Warning: Contains mild references to non-consentual sex.

Hunith looked around the bed chamber that would be hers. She was carrying Merlin, holding him tightly and Merlin clung to her. It was his tight little fists that were preventing their separation. He had learnt early on in the journey, if he clung then the dark haired man didn't take him away. Merlin didn't understand what Cenred was doing to his mother, while he pressed her down on the bed, something that left them both panting, but he could sense his mother's nerves. That in turn made Merlin nervous.

The travel bags containing their things lay at the end of the bed. Hunith put Merlin down and slowly began to open them up and unpack what they had brought. Merlin watched her, bobbing up and down on the bed, an action that served to distract him when he realised how springy it was. Carefully he got to his feet and tried bouncing lightly. Once he decided it was worthwhile he put a little more effort into it, springing about the bed, rising up in a way that wasn't entirely natural. Hunith could see the flashes in his eyes.

"Merlin, take your boots off," Hunith ordered him. She didn't think, in the scheme of things, she could really order him not to do magic. Cenred had shown an interest in what Merlin could do and on the journey had been trying to coax the youngster out. Sensing his mother's worry Merlin had not complied and it had angered Cenred, although he had kept the feelings clear of both her and Merlin.

She pulled out the carvings and put them on the mantelpiece. Merlin had stopped bouncing and was now lying on his back, his shoes sliding off his feet of their own accord. Once they had tumbled over the edge of the bed he was up again and attempting to bob up and down again. He paused and dropped onto his rump as there was a knock at the door. It opened a moment later and a girl stepped over the threshold. Hunith judged her to be of a similar age to herself, perhaps a year or two older. Her dark blonde hair was drawn away from her face and waved down her back. She was dressed in a simple grey dress, Hunith wondered if that was just the age of the material, some of the edges were frayed. The girl bobbed a quick curtsey and then saw what Hunith was doing.

"Let me do that, My Lady."

The address so startled Hunith that she didn't respond immediately. The girl stepped forward and took the small pile of clothes from her to put them in the wardrobe. Merlin watched with wide eyes, and Hunith recovered herself.

"I don't need help, and I'm certainly not a lady."

The stress of the situation made her sound sharper than usual. There was a brief flash of anger in the girl's eyes before her face became neutral again.

"I have my orders My Lady, my name is April, I'm your maid."

Hunith blinked, April went back to what she was doing. There was a creak as Merlin started bobbing up and down on his rump. April looked at him, a flicker of fear entering her eyes. Hunith could certainly guess who had given the orders. Cenred was not someone who could be disobeyed, so Hunith guessed she was stuck with April whether she liked it or not. At least she was company. Hunith had had no one but Merlin, Cenred and the soldiers for days.

"Well, for goodness sake, call me Hunith."

It had taken the girl no time to efficiently store away her clothes. She came back and rummaged in the other pack, removing Merlin's possessions to put them away.

"The king may not like that, My Lady."

"So don't do it when he can hear," Hunith announced, a little waspishly. April gave another curtsey, her eyes flickering.

"Yes, My Lady."

It made her shiver, realising that perhaps somebody was watching them. More than likely it was Cenred, who had been a little possessive. The soldiers had soon stopped looking at her too much, seeing the storm clouds brewing in their leader's eyes if they looked too long, or with too much lust.

Hunith sat down at the end of the bed, watching April work, which was a strange feeling for her. Behind her Merlin was still bouncing across the bed. He bounced in her direction at a second knock at the door.

"Come in," Hunith called after a short pause.

When the door opened a small, middle-aged woman bustled in, smiling as she looked at Hunith and Merlin. She was another who gave a light curtsey in greeting and Hunith wondered if that would get on her nerves, or would she eventually become accustomed to it. For as long as this lasted anyway. Cenred would no doubt get bored of her, it was only because Merlin was still very dependant on her that she had been brought along.

"My Lady, I'm Mary."

"Hunith," said Hunith very firmly, by her tone making the introduction also an enquiry at to Mary's position in the scheme of things.

