Hello! I know I'm a teensy bit late but I really was having some difficulty writing this one. It was literary difficulty, not emotional or anything like that. I just couldn't articulate everything I wanted in this chapter well enough for my liking.

icarusLSU: Mordred is a part of her life and her story couldn't be told without him being an integral part of that. That's why I included him. Merlin's not going to forgive him, especially with what the dragon said about him hanging over his head. And I'm doing okay! Thanks for asking.

Moon Fox: It was just exertion. It was almost too much for him, but he's Emrys and totally all-powerful. And the link will be repaired…see right below.

FireyIce107: Yeah, they are, aren't they? And I can't wait for more Dracula! And I love HOOK SO MUCH! And no. I've got too many shows as it is and not nearly enough drive or free time to watch tv. I also don't have cable. Well, not real cable. I just have an antenna.

Helenmorgause: YAY! Love! I love you guys too!

Shell22: I don't think there will be. I haven't really thought much about it. And so far it is.

Leather2Lace: You will see how it ends soon enough. One more chapter to go. And you should do IT!

DeaththeKidbemine9: It's a really neat language. And it will. See below. And thanks!

MICKEY.G.B: I've tried to be more detailed. Good to know it works.

Bri: SQUEEEE! I can't wait for you to read this!

Tigmeyers: Update away.

Sjritts: Woot! I hope it's on par. I really really do. And Merlin's less dark now. He's still serious and taking his responsibility seriously but less evily dark. You shall wait no longer.

OneFairMaiden: It made me happy too! Lol. And how could she not forgive him? He's Mordred. I want to write more, but we will see. And it is so weird. Katie is amazingly gorgeous either way though.

MEEC7: Aithusa will do something cute. My cookies are boring and American but if you want one you are free to it. Lol.

AnimeRose93: I hope you did well on your test! I believe in you. I hated chem in school and physics but pharm wasn't that bad. I am totally a captain swan fan. They've converted me.

4mergana: The Queen is here and she is awesome

yesthenLucky9: Hello Newbie! Lol. I barely get it done before I post it. In fact I just got it done like 10 minutes before I started writing replies to the reviews. No sneak peeks. And I hate endings.

Freckled98: Happy Halloween! And soon to be Happy Thanksgiving!

Live-in-tardis: I always wanted to see Morgana and Arthur reconcile and be real brother and sister again and so I did it damnit. I love high and low emotion. And a wedding? Maybe…just for you. And yay! More Dracula fans! And yes! I actually read up on Samhain a little bit so I could reference it closer than just fiction for those who celebrate it.

Renaissancebooklover108: Indeed.

Iricious: You aren't late. And you were right on time. And I am going to have to get it done soon. And I will upload it on exactly 12/4. That chapter at least will not be late. My OCD demands it. And you get your birthday wish below.

Guest: Thanks! I love my OTP. So much. And I have actually heard that from a lot of people. Replacing season 5 with my story. I feel honored.

Scarletbanner: You were almost too late! And many people have told me that about my writing. I've worked hard on improving myself during this story. It's good that you see improvement and not that it got worse lol. And it's been almost a year. That's nostalgia for you.

Okay! Two things:

There's only 1 more chapter left and it will be posted on 12/4/2013 exactly one year from the beginning of this story. I think it will be fun.

Secondly the beginning of this story is a naughty scene. I'm just going to prepare you in case you don't want to read it just yet or at work or surrounded by your parents or something. :)

I don't own Merlin but I do own my little twins! See you later!

XxOxX

Morgana's fingers dug into her silken sheets as she tried to keep quiet. Her arms were beginning to ache a little in this position and she felt her twins kick as they were forced by gravity to rest at the forefront of her womb. The added weight and pressure forced her backside up to compensate and was beginning to make her back ache. As much as she enjoyed sex this wasn't ideal, but it was necessary. Merlin's pace wasn't helping her any as he kept it slow for now. In and out, the wet slide of his member filled her up and left her nearly empty. His hands were at her hips, holding firm but not digging or seeking to harm her. It had taken nearly two and a half weeks to convince him to do this with her as she was now. He was too worried about hurting the twins or her in his passions. This slow pace was going to be the death of her and this position was uncomfortable and one reserved for animals or whores, not a Druid Queen, but she could not be on her back and she wasn't yet strong enough to ride him with the added weight on her belly.

Morgana's hands relaxed for a moment before she bunched the sheets again to keep her place and pushed her backside down onto him unexpectedly and before he could question her she gave him a short answer, "Faster." If he kept up this pace she was going to have to kill him.

Merlin complied cautiously and Morgana turned her head again and nailed him with an icy glare with those light green eyes of hers. "I'm not going to break."

Morgana gave a low moan as he picked his pace up behind her. There it was. Her pregnancy had made her more sensitive in that area and she hadn't done this in almost three months. It was necessary and she was needy. They had tried everything else, proximity, spells, affection and the like but nothing had worked to cement their bond. It had to be sex like the first time. She had begged and teased and played with him and he had stayed firm in his views until she had cried to him. The tears weren't real tears but she had learned that men didn't like tears and would agree to nearly anything to make them stop. Merlin was no different. She had only gotten bigger as they days wore on and her children had grown more active. Her back ached more days than not and she felt as if her front would fall off at any moment. Hunith and Gaius had fashioned a sling of sorts for her belly to give it more support than her small and willowy body could. It had helped immensely and allowed her more freedom of movement when Merlin was not around. He would hover and it irritated her to no end. He acted as if she would collapse at any moment and fall into that sleep again. They argued over things now more than ever, her anxiety was peaking the closer the birth came.

Merlin started to run his magic along his fingers and in turn over her body and she shivered underneath him and her inner muscles clenched around his member, which in turn made him let out a low groan as he picked up his pace. He had to last longer than her, at least as long. Merlin watched her back as it became slick with sweat, the muscles of her back as she joined him thrust for thrust and the way her fingers clenched and unclenched the sheets. He brought his hand around to the front of her body and between her legs to rub at the bundle of nerves gently. His fingers were still laced with magic and the loud gasp of surprise and excitement turned to a low moan as he felt the pressure building.

Morgana's grip on the sheets tightened as she felt unerringly closer to her climax and a few more thrusts and movements of his fingers had her letting out a small scream as her walls clamped down on him in climax. Her vision wavered and she shut her eyes while moaning as sunbursts of energy coursed from her core to the tips of her feet and toes, leaving her a bundle of relaxed energy. He was not long behind as he cried out her name. At once she felt him inside her mind again and the marks of her wrists warmed at the joining of their bodies and souls again. Morgana's fingers released her sheets and she pushed her body up from the bed and tightened her walls around his softening member. Merlin gave a choked noise and thrust back into her reflexively. Morgana looked back over her shoulder and gave him a smirk as she pushed back, letting the residual euphoria make another round through her body, making her tighten and him thrust prolonging the rounds of pleasure through them both until Merlin made a low moan and pulled back from her completely.

Morgana whined and brushed her mind against his. She watched as Merlin's eyes went from confused to joyous as he realized what she had done. "It worked?"

