Mithian looked up when Olwyne knocked politely before entering her chamber.

"Are you nearly ready, my lady?" he asked.

"Yes." She turned back to the mirror and nodded at her maid to continue dressing her hair.

"Where is the child?" Olwyne looked around curiously.

He had been pleased when she told him she had borne a son. Gaius said it was an easy birth but Mithian had not felt the same. Certainly not at the time, although the more she was with her infant the less vividly she recalled the labour to bring him into the world. Gaius' new assistant, the young man with the dark eyes and gentle hands, had thankfully helped to calm her during the delivery. Merlin's anxious expression and jittery hovering had done little to ease her nerves.

"Erec was fussing so the nurse took him for a stroll," Mithian said hastily.

Olwyne appeared puzzled. "But I just saw her in the corridor and the babe was not with her."

"Perhaps she had one of the maids take him for a moment."

Mithian glanced around for a distraction. Her husband was twisting the ring on his finger as he often did when he was nervous.

"Are you prepared to spend an entire banquet making small talk with Arthur?"

Olwyne gave her a wry look for her perceptiveness. "You'd think that after a year in your company I would be accustomed to such close contact with our monarch, but I still find him intimidating. I'm the youngest son; I'm not supposed to be dining at the king's table."

"You keep telling me your eldest brother sang Arthur's praises constantly," Mithian said.

"Yes, but Lucan was a knight. There's no doubt the king's knights are devoted to him. Orrin, however, spent every family gathering complaining that King Arthur spent too much time riding patrol or fighting battles instead of at court, and of course my noble brother was quite disgusted at the scandal when the king announced his intention to marry a serving girl."

"Gwen did the kingdom a favour by marrying Arthur."

"She should be flattered a man of royal birth condescended to offer her marriage."

"Her life would have been easier and safer if Arthur had never wanted to marry her." Mithian met her husband's eyes in the mirror as he considered her words. "What do you think of Arthur?"

Olwyne hesitated, apparently weighing what to say when he knew she was in the queen's company daily and the king's nearly as often. "I do agree with Orrin that King Arthur is off leading his men when he should be here ruling, but it is for precisely that reason the knights follow him so devotedly. He leads his men, he doesn't send them, and he's willing to face any danger with them. Or instead of them. There is no doubting his courage."

The maid put the last touches on Mithian's dark hair and gave her a questioning look.

Mithian smiled and nodded in approval. "Thank you, Gvynna. Enjoy your evening, I won't need you again tonight."

"Thank you, my lady." The blonde woman gave both lord and lady a respectful bow before she left the room.

Mithian turned to face Olwyne. "Arthur is a good person underneath the arrogance, you know. He wouldn't retaliate for your honest criticism or hold your personal feelings against you."

"It is just that …" Olwyne hesitated.

"If there's anything you want to ask me, I hope you would feel free," Mithian said.

"Just this change of laws to allow magic to be practiced, and then appointing a sorcerer – his former manservant, no less – to the king's Council." Olwyne met her eyes. "You must spend a good deal of time in Merlin's company as he is always at the king's side." He hesitated. "Well, he looks like an ordinary person but they say he's immortal, that he's the most powerful sorcerer who ever lived, and his control over the king is absolute."

"He may be the most powerful sorcerer – I know he faced Morgana herself and defeated her – but he is human."

For a moment Olwyne searched her face as though wondering if she was being entirely forthright with him.

"There's no reason to fear him, and he does not have any hold over Arthur other than mutual friendship and trust."

At the earnestness in her voice Olwyne visibly relaxed. She wondered how much of his discomfort had been nervousness about Merlin's close proximity at the king's table more than the king himself.

"You would know better than I." Olwyne offered her his arm. "We should go, my lady, we're late now."

As Mithian stood to take his outstretched arm, they were both startled by a baby's fitful cry followed by Merlin's arrival through the servant's entrance. He stopped in surprise that they were still in the chamber.

