Author's Note: Thank you very, merry much of all the responses I've received so far. It does make it all worth while to hear what people think of your work and I am grateful to everyone who's taken the time to follow this story =]

Disclaimer: In total, I own this plot aaaand my characters. And there it ends. Merlin belongs to the BBC.

It was the middle of the night and Arthur couldn't have been more tired if he'd tried. He'd spent the best part of the day out with the knights and had been called during dinner to be told that Bella was in labour. And so here he was, in the small hours of the morning, in Bella's presence chamber. Phillip - whose room was usually close to Bella's - had been moved to the other end of the castle to get his sleep and Arthur couldn't help feeling envious of him. He'd get a good night's kip and wake up to a new sibling. Arthur on the other hand...

He glanced at Merlin. Merlin, who had promised to stay up with him and had lasted a total of 25 minutes, was sprawled across the table, one hand holding his head up. Watching him, Arthur spotted Merlin's head slowly slipping off his hand and was waiting for the thud as it hit the table. Any decent master would tell his servant to go get rest - but seeing as Merlin had offered himself up for this and had never had to experience it before, Arthur felt it only fair that Merlin stay too. He'd sort of hoped that Merlin would find a nice serving girl to marry and have his own children. Not to get rid of Merlin, of course, no. Just so Merlin could spend his nights pacing a chamber and waiting for news.

"Uhhh...no...no I didn't steal your sword...I took it to be shod..." Merlin murmured in a dreamy daze, his hand swaying dangerously under the weight of his head. Arthur watched him from the window through tired eyes, one eyebrow raised at the nonsense Merlin was rambling. "I'll just have a little helping of boots and..." THUD. Merlin's head connected heavily with the old table and he shot up in his seat in an instant. "I'm awake! I'm awake!"

"Sure you are." Arthur muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"Any news yet?" Merlin asked, rubbing his eyes and blinking a few times, trying to wake himself up.

"If there were, do you think I'd be standing here, Merlin?"

"Alright, fair point..." Merlin yawned and scratched at his own hair. "Is it morning yet?" Arthur shot him a look before looking back out the window into the dark courtyard and Merlin nodded. "Oh..."

"Yeah. Oh. Gee, Merlin, you tell me you'll stay up with me and within half an hour, you're off in your own world."

"I am exhausted! Maybe if you didn't have me running round all day, mucking out your horses, polishing your sword, fixing your boots, de-ratting your room and everything else that springs into your mind, I wouldn't be so knackered come the middle of the night!"

"Oh, shut up, Merlin." Arthur said, too tired himself to argue. "One day this will be you, waiting for hours at a time."

"Can't wait..." Merlin mumbled, his voice flat before his head connected with the table again and a snore arose. Arthur rolled his eyes and glanced at a flickering candle on the windowsill which was edging its way further and further down. It was only when he began to get agitated by Merlin's snoring that he realised it was quiet. No noise from Bella's room. Which was odd, considering last time. And slightly worrying.

With her hand squished completely out of shape by Bella's unusually tight grasp, Gwen bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying out. Bella was determined, for some reason, to not utter a single sound and Gwen had to give her her due - she was doing well. Bella had seemed to have got it into her head that proper queens didn't howl the place down during labour, even though every woman in the room had reassured her that it was fine. Gwen watched as her mistress' face darkened to an even deeper red, her teeth clenched down on a sheet in her mouth, her hand crushing Gwen's once more. Gwen blinked back the tears of pain in her eyes and wondered how many more of Arthur's children she would have to help into the world before it finally broke her.

A different kind of squeal filled the air, a squeal of a child and Gwen tore herself from her thoughts just in time to see Arthur's daughter being lifted up into the air.

News of the newborn princess quickly spread about the town and Arthur had barely had enough time to hold his daughter before word came from King Stefan that the old king was coming to Camelot to visit his family - and he expected a grand celebration to be held. Arthur had had to try very hard not to roll his eyes dramatically when he'd heard this. A celebration in King Stefan's eyes it may have been - to Arthur, it was extra work to be organised and prepared for. Nevertheless, he obliged to his wife's father and order a grand day to be held in honour of his daughter, featuring a joust and a feast.

