Hidden Royalty Chapter Seven

Hunith's eyes were wide as saucers. Balinor, the love of her life, the father of her child, was standing right in front of her. After nineteen years he was in her presence and if she would lift her hand she could touch him, feel his heartbeat softly beating beneath the tips of her fingers. She wanted too, but she couldn't. She was frozen as of this moment.

She momentarily lost control of her voice so she only stepped back and held the door open some more, hoping that Balinor would understand the invite. If she was going to talk to him she didn't want the whole neighbourhood to enjoy her outburst which she probably would have.

Luckily for her, Balinor understood and turned for a moment to say something to the two men in black who nodded in response. He then walked into Hunith's house she called home for the past four years. Hunith softly closed the front door behind him and still stood baffled that he was really there.

Balinor looked around the small entrance hall and smiled. Even when she moved into his apartment in the palace, Hunith was always the one for cosy things and her home felt warm and filled with love, just like herself.

Hunith shuffled quietly past him and walked into the sitting room, Balinor soon enough followed and her living room was just as lovely decorated. Hunith was sitting nervously on the couch and looked up to him, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish. She stretched a shaking hand out to pat the seat next to her and he took her invite, sitting down next to her.

Hunith was quick to stand up again though. "Tea?" She said, her voice cracking. She couldn't say much more right now and needed a moment to collect herself, making tea was always making her more calm. As soon as Balinor nodded she fled inside the kitchen and braced her arms against the countertop, breathing heavily out. What was she supposed to do now?

She saw the phone and a thought entered her mind. She picked up the phone and dialled the number of her brother. He would know what to do, he was always her guidance in any kind of 'Balinor situation' as she referred too whenever something was about Balinor. She pressed the green button and leaned with her back against the counter, biting the nail of her thumb. It took several dial tones before she finally hear the line connect.

"Hunith?" A groggy voice said from the other line. "What's wrong, it's early Saturday morning. Has something happened?"

Hunith placed a hand on her forehead and softly said, "Oh fuck, sorry. Forgot about the time difference." She heard Lyndsey, JJ's fiancé, on the background asking if everything was alright at which JJ answered he didn't know.

"Hunith what's wrong. I mean you're calling me out of the blue… you're swearing which you just don't do. Seriously has something happened?" JJ couldn't help but to let out a yawn, it was already somewhere around half past seven, but on a Saturday he and his wife usually slept in till late, and at this moment he was still tired.

Hunith busied herself with filling the kettle with water and holding the phone clutched between her ear and shoulder. She had to do something to not lose her mind, but at the same time she knew she had to acknowledge the fact that Balinor was there. She swallowed deeply and said to her brother, "Balinor… he's here. And I mean literally here, on my sofa. JJ I need you."

"What!" JJ suddenly sounded a lot more awake now. "How?… how did he?… does Merlin?… are you?" JJ kept asking unfinished questions, the fact that Balinor was there shocked him just as much as Hunith did. He took a deep breath to collect himself. "Hunith I'm coming to you. I don't know when the next available flight is, but I'll probably be there somewhere around ten. Hunith don't do anything, don't let him do anything. I'll be there as soon as possible."

Hunith had moved the kettle onto the stove. She kept her voice low and said, "Thank you." She disconnected the line and gingerly put it back onto the base. She blew out a large puff of air. "You can do this." Hunith encouraged herself and started to prepare two mugs of tea and grabbing some biscuits.

It took all her willpower to not drop the tray she carried when she re-entered the sitting room. It wasn't a dream, it was all very real. Balinor was indeed there. She carefully set the mugs down and sat down herself, trying to ignore the fact that Balinor hadn't stopped looking at her ever since she opened the door.

She had her hands placed in her lap and swallowed several times. Until she felt Balinor's hand grab her hand and she felt a familiar motion. Balinor made a heart shaped figure on the back of her hand with the tip of his finger, it was something he always did whenever they were seated next to each other. Her breathing stopped for a moment.

"Y-you remember?" Hunith asked, her voice quivering.

Balinor cupped Hunith's chin with one hand and tilted it upwards so she would look at him. Her eyes showed that she was on the brink of tears. He softly whispered in return, "I never forgot."