"I'm your nurse, for your son."

"I do not need help with my child!" Hunith snapped. There was a short, slightly embarrassed pause, only punctuated by the bed creaking under Merlin's bouncing.

Merlin had dismissed Mary, she looked like the women he was used to, in the village, all of them caring for each other's children as and when it was needed. He was bouncing as he had looked and seen the carvings. Merlin giggled and crawled to the side of the bed, lifting his hand and all three women saw one carving float towards Merlin. He grabbed it in two hands and stuffed part of it in his mouth, chewing on it happily as he looked at the women. At least he had given them something else to focus on.

"You must be Merlin," Mary said, which caused Merlin to stop gnawing and he stared at her. Mary turned to Hunith, wary of but able to brush past Merlin's nervy hostility.

"It has been a long journey for you, both of you. We'll prepare a bath," Mary said, nodding at April.

"Thank you," Hunith said, giving in to the inevitable.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Hunith became quite used to Mary and April, so did Merlin. It was a happy troop. Cenred was almost distant, although he saw them regularly, Hunith submitted to sex and Mary stayed with Merlin in his room during those times. She was owned and she accepted that, all she could do now was guide her son. Cenred's interest in Merlin was minor, until he was old enough to be of any use, it would stay that way.

"Merlin," she reproved without much enthusiasm as he ran around. She had a headache and it was pressing hard behind her eyes. But she turned as Merlin yelped, Mary had caught him. He hung in her grip without fear, as she turned him towards his mother.

"Look at your mother, she's tired, and you're making noise. Shall we take a walk, and your mother can have a nice lie down."

Hunith saw Merlin stare at her and then nod, letting Mary take his hand as she put him back on the floor.

"Just an hour," Mary said, to reassure Hunith.

Hunith nodded, lying back on the sheets. Cenred had lost a part of his kingdom, he was marshalling to get it back, but it had made him irritable. Thankfully he had spent some time away from the castle, but when he was there he had worked his frustration off on her, hardly realising sometimes that he was rough. There was nothing Hunith could do.

Merlin however was quiet and watched, and waited.

Mary walked him down the corridor, two of the guards discreetly accompanying them. Merlin's hand in hers as he trotted along.

"We'll go and have a nice walk…"

"Where?"

The sharp tone pulled Mary up, she curtseyed low down and then glanced up.

"I was taking Merlin for a walk."

"Oh," Cenred said, looking in the direction of Hunith's chambers, where he had intended to go.

"Mother's tired, she needs to sleep," Merlin said, speaking loudly but pressing into Mary's dress. His blue eyes stared up at Cenred, who looked back at the little boy.

"Well, then, would you like to come and see the horses?"

Merlin stared up at the man. He was quite used to him, but Merlin still behaved warily towards him. Hunith had started to work out how to handle Cenred, and he came regularly to see his mother, but Merlin could sense something about Cenred made his mother tired. Merlin was a little confused. So now, at the question, Merlin nodded. The man might tell him what people meant.

"Come on then."

Merlin tensed as Cenred picked him up, tucking Merlin against him, as he had seen people do with children. Merlin didn't like it very much, he liked walking and moving. He grizzled and kicked, causing Cenred to pause.

"Merlin likes walking, Sire," Mary said.

A second later Merlin's feet met the ground and he turned to look into the courtyard.

"Oh," Merlin said. He put his bottom down on the top step and started to slide down.

"It's his favourite way of dealing with stairs, Sire," Mary translated for the king.

Merlin stayed aware of Cenred's boots in the corner of his left eye. He slumped on the bottom step and then slid down to meet the cobbles of the courtyard, yipping before stilling down and staring.

"Merlin."

He looked up and then reached up a hand to take Cenred's. Cenred then lifted him. Merlin looked around to see Mary following along behind and Merlin relaxed, looking at the horses, while Cenred carried him. He glanced at him now and again. Cenred had never paid him this much attention before. As his eyes roved around Merlin decided to test the theory. He pointed.

