Gwydre and Amhar eyed the large oushy, squishy, warm soft, mud puddle covering a large portion of the grass behind the castle. Amhar imagined squeezing the mixture between his little golden fingers. Gwydre pictured himself rolling around like a pig. A king of his dirty hole, without Mother lurking about with a nasty bath and a handful of soap. His world would be Fatherless; he would rule a dirty kingdom. His tiny footprints leaving filthy trails along the castle clean floors. Yes, Gwydre, king of Dirt. I don't need Camelot.

A few robins soared overhead. A few rays of sunlight peeked out behind dark grey clouds. Yes, a perfect day with his faithful companion, Amhar. Father had Merlin; of course Amhar would do his bidding when he grew up.

"I hear mud can give you the power to be invisible," a girlish voiced called down from ramparts. Gwydre frowned. Vivienne or Vivi, his cousin, the daughter of his missing Aunt. The girl arrived yesterday and disturbed the peace and calmness of his nursery. Only two women were allowed in the nursery, Mother and Baby Rowan. Nurses came because Father ordered them to care for his children. Vivi walked in, her blue eyes casting snotty smug looks at the toys. She had the nerve to ask for a doll. Really, the nursery was meant for boys. How dare she ask for a doll? Amhar offered her Rowan's raggy, damp rag doll. She rolled her eyes in disdain. How dare she? They tried to be nice. Amhar and Gwydre decided they didn't like her. Merlin's daughter or not. Father's niece or not. She wasn't welcomed in Camelot, their home. Not hers.

Gwydre rolled his blue eyes so like Arthur's in distaste. "Yes, I heard pigs can fly." Amhar giggled as his arms wrapped around his waist. Vivi smiled so sweetly as her cousins. "I have magic. I can enchant the mud. They would be able to see you."

"No."

"Yes."

"You could try it for your father. Then, he could sneak up on his enemies and defeat them. So, he could stay home. My father could stay home."

Amhar place a hand on Gwyrde's arm. "I would like Father to stay home."

Gwydre knew the girl was probably lying. However, he couldn't ignore the sadness in Amhar's eyes. He missed father so much when he was away negating, fighting, or goofing off with Merlin. He hated the sadness in mother's eyes or the sound of her tears when he was supposed to be sleep.

"Vivi, say the words. But, if you trick us, our vengeance will be steep."

"Such big words for a little boy."

Gwydre shrugged. "Just do it."

Vivi smirked. "BOO! BAM! Now you see me, now you don't! Magic mud around the moat!"

"Is it ready?"

"Of course."

Vivi leaned over the ramparts. Stupid boys. Rude boys. No wonder my mother ran from this place. Aunt Gwen was utterly lovely to her. Duran was such a sweet boy. Baby Rowan clapped her hands and laughed. She was a joy. Uncle Arthur was stubborn, but was very wise and a good king. Actually, he was the best king ever in Albion. His older offspring was prideful, spoiled, and just a bit rude. They need to learn a lesson.

Vivi watched Amhar gingerly stick a foot in the cooling mud. A brilliant smile broke on his face. His small hand leaved his brother in the dark dirt circle. Their laughter floated around the grassy plain. They slipped and tripped. They flicked mud at each other. Satisfied, Vivi decided to help her Auntie with the younger children.

The kitchen staff said nothing when Gwydre and Amhar appeared and ate biscuits with filthy hands. Amhar grabbed a pitcher of milk and poured the cool liquid down his throat. The boys left a huge trial of dirty hand prints.

Laughing, the boys rushed down the great hall. Amhar left handprints on the walls. Gwydre kissed the mirrors. Quietly, they arrived at Father's throne. Gwydre marched up to his great wooden seat and plopped down. He casted his legs over the side. A lopsided grin on his face. Amhar proceed to mucnh on a bowl of grapes.

"Yes, King Gwydre, lord of the dirt."

"King Gwydre, king of punishment," a male voice spat. "Why are you covered in mud," Arthur asked angrily.

Grapes dropped from Amhar's mouth. Gwydre shut his blue eyes and vowed revenge. He would get the dark haired witch.

"Find the queen," Arthur yelled. "Tell her to come get her children."

Gwyrde's dirty head perked up. Maybe, Father will annoy Mother. Yes, father will make her mad and our punishments will be soft.

Gwen didn't expect to see her oldest children sitting mournfully by Arthur's feet caked in mud. Rowan was terribly fussy this afternoon and Duran stuck to her side like a burr. She noticed a clever smirk on Vivi's face. It was Morgana's smirk. Goodness, what did the children do to each other?

Morgana's green eyes roamed over her nephews and rested sternly on her child. She noticed Vivi's eyes darting around the Council Room. Arthur sat crossly on his throne.

"Guinevere, your children are covered in mud. What are you going to do about?"

Gwydre felt hope dimming in his heart. He urged a fat tear to stream down his face. Pitifully, he limped towards his shocked Mother.

"Mother, Vivi played a trick on us. She aid we would be invisible covered in mud." Gwydre paused to make sure her mother heard his admission. "But, our behavior was horrible. After our baths, we'll scrub everything that we got muddy in the castle."

Gwydre watched pride flare in Gwen's eyes. She went to kiss his face, but she drew back.

"Vivi will join the boys as they clean," Morgana stated flatly. Vivi opened her mouth to protest, but her mother wore I'm a bigger witch expression. She won the battle, but her cousins plan to wage a war.

"Of course, Mother. I'm sorry Uncle Arthur, Aunt Guinevere, and Father."

Morgana rolled her eyes. She gave better performance with Uther. Merlin grinned happily. What's wrong with him? Morgana spied Arthur pouting on his oversize seat.

"Boys, I'm glad you're sorry. Apologize to everyone." The boys nodded solemnly.

"That's all, Guinevere. Is this how you raise the children?"

Morgana flinched. Merlin wished he had a spell to put the words back in Arthur's mouth.

Gwen smiled sweetly. "Gwydre, take your brothers and Vivi to the nursery. Take bath, and then clean everything. I will inspect."

Gwydre offered his hand to Duran. His blue eyes widen in shock when Duran shook his head and whispered, "Dirty." Vivi looked smug when Duran slipped his hands into hers. Gwen waited a few moments after the door clicked shut. She placed Rowan on a rug.

"What did you say, Arthur Pendragon?"

Merlin shook his head. Morgana realized Arthur was an idiot.

"I said is this how you raise the children."

"Well, Arthur, this is how I raise the children by myself. You're never here. It's all me."

"I have the weight of the kingdom on my shoulders."

"I take care of the children. I never question your actions as a king. Don't question mine as a mother."

"Well, it's a good thing that we only have four."

Gwen licked her lips. "Arthur Pendragon, you're a Prat. Albion's biggest prat," Gwen screamed. Rowan smiled and looked at her father," Prat."

"Look, what you taught the baby."

"Out of the mouths of babes, Arthur." Gwen gathered her baby close. She hated quarreling with Arthur. But he was spoiled to the bone. Rowan's warmth was a much needed comfort. Gwen smiled at Rowans' sloppy kiss. Rowan called Arthur a prat. Serves him right.

"Well, it's a good thing that we only have four."

Gwen arched an eyebrow. "Wrong again, sire. It's five in seven months."

Arthur paled. "Oh."

"Yes, darling. You're going to be a father again. Now, I'm going to have six children."

Arthur shot Gwen a confused look. "Did you count Vivi?"

"I counted you."

Arthur watched Gwen leaving with the baby. "Prat," Rowan called over Gwen's shoulder as her chubby hands waved bye to her father..