A/N: This story is set about twenty or so years before the show Merlin begins. I was reading some interesting fan fictions, and had an idea about how it was all started. This revolves around Uther and Ygraine's relationship, and Arthur's birth.

Title: La Naissance d'Arthur / The Birth of Arthur
Writer: soulful dreamer
Verse: Merlin
Major Characters: Uther Pendragon, Ygraine Pendragon, Gaius, Nimueh, Arthur Pendragon

Sir Tristan and Lady Ygraine departed the next morning. There was no giant spectacle; the king bade them farewell and then retreated to his duties for the day. His mind was obviously not on his kingship, but he knew he had duties nonetheless. After Sir Tristan informed him of Ygraine's betrothal, Uther made the decision to step away. He departed the feast shortly after and returned to his room. Never before had he felt such an ache in his chest. The hole only grew larger as he sent them off to Cornwall, back to their father and to Ygraine's, dare he say it, fiance. He couldn't even look at her the next morning at their last breakfast, so he opted to eat alone in his room.

The day passed very slowly for Uther, as he dealt with people one by one and their problems. Did the people not understand that without a queen, without an heir, their kingdom would be thrown into chaos once again? He made a decision around noon that he would see no one else for the rest of the day and turned to his chambers for some time to think. He knew that he needed a bride, but how could he take anyone except for Ygraine as his queen?

Cornwall was on the horizon as Ygraine and Tristan stopped for the night. It would only be a couple of more hours, but it was nearing dusk, and Ygraine was tired from their journey. The tent was being pitched, and the horses tended to as Tristan approached his sister, who was standing a ways off, her eyes on the city ahead.

"What is plaguing you, sister?" Sir Tristan questioned.

"Uther," she said after a long moment of silence.

"He was a most generous host, don't you agree?"

"Yes, but he was more than that." Ygraine shook her head. Her brother would never understand.

"Please do not tell me you allowed yourself to harbor feelings for the man," Tristan said in disbelief.

"How could I not?" She asked, her hurt showing in her eyes. "He was so gentle, so kind, and.."

Tristan sighed and rubbed a hand wearily over his face. "Had I known that, perhaps I shouldn't have told him about your betrothed." Ygraine's eyes widened as she looked at her brother. "I did not know you felt towards him. I was simply trying to ensure he knew your intentions were elsewhere." A silent tear fell down the lady's cheek. The siblings fell into an awkward silence as they heard the men behind them mention that the tent was done and that supper would soon be ready.

"Perhaps it is for the best, Tristan," Ygraine finally said. "It is just a fairytale." The lady turned and took shelter inside of the tent, opting to be alone for now. Tristan felt guilty, but they both knew the marriage had been arranged for some time now. What did it matter if Uther was a king? The bond made between their father and Sir Gothart was planned to strengthen their alliance. Though Tristan would miss his sister, he knew that it would be the best for her. Perhaps she wasn't cut out to be queen.

/.\

Uther stood there, as if time had frozen. His eyes were on his wife, on the red spot forming beneath her body, on her pale skin. Those in the room shouted to one another to take action, but the king, he stood there, unable to move; his deepest fears were being confirmed.

/.\

Ygraine's wedding was only a day away. She was a very busy woman with fittings and ensuring that the wedding was happening on time as it should be. Her betrothed was set to arrive that morning, and she was supposed to be dressed in her best and on the most acceptable behavior of a young lady. A knock sounded at her door and she told them to enter.

"Sir Gothart shall be arriving at any moment, Ygraine," Tristan said. She nodded as her brother turned to leave the room. He stole a glance at her worried face, then pushed the door shut and walked towards her, taking both of her hands in his own. "You are not still thinking of Camelot, are you?" Ygraine yanked her hands from her brother's and stepped toward a window, her eyes looking for any sign of her betrothed.

"Of course, I am, Tristan, what do you think?" Tristan was compassionate, but knew that they had moved forward, and they had to do what they had to do. "I cannot simply forget someone like that."

"Well, you must. Father will not stand for it if you ruin this wedding," Tristan warned. Though he tried to be the best brother he could, he knew that right now, he had to stand on their father's side.

"How can you honestly stand there and tell me that this is what I should do?" the lady asked, hating that her brother was taking their father's side. "You, of all people, know what it is to love someone, Tristan. You know what it is to want to be with them and to have that chance, but for that chance to be taken from you by someone else." Her eyes narrowed. Tristan did not know whether to stay or leave. He stepped forward again, this time with a softer look on his face. He, recently, had fallen in love with someone below his station. She was a beautiful woman with a good heart, but their father had seen to it that the woman be expelled from their home and placed elsewhere.

"Yes, dear sister, I do understand," he nodded gently, stealing her eyes up to his. "But, as of now, your option is Sir Gothart. I don't see Uther running to Cornwall to ask our father's permission for your hand." She nodded, her sad eyes falling to the floor beneath her feet. She had to accept it. There was no other choice.

The siblings arrived to greet Sir Gothart, and then they turned to dine with he and their father in a private dining hall. Ygraine, as usual, kept to her thoughts while the men discussed battle terms and livestock trading. The men talked, but her attention went to the doors as she heard shouting. "You can't go in there!" The door burst open and a man rushed through, a few guards trailing close behind.

"What is the meaning of this?" Ygraine's father burst, standing from his seat; he did not know this man. But Ygraine.. oh, she knew him. There, before she, her brother, her father and her betrothed, stood Uther Pendragon.

/.\

"The balance." A haunted voice said near Uther. He glanced over at the woman.

