Chapter 2 - Letter for Gaius

"I don't quite understand," Arthur said after a while, looking up at Gaius, who is looking at him with a serious expression.

"Do you remember her, Mylord?" he asked.

"That was years ago," Arthur said.

"Almost 9 years," Gaius confirmed the king's statement.

"That's impossible. My father never did that."

Gaius sighed. Sometimes Arthur have a fiery temper. Especially when the young king doesn't like to see what Uther was capable of.

"I regret having to say it. She was not befitting. Uther would never have allowed this boy to become Prince or even King of Camelot. He gave the mother, Catherine, a severance payment so that she would leave Camelot and the boy would never know his true identity," Gaius said.

"It's ridiculous," said Arthur, "every child can say that."

"Do you think it was a coincidence that the boy was caught with the coins in the royal bag? Do you really think a child was able to steal from you?" Gaius questioned, "These are the coins that Uther gave to the mother."

"If it's really true, Gaius, then..." Arthur broke his sentence. It just can't be true. In principle, anyone could come here and make such a claim. Because they cannot prove the opposite. Arthur sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He has never felt so overwhelmed. He trusts Gaius. And if he is honest with himself, his father would be able to do that.

"Only your father, Catherine and the two of us know the secret about the boy."

"There's no doubt about it?" Arthur asked to be on the safe side.

"Yes," said Gaius, "I am absolutely convinced that this boy is your son."

"And what do you think I should do?"

"My lord, in order to protect the well-being of the child, nobody is allowed to know who he is," said Gaius of his concerns.

"Where should he go? I can't let him live on the street. If it is true, then we have to protect him and that is only possible here. But letting a child in the castle would be far too suspicious," Arthur said. He's been pacing up and down in Merlin's messy room for quite some time. He wasn't ready for it yet. He cannot worry about a child. Servants would do this, but he truly cannot take in a child. Especially since the child was created by a meaningless affair. On the other hand, he feels obliged to enable the boy to live a good life.

"He can live with me, Sire. I can pretend to be the guardian. So he's still close to you."

"Would you do that, Gaius?"

"Of course. One day everyone can find out who he is, even the boy, but as long as we seem to have a traitor here and Morgana still wants to take the throne, it is our duty to protect the boy. "

"Thank you, Gaius."

In the front room, Gwen and Merlin were sitting on the wooden bench. The boy was still in her arms. He literally gulped down the soup. Nathan was locked up in the dungeon for two days.

Suddenly Merlin's door was opened and Arthur trudged past them.

"Mylord," Gaius called after him, "A bed for the boy would be appropriate."

Arthur, who was about to leave the room, turned. First he looked at Gaius and then his eyes fell on Guinevere and the boy.

"Merlin should take care of finding clothes and bed for the boy," said Arthur and disappeared.

"Am I imagining it or is Arthur just a little irritable?" Merlin asked.

"He will come to his senses soon," said Gaius, "It was probably too much of a shock."

Both Merlin and Gwen looked at the old man in confusion.

"Haven't I told you yet? It seems that I am Nathan's guardian now," Gaius said.

Thank you for your review. I am very happy to read it every time.

Now we also know what connects them. Would Arthur be able to accept the new situation? Let's see if they manage to keep the secret of the boy.