A/N - Hi, everyone! My followers will know it's been a long time since I've written a story. Life has been full and busy, and I only recently rediscovered some of my muse.

I am new to the Merlin fandom. I finally caved to my best friend's encouragement to watch the show and am up to episode 5 of season 4, though I have stalled out a bit. Fan fiction delivers more happy endings than the show seems to promise, and at my stress levels, I've needed the fic over the actual show. Something I've discovered in fic that I didn't know I needed were more interactions between Hunith and Arthur...particularly if she's mothering him a bit. I fell in love with it after reading Alice I's "For the Love of Camelot," Stealth Dragon's "Mother Bear" chapter in the Offerings one-shot collections, and Loopstagirl's smidge of it near the end of her story Protection.

Alas, there were not enough stories to fit my need, so I've written two so far. I've decided to forgo worrying about posting them in order as they would appear in the show. This one is post 1x13, "Le Morte d'Arthur". I'm pointedly ignoring the fact Arthur was up on two feet & eating grapes way to soon after recovery started – magical recovery beside the point.

Thank you Lady of Stormness Mountain for betaing!

Disclaimer - I own Merlin not.

A New Son

Hunith slowly walked down the stairs from Merlin's room into the main room of Gaius's chambers. A small, gentle smile slowly spread across her face as she watched two of the most important men in her life prepare breakfast. Hunith had been beyond relieved the previous evening when both Merlin and Gaius returned to Camelot. She had greatly feared she had lost one or both of them, and she was grateful she hadn't. Crossing the room, Hunith sat down at the table beside her son, who was already halfway through wolfing down the morning meal.

As the remaining half of Merlin 's breakfast swiftly disappeared, Hunith wagered that he was going to be late to attend Arthur (even growing up in Ealdor Merlin was rarely punctual), Gaius looked up at his ward and said, "Now Merlin, remember that Arthur still needs to be eating bland foods. He has only been recovering for a day; he needs to take it slow."

Hunith covered her mouth with her hand to hide an uncontrollable smile as her son groaned. "Arthur's not going to like that."

"He puts up a fight, does he?" Hunith inquired.

Merlin gave her an exasperated look while Gaius nodded. "Arthur can be as obstinate as his father, particularly when he is injured or ill," the physician explained. "He has been that way since he was a child."

Hunith nodded in understanding. Many a time Merlin had stubbornly fought her, particularly when it came to food and healing, but she had learned how to coax him into doing what he needed to do. At that thought, an idea popped into her head.

"I could bring Prince Arthur his breakfast," she suggested.

Gaius looked thoughtful while Merlin turned to her in surprise. At their silence, she pressed on. "It sounds like a situation that calls for a woman's touch—a mother's touch."

Hunith knew the prince never experienced his mother's love. While he at least had Gaius to show him fatherly affection during his youth, Hunith knew of no woman that filled the role of his mother. Well, she thought, I can do it the best I can as I have the opportunity.

Gaius nodded and then looked to Merlin. "It seems like a good idea to me. Arthur may be less inclined to quarrel if she did."

Merlin still hesitated. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Hunith smiled and patted her son's back as she stood from the table. "Come, you can help me find my way."

With a smile on his face, Merlin bid Gaius good-bye as he rose from the table to lead his mother to the kitchens.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Hunith carefully carried Arthur's breakfast tray into his chambers and set it on the table. Merlin obediently closed the door after his mother and waited in the corridor as she instructed. After placing the tray down, Hunith went about opening the curtain, though she didn't quite have Merlin's flare.

The change in Arthur's breathing didn't go unnoticed as she made her way 'round his bed. "Good morning, Prince Arthur," Hunith called as she headed for the curtains on the opposite side. "It's time to rise, sire."

The prince blurrily opened his eyes and stared at her in confusion. With his right arm, Arthur carefully maneuvered himself so he was sitting up. "Hunith?" he asked as he swiped the sleep away from his eyes. "Why are you here? Is everything well in Ealdor?"

Hunith gave Arthur a warm smile as she turned to face him. "All is well in Ealdor, sire, thank you. I came to visit Merlin," she replied, speaking truthfully.

"Where is Merlin?" he asked as he began glancing around the room, further disheveling his already disheveled night tunic.

Hunith smiled at the slight exasperation in Arthur's tone when he inquired after Merlin. He seemed just as attached to her son as he was a few months ago when they came to aid her village.

"He will be along soon, sire. In the meantime, I told Merlin that I would bring your breakfast," she answered. She gestured toward the covered tray she had left on the table.

