A/N: Hi guys hope your enjoying the story!! I updated the cover picture, what do you think??? I followed a tutorial and I think it turned out good! anyway please enjoy this chapter, and, if you leave me comments i promise to get back to you!!!

The months past quickly in Camelot and Merlin's belly grew full with life. Arthur went to great lengths to hide Merlin's condition from his father as he had no idea how to explain how Merlin had become pregnat in the first place. His father the king was not likely to accept Merlin's magic even if it gave him a grandchild. The season had changed from Autumn thought winter and now it was early spring once more, whole year since Merlin's accident which had led to their happy union. Th sun was shining brilliantly for the first time that year; emerging from behind the shadow of winter like a hibernating bear emerging after a long sleep. The birds were celebrating the return of the grownth and life to the land by dancing in the air and singing their brilliant songs, and the first gentel buds of leaves were emerging on the trees soon to burst into life and bloom with sweet fragrance.

It was the kind of day that made Merlin want to ride through the forest just to be surrounded by the animals and nature that he loved so dearly. He stared out of the window of the chambers he shared with Arthur and sighed so deeply. Recently Arthur had been praticualrly protective of his pregnant husband, terrified like a rabbit in the cross hairs of his cross bow that his farther would find out about the pregnancy and along with that Merlin's magic, and the fact that Merlin was a dragon Lord also, things that Uther would not understand, and would order the execution of his son-in-law, irregardless of Athur's love for his husband and unborn son. All this meant that Merlin had been confined to his room more than he'd like. He loved Arthur but losing his freedom to run around CAmelot was starting to get to him.

"Merlin. Stop darydreaming, I've been talking to you for the last five minutes." said Arthur, walking up behind him and wrappying his hands around Merlin's waist, resting them on his pregancy belly.

"Sorry, darling, I've just been missing the fresh air recently. And the outside. Growing up in Ealdor I would spend all spring and summer outsife, it's difficult for me to be inside so much." Merloin exposited. Arthur sighed.

"I know, and I've come up with a plan." he twirled Merlin to face him and grinned a wicked little smile.

"Wha?" said Merlin, but Arthur just kissed him and went to open the knocking that had just started on the door.

"Gaius! Come in" Arthur said with a voice full of cheer.

"Hello sire. I have found the rare herb we spoke of. It was mentioned in an ancient text, but it also said where it could be found. It needs to be collected under a full moon, which is tongiht." Gaius gestured to the book he was holding, flickering it open as he spoke. Arthur looked at the page he indicated and concenrated hard.

"This is excellent news, I will at leave at once!" he exclaimed, once done with the reading.

"What's going on?" ask Merlin, confised.

"You'll see!" Grinned Arhtuy, swooping across the room and bending down to kiss the now sitting Merlin on the tip of his nose. Without saying another word, he swept out of the room still grinng.

"Gaius what's going on?" insisted Merlin. He was getting frustrated.

"In order for you to travel in you're condition, you need to take a tinctur made of a rare herb. I have been looking for it for monthhs." Explained Gaius kindly, eyes alight with merriment at his success.

"Why would I be travelling when the baby is due to soon?" Merlin was confused again.

"Arthur's plan is to take you to a hunting cabin where you will habe the birth." Explained Gaius to Merlnin.

"Hunting cabin?" echoed Merlin in a question.

"Yes. Then Ither will be none the wiser about you condition." Gaius said with proud conviction. He was happy with the plan that he and Arthur had hatched to keep Merlin safe from Uther's wrath about magice.

"What about when we bring home a baby?" pointed out Merlin with his eyebrows raised and a disbelieving look in his face.

"Foundlings are a common occurance, Merlin, you are newly wed, it makes sense that you would want to gain a child." Gaius had thought of this already and laughed off all of Merlin's concerns.

"Oh ok" smiled Merlin. Happy to know that he was being looked out for.

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Arthur rode through the Darkling Woods into the depths of the woods looking for The tree that Gaiuses book had described. A giant tree, bigget than all the others and much broarder, with leaves all year round in all states from buds to fresh green summer leaves to the deep red and gold of autumn. He'd never seen such a tree in all his years in these woods but he was going into much deeper and darker places than he'd ever been before. With so much time to himself he felt Merlin's absesne keenly as he was so used to his almost constant chatter, or if he wasn't talking just his conforting presence nearby. Arthur sighed to himself. He missed Merlin.

As is the way in woods, Arthur's destination appeard before him before he even realised he was there, emerging out between the trees so suddenly. He dismounted from his steed Degore and tied him up to graze. Arthur drew his sword in precaution and approached the tree looking for the plant he needed. It grew in this place only so he knew he would find it here.

"Arthur..." came a voice from hearby. Arthur raised his sword in alert.

"Who's there? Show yourself?" He called bravely searching for the voice.

"Arthur..." Came the voice again, now from behind him. He spn around. Floating in front of him were thee small people about a foot tall, each glowing a different colour. The one in front was a vibrent shade of green, and behind them of the left was glowing bright purple, and then on the right was glowing golden yellow.

"Hello Arthur Pendragon. Crown Prince of Camalot" said teh green person in a voice that was hypnotic in its calmness; like the promise of a soft and warm bed after a day o hard riding in a storm.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Arthur was on an edge. Gaius had failed to mention any magical creatures and he knew that without Merline he was at a disadvantage.

"We are the faries. We guard this tree and protect it from the likes of you men coming here and trying to take our plants" came the seductive voice, laced with a steal that Arthur had not notied before.

"I mean no disrespect, I need thing for medecine for my husband. He is with child and we must travel" said Arthur with caution.

"We have to care for the issues of mortal men!" snapped the trio in harmony. Anger appearing seemingly from nowhere and direct full force at Arthur

"Please I need to keep his safe!" his tone was begging, but he was desperate,

"Fine. You can take it, but for a price" agreed the faeries, anger replaced with mischeif.

"Anything." Arthur said without a pause to think.

"We curse you! You came here to protect your llove, and protect him you shall!" The faeries cackled and vanished and a great cloud of light grew up around Arthur from the ground with all the colours in it. He swayed on his feet and crashed to the ground in a clatter of amour with the small plant still clutched in his hand.

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Arthur came too lying on the groud. The light and the fairies had gone. He remembered their curse with a gasp and sat up quickly, checking his body for injury or any change, but he could see nothhing. He cleared his thorat.

"I am Arthur Pendragon" he said aloud, but his voice also seemed unaffected. He touched his face but he could not find out what had been done to him. He stood and mounted his horse, making sure the plant is safely stowed in a saddle-bag before setting off back to Camelot at a speedy trot.