Author's Note: As this story goes along, it'll focus more on Morgana. Her reasons for what she's done and plans to do will be peeked at in the next chapter. In this one, you'll get a glimpse of Merlin's side of things. Hope you enjoy!

"I can vividly remember the day I found out I was with child," Mithian said across the food laden table.

"What went through your mind?" Gwen asked.

"Countless things. First, how my father decided to marry me to Lot months before," she smiled at Lot, "How I hated the idea at first. Then, we fell in love, and so came Carys. Then about how we prayed for a child. Oh God, did we pray. And it happened. What went through yours, Gwen?"

"I couldn't think straight. It was mostly emotion. I hadn't known such joy my whole life. And... well, Gaius thought that I could not bear children. Not after an injury I acquired when we took back Camelot. I cried for weeks. Then, I found out that I was with child. Gaius was shocked. He looked again and said that I could again bear children, that I had healed."

"Miraculously? Just like that? You're physician must be excellent." Mithian seemed to be insinuating something.

"He is excellent, but I must admit I wondered if he employed some other means. I didn't ask any questions."

"I love stories like that. I love stories altogether, anymore. In truth, I cannot talk like this much. My handmaiden, Cadi, is my closest friend in Essetir. The castle is a little empty, though the city is full. It's nice to have a conversation that isn't about politics. I should like it if you and Arthur were to come and visit us."

"Thank you, I may just take you up on that invitation in a few weeks. I've been needing a change of scenery."

The queens laughed together while Arthur and Lot discussed a different matter entirely.

"It took quite a bit of fixing after Cenred. Now, after a few year have passed, It looks almost good as new."

"I've also heard of a few changes of law in Esstir." Arthur looked to Lot in a questioning manner.

"I did not bring it up because I know it is a touchy subject in Camelot, but if you wish, we can discuss it. Mithian and I have decided that the Old Religion and magic may be practiced in our kingdom. There have been many followers, old and young, coming to Essetir to rebuild and reclaim sacred lands. They have done us no harm. In fact, they have assisted us with any matter we ask."

"But surely, you must be weary?"

"Of?"

"Of a rogue sorceror or sorceress. That they might come after you."

"I suppose both yes and no would be the answer. Yes, because it is a possibility. No, because they have no reason. All the same, we have a skilled practitioner in our court to advise us and help us in any magical issue."

"Did you bring said practitioner with you?"

"And risk your withdrawal of hospitality? No, he is waiting outside Camelot's borders in case of an emergency."

"Luckily, Camelot hasn't had to deal with any lately. To be entirely honest, it's putting me on edge, like I'm waiting for something to jump out."

"My druid advisers say to trust your intuition. Perhaps it is that, and perhaps it is just your nerves. After all, life for you has not been a simple or peaceful one, Arthur Pendragon. Your sister has made sure of that. Speaking of, have you heard of her?"

"No. I haven't heard anything about her in a year. The last time I heard she was captured in Amata. Now, rumors are circulating that Amata search parties have been on patrol. That's what's making me nervous."

"Well, calm yourself, my friend. You are backed my Essetir. If we hear anything, you will be the first to know." Lot patted Arthur on the arm with a glint of kindness in his ice blue eyes.

Merlin listened to their conversation. His insides were squirming. How could he not tell them? He had to. But he can't. Lot, whom had not always liked Arthur , was being a better friend.

They royals finished their meal and sat back in their chairs, content.

"That was fantastic. Your kitchen has my approval." Mithian laughed.

"Yes, but after all of that, I do think it's time for me to retire before I fall asleep at the table," Gwen joked. The guests gave them her a nod of approval and she went.

"So, what were you two discussing earlier?" Mithian looked to her husband and Arthur.

"We were talking about our allowing magic to be practiced in Essetir," Lot said.

"You mentioned earlier that places were being rebuilt. What places?" Arthur looked to both his guests.

"Temples, holy grounds, sacred groves, and the like," Mithian chimed in.