Just like her older brother, Princess Aurora had a thick covering of blonde hair but she was definitely smaller than Arthur's first child. She was very light in his arms and Arthur - who had been a father for 5 and a half years and thought himself accustomed to small children - often felt that he'd break her if he held her too tight. In all honesty, Prince Phillip wasn't really that interested. Turned out he'd been hoping for a brother - someone to play fight with and race horses against, apparently - and a sister just didn't fit the bill. Arthur didn't mind though. Sure, she was a girl, so it meant he still had only one male heir. But in being a girl, he could keep her close. She wouldn't go riding out to battle and leave Arthur with the fear that she was dead in a ditch. But he already swore, deep in his heart and not to Bella - that when the two royal children were old enough, they could pick their own partners in life. Arthur wasn't going to be bethrothing them to people they'd never met. Sure, he'd received offers. The king of Henrich had already offered his eldest son - a Prince George who was all of two years old - and Arthur had actually considered it. Marrying his daughter off to a future king could secure yet another treaty with a neighbouring kingdom. But then he'd looked down at Aurora, blissfully asleep, and saw a teenage princess, sneaking out to meet a merchant's son, and being heartbroken when she heard she was promised to a foreign prince. He couldn't put her, or Phillip, through what he'd had to go through. As long as they were happy, he was happy.

He hadn't bothered sharing this thought with Bella. Bella, who considered her betrothal to be a success, would definitely object and no doubt get her father involved. It was easier just to ignore the whole situation and pretend to be too infatuated with his daughter to care. Which wasn't that hard to pretend actually.

"You can't say you're actually thinking of going in for this joust, are you?" Merlin asked, watching Arthur smile at the little girl in the cradle.

"Of course I'm going in for it! Phillip needs to see that being a king is more than just sitting on a throne. He needs to see that his father is still the best fighter in Camelot."

"But..."

"No buts, Merlin." Arthur said, wiggling a finger in front of the baby's face and watching her eyes follow it.

"Arthur please..." Both men turned, surprised to see Bella in the room and doubly surprised to realise that neither of them had noticed her. "Please don't. Let the knights ride, it's not safe..."

"It is my duty as king to show the people that I am still strong enough to protect their city and it is your duty as my wife to accept my decisions." Arthur spat out, looking furiously over at Bella, who immediately dropped her head. He sighed - nights with little rest had led him to become more easily agitated and he really wasn't in the mood for Bella now. "I'm sorry." He said finally. "But it is my decision and mine alone. I will be riding in that joust tomorrow." And with that, he straightened up and marched out of the room, Merlin a few steps behind him.

Sitting nervously next to her mistress, Gwen twisted the hankerchief into a knot in her hands and tried to calm down. Bella seemed to be in a daze, sitting alone on the double thrones, looking out to space. This was actual ideal - with Bella so distracted in her own world, she wouldn't notice Gwen getting more and more wound up next to her. Glancing down the row of seats, Gwen spotted Phillip next to his governess. Bella had pleaded with Arthur to let him stay in the castle but Arthur, being as stubborn as always, had said that it would be good for Phillip to observe knights in action and ordered him to be brought down. Phillip, of course, thought this was wonderful. He'd chattered none stop the entire way down, asking if anybody died and how many, almost to the point where Gwen wanted to clip him one. She thought of her own boy, who spent his days fishing, fashioning swords out of sticks and learning - to Gwen's horror - how to chop logs - completely oblivious to the danger his father was putting himself up for and the delights of court that his half-brother observed daily.

Phillip was sitting on the edge of his seat, small hands clenched, eagerly looking out for any man who looked remotely like his father. Bella had managed to get the hair right - Phillip was as golden as his father - but his eyes were as dark as hers, Gwen thought. On the other side of the empty throne, King Stefan sat, a look of excitement in his eyes. Gwen couldn't help but think that he was definitely looking older now, silver speckling his hair more than brown. Another glance at the empty thone and Gwen couldn't stand it.

"Just going to get a drink, m'lady..." She murmured as she got up, throwing a glance at Bella but the queen didn't seem to hear her. Picking her way through knights, horses and various bystanders, Gwen approached Arthur's tent and slipped in past the guards. He was standing with his back to her, in full armour, helmet under one arm. As he turned, she sank to the ground.

"Guinevere!"

"Sire, I just..."

"Please don't try and convince me otherwise, Guinevere, I've had it all morning from Bella..." He said gently, moving one hand under her chin and encouraging her to rise. She looked up at him with big fearful eyes and he swallowed hard.

"I didn't, I just..."

"Please Gwen..." Arthur said, slowly removing his hand but not before Gwen felt it caress the side of her cheek. She felt the overwhelming urge to grab it and hold it back there.

"I just came...to wish you luck, Arthur..." She said, reverting back to the first name terms. He blinked, surprised at her chance in formality and smiled.

"I'm going to need more than luck, Gwen...will you..." He stopped and took a breath, wondering if what he was going to say was the right thing anyway. "Will you...let me wear your favour?"

