"Who wants to read the next chapter?" asked Kingsely.
"I will." said Harry and took the book from his friend. "Chapter 12." he read.
Hermione was relieved to learn that Gear would protect her and her unborn child. She had someone that cared about her inside the walls of the terrible castle. She rested her head against the damp brick wall and gasped at the pain that shot through her stomach.
Gear turned to Hermione and asked, "What's wrong Cub?"
"I think I'm having contractions." She told him with a hint of fear in her voice.
"Try to relax and breathe. It's the stress you're under. You're magic should help stop the baby from being born too soon." The lion told her wisely.
Hermione took a deep breath and nodded when another contraction hit. He was correct that the stress of her magic being pulled away from her had caused the stress on her and baby.
"Can you get me out of these chains?" she whispered.
Gear sadly shook his head and told her that they were held by dark magic and he could not break. He informed her not to try and break them herself, because it would cause harm to her child. Hermione nodded her head and closed her eyes.
Merlin ran his sword through a dark knight killing him instantly. He turned around sliced an arm off a dark elf before he could raise his bow. He saw Crestar kill several knights with a swish of his horned tail. Merlin threw a stunner at a nearby dark knight. He had learned many charms and spells from his wife. He was grateful he had taken the time to learn them. She told him that they could save his life in battle. He now he knew that she was correct.
Arthur jumped off his injured horse and swing Excalibur at Roan's sword causing sparks to fly in the air. The King ducked before the blade hit him across the neck. He jumped back quickly and blocked Roan's deadly swing from his sword.
Merlin looked down at the fallen dark knight and ran his sword through his stomach killing him. He turned and saw Legolas and threw him the dead knight's sword. They nodded to each other and continued to fight getting closer to castle.
Crestar roared and swore high in the air and threw balls of fire at the enemy giving King Arthur and his knights a clear field to reach the castle. "Go Merlin!" roared the dragon.
Merlin quickly mountain injured horse and raced to the castle while the other creatures and knights took care of the dark knights and other matter of dark creatures.
"At lest their gaining ground." said Ron interrupting his best mate.
Harry looked up from the book and nodded without a word. He hated that his best friend was locked away in a cell. He returned back to the book.
Merlin reared up his horse and knocked open the throne room doors. Morgana turned around her black robes twirled at her ankles. She smiled evilly at the wizard. He got off the horse.
"Well there you are Merlin. I was wondering when you would arrive. I must say I was hoping for you to arrive much earlier. Oh well." said Morgana and she threw a spell at him.
He blocked it with his sword. "Where's my wife Morgana?" Merlin asked walking up to her. "Tell me and you're death will be swift." Merlin leaned over in pain and took several deep breathes and regained his posture. "What have you done to Hermione?"
Morgana laughed at the great wizard. "Why is the Great and Powerful Master Merlin feeling weak?"
Merlin narrowed his eyes and threw a spell at Morgana only for her to block the spell. She quickly placed him under torture curse before he had a chance to block it. He fell to his knees in pain. He felt never felt anything like it. He fell to his side and his body bent in an inhumanly fashion. Merlin held back scream that threaten to escape. Morgana intensified the curse until he let out agonizing scream that echoed throughout the castle.
Hermione closed her eyes when she heard the screams she knew that belonged to her husband. She could feel his pain and knew that Morgana had him under the Crucio Curse. She breathed in and out heavily hoping that it wouldn't cause her labor to progress.
"I need a potion to stop my labor Gear. I'm only five months. The baby won't live. It's too soon." cried Hermione.
"Hold on Cub." said Gear and he let out a loud roar hoping his pride would answer his call since Morgana's wards had fallen. He roared again.
Arthur and his men and the magical creatures stopped fighting and looked around the dark grounds. They saw that all the dark knights and creatures were dead. King Arthur turned to Bane and Legolas and nodded in thanks. The silence was broken when a loud scream and a lion roar could be heard.
"That scream belongs to Merlin." said Arthur. "We must get inside the castle."
The lions that stood on the grounds roared and ran across the grounds jumping over dead creatures and human bodies. The knights, magical creatures and Crestar followed the pride of lions into the castle.
"Poor Merlin." whispered Ginny knowing how the curse felt. "Then Hermione. I hope help comes for her soon."
Harry squeezed his wife's hand. "It's all right Ginny. You'll see." She nodded and her husband returned back to the book.
