Merthur One Shots

Ygraine's Son

Date Published: July 21st, 2022
Word Count: 3697
A/N: There are tons of places in the show's timeline where a single decision could alter the entire rest of the story, and I want to explore some of them! This one takes place during The Sins of the Father, or the episode where Arthur speaks to his mother.

Rage flowed through Arthur's blood like rapids in a river. He was deaf to anyone speaking to him as he stalked toward the doorway to the throne room. He felt like he was on fire, burning from the inside out.

The doors swung open for him and then he saw him. The face of the man who had killed his mother. The face of the man who had murdered possibly thousands of innocent people because of his own actions. His father, Uther Pendragon, was a monster, and for the first time, Arthur could see him clearly.

The king looked up from the papers he and Leon were looking over. He sounded relieved and almost annoyed as he spoke. "Arthur, where have you been? I've had search parties out looking for you."

His jaw clenched and he narrowed his eyes. Everything felt different now. Before learning of his mother's death, he'd believed that his father loved and cared for him. Now, it felt like he cared only that Arthur was a Pendragon to keep his lineage alive. All the times Uther had warned him against danger, saying he was the heir to the throne, felt heavy in his stomach. Is that all he had ever cared about?

"Arthur?" the king said questioningly, frowning at him.

Taking a deep breath, Arthur willed his voice to remain steady. "I know... what you did to my mother."

The look that crossed his father's face was all the proof he needed that he knew exactly what he was talking about. He handed the paper he was holding to Leon, keeping his eyes on Arthur as he spoke. "Leave us. No one is to enter."

Silence hung in the air as the knight left. "What are you talking about?" he questioned as soon as the doors had closed.

"You were so desperate for an heir... You were prepared to use magic," Arthur stated. He spoke firmly, saying the words as fact. There was no room for argument in his voice. Uther wasn't deterred from it.

"Did Morgause tell you this?" he asked. He looked at him patronizingly, dismissively. The king's tone made the fire the prince was restraining flare up. Even with confronted with the truth, he was willing to lie. He would lie to anyone and everyone, even his son, who he was so desperate to have. "She's lying."

Arthur seethed, continuing as though he hadn't heard him. "My mother is dead because of your selfishness and arrogance," he said, struggling to keep his head level. "Her blood is on your hands."

"No, that's not true but Morgause would have you believe that."

He pressed on. "This is what fuels your hatred for those who practice magic. Rather than blame yourself for what you did, you blame them."

"You would believe a sorcerer's lies over the word of your own father? I can only think that Morgause has enchanted you," Uther replied.

There was that passive, dismissive tone again. Arthur could feel his grip on his rage slipping with every word that left his father's mouth. He thought about Morgause, how she had behaved with as much honor as he had. She had allowed him to speak to his mother, something he had believed he would never get the opportunity to do. Morgause could've enchanted him at anytime; aside from the boiling anger in his blood, his thoughts were clear and his own. "You hunted her kind like animals!" he yelled. "How many hundreds have you condemned to death to ease your guilt?!"

"Those who practice magic will stop at nothing to destroy us! I have only done what is necessary to protect this kingdom!" the king snapped. His anger was starting to show through his façade.