Arthur's head had barely touched the pillow before the alarm bells rung again. What now? He had only just begun dealing with the giant hole in the castle and the escaped prisoner. What else could have gone wrong? It was only his first week as king, for gods' sakes.

"Sire!"

Arthur had left his chambers to crash right into a panting guard. "What is it?"

"There's a massive shape flying towards the castle. It could be our escapee."

Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He could do this. "Right. Ready the arms, we're under attack."

"Arthur!"

The king sighed and turned around. Gwen was rushing toward him, looking worried.

"Can I help you Guinevere?" Arthur didn't want to deal with her at the moment. He only began seeing her out of duty to the kingdom, they needed a queen and a heir. But Arthur had seen the way she looked at Lancelot. He wasn't stupid, despite being blonde and all of Merlin's teasing.

Merlin. There wasn't a day that went by he didn't think of him. He'd see that feathered ceremonial hat or someone wearing a neckerchief and that Merlin-shaped hole in his chest would ache again. In every waking moment, Arthur would wonder why he left and where he was now.

"Arthur! Are you listening to me?"

Oh. Gwen had been talking to him.

"Sorry Gwen, not right now." Arthur hurried away before she could nag and scold him some more.

Guards were running everywhere and waking up the rest of the castle. It was an uproar but Arthur couldn't deal with it at the moment.

Gaius ran up to him as he was heading to the courtyard. "Not here sire. It's going to land on the western tower."

"How do you know this?"

"Well it's the biggest, sire. And tell your men not to shoot. Trust me on this."

Arthur furrowed his brow. "Are you crazy, Gaius? Don't shoot? It's going to kill us all!"

"Arthur, listen to me carefully. I have served you and your father faithfully for many years and I have never steered you wrong. I told your father not to listen to Nimueh, but he ignored me and your mother died. And I am telling you, if you give the order to shoot, you will risk the life of someone you care deeply about. So please, I am begging you, listen to me this once, it is all I ask of you."

Arthur stared at Gaius for a long moment. "I hope you're right about this."

"I am," the old man said simply.

"I will talk to the men here and I will meet you in the western tower."

"Yes, Sire."

By the time he reached the western tower, Gaius as well as several of his men, were already there.

"Look! It's carrying something in its talons!" one of the younger knights shouted.

Arthur squinted at the hulking shaped flapping towards him. There was indeed a strange bundle clutched carefully in the dragon's front legs. It flew closer and closer and Arthur got a good look at the sheer size of the beast. It could take out the entire tower they were standing on with only a few swipes.

Arthur saw greenish-bronze scales gleaming dully in the torchlight and wicked sharp horns. With a few mighty flaps of the dragon's enormous, leathery wings, all of the lights on the tower were snuffed out and several men were knocked over. The beast hovered a few feet off the ground and lowered the bundle it had been carrying with unexpected tenderness.

Take care of him, Gaius. The dragon rumbled in a rich, baritone.

Arthur glared at Gaius with suspicion, but the physician was already tending to the bundle on the ground. The king moved closer to get a better look. It wasn't a 'what' but a 'who'.

Merlin was lying unconscious, wrapped in a ripped up cloak.

Arthur wasn't allowed to see him until hours later.

"Gaius what's wrong with him?"

Gaius pushed open an eyelid to reveal an unfocused blue eye. "He was drugged."

"No, not that." Arthur reached a hand out toward Merlin's bloated belly. "That."

"Isn't it obvious, my lord? He's pregnant."

Arthur was stunned. The first thing that popped into his mind was how. Then he remembered Merlin had magic. The next thing was who. Arthur felt an irrepressible surge of jealousy.

Gaius must have picked up on his inner turmoil because he looked Arthur straight in the eye and said, "Yours."

Arthur sat down heavily in a chair. Thoughts whirled erratically through his head. He thought back to nine months ago. It had to have been Imbolg. The night after that feast had been particularly memorable.

Was this why Merlin had left? But that didn't explain why he didn't say anything to anyone before he left. Or why he had to be lifted back to Camelot unconscious, by a dragon no less.

"Ar-thur."

Arthur jumped up immediately and went to Merlin's side. "Merlin?"

He opened a bleary eye and smiled at him. "Arthur."

"You're safe Merlin. I've got you." Arthur grasped his hand tightly.

"I know," he slurred. "You always say that in my dreams."

Arthur frowned. "Merlin? You still with me?"

Merlin didn't respond, he was fast asleep.

Arthur studied him. Merlin was definitely dirty, his clothing stained and torn. His hair was long and matted, his nails were filled with dirt. Arthur could tell under that layer of grime, Merlin was most likely sickly pale and not glowing. And he was deathly thin. Merlin had been skinny to begin with, but now he was gaunt and haggard. His skin was drawn, cheeks hollow, and dark bags sat under his eyes.

Arthur scowled. He would kill whoever did this to Merlin. He knew this for certain, Merlin wouldn't do this to himself. There had to be something else.

Arthur waited dutifully at Merlin's side until he woke up again. Until that time, Gaius and Arthur carefully washed and redressed him. Arthur had to look away at the sight of Merlin's ribs sticking out above his swollen belly.

Gwen came in bringing water. The sight of her reminded Arthur of his mixed feelings. He had thought he loved her when really, he had never let go of Merlin. Then again, Gwen was a smart girl, she must have known that she was only second best and temporarily filling in. Arthur wondered how Merlin felt about him now. He had mentioned dreaming about Arthur, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.

The second time Merlin woke up, he was a little more lucid. He opened his eyes and looked around. Arthur could see the moment all the memories rushed back to him. Merlin visibly stuttered then widened his eyes when he saw Arthur.

"I'm dead aren't I? I knew it! The hunter got us!" He looked down and groaned. "And I'm going to be pregnant for my entire afterlife. Great."

"Merlin. Merlin, listen to me."

"Why are you here?" Then it hit him. "Oh no, I've failed you! I screwed up destiny! How'd you die, again?"

"Merlin. You're not dead," Arthur told him firmly.

"Right. You're in denial too. Well at least we're dead together." Merlin looked amused. "Is this heaven or hell? It looks a whole lot like Gaius' room. Isn't that funny? Hell looks just like Camelot. Or maybe it's heaven. Guess we'll find out huh?"

Arthur stood up, alarmed by his babbling. Thankfully Gaius returned at that moment.

"Gaius, he's lost his mind. He keeps prattling to himself."

"Gaius?" Merlin lifted his head. "You're dead too? That really sucks. You look fine to me. You can join the party. Did you know Arthur's dead too? I wonder if my father's around here. Maybe we'll find your parents too, Arthur. Isn't that exciting?" He kept up the stream of inane chattering, hardly pausing to even breathe. "I bet all sorts of people are down here. Or maybe we're up. I wonder if this is the new religion or the old religion. Do you think I can meet Nero? Or Ptolemy. He was cool."

Gaius took the opportunity as Merlin finally paused for breath to make him drink a sleeping potion. Merlin continued mumbling to himself even as the potion took effect. It took several minutes for him to fall asleep and let soft snores fill the room.

Arthur shared a look with Gaius, hoping they hadn't found Merlin too late.