2. The Truth From a Certain Point of View
A numbing disbelief encompassed Arthur, as Merlin's words ricocheted in the space between his ears.
"She's mine. Her name is Aithusa."
That's what he'd said, but still, Arthur could hardly wrap his head around it.
"What the hell?! You have a kid?!" Gwaine choked out, leaning over Arthur's shoulder as he tried to get a closer look.
Merlin grimaced and only offered Gwaine a sharp nod, before looking to Gaius. "Can you examine her? She's been hurt."
Guinevere gasped. "Is she going to be alright?" she fretted, stepping closer, as though she meant to take the child into her own arms.
Merlin's hold around Aithusa tightened. "She'll live," he said softly, though the words rang hollow.
"Let's take a look at her in my quarters," Gaius suggested, gently ushering Merlin towards the castle steps. "And while I'm sure Merlin appreciates your concern, I will not have the lot of you crowding my chambers while I work."
Arthur paused, when he realized he wasn't the only one following Gaius.
"You've only just returned," he reminded the knights. "Grab a meal, get some rest. Merlin will still be here in the evening. Isn't that right, Merlin?"
Merlin grimaced. "Yes, of course."
"And we can count on an explanation?" Gwaine asked, expression still baffled as his eyes flickered from Merlin's face to the child in his arms.
Merlin briefly glanced towards Percival, Leon, and Elyan, who appeared equally dumbfounded, as well as concerned, before he turned back to Gwaine. "You can."
"Very well then, my friend. We'll speak later."
The knights dispersed, and Arthur and Guinevere followed closely after Gaius and Merlin.
While they hurried through the narrow, castle halls, Arthur's eyes locked onto the child peeking over Merlin's shoulder. She was peculiar looking, with stark white hair curling wildly around her head, and bright, luminescent blue eyes to rival that of her father's.
Father.
His gaze jerked away and dropped, mind awashed with static.
Merlin…had sired a child?
It was incomprehensible, and yet, the evidence was held in Merlin's arms before his very eyes. Arthur swallowed, as though to untie the pressure of hurt lodged in his throat.
Soon, they reached the physician's tower, and climbed up into his chambers.
Guinevere appeared more at ease, moving about the room and assisting Gaius as requested, while Arthur hung back, trying not to get in the way, eyes flickering between the child (Aithusa?) and Merlin, who refused to meet his gaze.
When Gaius had settled Aithusa on one of the tables and unwrapped the bundle of clothes blanketing her, Arthur drifted closer, curious despite himself.
"How did she acquire such injuries?" Gaius asked stiffly, expression flat.
Arthur swallowed a gasp.
Bruises and scrapes aside, Aithusa's arms were both wounded. One, she held close to her chest, as though she were unable to unbend her elbow. The other laid limply across her lap, the wrist bent inward, and two of her tiny fingers curled unnaturally into her palm.
"The prison they held her in was too small for her. She was in there for weeks, months? I'm not sure, but she grew too big, and it crippled her," Merlin said, voice ragged, tears spilling across his cheeks.
Arthur felt as though the air had been stolen from his lungs, heart crushed in the grip of horror as Merlin's confession rang in his ears.
On Gaius' other side, Guinevere began to weep.
"Gaius, can you…is there anything you can do to help her?"
"Perhaps," Gaius offered, the hesitation clear in his voice. "But it will be a long road to recovery. We'll have to work with her every day, see if there's a chance of stretching her muscles back into their proper shape. But, I cannot guarantee she'll regain full use of her limbs."
"I understand," Merlin rasped. "Please, do what you can."
"I will, my boy, I promise," Gaius said, gripping Merlin's shoulder. "For now, we'll get her cleaned up, and I'll fashion a brace for her arms. Why don't you get some rest?"
Merlin shook his head, eyes fastened onto Aithusa's frail form. "I can't."
"Please, Merlin," Guinevere urged, wiping her cheeks dry of tears. "Trust us to take care of her."
Finally, Merlin lifted his head, sweeping his eyes until he met Arthur's steadfast gaze.
He looked back to Guinevere. "I do trust you. But, I don't really have it in me to rest right now. I'm sure Arthur has a chore or two he'd like me to catch up on."
Arthur scoffed. "Idiot!"
"Arthur's right, Merlin," Gaius heaved a long-suffering sigh.
Merlin shrugged. "I just meant that…you want answers?"
Arthur shifted on his feet, discomforted by Merlin's knowing gaze. Of course he wanted answers! But, he felt like a right ass, demanding anything from Merlin when he looked like he'd just been dragged through the depths of hell and back.
"I do," Arthur agreed reluctantly. "Are you prepared to give them?"
Merlin grimaced. "Right. Let's get this over with."
Arthur caught him by the arm, before he could tear past him. "Where do you think you're going?"
Merlin lifted an eyebrow, in a move eerily reminiscent of Gaius. "To your chambers?"
Arthur rolled his eyes and deftly twisted his servant around, gently shoving him back in the opposite direction. "That's unnecessary. We can just as easily speak in your room."
"Must you be so pushy?" Merlin grumbled under his breath, much to Arthur's relief.
It couldn't be so bad, if Merlin was already complaining.
"I'll have one of the servants grab food for him," Guinevere told him, handing him a rag and a basin of water. "Be kind."
"I will," Arthur assured her quietly, and followed Merlin up the steps to his room, gently kicking the door shut behind him.
Merlin went to sit at the edge of his bed, expression pensive, while Arthur dragged a stool over to sit close, placing the basin on Merlin's nightstand. Once settled, Arthur dipped the rag into the water and wiped the cloth across Merlin's dirt-smudged face.