"What, Nimueh?" the king asked, his brow furrowed greatly as the others in the room were rushing about. Alice was trying to wake the queen, as Gaius prepared for the birth of the child. The sorceress shook her head and then rushed forward to help in any way she could. The queen roused, but very meekly. Her eyes met with the king's, and that was when the severity of the situation hit. His wife was bleeding. This was most definitely not a good sign when it came to childbirth. The king stepped around the bed, then climbed onto the side to offer comfort to his wife.

"Uther?" She asked weakly as he slid in carefully behind her, his arms carefully helping to support her weak figure.

"Don't you worry, my love, it will all be alright," Uther said, his voice shaky as he kissed his wife's forehead. Even he wasn't sure of his words.

/.\

"Pardon my sudden intrusion, Lord du Bois," Uther said as he continued to step forward. "I am Uther Pendragon, king of Camelot." Tristan's eyes were on Ygraine, but her eyes were on the king before her.

"Well," Ygraine's father said, his demeanor changing. "I apologize for behaving so rash just then. To what do we owe this honor, your highness?" He gave a small bow. Uther's eyes glanced at Ygraine, a small smile rest on his lips. He turned back to her father.

"I wish to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage," Uther said. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he asked for her hand, but the two days since she departed from Camelot were torture. He could not live without her.

"That is preposterous!" Sir Gothart said, standing from his seat near the head of the table. He turned to Uther, an angry expression about his being. "She is already promised." Lord du Bois was shocked. He knew of his children's stay in Camelot, but he had no idea that Uther was interested in his daughter. Uther turned to Ygraine's betrothed.

"You must be Sir Gothart, I presume?" The man nodded. Uther gave a smile to himself before removing his gauntlet and tossing it on the floor at Gothart's feet. "Then I challenge you to a duel for her hand." He glanced at Ygraine, then at her father. "Of course, that is if Lord du Bois would not mind it so." Gothart took the gauntlet.

"I accept your challenge," he said, before Ygraine's father had a moment to interject. "The terms?"

"Single combat, noon," Uther said, looking over at his love's father to see a smile of approval.

"We welcome you here, King Uther," Lord du Bois said, then turned to a servant. "Please prepare chambers for the king so he can rest up before his battle." Uther gave a small bow of respect before snatching his gauntlet from Sir Gothart. He gave a smile at Ygraine on his way out of the room.

"Honestly, you cannot be serious about this, my lord?" Sir Gothart said, turning back to his betrothed's father.

"If the king wishes to fight for my daughter's hand, I will not deny him that comfort, Sir Gothart." He sat back down and returned to his dinner, but Sir Gothart excused himself from the dining hall. Ygraine turned back to her plate, a small smile on her face. "Tristan, please excuse us." His son nodded and exited the room. Silence fell throughout as Ygraine's father's gaze was steady on her. "Why did you not tell me that king had intentions toward your hand, Ygraine?"

"I did not think he was serious, father," she replied softly. "I thought he was infatuated. Never did I think he would come all this way to ask for my hand." Lord du Bois nodded and drank from his goblet.

"Well, tomorrow shall be interesting," he said, giving a slight chuckle as he turned to one of his attendants. "My daughter may become queen of Camelot. Can you believe it?"

/.\

"I can't!" The queen cried out. Uther attempted to use a rag to wipet he sweat from her brow as Gaius encouraged her to push. Her body was weak; she was in so much pain. She wanted to give up.

"Queen Ygraine, you must," Gaius said. "We need to get the child out so we can properly treat you, as well as see if there is anything wrong with the child." Ygraine whimpered, her hands grasping at her husband's a little more desperately as she tried once again to force the child from her womb.

/.\

"My lady sends this for luck," said the servant girl to Lady Ygraine as she stepped into the tent of Uther before the battle. "She asks for you to wear the token." Uther took it, with a smile on his face.

"Tell your lady I shall wear it proudly," he said. The servant gave a bow and then ducked out of the tent.

"Your majesty, are you sure she is worth all of this?" Gaius questioned as he finished preparing the king for battle.

"Of course, she is," Uther said. "I have no problem fighting for her a thousand times over, Gaius. Wasn't it you who encouraged me to come here?" The servant nodded. "Well, don't try to talk me out of it now." Gaius gave a smile and then made sure the king was fit for his fight.

"Well, then, sire, good luck," he said. The king turned and left his tent, ready to win this battle and gain the heart of the Lady Ygraine. This wasn't exactly the type of crowd he was used to. For one, there were not nearly as many people in attendance as there would have in Camelot. Second, it seemed almost informal as they stood, facing one another while waiting for the sound to begin.

Uther started strong, attacking with such fierce energy. Gothart blocked well as it turned into a full on battle. They went back and forth for some time, neither gaining the upper hand, neither in any great prone position. Uther knew that something would have to give at some point. No man could fight as such forever, except for himself of course. He was expertly trained in battle. Did this Gothart really think he stood a chance against a man who conquered a land and became its king?

Ygraine sat next to her father, her eyes locked on the scene before her. With each blow back and forth, she felt herself wanting to jump from her seat to shout out for Uther. Her eyes would stray to her father, and, it seemed, he was rooting for the young king as well.

"He's a good fighter, Ygraine," Tristan said, leaning towards his sister. "Perhaps your fairytale is becoming a reality."

A/N: I apologize for this chapter taking a little longer, and being shorter. I started school back today, so it may take time between my chapters, even moreso than now. This story isn't far from being done, though, maybe one or two more chapters. Reviews are love. Thanks for reading. :)