Arthur agreed. "But I value your counsel, just like Merlin. You may be a servant Guinevere, but that is not all you are. You are a trusted friend."
And there, in the room where Arthur was born, he held a servant close. One day, his court would hold more than just those with noble birth, and Gwen would stand as a Lady. Then, with his knights and Merlin, he would have all of those he held dear at his side, always.
...
...
Morgana was worried about Merlin.
Nothing had happened, not yet at any rate, but she was still worried. As they had approached Tintagel Castle, she had felt the latent magic it held. Before the purge, Tintagel had been a city teeming with magic, and it seemed that the magic had stayed there even as the city emptied of life. It called to the magic inside of her, made her feel like she could level mountains on a whim. Merlin was so much more powerful than Morgana. She could only imagine the effect it was having on him.
She'd noticed how he sat up straighter, stiffer, in his saddle as they rode into the old courtyard. Before they arrived, he had joked with her, Gwen, and the knights. Now he was silent. He followed every order given to him without comment or complaint; setting up their sleeping bags, lighting the fire, cooking dinner. It wasn't like him. His cheerful mood had gone out like a candle in a storm.
With a quiet breath, Morgana stood from her seat on an old stone bench and made her way over to Merlin. He had just finished cleaning the dishes they'd used for dinner and now was stoking the fire.
"Wouldn't you normally use a quicker method?" she asked quietly, settling herself on the ground beside him. She was glad she was wearing traveling pants instead of one of her usual gowns.
Merlin's shoulders were stiff. "I can't," he replied, the words barely slipping past his lips. Just as Morgana opened her mouth to ask why, he looked up at her. "Morgana," he breathed out, like a plea.
She barely held in her gasp. Merlin's normally blue eyes were riddled with gold. Morgana could almost read the runes of the Old Religion in the lines of molten gold across his irises. Her hand instantly found his on the stone beside the fire pit and clenched. The gold slowly faded, but it didn't disappear entirely.
"It's right beneath the surface, isn't it?" she asked.
A nod. "It wants to be used. It...It needs to be used. There's so much magic here..." He shut his eyes. When he next spoke, his voice was sad and a bit bitter. "This is where the Purge started. So many good sorcerers died here. And all that's left is their magic."
Morgana squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him but not sure if she helped at all. Merlin's shoulders were still tense, and his eyes kept flickering more and less gold every few seconds. But she understood that he was fighting with himself. He was concentrating everything on not using the magic that ran through his veins like blood.
"I wish I could help you, Merlin," she whispered, tilting her head a bit toward him.
He shook his head. "It's fine. I'll work it out." He blinked and a curious look crossed his face. "Sir Urien?"
The knight in question was across the courtyard, behind Merlin. He was rummaging around in his horse's pack for something, but his gaze kept trailing over to them by the fire. Morgana's eyebrows came together in confusion at the same moment that Merlin pulled his hand away from hers and stood up. He was shaky on his feet but shook his head at her before she'd managed to even open her mouth to offer assistance.
"I just...I need a moment." With that, Merlin walked away.
Morgana watched him go, still confused. Why had he mentioned Sir Urien? There were twelve knights milling around in the courtyard, and Urien was behind him. Turning around, she caught Urien watching her, and then he jumped and started rummaging through his saddlebags again.
Wait.
...
...
Arthur was walking Gwen back toward the rest of their traveling party when they saw him. Merlin was walking down a corridor all by himself - well, walking maybe wasn't the right word. It was almost like he was floating. His normally loud footsteps were silent and he seemed dazed and lost.
"Merlin?" Gwen called out, but her fellow servant didn't react in the slightest. He just turned a corner and vanished. "What's wrong with him?"
The prince shook his head. "I'm not sure, but I'll find out."
He walked around the corner, leaving Gwen behind, making sure not to run but moving quickly to catch up. Yet somehow Merlin was always just far enough ahead that he was turning a corner at the same moment Arthur spotted him. The only sound Arthur heard was made by his own feet against the stones, his own breathing in the air. The silence made him feel like he was chasing a ghost, and that idea chilled the prince to his heart. This place where he had lost his mother, and Arthur had just lost his father. The idea that he could lose Merlin as well...
Then Arthur followed Merlin around another corner and found a set of open doors. It was the throne room.
