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Chapter 7-Protective Pendragon
Little Arianna was now one month old and Gaius was very pleased with her health. Merlin had scarcely left his tiny bedroom and hardly ever let his daughter out of his sight. However, he did need to sleep so whilst he rested Hunith would take care of her granddaughter.
The Prince was still unaware that Merlin was back in Camelot and had no idea that he had a daughter. The only people who knew of Arianna's existence were Merlin, Hunith, Gaius, Morgana, Gwen and Sir Leon.
Upon learning that Merlin had given birth Gwen had set to work on making clothes for the baby girl. She and Morgana had visited Merlin and Arianna every day and were both very taken with the blonde haired girl.
Sir Leon was also very fond of the baby and Arianna seemed equally fond of the knight. She found pure delight in sucking on Leon's finger.
"I'm going to tell him." Merlin decided finally speaking to Morgana who was currently holding Arianna in her arms. "I've thought about it and you're right. He deserves to know."
"What are you going to say?" Gwen asked as she held her hands out for her turn to hold the baby.
"I don't know." Merlin admitted as he watched his daughter try and tug on Gwen's tight black curls. "I just figured I'd go into his chambers and show him Arianna."
"It might be better if we get Arthur to come here." Morgana suggested.
"Ok." Merlin agreed. "I don't suppose you could persuade him to come here after he finishes training."
"Just leave it to me." Morgana said.
When the two girls had left, Merlin held his daughter in his arms and, as he so often did, he told her about her other father.
"You're going to meet him today." Merlin told her. "Don't worry, he'll love you."
Arianna made some gurgling noises before magically floating a pillow in the air. Merlin sighed before forcing the pillow back down. It had become clear from the first week of Arianna's life that she possessed magic just like Merlin did. She had often caused things to float or explode. According to Hunith, Merlin was the same when he was a baby.
"You mustn't do that when your father is here." Merlin said having no idea of she could understand him or not. "Meeting you will be shock enough, let's not overload him with things he's too royal to handle."
When Arthur finished training with the knights, Tristan was at his side in an instant handing him some drinking water and helping him out of his chainmail.
With Gwen a few steps behind her, Morgana made her way over to the Prince, casting a smile at Leon on her way.
"Hello Arthur." She greeted. "Fantastic training today."
"What do you want?" Arthur asked knowing from the compliment that she was up to something.
"There is somebody I'd like you to meet." Morgana told him. "Tristan, leave us."
The chubby boy looked to Arthur who indicated for him to leave.
"Come on." Morgana instructed as she linked her arm through Arthur's and led him toward Gaius' chambers.
"Um Morgana, I have met Gaius before you know." He told her.
"I am perfectly aware of that." Morgana replied. "You'll see who I mean in a few moments."
Gwen knocked upon the door and Hunith answered it. Arthur looked momentarily shocked to see the woman there but he soon regained his composure and asked where Merlin was.
"He's in his room." Hunith said. "There's someone he'd like to introduce you to."
"We'll be out here if you need us." Morgana told him as she, Gwen and Hunith took a seat around the table; Gaius was out doing his rounds.
Making his way up the stairs to Merlin's bedroom, Arthur felt his heart hammering in his chest. He wasn't sure what he'd find on the other side of the door and he wasn't fully decided on whether he wanted to know. What if Merlin had met somebody in Ealdor, another man or a woman perhaps? What if he had got married and Arthur had lost him forever. His hand hovered over the door handle as all these thoughts raced through his brain.
"Arthur it's a door handle it won't bite you." Morgana mocked.
Sending her a halfhearted glare, Arthur twisted the door knob before stepping inside the room closing the door behind him. His eyes instantly met with Merlin's who was sat on the bed looking incredibly nervous.
"Sire." Merlin said respectfully inclining his head to the Prince.
"Merlin." Arthur breathed. "You're back."
Before Merlin had finished nodding in response he found himself being swept into a suffocating hug.
"Don't you ever leave me like that again." Arthur told him sternly as he set him back on his feet.
"You told me to leave." Merlin pointed out.
"I didn't mean leave Camelot you fool." Arthur said exasperatedly. "Anyway, who was it you wanted me to meet?"
Taking a deep breath, Merlin stepped over to the small crib and smiled down on whatever it was that lay inside. Merlin beckoned Arthur over and the Prince moved to stand beside him and peered into the crib too. Looking down he saw the sleeping form of a little blonde-haired baby.
"I named her Arianna." Merlin told him quietly.
"She's yours?" Arthur asked.
"No." Merlin replied looking up at him. "She's ours."
"What?" Arthur asked as his eyes widened. "Don't be ridiculous Merlin. I know I've called you a girl in the past but that doesn't make you one. Now tell me honestly, who does this child belong to?"
"Look at her Arthur." Merlin sighed. "Look properly. You can see quite clearly she's yours."
"But that's not possible." Arthur argued. "I've never slept with a woman. I've never slept with anyone other than you."
"And neither have I." Merlin told him. "Arthur, look at her."
Shaking his head in disbelief Arthur looked down at the baby just in time to see her stretch her little arms and let out a yawn as she woke up. She looked up at Arthur through eyes as blue as both her parents and surveyed him with curious interest. Her arms reached up to him and Arthur felt compelled to lift her out of the crib. Holding her gently Arthur looked down at her pretty little face and couldn't help but smile.
A tiny hand clasped around Arthur's finger directing it to her mouth. Arthur looked down at Arianna in fascination as she chomped on his finger with her gums. After a few sort moments she pushed Arthur's finger away and pulled an expression of disgust.
"Don't take it personally." Merlin said. "It's only Leon's finger she likes to suck on."
Arianna started blowing spit bubbles and Arthur found himself unable to take his eyes off of her. He felt a surge of love for the little girl and a fierce need to protect her. Although the idea seemed impossible and absurd he realised that the girl must be his.
"How?" Arthur asked as he continued to watch the baby, his baby, in wonderment.
"I'm not really sure." Merlin confessed. "But…I have magic."
Arthur's head snapped towards Merlin and he stared at him in disbelief.
"You're a sorcerer?" He asked and Merlin nodded.
Arthur took a step away from Merlin holding Arianna protectively to his chest.
"Arthur…" Merlin began but the Prince cut him off.
"Shut up." He hissed. "You'd just better stay away from me and my daughter or I'll have you executed."
"What?" Merlin blanched as Arthur headed out of the door with Arianna in his arms. "Arthur wait!"
"What's going on?" Morgana questioned as they entered the main room.
"Come on Morgana, Guinevere." Arthur said. "We're leaving."
"Arthur no." Merlin begged as tears slipped down his cheeks. "She's my daughter you can't take her away from me."
"As far as I'm concerned she's my daughter." Arthur replied. "Not the daughter of a warlock. And I meant what I said. If you come anywhere near us I'll have you killed."
"Arthur please." Merlin sobbed. "Don't take her away from me."
He tried to latch on to Arthur's arm but the Prince easily shook him off before stalking away with Arianna.
"Don't worry Merlin." Morgana said. "I'll talk to him."
"Get her back." Merlin pleaded. "Please get her back."
Morgana told Gwen to stay with Merlin and Hunith before she speedily left the room to give one Arthur Pendragon a piece of her mind.
To Be Continued
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