"And their is no disruption or chaos?"

"No. In fact, it has increased the peace. The Christians have their holy grounds, the followers of the Old Religion have theirs."

"All the same, I am happy for Essetir, but I don't think Camlelot is ready for that transition yet."

"Yet?," Lot and Mithian said in unison.

"Yes, yet. I hope there is one day when everyone may live in peace. When that day will come, I do no know." Lot and Mithian looked at each other in shock. Arthur interrupted the silence.

"I think Guinevere had the right idea, why don't we all retire?" They bid each other goodnight and left the hall.

One week had passed quickly. The people outside the castle had been busy making gifts for when the child would come. The people in the castle kitchens were preparing food for the feast the royals and nobleman would have after the Christening. The florists were decorating the castle. They hung beautiful flowers and ribbons. The halls of Camelot during the festivities would be remembered for years to come.

Just that morning, Guinevere was in the council room making arrangements when her water broke and labor pains set in. Right on schedule, the baby was coming.

The screams echoed throughout the citadel. Arthur was pushed out the door and Merlin waited with him. Gaius was inside the chambers with the midwives in case any complication happened. The whole of Camelot, inside the castle and out, sat quietly and waited for the arrival of the child.

Arthur sat with his elbows on his knees and staring at the ground. Merlin put his hand on Arthur's back.

"Everything will be fine."

"Merlin, it didn't do anything for me when you said it for the past week, and it doesn't do anything for me now."

"Gwen will be fine. Your baby will be healthy. You just have to accept that this is literally a battle you cannot fight," Merlin joked.

"And that kills me. What if I'm not a good enough father? At least they couldn't turn out any worse than you."

"I happen to think I turned out quite well, thank you."

"And I'll educate him better."

"Prat..." Merlin smiled and turned away from him.

"I don't want to be like my father."

Merlin sat in silence for a moment, trying to come up with something to reply to that. "You're father did what he could to protect you."

"At the expense of his wife. At the expense of his people. At the expense of his daughter."

"He loved both of you. He was just fearful of what she could become."

"I want to accept all of the people in my kingdom. I love them. I am their protector. I do not believe magic is evil. It's just too dangerous to risk."

"So is a sword. A child could be careless and hurt others. Or, he can be taught how to use it and protect."

"It's not the same, Merlin. It's not like some people are born with swords for arms."

"True. Maybe that furthers the point for magical people. They can't just drop it. They have to embrace it, even if that means using it to defend themselves."

"Merlin, are you trying to tell me something..." Arthur turned his head towards Merlin. Merlin scrambled for an answer.

"Uh... no! Of course not! I used to have a girlfriend who was a druid."

"What happened to her?"

"She was killed... by someone who didn't understand at the time." Merlin dipped his head.

"I'm...sorry."

"What?" Merlin turned his head to Arthur.

"I was trying to solace you, but you've gone and killed the moment."

"Thank you," Merlin said quietly.

"Don't mention it, I'm only doing what you did for me." Arthur looked over at Merlin with a half smile.

The hours went by into dusk. The people begun to turn in, but some still waited up in anticipation. The screams carried on, but Merlin and Arthur still managed to fall asleep on the bench in the corridor outside the King's chambers. Finally, there were no more screams coming from Gwen, but they were replaced with the screams of an infant. Gaius poked his head outside the door. Both Merlin and Arthur were sound asleep. He walked out and woke Arthur. His eyes were filled with nervousness and he walked slowly through the door.

"Merlin, wake up. Merlin. MERLIN!" Gaius yelled and shook Merlin.

"Did I miss it? Did Gwen have the baby?"

"Yes, their son was born. Now, go home and get some sleep."

"But I want to-"

"NO, go home. You can see him tomorrow at the christening." Gaius walked up to Merlin closely and whispered in his ear, "I can't discuss this here, we'll speak when I get home." There was seriousness in his voice.