"My...But...Arthur, the queen..."

"I wouldn't wear it where she would see. Please, Gwen. It'll make me feel better." He stared into big brown eyes and she could practically feel him boring into her soul. She looked back and saw her son's wide eyes, cheekily flashing before her. Mentally she stepped back - how come she hadn't noticed how similar Arthur and Edward were before? - and slowly untied the piece of cloth holding her hair back. Long raven curls fell, framing her face, as she held up the piece of lilac cloth. She watched him kiss it and tuck it inside his armour, completely gone from view.

"Thank you..." He said, so quietly Gwen wondered if she'd imagined it, before giving her a slow kiss on the cheek and striding out.

It was very bright for a midwinter day. But strikingly cold. Gwen sat, huddled in her shawl, trying to close in on herself as much as possible. Beside her, Bella didn't even seem to feel the cold. Her lifeless eyes stared at the pitch, occasionally flickering towards the running horses, but Gwen was getting the feeling that Bella didn't really want to be here.

She couldn't see Arthur now. With all the men in their armour, helmets on, lances held, they looked all the same. She had spotted Merlin, dashing about every now and then, but no Arthur. Name after name was reeled out, followed by two random knights charging at each other before a cheer arose from the watching crowd. And none of them Arthur. After about six rounds, Gwen was beginning to hope that maybe Arthur had pulled out, talked to his senses by Merlin.

"His Highness, Arthur Pendragon riding against Sir William Pickett!"

At the sound of Arthur's name, both Gwen and Bella straightened up, drawn to the one man who held them both. Arthur was pulling himself onto the horse and taking his lance from Merlin. The crowd had fallen silent, all waiting in anticipation to see how this match would play out. Gwen watched him ride towards his end of the pitch and give a deliberate nod in her direction. Bella answered, giving a small quick nod of her own, and Gwen couldn't be sure whether it was her Arthur was addressing or the queen. The other man - William somebody - also nodded in respect to the queen but Bella barely noticed. Her eyes were fixed on Arthur's every move, as if she'd been forewarned of an approaching danger, and was trying to keep Arthur in sight at all times. Gwen clenched her fists tight in her lap, trying to channel all her nervous energy out by turning her knuckles white.

"Come on, Father!"

A quick glance at Phillip showed the young boy practically hanging off his seat with excitement, waving at his father and Gwen had to smile. The boy was only five after all, he didn't understand that he was meant to remain quiet. She watched Arthur raise a hand in acknowledgement of the boy and something burned warm inside her, watching this easy display of affection. Suddenly all was silent, the flag of Camelot held up in the air, both Arthur and William poised on the horses, lances aloft. Gwen held her breath, not daring to make a sound nor slight movement incase it put Arthur off. Next to her, Bella was doing exactly the same, fingers held up to her mouth in a very unqueenly manner.

For the remaining years of her life, Gwen would only ever remember the events of that match in slow motion. How the flag slowly fell, the spray of sand as both horses kicked off, the rapidly increasing thud of the horses as they ran, almost in tune with Gwen's own heart. The clang of wood against metal as Arthur's lance rammed itself into Sir William's side and the repeat as Sir William's pummeled straight into Arthur's middle. The slow almost majestic way that Arthur fell, gliding through the air, how his foot caught on the stirrup. And, finally, the sickening thud as Arthur connected with the ground and was immediately crushed by his own horse.

Everything was in chaos. Someone was screaming, although Gwen wasn't sure if it was her or Bella. The horse had scrambled to its feet and was running wild around the arena. Various knights had abandoned their horses and rushed to the king's side. Bella had thrown herself over the edge of the royal box and was running towards Arthur, tears already making their way down her face. Phillip was being carried away sharpish by his governess although Gwen could still see the look of horror on his face. Picking up her skirts, Gwen hurried down onto the sand and fell to her knees next to the queen. Glancing up, she saw Merlin kneeling by Arthur's head, about to remove Arthur's helmet, until a shout from Gaius stopped him.

