Work Text:
A few months ago, the news that King Arthur Pendragon had a bastard daughter hit home, even the king himself and his closest friends, who were the only ones who knew about this event, including a certain servant and partner of the king.
Apparently, according to what the girl's mother had said in a letter, the affair lasted only one night, and she didn't even know at the time that Arthur was the Prince of Camelot.
This happened on an expedition when Arthur was the arrogant, conceited brat he had been in his teens, a character that sometimes still comes out, and of course before Merlin appeared in his life.
But as I said, that was all behind him, and now Arthur served as king, knowing that in a future that he hopes will be distant and prosperous, his daughter Isella would take his place. And yes, she was the future queen of Camelot and heir to the throne, but that was only to a select few.
For the vast majority of workers, members of the court, and citizens of the kingdom, she was just an orphaned daughter of Merlin's cousin.
The truth is, it wasn't difficult to invent that story, since a few weeks before Isella appeared, a village in the neighboring kingdom was attacked. It was rumored that a cousin of Merlin's lived there, and since Hunitch was too old to chase after a seven-year-old girl, he asked his son to take care of her.
How did he end up in Camelot?
Easy, the king himself fabricated a patrol when he found out what had happened and if you're wondering, Arthur knew about Isella from the beginning, since her mother made sure to inform him of the event.
It's simply something the prince, now king, had kept secret, even from Merlin himself.
Not because he didn't trust him. In fact, he knew that if he had to trust his life to anyone, it would be to a certain servant and sorcerer, after all.
Hadn't he already done so?
But he didn't say anything, since King Uther had been alive until just a few months ago, when an army from Ashen's kingdom attempted to seize the kingdom, with the help of Morgause, and along the way, they killed the king.
What's more, Uther had met Isella, but didn't know who she really was, as he was told the same thing as most people: that Morgana, to help Merlin and Arthur, had given the girl a position as an apprentice handmaiden.
Therefore, she always followed Gwen and Morgana through the halls, and when her shift was over, she went to Gaius's chambers, as she shared a room with Merlin, although most of the time, they ended up sleeping in Arthur's antechamber or even with Arthur himself.
[...]
Arthur is sitting at his desk, preparing what will surely be the most important speech he'll ever prepare, announcing the legalization of magic, as he promised Morgana and Merlin he would make when he became king, once he learned about their magic a year or so ago.
Arthur knows this is going to generate debate, and although he initially decided to break the news that Camelot had a legitimate heir to the throne, he decided to follow his friends' advice and leave this big event for later.
As they told him, dropping two bombshells like these at once could shake the foundations of the entire kingdom, and as a newly proclaimed king, he didn't want that. Arthur is immersed in his speech when the door opens and slams shut.
"Dad!" says a child's voice running toward him.
"Hello, princess," he says, smiling despite his tiredness.
When the girl reaches the desk, Arthur has already stood up and is right next to it, crouching down with his arms open, waiting for his daughter's hug, which arrives a few seconds later, causing the king to hug her with all his strength (taking into account that she is a little girl) and the love he has.
The truth is, if you ask Arthur now, he doesn't know how he's been able to live knowing he has a daughter, whom he rarely saw, since his duty lay with the kingdom.
And yes, he did see her, but until recently, her father had only been someone she saw, when her mother provided shelter for her while he was on a mission and although Isella knew from the beginning who her father was and vice versa, it was only now that they were both enjoying parenthood.
"Just so you know, your daughter never stops; she's had me running around the fields" Merlin says.
"Well, if I remember correctly, it was you who offered to take her to gather herbs for Gaius."
"Of course, because Morgana gave Gwen the day off and she didn't have to act as a handmaid, and you had a speech to prepare, so she had to stay with someone she trusted," Merlin complains.
Once Arthur is up, with Isella lying on his bed, he takes the parchment and gives it to Merlin.
"I would like you to read it with Morgana and inform me tonight of your opinions, as I think it would be best to hear your opinions before forming and announcing them at tomorrow's council meeting," the king asks.
"Of course, I'll go to Morgana's chambers and inform her. I hope she's alone," he replies, then, after kissing Arthur, looks at Isella, who is asleep.
Arthur also looks in that direction and smiles at the sight of his daughter asleep in her bed.
"Relax, I'll take care of it."
"Good grief, now that she's asleep, you've decided to let her stay with you," he complains, though without malice or anger.
"Merlin..."
"Don't talk... I know, I know," he finishes the sentence, before turning and leaving the chambers, closing the door behind him.
Arthur sits down again, but this time not to work, but to contemplate his daughter— Daughter.
It's something a part of him still can't believe, not that he has a daughter—he's already gotten over that (and it took a lot, thank you), but that his daughter is with him now, in Camelot, in his castle, in his chambers, by his side.
The king's mind flashes back to past events, where not only did his father die, but he almost died after being gravely wounded while saving his daughter from a fatal death. (
[...]
It's night, Camelot is in chaos.
King Ashen is determined to conquer Camelot and proclaim himself king of the kingdom, but he's not doing it alone.
In fact, he's not even accompanied by his army Morgause, whom Arthur knows from stories his father told him and from meeting her a couple of times when he was younger, is helping him with her own army. He suspects it's made up of Uther's exiles, as there are some familiar faces.
The citadel is almost razed to the ground. People are fleeing as best they can. Fire has engulfed parts of the castle, as has the kingdom. People from both sides are lying on the ground, wounded, or even killed in combat.
[...]
Arthur's head is throbbing, he feels blood trickling down his face and neck, not to mention the tightness in his chest, which makes it almost impossible for him to breathe.
You certainly don't need to be a doctor to know he has one or more broken ribs.
Right now, he's leaning against the wall, semiconscious, while his most loyal knights are protecting him from the attackers, something Arthur is very grateful for, as he feels like the world is spinning around him and the dark patches are trying to make their way through the mist.
