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 Ten

When Aurora came to, sometime later, she was lying on the four-poster she shared with Arthur, a hand grasping hers and the sound of someone stoking the fire while talking to someone. She turned her head to see Merlin and Gaius with their backs to her; Merlin's hair looked messier than usual…she'd worried him. Also lying by her side was Calhoun. Her hand then had to be grasped by only one other person, turning her head to her other side she smiled softly at the sight of the russet blonde head of her husband. Arthur's hair was ruffled and unkempt as if he'd run his hand through it multiple times in worry. Cal too, Aurora now noticed turning her head back to her son, also his hair was as unkempt as his father's. Aurora smiled and sighed softly. She must have been louder than she thought because Merlin and Gaius turned from the fire. Merlin let out a breath of relief; Aurora saw the expression on his face change, Gaius simply smiled bowed his head with a 'My lady' and retreated from the room. The young Warlock came around to side of the bed where Arthur was and gently woke the King.

"Aura, you scared me half to death, my love." Arthur breathed once he'd set eyes on his wife. Aurora nodded and dropped her gaze from Arthur's.

"I am sorry; I do not know what happened." Aurora said quietly. Merlin filled in the blanks for her.

"You fainted, My Lady," Merlin only used the formal term for his sister when in the presence of other servants or other members of the court, "young Master Calhoun found you cradled in the arms of one of the guards when he went see where you had gone. You gave us quite a scare, mistress." Aurora wasn't sure what to think. She had fainted? She had never fainted before much in her life. Only a few times when she was younger. Maybe this was all that catching up with her. She sighed and felt a pair of arms wrap around her neck. Calhoun had woken and he'd turned to cuddle his mother. Aurora looked down to see the tear stained cheeks of her young son.

"He thought you'd left us, my love. Merlin tried to calm him but Cal would not leave your side." Arthur said, Aurora let a breathy laugh leave her as she brought her arms around her son and lifted him up to face her.

"I'm right here Cal, I'm not leaving you. Not for a long time." She promised kissing his forehead softly.

"My Lord?" Arthur lifted his head from the papers he was poring over at the small desk that sat to one side in the King's chambers. Merlin stood in front of him, only Merlin, but his friends hardly ever called him 'My Lord' anymore.

"Drop that useless title when you address me Merlin; you know not to refer to me as 'my lord' behind closed doors." Merlin had only called Arthur 'My Lord' to see his reaction. Sometimes though it was a genuine mistake. The first time it had been a mistake, Merlin lapsed at times into old habits. Most of the time he'd called Arthur 'sire' or 'my lord' when he'd been annoyed at him, but that was now behind them. Now as friends Merlin could call Arthur 'Prat' when he was annoyed at him, 'Arthur' when he was feeling fair and didn't want to annoy the King or 'Little King' if he felt particularly daring (or had a death wish). Merlin had many nicknames also from Arthur. 'Idiot' was the most popular but only when Merlin annoyed him or did something particularly stupid. Another one that was used a bit was 'Warlock' just because he could and because it seemed like a suitable name for the young magic-user. 'Merlin' of course being his name made the most appearances in Arthur's daily vocabulary. Seeing the almost saddened look in the King's eyes, Merlin decided to investigate as much as the young King would let him.

"Arthur?" Merlin asked carefully, "is everything all right?" The young King looked at Merlin and the warlock was surprised by the tears that shone in Arthur's eyes.

"Everything is not all right Merlin. How was I supposed to deal with all of this? Father didn't prepare me for any of this. He didn't sit me down and say 'Now Arthur this is what a king should do' he expected me to know what to do!" Arthur said.

"Arthur you have been a King for 4 years now, your father is gone. Camelot is protected, not just by me but by Aurora and the best Knights Camelot has had in past years, I should know I gave you three of them." That was true; Lancelot, Gwaine and Elyon had been 'given' to Arthur by Merlin. When they had found him and saved him or he'd found them. Arthur didn't look comforted.

"You think I don't know that he's gone! It's more than that Merlin." He said, "it's more the fact that I didn't get to tell him a lot of things before he died. You know the last time I told him I loved him I was 7 and he'd just comforted me after a nightmare? Now it's Aurora who can calm me down…before her it was you…before you it was Morgana. I just can't believe I didn't tell him all the things I wanted to." Arthur hadn't cried in front of Merlin before but Merlin accepted the sobbing King in his arms, Arthur had awkwardly comforted Merlin a few times now it was Merlin's turn to return the favour.

Flashback

"Father!" Uther turned around before picking his young son up into his arms. Arthur was 3 and often came to his father's chambers at night.

"Arthur? What's the matter?" Uther asked, he'd been meaning to get to bed soon, he'd not meant to endure the distraction of the thunderstorm much longer. His son must have been scared.

"It's noisy! It's scary!" the young Prince cried curling into his father's shoulder.

"Oh Arthur, it can't hurt you in here. You're safe in the castle. You know that." Uther said.

"But it's loud!" The child said again. Uther cradled his son in close and kissed the top of his head gently. Since Ygraine had died Uther didn't have a lot of time for Arthur, but he tried to make time for his son. It was difficult being a king and all but there had to be time for his son. Uther let Arthur sleep next to him that night. With a goodnight and four words murmured as the child fell asleep.

"I love you Daddy," That would be one of things that Uther hoped he heard for many years to come.

"I love you too Arthur." Uther whispered.

Flashback End

"I never got to say that to him. I wish I had the chance to say it one more time. Just once more. Just so he knew that I loved him." Arthur stated as he moved to look out the window.

"Arthur, I'm sure he knew you loved him. You may not say it every day but he knew." Merlin said. Arthur spun around to look hard at Merlin. Merlin had never seen that look in Arthur's eyes and he never wanted to again.

"Do you know what he would say instead of 'I love you'?" Merlin shook his head slowly, "he'd say 'you mean more to me than anything' that isn't exactly saying 'I love you' is it?" Arthur snarled. Merlin seemed just a little scared at Arthur's tone. Merlin hadn't known how much Arthur wanted to hear Uther say those three words to him. A knock on the door brought both back to themselves. The door opened and small head of raven curls appeared.

"Father?" Calhoun came in and stood proudly in his miniature knights uniform. A chuckle came from behind the child and the door opened further to reveal, Leon, Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyon and Percival. Not to mention a very proud looking Aurora.

"Isn't he just precious? A gift from Leon and Elyon." She explained at the slightly confused and amused expressions on her brother and husband's faces.

"Mother!" Calhoun protested, "precious isn't a words used for Knights!" Cal had only just turned 4 but he was intellectual Prince. He knew what he wanted and he usually got it. Mostly because he was the Prince but if he was refused then puppy-dog eyes came out and it was hard for the servants to say no to him. Calhoun was handsome and he knew it. Aurora had already told him that he'd grown up to be very handsome, just like his father. And, Merlin thought as Arthur picked up Calhoun and straightened his miniature chain mail shirt, he'll be sought after by many maidens no doubt.