Camelot

December, 508 AD

"Has she said anything at all?" I asked Kilgharrah while my eyes were fixed on Aithusa in the distance. She stood with Phoenix and Merlin as the latter fed them some fish he'd caught specially for them before he, Gwaine and I made the journey to their cave.

"I am afraid not, young queen," Kilgharrah replied. "Not even to Phoenix."

I bit down on my bottom lip, which threatened to start quivering, and shared a sorrowful look with Gwaine as my heart clenched in my chest.

Of course, we'd known that getting Aithusa back wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows. The stress of the endless search for her is over and she's safe, at home, with everyone who loves her. However, the stress of nursing her back to health is only just beginning. She has gained a little bit of weight during the ten-or-so days that she's been back, but she's still very much flesh and bones, she walks around with a low head and dull eyes, she doesn't accept human touch from anyone other than Merlin, and she refuses to make a sound.

I swallowed the tears that wanted to make themselves present in my eyes and took a deep breath. "Selective mutism can occur as a result of trauma," I said monotonously, thinking back to the psychology class I took in eleventh grade.

"How do you fix it?" Gwaine wondered.

I shrugged and dropped my head before responding in a mumble, "I dunno, I'm not a psychologist."

The knight reached over to squeeze my hand and he gave me a small smile when I glanced up at him. Then he said, "She will be all right, Trae. She already survived the worst of it. We just need to be patient now."

"Yeah," I said with a shaky sigh and a nod, then I returned the hand squeeze. He's right, obviously. As much as it hurts to see Aithusa so broken, at least we have her back. She's alive and she's home. Anything else we can deal with. We'll get her back to health in no time.

I watched with a churning stomach as the female dragon suddenly turned her back on my brother – and hers – and started to walk away. Phoenix was quick to follow her, and I was relieved to see that she didn't turn him away as they moved deeper into the cave. Merlin's shoulders slumped and he watched them go for a few moments before visibly sighing and returning to Gwaine and I.

"Anything?" I asked my brother, even if I already knew the answer.

"Nope," he responded in a deflated tone as he plopped down next to me. "It's like she has lost the ability to speak."

"Give 'er time. It's still too soon," I responded with an attempt at a reassuring look.

Silence befell us for a few minutes and I busied myself with observing the fog that formed from each of my exhales under the cold early winter weather. A shiver travelled down my spine as a strong breeze hit us and I hugged myself in hopes that that would warm me up a bit.

"Anyway," I said as I stood up, "we should get goin'. I have to stop by the time-machine to pick up the stuff for Art's birthday."

"I will see you all again soon, I suppose," Kilgharrah said with a half-smile.

"Of course," I replied and shot him a wink.

My two human friends and I made our way towards our horses and we promptly tacked them up before mounting and setting off back towards Camelot.

"What did you get Arthur?" Gwaine inquired.

"It's not really a gift, so much as an experience," I responded with a proud smirk. I'm a genius.

He and Merlin shared a look I couldn't decipher.

"You guys are invited, obviously," I added. "Someone needs to be able to inform my family back in Texas if I get myself killed."

"Oh, no," Merlin gasped. "What did you do now?"

"You'll see..."

I grinned proudly at my latest culinary creation and giggled for a second before glancing up at Merlin. My smile instantly faded when I realised that he looked horrified – his widened eyes fixed on me, his mouth agape, and an eyebrow raised.

I pouted and asked, "What?"

"He will–! What is–!? Is that safe?!"

I tilted my head and looked back down at the plate before me. It had a stack of four hotcakes on it, topped with vanilla ice-cream, multi-coloured sprinkles, and chocolate chips. So, y'know, your standard IHOP serving.

"Well, not if one eats it every other day, but it won't do any harm as a special-occasion birthday treat," I defended.

My brother still regarded me with scepticism, but I shrugged it off and placed the plate onto a tray, along with a cup of hot cocoa. He was gallant enough to carry it for me.

"I will get started with putting more holes in his belts," Merlin murmured as we began the walk towards Arthur and I's room.