Arthur caught sight of it, nodded, and began pushing his covers back so he could rise. Hunith paid close attention to his movements, aware that he had been healed by the cup of life only two days prior, and that the prince was still likely to be off balance. And she was right. Arthur nearly fell over extricating himself from the blankets. The experienced mother caught the young man by his arm and supported him as he stood. Slightly embarrassed at being uncoordinated, Arthur blushed and ducked his head. Hunith gave his arm a reassuring squeeze and a softly encouraged him with a soft, "Come along," as she helped him regain his balance.

As soon as he was steady, she let go so he could regain some of his dignity. Arthur purposefully continued to move slowly as he made the short trek from his bed to the table, but he completed the journey without further incident.

Content that Arthur was now safe to eat breakfast, Hunith moved to start making the prince's bed. She hoped to lighten Merlin's load of chores slightly, and she needed a diversion as she awaited the argument Gaius and Merlin were sure would occur. And, alas, Hunith didn't have to wait long.

Her back was to the prince, and she'd just began straightening the sheets when she heard him remove the cover over his food. A rather disgruntled groan followed. "Hunith, is this truly all the kitchens had?"

Hunith could not help the smile that spread across her face. Never in her years did she imagine the prince of Camelot would be whining to her. She quickly wiped the smile off her countenance as she turned around. She immediately covered her mouth with her hand as she fought back a laugh as she caught Arthur actually glaring at the porridge. It reminded her of when Merlin was young.

She swiftly regained her composure and dropped her hand back to her side. "I'm sorry, sire, Gaius said this is what you needed."

"Doesn't mean it had to be brought," Arthur muttered, poking the porridge with a spoon.

Recognizing Arthur's comments for what they were, the stubbornness her son and his guardian had forewarned her about, Hunith decided to nip his complaint in the bud before they got into a full-fledged quarrel.

Pausing, Hunith took a moment to decided which way she was going to handle the situation. Should she be stern or tactful? Given what she knew of Arthur's background (provided to her by Merlin), she easily made her choice.

Hunith approached the table at Arthur's left side, careful not to bump his tender arm, and took in the smells of his less than approved of breakfast. "You need to eat something that will be easy on you, especially after the ordeal you've been through, sire," she gently admonished.

Arthur's eyes left the porridge to meet her gaze. He didn't seem surprised to be getting lectured about the food options, though the fact Hunith was the one giving him the lecture appeared to give the prince reason to pause.

"You've only begun to heal. You cannot simply return to normal immediately," she said more firmly. "One must be patient."

At the last part, Arthur grimaced and let go of his spoon. Ah, yes, what young man naturally has such patience? The prince would have to learn.

"Besides," Hunith continued as she leaned over slightly and smelled the aroma of the porridge as it wafted towards her, "this porridge is much better than mine," she commented, catching Arthur's gaze and looking at him directly. Despite the fact he was Crown Prince, and she was a simple peasant, Arthur stilled where he was. "You remember—the bowl you pretended to eat, and Guinevere finished for you."

Arthur quickly dropped his eyes to the table as a hot flush rushed to his cheeks. He looked up sheepishly after a moment. "You noticed?"

Hunith couldn't stop the chuckle from passing her lips this time as she came around to his other side. "Mothers are aware of all, my Lord," she replied with a knowing smile. "Particularly when their charges are trying to avoid eating food they disdain."

The blush on Arthur's face deepened. He cleared his throat in attempt to regain some of his composure. "You're doing more than simply helping Merlin, aren't you?" he asked imperiously, trying to forestall the inevitable breakfast.

Hunith raised an eyebrow in a nonplussed stare. Nodding towards his breakfast, she answered, "It's best when it's warm, sire."

Arthur sagged in his chair and sighed. Hunith smiled as he picked up the spoon and reluctantly began eating the porridge half a spoonful at a time and trying not to grimace at its blandness with each bite.

When she was satisfied that he was steadily eating, Hunith prepared to leave (and relieve her son of the worrying he was undoubtedly wallowing in in the hallway). Besides, she herself had only just miraculously recovered from her own mysterious illness—not that Arthur needed to know—and required rest as well.

"I must depart now, sire. Merlin should be here soon. Be sure to finish all of your breakfast. And Merlin shouldn't be trying to wipe remnants of it off his person the next time I see him."

Arthur looked up at Hunith when she spoke and was doing his best to feign innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, squinting his eyes and tightly smiling.

"Mmmhmm," she hummed, not believing the young man. "Do know, sire, that I will know if you finished all of it."

There was a brief pause as Arthur considered the motherly threat before he responded in all seriousness, "Yes, my lady."

Hunith ducked her head slightly as she felt her cheeks heat up this time at the noble title with which the prince had addressed her, but she brushed it away with a warm smile. Reaching out, she patted Arthur's good shoulder and departed.

Behind her, Arthur was left relishing the warmth Hunith had left blossoming in his chest, despite her warning to him to eat his breakfast. And the prince wondered, was this what it's like to have a mother?

Hope you enjoyed it! I enjoyed writing it.