Sympathy Pains by ebhg

A/N: This is a bonus one-shot set between the last chapter and the epilogue of Another's Favor, requested by vegetableswillhavetheirrevenge. Sorry it took so long, but, well, I'm a perfectionist. Hope this is what you were hoping for, veg!

It had never occurred to Merlin that this was a possibility. After twelve hours of ever increasing agony, however, he realized that he hadn't really thought this through properly. Mithian had told him of her experiences when he had been injured so many months before, first by the arrow and then by Sarrum's poison. It had been his gift of a tiny bit of his magic, they had realized, that had enabled Mithian to feel an echo of Merlin's distress and pain. It had never occurred to Merlin that the connection would go both ways.

Mithian had described her experience as overwhelming and rather uncomfortable. Overwhelming, he could certainly agree with. This was more than uncomfortable, however. Merlin had never felt even so much as a twinge from Mithian before, yet now it was all he could do to keep himself from crying out. How could Mithian stand it? How did any woman stand it for that matter? Merlin had thought he had a high tolerance for pain.

Oh, how wrong he had been.

-x-

Things had started innocently enough. Mithian had roused Merlin from a deep sleep, shaking his arm urgently.

"Merlin! Wake up, Merlin!" she entreated him, the tenor of her voice, equal parts nervous and excited, pulled him from the frustrating dream he was having about writing yet another law.

"Wha- what is it, Mithian?"

"Well, it's a little embarrassing. I've either wet the bed or our babe has decided to finally make an appearance!"

"O-oh, OH!" Merlin exclaimed, leaping from the bed as he waved his hand and lit the sconces in the room. Then he stood at the foot of the bed, hands gripping his hair anxiously, eyes darting around the room.

"What are you doing?" Mithian chuckled.

"I, uh, I'm, PANTS! I need pants! I need to go collect the midwife, and Gaius! Gaius said he wanted to know as soon as it happened, said he'd get some tonics and tinctures ready for you. And, and, and... Arthur! He said I had to come and get him, he said he was going to wait with me... What am I looking for?! PANTS! I need my pants!"

Mithian chuckled as Merlin dove for the item in question and jammed his legs into them while still wearing his night clothes.

"It usually helps if you take those off, first," Mithian teased. "Calm down, Merlin. We have time, you do realize? Gwen labored for nearly the whole day with Amhar."

Merlin smiled sheepishly and slowed down enough to dress properly. After calling for Tillie, who had taken to sleeping in the anteroom in the event of such a night, Merlin and the handmaiden helped Mithian stand from the bed.

"Oh, my," Mithian groaned, blushing at the wetness she had left behind in the bed.

"Don't worry about it, your highness," Tillie reassured the princess as the handmaiden started pulling back the linens.

"Let me help you," Merlin said, easing Mithian into a chair at the table and darting to the other side of the bed to assist Tillie in stripping the sheets. Just as they tucked the fresh bed clothes around the mattress, Mithian curled low over her swollen stomach and gave a long, low moan.

Merlin turned in alarm and took a step towards Mithian, only to gasp and clutch at his lower abdomen, his eyes wide in alarm.

"What was that?!" Merlin asked.

"Well, I've never done this before, but I think it is safe to say that the pains have begun," Mithian said dryly, a curious glint in her eye.

"Oh," Merlin said stupidly, his hand still rubbing absently over his stomach.

"Best to fetch the midwife, then," Mithian said amusedly, watching as realization dawned on Merlin's features.

"I'm supposed to do that!" he said, pressing a kiss to Mithian's brow as he rushed past her and out the door.

"I'm sure everything will be fine," Tillie murmured, patting Mithian reassuringly.

"Yes, I'm sure it will be," Mithian agreed, biting her lip as she thought about what she was sure Merlin was going to be experiencing right along side her.

-x-

"Arthur!" Merlin hissed, stopping just outside the curtains drawn around the royal bedchamber. "Arthur!"

