Gift-Giving *Action Sequence* - 25th December 1005

[not_a_clotpole]

As the traditional Camelot Yule Feast drags on, Arthur decides it's a very good time to escape, besides he has presents to give!

Father's of course will have to be given once he stops talking to the all Counsellors, but in the meantime - Morgana's, Guinevere's and Merlin's gifts!

He's very happy with his selections this year and can't wait to give them out!

Don't keep the Crown Prince of Camelot waiting then, it's extremely rude!

Comments

[not_a_clotpole]

"You know I still haven't come up with a name for him yet." Laughs and shakes his head. "I've visited him quite a bit and at the moment the best I can come up with is 'Skittish', but I don't think he'd be particularly impressed with me if I did that."

Yes, this will have to be an epic horse name, a horse name to end all horse names...

Beams at her some more. "I think we can safely say we've out done ourselves this year."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"If you do not name him soon, I will have to do so."

This is easier, the friendly banter. This she can do without thinking.

"I agree," she twists the ring around her finger. It will be something she will do frequently when she wears it in the future.

And there is the question that must be asked. "I doubt we will be able to give gifts in the future that could rival these. It would almost be prudent to relieve each other of such duties in the future."

Oh, Morgana, stop foreshadowing.

[not_a_clotpole]

"Oh I'll come up with one soon, I assure you."

Not that he thinks Morgana couldn't pick a good name, but really, one should name one's own horse.

He pouts. "No more gift exchanging? Oh come on, you're never too old for gifts!"

Why yes, Arthur does enjoy been given things, why do you ask?

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"I am certain poor Nameless will be relieved." She might be hinting that the horse will be called Nameless, if she does not decide on one soon.

Morgana knows full well Arthur likes receiving gifts. She's lived with him for more than half her life. Gifts are a fine art for Morgana.

"I believe you would pout should you stop receiving gifts. Did you manage to acquire gifts for everyone?" She looks at his hands, which are no longer an odd colour.

[not_a_clotpole]

Don't worry Nameless! Arthur will save you from such an awful fate!

"I did actually!" Looks over at Father who's still going on at the counsellors - he really can't imagine why they're so interesting. "Haven't managed to give Father's his yet. Guinevere enjoyed her gift," he can't go into any more detail with that because...it's a bit hard to explain... "As for Merlin I gave him a week him off and a Yule lunch with Gaius." Rolls eyes. "He could stand to gain some weight."

Of course once he says that he wonders if he should have mentioned Merlin, probably not...

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

She's more cognizant about her recent slips about Merlin of late, so she's careful with how she words things. As she wishes she could do with Merlin, he doesn't exist in her account of the gifts.

"I had a cloak made for Gwen, and you know what you have received. I gave your father a pair of new goblets for feasts. The old ones were looking worn." By worn, she means scratched from being dropped on the floor too many times.

[not_a_clotpole]

"You got him a goblet too?" Well hell...that's a bit embarrassing...

"Great minds think alike I suppose? I did get it engraved though to celebrate your return."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

The irony of it all is that Arthur wanted it engraved in celebration, Morgana wanted hers cursed.

"I do not think it would be good to ask him which one he likes better, though I am confident with the personalization of yours, he will prefer it." As, Morgana is convinced, Uther is with all things.

She's a little uncomfortable with the idea of the goblet's engraving is specifically regarding her.

"Whatever could you have had engraved on it to commemorate such and unimportant event?"

Morgana's issues are showing again. The longer she stays in Camelot, the harder it is to hide.

Then there's Merlin to worry about.

[not_a_clotpole]

See this face? It's Arthur's concerned face, he's reminded of that strange...possibly real...encounter with a ghostly Morgana. She had been convinced no-one cared either.

"Now come on," Arthr pats her hand, "don't be ridiculous, that was the happiest day in...well practically our whole lives." Looks at her in completely sincerity. "And it wasn't anything fancy, it was rather stupid really...it just had the day and the month and 'Morgana Returned to Us'"

Leans forward to whisper conspiratorially. "If it was anyone else Father would lecture me for days about soppy displays of sentiment and so on."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

One day, Arthur is going to look back on this conversation, on a dozen conversations, and realize a great many things.

"I cannot be happy about any of the events surrounding it." It's completely truthful, but she's well aware Arthur should take it in a completely different way.

"I have always thought such things, how your father treated me, was simply due to other things." Repressed guilt perhaps?