"Can't you tell? I thought you were smarter than that, Emrys." She purred and twisted her body around to sit down on the bed; her belly made the maneuver quite a feat as she rolled to rest on the bed with her arms out behind her to brace her weight.

"Hello, avaleora." His words caressed the inside of her mind gently and the runes on her wrist warmed at the contact between them. It was a new sensation, one that hadn't ever happened between them before her death.

"Cópenere." She smiled at him. "Come over here. It's cold." Morgana pulled herself from the center of the bed to the headboard against the wall and pulled the covers over her naked form.

"As you wish." She watched as he walked to the bed and climbed in to press his side against hers to keep her warm. "Do you want the fire lit?"

"Of course. You are such a gentleman." Merlin's eyes glowed for a moment and the kindling in the fireplace flared to life. The fireplace had been an addition once Morgana had come into the castle again. It could get quite cold at the altitude they were at and with her still thin from not eating for two months she had little time to put on the added weight in time for the colder months. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Morgana leaned up and kissed him before she leaned her head against his shoulder and yawned.

"Tired?" He asked while stroking his fingers up and down her arm.

"I hate being so tired all the time. I can barely do anything anymore without being exhausted." Morgana moved her arm to rest on Merlin's waist as her other hand stroked the flesh of her belly. Kicks and movement greeted her as her children moved around in her belly; their auras were strong as she looked down at them.

"How are they doing tonight?" Merlin's hand found hers and rested atop it as she directed him to where they were kicking at her front. She watched his expression out of the corner of her eye. The tenderness in his blue eyes and the look of wonder that left his mouth slightly open that he always seemed to have when he felt them move.

"Active, as always."

"I can't believe our children are in there. That they will be born soon and our lives will change. It's magnificent and wonderful."

Morgana did not reply. She felt the same way but at the same time she was terrified of the future, terrified of being a mother to two children. What rights did she have to bring children into the world? After all the terrible things she had done and the way that sometimes her mind wandered back to the past where she was mad and starving and her mind was splintered and sickened and she worried that it would hurt her children somehow, that she would hurt them. Not intentionally, of course, but by some accident. "Yes." She finally replied absently as she continued to stroke her belly. She didn't tell him of her fears or dreams or nightmares. She worried that it would dampen his excitement and that was unfair of her.

"Let's go to sleep."

Morgana nodded and kissed Merlin before scooting down in bed and resting her head on a pillow. Merlin's arm came around her waist and rested just beneath her breasts as he pulled her closer and she felt the naked flesh of his front against her back. She shivered as gooseflesh erupted on her skin but settled into the comfortable mattress of the bed. She did not want to sleep, did not want to dream because when she slept her fears were ever more real than when she was awake. She had slept enough but even as she fought the exhaustion the battle was lost as her mind was unwillingly pulled into unconsciousness.

%$%$%$

Morgana watched as her daughter turned from her and started to run into the forest, laughing as she did so, "Mama! Catch me!" She turned around one more time and looked at Morgana with light blue eyes before turning her head and letting her dark curls settled onto her back.

Morgana walked after her, calling her name into the forest playfully as she pushed tree branches away from her face and body and let the rustling leaves lead her to where her child was running. "Mama! Mama! Find me!" Her daughter giggled again but Morgana couldn't see her among the leaves despite the distance between the trees and the abundance of light in the forest. She turned around and couldn't see the castle any longer. Her gaze scanned the trees and she began to become worried.

She called her daughter's name and her pace quickened as did her heartbeat as she searched the forest. A scream brought her attention to the right and she ran as fast as she could, yelling her daughter's name into the forest. "MAMA!" Came the shrill scream of her child and suddenly she was clear of the forest and in a village. No…wait…not a village, just a few stone structures. Morgana looked around and called her daughter's name again. She walked through the structures and stopped cold as she spied the kindling and smelled the smoke and the stench of burned flesh and hair. A tiny form was amid the burned wood, a small and insignificant form that had strands of dark hair still managing to cling to the burned skull. Morgana moved forwards numbly, one foot in front of the other and as she got closer her skin grew colder and colder and her heart beat faster and faster. She felt the blood leave her face as she recognized the clothes that her daughter had been wearing. She heard the rustle of dry leaves as the harsh childlike voice came from the throat of the dead child, "Why didn't you save me, mama?" Morgana let out a bloodcurdling scream as her head lifted to reveal two eyes staring at her from the skull.

#$#$#$#

Merlin awoke like he had been struck by lightning by the scream that Morgana unleashed next to him. He bolted up in bed as he tried to shake her awake. "Morgana! Morgana! Wake up!" He shook her until her eyes flew open and her screams stopped. The look in her eyes was far away, even from his vantage point. She looked terrified and shell shocked and she started shaking and muttering something under her breath. Her eyes flickered to different points on the far wall and she took several shaky breaths before she stopped speaking and her eyes turned to him as if she had forgotten that he was sleeping next to her. At once she tried to hide it all, the fear, the shaking, the way her heart still was speeding like she had run a marathon. She even tried to muster up a smile to hide everything from him.

It was something he suspected when she tossed and turned in her sleep. He didn't press her because he knew that she would eventually tell him what was bothering her. Pressing her got him nowhere fast when it came to Morgana. She was fiercely independent and hated revealing any sort of weakness to anyone, even him, despite telling her that she could tell him anything. It was a facet of her personality and it was one that he respected up until it started causing things like this to happen. He was going to press her now and she would have to tell him something. It would give her no advantage to lie to him and he would not let himself be lied to anyway. The time for that naiveté had long since passed.

He waited for her breathing to calm and her heart to slow back down before he released her and sat up in bed. "What did you dream about? More visions."

"Gods and goddesses I hope not. I hope that dream never comes to pass." Her voice was quiet as she spoke to the wall and refused to turn to look at him. She didn't want to discuss it with him.

"I've noticed you know. You think you've kept it hidden, but you haven't. Something has been bothering you for a while now, almost as long as you've been back with me. It has lurked on the edge of your mind and despite the fact that I couldn't feel what you were feeling and our bond was broken doesn't mean that I am a complete fool. Your body language gave you away as much as your mind would have." Merlin told her gently and she turned to him and sat up after he finished speaking, her light green eyes bored into his blue and her bottom lip quivered just before her eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. She bit the softness of her bottom lip to keep it still as she downcast her eyes from his. Merlin moved closer to her and pulled her close. "Shhhh. Hey, what is it? It can't be that bad, can it?"

Morgana let out a noise that sounded like a sharp bark mixed with a sob. She took a shaky breath and the tears came down her face in small tiny rivulets. "It's never the same, but the ending is nearly always alike." Her words were muddled by the constriction of her throat as she fought her emotions. She wouldn't cry, wouldn't be reduced to the sobbing mess that became of some pregnant women as they had to wrestle with the surges of hormones coursing through their bodies. She refused to but still didn't push Merlin's comfort away that he sought to give her.

"What?"