A snort escaped me and I did my best to suppress a bout of laughter as I gave him a pointed look. "C'mon, be nice, it's his birthday," I pleaded. "I made him be nice to you on your birthday, remember?"

"Yes. It was strange," he responded while scrunching up his face. "He even got me a gift."

A small smile formed on my lips at the recollection of Arthur dragging me around the town market in search of a nice gift for Merlin. "He's the sweetest, isn't he?"

My brother scoffed and rolled his eyes before muttering, "I miss the time when you were not an idiot in love."

I bursted out laughing. "It's your fault for saving his life, becoming his servant, and forcing me to spend time with him!"

"That is an interesting way of looking at it," he responded while raising an eyebrow.

I nudged his side and we chuckled together for a moment before I halted again and sighed. "Can you imagine how different our lives would've turned out if you hadn't saved him that first time?"

A dreamy look crossed his face and my jaw dropped as I slapped his arm. He chuckled. I rolled my eyes and we resumed walking.

I remember that I only thought of Arthur as an arrogant jerk with a pretty face when I met him; and I never would've given him the time of day if Merlin hadn't been forced into his service. Now I can't imagine my life without him. Everything would be so dull and meaningless. I don't ever want to live in a world without Arthur freaking Pendragon.

We finally reached the royal apartments and I opened the door – since Merlin's hands were kind of busy – before stepping inside behind him. We shared a small smile and he moved to place the tray on the dining table while I skipped over to Arthur, who still slept peacefully while hugging my pillow. I paused for a moment just to watch him. I can do that without it being creepy 'cause, y'know, we're kinda married. I love life.

My brother stepped up beside me.

"He's such an angel, isn't he?" I asked in a whisper as a small smile grew on my lips, my eyes not moving away from Arthur.

Merlin gave me an unimpressed look. "Are you going to wake him, or shall I?"

I sighed. As much as I would love to allow him to sleep in for as long as he wants, I do kinda have a bunch of fun stuff planned and it's already 11:00. I promised the courtiers that I'll have him home by 20:00 for the 'official' celebrations.

"Fine," I huffed and moved closer to Arthur's bedside before placing a gentle hand on his cheek and rubbing my thumb against it. "Wakey wakey, Artie," I whispered.

Nothing happened and I tilted my head before taking back my hand looking up at my brother for help.

"You've gone soft," he accused.

"No, I haven't."

"Prove it," he challenged. "Jump on the bed."

"What?!"

"Prove that you have not gone soft and jump on the bed," he repeated. I narrowed my eyes at him. "I promise that your sweet angel can handle it," he added with a mocking grin.

I blinked rapidly for a few seconds. He raises an interesting point – a year-or-so ago I wouldn't have hesitated before startling Arthur awake with crazy shenanigans. I have gone soft!

"Crap, you're right," I muttered. Then I smirked and launched myself right next to Arthur while screaming, "Good morning, Vietnam!"

Arthur was effectively startled as he gasped and shot up, his eyes instantly fixing on me as he narrowed them, his jaw clenching.

"Sorry. Merls made me," I squeaked out. I sat up and quickly moved to hug him, wrapping my arms over his shoulders and nuzzling into the crook of his neck. He snorted and returned the embrace while setting me on his lap. "Happy birthday, Artie. I love you three-thousand," I whispered.

"Thank you, my darling. I love you, too," he responded and he kissed the side of my head.

I heard Merlin shuffling around and turned to look at him, finding that he had gone to retrieve the breakfast tray. He gave me an annoyed look as he walked back to Arthur and I. I gave him an innocent smile and moved off my King so that he could place the food on his lap.

"We made you somethin' special," I commented when I saw the way in which Arthur's eyes widened as they fell on my creation.

"Happy birthday, dollop-head," Merlin said with a grin before shooting me a wink and leaving the room.

Arthur snorted again and shook his head as he questioned, "Is he ever going to change?"

"Hopefully not," I responded with a shrug.

My King chuckled and he grabbed the fork and knife off the tray before pausing and turning to look at me. "Are you not going to join me?"

