#so he could spy on guinevere

[adhd-merlin]

Ah someone else who has discovered the joys of Camelot (1967) a movie that I am completely normal about. Have you watched it? Because the delivery of the lines is everything and if you need someone to talk to about it I am, once again, completely normal about it. The scene where Lancelot and Arthur first meet?? A masterpiece in sharing a single braincell. And don't even get me started on the way Guenevere first treats Lancelot "have you jousted with humility lately". It's unapologetically at the top of my Arthuriana movie rank list and has gotten me to reread The Once and Future King

I have not watched the film yet!

I've been listening to the original cast recording on Spotify but, most importantly, I've read the book of the original Broadway production (1960 libretto) and I love it?? It's a delightful little read on its own, even without having watched the musical. (I want other people to read it please it's very funny I promise)

I guess the 1967 film script won't be identical to the libretto but I assume it's fairly similar.

The scene where Lancelot meets Arthur was hilarious it made me laugh out loud. Lancelot utter puzzlement ("Gone a-Maying, Your Majesty??"). Arthur's sudden self-consciousness.

And don't even get me started on the way Guenevere first treats Lancelot "have you jousted with humility lately"

I know!! Lancelot's grating self-righteousness coupled with his complete lack of self-awareness is so funny.

And I loved the gradual tone shift. It starts out so silly and the tragedy sneaks up on you — I thought Guinevere and Lancelot's affair might be played for laughs with an oblivious Arthur but no, it turns out he's fully aware of what's going on and he's forced to watch it unfold because he's powerless to stop it? and he loves them both and doesn't want any harm to come to them even as they betray him??

(He continues talking, looking from one to the other, feverishly — painfully) — Excuse me??

and King Pellinore is hilarious, he enters the scene wearing a monocle followed by a little mongrel named Horrid and talking like a character from a P. G. Wodehouse's novel. Extremely validating because when I read that chapter in Le Morte d'Arthur in which King Pellinore first makes an appearance my first question was "is he meant to be this funny?" and the answer from this script is a resounding YES.

I think I might perhaps watch the 1968 stage production first, merely because it's available for free on Youtube (at least in the UK).

I might try hunting for a free streaming link to the 1967 film, though I don't mind renting it if I can't find it.

[jaegercat03]

Ok so since @idle-skull already made a rundown of their OC, Lark, I figured I may as well make one for my own OC, as she’s closely related to Lark. If you want the basic lore/premise for our AU, go to their post and read that first. Alright, with that done, here we go.

Guinevere / Marian Sanguina / Vidua Leonis(Dornian Heresy timeline)

So Guinevere (her original name) was born in the lower levels of Wisterium, and was picked up by the Ladies of Wisterium at a very young age. As she grew, she had developed a very muscular figure, as well as growing quite tall (She was naturally 7ft tall, no enhancements or Starcrawler yet). Upon her “graduation” and drinking the blood of the Starcrawler, she grew even larger, comparable to even a powerful Space Marine in sheer strength.

Due to this, her role among the LoW was quite different from her sisters. It’d be rather difficult to disguise the 7 and a half foot stack of muscle as a maid or servant, so she instead often took the role of a bodyguard or enforcer during her missions. She also took part in assassinations much more than her sisters, as she could basically just smash the target’s head in and bolt out of there without a struggle. For reference, Guin is a few years older than Lark (around 5 or so), and while she doesnt like him much, she doesn’t have the same hatred that many of the other LoW have for him. To her, he's more like a shitty sibling that gets in trouble and comes home in a police car every couple weeks.

Once Wisterium was incorporated into the larger Imperium, Guin had been assigned, much like Lark, to spy on a primarch. However, as she hadn’t displeased Ursa in the way Lark had, Guin was assigned to a much more prestigious Primarch, Sanguinius (in the “canon” timeline. In the Dornian timeline she is assigned to the Lion, but we’ll cover that in another post). Under the name Marian, she was presented to Sanguinius as an elite bodyguard, and entered his service. But, as it turns out, “Marian” actually began enjoying her role. As someone raised to be a spy, she was used to her whole world, both undercover and back on Wisterium, being terribly cutthroat and dangerous, so meeting someone so kind and genuine like Sanguinius was an entirely foreign experience, but one she could certainly get used to. Their relationship moved slow, but it steadily developed into a genuine friendship, and then into something much more. However, Guin knew that such a thing would NOT fly with the LoW, she was careful to keep things hidden. She began to feed Ursa less important information, enough to keep him satisfied, but not enough to actually give him anything useful. At the same time, she began covertly planning out how she would escape the eyes of her sisters and eventually manage to finally have the life she wished with the love of her life.

She never got that chance.

The Heresy breaking out laid all her plans to complete ruin. By the time it was over, a (now pregnant) Guinevere was left with her husband dead, most of her sisters dead or missing, and a paranoid imperium hunting down the forces of Chaos, which included the LoW. And so, she fled out into the depths of space, abandoning “Guinevere” in favor of her identity as Marian, trying to raise her daughter quietly as she slowly healed from her grief. Unfortunately, things just couldn’t remain that simple. Lark, shortly after the death of Kurze, had made contact with her, asking for a favor. Lark had given birth to his third child, Nightingale. However, after the twins and Kurze’s death, he felt unfit to raise her, and begged Marian to take her. Marian agreed, taking the child and fleeing back into hiding. And so there she was. Hiding from the largest regime in history, raising her two demigod children.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok that’s her personal story. I may write more on Falxia and Gale, as well as her story in the Dornian continuity (her path is massively different in that timeline.)

Again, check out @idle-skull for Lark’s stuff, and be sure to leave any questions about Guin for me!

[legends-of-time]

Amelia’s Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 41: Queen of Hearts

Masterlist

Amelia's POV

The doors to the Throne room open slowly to reveal a room full of people lined up on either side. There's choir music playing softly in the background. A female figure can be seen dressed in a rich, purple, and gold gown, walking down the aisle between the Knights and Courtiers of Camelot. She kneels on the dais before someone and it is revealed that the woman is Gwen and the man she is kneeling before is Arthur wearing the King's crown.

He sticks his arm out and a servant walks forward with a cushion that has an ornate crown sitting on top. Arthur takes the crown and begins speaking, "By the sacred laws vested in me, I pronounce you Guinevere, Queen of Camelot."

Arthur crowns her, takes her hand and they each sit on a throne, looking out at the people in the room. Gaius, Merlin, and Anne stand on one side of the aisle while the Knights, including Leon, Elyan and Gwaine, stand on the other side with a Knight she doesn't recognise standing amongst them. Everyone is beaming.

——

Amelia gasps awake, sits up and breathes rapidly and shakily. It wasn't the content of the dream that disturbed her, if anything she's thrilled and mildly confused. Amelia hasn't had a dream in so long and it was so clear that she feels shaken by it.

She looks down at her healing bracelet in confusion. Amelia had thought this was meant to stop her dreams. She gets up and stands at her window.

"Amelia? Is everything all right?" Amelia turns to see Anne standing there with a candle.

"Er, um... yes, yes of course." Amelia stumbles.

Anne isn't convinced. "Amelia..."

"It, i-its just... I had a dream."

Anne frowns. "But I thought they had stopped."

"Apparently not." Amelia replies looking down at her bracelet.

Amelia hears Anne walk over and looks up as Anne asks, "Was it a bad one?"

Amelia earnestly shakes her head. "No, no." She smiles to herself. "A good one actually."

"Oh?"

"I dreamed of Arthur being King and him crowning Gwen as his Queen." Amelia informs Anne.

Anne gasps in delight. "Really?! Tell me more! What was Gwen wearing? Was I there? What was I—"

Amelia quickly cuts off Anne, laughing. "Anne, Anne! I'll tell you all about it tomorrow but let me go back to bed!"

Anne pouts. "Okay, fine. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Amelia smiles at her.

As soon as Anne is gone, Amelia's smile drops. She can't help but worry about the contents of her dream now she has begun to digest it. Practically everyone was there, including faces she did not recognise, but where was she? Why wasn't Amelia or Morgana there? Morgana might have been caught out for being a spy and had fled Camelot but why wasn't Amelia there? She had been waiting for this day and what? She doesn't turn up?

There are so many questions Amelia can't answer right now. She shelves her worries as while it seems clear that Gwen will be crowned one day (cross your fingers) everything around it can easily change. Amelia clings to that hope.

——

Amelia told Anne almost everything about her dream the next day, which puts her mood back on track due to Anne's excitement about the day. However, this soon changes when Morgana later confides she had the same dream as well. Morgana had different worries to Amelia's as from her point of view this could mean that Morgana doesn't get 'her' crown.

Amelia tries to reassure her that the dream might not come to pass and all those usual lies Gaius had fed them about their dreams over the years. Yet, it no longer begins to work when both of them begin having the dream night after night.

It comes to a head when after almost a week of these dreams, Amelia and Morgana are walking through the Castle's corridors before breakfast one morning.

They are walking through the Balcony Corridor when Amelia begins hearing echoing whispers saying, "Sisters. Sisters."

Amelia stops and sees that Morgana has done the same. "You hear that right?"

"Yes." Morgana murmurs. Her eyes flicker around as if to try and find the source.

"Oh good, I thought I was hearing things," Amelia remarks.

"You're not." Her sister replies as she begins walking again. Amelia quickly follows.

"Or maybe we're going insane together..."

Morgana rolls her eyes. "Amelia..."

"Sisters..." The same voice echoes when they step into a new corridor. A door opens near Morgana and Amelia.

"Sisters, this way..." A torch lights up. "Sisters..."

Amelia cautiously takes the torch.

"Sisters... This way..."

They enter the door and follow the whispers until they enter a Chamber that is below the Castle. It's empty and the two sisters glance at each other in confusion before entering the room further.

"Hello, Sisters." Amelia hears. She and Morgana spin around to see a beaming Morgause behind them. Amelia drops her torch and rushes forward as Morgana does the same, to join in on the hug they all share. Amelia hears Morgana breathe a sigh of relief but Amelia is feeling anything but that. The sight of her sister does not bring relief but anxiousness and guilt.

"I can't tell you how good it is to see you." Amelia tells her eldest half sister as so to keep up the ruse of a loving sister.

"I received your message." Morgause says. She pulls back so she can look at them, placing each hand on one of their cheeks. The message had been Morgana's idea and Amelia couldn't think of a way to talk her out of it without raising her suspicions. "Tell me about these dreams that are so troubling to you."

Morgana takes her hand off her cheek, causing Morgause to drop both of them before speaking, "They show a ceremony in Camelot. It's my serving girl, Gwen, she sits beside Arthur on a throne. She's crowned Queen. We see the same thing night after night."

Morgause looks down at their bracelets. "There are some dreams that are so powerful your healing bracelets will not stop them." She looks back at them. "It is a prophecy."

That is what Amelia had hoped for in her shipper's heart but also dread as this will cause her sisters to react. Amelia doesn't voice these concerns and instead says, "How can that be? She's a servant. Uther would never allow Arthur to marry her."

"There are many futures, Sisters." Morgause explains as she walks around them. "Some are shrouded in mist, and others are clear as cut glass." She stops and turns to them. "But your gifts are powerful, and this vision cannot be ignored. You cannot allow this serving girl to take Morgana's rightful place upon the throne. Whatever relationship exists between Arthur and... Gwen, you must destroy it."

Morgana smirks and nods and Amelia does the same. Oh, God. Hopefully, Amelia can stop it before it gets really bad.

——

Gwen and Merlin serve Uther, Arthur, Amelia, and Morgana breakfast in the Council Chambers.

"What news from the northern borders?" Uther is asking his son.

"There've been a number of minor skirmishes," Arthur replies as Gwen pours the contents of her jug into Uther's cup then Arthur's. Amelia watches as Arthur accidentally touches Gwen's hand when she reaches to pour his drink and both pull back awkwardly. Usually, this would make Amelia smile fondly but she sees that Morgana has also noticed the interaction based on her sister's glare.

"You think Odin is testing our defences?" Uther asks but receives no reply as Arthur stares admiringly at Gwen. "Arthur, are you listening?"

"What's that?" Arthur reaches forward and accidentally knocks over his cup. Gwen jumps forward to clean the mess.

"What on earth is wrong with you?!" Uther exclaims.

Amelia sees Merlin smile and Morgana grimace. This isn't good.

"Nothing. Sorry." Arthur apologises.

——

Morgana tells Amelia of her plan to get Arthur and Gwen caught by Uther, but first, they need to encourage Arthur. Amelia reassures herself that helping Morgana getting Uther to know will help Arwen in the long run as Morgana will no longer see Gwen as a threat and Gwen will be fine.

Amelia is telling herself this as she and Morgana go to visit Arthur's Chambers after breakfast. They open the door to peek in to find Arthur looking up from a blank piece of parchment as he sits at the table.

"Morgana. Amelia." He greets.

"Arthur, are we disturbing you?" Morgana asks.

"No. Come in." The two sisters step inside, closing the door and turning to Arthur as he asks, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Amelia swallows thickly before speaking, "Well, we were worried about you. You weren't yourself earlier."

"Just a bit tired." Arthur dismisses, looking down.

"Really?" Morgana questions with a wide smirk before walking over to pour two cups for her and Amelia while Amelia sits on Arthur's right, one seat down. "We thought the reason you were so distracted had something to do with the fact that Gwen was in the room."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Arthur says unconvincingly.

Amelia shares a look with Morgana, who nods in encouragement. Amelia really doesn't like this but powers through and fakes a chuckle. "Come on, Arthur. Why can't you admit you have feelings for her? A blind man could see it." Morgana takes a seat between Amelia and Arthur.

For a moment Arthur doesn't respond but it seems curiosity gets the better of him and he turns to the two women and asks, "Is it really that obvious?"

"It's only so obvious to us because... we know Gwen also has feelings for you." Morgana remarks. Amelia takes a big gulp of her drink so to have some liquid courage.

"Has she said something?" Arthur eagerly asks, leaning forward.

Amelia shrugs with a teasing smirk though unknown to the two people in the room, it's false. "She speaks of you all the time." She wishes she could enjoy this teasing.

"What did she say?"

"You're already arrogant enough. I will flatter you no further." Morgana argues, taking a sip of her drink. Amelia knows she's about to go in for the attack. "Poor girl, I fear she doesn't know what to do with herself when she's around you."

"She's not alone. I have such feelings for her, and yet I know nothing can ever come of them." Arthur admits. Amelia smiles softly at his vulnerability though the smile goes when she recalls what she's doing.

"If it's Gwen who you desire, why do you deny yourself?" Amelia questions.

Arthur snaps out of it and reclines in his chair. "Because she's a servant. My father would have me marry for the good of the Kingdom."

"Uther knows nothing of love." Morgana scoffs. Amelia agrees with her there. "You are the future King; you must set your own rules. Besides, he doesn't have to find out."

Amelia and Morgana get up to leave but not before Morgana nudges Amelia to deliver the final blow.

"You should spend some time with Gwen. I know she'd like that." Amelia tells him softly, stroking his arm.

——

Amelia is told by Anne that Arthur has invited Gwen out for a picnic and Amelia pretends to smile and nod as they discuss how this will bring Arthur and Gwen closer to what Amelia had seen in her vision. Amelia really hopes so. Hopefully, Arthur, after they are caught, either backs off from Gwen or gets banished. Both are better than the other alternative.

That night, Morgana gleefully reports that Gwen has asked to be relieved of her duties tomorrow by faking a fever.

The next day, Amelia and Morgana get on their horses and follow Anne, Merlin, and Gwen as they head to the picnic area. Amelia anxiously watches as Merlin, Anne and Gwen approach a distracted Arthur from behind while giggling.

Amelia chews her lip anxiously as Merlin dishes the two women before cupping his hands around his mouth. "Caw! Caw!"

Arthur drops the silver platter he was holding with a crash as he turns around. Gwen and Merlin walk to the stream that separates them from Arthur.

Amelia can't hear what they are saying from a distance but can see how Arthur stares at Gwen, speechless and how Anne leans toward Gwen, making a remark that causes Gwen to chuckle. Amelia feels saddened that she can't join in on the fun.

"Have fun." Merlin is then calling as he leaves. Gwen crosses the stream on stepping stones. Arthur takes her hand as she nears and helps her over.

Amelia feels Morgana glancing at her and turns with a smirk placed on her face and receives one from her sister. They turn and ride off.

——

Morgana and Amelia dine with Uther to fulfil the next part of their plan. Uther pours Morgana's drink at the dining table in the Council Chambers as she sits on his left. Amelia munches on her meal as she sits on his right.

"It's such a beautiful day, I was wondering if you might join us for a ride." Amelia suggests after sharing a knowing look with Morgana.

"I have Council matters to attend to." Uther fondly reminds her as he takes a sip of his drink. Amelia's insides twist in disgust at his tone.

"It's just, we get to spend so little time with you these days." Morgana pushes. "Time together is... so precious to us."

Amelia can see Uther relenting. "You're right. We don't spend enough time together. The Council can wait."

Amelia and Morgana beam at him before they all share a toast. Amelia feels her stomach continue to twist.

——

Amelia's stomach twisting worsens as she, Morgana and Uther leave the Castle walls on their horses.

"I'm glad you persuaded me to come. We must do this again." Uther tells them as they trot along.

"We'd like that very much." Amelia says with a false smile and through clenched teeth.

"Come on, I'll race you the two of you." Just after she says this, Morgana bolts off. Amelia frowns after her sister pettily. She forgets momentarily about why they are doing this and focuses on her sibling competitiveness and charges after with Uther joining in with the race, chuckling.

Amelia falters slightly when she realises they are getting closer. Morgana intentionally falls back to let Uther race ahead, flashing a smile over to Amelia, who quickly beams back though she doesn't feel it.

The three of them burst into the clearing with Uther taking the lead to see Arthur and Gwen breaking their kiss and sitting up startled from where they had been lounging on the blanket and cushions. Gwen gasps in shock.

"Arthur!" Uther exclaims.

Arthur gapes at his father while Gwen looks away in shame. Amelia winces in pity.

——

Arthur fights his father and declares he refuses to comply with his father's demand that he doesn't continue his relationship with Gwen so Uther promptly banishes Gwen. Amelia gets that not only has this happened, but she also helped cause it. Now she hopes that Morgana will leave it alone now.

Amelia stands with Merlin and Anne in Gwen's house as they watch said woman pack for the move.

"There is so much to do." Gwen says casually as she goes back and forth between her bag and the table and the cabinets. Amelia knows she's trying to hold her emotions in and they'll soon break. "I'll have to sell everything I can't take with me. And of course, I need to find a new maid for Morgana."

"Gwen." Merlin tries to interrupt but Gwen continues.

"Do you know anyone suitable?"

"Gwen, stop it." Anne impedes and this time Gwen stops. "Where will you go?"

Gwen slumps onto her bed and shakes her head, holding back tears. "I don't know. I've spent my whole life in Camelot, it's all I know. Everything I care about is here. I have nothing else."

Amelia feels destroyed by her words and sits by her on the bed, stroking her back. "We'll think of something." Gwen nods tearfully.

"We promise." Merlin adds.

Amelia notices Anne giving her a suspicious looking. Amelia internally winces, knowing she'll get a verbal lashing.

——

Amelia steps into Gaius' Chambers along with Merlin and Anne. Gaius isn't in.

"Did you have a hand in this?" Anne demands to know once they are inside. She had been quiet the entire journey between Gwen's house and here. Merlin's eyes flicker between Anne's suspicious look and Amelia's anxious one, probably confused.

"I, um, maybe... I—" Amelia stumbles. She knows she was and why but is struggling to articulate it under pressure.

Realisation dawns on Merlin's face and turns accusingly onto Amelia. "How could you?! Gwen has lost her home and her job because of you!" He exclaims.

Amelia winces and looks at him tearfully. "Because the alternative is much worse!" She retorts.

Merlin goes to reply but as soon as he opens his mouth, Anne stops him. "What do you mean?" She asks calmly.

"You know that dream I had of Gwen being crowned Queen?" Amelia asks. Anne nods. "Well, Morgana had been having it too and we kept on having it to the point that Morgana contacted Morgause, who told us to destroy the relationship between Arthur and Gwen."

"I still don't understand why you helped." Merlin harshly retorts.

"I helped because I knew that not only will my sisters be suspicious of me but if Morgana didn't get Gwen banished, removed from Camelot, she'd get her killed." Amelia argues. "I thought at least with banishment she's still alive, her and Arthur will still be together as Morgana will no longer see her as a threat to her throne. I'm sorry..."

Anne sighs and walks over to rub Amelia's arm. "No, it's alright. We understand. Don't we, Merlin?" She pointedly nudges him.

Merlin is startled from where he had seemed to be lost in thought. "What? Uh, yes, yes, of course." He apologises. He rubs his forehead tiredly. "Sorry, I get why you didn't stop this. You can't stop Morgana when she has her mind on it."

"I hope she won't do anything else." Amelia says.

"She won't. She's got what she wanted." Merlin reassures.

"If you're sure..."

——

Morgana pulls Amelia into the Council Chambers that night. Amelia is immediately concerned to see Uther already there, pacing. Before Amelia can ask what is going on, Gaius walks in.

Amelia's panic grows when Gaius gets handed a poultice that has markings of the Old Religion covering it. She looks at Morgana with a questioning look on her face. Morgana simply smirks and shrugs.

"Is it magical?" Uther asks Gaius.

"I believe so." Gaius replies. "These are the symbols of the Old Religion."

"Could it be used to cast an enchantment?" Uther's line of questioning makes Amelia suspicious as if she wasn't already.

"That would be one use of such a poultice."

"This enchantment, could it cause someone to fall in love?" Amelia's eyes widen as it clicks in for her why Morgana had pulled her here. Morgana is settling it up to look like Gwen has enchanted Arthur to fall in love with her.

"It is entirely possible."

"Where was this found, Sire?" Amelia can't help but ask.

Uther takes the poultice from Gaius. "It was discovered in Arthur's Chambers." He turns to the Guard in the room. "Find Morgana's maid and bring her to me immediately."

Amelia glances at Gaius in alarm. She sees him look suspiciously at Morgana. Uther walks away and Amelia immediately turns on her sister.

"What's this?!" Amelia hisses. "Why didn't you tell me?! And I thought we'd solved the problem."

"I know, I'm sorry, sister. I panicked." Morgana replies quietly. "Arthur had told me how he was going to leave with her then return as King with Gwen as Queen! I couldn't risk it!"

Amelia knows that now Morgana has planted this idea of sorcery into Uther's head, there's nothing she can do. She only hopes that once Gwen is inevitably thrown into the Cells, they'll be able to prove her innocence or help her escape. Amelia wonders if maybe she should have done more to stop this whole thing.

