I'm so sorry, my readers. Sigh. School is tough and my opportunities to write are very few nowadays. On the weekends I just can't stay up so late anymore. I'm always so tired, and so when I attempt to write I'm sleepy and just... anyway, I pushed myself to make this chapter because I feel bad for leaving you without anything for two weeks!
Hermione oggled at her stomach as she lay propped up in the bed.
Was it bigger?
Or was that her imagination?
Was it also her imagination that something was slowly, very slowly, making her fade? How had she ended up this way? Surely not by chance. And Gaius had confirmed that she was disease-free. In Hermione's logical mind, there was only one explanation... magic.
Now, being bed-ridden gives the intelligent person time to analyze things and make conclusions. And Hermione's ultimate conclusion was that Morgana inevitably had a major role in it all. After all, she was the only person who had it out for Hermione. She wanted to kill her more than anyone, except for Arthur or Merlin, maybe.
But there was one thing bothering Hermione. Why now?
For the longest time Morgana had seemingly disappeared from the world, leaving Arthur and Hermione alone, for the most part. Why now did she decide to strike?
Well, it was perfect timing, Hermione thought bitterly, considering her current situation. Get rid of the heir and the queen, and tear Arthur apart...
Wait.
Could Morgana possibly know that she was with child? And if so, how had she come to find out?
Certainly Gaius and Merlin had not told a soul! Who else could know? Hermione thought and thought, hoping to remember who seemed to be spending the most time around her, enough to learn her secret. And just then it dawned upon her.
Merlin strolled casually in the large wing in which the Royal Chambers were a part of, hoping to find someone suspicious around the area. But the corridors were empty. He sighed and ruffled his jet black hair in impatience. He didn't know how much time he had before Hermione began dying... Footsteps, soft and undeniably feminine, were approaching. Hide! But where? Merlin searched in a craze, spotting a long cloth on the wall. He sprinted to throw the tapestry in front of himself and stand as still as possible.
The footsteps neared until the woman was only a few feet away. The thuds halted and Merlin sucked in quietly, hoping they would pass on. He shut his eyes and then the footsteps continued to enter the Royal Chambers and shut the doors almost all the way.
Merlin sighed in relief and uncovered himself, tiptoeing to the door to peer through the crack, wondering who had entered. It couldn't be Arthur, he was talking to some of the knights. His pupils dilated when he spotted Guinevere nearing the sleeping Hermione. She reached into her pocket and was pulling out some sort of vial, Merlin assumed, but her back was to him and he couldn't see what else she was doing. Merlin waited impatiently for her to move.
Hermione took slow breaths and hoped her eyelids weren't twitching as she carefully opened them a teensy bit. Guinevere had taken a clear vial out of her dress pocket, gazing at Hermione's water goblet on the bedside table. Hermione frowned slightly as Gwen pinched some of the grains in her vial and put them in her water. Hermione's heart froze. So she had been loyal servant who seemed like she'd never hurt a fly was the one poisoning her. But why?
Hermione's eyes snapped shut as Gwen turned away to lean over the bed. Hermione stiffened under Gwen's long, suddenly claw-like wingers as she gently shook her awake.
"My Queen," Gwen said quietly, lips pursed, "wake up."
Hermione opened her eyes as if she'd been in a deep slumber and made an act of yawning into her hand. She winced as she sat up. Her stomach was in pain and it twisted in different directions.
"Here, I've poured you some more water," Gwen said kindly, attempting to give Hermione the goblet. Hermione felt as if Gwen's smile had a smug feel to it. The brunette queen smiled back fleetingly, shaking her head in refusal.
"No thank you, Gwen," Hermione replied sweetly, hoping her dark eyes weren't flashing as her anger rose under her facade. "I'm quite fine right now."
Gwen's smiled faded. "No, no, My Queen, you must hydrate yourself."
She was becoming insistent, and Hermione's suspicions grew.
"I'm fine, Guinevere, honestly," Hermione denied once more, turning her face away so she could contain her temper. It hadn't angered her so much until she realized that not only was Guinevere killing her, but she was also killing Hermione and Arthur's unborn child. That made her want to kill Gwen right there. But she was too weak to do much until she could tell Merlin or Arthur the truth.
"My Lady, I cannot allow you to let yourself get worse," Gwen continued, controlling her impatience well. Hermione's face snapped back to look at Gwen hard.
"I. Do. Not. Want. It."
Gwen's whiskey eyes widened at the Queen's defiance, and she bowed her head once obediently.
"Of course, My Queen, if that is what you wish," Guinevere agreed pleasantly, turning away to straighten up some objects carelessly.
Hermione watched Gwen like a hawk, confused. What was she going to do next?
"I only thought you might want to heal," Gwen shrugged. "I thought you might care to help the child in your womb."
Hermione's hair seemed to crackle in her rage as she clenched the bedsheets in her hands in tight fists.
"How dare you?" Hermione spat.
"Dare I what?" Gwen revolved to face the Queen again, head tilted and eyes cruel. "Know you're with child when the King himself doesn't? What a strong relationship you two must have, keeping secrets from each other..."
Merlin clenched his jaw. He didn't like the way Guinevere was acting. She'd gone so... harsh. Sarcastic. Like Morgana. Could it be?... He suddenly jumped as he heard noises, as if someone was approaching. He couldn't be caught eavesdropping, or even just looking into the chambers while Hermione was alone with Gwen. It wouldn't look good to anyone, except maybe Arthur. Who would probably still give him a weird look and maybe hit him.
So Merlin scattered, heading in the opposite direction of the person nearing. He had to tell Gaius.
"I know what you've been doing, Gwen," Hermione suddenly told her, curious and disgusted. "Why?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, My Queen," Gwen's expression hardened, and Hermione caught the discomfort she was obviously feeling underneath this evil exterior.
"Don't lie to me, Guinevere," Hermione laughed coldly. "I'm dying. And you're the one killing me."
Guinevere looked nervous for a minute, and Hermione knew she'd won. But then the maidservant stalked over to the bedside and in a flash had the vial out of her pocket. Hermione scrutinized her as she popped the cork off and poured all the grains into the water.
"What are you doing?" Hermione sneered. "I'm not going to drink it, and you can't force me."
"Who's to say I can't?" Gwen snarled, reaching into her pocket to pull out something else. A dagger. Hermione's strength seemed to fade. No. Gwen would never.. she was too nice! She wouldn't dare! Hermione scooted away from Gwen inch by inch, but her legs were useless. She couldn't get away or fight back. Tears of frustration sprouted in her eyes.
"Now, you'll just have to take all the rest of it now since I can't slip it into your drinks every day anymore," Guinevere hissed, handing the goblet to Hermione.
"I won't drink it!" Hermione choked out, tears dripping down her face.
"Then your baby will die," Gwen replied angrily, bringing the dagger close to Hermione's stomach. The Queen cried but knew she had no choice. If she refused, her child would be killed. It didn't make sense! Gwen hated fighting, and was the last person in the world Hermione would think would threaten the life of a baby. But, alas, heartbreak and life can make the nicest person do the most horrible things. Unfortunately, for the queen, Gwen had had enough of losing everything she'd once held dear.
And so, with a heavy heart, Hermione brought the rim to her dry lips and drank.
Guinevere threw open the doors just as Arthur approached, cheeks wet with fresh tears.
"I don't know what happened!" Gwen cried, shaking. Arthur's eyes widened in alarm at her outburst.
"What happened?" he asked loudly, moving past her to enter the chambers and glance at Hermione. She seemed to be sleeping. Gwen trailed after him, and he turned to face her.
"She's dying," Gwen sobbed. "The Queen. She's dying!"