"I already had breakfast," I replied sheepishly. "I've been up since seven gettin' everything ready for today..."

He frowned a little and took a bite out of the hotcakes before mumbling, "You did not have to, Astra. I wish we could have a quiet day, just the two of us."

My heart twisted and I averted my gaze. I know that he doesn't love the idea of celebrating his birthday, considering its association with his parents' deaths. I knew that going all out to plan something fun for him was a risky move. But I truly believe that I can get him to enjoy himself. So I put on my best smile as I looked at him again.

"Just give me a chance to prove that you can enjoy your birthday," I pleaded. "I promise you'll have fun."

He reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "All right."

"Is this safe?" Elyan questioned.

I made a so-so motion with my hand. "Eh."

"Have you done it before?" Percival asked.

"Yeah, a couple of times."

"Are you in any way qualified to teach us?" Leon inquired.

I giggled, "Nope." Then I pulled a folded piece of paper out of my pocket. "But Olly sent me a printed WikiHow page," I mentioned while unfolding it.

I tore my sight away from the very mild snowy slope we were all looking down on and turned to look at the knights, Merlin and Gwen; finding a bunch of sceptical and wary expressions. Only Gwaine looked excited to participate in the skiing fun that I turned the world upside down to plan, and my heart churned at the realisation.

"Um..." I hummed and looked down. Maybe this was a bad idea...

To my surprise, Arthur stepped up beside me and slipped his hand into mine before addressing the rest, "Astraea went through a lot of trouble to plan this for me. I expect you all to act enthusiastic about it." My jaw dropped and I looked up at him. He made eye contact and gave me a small grin before kissing the top of my head. "Show me how to do this, my love."

I gave him a smile and then rushed to get two pairs of skis from the bunch I'd laid out on the ground, along with two pairs of poles.

"All right, so, you put your feet in like this," I narrated while reading from the WikiHow page and copying the images. "And then you fasten the skis... and make sure they won't slip, 'cause you'll die... and... oh, crap! I didn't ask for helmets or goggles!"

"Is that important?" Arthur wondered.

"Let's hope not very," I responded with a nonchalant shrug.

I moved over to the beginning of the slope and looked down at the paper in my hands again while my King stepped up beside me. "Now... you stand with your feet hip-width apart..." I continued to read. "You bend your knees... And you push off–"

The original plan was to finish reading the entirety of the instructions first, but that dove out the window when Arthur pushed off and started accelerating down the hill. I'm so smart for having chosen a very mild slope for the first try.

"Oh, well," I mumbled to myself before shoving the paper inside my pocket and also pushing off.

My muscle memory proved to be much more efficient than my brain memory, for I quickly found that I still have the basic hang of what I'm supposed to do to stay balanced and even steer a little.

Arthur wasn't so lucky as he soon ended up falling on his side. I barely had time to dodge him and I looked back to make sure he got up. He sat up looking slightly dazed, but he seemed fine otherwise.

"Astra! Look out!" I heard Merlin's alarmed voice and I turned forwards again just in time to watch my left ski collide with a large rock. In a blink, I was lying on my back and experiencing a mild pain in my left foot.

I groaned a little and forced myself to sit up, then I hurried to take off the skis so that I could stand up without many complications. Arthur appeared next to me and offered me a hand, easily pulling me to my feet. I gave him a sheepish look when I noticed the slight amusement on his face.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly while resting a hand on the side of my face and searching my eyes.

"Never better," I responded with a grin. "You?"

He nodded. "I have to admit, that was fun."

A full smile formed on my lips and I reached up to kiss him for a moment before turning to address our friends, all of whom still stood atop the little hill. "Who's next?!" I called out.

"Me!" Gwaine chirped and he ran to get a pair of skis.

I chuckled at his enthusiasm and then slipped my hand into Arthur's before nudging his side gently. "You up for another try?"

"With you, I am 'up' for anything," he responded sweetly. We shared a smile and started to walk back to the beginning of the slope.

