Once Future King

the fires of her pyre himself had he discovered her magic. Somehow, the thought of Uther having a hand in his wife’s death doesn’t entirely surprise her. She finally tears her gaze away from the Prince — King? — and his servant, turning to the bloodied weapon in her hand and ~

"Berries situation?"

“Would you like to hear the short list. . . or the long?”

“So. . . she was a — understandably — disgruntled sorceress probably trying to target father by hurting you. . . but— yeah, no. I can’t follow her logic there. Unless she somehow knew you wouldn’t die.”

You most certainly are.

Ah, there’s the Pendragon brat.

Her eyes narrow, not understanding, “She tried to kill you, but also said it was not your destiny to die by her hand. . . ? Then why was she trying to kill you? That seems counterintuitive?” She sounds as though she must have been a madwoman.

“I. . . remember that. Merlin almost dying, that is.” She snorts, “Father’s fury was all kinds of treacherous to navigate.”

“Then best not to think on it,” she says tenderly, before her demeanor becomes playfully chiding again. “So what other stupidly dangerous adventures did you go on that you failed to tell me about?” Like she hadn’t been there for half of them.

A half smile creeps out, “That’s a bit disturbing. Deserved for certain with his reputation. And in the end, you all came home to me.”

“You are forgiven,” she replies stiffly. Then lets out a breath and admits, “If I had been in your position and it had been my choice, I would have done the same.”

“I said I would thank him! And then tell him to never do anything that foolish again, because, as hard as it is for you to believe, Arthur, I care about his and your safety too!”

“I would thank him and then I wouldn’t let him hear the end of it the whole way back if that’s what you mean by ‘complain,’” she counters evenly.

Finger raised in the air, she looks like she’s about to (aggressively) say more, but oh yes, he’s got her quite hung up on that last point, doesn’t he? “Don’t ever do that again.”

“Clearly not? And you dragged Merlin into those caves? With nothing more than berries smushed on your faces? You are mad!”