As Merlin sat in front of the fireplace, caressing his stomach and muttering small nothings against it, he heard the door of his chambers creaking open. Fully expecting it was his husband that walked in he didn't turn around and continued to caress his stomach as the footsteps neared him. But there felt something off about them, it just didn't sound as the familiar footsteps of his husband's.

"Uther?" Merlin turned slowly around, but froze midway when seeing the person. He shook his head. "No, y-you c-can't be h-here." Standing up from the chair, Merlin backed away from Tynan. Eyes darting around the room to find an escape route, but doing so, his attention on Tynan faltered and the man had advanced quickly, gripping Merlin's upper arms and pinning him against the wall behind him.

"No!"

"Merlin,"

"N-No, let me go."

"Merlin!"

Merlin gasped loudly, his eyes flew open and he saw worried grey ones looking back at him. Uther's hands were wrapped around his arms just like he'd experienced moments before, but instead of the iron grip, Uther's held his hands were soft.

He still couldn't believe it though and breathed quickly, looking around the room for Tynan.

"You're alright, it's safe, nothing can happen to you. It was just a dream." His husband's words filtered slowly into his brain and he got his breathing bit by bit under control. Uther brushed some strands of hair from his sweating brow and gave him a comforting smile.

"You with me again?" Merlin nodded at the whispered question. It was all a dream he confirmed to himself again, well more like nightmare.

Since the confrontation with Tynan three days ago, he had gotten those dreams and he couldn't get rid of them. Maybe it was the fact that he knew that Tynan was still out there, wanting to kill him. He didn't know whether he would ever come back to Camelot again, but he had seen Tynan's eyes. They weren't compassionate, they were full of hatred.

After some rustling, Merlin felt his head lifted up from the pillow and a goblet was pressed against his lips. "Try something to drink." Uther murmured.

"Was it the same dream as yesterday?" Uther placed the cup on the nightstand and shuffled closer again, holding his husband in a loose embrace and kissing the top of his hair. Merlin shook his head.

"No, this time I was in this room, sitting by the fireplace. I heard the door open and thought it was you, but then something felt off. He gripped me tight and pushed me up against the wall. That was the moment you wakened me."

Uther tightened his hold. "It's alright, Merlin. It's all going –" Uther was cut off by a knock on the door and his lips quirked up in a small smile. Merlin looked up and seeing at his husband's expression he said, "What? Who is it?"

"You'll see." Uther got off the bed and opened the door. Merlin couldn't quite see what or who it was at the door, but saw that Uther accepted something and closed the door again. He carried a small box in his hands as he walked back to the bed.

"Happy birthday, love." Uther handed the box over, which Merlin accepted. Uther nodded towards the box.

"Go on, open it."

Merlin opened it, breathing a laugh when he saw the contents. His hands went into the box to retrieve what was inside.

"That," Uther began, pointing to the wooden dragon figurine "was the very first present my parents have given me." Uther moved closer, placing his hand on Merlin's stomach. "And I hope that it'll be the first present we will give our son."

Merlin placed a kiss on his husband's lips. "Of course. I wouldn't want to give him anything else."

Uther smiled. "Now, we should dress. The feast will commence in only a few hours' time."

~oOoOo~

Merlin had still been baffled that it was his 31st birthday when he'd been looking around the Great Hall earlier that evening. There hadn't been too many people invited – it was at Merlin's request. He didn't want too much excitement around him as he tired quite quickly at this final stage of his pregnancy. And most of all, he just wanted to be surrounded by the people he loved, and not the people who wanted something from him.

Uther had arranged for some performers to entertain them and Merlin had enjoyed them greatly. Near the end of the evening, Uther had even managed to get Merlin to share a dance with him, even when the large stomach had caused a significant space between them.

Most guest had slowly trickled out as the evening progressed and Merlin was now just left with his husband, Arthur, Gaius and some of the Knights and guards. Since Tynan's revelation, Uther immediately increased Merlin's security and he was now closely followed by at least four guards, if not more.

"Love, I think it's time for you to retire." Uther mentioned, soaking in Merlin's slightly slumped body and drooping eyelids. "I will come to you as soon as possible."

