Chapter Text
"Well, I guess this is one way to get Leon back on a ship," Arthur shrugged as he watched the sailors reverently loading the bodies of the fallen back onto Queen Annis's ships. They went through great pains to make sure Sir Leon was taken care of with special attention. For all that the knight seemed lifeless those closest to him knew otherwise. He was handled with reverence as would have befitted a king.
"It was probably the only way it was going to happen." Percival agreed, he half-turned toward Merlin and Gwaine. "He didn't fare so well on the voyage up."
Through all of the joking, there was an air of sadness among all the soldiers and knights. Out of the nearly two score of Camelot forces that came with them, just over half were returning home. Among the fallen was Sir Elyan, the Queen's brother. Found with his sword still in his hand and a look of pride that only came since he had been named a knight of Camelot.
It had been three days since the battle. Lothian men continued to press the fleeing Saxon back to the east with plans to join the main host led by Prince Gaheris. Before King Lot departed they discussed meeting in the near future to discuss an actual alliance between the two kingdoms.
Arthur still looked pale and weary, but the color and life was beginning to come back. He was ready to head home to Camelot and recover, "You know, Merlin, you are welcome back in Camelot."
"I know, but I think this where our destinies start widening into something bigger than me protecting your royal arse behind the scenes. I can't fight the politicians for you and my presence there would only make things worse. Just get Leon back to Camelot. You have those scrolls I gave you?"
Arthur nodded, "I think so, but usually I have this idiot of manservant to keep track of this."
"Hmm, wonder what happened to him," Merlin mused.
"The dollap-head decided to up and quit on me. I think I must have given him too much time off. If you don't keep them busy with menial tasks, such as mucking stables, it gives them too much time to think. This one got it in his head to become a lord, or some such nonsense." The two men shared a chuckle before embracing.
"Your Grace," called one of the sailors, "The ship is ready to sail once you are onboard."
"I will find a way to free him from the curse and heal you both, you know that, right?"
The blond king smiled fondly at his cousin, "I know. Just don't take too much time with it." Arthur looked up past the beach to the grassy sand dunes that overlooked the bay. Standing there were two women, arm in arm, mother and daughter. Morgana wore a clean linen dress, her hair no longer the unkempt rats nest, instead was shining and wore in a simple plait that hung over her shoulder. It warmed the King's heart to know that she was once again the girl he had grown up with. "Take good care of her."
"I will Arthur, be safe on your journey home."
Gwaine came up along side them, "Give your Queen my love." He winked teasingly at the king.
"You're not joining us?" Arthur asked, curiously. Gwaine had his gear packed, ready to move out, so it took the king by surprise that it would not be with him.
The rogue prince flipped his hair out of his face, "Naw, not yet. With your permission, I'd like to go catch up to Lot. Maybe get to know my family a bit more."
"Of course. Perhaps you could work as an emissary between our two lands."
Merlin snickered behind his hand and tried to disguise a cough, "Ambassador Gwaine."
He shoved Merlin's shoulder, "Oy! First you trick me to becoming a knight, now you want me to actually be a noble?" He rolled his eyes indignantly, "Bloody hell, the things I do for you!"
Even Percival couldn't suppress a chuckle at his friend's discomfort. The four men bid each other farewell with promises to meet again soon. The large knight and his king headed to the waiting vessel. Gwaine picked up his pack, starting his trek inland back to where the horses were waiting.
Merlin made his way up the dune to the two priestesses. Vivienne departed with a nod, slipping back into the forest toward the Grove she tended. Morgana reached for Merlin's hand, entwining her slender fingers through his calloused ones. They had a long way to go, but for once in the warlock's life, things finally seemed to be moving in the right direction.
(*~*~*~*~*)
Arthur and the knights rode back into Camelot. Gwen stood on the steps. She saw Arthur ride in and couldn't stop herself as he dismounted from running to him and throwing her arms around her husband. She kissed him deeply, ignoring the grime of the road. He broke the kiss and just held her tightly. Whispering compliments of her beauty and how much he had missed her into the thick dark curls. She pulled back smiling, but the smile faded as Gwen looked into his eyes. A deep sadness creased his forehead. "Arthur, what's wrong?" She looked at the rest of the knights in the yard as they each greeted their loved ones. She noticed more than a few missing.
She felt her breath go out of her, not one of Arthur's elite knights were there. "Did you not find Merlin and Gwaine?"
"We found them, they are fine. I sent Percival on an errand for me as soon as we reached Caerleon." His hazel blue eyes were filled with sadness.
Wagons rolled into the courtyard and Arthur cringed as heard a piercing wail from the wife of one of his knights. Soon all around realized that not everyone had returned from the battlefront.
"Where is Sir Leon?" Gwen asked softly, not yet daring to ask about her brother.