"What do you want?! Do you have any idea what time it is?" Arthur growled, sticking just his head through an opening in the draperies.

"Don't get all snappish at me, you said you wanted to know!"

"Know what, you idiot?! If you haven't noticed, you've not told me anything, yet!"

"Oh," Merlin said, his face reddening. "Mithian's begun to have the pains, and her waters broke all over the bed!"

Arthur grimaced in disgust.

"I don't think that was one of the things that we agreed that you'd tell me," he groused. Merlin just rolled his eyes.

"Did I hear you say Mithian's laboring?" Gwen asked, tieing her robe over her nightgown as she pushed past Arthur and through the curtain. Merlin almost felt bad about the disappointed look that passed over the king's face as the queen darted excitedly from the room. Almost.

"What should we do now?" Merlin asked, wincing and rubbing at his stomach. Arthur looked at him in askance, but Merlin waved his hand dismissively.

"Why don't we go back to sleep?" Arthur suggested hopefully. Merlin rolled his eyes at the king.

"I'm going to be a father tonight, and you want me to go to sleep?!"

"Well, it is the middle of the night!" Arthur argued, glaring at his advisor as the infant prince snuffled and whimpered in his cradle before settling again. "At least my son had the sense to come in the day time!"

"Excuse me?! Are you really such a fat head that you think your son came during the day just to please yo-nnnnnnngggggggghhhhhhhh!" Merlin's irritated rant cut off mid-stride as a cramp in his gut tightened unexpectedly.

"What is wrong with you?!" Arthur exclaimed, grabbing Merlin's arm and pulling him upright. "I mean besides the usual."

"Besides the usual? What is that supposed to mean?!"

"Well," Arthur began.

"Just shut up," Merlin growled, causing Arthur's eyebrows to raise in surprise.

"Let me just go get Amhar's nurse, and we'll go find the knights. Gwaine can keep you occupied."

"I don't need to get drunk!" Merlin protested.

"I'm not so sure about that," Arthur muttered to himself, shaking his head as he left to find Amhar's nurse.

-x-

"Merlin!" Gwaine crowed excitedly as Arthur pulled the reluctant warlock into the knight's wing. Leon and Percival were escorting the rather tipsy knight to his chambers when Arthur and Merlin came upon them.

"Sire," Leon acknowledged, handing Gwaine's arm to Elyan standing beside them. "What brings you here this time of night?"

"Merlin, actually," Arthur answered, gesturing to the warlock beside him, whose face was suddenly wrinkled with tension.

"Merlin, mate, what's the matter with you?" Gwaine asked, his words remarkably clear for a man so drunk.

"It's Mithian," Merlin answered. "She's begun the labors."

Congratulations resounded through the corridor, only to be interrupted when Merlin groaned and nearly bent double, clutching at his stomach.

"Merlin!"

"I'll get Gaius!" Leon offered, rushing off as Arthur and the remaining knights ushered Merlin into Gwaine's quarters.

A newly sober Gwaine pushed Merlin onto the bed and the warlock curled into a ball, panting.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" Gwaine asked in alarm.

"I don't know!" Arthur exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic. The king and knights, having never seen a woman labor, were clueless. But Merlin had seen three different women labor; two in Ealdor when he was just a boy, and one in Camelot while in the role as Gaius' assistant. The warlock had a very strong suspicion as to what he was experiencing, a thought that was only confirmed when Gaius entered on Leon's heels. Merlin had recovered from the bout that had sent Leon rushing after the physician and was sitting up on the bed when his mentor walked in, just in time to see him clutch at his abdomen and curl in on himself, panting.

"Whatever is the matter?" Gaius asked, looking at his former ward in alarm.

"We don't know! He just keeps doing this every ten minutes or so!" Arthur said, gesturing to Merlin's slumped form emphatically. Gaius' eyebrow shot straight to his hairline and he looked at Merlin appraisingly.

"Every ten minutes you say?" Gaius asked, a glimmer of humor in his eye.