Merlin nodded in consent and called his servant forward to ask him to make preparations for him to go to bed. Uther was right, he wouldn't hold out much longer or he would fall asleep right there in the Great Hall and he wasn't sure if his husband was able to carry him to their chamber given the pregnant state he was in. He leaned forward for a kiss and bid everyone goodnight before moving out of the Hall, four guards falling in behind him.

There were only a few servants left in the castle hallways as Merlin moved along them. Most wishing him a soft Happy Birthday at which he nodded his gratitude.

It didn't take Merlin and his guards long to reach his bedchamber and he wished them all a good night before opening the door and moving in, one guard went with him to see if the room was clear and once he saw that only Merlin's manservant was there, he inclined his head to Merlin and walked out of the room.

~oOoOo~

"He seemed to have enjoyed himself tonight." Arthur mentioned to his father when they walked down the hall. Uther had said goodbye to everyone already and thanked them for the great evening he and his husband had.

"It appears so." Uther smiled about that. His husband had been so anxious these past days that Uther thought his husband would never recover from the recent event. But tonight on the feast it seemed that Merlin was feeling a lot better about himself, less on his guard.

Uther and Arthur arrived at Uther's chamber. "Well, goodnight then, father."

"Goodnight, son." Uther nodded towards the four guards, two on each side of the door, and the smile was still on his face as he opened the door and closed it behind him. "Merlin?" Uther called, turning around. His room was quiet, which was quite unusual. Normally he would be greeted with his husband's voice floating through the room where he was in conversation with his manservant, but not tonight. Perhaps Merlin was tired.

"Merlin?" Uther called again and when he got no answer, he called for Merlin's manservant. "Thomas?"

Uther walked to the antechamber, perhaps Merlin was there to check on the crib. He'd done that the past weeks, when he realized that their babe would be almost born. Pushing the door open, Uther froze. On the floor was Thomas, and thanks to the candle lights in the room, Uther was able to see that there was a large gash on his head. Uther neared and shook Thomas' shoulders. Thomas groaned, his eyes blinking open, brows crinkling together.

"Thomas?" Uther stretched his hand out towards the gash and Thomas hissed by the contact. "Sorry," Uther muttered. He watched how Thomas was becoming more aware.

"Thomas, w-what happened? Where's Merlin?"

"Merlin?" Thomas frown deepened again. Then his eyes widened, his head snapping to the side towards the tapestry. Uther followed his gaze and saw the tapestry. He knew there was a hidden passageway behind it. Uther felt a hand on his chest, looking down, he saw Thomas' shaking hand.

"Th-there was someone, here. H-he took him, he went t-that way." Thomas lifted his shaking hand and pointed towards the tapestry. "I-it went so fast."

"Guards!" Uther shouted and heard how the door immediately slammed open. Uther had a feeling who that someone would be, but he had no idea what Tynan would do with his husband.

"Will you be okay?" Uther asked, turning to Thomas. A nod from the manservant made him stand up and face the guards. He pointed to one of them.

"You, sound the alarm bells. Merlin has been taken."

Uther pointed to another. "You, get my son and then help Thomas to Gaius."

Uther pointed to the remaining two. "You two, with me."

With that said, Uther stood up and all but ran to the tapestry.

~oOoOo~

"You don't have to do this." Merlin said, trying to loosen his bound hands.

Merlin hissed when Tynan slapped his face with the palm of his hand.

"Shut. up." Tynan said through clenched teeth and continued to sharpen his knife.

"Why are you doing this!" Merlin cried. Tynan turned sharply around and grabbed the front of Merlin's shirt and pushed his face closely to Merlin's.

"Because, it is your fault that Balinor is dead. Because of you, he became weak after the birth, and because of what you have done, you betrayed us. You are a traitor, you betrayed your family when youmarried that tyrant! You didn't even stop Uther from sending his knights after him. And now you'll have to pay."

"We were trying to find him!"

Tynan pushed Merlin away from him and Merlin fell backwards on the ground. His head smashing the cold hard stones.

"You're lying, Merlin." Tynan snarled.

"It's true!" Merlin sobbed. His head pounded and he felt some wetness slide down his hair. "P-please. Stop. Just stop. Think about your grandchild – his grandchild."