Other women were screaming, those still stood in the stands, and there was a heated discussion going on between the knights as to where they should take Arthur - and how. She watched Bella clasp Arthur's hand tight between her own, tears streaming down her face, as Arthur lay unresponsive. Suddenly she was being pulled back and she swung around to find Merlin, dragging her away from Arthur. Bella was receiving similar treatment although was not giving in as easily. With her arms held back by Merlin, Gwen watched as the knights hoisted Arthur onto their shoulders and carried him - as they would a coffin - towards the castle. As they moved him away, something small and thin fluttered to the ground and landed inches away from Bella. Eyes fixed on Arthur, Gwen didn't notice as Bella picked up the piece of cloth and examined it. As she was finally released by Merlin, Gwen fell to her knees, hands clasped, and began to silently pray as she watched Arthur disappear. It wasn't until Bella stood and slowly turned towards her, eyes cold and staring, that Gwen realised something was wrong. In her hand Bella held the little piece of cloth, the same colour as Gwen's dress, between her finger and thumb. Looking up, an unspoken message flew between the women, and then Gwen's cloth was falling to the ground in front of her and the queen was gone with just a flick of her dress.

The hours dragged by. Hour after hour after hour. King Stefan - not one for dealing with shocking turnouts - had departed back for Messaline and in normal circumstances, Bella would have been furious. The people of Camelot stood in the castle courtyard, candles raised, reminding Merlin of the last time Arthur had been close to death. The knights - and Merlin, of course - had been gathered round Arthur's bedside for the entire duration, waiting for any sign of life. Bella had spent a quick ten minutes reassuring Phillip that all was well before rushing to the castle chapel and falling to her knees - she was still there now. Gwen, released from her duties temporarily, was spent her time rushing between Arthur's presence chamber - to nag Merlin for information - and the royal nursery. Bella, clearly, had completely forgotten about her youngest child during these sudden events and Gwen didn't feel it was right that this small child have neither mother nor father with her. Sure, she was too young to be aware, but Gwen wasn't. So when she wasn't harrassing Merlin for a minute by minute recollection of Arthur's health, she was alone in the nursery, cradling this small part of Arthur.

Out of both of Arthur's children, Aurora was the one most like him. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, Gwen had a feeling she'd be the one to grow up as the spitting image of Arthur. Granted, all babies had blue eyes at this age but Gwen was getting the impression that Aurora would maintain this eye colour, just as Edward had.

Night came, but Gwen found herself far too wound up to sleep. Bella still hadn't returned from the chapel so, leaving the baby princess to sleep, Gwen made her way back down to Arthur's presence chamber. It was eerily more quiet than it had been earlier and - peeping inside - Gwen noticed only Merlin remained by the bed. Merlin, who looked completely knackered.

"Gwen!" He said, standing up and knocking over an empty bottle, left by Gaius. After the bottle hit the floor, they both glanced at Arthur - who made no inclination that he'd heard at all.

"How is he...?" She asked, staring down at the unconscious figure on the bed. Merlin gave a sad shrug.

"Same as earlier...still alive, but...I don't know, Gwen, it's looking doubtful..."

"What...What do you mean?"

"The horse landed pretty heavy on him. Nothing's broken - a miracle, says Gaius - but he's been out like this for...well, since." Merlin cast his gaze back to the king, still with sand in his hair and dried blood on his forehead. Looking at him, lying there so helpless, Gwen felt something give in her chest. She swallowed back tears as Merlin's meaning finally hit her.

"Where...where are the knights?" She finally choked out, looking up at Merlin. His face crumpled and she felt a stab of worry hit her.

"They've...Oh, gee, Gwen...They've gone to sort out the paperwork. In the event of Arthur's death..." He glanced back at the king. "They're making arrangements for Phillip to be crowned and Bella made Regent...". A choked sound escaped from Gwen and she clapped her hand to her mouth to contain any more emotion from spilling out. She turned away from Merlin, squeezing her eyes tightly shut, ignoring the tears that had already escaped. Sensing she needed a moment alone, Merlin slowly backed out of the room and pulled the door to. Once outside, he sighed heavily. If only Arthur had listened. But then...when did Arthur ever listen?

"Arthur...?" Gwen approached the bed and sank into the chair Merlin had been occupying. She looked at the hair, stuck to his forehead with blood and sweat, the graze on his cheek from where he'd skidded in the sand. Gaius had removed his breastplace and, carefully pulling back the blankets, Gwen spotted an enormous mottled purple bruise - so painful it almost made her hurt to look at it. Cuts and scraps were scattered about on his chest and shoulders and Gwen couldn't help but think that he'd literally been in the wars. She took a shaky breath and reached for his cold hand, clasping it between her own warm one, hoping some form of physical contact would bring him round. No such luck.

For a while she sat there, his hand slowly warming up via the heat from her own, her eyes watching every shallow breath he took. She was so absorbed in willing him into consciousness that she didn't hear the door swing open. It was only when she was getting the feeling that there was someone else in the room, that she turned around. And there was Bella, the flickering candles casting shadows across her figure, a stony expression on her face and her eyes fixed on their clasped hands.