I don't own Merlin (Sadly.) It belongs to the BBC.

Here I go with another Merlin story. This story is a request by 'mlynch13' and is therefore dedicated to her.

Warnings: Magic is allowed in Camelot. Ygraine is alive. Uther is not evil. Morgana is good and malexmale...eventually.

Summary: Whilst hunting for an enemy of Camelot Merlin takes a spell to save Arthur, Arthur fearing the worst finds something he didn't expect. Can Arthur face up to and deal with the responsibilities that are to come?

A/N: A guest left a review asking who Andreia is. I realised I didn't explain her well. She's an original character, and a lady of the court slightly below Morgana's rank but grew up with her and Arthur and befriended Merlin as easily as everyone else. :D

I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made :D

After Gaius did many tests on Merlin, Arthur took him to his chambers where he had maids set up a small bed for Merlin next to his and a play area in his chambers.

Arthur walked into his chambers and smiled at the play area that had been set up by the maids. He placed Merlin down and handed him a toy, smiling when Merlin took it off him and began to play.

Arthur stood back up and walked over to his table and sat down, starting to go through his papers, looking up and checking on Merlin every now and then.

One hour later a maid walked in after knocking and placed some food down on Arthur's table. Some for Arthur and some for Merlin. Arthur thanked her and waited until she left before turning to get Merlin only to find he wasn't there. "Oh no."

Arthur quickly put down the plate of food and dropped to his hands and knees. Thankful that he was alone as he didn't want anyone to know that the Prince of Camelot was crawling around on his hands and knees.

He looked under his bed and finding nothing he crawled to the bottom of his bed and felt his stomach drop when he saw his chamber doors open. "Oh god."

Arthur stood up and hurried over to the door, spotting Merlin so far away sat slapping the floor. "Merlin."

Merlin looked up and saw Arthur, laughing at him and turned and started to crawl as quick as he could when he saw Arthur come towards him. "Nice try Merlin." he said and picked him up, carrying him back to his chambers and shut the door securely behind them. "Dinner time."

The only way Arthur could get Merlin to eat was if Merlin was sat on his knee with a spoon in his hand that he could bang against the table. Arthur ripped off some bread and dipped it in his soup and handed it to Merlin who squashed the soggy bread in his hand, the soup going through his fingers and running down his hand. "Ugh Merlin. How messy can you get."

As if to answer his question, Merlin banged the spoon on the table, missing the table completely and hitting the edge of the bowl of soup, causing the bowl to tip and go all over himself and Arthur. Whilst Arthur growled in anger as the soup splattered on his face and in his hair, Merlin squealed in delight and laughed.

A knock sounded at the door and Arthur looked up to see Andreia walk in, stopping and laughing at the state of Arthur. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with your food."

"Very funny Andreia. It's Merlin."

"Sure blame the baby. I always said you was a messy eater and Merlin always agreed."

"I am not a messy eater."

Andreia got a bowl of water and a wash cloth and took Merlin from Arthur and sat him on the edge of the table in front of her and began to clean Merlin.

"Merlin hit the bowl which caused the food to go everywhere. I'm sure he did it on purpose."

"Don't be silly Arthur. Merlin didn't do anything on purpose." After getting Merlin's face clean Andreia tapped the tip of Merlin's nose with her forefinger. "You didn't mean it did you Merlin." she cooed, laughing when Merlin did.

"Andreia...You will stay here with me won't you and help me look after him. I mean, I don't know what to do but you do so-"

"Hang on. Why do you think I know?"

"Because you're a woman."

"Am I? Thank you for telling me. You know I wasn't sure." she answered in a sarcastic voice. "Arthur just because I am a woman it doesn't mean I know all about babies. And Ygraine has already talked to me and I agree with her. Merlin risked his life to save you so you look after him."

"But what about when he needs a bath and when he has to go to sleep."

"You learn Arthur like all new mothers do." Andreia stood up and smiled at Merlin. "Do I get a kiss?" Merlin babbled and placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek before she handed him back over to Arthur. "You will be just fine Arthur."

Later that night after Arthur had managed to get himself washed and cleaned, ending up with more water on the floor than in the tub as Merlin decided he wanted to help. Arthur had finally changed Merlin, feeling quite pleased with himself for not losing his temper as Merlin kept trying to grab his hands.

"Arthur son."

Arthur turned and smiled when he saw his mother walk in and close the chamber door behind her. "Mother."

"How are you doing on your first day?"

"Not as bad as I thought I would do. He got out when my door was open but thankfully I can walk quicker than he can crawl. I am just going to put him down for the night now."

Ygraine stood and watched her son in amusement as he laid Merlin down on his small bed and covered him up. "Now go to sleep."

Ygraine couldn't stop the laugh that escaped from her. "Oh son it doesn't work like that. You can't just lay him down and then expect him to fall asleep like we do."

"Then what?"

"You lay him on your bed with you, get him comfy and gently rock him to sleep."

