A/N: Thank you to Sailor Dragonball 87 for reviewing!

Chapter 4: The Proposal

Hunith was playing with Merlin when there was a knock on the door. Merlin froze in place, arms extended out to his sides, and looked toward the door with bright curiosity in his eyes.

Hunith walked over to pull it open, still smiling, and a scamper of feet told her that Merlin had followed her over.

A servant stood outside. She curtsied and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get a word out, Merlin poked his head out around his mother.

"Hi!" he grinned up at her, "I'm a dragon!"

The young woman blinked then smiled a little, "Oh? Well, I'm sure you're very fierce and frightening."

Merlin giggled and shook his head, "No, I'm a nice dragon!"

"Oh…well, I'm glad to hear that," she laughed a little, before turning her attention back to Hunith, "I'm sorry, my lady, I was sent to bring you a message. The king and queen would like to see you in the throne room, at your earliest convenience."

Hunith nodded, wondering what her parents might want, "Thank you, Elin, I'll go right away."

Elin curtsied again, then hurried off down the hall.

"Bye!' Merlin called after her, and she looked over her shoulder to give him a smile before carrying on again.

Merlin looked up at Hunith, "Can I go with you to see Grandfather and Grandmother?"

She smiled down at him, smoothing a lock of his hair that was sticking up into place, "Not this time, Merlin. It sounds like they have grown-up things to discuss with me. I expect it will be dull. Why don't you stay here and play for a little longer, and then I'll come back and get you for supper?"

Merlin nodded, "Okay, Mama."

She leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the top of his head, "I love you, Merlin."

Merlin grinned toothily, "I love you too."

Hunith made her way down the hall. She entered the throne room and found her parents sitting on their thrones, their heads bent together, deep in discussion. They didn't seem to notice she had entered at first.

"Mother? Father?" At Hunith's voice, her parents looked up and something in their expressions made her heart give a nervous jolt. They looked... worried, or troubled. They both smiled when they saw her, but it didn't quite reach their eyes.

"Hunith," her father stood and walked toward her, followed closely by her mother "Thank you for coming so quickly."

Hunith nodded, "What is it, Father? Is something wrong?" Her mind started running through possibilities. Was her brother hurt? Or Cenred? Had there been trouble on their borders?

Her father shook his head, "No, no, nothing is wrong," he said quickly, "Your mother and I have… good news, actually."

Hunith frowned, "If it's good news, why do you both look so nervous?"

"It is good news," her mother spoke up, but it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than as if she believed it, "it's just that it's a bit, well ... ... complicated."

Hunith looked between her parents. Neither of them seemed eager to elaborate further, "Whatever is going on, please just tell me. I don't think I can stand the tension for much longer."

Her parents exchanged a glance, and her mother nodded to her father, then they both turned their gazes back to Hunith.

"We… have found you a suitor," her father said at last, "Well, that is to say, a messenger came to us today with an offer of marriage for you."

Hunith's stomach dipped. Now she was the one trying to convince herself this was good news. Her parents had been trying to arrange a marriage for her for years but… though her parents were kind enough not to bring it up, everyone knew why no one was leaping at the chance to marry Hunith.

With every offer that was refused or fell through, Hunith's sense of guilt, her worry about being a burden and a disappointment to her parents had grown, and yet, each time she couldn't keep herself from feeling a sense of relief as well, even if that relief only made her feel more guilty.

She forced a smile, trying to push away the image of Balinor that seemed to flicker behind her eyes, "I see, and… who is the suitor? Is it someone from another kingdom?" It must have been; by now her parents had surely tried to arrange a marriage for her with every suitable bachelor in her own kingdom. There had been a lot of mumbled excuses and apologetic half-formed reasons.

Most of the kings in the surrounding kingdoms were already married though, and had young children. Maybe one of them had a younger brother she didn't know about, or a cousin.

Her father took a deep breath "Yes, it is, the message was from… King Uther of Camelot."

Hunith stared at her father, sure that she must have heard him wrong- or perhaps this was a bad joke, "What?"

Her father gave her a very forced, pained-looking smile, "King Uther of Camelot has asked for us to consider his proposal of marriage to you."

Hunith's heart was hammering in her chest, "But…. obviously you're going to say no, right?"

Both of her parents visibly winced.

"Hunith…" her father said slowly, "I'm… sure you realize this is the first marriage offer we have received for you in…. well, it is the first one we've received."

Hunith could feel herself flush, "I know, trust me, I understand, but… King Uther? Of Camelot?"