Olwyne likewise froze in astonishment to see the sorcerer standing with a baby in his arms. Olwyne looked from Merlin to Mithian and understanding dawned in his face at the deep flushes on their faces.

Erec gave another fitful cry to which Merlin responded with a soothing coo, rocking the baby gently. The child quieted, leaving the room in a tense silence.

Then Olwyne smiled widely at Mithian. "Well, my lady, as I said, you would know him better than I."

Mithian smiled back at her husband. "Give me a moment."

"Of course." Still smiling, Olwyne retreated to wait at the chamber door with his back to them for the privacy it afforded.

Mithian ignored Merlin's curious look that indicated he knew they had been discussing him and stooped to give her son a quick kiss. "Is he going to settle down and sleep?"

Merlin nodded. "He just needed to be walked. As soon as he's asleep I'm going to lay him down."

"Then we'll see you when you get to the banquet."

"What –" Merlin began to whisper. His eyes flicked to Olwyne who stood patiently facing the door, but he broke off when Mithian kissed him.

"I'll let Arthur know you were unavoidably delayed by a most important duty," she said with a wink.

"Saving the kingdom from a wailing infant?"

"Precisely." With another peck on the baby's cheek, Mithian joined Olwyne.

He again offered her his arm. With a final glance back at Merlin, who was absorbed in ensuring that Erec stayed quiet as he was laid in his cradle, Olwyne led Mithian out.

He gave his wife an amused look as they made their way down the corridor. "I thought it was the king."

Mithian paused and laid a hand on his arm. "I should have told you, I'm sorry."

"You had a right to your privacy," Olwyne said. "Had I truly wanted to know, it would have been an easy matter to station a spy outside your door." He frowned suddenly. "Unless he really can change into a bird and fly in your window?"

"No," Mithian answered, holding back a smile.

"He is human, then?"

"Of course."

"So he doesn't talk to dragons?"

"Actually, he does," she admitted.

For a moment Olwyne stared at her. Then he shook his head and they continued down the hall.

Mithian steered her mount through the busy main gate. A few people glanced her way, curious that a noblewoman would leave the city alone, but Mithian ignored their speculative looks. She was not going far and there had been no sign of Morgana all winter. Camelot patrols circled the area of her destination regularly and there was plenty of traffic on the road to discourage foul play.

The princess rode further from the crowded city, then she turned from the well beaten track. She guided her horse at a slow walk through the tree cover, headed for the pretty but secluded spot near the brook. The days were warming and the trees which had shed their leaves in winter were already budding, although the ground remained wet from early morning frost. The air smelled of damp greenery. She ducked under a low branch and brought her horse to a stop.

Merlin was waiting for her. The devoted smile that lit up his face as soon as he saw her caused a warm fluttering in her stomach. He moved closer to help her dismount and she swung sideways to place both her hands on his shoulders and let him lift her down. He did not release her when her feet touched the ground, instead he wrapped his arms around to press her closer. In response, she slid her hands across his back into his hair and brought his mouth down to meet hers as she leaned up to kiss him.

"I brought bread and meat and cheese for a picnic lunch," she said breathlessly when the kiss ended.

"Good," he replied without taking his eyes off her face before he bent to kiss her again.

When that kiss finally ended she loosened her embrace and leaned slightly away. "We should continue this somewhere more private."

He gave her a tender look and took her hand to lead her into the thicket that sheltered the brook. As soon as Merlin moved away from her but before he stepped deeper into the sheltering trees, the sound of an arrow biting into flesh was followed by a sudden hush as if every animal and bird had ceased all movement.

Mithian froze in horror when Merlin's leg buckled under him. A disturbing amount of blood poured from his wound and Mithian realized the arrow had struck his upper leg where the blood flowed most strongly. She sank to her knees beside him, trying to keep him partially upright. She had nothing to use as a weapon, no way to defend either of them, even if she could have seen the assailant.

Merlin raised one hand as though he would shield them both, then his eyes closed and he went limp. Mithian came to the horrible realization that the only reason he would lose consciousness so quickly was that the arrow tip must have been drugged.

