Arthur addressed the entourage they would take to the isle of the blessed.
"As we have no way of knowing whether Agravaine had time to alert father of our route, we'll have to take another route. This one should get us there five days later than expected, but we should arrive with at least a week to spare before the child is ready to be born." Arthur said.
"Are you feeling alright, Merlin?" Merlin turned to look at Morgana who was looking at him worried.
"I'm alright." Merlin said, sighing as he drank some water. "Just feeling a bit warm." He mumbled.
"Merlin, remember to spell the horse." Gwaine said. Merlin nodded, hand on the saddle, whispering the spell. His eyes glowed and he felt his body relax into the seat.
"Lets go." Leon said, smiling warmly at him.
Merlin took a deep breath and got the horse moving. At the end of this journey, Camelot would have a new prince. If he's lucky, he might get to actually hold the child in his arms. He just hoped that whatever Iseldir had planned would work.
Merlin rode in the middle of the entourage, guarded by the knights, followed by Morgana, more soldiers, and led by Arthur at the front.
The first three days were pretty straightforward and uneventful. Get up, breakfast, ride a few hours, stop for lunch, ride some more, set up camp for the night. The days were longer now, which allowed for further travel. Merlin could only hope the rest of the journey went as smoothly.
oOoOoOo
"I've told you, you may help me with the war to even out the disadvantage with Arthur's army, but catching him before he reaches that isle will take place without the aid of magic." Uther said coldly to the sorceress.
"If that is your wish, then so be it, your majesty." Lana said politely.
"Get out of my sight." He hissed and Lana bowed, heading straight for her chambers.
Uther had sent men to intercept the group before they reached the isle of the blessed. Lana had no clue what they planned to do there, unless they found someone else willing to sacrifice themselves for the sorcerer.
She began to pace the room. She couldn't allow that Dragon Lord to survive.
She turned to her scrying bowl, filling it with water. She began casting a spell, showing the Dragon Lord riding with the entourage through the forest. It looked nothing like the route described by Agravaine and considering it didn't look like he was with them, she could only guess he'd been discovered somehow.
"Useless, the lot of them." She whispered and grabbed a small white crystal from her purse. She loudly spoke her spell before dropping it on the image. Slowly a mist began to descent upon the forest so thick that she herself had difficulty seeing the shapes she was spying on. "That should slow you down..." She smirked. Making Agravaine appear on the water, she sent forth and unlocking charm and his manacles fell free.
oOoOoOo
"There's no getting through this today, sire, we should make camp, try again tomorrow." Leon advised.
Arthur clenched his jaw but nodded. "Let's set up camp."
As they dismounted from the horses, Arthur searched for Merlin's. "Merlin?" Arthur asked. This was ridiculous, this was a very strange mist, he couldn't even see the next horse down.
"It's me." Merlin said, taking his hand. Percival found them in time to help Merlin down. "This mist came out of nowhere. It has to be the work of magic." Merlin said.
"I figured as much." Arthur said, helping Merlin over to the fire that someone had made. As they came closer, they saw it was Morgana's doing.
"Everyone, be on guard. This mist is made of magic." Leon called out. Arthur sat down beside Merlin, holding his hand firmly. Merlin leaned in to rest his head on Arthur's shoulder. Arthur frowned and reached up to feel Merlin's forehead.
"You're a bit warm." Arthur said softly.
"I just keep getting these hot flushes… I'm sure it will pass." Merlin said.
"You'll let me know if you start feeling unwell, won't you?" Arthur asked.
"Of course, Arthur. I'll let you know every tickle I feel from now until the child is born." He teased and Arthur smiled, leaning in to kiss him softly.
"How can you even tell you're kissing the right person? This mist is so thick." Gwaine complained as he walked past. Arthur felt Merlin's lips lift to a smile and release a chuckle as they pulled away.
The mist didn't let up the next day, or the one after that.
"We can't wait any longer. We have to go." Arthur insisted.
"Sire, if we try to cross the forest like this there's no knowing where we'd end up." Percival said.
"I understand but the more days that pass, the closer Merlin gets to giving birth. We have to get to that island." Arthur said.
"We have no choice, Leon. We have to push through." Gwaine said.
"This must be Lana's doing, Arthur. We have to go on." Merlin said. "I'll try and use my powers to pinpoint a direction we should follow."
"I'll help too, maybe two sorcerers are better than one for this." Morgana said, smiling at Merlin.
