A/N: Hello everyone! So the fourth chapter of the story. Sadly I have to say that the next chapter will take some time before I will upload it, so you guys have to be patient. The same for my other story, but it will come.
Disclaimer: I hope that I one day will own Merlin... dreams...
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Merlin was only silent when Arthur introduced him as Camelot's court warlock, just an hour after the king had lifted the ban on magic and the people took it well, most of them even cheered hearing the king's words.
Arthur knew now that lifting the ban on magic was the best thing he could have done, he never knew how much the people hated it until he heard them cheer and he wouldn't say it, but he was also hurt to see how much the people hated the rule his father created. They cheered for the freedom of their family, of their friends, cheered because they didn't have to fear for the lives of their children anymore. He knew that the nobles didn't like his choice, but the people did.
The king had felt a bit guilty putting the warlock in front of all those people, Merlin didn't like the attention, but he should just learn it, he was now the court warlock, the people would expect things of him.
The only words Merlin said were the words of loyalty he had to pledge to the king. The warlock hadn't done anything stupid as Arthur had first expected from his friend, Arthur even felt a bit proud, not that he would ever admit it to anyone.
But now it was time for the last announcement, telling the people a dragon will live in Camelot. He told them, the council gaped at him, the people looked shocked and scared, but it had to be done. He told them it was alright, that the dragon wouldn't hurt anyone, he would grow up to be a help for Camelot, for the people.
It would take a while before they would fully accept it, but the time would come, Arthur just knew it.
Later that evening there was a feast, honoring the approval of magic and Merlin and in Arthur's mind also for the little dragon.
It was the end of the feast, most people had already left, but few remained. Merlin walked towards him, a big smile on his face, but he was clearly tired.
'Hey.' The warlock said.
'So do you like all the attention?' The king teased his friend.
Merlin laughed. 'I'm not that fond of it, but I guess I just have to get used to it.'
'So were is 'our little son' now?' The king asked half grinning.
'By his auntie, Gwen really likes him. You should have seen her the past week with him, she would be a great mother.'
Arthur face went serious. 'I'm not sure if I want to become a dad yet.'
Merlin narrowed his eyes and Arthur knew Merlin probably already knew what he thought. 'Why that?'
Arthur shook his head, why did that warlock knew him so well. 'My father... he wasn't such... a great father and I don't... I don't want my child to grow up like... I did.' The king sighed, he couldn't believe he had just told Merlin.
The raven's eyes softened and he smiled to the king. 'I know you would be a great father and I and the knights will always be there for you.' The dragonlord let out a small laugh. 'And I don't think Gwen would let you turn your kids into little prats.'
Arthur rolled his eyes and hit his friend on his head. 'Idiot.'
'Au!' Merlin tried to glare at his friend, but a smile was spread over his lips. '...Thanks.'
The blond frowned. 'For what, hitting you?'
The warlock shook his head. 'No, for trusting me.'
Of course Arthur would trust Merlin, the man was his best friend, but he didn't say that and only slapped the raven on the arm. 'Idiot, I just wanted a new manservant and if I would fire you then Gwen would hate me, so this was the only way.'
The court warlock smiled. 'Prat.' A yawn left the raven's lips. 'I guess I will go to bed.'
Arthur nodded. 'Meet me tomorrow morning in my chambers.' Merlin said that he would be there and he left the king behind.
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'Where is mommy?' The little dragon suddenly asked his auntie.
Gwen looked up from her book and looked at the dragon that was currently nibbling on a bone that was left of his meal. 'Your daddy' She grinned hearing her say it. 'is appointing mommy as his new court warlock and telling the people that you're going to live here.'
'Oh.' The white dragon looked at his bone before looking up again. 'So I can go outside?'
'Yes, then mommy and I will show you the castle and the town.'
Aithusa's eyes started shining. 'I really want that!' He abandoned his bone and jumped through the chamber all happy.
The queen smiled at the little dragon, but then her face turned into a frown. 'Aithusa.' He stopped and tilted his head while looking at her. 'I know I'm your auntie and Merlin is your mommy, but why do you want everyone to become your family?'
