Title: The Young Pendragon
Characters/Pairings: Arthur, Gaius, Uther
Rating/Warnings: K
Universe: Canon
Word Count: 368
Summary: A response to the fourth challenge: Choose any character on the show and write about the very first time they ever met/encountered Arthur Pendragon.

Gaius held the little prince tightly as he left the queen's chamber, and Uther was on him in a second. "Well?" he asked eagerly, bounding forward from where he had been pacing a hole in the rug. Gaius looked at him mutely for a moment, taking in his shining face, and felt his heart shatter all over again, because despite all his battles Uther was still so young and so innocent, and Gaius knew that it wouldn't last.

"Congratulations, my friend," he said finally. "Your son and heir. The queen has named him Arthur."

"Arthur," Uther breathed, and held his arms out for his son. Gaius gently handed the little prince over. Uther held him as if he was made of glass, and looked at him as if he was the most precious thing in the world. "Arthur," he said again, sounding choked, and when he looked up at Gaius his eyes were shining. "My son. Our son. After all our struggles... Where is Ygraine? May I see her now?"

Gaius faltered. "Sire," he began, but couldn't find the words. Uther was looking at him expectantly, though, so he forced himself to go on as gently as possible. "Sire... the queen... the queen is dead."

"...I'm sorry?" Uther said after a moment, and chuckled nervously when Gaius didn't amend himself. He looked at him uncertainly. "I'm sorry, I..."

"We tried everything, sire," Gaius said weakly, and horror began to dawn on Uther's face. "But... the bleeding wouldn't stop. I tried herbs, potions... Nimueh and Alice performed every spell possible, but... but there was no stopping it. We couldn't determine — and she just kept — we couldn't—"

Uther let out such a ghastly cry of loss that Gaius' very breath was stolen from him. He staggered slightly, and Gaius started forward, fearing that Uther would lose all sense and drop his precious son, but the king caught himself, and all Gaius could do was stand beside him awkwardly. "I'm... I'm sorry, sire," he offered quietly as he moved to put his hand on Uther's shoulder.

Uther twitched out of reach. "Leave me," he said numbly, turning away. "Go. Just — just go."

And Gaius, not knowing what else to do, went.