"Come on, princess, it's time to go."
Arthur simply groans, as strong arms grab him and he lets himself be carried away by the darkness, while one of his knights, most likely Percival, escorts him away, escorted by Gwaine, since only Gwaine would think to call him that.
[...]
Meanwhile, according to what he's been told, there's almost no room left in the physician's chambers, with wounded people piling up everywhere, despite the help of Merlin, Morgana, Gwen, and Isella, who is in her room with the injured children.
And they can't keep up; for the first time, they fear that Camelot will fall tonight.
That's when things get worse. Leon and one of Uther's knights burst into the chambers.
"Leon," Morgana says, as she stops tending to a wounded man and looks at him.
"Where is Arthur?" the knight asks, worried and nervous.
Silence falls over the room for a few seconds, implying that they don't know the answer.
It's then that Morgana sees it in his eyes.
There's not only worry and nervousness in them, but also sadness and pain. It's something you can't see with the naked eye, but as his partner and Arthur's sister, Morgana has learned, like Merlin, to read through people's eyes.
"What's wrong?" she whispers after approaching him and caressing his face, which is covered in scratches.
It's then, when Leon looks at the other knight, who nods.
"King Uther is dead." It's barely a whisper, but at the same time, he's so certain and determined that everyone assumes it's certain: the king is dead.
They also know that if they kill the prince, now king, although they doubt he knows it, it's very likely that Camelot will fall sooner or later, since there will be no one to guide them.
[...]
And yes, Morgana would be queen, as the second successor to the throne. Well, now that Isella is here, the girl would be queen.
But the thing is, just like with Isella, Uther hasn't proclaimed Morgana his daughter, even though the brothers were informed of this event.
Some of them do know, but the document stating this isn't signed (something Arthur signed after being proclaimed king).
"Arthur, I have to..." Merlin begins, heading for the door, ready to find his idiot.
It's then that cries for help echo, and a few seconds later, a dejected but alive Gwaine enters the physician's chambers, followed by Lancelot and Percival, the latter holding Arthur in his arms.
[...]
Merlin can't and won't leave Arthur's side, who's sitting on a stretcher, his chest bandaged and somewhat more conscious, though still dazed.
Most of the people have already gone to rest after being treated, and those who aren't are either sleeping or affected by the medicine, which makes them not fully conscious.
What's more, no one has dared to tell him the news yet; they don't want to worry him or hurt him more than he already is.
"And the king? Where is my father?" Merlin opens his mouth, to answer, or perhaps to make up an excuse; he's not quite sure yet.
That's when it happens. Isella runs down, followed by a man who looks like a bandit, holding a knife.
He probably climbed up and ended up opening the window of the room, or maybe the window is simply open, that's not known for sure.
[...]
The only thing that is known is that just as Merlin realizes everything and is ready to cast a spell on the man, a heart-rending scream fills the room, only to fall silent.
The scene pains Merlin to the core, so much so that he is even in shock. Thankfully, Morgana is there and casts a simple spell to get rid of the man.
Meanwhile, Merlin notices her prince, who turns and stares at him with panic in his eyes before collapsing to the floor.
Merlin runs over and examines him blood begins to flow from Arthur's mouth, the most loyal knights, along with Gaius, surround them.
Morgana and Gwen, meanwhile, have taken the little girl away, covering her eyes as she screams and cries.
"I...I'm...sorry, I...had...to...have...to...my daughter," Arthur tries to say, drowning in his own blood.
"I know, I know... only you can be so protective and idiotic at the same time," Merlin says, tenderly stroking the man's face, trying to calm him down, since his magic needs to be relayed before he does anything.
"Ise..." he can't even finish the name, until his voice trails off, just like his body.
"Arthur!" Merlin's voice breaks, tears welling up and his eyes lighting up after blinking.
[...]
Three days have passed and Arthur hasn't regained consciousness, which has been quite worrying, although Gaius says it's normal, that his body needs to rest and gather strength, and although there have been moments when, when he opens his eyes, the mist and darkness have taken over again.
Arthur doesn't even remember that; he simply fell asleep and woke up, but if they hadn't given him permission, he can't imagine it.
They are in the council chamber, discussing what to fix first—by the way, Morgana is thankful she's officially a princess at the moment, and not acting as such, leaving Leon to do it—when the doors open and Gaius announces that Arthur has awakened.
[...]
That night, the king's bed collapses under the weight of three little people, or rather two people and one little person, who at that moment is asleep on the king's chest, clutching his shirt.
The person is lying on the bed, while a certain servant, who is lying in the same position, is tangling his fingers in his golden hair—hair his daughter has inherited, as well as her blue eyes.
"I thought I was losing you," the wizard confesses.
"For a moment, I was too." The two look into each other's eyes and then kiss, until Isella involuntarily hits the king's rib, and he groans in pain.
"You should leave her in the antechamber," Merlin advises, to which the gold shakes his head.
"I don't want to be separated from her," the king confesses. Merlin just smiles and kisses him again.
One thing the wizard is certain of is that, unlike Uther, Arthur will put his daughter before his duty, which he is happily proud of.
[...]
"Are you okay?" a voice pulls him from his thoughts, and he blinks.
"What?" he replies, still dazed.
"I see, Dad needs a bib," Merlin jokes, a smile on his face.
"I was just thinking."
"Oooh, don't tire yourself out, sir."
"Merlin..."
"What, it's true, you bastard..." He doesn't even get to finish his sentence because Arthur stands up and decides to silence him with a kiss, which the warlock reciprocates.
It's then that Arthur realizes he wouldn't mind dying right there. After all, he has a daughter, friends who are like family, and Merlin as a partner.
What more could he ask for?