Notes:
Guys, I am honestly so thankful for each and every one of you that ever reads any part of this. Those of you who comment and review allow me to continue and become a better writer. You have no idea how much every comment, review, follower, and favorite means to me. Those emails make me smile so much!
So this chapter is an explanation of what is happening next and why. Caith isn't gone by any means. (I love that you guys love to hate him). Mordred is also coming back later so don't worry.
Anyways, I have never owned Merlin ever in my life.
Enjoy!
Merlin woke slowly the next morning curled in Arthur's arms. He mewled happily and turned over to look at his alpha. The blonde looked peaceful and more like his actual age. His face was devoid of the stress that had aged him already. Merlin hoped that happier times would be coming in their future with the hope of three babies on the way.
Merlin ran his fingers through Arthur's golden hair and felt a bump on the back of his head. Arthur groaned and opened his eyes. Merlin pushed his confusion through their bond.
Arthur looked sheepish for a second and then said, "Caith and his men had a little fun while we were on our way to Esstir. The druids healed the rest of the injuries but said that head injuries were too dangerous to heal through their magic."
Merlin felt angry at the Garenthian Prince, why did he wish to cause so much harm to them. He quickly looked over Arthur's body to find any other signs of his altercation with the other young royal. He couldn't see anything else besides the goose egg that was on the back of his head. "When were you going to tell me?" he asked giving the alpha a glare that he had learned from his sister-in-law.
Arthur had the sense to look sheepish again, "I actually wasn't going to worry you, its not good with your condition."
Merlin sat up on his knees and poked the alpha in the chest, "How dare you decide things for me! I am your bond mate Arthur Pendragon and you made me your equal meaning that I need to help you make decisions. I am your balancing piece, why are you blocking me out?" He had allowed all of his feeling of fear of losing his alpha and the stress of being away from each other while he was so vulnerable to hit him at once. There were tears in his eyes by the end of his accusations.
Arthur brushed his hand along Merlin's ribs and he pulled away. Seeing the hurt on his husband's face made him feel sorry for the outburst but Arthur needed to understand his feelings.
"I'm sorry love, I thought that I would be helping you by keeping you stress-free," he said, his eyes pleading with Merlin.
Merlin pulled away farther, "We were separated for almost three days without any word from you! I was so worried Arthur, if I was going to expire at any moment because you died."
Arthur sat up, "Three days? I was only gone two days!"
Merlin was crying again and he shook his head. He didn't understand why he was so upset. He was just so scared the last days of not getting to see Arthur ever again. His emotions were overwhelming him.
He finally allowed his alpha to pull him into his chest and Arthur kissed the tears from his cheeks, "Shh...Love, I'm here now. The druids must have spent longer healing me than I thought, I'm so sorry that I worried you so much. I couldn't get word to you because I was always being watched by Caith and his men. I didn't mean to be gone that long either.
"I promise that we won't separate again unless we absolutely need to. Please calm down or I will have to get your mother to sedate you," Arthur said while still leaving kisses against the side of his face and ears.
Merlin felt the distress melt away and he allowed Arthur to hold him and sooth his worries. He sat there curled into his alpha's chest. He finally calmed down enough to talk again, "I'm sorry, I just worried so much and I wanted you to be here."
Arthur made a comforting growl and gently rubbed Merlin's back. He leaned down and captured Merlin's mouth in a kiss. He mewled pleased with the affection and was just happy to have everyone he cared about safe and sound.
Arthur pulled away, "So how did you happen to find out that we are having triplets?"
Merlin blushed, "Mum knew this old trick that could tell the gender of the baby and we tried it."
Arthur raised his eyebrows expectantly, "And?"
The omega smiled happily, "Two boys and a girl."
Arthur looked completely in awe and full of love, "Did you figure out their secondary genders?"
Merlin's face fell, he hadn't thought about that yet. He quickly tried to think of something to keep his alpha happy with him. "I can ask Mum, but I don't know yet."
Arthur continued to beam with pride, "I honestly couldn't care less, as long as you and the babies are happy and healthy."
Merlin nodded, "Of course."
The couple sat in each other's presence and enjoyed being together again. Merlin knew that his inner omega would not be content unless he was with his alpha. He was going to become super attached already with the pregnancy hormones but this would cause the change to happen sooner.
Arthur hummed happily, "So, I think we should head back to Camelot soon. I want to announce our good news now."
Merlin purred at this idea, "I like the sound of that, but what about the other treaties?"
"We'll, have a feast after the announcement and there we can meet with King Bayard and King Cenred. They can both have their negotiations in the following days but that way you can stay rested and out of harm's way," Artur said rubbing his ears gently.
Merlin purred, "Yes, that sounds wonderful."
They were interrupted by Hunith entering the house, "Good Morning boys, did you sleep well?"
Merlin blushed and averted his eyes. Yes his mother obviously knew that he and Arthur had a healthy sexual relationship, he had gone through his first heat with his alpha and was carrying his own litter of children, but facing it head on was completely different.
His mother moved around the kitchen and he assumed that she was preparing for breakfast. She came out and handed him a cup of mint tea. He took it and drank the liquid quickly. After spending hours emptying his stomach yesterday, his mother had offered to make him a special mint tea that would calm his nausea. He was suppose to drink it right when he woke up, before he went to sleep, and any other time he became sick. His mother had told him that losing any weight would be harmful to his and the babies health, so he drank the strong tisane whenever it was placed in his hands.
Arthur got up and got dressed in the clothes that his mother must have brought inside for him. Merlin quickly did the same and was dressed for the day. He sat back on the bed and ran his tail through his hands, watching Arthur get ready for the day.
