Ambrose was having an interesting day. He liked the man, Arthur, (even if he was a prat) and the other one, Gwaine, was nice enough. They were also willing to listen to his stories.

"And then Mordy came out of nowhere and he tossed me in the lake!" concluded the two year old.

"Now why would he do that?" asked Arthur. So far, the king had learned some….interesting facts about this boy and his family.

"'Cause he's jealous," said the boy, jokingly starting to strut, "of my gooooooood looks."

Arthur laughed, something he hadn't done in a while. Somehow, this boy had quickly wormed his way into his heart. "Are you sure of that?" asked Arthur. "Maybe he thought the lake made a suitable bath."

The boy narrowed his eyes. "Well, maybe. It's probably because he's a clotpole."

Gwaine and Arthur stopped. The boy did too, after seeing them halt. Arthur's eyes flitted down to the child. That hair, those eyes, that….grin! Merlin's grin!

"Why'd you stop?" asked Amby. "Did-"

He was cut off by a shout of, "Ambrose Balinor! You are in so much trouble!"

The boy gulped with a faint mutter of "mommy," but he didn't seem to want comfort from her. No, that mutter of "mommy" was in fear and was the name of the angry woman charging at him.

"Ambrose-" shrieked the woman, scooping him up in her arms "-Never do that-" she kissed his forehead "-again! Mordred and I-" another kiss "-worried! Where'd you run-" a muffled sob of relieve "-off…" she let that thought hang. "Gwaine? Arthur?" asked Merlin, last part through gritted teeth.

"Merlin," breathed the king as Gwaine face-palmed. Sure the knight was happy to see Merlin, but he knew this would end in tears. It just depended on whose tears they would be, though.

"Emrys! Have you found that little shit yet? He goes off running in the woods and- who are these-wait, never mind- Em, why're you-? Oh, right. Shit," said Mordred, entering the clearing and speaking his thoughts out loud. Of course the former druid recognized Arthur, but it seemed the king didn't recognize him. With one look at Merlin, Mordred took a protesting Ambrose ("I wanna stay with momma!") and walked out, blushing with awkwardness.

"Hi," said Merlin, looking like her plain old self; typical shirt, trousers, jacket, and the trademark neckerchief.

Arthur made a sound (something vaguely like "hgm" or a cry that never really went past his throat.) and walked towards her. He unsheathed his sword, her eyes widening and Gwaine stepping forward. What Arthur did next surprised everyone (including himself).

"Merlin Emrys," he said, handing her the sword and kneeling down in front of her, neck exposed. "Strike me down."

Merlin rolled her eyes. "I'm not gonna kill you."

"Please," he said, not looking up. "I've wronged-"

Merlin glared. "Do not give me the 'I've wronged you speech.' Seriously, I thought you were craftier than that."

Arthur gaped at her. "But-but-"

"I'm not like you, Arthur Pendragon,-" Arthur winced as she used his full name- "I don't kill out of spite. Get up, you clotpole." She handed him his sword. "Great to see you Gwaine!"

"You as well Merlin!" cried the knight jovially. Arthur looked like a fish because he was gaping so much.

"You propose to Morgana yet?"

Gwaine's face darkened, remembering that old joke. "No."

She shrugged. "C'mon, you two better stay the night with us. Acromantulas come out after dark," she shuddered, hand subconsciously rubbing a spot on her back. She set off, heading into the wood, expecting them to follow her.

"Acro-what?" asked Gwaine. Arthur shrugged, eyes downcast. The knight followed the warlock, leaving the king with his thoughts.

"So." Arthur jumped when he heard a drawling voice. "Do you remember me? That druid kid from a few years ago?"

Arthur's eyes widened and he nodded. "Mordred."

The boy glowered. "Yeah, it's me. I just want you to know that Merlin is happy without you." At Arthur's intake of breath, he continued. "When I found her, she was broken; she couldn't get over you. Finally, when Amby was born, she forgot you. We moved here to even get away from Camelot. I made her realize that you never appreciated her."

"I always appreciated-"

Mordred held up a hand to stop him. "Save your breath. She's over you. She's mine now." He smirked.

Arthur looked shocked. "What? You're how old? Fourteen?"

"Seventeen!" he snarled. "Almost of age!"

"She's about twenty-five now."

Mordred seemed to go very red with anger, but then regained his cool. "It doesn't matter. She's still mine."

Arthur rolled his eyes, pushing down the what if he's right thoughts. "She could never end up with you."

"Really?" asked Mordred, sarcasm heavy in his voice. "You really think she'll take you back? After what you did?"

"I just need to explain-"

"She'll let you explain," growled the boy. "But she won't listen. While you cheated on her and banished her, I was here, helping to raise your son."

"I was searching for her!" Arthur yelled.

"Good load that did," the druid scoffed. "I'm done here. Better find your way before the Acromantulas get you."

With a flash of gold in his eyes, Mordred was gone.

(((((((((((((0)))))))))))))))

I hate him, thought the druid, sitting by a very small lake that only he knew about. Emrys is mine now; he can't have her! And if he tries to take Amby away, that bastard's gonna die!

Mordred had a reason for behaving like this. Growing up in a druid camp, in which he later had to flee as it was attacked, he never had someone to love him one-on-one. Merlin had been the first, and so far, the only, besides Amby. In his mind, they were his.

*flashback*

The woods were dark at night, and a little too silent. Mordred, yet again, was walking away from a druid camp. He didn't understand; come how no one wanted to mentor him, let alone, let him live with them? He tried various camps, but all the druids would do was give him a disgusted or pitiful look and either politely tell him to go away or they would violently chase him out. People have seemed to have gone mad.

A sound made him turn, him then realizing what woods he was in. He was about to get the hell out of there, when he distantly saw a figure running. A figure with too many legs that was heading towards a human outline. Reacting on instinct, he sent an orb of light over, something that usually scared creatures of the night. It worked for a moment, just enough time for the person to get away. He ran in their direction, thinking he could help them.

"Nnnmmmfff," was the sound a girl made, as the Acromantula's venom-filled pinchers bit into her back. She looked vaguely familiar, but he didn't focus on that right now. Feeling his magic roll through him, Mordred created a bright light, one that could compete with the sun. The beast scurried off, but not before the druid caught sight of its many eyes (something that would appear in his nightmares for the next month or two.) Seeing that there was no more of them, he dropped down by the girl.

"Help," she muttered weakly, half-unconscious.

"I'm here," he said. "I'll help you."

"The-the spi-"she started, delirious.

"They're gone. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

She nodded, small smile on her face, before the darkness really took her. Mordred placed her head in his lap.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

*End of Flashback*

Mordred felt anger and possessiveness rush through him. "She's mine!" he snarled to the wind.

Mordred's weird; just sayin'. Anybody catch the Harry Potter reference? HINT: What type of giant spider is Aragog?

And thank you sooo firetrucking much to Luka Knight, fallenangelicwolf, That Gryffindor Flame, HEIDI, yanoe, ijusttaserdyou, bubzchoc, and Corey YoungBlood for reviewing! ^-^