When the sun started to go down at about 16:30, we went back to our horses and Merlin and I led the way to a tavern in the lower town. I previously paid off the owner to ensure it would be empty so that we could have the place all to ourselves as we continue the celebration.

"Is this where you two come every other day?" Arthur asked my brother and I in a mocking whisper when we arrived.

I clenched my jaw and shared an annoyed look with Merlin, but neither of us said anything.

"Hey, Francis!" I greeted the tavern owner as we entered. Contrary to my King's beliefs, I'd never met the man until a week ago, when I'd been searching for a lowkey place where we could all hang out before having to head back to the castle. The robust middle-aged man had been only too happy to accommodate us.

"It is nice to see you again, Astra," he responded with a courteous bow of his head before turning to Arthur and bowing with his whole body. "Your Majesty, you are most welcome."

My King nodded in response before looking down at me with surprise written all over his handsome features. I nudged his side and thanked Francis for his help. Then I walked deeper into the building and waved my friends over.

"So, uh, there's ping-pong..." I motioned towards a table I'd commissioned specially from the local carpenter, atop which sat a ball and a pair of rackets that Leo and Oliver had sent over. They really went all out in helping me to organise everything. Even if it earned me an angry letter from my former classmate in which he told me, once more, that the mini time-machine is not an Amazon service. "I also brought Uno, Cluedo, and Monopoly," I motioned towards another table, atop which sat the aforementioned games. Then I pointed at the bar, "And a bunch of crisps and other snacks."

Arthur looked around with his mouth agape. His eyes stopped for a moment on the 'Happy Birthday' banner that hung from a wall before they moved on to scan the ping-pong table, then a gift bag that sat atop a stool, then the board games table, the helium-filled balloons that were scattered all over (those were a hazard to get done!), and, after a few more seconds, his gaze fell on me.

"You likey?" I asked with a shy smile.

I was swiftly enveloped in a warm hug and I closed my eyes as I returned it, my heart beating in contentment at the feeling of his safe arms around me. "This is incredible, Astra. Thank you."

"Anything for you," I responded before reaching up to kiss the side of his jaw.

"You two are nauseating," Merlin claimed in a mumble.

"Shut up," I growled as I sent him a playful glare. Then I looked back at Arthur, "What d'ya wanna do first?"

He tilted his head and looked around, again, for a few seconds. A grin formed on his soft lips when his eyes landed on the ping-pong table. "How does that work?" he wondered.

"Oh! Y'all are gonna love this one!" I chirped while sending our friends a smile, and I skipped over to the table.

"So... did you have fun?" I asked my King as we re-entered his – our – room three hours later; a hopeful smile forming on my lips as I looked up at his pretty face.

Arthur twirled me around, causing me to giggle, and then he drew me closer, pressing me against his chest. He leaned down and rested his forehead against mine before sighing and closing his eyes.

"I did. I had a lot of fun," he replied in a soft voice. I smirked in triumph and reached up to kiss him. My heart accelerated, fuelled by contentment caused by his words, and I hoped he could tell how glad I felt that he enjoyed the stuff I planned. He quickly slid a hand up to my cheek and tilted his head slightly as he gently ran his tongue over my bottom lip. I happily allowed him to deepen the kiss and moved a hand up to the nape of his neck before starting to run my fingers through his hair.

"Thank you," Arthur whispered when he broke away. Then his lips found my neck and he began to trail soft kisses. "You mean everything to me, Astraea," he said in between pecks. My guts promptly turned to mush. "'Love' is not enough to describe how I feel about you."

My eyes pooled with tears and I hugged him tightly while my heart did cartwheels in my chest. "I feel the same. We should make up a new language," I stated.

"A whole language?" he questioned with a breathy chuckle, the hot air hitting my skin and sending a tingle down my spine.

"You're right, it still wouldn't be enough."

He lifted his head and gave me a momentary soft look before pressing his lips against mine once more. In a flash, he was picking me up and moving some steps forwards, the kiss never breaking as he set me down on my back atop the bed and hovered over me. The coolness of early winter dissipated as his warm body covered mine.

