Merlin

The New Wave

France Gamble

Chapter 7

Lilly had started to bleed a bit more than usual during the night, so Merlin had the baby with him in Arthur's chambers. Gaius had assured him that the woman would be alright. Yet, he needed to take the baby for now to let her rest some more. Giving birth was exhausting, and the pregnancy had been rushed as well.

"Cardinal?" Elyan asked from the table. Of course, all the knights had to come to bother them as well.

Now it was a guessing game to what to name the new child. Merlin assured them that he didn't need their help, but they just laughed. They were trying to come up with names for the baby that went with Merlin. It was getting to the point where the sorcerer wasn't even answering while they bickered amongst themselves. He couldn't wait for Arthur to have a child. Then he would get his payback.

"That's a title for the church," Leon reminded them.

"How about Magpie?" Gwaine drained his cup after suggesting.

"Tit!" Arthur supplied suddenly. They all went down into laughter, which Merlin had to pat the back of the baby to keep him calm.

"Shh!" He reminded them. "And NO!"

The baby once again settled at the sound of his voice. He wasn't having trouble with this fatherhood thing, yet. With how small the child was, he was enjoying it. Gaius had told him not to get used to this. They do cry and demand things at some point.

"Pidgeon?"

"Jay?"

"Starling," a voice came up from behind them as Gwen entered the common chamber. She was in her clothes still, but they were supposed to be letting her sleep.

"That is a nice name," Merlin commented to himself.

"It is a beautiful bird. Has the brightest blue like his eyes," Gwen said as she rubbed the soft gold down of hair on the babe's head.

Lilly had already mentioned that besides how bright his hair was, he had Merlin's eyes and facial structure. Merlin had thought the child bald when he first held him since his hair was so bright yellow.

"Chiffchaff!"

"Dunnock?"

"Magpie?"

"You already said that one, Gwaine," Elyan reminded him.

"I think it's the only bird name he knows," Arthur supplied.

"I don't have to name him after a bird," Merlin reminded them. "I also don't think so."

The baby began to shift against his shirt back and forth. Gwen smiled, "Merlin, he needs Lilly soon for a feeding. Babies do that before they cry."

"That's what that is?" he asked in awe.

"He is looking for food. They are so small at this age, and he can't find it on his own," she moved out of his way as he stood up.

"How do you know so much about babies?" Merlin asked her.

"I have helped a lot of them while helping Gaius, Merlin." He smiled at her as he left the chamber to some more names being called out behind him.

"I still like magpie!" Gwaine's voice floated behind him.

The baby was becoming restless in his arms, "Don't worry. I won't be naming you Magpie." He laughed a bit and continue to just talk to the child to keep him calm on the path back to their chambers. The words didn't mean much, but it kept the baby calm until they reached where Lilly was slowly sitting up in bed.

"He needs some food," she said quietly. He nodded and handed the baby to her. As she settled him into his meal, which he eagerly latched onto, she leaned on Merlin's shoulder in more exhaustion. "I am still so tired."

"We have the bleeding under control, but you did bleed a lot before we noticed," Merlin reminded her.

"I know we didn't mean for this to happen, but ever since you rescued me from that hut, I am starting to think you are a guardian spirit," she laughed slightly.

"I think if the other men who were captured knew what Morgana made them do, they would also be out there looking for the women," he assured her. "No man that I know of would want to do what Morgana is doing."

"You're very sweet, Merlin, but monsters are everywhere," she shifted when the baby let go. He reached down to burp him for her, and then passed him back for the half of the meal.

"I know what monsters are," he told sadly. She shifted to give him a scrutinizing look.

"Is this your way of being mysteriously self-deprecating again?" Her blue eyes bore back into his own. "I told you that you're not a monster. You were enchanted. I know that. It took me a few weeks, but I don't blame you at all for this."

"Thanks, but…"

"No. Merlin, listen to me. We have a child now together. We are married. You did what you felt was correct for this heinous crime that Morgana did. I grew up a Druid, remember? I heard them talking forever. It is no secret that she was going to come into her own powers at some time. The prophecies are clear, and though I am not sure… Merlin, you can't have done anything against her," she sighed as he took the baby to burp again.

He opened his mouth to say something again to her, but she cut him off again, "I can't tell you the prophecies. Just know that one day our child may be free too. I just hope he is like me and doesn't have any of the magic that runs in my blood. I really would hate to have to run from here. It is a struggle life without being able to rejoin the tribes."

He didn't try again. He just held the baby closer. Would he leave Arthur if his child came to have magic, too? One good thing was that the baby was two days old and didn't not seem to have any inkling of the power. He knew it was only a matter of time, though. Children as young at six could show signs of having magic if it runs strong in their veins. Gaius was positive that any child of his would have such a power. He would have to convince Arthur before then to not kill them.

Lilly was sleeping again in the silence that had dropped around them. He carefully went to lean against the wall in his own room and bed with the baby still on his chest. He dozed with the little tuft of hair against his chin, and his fears now becoming more. He wouldn't let them die. None of them.

((Review))