Disclaimer: Don't own Merlin.

Part two: The childhood of Sir Gwaine

Chapter 1/13

Three years later…

Leonie pulled her hair back from her face as she finished putting away the toy swords, he'd been a right rascal of late and it was no help when Gareth was with the war council.

From the corner of her eye she saw him moving and pounced before he could shove something else in his mouth that he shouldn't. He had recently decided that making Mummy cross was very funny, Leonie did not agree.

"No Gwaine we don't eat things from the floor, it's dirty." Leonie scolded the wriggling Gwaine. The toddler simply tried to bite her hand "And no biting, you should know better Gwaine."

"Please Mummy?" Leonie wasn't sure what he was saying please to (or Pwease) but with a little huff she reluctantly let him back down. He instantly toddled over to his wooden sword. He loved playing with swords and sharp dangerous objects, he was a danger to himself.

Leonie had married Gareth three years ago and not two weeks later a bundle of cloth containing a small child was left on their doorstep. Turning him away had never occurred to Leonie and now three years later even though he wasn't her son, she was his mother.

Gareth was away a lot these days; King Bayard had been causing trouble on the western border. It was making Caerleon's council twitchy. Leonie could feel it in her bones that war was nearly upon them, she feared for the lives of the knights; her brother, Gareth and Wilfred especially. She had to trust that they would live through such a war.

Caerleon and Gareth's house had changed very little except the addition of toys and a smaller bed. Leonie loved the house, she loved the servants who were her friends more than anything and she loved the little trips into the village (rarely taking Gwaine, he liked to run off) life was as good as it would ever be.

Gwaine had been a terrible two but he was now proving to be an even more terrible three. Leonie doubted he would ever grow out of it; he just had a pennant for trouble. He was very much like his father, dark hair and eyes. He had the mischievousness as well. Leonie knew he would grow up to be a heartbreaker.

No matter how bad he'd been, no matter what he'd done Leonie found she could rarely stay mad at him. One puppy dog glance with his beautiful brown eyes and she'd be swooning. Giving him whatever he wanted.

Gwaine had unfortunately worked this one out. It was a constant barrage of "Mummmmmyyyy" with a little whine. He'd recently learnt the power of the word please as well, that made it even worse.

Gemma entered the room carrying a tray of snacks, Gwaine seeing her rushed over as quick as his unstable little legs could carry him and latched himself to her leg.

"Now, now Gwaine be patient else you get nothing." Gemma warned pointing at him, Gwaine sank to the floor and was instantly quiet he knew that Gemma was not a woman to be trifled with. "There's a good boy" She cooed taking a biscuit of the tray and giving it to him.

"Thanks Gemma"

Gemma looked up, warmth shining in her eyes "Quite all right Leonie."

"Sit with me?" Leonie asked, doing the puppy dog eyes.

"You look like Gwaine, but fine."

"Oh thank heavens, I miss having normal conversations with adults." Leonie said sighing.

"I can imagine."

"Gwaine although brilliant does not have a very advanced intelligence."

"I wouldn't imagine so he's only two."

"Three and a month." Leonie corrected with a smile.

"Ah yes, seems so long ago that he was a small Bern." She said wistfully. "I miss having a baby."

"If that's your way of saying I should have another…"

"Well it's just you could do it again, properly." Leonie's eyebrows furrowed with anger for a second before forcibly relaxing.

"I have no regrets about Gwaine. I would love another child, lord knows we've tried." Leonie said with a wink.

"Leonie!" Gemma said in shock, flushing bright red. Leonie simply rolled her eyes at her.

"Gemma, these things should not embarrass you so." Leonie lightly scolded before adding "I can't help but think this is my only way of having a child."

"Surely not."

"I've had two miscarriages Gemma, maybe it's not my destiny." Leonie said simply, reaching down to smooth Gwaine's hair.

"Leonie I myself had two, but look at me I have four children now."

"How is your youngest?"

"A pain, the eldest is looking after her for me. She's only two but she's a pain in the bum. I dread to think of her reaching adulthood.

"You love her though?"

"Of course, to be honest the ones that are a hand full are also the most delightful." Gemma confessed "I love them all, but still a bit of rebellion reminds me of my own youth."

"Why Gemma, I never knew!" Leonie said in mock horror.

"Oh if you knew the things I got up to you in my day, enough to make your fingernails curl it were."

"Do tell?"

"No, I couldn't" Gemma said bashfully.

"Go on!" Leonie encouraged.

"Fine, well there was this one time…"

"Yes, go on?"

"I was getting there. Well me and my friend was annoyed with our brothers so we went and got some cow pat's from the field across from our house." She paused there biting her lip "Well I was only seven, we thought it would be a good idea to put it in their trousers, and you know just leave it. We didn't have much money when I was young so we only had one outfit each and well… he wore them. He didn't realise you see, he cried bloody murder after and I got a beating of him for it- it was worth it though, never saw him so angry." Gemma had a look of pride written across her face.