Tintagel's throne room was not nearly as large or lavish as Camelot's, but it still made Arthur's eyes widen when he walked inside. The walls were bare, the great windows only filled with broken glass, and no furniture or statuary decorated the walls. There were no thrones at the top of the steps on the far side of the room, just empty stone flooring. And Merlin. Merlin was standing where the thrones would be, gazing up at the dark ceiling, his back to Arthur.
"Merlin," Arthur called.
There was no response. It as if Merlin were not even there, though Arthur was staring directly at him. Again he thought of a ghost, and his pulse quickened. With swift steps, Arthur closed the space between them and grabbed Merlin's shoulder, spinning him around. Merlin's eyes had been shut, but at Arthur's touch they shot open. There was a brief glimpse of familiar blue before his eyes flared golden, brighter than Arthur had ever seen them.
"Arthur," Merlin said quietly, a small smile alighting on his lips. "The magic. I can show you. It wants to show you."
"What wants to show me what?" Arthur managed to get out, his voice weaker than he remembered it. What was going on?
As if in answer to Arthur's question, a pulse shot out from Merlin without him ever moving a muscle. It ruffled Arthur's hair and made his stomach roll, but not unpleasantly. Another gasp caught his attention and Arthur turned, his hand still on Merlin's shoulder, to see Gwen had followed him. She had her arms wrapped around herself and her eyes closed, her hair still fluttering in the strange wind the pulse created.
Dammit. Gwen didn't know about Merlin's magic yet. Arthur turned back to his servant, intending to try and stop him, but it was too late.
Gold flaked off Merlin's body while shining golden tendrils snuck out to lick the outermost parts of the room. The room was bathed in golden light, all emanating from Merlin. Then the flakes began to form shapes, bodies, objects. And all of a sudden the room was full of color. The walls were clean and bright sunlight flooded in through the many sparkling glass windows around the room. The thrones were just behind where Merlin and Arthur stood, and a grand red rug covered the ground from the bottom of the steps to the doors they had entered through. There were tapestries on the walls, stained glass in the tallest windows, tables with priceless artifacts around the room. Servants walked around with trays covered in goblets and plates, leaving through the servant doors in the back.
And there, just at the bottom of the stairs, stood Ygraine and Uther. The woman who had tried to kill Arthur in the Cave of Balor so long ago stood before them. She said something and a beaming smile broke out across Ygraine's face before she turned, grabbed Uther, and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. The witch smiled warmly at them, but it was also a bit sad, nostalgic.
The gold flaked away to nothing and Arthur gasped, panicking, as his parents vanished before his eyes. But just as quickly, they were back.
This time, his mother's belly was rounded in pregnancy. His father's face was young and happy and bright. He rubbed gentle circles over Ygraine's stomach and said something without a voice. The witch placed a hand on his shoulder. When she spoke, Arthur caught the words "boy" and "son."
This was his birth. His mother was pregnant with him in this silent vision.
His father and mother both said "Thank you" at the same time, and then laughed and rested their foreheads together.
The witch shook her head with a smile. Arthur didn't catch everything she said, his lip reading needed work, but it was familiar enough that he understood her message. How many times had Merlin given him some speech about how he would be at Arthur's side? The witch was assuring them of her loyalty, until death.
The people faded away once more, but Arthur kept his eyes fixed to where they'd been. He only looked away when something, a goblet, flew by him. His father looked furious, his face red and purple, scrunched up in rage. The witch stumbled away from him, almost tripping over her long skirts. She shook her head swiftly back and forth, but Arthur couldn't see her face.
Uther pursued her and she turned, rushing around the thrones closer to where Arthur stood. That's when he saw the tear tracks on her face, the fear and regret in her eyes. She stopped and turned to face Uther.
"It wasn't supposed to end this way!" she silently shouted. Then she gestured to herself and Arthur caught the words "life" and "hers." She'd intended to give her life, but his mother's was taken instead?
"To create a life, a life must be taken," his mother's words rang in his ears from long ago.
Uther stormed up to the witch, grabbing for her, but she swiftly hurried out of reach. The king now stood just in front of Arthur, his expression angrier than Arthur had ever seen it. His mouth moved so fast that there was no hope of catching what he said, but the witch frowned in response, some of her fear leaving her.
