InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Pink Is The New Black!"

HRH Uther Pendragon (camelot_king) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2010-07-11 17:46:00

Entry tags:

!closed, arthur pendragon, guinevere, uther pendragon

Who: Uther, Arthur and Guinevere.
What: Arthur and Gwen decide to break some important news to his Father.
When: Just after breakfast, after Arthur messaged Uther.
Where: Uther's apartment.
Rating: TBA

Uther paced up and down between the sitting area and the kitchen, occasionally stopping to stare out the window, but then resuming his relentless pacing. He strode from one end of the room to the other in several long, commanding strides, then spun on his heel and hurried back again. The map of wrinkles in his aging face seemed to deepen as he scowled to himself, creating deep rivets around his eyes and over his forehead. He was dressed strangely, in trousers woven in a rough, deep blue fabric and a jumper (which, admittedly, was very soft) in a shade of red as close to Pendragon as he could find.

The last week had been painful, to say the least. But he had a chance now, an opportunity to get his son back. Even if he couldn't rescue him from the grip of that serving girl, he could at least have Arthur. It killed him to know that his boy was so close but hated him, was avoiding him. No, he would sort things with Arthur first. Then Morgana. Everything was different here, and he was slowly coming to terms with it all. Reluctantly - each time he admitted something it was like pulling teeth - but he was definitely getting there. On everything, at least, except his son's choice of wife.

Uther sighed, feeling age settle on his shoulders once again, so he had to stop and brace a hand on the sideboard, his shoulders sagging wearily. Something he barely recognized churned in his stomach, and it was only when there was a knock on the door that he recognized it as nerves. The Camelot King pulled his tired body from the side, took a deep breath of clean air into his lungs, then moved carefully to pull the door open.

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a_royal_prat
2010-07-11 05:03 pm UTC (link)

It was by instinct more than purpose that Arthur had made Gwen come to a halt behind him and off to the side where he could see her but wasn't presenting her to the door first. He tried to pretend his reactions were anything less than normal when the door creaked open at an agonizingly slow pace to reveal his father's weary expression.

"Father." Arthur's lips bowed downward in a shallow parody of a serious frown. He wasn't feeling serious. He was feeling nervous as hell.

They hadn't even received a verbal greeting. "May we come in?"

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futurequeen
2010-07-11 05:41 pm UTC (link)

She had kept a hold of Arthur's hand until they reached the door, noting the way he held his body before ensuring she was standing behind him. Most women would find that wrong, would not be happy at being placed behind a man but she understood his reasoning for it. When the door opened, Gwen took a moment to fully take in the King's expression before bowing her head. Of course, partly it was that hidden part of her that recalled years of not meeting his gaze. But it was also because she almost couldn't face the King looking so weak.

She kept quiet, knowing now wasn't the time to speak. She probably wouldn't talk unless she had to, she knew if she tried to say anything at all she would just be dismissed by Uther. So until she felt the need to say anything to him, she would keep quiet.

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camelot_king
2010-07-11 06:32 pm UTC (link)

Arthur stood on the threshold, Guinevere at his shoulder. The girl stood quietly, ducking her head to avoid meeting his gaze. Uther felt a little better at that, and started back as Arthur addressed him, his gaze landing on the familiar features of his son.

"Of course." He stepped aside, allowing them entry to his small home. It was much the same as the apartment he had visited Arthur in, only without the homely touches. Uther hadn't been here long enough to make the place his own, and he had little wish to. It felt too much like betraying Camelot.

Once the two were inside, Uther leaned back against the door, letting it close with a click. He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself, before gesturing towards the bland, untouched sofa pushed against the wall. He himself moved to a chair placed opposite, easing his old, complaining body into the cushions. As the tension in the flat increased, he found that he was suddenly very tired. "How are you?"

The question was directed to Arthur.

