When I started writing this story it was supposed to be two or three chapter long and lots of fun. Somehow it's turned to be angsty and loooong now and the plot bunnies just keep multiplying inside my head! I hope you guys still like the story though! Please review and keep me motivated.
Love you all!
Oh by the way I have a new story up called "REIGN ME IN, IF YOU CAN" and I'd be so happy if you guys read that as well, just a request, you can ignore it if you want to.
CHAPTER _ 4 (finally lol)
Gaius preferring to confront the lesser of two evils first went to meet Arthur in his chambers. Although the Prince was remarkably moody before his heat and tended to throw tantrums it was a far better choice than having to face Uther.
Now as to how he was going to explain to Arthur that he'd have to sire a child and Merlin's child at that. Arthur was probably going to reject the idea as soon as he heard it. Gaius could not see Arthur being accepting of having to carry a child; he'd sooner throw himself at sword point than become pregnant.
And yet Arthur's reticence could mean greater danger to Arthur or Merlin, or even to the Old Religion. The balance between life and death was fickle and fragile; if they'd done something to disrupt the balance then it would not bode well for anyone involved. But how to make Arthur understand, Gaius did not know.
Gaius did not have the time to ponder however as he'd already reached the door to the Prince's chambers. He knocked with a weary sigh and Arthur barked an assent as Gaius rolled his eyes and opened the door, here goes nothing he thought.
"Oh Gaius its you, I thought it was that serving boy George again." Arthur's tone of voice said how displeased he was with his new manservant though it seemed everything was in order in Arthur's rooms and the place looked tidy for a change.
"You don't seem happy to have George serving you sire."
Arthur huffed from where he was seated on his chair, "He just grates on my nerves."
"I hope you are treating him well? It would not do for you to become a bully just because Merlin is gone."
Arthur's face soured at the mention of Merlin and Gaius couldn't say whether it was because Arthur was missing Merlin's presence or something else, it was usual for omega's to feel bereft when their mate was not around. Gaius wondered if Arthur's lackluster mood was subconsciously because he'd already recognized Merlin as his mate. This would be so much easier if Arthur and Merlin were not who they were.
"Arthur I came to you now because I've spoken with the dragon, and…" Gaius cleared his throat as he had Arthur's undivided attention now and his dalliance was making Arthur raise up an eyebrow in impatience, "some things have become clear about your predicament."
"So you know why the herbs are not working anymore?" asked Arthur.
Gaius nodded, "Yes, I have no easy way of saying this Arthur and keep in mind I care about you and Merlin a great deal, I wish such a fate had not befallen upon you or him but…."
"Gaius, spit it out, you're making me nervous…." Said Arthur and then frowned on realizing he'd admitted to being nervous.
"It seems that you and Merlin are destined mates, the herbs are not working for you because he traded Nimueh's life at the alter for yours but Nimueh was the one who gave you life. Her magic helped in your creation and thus trading her life for yours was displeasing to the Old Religion."
Arthur was about to interrupt but Gaius knowing this held up a hand and firmly stated "Let me finish. As I was saying trading her life for yours was almost like we'd wronged the Old Religion and so the balance between life and death was not restored. And since it was Merlin who killed Nimueh and your life which was bargained for the Old Religion demands that you and Merlin be the ones to restore the balance back to the Old Relgion."
"I don't understand how we're supposed to bring this balance Gaius, as far as I know even sorcery is not powerful enough to resurrect people back from the dead."
Now would be the time for heartbreak, Gaius thought before taking a deep breath and saying "No Arthur, it demands a new life to restore the balance, one conceived with Merlin's seed and borne by you in a years time."
Arthur absorbed this for a minute, his blue eyes round with shock before he roared and upended the table screaming, "NO! NO! I WILL NOT! I don't care what the Old Religion wants, what it wants is fucked up is all it is! These are addled lies of a bitter trapped dragon Gaius! I will not believe them and neither will I hear of this again!"
Gaius knew when arguing with Arthur was going to be a lost cause so he only said "I will speak to you tomorrow" before leaving the Prince's chambers knowing Arthur was likely going to tear up everything in his room and leave poor George to do all the cleaning come morning.
Uther was thankfully in a mellow state after having been into his cups a bit too much and Gaius thanked the heavens before he approached the King cautiously.
