AN: A few years ago I wrote a journal chronicling the unknown mother of Obi-Wan Kenobi and what she went through being the mother of a Jedi. After rewatching The Moment of Truth I've decided that I need to write one for Hunith as well. This starts before Merlin's birth and goes as far as the show does. I hope you all enjoy this, and I would be grateful for any feedback.
AN2: If you've read this chapter before be sure to read it again because I've revised the 1st and 2nd chapters to reflect the new information given in the show especially concerning Balinor.
Disclaimer: Sadly I don't own Hunith or Merlin, they are owned by BBC.
A Mother's Tale: Hunith's Story
Chapter 1
Dear Diary,
I've never been the sort of woman who feels it necessary to chronicle her thoughts, me being but a simple farm woman from a small village. But now something has happened so extraordinary in my simple life, that I feel that writing it out in a diary is the only way to maintain my sanity.
Two months ago King Uther Pendragon of Camelot decreed that all users of magic were to be executed and his great purge was eve felt here in Cendred's kingdom. It seemed remarkable that such a tolerant king would suddenly turn his back on some of the very sorcerers that were his friends. Initially I was very concerned for my brother Gaius, whom I know has always dabbled in the use of magic. But he was able to avoid suspicion and has since been recently named Court Physician.
As Gaius told me in a recent letter, the death of Uther's wife Igraine who died in childbirth with her son Arthur was the key to his new hatred of magic. But I don't live in Camelot, but in a small village called Ealdor and so the happenings of the neighboring kingdom mattered little to me. They mattered little to me until Balinor arrived that is.
I never gave much thought to the ancient order of the Dragonlords, people who could easily sway the great magical dragons into doing their bidding. It surprised me very little to realize that Uther regarded Dragonlords in the same way that he regarded sorcerers, and very quickly he succeeded in annihilating all of them with one exception.
The Dragonlord Balinor was all that remained and he too would've been killed if it wasn't for Gaius helping him to escape from Camelot. I sheltered him in my home, and within a month he had captured my heart and I his. I've never fallen in love with a man before and I doubt there will be another. It was all too perfect, but sadly it ended when knights from Camelot came searching for him in Ealdor.
I wanted to go with Balinor where ever he may go, but he refused saying that he couldn't bear to put me in danger. I just pray that he has found sanctuary and will be able to live in peace. I worry every day that he will be found and killed, but as of right now I have a new concern that has taken all of my attention.
I've discovered that I'm pregnant, and with Balinor gone I will have to raise this child on my own. The fortunate thing is that I have loyal and caring friends in Ealdor who won't turn me away even despite the fact that I'm unmarried and pregnant. I'm sure there will be questions of course, and gossip will be started, but I do not fear either. My child will be my most precious gift despite all the worry and concern I have about what is to come. But I can't help but wonder how it will affect my child to grow up without a father.
I'm still in the early stages of my pregnancy, I've not yet begun to show but I'm sure it will not be long before I do. I'm starting to get the ravenous appetite and morning sickness that all pregnant women do and while there is still the slight chance I'm not pregnant at all, I'm quite sure that I am. Still only time will tell.
2 Months Later
Dear Diary,
It has been a long time since I've felt the need to write, but I can't contain myself today. The last time I wrote it was about my discovery of my pregnancy, and since then my body has changed in the ways that all those who carry babies do. My stomach has started to grow as the child within me has, and I've felt such a fatigue lately. The harvest is soon and all of Ealdor is pitching in to bring it in right now, and I've been feeling guilty that I can't help out as much as I normally would due to my pregnancy.
In the last several days I've been thinking a great deal about my baby, and I seem to get the strongest sense that it will be a boy. Call it mother's intuition or just a hunch, but I can't help but think that I will have a son. I can't help but already love him, he will be my most precious gift and I just can't wait to meet him.
5 Months Later
Dear Diary,
It has again been a long time since I've written in this diary, and my pregnancy is now nearing its end. I can't help but feel so nervous about the pain of child birth that is to come, but I try to console myself with the fact that I have a wonderful midwife, and that when it is all over I will have a son. If only he was here now because the suspense is horrible.
On another note I've decided what I shall call him. Last week after I had laid down for a nap, I had a dream. I was looking out across a wide expanse of a vast moor when out of nowhere I heard the call of a bird. I looked up and all of a sudden it flew across the sun, and I could finally identify the bird. It was a falcon, to be more specific it was a merlin. And then I woke up nearly as suddenly as the dream began, and the word merlin kept going through my head, so I know now what I shall call him. Merlin, an unusual name to be sure, but still it feels very fitting.
Merlin my dear son, I can't wait to meet you.
