"No absolutely not," Arthur said shaking his head.
"Please Arthur, I don't want them to seeing me like this, they need you right now. Merlin will look after me but he can't watch them like you can. So please take them with you," Guinevere begged.
"Guinevere I can't put them in danger. Think about my father, we can't lose them."
"Arthur please, they need you. I can't take care of them here, they are already worried enough. If you leave and don't take them with you they will distress even more so...please!"
Arthur sighed glancing at his 4 year old son and daughter, sleeping by the fire place snuggled among a mass of blankets. "Alright," Arthur said in defeat, knowing that this was a battle he could not win.
She smiled, "Good and maybe your father will see them and change his mind about us and we could come home." She yawned snuggling back down into the bed and was soon fast asleep. Arthur watched her for a moment worrying. Guinevere looked so weak and so skinny, aside from her bulging stomach from her baby.
This last week had been hard on Arthur and the twins especially because Guinevere had fallen ill and was still getting worse by the hour every day. Arthur knew he had to stay strong for her and the kids but he was worried out of his mind. It wasn't until last night he had made up his mind to head to Camelot for help for his father because it was getting harder and harder to live in a place where they had to live off of so little and he knew that he could not lose Guinevere so he took the only option left for him. To go to Camelot and get help.
Arthur moved and kissed her forehead before heading out of the house to prepare for his return home. An hour later Arthur had the horse packed along with some food, blankets and a couple of water canteens. He walked back into the house to see Guinevere sleeping soundly and the twins still curled up by the fireplace on the floor. He then moved to the chair next to the bed and sat watching her. Arthur sighed thinking about the last 5 years and how long its been since he has been to Camelot. Would he be welcomed? What would his father say about the twins? Will he accept them?
"Daddy? Daddy?" Arthur lost his train of thought as a little voice echoed through the room. Arthur turned to see his daughter Anna walking towards him. Her bright blue eyes stared up at him. Arthur smiled looking at her, she was an image of his mother blonde curly hair, a slightly darker skin tone but lighter then an her brother, and she even had his fathers smile.
"Yes princess?," Arthur said reaching for her and pulling her into his lap. She snuggled against him and closed her eyes.
"Will mummy be ok? Will the baby be ok?" She asked sleepily.
"Don't worry princess they will be fine," Arthur replied trying to convince himself as much as his daughter.
"Mummy, Daddy," Arthur turned to see his son Amhar waking from his slumber on the floor. He rubbed his big brown eyes sleepily before making his way over to them. Arthur chuckled ruffling his messy brown hair and tried to straiten it out. "Daddy, stop it," Amhar said pushing his fathers hands away.
"Ok sorry," Arthur said moving his hands from his sons hair. He moved to do one last fix before moving out of the way, knowing that his son would not be mad. Weirdly enough Anna was the feisty one. She threw tantrums at least once a day whereas Amhar had his mothers gentle, kind spirit and always worried about Anna even if he was bleeding from falling out of the tree and she only had a bruise.
Amhar then moved to the bed looking at his mother, "will she die daddy?" He asked turning his big brown eyes in Arthur's direction.
"Amhar it's ok, mummy will be fine," Arthur said quickly, seeing them fill with tears. He then reached over bringing his son into his lap and holding him close. "Don't worry my boy, she will be fine," Arthur said softly in his ear as Amhar buried his face in Arthur's chest.
Arthur looked down at Anna who was staring at her mother, as a lone tear ran down her cheek. "Oh princess it's alright," Arthur said squeezing his daughter closer too him. She looked down embarrassed and hid her face, Arthur sighed understanding her. Anna was never the one to share what was on her mind and rarely showed emotion. He was sure that was why she had so many tantrums because she did not share anything and then she would snap. "Princess don't hide from me, I know you don't like expressing your feelings but I'm your father, you don't need to hide this from me, my darling princess," Arthur murmured to her as she let out a sob.
"M-Mummy can't die," she sobbed. Amhar stirred slightly and turned his body to Anna. He then pulled her into a tight hug as Arthur pulled both of them closer to him, he wrapped his arms around them, giving them the support, and comfort they needed. Wow, Guinevere was right, Arthur thought as Anna and Amhar snuggled closer to him, the twins do need me. I can't leave them alone, not now not ever.