As he said it, Hunith let one tear fall from the corner of her eyes which Balinor swiped away with the pad of his thumb. She leaned deeper into his touch; she missed this, she missed the intimacy that they used to share on a daily basis. Her lips parted, her breathing continued to quiver and she leaned forward, gingerly and cautiously. She touched Balinor's lips with her own and closed her eyes. It was a gentle kiss with little pressure, but she hadn't kissed those lips in nineteen years and she didn't know if it would still feel the same.

Hunith drew slowly back and opened her eyes. She felt the spark between them, restarting the burning desires to be with him. The feelings she had for Balinor hadn't gone away and she knew Balinor must've been feeling the same because when she looked at him he had a bright smile covering most of his face, she smiled almost shyly in return.

Balinor gently cradled her face between both his hands and drew her closer again, now crashing their lips together in a passionate kiss. Hunith threw her hands around his neck bringing him closer which was hardly even possible. She missed this, she missed Balinor.

They part after a few moments to breathe and Balinor placed his forehead against Hunith's. "I missed you so bad." He breathed out, licking his lips. He leaned forward once more and kissed the woman he wanted to kiss for the last nineteen years, but it was broken off by Hunith placing a palm of her hand on his chest and pulling away.

The shock from seeing Balinor again after so many years had slowly started to die down and her brain caught up and made her think sensible yet again. "Balinor, why now? How did you know where I was? Do you know about…" She cut herself off, biting her lip. She almost told Balinor about Merlin, but she knew she couldn't tell him about that. Ever since Merlin was born she tried to keep him out of Balinor's life, well not necessarily Balinor's life, she wanted to keep him out of the life at the Royal Court.

"If I know about… Merlin?" He said, watching how Hunith's eyes widened.

"H-how?" She asked in shock.

Balinor repeatedly shook his head. "It doesn't matter." He said and he looked her in the eye. "What I don't understand is why you never told me. He's my son, I had the right to know Hunith!" He was close to tears now, but he breathed in deeply through his nose, a futile attempt to keep his emotions at bay. "Why… why have you never told me I had a son. No, why have you left me Hunith. Why!"

Hunith pressed her hands in front of her eyes, her shoulders shaking with the tremors that coursed through her body. She knew that Balinor would ask her that, but she didn't want to answer his question. The answer wouldn't be satisfying enough, not clear enough. He wouldn't think that it would be a good enough reason.

She shook her head, refusing to answer the questions Balinor asked.

Balinor kept talking. "He's the Crown Prince of Mercia, heir to the throne. His rightful place is with me, as is yours Hunith." Balinor reached into his pocket and pulled out the Birth Certificate and placed it on Hunith's lap. He took once more a deep breath and calmed himself a little bit at the time. "He's our son Hunith, he should know."

Slowly, Hunith pulled her hands away and looked at the document placed in her lap. She had a copy of it securely hidden in the safe in the closet of her bedroom, Merlin didn't even know that there was a safe there. Hunith traced Merlin's name and lifted her head, the piece of paper tightly clutched in her hands. Then she found enough strength within her to tell Balinor the story he's been denied for too long.

"I want you to hear my full story before you will react, please." She watched Balinor nod his head yes and she closed her eyes and started telling.

"When I found out that I was pregnant, I was… ecstatic. I couldn't wait to tell you, but you were at a dinner or something like that with the King of Spain, so I had to wait until you would come back later that evening. I decided to take a stroll through the palace and then came across your parents, which you probably know now if you have read my letter, were not the most kind towards me." Hunith saw that Balinor moved his head downwards, he was indeed aware of his parents' crudeness against her.

"I don't know how, but your mother gave me one look over and she. just. knew. I really don't know how she could've known because I just found out myself moments before, but she just knew that I was pregnant. She and your father cornered me and told me that I would not tell you. When I told her where she could shove her threats, your father dragged me into a nearby room and your mother locked it. She told me that I so much breathed a word about my pregnancy I would regret it… Balinor, they would take my baby!"

Balinor frantically shook his head. "No." He whispered. He couldn't believe that his parents would go that far to drive Hunith away, but he knew in his heart that all Hunith said was nothing but the truth, she had no reason to lie to him. He could still remember the moment he had asked his parents for permission to marry Hunith and they laughed him right in the face, telling him that a commoner was good enough for him, they had shivered just thinking about the possibility about a commoner's heir to the throne of Mercia.

From that day he knew the true nature of his parents and he was shocked and saddened by their close-mindedness.

