Chapter Text
The diplomat’s party arrived in the citadel's courtyard at half past noon. They were received by Uther who stood on the steps of the castle, flanked by a portion of Camelot’s knights, with Arthur and Morgana on either side of him. Gwen and Merlin stood beside their respective masters, watching as the guests filed into the courtyard.
The diplomat himself rode in on a pure white horse, followed by an entourage of beautiful servants -- men and women -- dressed in more revealing clothes than was normally seen in Camelot outside of private rooms.
“Uther!” the man exclaimed, wearing a smile that bared his bright white teeth. He smoothly dismounted from his saddle and crossed the space between where his party was ordered to stop and where the king stood. He grasped Uther’s forearm in greeting, which Uther reciprocated while donning a professional smile.
“Silas,” Uther said in a measured voice. “How good to finally meet you after so many months of correspondence. You’ve brought many servants with you -- I must wonder if you thought Camelot would not be properly equipped to receive you.”
The king dropped the diplomat's arm.
Silas appeared, for the merest of moments, taken aback before he began to laugh. He laughed heartily, throwing his head back and holding his stomach. As his sudden laughter waned, he spoke.
“Nonsense Uther! I was certain Camelot would be ready to receive me, I simply hoped to demonstrate some of the ways this trade deal would benefit you and your court.”
Uther’s put upon smile lessened in severity as he clapped a hand onto Silas’ shoulder, “We will ensure this deal benefits us both.”
Silas smiled, but it was different from before. This one reminded Arthur of the smiles that the knights wore on the rare occasions that they bested him during training but more sinister. It reminded him of a snake.
“Come now,” Uther said, squeezing Silas’ shoulder. “Let’s get you settled into your chambers so we can begin the festivities.”
“I cannot wait! I’ve heard stories of the feasts hosted in Camelot’s great hall since I was a boy.”
“Then there is no sense in making you wait any longer!” Uther laughed, leading the man by the shoulder up the stairs of the castle.
As the pair disappeared through the threshold of the building Silas’ traveling party set to work bringing his things into the castle, assisted by Camelot’s own servants -- including Gwen and Merlin, who left their master’s sides to help the foreign servants navigate the grounds.
“He seems pleasant,” Morgana mused, watching Gwen heft a large wicker basket onto her hip with a smile.
“He’s too pleasant. Did you see the way he was sucking up to Uther?” Arthur grumbled, frowning out over the courtyard.
Morgana laughed, “You’d have to be blind to miss it. But he seems to have won over your father, for the moment.”
Arthur’s frown deepened. “I know... I don’t trust him.”
“Well we’ll have to see how the negotiations play out, now won’t we?”
In the courtyard Merlin took a large bundle of blankets from one of the foreign servants, a girl almost a foot shorter than him -- who said something that made the man laugh brightly, his face settling in an amused smile.
“Yes, we will,” Arthur grit out, turning on his heel and stomping up the stairs.
Gwen reached Morgana’s side as Arthur disappeared into the castle.
“What’s he mad about?”
“Oh the usual,” Morgana sighed, “Merlin laughing at other people’s jokes instead of being glued to his side.”
“Huh,” Gwen readjusted the linen filled basket on her hip. “You have to wonder how he can stand being so jealous all the time.”
“It must be in his blood.”