♕ 𝔽𝕠𝕣 ℂ𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕥 ♕

     Perhaps in some eyes, Arthur’s loyalty could be seen as a fault. It was one of his greatest strengths, yet a trait he held that could lead him to his own demise. Many would expect a king to care little for his servant, but Arthur had proven he’d willingly lay down his life for him and fight with his knights to the death. He would not allow them to fight a war without him or die in vain. He would be by their sides right up to the end. Once upon a time, he would’ve done the same for Morgana.

     Using his sword as support, Arthur pulled himself back up to his feet. He’d been knocked off balance by magic, which he had discovered some time ago that Morgana possessed. It still pained him to think what had become of her--to think back on all of the memories he had of them together. They bantered, sure, but most of the time it was in a fond way and he had always deeply cared for her. It puzzled him to think that she could truly hate him so deeply. He’d made his mistakes (and had paid for many of them, too), but he wasn’t Uther. Alas, he no longer held onto hope that Morgana would be able to see past the hatred she was blinded by. It had completely consumed her, much like the way fear and resentment had consumed his father. The old Morgana he once knew was long gone.

     Chin lifting ever so slightly, Arthur’s brows raised in question to Merlin’s attempt at an excuse. He’d been caught red-handed disobeying him, and that was the best he could do? “The rules were wrong?” He repeated after him, though his tone of voice made it clear that it was a rhetorical question rather than one to be answered.

     “I hadn’t realized I’d died and made you king. Why don’t you have a seat on the throne, Merlin? Put your feet up and tomorrow, you can go slay the beast dwelling in the caves while I stay here and do what you usually do. Absolutely nothing.” His words were followed by his hand clapping down firmly on Merlin’s shoulder, fingers tensing to grip at it as a disingenuous smile formed on his lips.

     Words of encouragement spoken by Merlin still, to this day, often caught Arthur by surprise. Perhaps it was because he was used to the playful bantering they threw back and forth at each other, and so hearing genuine, uplifting words came as a bit of a shock. Merlin was often disobeying his orders and driving Arthur absolutely mad, but he had always remained loyal to him. And though he didn’t always express it openly, he truly had come to appreciate Merlin’s friendship and presence--even if he did think he was, at times, a bloody awful servant.

     Being the King was both a chance to do something right and a heavy burden weighing on his shoulders. He didn’t want to rule in the way his father had, as he wished to be a fair and just king and restore peace to Camelot. It was tough to do, however, when there’d been so much damage done and so many grudges held. He had to begin repairing his father’s mistakes and his own.

     Maybe there was a chance at the beginning of redemption now. In the dungeons, a person of magic was locked up and kept under close watch. She had been visibly angry for the way her people had been treated, making verbal threats yet not making any direct attacks. It left Arthur torn on what decision to make. Did he free her and risk her planning an attack, or did he execute her and instill fear in people the same way his father did? It would be a step back on how he wanted to earn his people’s trust and respect, and how he had promised a peaceful future for the druids after the mistake he’d made years ago.

Over the course of a year, Arthur had dedicated a lot of his time to trying to make changes to Camelot. Magic was slowly but surely being introduced again, and though there had been some moments of panic where Arthur wanted nothing to do with it and wanted to shut the whole operation down, he had pushed through to the best of his abilities. Magic folk were coming forth to request hearings with him, seeking for payment in return for the evils done to them or their family in the past. Then, of course, there were some people of magic who were too angry for payment and wanted nothing more than to see Arthur dead. Those were the ones he had to watch out for, and those were the ones that he would give a death sentence to for making attempts on his life.

During one of his many journeys outside of the city, he’d come across a group of druids who were under attack. They were scrambling to get their belongings, reminding Arthur of when he had watched them flee at his presence a year ago. He’d taken it upon himself to help them, thus saving their lives and preventing them from having to move again. They’d been scared of him at first, knowing that they were in the presence of Arthur, son of Uther, but he had assured them that they had no reason to fear him and that he only wanted peace. It was one of the more memorable acts of kindness he’d done for those with magic. Was it enough to gain their trust? Perhaps not fully.

It was an uphill battle every step of the way, but Gwen was there to support him and assure him that every gesture counted. Even if it was a slow process, people were noticing the changes. Given time, Camelot would become the kingdom Arthur envisioned it to be. One day, he and the people of Camelot, including those of magic, would be able to live in peace and harmony. Uther would be rolling in his grave right now if he were to know of the changes Arthur was making. He would be seen as a disappointment, but Arthur knew now that Uther was indeed a broken man and had allowed fear to control him. Still, there was something for Arthur to fear: Mordred. His words still lingered in his mind, and Arthur actively sent knights and soldiers out to scout the area and ensure that no suspicious activity was taking place. If it was a war Mordred wanted, then it was a war he would have. It just left the question of when?

Noticing that the woman was unsteady on her feet, visibly swaying a little in place, Arthur let go of her hand to gently grab her by the shoulders and help steady her. “No thanks are needed,” he assured her. Truly, he was just happy to have been able to make it to her in time. She looked so young, but he knew better than to assume that the youthful were innocent. He’d seen plenty of sorcerers and witches who were young and had died at the hands of Uther.

