I almost forgot it was Tuesday.

Well, I didn't get nearly as much of this done as I thought I would. Was busier this break than I had planned. My family went on vacation without me... again. So I have been house-sitting between my grandparent's and my mom's. A cat and a dog to take care of, and stuff around the houses that needed to be done, plus some homework, and a mess-up with my health insurance I needed to straighten out. And when I did have time, I just wanted to relax and hang out with my friend who is living with my grandparents basement for the school year. The last two nights we've just cooked supper and then watched Criminal Minds for hours until bed.

But I did have to type up at least another chapter. I keep saying I'm going to be making this move faster, and then I drag it out. For real though, the rest of it is going to move much faster. Since I have figured out what I am going to do to Merlin now. ;)

Arthur's brow furrowed in confusion as a woman sitting on one of Gaius' benches was revealed. Her mousy brown hair was beginning to gray at the temples, crow's feet marking the edges of her eyes, which were wide as they stared at Col. She slowly rose to her feet, hand pressed to her heart as she took a step forward. Her voice trembled as she blinked back tears.

"Merlin?"

Arthur glanced between the woman and Col. Col's eyes were wide, his breathing fast. As the woman took another step forward, the boy suddenly turned and bolted from the room.

"Col!" shouted Arthur, turning to run after him.

"Sire! Wait!" called Gaius.

Arthur paused, looking back at the physician.

"Sire, let him go. He'll be alright, I'm sure he will go right back to your chambers."

Arthur set his jaw, turning back to face them slowly. "Who are you?" he asked, staring at the woman.

"My name is Hunith, sire," said the woman, bowing to him. "I come from the village of Ealdor."

"That's in Cenred's kingdom. What are you doing here?"

"Sire," cut in Gaius. "I sent for her."

"Why?"

"Because Col is Merlin-"

"My son." Hunith stepped forward.

Arthur felt his jaw drop. "W-What?"

"When you first brought Merlin to my quarters," started Gaius, "I knew who he was. I knew his parents, before he was born." He turned slightly to Hunith. "He looks much like his father."

Hunith gave a small smile, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

"What happened?" Arthur asked Hunith.

She looked confused, and a bit scared. "S-Sire?"

"How did Col… Merlin end up as a…" Arthur trailed off, not sure how much this woman knew about what had become of her son. "How did he end up here?"

Hunith dropped her gaze to the floor, sitting down on the nearest seat as she began to tremble. "A man came to our village. He was a blacksmith and he said he was searching for a young apprentice. He asked about Merlin, but… I told him no… I saw the way he looked at the boys in the village, the way he looked at Merlin." She glanced up at Arthur, eyes full of tears. "Merlin was so little, he was only five years old, I couldn't let him go with that man. But…" Her eyes snapped closed as a sob burst from her lips. "I woke up one morning, and Merlin was gone. He t-took him, he took my little boy."

Gaius sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around her.

"My poor little boy, what has happened to him these last fourteen years?" Hunith sobbed.

Gaius rubber her back, rocking them slightly. "He is safe now, that is what matters," he said.

Arthur stood watching them, trying to process what he had just learned. "I… I'm going to go check on… Merlin," he said, backing towards the door.

Gaius glanced up at him and nodded.

Arthur rushed out of the physician's quarters, hurrying as fast as he could through the corridors without actually running. He reached his rooms in record time, and sighed as he discovered one of the doors slightly ajar. Pushing it open, he stepped in, the sound of sniffles reaching his ears. Arthur walked to the bed, looking on the far side.

The boy was curled up on the floor, knees drawn up to his chest, tears running down his face.

"Co… Merlin?" called Arthur softly.

Watery blue eyes met his.

Arthur sighed, crouching down. "Merlin, huh?" He reached out and wiped away a few tears. "I must say, it's a more interesting name than Col."

A small, shaky smile crossed the boy's lips as he nodded.

Arthur smiled. "Well then, I am un-naming you Col, and re-naming you Merlin."

Merlin's smile grew, and he leaned into the hand that was still wiping tears from his face.

"Now, Merlin," continued Arthur, "why did you run away from your mother?"

Merlin stared down at his knees.

"Merlin?" Arthur sat down next to him, draping an arm around his shoulder. "Hey, what's the matter?"

Merlin glanced up at him, the muscles in his jaw twitching slightly as he opened his mouth and closed it again.

"You can tell me," prompted Arthur, staring at Merlin hopefully.

Merlin blinked back new tears, shaking his head.

Arthur sighed, rubbing the boy's arm. "Alright… Well, I think it was rather mean to run away from your mother. She hasn't seen you in fourteen years, and she didn't know if you were alive or dead. She was really sad when she woke up that one morning and that man had taken you."

Merlin's gaze shot to him, his brow furrowed in confusion. His head tilted to the side as he frowned.

"What?" asked Arthur.

Merlin struggled with trying to find a way to express what he was thinking, but gave up with a sigh, dropping his head down to rest on his knees.

Arthur echoed the sigh, rubbing Merlin's arm again. "C-Merlin, I really think you should go see your mother. I think it would be good. For both of you."

Merlin glanced back up at him slowly, his eyes wide and watery.

"Please," pleaded Arthur. "For me?"

Merlin stared at him for a while, before slowly nodding. A grin broke across Arthur's face. "Great!" he cried, leaping to his feet and reaching out to help Merlin up. "Let's go now."

Merlin froze with a look of panic.

"Merlin, please. I don't know how long she will be staying here."

Merlin grabbed the hand offered to help him up, and Arthur was surprised to find Merlin's hand shaking. Why was the boy so scared to see his own mother? Was he ashamed of what she would think of him, of what he had become? Was he afraid she wouldn't love him anymore?

Arthur lead the way back to Gaius' quarters, keeping an arm wrapped around the trembling raven haired boy. The nearer they got, the slower Merlin began to walk, and by the time they reached the door, Arthur was practically dragging him.

He knocked, hearing some shuffling on the other side before the door swung open to reveal Gaius.

"Sire," he said, glancing to Merlin.

"Is Hunith still here?" asked Arthur.

Gaius nodded, opening the door farther and stepping aside. Arthur placed a hand on the small of Merlin's back and pushed the reluctant boy in.

Hunith glanced up from her seat in front of the fire, her face streaked with tear stains. She slowly stood as she saw Merlin, who was staring at the floor, fidgeting his hands. Arthur guided him further into the room, stopping a few feet from Hunith.

"Co-Merlin," he whispered, "wave hello to your mother."

Merlin glanced up nervously, giving his mother a slight wave. A little sob burst from her lips, even as a small, watery smile crossed them. She took a tentative step closer, stopping as Merlin began to tremble.

"Merlin," she breathed. "Oh, my son. I've missed you so."

Merlin looked up, sadness filling his eyes when he saw the tears streaming down her face again.

"When that man t-took you away," continued Hunith. "My heart was broken. I thought I would n-never see you again. First I lost your father, and then I lost you." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I spent all these years, just praying you were alive and well. And now, here you are, with me again and…" She took another step forward. "Knowing you are safe now… I am complete again."

Merlin shrugged Arthur's hand off his shoulder and slowly walked forward to his mother. He stopped in front of her, reaching out a shaky hand and gently wiping the tears from one cheek.

Hunith smiled through her tears, reaching up and grabbing Merlin's hand. "I've missed you so much," she whispered.

They both shook with sobs as Merlin wrapped his mother in a tight hug.

Hope you enjoyed. I have to go now. My kitty Reid has been extra cuddly this weekend. And although I have been waiting a long time for him to be a snuggler again, he is a lot bigger than the kitten who was permanently attached to me a year ago. And my foot has gone to sleep.