The Cost of the Crown - BBC Merlin

Disclaimer: The tv show Merlin is the property of BBC. "The Cost of the Crown" is a song by Mercedes Lackey and Shandeen. I do not own any of this, and I am not making money from this video, I am merely playing around for my own amusement. Lyrics: The stars are very beautiful above the palace walls They shine with equal splendor still above far humbler halls I watch them from my window, but their bright entrancing glow Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least The true Queen knows her people fed before she sits to feast The good Queen knows her people safe before she takes her rest Thinks twice and thrice and yet again before she makes request For they are all my children, all, that I swore to defend It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend And of my children high and low, from beggar to above The dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand That land and people first have needs that I may not deny So I must send my dearest friends to danger and to die A friend, a love, a child, it matters not; I know indeed That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need They know and they forgive me, doing more than I require With willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can't shed The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead Oh gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry And if you have compassion — let me send no more to die! - If you're wondering about the odd capitalization of certain words in the lyrics: this song is originally related to Queen Selenay from Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar -books, and therefore I decided to keep certain terms capitalized the way the books do. I just decided that although the Knights of the Round table aren't quite Heralds of Valdemar, and neither is Arthur himself, there's enough similarity in the relationship between Arthur and his knights and the various reigning Monarchs of Valdemar and the Heralds for this song to work quite nicely for this fandom.