Uther didn't know how it, or more importantly what had happened. One moment he had been sitting next to his son, ready to tell him his mother and sister were back again, and the other moment he was pushed aside by Gaius and in one of the swiftest moment he had ever seen, the physician poured a tincture into Merlin's mouth and Merlin almost immediately slumped against his father's shoulder. Uther caught him carefully.

"Gaius!" Uther cried out. "What in the world!"

"I'm sorry, Sire. But I already saw distraught catching up with the Prince! His heart and health are far too weak to process the news right this second. The sleeping potion was necessary "

Uther's mouth only opened and closed, not able to form a remark.

"But we have to tell him one of these days. Should we not?" Arthur softly called from the other side of the bed.

Before either the physician or the King could answer, they were interrupted by the door opening.

"Morgana?"

Morgana's eyes flicked up to her oldest brother when he said her name, then she turned to her father's. "It's mother… I - I think the birth just started."

~oOoOo~

"You, hngh, you shouldn't be here Uther. It isn't the way of things." Hunith grunted through what seemed yet another contraction.

Uther was sat behind his wife, a cold cloth held against her brow. His other hand holding one of Hunith's tightly. "I do not care if it isn't the way of things. I will never leave your side again." He flicked his eyes to the side of the room where Gaius and the druid Iseldir were discussing the best plan for the birth with Hunith's weakened state.

His eyes were back on Hunith again when she took a shuddering breath and bared through the ripples of childbirth. She had already been through two childbirths, but this time everything seemed a lot harder. Her not feeling her upmost best didn't help either. But the child seemed to be strong-willed to be born today.

Hunith panted a few more times, trying to catch her breath in between the contractions. Another thing clouded her mind. "Merlin. How's Merlin?"

Uther stiffened and Hunith felt it. "Uther."

"He's – he's been awake." He whispered in her ear and Hunith took in a ragged breath. "But Gaius had to force him to sleep. He needs to rest. To heal."

They just hadn't time to discuss. Didn't had time to think of the next plan. It seemed that everything happened at once.

Gaius came closer to the bed. "Your Majesties." The physician eyed Iseldir warily. "We want to discuss our approach with you."

~oOoOo~

Merlin woke up with a gasp and from his right side he heard a chair fall down on the ground followed by a loud thud. For a moment he felt disorientated but he soon saw he was in his chambers. And then he saw his brother, climbing back to his feet from where he seemed to have fallen down from the chair.

"By the gods, Merlin." Arthur rubbed the side of his leg. "You scared me to death!"

"I'm sorry?" His eyebrows creased, thinking for a moment. "Arthur, what are you doing in my room?"

"Keeping watch." Arthur said, as if it made sense.

"On…?"

"You?" Arthur answered sheepishly.

"Care to explain?"

"What do you remember?" Arthur suddenly asked his brother.

His father, Gaius, himself and even Kilgharrah went over this. It was now three days after his brother was forcefully put to sleep by Gaius, and they have been giving him small doses of the potions every half a day to keep him asleep. Kilgharrah had suggested it, saying it was the best remedy for Merlin - for Merlin's magic. If his magic would have time to be restored, than so would Merlin. As he is magic and magic is him. He would be wholesome again.

And in the past day a golden hue had formed around Merlin, and when Kilgharrah was notified he gave a roar of relief. Telling them their brother and son was on the mend, with his body and mind not being fragile again.

Arthur hadn't left his brother's side ever since, wanting to see that with his own eyes.

Merlin looked down at his comforter, his fingers entwining in each other. "I remember a lot of things." A crease formed between his brow. "But I don't know if they were dreams or not."

"Just amuse me." Arthur answered. They have been through every scenario. He knew when to tell or not tell his brother stuff on the base of his answer.

"I-I was at Jarl's lair. I killed him?"

Arthur wasn't sure if his brother made a statement or asked a question. For now he kept quit.

The crease seemed to deepen. "I killed him because – oh!" His head flew up and he stared at Arthur who came to sit down on the bed.

There it is, Arthur thought. "Just, take it easy Merlin."

Merlin shook his head.

"Yes Merlin."

"They – they… Are they?" Merlin struggled to find the words.

"You've found them, Merlin." Arthur whispered, scooting closer to his brother and embracing him. He felt his brother's shoulders move and he felt his tunic become wet with tears.

~oOoOo~

Arthur had left a little while ago and Merlin stared out the window and watched the sun starting to set, before he turned around when he heard the door open. The first to enter his chambers was Morgana, followed closely by their mother and father. Merlin just fell to his knees at seeing them both alive and well.

Morgana slid to her knees in front of her brother, engulfing him in a tight hug. Both not saying a word, but both feeling the love for each other.

Hunith watched her children with her hand against her mouth, keeping her own tears at bay. A comforting arm from Uther was wrapped around her.

"I'm so sorry, Gana." Merlin hiccupped. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Don't." Morgana admonished, taking his head in her hands. "Merlin, it was not your fault."

Merlin didn't listen. "I should've looked for you sooner. I should've know something wasn't right!" His watery eyes flicked up to his mother and he felt like he was five years old again, wanting to be comforted by his mother when a thunderstorm went around Camelot. "M-mum."

Hunith stretched out her arms and Merlin not yet fell into them as soon as he stood. "Mum! I thought I'd lost you."

Her hands found their way into her son's hair and she tugged him even closer. The past week, no months, were a whirlwind. But now everything was complete again. "You haven't, my precious. I'm here and I won't leave you. I ought to thank you. Without you…" She craned her head towards Uther. "We wouldn't be back here again."

Merlin only shook his head.

"You have done so well, my precious."

"Where is Arthur?" Merlin said. All of a sudden aware that their family reunion was without his brother. "Where is he?"

Hunith and Uther looked at each other. This would be the final piece of the puzzle, but probably the most difficult one to explain.

"He's near." Uther said. "He's just around the corner, in the rooms next to ours." He swallowed. "We need to show you something Merlin, we can't just explain it in words."

Merlin was confused but followed his parents nonetheless. His father stopped at the door, turning around to face his son. "We can understand the shock you might face."

"Did something happen to Arthur?" He wrestled around his father and threw the door open. Making up his mind that his brother was hurt by the secrecy his parents carried, but instead of seeing his brother ill, he saw him standing in the middle of the room with a bundle of linen in his arms. A soft smile was on Arthur's lip.

"I don't…" Merlin turned around and his head followed his parents and sister as they entered the room and stood next to Arthur. His mother looked the most troubled out of the four people in the room.

His mother sighed deeply, almost remorseful. "We didn't know how to tell you, Merlin." Then she gave a short chuckle. "Heavens, you father barely caught up with the fact. But son-" She stretched her hand out to the bundle and moved some linens over. A sleeping child was revealed.

Merlin just stood there. "Who's-who's that?"

"Merlin," Arthur said, walking carefully up to his brother. "Meet our little brother."

THE END

I only realise now that it took me exactly 7 years to finish this story (give or take a few hours) 😅

I hope you liked it 😄