Merlin and Freya sit on the cold straw-covered floor, Merlin’s jacket draped around them both. One of Merlin’s hands grips Freya’s waist, and the other gently rests with hers on top of her swollen abdomen.
The only candle in the room flickers low, casting twisted shadows to dance across the walls.
“It’s going to be a girl,” Freya says suddenly, and her voice is so soft that if it weren’t for the already deafening silence, Merlin would not have heard her.
“How do you know?” Merlin asks, shifting his gaze to her face. Even now, with her face hollow and thin, she’s still beautiful. Shadows creep and flicker across her face as she stares ahead.
“I just know,” She says softly. “I can feel it.”
Beneath their splayed fingers, their child grows, nearly time them for it to be born into the world. The warmth travels up Merlin’s skin and straight to his heart. His fingertips tingle, and he understands what Freya means. There’s a connection already, like an invisible rope tethering him to the unborn child.
“She’ll have magic,” Merlin says. Freya nods in agreement, but says nothing else.
They fall back into their silence, their synchronized breathing the only sound filling the room.
Finally Freya speaks, her voice barely above a whisper: “Take care of her.”
It’s a plea, causing Merlin’s hand to tightens around her waist at her helpless tone.
“I will,” He murmurs. “We’ll take her away, far beyond Camelot’s reach. She’ll be safe there, we all will.”
“No,” She shakes her head and turns to finally meet his gaze, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Promise me Merlin. Look after her, keep her safe. Don’t let Uther find her.” She pauses, then, “And don’t let her hurt anyone else.”
She looks at him, her expression helpless and pleading, a look only a mother can have when fearing for her child.
Fear closes Merlin’s throat, clawing at him and threatening to break him. Fear for Freya’s life, jeopardised by her inescapable curse, and fear for their unborn daughter, who will soon be born into a world where she will be hunted mercilessly simply for existing. He pushes the feeling away. He will not succumb to it, not when the life of Freya and the baby are at stake.
He prays to the gods that the baby will be born safely. She will have magic, that much is certain. But hopefully, the child will be able to escape the awful curse bestowed upon her mother.
Merlin looks hard at Freya, still begging him with her eyes. It pains him to see how thin she is. No matter how much food he smuggles to her from the royal kitchens, the baby absorbs it all, leaving Freya weak and frail. Merlin desperately wants to take her far away, but he reluctantly knows that will never happen. If Freya doesn’t die in childbirth, then surely it’s only a matter of time before she is captured and killed.
“I’ll take care of her, Freya,” He promises, and presses a soft kiss to her temple. The candle flickers low. “I should go, Arthur will be missing me.”
Freya nods as Merlin pulls away from her. “I’ll come back tonight, alright?” He stands. Freya nods again, giving him a small smile.
Merlin hold her tearful gaze, then turns and walks away, hoping that she did not see the moisture in his own eyes.
Merlin and ARthur a few years later-- Merlin asks permission to visit Ealdor, without telling Arthur why he wants to go. He uses the excuse that his mother is getting older, but really he wants to visit his daughter, who he left with Hunith. He goes to Ealdor to see his daughter Rhoswyn, affectionately dubbed “Rhos.” Basically Merlin is a really caring father, spending time with this three year old who is the most beautiful thing in the world in his eyes. He watches her carefully for signs of magic, which she displays in simple things like making colors and flowers. Merlin makes butterflies to entertain her. ) Merlin and Hunith talk, revealing the circumstances of Rhos: Merlin must hide her with Hunith away from Camelot because she can’t control her magic yet and she could get in a lot of trouble with Uther. Merlin plans to keep her here until Arthur is King, and then he hopes he can tell Arthur about his child. He also has been sending Hunith all of his earnings, leaving him very poor. Merlin can only stay a little while in Ealdor before he must return to Camelot.
ARTHUR A few months later-- Merlin and Arthur and co. stop in Ealdor when Uther sends them out to patrol beyond the border. Merlin seems fond of a small girl of three. Merlin and Hunith tell Arthur and Knights that the girl his her sister’s daughter.
Rhos asks enthusiastically if Arthur can come out and play with her, and Arthur agrees, surprising everyone. She leads him out and they sit down in a garden, and Rhos teaches Arthur how to make daisy chains. Arthur is out of his element because CHILDREN but he makes a crown and declares her queen of Ealdor, and she squeals with joy. Merlin appears and she runs to him, enthusiastically telling him that she is now queen. Merlin laughs and tells her to go tell grandmother, so she does. Arthur and Merlin discuss their mutual affection for the little girl, but Arthur remains oblivious to just how attached Merlin is to her.
MERLIN-- Merlin is in a field, talking to a girl, Leila. Arthur arrives and teases him about fair maidens, but Merlin waves him off, masking his distraught because he still loves Freya.
Merlin and Hunith play with Rhos and she uses magic that’s a bit more spectacular than usual, and Merlin and Hunith hurry to hide it just before Arthur comes in but he remains oblivious. Merlin and Hunith lecture Rhos about the importance of hiding her abilities.