"I am not alone in this blame," she said, slowly, and Arthur swore he could hear her voice. Regretful but with that bitterness he'd heard in the caves seeping in.
Their figures faded like sand in an hourglass, and instead Arthur saw his mother and father once more. They were younger, the lines gone from their faces. They were around Arthur's current age, if he had to guess. Ygraine laughed, grabbing at Uther's hand and tugging. Uther chuckled and followed willingly and she spun him around in the throne room before dragging him from the room, her skirts and his cape flying behind them.
"Arthur?" Gwen squeaked, voice high and wavering, as they ran right through her.
Arthur gasped, suddenly remembering that Gwen was there, that this was all a vision. "Guinevere," he said, pulling his hand from Merlin's shoulder at last.
Immediately the room went dark, the magic fading from around them. It felt like the bottom had dropped out of Arthur's stomach and he was left gasping. He quickly hurried over to Gwen, taking her seeking hands. She was shaking.
"Arthur, what just happened? Merlin-" she cut herself off, throwing a hand up to cover her mouth.
They both glanced over to Merlin, as one, and saw him holding his head. He stumbled down the steps and then fell to sit on them without any grace, sprawled across the broken stone. At the same time he hit the stone, the lower windows repaired themselves.
Arthur moved to go to Merlin but Gwen held fast to his arm, stopping him. When he looked over his shoulder at her, she looked frightened.
"Guine-"
"He's-" she gasped. "Merlin is...I'm sure it wasn't...He didn't...," she struggled, her fingers clenching tighter to his arm. "Arthur, please don't hurt him."
That caught Arthur off guard. Gwen thought he was going to hurt Merlin? Oh. Of course. She didn't know that Arthur knew about the magic. He placed his left hand over hers on his right arm and gave her a reassuring look. "I'm not going to hurt him. I promise."
He saw the hope in her eyes and gently pried her hands off his arm. When he made to go to Merlin this time, he brought Gwen with him. They dropped down on either side of where he was sitting, head down and cradled in his hands.
"Merlin?" Gwen asked, reaching out and tentatively touching Merlin's shoulder. Her touch was so light that it barely creased Merlin's clothing. Gold flaked off his clothes again, like settling dust, and the cracked stones around them became whole once more. "A-are you...alright?"
Was she scared of Merlin now too?
"Gwen," Merlin whined, not looking up at her. "I'm sorry. I should've told you. I'm so- I promise I'm not- I was born with this," he spewed out in a rush.
The hesitation left Gwen's expression at his babbled explanation and she smiled. "It's alright. I've known since the day I first met you that you were one of the kindest, bravest men I would ever meet. That's as true today as it was then. We're friends, Merlin."
That got him to look up. His eyes were mostly blue now, with strange strings of gold across the irises. He let go of his head long enough to wrap Gwen up in a tight embrace that lasted several long moments. Her hair re-braided into her usual style with a swirl of faint blue light. Merlin pulled away and covered his eyes with his hands with a low groan. "My magic is going mad."
"What do you mean, 'mad'?" Arthur asked.
He didn't want to touch Merlin in case that caused the room to glitter again instead of these small acts. He wasn't sure what exactly caused that first big reaction, but he didn't want to take any chances. Those had been his parents in the visions, so it must have had something to do with him. Gwen's touch didn't seem to have the same effect. She could offer the comfort they both wanted to give.
"This place is coated in magic. My magic wants to respond to it. I can barely hold it in," Merlin explained in a quiet voice and ran his hands through his short hair, turning his strange gaze on Arthur now.
"You're not holding it in very well now," Arthur noted, not unkindly, as the weeds growing around the room withered and faded away.
Merlin took several deep breaths and the throne room stopped repairing itself. "I'll get it...I can stop it again, it just...It hurts not to just let it go," he revealed with an embarrassed flush.
Arthur nodded. "We'll leave in the morning." Gwen gave him a somewhat startled look and Arthur just nodded again in confirmation. "I think I've gotten all I ever could from this place."
Gwen and Merlin had helped him with that. Gwen had reminded him of all those he had at his side to help him. She had also proven that people could accept sudden changes and keep moving forward. Seeing his parents so young and happy together had given him hope, and the knowledge of what had happened to them gave him prudence.
