Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Merlin...unfortunately...


This girl was doing the work and chores of a mother would for her children, not what a sister should do for a brother. That is not what a young 12 year old girl should be doing.

"You said your father returned about a week ago. Why are you running and how did you get your injuries?"

Uther asked hoping she didn't confirm his fears. If she did he couldn't even begin to think what he would do to the man if he caught him.

"Yes he came back with another woman and told me that she was out step mother. I was happy to have a mother again. But she was not who she appeared to be. She said that she was a noblewoman whose husband had died in a battle. And since our father is a knight she married him. But she was only a sorceress who enchanted herself to look like a noblewoman she killed and then she enchanted our father and…turned him against us. Or I thought it was an enchantment. She told me that she hated children and would not 'suffer us' and made our father attack us. It was mostly aimed at me since my brother was still a baby mostly, for which I'm thankful. I was able to handle it mostly because it was just hits and slaps, but last night he drew his sword. I asked for him to stop and told him that he was enchanted but he just said I was a liar and swung and hit my arm. I was able to get out of the way before he could strike again and then he turned around to hit me but I ran into his arm which he then used to shove me to the floor and I hit my head. I just laid there until he left then I ran into my brothers room grabbed him and ran into the night."

At this point she began shaking again and tears began to fall.

"I didn't know where to go, so I just ran only stopping to make sure my brother got something to eat or drink. Then continued running until I ran into you and your knights my lord."

By the time she finished her story her body was shaking from uncontrollable sobs as she clung tightly to her brother and was almost incoherent. To say Uther and the knights were shocked would be an understatement. Uther gave a quick glance at his knights' faces seeing they were torn between uncontrollable rage and intense sorrow. He knew that same emotions were mirrored on his face as well. He was surprised when suddenly the girl threw herself on him still sobbing and holding her brother, ignoring all propriety. But no one not even the king himself cared, the girl needed comfort and support and they all knew it so they let her be. Uther then felt the girl relax completely as she began to slide of his shoulder, unconscious. He immediately caught her and held her as a knight stepped forward to take the baby. Uther then stood and made his way to the horses. Once they were all mounted he said,

"Me and Sir Leon (who had taken the baby) will return to Camelot. The rest of you will continue the patrol under Sir Bors; If no further sign can be found of the slave traders return to Camelot in 2 days time."

A chorus of "Yes Sires" was heard as he turned his horse towards Camelot. It would be a while before they returned, but they would ride as fast as possible. Along the way he and Sir Leon discussed the girls story. They were both furious at the man and wanted nothing more that to hunt him and his wife down and kill them. But they had more pressing matters, such as the two children, to attend too.

"If I may ask my lord, what do you plan on doing with them? I don't know of any families that are able or willing to take on two more children" Sir Leon asked, he would love to take them in but he was a knight and was unmarried.

They would be in a similar situation like the one they ran away from, minus the abuse of course. He would also have to be gone for unknown periods of time and that wouldn't be fair to them. But he didn't know anyone else who they could go to. So when Uther answered it was not what he expected. Thinking he would send them to a noble family, since their father was a knight, was foremost in his mind; but that's not what the king said.

"There is one family in Camelot that would take them in as their own…"

"Who, Sire?"

"The royal family" Uther said as he looked down at the unconscious girl.

Sir Leon blinked, sure he just heard the king wrong. Why would Uther want to adopt two young children? He already had an heir so that can't be the reason; did he just want more children to call his own? Leon never really imagined Uther to be the fatherly type or want kids just to have them. But then again he didn't know the kings personal life to that regard, Uther always kept his emotions guarded. He glanced over to him and knew right then that Uther was serious about bringing them into his family. The look that was on the kings face said as much while he was looking down at the girl in front of him. Leon then glanced down at the baby in his arms and saw that the little boy was still asleep.

He then returned his attention to the road ahead of them but not before he heard the king whisper to himself "Igraine and I always wanted a large family…"

Right then Leon knew why Uther wanted to two young kids and smiled to himself knowing he just saw a moment that no other person may get to see coming from the king.

"What if their father comes looking for them and demands that they be returned to him?" Leon asked.

Uther unaware that Leon had been watching him immediately schooled his features to be expressionless and replied, "I will die before I see these two returned to the hands of that monster that calls himself their father. They are Pendragons and therefore my children. I will not allow any more harm come to them."

Leon simply nodded as he shifted the baby boy to his other arm and put the reins in his other hand. When the sun began to set they began to look for a place to stop for the night. There were no towns nearby so they would have to sleep outside. They pulled off the main road and followed a trail that didn't lead to far away from the main road but it lead them into a small clearing. Deeming it suitable for a camp site, they both dismounted and set the kings children down by a log as they set up camp.

They both watched the two kids sleep as they went about setting things up. When the tents were set up and a fire was started, Leon suggested that he would go get water and see if he could catch any small game to make a stew. The king agreed and settled down to sit by the fire to watch over his new daughter and son. He knew that must be exhausted from their rough morning, but he was beginning to worry since they hadn't awoken since then. His mind then wandered to think about how Arthur would react to his new siblings. Uther was sure that he wouldn't mind; in fact if he remembered correctly he could have sworn that he once hear Arthur talking to a nurse once asking why he didn't have any other siblings and that he would love to have a younger brother or sister or both. Uther smiled at the memory and also at how Arthur would now get both.

Arthur was just over a year older than the girl, but there was a considerable age gap between him and the younger boy. That's when it hit him, he doesn't even know their names and they can't go around being called young girl and baby boy, especially since now they were a prince and princess of Camelot. He would have to ask the girl once she woke, which made his worry rise up again about her. But this time it was short lived as she finally began to stir and open her eyes. Uther let out a sigh as she sat herself up and began to rub the sleep out of her eyes and stretch. Uther had expected her to start panicking when she came around completely, but instead she got up and went over to her brother. Once she saw that he was still sleeping and ok she made her way over and sat across from the king her eyes fixed on the dancing flames. Leon had yet to return but Uther still had some water which he offered to his daughter.


R & R please!