This is my very first upload so please don't be too harsh, I literally cobbled this together in half an hour as I just watched an episode of Merlin and the idea hit me. It was initially a oneshot but now forms the beginning to Part 1 of the soon to be developed 'Arthur's Women' trilogy. Anyway, read and review, constructive criticism welcome!

I don't own the character of Arthur, and any others mentioned who may be BBC property or belonging to Celtic Legend.

Sections of text in italics indicate a flashback/ events occurring in the past.

Part 1- Heartbreak at Midnight

The mare groaned again, a painfully drawn out sound that tore into his heart- she wasn't going to make it. Forcing himself to bury his overflowing emotions he knelt beside her, slowly lowering himself so that their eyes were curiously locked, sharing one last silent conversation. At that moment, looking into those deep brown pools of liquid intelligence, he almost found himself at peace; but why did new life have to come at such a cost? Curled up just an arm's length away was a damp bundle, darkened by the membrane which had enveloped it like a blanket for so long, yet startlingly illuminated in the incandescent moonlight. Now the little creature had been thrust into a world full of harsh light and sharp beds which pricked at its sensitive skin. Until now the young prince had not been able to look upon the foal, he saw it as too great a price to pay; the mare was young, she did not deserve to leave the world so soon after giving birth for the first time.

Suddenly the weight in his arms became too much to bear, yet he desperately hung onto that delicate copper head with its distinctive jagged blaze. Too soon, it wasn't time for her, not yet! Why would mother earth take her away like this, to leave the young one an orphan? Something that he knew only too well, for King Uther was more a dictator than a father to him, he couldn't even picture his mother's face in his mind's eye. The onlooking stable lad could almost feel the pain that radiated from his young ward, crouched far below him. Hesitantly he whispered, "Arthur. Please, do not take this to heart, there is nothing any of us can do..." Yet he somehow couldn't find the words to continue, the look on the boy's once again young face silenced him. To an onlooker the Prince seemed wise beyond his years, but here, at this moment, he was still a small boy with the weight of a Kingdom weighing down upon his young shoulders.

None of it made sense, but this would be an important lesson in Arthur's life, the stable lad had said so and persuaded him to be here for this moment. Shamrock had been his favourite mare; her joy for life inexplicably matched his but somehow managed to give him a purpose and control: he had been looking forward to the birthing for almost a year and would be allowed to attend providing he progressed sufficiently in his riding skills. They had been astounded at just how much he had improved; leaps and bounds did not do him justice.

Now, to him, it all seemed wasted. She was gone, the formerly irrepressible light that glowed in her eyes had been extinguished, and all that remained was the spindly-legged little foal. For the first time he really studied it, taking in the conformation and colouring with an experienced eye. It was hard to imagine how the filly, for that is what, on closer inspection, she turned out to be, would develop. All the prince knew was that this iron gray colt with distinct black points and mane and tail of midnight should become his most trusted companion: a knight was only as good as the horse beneath him, and as he looked into the foal's defiant eyes he made the decision. With a single tear running down his cheek, the thirteen year old Arthur announced, "Llamrei! She shall serve me well, more loyal and brave than any other; she shall willingly carry me to the ends of the Earth and back"

Thanks for reading, please bear with me, I'm writing and uploading as fast as my sporadic outbreaks of writer's block will allow D