Seeing Nimueh as she once was, Court Sorcerer to Camelot, was a gift as well. Her grief over what happened was the last tiny link in an armor protecting Arthur from his doubts about magic. Merlin and Morgana were not outliers. Magic users were just people - loyal, hardworking, given to making mistakes, human.
He could return to Camelot with the confidence in his past, his present, and his future to be the king Albion deserved. Coming to Tintagel had been a great idea.
...
...
Gwen and Arthur helped Merlin walk back to their camp in the courtyard together. As he said, Merlin stopped letting his magic out before they ever saw a hint of their traveling party, though the halls were a bit cleaner leading to the throne room than they had been and there were a few patches of purple and red flowers along the way.
They sat Merlin by the fire next to Morgana, who began to fret over him like a mother hen.
"What happened?" Sir Pelleas asked in concern.
"What ever happens to Merlin?" Arthur responded. "He fell while wandering around the throne room and hurt himself." He gave a great put upon sigh. "We'll head back toward Camelot tomorrow. It wasn't a bad fall, but I'd rather let Gaius decide if Merlin's mental affliction has become a physical one."
Merlin glared at him from his seat. "I'm a physician too," he insisted, then quickly looked back at the fire to hide the glow in his eyes.
"In training," Sir Pellinore pointed out. "And we all know how stubborn you can be when it comes to injuries."
"All against me," Merlin muttered to the flames. The knights chuckled.
Sir Urien walked over to Arthur. "Are you sure, milord? Did you finish up your business here at Tintagel already?"
Arthur looked around the courtyard. The castle was dying, but not dead. It was like a symbol that things would get better, because even this place was just waiting to wake up. All it needed was the right person. He nodded.
"Yes. Yes I have. Though I'm sorry to have brought you all so far for such a short trip."
Merlin was made to lie down and rest - a royal order so he might actually obey - and only a few minutes later the knights decided to turn in as well. The moon was rising and they would be leaving at first light. As was usual on long journeys, Arthur took first watch. Once he was king, he would likely never take watch at all, but for now he was still the prince.
He watched Merlin sleep, how his fingers twitched sporadically and he murmured quiet nonsense. Other than his shaking hands and muttered words, Merlin appeared very calm. All they needed to do was get him out of Tintagel and he'd be fine.
He watched Morgana sleep too. She was lying with the top of her head near the top of Merlin's, but with her feet far from him. It was weird, seeing them positioned that way, as if they were mirrors of one another. Morgana was utterly still in slumber.
Gwen wasn't sleeping. She walked over to sit by Arthur, just outside of the circle of firelight. The moon was bright enough that he could see her rather clearly anyway. They remained quiet for a few moments, and then Arthur broke it.
"You should be sleeping. We have a long trip to-"
"You already knew about Merlin, didn't you?" she asked suddenly, cutting him off.
Arthur didn't hesitate to give a slow nod. "Yes. For over half a year now." The dark skinned girl frowned and Arthur frowned with her. "It was not my secret to tell," he explained. "And I'm not sure Merlin knows how to tell it."
"He told you," she whispered.
He shrugged. "In a way. But I had to confront him, when there was no way he could deny it, before he finally told me outright." Though he liked to think the speech at the lake was Merlin's way of beginning his confession anyway.
Gwen nodded and looked across the courtyard at her friend. For a long while there was silence, save for a few crickets and a single owl call. Arthur glanced from Gwen's pensive face to Merlin's sleep-calm one and wondered what she saw when she looked at him, now that she knew.
"Does Morgana know?" Gwen asked, her voice quiet in the dark.
Arthur took a deep breath and let it out slowly. By the time he was done, Gwen was looking at him again. He shrugged. "You would have to ask her about that. I'm not sure what exactly she knows about Merlin."
"The knights?"
"They don't know," Arthur said with confidence. "If any of them know and Merlin hasn't told me, I'll have him thrown in the dungeons for a week, and he knows it."
That earned him a laugh out of Gwen, so he considered the evening won. She sighed, sounding much more content than before, and rubbed her legs just for something to do with her hands.
