As a newborn, his eyes had been the pale blue of the winter sky above. They'd focused on her at once, as no infant's should. Alert and knowing, with far too much behind those pale wide eyes. Fear shivered through her, and he began to wail. Only a child, she told herself. Her child. She scooped Merlin into her arms and began to sing, cradling her son against her breast. The soft soothing sounds of a lullaby, and she felt the gentle pulse of emotion as he settled into sleep. His sleepy thoughts brushed against her own, soft as a sigh, and she could not deny the knowledge of what he was. She pressed a kiss against his skin and began another verse, determined. She would never let them take her child.
By the time his eyes had darkened to the deepest blue of the summer sky, she'd begun to feel the shape of words within his thoughts. "Secret," she'd whispered to him, as she smoothed the dark shock of hair down over his ears. "Our secret." He was so young, only just beginning to crawl, and she had to protect him. She concentrated on the link between them, but she couldn't project her thoughts as he did. "Only to mummy, my love. It is our secret." She blinked, as his confusion touched her, but said the words again and again, like a prayer. She had to make him understand.
Now, those bottomless blue eyes watched her from a young man's face.
He was nearly grown, as tall as she was, but he would always be her beautiful child. "Be careful, Merlin. Please."
Merlin shouldered the bag she'd packed. He vibrated with eagerness, ready to be off on his grand adventure.
This was best, wasn't it? Magic was as natural to him as breathing, and he could no sooner live without it. She couldn't ask him to hold his breath any longer.
"I'll be fine, Mother. Really." A soft slanted smile lit his face, as he held his hand out to her. "You worry too much."
"And you don't worry enough," she answered, as she always did. He laughed, taking her hand, and she relented. She studied him. Absorbing every last detail against the empty days ahead. The lines of his face were stronger now, more angular, but she could still see the child in his smile. He still hadn't grown into his ears.
Oh god.
Tears choked her, and she pulled him into a hug before he could see. She didn't want to taint their last moment with weeping. And so she clung to him, hiding her face against his shoulder.
Merlin tightened his arms around her, so strong now, and held her as she'd once held him. "Hush now, please." Soft tones, meant to soothe, and she was crying in earnest now. "Shhh," he soothed, and she felt his magic flare. Tenderness wrapped around her, such sweetness and warmth that it stole her breath away.
She pulled back, startled, to find him watching her. She'd thought the connection only a stage, left behind as he'd learned to talk. It had been years since she'd heard the whisper of his thoughts.
He held out his hand, smiling, and his eyes flared gold. A flower blossomed in his open palm.
"For you, Mother. To remember."
Her hands shook. She held the flower to her face and breathed in wild magic, bright as the breeze. She felt his joy brush along her senses, and heard his voice whisper inside her head: I love you.
She smiled, feeling his laughter, and let go. She'd sheltered him for long enough. It was time to let him go free.
Author's note: This fic is written having seen only episodes 1.1-1.8, so I don't know how canon-compliant (or likely not) it may be to later revelations. Though this fic is set prior toThe Dragon's Call, speculation about the nature of magical children while watching The Beginning of the End served as a primary inspiration. Comments and reactions are greatly appreciated, but please have mercy on a newbie to the fandom and try not to completely spoil me on major series events.
