Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, dammit. *Sobs*. It belongs to BBC.
Notes: Right well the chapters have now gone up to about 18, and some will be linked. This first three are separate, but the next two will be linked, follow on if you will. And that happens majority of ht time to be fair. The longest follow on one is parts 6-11. But hey ho there we go. I thought it to be better if some were linked, then it would make more sense.
Sorry, this took longer then I intended to get out because of revision for my psychology exam next week.
Anyways here is part two, where our favourite guys are chubby little toddlers.
First [Conversation]
Hunith has long since gotten over her slightly sense of discomfort in the Pendragon home. A manor is fitting of their status – a beautiful manor looming up behind a long serpentine driveway, lined by trees as old and majestic as the kings of legends. She has gotten over the minor wince that'd twitch her body when she drops a dainty mug of tea on the coaster a little too heavily, or sweep past a priceless vase that may wobble a little too much on its perch. She has gotten over the slight guilt she has tramping over their expensive carpets in her shoes, with only a ginger wiping at the doorway because oftentimes Ygraine has swept her away, her arm tucked around Hunith and an aluminous smile.
And so it's with a feeling of complete comfort that she steps up to the three steps to the front door of the Pendragon home, her Merlin curled around her hip and nattering happily into her ear about something she doesn't grasp but acknowledges in that sweet way only mothers can truly do. It appeases him anyhow, because at her murmur of assent, he beams at her and continues his one-sided conversation.
He has grown, her little boy. No longer a squirming, slightly skinny baby is he but a pale skinned two year old with a mess of black hair, big, innocent blue eyes and, rather regrettable but adorably, large ears. He is perhaps a little skinny for a child of his age, but Hunith has never been overly worried. His health is excellent, save for a few sniffles that didn't much deter his constant babble and wobbling toddle and subsequent, near constant tumbles (he falls so much that Hunith had taken him to a doctor in case he had an issue with his ears or balance of some kind. It turns out he is just inordinately clumsy – it has now become a source of much guilty amusement) and so she seeks no real reason to worry for his weight just yet.
"Hunith," Ygraine is at the door, thrown it open to reveal the long, well lit corridor. Her eyes twinkle at the sight of her old friend. This has been the first catch up in long over six months, and even then they had been short little meet-ups – Hunith has been working extra and hard and Ygraine has been frittered away on holidays and Uthers' business ventures, playing perfect hostess. "It's been too long."
The friends embrace, a slightly awkward one armed thing to avoid jostling Merlin too much.
"Far too long," Hunith agrees with a smile, stepping over the threshold. Merlin wriggles slightly in her arms, rubbing his nose exaggeratedly as he is carried through into the living room, where his attention is immediately taken by the little blond boy sitting on the hearth beside the empty fireplace by a nice looking dark haired lady. He is pushing a large red fire truck back and forth, mumbling to himself in baby babble that Merlin feel she understands even if he doesn't.
His wriggling becomes more urgent, and he tries to flop out of his mothers' arms dangling over her left arm and whining to be put down. "Alright, alright mister." Hunith shakes her head affectionately and dumps Merlin on the floor, continuing her conversation with Ygraine as Merlin hoists himself up and crawls over to the blond child.
Arthur ignores the arrivals, except for a beaming grin to his mother, before his attention is taken again by the fire engine he moves, back and forth, back and forth. A constant extension and retraction of his arm as the woman encourages him with smiles and laughter.
Merlin then pauses in front of him, regarding the boy with big blue eyes, before grinning so hard in greeting that his eyes scrunch up into happy little slits. Arthur looks up only when the lady – the nanny named Jenny, Merlin would find out when he is a little older – whispers to him and points.
"Not shy, is he?"
Hunith laughs. "No, he'll make friends with anything."
Merlin then crawls a little closer, having received no rejection from the blond boy and pushes the fire truck that Arthur has neglected in favour of staring at this strange boy he has only glimpsed a few times before. Then his face forms a frown and he shakes his head, roughly pushing Merlin away from his toy and babbling to him, disapproval, even at this young age, is thick in his tone. It is quite something to listen to.
Merlin stares at his hand that Arthur had swatted away before he pushes back and replies in that odd language only babies will ever understand – it is one of the more regrettable things children lose as they grow.
Both Ygraine and Hunith bite back their rebukes of such behaviour, only for the look of pure indignation on Arthur's face and Merlin stares at him. The shared utterances are almost heated; in fact if the mothers' didn't know better, they would've sworn it sounded like the boy's were bickering.
Then Merlin sticks his tongue out and Arthur pouts, turning his back on Merlin with his nose in the air. Jenny glances over to Ygraine and Hunith, hiding her smile. There are a tense few moments between the boys before Merlin inches forward and Arthur turns around at the same time, Arthur looking reproachful and Merlin smiling a little warily.
Arthur speaks first, something that sounds almost reprimanding and he rubs his nose before offering the fire engine. Merlin grins that same beaming smile that is so happy and bright it must be painful, and places the truck between them so they both can play. He only replies then, with a tone of joy –a short reply that could mean anything, be interpreted as anything.
And the boy's play (mostly) harmoniously for the rest of the afternoon.
/\/\
Not sure on this one again. I look forward to when they grow up a bit more, if I'm honest with you aha. Hope you liked it more than I do (:
