Camelot Audience Chamber, Tuesday Morning

[bitchprince]

"We are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony His Highness Uther of the House of Pendragon, and Her Ladyship Catrina of the House of Tragal."

Geoffrey of Monmouth was at his most formal standing before the thrones of Camelot, one of which - Arthur's stomach blithely reminded him - had officially stood empty since the death of Uther's wife Ygraine. In front of Geoffrey stood King Uther and Lady Catrina, gazing soulfully into each other's eyes - or rather Uther was.

Arthur was trying not to think any uncharitable thoughts about the look on the Lady Catrina's face.

He felt absolutely no remorse for engineering matters so that Katchoo and Francine stood as close to him as any servants were allowed to; the gnawing feeling in his guts was bad enough under the current cirumstances, and Merlin's conspicuous absence.

If he were prone to sentimentalities, he would have said that it felt like a limb was missing, nevermind the comfort-- well. He would never ever admit to needing any of that. He simply stood there, at the front of the masses, watching his father marry a woman who wasn't his mother (and who was, by Merlin's accounts, Very Suspicious Indeed).

It was not a good day.

[[ for those who are there, and one who isn't, yet. ]]

Comments

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo, from where she stood, was making no such efforts to keep her thoughts charitable -- it wasn't that much of a stretch of the imagination to see the Lady Catrina with a lily tattoo.

Not that she was going to check for one. God, no.

And where the hell was Merlin? Screw the Jedi and their trademark on having a bad feeling about something. She'd hijack that trademark right now, thanks.

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine was trying not to do what Francine was always trying not to do since she'd got here: get arrested for hugging the crown prince in public. Or, you know, get That Look from Arthur for it, which would be worse. Probably.

She was also trying not to stare at the spot where Merlin wasn't, but she was less successful at that one, especially since looking up front where she was supposed to just meant failing to not picture her own father up there with some woman who wasn't her mom.

Hopefully her father would be wearing less leather.

[ccedontheemail.livejournal.com]

King Uther, though, prided himself in his leather.

He was still beaming as Geoffrey wrestled his way through the particulars, and then asked of the room if there was anyone who had any objections to this union; if so, speak their piece now, or forever be silent.

There was still no sight of Merlin.

[bitchprince]

But there was plenty sign of Arthur, who jerked, for just a split second, before he managed to calm himself back into his usual composure. It would not do to interrupt his father's... happiness, now.

He wished Merlin were here.

[ccedontheemail.livejournal.com]

Geoffrey wrapped their arms with a ribbon, pulling it just tight enough to unite them. Uther beamed, Catrina seemed covetous. When there was no interruption to be heard - no matter how much some in the audience might have hoped for one - he began to speak again.

"Do you, Uther, take Lady Catrina of Tragal to be..."

"Do you, Catrina--"

I do, they said.

Arthur's fingers twitched.

They leaned in to kiss.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

After being trapped in a damn catacomb with only the dwindling powered iPhone for company, Merlin could be excused for being a bit late.

Okay, really late.

So, of course he arrived just in time for Geoffry to pronounce them man and wife.

Bugger.