"Wow."

"Yeah it was a little naughty." Gemma confessed biting her lip.

"Just a little, I never did anything that exciting." Leonie said sadly, wishing that she had been a little more adventurous in her youth.

"You just wait till he's older, he gets in enough trouble as it is."

"He'll be a good little boy for your mummy won't you?" Leonie said scooping Gwaine into her arms, he looked angry at having to leave the floor.

"Please?" He said. Leonie rolled her eyes.

"It's not that he can't talk, he just seems to like the word 'please'".

"It's because when he says it he gets something." Gemma said wisely.

"I can hardly not give him something when he's saying please though can I?"

"Just make him explain what he wants, Gwaine is just lazy." Gemma laughed. Leonie bristled before realising that Gemma meant no harm by it.

"Maybe" Leonie said thoughtfully. "Will you look after him for a while; I just want to go to the village." Leonie asked hopefully. Gemma beamed in delight.

"My pleasure."

The outside air was fresh and Leonie couldn't help but take a deep breath enjoying the feel of it. Leonie strolled slowly down to the village, she'd become bored cooped up in the house for the last few days and just needed the air. Gareth would be back tomorrow most likely and it would be nice to see him, time was rarely spent together as of late.

Once she reached the village Leonie headed straight to the market, she had a list of things that Maddie had sent her to get. It was a simple list and Maddie would have gone herself but over the years she had learnt that Leonie liked to do certain things herself, shopping was one of them.

Leonie stopped at one of the cloth stalls, they had very basic cloth here it was after all for the poorer people of the area but she spotted some soft material which would be perfect for making Gwaine a set of clothes, he hardly needed anything fancy with the rate he was growing. Leonie in the end got two of the same pieces of cloth, intending to give the other to Gemma for her child. She knew Gemma was struggling so anything would be seen as an act of support.

Leonie got the rest of the things on Maddie's list and was just turning to leave when screams erupted from the bottom of the village. Startled Leonie almost dropped her items as she turned to see what the fuss was about. The people were all running in her direction and Leonie stood having no idea at what was happening until one of the villagers grabbed her arm and started pulling her violently away from the scene.

"Milady, quick we have to run!" The boy called he was only young fifteen or so his grey eyes wide in panic.

"What?" Leonie tried to ask but he was pulling her again. The screams behind her intensified and Leonie glanced behind; the village was starting to burn.

The villagers were all running up the same path, up towards the forest, screaming and crushing in their panic. A few of the villagers fell over only to be trampled on by the rest. Leonie tripped a few times but the boy had a firm grip on her and kept her upright, she was surprised at how well he was dealing with the situation.

The boy tried to tug her into the forest but Leonie pulled him the other way, taking him up towards the house. She stopped however when she saw a small girl alone on the road and she dropped the boys hand and ran over and picked her up. The boy and Leonie ran up to the house and when they eventually got their near collapsed in their tiredness.

"What the hell happened?" Leonie said through choked breaths.

"Raiders, they hit the market a few miles down last week." He explained taking the young girl out of Leonie's hands.

"Why were the knights not alerted?" Leonie questioned.

"King Lot thought it was beneath him. Who cares about a little peasant town?" He spat violently. Leonie flinched back at the acid in his tone.

"Sir Gareth my husband would, as would Sir Wilfred." Leonie disagreed hotly.

"I never said he wouldn't Lady Leonie, but we dare not go behind the King's back." He said quietly.

"I shall tell him when he returns, they shall not dare attack again." She then looked down at the little girl "Who are you sweetie?"

"Laura" She mumbled and Leonie looked back at the boy.

The boy immediately started speaking "I know her parents, I will take her home." He took the girl of Leonie and started to leave.

"Can you please send a messenger when you get her back to her parents, I also would like a damage report for Sir Gareth."

"It will be done." He and the girl disappeared down the path, it was only then she realised she hadn't asked his name.

A shaky Leonie went inside.

Gareth burst into the house the next day with a clatter of his sword and a yelp. Leonie went to meet him but he pulled her into a warm embrace, nestling his face into her hair.

"Are you okay? I heard about yesterday." He asked worriedly.

"I'm fine; do you know what the damages were?"

"Not as of yet."

"I do, I asked a boy from the village to send me the list of damages and injuries, it could have been worse." Leonie said as she handed him the scroll from the table. Gareth read it quickly.

"We will have to fund the rebuilding, they don't have the resources."

"Won't King Lot donate some?" Leonie frowned at him.

"Not likely, he's saving for 'war' although some of the council just think it's an excuse, he's refused to donate any money to the kingdom in the last year." Gareth was still looking at the sheet but Leonie could hear his disgust in his voice.

"Shouldn't he help his people?"

"He is a King Leonie, they believe it beneath them." His voice was scathing.

"But that's so wrong" Leonie said horrified.

