Disclaimed: I don't own any of the Merlin Characters...they belonged to BCC

Chapter 19

Percival somehow lost Gwen in the wilderness of the Bildungsroman Forest. He didn't mean to lose her when the Tree Giant was chasing after them. He thought it would chase after him instead. When he saw that it was actually going after her, he planned to rescue her but someone very heavy crashed landed on top of him, knocking his lights out. It was dark already by the time he came around. He moved around to see that the body that landed on him belonged to a dark haired man that he didn't recognize.

He groaned, rubbing his aching head before looking over to the newcomer to check to see if he was still alive. When he saw the newcomer showed signs of breathing, he huffed out in relief. Although, he hoped both of them didn't get a concussion because of the crash. He needed to find Elyan and now it seemed he needed to find Gwen too. He hoped the girl was smart enough to stay alive until he found her.

Nighttime in the Bildungsroman Forest was the most dangerous of times, therefore, Percival had to get this newcomer off of the ground and up a tree. After he gave himself a self-checkup to see if there were any broken bones—luckily, with all bones still intact—he easily lifted Lancelot over his broad shoulder and started climbing a tree.

As he almost got to the top of the tree, he heard a groan; and thinking it was the newcomer waking up continued. He didn't expect a mouse in armor would appear standing on his shoulder, holding a tiny needle sword centimeters away from his face.

"Who are you and what do you think you're going with my friend there, eh?" demanded a squeaky yet firm voice from the mouse.

Percival wasn't sure if he should take the creature seriously or not but at the moment, he couldn't fight him or else they would all fall to their deaths. "My name is Percival. I'm a ranger."

The mouse looked at his surroundings and realized where he was. "The Bildungsroman Forest, how did we wound up here?"

The ranger didn't answer something he didn't know and shrugged. "Look, can we talk once we've reached the top first? I may be strong but my arms won't hold out much longer," he said.

Slowly and cautiously, the mouse sheathed his sword. He didn't trust the ranger but he had no choice. They were too high up on the tree; the free fall would kill Lancelot if he attacked the ranger now. "Fine, continue."

Percival wasn't one who took orders willingly but he would save it for later when they were all safe. After he got them onto a huge branch of the tree and safely put the mouse's friend onto the ground of it, both of them drew their swords. He was sure he could take down the mouse but he was aware that the smaller the body portion, the faster they were.

"Now answer me, how did we get here?"

"Why should I answer you? You're being very rude to the person who saved your friend's life."

"It's called being cautious. We, creatures of magic, shall always cautious around you humans. You never know when or if you will turn on us," he hissed.

"Funny, I'm pretty sure that you're friend there is a human."

The mouse remained quiet, knowing full well it was the truth. However, Lancelot was a friend of Merlin's, the wizard who was destined to save them all. Even though, he was not like Gwaine, who was known to help the magical creatures ever since he was just a boy, Matthias would still defend Lancelot just the same. "He is different."

Percival was well aware that there were humans living among the hidden villages of magic but he wasn't one of them. He was a ranger who never stayed in one place too long to have any friends. He met a lot of creatures, including the other talking mouse that he didn't bother to become friends with. "Look, why can't we just be civil about this? Let's just sleep through the night and we will go about our separate way by dawn."

"You could rob us in our sleep."

He rolled his eyes and sheathed his sword. "If I was going to do that, I could have done it when you were still unconscious and left you to the forest," he pointed out.

Matthias slowly withdrew his needle sword. The ranger had a point. "Fine, we will go our separate way by dawn."

Arthur wasn't comfortable looking at Merlin casting a protective wards around the cave. He was never this close to any person or creature with magic without having a fight to the death match with them soon after. He still found it strange that his manservant was a warlock, but it was something that he would have to get used to if he wanted to be with Merlin. Although, there was something strange about Merlin, did he gain weight? It was not a lot of weight but it was noticeable, especially in the stomach area.

Meanwhile, Merlin was also uncomfortable with Arthur staring at him so intensely. It didn't feel right to do magic in front of his prince; after all, the last three years he had been hiding it from him. He constantly feared that Arthur might change his mind deciding at anytime to kill him. Shaking his head, he had to keep himself from doubting Arthur. Arthur was very noble when it came to taking a life; he wouldn't use such trick. Although, there were other things that still bothered Merlin, like him being pregnant, and Hanthur being Arthur's heir traveled from the future; which one would Merlin tell Arthur first?

