Disclaimer: I do not OWN! Never have never will! Only the DVDs box sets.
A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted.
2nd A/N: I know Merlin is supposed to be an only child and whatever but I've given him a little sister. She's only a few years younger than him. And they are BOTH magic.
Chapter Four
Four Months after Arthur is Crowned
"Father! Father!" Arthur turned around and scooped a young boy, no older than 7, into his arms. Arthur noted the child's dark blue eyes and dark hair. Not blonde like his own. So this boy's mother must have dark hair. Arthur lifted his gaze at the sound of soft laughter that sounded all too familiar. Merlin stood in the doorway smiling at the pair.
"Calhoun, you're supposed to be in bed." He said; the little boy wrapped his arms tighter around Arthur's neck.
"No, Uncle Merlin! Father's home." The boy explained. Arthur had just returned from a hunting trip. The King usually didn't go on trips like that, but Arthur wasn't just the King of Camelot, he was also the People's King. He was adored by Camelot.
"Cal, do what your uncle says." Arthur was saying things before he processed all this. Calhoun allowed his father to put him down and he walked out of the room a little dejectedly, "oh and Cal?" The boy turned, "give your sister a kiss for me okay?" The little boy nodded, suddenly a little brighter about being given a responsibility by his father. Merlin didn't follow the child but smiled at Arthur from the doorway.
The young King blinked awake in surprise. He had children? Two in fact. A son and a daughter. And their mother had to have dark hair because his son had dark hair. Arthur blinked again.
"Sire?" He looked around at the door to his chambers. Aurora had poked her head in.
"Come in Aurora." Arthur noted the dark curls that encased her head. Dark curls. Didn't the boy in his dream have hair the same colour? And it had a curl to it. But that was impossible. Lots of maidens had dark hair. A chuckle followed her in and Arthur smiled as his good friend and former manservant came in.
"Aura wanted to be the first to wake you this morning, Arthur. So I told you manservant, William, to get your breakfast. Don't worry. I'm sure he will be not quite as clumsy as I was."
"He won't be the same though, Merlin." Arthur said, "You challenged me. You tested me. He won't. He'll be too terrified to." Arthur smiled as Aurora stepped back to let Arthur out of bed. She had brought up clean clothes and would make the bed while Arthur ate breakfast. She had been efficient so far for him. She had been spending time with Merlin learning the ins and outs of working for the Royal Family. And Merlin had discovered that although he missed it, Aurora seemed to love it. She was born to work and hated sitting still and doing nothing. Hence why she had to go to the Coronation Ball all those months ago. Merlin watched as, after William, had brought up the King's breakfast, Aurora went forward and made his bed. She glanced at Merlin as she finished and he indicated to the clothes she'd brought up. He helped her and showed her that she had to lay them out on the bed for Arthur's man servant to help him dress.
"Thank-you Aurora, that will be all." Arthur said as he saw that she'd finished. She gave William an encouraging wink and curtsied to Arthur before leaving. Merlin stayed until Arthur was dressed.
"Does she enjoy working here?" Arthur asked. Merlin smiled at his friend.
"Arthur, you couldn't stop her even if you wanted to. She was born to work. She never stops." He said.
"And she's just like you?" Arthur asked, Merlin nodded.
"Yeah, just the same. Born with it." He said. Arthur chewed his bottom lip.
"Merlin…do you think if I asked Aura, she'd dine with me?" Arthur asked facing out the window at the courtyard, where Aurora crossed the stone ground with wooden bucket in hand.
"She'd probably be terribly uncomfortable, but yes, I think she would. Why do you ask?" Merlin asked, raising an eyebrow with well-practised ease.
"I like your sister, she's good company." Arthur said. Merlin frowned; he didn't believe it for a second.
"Arthur, you don't know her. Aurora is as stubborn as she is pretty and she hates to be reminded of the fact she's a girl. Though dwells on it if a handsome boy asks to court her." Merlin said, Arthur turned to face his friend.
"I did not ask if I could court her. I simply asked if she'd dine with me if I asked her to." Arthur said, but Merlin knew by the way Arthur's ears turned red, that he meant to court his sister. Arthur would have to get to know Aurora first. At Arthur's request, Merlin agreed to have his sister join Arthur for supper that evening.
"He wants me to what?" Aurora asked as Merlin held one of her best dresses to her.
"He wants you to dine with him. Now come on, put this one on." He said, calmly.
"You know I hate dinner parties." Aurora said sitting down on her bed.
"This isn't a dinner party Aura. It's just dining with the King. Nothing special." Merlin said, still holding the dress over his arm.
"Then why can't I wear breeches and a tunic?" She asked, Merlin was losing patience and he rolled his eyes.
"Because it's the King." He said, his ears were turning red.
"It's Arthur." Aurora pointed out.
"It's the King! Now put this on!" Merlin shouted throwing the dress at her and walking out of her room before he hit something. Aurora knew she'd angered Merlin and she hadn't meant to. But he seemed so set on her wearing that dress she reluctantly slipped it on and slowly emerged.
"That's better. Come on." Merlin took her arm and led her to the dining hall. Aurora could tell that he was still angry at her.
"Merlin…I'm sorry. I just don't know why he wants to dine with me." Aurora said as they reached the corridor.
"He likes you, Aura. I'll be right there as well. Arthur never dines without me." Aurora smiled her 'Aura' smile and followed him into the Dining hall.
"Ah Merlin! Aurora." Arthur sat at the table, like he always did. Merlin led Aurora to a chair and sat her down before taking his seat between the two.
"Thank-you for inviting me, sire." Aurora said in way of saying something to break the silence.
"Of think nothing of it. I thought you deserved it." Aurora felt herself blush. She wasn't used to dining with Royalty and gave William and the maids encouraging smiles as they served them throughout the meal. Conversation flowed surprisingly easily. As did laughter from stories about Merlin and Aurora's childhood. Arthur, by the end, had a sore stomach from laughing so much. Arthur knew about Aurora now, but Merlin, after Aurora left still refused to let them court.
"Arthur…you have to understand. Aurora isn't like other girls. She's special." He said.
"I understand you are worried about her Merlin. You know me though." Arthur said, smiling brightly.
"Yes Arthur. Unfortunately I do." Merlin said, "Well I can't stop you, only she can say yay or nay to courting you. I have no say, she has pointed that out many times." He said. The Warlock would watch them carefully though. It wasn't as if he wanted Aurora to be a servant all her life, but then he wasn't sure she'd make a good Queen either.