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Post by kinguthersqueen on Jun 4, 2011 19:09:45 GMT -5
She spoke exactly as Uther had anticipated. It stood to reason that she'd have anticipated what he was going to say about Arthur. Even though he hated her, she knew him too well now, was pretty much able to anticipate anything he might do. It only made her all the more irritating to him. She taunted him now about temporarily stepping aside as king, and he glared.
"It is only temporary. As soon as I grow strong again, I will take back my place as king. And barring any difficulties, I will remain so until my time is ended."
He tried not to snap back when she brought up Arthur and how he would rule as king. He knew that Nimueh wanted to get him angry, and he was fighting to keep from giving her the satisfaction of seeing him angry.
"Arthur will not betray me. He is well aware of the danger of magic. He has no reason to turn against me and put the kingdom in danger."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on Jun 4, 2011 18:59:02 GMT -5
Uther had to fight the urge to roll his eyes at Nimueh's comments. She thought obviously that she might have gotten through to him with this idea, but it was more complicated than that. Inside, the emotions were stirred-he recalled the terrible visions the Mandrake had induced, that he wanted to dismiss as magic, but couldn't quite. He felt misunderstood and unhappy, but did his best to hide it with stubbornness. He had to; she could see no weakness. He glared back at her.
"No. It is the same as it always has been. No one can understand my position without being in my position. I take no pleasure in what happens. I do what I must to ensure the safety of my people."
Nimueh spoke of using their remaining time to explore more. Uther thought about what she said.
"I think perhaps I do. There must be opinions about more than just my battle against magic. It would be interesting to discover more."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on Jun 1, 2011 19:09:16 GMT -5
[color=yellow."Yes, that is our hope. Our enemies are always moving against us, but we are strong."[/color]Uther was most proud of his son, but he chose not to openly brag about him too much. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy talking about his son's accomplishments, but he didn't want to overdo things too much. "We have faced adversity several times, but have always been able to prevail."
Yassia spoke about Gaius, and Uther nodded."One of the servants can show you to his quarters when there is time. Perhaps Prince Arthur's boy can show you when the Prince does not have need of him. He is Gaius's ward and assistant as well as the Prince's servant. Just be warned that one's a bit odd...we think he has a mental affliction. Harmless, but an idiot sometimes. I'm certain you'll get on well with Gaius, though. Your help will be appreciated, I expect."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 31, 2011 22:44:30 GMT -5
Uther naturally had no idea what was going through Nimueh's mind right now, except that she was probably looking forward to toying with him some more. He could hear her singing, but made little response, knowing she was likely looking for one. He found himself wondering if she was going to try something different now that Arthur was, for the present, king. He did not trust her at all, and hated the fact that if she did move against Arthur, there was little either he or Uther could do to stop her. All he could do was snap at her for coming.
"I expected you would come to torment me yet more. You are probably taking great pleasure in the fact that I am broken and weak. But this is not permenant...I will take my place again when I am strong enough. Broken yes, but I am NOT defeated, never."
So, are you simply here to agitate me, or are you targeting Arthur now that he is in the position of power? I will say this: If you intend to move against Arthur, I will fight with what strength I still have to protect them. It may be of no use, as long as you have magic, but I won't let you harm him. Or have you simply come to annoy and infuriate me yet again? You love that I can do nothing to stop you."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 30, 2011 18:41:15 GMT -5
Uther was conflicted. He wished that his eyes and mind would not lie to him about what was real and what was not. How could he even know these were really Arthur and the servant girl? He struggled when Arthur took the dagger from him, and refused to comply with his demand to back down. The problem was, his anger was stronger than his body, and when he lunged for the dagger, he collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
"I cannot trust my eyes! The magic enchants my mind, and they are deceived. How do I know you are real? Nothing is as it should be."He sat up, not making any aggressive moves, but still letting his gaze dart around, untrusting, confused. He was torn between lashing out until he had no strength left and retreating somewhere to try and escape the torment. He would almost certainly need a sleeping draught to calm him before the day was through.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 28, 2011 22:37:00 GMT -5
Uther could see that Nimueh was also being affected by the stories, though naturally not in the same way he was. She was, as one would expect, sympathizing with them, although she did not make a display of it. Uther's internal thoughts were still repeating his beliefs as the speech was made. No one, certainly not them, understood because they were not in his position. He, as king, was the only one who knew the danger of letting magic exist in the kingdom and not taking preemptive action to protect the people before a threat could happen.
