Nimueh held her little boy's hand tightly. It wouldn't do to lose him now. When Balinor was killed and Hunith died of sickness, Nimueh gladly took in baby Merlin to fill the gaping hole in her chest. She still thought of her beloved Ygraine everyday, but the happy child soothed that ache with his antics. Nimeuh found that she was too caught up with raising Merlin to think too hard about revenge or bitterness. He had saved her from herself and there was no way Nimueh could possibly repay that debt.
It was uncanny how much they resembled each other. Similar pale skin, blue eyes, and dark hair. When they moved into a small farming village, nobody asked questions. Nimueh told the sad story of his deceased father, leaving her with an infant son. The villagers quickly welcomed her into their fold, where she was able to take up a job as seamstress.
Today, five years later, she was showing Merlin Camelot for the first time. Nimueh wore her hood low over her face, in case she was recognized. Merlin skipped merrily, tugging her hand in every direction. His little mouth dropped open in awe at all the sights and sounds. It hurt Nimueh to return to her old home and know she was not welcome there. Uther would have her and her precious boy killed in an instant if her knew. But she could not resist going back, just once.
Merlin pulled on her skirt. "Mummy? Can we go see the dragon?"
Nimueh did a double take. "What's that Merlin?"
"The dragon wants to talk to me. Can we go? Please. Please. Please?"
"All right, but we have to be careful."
Merlin nodded vigorously. He brought his hands across his lips, locking them and throwing away the key.
"My, you are so tiny for such a great destiny." Kilgharrah chuckled and peered down through the darkness.
"I'm a big boy!" Merlin stomped his foot and pouted. "Not tiny."
"Of course, how did I get that wrong? What a big, scary warlock you are." The dragon looked mollified.
Merlin clapped his hands. "Can you do fire?" He asked excitedly. "Please."
Kilgharrah snorted and let out a little spark. Merlin giggled and sat down to play with the pretty scale the dragon gave him. Meanwhile Nimueh talked with Kilgharrah about grown-up stuff and something called destiny.
On their way out Merlin noticed a strange hallway. It was newer and nothing at all like the rest of the dungeon. The hallway ended at an iron door guarded by two soldiers. When Merlin wandered toward the men, they immediately crossed their pikes in front of the door. Irritated, the little boy knocked out both men with a glare.
"Merlin! You have to be more careful!" Nimueh scolded.
But Merlin was already trying to wrench the door open. Inside, the room was plain and scarcely furnished. There was a bed, table and chair but little else. In the corner was a strange bundle of cloth.
"Mummy, what is that?" The curious child roamed closer. "Oh. It's a boy!"
Nimueh entered the room, confused. Why on earth would there be a boy hidden in the bowels of the castle? Unless. Uther wanted to get rid of the creature that killed his beautiful wife, but couldn't bring himself to slay his own son. How could he destroy the only remaining piece of his queen? Instead, Uther locked the boy away and told the entire kingdom of a tragic stillborn. This way, he wouldn't be reminded of his desperate desire for an heir that was the death of Ygraine. Uther had hid the evidence and banned magic to ease his own guilt.
"Arthur?" Nimueh asked gently.
The prince shifted and stared up with frightened eyes. His flaxen hair was long and matted. Arthur's skin was pale and drawn. His cheeks were hollow, eyes sunken and dull. When the boy saw the intruders, he flinched back. "Did he send you to kill me?" Arthur rasped in a hoarse voice.
"No, Arthur. We're here to see you. We won't hurt you, I promise." Nimueh said in a placating tone.
Arthur didn't stop trembling. "That's what he said." The boy whispered. "He said he wouldn't hurt me. But then he punishes me. He hits me and starves me. Tells me what a monster I am, how I wasn't worth my mother's life."
Nimueh blinked back tears. This was her Arthur, hers and Ygraine's. Not Uther's. How dare he treat him like this, like an animal. It broke her heart to see Arthur like this. He couldn't be any older than Merlin. He should be in the sun, running around like other boys. He should have friends and nurses doting on him. He should have a wonderful, enviable life, as crown prince. Nimueh supposed it was lucky he knew how to speak and function like a normal human. Arthur could have easily been left in a dark cell or simply killed.
"Mummy can we keep him?" Merlin peered up through his lashes.
"Merlin, Arthur's not a puppy. You can ask him."
Merlin turned to the boy. "Hello. I'm Merlin. Can we keep you? You won't have to see the mean man again."
