A/N: Okay, so Merlin had been kidnapped by Morgana for at least two days in 'A Servant Of Two Masters' right? And you're thinking of telling me that NOTHING sexual happened? Pft. Tell me another lie. The whole episode was a sexual innuendo I swear to God. This story is set roughly around seven months after the end of season 4, between nine and ten months after 'A Servant Of Two Masters'.

Chapter One: Endings and Beginnings.

She was unaided, untrained, and completely, without a doubt, afraid.

When she had stolen Merlin away, made him her slave, and had one needed, desperate night of passion, she never expected this. On all fours on her rickety bed, in her rock dwelling shack, pushing out a child. She reached up above her to where a rope was strung across the ceiling. Quickly, without thought, she grabbed onto it, pulling herself upright and pushed.

The pain, it hurt her so much. And by God, there was blood. It stained across her sheets and soaked her thighs as she pushed as best as she could, whilst pulling the rope, screaming.

It seemed that all she could do was scream. And then, there was another cry. A new cry, as a wave of relief washed over her. She breathed in deep, gulping gasps, and looked down at the bed. And there she was. A baby. She lay on the bed, wriggling and kicking the air, smothered in the blood of her mother. Her eyes and fists were bunched together, and her mouth was open in a piercing wail. The baby had a head of thick, black curls upon her head.

Morgana reached for a blanket, wincing in pain as she did, and wrapped the baby in it tightly, using a corner of it to clean the blood from her little face.

She smiled brightly, full of happiness, and gave a hysterical giggle of awe and glee. She held the baby girl in her arms, unsure of what to do, except smile. Smile and cry. "Hello…" She rubbed at her face with her spare hand, wiping away her tears. She was both elated and devastated. The infant would have to be taken away soon.

She knew she couldn't keep her here. The woods were full of bandits and knights alike. If any found her, half would rape her before turning her in to Arthur, and the other half would slaughter her and her daughter before she could even cast a protective spell.

Her daughter had to go, and for that, she wept.

-8-

She entered Camelot in the mid-morning, when she knew Merlin would be working.

Her appearance was hidden by a simple glamour, and she wore clothes that appeared that of a commoner. She held her small daughter in her arms, shrouded with blankets. She slept peacefully in her mother's arms, not even guessing that this would be the last few moments she would share with her mother.

Morgana made her way to the Physicians chambers, knowing the way there so well it was almost as if she had never even left Camelot

The door to Gaius's chambers was unlocked, as it always was, and thankfully empty. She didn't want to see Gaius or Merlin or…anyone, really. It would hurt too much to be reminded of what she had lost. Her friends, her brother…and all for a crown she couldn't have cared less about now.

She sat on the patient's bed, rocking her little girl to and fro slowly. She pulled at the small crystal at the hollow of her neck, making the string that tied it there undo itself and fall from her throat, the glamour of the plain peasant disappearing. Morgana was completely vulnerable now, and yet she found she didn't care. She could feel tears welling in her eyes as she started singing a song her own mother had sang to her as a young child. Her throat was thick with tears, and the words were all but incoherent.

There was a folded letter in the pocket of her dress, and she knew she was avoiding getting it out. Today, the day when she left her daughter to an unknown future that she…wasn't a part of, of course she was avoiding it. It was the worst pain she could imagine, short of her baby girl dying. Something she had convinced herself would happen if she let the child stay with her, the only thing making her even consider what she was doing.

She set the sleeping babe on the bed, stroking her tiny features with her fingertips, almost crying out when one of the girl's fists wrapped around her finger. She reached into the pocket of the dress with her spare hand, pulling out the folded parchment, and tucking it between the folds of the blankets wrapped around the child. Kissing the forehead of her baby, she stood and turned, going frigid at the sight of Gaius standing in the doorway, his mouth agape in shock.

"Morgana-"

She raised her hand, cutting him off, "Please…keep Maia safe." She whispered through sobs, "I'm sorry." and was then gone in a gust of wind.

-8-

When Merlin arrived back to his and Gaius' rooms, it was mid-afternoon, and he thankfully had a break from Arthur's chores to go and do some of what he wanted to do. Though he knew Gwen tried with making his load easier, trying to make Arthur give him less chores, it still seemed like he barely had time to think.

He cracked his neck as he stepped through the doorway, closing the door behind him. His eyes caught onto Gaius' back. He was swaying back and forth, bending his knees a little to make him look like he was bouncing a little. He stifled a laugh, "Gaius?"

The old physician turned to him, a small bundle in his arms. He looked at the young warlock darkly, "Merlin."

Merlin furrowed his brows, "What did I do this time?"

Gaius walked up to him and deposited the small bundle of blankets in his arms, "See for yourself."

Merlin looked down at the bundle, surprised to see a little face, barely visible through all of the blanket's that were swathed around the babe. The child's eyes were closed, sleeping no doubt, and Merlin looked at Gaius, immensely confused, "What's a baby got to do with me?" he looked down at the babe again, "Is it sick? Is that why the parents brought it here?"

"That baby has quite a lot to do with you, Merlin." Gaius held out a piece of folded parchment, his name written just above the broken seal that had held the parchment closed. Merlin reached for it, holding the babe with one arm, and after struggling to open it for a few seconds, got the parchment to stay somewhat flat as he started to read.

Merlin.

By the time you read this, I shall be long gone. It has been some time since we last saw each other, hasn't it? Months, even. I doubt that you even remember that night, so long ago. But, whether you like it or not, it happened.