——

The Guards drop Gwen to her knees in front of Uther as he sits in his chair. Uther holds the poultice out in front of her.

"You recognise it?" He questions her.

Gwen looks at the poultice confused before replying, "I've never seen it before in my life."

"Really?" Uther questions disbelievingly. "I believe you planted it in Arthur's Chambers to enchant him." Uther hands the poultice back to a Guard.

"That's not true."

"Why else would Arthur fall in love with someone like you?" Uther harshly retorts as he leans forward, closer to Gwen.

"I don't expect someone like you to understand that." Gwen counters. Uther slaps Gwen across the face with the back of his hand. Amelia and Morgana gasp in shock though Amelia's is more genuine.

"My Lord!" Morgana exclaims, stepping forward and playing the part of a concerned friend. "Gwen has always been a loyal and trusted servant!"

"I have no doubt she's feigned loyalty while using her position to get close to my son." Uther replies, standing and turning to his wards.

The doors open and Arthur storms in with Merlin and Anne following. "What is the meaning of this?!"

Uther takes the poultice again and meets his son in the middle. "This poultice was found under your pillow. Some kind of love charm. You are under its spell."

"Did know about this?!" Amelia hears Merlin ask. She sees him looking at her suspiciously.

Amelia shakes her head as much as she dares with Morgana by her side. "Trust me Merlin. I had no idea."

"That's ridiculous." Arthur retorts to the accusation.

"What would you know?" Uther demands doubtfully.

"Because I know how I feel. I'm not enchanted."

"So can you tell me how it came to be in your room?" Uther questions.

"I don't know, but I don't believe Guinevere put it there."

Uther looks at his son as if he doesn't know who his. "Until its spell is broken, I can't take anything you say as the truth." He says before turning and walking back over to where Gwen sits. "Her father consorted with Sorcerers."

"My father was a good and innocent man and you executed him!" Gwen argues tearfully. Amelia winces when she thinks of that dark day.

"So, you would seek your revenge by enchanting my son?!" Uther yells as he bends down toward her with a finger pointing to Arthur.

"No!"

"My Lord, whatever this poultice is, I don't believe that Gwen is responsible for magic." Gaius intercedes.

"I don't care what you believe, Gaius." Uther persists, now standing straight. "Arthur is under her spell. It's the only rational explanation for his behaviour!" Amelia wants to slap him. Why can't Arthur like a serving girl? Why does Uther, just because he doesn't like the match, comes so easily to the conclusion it's magic?

"Father, you have to see reason. Guinevere has done nothing wrong." Arthur begs.

"She has been found guilty of using magic and enchantments. She will be burnt at the stake." Uther declares and begins walking away by going behind his chair. Amelia gapes in shock.

"No." Arthur moves toward Uther.

"Restrain him!" Uther orders.

Guards grab Arthur as he bolts forward. "You can't do this!"

"My Lord! At least give Gwen a fair trial!" Gaius cries.

"I have all the evidence I need." Uther retorts.

"I'm begging you! W-we will leave Camelot and never return! Just-just let us go!" Arthur begs as he struggles in the Guards' hold. "I relinquish my entitlement to the throne!" Amelia sees Gwen gasp in surprise.

Uther looks at his son in disbelief and slowly walks back over to him. "My son would never do that. It is proof beyond doubt that you are enchanted." He places a hand on Arthur's shoulder. The caring gesture not matching the environment.

"I will never forgive you for this." Arthur declares.

"She will die. The enchantment will be broken. You'll see I was right." As he speaks, Uther's hand gravitates to Arthur's cheek and he nods as if agreeing with himself. "Take her away." Uther withdraws his hand from Arthur and leaves.

Arthur begins struggling again. "No! Guinevere!"

Gwen begins to panic as Guards pick her up off the floor. "Arthur! No! Arthur, please...!" The Guards drag Gwen backwards toward the door. Amelia watches with wide tearful eyes.

"No!" Arthur breaks away from the Guards. He runs to Gwen and grabs her from the Guards. Arthur kisses her until the other Guards pull him away.

"I will always love you!" Arthur declares.

The Guards continue to drag Gwen out backwards. Arthur struggles against the Guards in vain. Morgana pulls Amelia out of her despair and pulls her out of the room, smirking.

——

The next day, they are already building the pyre. Amelia gets rid of her Morgana shaped shadow and goes to visit Gwen. She brings a platter to Gwen's Cell. Gwen stands as Amelia enters.

"I thought you might be hungry." She says as she puts it down.

"I can't even think of eating." Gwen dismisses. Amelia doesn't blame her. "How is Arthur?"

Amelia swallows, thinking of the despondent Prince she had seen just before coming here. "He wants me to let you know that he will do everything he can to convince Uther that you're innocent." Gwen nods at her words and turns away tearfully. "He won't stop until you're released."

"You and I both know that Uther will not change his mind. When I am gone, will you take care of him for me, Amelia?"

"No," Amelia argues, "you can't give up hope. There is still time." Time for her to fix this mess she's helped create.

Gwen turns to look at her doubtfully. "To do what?"

"I don't know yet, but—" Gwen sighs and walks away but Amelia steps after her. "No, believe me, Gwen."

It is then that Gwen turns around and a dark look crosses her face.

"What is it?" Amelia asks.

"I know who planted that poultice." Gwen confesses.

Amelia's eyes widen. Does this mean Gwen knows? "Who is it?" What does Gwen know?

Gwen steps around Amelia to check to see if Guards are near and then faces Amelia. "After I was sentenced to death, I was being led out. I looked back. I swear, Morgana was smiling. You must believe me, don't you? Gaius told me about you spying on Morgana when I saw her do magic."

Amelia panics at her words before realising that Gwen doesn't know about Amelia's own magic so she's safe for now.

"No, I..." Amelia begins to say but hears footsteps approaching. "...do believe sh..." A Guard opens the Cell door.

"I can no longer trust her." Gwen whispers urgently. "I've started to wonder if it wasn't a coincidence that you, Uther and Morgana found us in the woods."

Amelia leaves and the Guard locks the Cell.

——

"Morgana was the one that planted the poultice." Amelia informs Gaius, Merlin, and Anne in the Physician's Chambers. "Morgana told me herself and Gwen suspects as well." She looks accusingly at Merlin. "I told you Morgana was up to something!"

Merlin looks down shamefully. "I know..." He mumbles.

"Morgana? Uther'll never believe that Morgana's responsible." Gaius points out.

"Perhaps Arthur will talk him 'round." Anne argues unsurely though Amelia can see she doesn't even believe herself.

"Uther thinks Arthur's enchanted." Amelia argues. "He will only believe that anything that Arthur says or does is part of that. We need to think of something else to save Gwen."

"If we can't expose the true Sorcerer," Merlin thinks aloud, "then we must invent one." His tone and the gleam in his eye makes Amelia nervous. What's his plan this time?

"What do you mean?" She asks.

A smile spreads across his face. "What if a Sorcerer was caught planting an identical poultice in Arthur's Chambers? Uther would've no choice but to release Gwen." He runs up the steps to his room.

"And do you know of a Sorcerer who's stupid enough to get caught doing such a thing?" Gaius demands to know.

Merlin spins around. "Me." Merlin pulls the magic book out from the floorboards under his bed and sits on it, flicking through the pages while the others watch him. "So, if I disguise myself, it won't matter if I'm caught. I can use magic to escape, and then just change back into myself. They'll think that the Sorcerer has just vanished into thin air."

"But won't at least Arthur recognise you, no matter how you disguise yourself." Amelia questions.

"Not if I'm eighty years old." Merlin mimics an old croaky voice.

Anne looks at him in alarm. "An ageing spell?!"

"Merlin, ageing spells are notoriously difficult and unpredictable." Gaius warns him worriedly. "If the spell doesn't hold, you'll be exposed."

"If I don't do something, Gwen's going to die, and I'm not going to let that happen." Merlin persists. Amelia's shoulders slump when she realises this is their only option.

"What can we do?" Anne asks him.

"Can you make a poultice identical to the one found in Arthur's Chambers?"

"Well, I believe so." Gaius replies. "With Anne and Amelia's help."

"Okay."

——

They are finishing tying a poultice. Amelia hears footsteps coming down the steps from Merlin's room. Her jaw drops at the sight of Old Merlin exiting his Chamber. Old Merlin makes grunting noises.

"You three know me better than anyone. Do you recognise me?" Merlin asks.

Gaius stands and looks at him closely. "There's something of you in the eyes. But perhaps that's just because I know it's you."

Merlin turns to look at himself in a mirror. "I can't believe that one day I will actually look like this." He then looks at Anne. "Will you still love me like this?"

Anne smiles softly and kisses him on the cheek. "Of course."

Merlin then begins groaning and stretching. "Ah! I ache, all over."

"Ah. Well, now you know how I feel." Gaius remarks.

Amelia huffs in amusement before handing Merlin the poultice. "You'll be needing this."

——

Amelia, Gaius, and Anne had left Merlin to enact the plan and instead joins a Council meeting in the Council Chambers along with Uther, Morgana, and other Council members.

Uther is going over documents with Council members when Arthur walks in. Amelia's eyes widen in alarm when she sees Old Merlin being dragged in by Guards behind Arthur.

"Father." Arthur greets.

"Arthur." Uther takes in the old man behind his son. "Who is this?"

"He is the Sorcerer." Arthur hands Uther the poultice Gaius, Anne and Amelia made. "I found him placing this under my pillow."

"Is this true?" Uther asks doubtfully.

"Yes." Merlin replies.

Amelia can see Morgana is confused and Amelia places a similar expression on her own face as she shares a look with her sister.

"What did you hope to achieve with this enchantment?"

"If Arthur were to fall in love with a lowly serving girl, it would bring shame on Camelot." Merlin 'explains'.

"Have I wronged you in some way, old man?" Uther asks. Amelia tries not to glare at the man. How delusional is this man that he doesn't understand why Sorcerers, people he has hunted and persecuted, are rising against him?

This is Merlin's chance to really say what's on his mind. Amelia braces herself. "You have wronged so many people in so many ways. You're blinded by your hatred of magic. You have tortured and executed innocent people." His voice raises. "You, Uther Pendragon, are a stupid, arrogant old tyrant!"

The Knights step forward in defence of their King and Arthur is the one that speaks. "You will hold your tongue!"

Merlin turns his anger and frustration into Arthur. "And you. Oh, I have heard how you... mistreat your servants! They do everything for you, but do they ever get any thanks? No! You're a spoiled arrogant brat with the brains of a donkey and the face," he hiccups and coughs, spitting in Arthur's face, "of a toad." Guards pull Merlin away from Arthur. Amelia tries not to laugh at his rant but in the process chokes on her own spit causing Morgana to turn to her in concern but Amelia quickly waves her off.

Uther closes his eyes in disbelief. "This serving girl. She is your accomplice?" He really is trying to get Gwen executed. Clinging to the hope he is right.

Merlin shakes his head. "I enchanted her too. The girl is entirely innocent."

"My Lord, he has confessed." Arthur declares eagerly. Amelia rolls her eyes. How is he saying anything helpful?

Uther sulks and picks up the poultice. "Release the girl. Tomorrow at dawn you will take your place on the pyre. Take him away."

Arthur and the Guards escort Merlin to the Dungeons. Amelia, Anne, Morgana, and Gaius follow to watch them in the Phoenix Corridor.

"Do you know that man, Gaius?" Morgana questions.

"I've never seen him before." Gaius says innocently. "Is there something troubling you, Morgana? I would've thought you'd be relieved that the true culprit's been found."

Morgana snaps out of her confused state. "Of course I am." She hurriedly walks away, dragging Amelia with her.

Amelia glances over her shoulder at Anne and Gaius, sharing a worried look. It's great they've been able to free Gwen, but how are they going to help Merlin?

——

Morgana had been anxious and frantic about how 'their' plans are seemingly falling apart, but Amelia had been able to calm her by arguing that they can't risk acting now as it may blow their cover. It seems Morgana actually listens to her.

Merlin had been caught because he was unable to break the spell and so is stuck in his old man form. However, Gaius has a plan. There's a book of Gala where there is an antidote to undo it.

Amelia joins Anne and Gaius to brew the potion. The three of them stay up all night, trying to get it to the right colour. Eventually, with some unintentional naps, they finish the anti-ageing potion. They are heading towards the Dungeons when they see Old Merlin already being escorted to his execution by Arthur and some Guards.

"Oh no, what do we do?" Anne frantically asks.

"We'll get it to him." Gaius reassures. "We just need to be in the Main Square."

"You do that," Amelia says, already walking away from them. "I need to get to the Balcony or I'll be missed."

——

Amelia quickly brushes her hair and slips on a different dress and rushes to join Uther and Morgana on the Balcony.

"Where have you been?!" Morgana harshly hisses. Amelia can see she’s still a bit distressed over what is happening though if she knew that Merlin is the one about to be burnt, she’d probably be jumping for joy.

"Do not worry." Amelia reassures. "I'm here now." Just as she finishes, the drum roll begins. Amelia tenses and looks over the Balcony to see the crowd gathered around the pyre. Merlin emerges from the Castle, flanked by Guards, and is escorted towards the pyre with Arthur leading.

They stop just before it and Uther begins speaking, "You have been found guilty of using magic and enchantments. In accordance with our law, you will be burned at the stake. Let this serve as a lesson to all those who seek to destroy Camelot."

Amelia sees Gaius and Anne weave through the crowd and Merlin glance towards them.

Suddenly, Merlin turns at lunges at Gaius and, hopefully, grabs the potion in the process. "A curse upon you all!" Merlin yells at Gaius. The Guards quickly pull him away. Merlin looks up to the Balcony and continues yelling, "I will have my revenge!"

The Guards shove Merlin towards the pyre while Arthur checks on Gaius and Anne. Then, without warning, though depending on who you ask, the pyre bursts into huge flames. Everyone pulls back and Merlin, now free, pushes through the crowd.

"After him!" Arthur yells.

Amelia goes back inside with Morgana and Uther, but in the commotion, slips away to try and find Merlin.

She follows Arthur and the Guards into the Phoenix Corridor. Amelia sees Arthur turn the corner. She's about to lunge forward in panic but then hears Arthur speak.

"Merlin, where's the Sorcerer?"

Amelia walks up to stand beside Arthur and finds young Merlin in an enclave with the red robe he had been wearing as an old man tucked behind his back. She sighs internally with relief.

"He w..." Merlin begins speaking with a gravelly voice then coughs and clears his throat. "Erm... he went that way." Merlin points to the wall behind him.

"Merlin, that's a wall..." Amelia murmurs amusedly.

"Oh..."

Arthur looks at his servant in disbelief and turns to the Guards. "Sound the warning bell. Search the entire palace. I want him found." The Guards leave to do just that and Arthur turns on his servant. "Are you telling me you let him run straight past you?"

"He was- he was- he was too fast for me." Merlin mumbles. He seems to be pulling and testing out his skin.

"He's a doddery old man." Arthur points out. "This is what happens when you spend all day in the Tavern."

What?

"What?" Merlin voices in confusion.

"Perhaps mucking out my horses will help sober you up," Arthur says condescendingly accompanied by a matching pat on the cheek for Merlin.

Merlin looks at Amelia while he still twists his face, getting used to the new skin.

She shrugs. "I have no idea."

——

Amelia and Morgana enter the latter's Chambers to find Gwen gathering the dirty laundry.

Amelia slumps in relief at the sight of the maidservant, who turns around with a small smile.

"Gwen!" She runs over and gathers Gwen into a hug. Gwen chuckles and hugs her back.

"Amelia..." Amelia turns to see Morgana wearing a fake cheery smile.

"Oh, sorry." She steps aside and watches Morgana give Gwen a fake hug.

"I can't tell you how relieved I am that you've been pardoned." Morgana tells her former friend. Amelia can tell by Gwen's face that she knows it's insincere. They share a suspicious look.

Morgana pulls back. "I, we, begged Uther to release you, but he wouldn't listen to reason." Amelia purses her lips behind Morgana's back. Amelia had actually helped to free Gwen while Morgana did nothing. It hurts Amelia that this is the state that their former best friends' friendship has turned into.

"I'm sure you did all you could." Gwen says, going along with it for now. "I..." Gwen indicates the laundry basket. Morgana nods and lets her go. Gwen shares a genuine smile with Amelia as she exits.

Still confused, Morgana closes the dividing door and turns.

"What do we do now?" Morgana questions. "Our plans..."

"It's okay, sister." Amelia says reassuringly. "We've put a halt to their relationship for now. They won't dare do anything now Uther is watching."

"I hope you're right." Morgana says then smirks. "Besides all we have to do is get rid of Arthur then our worries are for naught."

Amelia shares false dark smirks with her sister. There's no way Amelia will ever let her sister succeed.

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

[beautifulsnake2162020]

The Vitulation Cycle: An Arthuriana fanfiction (King Arthur x OC and Arthur x Guinevere x Lancelot) CHAPTER 9: LANCELOT PART II

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction I do not make any money from this. Cultist Simulator elements belongs to the Weather Factory, House of the Dragon/Game of thrones elements belongs to George RR Martin and Arthuriana while generally regarded as under the public domain, it comes from the culture of Britain.

Chapter 9: Lancelot Part II

"He's still alive." Morgan's voice tells you coldly as she walks past you.

"How do you know?"

"Because if he wasn't the mages who don't like him wouldn't hesitate to tell me." She walks away leaving no room for further questions. It was probably her way of reassuring you that Arthur was still out there. You have made a vow to treat all women with kindness but as much as you have tried, you can admit to yourself that you and Morgan do not get along. You've always been more drawn to warmer people such as Guinevere and Arthur. Gwaine was your closest friend among the knights, and was one of the warmest people in court.

"Lancelot there's no point in worrying about our king. Merlin doesn't seem bothered, Morgan still glares at you and Guinevere, I'm sure Arthur is fine." He says as the two of you prepare to train with the other knights. Your worries must be evident if even Gwaine is telling you not to worry.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"For one thing you're not as much of a peacock as you were when Arthur was here."

"Oh now you are exaggerating." You couldn't help but chuckle as he gives you a look in disbelief.

But then he gives you a smirk.

"You know - I think you're right, you're not a peacock anymore because Arthur is not around."

"What are you talking about?!"

"I'm just starting to realize that all your bragging and teasing was just your way of trying to impress Arthur. Because now that he is not here, there's no one for you to impress."

"You are mistaken!"

"Am I Lancelot?"

All you could do is roll your eyes. Just because he was right doesn't mean he needed to know that. Nevertheless you tease him back in thanks for making you forget about your worries for awhile.

"I worry too." Guin tells you as the two of you lay side by side in her bed.

"Everyone tells me that my worries are for nothing. It is not that I don't have faith in Arthur, but it is because my heart desires to be by his side. I know this is a quest he must do on his own, and yet I want to be there so he won't be alone." You say as you gently caress her body. Not to arouse but in seeking comfort. You and Guin had more moments like these than just simply relieving physical urges. No one else knew what's it like to have a king as a lover. No one else knew the burden of the uncertainty of him never coming back.

And yet you knew he loved you and Guin and everyone else so much that he wouldn't hesitate to return to Camelot. Maybe he was on his way back to Camelot and you just didn't know it.

"I know, but no matter how long it takes for him to return, we have our duties to Camelot. We can't allow his work here to go to waste. I know it may not seem much, but it is what we can do while we wait."

You sigh as you feel yourself relieved as you can be in her embrace.

"You're right. Thank you Guin."

"You're welcome my love. Let's rest now Lancelot, perhaps tomorrow he will return to us at last."

He did not return to Camelot.

He did not return to you yet.

But nevertheless you receive word from Bedivere that King Mark and his troops were seeking shelter and asylum. There was a spy among them and several of their supplies and strategic spots were sabotaged by the Saxons. Several of his best troops were already busy in Cornwall's coastal region while he had initially thought the battleground within the landlocked area that was protecting Cornwall and Camelot would be an easier fight to win. Instead it was a trap made by the Saxons, their spies and their allies to trap him. His only safe recourse was to temporarily seek asylum and shelter in Camelot which was the nearest safe haven from the Saxons.

Once you and Guin saw the condition Mark was in, things became even more dire.

"Uncle you must stay in bed."

"Not now Tristan I need to make sure everyone-"

"Everyone is fine uncle. For my sake please stay in bed you are bleeding from several places. I'm not ready to be king of Cornwall uncle." That finally convinced Mark to settle down as Merlin and Seren, the court herbalist, treated his wounds. Merlin casted a spell that helped stop the bleeding and allowed them to examine the wounds more closely.

"The wounds are infected, Merlin do you have the maggots?"

"Right here."

"What do you two think you are doing?!"

"Trust them uncle it's surprisingly effective. Lancelot here can attest to it when he got a deep gash from an arrow one time."

"It is true your majesty. It will feel strange but the maggots only eat at the dead and infected flesh. If it weren't for them I perhaps would not still be alive today."

"Are you ready your majesty?" Seren asks as she and Merlin bring out several jars of maggots.

"Fine, do it quickly so I won't have time to change my mind! Lancelot please distract me, where's Arthur?"

"Arthur is still on his quest for the Grail your majesty."

"How come it seems all the knights are here?"

"It was mandated that Arthur find the Grail on his own."

"Without any protection?"

"Uncle calm down and stay still. The maggots are in place and they will be bandaging you up now."

"Your majesty don't worry he has Excalibur with him and sufficient resources."

"And it was mandated by the magical being that bestowed the quest told us all that Arthur must find the Grail alone."

"Oh"

"Can you sit up for us please?"

"Of course Merlin. Well how long has Arthur been gone?"

"He's been gone for about one year now your majesty. Hopefully his location in Albania will finally give him the Grail."

"Albania? For bloody sake that may take another year for him to return Grail or not. And with the Saxons possibly having an alliance with those Scandinavian raiders - um Tristan what are they called again?"

"Vikings uncle."

"Thank you, with a possible alliance between the Saxons and some Vikings I hope all our arms and resources are enough to hold them off and drive them out."

"We're all done your majesty." Seren says as she ties the last bandage and cleans her hands in a basin with soap and water.

"May I walk now?"

"Your majesty your body needs to recover!"

"But Merlin I'm hungry, and there is so much for us to discuss."

"Why don't we have dinner here uncle? We'll bring the food and everyone who needs to be present in here so you won't need to get off bed."

