Arthur/Merlin. Like Nimueh, Merlin gives his childless king an heir. He carries it for Gwen at the price of his life.
Livejournal Prompt =D
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He knew what he was getting into when he offered to carry a child for Arthur and Gwen. He knew that a life had to be given for a life to be born. But Arthur had to have a child, for the Pendragon legacy to continue, and if Arthur went mad against magic for what he had done, then Gwen could calm him down. Merlin knew that he was replaceable. Merlin knew that Arthur would miss him for a little while, but he would then be too busy with his child, to remember him, as would Gwen.
So he conceived and carried a child for Arthur and Gwen, and he could feel himself getting weaker for everyday that the child grew stronger. His magic suffered, and using it either became too dangerous for the baby, or it was just too painful to use.
Merlin lied about his condition to Arthur and Gwen when they asked, and he said that he was fine. Truthfully, Merlin had never felt this drained, and he surmised that most of his magic was being used to keep the child inside of him safe from harm.
Gwaine came back. He found himself falling in love, and he confessed all to Gwaine, who held him as he cried into the night about the unfairness about Arthur and Gwen's inability to conceive a child, and the regret he now felt about conceiving the child, and all the guilt he felt for feeling that.
He felt the baby kick, and a few tears slipped down his face about how long it would be until the child was born - how long he had to live.
He grew paler and paler and he felt worse each and every day. Arthur had finally caught on, and had shown up at Merlin's rooms, to talk to - to convince – Merlin to save himself, that they'd get there in the end.
'Arthur.' Merlin had rasped, 'This is the ultimate sacrifice. We are all going to die; it's just a matter of when.' Merlin grabbed his hand, 'Don't blame the rest of the magic users. If you have to, just blame me. Don't become your father, and treat this child better than your father treated you. Please Arthur.'
'But... you... you are my best friend.' Arthur had said stiffly, holding back tears. 'I would rather lose you when we are older.'
'It's out of our decision now.' Merlin said sorrowfully. 'If the baby died now, I would just die with it. At least, if its born, you will have something out of all of this.'
Arthur nodded, and leaned down to give a chaste kiss to Merlin's cheek. Merlin sighed happily. 'No matter what Arthur, I chose to do this, and I haven't regretted it.'
Arthur nodded, and left.
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Then suddenly it all was all over. The baby had been born, it was a boy, Merlin had died, and Gwaine had followed him into death's grip.
Arthur grew slightly cold towards magic, but didn't discriminate against it, as Merlin had wished he wouldn't. He held a disdain for the first rules of life, that Merlin had used at least time in his life. Once to save Arthur's life, and once to give Arthur an heir.
Arthur and Gwen taught him all about magic, the magic he'd inherited slightly from Merlin, his host. Merlin hadn't meant to pass any on, but it had leaked away from Merlin to the unborn child, and had left him with some of Merlin's abilities, and some of the weaker magical skills.
The dragon returned to Camelot upon feeling Merlin's life ending, and asked Arthur about it.
Arthur looked into the distance, before looking into his son's eye, that were identical to both his nad Merlin's, and simply said, 'It was a cost he said he could afford.'