"I know, but he is the king." Gareth said. "Where is the little rascal?"

"He's in bed, having a nap." Before Leonie could tell him to not wake the little terror he was bounding up the stairs to go wake him, Leonie let out a sigh of frustration.

"Gwaine, come on soilder." Gareth whispered to his son, gently shaking him. Gwaine awoke and when through his bleary eyes he realised who it was he let out a squeal of happiness and bounced into Gareth's lap.

"You're back daddy!" He exclaimed happily, bouncing his little feet up and down.

"Yeah I am sport, I just wanted to say hi and then you can go back to sleep." Gwaine pouted.

"But sleep is boring." Gwaine complained his eyes filling with tears.

"I'll tell you what how about I tell you a story, we can get nice and comfy under the covers and I will tell you one of my best stories." Gareth promised. Gwaine considered it before climbing back into bed with Gareth laying at the edge of the bed; Gwaine laid his head on Gareth's chest and waited for the story to begin.

"There once was a powerful kingdom, more powerful than anywhere else in the whole wide world but because he was so powerful he was lonely. The King had only one friend and when his friend was ill he asked for help, the person tried to help but in the end the King's friend died. The King was very upset and he blamed the person who tried to help and all their friends for his friend's death and so he made them leave his kingdom. The King could never be happy again and he couldn't think of the past without remembering everyone he blamed- he was bitter."

"But the King only did it because he loved his friend" Gwaine muttered sleepily.

"Yes he loved his friend a lot, but if his friend knew what he had done they would be very upset."

"He didn't mean to be bad."

"Most people don't Gwaine, no one is born good or evil, it is situation that chooses that path for us. No one wants to be bad, some people do bad things simply because they think it's the right thing to do."

"Have you ever done something bad?" Gwaine asked innocently, Gareth paused before answering.

"I have, but I do not regret anything I have done."

"Why Daddy if you've been bad?"

"Because I did it because I thought it was right, all you can do in life son is just follow your heart."

"But how can I follow my heart daddy? I can't see it." Gwaine pointed out.

Gareth laughed "You will learn son, now go to sleep."

"Stay with me?" Gwaine asked tightening his hold on him.

"Always Gwaine, always" murmured Gareth.

The next day Gareth took an excited Gwaine outside taking with him two wooden swords. He handed one to Gwaine who twirled it in his fingers and then dropped it by accident. He quickly picked it up.

"Shall we practice some of the steps I told you?" Gareth asked the excited boy.

"Yes!" He said quickly moving into the ready position.

Gareth got down onto his knees so he was more level with Gwaine. "Right you have to try and prod me on the chest while I attempt to block you. Got it?"

"Right!"

"On your marks get set go" He announced. Gwaine instantly lurched straight in, thrusting his sword weakly at Gareth, Gareth tapped most of them away but let Gwaine get a couple of taps in. Gwaine liked to move while attacking, trying to sneak in a blow from the side. Gareth was quite impressed with him, although he was young he had what seemed to be a natural talent for fighting. Gareth could tell he would be a powerful knight one day.

Gareth called it a rest after an hour, Gwaine was very tired but still managed to bound into the house excitedly rushing to tell his mum what he had been up to.

"Mummy! Me and Daddy have been sword fighting and I got him loads!"

"Well done Gwaine!" Leonie praised picking him up and tickling his tummy.

Gareth went to the kitchen to get some snacks of Maddie. Maddie had never really taken to Gwaine, Gareth could never tell if she just didn't like babies or if she just didn't like Gwaine. She was old and he cared about her so he never questioned her on it, she had earned the right to be fussy he supposed.

Gwaine spent the rest of the evening jabbering at Leonie and Gareth about anything and everything. From the little mouse he's seen the other day to how good he was with his sword. Leonie listened to his ramblings with the patience only a parent could.

When Gwaine was safely and finally asleep in bed Leonie and Gareth climbed into bed ad Gareth arms snaked around Leonie pulling her against his chest. He buried his head in her hair and slotted their bodies together in the warm embrace.

"When do you have to go again?" Leonie asked.

"Another week, let's not talk about it."

"I hate you being gone." Leonie said sadly.

"As do I, but I am doing my duty to my King." He argued quietly.

"I know, I understand. I just worry for you, I don't want to raise Gwaine alone."

"You won't, you will never be alone Leonie. Never." Gareth said soothingly.

"You didn't promise not to die."

"I can't keep that promise, I won't make a promise that I can't keep. I just can't."

"I love you Gareth, so very much. You are a brave man but not only that you have a big heart. That's much more important."

"I love you too, you are the most amazing person I know." Gareth admitted stroking her cheek and kissing her cheek.

"Gareth do you want another child?"

"You know I do honey."

"So why don't we start trying?" She suggested with an eyebrow wiggle. Gareth laughed at her.

"I like the sound of that."

A/N Look! A longer chapter!