How To Train Your Dragonlord

A Mother's Love

Merlin P.O.V:
(During the wedding celebration)
I had been keeping a subtle eye on Will as Gaius had spoken about the story of Arthur's birth, while ensuring that, should Arthur need me, I was able to give him whatever comfort I could during the tale. While Will had been wary even still of Arthur leading up to the ceremony and the celebration, I could tell from the softened expression on his face at the end of the tale that his opinions of Arthur had begun to have more fact and substance behind them. He was starting to pity, and most definitely like, King Arthur Pendragon.
My mother, of course, had tears in her eyes upon learning of Arthur's early life - and almost not-life. Though, she had previously known that Arthur's mother had passed, which she had already pitied him for. "It's not right, a child growing up without a mother," she had once said, between her meeting Arthur and the battle for Camelot, in one of her letters. "Poor boy. Still," she had added, "at least it hasn't had a lasting negative effect on him."
When she had learnt of our engagement, she had told me that she was glad that Arthur could finally experience a mother's love, rather than just know that he had some. She had also said that she was glad she'd be the mother giving him that love. It was with joy that she could give Arthur as much love as she had given me, knowing the sadness his very early life had held, that my mother cried as Gaius told all at the banquet of Arthur's early life.
Arthur, bless his kind soul, noticed my mother crying as Gaius spoke. He whispered to me, and asked if there were anything he could do to alleviate her pain. I smiled gently to him and whispered: "She's not in pain. Well, she is for the fact that you were raised without a mother's love. But no, she's crying because you'll be able to experience that love from now on. She always liked you, Arthur. You saved Ealdor when no one else would."
I noticed his embarrassed but also proud smile as I told him that. "How do you know?" he asked, amazed, and intrigued.
"With mum, it's all in the eyes. You just have to watch them at the right moment. Don't worry, you'll pick it up soon enough. Princess."

(After the wedding celebration)
Once Gaius had finished his speech, and the banquet had ended. The guests began to retreat to the quarters we had provided. Mother and Will were the only guests who remained in the banquet hall, at the end.
They approached as Arthur and myself stood from our chairs. "What did you think, Will? Mother?" I asked, as they reached us.
Will, rather than answer me, carried on to Arthur, then bowed slightly and held out his hand for Arthur to shake. "It seems that my feelings harboured against you for however long we've known each other have been unjust. My sympathies, and congratulations, your majesty."
Arthur took Will's hand, shook it, then answered. "Call me Arthur, Will. A friend of Merlin's is a friend of mine."
They both smiled. "I can agree to that," Will replied.
Then, mother hugged me. "Oh Merlin! You're all grown up! Your father would be so proud!" She pulled out of the hug. "I'm so very proud!" Then she turned to Arthur, and gave him a hug, too. "I'm sure if your father had found a way past his fear and hate, he'd be proud, and I just know that your mother would be proud regardless! I'm so proud of you, too!" She pulled him out of the hug and beamed to him, introducing him to motherly love in full force.
Will turned to me as my mother embraced Arthur. "Not that I did before, but I have no doubts that you are in safe hands in these walls."
I grinned at my oldest friend. "Nothing stays safe for long in Camelot, but I appreciate the sentiment." He grinned back. It was the widest grin I'd seen Will wear in a long time. It reassured me that things were right in the world. For the moment, at least.
"Now," my mother said to Arthur and me. "Where's this ring that I heard my son imbued with his magic?"
Arthur and I held out our hands. "I did all of the rings, mum. Including the proposal ring. What do you think?"
She studied the rings, then beamed at me. "You'd never have managed that if you'd stayed in Ealdor, would you?"
I shook my head, laughing. "I'm pretty sure that it would never have been something I'd need to do, in Ealdor."