Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Merlin. The fictional characters here and the story is mine. :)
I release a stunned breath from my body. Eyes shooting open, my chest is heaving from the images in my dreams, and the words of warning from my sorcerer still haunt my mind. A face not unlike mine, eyes of blue and hair of gold with pale skin and rosy lips. He's beautiful, but Merlin tells me he is evil. The warlock's predictions of my own children have been right in so far as to my first born. But how could this boy be wicked? He is a mere child and what Merlin asks of me is nothing short of disbelief.
I turn my head to see my wife resting, sleeping in peace. We have been so at ease since the birth of our son. He is more than a year old now, born in the middle of the first winter since my last war. He looks like her, behaves her like her, thinks like her. She takes pity and tells me he will fight like me. I suppose it is something.
We thought we were fighting and winning against my father's will, in the end though, he was rewarded with all his final wishes. I married days after his death and produced a male heir before our third anniversary. But it has not come without consequences as my sister is lost to all us for good. It hurts the women closest to me. My guilt, I try to hide but they know me too well. The pain is impossible for any of us to ignore. But there are others who wish to comfort us despite having been away. Lord Charles and Lady Margaret will be returning to court. I am amazed that somewhere in all the years of intrigue the four of us we are able to find friendship. Guinevere told me that Charles is aware of the real reason I sent his wife away. I have never spoken of it with the man, my friend, but the pair's love seems quite genuine despite the knowledge of it. It will be good to see him again because I have missed my friends. My mind always goes to Lancelot first. His absence at my wedding stung deep. After the war, he returned to Sussex but King Alinad was the one who told me he had left his court not long after he had returned. He gave the old, beleaguered king nothing in the way of explanation. I went to Alinad before he died. Having no heir, he ceded his lands to me under the condition that his daughter would be free to marry as she wished. Of all the remaining kingdoms, and there were not many left, he thought that I would be the most inclined and able to grant such a thing. It was not long after that that Lancelot wrote me. He spoke of travel far to the south and well into the lands of our rulers of old. And while he had seen much in his time away, he announced to me that he would return and serve me once more, if I would forgive his offense. I could do no less for him and would do more if he would allow it, but he only asked for a small home in Sussex and the promise that he would visit us soon. I can tell that he is heartbroken. At first I thought he was one of those men who did not know how to stop fighting, but in the months that we have written each other I have come to believe that it is more than that.
Llacheu's nursery is attached to Guinevere's chamber, so this is where I sleep. Wanting to be close to both of them at all times, I have only spent nights in my own chambers when they left to visit my mother's home in Tintagel earlier this summer. It was the first time my wife and I had not shared a bed since the day she told me she was with child. It was important to me that she knew of my commitment to her and this was the most convincing way for me to show it.
My son sleeps like his mother too. It makes me proud to think that they can both feel so protected under my rule. My kingdom has swollen since our defeat of the Mercians and thanks to his mother, we have many friends who remember our charity, countless newcomers to our shores eager to do trade and enough well trained men to defend it. I used to think that she could one day grow into a Queen, but it surprised even me to find that she was really born to be a King.
I sigh again. Never would I have thought this, but of all of them I miss Merlin the most. I depended on his wisdom above all others in the final days of battle. No one knows when he will return. He only visits from time to time in our dreams, hers more than mine. I prayed too hard to see him again, for now I know I will see him very soon in the flesh. This is the third night in as many nights he has visited my slumber. There is trouble coming and he will bring word of it. Now I pray that he will bring me a better choice than the one he has given me on this night.
A/N: This is just an excerpt from a very long fic that I'm half way through, but I wanted to share it. I hope you enjoy it, but if you don't I won't stalk you from the bushes outside your house until you love it. Either way...I'd love to hear what you think, so please review.