I am not very satisfied by this chapter, but I hope it is understandable enough.
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"I'm pregnant," Merlin murmured from the passenger seat of Gwaine's car.
His friend sighed, sad, "Aye, I know, mate. Before storming in from the window, I overheard you and Pendragon. I know about the child"
After having escaped from the castle, Merlin and Gwaine hid in Gwaine's house all night and the next day, to see if Arthur or one of his minions were looking for them. When they had determined they were safe for now, Gwaine had decided to take Merlin in one of the Camelot Hunters' hiding places that evening, where three of their colleagues were waiting for them to help them figure out what to do. Gwaine had called them the previous day and explained the situation.
Merlin had his head turned toward the car window and was looking at the streetlights of the passing streets. He was tired, he had not slept at all. How could he? His life had reached the brink of a cliff. He had the feeling that whatever he chose, he would fall anyway. The most logical solution would be to get rid of the child, but the very thought horrified him. The child was a life, not just an abstract thought, and above all, it was Merlin's, his baby. However, on the other hand, he could not deny that he was also Arthur's son and would be a vampire, a creature that Merlin had to eliminate as a Hunter... What to do?
"What should I do, Gwaine?" He asked quietly.
The brown-haired man didn't speak for a while, bathing the car in a heavy and suffocating atmosphere. When he did answer, he was very serious. Merlin had never heard him sound like that.
"I don't know for sure, Merlin. I mean, I know what you should do, given we are Hunters and we have responsibilities toward other people's safety, but what it must be done won't be easy. It'll be terrible, especially given your gentle heart…"
Merlin's heart clenched and he stopped breathing at the thought of what Gwaine was implying.
"Are-are you saying I should get an abortion?"
Gwaine didn't give him an answer. He just kept looking ahead as he drove.
Merlin heavily swallowed, suddenly cold, but didn't add more.
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They parked outside a building that Merlin, to his great surprise, recognized as The Rising Sun, the most popular pub of the city. He himself had gone there many times with his friends when they wanted a drink.
He turned to Gwaine as they got out of the car, "What are we doing here? I thought we were going to meet other Hunters, friends of yours…"
"We are. This is one of our hiding places. Not to brag, but I'm the one who founded it"
"Why am I not surprised that you have established a hiding place for Vampires Hunters in a pub?" Tried to joke Merlin, despite the situation.
It worked. Gwaine chuckled, "Because you know me too well, little dove"
They went in and his friend moved immediately to the bar, where the bartender, Elena, was laughing with some clients. Merlin knew her. She was a blonde girl, a little airhead, but fun and her drinks were magical and colourful, as if made by the fairies.
When she saw Gwaine, she smiled and leaned over the bar, "Hey, hairy boy, what can I get you?"
With a flirty smile, he leaned toward her and whispered, "Two Gates of Avalon, love"
She lifted a side of her lips and nodded nonchalantly. One of her hands moved under the counter and after a second, she said, "Go find yourselves a table somewhere, boys. Your drinks will be ready in an instant"
"Thank you, El..."
With a nod, Gwaine pointed to Merlin to follow him and, discretely, they went to the back of the pub.
"What the hell was that, Gwaine?"
"Uh? Oh, well, Elena is our 'Guardian', we could say. When a hunter wants to enter the hiding place, they go to her and say the password 'Gates of Avalon'; she pushes a button under the counter, which opens this wall..."
They were in front of a wall with the picture of the lake of Avalon, outside the city. Gwaine touched it and the wall opened, revealing stairs leading down.
"Cool" Commented Merlin.
"I know" Said Gwaine smugly.
They went downstairs and Gwaine opened a heavy steel door at the end of them. They ended up in a big control room, also equipped with a living room and a kitchen, with several doors on one side.
However, what froze Merlin on the spot were the three figures sitting on the sofa and armchairs.
Shocked, he gasped, "You?!"
00000
That same night, in the heart of the forest, across town, George, the deformed hunchback and the Prince of Darkness's personal servant, was in the Gothic Graveyard of the castle. He wasn't alone. With him, there were most of the monsters living in the castle and the ghosts, chatting happily while sitting on their own graves. They were all waiting outside the mausoleum, a circular structure of marble with a dome, where their Prince was resting.
The night before, George had found him in the Throne Room unconscious and injured, and had carried him to the mausoleum as quickly as possible, where he had laid his Lord in his coffin, where he would heal.
And now, it was time for him to raise. George could feel it in the air.
