With dinner at an end, several friends gather in the Court Physician's chambers to continue the discussion on what couldn't be said in the presence of the King. It was in this privacy setting, among friends, that Merlin had learned about the bride price his mother had accepted.
"You did what?" Merlin shouts, lowering his voice at the very last syllable after remembering that he was speaking with his mother. "How could you? Sell off a chicken, I'd understand. Barter for a piece of furniture with a half field of wheat, that's all above board and reasonable." Shaking his head and then reaching up to hold the back of his neck as if to relieve tension that was clearly building in the young man the more he spoke.
"Merlin, you're mother managed a perfectly agreeable situation." Gaius says calmly hoping to settle Merlin's frustrations. "It's actually resolved a number of issues so you should be thanking her."
"Oh look, there goes Lord Merlin. I knew him when he was a lowly servant boy catering to the needs of the future King." Merlin says mockingly as he continues along his rant. "Have you heard how he got himself a title?" Running his hands through his hair, the warlock starts to pace. Suddenly stopping, he reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Mother, I love you with all my heart, but I really wish you would have talked to me before you did this."
"It was for the best, both King Uther and Prince Arthur were very reasonable in their request." Hunith says in a calm voice as she watches her son work through his shock. "Their generosity will benefit so many. I had to take that into consideration as well. The title is unsettling, so I can feel your frustrations, but I won't apologize." Crossing her arms over her chest, she lifts her chin defiantly.
"They are trying, as is your mother. It was no easy task for them to reach the agreement they did." Gaius says as he rises to his feet. "You know Uther's history, and you know that of your family." He says moving to stand before Merlin. "Look at it as the start of things to come."
"It was a bride price, all of it." Merlin says softly, "It's so utterly confusing that someone will need a chart to keep track of who's doing what for what reason. It shouldn't be happening this way."
"It seems rather brilliant if you ask me." Gwen interjects from her perch on the stairs leading up to Merin's old room. "And as she said, she only bargained for the option to ask you to agree to a hand fastening with the option of a year and a day."
"Your mother certainly has a good bit of skill in negotiations." Agatha agreed from her place sitting on the stairs beside Gwen. "With everything that you've both gained, you still have the option to say no or to keep the arrangement for only the year and a day and walk away after that."
"It's exciting if you ask me, my Lord." Gwen says with a slight squeal of delight at the end of her words. "Oh it sounds so perfect to say it aloud!"
"I'm sure you feel as if it's all out of your control at the moment," Gaius says placing a comforting hand on Merlin's shoulder. "But perhaps you need to look at this as an opportunity to better achieve your destiny."
At that moment the door to the Physician's chambers creaks slightly as the door slowly opens. "Is it safe to come in?" Arthur says sticking his head through the opening.
"Of course it is Sire," Gaius calls out as the grip on Merlin's shoulder tightens. Lifting a brow and giving the boy a firm glare, he adds quietly to Merlin, "Behave yourself."
"You should go get some rest." Agatha says as she glances from Merlin to Arthur. "It's getting late and the evening has been eventful."
"Agatha's right," Hunith says as she rises to her feet. Reaching her son's side in a few steps she smiles at Gaius as he steps out of her way. Stepping near, she gently kisses Merlin's cheek and whispers to him, "Go talk to him Merlin."
Closing his eyes to gain control over warring emotions, Merlin finally nods. "I'm still mad." He replies as he gathers his mother into a loving hug.
"I know," Hunith says with a tired smile.
"You're quiet." Arthur says as they walk through the castle in the direction of the Prince's Quarters. "Are you alright?"
"My mother told me everything." Merlin says flatly without hint of emotion.
"I expected her to say something since it is the explanation you needed." Arthur says with a slight glance towards Merlin. "There was very little else we could do. I hope I'll be able to add my side of the story."
A shrug of his shoulder is all that Merlin gives to Arthur in reply. The remainder of the journey is quiet, leaving each of them to their own thoughts. Arriving at the Princes chambers, the two men enter silently.
Moving through the chambers, Arthur shrugs off his doublet and tosses it over the dressing screen. Turning, with the expectation to speak with Merlin, the Prince is surprised to find himself alone. "Merlin?" He wanders back along the path he'd taken in search of his companion. Finding him stretched out on the bed with his back to the door in the servant's quarters, he frowns with concern as he moves to stand beside the bed. "Are you alright?"
"None of this should have happened. This is not how it was supposed to be." Merlin says without looking over his shoulder.
Dropping onto the bed, Arthur reaches out a hand to roll Merlin over. The sadness in his friend's eyes brings a sigh to the Prince's lips. "Talk to me, tell me what you have on your mind."
Searching Arthur's eyes as if seeking something in the blue debt that would ease his mind, Merlin turns slightly more, fully onto his back, so that he fully faces the Prince. "Before the first time between us, before we were forced, did you ever think of me as a lover? Did you ever once consider me as anything but your bumbling servant who you barely tolerated?" The words spoken are calm but the questions held a great need to be answered.