Nimueh said that they had places to go, and Uther readily agreed. He wondered, though, if they would go anywhere else, or if there was not enough time before the spell ended. He followed her out without a lot of complaint and waited to see. He didn't want to voice his opinions where there was a chance of anyone else hearing him, but he would say it later. He was too stubborn to relent so easily.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 27, 2011 18:17:24 GMT -5
Uther sat a bit forlornly in his chambers, tired and having had a number of drinks during the party. He couldn't be prouder of Arthur, but he couldn't shake the feelings that coursed through his own body. He felt useless and broken, no matter how many times Arthur assured him he wasn't. He had made this kingdom what it was, built it to be great...and now he was what he had always feared becoming: Injured, worn out and no longer needed, still alive, but he might as well be dead.
He had been on edge all day, knowing that *she* would probably show her face again. She would be unable to pass up the opportunity to torment him and gloat over the position he was now in. He thought he'd seen her earlier in the day, her habit of taunting him with Ygraine's face. But he couldn't be sure; he was fairly drunk most of the time. Not drunk enough to do anything he'd regret, but always under the influence of at least a few drinks.
Uther reasoned that if Nimueh was going to show herself, it would be now, when he was alone again, that she'd do so. It was only a matter of time, and he couldn't do anything to stop her or punish her for it.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 25, 2011 23:05:43 GMT -5
Uther naturally had no such feelings in his own mind. He was in a sort of perpetual denial about how he was perceived and what people really thought of him. He believed that it did not matter anyway whether people liked what he did, as long as they did not choose to revolt. That, of course, could not happen provided he wanted to stay king; he had to ensure safety and security and keep the peace. But if in doing so, he had to sacrifice a few, the enemies of Camelot, it was acceptable, even if it wasn't always popular. The safety of the kingdom and the people was why he did what he did.
"Fine. But I refuse to return here after we are finished. And I will not tolerate any harm coming to me while I am with you. I know you will be tempted." he called after her as she left, his voice quieting when he was sure she was gone.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 24, 2011 19:01:40 GMT -5
"I do assume that it will take months...I know that my wounds are not all visible. And I'm aware of what would happen if I attempted to take my place again too soon. It would be devastating if the king died because he was foolish."
Uther was referring to whatever had happened inside his body during his time in the dungeon to render him so weak. He was in confusion and denial about his mental state. He knew that he'd become ill in the damp, cold dungeon, and could feel the slight feverishness of his body. However, he had no realization or acceptance of how troubled his mind was right now. He felt the brokenness and exhaustion, but was not in position to realize how impaired his judgement was.
"That is good. They must choose you...any other decision would be unacceptable. You are yet young, but you have learned well and you will be a capable leader. I know you will not disappoint either them or me. I do believe they will strongly consider my judgement in the matter."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 23, 2011 18:55:38 GMT -5
Uther's temper was quickly getting the better of him with Cenred's last comment. He loved irritating Uther, and the king found himself walking a fine line. He felt like having it out with Cenred, but did not want to do anything to make him gloat more either. The other king would only enjoy it more the angrier Uther got.
He glared at Cenred, the fire showing in his eyes, but he spoke carefully. The anger was there, but barely reined in for the sake of the procedings.
"I execute only the guilty. Magic is dangerous, and those using it would eventually use it against Camelot. Magic corrupts, and I will not give its users a chance for that to happen. Even those who are not evil now would be corrupted eventually, and I am dealing with threats before they can strike at us."
"However, I am doing my best to remain calm. I will not allow anything to sabotage these proceedings, no matter how you may be attempting to incite me to. Because, as much as it pains me to admit it, you are indeed right in regard to making decisions soon."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 22, 2011 20:50:26 GMT -5
Uther did not want to rush her out, but she likely knew it was only natural for the king to be busy. He did take care not to seem too impolite or brusque, he had to walk a line as it were, to not draw things out too terribly long but without appearing rude and making a bad impression. He knew that anything he did that made a bad impression could potentially create a negative opinion of the entire kingdom.