Arthur, being only a child, a scared lonely child, said, "Okay."
So Nimeuh had both her boys now and she was happier than ever. They brought Arthur back to their village and cleaned him up. Merlin showed him how wonderful magic was and how to have fun. Nimueh taught him rules and morals that Uther never bothered to mention. Slowly, Arthur was able to forget about the horrors of Camelot and sleep without waking up screaming from awful nightmares.
Merlin and Arthur grew up like brothers. They learned to read and fight together. When Arthur fell out of a tree, Merlin made him better. When the other village boys were mean to Merlin, Arthur protected him. They explored and played games together. Merlin always ended up playing the damsel in distress to Arthur's knight in shining armor.
Nimueh showed Merlin how to control his magic, often taking him on trips to the Isle of the Blessed. There they met other priestesses of the Old Religion, like Morgause, who terrified young Merlin. Nimueh instructed Arthur on ways to defend himself with muscle and steel. Nimueh also taught both of them about Arthur's past. They memorized his family tree and studied maps of Camelot. She instructed them on courtly manners and etiquette from her own years at Camelot. "You are destined to be king, Arthur." Nimueh would say. "It doesn't hurt to be prepared."
When Nimueh told Merlin of his true parentage, he threw a tantrum for three days. He climbed into the highest tree in the village and refused to come down. It wasn't until Arthur tried to climb up after him, nearly breaking his arm, that Merlin finally came down. He calmly accepted his identity and began training to be a dragonlord.
When they were thirteen, they fought a griffin together. Merlin lighting up the lance with ethereal blue fire and Arthur impaling the beast.
At fourteen, the boys faced a Sidhe. Then they killed a manticore and vanquished the questing beast.
The next year, Arthur kissed Merlin for the first time, which then turned into much more. Soon after, Merlin discovered, to his disappointment, that he couldn't pet the unicorn anymore. But taking Arthur as his lover made up for it.
Now they were eighteen. Arthur was hunting in the forest with the long bow Nimueh had made. He had long since banished Merlin from going hunting with him. The warlock may be powerful but he could not be quiet if his life depended on it.
That was how he stumbled upon the patrol from Camelot. Their magic wards must have gotten weak. Nobody from Camelot had ever found them in the past thirteen years. Ironically enough, they weren't even looking for him, the knights were only sent out with an announcement.
"You there! Boy! Take us to your village!" One of the men shouted. There were five in all, red clad and on horseback.
Arthur picked up the rabbits he had shot and obediently led them back to the village.
Nimueh peered out the window the instant she heard the clatter of horses. She nearly fainted when Arthur came into view surrounded by Camelot red.
"Merlin! Merlin, go out there and find out what's happened. They'll recognize me. They've got Arthur!"
Merlin tripped out of the house and hurried to the village square. He slipped in between Arthur and his friend Will. "What's going on?"
Arthur gave him a reassuring smile. "They're not here for me." He explained in a low voice. "They're just messengers."
"Attention!" The leader of the knights called out. "I am Sir Leon of Camelot. King Uther has issued a proclamation. In two fortnights' time there will be a tournament at Camelot. Any available bachelor aged between fourteen and forty living in the five kingdoms may attend. The winner will get the Lady Morgana's hand in marriage as well as the throne when Uther passes."
The villagers began murmuring amongst themselves.
"There will be several days of competition to test one's strength and soundness of character. At the end of the week, King Uther will decide on the victor. May the best man win."
Arthur, Will, and Merlin wandered away from the crowd.
"Are you going to do it?" Merlin asked Will.
"You know me. I hate those nobility types. I've got no reason to marry a princess. Imagine me, Prince William of Ealdor."
Merlin snorted and turned to Arthur. "You're entering, aren't you."
Arthur gave him a soft smile. "I have to Merlin. I want a chance to prove myself and I want to see Camelot again."
"Then I'm going with you." Merlin announced defiantly.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Will laughed. "That's nice and all, but Nimueh's never gonna let you guys go."
"Absolutely not! Merlin will get killed. And you, Arthur, why do you even want to go? Morgana is your half sister, you can't marry her."
"I don't care about winning. I just want to test myself against the other men." Arthur tried to explain.
"C'mon please? We'll take care of each other." Merlin made puppy eyes at Nimueh.
She sighed. "Even if I say no, you two till sneak out in the middle of the night anyway. Might as well help you get ready."
Merlin jumped up and hugged her. Arthur kissed her cheek. "Thank you."