"Don't even start, Gaius," Merlin muttered, his elbows propped on his knees, which he'd pulled up in front of him, letting his head rest on his forearms.

"Start what?" Gaius asked innocently, trying valiantly to hide his grin.

"You know exactly what this is," Merlin said, refusing to lift his head from his arms.

"Then enlighten us, because I, for one, would like to know!" Arthur said, nearly stamping his foot in frustration.

"Merlin?" Gaius murmured in askance, knowing that Merlin and Mithian were very private about their connection.

"They'll find out soon enggghhhnnnnnnnnnn," Merlin said, his words cut off by another moan as Gaius stepped to the side of the bed and clasped the warlock's shoulder comfortingly.

"TELL ME WHAT THIS IS, NOW!" Arthur shouted, his eyes widening in alarm as Merlin slumped sideways on the bed, clutching at his stomach.

"Simply put, your highness, they are labor pains," Gaius said matter-of-factly.

"Labor pains?!" Arthur exclaimed, his expression one of utter confusion.

"I thought I was the drunk one, Gaius. You sort of have to be a woman to have those," Gwaine said, eyeing the older man dubiously.

"Last I checked, Merlin is not a woman," Percival stated.

"What do you mean?! When were you checking that?" Arthur asked, looking at Percival with a mildly disgusted expression.

"I am sitting right here!" Merlin ground out, pulling himself back to a sitting position. "And you know very well that I am not a woman!"

"Well, there was that one time," Gwaine said unhelpfully, a gleeful grin across his face.

"I'll make you a woman if you don't shut up," Merlin said, glaring at the unapologetic knight.

"No, Sire," Gaius interrupted smoothly. "I believe that these are what are commonly referred to as 'sympathy pains.'"

"Sympathy pains?" Arthur said, his eyebrow lifting in amusement.

"Yes, Sire, it is not entirely unusual," Gaius reassured him.

"What is this? You're having a party and didn't invite me?"

Merlin groaned as Mordred stepped into the room, the door having been left ajar after Gaius and Leon had entered.

"Did this pumpkin head wake you? Is he groaning loud enough to rouse the entire corridor?" Arthur asked Mordred, his eyes glinting mischievously at this new excuse to tease his advisor.

"He did wake me," Mordred admitted, looking at his mentor apologetically. "But it wouldn't have woken anyone else unless they had magic."

"Sorry, Mordred," Merlin said, carding a hand through his hair and leaving it a tousled mess.

"So, sympathy pains?" Arthur questioned again, just in time for Merlin to moan again. Mordred's eyebrows raised at the sight, and he, too, moved forward with Gaius to put a hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"Fascinating," Mordred murmured, looking at Gaius curiously.

"Yes, I felt it too," the physician confirmed.

"Such a bond, from such a small gift," Mordred said in wonderment.

"It is certainly unusual," Gaius agreed.

"I am still sitting right here!" Merlin complained, breathing deeply as the cramping receded.

"So are we! Care to explain or are you going to just let us all sit in the dark?!"

"Shut up, Arthur," Merlin groaned, even as Gaius apologized.

"Merlin?" Gaius asked, knowing how much Merlin disliked his private things aired before everyone.

"Go ahead," the warlock allowed, waving his hand in permission. "We'll get no peace, otherwise."

"Sire, you may be unaware that Merlin and Mithian share a rather unique bond."

Arthur looked at Merlin with a raised eyebrow, turning back to the physician when his unvoiced question was met with an eyeroll.

"I gave her some of my magic," Merlin admitted, causing the king to whirl back to the warlock with wide eyes.

"What?!"

"Just what I said. I didn't mean to. I'm not even really sure how I did it, and no, I will not give anything to anybody else," Merlin said, directing the last at Gwaine's suddenly hopeful expression.

"So this magical gift has given Merlin labor pains?" Arthur asked, eyeing Gaius doubtfully.

"Sympathy pains," Gaius corrected helpfully.

