The End

I woke up to a ringing in my ears. My head felt like it was vibrating. I sat up slowly and looked around, I was in a medic's tent. There were bandages on my arm and head. I heard the front of the tent open up and saw Arthur peek around the sheet that hung from the top of the tent. "Thank God Merlin!" He said hugging me tightly. I winced and wrapped my arms around him. "You've been out for almost a day. Gaius thought you might have a concussion," he said pulling back.

"I'm fine. I don't hurt too badly and I just had a little fall," I chuckled lightly and grinned. He looked at me wearily.

"You're taking years off my life Merlin," he mumbled. I gave him a chaste kiss.

"But you love me anyway," I said.

"Yes, I do." He kissed my forehead lightly and Gaius walked in.

"You're awake my Queen," Gaius said. I nodded. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I want to go home and see my little boy for his birthday in two days," I said. "Can I?"

"I have a feeling that even if I tell you not to you're still going to go so I'm just going to tell you to take it easy." I stood shakily and wobbled toward the opening with Arthur trailing behind me. I heard Gwaine yell when I walked out. He pulled me into a tight hug.

"Gwaine - can't - breathe!" I said.

"Sorry little bird," He said putting me back on the ground. I felt air come back into mu lings and Arthur's glare at my back. "How you feeling?"

"Fine, missing my little one though," I said. I grinned madly and he grinned back. "Arthur I think I'll be getting my things and riding for Camelot." I kissed my husband and he hugged me possessively. I pulled away and went to our tent to grab my pack. I slung it over my shoulder and mounted my horse. When I was in the gates a few people crowded around me and asked me how I felt. I guess that word spread quickly. "I'm fine just tired and wanting to see my little prince! Arthur and I have missed him so much but Arthur had other things to take care of." I trotted to the stables and saw Lady Morgana.

"Merlin?" she asked. I nodded. "Is Arthur alright?" I nodded again.

"He's fine and as annoying as usual. I missed Lacin and he has things to do," I said dismounting. I tied my horse to a post and waved to a stable boy. Morgana took my hand and led me to Arthur and I's shared chamber. I had barely set down my sword belt when Mordred came in and paused when he saw me.

"Mother!" he yelled and hugged me. He had gotten taller. The top of his head was up to my chin now.

"Mordred!" I said giving his shoulders a squeeze, "You grow every time I see you. You're getting to be so tall! Have you been looking after your brother for me?" He nodded vigorously. "That's a good lad. You're a good big brother Mordred thank you."

"Mother, Lacin has magic!" he said happily. I felt myself pale.

"Are you sure?" I asked gripping my son's shoulders. He nodded. I walked to the nursery and saw Lacin fast asleep. I poked a finger into his small hand and it curled into a fist around my finger. He opened his eyes and I saw the tell-tale flecks of gold. I pulled a chair up and picked up my little one. He cooed quietly and I whispered to him, "What are we going to do little one? You have magic like mummy and that's not good. I'd love to have passed that down but it's dangerous. What are we gonna do hm?" He just cooed quietly and I rocked him slowly. I pressed a kiss to his forehead and kept rocking him. He yawned and fell back to sleep so I put him in his cradle but when I did he woke up and whimpered. I cradled him until it was dark out. I didn't want to leave his side so I placed him in his cradle and fell asleep in the rocking chair. I woke up to Lacin's whimpering but it was light outside. Either I didn't wake up or he slept all night! I giggled happily and picked up my boy. "Are you a big boy? Did you sleep all night?" I asked and hugged the little one in my arms. I noticed that there was a blanket on the floor. It must have fallen when I stood up. Wait I didn't cover myself last night. I looked around and walked to the door joining the two rooms. There was a lump under the covers of my and Arthur's bed. I set Lacin in his cradle and walked back. I slowly walked to my side of the bed and peeked at the lump. I let out a relived sigh, it was just Arthur. I sat down and stroked the blonde fringe from his face. He sighed contentedly and I bent over and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

I kept stroking his hair affectionately. His eyes opened slowly and he jerked away from me. A look of recognition passed on his face and he leaned into my touch. "Morning," he slurred tiredly.

"Morning sleepy head," I said smiling. He grinned back and rolled onto his back pulling me with him. I was half on Arthur's chest half on the bed. He grinned mischievously. "I know that look," I said.

"What look?"

"The one you have now. It's the look you gave me before Lacin was conceived," I said. "No more kids."

"Never?" he said sounding hurt.

"Well not NEVER but not NOW," I said. "Lacin's not even a year old!"

"So!" Arthur whined. "What does that have to do with anything!"

"We can't have two kids in the nursery at the same time Arthur!" I said huffing.

"When?" Arthur asked.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"I'm asking when," he said bluntly.

"I-I don't know," I stuttered. I felt the heat rising in my face.

"Why not now?" he asked. That's when Freya walked in with Gwen, Morgana, and Mordred. They all, except Morgana, looked away turning pink around the cheeks. I sat up and smoothed down my hair and clothes clearing my throat.

"What is it?" I asked. Freya looked at the floor and scuffed her shoes.

"The Lady Morgana, Miss Guinevere, and I wanted to know if you wanted to go for a picnic with the young Master Lacin and Mordred," Freya said finally looking at me.