The moment he slumped to the ground, Mithian heard riders approach. Dimly she understood they must have followed her, although she could not fathom why thieves would be this close to the city or who else would have done this. Surely Morgana would simply have used magic, she would have no need of arrow or sedative.

Mithian looked up to see three men on horseback dressed in plain leathers with nothing to identify their allegiance. They all wore swords but none carried a bow or quiver so there must be at least one more attacker still concealed. The princess clenched the hilt of her small eating dagger which was all the protection she had.

"We mean you no harm," one of the men said, his eyes on the knife in her hand.

Mithian guessed he was the leader by his position slightly in front of the other two. He seemed vaguely familiar although she could not think why.

He gestured, and both his companions dismounted to approach the princess where she crouched beside Merlin's prone form. Blood pooled beneath him and soaked her skirt.

She grasped the dagger tighter as she leapt to her feet and the two men hesitated, looking back at their leader. He gave them a sign as he dismounted and the three men spread out before approaching Mithian from different directions.

She tried to watch all three, conscious of the archer hidden from her, but as she raised her dagger against the closest assailant she felt herself grabbed from behind. She struggled uselessly against the tight hold, cutting a shallow slice across the arm of her captor before her knife was taken.

Mithian steeled herself for assault or kidnapping or whatever was to come, but to her surprise the two companions of the man holding her ignored her to grasp Merlin's inert form and toss him roughly onto one of the horses. They both mounted and the man holding the princess abruptly released her unharmed to mount his own horse.

"No!" Mithian shouted when she realized they intended to leave with their victim, blood oozing where the arrow protruded from his leg. She looked around helplessly, wishing in vain for her hunting crossbow, and finally started toward them barehanded with an unformed thought of simply dragging Merlin away from them.

Looking slightly alarmed at her advance, the three men wheeled their horses around and galloped away. Mithian heard another rider join them before they were out of earshot. Panicked, she whirled and ran to her own mount.

Minutes later, eyes fixed on their tracks in the rough ground, Mithian barely pulled up short before she left the cover of the trees and rode into the midst of a half dozen men. They were gathered at the entrance to a cave a little further ahead. None looked in her direction or gave any indication they were aware she had followed them.

The four men who had taken Merlin had met with several more men at the hideaway. They did not seem overly concerned about pursuit, no doubt assuming she would not yet have alerted anyone to the abduction.

At that thought, Mithian realized she would have been wiser to flag down a Camelot patrol who could easily have followed the men's trail rather than chasing after them herself, alone and unarmed.

Two men came out of the cave to haul Merlin's unconscious body unceremoniously into the hideout and Mithian gasped in shock at the soldiers' garb. Her eyes darted from one of them to the next as most of the other men followed the kidnappers into the darkness of the cave, leaving only two outside to take up posts as sentries. She was not mistaken, the soldiers who had taken Merlin had worn Nemeth's colours, and at least one of those who had been waiting inside the cave was wearing the insignia of the royal household.

Mithian berated herself for not having recognized the fletching on the arrow. Angrily, the princess straightened before she urged her horse forward at a steady pace directly toward the two startled sentries. She saw recognition in their faces at her appearance, although neither was familiar to her, saw them exchange a bewildered glance before they both bowed their heads in respect.

The princess dismounted before either could move to assist her and marched up to the cave entrance. The soldiers looked as though they had been instructed not to let anyone pass but could not decide if such an order included their own royalty. One guard opened his mouth. Mithian gave him a threatening stare and did not break stride as she marched into the cave.

The first thing Merlin sensed was rough, damp rock under his left cheek and a feeling of cold. The next thing he was conscious of was a burning pain in his right leg and an intense sleepiness urging him to let it take him back into oblivion. He gritted his teeth and pushed the pain and the drowsiness aside to focus on one thought: Mithian. Mithian was in danger.

