Albion's Days They Leave Us Wanting

Council and Other Trials

Arthur was woken first by the sound of his door opening and second by his manservant Cedric ripping open the curtains spilling light throughout the room, bouncing off every surface willing and searing his eyes through the lids. Arthur for his part had nothing but distain for morning it came with it unpleasant things and being woken meant that even more unpleasant things were instore. Instead he rolled over and threw his pillow over his head.

"Your royal highness, your father has requested your presence in his study"

Still not entirely up he grumbled a question about the time and strangely got an answered.

"6 in the morning your royal highness"

"And what exactly does he need me for at 6:00 in the morning?"

"A matter that concerns the throne, your royal highness?"

"Please Cedric, could you possibly say that with less confident in your answer?"

"Sorry your royal highness"

"It's fine" If it's important enough to wake me early then it's important enough to show up for. With little more prodding he forced himself out of bed and headed to his wardrobe as Cedric laid out his meal and the paper. "Am I needed in any formal events today?"

"Your royal highness?"

"Clothing Cedric, there's tourney training today I'd like not to show at a knighting or public appearance in soiled cloths"

"No your royal highness, just a council meeting at 4 and dinner at 7"

With that assurance he decided on a good par of pants for sparing practice, something he wouldn't mind getting dirt and blood on. "Excellent. Can you have a change ready for me at 6:30?"

"Oh course your royal highness"

After the meal was done Cedric helped Arthur into his armor before leaving with the dishes to tend to his other duties. Arthur now alone again looked at himself in the grand mirror. I'm a knight and a Prince but do I have what it takes to do what my father can not. He had no answer and neither did his reflection. He knew that he would have to consult Merlin about it but there would be time for that later, Uther had time left to sculpt him into the leader he needed to be, no just a leader of men but of people. Actually they hat him so maybe someone else and can teach me how to get my people's trust.

The halls of Camelot were a buzz when he left his place in the third tower. Thousands of people moving about, cleaning even the most hardest places. Arthur racked his mind as he went to his father's study trying to think of something he may have forgotten. Dignitaries? No. Family? No. Other royals? No. Redecorating? No, nothing. There was nothing he could think of that would weren't this kind of reaction but if he had to guess it had something to do with the banisters of scarlet and pine.

Uther and all of his advisers, save for Merlin who's council he cared little for, and were waiting for him. His father's face was etched in annoyance and disappointment when he fully entered the room, only looking at him from over his shoulder. "You’re late"

"The castle is full or would you have preferred I not eat before training"

Alister, the book keeper looked up from the tourney's expenses, eyes flickering from one to the other before clearing his throat. "I mean no disrespect but are all here now and have urgent matters to discuses" With that his father turned his head back to the portrait of his father handed on the wall behind his desk before crossing his hands behind his back.

The record keeper Sabbas a olive skinned surly older man with salt and pepper hair, sat patiently in his chair at the table in the middle of the room with the others. Sabbas to his credit had never reacted as badly as most people did especially Nora, Uther's personal healer who was fiddling with her medicine bag, rearranging and checking thing. Instead he just ran his fingers over the record of meetings, forward back forward back. They all knew when his patience was waning and would rather do anything else than be the next to speak lest they incur his wrath.

"Lynene and her husband, Kaican the Duke and Duchess of Carmarthenshire have been murdered. Their daughter, your cousin Mary will be coming to live with us"

"Why? Isn't she an heir to the throne of Wales?"

"An excellent point your royal highness and a distant relative at that"

Everyone looked at Weasel, a whirly little man who if it wasn't for politics would be stealing wallets and selling snake oil to the desperate and destitute. Uther was the last to look at Weasel with an incredulous look "We can discus that further later"

“Discuss what?”

“There will be time for that later” Nora says almost as surprised as they are that she spoke, she was Uther’s healer here only to see to his medical needs and consult on medical issues presented to the crown. “I mean no disrespect your royal highness but your father is right, we have more pressing issues. I know that I am a personal physician but I’m also the head court physician and all of my peers are occupied with tourney and we know nothing of this woman” The secret keeper made no move to interject, hands sitting idly in his lap, cloak hood bobbing in what was assumed to be affirmation “I tried to get a hold of her physician but he was among the dead and I was refused her records”

Each person around the table gave their two cents with the secret keeper objecting at the occasional rumor and speculation. After a while of bickering Uther pushed himself up from the desk and silenced the room with one loud command of “Silence!” Everyone was silent the second he spoke, he just commanded that kind of reaction. Is there a way to be a good leader without fear? Can I lead when my time come without fear? “I will not have this in my council chamber, I will not have this in my presence! Gossip amongst themselves in your own time mine is actually worth something and I will not have you waist it” there was nothing but venom in his voice and it put even Arthur on edge. This can’t be good. “This girl has no family to care for her until she is wed and I will not let her be in the hands of Rhys”

“The people believe the welsh to be savages-”

“They think the same of the Scots, the Irish, and each other what’s your point”

“My point is that having her here may give them humanity, that they are not just beasts to be slain”

“There’s also the mater of you, your majesty. The people have many troubles and think little of you for your faults and past actions. Showing that you’re capable of taking in a young woman in need of love and shelter may humanize you in their eyes. Show you to be a man and not a distant fugue they can’t even fathom with the power to destroy all they know”

Uther was a hard man to read but if Arthur had to guess he was slightly annoyed and curious about the proposal. Farther has never cared much for others opinions of him, always says kings aren’t supposed to care for the opinions of others but seek council just so affirm ones own decisions. Strange. “What are you thinking?”

“Play up the details, not officially of course. We’ve already been trying it in some corners and the people are already taking well to it, thinking better of you by extent”

"Father is this really necessary?"

"You mother is gone, I have yet to wed again, and you are my only heir. Should I leave things as they are hmm? Allow death to take me and leave you to the wolves. Distant blood will come to came what is yours and those who wish to see us in rags will be at our gates demanding your head. No this is how things will be and I will have no more of your insolence"

Arthur knew better than to argue with his father. He left him to his study and advisers and walked down the winding halls in search of something meaningful... something in his life he had some control of.