"Well, that's good to know," she said lightly. There was a short pause in their conversation and then she continued, "So, I guess I...I should get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
Arthur nodded. He enjoyed talking with Gwen, but she did need her sleep. And it seemed that, at least tonight, all she'd needed from him was reassurance that she hadn't been left out on purpose. "Sleep well."
"You as well," Gwen said before walking as gracefully as possible over to where she'd left her bedroll, head to feet with Sir Leon.
...
...
Sir Bedivere met them when they returned to Camelot. Sir Leon and Gwen walked Merlin off toward Gaius's chambers, even as he insisted he was fine. Arthur met Bedivere on the stairs of the courtyard.
"My lord," Bedivere greeted with a deep bow. "A guest arrived while you were away."
Arthur blinked curiously and glanced to Morgana and back to Bedivere. "Who is this guest?"
"I gave my word that I would return for your coronation, did I not?" a familiar, deep voice greeted.
Arthur, Morgana, and Bedivere looked toward the main doors. Standing in the doorway was a young man with light brown hair that curled and went almost to his shoulders, with the top layer pulled back into a low ponytail. His face was youthful and his eyes shown with amusement.
"Prince Tristan," Arthur greeted, smiling and walking up the steps to shake his hand. "It's been a while."
Tristan shrugged. "Almost a year," he agreed amiably. He nodded toward Gaius's tower. "Trouble?"
Arthur glanced over in time to see the door shut behind Merlin and Leon. "The kind only Merlin can manage," he said, looking back at his guest.
Tristan searched his face for a few silent moments, and then clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. "Good." Before Arthur could ask him what that meant, he continued, "My father, King Mark, is here as well. He's been keen to meet you ever since I told him of our adventure together."
That got a laugh out of Arthur and the two men began heading inside. Morgana trailed behind them, curious. King Mark was waiting in the meeting hall with a beautiful strawberry-blonde woman wearing a simple silver crown. They were chatting quietly when Tristan, Arthur, and Morgana walked in, but King Mark smiled broadly upon seeing them.
"Ah, your highness!" he greeted boisterously. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, though I am sorry it is because of such sad circumstances."
They clasped hands firmly. "King Mark, the pleasure is mine," Arthur greeted in return.
The aging king stepped back and gestured to the woman beside him. "May I introduce my lovely wife, Iseult. She hails from the land across the sea, the strange but beautiful Ireland."
Arthur accepted her hand when she offered it and planted a quick kiss to the back of it, then released. "A pleasure. And this is the Lady Morgana. She, sadly, hails from the good walls of Camelot," he said, passing a teasing smile at Morgana while she held out her hand to King Mark. Morgana barely resisted the urge to stick out her tongue, instead raising her eyebrow at him.
"My lady," King Mark said quietly, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand as Arthur had done. "Your highness," he addressed Arthur once the greetings were over, "I must offer you my dearest thanks. I would have done so sooner, but I felt they would be best served in person."
"What for?" Arthur asked.
Tristan cleared his throat quietly behind Arthur but didn't speak. King Mark gave an amused smile.
"You do not know? Well, you are an even better suited king for it, then," he began. "Tristan had run off without a word of warning, and I did not see him for over a year. I feared the worst. Then one day he was back, as suddenly as he had disappeared, with a story about meeting Prince Arthur Pendragon. He tells me you inspire loyalty in people you have never met before, both noble and peasant alike."
Red appeared in Arthur's cheeks. He'd heard similar phrases before, but he was always caught off guard. To him, the way he acted and the things he said rarely seemed odd. He acted the way a prince or king ought to act. That was all.
If anyone inspired loyalty in people it was Merlin. How many times had they gone off on some journey and Merlin had charmed the people they met with his guile? Or Gwen. Gwen had the love of most of the townspeople in Camelot. In his opinion, those two peasants deserved such praise much more than he did, but he couldn't say that to a king.
"Thank you, my lord," Arthur accepted with a bow of his head. "May I inquire as to the reason behind your visit to Camelot?"
King Mark gave the slightest frown in confusion. "Is it not your coronation soon? I hear that you will be king by the end of the week."
A nod. "Yes, that is true."
Tristan stepped forward just enough that he could turn and look Arthur in the eyes. "On the day of your coronation, my father wishes to also sign a treaty with you, allying Camelot with Cornwall. And I will become a knight in your famous army."