The little dragon dribbled to the queen with a sad face. She laid her book to the side and he jumped on her lap. 'I... I have lived a long time in my egg and I was all alone and then mommy hatched me, but... but my real mommy is dead and I also don't think my real daddy is alive and it just feels so lonely... and I don't want to be lonely...' He looked up at her. 'Do you hate being my auntie?'
She was shocked by the little dragon's words and took the dragon in her arms. 'Of course not, I love to be your auntie and the others also want to be your family.'
'… I'm glad...' Aithusa whispered and he borrowed his snout in the fabric of her dress.
They stayed like this until Gwen heard the door to the chambers open and she looked up. Gwen smiled seeing a really tired Merlin standing in the opening and she turned to the little dragon. 'Your mommy is here.'
Immediately the dragon turned around and stared at the dragonlord. 'Mommy!' Aithusa jumped into the man's arms and Merlin smiled.
'Was he a good boy?'
'Yeah, he did great.' Gwen answered and the two friends stared at each others. 'So how did everything go?' The queen asked, she had been babysitting the little dragon during the announcements.
Merlin smiled. 'Everything went great, the people were a little scared hearing a dragon is living in Camelot, but other then that it all went great.'
The warlock yawned and Gwen laughed. 'Go to bed.' Merlin nodded and took the little dragon with him to his room.
He opened the door and looked back at Gwen. 'Be careful on your way back.'
She nodded and both of them opened a door, one leading to the hallway, the other to the little room.
xxx
'Mommy.' The little dragon whispered. 'Why are they looking so scared.'
Merlin frowned, not knowing how to explain this to the little dragon. Both the dragonlord and the dragon had left the chambers Merlin shared with Gaius to meet Arthur. Everyone he had met on the way had gaped at them and some even fled by the sight of the baby dragon.
'I'm afraid that they are scared of you.'
'Me?' Aithusa asked disbelieving. 'But I promised Arthur that I wouldn't hurt anyone.'
Merlin sighed. 'Yeah I know, but people are just afraid of things they don't understand, there will be a time that they will accept you, but it takes time.'
'But... but... I will not hurt them... I only want to play... and... and...' The baby dragon began to cry and Merlin tried to get him calm, but it didn't work, Aithusa still let out soft sobs when they reached Arthur's chambers.
The warlock walked inside, not bothering to knock and smiled at his king. Arthur looked up knowing that only one person wouldn't knock coming inside and he sighed, but before he could say anything the small dragon jumped from Merlin's arms into Arthur's.
The king stared confused at Merlin who shook his head and then turned to the sobbing dragon. 'What's is wrong Aithusa?' The dragon didn't answer and Arthur turned to his court warlock. 'Merlin what have you done now?'
The warlock looked hurt at his king, but Aithusa answered for him. 'Mommy hasn't done anything to me, daddy.' He looked up. 'It's just... it's just that everyone is scared of me and I don't want them to be scared...'
Arthur blinked confused at the dragon, but eventually he nervously tightened the hold on Aithusa and the dragon cuddled himself against the fabric of Arthur's shirt. They stood like that for a couple of minutes, while Arthur made soft soothing noises.
Suddenly the little dragon looked up and let out a small laugh. 'You aren't so good at this daddy.'
Arthur laughed. 'I guess you're right, but you don't have to worry, your time will come.'
'Mommy said the same thing.' The white dragon said while looking at Merlin.
Arthur lifted his brow while looking at his friend. 'Sometimes he can be wise.'
'Don't you mean that I'm always right.' Arthur frowned and a big smile spread over the raven's face.
Both men didn't notice that the door behind them was opened and the queen walked inside. She blinked at the sight of the laughing Merlin, the frowning Arthur and the dragon with tears in his eyes. Another tear rolled down the white creature's face, while Aithusa let out a little sob and Gwen felt as if her heart was squeezed tight, she just couldn't see him like that.
'What are you two doing to him?' She walked towards the startled men and pulled the little dragon out of the king's arms. 'Calm down Aithusa, I will take you away from those stupid men.'
