Thank you everyone for your patience in waiting for this latest chapter. It has been too long, and for that I offer my apologies. Good things are coming for our favorites. I hope you chose to continue the journey.

Merick

She had been quiet, completely quiet since Arthur and Guinevere had departed. He and Gawain had unloaded her things from the cart, and tried to help her arrange them, but Merlin was acutely aware of the tension that bristled around her. It wasn't that she was trying to push either of them away, he understood, she was simply frightened, and trying to keep anyone else from understanding that fear as ingratitude. Merlin kept himself just as quiet, not intruding upon her necessary mental confinement. Gawain had murmured something about stowing the cart away safely, and he had left. So taking up a basket, Merlin followed Amite into the former smithy where she had been busying herself arranging bundles of herbs where the forged tools had once hung.

"Stop Amite." Merlin put a steadying hand over top if hers as she let it rest on the wooden table. Only then could he feel just how much she was truly shaking.

"Talk to me, please?" He begged.

"What shall I say Emrys? You have been so kind, all of you, how can I tell you of the fear I feel? How can I say that the very gift that I have been asked to share with Camelot was the very one that took my parents, that took my home from me? Now it is I with the child to protect. How can I keep the fear from my heart?"

"Camelot is different, the people are different. And you have the expressed protection of the King."

"And yet you still hide Emrys?"

"But I do not conceal what I can do with medicines, and neither does Gaius, and we are not molested for those talents; just as you will be safe, and seen with reverence for your skills. Rest assured, these first few days and weeks, you will not ever have to be alone. And should you ever feel fear, go to the citadel. You will be safe within its walls, and I will introduce you to Gaius at the first opportunity. He will protect you, the knights will protect you."

A noise in the other room startled her.

"It is only Gawain returned Amite, trust that you are safe."

"Such things will take time Emrys."

"We will prove ourselves and this place to you Amite, I swear it."

She tried to smile, Merlin knew she was keeping back another wave of tears, and he understood how strong she was to be able to do it. He held out his arms to her and she stepped into them.

"All will be well." He whispered to her, feeling her nod against his chest even as her fingers balled themselves into his shirt and hung on.

"It will be." Gawain's soft voice intruded on the gently lit space. Sunlight was falling through the slats of the open roof over the unused forge. The dust motes, playing in the beams, swirled just beyond where they stood, mostly in the shadows that protected the workspaces from the weather. Merlin thought that the dancing particles looked like tiny fairies, the ones from the stories his mother had told him when he was just a child, (Not like the real ones he had seen since then). He wanted to see it as some type of blessing on the endeavor, on bringing Amite to Camelot.

"May I come in?" Gawain asked, just as quietly as his first whisper. Eve nodded.

"I know that this," he gestured around, "none of this is what you or I or Merlin planned for. The truth is, I don't think any of us planned anything at all." He smiled a lopsided smile. "We lived each day as it came, each night in bliss that was honest but temporal. But now we have a chance, a chance to build something real, all of us." He held out his hand. "May I show you something?"

"Go." Merlin encouraged her, following her frail looking body as she went to Gawain.

Gawain led her to the back of the cottage, to the partition where the larger of the two sleeping areas was, and motioned with his hand that she should look. She stared at what she saw, then looked back at Gawain who was trying to smile, even through the glistening in his eyes. Without even being in his mind, Merlin could see the pain and confusion the knight was feeling, and fighting.

"You needed a proper place to sleep, something comfortable for you and the babe. It's mine, don't worry. I brought it over from the palace." Eve cocked her head. "Please don't worry Eve. Ask Merlin, I can sleep on a rock."

"He can." Merlin bobbed his head up and down.

Gawain had somehow packed up his own wool mattress, and moved the two smaller pallets in the cottage together to provide support for it. Her blankets and furs, which he had helped pack up, were dressed over it, and her trunk was at the foot of it.

"When the time comes I will build you a cradle, and a then a proper bed for the wee one."

"And toys," Merlin added, "lots of toys. And dresses, if it's a girl, and bows and ribbons."

"And for you as well." Gawain took both of Eve's hands. "And in the meanwhile, perhaps you will let me, let us, share this place here with you when we can, and when you desire. At least for as long as we can fit, what with you about to become quite plump and all."

Eve's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened. Merlin began to laugh, recognizing the beginning of Gawain's teasing.

"Not that your aren't a beauty my dear. I have thought you a beauty since the first moment I laid eyes upon you." He held her hands and her eyes tightly.

"Oh," Merlin added, "when you were feverish and half dead from poison?"

"You aren't helping Merlin." Gawain didn't turn his head, but Merlin could see the grin.

"I'm not?" He played his innocent face for both Gawain and Eve.

"Eve is a beauty now with the babe growing inside her. And she will be a beauty when she is fat and ready to be delivered, and a beauty when she holds our child in her arms."

"I have to agree."

Both men began to laugh as Eve composed herself in face of their gaiety.

"There is will always be laughter in this house Eve." Merlin spoke out loud, "Even if it is only within our hearts and our minds. I promise this to you."

"You've become quite poetic Merlin. I shall have to watch myself."

"I will watch you both." The silent words echoed the smile on her face.

OOOO

For the first night in a great many Merlin slept, one hand draped over Amite's belly, the other wrapped under his head, her body pressed against his, her breathing even and calm just as his was, and just as Gawain's was. They three were comfortably settled upon the bed, as Gawain had intended. It all seemed to fit, which made Merlin both happy and apprehensive. At least now that he was awake.