"Lets get everything together and go."
oOoOoOo
They moved extremely slowly through the forest. Merlin and Morgana did their best to try and pinpoint a location, but all they could really do was try and pinpoint the trail to follow. It didn't really tell them where they were exactly and although Merlin tried not to keep count, they'd already passed the expected arrival time to the lake by three days.
Finally, the mist began to clear up, but all sense of relief was obscured by the vision of Camelot's men lying in waiting.
"Arthur…" Merlin gasped.
"Sire…" One of the soldiers came forth. "We should proceed as planned. For the sake of the unborn prince." Merlin understood what that meant. "We will fight them. You run."
"Your actions will not be forgotten." Arthur said and grasped the man's arm, shaking it firmly. "Ready everyone?" Arthur asked.
"Ready."
Merlin took a deep breath as the soldiers charged toward the Camelot ambush. The small group made their own way round the ambush. Morgana and Merlin used their magic to slam the soldiers out of their path, allowing them to get around them without issue.
The handful of men that tried to follow them were thrown off their horses by Morgana.
Merlin's heart raced wildly as they fled from the fighting soldiers. They didn't stop for another hour of hard riding as they made camp. Merlin got off the horse with help and took a deep breath, leaning into Arthur.
"It's alright. We'll get there in a couple of days maximum Merlin." He said. Merlin shook his head, breathing quickly. Fear trembled in his veins and he looked up at him.
"Merlin?" Gwaine asked worried.
"I'm wet…" Merlin managed to say.
"What do you mean you're wet?" Arthur asked with a frown.
"My waters have broken." Merlin said. "The child is getting ready to come out."
Arthur's eyes widened with fear and shook his head. "We must get on the horses. We'll ride all night if we have to!"
"Arthur we can't! They horses are exhausted after we've just escaped." Morgana cried out. "They'll never make it."
"Morgana's right…" Merlin said. "We should try and sleep. In the morning we can continue."
"No! The baby's coming now!" Arthur said.
"Waters breaking doesn't mean imminent birth, Arthur." Morgana said. "Gaius says it's the start… labour should begin within a day for Merlin."
"Then…" Arthur started and Percival stepped in.
"Tomorrow we ride at first light, we'll push the horses a little and see how far we get. When labour starts… it could take another couple of days Arthur." He said.
"Very well…" Arthur said. "We're not that far away from the isle. We'll make it in time."
Merlin nodded, though he couldn't stop shaking. He was scared. He had no idea what to expect and Gaius wasn't here. Gaius was waiting for them in the isle of the blessed.
That night, Arthur held him tighter up against him and Merlin knew that he was getting just as scared as him.
Merlin managed to sleep until dawn. What woke him wasn't the rays of the sun. He gasped and breathed quickly, trying to breathe through the pain that spread around his back and abdomen, concentrating on his naval area.
"Merlin?" Arthur sat up, looking down at him. Merlin whimpered, eyes shut tight. "No, no Merlin, you can't, not yet." Arthur exclaimed. "Leon! Gwaine! Percival! Ready the horses!" He yelled. Everyone shot to their feet and rushed to prepared.
Merlin felt the pain relax and shuddered, letting Arthur help him up. "It's passed." Merlin said softly.
"Now, we can say… the labour's begun." Morgana said.
Merlin groaned as he was placed on the horse. He managed the spell before crying out in pain, another contraction hitting him hard. Arthur took the reigns of the horse and they began to ride.
In number of seconds, the pain relaxed and Merlin trembled. "Arthur…" Everyone insinuated it would be painful but no one had gone into detail what would happen. Merlin had no idea what was happening to him.
"Hold on Merlin, we'll get there." Arthur said.
"I could do a spell for the pain?" Morgana suggested. Merlin shook his head.
"No… I need to know what's coming…" Merlin said.
And so they advanced. Merlin's cries of pain could be heard all around them. It made all the knights cringe seeing and hearing so much pain coming from his voice.
If only the contractions would stay as they were, but slowly Merlin could feel them getting closer together and longer in time. They rode the horses into the night, slowly and steadily making their way through the forest.
"Arthur, please lets stop." Merlin begged. He needed to stretch his legs and he could feel another contraction coming.
"… just an hour." Arthur said. The moment he was off the horse, Merlin pressed his hands against the bark of a tree. The contraction hit hard and he cried out.
