Since Uther's passing, the people of Camelot had worked hard to resume their normal lives whilst Arthur and everyone who was close to the king grieved for him. Merlin remained at Arthur's side no matter what and the prince had begun to move passed the shock of losing his father.
Merlin had insisted that Arthur should be allowed time to grieve and to not be bombarded with royal duties, but the council of lords had other ideas, they all agreed amongst themselves that Arthur must be crowned king of Camelot as soon as possible, in order to keep up with appropriate and proper standards of. Of course, Merlin had argued that Arthur was under an enormous amount of stress, but his pleas went unheard by the council and Arthur's coronation was planned and the prince found himself being thrown into a new chapter of his life as a royal; which he did not think that he was ready for.
Arthur woke up the day after his coronation and he rolled onto his side, a warm smile spread across his face when he saw that Merlin was still sleeping peacefully beside him. the warlock was lying on his side, he had one hand under the pillow and the other under his chin, his dark hair was flopped over his forehead and his mouth was open a little bit.
The King started to slowly stroke his beloved's hair and he sighed happily as he gazed at his sweet Merlin. He had always loved waking up and seeing that the warlock was in bed with him, his love for the young man increased ever time he looked at him and he knew that their love was forever.
Merlin hummed as he stirred from his slumber to a gentle hand slowly caressing his hair "Good morning, my king" he spoke softly, still half asleep.
Arthur leaned forward and he pressed a soft kiss onto the warlock's forehead "Good morning, my warlock".
Merlin opened his eyes and he smiled at Arthur, "Is it too early to say that I love you?" He asked in a whisper.
"It is defiantly not too early, I love you too" Arthur whispered.
Merlin's eyes flashed gold and the curtains opened, the light of the sun beamed into the room and the golden beams made Arthur's hair shine. The warlock shifted uncomfortably and he groaned because of the twinge in his back.
"What's wrong, my darling?" Arthur asked.
"I've got backache" Merlin answered with a sigh.
Arthur sat up and he grabbed a pillow, he then proceeded to position it against Merlin's back before he laid down on his side to face his warlock again "Is that any better?"
Merlin smiled and he nodded "Much".
"Very good" Arthur reached out and stroked back some of Merlin's messy hair "Can we stay here all day? I just want to spend time with you and the baby" the king whined before he pouted.
Merlin chuckled as he shook his head slightly "I wish, but we will be able to do that in six months and then we will practically become the baby's servants".
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Arthur smirked as he slowly leaned over Merlin.
Merlin rolled onto his back as Arthur leaned over him, smiling as the king moved and kissed his belly "Trouble, as usual" he joked as he carded his fingers through Arthur's soft hair.
"And I would not have it any other way" Arthur looked up at Merlin and he smiled when their gazes met.
However, there was a loud knock at the door before Aland opened it and poked his head into the room "Sorry to interrupt you, Sire. But I have just been informed that your breakfast is almost ready" he explained as Arthur climbed off of the bed.
"Very good, thank you. Now leave us" Arthur nodded as he dismissed the knight.
Aland bowed before he left the room, closing the door behind him and returning to his post; all the while, Merlin was climbing out of bed and pulling on some trousers as Arthur pulled on a shirt. The warlock finished getting dressed just as Arthur was pulling on a pair of boots, sneaking glances at Merlin every moment that he could.
"It is rude to stare" Merlin pointed out half-heartedly.
"Well that means that I am guilty of admiring your beauty" Arthur winked at the warlock and Merlin blushed.
"Stop it" Merlin stuck his tongue out at the king as Arthur walked towards him.
"Never" Arthur shook his head as he pulled Merlin into a passionate kiss.
"You are too big-headed for your own good" Merlin stated as he draped his arms around Arthur's neck.
"Why thank you, you are well endowed too" Arthur raised an eyebrow as Merlin had a brain-fart.
"Ooopphhh! Arthur!" Merlin playfully scolded the king.
"What? Am I not allowed to compliment your body?" Arthur joked as he pulled Merlin closer.
"I never said that" Merlin shook his head.
"Well there is no issue then" Arthur stated, before he lead Merlin out of their chambers and they made their way down the long hallway as they held hands.