"I have these nightmares nearly every night." She whispered hoarsely through the tears that were now flowing more freely. "It's usually only one of them. One of our children in my dreams. Sometimes it's our son and sometimes our daughter. I used to dream of him even before I was pregnant. The closer I come to having them though…it's our daughter. I see her smiling and laughing and running and playing and she is such a joy, Merlin, such an absolute joy... It always starts out fine, our children are playing or running or sitting with me and then they vanish or run away and make it a game to chase them. At first it's fine and I run after them but after a while their cries grow panicked and I hear them scream and no matter how fast I run I can never get there in time." Morgana let out a sob and couldn't control it any longer. "She was dead. Our little girl was so beautiful and they BURNED her. I could smell the flesh and hair and see her little form blackened and tormented. Sometimes I see her dead on the ground in a pool of blood, sometimes it's our darling boy and sometimes I see Uther in my dream or the Sarrum as they hurt our children. It's always at different ages. I've seen them both dead of drowning as babes, Merlin. What sort of mind dreams things like that? I'm so broken and ruined and how could I possibly be a good mother? How could I possibly be worthy after all the terrible things I did to innocent people who didn't deserve it? I have enemies in this world. Enemies that would do anything to get to my children, to use them or kill them for their own purposes. How can I keep them safe? How can I save them from their mother who should be dead? I'm half crazed and mad most of the time in my sleep. I see hellish visions of those around me dying and I have since I was very young. I was treated like a pariah or coddled with false words of comfort. How can I possibly raise a child let alone two of them?!" Her words came fast and once she started she couldn't stop the outpouring of her feelings all at once to the man who was holding her and rocking her gently, listening to all of her fears and concerns. "I can't…I can't do it."

"Yes you can. Avaleora, look at me." His words were gentle as he brought his hand up to her cheek and lifted her face to his. Her cheeks were reddened and eyes were puffy and also quite red from her tears which continued to fall. "You will be a wonderful mother."

"How do you know that? How can you possibly know that? How can I keep them safe? What if I need to keep them safe from myself? What if I try to hurt them?"

"I know that because you have these fears. You worry about hurting them even though you don't need to. I can see that you love them with all your heart and soul every day I see you. You talk to them, rub your belly and you worry about their futures. Your dreams are just that, dreams made real because you are worrying too much. No one is going to hurt our children. No one. Their mother won't allow anyone to do that. I've seen you overcome so much in so little time. You have a sort of strength that doesn't come easily and you use it ever second of your life. Those things that happened to you in the past will never go away, but they do become easier to forget most of the time."

"What if they are like you were growing up? Never fitting in, always feeling outcast? Or like me? What if we die and leave them alone? I don't want our children to be orphans."

"Nobody wants that. I'm not telling you these things to coddle you and tell you that your fears aren't reasonable. They are, but I am telling you what I see every day and what I believe. You would never hurt these children and you will be a wonderful mother to them."

"Gods I feel like a fool now, sobbing all over you like some child." She pulled back from him and used her blanket to wipe her face free of tears.

"Don't. I like seeing you like this sometimes. It gives me a purpose and a way to comfort you. You don't often show any vulnerability, even to me. It's an honor. And also…you should tell me when things are bothering you. We can avoid this." He gestured to her face and the blanket she had wiped her tears on. "You know that I will be here for you."

"I'm not used to it. The only people I had ever really done things like this with were Gwen and Morgause. Crying to you seems like such a clingy thing."

"Be clingy. Sometimes it's nice." He leaned down and kissed her, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips as they came together softly.

"Thank you and I'm sorry for waking you."

"Don't be. At least it wasn't a vision."

"I haven't had a vision in a long time."

"Is that why you don't have your bracelet?"

"Yes, partly. It's in a safe place. I can control them now most of the time. I had to do without the bracelet when I was in the pit with Aithusa. It taught me a lot of things." She responded factually.

"Maybe one day you can bring it here and we can keep it safe for our daughter. It was your mother's wasn't it?"

"Yes." She replied, looking at him with surprised eyes. "It was."

"We still have to work on our library."

"Our work is never done." Morgana settled back into bed and turned to Merlin who was also lying back down. Face to face was intimate and Morgana didn't mind the position as she placed her fingers on the side of his face and trailed them down his cheek. "I love you."

"Good." At her glare he laughed, "I love you." She was still stroking his cheek when her eyes closed and her breathing evened out. Her large belly was pressed against his stomach and he felt when his children kicked at him. Merlin brought his hand up and took her hand off of his cheek, brought it to his lips for a kiss and placed it in front of his face on the pillow. For a while he just watched her sleep, watched as the rest made her face younger and more carefree, like all the terrible things that had happened to her really didn't exist.

# # #

It was early, the sun had barely risen over the mountaintop horizon of their home, and Morgana pulled on a loose dress that billowed and fell over her large belly in a heap. She tied the back of the dress to lift her breasts up and secure them and enhance the fact that underneath her belly there was in fact a small waist. Her body had grown to nearly three times its normal size and it made her back hurt fiercely to walk and keep upright most of the time. Coupled with the exhaustion it was taxing to walk up and down the stairs to the rest of the castle but she had to do it. She placed her sling under her dress and used the buckle to cinch it tight. The pressure on her lower region was lifted somewhat and her back started aching less almost immediately. It was time for her to make her way to the rowan tree at the center of the castle. It was the symbol of the Blood Guard that protected the High Priests and Priestesses of the Old Religion when it was strong. She sought to rebuild that order despite her mate's protest that they did not need an elite guard of warrior magic users to protect them.

Merlin had been gone since sunrise to search for more volumes for their library. He was also spending a lot of time in Camelot and her sources in the city claim that many people came and went from the city nearly daily and there was talk of the five kingdoms coming to Camelot for some big event. Merlin would tell her nothing except that it was a surprise and he said that she would find it very interesting.

It left her here with her people to lead some of the rituals for the women which included the ceremonies before births. It was something that she and the nearly twenty other pregnant druids enjoyed. They did slow motions and stretched while chanting mantras for good health and safe deliveries. It was interesting though that nearly half of the druids had no magical power or inclination, they were born into the order and sought to keep its ideals. In fact, most of the druids that had been in the Purge were of that kind. Uther and his senseless violence. She could sense power in some of the babes within their mother's womb but not all and Morgana had no intention of driving them off of the Isle, she did however prevent those without power and no affiliation with the druids from entering. Her home was not a gathering place or an attraction. It would be as it was before.

Morgana made her way down the stairs, taking them slowly and carefully as she continued. She heard soft footsteps and looked over to see a shadow come up the wall before a head of dark hair and dark blue eyes peeked around a corner at her. "Mordred." She smiled at him.

"Let me help you." He came up beside her and took some of her weight as they descended. "I heard your door close."

"Were you standing down there the entire time?"

"Not the entire time." He argued. "Just for the last ten minutes or so. I hate it when you come down these alone with how big you've gotten."

"I'm not some doll, Mordred. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can." He paused, "I heard you scream last night. Was there anything wrong?" He watched her with concern etching his marred expression.

"I just had a nightmare. No visions or anything like that."

"I suppose Emrys soothed you then? At least he's good for something." Mordred muttered.

"Mordred." She admonished him.