The hunchback entered the mausoleum, in the middle of which a black coffin laid on an altar.
He bowed and hesitantly asked, "My-My Lord?"
A cloud moved and revealed the moon, allowing a moonbeam to penetrate through the round windows of the dome. It hit the coffin, which began to open, creaking. George could see a pale hand pushing the cover to one side, followed immediately by the tall and muscular figure of his Master, who rose to his feet in the coffin, stretched and floated until he quietly touched the cold marble floor.
Prince Arthur was completely healed and seemed even more powerful, now that thirst for revenge against those who had dared to challenge him and take away his lover and baby was flowing in his blood... At the thought of his child growing in his beloved Merlin's womb, his dead heart filled with joy and with a sense of possession. They were HIS and he would get them back and never let go, no matter what! Hell itself will fall on these who will come between Arthur and his family…especially on that Gwaine!
…but for now, these dark thoughts wouldn't overshadow his mind to what it must be done.
Completely ignoring his servant, Arthur slowly walked with deadly steps outside of the mausoleum, stopping for a moment to enjoy the applause and cries of joy of the crowd. Then, he lifted his arms, demanding silence.
"My evil subjects, you who grovel in the bowels of the Earth, who live in the night and who haunt the nightmares of men, now I need you to unleash the powers of darkness on my enemies. On those Hunters who have taken my BRIDE..." Scandalous screams rose, "... and my BABY away from me!" Cries of pure anger filled the graveyard and Hell beneath it. Arthur continued, his voice more and more cold and dark, "I ask you, no, I DEMAND you to FIND THEM, all of them! Use all your powers to do so: those of you who can fly will search from the sky; those who can disappear or go unnoticed will look for them on earth; and the mermaids will patrol the rivers, the lakes and the seas. When you find them, you'll tell me, so that I can come and collect my love and heir… you can do whatever you want with the Hunters, as you take them here; but remember, I want them ALIVE!"
Those present were enthusiastic. The last time a Prince of Darkness had given them permission to go outside to the world of the living as they pleased had been centuries before.
A dull and boring voice from behind him called the blond's attention, "Sire?"
"Yes, George?"
"Is there some suspicion about where Lord Merlin may have been taken?"
"For now none, George, but I'm pretty sure that soon my son will find a way to let me know where he is. He is already so powerful and evil. I'm so proud of him... Oh, my poor dear Merlin, how will you be able to resist such a darkness when this will be growing inside you for nine months?"
Arthur evilly smirked and threw his head back, laughing loudly.
00000
"YOU?!"
Merlin was speechless. How could they be there?
Gwaine stopped by his side, frowning, "Merlin, mate, what's wrong? Do ye know them?"
"Well, I would say so, even if right now I'm not that sure anymore. They may be your fellow Hunters, but for me, they are supposed to be my best friends, isn't it, friends?" Said Merlin sarcastically, gritting his teeth.
Lancelot, Gwen and Freya stood up from the sofa, looking quite uncomfortable and mortified, not really meeting Merlin's eyes…
Gwaine raised his eyebrows, "Aye? Yer friends? What a small world!"
"Merlin..." Began Gwen hesitantly, but Merlin held up a hand, cutting her off.
"No, Gwen – is it even your real name I wonder? – I don't want to listen to your lies. I don't want to know who you are! - Pfft, what the fuck. Of course I do, whom am I trying to fool? - What the hell is going on here? Who are you really, guys? Are you Hunters?"
Lancelot stepped forward and tried to placate his friend's ire with his natural soothing and deep voice, "Merl, please, could you please sit down? For me?"
"Don't even start, Lance... I'm too angry. It will not be so easy to convince me to calm down and to forgive you, and..."
"Look, I have bought your favourite cake: Ferrero Rocher Cake"
Merlin pursed his lips and puffed indignantly, "Who do you take me for? A five year old?" But soon he unknowingly found himself sat on the sofa, eating the cake and hating himself for being so weak. Damn his sweet-tooth. Damn Lancelot for being so perfect, like a fucking unicorn, created in a lab!
When the last crumb of the pie was gone, Merlin, much calmer, tried again, "So, you are Hunters, aren't you?"
Lancelot nodded, followed by the girls, "Yes, since birth. Our parents have trained us since childhood. Gwen is called The Queen of Hearts. She is good at injecting harmful substances in the vampires when these get close enough to her. Freya is the Lady of the Lake and she uses retractable claws as a weapon..."
