New Babies and Arthur
The first weeks of Lacin's life were a living hell for Arthur and I. He slept for about an hour and then he would wail loudly until someone cradled him. His crib was in the room adjacent to ours and Mordred had moved down the hall a ways. It was currently three in the morning and Lacin's cries penetrated the calm night. "I'll get him," Arthur mumbled and got up to get the baby. He shushed the baby and he rocked back and forth humming lightly. I sat up and gestured at Arthur to have him handed to me. When he was put in my arms his sobs subsided to whimpers.
"Come back to bed," I said quietly. "I'll put him down in a minute and you need sleep for knight training tomorrow. Come on." He sat down on the bed and pulled the blankets up to his waist. He put an arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple. He ruffled Lacin's chocolate colored hair. Lacin yawned and I laid him back in the cradle. I covered him up and fell into bed. Arthur picked me up deftly and laid me on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me and we fell asleep with him holding onto me. I woke up with my nose buried in Arthur's collarbone and his scent engulfed me the smell of sweat, soap, and fresh linens. I snuggled into him and I felt him kiss my forehead.
"Morning," he said groggily. I felt warm and loved and that moment was almost as beautiful as the day we got married, then Lacin's shrill wails pierced the air and it was over. I sat up and huffed. I angrily got up and went over bringing our son into our room.
"He takes after you," I said, "annoying in the morning." Arthur pouted and I kissed his lower lip. "You look so cute when you pout." He gave me a look and I gave him a look. I heard a knock on the door and I answered it to Freya smiling happily holding two trays of food. She walked in and set them down on the table.
"Milord, my lady," she said with a bow, "I just received word that the King and Queen of Ealdor are coming. They'll be here before the mid-day meal," Freya informed, "they want to meet the next heir to the throne of Ealdor." She poured water for Arthur and I and warm milk in a bottle for Lacin's breakfast. She walked over to me and took him out of my arms. She fed him like every morning while I and Arthur got dressed. I dressed in my armor and chainmail because in almost a year I haven't gotten any practice in so I decided that today would be that day.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Arthur asked.
"I'm going to help you train today," I said, "I haven't trained since before our wedding and that was almost a year ago! I'll get out of practice and you might actually beat me," I teased lightly. He stuck out his tongue playfully and I pulled him by the collar of his nightshirt and kissed him. He still had his tongue stuck out so I lightly bit down. He made a sound and pulled away.
"You bit my tongue!" he said loudly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said biting down on a strawberry. He turned me around and ate the other half of strawberry hanging out of my mouth. "I was eating that," I said.
"Not anymore," he said. He stepped behind the dressing wall and came out in the same clothes as me. I ate the rest of my breakfast and he grabbed some bread and stuffed it in his mouth. We walked down to the training field and he had me working with the younger knights. I drilled them without breaking and I heard a few say I was worse than the king. I saw Mordred standing on the other side of the field and was leaning against a tree on the border of the forest. He waved and I nodded. After the training it was almost mid-day and I had to get ready for my parents. I shuddered at the thought. I loved my parents but they were sometimes over protective. We received them properly and when the courtiers filed out I ran and hugged them lovingly.
"I missed you both," I said.
"Where is he?" my mother asked immediately. "What's his name?"
"He's with Freya taking his nap," I said. "His name is Lacin, Lacin Daniel Pendragon. He's beautiful mother."
"Who does he take after?" she asked.
"He's the perfect mix of both of us Mother," I said, "even his appearance. He has dark brown hair and a mix of both our blue eyes. He's amazing other than not sleeping through the night."
While my mother and I talked about the baby Arthur and my Father talked about the army and the knights. We chattered at dinner and when Mother saw the baby she played with him until he had to go to bed.
Lacin grew up and was almost a year old when it happened. War broke out. Arthur and I were on the frontlines with the foot soldiers. After I got injured Arthur put me in the medic's tent to use my magic to heal others. I was stricken with panic when Leon, Lancelot, Gwaine, and Percival carried Arthur in. He had a deep wound to the shoulder. I had him sit up and took off his mail and shirts. His wound bleed and so I cleaned it quickly. "You shouldn't have risked your life like that," I scolded.
"I wasn't going to let anything happen to you and Lacin," he said. I blotted his wound and I pulled back to look at it. He took my hand and pressed it to his heart covering my hand with his own and smiling. "Besides, I like playing the hero remember."
"Shut up you stupid dollophead," I said quietly. "I love you and I don't want anything to happen to you. Be careful out there. I want you to come back with me to see Lacin, it's almost his first birthday you know." He nodded and I kissed him, "If you die I swear I will kill you in the next life." Arthur chuckled and I bandaged his shoulder.
"I have to get back out there," he said starting to stand.
"What the hell do you think you're doing. What did I just say you clotpole!" I scolded. I pushed him back down onto the cot.
"I think I'm going back to lead my men."
"No, you're staying here until you've healed a little. I'll lead the men," I said rushing out before he could argue. I gathered Arthur's most trusted knights and told them to tell the soldiers that I was in charge by order of the king. They spread out as I mounted Arthur's charger. I rallied the men and charged the opposing army. We cut them down one by one until there were a few knight, foot soldiers, the prince, and king left.
"Submit now and you all will be spared!" I yelled across the field trotting up to the king. He shook his head.
"I will not submit to a woman," he said. "Not in this life or the next."
"Then you and your men will suffer the consequences," I said. The king raised his sword and before I could get my shield up he slashed my arm. I swung my sword and it connected with the side of his head. The soldiers ran and I fell into unconsciousness and the ground.