Merlin didn't trust Princess Lana of Angevin from the start. Something had always been off about her. Gaius accused him of being on edge. Merlin didn't really disagree with him. They were all distrusting of anyone who came to Camelot nowadays. After all, with Uther bedridden and the Crown Prince trying to govern, it wouldn't be farfetched to assume the kingdom was in a vulnerable state and ripe for the picking.
When the King of Angevin had written to Camelot regarding rumours of the Saxons growing in power Arthur had invited him over to discuss a treaty, an allegiance. The kingdom of Angevin was south of the sea but close enough for the Saxons to invade if they took over Camelot and continued their conquest south. Enough for Angevin to offer their assistance.
Supposedly they'd ran into trouble in the sea, only the Princess' ship had arrived for now and the King was supposedly with the rest of the armada still making their way. It raised every magical alarm bell in Merlin's instincts. He warned Arthur about the strange situation and although the prince didn't dismiss him entirely, he hadn't been as cautious as he should have been. It came as no surprise, that she was actually a sorceress working for Morgana.
She had masterfully made a display of her getting kidnapped by a couple of Saxon Knights that led Arthur to go and search for her with his knights and Merlin ever at his side. Merlin couldn't blame him. Even he wasn't a hundred percent certain about princess Lana and if he was wrong and Arthur didn't go after her, they could be risking a war with Angevin for leaving the Princess to be taken under their watch.
And so, Merlin found himself chained to the walls of this cavern. Arthur was to Merlin's right and Morgana to Arthur's right. Yes, that's correct. Morgana too was chained to the walls of the cavern, looking slightly crazy but mostly furious as well as tired. They had become separated from most of the knights, though Sir Leon made it through and he too was just starting to rouse.
"Morgana!" Arthur gasped, seeing his sister who rolled her eyes annoyed.
"Hello, brother. Took you idiots long enough to wake up." She grumbled.
Merlin looked around the room, seeing Lana stirring some light green concoction in the centre of the cavern, the cauldron bubbling as it sat on the fire. She kept mumbling words of the old religion.
"What on earth are you planning this time Morgana?" Arthur asked.
"Honestly, little brother, your powers of observation never cease to amaze me. As you can clearly see, I too am chained to the wall." She said.
"As if these chains could hold a magic user." Leon called over from across the room.
"You'll find, they can." Morgana scoffed tugging at the chains, eyes glowing gold making the manacles glow too, but the light fizzled into nothing.
"They're enchanted." Merlin said and felt fear grip his heart. He looked up at his own and felt relief washed over him as they didn't look the same as Morgana's. He tried to tug at the chains, but nothing happened, and he couldn't well try his magic here.
"So, she says." Leon said narrowing his eyes at Morgana who scoffed looking away annoyed.
"Shut up, all of you." Lana finally said turning to them. Merlin glared at the woman.
"What are you planning Lana?" Arthur demanded. She chuckled as she turned her pretty green eyes to Arthur.
"My dear Prince Arthur. I want you to give me an heir." She said simply.
"Excuse me?" All three, Merlin, Arthur and Morgana said.
"There's no point in following Morgana, she is powerful in magic, but weak in numbers and power. She'll never be queen, she's too insane. No one will accept her." She said cruelly, mocking her as she came close to Morgana's side.
Morgana may be slightly crazy, but she wasn't about to take that lying down and gave the sorceress a kick to her stomach that sent her rolling back. Merlin gave a slight smirk and saw Arthur look just as amused. Lana pulled herself to her feet, her eyes filled with rage as she tried to get air back into her lungs.
"I won't kill you yet." She hissed still winded from the blow.
"I don't care what spells you use, sorceress." Arthur hissed. "I am not having a child with you."
Lana laughed. "Oh, sweet prince. You don't have a choice. I will use your essence and with magic create a child in my womb. It's quite simple, really. Once I am with your heir, nothing will stop me from acquiring the throne. A little growth spell and within a handful of years I'll have a strapping young prince grown and strong enough to take you down." She purred, caressing his cheek while Arthur flinched back from her touch.
"You can't do this! A life cannot be created out of nothing. A life must be surrendered. You won't even survive." Merlin yelled. She turned her eyes to him for the first time but barely gave him a second glance. No one ever gave the prince's manservant a second look.
"Well, that's where Lady Morgana comes in. I will kill her and use her as the sacrifice. After all, all participants of this spell must be of magic." She said and walked back to the cauldron, scooping up some of the potion into a wooden cup. She walked over to Arthur and Merlin struggled against the restraints along with the knights. Morgana just looked on with disgust, her eyes glowing as she kept trying to undo the restraints.
"Don't drink it Arthur!" Morgana ordered but all Arthur could do was clamp his jaw shut and press his lips tight.
Merlin looked around for anything he could do but there was nothing. He couldn't reveal his magic! Lana took out a serrated bone knife and pierced Arthur's abdomen with it. Arthur cried out and Lana poured the liquid into his mouth.
"Arthur!" They all cried out and Lana laughed. She stepped back and started to chant. Arthur began to glow a light golden colour that began to pour out of him and form into a small ball of white and gold light. They all stared at the orb in horror as it began to move towards Lana who kept chanting. The orb stopped, and Lana moved to Morgana, her knife ready to kill.
Merlin looked at Arthur's wound as it kept bleeding and closed his eyes. There was no way around it. He let his eyes glow gold and the manacles snapped open. Merlin fell forward and they all turned to him.