"No!" Tynan moved over to where Merlin's was lying and stood over him. "Don't say that. Don't even talk about Balinor. You're not worth it." Tynan pointed to Merlin's stomach. "That, is not family. You're a disgrace, and I'm sorry to call you my son."

Footsteps from down the hall caught both Tynan and Merlin's attention and Merlin managed to shout for help before Tynan clamped his hand over Merlin's mouth.

"You've just made a huge mistake." Tynan warned, raising the knife above Merlin.

Merlin's eyes widened.

~oOoOo~

"Shh!" Arthur skidded to a halt in the middle of the hallway. "Did you hear that?"

Uther nodded, "It came from there." Uther pointed to a few doors down the hall and gave the sign to follow to his son and the small group of knights.

"Aaahhh!"

Uther stopped again, hearing the cry of pain. "Merlin," Uther breathed out. He began to run and barged through the door of one of the guest chambers. There he saw Tynan, crouched over Merlin's body. His hand still on the knife he brought down onto Merlin's stomach, and blood was seeping out.

Uther stood frozen. Merlin's head was lolled to the side, his eyes were closed.

"Get away from him!" Arthur yelled, surpassing his father and tackling Tynan to the ground, taking him by surprise. Arthur gripped Tynan's neck in both hands and pressed down, his own breathing fast and chest heaving. He pressed just as long as Tynan's struggling body went still and even then he continued. Only stopping when Leon and Lancelot pulled him away."

Leon went then to Tynan's body and put his ear on his chest. Moments later he confirmed what he already thought. "He's dead."

Arthur's rage still seered through him, only sitting on the ground because of Lancelot's tight grip on his shoulder. His attention slowly went to his father's direction when he heard his urgent calls.

"Get Gaius! Oh god, no, no." Uther had wrapped Merlin tightly in his arms, rocking both himself and Merlin. His own head pressed tightly against Merlin's. He had cut the bounds away, but Merlin's hands were hanging limply beside his body.

Arthur slowly got up and inched closer, hearing his father's soft pleas.

"No, love, don't do this to me. Stay with me. Don't leave me. You hear me, don't leave me. I won't let you!"

Arthur's head snapped up when he heard the door open. Gaius quickly entered the room, kneeling down besides Uther and Merlin and putting his medicine bag down.

"Uther, I need to examine him."

Uther nodded and put his husband, albeit reluctantly, down. Gaius immediately ripped Merlin's shirt open and gave a soft gasp by the amount of blood seeping out of the cut.

Arthur crouched down next to his father, putting a hand on his shoulder and watching how his father's former white shirt was now drenched in a red colour. He tried not to think too much about it, but it was hard not to.

"He's still breathing." Gaius said, lifting his head from where he had pressed his ear against Merlin's mouth. "But we need to stop the bleeding," Gaius mentioned, pulling the linen from the nearby bed and tearing them into strips. He passed some to Arthur. "Press these against the wound. Press down hard."

"Hold on, Merlin. Hold on." Uther whispered in Merlin's ear. His thumbs rubbing soft circles on his cheeks.

"It's too much blood!" Arthur cried out. "Gaius, do something!"

"Uther, we need to take the baby out. I'm not sure if either one is going to make it otherwise!"

Tears began to fall down onto Uther's cheeks. "I don't know, I don't know." Uther muttered. This was all too much for him.

"Father," Arthur gripped his father's wrist with one hand. "It's the only way."

Uther look from Merlin up to Gaius. Desperation was clear in his eyes. "Do what you have to do." He told the old physician eventually, bending down again to press his forehead against Merlin's. He didn't want to see what Gaius was about to do. The birth of his son wasn't supposed to go this way, but there was no other way right now.

Arthur watched in horror as Gaius cut the stomach open and how he cut through the other layers with skilled finesse. Arthur held his breath and not much longer Gaius' hand grabbed the babe, pulling it out of the confinements he spent the last nine months in.

Lancelot crouched down, some clean linen in his hands and Gaius handed the baby over to him. He didn't had much time to check on the baby, because not only did he had to stop the bleeding from the birth, he still had to stop the bleeding Tynan inflicted on Merlin.

Tearing more linen, he pushed them on the bleedings.