"More like an echo," Mordred said, his eyes wide with wonderment as Merlin curled up and did his best to stifle his groan.

"An echo?" Elyan asked.

"Yes," Mordred confirmed.

"What does that mean?!" Leon asked.

"He means," Merlin cut in, "that I'm not just feeling pains because of an over-active desire to sympathize with my wife, but because I am actually feeling a portion of her pain."

"Oohhhh," Gwaine said as realization dawned.

"Sorry mate," Percival intoned softly, the other knights nodding their agreement.

"So what do we do?" Arthur asked, looking at Merlin as though he was bound to keel over at any moment.

"I suppose the same sorts of things that might be helpful to a laboring woman," Gaius said.

"Which is?" Arthur asked.

"Walking around helps, I'm told a gentle massage on the lower back or the shoulders can be helpful. Sometimes laboring women like to hold onto someone's hand."

As one, Arthur and the knights took a step back from the bed and looked imploringly at each of the others as Merlin yet again curled in on himself and panted through the pain.

"No, thank you," Merlin groused, looking just as uncomfortably at each of the other men in the room.

"Where's Mithian when you need her?" Gwaine asked.

"I think that's what got us into this mess in the first place, mate," Elyan muttered.

-x-

Arthur had thought Merlin's situation rather amusing at first; it provided excellent fodder for mocking his advisor at a later date. But several hours into their ordeal, the warlock's magic began to overflow as the pain caused Merlin's control to slip. Percival, Leon and Elyan left for safer quarters as soon as every unsecured object in the room took a turn at flying around at bruising speeds. As it was Gwaine's room, he felt honor bound to stay and help Merlin through the ordeal. Arthur secretly suspected the knight was really there to ensure nothing happened to his secret stash of mead.

Arthur couldn't help but laugh when Gwaine's heavy oak table was upended by the knight in an effort to provide shelter from the storm of magically thrown objects. When the bed hangings and tapestries began to light on fire, however, the king decided Merlin's little conundrum was no longer humorous. Mordred had thankfully stayed, rationalizing that his magic might be needed. Which was rather fortuitous, as Mordred had proved invaluable in dousing Merlin's magically-induced flames. Even with the younger warlock's skill, though, things around Gwaine's room were looking decidedly more charred with each passing hour.

Gaius had left just a half-hour previously to retrieve a stronger sleeping draught, as the two previous concoctions had failed at sedating the groaning warlock.

"Come on, Merlin, this can't be all that bad," Arthur said in an attempt at encouraging his advisor.

"Would you like to come here and try it for yourself?!" Merlin said, a crazed look in his eye as he glared at the king. Arthur cringed back at the uncharacteristic venom in Merlin's voice. That was another thing that Gaius had warned him about. As Mithian's labor progressed further and further, Merlin's attitude was sure to become more and more irritable. This, Arthur mused, was more than irritable. If anyone were to ask him to describe Merlin's state of mind, the king would say hostile without blinking an eye.

"Do you want to try a turn about the room again?" Arthur asked with a tone of false cheer.

"Come here and I'll show you a turn."

Arthur took an instinctive step back and covered himself protectively. He had no doubt at that moment that the warlock would follow through on his threat to turn the king into a woman as punishment for enjoying the Dolma bit too much.

"I'm sure he doesn't really mean it," Mordred said comfortingly, smiling at Arthur reassuringly.

"I'll show you exactly what I meannnnngggggggggggg," Merlin growled, his face crumpling as Gaius burst through the door.

"This ought to work!" The physician said, holding a vial of greenish liquid triumphantly.

"That's what you said the last time!" Arthur said, then flung himself to the floor as the vial in Gaius' hand shattered spectacularly.

"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed in shock, dropping the fragments of glass still in his hand.

"I'm sorry, Gaius, I am, I really am. I didn't mean to do that, I promise, it was just an accident, really it was," Merlin groaned, his mood shifting rapidly. Arthur peeked up over the edge of the bed at the tone of defeat in Merlin's voice, unsteady as the warlock fought valiantly to stave off tears.

