Characters/Pairings: Uther, Igraine, Baby Arthur
Rating/Warnings: K
Genre: Gen
Universe: Pre-series 1
Word Count: 494
Author's Note: This little drabble (though it is a bit longer then a true drabble) has been floating in my head for the past few days and I thought it was time I shared it. Inspired by listning to Anthony Head singing. Uther may seem out of character in here, but hey, he just lost his wife and has an adorable baby in his arms. I think a baby could make even the hardest person melt a little.
Igraine's Lullaby
Night had fallen over the city of Camelot, the full moon casting it's peaceful light over the sleeping city. The castle stretched above the Lower Town, a magestic, almost magical presence. The calm of the night hid from all the horrors of the day.
Queen Igraine, kind, sweet, beautiful, Igraine Pendragon, loved by all who knew her and respected by all the people, lay still in the council room. A small smile lay on her lips, the last smile she had ever directed at her husband and newborn son. Her eyelids were closed, as if she was merely sleeping. Her lack of breath and the paleness of her skin were the only reminders that the Queen was gone. Dead after childbirth.
The doors to the throne room opened quietly, slowly. A man, clad in fine clothing fit for a king, slipped inside, a bundle of blankets held gently but firmly in one arm. He closed the door behind him quietly, careful not to awaken the little bundle in his arms.
Uther Pendragon turned and leaned against the door, breathing deeply, trying to keep back the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks. When he believed himself under control, he took slow, measured steps toward his beloved's body. His eyes strayed neither left nor right, but rested gently on his wife.
He drew up beside her and took another deep breath, a single tear freeing itself and running down his cheek. He looked down at Igraine, saw the smile on her face, and a sad smile of his own crossed his face before fading away. He could still hear her voice, her laugh. "Arthur. His name is Arthur."
A cry escaped the King's lips, and he rose his hand to cover it, muffling the sound. The baby boy in his arms squirmed, his bright blue eyes blinking open and staring up at him. Uther removed his hand from his mouth and met his son's eyes. Little Arthur looked up at him and a look of confusion and fright crossed his young face. With an intake of breath the only warning, the young prince let out a loud cry.
"Shush, little one!" Uther soothed, rocking his son the way he had seen the nurse rock him. "You are all right, Arthur. Daddy* is here."
His soothing did nothing save cause the baby prince to screech ever louder. Uther looked around frantically, regretting his desicion to bring his son to say one last good bye to his Mother. He looked back down at his wife's peaceful face and a thought crossed his mind. He looked back to his son and softly stroked his crying face and began singing in a low voice.
Hush, hush, time to be sleeping.
Hush, hush, dreams come a-creeping.
Dreams of peace and and of freedom.
So smile in your sleep, bonny baby.**
*I don't know if parents would have been called "Mother and Father" even as a child, but I doubt it so I used Daddy. If that's incorrect feel free to tell me.
**Smile in Your Sleep (Hush Hush) by Barry Taylor [I think] Not a medieval or Arthurian lullaby, but an older one and from either Ireland, Wales, or Scotland (the website doesn't say, but it has words in a different language that looks like Irish to me, but I'm no expert.) I would post the website, but I lost it...sorry. Just search "old lullabies" and it was one that said "folk lullabies" in the title.