Merlin began to shake, his whole body tremored and Gaius was at the end of his rope. Gaius started to mutter words of the Old Religion in the hope it would give them time, but he knew his magic wasn't strong and he had no idea if what he was doing was helping Merlin.

As Arthur saw that bit by bit, Merlin's stomach started to heal and the bleeding started to lessen, he breathed out a soft laugh. "It's working, Gaius. It's working!"

And then, just when the bleeding was completely stopped, and Merlin's stomach healed, Merlin's body went still.

"No," Uther breathed out. "No! Merlin!" He began to shake Merlin's body, but no response came. "Gaius!"

Gaius was panting, hands shaking when he reached out for Merlin's neck. He pressed his ear on Merlin's chest, but that also told him the same thing. Gaius looked up to Uther, his head shaking.

"He's – he's…"

Gaius couldn't say it, but every occupant in the room knew what Gaius was about to say and they stared ahead of them. Not really realizing what just happened was real.

And then there was the shrill cry of the new born baby, breaking the heavy silence.

Lancelot tried his best to calm the crying baby, his eyes never leaving Merlin's lifeless body in Uther's arms once. He, just as every other person in the room he supposed, still couldn't grasp what had just happened. It just couldn't be over after all the setbacks, it just couldn't!

Gaius was the first that came to his senses, somewhat. He silently started packing up his things before moving to Arthur's side and crouching down next to him, gently coaxing the bloodied linen out of his hands. Only then Arthur looked up and blinked at Gaius.

His voice croaked when he spoke, "He's –"

He never finished that sentence. Too broken from losing his friend. Slowly he turned to his father, and that image just torn him apart. His father was gripping Merlin in his arms, rocking back and forth, pleading, no demanding, for Merlin to come back.

Although Uther had his back to him, Arthur knew that his father was crying.

He reached his hand out, wanting to give his father comfort, but drew it back at the last second. His father needed this alone time.

The next thing Arthur became aware of was crying. An infant's cry. He looked around the room, his eyes quickly finding Lancelot who held the babe. Arthur had nearly forgotten that his little brother had been born, everything just happened so fast.

Standing up, Arthur moved over to Lancelot and he held his hands out to take the infant into his hands, and Lancelot complied, gently handing the baby over to Arthur. More knights slowly came out of their daze at the same time, and moved out of the room. Some to tell the news and some to mourn the loss of the King's Consort.

The infant's cries seized as soon as Arthur held him and he only sniffed and hiccupped from the crying he had done. It was the first time that Arthur could take a good look at the baby. He noticed that he was still grimy from the birth and Arthur asked Lancelot for some more towels to clean the baby's face. The baby opened his eyes and Arthur saw a deep blue colour that matched Merlin's own, he even noticed some dark hairs on the top of the baby's head.

"Hey you." Arthur whispered. The baby gave a soft coo, one of his hands breaking free from the blanket wrapped around his body and was now reaching up to Arthur's face. Arthur gave a watery smile, letting the infant grip his index finger instead, which the babe immediately brought to his mouth.

"G-Gaius, what's happening?" Arthur suddenly heard and his head snapped around, looking directly at his father and then down at Merlin's body, a golden hue appearing around it. Arthur moved closer to his father, the baby clutched tightly against his chest.

"I don't know," Gaius supplied a few moments later. Baffled himself by this strange occurrence.

The golden hue became stronger, fully enveloping Merlin's body.

Like a burst of lighting, the whole room lit up. Everybody shielded their eyes against the intensity of the light.

And then, the light died slowly down and a deep intake of breath could be heard.

~oOoOo~

"Hello?" Merlin called. All around him was darkness and coldness. He didn't know where he was, and just wandered on, continue calling out for someone, anyone.

"Merlin."

Merlin's head snapped to the right. He could've sworn that he heard his name, but all he saw was that same darkness again.

Thinking that his mind played a trick on him, he soldiered on.

"Merlin."

There, he heard it again. He was sure that it was someone calling him, it just couldn't be some trick of his mind. And so he stopped and turned to where he thought the voice came from, squinting his eyes to see if he could distinguish something in the darkness. In the distance he saw a sliver of light, it seemed not bigger than a dot, but he was still drawn to it. His feet dragged him forward, he was almost unaware of it happening.