The little girl is called Maia. She is 19, 21, 24 days old, born on the seventh of July. She is our daughter.

Though it pains me so, I must leave her in your care. What with the whole of Albion hell-bent on finding and killing me, she would not be safe. I think, in the long-run, it would be safer for both her and you, if neither of you ever saw me again. Not until it is safe for you to do so. When that time comes, I shall send word.

-Morgana.

He read it once, twice, and then a third time just to be sure he was reading the words right. It wasn't possible. It was just not possible that this child was his. He had never bedded Morgana, for he knew he would not have forgotten such a thing. And if this letter was anything to go by, they would have bedded almost ten months ago, around the time that she had set him up to be her secret assassin.

He looked down at the sleeping babe again, then up to Gaius, and simply shook his head, "I don't understand."

"What don't you understand? That you have a child to care for now, or that you had her with Morgana!" Gaius's eyes were like treated steel, sharp enough to cut.

"Both!" he wanted to shout, but the sleeping girl in his arms made him lower his voice to a stage whisper, "I've never been with Morgana, how would I have a child with her?"

Gaius lowered his gaze and sat down on the bench, rubbing his face, "She begged me to keep that child safe, Merlin."

"Who, Morgana? You saw her?"

Gaius nodded, "Only for a moment. She'd put the girl on the bed when I came in, an emotional wreck. She saw me when she turned from the girl, and I saw her face, sopping wet with tears. She said 'Keep Maia safe' and 'I'm sorry.', and used a transportation spell to leave."

"So how can we know if this letter is true? Morgana's lied about things before, no doubt she'd lie about her baby to, if it kept her safe." Merlin sat on the edge of the bed, putting the letter down. "I mean, I'll still help. It's a baby, she doesn't deserve ill treatment just because of her mother."

"Merlin, I believe you should go to Kilgarrah."

"What?"

"He, of all creatures, would know the child's true parentage."

Merlin nodded, "Yeah, that's probably best anyway." He bit his lip for a second, "Gaius, if I'm any good with numeracy, she would have been conceived around the time when I was under the influence of the Femhorrah. You don't think she...?"

Gaius sighed, realisation dawning on him, "She may have."

Merlin muttered something that sounded like a curse and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'll see Kilgarrah tonight." He paused, "What if she is mine?"

"Then you'll act like you're worthy of that little girl."

"No, not that…I mean, I will, but how on earth would I explain this to everyone?"

Gaius smirked a little, "I'm sure a great Warlock like yourself will figure something out."

He was just about to retort, when Maia started crying.

-8-

They always met in this same field. It was only an hour away from Camelot, but it was one of the only ones that he could meet Kilgarrah in. All the others were either too close to the citadel, or were quite a bit too far out for his liking.

He had called for Kilgarrah mere moments ago, and was now looking into the dragons golden eyes, scratching the back of his head with one hand, holding Maia in the crook of his other arm. The dragon looked at Merlin, then Maia, back at Merlin again, and sighed, "What is it that I can do for you this time, Merlin?"

"I…well, you see…Morgana left this little one in mine and Gaius's rooms this morning, leaving a letter saying…well, she said in it that I, um, that I'm her father." Kilgarrah's eyes narrowed just slightly, but kept quiet, "Thing is, I don't remember ever doing…that…with her. I was wondering if there was any way I could, um, tell?"

"If this wasn't such a serious matter, I would be laughing at your bumbling." The dragon sighed again, "There is a way for me to do this. This only works with children born with magic. If she is your child, she will have magic, there is no doubt." Merlin nodded, prepared.

Kilgarrah raised his head, sucking in a deep breath, then blowing onto them both. Merlin noticed, with fascination, that Maia started to glow a lovely golden colour. It took him a moment to realise that he too was glowing. It startled him enough that he didn't see Maia open her eyes. For a second they shone a bright blue, then turned the colour of liquid gold, a sure sign of magic.

Kilgarrah stopped, and looked at the Warlock, whose skin was now fading back to its usual pale pallor. He regarded him for a moment, "It has been foretold that a child born of two sides will rise above the pride and power of men, and bring upon the world a peace never known to mankind. I had not thought to live to see the child. It seems, Merlin, that your union with the Witch has produced yet another child of Prophecy."

Merlin started at that, "Wait, so-"

"The child is yours. What I did, you would only have both glowed if you were parent and child. Both of your magic responded to each other, stronger than normal because of my help. You glowed. She is your child, Merlin."

Merlin looked down at Maia, "But…I never went with Morgana…I don't understand…"

"It is possible that there was spell or potion used to make you forget the event, block it. I can remove the block, if you wish."

"If I don't, will I just not remember, ever?"

"No, you will remember. Your magic is stronger than the Witch's, and would break down the barrier eventually. It would come in dreams most likely."

"Oh. That…makes sense." He shook his head, and looked up from Maia, "I'd rather know, Kilgarrah."

Kilgarrah inclined his head, and breathed upon the Warlock again, and Merlin was overcome by the memories. A day and nights worth that he had never even been aware of. He staggered for a second, then took in a few sharp breaths.

"Oh." He simply breathed, not daring himself to say anything else.

"I must bid you farewell young Warlock. No doubt your King is wondering where you are."

Merlin nodded blankly, "Yeah…thank you."

The dragon flapped his wings, and was gone.

A/N: I really hope you liked this first chapter. Please review, as they keep me going. If I start to abandon this story, feel free to send me a PM telling me to get my ass into gear, because a message like that surely will!