It had been 10 days since Arthur had kissed Gwenivere on the steps of the citadel, and left with his knights in search of Merlin.

10 days since she had looked into his eyes and felt her heart break slightly at the despair that was beginning to shine in his eyes.

He was giving up hope of ever finding Merlin alive.

Yes, they had a lead, but it was mostly just rumors.

"One last time," he murmured, as he hugged her.

She closed her eyes, feeling the finality of his words in her heart.

It was time for them to move on.

Her heart ached.

And now it had been 10 days, without any word.

"Say ah."

"Ahh."

Gwen turned from gazing out the bedroom window to look at Tristain who was holding his mouth open for Gaius to look into.

"Healthy," Gaius declared after a second. He looked at Gwen and smiled kindly. "You have two healthy children." His eyes drifted to her stomach. "Soon to be three."

"Can I listen to baby?" Ayila asked.

Of course." Gwen moved to a comfortable chair and smiled as her daughter approached.

Gaius came with her and handed her the horn. "Do you remember how to use it?"

"Wide end against the stomach."

"Good girl."

She handled the horn reverently and pressed it gently against Gwen's stomach.

A few seconds passed before she gasped excitedly and looked up at Gwen. "I heard it!"

"What did it sound like?"

"A horse galloping."

"May I have a listen?" Gaius asked.

"Sure." Aiyla handed him the horn and stepped back so that Gaius could kneel in front of Gwen.

Gaius listened for a second, before nodding. "Like a horse."

"I listen!" Tristan, ever one to be included, hurried over and held his hand out to Gaius.

"I will hold it," Gaius said patiently. "You press your ear to it and listen."

He nodded and did as Gaius instructed. "Whoa! Is there a horse with the baby?"

Gwen laughed softly and ran her finger through her son's curly hair. "No. That's just their heartbeat."

"When will baby come?"

"Not for a few more weeks," Gaius answered.

"Will daddy be home when baby comes?" Aiyla asked. "Will he bring Uncle Merlin home for the baby?"

Gwen's met Gaius's gaze and felt her chest tighten with sorry at the amount of pain suddenly filling his eyes. "I don't know," she answered softly, turning her gaze to her daughter. "I hope so."

Tristan tried to climb onto her lap. "I don't fit," he pouted.

"You don't do you?" Gwen pulled him up to the small space left on the chair, allowing him to lean against her chest. She closed her eyes and continued to steadily stroke her son's curls, while her mind wandered to Arthur.

She needed him home.

She was by no means alone in handling the children and royal affairs, but she knew that Camelot benefited more with Arthur in the citadel.

The baby suddenly kicked sharply.

She inhaled sharply and squeezed her eyes shut. "Ow."

"Baby kicking?" Gaius asked.

"Yes," she replied in a tight voice, before forcing herself to exhale slowly.

"Gwen!" The door of the chambers opened and Morgana rushed in. "It's Arthur. He and the knights have been spotted."

Gwen sat up, carefully moving Tristain to the ground, before standing. "How far?"

"A half hour, maybe an hour out." Her eyes glistened with tears. "They have Merlin."

Gaius stumbled back and fell into a dining table chair. "He's alive?"

Morgana nodded.

"Take your brother to the nursery, Aiyla," Gwen said.

"I want to see Daddy," she complained.

"I know. I know. I will ensure he comes to see you as soon as possible. Please, Aiyla, I need you to do this. Take your brother."

Aiyla sighed, but did as Gwen said, and left the room with Tristain.

Gwen covered her mouth, the second they were gone and fell back into the chair. "You are sure?"

"Yes," Morgana said. "Sir Alfred reported seeing them while scouting."

Gwen's heart immediately began to pound. "They have Merlin?"

Morgana nodded, a gentle smile pulling at her lips. "They have him." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "He's coming home."

. . .

Arthur had never been more thrilled to see the familiar towers of the citadel.

They were home.

"Thank God," Gwaine muttered. He glanced back at Merlin and attempted a smile. "We're almost home."

Merlin remained silent.

Arthur had given him permission to speak, but no words came from him.

"You'll sleep in your bed tonight," Arthur said quietly. "Gaius will attend to your injuries, and then we'll start figuring out how to remove the collar."

More silence.

Arthur urged his horse forward.

It wasn't long until they were passing the guards at the gate, who both stared at Merlin in shock, before hastily bowing to Arthur.

"The Queen has been alerted, sire," one of the said.

"Thank you." Arthur looked up at the eastern parapet and smiled at the site of Gwen standing with Morgana and Gaius.

The urge to move faster consumed him, and he urged his horse to move faster.

They passed through the streets, which steadily became more and more crowded as the people realized that the King had returned.

