Authors Note: Thankyou to everyone who has reviewed or favourited, it means a lot! I am glad you seem to be enjoying the story. I know this is a quick update but I can't help it, I enjoy this story far to much. On with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, I do however own some of the characters I invented, however most of them are based on the legends and are still not mine. If anyone want to give me the rights to Merlin though that'd be great.
Chapter 4- I'm what?
Anna woke up feeling warm and cosy, with no part of her skin exposed to the cold. Keeping her eyes shut she snuggled deeper into the warm cocoon. She could never remember feeling this comfortable in her life; all wrapped up in warmth and safety she felt very sleepy and felt herself drifting back to sleep before she realised there were people talking around her.
"-e was very lucky" Came a woman's voice.
"I know; I just can't imagine what she was thinking of wandering around in the rain like that." That defiantly sounded like Gareth's voice, his voice as soft as ever was filled with anguish and worry.
"Maddie said she had been out all day, maybe she just got caught out in the rain."
"I don't know, it makes me wonder if she did this on purpose." Gareth's voice was filled with pain and Anna felt suddenly bad. Which was irrational, she hadn't done it on purpose.
"Why would she do it on purpose?" She suddenly felt a cold hand on her forehead and flinched away "her fever is going down." The hand retracted and Anna was glad, she didn't like being touched.
"I don't know why she would. I just don't understand why she was out in the rain not wearing a dress."
"I doubt she's suicidal" the woman's voice was suddenly harsh.
"Wouldn't you be in her situation?"
"She is stronger than that Sir, I can tell you that."
"What do you mean?" But whatever the woman was going to say Anna didn't find out as she drifted once again into sleep.
Hours later Anna gasped awake trying to shake away yet another nightmare, this one had included her mother with a little baby in her arms with dark hair and green eyes. The opposite of Anna, Anna supposed this new baby would be perfect. Everything Anna never was. Probably wouldn't have a drop of magic in her. Anna looked around the room, she was in her own room there was a bowl of water with a cloth in it at the side of her bed and she had more blankets on her than she wanted, she reached down to tug one of them off but there was a weight on the blanket. Looking down she could see the top of Gareth's head, his brown hair splayed on the bed. Anna smiled at the sight, he looked uncomfortable and he was going to wake up with an awful crick in his neck but she was glad that he had stayed with her. Anna fidgeted and tried to find a more comfortable position and as she did she accidently woke the sleeping Gareth. As he sat up blearily rubbing his eyes, Anna felt a sudden jolt of affection for him. His hair was sticking up on its end and his eyes were drooping in tiredness. Looking up at her he realised that she was awake.
"Anna" he said jovially "I'm glad your back among the land of the living"
"What happened?"
"I found you unconscious in the dark, you'd been out there hours Anna. I thought you were dead." Gareth looked away into the distance and he shuddered slightly as though remembering something unpleasant.
"I fell asleep in the rain, I tried to get back but I was too tired." Anna said softly "I tried to get back I promise."
"I know"
"I thought I was going to die."
"You nearly did" Gareth said grimly "You had a fever for two days, we were worried- didn't think you would survive it." Gareth looked out of the window and stood up suddenly. "I don't want to have to go but Lot want's a group of knights to go patrol the borders. I will be back within a few days." He leant forward and pressed a kiss onto the top of her head. "Be safe Anna, get well soon for me."
"Of course, I shall see you soon." She smiled at him and he turned and headed for the door "Gareth" she called, he turned back to face her with a furrow in his brow "Thank you, for everything." His face broke out in a wide grin.
"It's an honour to save a damsel such as yourself milady" he joked with a silly bow. Anna laughed at him and gave him a soft wave before he headed out of the door.
After Gareth had left Anna threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her bare feet touching the floor Anna stood up shakily, after being in a bed so long she wanted to stretch her legs. Taking that first step Anna felt like she was walking in water, she almost overbalanced but she managed to remain upright as she staggered across the room to the window. Relieved to have reached her destination Anna sat down heavily on the comfy window seat. Leaning forward towards the window she could see Gareth's figure in the distance, he was carrying his brown travelling bag and his green cape was flowing over the back of his brown mare. Anna pressed her hand to the glass wistfully, wishing he didn't have to leave her. Turning and surveying the room Anna sighed; another few days of boredom with no one to talk to. Drumming her fingers on her lap Anna tried to think of something constructive to do but could think of nothing. So instead she turned her stare to the world outside her window.
The rolling hills stretched out as far as the eye could see, with little hamlets dotted throughout, it was defiantly a beautiful place to live. In some ways it was more beautiful than Camelot and her father's land. But it just didn't compare, it couldn't. This wasn't where she learnt to ride her first horse, and fell off and broke her arm. It wasn't the same place. No matter how wonderful the people and the place was, it would never compare and that was a horrible thought. She could never go back and nowhere would be as brilliant. She would spend the rest of her life wishing she could go back. Maybe one day she could but it would be a long way off.
Later in the afternoon Gemma entered the room carrying a tray of simple food; breads and fruit. Anna suddenly found herself to be starving. Walking over Anna took the tray off Gemma and set it on the table. She expected Gemma to leave but instead she was hovering looking extremely awkward. Anna raised her eyebrows at her as a prompt for her to say whatever inappropriate thing she wanted.