"He should be resting Tristan. But if your uncle needs to eat I shall personally see to his dinner to ensure he could be eating his medicine." Seren says as she briskly walks out of the tent. Presumably to make Mark's dinner in the makeshift tent used for cooking. Because of the urgency of his wounds several camps were set up with many healers rushing to the outskirts of Camelot to heal the wounded. Your plan is to have them treat the most urgent wounds immediately with makeshift shelter for the meantime before they move in to the accommodations being prepared for them by Guin and Kay back in the castle.

"Tristan, please tell my men that we'll be having a meeting in here."

"Couldn't you rest your majesty? Your men are probably wounded and tired. Several like you are in need of rest before further discussions regarding the Saxons." Merlin says as he begins packing up his tools.

"Please uncle, Cornwall needs you right now. Listen to Merlin and Seren they know what they are doing."

"It will also be getting dark soon your majesty, your head will be clearer after a night of rest."

"Very well, Tristan tell the men that after they break their fast tomorrow they are to come to this tent so we may continue discussing our new plans regarding the Saxons. Sir Lancelot please inform her majesty Queen Guinevere that I would like her and your fellow knights to join in. I don't really know who is in charge of Camelot's arms so I'll just have everyone attend."

"You know your majesty you and your men will be moving inside the castle by midday tomorrow. We can have the meeting in court."

"You're all just trying to make sure I get a long rest!"

"Your majesty I could assure you that it is more about practicality." He seemed convinced by that and leaned back in with a huff.

"Oh very well if you all insist."

"Don't worry uncle I'll be sure to inform your men about the arrangement."

"Thank you Tristan, I'll see you and everyone tomorrow sir Lancelot. Thank you for your accommodating us on such a short notice."

"You're welcome your majesty. Have a good night's rest." You give him a bow before exiting his tent and travel back to the castle as the night became darker and the light of the night time fires light the way for the first half of the night. It wasn't until you laid yourself to rest that you realized how exhausted you were.

For a few hours.

"Lancelot get up. We are under attack!" Mordred says as he knocks on your door.

"Here Mordred here's the key."

"Are you sure he won't mind Gwaine?"

"I'm up! I'm up!" You say as you quickly dress and arm yourself as fast as you can.

"Any idea who's attacking us?"

"The good news is that it is not the Saxons or the Vikings." Mordred says as the three of you head toward Guinevere's room.

"The bad news is that it is an unknown enemy. And one none of us have dealt with before."

"Where are King Mark and his troops?"

"Kay and Ector has already organized them to take refuge inside the walls. While they are currently leading the defense against our attacker they are currently being escorted to the castle, especially the ones still heavily wounded or need rest for their healing."

"Any idea why they are attacking us?"

"None, our lookouts just began noticing arrows being fired from nowhere. They immediately went to help King Mark and his troops rush inside Camelot."

"If I may sir Lancelot and sir Gwaine, I have a theory that this might be a raid attack or a large group of bandits who think they have a chance against Camelot. They don't have some of the advanced weaponry that an army normally has."

"Good observation Mordred. Although just because they do not have the dangerous weapons we knights are used to, that does not mean they should be underestimated."

"Indeed, Lancelot here has shown that he can still be deadly with just a shield alone."

The three of you arrive at Guinevere's door just as she steps out decently dressed given the circumstances in the middle of the night. Still as beautiful as ever though her hair was more tousled than she would have preferred to appear in court.

"Has anyone seen Merlin?"

"He is in his tower your majesty. I don't know what he is doing but he demands not to be disturbed."

"I see, and how are we coping?"

"Based on the reports arriving, we are holding up well."

"Hmm, let's have our reserves ready just in case. Has anyone asked our attackers who they are?"

"Sirs Ector and Bedivere have made several attempts but they refuse to respond."

The four of you now find yourselves in the part of the castle that was serving as temporary shelter to King Mark and his other wounded soldiers who needed to rest.

"Queen Guinevere, I've already ordered my men who are still able bodied to assist Camelot's arms in this surprise attack."

"Thank you King Mark -"

"Uncle, Queen Guinevere I found out who our attackers are!"

"Tristan not so loud! There are people trying to sleep for bloody sakes."

"Sorry Uncle." Tristan says as he breathes heavily from running to you.

"Breathe Tristan, who are attacking us?"

"Witch hunters sir Lancelot. They said that Camelot is no golden city for using magic and that they will only stop if we give them Merlin, Morgan…" He then becomes worried.

"…and Queen Guinevere."

Damn them.

"But I'm not a mage! Nor do I have any magical powers."

"I know your majesty but that is what they believe in. They believe that all uses of magic are wrong and against the way of things."

"Tristan how do you know they are witch hunters?" You ask in earnest.

"They have made a pyre and have kept chanting that they shall be blest for killing all magic. When I was first travelling to Camelot to become one of King Arthur's knights, they were attacking a group of travelling women whom they believed to be witches but were just herbalists. The men I fought that day are the same ones shooting arrows on our walls. They're using their hatred to justify any crimes they commit."

"Those bastards! They are lucky they are not in Cornwall if I have anything I could do about it!"

"Uncle please stay!"

"Lancelot are our archers there?"

"Yes your majesty."

"Good. Tristan who else is here among the members of the round table and who are on the front lines?"

"Within here, there's also sir Percival, sir Yvain, sir Dagonet and sir Bors. On the frontlines there is also sir Gaheris, Agravain, Gareth, Lamorak and Griflet."

"Tell sir Bors to ready the reserves. A part of the reserves for the front the other for protection of the citizens in Camelot. Assign the part of the reserves defending Camelot's citizens to sir Yvain and the reserves for the frontlines to whomever is free among those you've mentioned. If all of them are in the battlefield then you'll be in charge of it. Understood?"

"Yes sir Lancelot."

Fortunately the reserves weren't needed as the witch hunters had to retreat.

And Gaheris and Agravain were able to get some prisoners for interrogation.

"Based on what we've found on their person and from the prisoners themselves have confirmed what sir Tristan has already informed us. They seek the elimination of all things magical because they believe of its inherent unfairness between those who can wield it and those who cannot." Sir Kay says in all seriousness. Even more so than usual when every now and then he too would love a joke here and there. But that was nowhere to be found now.

"Additionally we have found that there is something they are looking for. We don't know what it is but it has something to do with something called the Targaryens."

Hairs stood at the back of your neck.

"Wait - isn't Arthur's first wife a Targaryen? Daenara?" Sir Bedivere asks.

"The same one who may possibly the Grail if she is still alive." Sir Percival confirms. His tone indicating that he too just came to that realization.

"Is that why the witch hunters attacked Camelot?"

"No your majesty, they believed that if they killed you, Morgan and Merlin they would be making a good example of returning the world back to fairness. Their search for Targaryens were a part of their orders from their leader to kill without mercy. Every man, woman, and child who were born into the Targaryens."

"Why?" Your love was as disturbed as you were.

"We don't know, my Queen."

You catch a glimpse of Morgan's face. Still cold as ever, but you could detect the faintest hint of sadness in her. From what you could gather she was rather close to Daenara. Was she worried about her? Could this mean that whatever secret Morgan and Arthur promised not to share could be the very thing that was making them targets by the witch hunters? Or perhaps they were both sworn to secrecy precisely because of this and this was their way of protecting the remaining Targaryens out there.

"Morgan? Any thoughts?" Guinevere asks gently, knowing that this was a sensitive subject for Morgan despite their differences with each other.

"This would explain why the Targaryens went into hiding shortly after they were attacked after my brother, Daenara and I left the commune."

"Does it have anything to do with what you and Arthur could not tell us?" Agravain asks in earnest.

"Possibly, until we know more we cannot be sure. The secret that Arthur and I are bound not to tell is one of the most precious resources in the magical community for a good reason. It's logical that anyone who hates and actively wants to end magic would be after the eradication of all Targaryens."

"What secret could possibly involve all Targaryens? If they were after only the men and the women I would understand, but to include killing the children?" Yvain was right, what secret could possibly involve all and anyone born of the Targaryens?

And then an epiphany came from the least expected person.

"Lady Morgan - it is their blood isn't it?" Sir Dagonet says as he looks straight at her. Morgan stays her cold unmoving self despite this inquiry.

"Their blood? Sir Dagonet what are you thinking? Now is not the time to be foolish!"

"Sir Bedivere think about it. If it is not their blood why are the witch hunters hunting down everyone born into the Targaryen family? Why not include their spouses or their relatives who are not Targaryen by blood? Their blood is so important that it even plays a role in their wedding tradition as Arthur had explained to us the significance of the wedding goblet. I don't know what their blood has to do with magic, but it must be so important that they are being hunted down by the witch hunters."

"…I never thought I would say this but you have a point Dagonet." You say in a mix of astonishment and worry. Astonishment, because of all the members of the round table you had all thought Dagonet to be one of the court's entertainers. It was moments like these that showed not only his closeness to your beloved but also that you should not have doubted his choice in making Dagonet a part of the brotherhood of the roundtable.

And you were worried because now with the new insight of why the Targaryens are in hiding and if it is true that Daenara could be the Grail, you were worried that Arthur might be too late and she may have passed at the hands of the witch hunters.

No

You can't afford to think like that.

If Daenara is the Grail, somehow someway Arthur will return to Camelot with her. Perhaps this is why he was ordered to do this quest alone. Perhaps it was to save her and her family from being hunted down.

That night after King Mark and his troops have healed significantly and thus made their way back to Cornwall you would send a prayer to your mother asking her to guard over Arthur and to safely bring him and whomever the Grail was back home to Camelot.

[watchtowerindistress]

are you falling for me...? (1/2) - arthur pendragon x guinevere!reader

A/N: Another one! Damn, Arthur is such a banter machine. Excuse the few times when I didn’t use time-appropriate wording. I don’t know when I’m going to post the second part since inspiration has been hindered by my schedule. Still working on the draft outline.

Summary: Imagine meeting Arthur for the first time who is claiming you already as the love of his life aka his future wife. 

Arthur Pendragon - the most infuriating man in all of Camelot who knew of his effect on women. As if you didn't already knew how his abdominal muscles looked. The destined King tended to take his shirt off in your presence any chance he could get after all.

Pairing: Arthur Pendragon x fem!reader (Lady Guinevere, no body description)

Warning: puns, sexual undertones, mention of smut, language, blood

Words: 3.2k

Series Masterlist | Read on AO3 | Get tagged

“So, what’s the plan?”

Arthur and Bedivere rode on horseback side-by-side through the forest.

“We need to acquire the help of someone who can hide in the shadows. Manipulate the minds of people. A fighter and a spy.”

Arthur turned his head in fascination at the vague description. “You’re not talking about the mage then?” He chuckled. “I’m guessing you have someone in mind already?”

“Indeed. This could prove to be quite difficult though. If they don’t kill us first.”

Arthur turned his head sharply at the ominous warning. He smiled wryly. “How wonderful. And here I thought I would die while inside of a beautiful woman and not surrounded by trees.”

“Quiet,” his friend muttered strictly.

Arthur snorted. “Don’t be a prude, Bedivere.”

“Stop talking and halt your horse.”

Arthur grunted loudly. An arrow whizzed in front of his horse’s feet. With a stunned reaction, Arthur’s eyes went downwards before he pulled the reins. The horse whinnied in reaction and her legs jumped in the air. Arthur tried soothing the horse by stroking the skin and quietly muttering, “Easy, girl. Steady.”

Arthur turned his head towards Bedivere with cynicism in his eyes. “Is this person really your friend?”

“I never said anything about friends. More like friend of a friend.”

Arthur didn’t like the nonchalant tone in his voice since Bedivere wasn’t known for it. “You’re not exactly instilling a lot of confidence, my friend.”

Bedivere raised his voice when he called out into the greenery. “We mean you no harm.”

In demonstration, Bedivere lifted his hand and carefully stepped off his horse. With his expressive eyes, Bedivere indicated for Arthur to do the same. “We just want to talk.”

Arthur sighed before he followed suit. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he uttered into a whisper that soon shifted into a hiss. “I’m not getting shot with an arrow for you.”

“Please ignore my companion. We need your help,” Bedivere continued, as if he hadn’t heard him.

Arthur only heard the rustling sound once a hooded archer jumped down from one of the tree’s branches. They tilted their head before pointing a nocked arrow towards Arthur.

He snarled at the threat they displayed and didn’t appreciate the insult. “Tell your friend to stop threatening me with the pointy sticks.”

“You’re the one posing a threat with the sword,” he explained. Bedivere sent him a nonplussed expression. “What? I’m only carrying my daggers.”

The archer’s eyes lingered on Excalibur which he was carrying at his waist. The hood shrouded their features in darkness, he could merely detect a dark-green paint underneath their eyes and along the cheeks.

Yet, he couldn’t help being a brazen bastard when he smirked. “Are you impressed with my giant weapon?”

His hooded opponent exhaled an aggravated groan. Arthur frowned when the sound stirred something in his breeches.

They unsheathed their hidden blade. Stepping closer, they pointed the sharp end towards Arthur’s face.

Not liking where this was going, Arthur nervously reached for his sword and clenched his jaw. He tilted his head back and the corners of his mouth twisted into a snarl.

“In your dreams,” a female voice answered.

Arthur frowned as soon as he realized that he was facing a woman. He tilted his head to gaze under the hood and discerned soft lips.

It still confused him that his manhood twitched at the anticipation of being threatened with a sword by a woman.

“Why are you wearing men’s pants?” he blurted out.

You furrowed your eyebrows and dropped the hood of your cloak with your free hand, revealing the green camouflage around the eyes and your braided hair over your shoulder.

Arthur’s hand loosened from his sheath before he opened his mouth, feeling utterly speechless.

“I’m pointing a very sharp blade to your face. Are these really the last words you want to utter before you die? Perhaps you’d prefer those pointy sticks instead?”

Bedivere, ever the diplomat, raised his palms while standing between them. “No one’s killing anyone today.” When he didn’t see you revert back from your threatening stance, he continued, “You really intend to kill the next King of England before can even fulfil his destiny?”

You slightly lowered your blade in astonishment. “You’re Arthur?”

“Have we met before, love?” Arthur felt fascinated by this creature and his face lit up.

You exhaled before glancing at Bedivere in heavy disappointment. “Are you sure that I can’t just kill him? I would do us all a favour.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes. His arms tensed at his waist. “What did I ever do to hurt you? We just met.”

Frowning in confusion, you turned back to Bedivere. You placed the blade back into the sheath at your waist. “Why are you here?”

“We need your help, Lady Guinevere.”

You sighed wearily. “Did Merlin send you?”

Bedivere quietly nodded.

“Well, great. Not like I have a choice, do I?” You turned to Arthur, feeling confused by his silence. “Anything else you have to say?”

Arthur looked up, knowing he had been staring at your body in great appreciation. He swallowed thickly. His Adam’s apple bobbed with the motion. “… You have really … beautiful eyes. You know … the green paint makes them really, you know, … shine.”

Arthur could feel Bedivere look at him in a mixture of shock and puzzlement.

The mission went as expected. The fact that Arthur was the one who planned it shouldn’t have surprised you. Especially that he was forced to improvise when him and his rebel friends were confronted with a few Blacklegs.

You merely sighed and nocked an arrow into your bow and let it loose. The hand holding his sword was penetrated before a pained roar echoed on the streets. Apparently, Bedivere wasn’t wrong in utilizing you as a backup to save Arthur’s hide.

You stepped into the cave. After seeing the mage by the fireplace who stirred a green-ish paste with a mortar and pestle, you muttered sarcastically over the woman’s shoulder, “Smells delightful.”

“Not all things to cure your ailments taste like rainbows.”

You whispered, “Of course you’d know what a rainbow tastes like. What’s it for?” You watched her work while cowering on the ground.

“Arthur,” she muttered back. “This way his shoulder won’t get infected.”

“Ah, that mace came out of nowhere,” you explained almost defensively that you weren’t able to fully keep Arthur safe.

“Do you mind bringing it to him at the lake?”

Her gaze remained on the mash without facing you.

You narrowed your eyes and stood upright again. “I’m not a healer.”

“But you still know how to bandage a wound, don’t you?”

Mistrust rose in you. The mage was always known in taking care of the future King.

“Got something better to do?”

“Actually, yes. I’m awfully cold, I think I’d rather stay by the fire. Keep myself warm,” the mage answered innocently.

“I know what you’re doing, mage, and I don’t appreciate it,” you hissed darkly.

The mage lifted the mortar like a small present over your shoulder. “Wonderful. Love the initiative.”

You heaved a sigh while you strolled along the riverbank. The exhaling breath turned heavier as soon as you saw Arthur sitting in the distance.

His back was turned towards you. A huge gulp was taken from the bottle of alcohol before he shoved it back into the sand with circular motions.

“Keep some of that.” You notified your presence.

At the sound of your voice behind him, Arthur turned his body in surprise.

The blond man wrestled the bottle out of the sand and gave it away willingly. He smirked lecherously. “When did I get so lucky to have you take care of me?”

“Or unlucky. I have a blade to ward off any unwanted hands, you know.”

“I wouldn’t say ‘unwanted’, princess,” Arthur mumbled with a gravelly voice.

You exhaled at hearing his constant flirting. “Take off your undergarment.”

Arthur sent you a surprised smirk. “Well, hello. You’re a bit fast for me. What happened to foreplay?”

“My King,” you hissed mockingly. “Take off your chemise or I’ll do it for you.”

Arthur chuckled. “You’re making me blush, Princess. You know I’m all yours-”

With harsh movements of your wrist, you wrestled with Arthur’s clothing.

“Uh - God damn it - you - not so rough.” Arthur exhaled as soon as he was freed from his undergarment and his upper body was naked to your eyes.

The moment it was bare, and the wound was visible, you realized that it would have sufficed to pull it at his shoulder a bit. Either you wanted to ogle him or torture him with your rugged manner. And imagining the first option was far too frightening to imagine.

Wet hair clung to Arthur’s forehead. The carnal image was a pure distraction.

“You have a terrible bedside manner,” he grumbled.

“Then I guess you need to be careful not to get hurt again.” Wetting the linen clothing with the water of the lake, you cleaned his wound until a nasty cut remained. You dipped the material back in the water to get rid of the spare blood.

Arthur whispered softly, “Oh, are you falling for me, my love? Careful, your true feelings are showing.”

You reciprocated Arthur’s gaze without blinking. You cleared your throat. Absentmindedly, you doused the linen clothing with alcohol. Without warning, you pushed the garment mercilessly against Arthur’s bloodied skin.

A pained groan left his lips before Arthur closed his eyes. “Damn you, woman. Let me.” He pressed the linen against his skin himself unless he wanted to get tortured further.

“Judging by the scars on your body, I’d imagine you knew a lot about pain already.”

Arthur gazed back at you. “I knew you’ve been admiring my body after all.” He smirked and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

You revealed the mortar with the green paste. “Whatever helps you sleep better at night.”

“Truth be told, you could me help with-” His nose wrinkled once the smell hit him. “What the hell’s that?”

“Courtesy of our mage.” Two fingers smeared with the spread before you rubbed it on his injured shoulder. “It’s supposed to activate the healing process, save it from infection. It would be a shame for the born King to die from a mere infection, wouldn’t it?”

You began wrapping the bandages around his shoulder.

Arthur chuckled before he licked his lips. His gaze met yours over his shoulder. “So, what did I ever do to hurt your feelings, huh? Did we shag and I ignored you the day after?”

Arthur’s casual mention made you wrap the bandage tighter around his shoulder.

He hissed in pain and glared at you.

You chose to ignore his stare while continuing to focus on wrapping Arthur’s shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe I just abhor the fact of having no control over my own fate.”

“And what would you do if you had control, my Lady?”

“Stop calling me that,” you growled.

“Why is a lady hiding in the forest in the first place?”

“Same as you. So your uncle doesn’t kill me.” Without realizing it, your fingers tightened a knot into the wrap.

“You still haven’t answered my question. How do we know each other?”

“To be honest, you already know the answer to that.”

“Come on, put this poor chap out of his misery.”

You playfully inspected your surroundings. “Oh, do point me towards this poor lad.” You shook your head, sighing. “We met when we were children. I resided at court with my family and with yours.”

“Wait a second.” Arthur turned his head in recognition. His eyes lit up with a newfound appreciation. “Lady Gwen? You were the one with the hair!”

That description made you frown. It felt like you hadn’t escaped your past when Arthur used to tease you like the prince he was, kept pulling on your hair when you were both children. Having enough of his mocking, you pushed him back until Arthur dropped into the water.

With a huff, you stood up and started walking briskly away from the male nuisance. There was a reason why you preferred the solitude of the forest.

Light-hearted chuckles remained in the distance while Arthur stared at you in admiration. “Still as feisty as I remember.”

You sighed when the sounds of the flutes and string instruments echoed in the cave. The deeper you wandered inside; the music became clearer.

You stroked the hair behind your ear.

For some reason, Goosefat Bill considered it a good idea to have a night of singing and dancing to build up morale among the crew. You still didn’t like it that you had to dress up for the occasion and abandon your chemise and leather pants you wore while in hiding.

You exhaled deeply when you entered the cave. Many groups of people stood around the campfire while others danced in pairs.

Arthur sat on a wooden chair near the cave walls and sipped at a jug of beer. The moment he saw you, he did a double take once he began to recognize you with the unfamiliar clothes.

With his eyes shining, Arthur called out merrily, “Princess. Almost didn’t recognize you with a dress. Tell me, what happened to your trousers, my Lady?”

The gall of the conceited prince.

You stepped closer towards him until you were standing next to him. Seeing him staring up at you with his head thrown back to fully gaze at you.

“How is your shoulder?”

“Wonderful. Unless you want to tend to it, then I’m feeling utterly miserable.” Arthur pouted his lips.

He placed his hand on his hip as he slowly stood up like a jungle cat. With lazy movements that made your stomach stir with wanton emotions, he inched closer to you until your hips almost brushed together.

“Thanks for the inquiry. You do care after all. There’s no need to hide your feelings from me, you know? You can just admit how much you secretly want to see me naked and have a tumble under the sheets.”

You cleared your throat before the sound turned into an exhale. “In your dreams, Pendragon.”

“Oh, it wouldn’t be proper to tell you what kind of dreams I’m having of you.”

You turned your head in fascination. “You care about propriety, since when?”

“Oh, you naughty princess. Someone wants me to talk dirty to her after all.” Full lips shifted into an indecent smirk. Arthur tipped his head forward until his hair hovered over his eyes before he stroked it back.

You sighed. “As if you could handle that.”

A ruthless idea formed in your head when you eyed his beer.

You teasingly took the pitcher from his hands. Taking a huge gulp from his alcoholic drink while sending him a molten gaze.

Arthur swallowed before he replied with a raspy voice, “You don’t know what I could take.”

