Apologise once more for delay in posting
...
Arthur made sure to catch up with all he could, just in case Merlin was going into heat. In truth there wasn't a lot to be done and if anything came up Morgana and Leon would be more than capable of handling it. Arthur was proud of how his sister had coped with her transition in status. They had become even closer since their father's death. Within the Kingdom there was very little discontent. There were a few of Uther's old supporters that muttered on occasion and some who disagreed with the omega's new position in society but they were few and far between. Arthur was even making progress in making the treaties between the Kingdoms stronger. He hoped one day to have the same laws for all the five Kingdoms, bring greater prosperity to all. But for now he was content with how things were going.
As soon as he could Arthur went down to the training grounds, he knew the first knights would be down there and wanted to get some training in, especially if he might be indisposed for a while. Gaius had thought it might be a couple of days before Merlin's heat kicked in and until then his husband would be sleeping a lot. The men were his friends as well as first knights, Merlin had gradually convinced him it wasn't weak to have friends and they would be good for him. So unlike his father he had developed strong feelings for the first knights, to the point he thought of them as brothers. Arthur also knew that the men considered his omega to be their younger brother and would do anything for the younger man. Gwaine and Lancelot in particular were very close to Merlin and remained his personal guards. Arthur had made up several beat knights to full knight status. Although not as physically as strong as the alphas many made excellent knights.
It was Gwaine that asked after Merlin "How is Merlin? George tells me he was going to rest this morning. Did he overdo it yesterday?" there was real concern in his voice
Arthur wasn't prepared to say anything about a possible heat, he didn't want it to get back to his omega of it didn't happen. "No just feeling tired" Arthur said with a smile. But later he spoke to Leon privately "I don't want you to say anything, not even to Morgana but Gaius thinks Merlin might be going into heat. I want you to know as you and my sister will be in charge of it happens. But in case it doesn't happen I don't want anyone to know. Merlin already feels bad enough and I understand there has been gossip in the castle about us not having children"
Leon nodded "I understand Sire, and no one will hear from me." He paused "But I wish you luck Arthur it will be very good news. Rest assured if I hear of gossip it will be dealt with."
"No leave it Leon, unless it is vicious in intent. When I first heard I was angry, but it is to be expected. I am not worried if necessary your children will succeed me" he looked at his brother in law "I wish you to keep it from Morgana so Merlin suspects nothing. I won't have him getting upset."
"You are a good man Arthur, many alphas would not be so happy" Leon admitted
"It is not his fault! We would have had a child already if it were not for Uther! I still hate that man for what he did to Merlin and our child" Arthur couldn't help his eyes going in the direction where their child was buried. Merlin had refused to have the tiny remains placed in the crypt where Uther lay. Instead the tiny coffin was in the orchard until such times as Arthur and Merlin were laid to rest when their child would join them. Arthur looked at his friend "I am going to check on my Omega and eat with him. I trust you to keep my confidence"
"You can Sire" Leon realised why Arthur didn't want Morgana to know, she might not be able to hide her excitement. So much as he hated keeping things from his omega wife he would do so. He just hope she didn't see anything with her powers.
The next two days saw things progress much the same, Merlin felt lethargic and slept a lot. It was on the third day when Arthur was on the practice field when the king received a message from George that things started to change. Before Merlin had come into his life Arthur had barely tolerated his manservant. He was a fawning man even if efficient, he had also had a very strange sense of humour. But Arthur had gone through so many servants his father has forced him to keep George. But gradually under Merlin's influence George had changed and Arthur now respected and valued his manservant. Merlin seemed to have that effect on so many, he seemed able to bring out the best in people. George in return was now more loyal to Merlin than he was to Arthur, which to Arthur was a good thing. So Arthur realised if George was asking him to go to his chambers then he would.
Arthur left the training ground and went as quickly as he could to his chambers, there he was met by George in the anti-room. "Sire your Consort Omega is acting very strangely. He has been collecting all the best furs from there summer storage and placing them on the bed, he was drawn all the drapes round and has spent the last hour hidden away arranging them"
Arthur knew immediately what was happening and knew also that George did but was too polite to say. Merlin was nest building prior to his full heat. "Go to the kitchen George and bring all of Merlin's favourite foods, he needs to eat and also inform the Court Physician."
George immediately left to do as asked while Arthur went into his sleeping chambers. He walked up to the four poster and pulled the drapes back to see Merlin fussing over the furs.
"Little Hawk come here and eat with me" he smiled at the sight before him. Merlin was flushed and intent on what he was doing. Arthur held out his hand and using his Alpha voice said "Come"
Merlin scuttled across the bed to his alpha "I need to do this!" he protested
"You need to eat with me little one" Arthur took his omegas slander hand and made the younger man join him at the table just as George arrived with the food. Once it was on the table Arthur made Merlin start to eat. He knew that during a heat omegas didn't eat much and that Merlin would need all the strength and nourishment he could get. Arthur hand fed Merlin the choicest pieces of food, Merlin glared at him but did as he was told, even if he did keep looking back at the bed.
They were just finishing the meal when Gaius arrived, he took one look at Merlin and nodded before coming closer and asking the omega "How are you feeling today my boy"
Merlin looked at Gaius "I am fine, I want to sort out my bed, but this clotpole makes me eat"
Gaius smiled "You needed to eat" he moved closer and touched Merlin's face "You are going into heat so eat all you can" he turned to Arthur "Sire shall I inform Sir Leon that you will be in seclusion?"
Arthur put his arm round Merlin and smiled at him fondly "Indeed if you think it is time."
Gaius chuckled "It is I believe you have but less than an hour before your omega is in full heat."
Merlin stared at both his alpha and the physician hardly believing his ears "Heat! What makes you think that?"