Seeing him arrive Uther sent away all the guards and assorted ministers until only Gaius and Uther remained in the council room.
"Well Gaius, have you any good news?"
"I believe so sire."
"Was the dragon helpful?"
"He was, he knows of a place where Arthur will be safe for the duration of his heat."
"Where is this place? I cannot let him go far Gaius, how will I know if he will be safe lest I see it with my own eyes."
"He suggested the Isle of the Blessed sire."
"What?" Uther was shocked, the Isle of the Blessed was famously knows as where all magic originated from, the magic ingrained in its stones and land was as old as the earth itself. How could Uther hope to send his son there of all places?
"As you know sire before the purge began the Isle of the Blessed was the home for young omega's seeking protection from rogue alpha's roaming the land. The priestess' there enacted enchantments to make the Isle a safe haven for unbonded omega's."
"Gaius you forget he is my son, how can I send him into the proverbial lion's den? He would be captured and punished for bearing the name Pendragon alone, I cannot trust magic Gaius."
If Uther had not been so dulled by the mead Gaius knew Uther too would have been prancing around in fury, as it were he was grateful the King seemed to be in a frame of mind amenable to persuasion.
"The Isle is protected by the power of the Triple Goddess, no mortal man can enter the Isle and harm a protected omega and hope to survive it."
Uther frowned and Gaius being a quick study poured another glass of wine before handing it over to Uther.
"Does this mean Arthur would have to spend his heat throughout his life in the Isle of the Blessed?"
Gaius was sure Uther would never agree to Arthur and Merlin being bonded so Gaius chose to shroud the truth from Uther, and if Arthur was as wise as he thought him to be then he would not mention what had been revealed to him to Uther either.
"I suppose so sire, it's just a longer journey compared to Tintagel."
Uther looked at Gaius fiercely before asking "Are you sure he would be safe Gaius?"
Gaius' own stare didn't waver as he said "Yes sire."
"I'll have your head if something untoward happens to him Gaius."
Gaius was thankful for his years of being deceptive and never gave himself away as Uther barked an order for him to get out, drowning the wine goblet in one go.
The next day Gaius didn't dawdle before going to Arthur's chambers, Arthur's heat was due to occur in one week from now and if everything panned out as he expected Merlin would be ready to claim Arthur in a month which would be roughly about the last week of Arthur's heat.
Gaius gave a cursory knock before he entered not waiting for the Prince's permission to enter. Arthur was already up and reclining on his bed from where he shot Gaius a nasty glare.
Gaius raised his infamous eyebrows in response and Arthur lowered his eyes, fond memories of a young Arthur doing the same made Gaius soften.
"Have you thought upon what I told you Arthur?"
"What it there to think about Gaius? I will not do it, I do not care what happens."
"Are you ready to be bartered off as a bait to other kings then? Bayard, Olaf, perhaps Aligned?"
Arthur cringed at the last name, he knew Aligned to be the worst sort of boor and cruel too.
"My father would never barter me off like that!"
"HE MIGHT NOT HAVE A CHOICE!" Gaius raised his voice which made Arthur flabbergasted as he'd never in all his years seen Gaius become angry.
"Atleast Merlin would be able to protect you from harm."
"Merlin?" Arthur snorted and gave a derisive look.
"Yes Merlin, you have no idea how many times he's saved your life. Looking back it must have been his protectiveness over you…"
"I don't need Merlin or father or anyone else to protect me Gaius."
"Nobody will be able to protect you from the Old Religion's wrath if you choose to not return the balance Arthur."
"If I have to die I will die Gaius. Death is more honorable than what you propose!"
"You cannot choose who the Old Religion will want Arthur, what if it is your father? Or Morgana who must pay the price? What if it is Merlin?"
Arthur who was incensed and tense vying for a fight felt himself go cold all over at the thought of somebody else dying in place of him.
Arthur's eyes filled with unshed tears as he felt the urge to scream himself hoarse that this was not fair, why should this burden be hoisted upon his shoulders. All he'd wanted was to be a good and fair King to his people, to love Camelot, protect her and her people, to make his father proud.
He could not imagine himself raising a child let alone the thought of actually bearing one although he'd been aware that there was always a risk of getting pregnant if he were ever to sleep with an alpha.