I put a hand on his cheek and gently pushed him to separate. "Artie – as much as I want this to continue, we have to get to dinner soon and we're nowhere near presentable," I noted in a strained whisper caused by the hindered oxygen brought on by kissing.

The King of Camelot pouted and narrowed his eyes at me before asking, "Do we have to go?"

I snorted and reached up to kiss him for another second before responding, "I kinda promised the courtiers."

"Why?" he whined before burying his face in my neck once more and starting to attack it with more feather-soft kisses that tickled me ever so slightly. I tried not to squirm from the sensation.

"'Cause that's the deal I made with 'em so they would let me steal you away for the whole day," I responded in a faintly shaky voice, feeling slightly overwhelmed by Arthur's amorous advances.

He didn't stop as he slid one hand under my jacket, hoodie, and base-layer, his thumb gently tracing the ugly scar on my abdomen and causing my skin to catch fire. "You are the queen, they do not have to let you do anything," he countered, his lips continuing to brush my neck as he spoke.

I clenched my jaw, fighting hard against the urge to just give in as I retorted, "Yeah, but you know I don't like to use my dumb title for leverage."

"We will simply not show up, then," Arthur stated.

"That'd be rude," I pointed out.

"So what?"

"Artie, c'mon," I tried to make myself sound more stern as I pushed him away, instantly missing the close contact. "They're your people, they wanna celebrate with you, too," I added softly.

The fully grown, turning twenty-seven-year-old man pouted once more and I couldn't help but smile a little at the sight. He's so adorable!

"We can do anything you want afterwards. I promise," I sweetened the deal with a wink.

"Anything?" he questioned as a mischievous smirk grew on his lips.

My smile faded and I blinked rapidly for a few seconds. What the heck is he trying to imply?!

Well, I guess it doesn't really matter. I trust him completely and I know that he would never hurt me.

I grinned again and nodded.

"Fine," he finally relented and placed one more soft kiss on my lips before rolling off me and standing up. "You are joining me for a bath, though."

I felt my face get red and I looked away from his piercing gaze before mumbling, "Sure."

"You are so cute when you get all flustered!" he teased and he picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing. "Need I remind you that we are married?!"

"Shut up."

Moving from the corridor into the grand hall was like being in the Arctic, and then suddenly being swallowed by the Earth and transported into hell. The room was exploding with life and people were packed like chickens in an unethical factory farm, causing the room to be suffocatingly warm despite the snowfall happening beyond the castle walls.

Long sleeves are gonna be a nightmare.

I forced my lips into a grin, trying not to show the displeasure I felt from the large crowd of strangers as Arthur and I walked in hand-in-hand. He, on the other hand, let out a groan and looked down at me in annoyance.

"Perks of being King, Peaches," I told him with a sympathetic look.

He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before grunting, "Do not you dare leave my side."

"What if I have to pee?" I questioned teasingly.

"You are forbidden from drinking anything," he responded with a pout, causing me to laugh.

"What if the food doesn't agree with me and I have to, like, throw up, or somethin'?"

"You are forbidden from eating anything."

I pouted. "Aw, but I got the cooks to make something special for the occasion."

His eyes widened in surprise and the grumpy look on his features faded as he asked, "You did?"

"Of course!" I responded with a smile. "Ya' thought I'd let these basic b*tches plan everything?" I asked in a (semi) jokey whisper while motioning towards a bunch of courtier men who stood in a corner of the room, talking and laughing without restraint.

Arthur finally smiled at that and he pulled me in for a hug. "I am the luckiest man alive," he whispered.

"And I'm the luckiest girl in history," I retorted with a grin.

He huffed. "Must you turn everything into a competition?"

"Yes."

The little happiness I was able to extract from my King faded as he looked at something past me and I tilted my head for a moment before turning to follow his line of sight. Approaching us was a beaming woman of some sixty years of age; tall, skinny, and dressed very elegantly in a dark green gown. You'd think she was the queen.