He opened his eyes wide; it was dark but there was a light not far from where he lay on his side. He lifted his hand slowly to probe the spot on his leg that burned in pain. His fingers brushed an arrow shaft. Even his gentle probing caused a stab of agony but at least the pain kept him awake. His hand came away sticky with warm blood.

Fighting back the urge to go to sleep, Merlin looked toward the two armed men who held the only source of light in what was obviously a cave. There was no sign of Mithian.

The sorcerer gathered his strength and attempted to get to his feet. He only made it to his knees, a groan of pain escaping him in the process which was enough to attract the attention of his captors. They started toward him, hands on their sword hilts. With a flash of his eyes, both were thrown backward to land on the rocky dampness of the cave floor, their torch burning where it had fallen.

Merlin tried again to get to his feet, clutching the wounded leg to stem the bleeding. Swaying but upright, he limped toward what appeared to be a more brightly lit cavern beyond where the men had stood. Raised voices came from behind a fold of rock which hid him from the people in the cavern and Merlin sagged with relief to hear Mithian's voice, strong and alive.

He staggered to where he could see her. Mithian did not appear to be in immediate danger, although her tone indicated panic as well as anger. She faced a man who stood with his back toward Merlin. The sorcerer leaned against the rough stone to catch his breath, his right hand on his leg pressing hard around the arrow shaft.

"What could you have been thinking?" Mithian demanded. "Don't you understand the peril you put us all in if anything happens to him?"

"I'm protecting Nemeth as well as you by removing the sorcerer. You are bound by whatever enchantments he used to bring you to his bed, stealing you from your rightful husband."

A stab of guilt went through Merlin when he recognized the person facing Mithian as her brother, Meliant, and understood why he had been brought to this place alive but his wound untreated. Most likely the prince intended to kill him if he refused to release Mithian from his supposed spells. At least he knew for certain she was not in any jeopardy herself. In fact, Meliant was probably in more danger from her than vice versa.

"Don't you understand that Arthur would not forgive the murder of his closest friend? That your actions have imperilled your own kingdom as well as threatened our greatest source of protection?" A pleading note entered Mithian's voice.

"King Arthur is under the sorcerer's influence, as you are, and will thank me for freeing him," Meliant said.

"Did you even think of speaking with me before you jumped to your conclusions?" Mithian demanded despairingly. "Did you consider talking to Arthur like a responsible ruler would have done before undertaking such a hasty and ill-advised assault on a Camelot citizen? If Merlin dies, if you have seriously harmed him, you jeopardize the peace of Nemeth and we run the risk of plunging back into warfare." Mithian leaned forward and grabbed a fistful of his green doublet. "Where is he?"

"Here." Merlin released his pressure on the leg wound to stand straight, facing the others in the cavern, although his left hand was braced against the rock wall.

The Nemeth guard nearest the prince spun around, already drawing his sword. The hilt turned red hot in his hand and he dropped the weapon before it burned deeper into his skin. One of the guards at the far entrance to the cave was quick-witted enough to launch a dagger in Merlin's direction but the sorcerer held up a hand and the knife clattered harmlessly to the ground.

"Stop!" Mithian shouted, darting around her brother to stand protectively in front of Merlin, facing the rest of them.

Meliant slowly took his hand away from his own weapons. "Where are my men, the ones who were guarding you?" he asked Merlin coldly.

"I'm sorry, I had no idea they were Nemeth soldiers."

"What do you intend to do now?" Meliant said steadily. He glanced at the soldier on his right who was nursing his burned right hand and staring hatefully at the sorcerer.

Merlin allowed a tiny smile to twitch his mouth, disguising his wince at a stab of pain from his leg. "I'm going to leave you to Mithian."

"Do not believe for an instant you won't regret such a retribution," the princess snapped coldly at her brother's surprised expression. "You're not fit to succeed father to the throne if this is an example of your judgement."

Merlin nearly regretted sentencing Meliant to his sister's wrath. He laid his left hand on her arm. "Don't be too harsh. After all, he came to the only logical conclusion."