"What?" Lana gasped. Merlin looked at Arthur, somehow praying he was passed out, but the prince was looking at him a little pale but very much awake. Merlin raised his hand and all the manacles snapped open. Morgana didn't hesitate and tore the knife from Lana's hand, digging it straight into her heart, killing her instantly. Her blood began to trail as if with a life of its own and formed a ring that surrounded Merlin.
"What's happening?" Merlin cried out alarmed, trying to jump out of the circle but an invisible wall stopped him.
"A life has been given. The new one must take hold." Morgana said staring at the orb in horror as it went to Merlin.
"No. No! Stop this Morgana!" Merlin yelled moving as far back as he could.
"I can't! This is… not magic I know of." She said. Arthur grabbed onto her, using her as a crutch to stand. Neither sibling realised they were holding onto each other, everyone just focused on the orb of light that entered the circle. Merlin began to glow with the same golden light, his eyes turned to gold unwillingly as his magic took in the life coming toward him.
"Merlin!" Arthur cried out. Merlin's whole body weakened as the magic raised him into the air. His hair grew into long curls, his chest became tighter and his trousers lighter. The orb entered Merlin's stomach in a warm wave that made him shudder. The warmth lulled him to sleep. He dreamed of a perfect child with golden hair and glowing golden eyes.
oOoOoOo
The ride back to Camelot was quiet. Arthur looked at his sister who rode with the group. No chains needed. She was returning willingly to Camelot to face her likely execution. Nonetheless, he and Leon agreed to bring her in the magic-resistant manacles. It hurt to see that resignation, but Arthur couldn't really think about her for now. To his surprise, she'd patched up his wound and healed it with magic in an instant before she'd been chained and helped onto a horse. So, he took up the job of holding onto Merlin's unconscious body. He didn't know where to really hold him. He hadn't wanted to place his hand over the other's abdomen out of fear of what was growing just underneath but when he'd gone for Merlin's chest he'd flinched back down as he felt the new mounds adorning Merlin's upper half.
There were too many things running through his mind and he couldn't pick a single emotion to settle on. Shock, anger, betrayal, hurt, relief? They were too many to choose from.
Merlin groaned, and Arthur stopped the entourage, turning to look at Merlin's even more effeminate face. His eyelashes fluttered opened and his eyes slowly focused and then filled with confusion, then they seemed to remember. Merlin tensed.
"What happened?" He asked and frowned, holding his throat, trying to clear his voice. There was no mistaking it. His voice was higher in pitch. Merlin's eyes widened, and he began to pat himself down, releasing a screech as he felt his chest. Merlin jumped off the horse and felt between his legs and screeched even louder.
"You're a woman, Merlin." Morgana offered, looking wildly amused while Leon just looked as shocked as the moment Merlin revealed his magic.
"I am not a woman!" Merlin exclaimed and saw something black around his waist and turned to catch it and realised it was his hair. His eyes widened as he reached higher and cried out as he tangled his fingers in his hair. "Oh my god I'm a woman!" Merlin exclaimed finally freeing his fingers. He was in such a frenzy that he didn't notice Arthur storm toward him and smack him upside the head. "Ah! What was that for, you clotpole!" Merlin yelled. Arthur gripped him by the shoulders.
"How long? How long have you had magic? How long have you been laughing behind my back while you kept your sorcery a secret?" He yelled. Merlin's eyes widened. He looked down, finding it hard to breathe.
"Arthur I-"
"No! Save it! I don't want to hear the words of a trickster like you!" He spat hatefully. Merlin looked up and hurt turned to anger.
"You will listen to me! What did you want me to do? Tell you? What good would that have done? You would have banished me from your side at your earliest convenience!" He yelled, storming after Arthur who had his back turned to him.
"Would you have rather preferred I'd have my father execute you?" Arthur yelled.
"I was not going to risk you sending me away! I needed to be by your side! Protecting you!" He said. Arthur turned furious, gripping him by his shirt.
"I don't need the protection of a lying sorcerer!"
Merlin actually laughed. "I've been protecting you since the first day I got to Camelot. As much as your dear father would like to think it, brute force cannot defeat magic! Only magic can defeat magic! So, you're welcome for saving your behind and Camelot's for years, by the way!" He yelled back at him. Arthur clenched his jaw even more, looking as if he was trying to resist running him through.
"You had no right!"
Morgana, still on her horse, pitched in. "Merlin's right. Revealing ourselves in Camelot would have meant our deaths. At least Merlin did the right thing with it." Morgana said. She looked defeated, but Arthur could see a glimpse of the old Morgana as she defended Merlin. Arthur clenched his jaw tighter but let go of Merlin.
"Change back to a man, you look ridiculous." Arthur scoffed, and Merlin stepped back turning around embarrassed. He closed his eyes and let his eyes glow with magic as he tried to change back. Nothing happened and after turning around to an angry Arthur and an amused Morgana and even more confused Leon. He shook his head.
"I can't." Merlin said.
"Why not?" He demanded.
"My guess is he'll stay like this till the babe is born." Morgana said. They all turned to see the wild amusement barely hidden on his face.
Merlin looked at Arthur in alarm as Arthur looked just as shocked, having almost forgotten about that little detail. Morgana patted Arthur on the arm.
"Congratulations little brother." She cooed mockingly and both Arthur and Merlin glared at her before they all continued their way back to Camelot. This time Merlin rode with Morgana, who made it her duty to untangle his hair on the way back.