"Alright, I'll see you at home." He walked down the corridor out of Gaius's sight. The old physician had a look of sorrow and worry on his face. He had sent his letter to Alice and he could only hope that she would arrive soon enough.

There were yells of confusion and frustration coming from Arthur's quarters. The women quickly scurried out of the door and down the hall without looking back. Gaius went back through the door.

Gwen was sleeping on the freshly changed sheets and Arthur was sitting in a chair. The baby was silent in the crib.

"Gaius, what is the meaning of this?"

"I could not tell you, sire."

"Is it magic? Is it some sort of poison or witchcraft?"

"Sire, I do not kno-"

"That's not the answer I want, Giaus! How does the boy look the way he does?!" he yelled at Giaus.

"You must know that if I knew anything, I would tell you."

"Is there some way that you can find out?"

"I don't know of any medicines."

"Then what about magic?" Arthur had his eyes closed. He was completely serious.

"I do not know if that is-"

"Just...tell me." Gaius looked at Arthur for a moment then spoke.

"There is a spell that might work. I'll need a bowl of water."

Arthur grabbed a bowl from the other side of the room and poured what was left from the water pitcher into it.

"Are you sure you want me to do this, sire?"

"Yes."

Gaius took the baby and dipped him quickly in the water, then dried him off and covered him with blankets. He closed his eyes and enchanted the water. "Diegol cnytte, gewitte me yst, aliese hine." The water began to ripple and shimmer. It swirled under the enchantment and flashed images.

"This is the work of magic. It looks to be that the child's body reacted poorly to an enchantment."

Arthur's face turned grim. He sat in silence as the baby and his wife slept.

"There must be some way you can help him." Arthur's voice began to shake.

"I know a tincture that might work. I'll send it up after it's made," Gaius said in a quiet voice.

"Might isn't enough, Gaius!"

"Herbs and mixtures only do what they can. They aren't always effective on strong magic."

"Can't you find something that is?"

"I can try, sire."

"You may leave now," Arthur said in a cold voice.

"Yes, your majesty. Goodnight."

Gaius left the room and walked down the halls. Arthur's muffled sobs were echoing down the corridor. There was no breeze. There was no sound at all. There was silence.

Gaius walked through the dark corridors. He felt watched, but there was no one watching. Gwen's handmaidens were lightly crying together on a bench.

Everything was going in slow motion. Everything was at risk, but there was nothing he could do.

When he walked through the door, Merlin practically jumped down his throat.

"What's wrong? Is the boy hurt or deformed?"

"Neither."

"Then what happened?"

"The child is sick." Gaius was laced with sorrow.

"What do you mean?"

"The boy is deathly pale. He has one blue eye and one black. I suspect he cannot see well with the black eye."

"How is that even possible, Gaius? He should be healthy as a horse, you saw to Gwen's health."

"Yes, but even my tinctures and tonics can't stand up to dark magic." Merlin's expression turned to stone and he gulped in air.

"Arthur had me cast a scrying spell and I saw it."

"Arthur had you do magic?" Merlin had a look of shock on his face.

"I was just as dumbfounded as you are. Arthur is severely distressed at the thought that someone used magic on the child under his nose." Gaius's eyes suddenly moved to the door when he heard a knock.

"Come in!"

A woman in a tattered blue cloak walked through the door. She pulled down her hood to reveal an aged face and a long graying blonde plait. She smiled at Gaius.

"Alice!" Merlin greeted her with a wide smile while Gaius got up and hugged her.

"I was afraid that you would not come," Gaius confessed.

"Of course I would. I couldn't miss a chance to see you again. I'm sorry that my timing was not better."

"As long as you're here now, that's all that matters. Merlin, get Alice something warm." Gaius smiled at her.

Merlin went over to the pot over a fire and scooped out some stew into a bowl.

"Well, while you two catch up, I'm going to bed..." Alice took Merlin's seat and he gave her a bit of the left over stew. Gaius gave him a concerned look as he walked into his room.

"This has been weighing heavy on his mind lately."