You hummed. You pushed the now almost empty jug against Arthur’s chest which he cradled with his hand without averting his gaze from you.

“Well, I’m going to have just the minimum of fun and dance with the mage.”

Without missing a beat, Arthur stepped forward. A move that even stunned you. “May I be of assistance, my Lady?”

“Oh, manners. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.” You patted his chest, including his prominent pectoral muscles, just for the fun of it. The touch turned into indulgent and distracted stroking for a few seconds too long before you reminded yourself to swiftly turn around to walk away.

But you still heard the taunting voice of Goosefat Bill. “Admiring your work, Arthur.”

“Sod off, Bill,” Arthur grumbled angrily.

“Put him out of his misery. It’s distracting him,” the mage whispered.

You held her hand while twirling around her with the practised steps. One thing your upbringing taught you was to adapt. After a while you got used to the fun, casual dances.

“Oh, please. He can take it. Besides, he’s a man. Everything distracts them.”

The mage tilted her head and watched you with a blank, brown-eyed gaze. “You intend to ignore your fate with him as well?”

“I’m not Queen material, mage. And I can’t even stand Arthur most of the time.”

“I don’t believe that for a second. Arthur loves to ruffle your feathers and a part of you wants to-”

“Hit him over the back of his head? Tease him right back after all these years?” You continued for her.

“You mean as a shield to hide yourself behind? How is that working out for you?”

You stared blankly at her. “I don’t appreciate your matchmaking, mage.”

“You’re forcing me to it if I want to see that fate becoming real.”

“Perhaps Merlin was wrong,” you stated anxiously. Knowing that Arthur was your future rattled you on a whole different level.

The mage raised unimpressed eyebrows. “You dare to utter such blasphemy? And what about the Lady of the Lake? Is she wrong, as well?”

The air turned tense with silence. It only got worse, the longer it prevailed.

You clenched your jaw at the reminder of what the future was holding-

“Are you ladies having fun without me?” Arthur swooped in with his typical swagger. “You mind if I cut in?”

You opened your mouth when the mage’s answer stopped you in your tracks.

“No minding here.”

Without another word, she glided away like an elegant dancer, stunning you for a second at the audacity as you stared after her.

Arthur’s lips twitched with the widening of his eyes in astonishment at the mage’s gesture. “I knew I liked her for a reason,” he mentioned before turning back to you, offering the palm of his hand. “Dance with me, Lady Guinevere.”

You sighed, finally surrendering to your fate. “Who am I to spoil the evening?” You rhetorically asked before placing your hand in his.

Arthur smiled and bowed almost mockingly low.

As soon as he stood upright again, you teased him right back by saying, “I hope you know your steps, Arthur.”

The moment you lifted your arm, not only did Arthur interlace your fingers together, but he also pressed your folded hands to his chest.

Damn you, Arthur Pendragon. You and your heartbreak eyes and your cheeky ways.

Arthur’s unaccustomed tendencies kept you on your toes when you were forced to step closer until you stood inches away from him. And Arthur’s breath ghosted over your forehead.

“You’re not moving. You’re supposed to move,” you mumbled under your breath.

Like he was uttering a secret just between you, Arthur whispered, “Maybe I like it this way. Just standing here like this. Having you so close to me. With you not fighting me at every turn.”

You swallowed. “I am going to fight you if you don’t move.”

Hesitation warred in Arthur’s expression. “All right.”

Before you could truly process what was happening, Arthur started slow dancing with you with swaying motions and making you chuckle.

He was caressing the soft skin of your hand with his thumb while the other, stroked a curl of your hair away with admiring eyes. “See? I knew I could make you smile.”

Arthur lifted your palm to his lips to nuzzle it with his lips. His bearded jaw left tingles right to your stomach.

There was only one thought rushing through your mind while staring into those bright eyes.

Dear God, you were in trouble.

Tagging: @mellowstatesmanhandsempath @ravenmoore14​ @lelapine​

[lordjohngreyreadingnook]

Lord John AU Event Master List

A very special thank you to all of the writers, artists, and readers who helped make the Lord John AU Event a success! All good things must come to an end, and the body of Lord John fanworks has grown immensely during this event.

Because Pan is still a geek, here’s an infographic with some of our stats. 

Below the cut, you’ll find a masterlist of all of the art and fics submitted for the event. Most of the fics can be found in the AO3 Collection, and all titles in the master list below are links to the original work posting (AO3 or Tumblr).

Here’s how we did!

Master List Below!

Art Links

“E-girl Claire and her boyfriend John” by @deanwinchesterangelfucker

“Gender-swapped, established relationship John and Jamie” by @deanwinchesterangelfucker

Fic Links

Title: extra credit Author: @iihappydaysii Rating: E Ship: Brian/John AU Category: High School Word Count: 2,532 Summary:  Brian Randall (Jamie Fraser's gay son, of course) needs to get his grade up in his trig class taught by who other than his father's friend, John Grey.

Title: Die for this Kingdom Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: M Ship: Jamie/John AU Category: Mob Word Count: 45,255 Summary:  All Jamie “Fortnight” Fraser wants is to provide a good, safe life for his family in Chicago. But with tragedies keeping him tangled in his uncle’s deadly schemes and one tenacious—and handsome—police officer determined to bring him in, Fortnight Fraser has a choice to make. Bend to Dougal’s will… or burn it all to the ground.

Title: Remember Hawaii Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: E Ship: Hector/John AU Category: Semi-Modern Word Count: 5,119 Summary:  The chances of John Grey unexpectedly seeing Hector Dalrymple in a group of Marines was always small but never zero. In the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is tiny. What are the odds they'd both be there at the same time?

Title: Tasting Sunshine Author: @andhopethatsoon Rating: E Ship: John/Stephan AU Category: Supernatural/Fantasy Word Count: 6,421 Summary:  Every fae and their godmother knows that you DON'T eat the oranges from THOSE trees or you will summon the Summer King who will demand your heart’s desire in return.

Title: At Operator’s Discretion Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: E Ship: Jamie/John AU Category: Assassins Word Count: 6,210 Summary:  John Grey is an operator specializing in surveillance and termination--that is, spying and murder. He keeps all this a secret from his husband, Alex Malcolm, for Alex's protection. But when a contract comes in for one James Fraser, Grey's life gets all kinds of complicated.

Title: Theatre Masks Author: @faeriesfanficblog Rating: G Ship: Jamie/John AU Category: Modern Word Count: 1,238 Summary:  A modern AU. Jamie Fraser is an autistic playwriter attending a theatre premiere with his husband Lord John Grey.

Title: The Wild Hunt Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: E Ship: Jamie/John/Tom AU Category: Supernatural/Fantasy Word Count: 8,033 Summary:  The Sorcerer is rumored to be the only being able to influence the Wild Hunt, the same Wild Hunt hell-bent on destroying the world to get to John Grey. But the Sorcerer's aid comes with stipulations.

Title: The Right Tool for the Job Author: @iihappydaysii & @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: E Ship: Jamie/John AU Category: Modern Word Count: 5,825 Summary:  Jamie makes an embarrassing emergency call after a sexual mishap, and John Grey is the paramedic who shows up to help.

Title: gotta listen when the devil’s calling Author: @narastories Rating: E Ship: BJR/Jamie/John AU Category: Modern Word Count: 6,105 Summary:  John wasn't looking forward to his birthday. Aberdeen was cold and bloody far away. This year they also got a surprise travel companion last minute and John is convinced, it couldn't get any worse. But perhaps, it's not so bad after all.

Title: Off the Only Path I Knew (WIP) Author: @jesuisprest747 Rating: M Ship: Jamie/John AU Category: College/University Word Count: 8,920 Summary: Nothing about University is going as Jamie Fraser planned. He misses his family and friends back home, and the friends he's made at University don't feel quite right. Under pressure from his father, he is studying business instead of his true passion - Classics and Literature. To top it all off, his roommate barely speaks to him. A story about friendship, love, and following your heart.

Title: And Say We’ll Never Part Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: E Ship: Hector/John AU Category: Semi-Modern Word Count: 6,872 Summary: The war has been over for months, and the Allied forces are slowly demobilizing. With the help of his friend and battle buddy Harry Quarry, newly-discharged John Grey ensures that Hector has a home waiting for him.

Title: Lemon Drop Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings Rating: E Ship: Hal/John/Percy AU Category: Modern Word Count: 6,335 Summary:  Weeks into their mother's engagement, John and Hal still haven't been formally introduced to their soon-to-be step-brother. So Hal suggests they take matters into their own hands. And if it turns out Percy is up for a little fun... all the better.

Title: A Pocketful of Posies Author: @levisqueaks Rating: M Ship: Brian/John (end game); Jamie/John  AU Category: Modern Word Count: 3,483 Summary:  Jamie breaks up with John a mere week before his wedding to a girl John knew nothing about. 20 years later, John finally gets a little bit of closure.

Title: London Calling - Come out of the Cupboard Author: @angstosaur  Rating: E Ship: Claire/Jamie/John AU Category: Semi-modern Word Count: 24,337 Summary:  Setting – Bloomsbury, London, early 1980’s John is a newly qualified solicitor and is working in Holborn. When he was studying law in London his mother insisted he stay in her apartment in Bloomsbury. He agreed as long as he could share with his old school friend, Claire Beauchamp. Claire has just finished at medical school and has a post as a junior doctor at a large London Hospital. They’re just good friends. That’s all. Really. After all, John is gay. Then, Jamie Fraser enters their lives and suddenly all that was taken for granted is called into question.

Title: John Grey’s Anatomy (WIP) Author: @jesuisprest747​ Rating: E Ship: Claire/Jamie/John AU Category: Modern medical Word Count: 25,452 Summary:  When John Grey decided to move to America in early 2020 to escape his past and make a new start at Boston Memorial Hospital, he only wished to work hard at his anesthesiology fellowship and heal his broken heart. Little did he know that he would soon meet two people who would change his life forever, against the background of the world's first global pandemic in over a hundred years.

Title: Blood Bound (WIP) Author: @mistresspandorawritesthings​ Rating: E Ship: Jamie/John; Jenny/Minnie AU Category: Supernatural/fantasy Word Count: 2,862 Summary:  Jamie Fraser grew up with the knowledge of the unholy evil that walks the earth. For more generations than his father could count, Fraser women have been the lone soldiers charged with keeping the evil things at bay. But when one wrong move on a haunted bog in Ireland transforms Jamie into the very thing he was taught to help his sister eradicate, he's forced to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about monsters.

Title: Love is a three-edged sword (WIP) Author: @angstosaur  Rating: M Ship: Claire/Jamie/John AU Category: Authurian Word Count: 74,668 Summary: An Arthurian themed AU featuring characters from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series of books and the Lord John Grey stories. The enduring love triangle of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot retold with a different twist. Expect canon to be used and abused, mythology to be woven in as desired and for there to be scenes of an explicit nature.T his is neither Outlander nor Arthurian legend as you may know it, or accept it, but it’s a story that called to me many months ago and I shall endeavour to write it. The characters are fictional and I’ve put them in an indeterminate time, so there will be less historical accuracy than my previous long story.

[ravellaarryns]

♟

ravella arryn leaned back against the high seat of stone and carved wood, her pale fingers drumming an eerie rhythm against the armrests. the firelight caught the glint of her silver circlet, but her face remained a shadowed canvas of cold satisfaction, untouched by the warmth of the flames. she did not blink as katherine spoke, her stillness unsettling—a predator waiting for the opportune moment. when the lion queen finished, ravella’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile, as if savoring the irony woven through katherine’s words.

“a lannister, you say,” she murmured, her voice low and velvety, yet sharp enough to slice through the tension hanging in the room. “jasper the bastard. it rolls off the tongue well enough, doesn’t it? titles and names cannot mask blood, no matter how gilded the lion’s mane may be. that is something many in your realm have yet to understand. but they will.”

she rose slowly, each deliberate movement steeped in an air of unshakable command. the shadows seemed to gather around her as she stepped closer to the flickering fire, its light painting her sharp features in tones of bronze and black. “i have seen the truth, revealed by by own network within my realm” she continued, turning her piercing gaze back to the other woman. “proof written by rowan’s own hand—his confession, buried deep within what was meant to be burned of his belongings, within his private library. reports of our mother, that wretched woman, admitted it herself in a letter meant for her lover."

she let the words hang in the air for a moment, savoring the weight they carried. her cold, pale eyes flicked to katherine, reading her carefully, watching for a crack in the lion’s composure. “and so, my nephew is no more than the son of a bastard. born of guinevere lannister, yes—but born of a man whose blood could never truly lay claim to the falcon throne. whatever has been whispered to you, whatever oaths she swore—she had no opportunity to bear a child that was not rowan’s. she was under constant watch, her every step shadowed by the falcon court for fear she was a spy. there was no one else.”

��my blood,” she said, the name slipping from her tongue with the weight of disdain. “if he is so assuredly no threat to me and is born of another, as you claim, then you will allow me to see him with my own eyes. no hearsay, no reassurances from your tongue, no more veils of secrecy. bring the boy before me.” her voice, though quiet, carried the force of an unyielding command. she stepped even closer, the dark train of her gown trailing behind her like spilled ink, until she loomed over the seated lion queen. “i will look upon him myself." ravella’s lips curved into a thin, humorless smile as she added, “surely, as his devoted aunt, you have nothing to fear. if the boy is as blameless as you say, then this will merely settle any lingering doubts in the eyes of the vale… and of westeros.” she turned her gaze to the banners of house lannister that adorned the chamber walls, her expression cold and unreadable.

“of course, if you hesitate, it will only strengthen the whispers. and we both know what such rumors can do to a house—even one as golden as yours.”

ravella took a step closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, though it carried the weight of thunder. “i do not bring this revelation lightly, nor without consideration of what it exposes about my own family. my father’s honor, sullied by a faithless wife. my house, stained by the bastardy of the man who dared to wear a crown. but the truth matters more than our pride, doesn’t it? and the truth is this—jasper has no claim to the arryn name, nor any threat to my throne.”

her lips curved into a thin, predatory smile. “and the world will know it.”

the chamber was cloaked in an uneasy quiet, the kind that made every small sound seem magnified. the fire, though strong, seemed to do little against the creeping cold that lingered in the air, its embers crackling faintly as though hesitant to intrude. Shadows stretched long and distorted across the stone walls, the crimson and gold banners of house lannister taking on warped shapes in the flickering light. the air carried a weight, a tension palpable enough to press against the skin, as if the very room had taken note of the falcon queen's chilling words.

the queen of the west looked upon the other, her elegant frame remaining still as her mind worked behind a veil of calm. the lion embossed on the high-backed chair seemed to watch her, its silent roar a reminder of the strength she must uphold. she did not shift or fidget, though the weight of ravella arryn's words pressed against her like an invisible tide.

katherine's gown shimmered faintly as the firelight played upon its golden embroidery, but her focus was entirely on the woman seated across from her. ravella’s cold elegance was striking, her icy hues unblinking, her presence as sharp as a blade hidden beneath folds of black velvet. the faint scent of lavender from a nearby brazier mixed with the undertone of burning wood, creating an atmosphere both soothing and stifling.

when katherine finally spoke, her voice cut through the tension like a knife through silk—soft, but deliberate. “that is a grave claim, your grace,” she began, her tone measured yet laced with quiet authority. “and one that cannot be spoken lightly.” her gaze, steady and unwavering, lingered on the royal before her, her blue eyes catching the firelight like embers.

“it must also be made clear—there is no question of young jasper's lineage. my good sister, spoke plainly on the matter. she declared that he was not rowan arryn’s son.” pale hues fixed on ravella with unblinking intensity. “by her own admission, he is not of your bloodline. whatever secrets rowan carried, they do not extend to this boy. jasper is a lannister.” she emphasized the name, for it mattered not whatever else he may be, per guinevere's admission, he was a lannister, beared the very name that her own son did.

the flickering firelight cast shifting patterns across the lion queen's face, highlighting the faint tension at the corners of her mouth. inside, doubts whispered cruelly, questioning whether defending jasper so fervently would backfire. but she would not let that hesitation show. “i must ask, your grace,” she said, leaning forward just slightly, her hands clasped tightly, “what certainty do you hold in this revelation? what proof gives you confidence in speaking of such things?”

[brogues-b4-hoes]

Kingsman the secret service, first draft liveblog.

I’m reading the original draft for Kingsman: The secret service and being just blown away by how different but the same™ it is so I’m gonna list some things that made me go :0 

Huntsman and sons doesn’t really sound like a spy org. it sounds like a rustic b&b in the scottish countryside. Not a bad thing but Kingsman does sound a bit more “knightly” and “cool” 

Also Jack Lincoln is just not it. Harry Hart is where it’s at. 

SO about the ages: In this script Eggsy is 21, Harry is 49, Merlin is middleaged (I’m assuming that means like 44-45 ish), Roxy is 22, Charlie 23, Lancelot 39. 

Merlin was supposed to be “black, handsome” And frankly my first thought was “....Idris Elba?” lmao 

The medal Eggsy gets is called a Guinevere Cross and I immediately came up with a whole scenario of how the first Guinevere sacrificed themself in an act of bravery, which is why the Kingsman medal of honor is named after them. 

Lancelot was supposed to fight Gazelle before losing but ig getting cut in half from behind has more shock value. (Just give my boy a bit more screentime) 

I’m glad they changed Michelle’s whole approach to Daisy, cause in this script it comes across like she couldn’t care less about her literal toddler, which makes her kind of unlikeable :// I’m glad they didn’t do Michelle dirty like that in the final script. 

Arthur really was just a sexist, elitist bastard now wasn’t he (while looking at the candidates his reaction to Eggsy being proposed is “at least it’s not a woman, I mean wtf are all these women doing here??” .....There’s three women being proposed out of twelve candidates, Chester.)

On that note, I’m glad they ended up giving Merlin more of Arthur’s lines - mostly because it makes sense for Merlin’s character to play the part of handler besides being the tech wizard he is- but also Make! Arthur! Say! Less!

I think it’s an interesting choice to have the candidates be from all over the world, as I Imagine the agents who were abroad just chose the best person they could find from that area, and if that’s true then the other agents were away in: France, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Ethiopia, South Africa, India, Persia and America. Do what you want with that info.

Yeah Roxy was american originally lol

I’m glad they acknowledge the lack of privacy in the first dorm set up, because I always looked at that in the movie and thought “If I had to use a bathroom out in the open with eleven peers just hanging out behind me, I would simply not use the bathroom lol” 

Glad they cut the whole subplot of Harry infiltrating some bank, especially because it involved dressing up as a woman to get acces to the ladies room, which, given the current climate and the whole jkr situation would not have gone down well, to say the least. 

“That sounds exhausting” in which Harry is me. 

"Training starts tomorrow, which I will have nothing to do with. Watching people train is boring.” Spoken boldly for a guy who then subsequently shows up at every. single. training scene, Merlin. 

God I’m glad they cut the whole puppy obstacle course scene, it was just alot lol 

A lot of stuff is the same but what really stands out to me is how little Eggsy actually does on his own, in this version he only passes tests through dumb luck or because Harry straight up gives him the answers, which makes it difficult to root for him in this script. So I’m glad they changed that. 

Idk what to think about the implanted chip being a bluetooth earpiece originally, like who wears an earpiece all the time?..... Ig the writers thought the same thing in the end lol 

“Medic! We need a medic!” Me, internally: SO YOU ARE SAYING YOU HAVE MEDICS?? Merlin: “No we don’t.” me, internally: IM NOTING THIS AS PROOF THAT YOU HAVE MEDICS, GALEN IS CANON CONFIRMED

I like that Elton John is just fully in this movie, what exactly is it about Elton John that made Matthew and Jane continue to write him into both movies??? IS HE GOING TO BE IN THE BLUE BLOOD TOO? :0

I’d like to note that I do not like Elton John pelting shit at Valentine lol 

The way that they really wrote a whole Heathers the musical “shut up, Heather!” scene but with Arthur, Harry and Merlin saying “shut up, Eggsy!” I CAN’T WITH THIS SCRIPT

Broke: “Lady Gaga” woke: “Lady G’gar” (as pronounced by Arthur lmao) 

Okay so in a cut test, there’s a mentioning of Huntsmen security, which I will take as proof for my whole “The entire plot of TGC is bullshit because there had to be more staff at Kingsman than just Merlin, meaning more survivors of the bombing” 

AND THE PLOT THICKENS WITH THIS: Harry (to Eggsy): “Look, I’ll be back in a few days. Stay here ‘till then. I’ll call Merlin, and when everything’s calmed down I’ll take you in and finesse things. If we’re lucky we can get you a job in admin or train you as a pilot.” HELLOO WHERE WERE THE ADMINS AND PILOTS AND SECURITY IN TGC 

“Thank you. I’ll do anything. I’ll be a cleaner, even.” THEY HAVE CLEANERS TOO MATTHEW YOU’RE KIDDING ME

The ending is so different omg What is Happening? why is Usain Bolt, Lady Gaga, Jamie Oliver and Elton John fighting together avengers style? 

All in all: I much prefer the way they handled things in the final script because this felt a bit too much like the types of movies you write with your friends in middleschool for shits and giggles and less like an actual film you’d go see in theatres. But of course it’s important to remember that this mess led to one of my favorite films ever, and I really enjoyed the insight into the process and changes that led the writers to the final version. T’was very cool. 

Also I read the novelization of The Golden Circle and I can’t say which one I get the biggest yikes from (yes I can it’s the novel. It’s so bad lol) 

[365days365movies]

March 7, 2021: Onward (2020) (Part One)

Finding Nemo.

That’s my favorite Pixar film. Real talk, no arguments, and today’s movie? NOT dethroning it. This movie is so hard-wired into my brain, that the second I typed the words of the title, the theme song ran through my head, where it lives rent-free. It will be a cold day when I don’t find an excuse to shout “NEMOOOO!!!! I HAVE TO FIND MY SON!!” at any opportune moment. I will never stop swimming. Whenever I catch a Chinchou or Lanturn in a Pokémon game, I name it “Goodfeeling’sgone”.

SHARK BAIT OOH HA HA

YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE DEPTHS OF MY LOVE FOR THIS MOVIE.

...Ahem. So, yeah, I love FInding Nemo. For the record, the sequel ain’t bad. And also for the record, there’s only one Pixar movie that I consider to be bad, and it’s the one you’d think. You know, the one about ageism. The one where somebody dies by torture? The bad spy movie?

...the second one about cars?

Which means, YES. I DON’T THINK The Good Dinosaur IS THAT BAD! Not exactly good, but its gorgeous, and just kinda boring, not outright terrible. That Styracosaurus, though...that dude is great.