"Yes I would. I will be down as soon as I get dressed," I said standing and grabbing a pair of breeches and tunic. I dressed quickly. I peeked over the wall to see my husband pouting like a child. I slipped my shirt over my head and walked out. "It's unbecoming for a King to pout Arthur."

"It's not my fault you're being so difficult!" he said loudly.

"Hush, we'll talk about this later." I walked to the nursery and in the doorway looked at Arthur. He was staring at me with a soft smile. I took Lacin out of his cradle and put a tunic and pair of breeches on him. He looked up at me brightly and giggled. I planted a kiss on his forehead and he giggled even louder. I carried him on my hip, for he could sit up on his own, and walked to the courtyard. My friends and son waited for me. Mordred started to watch me with those piercing eyes of his. I walked with everyone to the lake where Arthur had taken me and we had been attacked. We sat on the shore and Mordred waded in the water.

He looked at me and called to see if he could go swimming. I nodded and Freya looked away shyly as he stripped off his green tunic. I never noticed how muscled Mordred was. Freya started to progressively get redder in the face. She kept glancing at my adopted boy and I felt a smile creep onto my face. She had felt this way for a long time and I was happy for her. I nudged her and gave her a knowing look. She turned even redder and I smiled encouragingly.

She stood and brushed off her skirt and walked toward Mordred standing at the waterline and talking to him. They started laughing and Morgana smiled. "They get along nicely don't they?" she said grinning wickedly. "They'd make a good match don't you think Merlin?"

"I do. If they were together one day that would be darling wouldn't it?" I said dreamily thinking about when I first met Arthur. Gwen placed with Lacin thoughtfully.

"Does Freya like Mordred?" she asked. I nodded. "Oh, but he's almost two whole years younger than her."

"Age is but a number, that's what I told Freya a long time ago," I said looking at the maid. "You can't help who you fall in love with." Morgana nodded. The older girls exchanged knowing glances as Mordred and Freya talked. Mordred had come out of the water and sat on the rock Freya was sitting on.

His brown curls were plastered to his head and dripping as was his trousers and bare chest. He, almost unnoticeably slipped his hand over Freya's. She blushed a cherry red and they talked although we couldn't hear them. Mordred slowly leant forward and captured her lips with his own. I mentally cheered and Morgana cheered aloud startling the love birds. They looked over to see us all watching them. Freya turned an even brighter shade of red and Mordred went pink.

Mordred looked away quickly and Freya stood up. She walked back over to us and sat down pulling her knees up to her chest and burying her face in her knees. Mordred gave us looks of "see what you did" and then jumped back into the water of the lake his blush spreading and growing darker. The women and I looked at each other and we all started laughing at their shyness.

After the embarrassment subsided we all ate some of the grapes and other food that had been packed for us. I handed a small piece of bread to Lacin for he could each solid food now. He shoved it in his mouth and chewed it swallowing and picking up a grape. When the sun started its descent in the sky we started walking back. Lacin fell asleep cradled in my arms and when we got back I put him down for a nap. I looked for Arthur but didn't find him until I was getting ready to go to sleep. He walked in and closed the door loudly making me jump. "Hello love!" he said obnoxiously.

"Arthur?" I said giving him a questioning look. He wobbled over and fell into bed. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing! Just in love with you!" he said kissing my hand. "I had and amazing day! How about you?" He grinned goofily and I wondered if he had been hit a little too hard over the head at training.

"My day was fine but did you remember that Lacin's birthday was tomorrow?" I asked stepping behind the changing wall. I slipped my nightgown over my head and faced my husband.

He looked at me like he was offended. "Of course I did. How could I forget?" He picked me up and spun me around. "I love you. And Lacin!" he yelled loudly.

"Arthur Pendragon put me down!" I shouted. He set me down and I sat down on our bed. "I know you love me but what's with the sudden cheery attitude?"

"I don't know, things are just looking brighter for us aren't they?" He asked. "The kingdom is at peace, our heir is having his first birthday, we have a talented adopted son, and we ourselves are happy. I just feel wonderful!"

I nodded, it did sound like everything was going well.

~Time Skip a year and a half~

I was almost due with our second (or was it third?) child and had taken to wandering the castle. I was walking past Arthur's study when I heard shrill shrieks pierce the air. I had heard those shrieks many times, they had come from my son. I opened the door and walked through.

"Lacin Daniel Pendragon!" I said. "What have I told you about disturbing Daddy while he's working?"

"Merlin it's my fault, I called him in here," Arthur said shifting Lacin onto his other knee.

"I just don't want him distracting you while you're working," I said. I stared at the boy on Arthur's knee. He still had his dark brown waves of hair and those eyes that were a perfect blend of the two blues that made up Arthur's and my own. "After lunch Lacin you have to leave Daddy and go with Mordred for your lessons. Understand young man?" My two year old nodded vigorously and I left two of the three men in my life to their playing. Later that month Caden Lilith Pendragon came into the world. We had decided to call her "Cade". She was the opposite of her older brother, she slept through the night and was an easy baby.

We united the nations of Albion, set free The Great Dragon, Kilgharrah, and saw the birth of the last dragon egg, who I named Aithusa. We were happy and everything was going fine and the future was bright.