"Sorry." But she knew that he wasn't the least bit sorry. Mordred and Merlin still fought over her like two dogs with a bone and a part of her didn't mind at all. She still thrived on the conflict between them and enjoyed playing with both of the men with a smirk. It was a little petulant and childish but no one got hurt and she wouldn't let that happen.

"I know he had done some terrible things to you but he was angry. We do things in anger and rage that we aren't proud of."

"I know." They reached the bottom step and he released her slowly, "How long until the little ones are here?"

"My back wants them here today, but they will come when they are ready." She leaned up and over and kissed his cheek, "Such a gentleman you turned out to be."

"Of course, Milady."

"That's Queen to you." She joked and he laughed while pressing a hand to her belly.

"I can't wait. It will be so exciting and maybe I finally will get to see you without the sadness around you."

"Sadness? I'm not sad."

"You've always been sad, ever since I first saw you. I was drawn to you but it wasn't for that reason. You never fit in and you were never the same and never heard like the other people in your life. You haven't been truly happy, truly yourself in a long time and the rage that possessed you before didn't make you happy either like you thought it might. I remember what you told me long ago when I was but a child. You said 'I don't want to be brave. I just want to be myself. I don't want to be alone anymore.' And you aren't now."

"How did you get so wise?"

"I grew up." He responded, "But now I have things to do. Emrys sent me on an errand for him. Very secret." He put a finger to his lips, "I might not like him but I respect him and he is still our King and that means I can't tell you."

"Merlin and his secrets." Morgana sighed before waving at him to leave as she made her way to the small courtyard that housed the barely living Rowan tree. It was dead when she first came back to the Isle after she awoke and it took a lot of coaxing to bring it back to life. She placed her hand on the cool wood and looked up at the branches. Rowan trees were trees of healing, protection and of the Seers as her sister had told her. They were sacred and were never to be used for anything expect the highest of rituals. She continued to run her hands on the bark and thought of her sister. She had only known her for two years and in those two years she had felt more like herself than she had with the years of living in Camelot under Uther's thumb. It was home to her and someone who accepted her despite what she had done to Morgana's mind. Her sister had wanted to protect her. She did it poorly with her blood spell but the intentions, at least as far as Morgana was concerned, were pure. Morgana was brought out of her inner thoughts by a sharp cramping pain in her womb. It lasted for a few moments and left again. She rubbed at her lower belly to soothe it. This pain was different than the usual contractions that she had been having. They were higher up and irregular and she had been having them for the past week. When she asked Gaius and Hunith about them they both told her that they were false contractions to stretch out before the actual labor. Morgana had not seen the point in that at all and suffered through them uncomfortably.

Morgana sat down on the stone bench next to the tree and closed her eyes. She began to chant prayers in the old language to the old gods as she took slow deep breaths in and out. In…and out….In and….her breath came out in a rush as the same sharp pain started in her lower belly. They reminded her of cramps when she bled but sharper and longer. She dismissed it again as false contractions and continued her mediation. She had a few more pains throughout the hour but they did not last and were irregular. After her hour mediation she began to walk through the halls of the castle and spoke to her fellow druids before her belly reminded her that she needed to eat, along with a few sharp kicks from one of her children. As she walked she became conscious of an increased pressure near her core and it made her waddle even more pronounced as she made her way to the kitchen of the castle. Those druids that wished to operate the kitchen were free to do so, they were not paid or made to cook, and they did it merely for enjoyment as did most of the druids. Those who cleaned did so of their own volition and who tended the books and wrote as scribes, those who led classes on runes and reading and elemental understanding. It was a peaceful community and when one person tired of a task another joined them to take the task upon themselves. There were, of course, disputes over petty things but that was in the domain of their leadership. Morgana had also started cataloguing the library and treasury, using and looking after each item that was recovered by Merlin with gentle loving care. Some of the things that she had looked after and catalogued were things that Morgause had told her were lost. If only her sister could be with her now and see everything that had been done to this place. She wouldn't approve of her current relationship, but that didn't matter to her. Morgana made her way to the kitchen and started to think about her adopted mother…or the woman who wanted to have her as a daughter.

Once she had gotten back to her life she had thanked Hunith for doing what she did for their room and Merlin's mother had been ecstatic to find out about the twins and had started to make little outfits for both genders in preparation for their arrival. Morgana had made decorations for her daughter in their room. She had refused pink. Pink would never be found on her child. It was a horrendous color that made her eyes ache. She chose instead shades of green to line the second crib she had made for her daughter. The older women of the castle called it nesting when she started to embroider the druid symbol onto baby blankets and spend her time on the top floor cleaning up the area for them.

"Hello, daughter. How are you feeling today?" Hunith looked up from kneading the dough on the countertop as Morgana walked in and leaned against a table as another pain started in her lower belly. She ignored it again and smiled as Hunith brushed the flour off of her hands to walk over to Morgana.

"I've been better. I'm always tired but right now my belly is demanding to be fed. I just got done meditating at the tree."

"I enjoy being next to the Rowan tree too. It fills me with a sense of peace. And as for food I have some cheese and apples ready, but I'm just starting lunch. Our men hunted a few deer and brought them back. Nicoletta is helping skin and prepare them.

"Apples and cheese will do fine for now." Morgana picked up a bright red fruit and sunk her teeth into it. "How long until lunch is ready?"

Merlin's mother laughed as she continued to knead the dough, "Two hours. Maybe less. Do you want to help?"

"Oh, no. I don't know much about cooking." Morgana bit into the apple again.

"There's never a bad time to learn."

Morgana winced before she could come up with a reply and put a hand on her lower belly. Hunith watched her expression with a serious gaze, "I'd rather not, Hunith."

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me mother? Is your belly bothering you?"

"I've been cramping. It's happened about ten times in the past couple of hours. It's still really irregular to measure. I think it might just be more of those false contractions. Nothing to worry about. I'm still early."

"Not for twins. Twins usually will arrive a couple of weeks early."

"Well I'm not ready yet so they are staying put." Morgana finished up her apple and put it in the bin. It would be turned into pig feed at the small place across from the lake. The druids that did not have rooms on the Isle lived close in their tents. She picked up a piece of cheese and started to bite into that.

"I'm afraid it's not up to you, Morgana. You will tell me though if your water breaks or they start getting stronger won't you?"

"I'm not stupid, of course I will." Morgana allowed Hunith to wrap her arms around her in a hug and give her a kiss on her cheek. She was unused to such motherly affections as she never had a mother to give her such things. It was new and different and nice. And the best part about it was that everything she felt was real, there was no façade to appease Morgana.

Morgana turned from the older woman and started walking out of the room. Perhaps she would peek into the lessons or go to the library or maybe head back up to her room or even the lakeside near Aithusa to rest.

