Just Outside the Main Gate, Friday Morning

[bitchprince]

He'd been assessing people resources for most of the previous day. Since there had yet to be word from Lady Zoe, Arthur took the opportunity today to scope out how much space there would be for a barricade - if one could even be feasible.

This brought him to the area just outside the gates, wearing full armor and backed by Merlin-the-idiot-sorcerer, his eyes shooting towards the road in front of them from time to time.

[[ open, especially to merlin, and zombie-ok as well! ]]

Comments

[not_in_the_book]

"Does that include healing?" Ronan asked. "If we're to fight, and the zombies come through, I should let my friends and comrades die because you're too scared of magic to want me to heal them while you're around?"

[bitchprince]

"I don't get scared," he said. It was harsh, but carefully controlled.

It tailed off into a seemingly idle, "Of course not."

[not_in_the_book]

"Oh, but that's magic," Ronan pointed out. "Which is against the law! And evil! And dangerous!

"Powers, why is magic outlawed? What possible reasons could anyone have for such an idiotic decision?"

[bitchprince]

Yes, wizard. Why don't you go ahead and punch him in the nice little stack of conscience and rationalizations he'd built up over the years?

"It is my father's law." More iron control on Arthur's part. He was doing his best. "And I am sworn to live by it. You don't see me questioning yours, wizard."

[not_in_the_book]

"That doesn't tell me why," Ronan said, carefully, trying to keep hold of his temper. "And my name is Ronan."

[bitchprince]

"It's dangerous," Arthur said, simply, "That should be enough." Somehow, telling Ronan that you couldn't trust a sorcerer seemed both... strange, and not really workable.

He'd use the man's name if he felt like it, thank you. He was Arthur fucking Pendragon.

[not_in_the_book]

"Swordwork is dangerous. Does your father outlaw that? Or herbcraft? What about schooling? That's dangerous, too -- those peasants might start getting ideas and thinking for yourself.

"Although if you're any indication of the calibre of individuals in Camelot, fat chance of that ever happening."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Ronan, please." Merlin broke in, taking up a position to Arthur's shoulder.

[bitchprince]

"Yes. I'm always charmed by strangers who state their baseless accusations so boldly," Arthur said, dryly. He'd had this argument before, and he would not let himself be coerced into giving away his temper on it. "I have not threatened you. I'd suggest you keep the insults to yourself, if you're even capable of it."

[not_in_the_book]

"Threatened, perhaps not, but insulted, yes, several times over." Ronan leveled a glare, ignoring Merlin for the moment. "And with equally baseless accusations, no less. Magic is dangerous, is it? All magic? What do you know of magic, to make so bold an accusation?"

Ronan shook his head, doing his best to reign in his temper, to draw it in. If he went out hunting like this, he'd be in just as much danger as Arthur seemed to think.

"Perhaps," he said, as calmly as he could, taking a step back, "you should take back to your father what you should be learning here: that not all magic is dangerous, that not all magic is bad, perhaps not even most, or much, of it. That the law is wrong. Maybe you should start thinking for yourself."

He turned away, began to walk away, before turning back and nodding to Merlin. "Good afternoon, Merlin. I wish you all the luck I can in dealing with this brainless brute."

[bitchprince]

That made for the second time now that Ronan had launched any number of baseless, girly rambling at him. Arthur's chin lifted. "And maybe," he said, "You should give your own words some thought before you hurl them around like a mad badger. It is not now, nor will it ever be your right to judge my father's laws."

It was a move up from I'll chop off your knees, you idiot. He was making progress.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Arthur," Merlin said, reaching over to touch his arm in a way that was utterly girly and calming. The implication in the tone was that it was not worth the fight.

Even when he was well aware of what would happen to himself should Uther find out.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan took a deep breath. "... Look. Obviously, for whatever reason, we rub each other the wrong way. I'm just going to go now, and kill some zombies. Maybe when we've both calmed down, we might actually be able to talk about things like civilised people."

Not that he expected anything like civilised behaviour from Arthur.

"Good day to you both."

Before there was any chance of a response, Ronan turned and walked away, unsheathing his sword as he went.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin was trying very hard not to smack himself on the forehead. Really now people. Really. If he wasn't lecturing Arthur about magic, no one here had a bloody right to do that.

Instead, he rolls his eyes and took off after the man before he could get himself hurt.