And he was awake because he knew that he had to attend to Arthur that morning. He'd had his one reprieve, (thanks to Guinevere) from his duties to the king the day past. And as much as he loved Amite, and wanted to care for her, and solve the mystery of her, he had the other path of prophecy to follow; to protect Arthur. And getting himself dismissed: or having to suffer through Arthur's displeasure and myriad senseless tasks, would make his life no easier.

Easing himself from under the blankets Merlin moved very slowly, not wanting to disturb Amite, or Gawain. He went into the main room of the cottage, looking around. It had not been transformed much since the time it had been Gwen's home. It was hard not to remember the happiness that had reigned there, even when Gwen had been naught but a servant to Morgana. She had carried a regal bearing even back then, and everyone who had known her understood that she could be the only Queen for Arthur and for Camelot. Gathering up his shirt and vest he dressed quickly and quietly.

"You are going to Arthur?" Gawain had kept his voice and rising quiet as well, Merlin had not even heard him.

"I have to. He will be a bear if he has to attend to his own dressing and breakfast."

"True enough."

"You will stay with her, will you not? I would not have her wake alone."

"I will." Gawain nodded

"I will return as soon as I am able."

"I will stay until she wakes. Then I will find a way to make a discrete exit. No doubt some of the ladies of the town will be interested in coming to check on the new arrival."

"No doubt. Something new to gossip about is always a welcome distraction. I hope Eve is up to it."

"She is stronger than either of us can imagine Merlin."

"I know, but I will hurry, and I will bring Gaius by today as well so she will know another friendly face to whom she can turn."

"Does he know about us, and about Eve?"

"He does not, I have told no one Gawain."

"Then we should keep it that way for the time being."

Merlin nodded. He had no idea what he was going to say to Gaius in terms of introducing Eve to him, and in terms of explaining her current condition and his role in it. He could just see the look on Gaius' face, a mixture of pride and shock, though the likelihood was that Gaius was already aware of the news. As Gawain had said, rumors travelled like flame on dry tinder in Camelot.

Merlin fairly ran to the citadel, bursting into Gaius' chambers with little regard for the nighttime habits of his friend. Of course he knew that Gaius generally woke before he did, so in truth, it was not a concern. The sun was rising above the fields to the east of the fortress, and Merlin wanted a clean shirt before he attended Arthur so there was no chance that he would smell of the must and fire of the cottage. It was best, he had noted in his many years of service, not to give Arthur anything to grasp onto and complain about when you were attempting to go as unnoticed as possible. He mumbled a quick greeting to Gaius as he stuffed a day old roll into his mouth, all the while tugging a new shirt over his head. And before the old healer could even ask a question, he was out the door again, on the way to the kitchens.

Entering Arthur's suite, Merlin took a great deal more care than he had with his own. It was challenging to manage silver trays and silver plates, as those things tended to clatter together like bells. But moving slowly, and carefully he managed to get the service settled at the table without much fuss. He set out the napkin, and the goblet, waiting for its water, a basket of bread from the baker, a plate of cold meats and an egg, then went to check on Arthur.

Opening the heavy drapes to let in the sunlight Merlin turned to see Arthur beginning to stir amongst the blankets and coverlet. The king grumbled with the light and rolled about before deciding that he would be better suited by just giving in and opening his eyes. Which didn't stop him acting annoyed anyways.

"Oh, so it is you Merlin? I was beginning to wonder if you were coming back or not?"

Merlin bit back the protest that he had only missed one morning and simply smiled and began to organize the bedclothes around Arthur.

"So?" Arthur swung his legs out of the bed, and planted them on the floor, bracing his hands against the mattress as if making to stand. "You're going to be a father?"

Nothing like Arthur, Merlin thought, to get right to the heart of the matter.

"Yes, I suppose I am." He couldn't meet Arthur's questioning eyes and turned away to organize his clothing for the day.

"Are you certain it's yours?"

The chill and the anger that ran through Merlin's veins was hard to control, and Merlin stiffened for a moment, nearly dropping the trousers he'd been holding. Perhaps Arthur noticed, perhaps he didn't, he just kept on as he always did, holding out his arms for his shirt.

"Your Breakfast is on the table." Merlin managed to say evenly when he was forced to face his King.

"Well good, busy day today, spring brings its own set of challenges you know Merlin."

"Yes sir." The response was clipped.

"I mean, winter is mostly peaceful, too cold for armies to move about, and not much more than the odd skirmish, but spring, well," Arthur let the thought trail off.

"So you are expecting something?"

"I am always expecting something Merlin." Arthur took the leather trousers that Merlin had brought over, yanking them up roughly. "Today's meetings will help to offer direction. Morgana has been very quiet of late, and that bothers me."

"As well it should."

"Your little healer may have more work than she is prepared for."

"Then perhaps I should bring Gaius to meet her soon then, so that they can be prepared, whatever the eventuality."

"Excellent idea Merlin. I knew I kept you around for something."

"Not just my pretty face then, eh sire?"

"Certainly not. Oh, and don't go thinking that you're going to be getting a raise now that you're having a family."

"No Sire, I think that Eve's work alone will bring in enough to care for the babe."

"How very liberal of you Merlin."

"Things change Arthur, and we are, both of us, most fortunate to have such strong women in our lives."

"I suppose we are."

The turn of the conversation seemed to soften Arthur's earlier adversarial mood and he nodded wistfully as he sat to eat. Merlin spread the napkin over his lap and poured him water.

"Perhaps you should go and see to that meeting with Gaius then Merlin." And he added as an afterthought, as he chewed. "And give my regards to your lady, and Gwen's as well."

"I certainly will Sire, and thank you."