Chapter Text
London, 1904.
The streets were quiet near the Pendragon mansion, like they always were at this time of the night, the time when all the parents got back from work and the children were ready to go to sleep. In most houses, parents are wishing their children good night, kissing them on the forehead before turning off the lights or sometimes, reading them bedtime stories.
There never were good night kisses or bedtime stories in the Pendragon household. If Uther Pendragon was back from work, it didn't mean that he had stopped working. The lights were on in his studies until late, the heavy wooden door closed so that no one would disturb him. Uther was a very steady and hard-working man, and so it wasn't surprising that he never noticed that there was another light on in the house at the same time.
“... And he threw the captain in the water, where a crocodile was waiting for him. The pirates screamed and plunged into the water to try to help their captain, but he was already swimming as fast as he could to get away from the beast. The crocodile licked his teeth while looking at the pirates, certainly thinking about the delicious meal it was going to have.”
Arthur giggled.
“That's disgusting, Morgana!”
“Shh, I'm not finished. Do you want to know how he saves the lost boys?”
Arthur nodded and sank further in his blankets.
“While the pirates were busy with the crocodile, he fled to the ship to search for the boys. Finally, he heard them calling for him. They were locked in a cabin. He tried to open the door, but the lock was really strong and it wasn't until he heard the pirates getting back on the ship that he managed to open it, after a great effort. Just then, the captain arrived behind him and yelled, 'Merlin!' And...”
The door of Arthur and Morgana's bedroom opened and they both jumped in surprise. Morgana closed the book and looked panicked, but it was just Gaius, their nanny-dog. She sighed in relief. Uther had never liked these kind of books and the children knew they would never hear the end of it if he found out that Morgana read “Merlin and the lost boys” to Arthur every night. It was Arthur's favourite book of course, not that he knew any other. It was already a miracle that Morgana had been able to keep this one book hidden, since any storybook had been banned from the house as soon as Arthur had started going to school. He knew how to read now, but he loved it when Morgana read to him, she really had a talent for it, doing all the voices and sometimes even standing up and acting it. Arthur knew she loved doing it, too. And anyway, it had always been their private time, the only time of the day where they allowed themselves to be the children they were. Because, evidently, Uther Pendragon had a specific opinion of how his children should be and it didn't involve dreaming and playing and being innocent and foolish. Some things were fine, of course. Sports, for Arthur, and books too, but school ones, or sometimes classical literature if it was decent enough. But at 6 and 10, they liked, and needed, to be dreamy and foolish. So Merlin's magical adventures in Neverland was their time of freedom, and they wouldn't risk to lose it for anything in the world.
In that order, they were always extremely careful to turn the light off and pretend to sleep when Uther left his studies and went to sleep to his room at the end of the corridor. It was the same ritual every night. Around 11 at the latest, he would go to sleep, passing in front of the children's bedroom and opening the door slightly to verify that they were sleeping. He wouldn't say a word, just opening and closing the door, and as soon as he left, Morgana would get out of her bed and retrieve the book from its hiding place to finish the story.
It's not easy to be so young and be asked to be so mature. Arthur understands his father, or at least he tries to. He couldn't say that Uther didn't love him but... Uther was a distant man, even with his children, and he leads a strict, organized life. Arthur liked to think that the man hasn't always been the same, that when Ygraine was still alive, he was friendlier and warmer. Ygraine must have been nice. She looked nice in the pictures, always smiling, with light eyes and hair like Arthur. He wondered if they would have been friendly and warm, like Morgana’s, or cold and distant like Uther’s. He wondered what she would think of him, secretly reading children books with Morgana every night. On his moments of hope, he dreamt that she would actually read with him. That she would love Merlin's adventures as much as he did.
Gaius looked at the children with a sceptical face. How a dog could have a sceptical, it was a mystery, but somehow, Gaius managed it perfectly. He made a noise that could be a grump or whine of despair. Those children will never learn, will they? He walked toward them and took the corner of Morgana's skirt in his teeth before starting to drag her toward her bed. It was late and they should have been asleep hours ago, and he didn't have the patience to be nice. And anyway, after years of taking care of the children, he knew what to do in order to get listened to. Morgana could be even more stubborn than Arthur sometimes. The young girl followed him with reluctance, holding onto her book firmly.
“Gaius!” She complained. “The story was almost over! We just need a minute more!”
Arthur didn't say anything, but looked unhappy and made a lot of noise, moving in his bed. Morgana was now fighting Gaius forcefully, walking in the opposite direction of her bed with all her strength. Gaius was, of course, pulling her with determination.
“Arthur, help me!” The girl called. When Arthur didn't move, she added. “Don't you want to hear the end of the story?”
