Prologue

Gwen

I walked into Vervain's Healing Chambers. Healers flooded out, bowing to me as they swept passed with their lovely green robes. 'Hello, Vervain. I just came to ask you a small question concerning…'

The young Queen turned to me and for one of the few times I've seen her with emotion she gave me a small smile of amusement. 'You're pregnant.' She said, holding a bottle of god knows what… I froze at her words… now that I think about it… but…

'It's been only a few months, that's impossible.' I said surely.

She shook her head. 'I can sense the presence of another life within you. You're pregnant. It only takes one time, you know.' She said in an increasingly amused manner.

I sat down on the bench before her and she arched her eyebrow. 'Is something the matter, Gwen? Your child will have a safe journey, I assure you.'

'Can you sense that too?' I asked in absolute surprise. Isn't that basically seeing into the future. Her armlet glittered as she set down the bottle of concoction.

'No…' She admitted passively. 'But I'm not going to just drop you off to one of my healers… if you have any concerns about the pregnancy, I'm here to answer all questions.' She said very professionally. I jumped forward and hugged her. She tensed for a moment and it was then that I remembered she wasn't a hugger. I pulled away and she offered me a brief smile.

'I think I'll go tell Aria…' I planned out.

'What about Arthur?'

I hesitated. 'I'll… work my way up…'

Aria

Words cannot describe the joy of Arthur when he found out he was going to be a father. I heard him shout for joy, running to all corners of the castle screaming to tell everyone. It was all very loud. I just sat patiently in Merlin's study. Soon enough, the King burst through the door.

'Merlin!' He yelled.

'I heard from Aria.' He said smugly. Idiot of a husband I have really. It started a whole verbal war on why Arthur should have heard about it first. Thankfully the people were used to the two Kings' bickering by now.

I shut my book and swept out of the room. Then there was a boom. A very loud, very magical boom. 'Merlin!' Arthur yelled, his voice furious. Colourful smoke leaked out of the room and I barely had time to jump out of the way as Merlin rushed out of the room, his clothes and skin splattered with rainbow colours. Arthur gave chase. Of course. Wonderful. I sighed and smacked my face. God, of all the immature…

'It was our fault!' Merlin yelled back in the distance.

'Get back here, you idiot!' My brother shouted.

I put on a determined front and marched off to Gwen's room. She met me halfway, an irritated look on her face, wonderful, now we matched moods. We stormed out of the castle. It didn't take us long to come across our husbands. 'Stop!' I screamed. They stopped in shock and stared at us.

'What do you think you're doing?' Gwen demanded, her dark skin colouring with red. She wouldn't have gotten this angry, that was my job but then again… she was pregnant. 'You're both Kings! Must you go running around, chasing and yelling like children just because you're both a million different colours?'

'Idiots…' I sighed, ignoring their incredulous faces. Knights and protectors swarmed us.

'Is there something we can do to assist, your Majesties?' Mordred asked us with a grin.

Gwen and I exchanged looks… this was a very good opportunity. 'The stocks?' I suggested.

'The stocks!' Gwen agreed readily. Our men spluttered.

'You heard our Queens. Let's get moving.' Percival prompted, steering Arthur wile Mordred pushed Merlin to Camelot's favourite pastime.

And so it was… the people had the pleasing opportunity to pelt their Kings with rotten fruit and vegetables. And they laughed. They laughed like how brothers would laugh. Gwen and I took part even. All this laughter must be excellent for her child. 'A little higher!' Arthur called out as a tomato missed him but mere inches.

'Aim for it!' Merlin cheered as a little girl pelted a mushy strawberry right on his forehead. An hour later, they were released from the stocks and embraced us in all their smelly, sticky glory…

Morgana

I wandered under the disguise of my magic. The forest was too quiet. I was sure. In just another moment, I would be eaten by some beast or caught by Arthur's men. My foot tripped forward and I fell. I fell far into the hidden pit. It was an animal's pit. Was this how far I had fallen? Rejected by all, no better than a trapped animal… I should've died.

'A woman. And a beautiful one at that. Give me your hand, my lady.' A kind deep voice said above me and I looked into the face of a smiling man. I took his hand. Our magic touched, I felt his power.

'You're magic.' I said half in hope and the other in fear. Did he too believe in the almighty Emrys? Had I just doomed myself? Of course, I was a fool. Who would save a fool?

'As are you, fair lady. But one that has been cast out by Emrys. Are you not the lovely Queen Morgana?' He asked softly, looking at me with reverence. I blushed. It had been a long time but here I stood, in rags and tatters with my dirtied skin and still I was called fair and lovely and treated with respect. Even when I stood here worthlessly.

'I am.' I admitted. Merlin cast him out? He wasn't one of my men. His followers looked on in interest and curiosity. He dropped to one knee and his followers fell behind him, kneeling before me. Why for me? I was nothing…

'I am honored with your presence.' He said, flattering me even more. Did he really see me so highly?

'Do not bow, I am no longer Queen. I have nothing. I am… lost.' I said in shame. I had lost everything. My kingdom, my men, my sister… I covered my mouth as tears threatened to take over.

'You will always be Queen.' He said strongly, kissing my hand as he rose. 'Come with me, my Queen. I will make you new again and you will see how precious you are…' He said with black eyes that drew me in. He was choosing me… He wanted… me.

For once, to be wanted instead of that damned Aria… someone wanted me, looked up to me and respected me. To be called precious and beautiful, to mean something and have some worth… For once in too long, I felt like I had a place in the world again. I went with him.