"Ah," Arthur let out. "Well then, King Mark, there are some matters we need to discuss."
"Dear Arthur plans to make announcements during his coronation," Morgana broke in as Arthur trailed off. She smiled when all the attention turned to her and stood taller. "I don't believe you'll have any argument against his plans, but he is an honorable man and simply wishes to have your approval before writing up the treaty for signing."
Arthur passed her a grateful look. The foreign king gave something akin to a shrug and looked between the siblings.
"I see. Well then, shall we move to a more comfortable location?"
It was a request, one you might give to someone in your own castle, and he faltered after it was out of his mouth, probably remembering that he was in Camelot and not Cornwall. Arthur nodded in assent, and the foreign king's shoulders fell just a little in relief.
"Yes. If you will follow me," Arthur said, leading the way out of the room.
...
...
The number of nobles that had come to see Arthur crowned King was astounding. The throne room was packed to bursting with men baring more than two dozen different sigils. The servants were standing at their entrance door, prepared to help if needed but out of the way in the hall. Merlin was inside, standing next to a window with Gaius and Gwen. The knights were along the edges of the walkway that Arthur would walk down in just a few moments. Geoffrey was in front of the throne, a crown in his hand, waiting.
The heavy wooden doors of the throne room were pulled open and all eyes glanced back as Arthur entered. Without a word and with barely a sound, he made his way between the overstuffed crowds of people toward the steps leading to the thrones. No one spoke, but they all watched in interest.
Instead of ascending the steps, Arthur knelt at them. Geoffrey stepped closer to him and asked, "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of Camelot according to their respective laws and customs?"
"I solemnly swear so to do."
"Will you, to your power, cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?"
"I will," Arthur promised with feeling.
Geoffrey lifted the crown. "Then by the sacred law vested in me, I crown you, Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot."
The crown was set in place on Arthur's golden blonde hair. It was heavier than it looked but lighter than he'd expected it to feel. The bookkeeper stepped back and away. Then the new king stood and turned to face his people. As one, the crowd chanted:
"Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king!"
Arthur lifted his hand and those gathered fell silent. He nodded his thanks before speaking.
"It is the greatest honor to be your king," he began, eyes scanning the crowd. "I made a promise when accepting this crown, one to uphold law and justice in mercy, and to govern my people according to their respective laws and customs. This does not only apply to the general populace of Camelot and her allies. This applies to the often overlooked people within Camelot as well. So today, as my first act as king, I have two proclamations."
There was a shift in the crowd. Most were curious while some were nervous. This was a bit unorthodox and they weren't sure how to feel about it. Merlin took a deep breath, feeling his heart beating rapidly in his chest. This was it. Arthur had been talking about this since before his father died and now it was finally happening.
"First, if I am to be ruler of a great kingdom, I will need the help of great people. For many years, the Knight's Code has dictated that only those of noble birth may become a knight of Camelot. During my life I have met many men of common birth who are as noble of heart as any knight of Camelot. So today I am issuing a call to arms," Arthur announced. "Any man, noble or common, who wishes to become a knight of Camelot and serve the realm may do so. A tournament will be held. Myself and my knights will be the judges. Anyone who passes our tests will be allowed to wear the red and gold of Camelot and fight to protect the kingdom."
The gathered nobles talked. They whispered amongst themselves animatedly about what this would mean for the kingdom, for the Knights of Camelot. A few wondered if Arthur wasn't quite right in the head. Merlin heard a man say that this was a good thing, since the recent attacks on Camelot and its allies had killed many of the nobility's sons.
Arthur let the talking go on for about a minute before he held up his hand again. Almost immediately the room fell into silence once more. In that moment, Merlin saw her, standing near the exit. Her long golden hair was just as he remembered, as were her dark green eyes. All that had changed was her clothing: instead of a flowing green dress, she wore simple servant's clothes.
Tethella.
"My second proclamation is to repeal a law my father passed, a law that I believe caused more strife and hatred than was ever necessary." A few mutterings were uttered, and Arthur nodded. "I cannot hope to lead the people of Camelot in peace if I am condemning many of them to death. As of today, I am lifting the ban on magic."
Most of the crowd gasped. Tristan and King Mark did not even bat an eye. If anyone tried to protest, they would have Arthur's back.
