A/N: Hello again! :) This chapter is shorter as I have exams coming up and have been revising! Thank you so much for all your reviews!
Enjoy the chapter! :)
Arwen4eva xxx
Gwen smiles as she and her son leave the castle for the first time together.
At just over a month old, Gwen believes that Llacheu is ready to go out into the world and be seen by everyone.
"You need to be good now piglet." Gwen coos to Llacheu as he rests his chin on her shoulder giggling at his new surroundings.
Gwen pulls her son down to rest him in her arms so he can get a better look around.
Within the courtyard, the nobles and servants who have already seen the prince smile at the sight of mother and child and those who haven't, the surprise of seeing the new prince shocks them.
As they arrive at the market, the sight of so many unfamiliar people causes Llacheu to shrink into Gwen's chest and whimper slightly.
"It's okay baby." Gwen says bringing him back up to her shoulder where he buries his face into the crook of his mother's neck, his hands clenching some of Gwen's hair.
The people turn to see their Queen and the new Prince together. Collections of awes sound in the air and Gwen smiles at them all.
A young girl skips up to Gwen.
"Your majesty?"
Gwen carefully crouches down and turns Llacheu, detaching his hand from her hair so he can see the girl.
"Hello sweetheart, what's your name?" Gwen asks softly.
"Eleanor my lady." Eleanor says.
"Hello Eleanor. What can I do for you today?"
"I just wanted to thank you for the new school in the lower town. We are learning numbers at the moment."
"Well, I'm glad you like it Eleanor. All children deserve a good education."
"Also, Prince Llacheu is very handsome my lady. Congratulations to both you and the King."
Llacheu gurgles causing the girl to laugh.
"Thank you very much Eleanor. You are very sweet and it has been a pleasure to meet you." Gwen says standing up and placing Llacheu back on her shoulder again.
Eleanor drops into a crusty then runs off.
'I would love to have a little baby girl.' Gwen muses.
"Gwen?" a voice says.
The Queen turns to see Merlin behind her. Llacheu wiggles around then reaches out for Merlin.
"Look who it is piglet. Uncle Merlin." Gwen says handing him over. Merlin takes him with a smile on his face.
"Hey buddy. How you doing?" Merlin asks, Llacheu giving a gurgle in reply.
"How is Arthur taking you using his nickname for our son?" Gwen asks jokingly.
"Well, he has been using piglet more than anything now Gwen. Has he still not kicked the habit yet?" Merlin asks shifting Llacheu so he can see the world around him.
"Not completely. He feeds for longer and doesn't feed as regularly but it is still more than normal babies." she says, stroking her baby's head.
"Maybe he does it not just because of the circumstances of his birth but because of the bond he wants with you. I have seen him with you and Arthur, he wants more of a bond with you, which is very unsurprising seeing as you carried him for 9 months."
Gwen thinks back to when she told Arthur, Merlin and Gaius what had happened when she was "dead" and a frown lines her brow. Gaius had said it was very rare but Arthur had been very surprised to hear about his father but delighted to hear that his mother approved of him.
Gwen shake her head to rid herself of her memories and sees Merlin smiling brightly at Llacheu as he grabs his neckerchief.
Llacheu begins to squirm around in Merlin's arms and Gwen quickly takes him.
"What's wrong piglet?" Gwen asks softly running her hand over his soft head hoping to comfort him.
Llacheu continues to squirm then starts crying. The people look at Gwen with sympathy as she tries to calm her crying child.
"Is he hungry?" Merlin asks guiding Gwen back up to the castle, away from prying eyes.
"No. He had a feed before we came out and I changed him." Gwen says clutching Llacheu to her chest enough to muffle his cries slightly but so he can still breathe.
"Let's get inside. We will go to Gaius if he doesn't stop soon." Merlin says.
By the time they arrived back at the castle, Llacheu had not stopped crying so Merlin and a very anxious Gwen went to Gaius' chambers.
Merlin opens the door and sees Arthur laying on a cot, eyes closed, no shirt on and a blood soaked bandage on his shoulder. Gwen hurries over.
"What happened?" Gwen asks Gaius.
"Accident during training Gwen. I have given him a sleeping draught about 5 minutes ago to help him out, he'll be fine. More importantly, what is wrong with Llacheu?" Gaius asks taking the crying prince.
"I don't know." Gwen says tears brimming her eyes. "We were in the market, a young girl spoke to me and he was fine. Merlin came along and Llacheu was happy to see him then all of a sudden he squirmed then began crying. He hasn't stopped since. What is wrong with him Gaius? Please Gaius! What is wrong with my baby?"
Gwen briskly wipes away the tears that have fallen with the back of her hand as Merlin wraps an arm around her shoulder. She sinks into him as Arthur cannot give her the comfort she currently needs.
Gaius checks him over, struggling due to the constant crying. A memory suddenly comes into his head, from when Gwen had been enchanted.
'Maybe it will work...' Gaius thinks.
He picks up Llacheu and places him on Arthur's chest. Almost immediately the cries cease.
"There we go." Gaius says placing his hand over Llacheu's head.
"Why did he just suddenly stop Gaius?" Gwen asks wiping her face again.
"Llacheu has a deep connection with you and Arthur. Somehow he must have sensed that Arthur was injured and he was crying because he wanted to make sure that Arthur was ok. It si similar from when you were enchanted. He calmed down because he heard Arthur."
"Oh. Will this happen everytime?" Gwen asks advancing towards her husband and son who is now sleeping.
"Probably not. Arthur lost quite a bit of blood which is why I gave him the sleeping draught. Before you ask what happened, that husband of yours wasn't wearing any chain mail or armour whilst training."
"That is Arthur for you Gaius." Gwen says with a smile.
"When he wakes you will tell him that there will be no training for at least 2 weeks. His shoulder will not be able to do much and he will experience pain every now and then. If he puts up a fight, just tell him this is an opportunity to bond more with his son and a lesson being learnt." Gaius says then walks back to his desk.
Gwen laughs slightly then walks over and picks up her slumbering son, cradling him to her chest. Gwen kisses the top of his head.
"I want to stay with Arthur but my piglet needs his sleep - especially after all of that. Merlin, can you send for me when he wakes please." Gwen says.
Merlin nods his head. "Of course I will."
Gwen carefully lies in bed, Llacheu still on her chest.
She removes his little shoes and socks and places them on her bedside table. Gwen picks up his foot slightly and runs her finger over his newly discovered ticklish spot. As expected, his leg kicks out, even in sleep.
"I will definitely have to remember that one when you become insufferable piglet." she whispers.
A yawn escapes her.
"You make mama tired Llacheu. Sometimes I half wish that your dada would be able to feed you so I would not have to wake up during the night but then I realise not only how lucky I am to have you, but how we can connect with each other more.
"Many Queens will not nurse their children because they believe it is not proper, that their duty is just to produce heirs; but they are missing out on a vital thing: the bond you need to have between mother and child. Both your dada and I never met our mothers and I don't want to miss out on anything related with your life piglet. I want to be there every step of the way."
Gwen carefully drapes the blanket that is on the bed over her and Llacheu's body and taking these precious moments, drifts off to sleep.
End note: Please review! :)