Arthur's eyes grow unfocused and deep in thought. "There was a time," the Prince says, speaking aloud without direction to anyone specific. "There was a time where I didn't think of anyone but myself. Back then, I never thought of you as a friend, but here you are not only my friend but perhaps my very best friend." He says focusing his vision now on Merlin's face. "So I have to be honest when I tell you that I didn't think of you in any way but as my friend when we were forced together. But as it was with our friendship, it's the same with my affections." Without looking the Prince's hand seeks out and intertwines with Merlin's hand. "Now I can't imagine waking up without you in my arms."
Merlin closes his eyes a moment, almost as if trying to sort out what he'd been told. Taking a deep breath, and opening his eyes once more, he searches Arthur's face "What about Gwen?" His lip quivers slightly in unspoken words about love and friendship.
"She is my friend, and yes, I love her, but there has always been something about you." Arthur says visibly struggling to find the right words to describe how he felt. "I can't explain it, but when I'm not with you I think about you and when you're near I feel safe and powerful at the same time. You're a part of me, and I'm not whole without you." Squeezing his hand, the Prince tilts his head slightly and the corner of his mouth raises in a bittersweet smile. "Gwen and I talked months ago. She understands more than you can imagine."
"I'm still mad at my mother." Merlin says turning his gaze to the ceiling. "I feel like livestock traded during the harvest."
Stretching out alongside Merlin on the bed, Arthur draws in a deep breath and releases it slowly. "My father wants a legitimate heir. Geoffrey suggested adoption or hand fastening. Adoption was ruled out immediately since your mother wouldn't hear of it and I wasn't willing to have you as a brother after accepting my need to have you as my lover." Shifting up onto one elbow, the Prince looks into Merlin's eyes.
"So it could be worse." Merlin says with a shiver.
"Exactly," Arthur says in agreement. "You aren't a noble so my father wouldn't agree to a wedding in any form. Again, Geoffrey suggested the bride price that might establish your mother as a noble and then by default you would also be a noble. Your mother negotiated a very shrewd bargain. You should be proud of her standing up to my father the way she did." Chuckling lightly, Arthur added, "He found it harder to accept that you were not a noble than the fact that you were a man."
"I suppose he might have objected in the interest of your producing an heir," Merlin said as he rolls on his side to face the Prince.
"I suppose you're right." Arthur says as he reaches out to rest a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Anyway, the hand fastening allowed for several options. First there is the option of left handed so that I could claim you as a mistress and all of our children would be legitimate. I rejected that as insulting and beneath our honor to pursue. Due to our unusual circumstances, my father insisted that we pursue nothing more than the temporary union in order to assure the legitimacy of the child and to allow us the option to pursue something my father deems normal."
Sighing heavily, Merlin looks away from Arthur's face when he speaks. "So you want a year and a day?"
"It's what I can get now, and it leaves the door open for more if I can successfully get my father to agree." Arthur offers honestly. "So will you? Will you give me a year and a day?
"I suppose I have no other options." Merlin says looking up once more. "My master unfairly dismissed me so and I'll soon have another mouth to feed so I have to do something."
Rolling his eyes Arthur pulls Merlin close. "Anyone else would be thrilled to be wedded to the Crown Prince of Camelot, and you complain about being dismissed from a servant's job."
"It was a good job." Merlin points out.
Several weeks pass, leading the kingdom into the month of June and with it the promise of a new moon. The summer night is warm and the gentle breeze blowing through the rose garden picks up the scents of a hundred or more flowers. From somewhere far outside the castle walls, the seductive scent of lavender mingles with the sweet fragrances coming from the Camelot kitchens as a feast is being prepared.
Night had fallen, and activity is high in the royal gardens as Gwen and Hunith direct the preparations for the ceremony to come. Upon the deep green grass, a large circle made of petals is lightly outlined. At the east, west, north, and south a large pillar candle marks each direction. In all, the preparations are subtle yet delicately beautiful.
"Set the table in the middle," Gwen directs a pair of servants holding a large table within the circle. "Perfect, but have it directed to the north and south."
When the table is placed and the servants retreat, Hunith sweeps in with a box of items she proceeds to place upon the table. Humming softly, she smooth's a red cloth on the table followed by a lovely glass bell, a simple chalice, two white candles, a length of cord, and a small carved box. Looking over her shoulder to the east, she calls out to Gaius who sits upon a bench beside Merlin, "Have you seen Geoffrey yet? Isn't he supposed to be here?"
"He'll be here, Hunith." Gaius says before turning back to Merlin. "She seems to be enjoying herself." He comments with a smile.
"At least someone is." Merlin says while reaching up to rub one eye. "I barely slept last night, and when I did it was a nightmare again. Something's coming Gaius, there can be no other reason why I've been having the same dream over and over." Frowning and lowering his hand to rest on his massive belly, he sighs. "It's a different victim each time. It makes little sense other than the constant about the beast."
"If it is a barghest, then there should be some comfort that it can be killed by sword should the need arrive." Gaius says as he turns to watch Hunith and Gwen hurry about in the circle to finish the preparations. "It won't be easy, but the Knights have faced worse and managed well enough without your assistance."