Arthur shook his head sadly, "He may still yet be saved, but Guinevere… "
"What about Mordred?" She interrupted, not wishing for him to say the words she feared.
His face hardened at the thought of the boy. He quickly shook it away, "Elyan… I am so sorry my love."
Gwen released her husband, "No, no, no…" She repeated over and over as she walked slowly to the carts, people moved out of her way and she didn't notice. Reaching one of the wagons, the knight guarding it looked at the king who followed his wife. Arthur nodded and the man pulled back a blanket revealing the face of her brother, peaceful in his deathly slumber. Gwen screamed in denial, her knees went weak. Arthur caught her and held her tightly as she cried against him.
(*~*~*~*)
The following day funeral pyres were built for the knights who lost their lives on the peninsula. Arthur proclaimed a week of mourning. They were told that Sir Percival would be returning soon, and that Sir Gwaine, accompanied by Merlin, were finishing up their business in the north. Neither Arthur, nor any of the other returning Knights spoke a word about Sir Mordred. When questioned, they would silently shake their heads and change the topic. The betrayal of one of their own, heavy in their hearts.
(*~*~*~*)
One week later…
Arthur sat in the throne at the head of the council table, Gwen sat to his left. He'd tried to tell convince her to take more time to mourn her brother, but she wouldn't hear of it. It was she who had been left in charge of the Kingdom while he was gone, and the brunette wasn't about to let her husband just ride in and take over. In the time he had been away, she felt she had made great progress in the garnering support from the nobles and bringing them around to new ideas.
"What if we don't agree with your new ideas, Your Grace?" Lord Edmund, a portly man with a balding head whom Arthur remembered as one of his father's bootlickers.
"Then you are free to move on to a kingdom that feels as you do. Perhaps Caerleon… no they embrace the druidic ways. Lothian, and what remains of Essitir? Wait… they also allow magic. Odin's kingdom? But he has no issues with using magic, and from what I hear, has a bit of training himself." Arthur chewed his bottom lip in concentration, "Mercia! I can honestly say I don't exactly know what King Bayard's thoughts are on the subject." His eyes moved around the room landing on each individual of the council challenging each of them his patience growing short. Only two refused to meet his stare, including Lord Edmund, who chose to roll his eyes.
"But what about Morgana, Sire?"
"Morgana has been dealt with. She now sees the error of her ways and will bother Camelot no more." He pulled out a rolled parchment and held it up. "Here is her agreement. Sealed with the mark of Gorlois." He passed it to Geoffrey to verify that it was indeed as he said.
With a motion from the King, Geoffrey broke the seal and unrolled the parchment. He read it out loud to the gathering, "I Morgana, born of the House of Gorlois, Lady of Cornwall, do renounce any claim previously made upon the Kingdom of Camelot and the royal house of Pendragon. I accept the benevolent judgment of His Majesty, Arthur Pendragon, Rightful and True King of Camelot, and will remain in exile for the rest of my days.
"It is with the utmost sorrow that I realize what my actions have cost to the people of Camelot, and I understand nothing I can do will ever compensate for the hardship I brought among you all.
"I ask not for forgiveness, as it is something I do not deserve, but please know I was not acting fully of my own volition, although I am certain that will hold no sway in your hearts, as I would feel the same.
"I ask only that I be allowed to live in my chosen place of exile, far from you all, in peace.
"Signed, Morgana, second daughter of Gorlois, Lady of Cornwall."
The council was silent.
Arthur gave them all a few moments to digest the letter of intent. "I can assure you, there are measures in place to ensure that she will never set foot in Camelot again, some magical."
"Sire, you trust this 'magical' method of keeping her from attempting to ruin us again?"
Arthur knew that it was one of Edmund's sons among those lost in the north, so he tried his best to be patient with the man. "I do."
A knock at the doors had them all looking up. Percival entered, he smiled and nodded at Arthur then stepped to the side. Cautiously, two cloaked men entered behind him. Arthur stood and made his way towards them. The taller of the men pulled back his hood, gray untamed hair fell around his face.
"Iseldir," Arthur greeted the Druid Chieftain, holding out his arm, "Thank you greatly for coming."
"I am honored to accept your request King Arthur." He responded politely.
The King turned to the other man as he revealed himself, his head shaved bald covered with tattoos, "You must be Alator, welcome to Camelot. I think we all would appreciate your input on what can be done as we look to the future, for all of our peoples."
"I am gracious to you, King Arthur, may I ask where…" His eyes narrowed slightly, trying to find the right words, not knowing how much information the king was privy too.
Luckily, Arthur was quick to catch on and spoke softly to the men, "He is away at the moment, we will discuss it more later, in private. For now, I ask, please continue to keep his confidence." The two men nodded their understanding. Arthur turned back to the council and introduced the men, inviting them to join the discussions at the table. A new era, the golden age of Camelot was being born.