When Arthur got back to his chambers Merlin was sitting in one of the more comfortable chairs near the fire. His bump was very pronounced now and he was finding life difficult. His ankles were swollen and his back ached constantly. To make it worse, as far as he was concerned he had started to develop breasts. Also due to the breasts and the rather large weight in front of him he was finding his balance off. He knew they wouldn't remain long just the first three months of his babies life, but even so while he like the idea of being able to feed his baby he hated them. Gaius had already sourced a wet nurse as Merlin wouldn't have enough milk himself but Merlin insisted he would feed his son when he could. Merlin glared at Arthur as he walked towards him
"I'm sitting here desperate for a back rub and you have been to the tavern!" he paused "Don't deny it I can smell it on you"
Arthur did his best to look sorry as he bent and kissed his husband "Business I can assure you" with that he took out the parchment. "Not sure what your brother is up to but he sent this. Oh and his messenger asked me to leave a window open something about a spirit" he was surprised to see Merlin smile broadly
"Oh boy! You are going to love her" Merlin forgot his discomfort for a while
"Who? And Why?" Arthur demanded
"Mab! As to why welllll… you'll see, just don't be a Pratt and upset her. Gwaine did and still wakes up touching his hair in case she has cut it off. She can see into your heart and read your greatest fear." Merlin explained "Well open the window! but not too far I don't want your son to get cold" as Arthur did as he was bid Merlin continued "Then come here and help me to bed and rub my back for me please"
Arthur grinned at the thought of Gwaine and his hair. Merlin looked at him "I know what you are thinking, but take care, seriously, she has a long memory"
"What did he do to upset her?" the blonde asked curiously
""Upset me!" Merlin explained "She likes me"
"So do I, so we will be fine" Arthur sat next to Merlin on the bed and started to massage his back. "Not long now my love"
Merlin went quiet, Arthur frowned "What's the matter?"
A small voice said "He's frightened of course you Dollophead"
Arthur swung round and spotted a small woman/fairy sitting on the end on the bed. "Oi That's my word" Merlin said with a smile
"Ah yes but it does suit him, I suppose this is our Arthur?" Mab asked
"It had better be" Merlin grinned "Come here Mab and let me see you properly"
Mab moved up and sat on Merlin's bump and looked at her friend "You are twice the size you were" she grinned
Arthur glared at Mab "That's my son you are sitting on!"
"I know" this was followed by a roll of eyes "Your son likes me I can tell"
"Mab behave" Merlin scolded. Then he burst into laughter as Mab went tumbling off as the baby kicked. "Are you sure?"
Mab got up and dusted herself off and looked at Arthur "Have you read it?"
"He hasn't had time Mab, I needed my back rubbing" Merlin explained. Then looking at Arthur grinned "Read it now love while I catch up with our visitor"
Arthur went to the desk and unrolled the manuscript after reading it he asked Mob "Do you know what this says?"
"Of course. I don't really know why it needed to be written with me coming here" Mab sounded disgruntled
"I expect it was in case you decided to sulk or talk in riddles, and don't look like that, you can be worse than Kilgarrah when you set your mind to it" Merlin told his friend. Then looking at Arthur raised his eyebrows "Well?"
"It seems my sister has been colluding with a witch called Morgause, planning to take over Camelot and killing the baby and myself. You it seems are to be kept hostage against your father's intervention"
"Poppycock" Mab said "Morgause hates the Pure One more than anything, she wants his power. She has spent years finding a way to accumulate others magic and use it for herself" Mob looked at Merlin with a snide smile "At long last I read her mind! She didn't shield since she had no idea I was about." The spirit paused for effect "Her greatest fear is to find someone more magically powerful. Wel…l that finding a man who could tame her. The second maybe not, the first she will, but you must take care Merlin, but she also fears getting old and losing her beauty. Maybe we can help her with that one."
Arthur listened but didn't respond but told Merlin "It seems Morgause see's Morgana as a powerful ally in her future plans. Tristian says that Morgause has convinced Allied to supply an army. An army he is adding to with mercenaries. Allied has a daughter from his late Queen and the plan is to wed Mordred to her, or that's what they have convinced him." Arthur turned to Merlin "Allied has always hated me. I killed his son in a previous battle between our Kingdoms."
Merlin looked at Mab "And Morgana? What about her fears?" he turned to Arthur "Knowing will help us plan"
"I can see that" Arthur admitted
Mab put her head to one side and sighed "Your sister has gone too far to be saved I fear. Her fears say a lot about her. She fears her magic powers being discovered by the King, she fears burning. But this has turned to hatred and a lust for power that will not be halted now. But if she does become Queen she will not be a good one, there is too much bitterness in her heart it has gone dark. She sees the Witch Morgause as a sister, far more than she sees you as her brother But her greatest fear is failure….to be a nobody." Mab looked at Merlin "Her hatred for you knows no bounds."
Arthur couldn't help but feel sad and wondered if he could have stopped his sister had he known of her powers. But hearing what Mab said to Merlin he asked "Why? What has Merlin done to her?"
"Taken the place she did have, although it wasn't what she wanted, she feels usurped." Mab paused "Her husband now there's a strange one." Mab as was her want paused once more, she loved the dramatic. "His fear is not what I expected"
"Mab! Are you going tell us" Merlin said rolling his eyes.
Mab chuckled "He fears his wife! His greatest fear is Morgana! He does love her, but he fears her more. He fears she will find another and he will no longer be wanted and she will kill him, after all she has a son and he knows that's all she wed him for." Mab looked at Merlin "Shall I tell you what your man fears?"
"Mab! You have no right!" Merlin said angrily.
Arthur looked surprised and slightly amused "Go on then, at east that way I will know if your abilities are true ones"
Mab gave a wicked smile "A persons deepest worries are often not know by themselves, I tease Prince Gwaine but his greatest fear his NOT losing his hair, he isn't that shallow. I will not tell you his because that will give you power over him. Knowing a fear is not always a good thing"
"Mab please don't tell Arthur" Merlin pleaded
"I won't, nor will I tell him yours, even though I may one day" Mab said. Then looking at Arthur she smiled "You are good for Emrys, I am pleased"
"Good" Arthur grinned a little disappointed that he wasn't going to know his greatest fear. He truly believed that if you faced your fears you could lessen them. Although he thought he knew, his fear was that something would happen to the man he loved above all others. "I understand from Merlin that your regard is something to be treasured"
Mab pulled the strangest of faces "Is he always this sappy?" she asked Merlin.
"No" Merlin said honestly "But I think he calls it diplomacy"
"Diplomacy!" Mab spat out "Where you keep someone talking until you decide whether to slit their throat!" She glared at Arthur.
Arthur threw back his head and laughed "I like you Mab! I can think of many treaty talks just like that. I think we shall get along splendidly"
"Unless you hurt Emrys" Mab answered "Now let's plan and Pendragon be devious it's the best way of winning"
"I can see why Gwaine likes you!" Arthur said as they started to discuss their options. After an hour Arthur called a halt "I'm sorry Mab but Merlin needs to rest. You are welcome to stay and we can continue this in the morning."
Mab looked at Merlin "You are right, no I will go and find Tristian, just open the window in the morning….oh and I want breakfast!" with that she was gone.