"Things have not always been easy, and we have had our share of attacks, but Camelot has always stood strong and come through in the end."he said."Her walls are strong and so is her army, and her leaders."Uther was mostly referring to Arthur, although he wouldn't fault her if she thought he meant himself as well.
She asked if she could be of service, and Uther saw no reason not to allow her. "It can be seen to that you meet with our court physician, Gaius...if he is in need of assistance, it might be possible."Uther thought about adding a warning about her skills being natural rather than magic, but he thought it would be rather obvious already, given his policies and the unwritten words in his eyes.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 21, 2011 19:46:58 GMT -5
Uther was struggling with this whole thing more now. His mind still told him that they were unable to see the whole picture. They were naturally distraught over their loved ones' losses, only able to think about themselves and their families. They did not have a whole kingdom to lead, thousands of people whose safety and security depended on them. He took no pleasure in the loss of the lives he had to order. He was not as cruel and tyrannical as they assumed he must be. He simply felt he had no choice.
He glanced at Nimueh; she was enjoying this and he knew it well. She did not show it, but she was most likely gleeful at what he was being confronted with. He could not stare, though, he had to concentrate on what was in front of him. A couple of others voiced similar stories, and Uther played his part of being saddened, but inwardly, he was steeling himself the same way he did during an execution, pushing away any feelings of guilt or remorse or sadness and focusing on the fact that he had to do what was necessary.
He wondered now when Nimueh would be ready to move on. Surely they would not stop only at this one place until the spell wore off, although one could never be sure with Nimueh.
(ooc I know, I'm just not always good at quickly making up names and stories...I can if I work at it enough, but I'm not good under pressure, so I kinda generalized it. lol)
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 20, 2011 19:09:23 GMT -5
Uther's mix of emotions continued to swirl as he watched Arthur enter in his formal attire. He had vowed to try and be happy for his son, to be proud of what he was about to do, but he could not hide the real truth from his eyes. The one consoling factor was that if his health did not fail him, he would, in time, be strong enough to be king again. He would not give up until his dying breath, but for now, he would be pleased for Arthur and for Camelot.
"This is not an easy day for me, but I know that we must do what is best for Camelot. I hope that the day will come when I am strong enough to once again become full leader of Camelot, but until then, I now that you will rule her well. I will do my best to let you make your decisions, but I hope that if you feel the need, you will not hesitate to seek my advice.
"I have long imagined the day you would become king, but I believed I would be dead when it happened. It is a difficult day for me, but I am certainly proud as well. I know that you have learned well, and that Camelot could ask for no better king."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 18, 2011 18:58:18 GMT -5
Uther had know this day had to come, that Arthur had to assume power for now. Still, it was a day with a mixture of feelings for the king. He was naturally happy to be celebrating the prince's birthday, and there was a sense of pride at seeing his son take the throne,something he had never imagined he'd see, but there was a sadness as well.
Uther was a warrior, a man who lived and died to fight. He feared spending the rest of his days useless and powerless, a figurehead, king in name only. He had long hated the thought of dying like this, a sort of living dead man in his own mind. He desperately hoped this was only a temporary thing, that one day he would be strong enough to retake the throne. He knew he had to do what was best for Camelot, but that did not make all of the sadness go away.
Uther wished that he knew better what to tell his son as he prepared for the coronation. He himself had not had any such way of being advised when he had taken the throne years ago. His own father had paid a visit, king to king, after the coronation, but he still had not had any official preparation or wise words of advice before being crowned. He was not completely sure what to say to his own son now.
He recalled his own nervousness and wondered if Arthur felt the same way as they prepared to talk before the ceremony.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 18, 2011 18:42:23 GMT -5
Uther did not have a chance to harm Gwen with his attack. He could hear her saying he was not well, but his mind did not process it as her voice as it normally would have. He was falling deeper into his confusion in the chaos as Arthur grabbed him and restrained him. He continued to struggle, his mind too out of it to know if it was really Arthur or one of Nimueh's tricks. He didn't understand why Arthur was doing as he was.
"Why are you protecting her? She has tormented me for years with her magic! Nimueh must be stopped! I cannot, but I cannot do nothing. She took Ygraine's face!"