#$#$#$#

Merlin looked up at Arthur who was still pouring over the pieces of parchment in front of him. Merlin knew what they said. They were terms of a treaty that would fully unit the kingdoms into one united front against any invasion, one that would be led by a high king and for some reason they all thought that he would be good for the role. Arthur didn't think so. He thought that he was too young, too inexperienced. He had brought these concerns up to each and every ruler he visited and each one of them had reasons why he should do it, and even cited his age. He would rule for a long time and he would rule justly. Each of them gave examples of how his honor and courage defined him, save Amata, but they were in no position to refuse such a merger when it would benefit them as well. Ealdor had similar concerns but as the other regions fell into the merger, King Lot quickly realized that he would be an enemy to powerful foes and put his vote in with them, if only to save his own hide.

Arthur still poured over them in his spare time. He didn't want to accept such a huge a heavy burden without thinking about it first. "I just…don't know." His voice carried in the empty room.

"What don't you know? You can create a unique and lasting peace between all the kingdoms, create an invincible front against the Saxons and barbarians of the northern lands. They won't do it unless you lead."

"That's what I just can't wrap my head around. Why me? My father was a magic hating tyrant and caused so much pain."

"He also garnered much respect, as have you in our travels. Annis has already spoken to you about this. Many, many times I could add."

"Why do you want me to do this?" Arthur's gaze met his.

"Because it is your destiny to do this. This was what you were born for, Arthur. This is what you have been working towards ever since we first met."

"To be some High King? And what would we call this united kingdom?"

"Albion." Merlin responded. "It is called Albion and it will prosper."

"You sound so sure. Is that why you protected me all these years?"

"At first, yes, but then destiny didn't really matter anymore, not as much as saving my best friend did."

"Do you really think I can do this?"

"I know you can."

"You are such an optimist and it makes me want to vomit."

Merlin chuckled. "Then it's no different from any other time is it?" He abruptly felt a ripple come from Morgana, a twinge of something at their bond, but it was not alarming, "Morgana? Are you alright?"

"Fine, Merlin. I'm fine. Stop checking in on me. It's annoying."

"Fine. I will see you soon."

"Ugh. Just let me sleep." Morgana responded grouchily and Merlin pulled back from her.

"You were talking to her weren't you?"

"How did you know?"

"You stopped listening to me and got this look on your face. And this ridge happened between your eyebrows."

"I don't listen to you anyway." Merlin quipped and laughed as Arthur picked an inkwell and threatened to lob it at him.

#$#$#$#

Morgana shifted uneasily on the solid earth beneath her. The pains were getting worse and more frequent now. The cramps were beginning to travel up from her lower belly to the middle of it in clenching motions and even started to tighten and pull the muscles in her back. In the back of her mind, in the far recesses of her stubborn denial she knew that this was it for her. She would have her children soon. Her nap on the beach near Aithusa did nothing to curb the pain nor did speaking with her little dragon that was very eager to see the twins. She rubbed her belly again and began to rock back and forth slowly, closing her eyes and trying to even out her breathing. She wasn't ready for this. She was nowhere near ready to do this. To be a mother.

She jumped as a hand landed on her upper back and a gentle voice sounded behind her, "It's time, isn't it? I could tell, you know. A mother always can." Hunith sat down next to her near the water.

"No, it's not. My waters still haven't broken."

"Not yet, but they will soon." Hunith placed her hand on Morgana's lower belly as Morgana winced and felt the contraction last half a minute before ceasing; all the while the sorceress clenched her teeth and took deep breaths in and out. "It's not strong yet. You still have quite a way to go and you will have to suffer through it."

Morgana's eyes widened, "Not strong? Quite a way? What does that mean?"

"This is your first. You could be in labor for days before giving birth. You are still early. Your contractions are mild compared to some."

"Days?!" She couldn't help the whining tone that entered her speech. "I don't want to wait days."

"I'm afraid it's not up to you, but there is a way that some women speed things up."

"Tell me." Her eyes narrowed on the woman.

"Walking. Start walking as much as you can before the pain gets to be too much. Oh, and you should probably tell my son."

"He's coming later. And you said it could be days. No need to rush."

#$#$#$#

Merlin arrived much later in the day than originally planned and after making her mother-in-law of sorts promise to keep quiet about everything she joined him. It wasn't that difficult to hide her contractions because as the day went on they grew further and further apart and stopped altogether and for about an hour it worried Morgana when she had no more contractions near the afternoon but both her children were still stirring in her belly. It must have been a false alarm. Later she would tease Merlin's mother bout being wrong about her labor but for right now she would eat and enjoy it.

"So what have you been doing with my brother? Please tell me it's something naughty. And then you can invite me to watch." Morgana teased him and watched as a slight blush tinged his cheeks. She did love teasing him.

"No. And that's absolutely gross. Who would want to do that with Arthur?"

"Depends on who you talk to, love." Morgana watched the dining room fill up with her subjects as they each took a plate of food and sat at the tables. No one would eat until the blessing was given.

"Not to me."

"So closed minded."

"He's your brother!"

"So? I've slept with him."

"And if I ask the same of you and Gwen what would you say?"

"Who says we haven't already?" She arched an eyebrow at his openmouthed look. "But you still haven't answered my question. You've even got Mordred in on it and that's something I can't have. He's mine."

"It's a surprise. Don't you like those?"

"History tells me that surprises for me are usually those of the bad kind. I don't think I've ever had a good surprise."

"Oh really?" Merlin leaned in, "Not even once?"

"Really." She leaned to him and teased. "Well, maybe one or two."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." They shared a brief kiss, "And it's something that will make you quite content I think."

"I'll be the judge of that." She answered imperiously as she took a small sip of the red wine that had been poured into her cup. Dinner commenced not long after that as well as a sort of tugging in her belly. Morgana dismissed it yet again as the babes stretching and enjoyed her meal as well as a late night walk with Merlin around the Rowan tree. It ended with a loud yawn from Morgana and he helped her up the stairs and into bed.

#$#$#$#

Morgana awoke sometime during the night and was briefly very confused. Her dream had been good, normal and abstract. No sounds came from the castle and her dragon was sound asleep in her cave. She moved her hips and felt the bed squish beneath her as well as an odd sort of wetness between her thighs from warm liquid that had pooled beneath her. At first a sense of mortification arrested her. Had she really wet the bed like some child? She normally had to get up to use the chamber pot nearly every hour but she had already done that, hadn't she? In a daze she barely remembered moving to do so. If it wasn't urine then it was…her answer was in the way her uterus starting to clench and cramp in a building pain that briefly rendered Morgana incapable of speaking for as long as the contraction lasted. After about a minute she unclenched her hands from the sheets and moved around the cooling liquid. It felt odd on her backside and she had the urge to wash, but from what Hunith had told her it would be useless to get into the bath now, mostly because it was down the stairs. Childbirth was a messy proposition.

How in the world had she slept through that? And why was it suddenly starting up again after stopping? Although Morgana knew that once the water had broken then there was no going back. She was going to give birth whether she was ready for it or not. Merlin was still sleeping soundly next to her. She chose not to wake him yet and instead she moved to the edge of the bed and put her feet on the floor as another contraction squeezed at her belly. There was barely two minutes between this one and the last. Morgana gripped the sheets and tried to breathe through them. The pain still was becoming more intense, especially compared to this morning where she could still walk and talk and carry on conversations while contracting. This time the pain was reaching all the way up to just beneath her breasts at the top of her belly.