"How severe is this problem?"

"It goes deeper than any of us know as of now. Did you hear what I said about the child?"

"Yes. I don't know how much it will help, but I can send some of my healing trinkets up discreetly. What do you think happened?"

"Dark enchantments. I've seen these types of spells before, but never in conjunction. It was originally a spell to induce miscarriage, however, another spell was tacked on that would curse the child if it survived."

"Who would have access to that complex of a spell?"

"I would think Morgana, but what with the rebuilding of sacred grounds, it could be someone else who unearthed an old spell."

"I took part in rebuilding many of them, and no spells like that were found."

"Have you seen Morgana at any of the old temples?"

"After she escaped Amata-"

"So the rumor of her capture was true?" Gaius's face was overcome with surprise.

"I'm not sure how, but the Sarrum managed to imprison her. One winter ago, he sent hunters out for her again."

"Did you hear of any unrest she might have caused?"

"No, rather the contrary. I saw her twice at ancient holy grounds. Once in Orkney, then again in Ireland."

"Ireland and Orkney? What do those two have to do with each other"

"In Ireland, she has been supervising the rebuilding of the temple of Badb. In Orkney, she was gathering old relics and lands from Viking invaders."

"Have you heard of her since?"

"No, but I did hear of a large group of people coming to the Isle for reconstruction. Maybe she was with them."

"Not in the Isle of the Blessed? I didn't hear about any activity there."

"Exactly there. I wonder how word of these things never got to Camelot..."

"We've been so busy focusing on the arrival of the child, anything could have slipped past us. We lost one of our knights, Gwaine. There was no trace of him anywhere. He was pronounced dead, but the body was never found. That was one of the things we suspect about Morgana."

"Do you think she might have captured him?"

"It's possible, but I wonder if he came to her."

"What do you mean?"

"We both know she's capable of nearly anything, including transforming an enemy into an ally."

"What do you think she used on him?"

"This." He lifted up the dove from underneath the table.

"Heart binding..." she whispered, running her fingers over the thorns. "I've healed a few people from love binding spells, but this looks strong..."

"Did you find anything like this in the excavations?"

"Yes, but it wasn't exactly an outlined spell. There was an old tale of a feud between two witches over a man. One witch was a priestess of Cliodhna, the other a priestess of Maeve. The priestess of Cliodhna cast a spell that made beautiful birds sing him into love with her. The priestess of Maeve, in a jealous rage, took a bird sacred to Cliodhna and stabbed in in the heart with a thorn as a spell that would pierce the heart of the man."

"A tale about lust defeating love. Do you think that Morgana might have known it?"

"It's possible. What I wonder is how did you get this?" She looked up in his eyes with curiosity.

"It was sent to Merlin." She looked up at Gaius.

"She knows," she uttered with grim realization.

"We think so. It's why I sent for you. We're going to need your help in taking out her plan." Alice took his hand in assurance.

"What is it that you think she's planned?"

"I think she has a few gifts she wants to present at the christening."

Merlin heard it all from his room. He lay in his bed looking up at the ceiling. His exterior seemed calm, but there was a storm in his head.

How did she even find out? He didn't remember Gwaine ever knowing. Perhaps she had a spy. Perhaps she was spying herself. He tried so hard, and all of it seemed to be for not.

If Morgana knew, how would she use that information? If it has been her plan to go after the child, what terror had she been working behind the shadows? If she hadn't appeared for the year after she escaped, she must have been cooking up something. He panicked.

The night taunted him. It moved slowly. He could not rest. He just lay awake, thinking of ways to protect Arthur and his son from her. He could not protect them if he couldn't use magic. Morgana had planned this well.

He was left with one burning question. What had happened to her? He never turned out like her. He protected the innocent and did the just thing. She secluded herself. She fell into the dark magics and made ruin where she went. What did Arthur do that made her hate him?

Why did she have to go after his child... Then it made sense. All of it. The sins of the father are visited on the son.