Obligatory disclaimer:Merlin and all associated creative properties belong to BBC. I don't claim any said property as my own, and I make no monetary profit from this fan-made story. All creative property not associated with said channel belong to me, and their use is limited to my express permission. Thank you.
A/N: As usual, this chapter has not been edited by a professional. All errors are mine and mine alone.
Merlin gently twisted the doorknob. He was careful not to make the slightest of noise, unwilling to wake the person sleeping inside.
Still, the chamber's door creaked on its hinges when he pulled it open. Merlin cringed, sending a quick look towards the bed. Luckily, the person continued to sleep undisturbed.
He sighed in relief and using a wordless spell, he fixed the hinges. He wondered briefly why he hadn't done that before.
But then again, he never had to sneak in like that.
This was all new to him.
That thought brought a smile to his lips.
Once the door was shut close, he tiptoed towards the bed.
Moonlight filtered in through the window and played across Morgana's delicate features. She was breath-taking.
She was lying on her side, facing him. She was occupying the middle of the mattress. Merlin shook his head, chuckling at the sight of her. At least she wasn't sprawling out on it (his natural sleeping position) otherwise, he would have needed to retire back to Gaius' chamber. Which was not something he really wanted to do.
Merlin lifted the bed-sheets and slowly got under them and rested his head on the pillow and stared at the ceiling.
Morgana's voice was raspy, "You're back."
Merlin turned his head her way, her eyes were filled with sleep. He curled onto his side so he could look at her. properly
"I didn't mean to wake you." He leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to her lips.
Morgana grunted, unsatisfied with the chastity of the kiss. She wrapped her hands around the collar of his nightshirt and pulled him towards her. Merlin couldn't object even if he tried. Her lips covered his in a long warm kiss that left them both short of breath. "I missed you..." She hummed, pressing her lips to his again. "...a lot."
Gathering her in his arms, he pulled her close. The feel of her soft lips against his was both infuriating and placating, "I've only been gone for three days." He pointed out with a smile.
She eased her hold, her fingers releasing the fabric of his shirt. She collapsed back on the bed, but she kept her eyes on him. "I don't believe there's a fixed period of time during which a wife isn't allowed to miss her husband."
Despite himself, Merlin breathed out a laugh. "That is not what I meant." Morgana was pouting at him, but he could detect the small smile that touched the corners of her mouth. "I missed you too, Morgana..." he said earnestly, "...a lot."
With that said, her smile widened and eyes brightened. She lifted herself up. It was like a second instinct to Merlin by now as he laid on his back and Morgana rested her head on his chest.
"How's Hunith?" She asked, mindlessly brushing her fingertips against the exposed skin of his collar bone.
He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "She's fine."
He could sense the tension radiating off her. She craned her neck back so she looked at him properly. His gaze dropped to her face and his brows lifted. Her eyes asking the question she still hadn't dared to ask him yet.
"She knows now." Merlin said softly.
Morgana heaved in a deep breath, "And?"
"And what?"
"What did you tell her exactly?"
He shrugged a shoulder, "I told her that I have secretly got married to a lady of the court who is in fact, Camelot's illegitimate princess whose sister is trying to seek her help to conceive a plan to kill the king and the crown prince."
Morgana pinched him and he yelped. "I did not tell my mother that of course. I left that part unsaid."
"Which one?"
"The one about marrying you."
He gave her a sly smile which she didn't appreciate in the slighted. And she conveyed her irritation with his cheekiness by pinching harder this time.
Still, despite the pain, a haughty laugh escaped through his lips. "I'm just joking."
"Well, don't. I'm serious, Merlin. What did she say?"
He had wondered all the way back to Camelot whether he should tell Morgana what his mother had blurted out. But knowing that sooner or later, Morgana would find out, Merlin decided he should just be honest with his wife. "She asked if you were expecting."
Morgana furrowed her brow. It was cute how slow-witted she rarely could be. "Expecting what?"
"A child." His tone was serious.
Morgana gasped and sat up. She stared at him, a horrified expression on her face. "You can't be serious!"
Merlin mimicked her and sat on the bed as well, he crossed his legs. "I really am serious. She thought the only reason you agreed to marry was because I defiled you or something..." Morgana's eyes widened further at the use of that word, she didn't like it. Neither did he. "...it was a very scary thing to experience."
It really was.
Merlin sighed and reached for her hands, "I told her the truth, Morgana. I told her that we love each other and that the only reason we wanted it to keep it a secret was because Uther would have my head if he found out about it. And she will get grandchildren only when Arthur is king."
Morgana nodded, but he could see that she was still uneasy about the whole conversation. "So what now?"
"Now we sleep." Merlin told her, squeezing her hands gently, "You get to meet your mother-in-law first thing in the morning."
"We're going to Ealdor?" Morgana asked, confused.
Merlin shook his head. "No. My mother didn't believe me. She thinks you're with a child. She came to Camelot with me just to make sure I'm telling the truth."
Morgana quirked her eyebrows up, "What? This is not happening. This is horrible news"
"Why would you say that?"
"Because I am with a child." She exclaimed.
In retrospect, it was funny that he fainted considering she was just trying to get back at him for what he said earlier.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this. Please leave a review :)