Hunith hugged her stomach as she continued, she had placed the certificate next to her on the sofa. "I know they were serious about that Balinor, I could see it in their eyes. They told me I could write you a letter but that was it, I couldn't do personal goodbyes. They even checked what I wrote! and looked almost proud when I had written about their rudeness towards me. They said that I was to leave the palace within the hour and your mother said that my suitcases were packed and a car made ready to bring me to the airport as they spoke." Hunith stubbornly wiped a tear away that fell down her cheek. "I was terrified for my life and the life of our unborn child. I couldn't think straight at that moment so I just did what they wanted from me. I felt defeated and everything happened so quickly, and the worst was that I couldn't even say goodbye to you!" Her hands were placed on her eyes again and she started to softly cry.

After a few moments she collected herself enough to continue and with hiccupped breaths she finished her story. "They said they transferred money to my account… hush money, I discovered later." She huffed and wiped away the tear streaks covering her cheek. "I didn't want their money, but I needed it to raise Merlin. When I found out how much exactly it was, I was shocked but most of all angry. They just thought they could pay me off!" Hunith breathed in deeply. "I had run off to America to my brother JJ where I stayed until after my pregnancy. I thought I was safe there and that I wouldn't see your mother or father ever again."

Hunith shook her head. "But I was wrong, they had found me, they even visited me in the hospital. I don't know how they knew that I was in labour, and it doesn't matter anymore. They reminded me that Merlin would live if I kept quiet. Balinor I was so scared that they would come back again, that they had changed their mind and would take Merlin away from me."

"So I ran and the first thing I did was changing my surname. Over the years I continued to move from country to country every so much time. I kept a small amount of money to myself, enough to let Merlin live comfortably and give him the best education that was out there, and the rest of the money I used to help others."

"When… when I heard about… the accident, I had mixed feelings. At one hand I was relieved, but on the other hand I felt horrible. The fact that I was scared for them, didn't mean that I wanted them dead." Hunith noticed Balinor's hands clench into fists when she started to talk about the car accident that killed his parents and she gingerly reached one of her hands out to press it on top of his. She didn't make eye contact with him, not yet because she knew she wouldn't be able to finish everything she wanted to say.

"At that time, Merlin was already nine, almost ten, and I was torn between whether or not to get in contact with you again. But there had passed several years since I last saw you and the accident was still fresh in the news, it was not the right time."

"And I was selfish. A part of me didn't want to go back, and I didn't want Merlin to get into that life that made my own life so miserable. I know I was wrong, I know that now, but back then I was convinced that that was the best option. I wish I could turn back time and make everything right again, but I can't and now it's too late for us to be together."

Hunith blew out a large breath of air and turned her body slightly to look with a saddened expression at Balinor, who barely said a thing or two during the story. She saw how he sat in shock, staring in front of him. His knees bouncing up and down in a nervous manner and one of his hands repeatedly rubbed his forehead.

"It's not." Balinor mumbled suddenly, raising his head.

Hunith frowned. After all she had said he replied with 'it's not.', she didn't understand what he meant with that. "Balinor?" She said softly, tilting her head towards the man next to her. He looked back at her with an emotion on his face she couldn't exactly make out.

"I said, it's not. Hunith, it's not too late." Balinor moved closer to Hunith and took one of her hands in his own, gently caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. "I'm so sorry I had to protect you better, to have made you at ease. I can't undo the things my parents –may they rest in peace- have done, but Hunith you are not to blame. You did what you thought was best for our son, even if that meant not letting me know." Balinor casted his eyes down and bit his lower lip. "Of course I'm heartbroken to have missed so many years of my son's life, and it will take time to overcome that loss, but Hunith I… I forgive you. I love you far too much and I lost you once, I don't want to lose you ever again."

Balinor drew his arm around her and kept her close in a way he hoped it would be comforting. Hunith had closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Balinor's shoulder.

To be forgiven about her action was all Hunith could wish for, she thought Balinor would never forgive her for letting him in the dark about their son's existence, but to actually hear from him that he won't hold her responsible, was the greatest news she could hear. She could feel the load that was weighing her down fall off her shoulders and for the first time in years she felt like she could breathe properly again.

"Thank you." She muttered against his arm. "I don't deserve it, but… thank you."

~oOoOo~

Some time had passed and Balinor and Hunith's emotions had been mostly let out and were now calmed down and not being so overwhelmed about the fact that the two of them rekindled their love for each other after nineteen years.

