The eternal suffering

Tiptoeing around the mistle (part 6 Christmas special, finale)

A.N.://    So... this is the last chapter.
I must say, I am not 100 % happy with how it turned out. But I've reqritten it like 5 times now. Which is 5 times the usual amount :)
But I think I covered everything I wanted to :)
I wish you guys a MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Have fun. Be kind. And please ignore the murder.

"Guys, guys, calm down!", Gwaine was having trouble. A sea of knights, servants and royals were scurrying around the throne room.
Each of them were chattering and mumbling. None of them really understood why they were even here. Because the king himself seemed just as confused about the invitation as his manservant.
And when neither Arthur nor Merlin had summoned them.... then who did? Who had the authority to do so?

"Guys!", Gwaine tried again, but nobody was listening. Gwaine was good in cheering people on. In raising people to shout louder, challenging them into games. But getting them to actively listen? To quiet down? Not necessarily his fortune.
So he did what Gwaine always did. He flipped his hair for absolutely no reason, before drunkenly grabbing his sword and clanking it against the next piece of armor he could find. Which happened to be a very confused guard who almost got knocked of his feet by that.

The clinging sound was so loud that the people who were standing too close had to cover their ears.
Immediately all attention was on him and everyone was silent as a mouse.

"Thank you.", Gwaine said, and then clapped his hands together.

"I'll try to make this short. You all know George I assume?"
There was silent affirmation by nods and small 'yeses'. Of course the servants would know the head of the servant staff. And the knights would know the man they always went to to get things done right.
"His wife went into labor a couple hours ago. He is becoming a father tonight."

The noises grew louder again. But some people were whispering amused comments towards each other. Disbelieve hung in the air. Though Gwaine didn't initially pick up why.
"And since George has been maybe the most dependable servant this castle ever had - as I've been told - we want to throw them a party."
THAT got people excited, of course. So it became louder once more.

"Who gave him permission to use the throne room?", Arthur whispered to Merlin, but it was also unmistakable that he didn't really care. It was evident in the way his arms were draped around his servant's waist and they were standing far closer than usual.
Their usual formal distance had been bridged and it was clear to Gwaine that Arthur had lost the bet.
And didn't regret it for one bit. Gwaine shook his head. That was faster than he had expected.
Arthur was a disaster for this man.

"And since it's almost Christmas, we want to make it Christmas themed."

Now that had some people cooing, others grinning, others just rolling their eyes.
"Does that mean more mistletoes?", someone asked and Gwaine grinned with how the topic went smoothly into the direction he had wanted it to go in.

The person who asked seemed overly excited about the thought.
Then suddenly, another girl spoke up. She was a bit smaller than the first. Her hair was shorter and her eyes wider. Though narrowed, when she crossed her arms and pursed her lips in annoyance. Almost exasperation.
"I think we've had MORE than enough mistletoes in the castle worth a decade! I know it's Christmas, but this is too much. Also, if it's about George, can we please tone it down a bit?"

"Are you kidding? Nothing is better than this!", the first one replied.

Suddenly a man chimed in. "Girls, shut it down. The mistletoes were hung for a reason. I swear, something big will happen with them. Just wait for it."
Gwaine frowned at that. They actually.... weren't.
Conspiracy theories. They were everywhere. Always have been. Always will.