Merlin hummed to himself as he cleaned out Arthur's cabinets. Arthur and Gwen were at a meeting where there were no servants allowed, so he busied himself with cleaning Arthur's room. He was all alone because Nila was helping the cook since one of the cooks was sick. He closed the door of the cabinet that he was working on, and moved onto the next door. As soon as he opened it, something fell onto the floor with a clatter, and he peered at it to find out what it was. His heart nearly stopped when he found the familiar shape of a horn. The Horn of Cathbhadh. The last time he saw it, Arthur had accidentally brought his father's spirit back to this world. Uther almost destroyed everyone and everything, but Arthur was luckily able to send him back to the spirit world. Merlin swallowed nervously as he picked up the horn and inspected it. It had been two years since they last used it, and he could see that the age was getting to it.
"I see that you found it."
Merlin whirled around to see Arthur standing there, his arms folded.
"Why do you still have this?" Merlin asked, showing him the horn.
Arthur bit his lip before looking down in shame. "I was going to speak with my mother's spirit."
"Arthur," Merlin said, stepping towards his friend. "The last time you summoned a spirit, the Round Table was destroyed, Percival was injured, and Gwen and I almost died. I feel as if you should get rid of this completely."
"I feel that you are right," Arthur replied, taking the horn from Merlin. "I will dispose of this at once."
"Are you sure?" Merlin asked, eyeing Arthur.
Arthur nodded and gave a Merlin a reassuring smile. Merlin sighed, mumbled something, and left to get Arthur's dinner from the kitchen. As soon as Merlin left, Arthur sat at his desk and wrote Gwen and Merlin a note.
"I'm sorry, Merlin," Arthur said as he stood back up. "But I must see my mother."
With that, he left the room, his footsteps echoing throughout the hallway.
***
Arthur nervously approached the Stones of Nemeton, tightly grasping the horn, his knuckles turning white with the effort. When he arrived in the middle of them, he raised the horn, and blew it. A white light appeared in front of him, and he cautiously walked towards it. He was soon in an area that was a light blue. He saw a darkened figure walk towards him, and he gasped hopefully, tears forming in his eyes.
"Mother?" he asked hopefully, taking a step towards the figure.
The figure didn't reply, and when Arthur could finally see who it was, he stiffened.
"Father," Arthur said, his gaze cold.
"Arthur," Uther greeted, a frown on his face. "Your mother can not see you, only I can."
"Why?" Arthur asked, taking a step back. "Why can't I see my mother?"
"The horn only lets you see who you spoke to last that was from the spirit world," Uther explained grimly. "So, I can only see you, and you can only see me."
"I wanted to see my mother, not you!" Arthur yelled, shaking his head. "I never want to speak to you again after what you did! You tried to kill Guinevere and Merlin! You hurt Percival! You demolished the Round Table. YOU ALMOST KILLED ME, YOUR ONLY SON!"
"Arthur, I did all of that for Camelot," Uther explained, frowning. "I tried to warn you, but you ignored it, and now magic is legal. You have failed as a King."
"Have you even noticed what legalizing magic has done?!?" Arthur asked, growing more angry each second. "It turned Morgana against her evil ways! It makes Merlin no longer live in fear! It has made Camelot flourish! Magic is only evil if the user is evil! All my life, you have taught me to fear something that is beautiful! I only wish that I could have seen it earlier."
With that, Arthur turned on his heels, and began to walk back.
"You have failed, Arthur."
Arthur turned his head to watch Uther disappear before walking back to the real world, mounting his horse, and riding back to Camelot.
***
"Arthur?"
Arthur jolted out of his thoughts when he saw Merlin standing in front of him, placing his dinner down.
"Yes Merlin?" Arthur asked as he picked up his fork.
"Were you able to meet with your mother?" Merlin asked as he stood back and patiently watched Arthur eat.
Arthur sighed, placed his fork down, and placed his head in his hands. "No, I can only talk to my father."
Merlin visibly paled at this, and swallowed before asking his next question.
"Did you look back when you were leaving?"
Arthur didn't answer, and a crash from the hallway made both of them jump in shock. Merlin sighed, knowing that Arthur let Uther's spirit roam free. Again.
***
"YOU DID WHAT?!?" Giaus yelled at the two friends.
"I might have released Uther's spirit again," Arthur winced under the physician's stare.
Giaus sighed before turning to his wife. Alice looked at him, confusion clear on his face.
"Alice, can you help me make some potions that will help these two see Uther's spirit?" Giaus asked.
"Of course," Alice said, before rushing off.
"Get the horn and meet me back here," Giaus said as he walked after his wife. "We will get rid of Uther's spirit again."
Both men nodded before rushing off to Arthur's chambers.
***
"Merlin," Arthur began as they walked back towards Giaus' chambers. "Do you think that I've failed as a king?"
Merlin stumbled in surprise before turning towards Arthur. "What on Earth gave you that ridiculous thought?!?"
"My father thinks that I've failed as a king," Arthur muttered, looking down.
"I can't believe you right now!" Arthur looked up at his friend. "Yes, you have broken many of your father's laws; letting Gwen become Queen, making common folk knight, and legalizing sorcery. But don't you see? Because of your decisions, we have a strong and fair Queen, Morgana and Mordred are no longer against us, and we have one of the best army's in all of the Kingdoms!"
"And you no longer have to live in fear of being discovered and dying," Arthur brought up, earning a grin from Merlin.
"Exactly."
Arthur laughed, but it was cut short when they entered Giaus' chambers. He was standing there solemnly, holding out two vials.
"Here," Giaus said, handing them the vials. "They taste horrendous, but they will help you see Uther's spirit."
With one look at each other, the two friends took the vials, chugged them down, and grimaced at the taste. Thanking Giaus, the two of them rushed out of the chambers, looking for Uther.
***
"Where do you think Uther is?" Merlin asked as the two of them ran towards the throne room.
"The throne room, of course!" Arthur yelled back as if Merlin was an idiot.
"Of course," Merlin huffed.
Merlin let out a little shriek as he felt something drag him to the ground.
"ARTHUR!"
Arthur turned around just in time to see Uther's spirit drag Merlin down the hallway and towards the courtyard. Arthur yelled after his father and began to chase after them.
"The horn Arthur!" Merlin screamed. "Use the horn!"
Realization hit Arthur as he grabbed the horn, and blew into it. Uther's spirit suddenly stopped moving and cried out in pain. The cry slowly faded into nothing as Uther's spirit dissipated into thin air. Both Arthur and Merlin sighed in relief as Arthur helped Merlin up.
"What should we do with this?" Arthur asked, looking at the horn.
"Burn it," Merlin replied.
***
Both Merlin and Arthur watched as Merlin threw the horn into the fireplace. As they watched it burn they heard Gwaine walk by, talking to Percival.
"Yeah, Percy, I wish that I met him. If only there was some way that I could see his spirit."
Arthur and Merlin looked worriedly at each other, and Merlin made sure that the horn burned until it was nothing more than a pile of ashes.