For Eden, a strong young man and future magician extraordinaire! :]


Arthur Pendragon never fancied the thought of having a child. Sure, being the king of Camelot, he was expected to have heirs—preferably male ones. However, the thought of having little ones scared the king to no end. It wasn't like he was afraid of children per say. Nay, he was afraid to become his father—Uther.

Arthur remembered his childhood well, almost too well actually. It was absolutely miserable. As a youth, all the young prince could think about was growing older—getting stronger—for his father, for his king.

It was hard growing up with a father like Uther. The late king's loss had weighed down his heart, ripping away all compassion and replacing everything within his chest with steel—a heart so full of hate even his own son could do nothing to stop it.

As the only heir, Arthur was expected to be the best. There was no losing, and if there was, there would be dire consequences.

Arthur remembers one July day, many years ago, in particular, when he had lost his first match. He had been cocky, he now realized, as any kid his age would have been. However, as his body hit the ground, all Arthur could do was think of what a failure he was. He ignored the pain and the blood that ran down his forearm. It wasn't much really, just a knick, but it did hurt—his pride mostly.

As his eyes stung with tears, he dared not look at his father. Knowing all too well the disappointment he would find in those grey eyes. He must have been only ten at the time but the taste of defeat stuck with him twenty years later. He had sat there, on the cold ground, with his head low, begging to God to just let the earth swallow him then and there.

The young noble, he had been sparring with, had offered him a hand, his smile wide and eyes sympathetic towards his defeated prince.

He hated that. Sympathy. Loathed it to a point it made him almost physically ill.

The prince had swatted the hand away, sending a glare that could rival his father's the youth's way. Being Uther, his father had stood up from his throne, his eyes avoiding Arthur as if he were His Great Burden, like he was something to be dealt with 'at a later time.'

The crowd was deathly silent, the silence bringing discomfort to Arthur even now as Uther said, "Congratulations, young Lord Aiken. I see you have not taken your lessons lightly. You are truly a great example of what it means to be a nobleman of Camelot. I pray Arthur will learn many things from you."

Those words, those cold, cold, words, haunted the young prince for months. He could not even look at himself in the mirror without feeling the urge to be sick. Why wasn't he good enough? What was he doing wrong?

What if his children were to feel this way—useless?

What if he did that to his children? Embarrass and humiliate them to a point where they cannot stand to be in their own skin?

What if they hated him—were disappointed to be his children?

What would he do then?

"Arthur? Arthur, love, say something…!" Gwen practically begged; her mouth curled up in a desperate smile, a worried laugh spilling between her lips. The queen pressed a hand to her stomach protectively, taking in Arthur's stricken expression—he was blue for God's sake!

"Wh-what…?" Arthur gasped, his eyes staring at her as if she had just told him that she were dying. The king was frozen where he stood, his most horrific childhood memories flooding into his mind causing his breath to halt in his chest, his lungs on fire.

"I'm pregnant, Arthur," Guinevere said for the second time that evening, walking the short distance towards her husband and taking one of his cold hands into both of her warm ones. The queen placed Arthur's hand to her belly, her abdomen not yet showing any signs of growth. Arthur stared at her stomach and gulped before looking his wife in the eyes, tears starting to sting his eyes.

"T-that's great," Arthur rasped, his voice small, a choked laugh catching in his throat. His fingers curled upon Gwen's stomach, his hand trembling.

"Oh, Arthur," Guinevere sighed sadly, wrapping both arms around her shaking husband. Merlin had warned her this may happen. Actually both Gauis and Merlin had. Growing up with a man like Uther Pendragon as your father did not come without any side effects, Arthur's reluctance into fatherhood one of many. Being that her own father was a blessing from God, the queen had trouble understanding Arthur's feelings in the matter however, it did not stop her from trying.

"You will be a brilliant father, Arthur," Gwen said reassuringly as she kissed her husband's forehead. It was a rare sight to see Arthur this way, to see him so shaken. The queen had only ever seen her husband this shaken maybe twice in her lifetime. One being when Uther was gravely ill and was dying; and two being when Merlin was taken from them—literally.*

"You can't know that," Arthur said into his wife's chest, pulling her from her dark thoughts, his arms wrapping around her as if she were his only lifeline.

"What if…," the king murmured, the queen having a hard time hearing it as the words were muffled into her silk bodice, "…What if I'm like my father?" Arthur closed his eyes, his bottom lip caught between his teeth.