Merlin found himself becoming lost in his thought as he strolled through the castle, with Arthur at his side the whole time and their fingers laced together between them. Thoughts of worry crossed his mind as he pondered how he was going to protect Arthur and their child, when the time came for Morgana to seek her revenge. Anxiety raced around his being when he began to notice that servants and guards were starting at him with bitter glares, but Arthur had also noticed. The king moved his hand and he placed it on Merlin's hip as they walked down the long corridors, the warlock felt his anxiety leave him as he turned his head and gave the king a small smile of gratitude.
They soon arrived at the throne room, two guards stood to attention and opened the doors for Arthur to walk into the room; the king walked ahead of Merlin in order to make sure that two chairs had been set up at the table but he heard the sound of boots stomping, so he turned around to see what had happened. His heart sank when he saw that the two guards were standing in front of Merlin, blocking the warlock from entering the room as he stood their with a numb expression.
"Let him pass" Arthur said as he turned around.
"Sire, sorcerers are not prohibited into this room whilst you are eating" one of the guards argued.
"Merlin is a warlock not a sorcerer, he was born with magic. He is also my lover, so you will let him pass and he will be eating in here with me from now on if that is what he wishes" Arthur turned his gaze to the guards "Let him pass" he ordered in an ice cold voice.
The guards hesitated but they obeyed, moving to the side and away from the warlock who was still stood in the doorway; slightly anxious and Arthur could see that the anxiety swimming around in his eyes.
Arthur raised his arm and he held his hand out to Merlin, he did not have to say anything but the soft smile and the gentle look in his eyes comforted the warlock enough, so he soon found himself walking towards the king. Merlin laced his fingers with Arthur's, he slowly exhaled as the king guided him over to the table to sit down next to him, Merlin smiled gratefully as Arthur pulled his chair out for him to sit on, waiting until he was sat down before he watched as his partner sat down next to him.
"Help yourself to anything that you want, my darling" Arthur looked at Merlin and the warlock nodded.
"Thank you" Merlin glanced across the table before his gaze fell on the stack of green and red apples, sausages and eggs.
Arthur noticed what Merlin had seen and he chuckled "Eat as many as you want. I asked the cooks to gather the apples for you last night".
Merlin turned and he grinned at the king "I love you!"
"I love you too" Arthur returned the affection before he began to eat.
Merlin grabbed a few apples and he put some food onto his plate before he began to eat, he instinctively went to grab the jug of water to pour Arthur a drink but then he realised something... He was not a servant anymore.
"Did you forget again?" Arthur asked, referring to all of the other times that Merlin had forgotten that he was not servant anymore.
"Yeah, but it might just be baby-brain" the warlock shrugged.
Arthur nodded as he chuckled "True, but you used to forget that you're not a servant before you were pregnant" he pointed out.
"Shush" Merlin put his finger against his lips.
The couple continued to eat their breakfast and Arthur began to notice something, Merlin had become very quiet and a little bit pale as his appetite seemed to disappear. Arthur became very concerned and he put his goblet down on the table, turning to face the warlock before he spoke.
"You are being very quiet, are you alright?" Arthur asked.
Merlin turned his head and he looked at the king before he nodded "Yeah I am alright, I just have a headache that is all".
Arthur nodded and stroked back Merlin's hair "You look pale, how do you feel?"
Merlin sighed and he started to twiddle his thumbs "I feel like my stomach is being turned inside out and I have a cramp in my leg".
Arthur moved Merlin's plate away from him "Do you need a bucket or for Guias to make you some medicine?"
Arthur seemed to have uttered a magic word, because Merlin started to gag, holding a hand up to his mouth "I need a bucket!"
"Someone get a bucket!" Arthur ordered before he jumped up to his feet just as a servant was running towards him with a bucket. The king hurried over to the servant and he grabbed the bucket, before he ran over to bend down beside Merlin and he held the bucket up for him.
Merlin hunched over, just in time before he threw up into the bucket, he tensed his eyes shut as he gagged and he grabbed the arm of the chair that he was sat in in order to brace himself.
Arthur began to rub circles around Merlin's back and he nodded at the servant to say thank you for giving him a bucket just in time, he then turned his attention back to the warlock.
Merlin eventually managed to compose himself and he sniffled, before he lifted his head and looked straight ahead of him at the throne "I am so sorry. I will apologise to the cooks later on today".