"All men will be judged upon the merits of their actions," Arthur continued over the noise, causing it to quiet down again. "If a person does evil with magic, they will face the consequences just as any man would. However if they use their gifts for the good of others, in the service of Camelot and her people, I will not put to harm those with good hearts."
It seemed like a bubble had burst, and many nobles began to talk loudly at once, all trying to get Arthur's attention. Tethella smiled and slipped out through the servant door. Merlin gave his own small gasp and rushed after her. Arthur could handle the nobles without him.
He didn't catch up to the seer until they were two hallways over, well away from the hustle and bustle of the coronation. Merlin had no doubt that she had planned it that way.
"Tethella," he called quietly as he hurried over to her.
She stood at a window, looking down through the glass at the courtyard. A dozen servants were hurrying here and there with baskets and plates and goods for the visiting nobles. The sun glinted off her hair and made her seem to glow. She looked up as he approached.
"Emrys," she greeted, giving a curtsy but not lowering her eyes. "It is good to see you."
Merlin couldn't help but frown. "What are you doing here?" he asked. He was suspicious of her - she gave off a feeling of peace and calm but her presence was confusing. Why was the most powerful seer in the world in Camelot?
She gave him an amused smile. "It was the coronation of the greatest king to ever rule. Why would I be anywhere else?" she answered simply. "I am glad to finally speak with you myself, Emrys."
"I'm glad to speak with you, too," Merlin agreed. "You made the prophesy my entire life has been based on."
Tethella laughed, light and airy but deeper and richer than Merlin had expected. She covered her mouth with her hand for a moment, then smiled at Merlin.
"Merlin," she said, catching the younger sorcerer off guard, "you need not envy my power. You are the most powerful sorcerer who will ever walk the Earth. Magic calls to you on a level deeper than any other will ever truly understand," she told him. She was no doubt referring to what happened at Tintagel, and Merlin wasn't surprised in the least that she knew about that. "And one day," she continued, "you will be the second most powerful seer in the world."
Merlin blinked and tilted his head. "Second?"
A nod. "Yes. While the Lady Morgana will get stronger with time, she will never quite match up to you."
So he would be second only to Tethella. Somehow, Merlin knew that wasn't a statement of pride. It was simply a fact that Tethella would always see the future better than he would.
"Wait," Merlin let out. "If I'm so powerful...Why didn't I know about the sword in the stone?"
Tethella set a gentle hand on Merlin's shoulder and looked into his eyes. She gazed at him with wonder in her eyes, as if amazed by Merlin's mere presence.
"Why give such a vision to one who already knows?" she asked in return. "You needed no proof to know what Arthur would become, not even a dragon's word. Only those whose faith could falter needed to see the sword."
She retracted her hand and brushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear. The sunlight caught her just right and even in dirty servant's garb she was absolutely stunning.
Merlin smiled. "Thank you," he said quietly. At her inquiring look he said, "So much has changed since Arthur pulled the sword from the stone. I'm not sure how the reveal of my magic would have gone without it."
Now her smile was reassuring. "I have seen many futures, Emrys. In every one of them, you find a way. Even if the path is rough and winding, you always find your way back to the side of your king, and he to yours. Forever."
Trumpets sounded and both magic users looked out the window. Nobles were exiting the main doors and making their way across the courtyard toward the gardens.
Merlin supposed that Arthur had settled the matter on magic. Too bad he hadn't been there to see it. He'd have to ask Arthur what happened tonight when he brought Arthur his dinner.
"Tethe-" Merlin cut himself off when he turned his head and found only blank space beside him. The seer was gone, as suddenly as she had appeared. Merlin shook his head with a quiet laugh. "Today is the start of a new age," he said quietly to the empty hallway around him. "A lot about Camelot is about to change." He smiled.
Arthur was going to change the world, and he would be there to see it. He couldn't wait.
...
...
tbc
...
...
Next Time: The Green Knight
After Arthur's call to arms, lords and commoners come from all over to join the ranks of the Knights of Camelot. And when a seemingly undefeatable knight dressed in green challenges Arthur's knights in battle, it is the most unlikely man who accepts. Will Strength be enough to win this fight? And why does the green knight hold such a grudge against Arthur and his men?