Now, Arthur looked conflicted.
“Morgana, maybe we should sleep now. It's late after all...” He said in his tiny voice.
“Traitor!” She yelled.
Then, as Arthur was slowly getting out of his bed, footsteps approached the room. They all froze.
Uther.
Gaius let out a long whine. Immediately, Morgana and Arthur jumped into their respective beds and tried to turn of the light but it was too late. The door opened, and Uther faced the most absurd scene he had ever found himself facing.
Arthur was laying on his bed, but his sheets were thrown on the side of the bed, and his eyes were wide open. Morgana was in the middle of getting on her bed, and Gaius was holding her skirt between his teeth. The three of them were looking at him with wide, terrified eyes.
“What...” The man started, before noticing the most important detail. “Morgana. What is that?” He said coldly, looking straight at the book she was still firmly holding against her chest. He took a step forward. At first, she didn't move, but as he took another step, she moved away, clinging to the book even more.
“No...nothing,” she whispered. Uther frowned.
“Morgana. Give it to me,” he said calmly. Arthur looked at him, then at Morgana. She turned her head and met his eyes. Never had he seen such a terrified expression on her face. And as Uther took another step forward, the young boy started realizing what was going to happen and let out a gasp of terror. This was bad, really, really bad.
“Morga--” Arthur started, but he was cut off by Uther. “Arthur, not a word!” The tone wasn't cold anymore, even if still controlled, it was angry, and it didn't meant bad now, it meant the worst.
They had been so careful for so many years, had avoided Uther perfectly and were able to keep this moment for themselves, and they never let their guard down. Somehow, they had always known when Uther arrived, and they had always had the time to hide before he opened the door. They never, ever expected to be surprised like this, and it made their pain and terror even stronger.
“Give that book to me now.” Uther said again, his voice shaking with anger, but strangely low, and somehow it was scarier than if he had been shouting at them.
“Father I...”
“Arthur.” Uther cut his son mid sentence for the second time. “You don't have your word to say in this.”
Arthur closed his mouth and grabbed his sheets to tug them on himself. He could feel tears filling his eyes. He knew Uther wouldn't like him crying, but he was just a boy of 6 years, after all.
Gaius, who had dropped Morgana's skirt, walked toward him but was stopped mid-movement by Uther.
“Let him alone, dog. He needs to learn people won't be nice with him when he makes mistakes.” The man's eyes were still fixed on Morgana, who hadn't moved or said a word. He took another step, and when she made clear that she wouldn't hand him the book willingly, he grabbed it to take it from her. She tried to fight, but what were the chances of a little girl against a grown man? She didn't last more than a few seconds before Uther had the storybook in his hands and was looking at it with a raised eyebrow. Arthur knew Morgana wanted to scream, and cry, and fight, but she wouldn't let Uther see how vulnerable and hurt she was. Taking courage from her, Arthur wiped his tears away with the back of his hand and straightened on his bed. He was a Pendragon, he wouldn't show weakness, especially to his father.
“Merlin and... The lost... Boys.” Uther read carefully. He turned the book in every direction possible, examining it carefully, before putting it on the bedside table. He took a deep breath before saying:
“Morgana. I have made my decision. You are old enough now. Starting tomorrow night, you will have your own room, it is largely time.” Morgana gasped. “You have to stop this…childishness.” The word was said with such disdain it made Arthur shiver. “You've always been a difficult child, and I can accept that, but I won't accept that you share your foolishness with Arthur. He is to be the head of Pendragon Corporation one day, and he doesn't have time for these games!” His voice raised at the end of the sentence, and the anger was clearly audible now. Uther was shouting when he said, “To your bed! Now!” and Morgana obeyed mechanically, without meeting his eyes. She slipped under the covers and turned the light off before Uther could. She didn't attempt to take the book that was still near the lamp. She simply turned her back to Uther, burying her head into her pillow.
There was a moment of total silence before Uther talked again, apparently calmer.
“You will move your belongings to your new room first thing tomorrow.” He finally took the book and turned his back to his children. Before leaving, he called for Gaius.
“You're a good dog Gaius, but you're too sensitive.” Gaius, who looked ashamed and sad, was staring at the ground with concentration. When Uther walked toward the door, he followed him silently. But just as Uther was leaving the room and Arthur was starting to breathe normally again, the man's voice resonated again. It was its usual, cold and distant, but there was bitterness in it too.
“Arthur, I expected better from you.”
Arthur swallowed, and the door closed, leaving him in a silent and dark room.
After a moment, when he was finally sure that his voice wasn't going to break as soon as he opened his mouth, he tempted a shy “Morgana...” but when he heard a soft sob coming from the other bed, he knew there was nothing to say.