Merlin frowned and looked at his biologist friend, who was wearing black gloves, from which she made long claws-like blades appear. She smirked like a panther at his incredulous face.
The brunet swallowed and turned to Lancelot, "What about you?"
In response, he looked down, clearly uncomfortable. He was even blushing. "N-Nothing special…"
Gwaine laughed aloud and patted the poor embarrassed boy's back, throwing an arm around his shoulders, "Aw, don't be modest, man. You see, Merlin, our Lancelot here is so good and kind that others Hunters have started to call him The Nobile against his will ...ahahaa... and his weapon of choice is a sword, like me, but I'm better than him with a sword of course, if you know what I mean..."
Merlin chuckled, "I've never doubted it, Gwaine... although I think Gwen may have something to say about it" He said, winking at the girl, who blushed.
All of them laughed, but then Merlin returned serious.
"And…have you known that I am a Hunter too for long?" He asked his friends with a note of sadness in his voice, which underlined the fact that he was still shaken at the thought of their lies.
They shook their heads and this time, it was Gwen who spoke, "No, Merlin, I swear... we did not know you were like us until a few hours ago, when Gwaine called us and he told us your name. We thought there couldn't be many Merlins in Camelot of our age..."
"I suppose not," whispered the brunet.
"We are so sorry, Merl, truly" Freya said, patting his hand.
He nodded and after a few seconds, he looked up at them and smiled slightly, "Forgiven... I am sorry too for not having told you my secret..."
They smiled at each other, friends again.
"So, I guess that Gwaine has told you everything about my situation?" He questioned, hesitantly putting a hand on his stomach.
Pure cold settled in the room and in the hearts of those present at that gesture.
They knew.
Gwen excused herself and went into the kitchen, discreetly wiping her eyes. Merlin pretended not to see and turned to the others.
Lancelot spoke, "We know. That's why we are here. To find a way to keep you safe and far away from that monster, while we look for a way to kill him…"
Merlin nodded and was about to inform them that he was thinking about keeping the baby, when Gwen returned with a cup of warm tea and handed it to the brunet.
"Here, drink this. It will soothe your nerves…"
Merlin smiled grateful, "Thanks, you're really a good friend…"
She swallowed, "I-I'm only trying to do what's best for you…"
After another smile, Merlin began to lift the cup up to his mouth, but when he was about to drink, a strange warmth concentrated in his belly and his blood burned with a rage that wasn't his own.
His eyes turned red and a cold voice that wasn't his own came out from his mouth.
"KILLER!"
He threw the untouched cup towards Gwen, who dodged it just in time, screaming.
Gwaine moved toward Merlin, who was panting, furious. "Merl, dove, what's wrong? It's all right…"
He tried to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but the brunet slapped it away, turning his angry red eyes and dark voice toward him, "DON'T TOUCH HIM! HE IS NOT YOURS! HE BELONGS TO DADDY!"
Everyone froze at that and watched while Merlin fought against something or someone to regain control of himself. He had a hand against his belly as to calm it down…and then, slowly, very slowly, his eyes returned their normal blue and he was left sweating and panting on the floor near the sofa.
Gwaine immediately ran back to him now that the previous danger was over and helped him up. "What the hell was that?"
"I'd say it was the child in his womb. Fuck, he's more powerful that we thought!" Said Lancelot, shocked.
"Yes, it was my child. The right question, however, is why he got so angry for a cup of tea..." He turned to Gwen, who had a guilty face, "Unless that wasn't simple tea, right Gwen?"
"Merlin..."
"WHAT was in the tea?" He asked through gritted teeth.
She sighed, "I was just doing what was best for you..."
"WHAT?"
"POISON!" She sobbed and Merlin's heart stopped. "A poison that would have killed the child inside of you!"
He was incredulous as he looked at her, Lancelot and Freya, who had the same guilty expressions. At least, thanks God, Gwaine genuinely seemed as shocked as him.
"How could you do this to me?" He whispered, looking at Gwen, hurt.
"Merlin, please, you have to understand…"
"YOU TRIED TO POISON ME!"
"No, only the child!...I didn't want to, but Merlin, you have to understand the severity of the situation. That child is dangerous…you have seen it just now…"
"NO! All I have seen is you trying to kill a child and said child defending himself... how could you? He's my son!" He pushed the girl, causing her to fall to the ground. Lancelot ran to her.
"Merlin, wait, wait. We are sorry for going behind your back ... but you can't really imply that you want to keep the baby, right?" Asked Freya, disbelievingly.
