Merlin: The Great Dragon's Last Call

Chapter 1

Gwen POV: 12 Years AD, April 4th.

It's been 12 years after Arthur's death. It's been hard for me, but a year later I fell in love again. My new husband is James, son of Bayard. He is very gracious and comforts me when I think of Arthur. He understands that I love Arthur more than I love him. And I love James for that. He also helps me rule Camelot.

We only have one child, Joseph. After a year of marriage. He's 10 years old. I love Joseph but he can be hard to deal with sometimes. He likes to take adventures outside of Camelot. I don't know what he does, but he seems to enjoy it.

It's been awhile since he left for his adventure today and he hasn't returned. I nervously paced around the room. His adventures only last about two hours. It has currently has been four hours and there is no sign of him.

Merlin walks in the room. "Have they found him yet?" He asked.
"No, not yet. I'm getting worried, I said." What if someone hurt him? Or worse killed him?"
"Just don't worry about it. I can go look for him."
"No, it's fine. I'm just worried he won't mature. He doesn't listen to me. He does things without permission. It's just... I don't know what to do."
"He'll mature. And if he doesn't you can always just have another child.," Merlin reassured me.
"I can't just replace him."
"You never know..." Merlin joked.
"Ok. Only if it's necessary." I laughed.
"Hey mother! You'll never believe what I saw!" Joseph said entering the room.

I ran up to Joseph and hugged him. I had mixed feelings about him. He is the most sweet person I know, but he is so irresponsible. He has such a big imagination but he uses it for useless things like adventures. I just wish he would listen to me.

"What?" I acted excitedly.
"I saw a huge army coming to Camelot," Joseph said.
"A huge army? Are you sure?" I looked at him with concern.
"Yeah, I heard one man telling another man that they can't wait to get their hands on the queen and her son.
"Oh no! James!!! Get the army and knights prepared. We're being attacked!"

James got the army and knights out of Camelot to protect the people inside it. When the Knights saw the army Joseph claimed he saw, they realized it was a group of smugglers searching for a different queen and her son.

When the army and Knights returned they all complained about the false alarm. It was so embarrassing. I don't think my little Joseph will be good enough to be king. He doesn't know the difference between an huge army and a group of smugglers. He's ten years old and he doesn't even know how to dress himself.

"Joseph, can I talk to you?" I asked him as he passes by. It had been an hour after the false alarm.
"Sure," Joseph replied.
We sat down in his bedroom. "What do you do in your adventures?"
"I run around and chase animals. Why?"
"I just wanted to tell you that you'll be king of Camelot one day. And that won't happen if you keep going on these adventures. You won't have time to do important things."
"Like what?"
   "Like learning how to use a sword."
   "Why?"
"Because your father and I want you to be prepared for the kingdom."
"What if I don't want to rule?"
"You don't want to?"
"No... I do. But what would happen if I didn't?"
"That's not what we're talking about, Joseph," I said sternly. I was getting frustrated with him.
"Then what are we talking about?"
"I want you to be serious."
"Serious? You want me to be the perfect king don't you?"
"No I'm not saying that. I'm trying to tell you that I want you to be serious about being the king of Camelot. You can still have fun just in a more mature way."
"Ok."
"Your ok with that?"
"Yeah,"
"Ok, well you can go to bed now."

He actually listened to me! Am I finally able to control my own child? I wish raising him would be this easy all the time. I think I just prepared a good king for the kingdom!