"Stripy!"

"It's called a blaze," Cenred said, petting the horse's nose. The horse snuffled against his arm, going towards Merlin, who pressed into Cenred as he watched with wide eyes. Cenred carefully deflected the questing nose and ran a hand down over the horse's neck and back with his free hand. He moved position as Merlin reached out to copy the action.

"He's a good horse, Sire, steady but very good," the nearby groom said.

"What about this one Merlin?" Cenred asked, as he turned to the next horse. Merlin put his finger on the horses muzzle and she lifted to snap at him. Cenred felt Merlin press against him, unsure after the show of aggression.

"No, want stripy!"

Cenred nudged off the mare and went further along. He would probably buy most of the horses, the breeding season had been that good this year, and Camelot's men had tried to push over the boarder. Cenred had enough men to push back, he just needed to get the men mobile.

"Oooh," Merlin said as he met the next horse. Cenred looked them over and he put Merlin on the back of some of them with Mary and the grooms to make sure he didn't fall. Merlin seemed delighted by the attention but Cenred was not surprised by Merlin's eventual conclusion.

"I like Stripy best."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Hunith felt better after a rest. Merlin had been worn out by his afternoon with Cenred, although over-excited by it at the same time. Hunith was tidying the room a little when April, looking just as over-excited as Merlin had, came into the room.

"My Lady," she said, bobbing a curtsey, something which Hunith had got used to over the last few months.

"April, what…?" she asked as the girl unfurled a beautiful sweeping gown. It was dark blue in colour, the material a rich velvet with gold lacing on the bodice. April held it out to her.

"Complements of the King, he wishes for you to dine with him this evening."

"Oh," Hunith said. "I'd better get changed." However politely Cenred phrased it, the request was still essentially an order, and despite herself Hunith felt more than a little curious by the sudden courtesy.

April carefully laid the dress out on a nearby divan.

"I'll get some warm water My Lady, and some pins to style your hair."

Hunith could hardly believe the transformation. The dress didn't fit entirely perfectly but certainly flattered as April tightened the lacings to bring in her waist and emphasize her bosom. From somewhere she found some light blue material which she tied around Hunith's arms to draw in the sleeves and left sweeping trails of material, which Hunith was fairly certain would get in the way. Then April had pinned up her hair, leaving trails loose, which she carefully curled around her fingers.

"Goodness," Hunith said to her reflection in the dressing table mirror. April smiled.

"You look… well…" April said, sounding awed as Hunith stood up, shifting the material about a little. April stepped forward to help.

"It's all your work," Hunith commented, she felt so different, and she looked it. Both of them turned from the mirror as the door to the adjoining bed chamber, used by Merlin, flew open. Merlin had evaded Mary by the use of flying clothes and flung the door open. There was a giggle as he ran into his mother's room, running around the bed, wearing only his undershirt and one sock, which was flopping off his foot. As usual, Merlin carried the carving that he generally used as a chew toy. He paused, skidding to a dead halt as he looked up at Hunith, stuffing the carving into his mouth. Around it he announced, in awe.

"Oohhh."

"Are you all right Merlin?"

Merlin nodded, still chewing and staring.

"Did you have a nice time today?"

Merlin nodded again. Hunith crouched down, taking his free hand.

"I'm going to go and have dinner with Cenred now, you stay with Mary and April, and be good."

Merlin nodded, but his eyes went a little dark, assessing her carefully.

"Actually," April corrected. "The Lady's maid should accompany to wait on her mistress's every whim."

Hunith looked up and laughed. Merlin gave a murmur and hopped on his sock clad foot.

"That will teach you to go running off without your socks on young man!" Mary announced, reaching down to tap Merlin's bare backside. Merlin giggled, continuing to chew.

Hunith smiled, leaning over to kiss Merlin on the forehead.

"You be good for Mary, and I'll be back later."

Merlin nodded, his eyes serious. Hunith straightened up and looked down at her son. Both of them, in their own ways, realising that something around them, and perhaps by them, had started to change.