[not_a_clotpole]

And probably kick himself for not realising it too!

Arthur looks away in guilt. "I know...I wish we could have found you some other way..." He really does, the lost too many good men and too many other people suffered.

"Well, your father was his best friend," poor Arthur totally unaware that he's probably just making it worse. "And...other things." He attempts to lighten the mood. "Between you and me, I think it might have been because you were good at making him laugh."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

The statement she makes next has far more significance than even she realizes.

"Perhaps he secretly likes being contradicted. Maybe he knows he needs it at times, as that is the only purpose I serve."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur laughs, poor Arthur...so oblivious.

"He certainly does! He probably perfers your method of calmly delivering such pronouncements with confidence rather than my 'Come on, Father' method."

Plus her's has been known to work...sometimes.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Looking at Arthur, she smiles and that twinge of regret she gets when it comes to whatever is going to happen to him returns. She really doesn't know, and after Fyrien -- she's not sure what she could do in the future.

"I think you would listen to me far more than he does."

Careful Arthur, there's a lot riding on that answer.

[not_a_clotpole]

If Arthur picks up on the seriousness in her tone, he decides it's a good idea to keep it light.

"I suppose I would," he playfully pokes her shoulder. "Unless it was something completely ridiculous."

By which he means 'Annonce to the Populace You're a Clotpole Day', not 'Cease hostilities with the Druids'.

One can only hope Morgana understands that.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

Considering his tone, and his mood, Morgana understands exactly what he's talking about.

"So I cannot a suggest the annual celebration of throwing produce at Merlin?"

[not_a_clotpole]

"Well...I could be presuaded," he shouldn't encourage her, but he's so happy to see her smile, he can't help it. "Depending on what he gets up to in the next few years. Who knows, he may become competent. And you can't let a good servant get away."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"No, it would be a shame to let a competent servant get away, or one that could be featured in such an event."

Not that Merlin was going to get away with anything, in Morgana's mind.

"I hope this Yule has been nothing but a joy for you, Arthur."

[not_a_clotpole]

"I'm starting to think we may have to start putting the guards in the stocks. A few days without training and they seem to fall apart!" Rolls eyes and puts on his most despairing look.

Her well-wishes make him smile again. "And you as well, Morgana."

What the Hell, have another hug!

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

This time, Morgana is much more prepared, and she even shows a little sisterly affection of her own.

Arthur gets a quick kiss on the cheek.

She's not supposed to feel this way about Arthur, Morgause has made that clear, but at the moment, Morgana's forgotten.

[not_a_clotpole]

"Hey, you'll get the gossips going again!" He chuckles, but it's clear his pleased with this.

If Ghost!Morgana was a warning...well hopefully he can avoid that!

"Ah! Looks like Father's finally free, I better give him the goblet while he's still able to rememeber!" He gets to his feet then pauses. "Did you want to see? You can tell me just how sappy it is."

Calls over a servant who is carring a case, Arthur opens it and shows Morgana the goblet within.

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

That old idea, and the whispers of palace gossips for years, actually makes her cringe. "I think we are long past that." When she looks behind her though, and sees a couple of the lords staring, lords who have all failed to get her attention in the past, she rolls her eyes.

The goblet gets as different reaction. She runs her fingers across the inscription. "It is lovely, Arthur. I can see you kept the smiths busy for this Yule."

[not_a_clotpole]

Arthur will poke his tongue out at the lords in question...which will either make things worse...or won't. It's hard to tell in Camelot!

"Well, the silversmith is always complaining that people perfer the goldsmith to him. I thought I'd give him a taste of busyness. I'm not sure he liked it." Laughs.

He shuts the box. "Right, better get over there before Monmouth waylays Father, we won't see him for days when that happens."

[magicalskeptic.livejournal.com]

"I am certain he appreciates your patronage, nonetheless."

Morgana looks at the lords again and is tempted to follow Arthur's lead, and would have, if she was half a decade younger.

"If you do not catch him now, you will not, and we cannot distract him by making frog noises anymore."

Morgana smirks, but this isn't a mean one, at that memory.

[not_a_clotpole]

A non-mean smirk! Miracle!

And ah, memories of Geoffrey the Frog are always appreciated.

Arthur is going to head over and hope he beats Geoffrey to Father.

"If I get caught by Monmouth, pray for me."