Lady of the Court

XXIII

Morgause lights the final candles, focusing on them. Arthur is a bit edgy, ready to meet his mother. Merlin keeps trying to talk sense into him. However the prince just ignores him completely. He is more concerned about one main thing.

"You said you can show me my mother," he sneers.

"Be patient," the blonde sorceress calmly states. She starts spewing the words for her spell. Mist start to form. Arthur gets closer. Stepping out is a beautiful woman with blonde hair and dressed in beautiful clothing.

"Arthur," she gasps. "Last I saw you, you were so small."

"Mother," he basically cries. Ava's heart beats a bit faster at the sight of the two. She doesn't know the last time Arthur looked so happy. Queen Ygraine grabs one of her son's hand and holds out her other towards Ava. The young princess slowly walks over, accepting the Queen's hand.

"Do not be angry about the promise between us and the Grayson's," she smiles. "It was for the kingdom. You both might as well be my children."

Ava tries not to choke up at that.  She didn't expect her to feel that way. The child created because of her not being able to conceive.

"I wish I could have gotten to know you," Arthur manages.

"You're father didn't mean to prevent that."

"What did he do?"

"It's nothing."

"What did he do?"

"I couldn't bare a child and we were starting to loose hope on the promise with the Graysons. So your father went and talked to Nimueh. He convinced her to use magic so we could have an heir."

Ava and Arthur both drop the dead Queen's hands in shock. The king is cruel enough to do that to his own wife? He should have known that the universe was going to demand balance. Arthur turns his back to keep his mother from seeing him angry. Quickly, the queen disappears from sight.

"Bring her back," the prince demands.

"I can't," Morgause states. "Once the gate is closed, it's closed forever."

Then how did she talk to the Queen Ygraine before? Arthur doesn't question anything, but just storms off. Him being broken in such a way, who knows what he may do. Merlin and Ava rush off to make sure Arthur doesn't do something brash. He quickly got to his horse and the other two go to theirs. They quickly ride towards Camelot. The two with magic soon realize what he is planning. Just by the time they figure it out, they were in the inner walls. Ava slides off her horse, following her brother.

"Don't be an idiot," she snaps. The two move up the stairs of the castle. "You can't be brash."

He stops, spinning to look at his sister.

"Brash? Like when he slept with mother for an heir? Or how he signed my mother's fate away for the same damn reason."

He hurries into the council room where their father is.

"Arthur," Uther smiles.

"You hurt her," the blond Royal growls.

"Everyone leave and no enter," the king orders. "And please escort my daughter to her chambers and ensure she doesn't get out."

A knight helps pull her out while another waits by the door. She tries to pull away, but he keeps a tight grip.

"Let go of me," she orders.

"I'm sorry m'lady, but the king over rules you."

"I am trying to protect my family," she snaps at him. His grip loosens enough, she pulls her arm away. "I need to be there."

With that, she takes off with the knight trailing behind her. Merlin had already gotten in the council chambers. He looks flustered. Arthur has a sword to Uther's throat.

"She's a sorceress," Merlin states. "She tricked you into seeing your mother. She wasn't actually there. It was just to get to kill your father."

"Is that true?" Arthur asks. Uther nods his head hesitantly. "Swear it's true."

"I swear I would have never done anything to harm your mother."

Arthur let's his father go, bursting into tears. Uther tries to comfort his hurting son. The prince keeps pleaing for forgiveness, which the king quickly gives. Merlin and Ava lock eyes. She can see how much that hurt him, but he would do anything to protect her brother. Her brother and his friend.