Surely she would have woken up before now… with her contractions being so intense. As she speculated another contraction came at a predictable interval and she breathed through them again. Silently she wondered how much worse it would become. She became aware of a shifting on the bed as Merlin moved around and grimaced as if uncomfortable.

Morgana watched him as the contraction eased and he stopped shifting. That was interesting. He could feel it when she contracted. Unlike her though he could turn it off when he wanted too. After the contraction ended she pushed off the bed and made her way to the chamber pot and emptied her bladder. Another contraction arrested her as she stood up, clenching her belly uncomfortably. Her fingers dug into the stone of the wall and she panted while her other hand curved underneath her swollen womb. She felt several small kicks from her children in protest. Yeah, well she didn't much like it either. But from the position of the feet it felt like both of them where head down and that soothed her. After the contraction ended she made her way back over to the bed and debated how to wake her lazy mate up. After throwing away several different ideas and two contractions later she decided to be nice about it. "Merlin, wake up." She shook him and he merely rolled away from her with a grumble. Well, there was then nice. Time to have fun. Morgana put her hand on Merlin's bare arm and with a flex of her magic shocked him into consciousness rather quickly. Merlin jerked awake and hit the back of his head on the headboard of the bed with a loud thud. The bed made a wet and squishy noise as he moved around on it holding the back of his head and saying curse words while glaring up at her. Morgana just laughed at him until another contraction started building up again.

"What did you do that for?" Merlin grumbled at her until he got a better look at her face, which was knitted in concentration and watched as the sheets bunched up around her hands, "Morgana…" Merlin moved and felt the patch of wetness underneath him and for a moment a look of disgust crossed his face before a look of sudden panic overlapped it as he realized what was going on. He moved across the bed and put a hand over hers and one over her belly. "They aren't too strong yet."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" She breathed out as the contraction eased.

"How long?"

"Since this morning, but they stopped and now my water has broken."

"They stopped?" he sounded confused, "How?"

"Like I know!" She snapped at him. "My water's broken and there's about 2 minutes between contractions."

"Wait here. I'll get everyone."

"Like I'm going anywhere like this." She grumbled as he put on clothes and ran out the door. "Stupid man." She rubbed her belly, "Don't worry. Hopefully this won't take too long then, will it? You will be kind to your mother won't you?" She spoke to her belly and the responding kick was not reassuring her. She wasn't ready for this. Her heart beat faster in her chest and she was arrested by a chill that had nothing to do with the wintery weather outside. The door opened and Hunith appeared in a night shift.

"Merlin told me that your water broke. Do you mind to have me check to see how far along you are?"

"No." Morgana responded as Merlin appeared with two bowls of warm water and several towels through the still open door. He moved with the assurance of someone who had done this before many times. The fact that this was his child had not arrested or slowed him in the least bit. She wished the she were so confident about all of this.

Hunith washed her hands in one bowl and gave Morgan instruction on how to tip back so that Hunith could check to see how far along her labor was. Hunith wetter her fingers as Merlin stood back behind her and watched. The checking was painful and only doubled as another contractions started. She shied away from the deep reach of the fingers and breathed a sigh of relief when the fingers were removed. "She's about a third of the way there."

"A third?!" Morgana collapsed back onto the bed with a groan.

"Chin up. At least you've gotten some sleep. Now all you have to do it get through it." Hunith gave her a reassuring smile as Merlin had a neutral look on his face.

"I'm going to get Gaius. I'll be right back."

Morgana was surprised at the sudden feeling of fear that erupted at the thought of him leaving. "Don't go." She hated that she sounded clingy and whiny but Merlin gave her a small smile before coming over to her and leaning to give her a kiss.

"I won't be gone long." He took her hand after he moved back from her and gave it a squeeze.

"Get Gwen too. Please."

"I will." Merlin felt her hand tense and watched as her belly tightened beneath the thin nightdress. He held her hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles until the contraction eased. "I'll be right back."

#$#$#

Daylight had already come to the castle and the sunshine got on Morgana's nerves. The contractions were a little over a minute apart now and she had been in labor for nearly six hours now. Each contraction wore on her strength and made her more tired. She gritted her teeth as Gaius checked her again. "Nearly there."

"You said that two hours ago." Morgana snapped at him. She had long since banished Merlin from the room in a fit of anger in her discomfort and Gwen served as support. Mordred had come to check on her and offer up his comfort to her which she readily took.

"The first child's head is in the canal. Give it another half an hour or so and then we will try pushing."

Morgana gave the man a death glare and moaned into the bed as she buried her face into it as another contraction swept through her. She refused to scream and cry out during birth. Refused. After the contraction was over Gwen helped her up again.

"Let's walk." She said calmly as she supported Morgana. "To the babies room and back." Morgana went with her willingly as she guided her away from the anxiety of the bed. She shot a glare at Merlin who was standing outside the room and he offered a helpless smile at her.

Morgana stopped in the middle of the hall as another contraction came. She gave a low moan and dug her fingers into whatever part of Gwen she could find. Her eyes closed and she gritted her teeth as it peaked and finally dissipated.

Merlin had gotten up as if he was ready to assist, "I hate you." She snarled at Merlin who nodded.

"I knew you were going to tell me that sooner or later."

Morgana used her magic to shove him to the wall, "Shut up." She moaned and held him there as another contraction bored through her leaving her breathless as she clenched onto Gwen. "I hate you." She moaned and Merlin started to cough a bit as she tightened her grip on him.

"Morgana, you need to put him back down."

"Why? Why do I need to do that? He's the reason I'm in this mess! He's the cause of it. He should feel something too." Morgana growled as her contraction eased.

"You don't want to kill him do you?"

"Maybe. I haven't decided yet."

"Be nice, Morgana."

"No." She sounded petulant now.

"Morgana, you need him, remember? He's the father of your children."

"I can always do it by myself." She argued. "All men do is cause pain."

"Put him down." She told the pained woman gently and Morgana relented as she set him back down on the floor and released his windpipe.

"Three nights wasn't worth this." She moaned in pain as another contraction boiled up and they turned away from him while Morgana took a deep breath and they walked to the bedroom again.

Merlin gave a small wave of appreciation as they disappeared and Gwen smiled back. Merlin knew it was just the pain talking but his windpipe disagreed. Another contraction, another peak and fall as Gwen rubbed her back and gave her words of comfort and encouragement and she leaned against her friend. "It HURTS." She whined.

"It's supposed to." Hunith brought a wet washcloth to her face and wiped away the sweat.

Something suddenly changed and she felt the shifting within her. And the pressure on her back became nearly insufferable.

"I don't think we will have to wait thirty minutes." Gwen told Gaius. "She's got it now. I can see it in her face."

Morgana felt an incredible urge to push but couldn't stand as she was. Gwen led her over to the bed and she put her hands on it as she tried climbing up, but couldn't. Instead she moved into a squat with one knee on the floor and the other bent at a 90 degree angle. She started moving her hips side to side as she was shifting. "Don't you want to get into the bed?" Gaius asked behind her.