There it was. No going back now.

"You are nothing like Uther, and never will be," Gwen said finally, and pulled Arthur's face to her own, her brown eyes unwavering. "You are a man of honor and dignity. You have given the rights, and freedoms, back to the very people your father tried to destroy. You have given your best friend, a sorcerer, a life he could only dream of…The people love you, my king. They would willingly die for you—something Uther could only dream of." Arthur flinched at that but Gwen ignored him, pulling his face closer and pressing her forehead to his own.

"Arthur, my dearest heart, you have graced me with love—even when I did not deserve it— and now you have given me something that I cannot even begin to thank you enough for…" Guinevere once again reached for his hand and, this time, Arthur beat her to it, the king placing his hand upon her stomach—his touch light, as if he were unwelcome.

"…I suppose I shall try for the rest of my life," Guinevere finished and watched as Arthur patted at her stomach shyly, like he would harm him or her now.

"I'm going to be a father," Arthur whispered aloud, the words feeling more real when he said them.

"The best," Guinevere added with a smile and Arthur looked up at her, his face bright with joy and fear.

"You're going to be a mother," Arthur said lovingly, taking his glowing wife into his strong arms. Guinevere blinked up at him owlishly, the words weighing so much to her as well.

"I-I am," Gwen said with a blush to her cocoa cheeks, tears of joy caressing down her cheeks. Arthur kissed both cheeks, tasting the salt of his wife's tears—her happiness. He could only pray that her strength, and faith in him, would fill his own heart, wiping away all of his doubt. The king pressed a bruising kiss to her lips, Gwen's smile bringing him such peace his fears vanished almost immediately.

At that very moment, Merlin decided to join them, the warlock opening the two royal's door as if it were his own, his smile wide and hands clapping together overenthusiastically. Arthur groaned and pulled away from his blushing wife, glaring at his favorite warlock with fondness and irritation alike.

"Merlin," Arthur warned but his smile gave him away. "You knew, didn't you?"

"Knew what?" Merlin said, feigning innocence, his blue eyes wide. Arthur sputtered in annoyance and Merlin beamed a brilliant smile at him, and then winked at Guinevere, his eyes twinkling with joy for his two best friends. With the wave of one of Merlin's hands and the tell-tale flash of gold, blue butterflies appeared out of thin air, their delicate wings caressing the air with ease.

"Oh!" Gwen gasped in awe, one hand pressed to her stomach and one to her agape mouth. Merlin smiled at her and with the twirl of one of his fingers the butterflies began to encase the queen in an enchanting dome, Gwen letting out gleeful giggles as one landed on her nose.

"You girl," Arthur said to Merlin with a laugh, both hands to his hips, his smile wide, glad to have Merlin there—always.

"Ah, ah," Merlin said with a sly grin and immediately the butterflies changed direction, heading straight for Arthur's face. The king ducked low, curses spilling from his lips as the butterflies disappeared into the wall. A small gasp resonated from outside the royal's bedroom, along with a small thud, like the sound of a basket hitting the floor, and Merlin winced apologetically.

"Sorry!" The warlock called, a pink flush to his face, and Arthur about died of laughter.

"That's what you get!" The king said smugly, his arms crossed over his chest, his blue eyes mischievous.

"Really!" Gwen scolded, though her voice held no heat, and rushed to the door, opening it to find her handmaiden picking up the two royal's laundry up off the floor, her face a brilliant pink. The queen bent low, intending to help, but Arthur stopped her, the king pulling her into his chest protectively.

"The baby," Arthur said softly, a blush of his own upon his face, at Gwen's curious and annoyed stare.

"Isn't due for another eight and a half months," the queen said fondly, her face red at the shocked look upon May's (her handmaiden) face.

"A baby…!" May cried joyfully, immediately getting up off the floor and brushing off her apron fastidiously. Her face blushed scarlet as she realized just who she had addressed in such a manner.

"A baby, Your Majesties, you must be so pleased!" The servant clasped her hands together joyfully, her face still pink. Merlin smirked at the handmaiden and with the lifting of his chin the soiled laundry folded itself and was placed back into the woven basket. Arthur cocked an eyebrow at his best friend, and Merlin smiled at him like a dork.

"You've known me long before I became queen, May. Gwen will do just fine!"