He straightened his back, "Of course I'll keep the baby. He's mine. He is part of me. I love him"
Lancelot got up and faced his friend, "But Merlin, he'll be a vampire and we kill vampires. Also, he is the son of the Prince of Darkness. He cannot be allowed to live and be born"
"HE. IS. MY. SON. No matter who his other father is. And if any of you try to hurt him again, I swear to you that I will hunt you to the end of the world and kill you!"
Noting they were losing control of the situation, Gwaine stepped between Merlin and the trio. "Hey, guys, let's calm down, aye? Merlin, come with me, please..."
He dragged the fuming brunet into one of the bedrooms of the basement and closed the door behind them.
"Merlin, you need to calm down. Trying to kill your friends won't help you, or the child…"
"They tried to poison my baby, Gwaine…how can I calm down?"
"I know, I know, they've made a big mistake, but I've known them for many years now and I can ensure you that they are truly sorry. They thought you wanted to get rid of the child and knew that doing that would have broken you, given your gentle soul, so they decided to lift that burden from your shoulders and to put it on theirs. They thought they were doing you a favour. They are your friends. They were wrong not to consult you before, but they were just trying to do what's best for you, what would make your life easier. Because we all know that this baby will make your life very dangerous. Do you really want to blame them for thinking about your happiness?"
Merlin looked down at his feet, now a bit guilty for his outburst. He hadn't thought about it by this point of view. "No, I don't. Put like this, I can't see them as cold blood killers anymore. But I'm still angry"
"Of course, you are. It's in your right to be. But please, little dove, don't close your mind and your heart to your friends so quickly. You'll need them more than ever…"
Merlin nodded, breathing deeply, a lighter heart. "Thank you, Gwaine…will you stand by my side?"
"Always…" He kissed the brunet on the forehead, trying –failing- to ignore Merlin's body shivering under the touch of someone who wasn't Arthur.
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Lancelot, Gwen and Freya were talking to each other, but when they heard the bedroom door opening, they fell silent, watching Merlin frighteningly, not knowing in what moon their friend was.
They were surprised, however, when the brunet, instead of screaming, said, "I'm sorry about earlier…I hope I didn't hurt you, Gwen"
She put a hand over her mouth, relieved, "Oh, Merlin, no…I am the one sorry for what I have done…tell me what I need to do to make it up to you…"
"I just want to know whether you're with me or not…I have to start thinking about the future"
She nodded and approached him, hugging him tightly, "Of course, I'm with you…"
Merlin sighed in relief and looked at the other two, "What about you?"
Lancelot and Freya stepped forward, "We are with you…Sorry for hurting you. We thought we were doing the right thing, but taking that choice away from you has made us no better than the vampires we fight. It won't happen again. If you want to keep your child, as your friends, we'll help you raise him well…"
Merlin smiled, moved, and hugged them too.
Then, a voice spoke through the intercom. It was Elena.
"Guys, you should see what's happening outside…"
Immediately the Hunters moved to the screens. Freya touched a few keys and suddenly they could see what was happening right outside the pub.
A screen was showing the sky, which at that time was covered by flying beings.
"What are they?" Merlin asked, his eyes glued on the images.
"Gargoyles, giant bats, ghosts, harpies... creatures of darkness. Arthur's servants..." Said Lancelot.
"And look here..." Gwen said, pointing at another screen. It showed a road not far from the pub and in the middle of it, stood two werewolves, intent on sniffing the air.
"My God... have you ever seen so many evil creatures outside all together?" Lancelot asked.
They shook their heads.
"What on earth are they doing here?" Asked Merlin.
"Looking for you, dove... Arthur has declared war on the Hunters who have stolen you" Gwaine said, grimly.
Merlin's heart stopped. He couldn't breathe.
"If the child shows himself like…like before, they'll be here in seconds" Gwen whispered, shaking slightly.
Merlin touched his belly, "For now we are safe. The baby is sleeping; his outburst of earlier must have tired him quite a lot…"
Gwaine nodded, "Good. Let's take advantage of this fact to get out of this city. Somewhere safer"
"But where?" Asked Merlin.
They looked at each other.
"Um... maybe we could go to a hiding place up north. The Hunters have a secluded safe house in the Scottish Highlands, close to a lake. We could go there for now"
They all nodded and quickly prepared to leave, restless. They didn't know for how long they would be safe.
How long would it take for Arthur to find them?
Not much.