"Now what's wrong?!" Arthur said, his voice tinged with a hint of panic, even as Gaius smiled.

"We must be close to the end now; we can expect his moods to be as swift as the winds for the next hour or so. Unfortunately, the pains will nearly run together at this point. It is a critical point in the labors, just before the babe is delivered. I've heard the midwife describe it as hell on earth."

"Why are you relieved then?!" Arthur exclaimed, even as Merlin growled in pain and set the fire in the fireplace roaring beyond the containment of the hearth. Mordred darted forward, spells flowing like water from his lips in an effort to contain the blaze.

"He means it's almost over!" Gwaine said from his position behind his overturned table, his jousting helm on his head and his shield at the ready.

"But he said hell on earth! What does that mean to you? Because I'm pretty sure that I've been in hell for a few hours now!" Arthur said, his voice bordering on hysterical.

"You think YOU'VE been in HELL?!" Merlin growled, glaring at Arthur.

"Yes! What did we do when we were waiting for Amhar to be born?! We hunted! We sparred on the practice field and we had a fine feast of fresh venison that night! That is what I thought we'd be doing now!"

"I'm sorry I'm making you so miserable," Merlin said waspishly. "Now get your fat head over here and hold my hand, dammit!"

Arthur was on the verge of refusing, but swiftly reconsidered when an ominous rumble of thunder rattled the citadel, though it had been a clear, peaceful night just moments before. With a look of resignation, Arthur strode over to Merlin's side as though he were being sent to the gallows. Valiantly steeling himself for what he was sure was a bad idea, the king thrust his hand towards Merlin's. The warlock wasted no time, darting a hand out and gripping Arthur's in an iron grip. Arthur's eyes widened and he struggled to refrain from yelling as Merlin clamped down on Arthur's hand with a strength that the king would never have believed.

"Breathe, Merlin!" Gaius encouraged, gripping Merlin's shoulder as Mordred rushed to douse the flames that had begun to burn the oak table.

"I am breathing!" Merlin forced out through gritted teeth as he gripped Arthur's hand impossibly harder.

Three quarters of an hour passed with thunder and lightning booming and flashing outside in time with the flames and flying objects swirling within the room. Through it all, Merlin kept an unrelenting grip on the king's hand, his knuckles white with the effort. Then with a final, agonized groan that sent a small whirlwind tearing through the room, everything suddenly stopped. Merlin lay sweaty and panting as he released Arthur's hand with a relieved sigh and flopped limply onto his back.

"Now what?" Gwaine asked as Arthur stared at his reddened hand in stunned disbelief.

"I think it's over," Mordred said, looking questioningly at Gaius who simply nodded and smiled at Merlin's suddenly snoring form.

"I think you're right," Gaius said, moving towards the door. "I believe that means I have a babe to examine. Excuse me."

Arthur looked at Gwaine and Mordred before the three of them turned as one to stare at the peacefully sleeping warlock on the bed.

"Now what?" Gwaine repeated stupidly, looking around his thrashed chambers in dismay.

"I have no idea," Arthur said, falling heavily into the seat beside the bed.

"Do you suppose this will happen every time?" Mordred asked. Arthur's eyes widened as he looked in horror at the now-peaceful warlock.

"May this babe be an only child."

"I think Merlin might agree with you, there," Gwaine said, and the three of them chuckled wearily. Arthur raised his eyebrow questioningly when Mordred twitched and cocked his head slightly to the side, his eyes going blank.

"Mordred?" Arthur asked as he watched the knight's eyes focus on the room once more.

"Sorry, that was Gaius. Mithian is asking for Merlin."

"Well, then, let's get him up," Gwaine said cheerfully. "If Mithian's awake, then he should be too!"

"I'm sure he'd like to meet the new baby, as well," Mordred replied.

"Yeah, that too," Gwaine said, then the three of them looked to one another in askance.