"It is a good offer," Her mother put in, "King Uther is a strong king, an alliance with Camelot could only help us-"

"Have you both lost your minds?!" Hunith didn't mean to raise her voice, but she couldn't help it. This didn't make any sense. How could her parents even think of accepting a proposal from… from Uther of all people?

"Now, young lady," her father began warningly.

Hunith took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout, but Father… Mother…." She looked at her mother pleadingly, hoping she might talk some sense into her father, but she found no help there.

Hunith glanced around and lowered her voice further, "Have you forgotten that my son is a sorcerer? What about Merlin?"

"Of course we haven't forgotten about Merlin," her father seemed to be trying for a reassuring voice, though it did nothing to calm Hunith down, "i know it isn't ideal, Hunith, but… well, the truth of the matter is, Camelot is our nearest neighbor, and it would be better to have them as a friend than a potential enemy."

"But what about Merlin?" Hunith pressed again, "Would you sacrifice my son to make Camelot your friend?"

"Hunith!" her mother exclaimed, shocked, and Hunith felt a pang of remorse for the accusation.

"Of course not," her father's voice was level, "Your mother and I were discussing the… issue of Merlin before you came in here,"

Hunith felt another surge of anger, "He isn't an issue or a problem to be solved; he's your grandson! Just because you didn't approve of the circumstances of his birth-"

Her father's expression was stunned, but Hunith was too angry to care. Her mother stepped between them. Hunith half expected her to shout, but instead when she spoke, her voice was firm but calm, "Hunith, that isn't fair, and you know it. I won't deny that your father and I were… not pleased with your relationship with Merlin's father, but we have always loved Merlin, and we have never treated him as anything but a member of this family."

Hunith took a deep breath, shutting her eyes for a moment. "I know," her voice was quieter now, "I know. I'm sorry."

Her father put a hand on her arm, "We thought perhaps it would be best if Merlin stayed here with us while… you went to Camelot."

Hunith could feel her heart sink straight down to her toes, "You… you want me to leave him?"

"Oh, sweetheart," her mother reached out and grasped her hand, "Camelot isn't so very far away. You could visit him as often as you wished."

Hunith shook her head. She could hardly believe they were really having this conversation. Marrying Uther? Leaving Merlin? "Are you saying I don't have a choice?" she asked, trying to control her voice, "Are you ordering me to marry Uther?"

Her parents exchanged a long look. Then her father spoke again, "We cannot- will not force you to do this, but Hunith…. This is the first time Uther has shown any interest in an alliance between our kingdoms. This could do a lot of good for our people. It would mean security, safety… perhaps an opportunity for trade, and if we refuse now… I don't think a chance like this will come again."

Hunith pressed her lips together. She wanted to tell them that they were asking too much. But could she really refuse, if this was what was best for the kingdom?

But what about what was best for her? And more importantly, for Merlin? Didn't that count for something too?

It felt like she was being twisted and pulled in different directions, her own desires, her duties to her family, to her kingdom, her duties as a mother….

She looked at her parents, who were watching her carefully, as if unsure what to expect. Her anger had died, but it had been replaced by confusion and uncertainty, and a creeping dread. It felt like regardless of what decision she made, there would be consequences. She gently pulled her hand out of her mother's grasp and stepped away from her father's hand on her shoulder.

"I… I need some time to think," she said quietly, "Can you give me that?"

Her parents exchanged another glance, and she couldn't tell if they were disappointed she hadn't said yes, or just relieved she hadn't said no.

"Of course," her mother said gently, "Uther's messenger is planning to leave tomorrow morning but if you haven't decided by then, we'll send him back with the message that we need time to think the offer over. You can have all the time you need."

Hunith managed a weak smile, "Thank you, Mother, Father." She looked between them,"if I may be dismissed, I'd like to return to my chambers now?"

Her father nodded, "Of course. Will we see you for supper?"

"I… I don't know," Hunith had been planning on it, but she wasn't sure she could face a family dinner after this. Her brother's curiosity, her parents' waiting for her to make her decision. They wouldn't try to pressure her, not intentionally, but she knew she would feel it, regardless….

"All right," her father nodded, "We understand."

Hunith turned to go, but a gentle touch from her father on her shoulder made her turn back, "Yes?"

"I just wanted to say…. regardless of what happens next, of what you decide, your mother and I love you. Remember that, all right?"

Hunith's smile was a little more genuine this time, "Thank you, Father. I love you too." Then she turned and left the throne room, her heart heavy, and her head swirling with questions and doubts.

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