Arthur and Merlin looked at each other and gaped, but before any of them could say anything Gwen walked out of the room with Aithusa in her arms.
The blond frowned. 'What just happened?'
'I think that was Gwen's mother instincts.' The court warlock replied.
'Oh.' Was Arthur's reaction and both the king and the warlock stared at the door for a couple of seconds, before the king spoke to his friend. 'So shall we go further with business then?'
xxx
Aithusa sat on the edge of the bed and looked at his still sleeping mother. The little dragon grinned at seeing his mother lying in bed, he looked so small in the large bed, but Aithusa liked the bed, it was so soft and bouncy and the dragon didn't had to worry that he would fall out of it when he would roll over.
His daddy had decided that because mommy was part of the court now he should have his own chambers and Aithusa was allowed to live with mommy, not that they could have forced him to live with someone else, he bite anyone that would suggest something like that.
Aithusa had a great night sleep, but now he was awake and the sun was also awake, so mommy shouldn't sleep, but mommy was still asleep, so the little dragon should wake him up.
He climbed on the nightstand and prepared himself. With a quick move he jumped in the air and landed on his mommy's chest. The raven's eyes flew open and the weight of the dragon pushed the air out of the warlock's longs, causing the warlock to gasp for air.
The dragon turned so he could see his mommy's face and smiled. 'Good morning mommy.'
Merlin stared shocked at his little dragon, before taking a deep breath. 'Aithusa, please don't do that anymore.'
The dragon pouted. 'But mommy the sun is already awake and you were still asleep.'
Merlin rolled his eyes and stood up, stretching his body and he let out a large yawn. He walked to his drawer, filled with clothes Gwen had picked out for him and Aithusa waddled after the warlock.
Aithusa stared at his mommy, while Merlin dressed himself, the warlock refused the servant Arthur wanted to appointed to him and the little dragon's look made the warlock feel rather uncomfortable.
'Mommy why do you have to wear clothes and I don't?' The dragon finally asked.
The warlock sighed and looked at the dragon. 'It's because humans wear cloths to protect their bodies from the heat and the cold and it's not decent to show your... uhm... the private parts of your body.'
Aithusa tilted his head to the side. 'I understand about that I don't need it to protect myself from the weather, but I'm still naked.'
'… Yeah, but you aren't human, so it doesn't matter that you're...'
'But that's just stupid.' The dragon stated.
The court warlock shook his head, he just didn't know how to explain it to the baby dragon, but before he could say more the dragon's eyes grew wide and he flew to the window, the warlock following him.
At the same time he reached the window the warning bells sounded and Merlin immediately saw why, a large army stood in front of Camelot's gates. 'Why weren't they noticed before?' The warlock asked, more to himself then to the little dragon.
But the dragon answered to his mother's question. 'because they have strong magic.'
Merlin stared confused at the baby dragon. 'How do you know that?'
Aithusa looked back with a expression that showed that he didn't understand what his mommy meant. 'I just know.'
Merlin sighed, most of the times he just didn't understand what happened in that little white head. 'Come, we should go to Arthur.'
Aithusa jumped up and down hearing his daddy's name and followed Merlin out of the room.
They reached the throne room and Aithusa almost crashed into the closed doors, before the warlock opened them and they walked inside.
The rest was already in the room and looked at the dragon and the court warlock who walked into the room.
'What is-.' Merlin started but he was interrupted by his king.
'Morgana.' The king growled and Merlin nodded, he already thought it was the witch. 'Merlin it's time to show the court what you can do with that magic of yours.'
Aithusa jumped happily up and down. 'We're going to fight, we're going to fight!'
All the head turned to the little creature and Merlin quickly lifted him up. 'Yes, we're going to fight, but you're staying inside the castle.' Aithusa shook his head in disapproval. 'Yes, you're staying here with Gwen!'
Aithusa who was clearly not happy and he glared at Merlin, before flying towards the queen.
Arthur coughed to get the attention from everyone in the room and it worked, all the heads turned to the king. 'And now we defeat this army!'