"Merlin," Arthur said and Merlin stiffened where he stood. The prince frowned, aware that his manservant still didn't believe him after he already assured him he wouldn't hurt him. "I think you've put up enough spells to protect us for a lifetime."

Merlin turned his head to Arthur with a nervous smile. "Well, I'm just making sure those flesh-eating bugs can't get through," he said, staring at the holes in Arthur's clothes, ripped by those pincers that almost killed his prince not just an hour ago. Then he awkwardly walked over to sit as far away as he could from his prince.

Arthur rolled his eyes in annoyance. He stood up, walked over, and knelt down before Merlin before pulling him into a chaste kiss. He could feel Merlin's body tense up before he melted into Arthur's kiss. After a brief moment, Arthur pulled away, satisfied from Merlin's dazed expression. "I meant it. I love you."

Merlin nodded looking very dazed but quickly blinked it away. He hated the fact that Arthur could easily distract him but he couldn't help it when he was so in love with him. He was so happy that Arthur loved him back. However, he pushed Arthur back; both of them understood they couldn't go further than a kiss until Arthur settled things with Gwen.

Sighing, Merlin decided to mention the baby; he couldn't tell Arthur about Hanthur, it wasn't his place to tell. "Arthur, there is something else I need to tell you."

The prince studied his manservant carefully, frowning. There were more secrets Merlin was hiding from him? "What do you mean?" Arthur noticed the panic in Merlin's eyes and he quickly regretted using his demanding tone of voice. Whatever Merlin was hiding this time was something of a sensitive nature, not sometime as extreme as magic. He closed his eyes and forced himself to calm down. "Merlin, what are you hiding from me?" He said with a gentler voice. "Please tell me."

The expression on Merlin's face was tight as he looked at Arthur with scared eyes. He nodded as he ran a hand back over his short dark hair. "I'm pregnant," he said as he tried to smile but failed miserably.

He watched Arthur, searching his face for a reaction, and he could see that Arthur tried his best not to look so shocked, but like Merlin, he also failed miserably at trying.

Merlin is pregnant? But he is a man, men can't get pregnant! Arthur thought, but he didn't want to say anything. Merlin had put a lot of trust in Arthur in order to tell him this but how could Arthur believe it. He never heard of a man being pregnant before! Then it finally hit him why Merlin looked slightly bigger than his usual size. He was pregnant.

Merlin was a little concerned by Arthur's expressions. One moment he was frowning and the other time he looked confused until his eyes widened in shock. "Arthur," he said and his prince finally turned to him.

"How?" was the only thing he could say from his gaped mouth.

His manservant shrugged uncomfortably, thinking maybe this was not the right time to tell the prince. He did just learn about Merlin's magic after all, maybe it is too soon. "Something had to do with my magic."

At first Arthur didn't know what to think but then he felt it; butterflies in his stomach as he came to realize it. "I'm going to be a father," he said in a tone of disbelief before a happy laughter followed it. He looked to Merlin with his merry glistening blue eyes. "I'm going to be a father!" He suddenly pulled the surprised Merlin up and swooped him off the floor as he twirled him around. At first Merlin was protesting of being manhandled and warned Arthur to put him down or else, but when he saw how happy Arthur was he couldn't help but join in with his happy prince. "Oh my god! This is so exciting!" He finally put Merlin down to his feet. "Meaning we won't have to worry about an heir! I don't have to be with a woman," he said with realization and relief. He wasn't really worried when it came to Merlin's living in Camelot knowing he had magic. He was more worried about their future. No matter how much he loved Merlin, he also knew the councilors and lords of the court would suggest that he sleep with a woman to give birth to an heir. But, now Merlin was already carrying his heir, he didn't need to worry about that anymore. He could spend the rest of his life committed to Merlin alone.

Although, the smile on Merlin's face suddenly faltered did bother Arthur. "What? What is it?"

"Hanthur," Merlin said, realizing what he had done. If Arthur would not marry his queen, Hanthur would never be born.

Arthur blinked, confused about at how Gaius's grandson had anything to do with them. "What? What about him?"

Some part of Merlin didn't want to tell Arthur but Hanthur came all the way from the future to save them all. It wouldn't be fair to sacrifice the boy's life just to have Arthur all to himself. He knew he was not supposed to tell Arthur but now he had to, for Hanthur's sake. Giving out a shaking huffed, he said, "He is your son, Arthur."