"Which one of you two is going to wake him up?" Arthur asked.

"Are you kidding me?" Gwaine laughed. "I'm not going near him until he's well and truly awake. I rather fancy my most important bits, thanks."

"Why me?" Mordred protested when both Arthur and Gwaine turned to him expectantly.

"You've got magic," Arthur reasoned.

"But you are the least likely to get hurt, your highness," Mordred replied, putting on his most respectful tone.

"Me?!" Arthur exclaimed.

"He's got a point," Gwaine offered, taking Mordred's side.

"Point?! No he hasn't! I'm the king! You go wake him up, Gwaine."

"He needn't bother," Merlin groused, sitting up groggily and swinging his legs gingerly over the side of the bed. "The three of you are obnoxious enough to wake the dead."

Arthur's mouth dropped open in indignation, but his retort was cut short by Merlin's rapid departure.

-x-

Gaius moved through the dark, quiet corridors as swiftly as his aging body would let him. There was a giddy excitement building just beneath his breastbone, the likes of which he had not felt in decades. Tonight, Merlin and Mithian had become parents. Merlin had been asking all sorts of questions about fatherhood in the last few months; Gaius had protested that he was not the best source of such information, but the warlock had thrown his protests straight out the window as though they were dirty bath water.

"You are the only father I've ever known, Gaius."

Merlin's quiet words had choked Gaius up and caused his eyes to sting with unshed tears. That same stinging sensation threatened to blur the physician's vision as he finally came upon the chambers he was headed for. Composing himself, Gaius raised a hand and gave a gentle knock which was answered quickly by Tillie.

"How are things?" Gaius asked, knowing the answer already by the wide grin on the handmaiden's face.

"Just beautiful," Tillie whispered, ushering the physician into the room.

"Gaius," Mithian greeted, her voice tired but her expression serene as she held a tightly bundled form in her arms.

"Mithian, dearest, how are you?" Gaius asked, his smile widening as he took in the fine, elfin features of the babe in the princess's arms.

"I'm just lovely, now. How's Merlin?" Mithian asked, her face uncertain.

"He's just fine, now."

"I trust he had a time of it?" Mithian asked.

"You might say so," Gaius hedged, thinking back on the tumultuous last few hours and the charred remains of Gwaine's chambers.

"That bad?" Mithian chuckled.

"Let's just say that Gwaine won't be using his chambers for a little while," Gaius replied, neatly sidestepping Mithian's question. The princess laughed tiredly, then became transfixed once more by the babe in her arms.

"May I examine the babe?" Gaius asked, holding his arms out questioningly.

"Of course, Gaius. He's a boy," Mithian said proudly, gently handing the bundle to the physician. Gaius smiled and gingerly took the baby and cradled him, bouncing slightly to sooth the young prince's fussing.

"Let's just have a look at you," Gaius cooed, laying the babe on the bed beside Mithian and gently unwrapping the swaddling. Gaius' expert eye swiftly looked from head to foot, noting the dark curls and straight nose from his mother and the lips and long fingers from his father. Gaius gently grasped the tiny wrist and felt for the babe's pulse; his heart was beating strongly and the infant proved that he had excellent lungs when just seconds later, his face wrinkled in dismay and he let out a loud cry.

"Merlin..." Gaius tried calling out mentally, but with no reply within a minute, the physician directed his mental call to Merlin's apprentice.

"Mordred, Mithian would like to see Merlin, now. Would you please get him back to his chambers?"

With swift, practiced hands, Gaius rewrapped the babe and tucked him back into Mithian's waiting arms.

"Is Merlin coming?" Mithian asked, her voice casual, but her expression belying her desperate desire to see her husband and show him their son.

"I'm sure he'll be here momentarily," Gaius assured her, smiling at the pair of them. The physician was proved correct when just a few minutes later, Merlin burst through the door and skidded to a halt just beside the bed, gasping for breath.

