A Cradle, Not a Crown

Rated Mature: for readers 18 and over.

Mature · Complete · 46,821 words · 13 chapters

Warnings: Major character death, Graphic violence

Tags: merlin (tv), arthur pendragon/merlin, uther pendragon/merlin (arranged marriag, mpreg, magical pregnancy, possessive arthur, forbidden love, slow burn, magic reveal, elopement, happy ending, domestic fluff

Arthur Pendragon is twenty-five, the crown prince of Camelot, and a spoiled golden boy. He teases his manservant, invents chores to keep him close, and can't stand anyone else borrowing him. He calls it ownership. Merlin is twenty-three, kind to a fault, and hiding the magic that would burn him.

Then Merlin saves the king's life at the harvest fair, and Uther Pendragon, clever and lonely, makes him his consort.

Arthur is furious, until he sees Merlin in silk and a gold circlet and finally understands why. Merlin finds himself caring for the sad king who quietly courts him, and loving the prince he can't have. And when a witch's curse meant for Arthur goes very wrong, Camelot gets a miracle baby that only three people know is Arthur's.

A slow burn of jealousy and forbidden love, a pyre at dawn, an escape by dragon, and a crooked furrow on a farm beyond the mountains.

Mature for themes, not explicit. Happy ending.

Chapters

Chapter 1: This One's Mine (3,267 words) A prince who can't share, a servant with a secret, and a fish knife.
Chapter 2: The King's Price (3,809 words) One reckless moment at the fair, and the king names an unthinkable price.
Chapter 3: One Reason (3,660 words) Merlin asks for one reason to refuse. Arthur doesn't know he has one.
Chapter 4: A Wedding Gift (3,791 words) An almost-kiss in the armoury, a wedding in red, and a witch's curse.
Chapter 5: Snow on the Ridge Road (3,798 words) Grain for Ealdor, a snowbound hut, and a line neither of them should cross.
Chapter 6: Midwinter (3,692 words) The longest night of the year, a fire that won't light, a door unbolted.
Chapter 7: A Cradle (3,793 words) Camelot rejoices over a miracle. Only three people know whose child it is.
Chapter 8: Gold (3,809 words) A summer of pickled plums and secrets, until the candles start to float.
Chapter 9: The Harvest Child (3,549 words) A night of thunder, a child who won't breathe, and gold in Merlin's eyes.
Chapter 10: Hold Your Breath and Go Left (3,796 words) A pyre in the square at dawn, and a prince ordered to light it.
Chapter 11: Over the White Mountains (3,727 words) Knights at their heels, a dragon in the river, and new names on the road.
Chapter 12: Straight Furrows (3,754 words) A ring traded for an ox, a crooked furrow, and a cord tied twice.
Epilogue: Lambing (2,376 words) Years later: lambing season at Oakhollow, and a family that learned to share.

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