It's one of the reasons he'd kept himself away from the temptations of flesh, of wanting an alpha to soothe his need when his mind was lost in the bouts of his heat, all the months spent lonely and hidden away with no one for company except his hand when his need would overwhelm him and make him cry and beg into the empty air for someone, anyone to make it better and still he'd rise up and tell himself he was doing this for the good of his people, to be a better King for them for how could he be a strong king if he was enslaved by his desires, he must be better for Camelot's sake, he must, he must, he must be strong enough to resist. He mustn't ever give in or give up, no matter how profound the sense of loneliness and despair was.
To hear that all of it was for nothing, all of his suffering came down to this, this inevitable fate he'd been trying to avoid ever since learning he was an omega, it was too much and for the first time in a long time Arthur felt himself wanting to cry and his tears fell without him having given them permission to fall.
Gaius held him firmly and ran his hands gently through Arthur's hair saying "It will be alright Arthur, you will see. You will be a great king one day, no matter what your father or anyone else thinks."
Arthur for once took the comfort that was being offered without shame or guilt. Gaius was almost a second father to Arthur, and once Uther had started becoming colder Arthur had directed all his pleading for affection and love to Gaius. It was Gaius who had indulged a young Arthur whenever he could and had time to do so, so Arthur held on and wept until he could no longer feel the pain, he was numbed as it seemed, he'd reached the end of his emotional exhaustion and he had no more tears to shed.
Gaius still held him and once he was sure Arthur had calmed down he explained, "I'm taking you to the Isle of the Blessed Arthur, you will be safe there with the protection of the Triple Goddess."
"Father will never agree to send me to a place of magic users Gaius." Arthur's voice was hoarse and he disentangled himself from Gaius.
"I spoke to your father; he's already agreed to let you stay in the Isle for the duration of your heat."
"Although I left out the part about you and Merlin being destined mates, so if you could not mention it to him?"
Arthur rolled his eyes at that, "Of course not Gaius, if father knows he'll hunt Merlin down even if he went farther than the five kingdoms and have him burned."
"He'd be incensed, he would not understand because to him Merlin would only ever be a peasant."
"But he's not just a peasant to you, is he Arthur?"
Arthur shook his head, "No, no he isn't, he's my friend."
"And maybe in time you'll grow to be more"
"I doubt that…"
"Let's not think on that now, we're leaving for the Isle tomorrow."
"How's my father taking all this?"
"Do you really want to know?"
Arthur eyebrows drew together in consternation, "Not really"
The next day Arthur along with Gaius were up and ready early to leave for the Isle of the Blessed. The stables and the courtyard were deserted and they were to leave without any hassle and make haste to reach the Isle.
Only Arthur, Uther and Gaius knew where Arthur was going to be taken. Even Morgana and Gwen had been kept in the dark about Arthur having to leave Camelot. They could not afford for some alpha to find them out and follow them to claim the crown Prince.
As it was Arthur was disguised in peasant's robes that stank of mud, dirt and was itchy on his skin. Gaius had added a bit of a truly vile mixture onto the already stinking robes in order to shroud Arthur's scent further. Even Arthur couldn't smell himself and be reminded of his omega status, the King approved after closely sniffing Arthur which Arthur found very uncomfortable to bear to this day.
After what had happened during his first heat Uther had become cloyingly protective and Arthur's free spirit rebelled all the way.
"Father…." Arthur did not like that he had to whine to get his father off his back. He was trained in mortal combat; he could defend himself better than any knight of Camelot, atleast when he was not addled by the heat.
Uther backed off but still held Arthur close, surprisingly the next minute Arthur was receiving an almost painful crushing embrace from Uther.
His father had never been openly demonstrative of his love in so long that Arthur was stumped and he held on just as tightly trying not to think of everything that he was hiding from his father.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will father"
When he released Arthur, Uther looked to be confounded and lost which was such a foreign look on him that Arthur understood to some level how hard this must be on Uther. Arthur had been always kept within his sight, kept where the King could protect him and cut down anyone who dared to harm the Prince, the thought of having to leave his son's protection to some unknown goddess of the Old Religion did not sit well with him.
"Go, go before I change my mind!" Uther turned away and walked stiffly back towards the castle as Gaius and Arthur saddled up and rode away from Camelot.