Arthur didn't think much of their presence, other than it being slightly annoying until he heard Merlin's ragged breathing. His head was in a low bow, with his shoulders hunched over. "Merlin? What's..." He suddenly realized that the crowds were making Merlin flashback to being in the crowded den, where people were allowed to touch and examine him at all times. "Breathe," he murmured. "We're almost there. I'll keep you safe."

They finally reached the courtyard.

"Close the gates," Leon ordered.

Arthur dismounted as fast as he could and helped Merlin down. "We're here. We're safe. You're home."

Merlin lowered himself to his knees and entered a low bow, his limbs trembling as he did so.

"Arthur!"

Arthur glanced up and held a hand up to Gwen, Gaius, and Morgana, who were all moving quickly toward them. "Merlin." He knelt in front of Merlin, whose eyes were wide and filled with the same empty look that Arthur had seen while he was in the cage. "I am sorry about that. I didn't think about the crowds, and how they would affect you."

Merlin moved his mouth slightly, but no sound came out.

Arthur placed his hand gently on his shoulder. "You can speak, remember?"

Merlin swallowed and licked his lips. "Please don't send me back," he begged softly. "Please. I'll be good."

Emotion squeezed Arthur's heart and tears pricked his eyes. "We're not going to send you back. We're home." He glanced up at Gaius, who was staring at Merlin with the same heartbroken expression that the knights had all worn at one point. "Gaius is here. Is it okay if I allow him to come closer?"

Merlin frowned in confusion and began to fidget with the hem of his tunic.

"Just Gaius, okay? I'll keep everyone else away." He looked up and gestured Gaius forward.

Gaius nodded and slowly approached. "Oh Merlin, my boy, I cannot express how glad I am to see you."

Merlin hunched further into himself and squeezed his eyes shut.

Gaius's expression fell slightly, but he merely took a breath and placed a gentle hand on Merlin's arm. "Why don't we go to my chambers where I can get a proper look at you." His eyes lingered on the collar, and his gaze darkened with understanding. "Come on, up you get."

Merlin didn't move.

Arthur exhaled lowly and cleared his throat. "Get up Merlin. We're going to go to Gaius's chambers now."

Merlin obeyed.

Gaius wrapped an arm around him, to keep him up and moving, and led the way.

"I will give you all an update at dinner," Arthur said to the knights, who had all gathered in a small semi-circle. "Go clean up and rest. Thank you all for your hard work." He turned immediately to Gwen, who was standing arm-in-arm with Morgana.

Morgana took one look at his expression and nodded. "I will go with Gaius, and meet you there." She unlooped her arm from Gwen's and stepped away.

Gwen held her hands out for him.

He took them, and pulled her into a hug, carefully pressing his face into the crook of her neck and breathing in. "Gwen..." his voice broke, and tears immediately began to slide down his cheeks.

She wrapped her arms around him, moving one of her hands to the back of his neck, where she gently scratched his scalp. "You found him."

"In hell."

"He's alive."

"I wish he would have been killed."

She pulled away and looked at him. "What?"

He shook his head. "It's...they..." he closed his eyes, and told her as much as he could, as fast as he could. How they collared him, took his autonomy, bound his magic - oh, by the way, he has magic, beat him, raped him, starved him, caged him.

She was in tears by the time he was done and swaying slightly.

Arthur dashed away his tears angrily and sniffed. "You should be resting."

"I am fine," she assured.

He looked down at her belly and placed his hand on it. "I don't know how to help him," he murmured.

She placed her hands on his cheeks and wiped away the tears that continued to leak from his eyes. "I think we take this a day at a time. We cannot rush healing, especially after something so catastrophic as this. It will take some time."

He nodded and moved his hands around until he felt the pressure of the baby. "Yes," he murmured.

"We will give him everything that he requires."

He nodded again.

She tilted his head gently, prompting him to shift his gaze to hers. "But we also allow him the space to deal with everything. We cannot crowd him."

"I know," he said softly.

She nodded and leaned in to kiss him. "Good."

He pressed his forehead against hers. "I should go to Gaius's chambers."

"Yes, you probably should."

"Where will you be?"

"The nursery, I expect. Aiyla and Tristain are anxious to see you."

A rush of warmth spread from his heart at the thought of seeing his children. "I will come by as soon as Merlin is situated."

"Good."

He kissed her again. "I will see you later." He backed away from her, holding her hand until she was out of reach.

Merlin was kneeling on the ground of Gaius's chambers when Arthur arrived.

Arthur knew immediately that he had switched to default, too afraid to do anything else.

"I need him to sit on the table," Gaius explained softly. "I know that the collar binds him to you and your orders."

"You recognize it then?"

"I have read about such collars that were used in the days before the purge. They were a barbaric way for the High Priestesses to control unwilling victims."

