He held her hand as she struggled to breathe. She was a fighter and he could see that fighting spirit in her eyes, but they both knew she couldn't fight this. It was inevitable that the end was near.

"Take care of Arthur." Ygraine rasped, putting much effort into squeezing Uther's hand to put more force behind her words. "Guide him, teach him everything he needs to know. And most of all, make him happy." She swallowed deeply, a tear escaping her eye. "Take care of my beautiful boy."

"I will, love. I will." Uther answered. He couldn't keep the tears in anymore and let them fall freely as he stood up and engulfed her in one last tight hug and she put her hand on his lower back. He could feel his wife's breathes come out slower and slower but he willed himself not to look, not wanting to see that exact moment that her spirit left her body. But soon, he felt her hand slip away from his back and fall down on the duvet and he let out an agonizing scream of pain as his heart broke into two.

~oOoOo~

"My lord, you asked to see me?"

Uther looked up to see Hunith standing at the door, he smiled at her and waved her in. "Come in, Lady Hunith." She sat down on the opposite side of the desk.

"How's Arthur?"

Hunith's face lit up. "He's doing brilliantly, Sire. So much passion in everything he does! I've never seen a four year old doing so remarkably well in all the years as a governess. He's playing with his wooden knights and already shows great leadership."

Uther nodded. "Good, excellent. And how is he at making friends?"

Hunith looked down for a moment and bit her lower lip. "The other children, Sire, they- they just want to play with him because he's the Prince. I've seen little of them that actually want to play with him because of who is as a person, not just because of his title. Although-" Hunith added as an afterthought, "Young Leon, son of Knight Alric, seems to be the only one so far that is genuinely interested in Arthur. Wants to play with him without toys and such."

Uther nodded again. Sir Alric was one of his true and only friends himself, maybe his son would be the same for Arthur. "I'm glad to hear that at least one of them has genuine interest in my boy. He deserves that. I'm also pleased with the progress he makes so far. You've done an excellent job so far, Lady Hunith."

Hunith blushed by the kind words. "Thank you, your Majesty. If that was all? I should go back again."

"Of course. I wouldn't want to cause you any delay."

"Oh you wouldn't, Sire." She answered with a smile before she stood up.

Uther watched her go. He always had a weak spot for the Lady. First she was a good friend to his late wife, and after her passing two years ago she was a great support to him. Without her he would probably still be stuck in his bedchamber with the curtains closed and grieving his wife. She was the one who coaxed him to at least take a breath of fresh air outside, telling him she would sit with him in silence if he preferred that. She never once said he should stop grieving, something that his council was telling him after the sixth month after Ygraine's passing. She just showed him that there were other things for him to see and do. Most importantly that he still had a son that also lost his mother on a very young age. It sort of opened his eyes, and he vowed then and there that he should focus more on his son, but also to never let Ygraine's memory fade him.

And now, here in his chambers where he was following the retreating figure of his son's governess, some words Ygraine spoke to him so many years ago at the end of the agonizing illness, came to him. "Find love again after I'm gone, Uther. Don't let yourself be swallowed up in grief. There is more room for love in your heart, you just have to find the right person."

And now he wondered; was Hunith the one who she could be referring to? In a split moment he decided that, yes, she might. He stood up from his chair calling out to Hunith before she could reach the handle. "Err, Lady Hunith?"

Hunith turned, an eyebrow quirked. "Yes, my Lord?"

Suddenly his throat felt far drier than moments before. "Would you, erm, care to join me on a ride this afternoon? The weather should be beautiful."

If eyes could fall out of their sockets than that would probably happen to Hunith's right that second. "M-my Lord?"

Uther rounded the desk and walked up to Hunith, gently reaching out for her hand. It felt sort of wrong, like he was being unfaithful to Ygraine, but his late wife's words continued to swirl into his mind. He was positive Hunith must've felt more for him as well, he'd seen her glances towards him. Hopefully he hadn't perceived them the wrong way.

He bowed his head and kissed her hand.

"I would be most honoured, my Lady."

~oOoOo~

The year that followed was one wonderful year. Uther opened himself up more to Hunith and she did the same. The wedding followed in the Winter, just before Yuletide and in the spring the new Queen announced to Uther that she was expecting. Arthur was excited to be a big brother to not just one but two siblings and Uther found himself staring at his wife in horror when she had told him that it would be twins.

And on a warm autumn day, the Queen delivered a beautiful baby boy named Merlin and a gorgeous baby girl named Morgana. Their hairs as black as night, just like Uther's used to be before it turned grey, and their eyes shockingly bright.

From the moment Uther saw them, his heart grew even bigger. He didn't even think that could've been possible.

The Kingdom prospered under their reign and people were happy living in Camelot. For fifteen beautiful years everything was as it should.

Until one day it didn't.

The doors of his private chambers flew open and his good friend Alric stood in the opening, his face drained from all the blood and his mouth opening and closing but no words were spoken. "Alric? What is it?" Uther questioned. He walked up to his friend and brought him to the table to sit down. "Has something happened to Leon? Is he alright?"

That could be the only thing right? It wasn't the first time that Alric burst in here. The last time it was because Leon was trampeled by his horse and he didn't know if he would make it through the night. Thankfully everything had been okay and the young Leon recovered.

But now Uther could see Alric shake his head. His hands trembled as he reached for Uther's arms. His eyes slowly looked up to him and Uther could see the pain harbouring in those eyes. "Alric, please. Tell me what has happened."

"T-the Queen and the Lady Morgana."

Dread came over Uther. What of his wife and daughter? They were on their way to look for some fabrics for dresses in the neighbouring Kingdom. Surely nothing worse could happen to them there?

Alric took a deep breath. "Mercenaries, Sire. They-they did not survive."