Anyway, off of Pixar for a sec, huh? What about fantasy? I’m a big tabletop RPG nerd, and I’m currently the GM for a Pathfinder campaign, a Pokémon RPG, and a Mutants and Masterminds game, while also playing in a Pathfinder game as well. Yeah, I’m a busy dewd. But what I’m saying is, this movie should be preaching to the choir for me. I’m a Pixar lover who plays RPGs. I’m ready for this. I’m ready for CGI Bright. Which is another way of saying, I’m ready for a version of Bright that doesn’t suck.

So, why haven’t I seen it until now? I mean...COVID-19. This film got FUCKED. But, no matter! It’s on Disney Plus, I’ve got Disney Plus, so let’s get this baby STARTED! Let’s get updated on some Pixar! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Recap (1/2)

OK, immediately digging the soundtrack over the Disney logo as we jump in here! Very ethereal, very fantasy, very LotR, I LIKE it, I LIKE it! And then...long ago, the world was full of wonder!

We get a view of the world of olde, with magic and many mystical, mythical creatures living together and adventuring. However, as magic wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to use, it eventually gave way to technology, fading away in a world now very similar to ours.

Basically, it’s about the same as our world, except for a few different races, and the fact that dragons are basically dogs, and unicorns are basically raccoons, which is fuckin’ fantastic.

We enter the home of teenage elf Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland) and introverted now-16-year-old who lives with his mother, Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and his older brother Barley (Chris Pratt). Barley’s a tabletop RPG nerd who’s also a fan of the magical past. Said obsessions cause a strain on his relationship with Ian, and with that of his mother’s boyfriend, centaur policeman Colt Bronco (Mel Rodriguez).

After a discussion about Barley’s recent attempt to protect an old magical monument from destruction, he accidentally damages the sweatshirt that Ian is wearing, which was owned by their late father, Wilder. Ian rushes out, flustered, despite Barley’s attempts to bond with him. Well, looks like we have a sense of the plot for this one.

On his way to school, Barley stops to get some food when he meets Gaxton (Wilmer Valderrama), an old college friend of his father’s. From Gaxton, he learns things about his father that he never knew, like that he was bold and standout. From there, Barely pledges to try and be more self-confident, like his father.

Whiiiiiiich, doesn’t exactly work once he gets to school. He fails to stand-up to a jerky guy at school, he fails in his driving class, and he fails to ask other high school kids to his birthday party. But to be fair, Barley helps a bit with that last one when he shows up with Guinevere, his busted-ass van with a unicorn painted on the side. Which is supposed to be uncool...but I kinda dig it, not gonna lie.

After that, Ian completely flubs the invitation bit, confusing the people he was talking to, and disappointing himself in the process. He gets a ride home with Barley, and goes home to talk to a tape recording of his dad. Which is...beautifully sad, and somehow very easy to identify with. So, yeah, it’s gonna be that kind of Pixar movie.

Ian talks to his mom about his father at his age, asking if he was ever unsure. She says yes, but couples this with a surprise: a gift from his late father, who died of a terminal illness shortly after Ian’s birth. The gift is for both Ian and Barley, and was meant to be opened when they were both over 16.

She gets it from the attic, and they unwrap it, where it’s revealed to be a wizard’s staff. Which is weird, because Wilder was an accountant. In a pocket of the wrapping cloth, there’s a letter written by Wilder with the narration from the beginning of the film (that “Long ago” bit).

Also included is a spell, written by Wilder so that he could see who his sons grew up to be. This “Visitation Spell” would appear to be a way to bring Wilder back for 24 hours. Barley, being the magic-lover that he is, tries multiple times to cast the spell with the staff, but fails to do so, much to his and Ian’s great disappointment.

However, when Ian tries to read the spell out of curiosity later, the staff begins to react, and the spell begins to work. Barley comes in as this is happening, and the spell works...halfway. It starts to fail, and Barley offers to help, but Ian pulls the staff away, and the spell stops as the Phoenix crystal inside it shatters.

Looks like another bust, but it’s not a complete failure. And if you’ve seen literally any trailer for this movie, you know what happens.

Although it’s just his legs and feet, it’s still Wilden Lightfoot (Kyle Bornheimer...technically). The boys decide to try and complete the spell, but need another Phoenix Gem to do so. According to Barley’s “historically accurate” TTRPG, Quests of Lore, they will be able to find one by accepting a quest from the place where all quests start: the Manticore’s Tavern. And so, the quest begins!

The brothers and their half-dad board Guinevere and drive to the Manticore’s Tavern. On the way, Barley convinces Ian to practice some spells from the games rulebook, but they don’t work because Ian’s not invoking his passion (or his “heart’s fire”, as Barley calls it). Meanwhile, Laurel figures out where they’re headed, but doesn’t know exactly why...yet.

After the journey, they make it to the Manticore’s Tavern, which is now essentially a themed Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurant, owned and managed by Corey (Octavia Spencer), a very overworked manticore. Which is pretty great, not gonna lie.

They try to get the actual map to the Phoenix’s Gem from her in order to conjure their Dad, but she no longer sends adventurers on dangerous quests, mostly because she doesn’t want to get sued by any injured adventurers. When Ian argues with her about this, she IMMEDIATELY DIVES INTO AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS/MID LIFE CRISIS!

It’s, uh...it’s kind of amazing. Having completely lost it at this point, she basically tears down the entire building with her bare hands and fire-breath. Unfortunately, the map to the Phoenix Gem is burnt in the process of Corey’s literal meltdown. However, as Wilden’s about to be crushed by a couple of falling beams, Ian taps into his heart’s fire.

Nice. They get out of there, and head out for the Gem, using a child’s placemat replica of the real map to make their way to a place called Raven’s Point. However, rather than just follow the goddamn map, Barley decides to go on much more dangerous road known as the “Path of Peril”, once again following the “call of adventure” and his gut.

Which...yeah, Barley’s not really considering the reality of this whole situation, which fits his personality. He’s a dreamer, despite the rational and reasonable solution in front of him. And, in case you weren’t sure, I’m pretty sure that isn’t a good thing.

Ian points out the correct point that what actually matters is that they send enough time with their father, and they do indeed take the straightforward path. Good! Barley listened to Ian’s suggestion after all. However, they hit another snag when the car breaks down, completely out of gas. Problem.

Meanwhile, Laurel makes her way to the Manticore’s place, only to find it on fire! She meets Corey, who tells her that she’s met her boys, and told them about everything...except the curse. Also, there’s a curse. Laurel, who is the best movie Mom ever, tricks a policeman interviewing Corey to diverting his attention away from her, and smuggles her into her car to help find (and maybe rescue) her sons. 

Stuck off the freeway without gas, a desperate Ian asks Barley if there are any spells that can get them more gas. They concoct a plan involving a shrinking and growing spell, but that immediately goes wrong as Barley tries to instruct Ian, only frustrating him further, and causing him to fumble the spell and hit Barley with it, making him tiny. 

They decide to head to a gas station, where a group of pixie bikers has just arrived. This backfires when Barley, lacking basically any common sense, ends up insulting the biker leader, Dewdrop (Grey Griffin) and her ancestors. Nice one, Barley. As they escape from the pissed off pixies, the tiny Barley is unable to drive, forcing the driver’s anxiety-riddled Ian to drive, overcoming his fears from earlier by force, being chased by the pixies all the way. It’s a pretty good sequence, to be honest.

Well, they escape the Pixies...but not the cops. And I think that’ll be a good place to pick up in the next part! See you there!

[tobeornottotc]

Things mentioned in TKEM that might help you predict what’s going on. -King Arthur Part 1 (Lee Lim)

These are just brain dumps, and ideas about how she might be using this story as a base. 

The legend of King Arthur has been an interesting base in TKEM. Especially surrounding the two men who are involved in the battle for the monarchy essentially: Gon and Lee Lim. The first time this book is mentioned is by Eun Sup, he listens to Taeul explain who Gon is, and calls him King Arthur. A king who starts of as a small boy who is fated to take the sword out of the stone and become king. He also has a tragic fate to be betrayed by all who he loves and fight for the control of his own throne. Sounds familiar so far with TKEM.

However, we are then introduced to Fate, and she has a conversation with Lee Lim, about the story, I became confused as well because here it seemed as if Fate was hinting that Lim is actually Arthur of the story. They have a conversation about Justice and his opinions on the story. This is not the first time we see a warped ideology on stories about fate and destiny with Lee Lim. He outright tells his brother as he kills him that he’s not afraid of being a villain because he does not believe in Karma or justice, once he’s the king he’ll change the meaning of that and succeed. Again, he does this with the yoyo boy who is known as Fate. I will explain about her later during this series.

Fate and Lee Lim’s conversation about Arthur is also interesting, she’s mocking his ideologies, but he stays steadfast. He believes because he knows the powers of the flute that he has the right to become the king, the knows how to change the laws of the universe because he has an object ‘his sword’ that can do his bidding. This is compared to Gon who uses the Flute to try and eliminate Lee Lim to get justice for the death of his loved ones. the title of the drama is all about these two, The King Eternal Monarch, its about the throne, its always been just as how the story of Arthur was also about the eternal reign of King Arthur even after he disappears. 

  So, with that I’m going to split this legend in two views, One where the King Arthur represents Gon, and another where if you actually think about it, it’s a base for Lee Lim and his tragic fate.

Lee Lim as Arthur.

Let’s go back to that conversation with Fate. Before we look at that here are certain points that are shown during that conversation:

   First it happens after Lee Lim has just had a conversation with Buyeong about coveting the throne.  Buyeong and Lim are like mirror characters, he also could have become the King, if he took the path Lee Lim took.  

Lightning causes scarring on his face, we know this hurt so its scarier he doesn’t react. This also means he’s accustomed to the symptoms of the flute for an exceptionally long time, he doesn’t care about that and he’s determined to find the other half I guess to mend it. 

Fate tells Lim that she hates blood, this shows you what side Fate is on, in my opinion, she doesn’t agree with Lim’s actions and is annoyed that he refuses to listen. 

The book is described as a story about a man with noble blood drawing a sword and becoming King. The focus is on the sword, we’ve seen the sword already. It was shown by Gon’s father and Gon uses the speech on the sword to threaten Lim about the rights of the throne. I think Lim does not care about that sword however and is more focused on the Flute instead as the sword that proves he can take over the throne. Because he has control over the flute, he has control over the monarchy and will reign forever which is his goal essentially. Also, fate is mocking Lim here again, she makes sure to emphasise that its noble blood which annoys him. Therefore, he becomes evil; he was pushed away because he wasn’t noble blood. This is fate also warning him yet again about his ideology. He also uses the sword to kill Gon’s father almost forgot about that!

The conversation then mentions the villain drawing the sword. Since I’m looking at Lim as the Arthur in this POV, its important, Lim has already drawn the sword in his opinion, he’s already become King Arthur, what he’s doing now is fighting his enemies for the throne, and trying to make a legion of followers like what happened at the end with Arthur even after he died. Lim also can’t die; he has figured out a way to keep coming back which also goes back to Arthur being reincarnated time and time again.

End of scene

 So how can Lim be Arthur? Why might KES have used him instead or his warped version of King Arthur as a base for this story? I think it lies in the original story of the legend. The fight between Arthur and Mordred. I was so excited when I discovered this even if this is just a theory.  There are many versions of the story of Arthur, his fight for justice and fight to find a good political system to help his monarchy. And his downfall.  

 Gon as Mordred

 In the earliest Arthurian legends, Mordred seems to have been regarded a hero. It wasn’t until later stories that he becomes a villain.

Mordred is always the key to his downfall. And he is normally a villain that is obsessed with vengeance and hate for Arthur. Maybe not in this case. You see Mordred is Arthur’s son in many versions. However, in the original version he is Arthur’s brother’s son Lot. See where I’m going with this. In Lamonte de Arthur, Arthur is warned to kill Mordred as a kid because he is destined to get rid of Arthur, Arthur manages not to get rid of Mordred. This is familiar to the beginning of TKEM. Lee Lim got rid of Gon’s dopple ganger in the other world and tried to also get rid of Gon but Gon was protected by a mysterious person. He failed to get rid of him and Gon is fated to destroy his plans.  In my opinion Lim is a twisted version of Arthur, he’s drawn a different sword and is trying to take over the throne, he has a legion of followers, and people willing to do his bidding but he’s going to be betrayed by them (I’ll explain my theory on this) and he’s going to be killed by his nephew just like in the original story of the legend.  I also found it exciting that Lee Lim saved Gon’s mother in Korea and is holding her hostage, remember in other text Arthur is connected to Mordred’s mother who is half-sister, or in the original his brother’s wife. Why is Lee Lim keeping Gon’s mother alive? I don’t know that’s another mystery to figure out, maybe she ends up even representing the Guinevere of the story. I’m really intrigued by her role in the drama. Let me know what you guys think about this.

Shin Jae as Lancelot

  That brings us to the next part of this theory who is the Lancelot and Guinevere of the story. The key characters to Arthurs downfall as well. I’m not sure but I have an idea about this as well. I think Kang shin Jae connects to that aspect of it. Lancelot is a loyal follower and friend of Arthur, but he gets tempted by love and betrays Arthur. Shin Jae’s mother is in the castle spying on Gon, and Lee Lim has been keeping an eye on Shin Jae. He mentions how Shin Jae is a mistake that he made I think he meant to raise up Shin Jae to be one of his ‘knights’. There’s so many people hinting to Shin Jae that instead of being good, he can be on the other side of the law, it’s like he has to constantly fight the temptation to go to the other side, I think that parallels Lancelot. He’s torn between doing the right thing (and his belief God) and giving into this lust for Guinevere.  So, what if the betrayal of Shin Jae ends up being one of the catalysts of Lim’s downfall just like Lancelot’s betrayal with Guinevere ended up weakening Arthur’s resolve making it easier for Mordred to get rid of him. What if its his most loyal follower, the man who is in the bookstore, the guy who follows the trail of Lim’s subjects?

 Taeul as Guinevere

So, thinking of Shin Jae as Lancelot I continued researching, I learnt that in the original Guinevere was you guessed it Mordred’s wife as well. What if because of Shin Jae’s love for Taeul (Lancelot’s love for Guinevere) he betrays Arthur (Lim) and she ends up with Mordred. In the original text before Lancelot was introduced, Instead of Lancelot, Guinevere was in love with Mordred, i.e. Lee Gon and Taeul’s love story we’re watching unfold. I also believe she is the key as well to Lim’s downfall so I can see how she can also play the role of Guinevere in that case.  

  This is if KES is using Lim as Arthur in this narrative and if my theory is right Lim will always come back just like Arthur except we’re in support of Mordred in this theory instead so he’s always going to be defeated by his nephew. I’m going to make a different post about what if Gon is the Arthur instead later. This will include the unbreakable sword and how KES will avoid the tragic fate of Arthur for Gon. 

[swanqueeneverafter]

The Once & Future Queen Pt.32

Camelot. Lower Town. Past. (A man pushes a cart down the street and playfully sneaks up behind the carpet that Guinevere is beating. He pops his head over the clothesline on which the carpet is hung.) Tom: “Boo!” Guinevere: “Oh!” (Guinevere holds her hand to her chest.) Tom: “Did I surprise you?” Guinevere: “You certainly did!” Tom: “I’ve got another surprise for you, too.” (Tom hands his daughter Guinevere a small, wrapped cloth. She opens it, revealing a fancy button.) Guinevere: “It’s…lovely.” Tom: “Well, in case you ever need a spare. You know…for this…” (Tom holds up a colourful dress.) Guinevere: “It’s beautiful!” Tom: “Well, you’re a beautiful girl, Guin. You deserve beautiful things.” Guinevere: “But how? I mean…it must have been expensive.” Tom: “Oh, very. But we’re on the up now. Things are going to be different.” Guinevere: “What’s going on?” Tom: “It’ll be all right. Trust me. (Tom kisses her cheek:) I won’t be back for supper.” Tom’s Forge. Night. (Tom works at his forge when he hears a strange sound.) Tom: “Hello?” (A man appears before Tom, hooded and cloaked.) Tauren: “Is it prepared?” Tom: “Yes. Look.” (Tauren approaches the forge and pulls down his hood, looking at the melted lead.) Tauren: “Very good.” (Tauren pulls out a stone with silver filigree around it.) Tom: “What is that?” Tauren: “I’m not paying you to ask questions. The lead, please. (Tom takes the lead off the forge and pours it into a mould. Tauren holds the stone over the lead and the stone glows:) Áfæren æt gylden.” Tom: (Whispered:) “You didn’t say anything about magic! I don’t want any trouble!” Tauren: “I búgan þéos… áfæren æt gylden.” (The lead turns to gold.) Tom: “Gold?” Tauren: “Pure, priceless gold. (Tom drenches the gold and steam rises from it. Tom holds up the lump of gold:) Yours, blacksmith. If you keep your mouth shut.” (Suddenly, Arthur bursts in with the guards and Tauren runs for it.) Arthur: “Seize him!” Guard: “Yes, sir.” Arthur: “Quickly, after him!” (Tauren tosses the heated materials in the water, creating a smoke screen. he knocks over a table and drops the leather bag with the stone in it.) Guard: “Stop!” Arthur: “He must be caught!” Guard: “Stop that man!” (A pair of guards stay behind, restraining Tom. Arthur turns around and takes the gold from him.) Tom: “Sire, please…” Arthur: “You’re under arrest.”

Camelot Castle. Council Chamber. Night. (Morgana, Uther, and Arthur are gathered.) Morgana: “Treason!?” Uther: “Yes, Morgana, treason. The blacksmith was consorting with a known enemy.” Morgana: “Enemy? What enemy?” Arthur: “Tauren. The leader of a band of renegade sorcerers sworn to bring down the King.” Morgana: “And where is this Tauren now?” Arthur: “He escaped.” Morgana: “Well, then how can you be sure?” Uther: “Because Arthur saw him with his own eyes.” Morgana: “Well, even if the man is who you say he is, you can’t sentence Tom to death for just being seen with him!?” Uther: “We have reason to believe he was forging weapons for Tauren.” Morgana: “Rubbish! He would never do such a thing.” Uther: “Every man has a price.” (Arthur slides the lump of gold across the table.) Arthur: “Found this on the blacksmith.” Morgana: “So he was paid! He’s a blacksmith. He could’ve been paid for shoeing Tauren’s horse!” Uther: “In gold?” Morgana: “This is madness! You condemn a man with no proof!” Uther: “I have enough proof.” Morgana: “Arthur! Have you nothing to say?” Arthur: “My Lord, the blacksmith committed a crime, but we don’t know for certain he meant treason.” Uther: “No. You’re right. Nothing’s certain. Save one thing. The law stands or this kingdom falls.” Morgana: “But the law must give him a fair trial!” Uther: “He’ll get a fair trial, and he’ll be found guilty, because that’s what he is.” Morgana: “You execute Guin’s father, and I will never forgive you. Never.” (Morgana storms out.) The Dark Tower. Present. (Morgana and Uther’s spirit continue to glare at one another.) Uther: “All this because I condemned the serving girl’s father?” Morgana: “Guinevere was never just a serving girl.” Uther: “Oh I am aware of that. You became much too close to that girl. You allowed her to question your decisions. She made you look weak.” Morgana: “Listening to others is a sign of strength, not weakness.” Uther: “And yet Guinevere is queen and you are not. You allowed your feelings for the girl to cloud your judgement, to cost you your birthright, and for what? She chose Arthur, not you. Perhaps your anger is misplaced?” Morgana: “I have already taken my revenge on Arthur. Now it is your turn.” Uther: “Hate me if you must, Morgana. I have always done what I believed to be right.” Morgana: “And at any price.”

Camelot. Past. Dungeons. (Morgana visits Tom.) Morgana: “I bring you no relief, Tom. I’m sorry. I came only to see you were comfortable.” Tom: “How’s Guin?” Morgana: “She’s a brave girl. She wishes only to see you free.” Tom: “I know what Uther thinks about sorcery. I’m a dead man, aren’t I?” Morgana: “I cannot see the future, only the present, and one must always seize the moment. (Morgana hands him the key through the bars:) Good luck.” The Enchanted Forest. Past. (In a dungeon, Rumplestiltskin grips the cell bars.) Rumplestiltskin: (To the Evil Queen:) “I'm waiting! (She materializes outside the cell in a thick dark smoke:) What took you so long?” Evil Queen: (Turns around:) “You know what took so long.” Rumplestiltskin: “Oh, yes. The curse. You did it.” Evil Queen: “That's right. I did it. And I wanted you to know it before you, like all the other pathetic denizens of this wretched land, forgets everything.” Rumplestiltskin: “How did it feel?” Evil Queen: “Watching the curse cloud form? Felt like victory.” Rumplestiltskin: (Giggles:) “How did it feel to kill the thing you love most? Ripping the heart out of your father? How did that feel?” Evil Queen: “It was the price of the curse. How it felt doesn't matter. He would have understood. I took my life back. I had to. I won.” Rumplestiltskin: “And yet, here you are. Feeling the need to gloat. Something's missing, isn't it, dearie?” Evil Queen: “Not at all. I have everything I want. Nothing can stop me now.” Rumplestiltskin: (Giggles hysterically:) “Not quite.” Evil Queen: “What does that mean?” Rumplestiltskin: “The Savior, the child of Snow White and Prince Charming. (The Evil Queen scoffs:) She can stop you. She can break the curse.” Evil Queen: “Well, it looks like getting rid of a baby just made my to-do list.” Storybrooke. Present. Swan-Mills House. (Opening the door and walking through it with a dazed look on her face, Regina walks up the steps and into the house.) Emma: (Following, closing the door behind her:) “Ah, home sweet home. You know, you’re right. You can keep your palaces, this is the only place I wanna be.” (Regina does not respond but carries Maria into the living room. Following them, Emma watches Regina place Maria's carrier on the chair.)

