Hi everyone:
So this is the first story that I will publish here and I hope that whoever is reading will enjoy it as much as I did writing it ;)
Note that English is not my first language so forgive any mistakes I might make.
Now for the warnings: This is a Female Merlin fic. This is rated M for a reason but not in the beginning of the story, when necessary I will warn you.
Disclaimer: I do not own BBC Merlin even though I wish I did.

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

The winds of change have quickened. In a land of magic a child is born, his cries filling the room. His hair the color of the sun and his eyes a deep blue as night itself. This boy's heart is pure just as his mother, who stares down at her son with tears in her eyes, the exact shade as his. The woman can feel life abandoning her and tries to cherish the last few moments she has with her child.

"My lady? How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Gaius. Where's Uther? Has my husband been informed?"
"I have already sent a servant to fetch him and give him the good news. Congratulations my lady, you have a very healthy boy."
"He is precious, isn't he? Oh my dear Arthur, how I love you my son!"

"Where is Igraine? How is my wife?" Uther storms in the room, worry in his face that is quickly replaced by extreme joy as his eyes land on Igraine and his newborn son. Igraine looks at him, tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips. "Uther, we have a son! Come meet him."
"Leave us. I want to be alone with my wife and my...son." As he says this the servants and the Court Physician bow and leave silently. Uther's voice is filled with emotion he could contain. A son! He has a son... He sits in the chair next to the bed, exaustion and relief flooding him. He notices that his Queen looks too pale, unusual as her skin is normally as golden as her hair that is now tangled and drenched in sweat. She looks too weak and vulnerable as opposed to the energetic and lively woman he knows, that he loves more than life itself. " Would you like hold him?" His love's voice breaks his reverie and he smiles at her.

"I do not know how." She is the only one to whom he admits his flaws, she saw it all the good and the bad, and by some miracle she loved him because and in spite of them.
"That is not a problem, my love. Here I can teach you. Hold out you harms and do not forget to support his head. Yes, carefully...There you go! See my dear, you are a natural." Her voice is almost a whisper by now but Uther dismisses it thinking it to be exaustion.

"What did you name him?"
"Arthur. I believe it suited him well." There is so much love in her for this child. She hopes that he can somehow sense it. She is feeling weaker by the minute and wishes she had more time but Arthur is worth dying for, her perfect little boy. She knew that this could happen, feared it for months but accepted her fate in the end. Nimueh warned Uther of the consequences of the spell but because they were both desperate for a son, they ignored the warnings. Igraine wanted a child to love like every mother would and Uther had been pressured for years by the Court. The people wanted an heir for the throne of Camelot. They had tried but theyr efforts were never rewarded until Nimueh suggested a enchantment that allowed her to create a life however for one to give a life another had to be taken. Uther never imagined that that life would be his wife's. The Queen is sinking in the bed and loosing conscience but does not try to fight death even if she wishes for just for a moment longer with her men. "Prince Arthur Pendragon of Camelot...I like it. How are you feeling? Igraine? Igraine?"

His Queen has paled even more and falls back in the bed taking shallow and quick breaths.
"Igraine, can you hear me, my love? Please answer me! Guards! Guards!" The guards storm in to the room. "Fetch Gaius, it is a emergency! Go NOW!" Shock and desperation invade him without his permission and are followed by dread and fear. He holds Arthur closer to his chest as he can. The boy is a sleep by now despite the King's screams. Two minutes later Gaius enters the room, a worried look on his face as he rushes to Queen.
"My Lord what happened?" He starts to check Igraine but fears that he knows the cause of her sickness. "She was fine when I left."

"I don't know Gauis! I thought she was fine as well. Please do something, anything! Do not let her die!"
"I'll do whatever I can my lord. Igraine can you hear me?" The dying lady moaned, barely conscious, as a response. " I fear that you may have to brace yourself for the worst."
"She is NOT dying! You will save her!"
"I fear that I might not be able to, forgive me. I will go fetch Nimueh, perhaps she can help." Gaius knew the Queen was dying as a consequence to the spell that gave the little Prince his life.
"I am here." A beautiful black haired woman appeared in the room, her blue eyes were sad as they lay on the dying Queen.

"Nimueh, please, I beg you, use your magic, cure her!" Uther begged for the second time in his life and they had both been for Igraine. The first had been for her to love him and now he begged for her life. Only for her would he beg and see past his pride. She was his life, the best part of him, the love and beauty of his world. If she died, all of this died with her.
"I fear that I cannot Uther. I warned you before I cast the spell: to give a life, a life must be taken. I am afraid that life is Igraine. I can't stop it, not with all the magic in the world. I am very sorry but your wife will die. There's nothing I can do."

"No, no, no, NOOOOO! She can't and will not die! Do you hear me? Save her or I will make you pay for this!"
Nimueh opened her mouth to speak as she heard the Queen calling her husband and the words were lost,
"Uther...please I don't want the last words I hear from you to be the one's of hate. Nimueh is not to blame. Uther?"

"I am here my love! Please Igraine do not leave me, I am nothing without you!"
"My dear listen to me, we don't have much time time left, I can feel it. Take care of Arthur now, guard him with your life, for me. And know that I wil always love you and remember that everyday and you will never be alone! You and Arthur are the people I hold dearest in this world, tell him that will you? Now let me hold my son one last time."
Realisation hit the King harder than any blow he had ever gotten on the battle field, his Igraine was dying, there was no stopping it from happpening. He passed Arthur to her, and watched with tear filled eyes.

"I do love you my child. You are the best of me and your father, and I truly believe you will be great when you grow up. Goodbye my son." She handed the boy to Gaius and turned to King.
"Don't cry please dear! I hate to see you in pain. Will you do something else for me?" "Anything for you!"
"Never forget me?"
"How could I forget you? How will I live without you?"
"Live for me. Live for Arthur, he needs you now." Igraine was drawing her last breaths by now and Uther held her hand, cold as ice, in his.

"I love you..." The Queen died as she said these words. A scream erupted from the King as he saw her die. He grabbed her and pulled her to his chest, his hand stroking her blond hair.
Gaius still had the little sleeping prince in his arms. He looked at Nimueh and made a move to leave. He had to get the boy to a nurse soon so he could be taken care of and they should give Uther space and time to morn his loss. Nimueh closed the royal chamber's door so the Kings screams and pleas were not so audible. She could sense that something bad was coming. She looked at Gaius and then at the little bundle in his arms. She turned around and went to her chambers.

In another realm a dark haired figure watched them. Her face was solemn however sadness showed through sometimes. She was sitting on the side of a clear pool of water, watching and searching. Another image appeared in the crystal water, a blond boy sleeping in craddle. And then she spoke:
"Arthur...The Once and Future King...And so it begins..." She sighed and the image disappeared.

Hope you enjoy reading this even though it's short but it is just an introduction. Please review and more chapters will be uploaded soon if you like this ;)