Hunith had told him about how she freaked out when she read the article that he was to visit Merlin's university . She told him about the fights that kept occurring between of them because of her secret, but she couldn't tell Merlin that he was of royal blood, she wasn't ready for that revelation yet. And the fights only became worse when she heard that Merlin spent time with Prince Arthur and she was scared that Merlin would end up just like her, casted out because people would think he wasn't someone of royal blood. She knew now how twisted her mind was and that times were drastically changed since the 90's.

Balinor had hugged her tightly while she tried to calm down and he rocked his body slightly to get her sooner calmed down.

When she had control of her emotions again, Hunith finally asked him how he had found her, because she was so utterly careful in not leaving any traces behind and that's when Balinor told her about that moment that was now close to three months ago. How he saw her crossing the street and that that also the moment was that he had first seen Merlin and he felt it in his guts that Merlin had to be his son. Balinor told her about the private investigator and how he just recently had her and Merlin followed by his security people, at which he blushed at admitting their invasion of privacy, but Hunith laughed at him.

"You haven't changed one bit haven't you Balinor? I can still remember that you had me tailed by security guards when I dated you. I was so angry at you."

Balinor swallowed deeply. "I remember… you threatened to cut off my privates if I wouldn't stop that nonsense."

Hunith looked self-satisfied with herself and held her chin up before she replied with, "Yes, and I think I should reinstate that one again. It was quite effective." She almost smirked until she saw Balinor shook his head.

"Hunith I would do whatever you want, but times are different now. And especially when the news about Merlin comes out, you need to be protected at all times."

"Balinor-"

"No, Hunith. I won't change my mind about this. Threats are everywhere and I can't risk you, nor Merlin getting hurt. I do everything I can to protect you two, even when you don't like it."

Hunith rubbed her eyes with one hand and leaned her forehead against her other hand. "So what, I'm going to be babysat twenty-four-seven for the rest of my life?" She looked up to see Balinor's reaction, he nodded.

"Basically." He replied timidly.

Hunith sighed deeply at his response, she could've known. If Balinor was only just a regular man without any titles, life would be so much easier and a lot less dramatic. She felt Balinor's hand rubbing circles on her back. "So, we're really… I mean I've never stopped…" Hunith mumbled and trailed off.

Balinor understood what she meant and stopped the rubbing on her back for a moment. "Hunith, I want you by my side and never let you go. We've been separated for the past years, but I still feel the same about you. We can make this work again and properly this time, I will make you truly happy. There will be no advisors or any other people who will be negative about our union, if any the people of Mercia will be delighted. Although they've never explicitly said it out loud, I know they've been afraid what would happen if I were to die. The Le Fey's would be the next heirs in line, but the people would rather see someone from Emrys blood ascend the throne, you know how Mercia is a bit old fashioned in thought that way."

Balinor swiped his tongue over his dry lips. "Hunith you have given them that reassurance and we can only hope that Merlin will see it that way too." Balinor ended with a lowered voice, he truly did hope that his son would embrace his birth right and be the next ruler of Mercia.

Balinor saw Hunith nod and he felt relief flood through his body.

"But when and how are we going to tell Merlin, we can't just tell him out of the blue. He'll explode, I know that already. He can be so impulsive some times, definitely something he inherited from you!" Hunith said in amusement as she pointed her finger to him.

Balinor chuckled lightly about that, he was indeed notorious for his impulsiveness. And it wasn't his best trade so to speak. He then turned more seriously.

"It might not be the best solution, but I'm going to visit his university this Tuesday. Technically I'm not even supposed to be in the UK right now, but I couldn't stop myself, I had to see you." Balinor tenderly cupped his hand against Hunith's jaw and stroked softly the skin of her cheek with his thumb. "But yes, I'll be at his university. I might get to see him."

"Balinor, you can't just walk up to him!"

Balinor shook his head. "No, I know that. But Merlin seems rather close to Prince Arthur and I know Arthur quite well from previous encounters. I could subtly inquire about what his thoughts are of the university and whether he made friends, he might introduce Merlin? I don't know-"

"Yes, yes." Hunith cut him short. "That might work… might. Merlin is indeed close to Arthur, although I have given him a hard time about it." She admitted softly.

With furrowed brows, Balinor asked, "Why?"

"Because!" Hunith breathed in deeply, getting her emotions under control. "Because I've been hating everything that has to do with royals since I had to leave. I've been wrong, you don't have to tell me."