"AGH! Nnh! Nhh…" It hurt so much. He could feel Arthur coming to rub his back and Merlin moved away from the tree, holding onto Arthur's shoulders, pressing his forehead against his chest, trying to breathe through it. "It hurts…" He managed to force out of his lips.
"I'm sorry." Arthur said.
"Stop apologising." Merlin grumbled as the pain began to relax away and he could breathe deeply once more. Tears of pain had trailed down his face and he wiped them away. They stayed like this for the hour they rested.
"We have to keep going." Arthur said.
"I can't." Merlin whimpered.
"Oh yes you can. Help me Percival." Gwaine said, forcing Merlin back on the horse. Not that Merlin was fighting back. He was too tired, just trying to enjoy the moment without pain he was savouring.
"You can do this, Merlin, just hold on a little while longer." Arthur said, continuing to pull on the reins. Merlin only answered with a cry of pain a few minutes later that lasted longer than the rest and Merlin could feel he was running out of time.
oOoOoOo
"There it is!" Morgana said, pointing at the isle up ahead. They were an hour away at best.
"Arthur! Please… I can't!" Merlin cried and Arthur turned, anguish at seeing Merlin in so much pain and not being able to do anything about it.
"We're almost there Merlin!" Merlin shook his head and got off the horse on his own. "What are you doing?" He dismounted and came to his side.
"I can't… I can't." Merlin panted against him.
Something spooked their horses. Morgana and the knights were thrown off by the horses and landed on the forest floor, while the beasts whinnied and ran away.
"NO!" Arthur cried out, trying to see where they had gone. "What happened?" Arthur yelled.
Merlin cried out as another contraction hit, much closer to the previous one and Arthur shook his head.
Laughter rang all around them and they took out their swords.
"You heinous wench!" Morgana shouted, recognising the sorceress Lana's voice.
"You won't make it in time. How about a little spell to help things along?" Came the voice.
"No! Morgana, where is she?" Arthur yelled.
"I don't know! She's not here!" Morgana yelled.
"No… but I have sent someone to pick up my little prince." The voice echoed around them. "My little child, come forth." She began to recite words of the old religion that echoed all around them.
Merlin raised his hand. "Scildan!" He cried out the shielding spell but his eyes didn't flare gold. Terror filled his heart. "Scildan!" He tried again, but it didn't work. His magic was beyond his reach.
Merlin shuddered feeling Lana's spell come to him, but the child flared up, encasing him in a golden dome of protection.
"Tsk…"
oOoOoOo
Uther walked into the sorceress' room, hearing her cursed words.
"I will have you, my little prince." She promised, speaking into the scrying bowl.
"Merlin!" He heard Arthur cry out and Uther took out his sword, running the witch through with it.
"Uther…" She cried out, glaring at him, spiting out blood. "You traitor…"
"I have no loyalty for your kind. I told you not to use magic for this. Your services will no longer be required." He pulled out the sword and the witch dropped to the floor, choking on her own blood as he walked away.
oOoOoOo
Merlin whimpered as the dome flickered and vanished.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"Lana's gone." Morgana said, looking all around them but there was no presence to be felt.
"Her spell didn't work, the child protected Merlin." Gwaine said.
"It doesn't matter!" Merlin yelled.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked.
"I can feel him pressing!" Merlin cried out, fear in his heart. They'd never make it to the isle now.
"No! No, Merlin, we need to get you to the isle." Arthur said, reaching to pick him up himself.
"Arthur… stop… stop please." Merlin whimpered, crying out at a rather strong contraction. When it was over Arthur hadn't gotten them that much closer to the lake. "Arthur, without the horses… we can't… I can't!" Merlin said and Arthur shook his head placing him down, holding him close.
"I won't lose you!" Arthur yelled.
"I'll always be with you. I promise." Merlin whispered.
"But none of us knows how to deliver a child!" Gwaine exclaimed.
"Percival?" Merlin asked the knight hopefully.
"I… no, men aren't usually allowed in the birthing room." He said.
"Well that's just… perfect!" Merlin snapped.
"We should at least get you comfortable." Morgana said, laying out the sleeping mats together for him.
Arthur helped him down and Merlin trembled. He could feel it, that distinct difference in contractions that told his body to push. "Arthur…" Merlin. "Help me."