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 17, 2011 18:51:19 GMT -5
Part of Uther's physical weakness was because he had become fevered during his time in the damp cells. It was not by any means the main cause, but it added to his problems, and affected his mind at times. That was why he was more alert and aware at some times than others. Gaius had given him medicine, but it would take time for the illness, along with his other conditions, to heal.
After a while, his eyes opened again. He was as though in a haze, awake but falling into one of the times when he had difficulty grounding himself in reality. It was one of the times he was uncertain exactly to whom he was speaking. The face looked like another, almost as though it were taunting him.
"Ygraine...? No..."
For a moment, he was at war with himself, and then he came back to what he thought was clarity. Rage flooded through him. He knew who was always doing this to him. Why could she not leave him alone, especially now?
"NO! YOU WILL NOT TORMENT ME AGAIN! I WILL KILL YOU, I SWEAR I WILL!"Uther roared.
Turning over onto his knees, he lunged, still yelling, desperate to get his hands upon her. He was breathing heavy, his body beginning to sweat. His eyes were glassy, looking but not truly seeing. He did not have his sword, but he still had a dagger near the bed, and he grabbed it, lunging at what he believed was Nimueh. He knew it was pointless, but wanted to fight, just the same.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 16, 2011 19:20:27 GMT -5
It was true that Uther was in and out of it. He was decently aware of his surroundings right now and, for the most part, conscious, but there were times when he was less aware, awake but in a sort of delusional state, a state where he did not think completely clearly, even though he saw and heard. Some of the time he knew to whom he was speaking, but other times his brain slipped further into the fog and he heard the voice, but it didn't quite penetrate.
He heard her speak of worrying and of being proud of Arthur, and he nodded, slowly.
"It is impossible not to...so much rests on him. But he has made me proud, yes...and I have no doubt he will continue."
His eyes slipped closed again, though not in sleep, just in rest of a sort.
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 15, 2011 20:52:06 GMT -5
She was willing to be patient, and that was a relief. She replied that she was being well attended to, and Uther nodded in reply. He knew that it reflected well on Camelot's reputation to show hospitality to noble guests, though, granted, they were the only people who mattered in his mind. Not that lower class people would have much reason to come to the castle anyway.
The king sensed that Yassia was aware of the politics at work and the fact that things did not always come easy, even for nobles and royals. It was obvious that she was aware of the complexities of things and the fact that Uther couldn't act rashly or impulsively. Especially now, every decision had to be well thought out in advance.
"That is fine. I am sure that you will indeed be safe, it is very difficult for anyone to gain entry into the castle, and the knights are always vigilant. I'll see that you continue to receive good care, and I will send word when I have come to a decision, in a few days' time."
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 13, 2011 19:23:43 GMT -5
Uther knew that Nimueh was thoroughly enjoying this, getting more and more amused by the discomfort and annoyance Uther was experiencing doing this whole thing. This most recent development, however, was pushing him near to his limits. They were expecting him to tell a sad story, to back up his dislike for the king. Uther wasn't at all certain he could pull it off. He was no actor, of course. He hated the idea of being on the spot like this.
At first, he hesitated."I do not like discussing it...it rather pains me."He only went silent a few moments, though. "Wasn't much to it...probably the same as many others. She was suspected, found guilty and executed."
(ooc ok sounds good)
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Post by kinguthersqueen on May 12, 2011 23:41:57 GMT -5
Uther did know that Arthur could identify with him at least. He knew how much his son hated being injured and having to be treated if a battle was going on. He , just like Uther, would fight to get back on the battlefield as quickly as possible. He would insist on trying to get back in the fight even if he was hurt and barely able to walk. It was a mark of a good king in most cases, wanting to put the kingdom before one's own safety. However, a wise ruler did need to know when to back off as well. It tore him-he wanted the best for Camelot, but he also wanted to be able to return to his job.
"I do realize that you understand my feelings. I have seen you in the same mindset when you are injured."he replied."Naturally, I do not want to endanger the kingdom in any way. I simply grow impatient. I do not want to overtax and further afflict myself, but I often contemplate how we will know when the time is right, when it will be certain I am ready. I want what is best for Camelot, and want to be able to return to duties at the same time...which is likely not entirely possible."
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