Mithian whirled around, clearly not in the mood to puzzle out his meaning, and Merlin flushed slightly. "You're a beautiful, intelligent princess – magic is the only explanation for you to have any interest in me."

She stared at him in silence with a look that seemed like pity, although at least she was not angry with him for causing this whole mess.

Mithian laid one hand on his cheek and he found it impossible to look away. "You don't understand, do you?" she asked. "You don't realize how special you are. You are kind and loyal and brave and loving and I'm fortunate you looked twice at me."

Merlin wanted to respond, but as usual when she pinned him with that gaze that saw right through him he could not utter a single word.

"You really like him."

Meliant's tone of utter amazement made them tear their eyes away from each other to look at the prince.

He regarded them with an expression of wonder. "You actually … it's real."

Mithian turned to confront her brother. "A fact you could have ascertained by speaking with me before you instituted this plot."

She sounded regal and strong, Merlin thought with pride before drowsiness overcame the pain in his leg and his efforts to ignore it and he passed out again.

Meliant was shocked when the dark-haired young man fainted. Despite the strong sedative on the arrowhead, there had been no indication of weakness or pain in the man's countenance while he disarmed the soldiers and faced the prince. But Meliant's surprise was nothing against the remorse that gripped him at the stricken look on his sister's face.

She sank to the ground to cradle the man's head in her lap and Meliant noticed that her gown was already blood-stained. He also recalled how much blood had soaked those who carried the sorcerer in earlier.

Mithian glared at her brother. "We have to get him to Camelot, to Gaius, the physician, and you are going to see to it now."

Meliant took his first good look at the man's wound where the arrow stuck out of his leg. Even with his limited battle experience, Meliant knew the injury would heal as long as it was treated and provided the man did not bleed to death. "We need to remove the arrow first."

"No, we need to hurry to Camelot," Mithian begged.

"Trust me," Meliant said.

The prince signalled his nearest guard to assist. The soldier merely looked down at the injured man with an expression of disgust, his blistered right hand cradled in his left. "He's a sorcerer, let him die."

Meliant was jolted by the soldier's animosity before he acknowledged that he would have said the same a short time ago. Except clearly his sister would be devastated if this sorcerer died.

The prince knelt beside Merlin and grasped hold of the arrow. "Be ready to staunch the blood," he said to Mithian.

Thankful the sorcerer was not conscious, Meliant snapped the shaft in two. Then he pushed until the arrowhead protruded through the other side of the leg where he could grasp hold and yank it out. Merlin groaned and twitched but his eyes remained closed. He slumped when the arrow came free and Mithian pressed as hard as she could on both entry and exit wounds to stem the fresh flow of blood.

Meliant nudged her hands aside. "Here, I'll do that, you make a bandage."

Mithian allowed her brother to take over keeping pressure on the injury while she lifted her riding skirt to rip several long strips from her shift. With her brother's assistance she bound up the leg, balling some pieces of cloth underneath the wrapping.

"Now, get him onto a horse. We must get him to the physician," Meliant ordered his guards.

The man with the burned hand gritted his teeth and gestured at two soldiers. They obediently lifted Merlin's slight form.

Mithian followed them out of the cavern. She was right beside them as the soldiers tossed Merlin over a horse. Meliant drew her away and guided her to her own horse before mounting himself.

As they rode toward Camelot, he looked over at his sister several times. Her eyes remained fixed on Merlin and the paleness of her features increased Meliant's guilt.

They had barely reached the citadel steps when the sight of Merlin injured brought three knights rushing down the palace steps. The tallest, a man Meliant thought must be part giant, lifted the wounded man single-handedly and carried him bodily into the citadel. Mithian followed and then the dark-haired knight, a worried frown on his face.

"Your Highness," the blond knight greeted Meliant in obvious surprise.

"I will explain all later." Meliant hurried to catch up to his sister.

He reached the physician's chamber in time to see the distraught look on the old man's face at the sight of his patient.

"Merlin!"