Leaning closer, though the effort seems to put pressure on his ability to breath, Merlin whispers hotly, "I can still use my magic if needed."
"This is true, but the time it would take for you to waddle close enough to see, and the fact you can't easily get out of the away of anything that might try to harm you means that it wouldn't be wise for you to attempt to help." Gaius says sympathetically. "You don't have much farther to go before the child is born. After that you can possibly return to helping Arthur once more."
"Are we ready?" Geoffrey asks as he moves quickly through the garden towards the alter. Looking up into the sky, he presses his lips tightly. "The moon will be visible shortly."
"We're just waiting on the King and the Prince." Gaius says as he rises to his feet.
"Are we the last to arrive?" Uther asks as he strolls into the garden with Arthur to his right and several knights trailing behind. "Good," He says without waiting for anyone to answer. "Geoffrey you are free to begin."
"Gaius, could you give me a hand?" Merlin asks with a tug on the Court Physician's robe.
"Sire," Gaius says as he puts his hand under Merlin's left arm. Grinning, Arthur helps lift Merlin on the right.
"Thank you," the Raven haired Lord says with a slight coloring of embarrassment. Glancing at the Prince, Merlin smiles warmly. "Haven't changed your mind have you?" To that Arthur shakes his head.
Geoffrey rings the bell three times. "Let the gathering of family and friends present to witness the hand fastening of the Crown Prince Arthur Pendragon, and the Lord Merlin. Come forth and stand before us.
Moving around to Merlin's right Arthur wraps his arm around Merlin's. "Here we go." The Prince says as he leads Merlin to the circle. He pauses outside the circle and turns north to follow the outline of the circle. Stopping where they had begun their trip around the circle, Arthur guides them into the center to stand before Geoffrey.
Taking the chalice, the elderly librarian fills it with wine then offers it to the north, the south, east, and then the west, silently whispering an ancient prayer to the elements. Setting the chalice back on the altar, the Librarian lifts the cord and turns back to the two men.
Wrapping the cord up and over Merlin left and Arthur's right wrist, the elder man pauses and says "May the Air keep the relationship fresh and light between these two." Twisting the cord and looping it downward over the two wrists, Geoffrey says, "Let the fire in their hearts keep their passion burning." Twisting the cord again, the Librarian loops the cord upwards again, "May the water be as deep as their love and keep them strong." One more twist the cord is looped downwards one final time. "As with the earth may their lives together remain strong." With that the cord is knotted.
Turning and reaching for the chalice, Geoffrey offers it to Arthur. Taking the chalice, the Prince holds it up in salute towards Merlin. "It is my wish to join with you, become whole and complete." Taking a sip of the wine, he offers the chalice to Merlin. Holding it up to Arthur, he smiles. "It is my wish to join with you, to offer all that I am so that we might be complete." Taking a sip of the wine, Merlin offers it back to Geoffrey.
Turning from the couple, the older man places the chalice on the altar. Taking next the small carved box he turns and lifts the lid to the box. Inside two silver rings lay nestled in a swatch of velvet. "Do any say nay to the union?" Geoffrey calls out only to find silence in reply he offers the box first to Arthur and then to Merlin, so that they each take a ring.
As they each place a ring on the other's hand, the Librarian finishes the ceremony. "Let all hold in witness that these two are joined. Let it be known that should this arrangement be found agreeable then they may return in a year and a day to finalize the union for life."
"A year and a day," Merlin says softly, leaning towards Arthur.
Leaning the remainder of the way, the Prince places a light kiss on his spouses lips. "A year and a day."
Three days later, King Uther bursts into his son's chambers carrying a hand carved, beautifully polished cradle. "Will you look what I've found!" He calls out, knowing full well that Merlin is somewhere in the chambers. Not finding him in the main area, he moves toward the bed chamber. "I've got Arthur's first cradle. It seems fitting that ….."
"Help," Merlin calls out in a pitiful breathless voice. On his knees beneath the window, Merlin's pale figure is curled forward gipping his belly in agony. "I can't breathe," he gasps, struggling to remain conscious.
Dropping the cradle to the floor, the king runs back to the door, issuing orders to send for the Prince and the Court Physician. The guards set off at a run in different directions. With help sent for, the King returns to his son-in-law. "Can you stand?" Uther asks as he kneels beside the suffering young man.
Shaking his head, Merlin can do nothing but close his eyes tightly. "The child wants out, and he wants out now." Gasping a few times as if to catch his breath, his pinched expression tells of the great pain he's trying to fight. "Cut me open if you have to."
"Gaius and Arthur both will be here soon," Uther says as he looks from the suffering boy to the bed, then back again. Tucking his hands under Merlin's arms, the King lifts slow and steady, aiming to get the boy to his feet.
Merlin lets loose a cry of agony when he's half way to his feet. "I can't…" the boy whimpers as he nearly falls back down to the ground.
Sweeping his other hand behind the boy's knees, the King easily lifts the boy into his arms. Taking the few steps to the bed, Uther gently place the boy into the bed. "Hurry up Gaius!" he called out.
The long wait was nearly over.