Merlin and Arthur are relaxing and Rhos gives them each a tiny bouquet of flowers, then runs off. They have a talk about how attached Merlin is to Rhos. Arthur inquires after Leila (The maiden or whatever) but Merlin insists he had a girl once but not anymore. He isn’t interested in Leila. Arthur notices Merlin’s pain and backs off the subject, talking instead about how he’s kind of growing fond of little Rhoswyn too.
ARTHUR-- Rhos does magic in front of everyone. The townspeople turn on her immediately. They go to Arthur, claiming that there is a sorcerer in the village. Arthur gets angry, declaring that this person should be put to death. The people lead him to Hunith’s house and Arthur pauses, because wtf is going on at Hunith’s house? He’s shocked to see that it is Rhos, and Merlin is protectively holding her, warning everyone to get back. Arthur tells him to step aside, and Merlin refuses. Arthur promises he’s not going to hurt her, quiet enough so that the townspeople can’t hear. Merlin let’s Rhos go, crying. The people cry for her to die right there, but Arthur says that she must be taken to Camelot, so the people take her and tie her up in an empty barn.
Merlin talks to Arthur desperately. “Even you aren’t this cruel.” Arthur doesn’t want to kill an innocent young child, but he’s torn between letting her go and doing his duty as prince by reporting her to Uther who will have no mercy. To Melin he says he has to make hard decisions as prince and future King.
Merlin and Hunith hug, and Merlin goes to comfort Rhos.
MERLIN-- Again Merlin tries to reason with Arthur, finally revealing that Rhoswyn is Merlin’s daughter. He storms out back to the barn. Confused, Arthur goes to the barn to find Merlin holding Rhos in his arms and comforting her. Arthur demands the whole story, and Merlin tells, including his Magic. He says after Freya died he took her to Ealdor and has been hiding her here with Hunith.
Arthur leaves with no comment.
Merlin flees with Rhos when it becomes clear that Arthur won’t budge.
ARTHUR: Talks to Hunith, asking her to tell him where Merlin’s gone, but she doesn’t know. The ropes in the barn have been severed. Nobody saw them leave. Arthur curses, wondering what he planned on doing anyway, since he wasn’t sure he was going to report Rhos to Uther in the first place. He sets out to find Merlin.
MERLIN: takes Rhos to some cave in the woods far away. Rhos asks what’s going on and Merlin explains to the best of his ability. He says that there are some very bad people who want to hurt her, and he’s not going to let that happen. “What about grandma?” she asks. “She had to stay behind.” “What about Arthur?” “It’s best if you just forget about him, Rhoswyn.” “What happens now?” “I don’t know.”
ARTHUR: Returns to Camelot, tells Uther there’s nothing to report. “Where’s your idiot Manservant?” “He’s out.” Later Arthur makes preparations and goes to find Merlin. He makes his decision-- he’s going to let Rhos live.
MERLIN: Has taken Rhos to live in an abandoned house. He’s fixed it up a bit so it’s habitable, and Rhos entertains herself with magic and chatting to Merlin. She is playing with a doll and she says that one of the ribbons is missing. Merlin brushes it off. It’s night time, and she asks Merlin for a story. “What story?” She’s thoughtful, then: “Other kids in Ealdor have mommies. I don’t have a mommy. You have grandmother. But she’s your mom, not mine. Where’s mine?” Merlin sighs and holds her close, telling her that her mother’s name was Freya, and she was magic, just like me and you. She was lovely, and she loved you very much. “She did?” “Yes, so very much. Me and her were both so happy when you were born. Do you want to know what she said? She said you were the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on.” “Really?” “Oh yes. And then I held you and it was like the entire world stopped moving, because my baby girl was in my arms, and you were alive and healthy and beautiful. Things had been scary before but with you there, time slowed down and you were the most important thing in the entire world. I loved you from the first moment I layed eyes on you, Rhoswyn.” She’s quiet for a moment. Merlin thinks she fell asleep. But then she says: “Did the world really stop moving?” Merlin laughs quietly. “No, but it felt like it. Now go to sleep, Rhoswyn.” he kisses her on the forehead and she falls asleep.
ARTHUR: has no idea where to start until he goes to a village not far from Ealdor. He asks around, describing a dark-haired man and a young child. At first nobody knows, until a young man helping an old man with pigs says “psst I know who you’re talking about. I gave food to the little girl, she looked a bit battered. The bloke seemed grateful but so worn out.” “Yeah, that’s him. Where did they go?” “Said they were going West, didn’t really say much else.” Arthur thanks him and moves on. He wanders West for a while, until he finds a tiny piece of ribbon that he recognizes as from Rhos’ doll. He’s on the right track.
MERLIN: Rhos gets a little sick. She’s getting a fever and Merlin isn’t sure how to cure her. He needs to get her to a physician and he thinks of Gaius, but he know he can’t take her to Camelot. Still, she’s weak, and Merlin isn’t sure how serious the sickness is. He needs to save her but how? He decides a to wait a few more days, and then if she hasn’t changed then he’ll have no choice but to smuggle her into Camelot. He soothes her and comforts her and does his best to keep it together and not to show how terrified he is.