The elderly physician rushed to treat the injury, not asking how it had happened. One knight cleared the nearest work table with a sweep of his arm so the other could lay the patient down.

Meliant watched his sister grasp tightly to the unconscious man's hand where it rested on the table. She held tight while the physician cleaned and rebandaged Merlin's wound.

"He'll be all right," the old man assured the two knights as he stepped back and swiped at his brow.

Meliant saw the extent of their relief at his assertion. The dark-haired knight appeared especially relieved and the prince wondered that he would be so concerned about a sorcerer, one of obviously low birth at that. Then Meliant was brushed aside where he stood on the threshold and he realized King Arthur had arrived, a distressed look on his face.

"Gaius? I was told Merlin had been injured."

"He'll be fine, Sire," the physician sighed. His own worried expression eased as Merlin's breathing evened out and colour returned to his cheeks. "It was an arrow wound but it's clean and the bleeding has all but stopped. Although Merlin seems unusually lethargic, perhaps there was some kind of soporific used as well."

Once the anxiety had drained from the king's face he looked around the room for an explanation. His eyes fell on Meliant and widened in perplexion.

"It is my fault," the prince admitted.

King Arthur narrowed his gaze on the prince's face but he crossed his arms and waited without speaking for an explanation.

"I heard," Meliant began. "I thought ... I mean he's a sorcerer." Meliant felt the force of several pairs of eyes glaring accusingly at him but before he could attempt to explain himself further the queen arrived.

"Merlin!" she gasped, rushing forward to stand beside Mithian.

"He'll be all right, Guinevere," the physician repeated.

"Thank goodness. What happened?" The queen looked at Mithian who gazed pointedly at her brother.

Meliant shrank at yet another hostile glare.

"Excuse us," the king said and Meliant found himself escorted forcibly from the chamber by the king himself.

Arthur stopped only a few paces into the corridor. "Did you intend to break the terms of our alliance with Nemeth by violently attacking one of my citizens?"

Meliant paled at the intensity behind the words. "No. I mean, yes it was intentional but I didn't consider … he's only a sorcerer and a peasant …" He stopped at the king's threatening expression. The prince barely managed to stand his ground as Arthur took a step closer.

"If Merlin does not recover fully, or if he does and is ever again injured in your presence or the presence of any of your men, I will take it as a declaration of war and respond accordingly."

Meliant nodded in understanding. He assumed the gesture was sufficient because King Arthur left his royal guest standing in the corridor to rejoin the group around the patient's bed in the physician's chambers.

Unwilling to face any more accusatory stares from the concerned people inside the room, Meliant retreated to wait with his men for an official audience with Camelot's king.

Mithian rocked on the balls of her feet while she bounced the tightly wrapped infant in her arms. When a knock sounded at her chamber door, she nodded at the maid to admit her brother.

Meliant hesitated on the threshold as though unsure of his welcome.

"Thank you, you may leave us," Mithian said in answer Gvynna's unspoken query.

The blonde woman stepped aside to allow the prince entry and then closed the door behind her after she left.

"How was your visit with Arthur?" Mithian asked by way of greeting.

Her brother had the grace to look ashamed. "He didn't throw me into the dungeon but I got the impression he wanted to. And that dark-haired knight gave me a look as though I should ensure I don't run into him without a heavily armed guard beside me."

Mithian smiled at that.

"If I was not certain King Arthur valued peace and our alliance I would have been concerned for my safety. The Queen had an merciless look in her eyes."

It was gratifying that her brother was wise enough to know he should not test Guinevere.

Meliant looked questioningly at her. "The old physician, is he the young man's father?"

"No," Mithian said. "Although he is Merlin's guardian and cares about him a great deal."

"They all seem to." There was a confused look in her brother's face. "Why? Why were so many people concerned about a sorcerer who is not of noble birth?"

Mithian regarded her brother's puzzled expression for a long moment, thinking of the words to express what she wanted to say. "Magic was banned before we were born, we grew up thinking sorcerers were criminals, that they were different from us. But the time I spent under Morgana's eye, passing every moment of every day in close company with her, I realized she was a human being. A person consumed by bitterness who refused to forgive, who directed her fear and hatred at everyone around her, but a human being."