Emma: "Is everything all right? You were pretty quiet on the journey home." (Regina straightens and turns towards her.) Regina: "I'm sorry, I guess I've had a lot on my mind recently." Emma: "Mm, very recently. I've noticed you gazing off into the distance, lost in thought a few times since Oaken's. What did Xena and Gabrielle say to you?" Regina: "It's nothing." Emma: "No, it's not nothing. Clearly something is bothering you and I want to know what it is." Regina: "It's silly, and I shouldn't have let it get to me." Emma: "Then tell me what it is." Regina: "Emma-" Emma: "Tell me. Please?" Regina: (Sighs:) "When Gabrielle told me about the events surrounding Hope and how Xena had tried to kill her, I asked how they could have gotten over something like that. (Shakes her head:) I guess I touched a nerve because Xena shot back with a question that's been bothering me ever since." Emma: "What question?" Regina: "She asked how we managed to get past the fact that I was coming to destroy you the night I cast the Dark Curse." Emma: (Rolls her eyes:) "That is so not the same thing." Regina: "Isn't it? Much like how Xena knew that killing Hope was the only answer, I knew you were the only one capable of breaking the curse." Enchanted Forest. Past. Nursery. Continued. Evil Queen: (To Snow White:) “Where is she?” Snow White: “She got away. You’re going to lose. I know that now. Good will always win.” Evil Queen: “We’ll see about that.” (She begins to laugh evilly. The ceiling cracks, and the air begins to darken and swirl. Soon they find themselves in the middle of a vortex of dark magic.) Camelot. Past. Main Square. (Guinevere’s wail echoes in the Square.) Guinevere: “Nooooooo…! (She runs down the steps towards her father’s body, which is being carried off on a cart by a pair of guards. Morgana watches from her window above:) No, Father!!! No, Father!!!” The Dark Tower. Present. (The spirit of Uther shakes his head.) Uther: “How much more of this am I to endure? Guinevere’s father proved his guilt by trying to escape. I was perfectly justified to order his execution.” Morgana: “His murder, you mean.” Uther: “You made your feelings on the matter quite plain at the time, must we relive it now?” Morgana: “Did you know that it was I who gave Tom the means for his escape? Or that once released from the dungeons for daring to challenge the great Uther Pendragon, I went and forged an alliance with your enemies?” (Uther glares at Morgana, who gives him a mirthless smile.)

Forest. Past. (Morgana walks along the forest path where she is set upon and surrounded by Tauren’s men.) Morgana: “I came alone, I promise you.” Tauren: “You were foolish to come here, Lady Morgana.” (He draws his sword and puts it to her stomach.) Morgana: “If you kill me, you’ll regret it.” Tauren: “Why is that?” Morgana: “Because I want Uther dead, too.” Tauren: “You? An enemy of the King? And I’m to believe that?” Morgana: “Why else would I be here?” Tauren: “I can only guess at your motives, My Lady. You could be a spy, for all I know.” Morgana: “And this… (She flips back her sleeves, revealing her sore, bruised wrists:) Uther chained his own daughter to a dungeon wall. He must be stopped. A good man died in your quest for riches, Tauren. His daughter is now an orphan.” Tauren: “I’m sorry for that. Truly. But we did not want the gold to line our pockets. The gold was but a means, a means to rid this kingdom of Uther Pendragon once and for all.” Morgana: “What are you saying?” Tauren: “Bribery is rife at Camelot. I will use the corruption at the heart of his kingdom, and such abundance of gold will buy me into the King’s chambers, even to the King himself.” Morgana: “The guards may be fools, Tauren, but the King is not.” Tauren: “Do you have a better plan?” Morgana: “To get to Uther, you need someone close to him.” Tauren: “And you know of such a person?” Morgana: “I do. Me.” The Next Morning. (While Morgana and Uther climb the hill on their walk together, we see renegades pursuing Uther as Morgana stops to catch her breath. Uther places his sword in the ground.) Uther: “Morgana, I know I’m not an easy man. My temper blinds me sometimes. There are things that I regret.” Morgana: “Guin’s father?” Uther: “Yes.” (Morgana looks at Uther, surprised.) Morgana: “Are you saying you were wrong to have Tom killed?” Uther: “Yes. (Tauren watches them from behind a tree:) I will strive to listen to you more and quarrel with you less. You’ve been a blessing to me, Morgana. Your counsel is invaluable, as is your friendship and your love. Without you, my daughter, I cannot hope to be the king this land deserves.” (Tauren sneaks up behind Uther.) Morgana: “Father!” Uther: “Please forgive me, Morgana.” (Morgana sees Tauren sneaking up behind Uther with a raised sword.) Morgana: “No! No!” (Uther blocks the blow and wrestles with Tauren. Tauren pins Uther down and draws a dagger, which Uther tries to block.) Tauren: “Die, Uther Pendragon!” (Having a change of heart, Morgana literally stabs Tauren in the back. Uther pushes him off and Morgana drops the dagger. Uther staggers to his feet and embraces his daughter.) Enchanted Forest. Past. The Dark Palace. (Regina paces up and down.) Evil Queen: “Daddy, I don't know what to do.” Henry Sr: “My dear... please... you don't have to do this.” Evil Queen: “I have to do something.” (She resumes her pacing, her father follows.) Henry Sr: “Then move past this. I know this may sound self-serving, but you don't need to enact the Curse.” Evil Queen: (Addressing him face-to-face:) “But I can't keep living like this! What Snow did to me, what she took from me... It's eating me alive, Daddy. Her very existence mocks me. She must be punished.” Henry Sr: “What... (She walks away, he follows:) If the price is a hole that will never be filled, why do it? (She stops:) Stop worrying about Snow White and start over. We can have a new life.” Evil Queen: “But what kind of life? All I've worked for, all I've built, will be gone. My power will disappear. They already think I'm nothing.” Henry Sr: “Power is seductive, but so is love, and you can have that again.” (He holds open his arms. After a moment, the Queen steps into them, and her father enfolds her in an embrace.) Evil Queen: “I just want to be happy.” Henry Sr: “You can be. Of this, I'm sure. (She sheds tears as he continues to speak:) I believe, given the chance, we can find happiness together. But the choice is yours.” Evil Queen: “I think you're right. (She steps back to look at her father:) I can be happy. (He breathes a sigh of relief:) Just not here. (Abruptly, the Queen reaches into her father's chest and removes his heart. He looks shocked, then falls to the floor:) I'm sorry.” Storybrooke. Present. Swan-Mills House. (Emma listens intently while Regina revisits the darkest time in her life. Not wanting to diminish her wife’s concerns in any way, Emma holds Regina’s hand as she continues to relive the sins of her past.)

The Dark Tower. (Uther's spirit is still coming to grips with his daughter's duplicitous nature.) Uther: "So, you plotted to kill me." Morgana: "That was merely the first time. Back then I still loved, and respected you. Then as I continued to watched you rule, I learnt that if you trust no-one, you will always live in fear. Your hatred came from fear, not strength." Uther: "How dare you!" Morgana: "And do you know the best part? Even despite your tyrannical efforts there was magic at the heart of Camelot. Right under your nose. I was born with it. Just as my sister was. You remember Morgause of course, the daughter you cast aside at the first sign of magical ability and never spoke of again? But she found me, father, and together we destroyed you. The great Uther Pendragon felled by magic after all." Uther: "Magic has twisted your mind, Morgana. Morgause and her kind have poisoned you along with my Kingdom." Morgana: "I am a High Priestess, the powers I possess are immense and grow boundlessly by the day. Not even those foretold to be my downfall can stop me now." Storybrooke. Recent Past. Graveyard. Continued. (Backing out of the vault with his hands raised, Mordred smiles unnervingly at Lily, who has her gun trained on him.) Lily: "Get down on your knees and put your hands behind your head. (Mordred simply continues to smile:) Now, scumbag!" (Chuckling, Mordred points to something behind Lily. Keeping her gun pointed at him, Lily turns and sees Morgana now standing behind her. Making a judgement call, Lily quickly aims the gun at Morgana, but the weapon is magically knocked out of her hand. Before she can reach for her backup piece, Lily is thrown backwards through the air, landing several paces from Mordred's feet. Watching as Mordred walks over to join Morgana, Lily realises she has no alternative. With her eyes aglow, Lily changes into her dragon form while her would-be assailants look on. Reering back, the dragon lets out a roar which prompts Morgana to conjure a sword into her hand. Taking this as a sign of aggression, the dragon breathes fire and Morgana holds out the sword, bathing it in the flames. Taking one hand from the blade, Morgana uses her magic to put the dragon to sleep.)

Morgana: "That's quite enough of that, thank you. (Mordred watches the dragon crash unconsciously to the ground. Presenting the sword to him:) Your blade, Mordred. (He walks forward to accept it:) Forged in a dragon’s breath, nothing can survive its touch. A weapon worthy of my proudest warrior.” (Mordred takes the blade and holds it up to inspect it.) Mordred: “Then I shall wield it in victory, and with honour. (Glances at the sleeping dragon beside them:) What about her? Shall I dispatch her for you?” Morgana: (Placing her hand on his:) “Waste not, Mordred. A simple memory spell and Storybrooke’s deputy will never know we were here.” Mordred: (Sheathes the sword:) “As you wish.” The Dark Tower. Present. Continued. (Elyan races up the stairs and into another room where Anastasia is trapped by a hovering sword that guards her.) Sir Elyan: “Worry not, My Lady, I’m here to rescue you.” (Elyan attempts to get by the sword to reach her.) Anastasia: “No, don’t. It will not let you pass. Morgana enchanted it to guard me. You can’t free me. Leave me here please.” Sir Elyan: “I cannot do that.” Anastasia: “You cannot overcome it. It will fight to the death.” (Elyan charges and begins to fight the sword. The sword blocks every parry and thrust Elyan can throw at it. Unencumbered by a master wielding it, the sword outmaneuvers Elyan and stabs him.) Anastasia: (Watching on:) “Go! Save yourself.” (Elyan continues fighting the sword and attempts to outsmart it by making it fly out of the open window. Slamming the shutters closed, Elyan leans against the window to catch his breath when the sword flies back and impales him through the shutter. Elyan collapses and Anastasia rushes over to him.) Anastasia: “I-I’m here. I’m here.” Sir Elyan: “For a moment, I didn’t think I was going to win.” (Elyan slowly dies in Anastasia’s arms.)

Enchanted Forest. Past. Dark Palace. (Snow mourns her husband while the curse cloud continues to expand above them.) Snow White: “Regina, I need you to rip out my heart. (Regina looks confused:) Charming’s right. We have been of one heart since the day he woke me from the sleeping curse. If you split my heart in half, we can both survive.” Regina: “Snow, I know your love is strong, but this isn’t like plucking a flower. How do you know it will work?” Snow White: (Desperate:) “Faith. Belief. I believe. I believe my heart is strong enough for both of us.” Regina: (Concerned:) “But, if you’re wrong, you’ll die.” Snow White: “Please. Please, Regina. Do it.” (Snow places her arms on Regina’s shoulders and Regina thrusts her hand into Snow’s chest and rips out her heart. Carefully, Regina breaks the heart in half. She places the two halves back into Snow and Charming’s bodies as they both anxiously wait for Charming's revival. After a moment, David inhales deeply. Relieved, Regina smiles.) Prince Charming: (Surprised:) “Snow? Snow, what’s happening?” Snow White: (Teary-eyed:) “You’re okay. We’re both okay.” (They kiss as Regina looks on, smiling. They look up when the Dark Curse slowly spills from the cauldron and begins to surround them. The rest of the cloud soon engulfs them.) Storybrooke. Past. Storybrooke Dock. The Boat House. (Henry still tries to awake Regina.) Henry: (Shaking Regina gently:) “Mom! Mom, please. Wake up! Mom! Mom!” Regina: “Henry.” Henry: “Mom.” (Regina stands up and hugs Henry.) Regina: (Relieved:) “Henry. Oh, Henry. (Smiles:) I will never let you go away again. I promise. I love you, Henry.” (Regina kisses Henry lightly on the forehead. The Dark Curse breaks.) Storybrooke. Swan-Mills House. Present. (Emma stops reading from the storybook and closes it, looking up at Regina.) Emma: "You know, when I travelled through time making sure this storybook appeared when people needed it the most, it never occurred to me to actually read it. (Holds it up:) But it's all here, Regina. You think that if I hadn't escaped through the wardrobe you would've destroyed me? This book tells another story." Regina: "Emma..." Emma: "The woman I met back in the Enchanted Forest loved with such passion and with every part of her soul. All you have ever wanted your entire life is to be loved and to have a family. Through loneliness and heartbreak, you became the Evil Queen but you still searched for that love and acceptance. That's why I know you wouldn't have let any harm come to me." Regina: "But how can you know?" Emma: (Walks forward and takes Regina's hand:) "Because of this. (Places their hands over Regina's heart:) This is why you were never able to kill Snow White. The love in your heart wouldn't allow it, no matter how poisoned by hatred and darkness it became. This is why you and I are always able to save the day, and it's the reason I am so ridiculously in love with you." Regina: (Tears in her eyes:) "I don't deserve you." Emma: (Gives a teary smile:) "Just looking at you makes me happy. So if you need reminding just how much you deserve everything you have in your life... and more... I'll be right here to let you know, for the rest of our lives." (They stand looking at each other, their eyes silently promising to love each other always, before they lean in for a soft, tender kiss.) Storybrooke. The Vault. Recent Past. (Waking up on the cold hard floor, Lily looks around and notices that she's back inside the vault. Getting to her feet, she heads for the exit when her path is blocked by a stern looking Zelena.) Zelena: "What the hell are you doing down here?" Lily: "I...er..." Zelena: "This is private property you know. Not some safe house for wayward deputies." Lily: "Hey, I was called out here on an anonymous tip that-" Zelena: "I don't care why you're here, only that you're leaving. Now!" Lily: "What is your problem?" Zelena: "My problem? You're the one trespassing in my sister's vault that was supposedly sealed by blood magic." Lily: "It was open when I got here." Zelena: "Exactly my point, if someone's been down here, I have to check what's missing. Now if you'll excuse me?" (Zelena motions for Lily to leave.) Lily: "Fine, I'm late for dinner anyway." Zelena: (Lily walks past her:) "Well make sure Mummy Elsa tucks you in and reads you a story while you're at it. Oh, and if I find anything missing, I'll be filing a report!"

[aurora077]

Uther’s Dilemma

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13529543/1/Uther-s-Dilemma

Uther’s POV

It all started on Arthur’s 17th name-day feast. The pride he held for his son, though rarely expressed, was shining on his face. Things were looking up for his kingdom. His son was finally a man, and was the finest knight in the land (Uther would accept nothing less after all). Magic was on its way to being completely extinguished; executions being at an all-time low that year seemed to prove his point. And he had just signed a trade treaty with Nemeth which would keep his citizens well-fed that winter.

He sat there contentedly gnawing on a rabbit’s foot and mentally congratulating himself on a job well done (if he hadn’t completely dismissed it as superstitious magical nonsense, he would have thought twice about chewing on that rabbit foot, but as it were, he didn’t and so his subsequent bad luck took him by complete surprise).

“Uther!” came the booming voice of King Rodor, who, although still disputing with Uther over Gedref, was one of Camelot’s closest allies.

Rodor dropped into the empty seat next to him and looked at him with a slight smirk, “I see some congratulations are in order.”

“Hmm,” came the slightly dazed reply, “Why, thank you King Rodor.”

Uther, in his slightly inebriated state, did not even question why Rodor was congratulating him; he thought the King was also aware of Uther’s achievements and was just as happy for him as he was for himself.

“I have to confess though,” continued King Rodor, “I am slightly disappointed.”

Uther’s eyebrows furrowed and he frowned, “Why? What’s there to be disappointed about? I was under the impression that things were going well.”

“Oh yes, definitely. Arthur and Morgana seem to be getting along splendidly. In fact, they remind me of me and my wife when we were newly betrothed,” said Rodor, laughing, “It’s just that I had so hoped that when my Mithian was of age we could forge a closer alliance. She did seem fond of Arthur the last time she visited, though granted they were only children then. I’ve watched him grow up and I would be assured that Mithian would be in good hands.”

Uther’s face froze, though Rodor didn’t seem to notice and continued, “I had intended on proposing a betrothal between our heirs, but I realise that that would be a mistake. Mithian would never be able to compete with the Lady Morgana. Arthur seems smitten, as does the Lady, and as much as we could force an alliance, it would bring me no joy to come between them. Also, I’d never want Mithian to feel second best; as a father, I do hope that the man she marries will love her and I see now that Arthur’s heart belongs elsewhere.”

Rodor’s gaze was beyond Uther now, and with a sickening sense of dread, Uther turned to look (his rabbit foot slipped out of his hand and onto the floor without him noticing).

Arthur and Morgana were on the dance floor, looking very....cozy. Uther’s heart started to race uncontrollably. This could not be happening to him!

*******************

Uther had put it out of his mind. Maybe Morgana had taken pity on Arthur and decided to be nice for the night because it was his name-day. They were back to their usual bickering so Uther felt safe enough in letting the matter lie.

He was going back to his chambers after a particularly long council meeting (blast Lord Drumph for keeping them all back! Camelot and Essetir may not have been allies but they were not enemies and he was not about to incur Cenred’s wrath by building a wall between their two territories), when he heard something suspicious.

Immediately he was on his guard. Who could be sneaking around the castle this time of night? Especially this close to the council chambers. Could it be that someone was listening in?

He continued on, on his guard now, and the closer he got to the alcove (that was hidden, by the way, how did the spy know of it?), the more he was convinced that it wasn’t just one, but two persons....who sounded like they were having a hushed argument.

Stopping just before the entrance he listened carefully, but he could only hear snippets of their whispered conversation.

“No! I told you, I will not!” came the heated reply to a question he had not heard.

“Please Arthur, just this once?”

Arthur?? Uther paled...and that had sounded like...Morgana...but it couldn’t be! What would they be doing there?

“If father caught us...” he trailed off, “Morgana you know what would happen!”

“Yeah, we’d probably ... in the dungeons ourselves,” she scoffed, then pleaded, “But I don’t care! It’s worth it! I know you Arthur, I know you want to .... as much as I do. Please .... with me. .... will help distract... They won’t catch us.”

“And what if they ask what ... doing .... hour? We can’t ..... into trouble because we.......selfish desire to....”

Selfish desire to what? They couldn’t be...talking about that could they??? Uther’s heart started palpitating again and in his panic he accidentally leaned against a wall sconce and it shifted creakily.

“Did you hear that?” Morgana asked, a thread of fear in her voice, which sounded closer to Uther now.

And before Uther could finish hear Arthur saying he would investigate, he was speeding down the corridor, and back into the council chambers. He sagged against the desk, wheezing slightly. Uther hadn’t moved so fast since he was fighting for the throne. He didn’t realise kingship had made him so out of shape; it took him several minutes to catch his breath.

He sank down into his chair and tried to process what he had heard. It couldn’t be what he thought, could it? Arthur wouldn’t ruin Morgana’s virtue, would he? He didn’t know she was his sister but even so, she was a Lady! He had taught Arthur better than that! (He completely ignored the fact that it was Morgana who seemed to be instigating something.)

“No this won’t do,” he said to himself, “This won’t do at all! If Arthur wants female companionship he shall have to find it elsewhere or I will find it for him!”

Morgana was off-limits! And maybe it was his fault as well. Arthur was a man now, and as his father he should have taken it into account that he had a man’s needs. Since Morgana was the only Lady he was around, it made sense that he would gravitate towards her. Uther would need to rectify that immediately!

******************

He was finally satisfied. Since he had heard their whispered conversation, Uther had taken it upon himself to invite several noble families with eligible daughters to the castle over the course of a few months. If he was lucky, Arthur would fall for one of those girls instead. As it were, whether he liked them or not, Arthur was obliged to pay attention to them as a courteous host. Morgana had been spending more time with her maidservant Guinevere, claiming that she would rather spend time with a servant than with those simpering fools pining after the prince. Uther, happy that she and Arthur were separated, had not berated her about being a better hostess (or becoming too friendly with the help).

He went down to the courtyard to see Arthur off. Lady Eleanor Budweiser was the latest young noble invited to spend time with the royal family and Arthur had promised to take her on a picnic.

“Arthur,” he said as he approached the prince, who was graciously helping her onto her horse, “I do hope that the Lady will have a good time today.” He raised a significant eyebrow at his son. “Of course she will father, who doesn’t enjoy good wine and good company?” Arthur retorted, conveniently choosing to forget the dressing down his father gave him for scaring the last Lady off by talking fighting strategies the entire time. (Morgana would have been interested, was his defence, which, for some reason, had made his father go silent. He was dismissed immediately.)

Uther nodded, accepting his answer, and made his way back to the castle, stopping by Gaius’s chambers to collect his medication. Gaius was confused when the King came to him some months ago with anxiety-like symptoms. He was unable to sleep, had become very jittery, and was having heart palpitations. And for some reason, whenever anyone mentioned the phrase ‘Arthur and Morgana’ the King’s left eye would start twitching. Gaius had received no explanation and so had simply treated the King without comment.

Arthur and Lady Eleanor had made good time, and when back at the castle he had escorted the Lady to her chambers. He went back out to take the horses to the stable (Uther would need to find a manservant for him soon, he really shouldn’t be doing that on his own) and met Morgana who was coming back from a ride together with her maidservant. Uther himself had gone out to the courtyard to get some fresh air (Gaius recommended it) and witnessed the entire exchange (from behind a post....as soon as he saw them together his instinct screamed hide! He would later wonder, why, as the King, did he need to hide in his own castle.)

“Morgana, Guinevere,” acknowledged Arthur, as he returned the horses, turning to help them off of theirs.

“Arthur,” Morgana replied, then smirked, “I trust your date with Lady Buttwiper went well?”

Arthur’s expression soured, “Yes, Lady Budweiser is an excellent conversationalist. Unlike some people I could mention.”

Morgana laughed, “Oh is that aimed at me your highness? I suggest you be careful now, you’ll be stuck with my conversation for a long time. Wouldn’t want to offend your future wife now would you?”

Arthur was confused, “Future wife?”

“What, did you forget? And here I thought you were a man of your word,” she feigned distress.

“The first time I bested you with the sword you promised me you would marry me. Now that Lady Buttwiper is here you’ve forgotten all about me haven’t you?” she looked at Gwen, “The Lady’s been boasting since she arrived about how smitten the prince is with her. I see now that it is true. Come Gwen, let us leave him. He’s sure to be heading right back to his sweetheart anyway.”

They exited the stables promptly, leaving a gobsmacked Arthur behind them.

“I...What?..No! We...what??? Morgana!” he called, running after them.

Uther felt sick. He remembered the promise a young Arthur had made when a 10 year old Morgana had soundly trounced him. He thought that she had forgotten about it. Had she been waiting and hoping this entire time?

********************

Uther had given Morgana some time to cool off (truthfully, he’d actually been the one who’d needed time and a second dose of anti-anxiety potion). After dealing with some court matters the next day, he headed off to her chambers. He needed to discuss, first of all, the impropriety of calling your noble guests unkind names (especially in public), no matter how upset you were with them. And secondly, he would need to find out the depth of her feelings for Arthur once and for all. He’d thought that Arthur needed to meet other women and the problem would be solved. He hadn’t taken Morgana’s feelings into consideration.