"She's got such tiny hips. This position will be better for her." Hunith replied before Morgana could tell him off. She heard movement behind her and turned her head to find Hunith lying on the floor behind her. "I'm going to be right down here. Gaius will take the baby after I've gotten him out and clean him and wrap him, alright?" Morgana nodded before another contraction forced her head into the sheets. She bit into the bed with a moan as she fought the urge to push and her hands crumpled the silk in her hands. A large hand started to rub her back and without lifting her head she knew who it was and she didn't have the strength to tell him to leave.

"Breathe, avaleora, breathe. Soon we're going to have two little babies and everything will be done."

Morgana nodded into the sheets and Gaius's voice was at her back, "With the next contraction I need you to push downward. Strong as you can until I tell you to ease, alright?"

Another nod and she felt another hand at her back, Gwen's smaller hand. "Take our hands. It will help." Morgana lifted her palms and placed them in the hands next to her. Merlin had moved his hand from her upper back to her lower and started to push and massage that area. Morgana gave a low moan of relief at the pressure which turned into pain as the next contraction started to build. She started pushing with a low moan until the contraction ended. She looked around the room blearily.

"I feel like hell. I probably look like hell too."

"Having a baby is not a beauty contest. You look wonderful." Gwen responded.

"Absolutely beautiful." Merlin's voice carried, "I've never seen a woman more beautiful than the one in front of me." His thumb stroked along her knuckles and she leaned her head into his shoulder as another contraction bore down on her, she pushed and repeated the cycle three more times. The pressure and pain in her pelvis as it widened to accommodate the path of her firstborn child was making her eyes water.

"I see the head. Keep pushing…just a little bit more. Stop." She felt full and wide and resisted the urge that she had to keep going as Hunith cleaned out the mouth of the child with her fingers. "Next contraction and you will have a baby."

Morgana pushed as the next contraction filled her and suddenly the pressure in her pelvis was gone as her child was freed of her. She felt movement behind her and tried to turn her body to see. She heard the slide of a knife as it was freed to cut the cord. Gwen was watching behind her with a shining smile. "He's beautiful, Morgana. Just beautiful."

"Why isn't he crying?" She asked worriedly just as a sharp slap echoed behind her and a choked cry emanated from her child. Within moments it turned into a loud newborn wail.

She turned to look at Merlin who was absolutely wide eyed and transfixed by the sight behind him. She even saw his eyes begin to shine with tears.

Merlin watched as his son was cleaned of with the warm wet towels and wrapped in a blanket. His arms and legs were flexed close to his body and his head was covered with a fair bit of dark black hair. His face was chubby and reddened from his agitation and his tiny fists were balled up as he wailed. Merlin had yet to really get a good look at his eyes. He was perfect.

His mother looked adoringly at her grandson before her shining eyes met Merlin's. "Do you want to hold your son?" Gaius had him in his arms and was looking the boy over. He nodded to himself and gently handed the bundle to Merlin who took his son in his arms with the care that one would give to priceless porcelain. His cries quieted as Merlin brought him down to Morgana's level and his eyes opened to reveal two newborn blue orbs. He laughed as the tiny creature yawned in his arms and gripped the blanket with a fist. His eyes lifted to see Morgana's face as she reached over cautiously to touch the side of her son's cheek with one finger. Her gaze was transfixed on the face of their child and he could see little tears fall from her eyes. It was like the wonder of the world had been wrapped up in his arms. "He's so beautiful."

She was violently brought back to the present by her contraction. She was wholly unprepared for the pain and cried out, which caused the child in his arms to start to fuss. "I'll take him." Gwen offered up her arms and Merlin handed him over to his aunt. "Oh, look at you. Don't fuss now; soon you'll have your sister." Gwen got up and took the child to the other side of the room as she rocked him.

"One more time. Our daughter." Merlin whispered to her after kissing her cheek. Morgana gave him a smile, her previous irritation forgotten.

"Good, good. She's head down still. I can feel the top of her head. She's got quite a bit of hair." She paused, "You know what to do."

Morgana nodded as the next contraction came bearing down on her. She pushed with her flagging strength as a sudden feeling of exhaustion plagued her.

"Keep going…keep going…stop. Stop Morgana!" Merlin immediately looked at his mother in confusion before she looked back up at him with a nearly white face. He took a look and immediately snapped his head back up and felt the blood rush out of his head and left him cold.

"Next contraction you need to keep pushing. As fast as you can."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Her cord is around her neck. She's not getting any air. Push."

Morgana's heart plummeted as she pushed hard and fast and cried out when the child was pulled from her birth canal sharply. There was a sudden rush of movement behind her and this time she turned to see a pale, limp infant in Hunith's arms. Gaius immediately took the infant into his arms once the cord was cut and tried rousing her with a brief slap on her rump, thumping her feet and rubbing her back vigorously. She was unaware of the death grip that she had on Merlin's hand until she felt bone start to grind under her fingers. All attempts to arouse their daughter didn't work and she remained pale and limp in Gaius's arms. She became aware of the cries of her son, which were much louder and harsher than before, as if he was being hurt. Gwen was trying her best to quiet the infant to no avail and Morgana felt the world shift beneath her and a sudden pit of loneliness and despair rose up as she watched her still child. Her heart was numb and icy as she held her arms out. "Give her to me."

"Morgana…I don't think…"

"Give…her…to…me."

Hunith took the still infant and wrapped her in a blanket before handing her over to Morgana who cradled the child in her arms. Morgana watched as the bright silver aura of her daughter diminished right in her arms. She started to rock the child and tears dripped down her face onto the blanket, wetting it as she cried. "You can't die on me. You saved us, your brother and I. It was you who kept me from dying little one. You can't die on me now before you started living. You need to listen to me, listen to your mother and breathe." She continued to rock her daughter and listened to the cries of her son. She looked into Merlin's eyes that were filled with despair as he watched her rock her dying child. It was then that Morgan began to sing an old lullaby. It was something that her father sang to her. It was Gaelic, his mother's people and it was used to put her to sleep.

"Éiníní, éiníní, codalaígí codalaígí.

Éiníní, éiníní, codalaígí codalaígí

Codalaígí, codalaígí

cois an chlaí amuigh, Cois an chlaí amuigh

codalaígí, codalaígí

Cois an chlaí amuigh, cois an chlaí amuigh

An londubh is an fiach dubh,

téigí a chodladh, téigí a chodladh

an chéirseach is an préachán,

téigí a chodladh, téigí a chodladh

An spideog is an fhuiseog

téigí a chodladh, téigí a chodladh

an dreoilín is an smóilín,

téigí a chodladh, téigí a chodladh."

At the end of her song she felt a sudden movement against her breast, then another and watched as her daughter's head moved and her hand and her eyes opened to find Morgana's. She let out a cough and a choke and Gaius was immediately at her side. He put his fingers in her tiny mouth and scooped out a glob of mucous. Two more choking noises and finally there was a cry louder than her brothers. A veritable screaming that she was alive. Morgana let out a laugh as she held the child to her breast and her heart started beating again. She couldn't believe it. Merlin laughed in astonishment and relief as did the rest of them when she kept crying, even as Morgana rocked her.