ARTHUR: Thunder rumbles, it starts to rain. It’s going to storm, just when he’s sure he’s getting close. He finds four flowers linked together, the same as the chains Rhos showed him. He picks it up and keeps going, finding a few more. He’s sure he’s getting close.
MERLIN: It’s storming so very hard out. In the dead of night, Rhos is crying and whimpering because she’s sick. Merlin doesn’t know what to do. She is scared of the lightning and thunder. He’s trying to soothe her but she’s getting extremely agitated. Suddenly he hears something outside and he hears someone calling his name. He listens harder. It’s Arthur. He’s sure Arthur has come to collect Rhos so he gathers her up into his arms and runs out of the house just as Arthur stumbles out of the trees. They stare at each other before Merlin bolts, Arthur on his heels. There’s a chase until Merlin finds a fallen tree and he ducks behind it, cradling Rhoswyn to his chest, protecting her with his arms and soothing her and crying and hoping and praying and being desperate, clutching her with all his might. Arthur finds them, however, and Merlin tightens his hold. “I’m warning you,” he says. “Stay away from her, she has done nothing wrong. She’s a little girl and she’s my daughter. I won’t let you hurt her.” “I know,” Arthur says. “I understand. I’m not here to hurt Rhoswyn. I’m here to bring you both home.” “What?” “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do, I was torn because of my father’s orders. But I’ve made up my mind. I’m not cruel enough to turn in an innocent little girl.” “So she can live?” “Yes.” “You’re going to go against your father?” “Yes.” Merlin for a moment doesn’t believe him. Rhos coughs then and Arthur asks what’s wrong and Merlin says she’s terribly sick. Arthur says we need to get her to Gaius as fast as possible. Off they go.
ARTHUR: drops Merlin and Rhoswyn off with Gaius while he goes to get things. He gets some blankets and, while he’s at it, some sweets for the little girl. He brings them to Gaius’ chambers and gives them to Merlin. He asks after Rhos and Gaius says it’s just a fever that will pass with warm tea and medicine. She’ll be fine. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
At some point later Arthur is reporting to Uther and Merlin is standing there, with Rhos holding his hand quietly observing. Merlin told her very sternly to be quiet and still in the presence of the King. She is partially hidden. Suddenly a man walks in and Merlin recognizes it to be a man from Ealdor. Rhos shrinks away because he used to be friendly until he tried to have her killed for having magic. Merlin gets frightened, moving to obscure her completely. The man hasn’t noticed. He talks to the King to report two sorcerers at large, one a young man and the other a girl of three. Uther demands that they be found and brought to him. Merlin catches Arthur’s eye, both terrified. Merlin hands Rhos to Gwen, telling her to be very very quiet. The three manage to escape.
Arthur talks with Uther, says that yes he will be on the lookout for these sorcerers.
Arthur sees Rhos alone in a courtyard, playing with her doll. He sees her bouncer the doll along and then toss her into the air and hold her there with magic, making her dance. Arthur lunges across the courtyard to snatch the doll from the air. He gets on eye level, scolding her and telling her gently but firmly that magic is forbidden. “But I do that all the time,” Rhos protests. Arthur explains that it is very dangerous and that if anyone sees her she could get hurt. She could get taken away from her dad and Arthur and Gaius and Gwen, all of whom she’s very fond of. She understands.
The hunt for the sorcerers continues. Merlin and Rhos are in Gaius’ chambers when Uther comes in asking for medicine or something. He’s surprised when he sees Rhos and Merlin tenses, ready to protect. But Uther seems happy, treating the little girl with charm. He actually is rather kind to her. Rhos talks happily about the game she’s playing, and she says it was much more fun back home and Uther asks why and she very nearly responds with magic but Merlin cuts in saying back home they could play outside and not inside cramped physician’s quarters. Uther chuckles and leaves.
Merlin decides to leave Camelot with Rhos to go back to Ealdor, this time to stay until Arthur is King. Arthur and Merlin have a chat and Arthur is sad, but he understands and acknowledges the dangers of staying. He wishes Merlin and Rhoswyn the best of luck and promises to visit sometimes. He says he will do his best to help magic users escape Uther’s wrath. Merlin explains the meaning of Rhos’ name-- Rhoswyn means “white rose,” and a white rose symbolizes innocence. Merlin and Arthur shake hands and Merlin and Rhos depart.
EPILOGUE five years later
Arthur comes to visit Ealdor. Rhos has grown up a bit and she is very enthusiastic when she sees Arthur. Since the fiasco in Camelot, Arthur has been smuggling magic users out of the cells, sending them to Ealdor where Merlin will help them get to a safe place. Arthur says that his father has been going insane trying to figure out how they escape, since he would never suspect his own son. Then he reports that Uther has fallen ill and it shouldn’t be too long before Arthur is King. He proposes that Merlin come back with Rhos, and Hunith too. Merlin says they would be glad to go. Merlin would be Arthur’s servant again, and Rhos would have a good life in the castle.