Arriving at her chambers, he found her door slightly ajar. He was about to knock, when he heard it.

Morgana was crying. Nay, full on sobbing!

“There’s nothing more you can do my lady,” came the voice of her maidservant, “He’s already made up his mind. You tried to talk to him about it but we both know his feelings on the matter.”

“I...I know Gwen, I know,” she sniffed, “It’s just...why does he have to be so...so cruel?” Her voice cracked at the end.

Uther didn’t wait to hear anymore. He had his answers.

Lady Buttwiper would have to go!

And Arthur found himself with extra patrols, much to his dismay.

********************

Uther was now becoming sullen and withdrawn and the bags under his eyes were fairly noticeable. What should his next move be? Morgana and Arthur usually found any opportunity to fight with each other. Was that the way the kids were courting these days? He figured Arthur had rejected her otherwise she wouldn’t be so upset. But Arthur really was a man of his word, and eventually he would accept her.

Which brought him back to his dilemma. He couldn’t separate them too obviously, or people would start to question his motivations; many of his advisors would undoubtedly think it an appropriate match. Neither could he admit that Morgana was his daughter. It was far too late for that now and he had a reputation to uphold. He could betroth one of them to another noble, however King Rodor might not look favourably upon his actions and he couldn’t risk bad blood between their two kingdoms. But if he didn’t do something it was likely that they would be too far gone, and he loathed the thought of breaking their hearts if they ever came to him and he had to forbid them from marrying.

What was a father to do?

*********************

Well apparently a father could shirk his duties to his kingdom in favour of stalking his children. Yes, that was his big plan. For now, he’d watch and wait. Anytime he saw them getting too close or too friendly, he would be there! He hadn’t figured out how to break their affections yet, but he could ensure nothing untoward happened between them in the meantime.

******************

Except this plan was terrible. He was poor at stealth, for one. And all he ever caught them doing was arguing. He was starting to get frustrated too. Following them around was exhausting. And he was no closer to figuring out how to separate their affections.

If they even had any at this point because he was getting a headache listening to them argue again. This time over who was better at skipping rocks.

Rocks! Why would royals need to know how to skip rocks like some peasant? He was so busy rambling to himself he didn’t even notice his court physician looking at him in alarm.

“Your Majesty. Your Majesty!”

“Huh, wha-?” he shook his head.

“Are you okay?” Gaius said, concern evident in his voice, “I called you several times already but you seemed to be.....” Well it was probably best he didn’t finish that sentence.

“Well now that you mention it Gaius, I seem to have a rather nasty headache,” he confessed, “I do believe I’ll need something to help me get through dinner tonight.”

“Take care of him, will you Gaius. I think I’ll need to request we dine in private tonight. Father doesn’t look very well,” said Arthur, making the King jump terribly.

“Good call Arthur,” said Morgana, “It can just be the three of us tonight.”

He had forgotten why he had a headache in the first place. He was spying on Arthur and Morgana.

Who apparently had made up in the short space of time he had been conversing with Gaius as they both seemed to be in agreement. They were like a pendulum. One minute they were arguing over rocks and the next they were amicable as if nothing ever happened.

Uther felt faint.

 Arthur & Morgana’s POV

 Arthur’s Name-day

“Come on now my Lady,” said Gwen gently, “You are expected at the celebrations.”

“Just tell them I’m not well Gwen,” said Morgana sullenly, looking at herself in the mirror and shuddering in disgust.

“It’s not so bad, really...well it is...but you look lovely anyway!” Gwen rambled, as she caught the look.

“Please Gwen,” said Morgana with an unladylike snort, “you can’t tell me this isn’t the most hideous thing you’ve ever seen.”

“Well...” she hesitated, it made no sense to try and hide her feelings; Morgana already knew.

“It is. But you did lose to Prince Arthur. I hate to say it my Lady, but all the years that he’s been training means he’s had a lot of practice with the sword. Unfortunately we don’t get to do it as much do we?” she said.

Morgana sighed. Gwen was right. She did lose the bet with Arthur and unfortunately she knew if she didn’t attend his name-day celebration wearing this ugly dress then he’d come up with something worse later on, so as humiliating as it might be, she would have to attend.

She knew it was foolish letting Arthur goad her into that fight. Arthur practised with his knights every day and was considered the best swordsman in the realm. She was banned from using any sort of weapon since she was 13 years old, and had to resort to sneaking out with Gwen to the forest once in a blue moon to get any sort of practice in at all.

But when Arthur accused her of being nothing but a pampered girl (as if it were a grievous insult to be a girl), she momentarily lost her senses. Now she was forced to wear Lady Melanina’s ‘gift’. Granted if the sleeves were normal the dress wouldn’t be nearly as bad but they were so poofy she looked like the court jester if the court jester was a 40 year old matron. And worse, the dress was lined in velvet. She scoffed internally. Velvet! Velvet was hot. She’d be lucky if she wasn’t smelling like one of Uther’s horses by the time the night was over. She had stuffed it to the back of her closet and never intended to wear it, so not only was it hideous....but the scent of it was musty and old. Gwen was forced to spray copious amounts of perfume on it.

How Arthur even remembered that she owned that dress she would never know, but considering it was Arthur he was probably gleefully waiting for the day he could use it against her. His 17th name-day was a big deal and all of Camelot would be feasting. They also had many foreign nobles in attendance. She certainly knew how to pick her fights.

“Well there’s nothing for it Gwen, lead the way,” she groused.

The moment Arthur realised she was in the room his eyes widened and she could tell he was struggling to contain his laughter. Luckily for her he was in conversation with King Rodor and had to hold a serious expression. Except, with a wickedly gleeful smile, he led the King straight to her.

“King Rodor I believe you know our Lady Morgana,” he said, shooting her a grin.

“Yes indeed I do. I hope you are well My Lady,” King Rodor said politely, “It has been such a long time. We should arrange for you to visit with my Mithian one of these days. I’m sure she would be delighted with your company. She had a wonderful time the last time she was here.”

Morgana forced herself to ignore Arthur and she put on a polite smile, “I would be honoured your highness. Princess Mithian was a breath of fresh air. I’d happily accept a visit. It would be nice to have someone other than Arthur around, and maybe he’d be on his best behaviour with a Princess in the castle.” She couldn’t resist a jab at him.

“Nonsense,” he said, and smiled at King Rodor, “I am always on my best behaviour. But I understand why My Lady is upset. I have been remiss. It was terribly rude of me not to notice sooner, but you look absolutely lovely this evening. Wouldn’t you agree your highness?” Morgana could see his temple popping with the effort not to burst out laughing.

But clearly the King didn’t because he very diplomatically stated that the Lady Morgana always looked lovely.

In an effort to avoid having to converse with any more important people while looking like a complete disaster, she left Arthur with the King and made for the table. Taking the most discrete seat she could find, she filled her plate and began eating, hoping that it would act as a deterrent.

Except Arthur couldn’t even let her have that, could he?

As soon as the last morsel left her plate he was there.

“Would the Lady Morgana honour me with a dance?” he said, bowing slightly so that only she could see his smirk.

She fixed him with her deadliest glare and accepted his hand begrudgingly. People were watching after all, she couldn’t refuse the prince on his name-day; it would be unseemly. And he knew it. All eyes would be on them. Which meant that everyone would see her in that dress. Which is exactly what Arthur wanted.

But that didn’t mean she would simply give in. No she would dance all right.

“Ouch!” he grunted, “That was my foot.”

“I know,” she smiled, “I seem to have two left feet today. Begging your highness’ pardon.”

After several more minutes of her stepping on his feet, he pulled her closer, so he could talk without the other couples nearby overhearing, and whispered, “What are you doing?”

“Why I’m dancing Arthur, can you not tell?” she said, laughingly, and then leaned up to whisper in his ear, “I will get you back for this. Don’t think this is over! Thanks to you, I’ll need to have Gwen lug water all the way from the well again to draw me a bath tonight since I’ll be smelling like a troll.”

It was his turn to laugh. “Oh, so, nothing new then?” he whispered, wincing as she stepped on his foot extra hard as payback.

Neither of them noticed King Uther and King Rodor looking at them, one in horror and the other with fondness. All either King saw was Arthur and Morgana dancing closely and whispering sweet nothings to make each other laugh.

***********************

 A few weeks later

“Arthur you must help me save her!” she cried, “All you have to do is get the keys. I’ll let her out myself!”

“No! I told you, I will not!” said Arthur. He didn’t want to meddle.

“Please Arthur, just this once?” she begged, tears threatening to fall.

He hesitated. He knew Morgana felt strongly about it. He himself didn’t feel it was right. He hated to admit it but actually, he knew his father was wrong. The woman was very old. She could barely hurt a fly let alone steal away with Mr. Erksom’s cow. And of course the farmer claimed it was sorcery. He knew he would never be able to prove that that little old lady stole a huge cow and hid it in her tiny hovel. His father was going to burn an innocent lady because the farmer most probably forgot to tie his cow and it wandered away.

“If father caught us...” he trailed off, “Morgana you know what would happen!”

“Yeah, we’d probably be in the dungeons ourselves,” she scoffed, then pleaded, “But I don’t care! It’s worth it! I know you Arthur, I know you want to help her as much as I do. Please come with me. Gwen will help distract the guards. They won’t catch us.”

“And what if they ask what Guinevere’s doing there at that hour? We can’t get Guinevere into trouble because we have a selfish desire to take the law into our own hands.”

She was about to argue that it wasn’t selfish at all but suddenly there was a creaking sound and she unconsciously moved closer to the entrance of the alcove.

“Did you hear that?” she turned fearful eyes on Arthur. What if they were overheard?

“I’ll be right back,” he said, “Stay here.” He peered cautiously out of the alcove, eyes trained on a slip of white going around the corner.

Why did it look like his father’s clothes?

***********************

Strangely enough, they got away with freeing the old lady. What they didn’t get away from was the King’s sudden hospitality. Uther kept inviting nobles with eligible daughters.

Arthur was getting tired of having to entertain them. Most of them were emboldened by the King’s invitation and thought it meant that a betrothal would surely be forthcoming, and so they all tried to curry favour with him. Two of them even tried to seduce him! He would rather be training with his knights or going hunting as opposed to sitting around with noble ladies and fending off their advances. Of course many of them were attractive but Arthur had no desire to be with anyone he did not love. Also he knew the moment he accepted any offer, they would go running to their parents who would demand his hand in marriage for despoiling their daughter. Arthur had no intention of marrying just yet.

So imagine his surprise when Morgana brought up his childhood promise to marry her!

“Now that Lady Buttwiper is here you’ve forgotten all about me haven’t you?” she accused.

If he wasn’t so shocked he’d find the nickname funny. Morgana always had a way with words.

“The Lady’s been boasting since she arrived about how smitten the prince is with her. I see now that it is true. Come Gwen, let us leave him. He’s sure to be heading right back to his sweetheart anyway,” they exited the stables promptly, leaving a gobsmacked Arthur behind them.

“I...What?..No! We...what??? Morgana!” he called, running after them, barely paying his poorly concealed father any notice. He had bigger things to worry about than why the King was skulking behind a post.

He thought Morgana didn’t want to get married. To anyone!

They had a head start but he ran swiftly and as he rounded the corner he was surprised to see that they had stopped. In fact, they were leaning against each other and laughing heartily, eyes watering and faces red.

“Y..you should have seen the look on your face,” Morgana howled.

Normally, he would be angry, but all he felt at the moment was intense relief. Marriage was no joke when you were in his position. If Morgana was serious, he would actually have to follow through with his promise, which he was not keen on doing but he was a man of his word.

“Soooo.... this means you don’t want me to marry you, right?” he said, needing the clarification anyway.

“Oh heavens no! We would be a terrible match!”

*************************

Morgana stormed into her chambers, with Gwen following anxiously.

“How could he!” she raged.

“He’s the King, his word is law,” Gwen said, knowing that it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

“Exactly! His word is law. He didn’t have to do that!” she said, pacing angrily.

“Morgana...” Gwen said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder in support. She sank down onto the bed, suddenly weary, grateful to have Gwen by her side.

“Why Gwen? Why does it have to be like that?” she said, and the tears started flowing.

“He’s only a boy. A child,” she whimpered, “A hungry child. It’s not fair!”

“I don’t know my Lady, life is rarely ever fair,” Gwen said, stroking her hair as she cried out in rage and sorrow, “In this life, fair is what the King thinks is fair.”

Gwen was well aware of what it was like to be hungry. And she knew Lady Morgana had more compassion in her little finger than King Uther did in his entire body, though she would never voice the thought out loud. She couldn’t blame the child for stealing the bread. Morality goes away in the face of hunger.  It was one loaf of bread but it would cost him 5 lashes. For a tiny, malnourished boy like him, it could well kill him. But the King’s word was law and he declared stealing was stealing, no matter the context.

“There’s nothing more you can do my lady,” Gwen said sadly, “He’s already made up his mind. You tried to talk to him about it but we both know his feelings on the matter.”

“I...I know Gwen, I know,” she sniffed, “It’s just...why does he have to be so...so cruel?” Her voice cracked at the end.

Gwen had no answer that would be able to satisfy her, so she simply said nothing. (Saying nothing couldn’t be counted as treason)

*************************

The King was looking stressed. He had dark circles under his eyes and she heard Gaius say something about anxiety. Morgana savagely hoped that on some level he was feeling guilty for what he had done. She certainly made no secret of what she thought of his actions.

************************

Arthur was beginning to wonder if his father had lost it. Several times he caught the man ‘hiding’ and watching while he was speaking to Morgana (more like arguing with but same difference really). Why did the King feel the need to spy on them? Did he think they were plotting to release more treasonous sorcerers?

And if he had to spy on them did he need to do it so obviously? He was the King, all he had to do was assign it to some nondescript servant.

He was actually quite relieved to see Gaius passing by, and sent him over to check on the King.

The King confessed to having a headache, and really, he didn’t look so good. He shared a look with Morgana and they both decided that maybe it would be better if, for the time being, they had dinner in private with the King. They really didn’t need more people seeing him that way. Camelot might start to look weak.

************************

Dinner that evening, was rather unusual. For the King’s sake, she and Arthur decided to be as least antagonistic towards each other as they could. Though it didn’t stop them fighting for the last chicken leg. When Arthur conceded defeat to Morgana, graciously in his opinion, the King stopped eating and just stared at them. (It was gracious in the King’s opinion too though they didn’t realise it.)

“Have you noticed father’s been acting kind of strange lately?” Arthur questioned silently, concern evident on his face.

“Now that you mention it, he has, hasn’t he?” Morgana replied, as she and Arthur both surreptitiously glanced at the King.

After a while of him staring she gave up and continued eating. Arthur bet her that he could finish his plate faster and so they started shoveling down their food.

They momentarily stopped trying to outdo each other however, as a low groan escaped the King, and he flopped straight down into his mashed potatoes, which had looked relatively untouched. Luckily for Uther, they were the only ones dining with him that night, so nobody else was there to witness the King’s moment of....whatever that was.  

“Father...” Arthur said hesitantly, “Are you okay?” After a few minutes of silence, he reached for a fork and was tentatively about to prod the King when Uther shot up, face ringed with mashed potatoes.

“I’m fine son, why wouldn’t I be?” said Uther in a high pitched voice.

Arthur refrained from mentioning the potatoes and the eye that was now twitching steadily.

“Okaaay I’m full. I think I’ll have an early night your majesty. By your leave, I bid you goodnight,” said Morgana, putting down her utensils.

Arthur followed suit and made to leave but, with every intention of discussing the King and his weird stalker-ish behaviour for the past few weeks (not to mention his apparent breakdown), Morgana held his arm and brought him to a stop.

“Arthur will you be a dear and walk me to my chambers?”

Normally he’d have had some snappy remark to that request but the King’s strange behaviour was on his mind so he acquiesced, looping his arm through hers like a proper gentleman and escorting her out of the dining hall.

Before clearing the entrance Morgana leaned closer to whisper, “We need to talk.” To which he solemnly agreed.

Neither of them noticed the King staring in horror at their relatively cordial exchange.

“No...” he whispered, clutching his hair tightly, “No...no no no nooo.”

“I can’t be my own in-law!” he cried.

*********************

Half an hour later Morgana’s maidservant Gwen came looking for her mistress and instead found the King curled up in the foetal position and whimpering.

She hastily backed out of the room. Knowing King Uther, he might chop her head off for witnessing that.

“I saw nothing,” she declared to herself, and scurried away in search of Morgana elsewhere.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxo

So this was a plot bunny that I needed to get out, though granted it did not turn out exactly the way I wanted it to. But anyway, I am all for torturing Uther in any way. Let him be confused about if their fighting is flirting now. He deserves anything coming to him.

[treatian]

The Chronicles of the Dark One:  The Dark Curse

Chapter 125:  Visions of Unwanted Futures

He left Belle alone in the Great Room and was more than a bit surprised to find that he didn't want to. The second he crossed the threshold and the door closed behind him, he had the urge to turn back, to sit at his wheel as she settled and spin, just to keep an eye on her. He didn't want to spy as he had before, he just wanted to keep her in his sights.

It was a silly reaction. One that was probably born out of his panic. The truth was that he couldn't stay with her, he had his Gauntlet to see to and his magic to test.

Up in his tower, he summoned Pirithous. He appeared in a dressing gown with an irritated look on his face, but he was there. "Seriously?" he questioned looking him over.

He didn't respond. Just took a parchment and one of the quills that remained after Belle's theft and wrote out a note for the women who were probably spending their night celebrating.

Meet me at the bluff in one hour, or you'll regret it. -R

"I'm sending you to another Kingdom. You are familiar, I assume with Maleficent?"

"The dragon?" he asked without interest. "Who isn't?"

"Take this to her, make sure she reads it."

Pirithous snatched the paper out of his hand once it had been folded then stood there and sighed, his contempt for their situation still blatantly obvious. "Alright…let's get this over with," he shrugged.

He rolled his eyes as he used his magic to send him to Maleficent's castle, where he hoped, for his sake, he'd at least turn into a bird to deliver the letter instead of let them see him in his sleeping clothes. With that handled, he allowed his magic to take himself outside. He could have walked, but he figured it was better to avoid Belle and not risk running into her. Outside, this late at night and after everything that had happened, was not a likely place he'd meet her. He started at the hole in the wall, the place that he assumed she'd been taken from. He'd meant what he said to her earlier. Aside from meeting his maid's captors, he did have protection spells to make stronger, but now he also had a murder to plan for. Quiet could help that.

No more animals coming in and out of property. Whether Cruella had paid the boy, enchanted him to lure Belle away, or just taken advantage of the situation, he wasn't willing to let something like that happen again. More protection would help. As for the three of them…he wanted them to die. He'd feel absolutely no guilt about killing them. Frankly, he'd expected them to die years ago when he'd used them to steal his curse. It must have been through mere coincidence that they'd lived to begin with. Now he simply had to finish the job. Belle may have been the maid, and Regina might have been wrong about the fact that he cared for her, but she was his property. No one took his property away without permission and lived to tell the tale. No one treated his property the way they'd treated her and didn't die a painful, horrible-

He sucked in a breath as a vision came to him, an image of the future, without question or doubt.

He was standing in a room, a home, made entirely of wood. It was small, smaller than the hovel was, but cozy. He felt a sense of ownership about it. It belonged to him. It was his home. One of them. One of many? It wasn't the home that mattered. It was the people he saw there. Standing around him there were women. Three of them dressed in clothes that he was beginning to recognize as what they'd wear in another realm. The women were Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella. And there before him, sitting in a chair was Regina.

In his ear, the Seer whispered one word: team.

"No!" he snarled as he came out of the vision. His heart beat rapidly, it always did after a vision, but this was different. Usually, it was excitement or nerves he felt rushing through him. This was anger.

Team, the Seer said. A vision of the three women, with him, with Regina, in the new realm and the word she came up with to describe it was "team"?! He let heat rise in him, let it congregate in a ball of fire in the center of his palm before he threw it against wall of his property. It wasn't enough. He wanted to do more than throw fire, he wanted to hunt, to maim, to destroy! He wanted to kill. Them! He wanted the witches dead for what they'd done. Taking Belle, harming her as they had, demanding the ransom, getting their greedy little fingers on his Gauntlet for all the time they'd had it! He wanted to see them squirm! He wanted to watch them as he squeezed the life out of them just as they had tried to squeeze the life out of Belle…

Again, a vision of the women in the wooden room overwhelmed him. This time, when the Seer said the word "team", she screamed it.

Sometimes he hated his gift. He knew that it was going to be responsible for getting him back to his son, but at times like this, when the Seer came in and spoiled his plans, he imagined what his life would be like if he didn't have her in his head, if he didn't feel like he had to listen to her all the time! He wondered, just once, what would happen if he ignored her now. If he went and killed the women, just how awful would it be? Would Bae be jeopardized?

Once more, his vision of the outside world faded away, and he saw the women in the wooden room. There was no denying the angry shout in his head at the word "team". It was so loud it nearly gave him a headache.

"I hear you!" he growled, forcing the vision away as he took deep breathes. He heard her, even if he wished he hadn't. He'd have to spare the bitches. The Seer wasn't going to settle for anything less than that. Sometimes...he missed the days of being tormented by Nimue…

The hour hadn't yet arrived, but that didn't stop him from going to the Bluff. The sea was a bit calmer now, though it was a bit closer to him, coming in with the tide. He wanted to be the first one there, to be prepared for them, to see the conditions they'd kept Belle for himself.

It wasn't bad. He explored the cave they'd been hiding in when he arrived, looked at the pool of water that shimmered quietly inside of it. There were footprints everywhere, and in the corner, off to a side, there was a large portion of sand that was tamped down as if someone had sat there. It was about the size of his maid's backside. Other than those few reminders, the cave was empty. If he didn't know what had taken place in this spot, he wouldn't have had a clue anyone had been held against their will. It was a well-chosen place for that. Demon's Bluff wasn't exactly a tourist attraction or one the locals would have dared to cross. They could have kept her here for days and no one would have noticed.

And it was tempting, so tempting, to do the same, to teach them a lesson in at least one way. There were more of them, but his magic was superior. He could overpower them, leave them here to rot, to figure their own way out…

"Don't panic, dearie…" he muttered as he felt a scratch in the back of his head from the Seer, a threat to bring about the vision and remind him again. He didn't need it. Against his better judgement, when the time came for him to stand out on the rock and wait for them, he'd already decided he wasn't going to harm them. At least not purposefully. He needed them later, so he'd preserve what was between them…for later. He'd take his Gauntlet, but he'd let them go and ward his home against them, in efforts avoid any more unfortunate interactions with them until his time in the new world. That was his plan.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with secretly hoping they struck and would give him the opportunity to defend himself.