"Sorry, I just wanted to say you were really lucky you nearly died" Gemma bit her lip.
"I know it was very silly of me. It won't happen again."
"That's good I guess I was just worried you would lose the baby" Gemma said smiling at her "luckily not." Anna froze, what baby? She didn't have a baby. Gemma's eyes widened in horror and her hands rose to cup her mouth. "I'm sorry, I thought you'd know." She gasped.
"Know what?"
"That you're pregnant." Anna froze, one hand coming to cup her almost flat stomach and the other to her mouth.
"But how?"
"Well..."
"I know how!" Anna shouted "How do you know?"
"Anna I have four children, I have seen numerous women when pregnant. You are displaying the early symptoms."
"Symptoms? I have no symptoms!"
"You've been going to the toilet more than usual, you have put on weight." Gemma stared at her "Did you miss your you-know"
"No!" Anna paused mulling it over "I mean yes, but I don't know!"
"And all this happened a month and a half after your relations with Gareth."
"How do you know about that?" Anna said furiously blushing bright red.
"Anna it wasn't hard to work out" Gemma rolled her eyes.
"But why me, I'm too young for a child!"
"You aren't the first one my dear and you shan't be the last" Gemma said sadly stepping forward to embrace Anna, but she flinched away moving to the other side of the room shaking.
"But what can I do!"
"You must tell Sir Gareth and he will do the noble thing" Gemma said wisely.
"What's the 'noble thing' Gemma?"
"Marry you of course."
"He can't, I'm just a commoner."
"We both know that you aren't a commoner." Gemma scoffed.
"What, how?"
"The way you hold yourself" she paused before adding "the fact you didn't know how to make your bed before you came here."
"But I can't marry Gareth! I don't love him, and I care for him too much to tie him down to me!"
"He will want to care for this child, and he must keep appearances."
"Then I won't tell him!"
"I think all too soon it will become quite apparent" Gemma said sarcastically tilting her head to scrutinize Anna's shaking form.
"I'll tell him I've got fat!" Anna rambled franticly "He's a man, what does he know?"
"Anna don't you think he has the right?"
"No!" Anna yelled "This isn't what is best for him."
"Who are you to decide?" Gemma said sharply narrowing her eyes at Anna.
"I, I don't know." Anna began to cry, clutching her face as the tears trickled down her cheeks. "I just want him to be happy, and I don't want to marry him!"
"Why?"
"Because this isn't what I wanted in life!" Anna screamed at Gemma pulling on her own hair. "I wanted to find a nice man, one my parents decided was suitable in a few years. I had it all planned!"
"I've told you before; life doesn't always go the way we plan." Gemma still didn't approach her, keeping a wary distance from Anna as though afraid.
"It does for me!" Anna screamed the vases on the tables shaking dangerously. Gemma's eyes were now wide with fear, but trying to hide it she hastily backed out of the room.
"Apparently not anymore"
Gemma left Anna fuming, angry at everyone. She could trace the blame back to one man, and her hatred for him increased tenfold. He was still destroying her life even now, when she wasn't even in his kingdom anymore.
Gareth had finally reached the citadel; he was already in his full armour. There were about ten knights for the patrol, King Lot himself was not going to be with them and they were to patrol the western border because of reports of a few scattered bandit attacks. Wilfred and Sir Olaf were part of group. Sir Olaf was a strict and uptight man; he liked to distance himself from the others. He was a little older than Gareth, about five years but he held himself like a man much older. They set off, Sir Olaf leading the group while Gareth and Wilfred trailed behind.
"So why were you late?" Wilfred asked. The horses were going at a steady trot, the knights in front loud enough to mask their conversation.
"Anna, she nearly died."
"What? What happened man?" Wilfred exclaimed.
"I don't know, she says it was an accident, but I don't know if I believe her." Gareth muttered his voice barely audible.
"Why would you think that mate?"
"It can hardly be a happy life for her can it?"
"I suppose, I doubt she did it on purpose. Have some faith Garry." Wilfred said sternly.
"I make the woman miserable."
"Your face makes most people miserable."
"This is serious!"
"Everything is always serious with you." Wilfred moaned. "You used to be fun, do you remember those day's? Do you even remember what it is?"
"I am fun!"
"You've lost your passion for life." Wilfred said, for once displaying his wise side. "We can only hope you can get it back."
Authors note: I hope you enjoyed that! Quite a lot happened in this chapter and it is one of those chapters that mostly set the scene for the next few chapters where more things start to happen.
Who is your favourite character in the story? What do you think will happen next?
The next chapter shall be up at the end of this week, in the meantime keep reviewing and so on.
The Adventure continues next week...
Gareth had returned from his patrol and instead of a warm greeting from Anna welcoming him home, it was the grim face of Gemma.
"Gemma what's happened." He said quickly, recognising from her expression that it was something serious, his stomach instantly knotted up in worry.
"It's about Anna" she said wringing her hands in front of her.
"What about Anna? Has she gotten sicker?" He said in a panic turning to run up the stairs.