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[onceandfutureprat]

[Arthur's been back for a few hours actually, but he's been spending that time trying to reconcile everything that happened at home with what he knows from the Barge. And it's a confusing mess in case you were wondering.]

How long was I gone from here?

If we haven't met, I'm Arthur Pendragon, king of Camelot and a Warden here.

Merlin, if you're still here, I'd like a word with you.

Comments

[youwillgotohell]

[If there was a twinge of guilt or shame, it stayed hidden. She lashed out at him instead, still sneering.]

She wasn't a good woman, she was a servant who didn't know her place!

[onceandfutureprat]

[Arthur supposed that he would have to get used to hearing people talk about Guinevere like that. If they were smart they wouldn't do it in front of him now that she was queen but he knew that there'd still be whispers. Not everyone loved the idea.]

"You begged me to go rescue her once. Was she just a servant then?"

[youwillgotohell]

No, she was a friend then. And if I'd known how quickly she'd turn on me, I would have begged you to leave her there!

[onceandfutureprat]

"She didn't turn on you. You turned on her. You're the one who's changed here, Morgana. You used to actually care about people, and now you're running around betraying those same people and killing innocents? That's not you."

[youwillgotohell]

[She wants to slap him, but she doesn't, just curls her hands into fists at her sides.]

Is that what you think I've been doing? You really are a fool, Arthur. Those innocents cheered every time Uther exocuted a real innocent, they stood by and let him kill their friends and neighbors without a word! Camelot isn't full of innocents, no matter what you want to belive.

[onceandfutureprat]

"They are guilty only of living under a king who couldn't be reasoned with when it came to magic, and of wanting to protect their family and their lands. You can't fault anyone for that." [And that was maybe the closest Arthur would get to actually saying that Uther was dead wrong when it came to magic, because he was a good king in every other regard. And no king was perfect, he'd learned that the hard way.]

[youwillgotohell]

[It's close, but nowhere near close enough for Morgana. She needs to see perfection at this point. Probably needs it shoved in her face before she could accept it. :c]

Excuses, Arthur, that's all you have.

[onceandfutureprat]

"And what do you have? Lies, betrayal, murder, jealousy? You must be so happy."

[youwillgotohell]

I'll be happier when you're dead and Camelot is mine.

sorry to channel charles here

[onceandfutureprat]

"If your peace depends on someone's death, it will never really bring you peace at all."

PEACE WAS NEVER AN OPTION ;;

[youwillgotohell]

[Stop talking sense, Arthur. She doesn't want to think about how distinctly displeased she was when Uther died.]

Then I suppose I'll have to settle for satisfaction, won't I?

[onceandfutureprat]

[Arthur stared at her for a moment, knowing that there wouldn't be any reasoning with her about this, and hating that fact about her.]

"Then I guess you'll have a very disappointing life ahead of you."

[youwillgotohell]

[Stubbornness is one of her best/worst traits. :c But she smirks at him, because she is Smirkgana, and because she's angry and clinging to her warped moral high ground.]

Don't get your hopes up, brother. I won't be trapped here forever. [Sob she things she will. :c]

[onceandfutureprat]

[Arthur thinks she will too, because she is one of the few people he knows that would absolutely refuse to graduate because she refused to admit that she was wrong.]

"You might kill me someday. But Camelot won't ever be yours. Not really. You could even wear the crown longer than I, but the people don't love you. They're what Camelot is, not the castle."

[youwillgotohell]

[That was a little like a knife in the ribs, or at least it stung like one, because she was aware of how people loved Arthur, and how they certainly didn't love her. She didn't understand why, never had, because she knew she could lead a kingdom just as well as he could, if not better. Her jaw locked for a moment, but then she forced her lips to curl, and cocked her head tot he side.]

They'll learn. And when they have peace they never dreamed of under Uther, they'll love me.

[onceandfutureprat]

"Uther is dead. I am king now. You aren't attacking his reign anymore, you are attacking mine. That is what they'll remember about you."

[youwillgotohell]

Of course! How could I forget how in love the people are with their arrogant would-be-king.

[onceandfutureprat]

"You're the only one who won't let the past go, Morgana! Everyone else is willing to forge a new future but all you care about are things that cannot be changed."

[youwillgotohell]

All I care about is what ought to be mine! All I want is for peace in Camelot, for every one of my subjects to live without fear, no matter how they were born! [She's taking a step closer, voice raising, because fuck you Arthur don't tell her what she's willing to do. >|]

[onceandfutureprat]

"We want the same thing, Morgana." [This didn't have to be a fight, there didn't have to be so much bloodshed.] "That's all I want for the whole of Albion."

[youwillgotohell]

It's just words to you, isn't it? [Ahah. hah. :|] What did you do, when Uther died?

[onceandfutureprat]

"I'm sorry?" [Does she mean the ugly crying or the night long vigil or being crowned king of Camelot]

[youwillgotohell]

[The fuck magic part. :|] I don't recall you welcoming the druids back to Camelot.

[onceandfutureprat]

[Oh that.] "I may someday welcome back the druids. In the meantime, I have promised them respect and they will get that."

[How he is going to make that happen, he has no idea. He's not ready to repeal his father's laws, doesn't want to even. Uther spent almost twenty five years making the kingdom safe from people like Morgana and Nimueh and Morgause, vengeful sorceresses and countless others who will stop at nothing to hurt his people and the crown. Perhaps he accepted that it wasn't magic that made you evil, but it was still a dangerous force to be reckoned with.]

[youwillgotohell]

Promises are pretty but that isn't enough. What you may do isn't worth anything to people who have wanted nothing but to be accepted their whole lives!