Balinor placed a hand on her lower arm and smiled softly at her. "No, you had every right. I'm not sure if I would've reacted any differently if I were in your shoes. But Arthur isn't like my family Hunith, you should give him a chance." Balinor contemplated whether or not to tell Hunith that Merlin and Arthur are seemingly closer than she's initially thinking, but he's not hundred per cent sure about that himself and he didn't want to tell Hunith something that might not even been true, so he keeps it to himself for now.

Hunith pursed her lips in a moment of thought but then nodded. "I should." She finally said. "I should be more open towards Arthur in the hope that it will be enough to make things right with Merlin again." A genuine smile spread across her lips and she softly said, "I know we still have to keep secret about this, but I really can't wait for us to become a family."

Balinor nodded and pressed a kiss at her temple. As he tucked one soft curl behind her ear, he whispered, "I can't wait either."

Hunith stood up from the sofa and collected the now empty tea cups. "I think we deserve something a bit stronger than tea now. You know, drown the past and look forward to a new beginning."

Balinor laughed about that and Hunith took that as a yes. She disappeared into the kitchen for a moment and returned a few minutes later with two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. When she set the glasses down on the table she said, "Just one though, it's just meant to be symbolic. Besides you were never the one to hold his liquor that well." She now allowed a smirk to appear as she poured in the drinks and handed him over. "To a new start." She said as she held up her glass.

Balinor smiled brightly as he clanked his glass against hers. "To a new start." Balinor echoed and they both swallowed the drink in one go. Balinor grimaced, whiskey wasn't exactly his go to drink.

As Hunith had set her glass down on the coffee table she turned to face Balinor. "There is however one more thing. JJ is coming. I.. erm… panicked when you showed up here and, ah, I… called him and he's on his way to London as we speak. He's the only one I've ever told about you being Merlin's father, but he had figured it out on his own himself anyway."

Hunith thought Balinor might get angry and held her breath, Balinor and JJ were always a bit against each other. First it was just the big brother act protecting his little sister, but since the moment she confided into him about how Balinor's parents were acting to her it escalated and he held a grudge against Balinor.

He never gave Balinor the reason why he was angry at him because she begged him not to, but it didn't do much to improve the relationship between JJ and Balinor. But even after all these years, JJ kept Balinor responsible for what happened to her.

Balinor only understood the reason of his behaviour after he found the letter.

"Oh." Balinor replied and was quiet for a few seconds. "Well, it was time we would bury the hatched. New beginning right?" He gestured his head towards his glass, wiggling it from left to right to emphasize his point.

Hunith blew out a sigh of relief. That was a better response than what she expected. "And besides," Hunith added. "Three heads think better than two, perhaps he has some ideas on how we can tell Merlin."

Balinor nodded and his eye caught the time at his fancy watch. He sighed deeply. "Hunith, it's getting late already. If we don't want to risk Merlin finding us together I should go now." He pulled a card out the pocket of his blazer and a pen out of inner pocket and scribbled something on the back of the card. He handed Hunith the card. "This is where I stay and you can reach me on this number. I'm only here until tomorrow evening before I go back to Mercia again. I'll be officially coming here Monday." He put the pen back in his pocket.

"I'd like for you… and James, to be joining me for lunch tomorrow." He said as he stood up and buttoned his jacket with skilled finesse.

"I'll ask him." Hunith said as she stood up as well. "But no promises though." She walked Balinor to the door and for the last time of that day he pressed his lips against hers and circled his arms around her waist, she automatically wrapped her hands around his neck.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Balinor said with a lowered voice and she nodded in response. Balinor opened the door and the two guards Hunith saw earlier came walking from the car towards their King and a third guard circled the car to open the door.

When the car started to drive off, Hunith kept standing in the doorway as long as she could, until she couldn't see the car anymore. She closed the door and leaned against it with one hand over her chest and the brightest smile covering her face. Her whole body tingled, but in a good way and her heart seemed to be racing hundred miles a minute, but she felt great and sincerely happy. She knew it wouldn't be long now before she would be back at the place where she belonged, and now also the place where Merlin belonged; right at Balinor's side.

She kept standing like that for a few minutes before she pushed herself off and started to clean up. She couldn't be leaving traces right now. Hunith hummed the whole time, even when she started the preparations for dinner. Time seemed to fly and before she knew it, dinner was almost ready and she heard the front door opening and shutting.

"Hi mum." Merlin said as he appeared at the kitchen's threshold. "What are we having?"