"Don't you ever do that to your mother again, girl. Do you hear me?" She laughed as she clasped her daughter to her breast and breathed a sigh of relief. She wiped the tears off of her face and watched the pale face of her child pinken and blue eyes look up at her with infant curiosity. Morgana pulled herself up onto the bed and waited as Gaius and Hunith delivered the afterbirth and placed it into a bucket.

Gwen walked back over to the bed to pass Merlin's son back to him and he sat down on the bed next to her. Gwen stood over Morgana and touched the little girl's cheek with a smile. "Look at how beautiful my niece and nephew are. I'm honored that you let me be here for this sister. Arthur will want to come as well to see them. They look just like you."

Once his sister started to breathe the boy stopped crying and calmed in his father's arms and Merlin couldn't help the continuous grin that he had on his face like some sort of giggling teenage girl. . "Look at them, our children."

"They are beautiful." Hunith told them as she looked down at her grandchildren, "What are their names?"

Morgana smiled and told her while looking down at the one amazing thing she didn't deserve. "We still haven't decided yet." She rocked her daughter and watched Merlin hold their son and all she felt was absolute joy for the first time in years. Joy wrapped in a fragile and blue eyed little package. She brushed Merlin's mind with her own and felt his answering embrace. The feeling of closeness made her feel warm ands somewhat invigorated as his strength started to seep into her through their newly repaired bond. She felt his love for her and their children through the open door and she projected the same love that she was able to feel for him now that the spell on her had been broken with her death and while they continued to talk to those around them they started to debate baby names once again.

They heard a knock at the door and Mordred peeked in, "Is it safe?" He asked as he laid eyes on the bundles in Merlin and Morgana's arms.

"Safe is a relative term, Mordred." Gwen told him as she closed the door behind him.

"Safe enough." Mordred approached the new parents and look down at the little bundles with a smile. "Look at them. How adorable they are. And you look equally wonderful like that."

"Like what? Covered in cooling sweat, hair a mess and other bodily fluids? Really attractive…" She snorted at him

"No, like a mother. You look like you were born to it. So much love in your eyes like I've never seen."

"Thank you, my Mordred." She looked at him with a brilliant smile while she responded and then looked down at her daughter. "Do you want to hold her?"

"How could I say no to that face?"

"Sit down here. Now make a cradle with your arms and support her head and bottom with your hands." She passed the child over gently and Mordred looked frightened for a moment as she settled in his arms. "Now, how does she look from there?"

"Tiny. Very small." Mordred chuckled as the infant yawned again.

Merlin watched the exchange with slight irritation. He hadn't even gotten to hold his daughter yet and here Mordred was just taking her from him. That was his little girl. His. Despite his irritation he couldn't hold onto it as he stared at the tiny face of his son. He had no real idea how to be a father, having so little time with his own, but he would learn just as Morgana would. His attention was brought back to the present as Morgana laughed at something that Mordred said. He wanted to do something evil and terrible to him all at once and as Merlin contemplated what exactly that was he heard the flapping of wings and the voice of his third favorite girl through the window, "Mama! I hear baby humans! Is there baby humans in there?" Aithusa poked her head into the open window and looked at everyone with excited blue eyes.

Several chuckles greeted her from the adults in the room. "Yes, the babies are here, my sweet child."

"Bring them here! I can hear his roar! What are their names? Did you name them yet like you did me? How little are they?"

Morgana tried to stand up to go over to Aithusa but her knees buckled and her belly cramped and despite the strength that Merlin was giving to hoer she was tired and didn't want to move. "Take them over. Hunith could you take her?"

"My pleasure. Come here you sweet little angel." Hunith made her way over to Mordred and took her out of his arms expertly before she and Merlin made her way over to the dragon.

Aithusa crooned upon seeing the little bundles, "They are so little! Was I that little Merlin? They look like good little humans and like you! Did you name them?"

"Yes, actually. We just decided on their names."

"Well!? What are they?"

"This little one is going to be called Gorlois Balinor Le Fay." He held up his son, "After our fathers to honor them.

"Hello Gorlois. My name is Aithusa. I'm going to be your older sister."

Merlin gestured for Hunith to give him his daughter and he held both children in his arms with a smile."And this little girl here is Rhiannon Morgause Le Fay."

"I like it! They will have big futures, Mama! Big!" Aithusa gave a dragon blessing to the newborns and pulled her head back out. "I will see them soon! I'm going to be a good big sister!"

"You named him Balinor?" Hunith looked at her son with a shiny gaze, "He would be so proud of you, you know."

"Morgause? After your sister, Morgana?" Gwen's tone could not hide her surprise. "I don't know if that is such a good idea. And why not Pendragon?"

"Yes." Morgana nodded, "I loved her and I want to honor her memory with my daughter. Just because one has a name doesn't mean anything about who she will grow up to be. And Pendragon was Uther's last name and despite having sired me I never really thought of him as my father and I'm tired of being a Pendragon. That part of my life is over now."

"I think her name is beautiful." Hunith told Morgana. Merlin walked back over to her and passed back their son.

"Hello Gorlois. My handsome son." Morgana cradled the boy and brought the child closer to her face as she watched him.

"You might want to try to feed them before they sleep. They will sleep for a long time after about an hour. Being born is exhausting." Gaius told the new parents as he watched them with pride.

"How about we all leave them alone for now and let the new parents rest. We can visit with them later." Gwen suggested and silently shooed Mordred, Hunith and Gaius from the room.

"Thank you." Morgana looked over at Merlin while rocking her son. "I love you, Emrys."

"I love you too. But why are you thanking me?"

"You know exactly why."

"Do you think that we can last?" Merlin asked her.

"Nothing is ever easy and we have to fight for what we want to keep. It will be hard; you and I both know that. We are different and do things differently and we will always be at odds about something but I think we can accomplish anything when we set our minds to it."

Merlin nodded and watched his daughter as she yawned and moved her tiny arms and legs while in his arms. She gripped onto his finger and looked into his eyes. She almost hadn't been here with them. Life was so fragile and so short. There was no sense in wasting one more second of it. "Rhia, Gorlois… you won't ever have to be afraid as long as your mama and I are here. We will never let anything happen to you no matter what. I promise." He put his arm around Morgana and pulled her close. His family. His home. His life.

XxOxX

Hello! I hope I got it all right. I haven't had a baby myself and so I don't know exactly how to articulate how that first look with their children really is.

The song that she sang is translated below. And I will see you guys on 12/4 and if you read my other fic I will see you before that. :)

Remember that all of you are awesome and I can't wait to share the last bit of it with you.

Little birds, little birds,

sleep, sleep

Little birds, little birds,

sleep, sleep

CHORUS:

Sleep, sleep,

By the wall outside, by the wall outside

Sleep, sleep

By the wall outside, by the wall outside

The blackbird and the raven,

Go to sleep, go to sleep,

The she-blackbird and the crow,

Go to sleep, go to sleep

The robin and the lark,

Go to sleep, go to sleep,

The wren and the thrush,

Go to sleep, go to sleep