The rise of Arthur Pendragon

Two Kings

Maids scurry in and out of the guest chambers bringing clothing, blankets and food to Arthur and Merlin. The fire crackles in the silence, the smell of fresh bread drifts through the air and Merlin watches Arthur as he sits cross legged on the bed, his mouth pressed into a line in thought. Oh how he'd missed that face. The last one hundred years had come to this moment. King Louis had declared a feast for all on the return of Arthur but Arthur was still confused and was still taking in his surroundings. He was in Camelot, in the castle where he had been born and where he had grown up, in the castle where his father had died, where his mother had died, where Morgana had hid young Mordred and in the castle where he had married the love of his life. Yet none of that mattered now, it was a whole knew century. 

"Arthur?" Merlin's voice interrupted Arthur's thoughts "Would you like to go visit the Pendragon's?" Merlin asked and Arthur knew what he meant. Silently Arthur climbed off the bed and walked towards the door Merlin following at his heels. Knowingly Arthur turned down the nearby stairs and continued down them for a number of flights, then he turned down the hallway and past his old chambers, he was almost running now and he burst through the door and the guards separated to let him through. They were beneath the ground now, no natural light got through, the room was dimly lit with candles and hadn't changed a bit, their where just more coffins. 

In the far corner, Arthur knew lay his mother and father. He moved towards them and traced his finger over the painted wood, his father had died almost 120 years ago yet the memory was as fresh as yesterday. Now there were coffins next to his  parents, he read the plaques aloud.

"Guinevere Pendragon." his voice was filled with love as he read what was underneath "Loving wife to King Arthur and loving mother to Prince Edward."

There was a gap between Gwen's and Edwards coffins, Arthur knew that that was where he should of been buried. 

"Merlin?" Arthur asked voice shaking "When this life finishes, promise me you will bury me in my rightful place?" he placed his hand on the cold wood of Gwen's resting place. 

"I promise" Merlin's voice was on the edge of tears at the thought of loosing Arthur all over again. Arthur's hand moved over the gap and onto the next one, Edward.

"My son" Arthur whispered and bent down to kiss the wood "I love you" he added dusting off the plaque "I am so proud of you Edward." tears ran down Arthur's cheeks and Merlin stepped forward, Arthur wrapped his arm round Merlin's shoulder.

"You took care of him Merlin" Arthur smiles "You took care of them all" Arthur slid his eyes along the coffins which were all elegantly decorated with rich paints and metals. Arthur traced his hand over the gap where Queen Aphra's body should've been laying. 

"They set the room alight before the guards could get to her body." Merlin stated picturing the flames that had engulfed the castle almost half a century ago. He continued tracing the patterns on Eleanora's coffin and onto Mary's and Cedric's. 

"I missed so much" Arthur stammered.

"You would've missed it anyway" Merlin reminds him as he comes to a stop at the end of the line of Kings & Queens. 

"I wouldn't of missed Edwards life" Arthur states "He could've had brothers and sisters" Arthur's voice fills with regret and upset. 

"Can I just have a moment alone Merlin" Arthur asks softly and Merlin nods heading towards the door. Arthur walks back up to Uther.

"Oh father" he cries sliding down the concrete and onto the cold stone floor. After several minutes Arthur rubs his eyes and stands kissing Gwen's plaque gently.

"I love you Guinevere, I always will." he whispers into the silence and then he turns briskly on his heel and Merlin meets him at the door with a smile, Arthur smiles back but Merlin knows there is sadness in his eyes.