Hello all, thank you for the reviews~ :*
I do hope you enjoy the chapter and I will update again as soon as I can :)
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Arthur watched Layla interact with Merlin and the knights quietly, they all seemed to enjoy her company despite knowing her magical abilities.
It looks like we really can live in peace..
"Layla, how's your son?"
Merlin somehow managed to restrain himself from physically stiffening at his master's words however Gwaine and Mordred failed to do this miserably.
Luckily for them, it went by unnoticed as per usual by their unobservant ruler.
"He is well Arthur thank you."
"He is rather small for his age" the blonde comments thoughtfully remembering the little child.
"He is just a baby milord."
"Besides I was a really small kid too when I was a wee toddler. Look at me now!"
Arthur snorts, imagining Merlin as a small kid but failed miserably as the idea of little Merlin having such big ears made him laugh.
Gwaine grins seeing Arthur more relaxed, he knew the past year has been rough on the man, he deserves a break.
"What's your husband like?"
Layla blinked, surprised.
"Wow prat, you're not usually this curious about strangers. What brought this on?"
"Shut up Merlin, I have known Layla before any of you have met her so she and I are not strangers."
Somehow Gwaine managed to keep a straight face at that.
"Well Arthur, what exactly do you want to know about my husband?"
"You said he works in another kingdom and makes good money. What does he do exactly?"
"He works as a servant for a royal family. They treat him fairly well most of the time."
"Most of the time? How do you mean?"
Layla couldn't help but smirk as she answered, "The children of the royal family are pretty mean to him. They bully him you know? Target practice, berating...stuff like that."
Merlin scoffs, "Oh Arthur knows."
The blonde frowns at his manservant, "You make me sound awful."
"Have you forgotten the spoon?"
Gwaine snorts along with Merlin clearly remembering that incident.
Arthur decides to change the subject, unamused, "Why do you hide your face Layla?"
"Scar" replies the witch curtly.
"How did you get it?'
"Battle. Nothing interesting really."
"You really are an intriguing mystery aren't you?" Arthur comments, becoming slightly irate at Layla's lack of details.
She smirks at him, noting his frustration, drinking more from her flask, "My husband says the same thing."
Merlin resisted the urge to smirk and instead chuckled along with Mordred as Arthur and Gwaine tried to bugger his wife with more questions of their personal life.
The Next Morning
Mordred wakes up to see Arthur lying on his front seemingly watching Layla cooking breakfast in a dazed manner. He looked around to see Gwaine snoring in his corner still fast asleep and Merlin nowhere to be found.
He slowly gets up and stretches silently, trying to get the edge off but like Arthur, he was watching Layla too.
She was dressed differently from before, she wore a dark forest green , long sleeved hooded overcoat with criss cross cut out at the sides of her arms , leather pants that hugged her long legs and black boots.
Mordred came over and touches Arthur on the shoulder to tell him he was staring a little too much at the lady but when he did, Mordred was startled by Arthur's feelings and memories that flowed through him.
Layla's smirk on her lips.
Layla's naked back.
Layla's smile.
Layla protecting Myriddin.
Layla's glowing golden eyes.
Mordred stumbled, startled.
Arthur loved Layla.
Not romantically but something inside of Arthur fell for Layla and hard. Arthur enjoyed her presence, was comforted by it.
He relished in it.
Mordred was very confused now, he wanted to understand why was Arthur felt something so intense for Merlin's wife no less but he couldn't ask Arthur.
How could he?
Mordred himself could not explain his magical ability without compromising himself.
Also, Arthur is married. Is he really falling for somebody else?
"Morning!"
Merlin greets them all cheerily, entering the camp with a basket of fruit. Seeing the man grinning like that, Mordred decided not to tell Merlin about Arthur and Layla, not wanting to distract him or get himself roped into an uncomfortable situation,
What was he going to do?
He turns back and sees Layla give her husband a little smile before continuing to stir her pot.
Layla loves Merlin and vice versa
Their love is strong so how could Arthur ever compete with that?
Mordred shook his head, feeling helpless and a little sad for his king.
Arthur deserved to be happy but even royalty don't always get what they want.
The eventually continued on their journey and after a few hours, getting close to noon, Gwaine grinned to himself as he rode on his horse with everybody else.
Gwaine loved having Layla around, it was amusing to watch Arthur go gaga over Layla, Merlin subtly getting jealous and Mordred being an anxious wreck.
How fun it is!
A loud dragon call sounded and ray of fire came toward the group, almost immediately the horses got spooked and their riders fell off their animals.
Luckily, Arthur caught Layla, preventing her from falling on her back like the rest.
"T-thanks"
"No problem, let's get you back on your feet."
Merlin groaned seeing the horses run off until he heard Gwaine scream.
"Guys!" Gwaine yelled, "Get ready, Morgana's pet dragon is coming at us again!"
Almost immediately, all the men jumped and swerved to the side but Layla stayed, tall and determined as Aithusa came closer.
"LAYLA!" Arthur screams.
Merlin rose ready to use his powers but gaped as Layla spoke fluently int he Dragon Tongue.
Aithusa stopped and shook ts head violently confused. Everyone watched as Aithusa screamed and rose into the air before flying away in the opposite direction.
"Layla! What did you do?" Gwaine asks in awe.
Mordred answered before the witch could, "She spoke in the dragon tongue. Are you a descendant of a dragon lord?"
"No I'm not."
"Then how are you able to speak it and command it? I thought Gauis said only the male Dragon lords could." asks Arthur clearly confused.
"Unless she is carrying a child of a dragon lord. Are you Miss Layla?"
Layla gulped, watching her very angry husband come up to her.
"Erm-"
"If you dare lie to me-"
"Merlin! You can't talk to a lady like that!"
"Shut up Arthur!"
Arthur blinked in disbelief and continued to do as he watched Merlin.
"This is the last time I am asking, "Are you pregnant?"
"...Yes"
"HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME?!"
"I'm sorry! I just-"
"YOU ARE MY WIFE LAYLA AND PREGNANT WITH MY CHILD NO LESS! WHAT IN THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!"
Layla started to cry and everyone watched dumbfounded, unsure of how to stop the enraged manservant.
Arthur wasn't sure what to do or say at all really.
Merlin was Layla's husband all along?
Mordred and Gwaine were shocked that Merlin, sweetest man in all of Albion was right now yelling at his pregnant wife, scolding her in such a loud voice as she cried.
Did we really know Merlin at all?
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A review would be most appreciated! Hope you liked the chapter! ^^
Have a good day everyone :)