As he walked towards the light, the light became bigger and bigger and he walked into it.

"Merlin." The man smiled at him.

Merlin frowned, the man in front of him had something familiar about him, but he couldn't determine what.

"Merlin," Merlin heard another voice from the other side of him and tears started to form in his eyes. He knew that voice. Turning, it was confirmed that it was indeed his mother. Merlin all but ran to her, enveloping her in a tight hug. His head resting on her shoulder and he let the tears fall freely.

Lifting his head, Merlin said, "I – I thought I'd never see you again."

Hunith placed her hand against his cheek and smiled up at him. "Don't cry little one, for you have nothing to cry for." Hunith looked past him to the man and gave him a nod, the man moved to her side.

"Hello, son." The man finally said, and Merlin's earliest memories from the man came back to him. And then he realized that this couldn't be true. His father, his mother, they were dead. He couldn't be here.

"I'm sorry, Merlin." Balinor began, drawing Merlin's attention back to the moment. "Sorry that we had not told you who your true parents were. It was too much of a risk."

Merlin looked back and forth from Hunith to Balinor. Even though he knew that Hunith wasn't his biological mother, he still saw her as his true mother and nothing would ever change that.

"What Tynan has done was wrong." Balinor said. "But Merlin, if you have it in your heart, forgive him. What he has done to you wasn't him. Tynan used to be the most loving and the most kind person and he has loved you for many, many, years, but with my death he was driven by grief." Balinor took a deep breath. "But he's finally at peace now."

"I –" Merlin began.

"We don't have much time left, Merlin." Hunith interrupted, looking back. Merlin frowned. "It's almost time for you to go back again."

"Back?" Merlin questioned, moving forward and hugging Hunith again. "I only just found you again, I want to stay with you."

"Merlin, your life has only just begun, you have so many years to live. Be with your husband, and be with your son."

"I won't leave you." Merlin said determinedly.

"You must." Hunith pressed on. "Please Merlin, you will experience so many great things still, don't throw that away. We will see each other again, I promise. Now go!" Hunith pushed Merlin forward, back to the darkness again.

"No, mother, father. Please!"

"Goodbye, son." Balinor said, holding Hunith at his side. The light around them slowly faded away until it was completely dark again and Merlin felt like he was falling. Falling down faster and faster, like his body was falling from the sky.

And then it all stopped all so suddenly.

Merlin gasped loudly and his eyes flew open.

~oOoOo~

Just an hour after waking up on the floor, Merlin stared ahead of him from his side of the bed. The first thing he saw when he had opened his eyes was Uther staring at him in sheer disbelief, before his husband had launched himself on him and hugged him so tight that Merlin thought he might suffocate.

What had happened next was pretty much a blur to him. He was carded off to his room and put into bed where Gaius examined him, who was continuingly muttering to himself that he'd never seen something like this, before proclaiming that Merlin was as healthy as anyone could be, but should stay in bed for now. Uther kissed Merlin deeply on the lips hearing that great news.

Then Gaius muttered something to Uther and disappeared through the doors, with a worried Uther trailing after him.

Merlin wanted to ask what was wrong, but the both of them were already out the door. And when he was alone in the room, it gave him time to think things over. He still couldn't determine if he'd really been in the afterlife, or if he had dreamed everything.

His thoughts were cut short by the door opening. A smiling Uther entering, and only when he came close did Merlin see the small bundle in his arms.

"Merlin," Uther said, still smiling and lowering the baby into Merlin's arms. "Meet our son."

Merlin stared full of wonder at the small face, big blue eyes staring back at him.

With all what had been going on he hadn't even noticed his un-pregnant state.

"H-how?" Merlin asked, looking up at Uther, but Uther shook his head.

"Later," Uther answered around the lump in his throat. Uther than sat down on the edge of the bed, his finger trailing the soft features of his child.

"How are we going to call him?" Uther asked.

Merlin looked down at the child, studying him. Then he raised his head and answered, "Idris. Idris Balinor Pendragon."

Uther nodded, his smile broadening some more. "I like that." He looked down at his child. "Welcome to the world, Idris."

THE END.