"Do you know of a way to remove it?"

"Not off the top of my head. I will look once I have finished looking over him."

Arthur nodded and turned his attention to Merlin. "You need to get on the table, Merlin, so that Gaius can help you."

Merlin obeyed, and rose to his feet, climbing stiffly onto the table.

Gaius took a moment to put on a clinical expression, before stepping forward. "I'm going to remove your tunic so that I can get a good look at you." He reached for the hem of Merlin's tunic and carefully lifted it over Merlin's head, maneuvering Merlin like he would a doll. "Oh, my boy," he murmured, at the sight of the cuts, abrasions, and bruises that littered Merlin's chest and torso. "My poor boy."

One look at Merlin, and Arthur knew that he had completely shut down.

He had been offering himself to the Knights, whenever he felt like he had done something worth him being abused for, but that didn't mean that being bare in front of others was comfortable. In fact, it was the exact opposite. His eyes were glazed and guarded as he stared at the far wall, and his chest was still as he held his breath in anticipation.

"Oh, Merlin," Morgana whispered.

Arthur glanced at where she was standing. "It might be better if you came back after."

"I'm not leaving him."

"If you two are going to be in here, then you are going to need to help," Gaius said.

"Of course," Morgana said quickly.

"Anything," Arthur added.

"Pour the water from the pitcher over the fire into a bowl, and get a towel."

Morgana grabbed the towel, while Arthur carefully grabbed the pitcher and poured the water into a bowl.

Gaius immediately set to work cleaning Merlin's skin.

Arthur and Morgana helped by keeping the water and towels fresh and clean.

A heavy silence settled in the room, as scars from the year of torture slowly began to appear.

Morgana kept her tears at bay, but Arthur caught the slight tremor of her hands, as she handed Gaius his supplies.

"I need him on his side," Gaius said softly.

Arthur could tell that he didn't want to do the next part of his examination, but it was necessary. Guilt settled heavily into his gut, but he shoved it aside. "Merlin, I need you to lay down on your left side, and press your legs to your chest."

Merlin's expression shattered slightly, but he did as he was ordered, and shifted to his side, curling his legs against his chest.

Gaius kept his examination as quick, clinical, and non-invasive as he could.

Arthur folded his arms tightly across his chest and did his best to not put an end to it all.

"Okay."

"Sit up," Arthur ordered as soon as Gaius backed away.

Merlin obeyed.

His eyes were even more empty than they had been.

Gaius grabbed a familiar blue shirt, and gently eased it over Merlin's head. "You did good," he murmured. He looked at Arthur. "Does he need your permission to sleep?"

Arthur nodded. "You can sleep, Merlin."

The effect was immediate.

Merlin's body began to sway, and his eyelids drooped close.

Arthur moved forward and lifted him from the table. "His bedroom?"

"Yes."

Gaius followed Arthur up the stairs and pulled the blanket away for Arthur to lower Merlin down. "I will come back to check on you soon."

Merlin's eyes closed in response.

"He's going to have a nightmare," Arthur said softly.

"I know. That is the collar."

Arthur frowned at Gaius. "It is?"

"Yes. It's a way to break down the mind and punish the wearer."

"Why is it punishing him?"

"To keep him afraid, and controlled. Fear is a weapon that can be used to easily manipulate a person."

Arthur shook his head and gripped his hilt for a moment. "I should have killed them."

Gaius didn't say anything.

The two of them walked down to the main chambers, where Morgana was cleaning up.

"There is something I need to discuss," Arthur said.

"What is it?"

Arthur leaned against the table. "Merlin has magic."

Gaius turned sharply to stare at him, but it was Morgana who spoke.

"How did you find out?"

Arthur turned to look at her. "You knew?"

"Of course, I knew."

Arthur opened his mouth several times, before any words managed to get out. "How long have you known?"

She shrugged. "A few years?"

"How long is a few?"

"Seven...eight?"

"And you never told me?"

"Well, given that you're shouting at me, I know I made the right decision."

"I am not shouting!"

"You are, sire," Gaius said calmly. "And I would ask that you not, for Merlin's sake."

Arthur forced himself to breathe through the rush of emotions that was currently going through him. "How did you find out?"

"He saved my life," Gaius answered.

"He told me his secret when I told him mine," Morgana said.

"And what would that be?"

Morgana hugged herself and stared at the ground for a few seconds. "I also have magic."

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Thank you for reading! I really hope you enjoyed it. I really do. This is a chapter that I always knew was going to happen. I knew from the beginning that I would have Arthur and Gwen have two kids with one on the way. I hope everything made sense. And I hope you like them.

Thank you for being here, and reading! :) ️

Thoughts? I love what you guys have to say,