He purposefully kept his back to the cave, expanding his magic to seal it off to their arrival. If he couldn't go after them, then he at least wanted them to stand in the place he'd stood, back to nothing but a cliff drop into nothing.

A stir of magic and black smoke announced their arrival, and he was pleased to see the women huddle together on that cliff. Their faces were stern, but their eyes deceived them. Cruella didn't like the situation, Ursula was concerned, and Maleficent…as always, she was the ring leader.

"Our business is concluded, Rumpelstiltskin. You got what you wanted from that mountain, and now we have what we want."

Indeed, they did. It didn't take a fool to see they hadn't brought the Gauntlet. But he'd expected that. His letter hadn't told them to bring it, and for good reason, that was part of the experiment.

"How did you know I had it?" he questioned. "Did the maid tell you?"

It was the only part about this that didn't make any sense. He'd had the Gauntlet for all of two days, kept safe and sound in his home. Neither Guinevere nor Lancelot were magical, their distance left little time for them to send a message to anyone much less these villains. And he was under the impression, thanks to his vision that prior to being with the Queen, it had been in Merlin's Tower. So little movement, so little time. Yet they'd been very specific to ask for it. He wanted to know how they'd known. If they'd tortured Belle, cast some sort of spell on her…

"You led us right to it, darling," Cruella commented.

"To be more accurate, it led us right to you," Ursula corrected.

"You're shy of uncovered mirrors in that place you call a home, and you're overly cautious about reflective surfaces, or at least you were until the girl started dusting and doing her own shinning," Maleficent explained.

"In the end, it was so clean we could use it as a mirror, our first real look into your castle since you cast your spells to keep us out. We've been looking for a way in for years," Ursula informed him.

"Try not to act so surprised. Of course we know about the spells, you set them when you betrayed us."

Cruella always was the ignorant one. He wasn't surprised they knew about the spells in fact he was glad they did. He'd done what he'd done in order to send a message, and he would have been happy it was received if not for the other emotions going through his mind. He was relieved in a way he hadn't expected to be. They hadn't gotten the information from Belle. She hadn't betrayed him, and they hadn't harmed her to learn about the Gauntlet. That was good. But he was also angry. He needed more spells, in fact he needed to go home and probably create one himself to protect against the reflective surfaces once and for all. He couldn't keep a maid and tell her not to clean. And he should have seen the danger in what he'd told her when he'd brought her on. Her kidnapping was more or less his own fault for not being careful enough.

But he wasn't about to admit that to them, nor was he going to show them any of those emotions. He was angry. He was here for his Gauntlet and to put this to rest until the future came to pass. He just wanted to go home and check on Belle.

"There may come a day when the students surpass the master. But today is not that day. I want my gauntlet," he said clearly before holding out his hand for it. He knew they wouldn't set it there, not that easily at least, but he wanted to make a point.

"We made a deal, Rumple," Maleficent pointed out. "And you never go back on a deal."

"No," he corrected. "I paid a ransom. Quite different. Demanding a ransom from the Dark One is not a deal. It's a death wish, and…"

With little effort he called on his magic, on the spells and potions he'd been attaching to his things, preparing them one day to the journey to the other realm. He sought out the Gauntlet in his mind's eye, and then, with a clink of metal, it was in his hand. His experiment was a success. His potion would work.

"A fool's errand," he finished with a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

"Whatever you're up to, it'll never work," Cruella called as he turned to leave. "The game is rigged. The villains never win."

"Why don't you join us?" Ursula added in a seductive voice. "Perhaps we can change the game together."

He nearly laughed. As if he hadn't tried that very argument with them years ago. He'd gotten what he wanted then, and he was going to get what he wanted now. Because while he knew the game was "rigged" as she said, his goal wasn't to win. His goal was simply to succeed long enough to see his son again. That would be enough for him. It was easy to win when the goals were attainable and small…and there was a Seer in one's head whispering secrets of the future; no matter how annoying that Seer was or how inconvenient the future she presented.

One day they would join together, at least according to the Seer. But that future was too far down the line to consider right now. Someday was not this day.

"You severely underestimate me, dearie. I always win. And I win alone. I certainly don't need to join you, uh, Queens of Darkness," he taunted before vanishing once more…this time with the Gauntlet in hand.

[ravellaarryns]

♟

the mention of the word cousin seemed to install something of a strange expression to flicker over marble; her jaw tightened ever so slightly, appearing as though it had been chiselled by marble by some ancient power, one more ancient then even the gods. both houses of arryn and targaryen were the epitome of histories that were relatively new in the grandness of the westerosi narrative, but there was no denying the fact that at one point in history, it was both of their lineages that ruled over the rest of the word.

"you are aware of the period of instability regarding the mountain throne with the late king." ravella spoke, referencing the murder of her brother - and the way in which she was ready to rip his heart out and burn it herself when she saw he had somehow risen again. no doubt her anger toward her oldest brother had been taken out on his daughter, as her fractured bones had revealed when found within the bluebells. the spread of civilisation through the invasion of the andals, a sweeping remarkable victory which oversaw the brutal takeover in the manifestation of something greater - had aegon not done the very same with both of his sister wives? there was risk in greatness and majesty, and there were those who remained like lapdogs at the bottom of greatness, awaiting for the smallest slip. those who always sought to be the same, and never would be again.

"it would not surprise me should there remain a rumbling as to matters of legitimacy and succession." her voice was harsh, as though it was glass; she did not speak in a tone that was soft, as though the faeries that were rumoured to live within the glens had blessed her. no, ravella spoke like that which was ancient buried within stone circles and atop the highest of mountains - a mix, of old and new. and she did not even need to look in the direction of the courtiers of the west to know she alluded to the likes of them; for to claim the son born of the lioness was a bastard was the most laughable of claims.

if guinevere lannister were a whore, she would have found out - and besides, the culture of the vale was that queens were constantly attended. and she was the golden queen - the golden idol. "easily applicable to the matter of the three sisters. you would have heard, as your little spy mistress must have done her job, cousin." ravella spoke, a slight taunt of a smile crossing over lips that remained red against skin as white as snow; it involved two realms, and thus, the initial attack could not be controlled. cousin. how peculiar it was to call him such a thing - it had been rowan who had been overly involved with the kingdom of the dragons, and even then it was with the black dragon rather than those who waved the flags of green.

at his words, reassurance that the falcon court would continue to be hosted in kings landing, she only nodded; her body language exhibiting gratitude, but not truthfully. not really. as another similarity that festered between the two groups, the two races, was one of superiority of a genetic nature. there could only be one true bloodline, when the matter was truly comprehended. "it is possible that the king himself may remain to aid in the investigation, alongside the high commander. the court and their queen are still to depart for the mountains of the moon." ravella spoke, the strongest indication of tradition; it was not common for an arryn to be away from the eyrie for too long as their feet did not belong on the ground. they belonged atop the world, above them all.

just as targaryens belonged atop dragons, as much as jaehaerys targaryen denied it so - which was one of the fundamental reasons why that mutation of a beast would not find it's way across into crownland borders once again. all knew of the fascination one of the velaryon lords held with dragons, alongside other possible seeds that could find their way upon it's back; it would be used to turn to ash those who lived by burning, and then it would be put to death with the aid of a specific group of individuals who too, had found strength in neutrality.

and then her gaze fell upon a pair she had not yet seen, though noted the way in which the braavosi diplomats seemed to be engaged in some tense discussions with them. they used their hands a great amount across the narrow sea, ravella thought - how it made men seem entirely too feminine. "your guests appear to have gotten themselves into some matter with the braavosi." she commented, noting the amethyst gaze of both of them; valyrian, of some sort. "many know of the close relationship forged between braavos and the vale of arryn, your grace. including the lyseni." the implication was there, and she found herself staring upon the figures in question, wondering if either of them would dare to arrange a hit upon the king of the vale.

Jaehaerys nodded at her words, he raised a hand and put up three fingers. Three of his armed men moved forward. "Then he will not be near him until the investigation is complete." The King found an irritation at the turn of events but these happened in tilts, men joined the lists and cowards thought it a way to put their names in the books of maesters passed throughout history. Tilts were littered with the unknown, the unimportant. The odd mystery knight. Women who tried to compete only to find they would not be given their purse for they broke the rule when dealing with men in melee.

"And my court will continue to host you as we complete this investigation." The man didn't have the look of someone from their bloody mountains of the Vale, but he'd heard tale of them allowing those beasts in their court before the slaughter in Dorne. It mattered not to him what they did in the Vale, and now it would have to matter if what they did on the mountain made it's way to the court of fire and blood.

"These things will take time, when I have the stewards lined up they will provide me with the names of the sign ups from this list and then we will carry on from there. I assure you, cousin, we will reach resolution before the end of these events." Related through Aemma Arryn, granddaughter of Jaehaerys I and wife of his grandsire, Viserys I. A relation oft forgotten when one remembered the way his grandsire took her life for the heir for a day, alas, Jaehaerys would not forget. As a man he knew family burned you like any other, as a king he knew there was value in all connections.

"Forgive me for asking, are there any who wish to harm you and yours? Any who may have been enough to make it known they wish to have you as an enemy."

[luffywhatelse]

Galeotto was the book

Relationship: Edward Elric x Winry Rockbell (or better said: kid!Ed x kid!Winry) Words: 1587 Genre: Fluff Summary: Winry always reads that fairy tale and Ed wants to know why she likes it so much... A/N: See the end of the work It was a cold winter afternoon. Colder than usual. Granny had told them not to leave the house because it suddenly started to rain. The result was that two eight-year-olds were literally bored, stuck inside the four walls of Rockbell house. Sitting on a couch and drinking chocolate, Winry was reading a book. The little girl’s enraptured gaze stopped on some words and a warm smile crossed her lips. She didn't even notice that someone was crouched next to the armchair, casting a curious gaze on those inked pages that were absorbing the girl's attention making her mysteriously lose interest in everything around her. It took a few minutes before Winry noticed the intrusive guest peeking through her daydreams without restraint. She closed the book in her hands, put away the chocolate and stared with disappointment at the disturber. "What is it?" Ed asked.

"Do you really have to ask?" "I’m doing nothing!" "Beside spying on me and disturbing me." "I wasn’t doing anything bad. I just wanted to know what you were reading, Gearhead." "If you wanted to know, you could have asked, Alchemy Freak." The boy smiled sassy and his hair fluttered up. It was not a full-blown grin but certainly a little smirk. Winry frowned, unable to figure out Ed's intention: when she was with him, she always happened not to understand. She wanted to understand everything, to translate gestures or usual attitudes, but she was blind in the presence of the most impudent boy she had ever known. And yet, just that shamelessness mixed with a natural charisma was able to arouse her curiosity to the point she wanted to observe him whenever she had the chance. "You’re blushing," he said, surprised. And her cheeks blushed more. "And keep blushing." "What do you want, Ed?" "You’re always reading this strange story," he said, evading the question. Winry, despite the blush and the strange bubble in which she felt she had been sucked, decided not to give him satisfaction and to prove she could stand up to him, whatever his intent. "There are no strange stories: stories are stories." "That one seemed to be a story for girls." How long has he been spying on her? "Can't I read love stories?" "There was a powerful and rich wizard, though. Not a charming guy." "You mean a prince charming." "I know what a stupid prince is, but there wasn’t any in your story. There was a wizard!" "What on earth do you want from me, Ed?" "There was a wizard," he went on, ignoring her question on purpose. Winry snorted, knowing her face was still red even if she didn't want to know why. Nor the idea of looking around and find Al, Granny, Den – or anyone else that she could use as a convincing and trivial pretext to slip out of the bubble in which Ed had trapped her – flashed into her head. "There was a wizard, it's true," now it was a matter of principle, "but the princess isn’t in love with him. The prince will arrive at the end. In fairy tales the prince always arrives at the end. " "Mh..." for a moment Ed seemed to calm down. But then he started again, "And why do you always read and reread that page instead of going ahead?" The girl gave up asking him “how do you know I always reread it” and exclaimed "Because I like it!!" "And why?" "Because it's one of my favorite parts, it's magical, I don't know, geez, I like it! Why should I explain it to you?" Despite what she had just said, she took the time to explain, "It’s an important part before the prince arrives and, if I were the princess-..." "Pfft!" he interrupted her. "HEY! What are you laughing at?" "You’re NOT a princess!" He really wanted to make her mad, "Damn Ed, mind your own business!" "You’re a fool!" "YOU are a fool! Stupid stupid fool!" "You like the wizard, too!" he leaned over the armchair to find himself a few inches from the girl's face. Winry had her answer ready but she just tightened her lips: that was not a question but a statement. "Honestly, what do you want, Ed?" she asked again. "The wizard is much cooler than the prince, even if he’s bad." "But he’s not bad at all!" For a moment, she allowed herself to look properly at his features, realizing that she knew every tiny little inch of him. "He just has a sad story. And in the end he helps the prince." "Nonsense!" he snapped, "The wizard would never help the prince!" Winry realized that she knew the deep amber tone of Ed's eyes perfectly, his pert nose, more pronounced than Al's. Even the shape of his small mouth and his hair covering his neck because he had stopped cutting them for a while. "Let's change this story!" he proposed. "Do you want to change this fairy tale?" "The prince conquers the princess but turns out to be a horrible mud monster," so saying, Ed grabbed a vase of flowerpot by the window, and poured the topsoil on the floor. "What are you doing?!? Granny will get mad!" "He was holding the princess in a castle enshrouded in mist,” he continued. "What are you talking about? Look, at the end they get married!" she tried to explain. "For your information, I'm giving the princess a brain!" "What makes you think the princess doesn't have a brain?" "Because if she chooses the prince, she's stupid!" Winry, dumbfounded, shook her head waving her blond hair. "Are you telling me you're here because you want to give a brain to a non-existent princess ?!" "Not really, no. I interrupted your boring and useless reading because I'm bored!” And saying this, he laid his hands on the floor and the topsoil began to take shape; now it had two legs, a bust, arms and a head. "It's a horrible troll, can't you see it?" Winry watched, as always stunned by Ed's ability. She certainly couldn't point to the fact that he was still a beginner. "You’re not going to get away with that, you disgusting creature! The wizard said and, with great skill, he cast a spell on the unfortunate ogre...” he went on with his story. "Wasn't he a troll?" commented Winry, always admiring Ed's language. That kid really read a lot. "Shut up, don't interrupt, that’s not important!" The little girl grinned satisfied that she had made him angry, at least a little. "... and, in a moment, the troll turned..." Ed put his hands on the floor again and again and light came from his palms, "... to stone!" The fake little creature made of wet soil had dried up until it hardened; it seemed to be made of gravel. "And the wizard threw him into the lake so that no one could ever see his ugly face again!" A small lake of water had formed around the little monster. "How did you do Ed ??" Winry asked marveled. "Tsk. It’s a small thing, I dehydrated it! A small alchemy demonstration," he got up and gave a small kick to what was now a stone figurine, making it end up in small pieces. "Now the princess is free!" "I'm free now!" the little girl exclaimed, getting up from the couch. She pirouetted in the living room, waving her pink dress like a princess. "Oh COME ON, WINRY! I told you you're not a princess!" Winry burst out laughing so heartily and he probably found her laugh so funny and contagious that he couldn't hold a grudge. So Edward laughed too, which gave Winry the opportunity to observe his radiant face, his indomitable hair, his big and bright eyes. The girl had no idea why the boy had piqued her curiosity for some time, yet she was well aware of what intrigued her: he had character, a strong personality like no one else; it was challenging and inspiring to spend time with him, challenging and impossible, a combination she hadn't been able to resist and to which she had no intention of giving up. It was when he saw her relaxing again against the backrest of the couch that he held out his hand to her, this time openly and defiantly grinning. Winry blushed, and the blush produced by laughter mixed with that of embarrassment. Her eyes widened in amazement and she felt a strange and pleasant tingling all over her body. It was one of the few times Winry didn't think so much about what to do. The moment she took Ed's hand, he quickly squeezed it firmly, pulling her to her feet and making her hit his breastbone. She lowered her eyes for a moment, perhaps thinking about turning back, getting away from him, but he wouldn't let her: his curious eyes were fixed on her. "Let's go play outside, come on, the sun came out!" Winry nodded. "Hey you! Where do you two think you're going?" Pinako stopped them. "Who made this mess on the floor?" Ed stopped but didn’t seem intimidated by Granny's rebuke. After all, that afternoon he got enough satisfaction at being proved right. Because he knew it well, smart girls always choose the wizard. * Notes: “Galeotto was the book” is a reference to Dante’s Divine Comedy - Inferno, Canto V. Dante and Virgilio descend into the second circle of Hell in which are those overcome by lust. Francesca da Rimini tells him how she and her lover, Paolo, read the tale of Lancelot and Guinevere. Moved by their reading, the two kiss. She condemns the text by drawing a parallel between the book and Gallehault (“Galeotto”), the knight in Arthurian legend who encourages Lancelot in his forbidden affair with Guinevere. So she makes the book and its author the culprit for her sin.

[epic-summaries]

GOT Rant

Okay, so I rewatched Endgame last night and my mind has been fuming about Games of Thrones since Sunday. Endgame reminded me that I seriously just want Dany to burn all of King's Landing and maybe all of Westeros when she’s at it. While in Avengers I want them to bring back everyone. Why do I feel like this?

Maybe I just want to vent my feelings out because it’s Wednesday and I’m still mad about last week’s episode of GOT. It’s bothering me that I’m still mad about it. Hopefully this helps give me piece.

I think I found the answer to my own question and it’s all about the ‘smallfolk/non-superhero public/peasant?/little people/background characters’. (And partly characters are being used to forward the plot, like D&D wants to get this over with as soon as possible. Which they do want this to be over.)

I remember in Spider-Man Homecoming when Peter was walking/swinging around his neighbourhood and you got lines from the neighbourhood community. They were kind or normal. Some of them had bad days while others like Flash was a dick but he was not malicious. In the first Avengers in Germany, you have that one man who stood up to Loki. In Ant-Man, his ex and her family are extremely nice. In Ant-Man and the Wasp, Jimmy and his government agents are antagonistic but still just normal people doing their jobs (not like literal Nazis Hydra.) There are evil people, like Thanos or Red Skull or Ego, however they are not the norm. Also, people who are dicks do do heroic things and grow (and entertaining), Hank Pym and most of the Guardians.

Let’s compare that to GOT (I want to stress that this a show only complaint and not a complaint about the books). I am having trouble thinking about good people who are also smallfolk from Westeros (we are not talking about Essos). Any smallfolk I think about are from seasons which kept with the books (when D&D cared about the show). There’s Arya’s gang in the second season. Hot pie becomes a baker. Good for him. They start out as dicks but they get better. Then most of them die (but that’s from the books). Ummm. You have group of Ed Sheeran soldiers. There was that father and little girl that Arya and the Hound meet. Then they die. The Wildlings are more calmed down then the books, less rape and violence. Then most of them die. They aren’t even Westerosi citizens.

What did we learn in the first episode and first scene of the season 8 of GOT? The smallfolk hates foreigners. They look at them with disgust.

I know in the books there is a sense of xenophobia from the Northern but Northerners are also seen as lesser by Southerners. It’s more like a family group trying to stay together to protect each other because no one else will (that’s my general interpretation at least, there are actual racist people too). D&D wants to you feel for the North, they want to show them as the victims, they have been through Robb’s war and the Boltons and now they have an army of the undead coming for them. They are the underdogs, and we love the Starks. But everyone is an asshole to Dany’s army because they are not from here. Who cares that she doesn’t have to be here fighting for you racist assholes. D&D if you wanted to make me feel for the Northern don’t make them racist because in this political climate it will push me away. Dany lost her best friend and biggest supporter who was a Northerner btw (though them not liking Jorah would have made sense to me), she lost most of her army but are you grateful? No. She’s not one of us. (I’m going to have one of us from Lion King 2 stuck in my head now.) They forgave Theon for burning Winterfell and murdering most of the population in Winterfell (Theon’s redemption arc isn’t the point of this rant, just how other people react to it). He betrayed them after they let him in. What happened to betraying guest right as one of the worse crimes one can commit? Jaime is fine? He was one of the reasons your beloved Ned was murdered. But Brienne and Sansa are cool with him, so they are cool with Jaime.

(Sure the North Remembers. If only the Manderlys were in the show.)

I get you want your independence but Dany fought for you and sacrificed for you. But naw the only one who gives her any kindness is Missandei in the crypts. Opinions didn’t change after the battle where her dragon killed more people and they stayed dead because fire is the only way the undead stays dead. But who gives a fuck because she or her army are not from around here.

Now, Kings Landing. Maybe the whores are good, they haven’t done anything other then spy for Littlefinger. But other then that? Davos and Gendry are the only Kings Landing smallfolk that have shown any kindness which I can remember. (I’m coming to the remember point a little later.) The problem with Gendry is that I get Thomas Mallory’s Sir Tors feelings from him. When Guinevere and Arthur are married Tors come to the wedding and asks if could be a knight, but he was raised by peasants. But wait Merlin says that Sir Tors is the son of King Pellinore when Sir Pellinore raped Tors’ mother. So, that means Tors is a royal bastard meaning he is automatically better than everyone else, like Gendry bastard of Robert. Davos is a nice exception but he’s a book character and not an invention by the show, so is Gendry. Point being, the two named good Kings Landing characters are from the books. Then, I’m reminded for Sodom and Gomorrah. This is the run down of the story. Sodom and Gomorrah are terrible sinful cities and God/Yahweh/Allah wants to destroy it because the people are just that terrible. Abraham finds out then makes a deal with God. If Abraham can find a hundred good people in the city, God will save the city. Then, the number falls fifty and ends at 10. But only Lot and his family is worthy of saving. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. Point being, Kings Landing is Sodom or Gomorrah. They riot, they rape, and are just terrible. We are told they hate Cersei but do they still hate her? I don’t know. We haven’t been shown that they hate her since she took the crown.

In the end, I can’t remember any good smallfolks (who survive and are show only) in GOT and that’s the biggest problem. I have no sympathy for them because the examples I think about are of terrible people or exceptions and almost all nameless. The only time this season you show the smallfolk is to tell me that they are racist which makes them unsympathetic to me. D&D keeps telling me Dany is crazy. Yet she has been rejected or betrayed by everyone in Westeros and the only person alive who hasn’t betrayed her is Greyworm. (A Targaryen alone in the world is a sad thing indeed.) (Sure she did burn the Tarlys but doing something one time does not make someone crazy.) I don’t care about the smallfolks and that’s the problem.

Dany, Dracarys.