The Guard (CS/Merlin Crossover)

3- Death of Uther Pendragon

*Six Months Later*

"I'm sorry, Your Highnesses, but I quit!" Emma's latest bodyguard threw down his damaged helmet and stormed out of the room. Snow and Charming turned to their daughter and couldn't help but glare. That had been the third guard that week, a new record.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"Emma, you've spent more time traveling back to the palace with the guards so they can quit than you have actually being in your village. Do you want to come back home?" Charming sighed.

"No! I mean... I love being in the village. It's not my fault if my guards don't want to do their job anymore," Emma grumbled.

"Emma," Snow strained her voice, "we know you don't want a guard but you will have to put up with it! Obviously these men keep leaving because you make them leave! Most are honourable men with a lot valour-"

"They're obviously not because they can't stick it out and 'protect me' or whatever you call it."

"Thankfully, we were prepared and your new guard had been chosen as soon as the previous one was assigned; however, we didn't foresee he would be needed the next day," Charming rubbed his temples. His daughter living in the forest again caused him enough stress without her doing everything in her large amount of power to find trouble. "He'll arrive as soon as possible so you can get back to the village.

"Yippee," Emma huffed.

She met the new guy the next morning when she opened her bedchamber door. Since her first guard, her parents had hired guard with a variety of body types, a wide range of ages, and varying degrees of tolerance. They lasted a week, perhaps two; the longest anyone had lasted was two weeks and four days. The were a few buff girls, a few annoying guys, the uptight old dude, that one girl who wanted to be her best friend, the creepy kid who tried to seduce her, a couple of guys who spoke in iambic pentameter, and the mentally deranged guy her parents ended up firing because he thought he was the king- long story for another day. Some were genuinely trying but couldn't take it; others were overwhelmed immediately. Of course when magic was involved, Emma could go overboard. Although, she would say it was just enough, just to ensure their quitting.

This kid was maybe a couple years older than her. He was broad and thick, handsome, and he had an honourable face. The hardest kind to get rid of.

"Milady-"

"Save it. I hope you have another job lined up," Emma huffed as she walked past him and into the hall.

"Wait milady, your parents have news for you," he ran after her. As an afterthought he added, "And I think you'll rather like me. I have guarded nobility before-"

"Please, nobody lasts. And don't change the subject, what about my parents?"

"They await you in the throne room."

"Great, what now?" She took off down the hall to the stone staircase. The new guy chased after her, as they often did to ensure her unpredictability was looked after. The princess stopped short of the door, and the guy stumbled into her. She elbowed him back as he looked at her apologetically, and she adjusted her blue cloak on her shoulders and strode into the throne room. "Mother dear, father dear," she spoke dramatically.

"Emma," her mother spoke in a tone that told her it wasn't time for jokes, "Do you remember our trip to Camelot about two or three years ago?" She said slowly.

"Yeah, of course. You wanted me to marry Prince Prat- I mean Arthur-" she corrected herself when her parents frowned disapprovingly," Why? Are we taking another trip to Camelot?"

"Yes, however the circumstances are not as desirable," her father sighed. To be honest, that first trip wasn't desirable either, Emma thought. "King Uther Pendragon has died."

"Oh," Emma said quietly. She disliked Uther, mostly because he -had- stuck his big nose in her business and sent a ton of references for guards to her parents. These guards she treated particularly harshly. Of course, there was also the fact that he - had- hated magic with every fiber of his grumpy, old being; the Enchanted Forest wasn't exactly his favourite place, but her parents had promised him they had no magic, and that they would keep any trace of it contained in their Kingdom. Still, she had feared what he would have done if he'd ever found out she had magic. She realised that it was no longer an issue, Arthur would take over.

Arthur. She immediately felt awful. When they first met, the princess was less than impressed with Camelot's supposed best, and vice versa. Her parents and Uther had sought to form a marital alliance so that kind of ruined their plans. She did, however, enjoy beating Arthur's ass in horse races, archery, and sword fighting. By the end, they had a certain respect for each other, although they'd readily deny it. This made her sympathise with the prince and reminded her once more of Graham- an orphan who, if it weren't for Emma, would have been raised by wolves.

"Wow... Arthur must be devastated. He has no one left..." Emma spoke quietly.

"Arthur has lost his father, and we have lost a great ally. However old fashioned and stubborn he was, Uther was not an evil man," her father said, "at least not about most things."

"Does this mean Camelot will welcome magic once more?" Emma wondered.

"Who is to say what Arthur will bring? He is still inexperienced and young. He will need guidance from others, but I think he will make a better king than his father. For now, your father and I must attend the funeral and Arthur's coronation in Camelot. We leave after breakfast," the queen announced. "We can postpone your trip back to the Swan village if you wish to attend. I think you should sweetie. It's time people saw you out there again. It's been almost a year... you had even cancelled your ball," she coaxed.

"I don't know, mom," Emma bit her lip. Great, her first public appearance since the funeral would be another funeral.

"Arthur did invite all of us. I'm sure it'd be a great help to have you there. Maybe lighten the mood and support him. You can help each other even," her dad soothed. He'd come to notice that even though his daughter could no longer hole up in her room, she now directed her hurt and anguish toward the guards. He supposed he preferred her demonstrating hostility than nothing at all. It showed progress. But it also showed that she was still grieving, and he'd give anything to stop it.

After contemplating for a few moments, she decided the village could wait and going to Camelot for a few days was more important. She wanted Arthur to have all the support he could- though she would not admit it. Also, she could roam without a guard, finally! "I'll go, I mean the village isn't going anywhere," she shrugged, "A few days in Camelot doesn't sound bad."

"That's great," her mother's face brightened.

"And of course your guard is coming with us," the king added.

Dammit! Emma thought. So close.

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A/n:
****This is not my original idea- Tumblr user Scottmcdoll has given me permission to write a fic based on her gif sets of her Merlin/CS crossover.****

After this is where it gets better B)