"And then?"

"Wait until he is properly asleep and then move him to his small bed."

"That's it?"

"That's it. Good night son."

The next morning Andreia was walking to Arthur's chambers to see how Arthur got on with his first night with Merlin when she saw a maid approaching Arthur's chambers with his breakfast on a tray. "Here I'll take that. I need to see Arthur. If you could just get the door for me."

The maid smiled and held the door open and Andreia gave her a smile in thanks as she walked in and placed the breakfast tray down. She turned and made to walk over to the bed but stopped in her tracks when she saw Arthur on the bed asleep with baby Merlin in his arms, holding him protectively.

"Oh now this has to be the best blackmail material I have ever seen."

Arthur groaned and opened his eyes, slightly turning his head at the sound of the voice. "Andreia?"

"Morning Arthur."

"What do you mean about blackmail?"

"The view I am seeing right now."

Arthur looked down and saw Merlin fast asleep. "Andreia. Mother told me how best to get Merlin asleep. I must have fallen asleep before I had a chance to move him."

"Sure Arthur. Whatever you say."

"It's the truth." Arthur said defensively, trying to be as quiet as he could and hardly move so as not to wake Merlin.

"A servant is going to come and bring you some clothes for Merlin. See you soon Arthur."

Arthur slowly walked into the throne room, slightly bent forwards holding Merlin's hand as he was walking beside him, his little legs going, trying to keep up with Arthur. "Gaius, glad you are here. I have noticed with Merlin he has grown quite a bit overnight."

"Quite a bit as in-"

"As though he has aged a few weeks in twelve hours."

"Well I have done some tests and read up on it and it seems that the sorcerer wasn't as clever as he thought. The aging spell he used wasn't one hundred percent perfected. And by what you told me I am sure that it will another twenty two weeks before we see an older Merlin."

"So Merlin will be like this for four and a half months?"

"Yes Arthur. Each week is another year older for Merlin."

"Well that settles it then. Uther dear you will assign Arthur's duties to the head knight. Arthur is going to be busy for the next four and a half months raising Merlin."

"But mother. "

"No buts Arthur. That's final."

"I can't assign all of Arthur's duties over. As Prince he has a responsibility."

"I know that Uther but Arthur's responsibility right now is to look after Merlin until he is right again. Merlin risked his life once again to save our son. It is the least Arthur can do."

Arthur sighed. "Yes mother. Merlin hold still." he said when Merlin started to fidget in his arms. Arthur looked to where Merlin was reaching to and saw the food on the table. "Are you serious Merlin? You just had breakfast."

"He is a growing boy son." Uther said.

"I understand that but he ate all of his breakfast not one hour ago. If he keeps eating like this how on earth did he managed to stay as skinny as he is."

"Running around after you will do that Arthur."

"Father Merlin doesn't run after me as much as you think. I mean just the other day I-" Arthur stopped and felt his eyes go wide when a bit of food flew from the table and straight into Merlin's hand who babbled happily when he started to chew on his food. "I knew it!" Arthur turned Merlin to face him and held him up and looked him in the eye. "Merlin why didn't you tell me you had magic?"

"Arthur he can't answer you." Ygraine said as she took Merlin from her son, smiling when Merlin decided to play with a strand of her hair with his free hand.

"Merlin has a lot to answer for when he is himself again. I always suspected he had magic, he knew it was allowed in Camelot. Why didn't he tell me?"

"Because of his destiny."

Arthur turned and saw Andreia walk up to them and cooed at Merlin before looking at Arthur. "Yes Merlin has magic. He is extremely powerful but he was told that his destiny was to use his magic to help and save and guide you until you became King. He knew if he told you before that time then you wouldn't want him risking his life to save you but Merlin couldn't do that. He knew what his destiny was and he accepted it."

"How did you know Andreia?"

"Merlin wanted someone to talk to about everything."

Ygraine stepped forwards. "You mean that Merlin's secret that he has magic isn't the only thing he shared with you?"

"No my lady."

Ygraine handed Merlin back over to Arthur and walked over to Andreia, linking arms with her. "Andreia dear, we need to talk." she said and Uther and Arthur stood and watched as the two women left the throne room.

"Father?"

"Son?"

"I am taking Merlin out, seeing who he seems comfortable with."

"Makes sense."

"Can you hold him, see how he is with you?"

Uther cleared his throat and reluctantly took Merlin from Arthur and held Merlin close watching and waiting to see what would happen and Arthur couldn't help but laugh when Merlin reached up and took his father's crown and began chewing on it before handing it to Arthur.

Arthur continued to laugh as he took Merlin from his father and handed him his crown back. "Sorry father. At least we know he likes you."

"Hm yes." Uther grumbled as he took his crown back, grimacing when he saw it covered in drool.

"I will just leave you to it father." Arthur said and hurried from the throne room before his father could say anything.

Well what do you think?

Chapter four up in three days :D

Review? x