"What…what are you doing?" Merlin asked, voice still hoarse with emotion.
"You stink," Arthur said flatly, careful not to display the worry blistering beneath his skin.
With care he hadn't been aware he possessed, Arthur used one hand to hold Merlin's jaw steady and the other to swipe the cloth against his face, until all the dirt had been scrubbed away. And then, he began to pick out the leaves and brambles tangled in his spiky hair, gathering the debris beside the basin.
When there wasn't much more he could do, Arthur gave him a once over, checking him for any visible wounds, until his eyes landed on Merlin's forearm, where his jacket and tunic were torn and a ratty piece of cloth was wrapped around the red-swollen skin.
"You're injured," Arthur said, irritation prickling in his chest.
"Oh, right. I forgot."
Arthur huffed. "Let's get that cleaned up, before we give Gaius another reason to―"
"When Aithusa was born," Merlin suddenly began, effectively quieting Arthur. "I entrusted her care to someone else."
"Who?" Who could Merlin possibly entrust Aithusa to, if not the mother?
"My brother," Merlin confessed. "Kilgharrah."
Arthur felt as though the rug had been swept from underneath his feet.
"…You've never mentioned having a brother before."
It hurt, realizing he didn't know Merlin as well as he thought he did.
"That's because, I never knew myself," Merlin said. "I first met him when I moved to Camelot, but he never told me the truth. By the time I found out, years later, I could not stand the sight of him. He left, and I did not speak with or see him again for over a year after that."
"What changed?"
Merlin shrugged. "I got into a spot of trouble and he saved my life. He is still my kin…I could not cut him off completely."
Arthur frowned. "Still, you trusted him enough to have him care for Aithusa?"
Merlin's expression crumpled miserably. "I thought I could. I thought he cared for her. I was wrong."
A cold fury swept through Arthur. "Is he the one who did this to her? Who did this to you?"
"What?! No," Merlin assured him. "No, I don't believe he'd be capable of deliberately hurting Aithusa."
"Right," Arthur said, only slightly mollified. "What happened, then?"
"I'm not sure how it went," Merlin admitted, "But sometime after we defeated Morgana and took Camelot back from her, Morgana took Aithusa."
"She did what?" It was the only thing Arthur managed to choke out, his mind flooded with questions.
"Unfortunately," Merlin continued, "She was still weak. Morgana got herself and Aithusa captured by Sarrum."
Arthur blinked as he processed this. "…Sarrum, the ruler of Amata?" His lungs turned to ice in his chest. "He did this."
There was no doubt in his heart. King Sarrum had an even worse reputation than Arthur's own father. His hatred for magic had rivaled that of Uther's, and his cruelty knew no bounds.
"Yes," Merlin whispered. "It's why it took me so long to find her."
"Why didn't you say anything?!" Arthur demanded, feeling aggrieved. "We would have helped you! Why? Why did you go alone?"
Merlin swallowed back a sob, bloodshot eyes thick with unshed tears. "I was afraid of what I would find."
Unable to stand the sight, Arthur gripped him by the arm and pulled him forward, until Merlin's face was tucked between his shoulder and neck. Merlin hugged him tightly, his tears soaking into the fabric of Arthur's tunic.
Arthur didn't give hugs out so freely. He wasn't accustomed to the warm sensation of holding someone in his arms, of comforting them. And although his skin prickled with discomfort, for Merlin, he would do it as many times as necessary.
They pulled apart when a small knock against the door warned them of Guinevere's arrival. She stepped in, a tray laden with food balanced in her arms.
As soon as she caught sight of Merlin's fresh tears streaked across his face, she set the tray down atop the chest at the foot of Merlin's bed, and sat beside him, drawing him into her arms.
"I'm okay, Gwen," Merlin assured her, patting her back.
"Maybe not now, but you will be," she said decisively.
Arthur smiled fondly at the pair, though his mind remained engulfed with questions he had yet to ask Merlin. And it appeared that Guinevere had some questions of her own.
When she pulled back, she continued to stare into Merlin's eyes as she carefully stated, "Gaius says that Aithusa appears to be around four years old?"
Merlin briefly frowned, before simply agreeing with a short nod.
"So," she began with an air caution, "Does that mean…that is to say…wouldn't that have been around the same time as when you and Freya―"
Merlin's expression abruptly shuttered close. "No."
"I thought―"
"Freya is dead," he said coldly. "Aithusa doesn't have a mother."
"Right. Of course," Guinevere said, voice pained.
Arthur's gaze flickered between the pair, aching to know more, but recognizing the fact that Merlin had reached the end of his rope.
"We'll let you get some rest," Arthur decided, slowly rising to his feet. "I'll let Gaius know to come in and check your injuries."
Merlin nodded, silent.
Guinevere joined him, expression awashed with guilt and Arthur gently took her hand as they moved towards the door.
But before they could cross the threshold, Arthur paused, unable to let one question go unanswered.
He turned back and asked, "What about Morgana? Is she still a prisoner?"
"No."
Arthur's stomach dropped. Of course. Of course she had escaped. Now, it would only be a matter of time before―
"I killed her."
A/N: The bestie demanded I continue this, so here we are…
Morgana's death makes season 5 obsolete, and isn't that a joy? Also, I don't find it outside the realm of possibility that Merlin could've told Gwen about Freya. They're besties, and I'm sure Merlin would've edited out all of the magic.
And if it isn't clear, Aithusa is a dragon, but Merlin disguised her as a human. The injuries to her wings are reflected in her arms. Although it's fair to note that she was under Sarrum's capture for a few weeks/months, as opposed to two years, so the damage isn't as bad.
Anyway, I really hope you all liked it! :3