Amelia's Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 45: The Darkest Hour Part One

A/N: Happy new year! 🎉🎉

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Amelia's POV

A lot of things have changed in the year since Camelot was reclaimed. Uther never truly recovered from what had happened, which resulted in Arthur taking on the role of King unofficially. Amelia had seen all the pressure he was under and had offered to share the responsibilities with him so it won't become too much. She took on the role the Queen would've done if there was one.

While Arthur is busy with the military and financial aspects of Camelot, the army, weapons and taxes, Amelia handles the Castle, the construction work around the Kingdom, the supplies to Gaius, the health of the people, helping to maintain alliances and treaties, entertaining visitors, playing hostess. Thankfully, she's had practice in entertaining visitors, playing hostess, some of the politics and familiarity with what supplies Gaius uses (and also giving a lot of the latter task to Gwen, who happily became an unofficial helper to Gaius).

She often pulls Gwen along with her to the Council meetings and inspections much to the displeasure of the Councillors and the maid herself, but Amelia believes that Gwen should be prepared for the role of Queen before becoming one.

She isn't used to being in front of the Councillors, to being tasked with actual decisions that affect the Kingdom. It is overwhelming and it just makes her more and more stressed to hear about all the things that needed decisions and knowing that one wrong one could damage Camelot or hurt a Village or kill one or make their harvest not as bountiful...

It is good to have Gwen, and sometimes Anne, with her because Amelia doesn't know how she would have survived on her own. The two roles feel incredibly separate so she never has Arthur's more experienced support with her but Gwen and Anne have been there to support her when the Councillors would just stare at her as if she's an idiot or gone mad or a mad idiot when she's made some suggestions.

The greatest support has been from Percival. Their relationship has been going from strength to strength in the year since Morgana and Morgause's defeat and has become much more serious. Whenever she doubted or questioned herself, he'd be there.

Lord Agravaine, Amelia, Morgana and Arthur's uncle, had come to Camelot not long after Uther's fall, as Ygraine and Vivianne's last brother, he'd insisted on helping the young to-be-king in the place of his father. Amelia, despite Agravaine's best efforts, does not like him at all. She doesn't know why, she just knows she doesn't like him and trusts her instincts about that. This results in all of their interactions being awkward and uncomfortable (hopefully it's felt more by her uncle).

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Amelia is sitting across from Uther, the man by his window, a tray of food beside him as he sits in his chair. A goblet in his hand as he tries to lift it to his lips, but his hands are shaking so badly he quickly puts it down.

"Would you like help, Majesty?" Amelia asks him. He doesn't look at her to see that her sincere words don't match her expression. She may not like the man, and she may think Camelot would be better off with Arthur as the true King instead of stepping in as Regent while his father 'recovers' (more like deteriorates), but he is still her cousin's father, an uncle by marriage, and she is determined to take care of him. Arthur had asked her to keep an eye on him and she couldn't say no despite her feelings towards Uther. That doesn't mean she needs to enjoy it.

Uther doesn't seem to hear her, lost in his misery. She doesn't take it personally; he is just like Arthur and doesn't want to appear weak.

"Will you at least try to eat?" She tries again.