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a_royal_prat
2010-07-11 07:10 pm UTC (link)

Arthur kept Gwen tucked into his side until the door was shut and then let go of her hand, gesturing for her to sit before him. Seconds ticked by without another word passing between any of them and Arthur began to regret that he'd ever wanted to come here to say this.

He'd sat through diplomacy meetings with less tension than this after a war. Arthur raked his fingers through his hair and glanced away for a moment before bringing his attention back around in time for the silence to be broken.

So when it was, Arthur's answer sounded baffled and overly honest. "Surprisingly well."

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futurequeen
2010-07-11 08:12 pm UTC (link)

She sat with caution when Arthur told her to, ready for a look or a noise of protest from Uther. When all was silent, she looked back to Arthur, wondering if he felt as terrified as she did right now. She had no reason to be scared, she knew that, no harm would come to her physically. But that wasn't to say that Uther might say something to her that could hurt her.

The silence was broken by Uther and she didn't even need to look in his direction to know who he was talking to. She should just sit there and not look at him, maybe then this would happen faster and they could leave again. She was all for Arthur becoming friendly with his father again but that didn't mean she was willing to sit back and encounter abuse from him.

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camelot_king
2010-07-11 10:29 pm UTC (link)

"Good." Uther nodded, his gaze locked on his sons face, trying his best not to look at the girl perched beside him. It was as if he hoped that by simply ignoring her she might cease to exist.

There was an awkward silence, before the King of Camelot gave a labored sigh and sagged forward, two aging hands knotting together between his knees. He hated how old he felt here. It was as if time caught up with him the moment he had lost his crown. Or perhaps it was just the stress of these last few days.

"Why did you want to see me?"

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a_royal_prat
2010-07-13 05:34 pm UTC (link)

Arthur had to admit that both his father and Guinevere were doing a fine parody of pretending the other did not exist. It would be incredibly hard to keep up that pretense in a few seconds, not that it was working well to begin with.

Taking up Gwen's hand in both of his own, he met his father's gaze head-on. This subject was the only they'd ever discussed here without fighting and it was with a sense of foreboding that he brought it up again.

There was no point in hesitation or beating around the problem once asked. "Father, Guinevere's pregnant."

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futurequeen
2010-07-13 05:45 pm UTC (link)

Why did she agree to this? Why didn't she agree with Arthur when he said he would go himself? When Arthur took her hand in his she realised why. They needed each other and the situation involved them both so they would both be involved in telling Uther. Even if she didn't think it would be smart for her to open her mouth just yet.

When Arthur got straight to the point she squeezed his hands before slowly looking to Uther. She knew she wouldn't like his reaction, she just hoped for Arthur's sake it wasn't too awful. And for her sake too, she supposed, since she would end up saying something to Uther she would regret if she opened her mouth.

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camelot_king
2010-07-14 07:20 am UTC (link)

There was a very long silence. Uther didn't break his son's stare, and the only movement he managed was a slow blink and a tightening of his jaw as he gritted his teeth. He was struggling, trying to work out what he felt as his gaze slid slowly, reluctantly onto the girl in question, who was clinging to his son and staring anxiously into his face.

It had hurt him to know what had happened with Arthur's child while he wasn't there. He had been through that too many times, had seen Ygraine loose too many children and lie crying in her chambers to ignore the pain that came with it. The fact that his child had gone through that all but alone made his stomach turn with guilt. And that there might be a new Pendragon, a son, perhaps, to carry on the line. Wasn't that all he had wanted?

But it was a serving girl. If this had happened back home he would have given her perhaps a house and a bundle of coins and sent her away. He couldn't do that here. The two emotions fought with each other, turning in his chest until he sagged back in his chair, shoulders slumping, a strange ashen colour taking over his face.

"Right then," Uther managed. "Right." He braced his veined, old man hands on the arms of his chair and urged his aching body to stand. The world seemed to rush around him. "I need a drink." He croaked, and hurried towards the sink for some water.

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