Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Uther's heart

A.N.: Good Uther alert :D Kinda at least. I do not excuse his behavior, I just wanted to write a different version of him. 
One in which he cares about his children and their wellbeing. 
P.S.: Random art ahead :3 You're welcome. thanks for reading ^^



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Uther Pendragon did not have a word for it.
It's not that he didn't know what it was. He was just too old for this kind of language.

"You serve him well. Beyond the lines of duty."

He had once said this to Merlin, his son's manservant. Because the boy had done something extraordinary.
It really was beyond the line of duty to get his master a new sword that was this well defined and balanced.
Also, Uther had checked the finances. There were no records of any new sword purchases. Let alone one as expensive as this one.
Which meant that Merlin had bought this of his own pocket.

"There is a bond between us.", the boy had said and there was no denying that he was right.

Now, of course, the upcoming fight was practically impossible to win. Since the enemy (the dark knight) was literally immortal.
So, surely Arthur would need the best sword there was to even stand a chance.
But even with that, he would not survive. That should be obvious to everyone.
Immortal knights could not be killed. It was in the name. And this one had proven to be unkillable, when he decimated the last foolish knights who picked up the gauntlet.
Surely it was their duty and part of the knights code for them to die for their king. Yet.... it was a heavy price to pay.

For everyone else, this sword might be considered a waste of money.
This boy – this boy born in poverty- still went and bought Arthur the most expensive one Uther had ever seen.
This was almost unreasonable faith. One might even call it devotion.
And then he seemed uncomfortable to give it to the king himself.

So this was not circumstantial. This was not an act born of faith in the title of the prince.
This devotion was meant for Arthur as a person. And only Arthur. Because of who he was to Merlin.
And what bigger compliment could his son get, than this?
From a boy who served him all day and night and still seemed to never tire of it?

But Uther had more reason than that to have taken a a strange fatherly kind of liking to Merlin.
The most memorable thing Uther could remember was the time when Arthur figured out how he was born and why.
Merlin had been the only one who was able to talk Arthur out of killing his own father.
Which – believe it or not – Uther was beyond thankful for.

"You have proven yourself a great ally in the fight against magic.", he had later told the boy. Though Merlin didn't seem to quite expect the gratitude.
He almost looked pained.
But Uther decided not to look further into it. The boy deserved a break.
The boy was also incredibly brave for a farming boy.

He had saved Arthur, the day they met, despite having a very obvious fight with him earlier that same day.
He had also offered his own life for his servant friend shortly after, who at the time, had been accused of using magic.
If the boy wasn't so clumsy and – as Arthur informed him – useless with a sword, Uther had considered if this boy might be knight material. He had pondered about this more than once, actually. Despite the fact that he was still a peasant.

But the boy was also Gaius's apprentice. And – as Gaius informed him – a fast learner.
Perhaps the boy would prove to be useful in different ways.

Uther would admit, at first, he wasn't really fond of this whole.... thing .... that was going on between the servant and the prince.

Arthur got too close to this boy. Even went against his own father – the king – to risk his life for one goddamn flower.
They formed a strange kind of friendship and that was the moment Uther realized just how close they really were.
It wasn't just beyond the line of duty for the serving boy.
It was way beyond the line for the crown prince as well.
Perhaps even more so.