Her brother appeared even more perplexed at her comparison to Morgana who was, if anything, a reason to hate anyone with magic.

"Merlin is a person, too, not just a sorcerer. A person who tries to find goodness in people, who makes mistakes and regrets them, who would sacrifice anything for his friends."

Meliant stared at her. "I've heard tales, stories that say he's no ordinary sorcerer. That he's done fearful things. That his magic comes from the devil."

"There's truth in some of the stories of what he's done, but surely you don't believe those wild tales about being fathered by a demon?"

"No. But I didn't doubt there was a powerful sorcerer working within Camelot and when my informants relayed where he spent his nights I had to act."

The prince flushed at the sharp look Mithian directed at him.

"I should have come to you first, I realize that, or spoken openly with Arthur, but I assumed you were both under the sorcerer's control." Meliant squared his shoulders. "I won't make a mistake like that again, not when I'm king."

Mithian felt her heart skip a beat. "Is father not any better?"

"He's the same," Meliant said sadly. "You know how hard this past year has been on him. As a matter of fact, that's part of the reason I left Nemeth. I'm supposed to be on my way to Gawant."

"You're a considerable distance out of your way, then. Gawant is much closer to Nemeth," Mithian said. "What is your business with Lord Godwyn?"

A smile touched Meliant's face and Mithian was struck by a suspicion of what her brother's mission was.

"Father has arranged a match between you and Elena, is that it?" she asked excitedly.

Meliant nodded. "Everything has been settled. She's the sole heir to Gawant and on our marriage we will join the two kingdoms. It's small by itself, but combined we'll match Deorham in strength. Odin will be forced to abandon any plans he may yet have to expand his territory at our expense."

"Elena is a free spirit. She hardly ever wears shoes and she would sooner befriend a fox or deer than hunt them." Mithian regarded her brother thoughtfully.

"She is unconventional." Meliant appeared to be more intrigued than he was dismayed.

Mithian glanced down at the baby she was holding to see the boy sleeping quietly. She smiled tenderly at the tiny person with his crop of soft, dark hair. When she looked up she found Meliant gazing at the child.

"This is Erec. Do you want to hold him?"

She chuckled at her brother's horrified expression, but he did come closer to peek down into the baby's face.

"Whose child is he?" Meliant asked.

Mithian gave him a stern look. "Mine."

Her brother flushed slightly. "I meant –"

"I know," she answered.

Meliant bent his head and stared raptly at the sleeping infant. "He's a beautiful little nephew."

They stood together for a moment, gazing at the child, before the sound of a door closing caught their attention. They both looked up to see Merlin, who stopped when he saw Mithian was not alone and who she was with.

"Sorry, I'll come back later," he mumbled but as he made to leave Meliant stopped him.

"No, please, I should leave anyway," the prince said, embarrassed at Merlin's limp.

"You're welcome to visit with us, you know," she said.

He gave her a wry smile. "I think my welcome in Camelot has worn quite thin. Besides, I have business to attend to elsewhere."

"Give my greetings to Lord Godwyn and Elena."

The baby hiccupped and pursed his mouth to let out a tiny cry. Mithian wondered if it was a passing whimper or the beginning of a full-out bawl.

"I'll take him," Merlin offered as he limped forward.

She handed him the baby who went back to sleep. Mithian smiled, warmed by the tender expression on Merlin's face as he held the child. When she turned back to her brother she caught an expression of awe on his face.

He gave her a look filled with apology. "I can see you are well and happy. I wish you all the best," he said by way of farewell.

"You, too," Mithian said, holding out a hand.

He grasped it tightly and gave her fingers a squeeze before he left.

When the door closed behind him, Mithian turned back to Merlin. She slid her arms around him as he stood, favouring his right leg, gently rocking baby Erec. He smiled down at her and she rested her head against his shoulder.