"Merlin, you are pregnant, you do not have to apologise for anything. You cannot help it" Arthur stated as he handed the bucket to a servant and he knelt down beside Merlin, looking up at the warlock "How do you feel?"
Merlin nodded and he smiled gratefully at Arthur "I feel better now, thank you".
Arthur nodded and he smiled gently at Merlin "I am very glad" he then kissed the warlock's hand "Have you lost your appetite? He asked and the warlock nodded "Alright, come on".
"Where are we going?" Merlin asked as Arthur helped him stand up.
"How about a walk around the village or the forest?" Arthur suggested
"The forest sounds good" Merlin answered and Arthur nodded.
The king took held his hand out for Merlin and the warlock took a hold of it, they then began to walk towards the doors "Merlin and I are going on a horse ride, we will be back in a couple of hours" he started and the guards nodded before opening the doors for him.
The couple ignored the glares of the servants and the knights who had been loyal to Uther, when the previous king had been alive and they still remained loyal to his old ways and laws. After arriving at the stables, preparing Arthur's horse to leave and climbing up onto the saddle, the couple made their way out of the kingdom, across the field and towards the forest as they talked and laughed.
"Can we go to our special place?" Merlin asked.
Arthur was sat behind the warlock but he had his arms out in front of Merlin, holding onto the reins as the warlock held onto his hands "You must have read my mind, Emrys".
"You are just very predictable, Pendragon" Merlin joked.
"I am not!" Arthur exclaimed with a mock hurt expression.
"You are!" Merlin stated in a sing song voice.
"Alright, guess what I am thinking of right now" Arthur challenged with a sly smirk.
"Making love to me over and over again" Merlin answered without missing a beat.
Arthur's eyes went wide but he shook his head dismissively "Lucky guess".
"I told you so" Merlin shrugged, chuffed that he had been correct about knowing Arthur very well.
"Smug prat" Was all that Arthur said before he kissed Merlin's neck.
The forest stood in all of its glory as the wind swept through the leaves, birds sang and the deer grazed as Merlin and Arthur admired the beauty that was surrounding them. Time seemed to pause as they strode through the forest, only stopping when they arrived at their special spot. Merlin could not help but notice how Arthur had instantly relaxed, as soon as they came to a fault in front of the small stream.
Arthur climbed down off of the horse and he gently helped Merlin down to the ground, before they made their way over to sit under a tree that overlooked the clear blue stream that trickled passed the rocks and flowers. Merlin and Arthur laid down on the grass next to the stream, Merlin was lying on Arthur's chest and the king had one hand on Merlin's belly and the other on Merlin's chest.
"I still can't believe that I'm going to be a father" Arthur smiled.
Merlin smiled and he closed his eyes for a bit "Neither can I. Having this baby is one of the best things that has ever happened to me".
"What was the other thing?" Arthur asked.
"Meeting you" Merlin answered.
"I tried to take your head of with a mace. You little cheat" Arthur chuckled.
Merlin smiled and he chuckled "But aren't you glad that I did?"
Arthur moved one hand and he held Merlin's hand. He then raised the warlock's hand to his lips and he kissed it "I'm very glad".
"Do you want a girl or a boy?" Merlin asked.
"I don't mind. What about you?" Arthur asked.
"As long as the baby's healthy then I don't mind" Merlin smiled.
"That's the main thing" Arthur stated.
Merlin started to rub his belly and he sighed "I'm a little scared though, what if I'm a bad father? What if the baby hates me?"
"You are going to be an amazing father, it is impossible to hate you. You are so perfect and you are brilliant" Arthur kissed Merlin's head "I do not deserve you. I love you so much".
"I love you too" Merlin kissed Arthur's hand and the king started to stroke his smooth skin.
"Can we stay here forever? Build a farm or something and leave all of our responsibilities behind?" Arthur sighed as he stroked Merlin's hand.
"Maybe in the next life, but in this one you are destined to be a king who will go down in history for your greatness" Merlin stated and Arthur relaxed a bit more as all of their worries left them.
"I would not be the king I am going to be, if I did not have you by my side whilst I was a prince. It is because of you that I have a destiny like what you speak of" Arthur looked down at Merlin and the warlock smiled slightly knowing that it was the truth.
"We can do anything as long as we are together" Merlin pointed out.
