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

The battle was full on raging. Uther felt his own strength grow after glancing at the Lady Ygraine, while he could sense Gothart's wavering demeanor. The small crowd was getting louder with each blow. Uther's eyes shot back to his lady as he felt a bit victorious, and the next thing he knew, he was knocked on his back, staring up at the sky as he attempted to recapture his breath. The next instant, though, he felt a sharp pierce, as well as a slight ripping sound as the blade was thrust into his shoulder and twisted a bit to cause more damage. Gothart stepped back and Uther hopped to his feet, his shoulder badly wounded; he held it like a crippled wing. But he would not give up this fight. He struck once more, this time harder than before. He would not let a man of lower status beat him, and he would let no other have his Ygraine.

Within another ten minutes, Uther once again had the upper hand. Though he was bleeding badly, he would not waver. Gothart would strike, Uther would block, then Uther finally knocked Gothart's feet from beneath him and he landed on his back, Uther now above him, his blade pointed downward as he prepared to deal a final blow. The king of Camelot stood above his opponent for a moment, before turning to Lord du Bois and tossing his sword to the ground. The crowd, though slightly disappointed at not seeing someone killed, cheered for Uther as he did the humane thing. His eyes rested on Ygraine, a small smile on his lips. "What say you, Lord du Bois? May I have your daughter's hand?" The lord stood from his seat and then gave a smile.

"If that be the wish of my daughter, then I shall honor it." All eyes turned to that of the Lady Ygraine, who tried her best to hide her emotions by giving the gentlest of nods.

And so it was that Ygraine du Bois became the Queen of Camelot.

Uther whisked her away from her life in Cornwall, making sure to invite her father and brother to stay with them any time. The wedding was quick, and an affair for the entire kingdom to enjoy. Ygraine's family departed from the castle a few days thereafter, and Uther, finally a husband, looked to his wife for children. They spent many days together, settling into a routine that would be the same routine for years to come. They had a short morning walk, Uther attended court, and then they would spent some quiet time together in the afternoon. They almost always ate meals together. Ygraine settled into her position as queen, but she did not abuse her power. The people came to love her, as she seemed to soften the king a bit, or sway his decision towards his subjects.

/.\

A cry was heard from the Lady Ygraine as she gave a final shove. Shortly after, another cry was heard, but the cry of a child. Gaius held a baby boy in his arms as he cleaned the baby off. Uther cradled his wife's figure against his chest as she lay there, her breathing shallow, her skin clammy.

"It is a son," Gaius confirmed. Uther felt his wife shake as she began to gently sob.

"It is a boy, my love," Uther whispered. The queen looked up at her king, her eyes showing just how weak she was. Alice was busy at work, trying to find something to help the queen. She had never seen someone so bad off after a child birth. She, as well as the other two in the room who practiced magic, worried that this wasn't the worst yet.

/.\

Ten years of peace and prosperity were what came of Camelot after Ygraine took the throne beside Uther. The two lived a very happy life together, but there were whispers among the court and even in the lower towns. Why had the queen not yet produced an heir?

"Sire, may I have a word with you?" questioned Gaius, who had recently taken over the duties of the court physician, as the old one had recently passed. Uther signaled for his servants to leave the room so he could speak privately with his servant.

"What is it, Gaius?" the king questioned from his seat. The physician stepped forward, a heavy heart rest beneath his chest. He did not know how to break the news.

"We have tried every natural remedy known to man, sire. Your wife is.." he trailed off for a long moment.

"Is what?" Uther demanded, afraid that the words would confirm his fear.

"Barren," Gaius said. "She cannot bear children." The words cut like a knife to Uther's heart. Though they had been trying for nearly ten years, it never felt more real than when Gaius said as much.

"Thank you, Gaius," he said, dismissing the physician. What could he do now? He knew that Ygraine was a delicate soul, but he also knew that he could not leave Camelot without an heir should anything happen to him. He left the throne room to visit his wife in their chambers. She was laid in bed, curtains drawn. "Ygraine?" He asked into the darkness. There was no response other than a gentle sobbing from the bed. He made his way carefully to the bed and then climbed upon it to take her into his arms. She stayed like that a long while, using Uther for comfort. "I have failed you, my love," she whispered. "I cannot produce you with an heir. Certainly, you shall find another and make her.." The lady sobbed loudly. "..queen."

Uther shook his head, grasping on to his wife and tucking her close against his chest. "No, we will find a way, I promise you. I will never take another as my wife. You are who I love," he whispered into her golden hair. His mind shot to a friend of his wife's, a girl who had taken a servant role in the castle once Ygraine was permanently moved to Camelot upon their wedding. Nimueh. He seemed to remember Ygraine mentioning that she was a sorceress. Perhaps... His mind was whirling with the thoughts. They had tried every scientific remedy. Maybe magic would do the trick?

/.\

Uther was standing above the bed, his eyes on his wife as Nimueh handed Ygraine the infant. The queen was pale, and propped up against a stack of pillows as her eyes finally rested on the child she carried. Tears came to her eyes once more as she weakly stroked the child's cheek with her thumb. "My.. little.." She paused, trying to capture her breath. "..Arthur."

/.\

"My lord, you must understand, I have never practiced magic of this extent," Nimueh said as she stood at the altar at the Isle of the Blessed. "I am still new to this magic. There may be consequences." Uther's eyes trailed to the gentle lady on his arm. She gave him an encouraging smile.

"I think that whatever brings us a child will be more than enough to exceed any consequences." With that, the bond was sealed. Nimueh performed magic that she, indeed, had no idea what she was doing. At that time, she did not know that in order to create a life, a life must be destroyed in the process. The balance.

Within a matter of weeks, Ygraine showed the signs of being with child. There was great rejoicing through the kingdom. The throne would have an heir. Uther and Ygraine would have their child. It was all that the king could ever ask for. Now, he had his wife, and he would have a child to carry on. His kingdom was in a great age of prosperity. Nothing could go wrong.

/.\

Of course, then, he thought that nothing could go wrong. Now, he realized he was wrong.

Uther held the baby at arm's length, his eyes resting on the gentle blue of his son's, looking back at him. Ygraine's eyes. He felt tears well in his own ducts as Uther placed the child against his chest, holding him there for a long moment before the child began to cry.

"Your highness, we must move her body in preparation for burial," Gaius said. Uther's eyes snapped open as he glanced toward the line of servants standing across the room. Gaius, Alice, and Nimueh. His eyes scanned each of them carefully, before they stopped on Nimueh.

"This is your fault," he said in a low, threatening tone. "You knew that she would die. You knew that the spell would kill her." He advanced on the sorceress, who backed away against a wall.

"I assure you, my lord, I did not," she said, fear written across her expression and in her voice.

"Nimueh, I hereby ban you to the Isle of the Blessed. You are to never return to Camelot. If you choose to disobey my order, death will be your punishment," Uther said in a low growl. The child whimpered once more. Nimueh then fled from the room, to hide for over twenty years. Uther turned back toward the room; Gaius and Alice remained in their place. A guard stepped into the room. "Let it be known that from here forward, magic is banned in all of Camelot!" He shouted. "To be convicted of using sorcery will be punished by death!"

From there, Uther stepped away toward a window. He opened it to find that the people were standing below, awaiting news of the royal birth. He held his son against his chest. The baby whimpered gently. Arthur was all he had left of Ygraine.

A/N: I know the end was kind of rushed, but I was running out of story from the present time, with far too much story left in the past. Soo. Yeah. This concludes it. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter up. I hope that you all have enjoyed this. I really enjoyed writing it.