I can vaguely recall seeing her at our wedding, but I was never introduced. I'd been too busy being nervous. And making up games with the party from Gawant.

"Oh! My dear Arthur!" the woman exclaimed.

"Who's that?" I asked my King in a whisper.

"My father's cousin, Meredith," he responded in the same manner before putting on a very obviously fake smile and closing the remaining distance between himself and the woman, hugging her stiffly.

I swear, relatives of his keep popping out from underneath rocks!

My body tensed with nervousness at the thought of having to make a good impression on her. We all know I suck at that! Just ask Queen Annis!

"Aunt – you remember Astraea, my queen," Arthur said as he suddenly led the woman up to me.

I gave her a tight grin as I greeted her, "It is nice to meet you, ma'am."

"Yes, I remember," she responded dryly, her eyes regarding me with clear disapproval. "She abandoned your wedding to play with a ball in the courtyard."

All oxygen was knocked out of my lungs by an invisible kick to the chest and I froze. It was just a harmless game of kickball with my friends! It's not like I ran away with, like, Prince Benjamin, or something!

My King seemed mortified as he moved away from his aunt to stand next to me, wrapping a protective arm around my shoulders. "She did not abandon the wedding. She simply extended the celebration beyond this chamber," he defended me to the woman. I unfroze to give him a grateful look and he responded with a gentle squeeze.

Meredith huffed and hastened away.

"I seem to have a talent for making your family hate me," I pointed out in a mumble as I glanced up at Arthur.

He let out a heavy sigh and clenched his jaw for a moment, his eyes remaining fixed on his aunt's retreating figure before he relaxed and kissed my forehead. "She does not hate you, she simply has trouble accepting that you are not... well..." He trailed off and tilted his head.

"Sane?" I asked, forcing my lips into a grin as I gave him a funny look. I have to admit that Meredith's words hurt a little. I don't need others to remind me I'm unfit to be queen – I tell that to myself in the mirror at least once every day! However, I'm not gonna let my grievance show and trash whatever hope remains for Arthur to enjoy his birthday dinner. So I shoved it down and locked it away.

He snorted and shook his head. "No. You are not ordinary," he stated while grabbing my hands in his and turning me to face him. "You are one of a kind, and I think that can be frightening for some. But our people love you. I love you. And that is all that matters."

I swallowed the dumb cry-baby tears that threatened to pool in my eyes and jumped to hug him. "I love you, too, Artie. And you're also one of a kind."

With my self-esteem kinda restored, I joined Arthur as he went around the room making an effort to greet and chat with the nobles that had come from all over the kingdom to celebrate both his birthday and the anniversary of his coronation in a few days.

About a half-hour later, the servants began to pour inside the room while carrying circular plates with about a dozen variations of a dish you and I know well, but which is very much new for everyone else in the room.

The room instantly filled with a mouth-watering cheesy smell and I grew giddy.

My King looked on with curiosity as the plates were placed along the tables that lined the room; then he turned to me with a questioning, yet joyous, expression as he asked, "What are these?"

"These, my precious ray of sunshine," I responded with a smirk, "are what we call 'pizza'."

"Pizza," he echoed slowly, as if testing out the word.

"Yup. You're gonna love it, I promise," I responded before reaching up to kiss his cheek. He gave me a heart-warming smile, then he waved George over (I made Merlin take the night off duty so that he could celebrate with us properly).

My eccentric friend promptly served Arthur a slice of a simple pepperoni pizza and I giggled when my King went to cut it with a fork and knife. I considered telling him how the food is usually eaten, for a moment, but then I reflected that the nobles will possibly be scandalised if they are told to eat with their hands. So I saved the comment just this once; instead settling for watching in amusement as he slowly brought a piece of the cheesy goody up to his mouth.

His enchanting eyes widened in wonder. "Astra – this is delicious!" he exclaimed rapidly before taking another forkful out of the pizza.

My heart jumped with joy and I kissed his cheek once more. "Happy birthday, Artie. I love you three-thousand."