Arthur smiled at his omega "The tiredness, the nest making, did that not give you a clue?"
Merlin's face changed as the realisation hit him "Oh" he blushed and then moved as close as he could to Arthur "Stay with me?" he asked timidly
"You have no need to ask Little Hawk" Arthur returned the hug "Thank you Gaius as of now I am in seclusion"
Gaius nodded and as he went out the door said "I will ask George to leave food and drink outside the door for you, remember what I said about making sure my great nephew eats and drinks" with that he was gone.
Arthur looked at Merlin then picked him up and walked through to the bedroom and placed his omega on the bed in the centre of his nest. "Stay while I clean myself and I will join you"
Merlin immediately started to fuss over the bed and totally ignored his alpha. Arthur washed and changed into his sleep clothes before joining Merlin in the bed. He then started to undress Merlin from his clothes and replaced them with his light weight clothes "Easier to remove when the time comes my love" he explained. "Now come here and let me look after you while we wait for your heat"
Arthur hugged and petted Merlin, he loved the feel of his husband and always had, they fitted together so perfectly. It was nice just to lay together with full knowledge that no one would disturb them and he didn't have to go anywhere. Arthur sometimes resented his responsibilities when it kept him away from Merlin. He couldn't explain how his omega made him feel so complete but felt it must be due to their soul bond. Gradually Merlin became hotter and hotter and started to sweat and writhe as his heat began to consume him. Arthur removed his own clothing and then his omegas.
Kissing Merlin Arthur spoke gently to his mate "Let me look after you my Little Hawk I will make you feel so good" he started to kiss his omega all over his body not missing an inch.
It wasn't long before Merlin was begging him "Please alpha, please"
Arthur knew exactly what he wanted and obliged. It wasn't long before they were knotted together and Arthur's seed was pumping into his omega. As they lay in an orgasmic haze Arthur murmured his love to the other man as he pulled some of the furs over their naked bodies. Much later once Arthur's knot shrank and they could move Arthur made sure Merlin ate and drank as much as he could force him to before Arthur cleaned his love and they slept until the next round of Merlin's heat started. This pattern continued for the pair as Merlin's heat rose and faded as his heats were sated by his alpha.
The heat cycle went on for much longer than expected, seven whole days and nights. By the time they had finished Merlin was stiff sore and exhausted. It had taken a lot from him. Both men were covered in the signs of their mating. Merlin was covered in love bites and well as having his neck bitten over his gland. He also had finger shaped bruising on his hips. Arthur has scratches and bits on his body as well. On two occasions as they knotted Arthur noticed Merlin's eyes go golden and they had both been bathed in soft golden hues as Merlin's magic roomed free from his body. As they curled up together Arthur could sense that his omega's smell had changed and he knew Merlin was once more pregnant, his seed had taken. As he watched Merlin sleep he swore he would protect Merlin and the babe at all costs even his own life if necessary. It was several hours before the men woke. Arthur kissed his omega tenderly.
"We both need to bathe my love and then eat after that we shall sleep again." Arthur disentangled himself and went to the door and called for a bath. Once George arrived with hot water, followed by two more servants and filled the bath and lit the fire Arthur asked them to leave. Instructing George to bring more bath water once he had bathed his omega and to have food ready after he himself had bathed.
Arthur very gently picked up the still sleepy Merlin and carried his to the bath and placed him gently in the tub before kneeling down and with great tenderness he washed his Omega. In the bedroom George stripped the bed and remade it, making his way very discretely out of the door. Once Arthur was satisfied he carefully got Merlin out of the bath and wrapped him in the soft towels and carried Merlin to the newly made bed. "Rest my love while I bathe then we will eat together."
George arrived and emptied the bath and it was soon refilled. Then he helped his master to bathe. Arthur relaxed in the hot water, he too was exhausted from the lovemaking. Bur he knew his beloved Merlin had been effected far more. It was normal for omegas, the heat drained them and Merlin's heat had been longer than most. "Make sure the food you bring is easy for the consort to digest he needs to sleep. Once we have eaten inform Gaius that the heat is over but that we will be resting. I will send for him when I awaken. Also inform the Princess Morgana of the same"
"I will sire, is there any more I can do?" George asked. He might be a beat but he was well aware that the consort's heat had been much longer than normal and he was concerned for his masters.
Arthur smiled lazily "Just make sure we are not disturbed. Now go and get the food. I can dress myself"
Arthur rose and put on some clean sleeping clothes before going to the bed and waking Merlin "Little Hawk you must eat then we will sleep again together."
Merlin opened his eyes and then rubbed them. Arthur thought he looked adorable and smiled again. "Come on lazy daisy"
"That's my words" Merlin said in gentle protest
"Not this time. Came my love you must eat." He bent closer and whispered "Our babe needs to be fed"
Merlin's eyes shot wide open and he then appeared to look inwards before grinning "I am! I have a babe! I have at last done my duty"
Arthur frowned "Your duty? My love I have told you it didn't matter it would happen when you were ready. I hope you are happy for yourself and not just me"
Merlin has a large grin on his face "Of course I am happy your dollop head! We are going to have a baby!"
"Keep calm Little Hawk, it is early days yet. For now we keep it a secret"
Merlin grinned "Of course, but Morgana will know I'm sure." Then he looked serious "I will not let anything happen to this babe I swear to you!"
"And I will protect you both with my life if needed Merlin, you may rest assured of that" Arthur repeated out loud the vow he had made earlier as Merlin slept. "Now come eat, then we rest before Gaius checks you over."
Merlin made himself eat some broth and bread as well as drink a large glass of milk before they went back to bed. Before George had even cleared away both men were sleeping, curled up together in contentment, neither men aware of the trails that would soon be coming their way.