Arthur stared at him, frozen for a few seconds before getting down to his side. Morgana pushed Leon to sit on the floor, so Merlin could lean back against him. Leon looked like he had no idea what to do so he just stayed still.
Morgana helped pull Merlin's skirts up and went to summon some water to purify. "Arthur! Tell me if you see the head of the child." Morgana said.
"I thought you said you've never done this!" Gwaine exclaimed horrified.
"I haven't! But Gaius went over some basics with me!" Morgana exclaimed.
"DO IT, ARTHUR!" Merlin yelled at him and Arthur flinched, looking between his legs. Merlin saw him pass out. "You absolute cabbage head!" He yelled at the unconscious prince.
Gwaine came instead. "Merlin, may I?"
"Just do it!" Merlin snapped.
Gwaine sighed and looked quickly, before looking back at Morgana. "No, I can't see anything." He said. Morgana came back and rolled his eyes at Arthur.
Merlin screamed, one hand reaching up and pulling on Leon's hair, the other squeezing the life out of Gwaine's hand as he pushed down. Leon and Gwaine screamed with him. Percival helped Morgana getting what clean cloths they could find amongst their stuff before coming back.
Merlin finally relaxed and whimpered, trying to breathe through the pain. "Arthur… wake up… please you idiot." He whimpered.
Morgana splashed some water on Arthur's face and finally, Arthur jumped awake. "What happened?" He asked.
"You passed out." Percival said patting Arthur's shoulder.
Arthur had the decency to look embarrassed as he came to hold Merlin's hand. "I'm sorry, Merlin." He said.
"Just don't pass out again." Merlin said, breathing deeply. Morgana used a wet cloth to wipe the sweat on Merlin's brow.
"I won't." Arthur whispered.
Merlin didn't have time to hear what else he had to say, because another contraction hit and he screamed again, squeezing hard on both his victims' hands.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, not having expected that kind of strength from him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I hurting you?!" Merlin shouted at him. Arthur took a deep breath and shook his head. "That's what I thought!"
Arthur thought this was supposed to be quick, but it took Merlin another two hours of agonising pain and pushing before the child's head could be seen. To say that all they'd seen in battle didn't come close to the horrors they were being made to witness was an understatement.
"I can't… I can't Arthur, I'm so tired." Merlin whimpered.
"Hey, you can do this, Merlin." Arthur said. "You're the strongest person I know." He said, getting him to open his eyes.
Merlin smiled sadly. "I love you…" He whispered.
"I love you too… so much." Merlin pulled him down for a kiss that was interrupted by another contraction.
"You can do it, Merlin! Push!" Morgana exclaimed.
"Push!" All three knights exclaimed and Merlin screamed, arching his back in pain.
Seconds later, Merlin collapsed, teeth clattering, tears trailing down the sides of his face and a smile forming at the sound of a newborn's cry.
"You did it!" Gwaine cheered.
"Well done, Merlin!" Leon exclaimed.
"It's a boy!" Morgana cheered, cleaning him up. "Arthur, you want to cut the cord?" Morgana asked.
"Cut the what?" Arthur asked a little shocked as he stared at the squirming little thing.
"I'll do it." Morgana said and with a quick spell it was done.
Merlin reached for the little thing and brought him into his arms. He cried as he held him against his chest, the little thing trembling and starting to calm down.
"My son..." Arthur whispered, staring at the little thing. Merlin looked down at him. He was minute. He was smaller than Merlin's forearm and wrinkly and pink and perfect. Short golden hair decorated the top of the baby's head and his little eyes opened to reveal a perfect blue. "He's beautiful, Merlin." Arthur whispered and kissed Merlin softly.
"I love you both…" Merlin whispered. He was feeling shaky, his vision blurring. "I think… I think I'm going…" Merlin whispered.
"No… No Merlin. Morgana, take my life. Now." Arthur said desperately.
"No! You'll be king, Arthur! Take mine." Gwaine said.
"You idiots are all so desperate to die…" Morgana whispered, tears in her eyes. "I was supposed to be the sacrifice originally. I'll do it."
"No! Morgana just take me." Leon offered.
Merlin smiled warmly. "I feel so loved." He said softly.
"Merlin."
"Father?" Merlin asked softly, hearing Balinor's voice.
"You've done so well, my son."
"I don't want to say goodbye, father." He whispered, another tear joining the rest. Everyone's voices became dulled. He could hear the baby start to cry again, sounding distant.