"Yes, Your Ma—Gwen," May said blushing darker, the servant looking at Arthur shyly, pleased when the king nodded his head approvingly.

"Your Royal Prattness shall do for this one here," Merlin said cheekily, his thumb jabbed at Arthur.

"Merlin!"

Being in the middle of the two best friend's bickering, May flushed and toyed with her shirt's floral hem. "I-I really must be going now," she said and bowed low. "I shall bring you more laundry, G-Gwen." Guinevere nodded at her sweetly. A smile formed upon the handmaiden's lips as she glanced at Merlin and Arthur, who were still silently throwing insults each other's way, stupid smiles upon their lips.

Sensing May's stare, Merlin winked at her and May about floundered where she stood before rushing out the door, her blond curls bouncing wildly behind her.

"Now you've gone and scared the poor girl!" Arthur scolded playfully, his smile giving away his joy.

"I think she likes you, Merlin," Gwen said with a smile, the queen walking up behind Arthur and wrapping her arms around his strong middle.

"Him?" Arthur asked, shocked, the conversation reminding the king of the time a barmaid had downright flirted with his then-manservant. Merlin smiled kindly at Gwen but his heart still belonged to his lost love—to Freya. Sensing Merlin's sudden change of mood, Arthur gripped onto Merlin's shoulder, giving it a few manly pats.

"Oh yeah, that makes me feel better," Merlin joked with a smile.

"You're not getting a hug, Merlin," Arthur said firmly and bumped his shoulder into Merlin's own, the warlock rubbing his now sore arm fastidiously.

"Heartless."

"Cabbage-head."

"Prat!

"Clotpo—!"

"Boys!"

"Sorry," Merlin and Arthur said in perfect harmony and Gwen smiled sweetly at them.

"The baby," Arthur said after a minute, the word tasting rather sweet—and completely foreign— upon his tongue, "We will have to make a proper announcement."

"Er, Arthur, your announcement went running out the door not two minutes ago." Merlin said with a smile as Arthur groaned and pressed two fingers to forehead.

"Gods help us if Gwaine finds out before everyone else…"

"Which he will," Merlin said fondly, "Gwaine loves gossip, almost as much as he does mead—almost."

"We need to start making a list of baby names as well," Gwen said cheerfully, her brown eyes twinkling with infinite possibilities.

"Um, won't that be rather hard considering we don't know the sex yet?" Arthur asked his wife and his smile grew at her blush.

"There's no harm in preparing," the queen said quietly and rubbed her belly.

"I could help with that, I think," Merlin said, raising his hand for reasons unknown. Both Guinevere and Arthur looked at him curiously.

"Magic," the warlock said wigging his fingers childishly, causing Arthur to roll his eyes.

"I don't know," Arthur said slowly, his eyes narrowing, "I wouldn't want him or her to catch your mental affliction."

"Ouch," Merlin said playfully, his eyes gleaming with mischievousness. "I do hope he or she doesn't gain too many of your genes, sire. They'll be piggish, I fear, especially if they end up eating like you do."

"I'm fighting fit!" Arthur growled, his face red, "Are you calling my heirs pigs?!"

"Me? No, never. They'll probably end up looking like their mother anyways, charming and lovely in every way." Guinevere blushed and nodded at her friend gratefully, ignoring her inflamed husband.

"Now, may I?" Merlin asked his smile wide as he glanced down at Gwen's stomach, his eyes brighter than a child's at Christmas. The queen smiled up at her husband before nodding her head up and down excitedly. Guinevere stepped closer to her friend, Arthur standing beside her, both extremely curious as to what Merlin had in mind.

Merlin smiled at Gwen beautifully as he placed his hands upon her stomach, his fingers spread wide, and the queen let out a small gasp at the pure power that poured from Merlin's hands. Arthur looked at Merlin worriedly for a second—though he knew the warlock would never harm her or the baby—before looking down at his wife's flat stomach, his plush bottom lip caught between his teeth.

Merlin closed his eyes and after a minute or two, a slow smile crept upon his face, the warlock nodding to himself, lost in thought. As his hands retreated, Merlin's eyes opened to reveal the brightest blue either royal had ever seen. Merlin's smile widened into one that displayed his dimples and he laid a hand upon Arthur's shoulder, giving it a mighty squeeze.

"Congratulations, it's a boy!"


CHAPTER ONE IS DONE. DANG. Okay, this will have two chapters. :]