“My name’s Arthur,” he then proceeded to answer, a small step back taken to remove himself from her personal space. “Prince Arthur.” Most people knew of his name. The young prince of Camelot, son of Uther Pendragon--the man who loathed magic and created laws that it was forbidden in Camelot. Taking a moment to glance around the surrounding area to check if there were any other threats lingering. His knights were checking too, so he returned his attention to the fair woman in front of him.

He couldn’t help but sense that when Arthur said ‘as he saw fit’, it meant no CONSEQUENCES for all that Merlin had done. Not with the close ties that seemed to bind the two. It would be far easier for him to look back on the so-called GOOD Merlin had done rather than every lie, every deceit, anything that might bring punishment to the other warlock. Once more he would escape unscathed which only added to Mordred’s growing frustration.  ❝   Then I won’t be holding my BREATH for anything to happen,   ❞  was the only comment Mordred could keep while still keeping that air of calm about him. The calm waters of the ocean while a current of RAGE raced just beneath the surface and how deep those waters ran———

How Arthur could even both to question if his words were a threat was beyond him. He made his position quite clear in that they now stood on OPPOSITE sides and perhaps forevermore. Never could Mordred see himself completely forgiving Camelot and its crown for all the wrongs done which was why he had offered leaving the kingdom behind completely. Though that compromise was quickly thrown aside by Arthur so that he might protect someone he thought to be a ‘FRIEND’. Once again, his lips twitched upwards in that cold smile and he couldn’t even bring himself to give a simple answer. Instead, Mordred lingered in silence.

And then one step back, then two steps back in retreat for the exalted king.  ❝   Uther would say he wanted peace as well but at the expense of my people. Even with your words, I see the same in you. No MERCY save for those in your inner circle.   ❞  Words weren’t the same as actions and in all the time Athur had been king, he had yet to rewrite the laws. Why would he now in the aftermath of so many RISING UP against him? No trust, never again. Mordred couldn’t allow himself to fall so blindly in step with another and he was sure Arthur would feel the same about many that might one day seek to be knights.

❝   I can, at the very least, thank you, I suppose. Thank you for opening my EYES on what a world we live in. It seems I held the same foolish beliefs as I did when I was a child.   ❞

Was he making a mistake by sparing Merlin’s life? Perhaps, but Arthur wouldn’t see him killed. He refused to have that sort of guilt resting on his shoulders when he already carried so much. But would his decision to save one life result in the loss of many? He hoped not, but he wouldn’t turn a blind eye or pretend that a threat was looming over Camelot. Knights and soldiers would be sent out regularly and then report back to him with any (if any) discoveries. Perhaps if he were to prove that he could make changes, Mordred would decide against bringing a war to him.

After all, Arthur’s goal was to prove that he didn’t seek to slaughter those of magic. A war against magic folk would only push him further down the hole that he was trying to claw his way out of. It was going to be a long process and he was certain that it wasn’t going to be easy, but he had to start somewhere. He had to prove not only to himself, but to the people of Camelot that he could be the king that could create the start of a new beginning. It was difficult to do when so many people would want him dead, but there had to be a way to end this vicious cycle.

“I know how you and your people see me.” No different than Uther. Arthur had been raised to believe that magic was evil and that no good could come of it. Much of the time, it was true. Magic was capable of bringing a lot of harm to people, but then he had to wonder...How many times had Merlin used magic for the greater good to save him? And on the darker side, how many people had suffered for him? He would have to sit down and think long and hard about what he wanted to do and how to execute it properly. “Given time, I hope they can come to view me in a more positive light.”

Watching as the druid began taking steps away from him, Arthur finally sheathed his sword. Both, it seemed, would live to see another day. It had been only an exchange of words, but there would likely be war in the future if Mordred was set in his ways of believing that Arthur was just like his father. Arthur’s hand remained on the hilt just in case a surprise attack were to happen, but he soon began taking a few steps away as well to begin parting ways. “If you become trapped in that mindset, then you never will see the world as anything else.”

beep beep how’s my portrayal ?

               ‘ DON’T SAY THAT. ’      her voice comes out unexpectedly harsh, as if she has been struck rather than sworn fealty ‘til death do them part.   she cannot bear to think of it   —   of anything happening to arthur, of losing him when they are so blessed to have found each other.        ‘ you are far too young to die, arthur.  too young to even consider it.    if protecting me is at the cost of your life…  it isn’t worth it. ’

It was just like Gwen to try to shut down his attempts at protecting her. She was so humble and kind and it was one of the many things Arthur adored about her, but he didn’t want her to think that her life was any less important than his own. “Nonsense, Guinevere. Do you really think I value your life so little?” Arthur questioned, hoping that she was well aware by now that his feelings for her were true and genuine. They ran deep and he would surely be stricken with grief if an ill fate were to befall her. He would protect her with his life, whether she liked it or not.