Soon everyone came in to eat and each of the knights greeted their true king. They all seemed happier now that everyone was within the same party again. Merlin sat at the table and Gwaine sat down beside him, "I see that you had a very eventful night."
Merlin rolled his eyes along with Elyan and Percival. Lancelot was speaking with Arthur and Freya and George were helping with the breakfast. "You do realize that I'm almost desensitized to your humor Gwaine."
The knight frowned, "Come on Mer-lin, you love my charm."
"The only one who loves your charm that much is yourself Gwaine, " Merlin said as he shook his head but was trying to hold in his laughter at the same time. Gwaine was now pouting and honestly it was hilarious.
Elyan was trying to stay upright but was failing and holding his side. Percival just crossed his arms and shook his head at the sight.
Arthur and Lancelot turned towards them. The blonde raised his eyebrow, "What is going on?"
Elyan was still laughing and Gwaine pouting, so Percival explained, "Merlin outwitted Gwaine and Elyan lost it."
Merlin got a curious look from his husband and he just shrugged, kind of very confused at what was going on. He and Gwaine joked around all the time but it was normally just between them both. He gave Arthur a shrug.
Lancelot smiled and stood beside the still pouting Gwaine. Arthur sat between him and Merlin. Then his mother and the servants brought out bread and cheeses for breakfast. Percival stood and elbowed Elyan to stand also. Freya and his mother took the two seats and served everyone some of the food.
Merlin ate his food slowly hoping that he would be able to hold onto his food today. He didn't want to worry everyone again like he had yesterday. He wanted to make their announcement within their kingdom but he knew that the others would catch on soon enough if he kept throwing up everything he ate. He also didn't want to worry Arthur anymore than he already was.
After everyone had eaten, Arthur began to speak, "So, I made it back late last night after I had to be saved by the druids because Caith and two of his men knocked me out and beat me."
Merlin tried to school his expression and watch that of the rest of the group. His mother looked like she wanted to pull Arthur into a hug keeping him safe forever and the knights all looked as if they were about to murder the Garenthian prince. He honestly could relate to them all but he needed to remain calm and support whatever his alpha wanted to do.
"I say we go and tell King Olaf of his son's threats and attack, He and his knights have gotten away with murder and we have sat back and done nothing but tried to protect our own," Percival said looking straight at Arthur.
Merlin couldn't agree more but he watched Arthur, ready to intervene if things began to get out of hand. He quickly turned to Freya and made sure that she was okay. He could actually see her shaking He reached across the table and rubbed her hand gently. She tried to smile but couldn't seem to get control of her tremors. He beckoned his mother over and asked her to escort Freya outside to get away from the alphas' anger and heated conversation. Arthur needed him here and He really wouldn't be any help to Freya in this situation. George followed them out for added protection and Merlin was honestly grateful.
Merlin brought he attention back to the discussion at hand. "I can't do that," Arthur replied.
"Why not?" Elyan asked as he and Percival took their previous seats at the table.
Merlin had wondered the same thing but had never gotten an explanation because he had been so distressed before.
"I was in a party with two Garenthian knights and their prince in their lands, no matter what I say it will always be overruled in Garenth, I don't have support behind my claims," Arthur said sounding defeated.
Merlin made a sad noise and rubbed his alpha's arm, trying to bring some sort of comfort. Arthur placed his hand against the omega's and gave a small nod of thanks.
"I'm sorry Sire but I have to disagree, your word as a king should be taken at the highest level of confidence,"Lancelot said.
Arthur looked sad again, "Thank you Lancelot, but that is not how this works."
Merlin felt sad at this statement, he couldn't stand the fact that his alpha was upset. He agreed with Lancelot and the knights but Arthur's explanations were starting to make sense but he wasn't in anyway happy about it and he could tell that Arthur wasn't pleased either.
Gwaine growled at his right, "That is complete shit and you know it, I don't mean you any disrespect but they tried to poach your pregnant mate and then kill you. That should be grounds for war."
Merlin froze at the words, he wasn't sure if it was the exposure of their secret and his vulnerable state or the mention of a war that could take Arthur away from him and their children when they needed him most.
Arthur's arm immediately went around the omega's shoulders and pulled him closer.
Gwaine looked apologetic, "I didn't mean to break my word Sire, it just slipped in my anger."
Arthur shrugged it off, "Nothing is harmed, we were actually going to reveal it to everyone when we got back and hold a feast to announce it to the court, our allies, and the people of Camelot."
Merlin nodded and smiled to his friend, yes he liked having just a few people knowing but now that there was a threat he needed people to know. The more who knew now, the more he and their children were protected. He finally looked around and saw all of the alphas around him looking happy.
Each came up and patted Arthur on the back and petted Merlin's ears and hair. He purred at the affection and pride shown by the other alphas in their group. His own alpha was beaming with pride and they silently agreed that the exact number of their first litter could be revealed later in Camelot.
After everything had calmed back down, Arthur explained that they wouldn't be taking any action until Garenth made the first move. The knights seemed unhappy but would obey their alpha king. Merlin didn't quite agree either but if his alpha believed that it was the correct move then he would support him fullheartedly.
Everyone agreed that they would leave later that day to return to the citadel and Merlin honestly couldn't be happier to be headed home. He wanted to be with Morgana and Gwen again and have help with dealing in Freya's new dissociation issues. He needed to have a routine again and to be caught up on the happenings within the omega circles. Merlin just wanted to be back home again.
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