"Did you run here all the way from Gwaine's chambers?" Gaius asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Yes," Merlin answered, nodding his head and freezing as soon as Gaius moved aside and revealed Mithian and the baby.

"Mithian," Merlin breathed, his expression awed as he sunk down on the bed beside his wife and took in the bundle in her arms. The warlock sat spellbound for a full minute before he looked up into Mithian's sparkling eyes, anxiously awaiting her report.

"Merlin, I'd like for you to meet our son," Mithian whispered, handing the newborn to the nervous warlock and helping Merlin to get the tiny bundle situated.

"We have a son," Merlin whispered, awestruck. "He looks just like you, Mithian."

"He looks like you, too. Be sure of that," Mithian promised.

"We have a son," Merlin repeated, his face breaking out into an enormous grin.

"Yes," Mithian laughed. "What should we name him?"

Merlin's face fell as he looked down at the fine features, so much like Mithian's. He had wanted to name a son after Balinor, but the name just didn't fit this babe.

"I don't know. He doesn't look like a Balinor, does he?" Merlin replied. Mithian immediately smiled and shook her head.

"He doesn't. But he needs a good, strong name."

"May I suggest something?" Gaius interrupted. At Merlin and Mithian's encouraging nods, he continued. "This babe has become such a symbol for not only magic's return, but hope as well. It would be fitting to give him a name that reflects that. I think that Edryd is a perfect name for such a prince. It means restoration."

Merlin smiled, looking down on his son for a moment before looking questioningly at Mithian.

"Edryd it is," Mithian said, smiling at the brilliant grin that stretched across Merlin's face, and the matching one on Gaius'.

"Gaius, I'd like to introduce you to your grandson, Edryd," Merlin said, smiling at his father-in-all-but-blood.

"Hello, Edryd," Gaius whispered, trying valiantly to stave off the happy tears, but failing spectacularly.

"How did you do?" Mithian asked curiously, noting for the first time, Merlin's haggard appearance.

"Uh, well," Merlin hedged, his face reddening in embarrassment as he recalled some of the things that he had said and the uncontrolled bursts of magic that had utterly destroyed Gwaine's chambers.

"He was a complete mess," Gaius said dryly, raising an eyebrow at Merlin as though daring him to deny that he had been utterly incapacitated. "His magic was setting things alight and throwing things around, and that's not even mentioning the threats he gave out like free sweetmeats at the market."

"Oh, Merlin, I'm so sorry," Mithian laughed.

"How about you?" Merlin asked, looking at his wife in concern. "I won't deny that that was the most excruciating experience of my life. Poison was not half as bad."

"You poor thing," Mithian chuckled. "I'll admit, it wasn't the easiest thing I've ever done, and it was rather painful, but I don't think that excruciating is how I would describe it. The midwives actually said that I had a lovely disposition even to the end."

Merlin's face went blank in complete disbelief.

"You've got to be joking," he demanded.

"No, I'm not," Mithian chuckled. Merlin slowly shook his head before looking at Gaius. The physician was struggling to contain his mirth; his face was red with the effort to restrain his smile and the laughter that threatened to burst forth. Merlin narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at Gaius.

"If you say a word of that to any of the knights or to Arthur, I will make you look like Dolma's twin sister!"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Gaius said loftily, patting Merlin on the shoulder and smiling at Mithian.

"Congratulations, dearest. I'll let myself out," Gaius said, leaving the new family in privacy as he headed towards his chambers. The physician had no intention of telling the king or the knights about the vastly different experiences that Merlin and Mithian had with childbirth. Gaius had to smile, though, upon reaching his quarters. Merlin had never said anything about not telling Daegal.

-x-

A/N: Poor, poor Merlin. If you've never given birth naturally or seen someone who has, you can be assured that Merlin's experience here is based in reality. ;) I am proud to say that yes, my midwife did say that I had a lovely disposition through my entire labor experience. Threats, tears, emotional whiplash and irrational anger are not uncommon responses to such a situation.

Thanks for reading:)