Mordred smirked at Hermione. He stunned the lion and drug her from the cell. "It's time for you to witness your beloved husband's death."
Hermione wanted to struggled and use magic against the evil child and the damned guards around her. She couldn't place more strain on the baby. She looked at Gear and knew that he was fine. He was only knocked out.
Mordred entered the throne room and threw Hermione onto her hands knees. She gasped at the pain that shot through her body. She saw Merlin at Morgana's feet covered in blood and wounds.
"Merlin." said Hermione gently.
He turned his head and saw his wife and noticed she was breathing heavily. She closed her eyes when a contraction hit. She slowly sat up and rubbed her belly.
"Are all right dearest?" whispered Merlin, but he groaned when Morgana's foot hit his ribs.
Hermione tearful shook her head. She gasped at the pain and began to breath heavier. She leaned back against the wall. Merlin quickly realized that she was in labor.
"Hold on love. I'll get you out of here." he told her.
Morgana laughed and threw a slicing hex at Hermione. She screamed out at burning pain. Merlin slowly pulled his wand out from his pocket and flicked throwing Morgana across the throne room. He rose to full shaky elegant height. He painfully walked over to the evil witch. He saw his family magical crest around her neck.
"This doesn't not belong to you Morgana." hissed Merlin and yanked it from her neck. "Hermione this will help." He told her and threw to his wife.
Hermione thought the necklace and slowly clasped it around her neck. She sighed in relief at the feel of smoothing magic. She rubbed her stomach praying that the magic would help with the contractions from becoming stronger.
"Crestar!" said Hermione when the great dragon entered the room. She saw pride of lions run down to the dungeons. "Arthur thank heavens."
"Your rein has came to an end Morgana." said Merlin. "Arthur the sword!"
The king quickly threw Excalibur to his friend. Merlin caught the mighty sword just as Hermione disarmed Morgana with wandless magic and wands threw into her out reach hand. Merlin turned to Morgana he ran the magical sword threw her heart. He raised it and slit her throat. He wasn't going to take any chances.
Arthur took his sword from his friend. Merlin ran over to his wife and was quickly at her side. Hermione took several deep breathes and gasped at the pain.
"I must get her to Gaius." said Merlin lifting her up in his arms.
Crestar laid down on the floor. "Climb on. I'll take you to the wards of Camelot."
"Then I'll take her rest of the way. I promised to protect the Cub." said the lion.
"Gear. Thank goodness your safe." whispered Hermione.
Merlin climb onto the great dragon's back and Arthur handed Hermione to her husband. Crestar quickly left the castle followed by a pride of lions. Gear roared and ran after the dragon. It was great to stretch his legs once again.
They reached the wards of Camelot. Crestar landed on the ground and laid down. Merlin slid down off the dragon. He careful helped Hermione down and turned to Gear.
"Set her on my back. Don't worry I'm much stronger then I look." said Gear.
Hermione turned to husband and told him what Gear instructed. Merlin studied the lion before him carefully. He eased Hermione onto his back. Gear slowly made their way into Camelot leaving the lions and Crestar at the boarder.
Gwen paced in front of the entrance hall doors her blue gown blowing elegantly behind her. Gaius stood nearby with Thresa at his side. Natalie and Lily stood waiting for Hermione to return. Gwen wanted Hermione's midwife at castle just cause she was needed. Gwen stopped pacing when the large front doors opened causing several guards to draw their swords at the sight of the lion.
Merlin lifted his wife off of Gear's back and said, "He's not dangerous. He protected Hermione. She needs potions. She's in labor."
"Come quickly up the stairs." said Gaius, who had a black medical bag at his side. The group made their way quickly up the stairs followed by Gear.
They stopped at Hermione and Merlin's bedchambers and Gwen opened the door. Merlin swept through the door and gently laid his wife down on the bed. Natalie shooed Merlin out of the room leaving her Gwen and Gaius in the room.
"Master Merlin I'll keep you company." said Lily taking his hand and lead him out of the room. She closed the door behind her with a soft click.
Hermione turned her head and saw the medicine man pull out potions after potions. Gwen pressed a cool rag against Hermione's sweaty brow.
"The pink potion and the purple potion Gaius." said Hermione.
He nodded trusting her to know the difference. She took the pink potion first after he opened it. She smelled it and smiled. It was brewed correctly. Hermione took the vale tasting potion in one go. She made a gagging motion. She sighed in relief when the contractions stopped. She took the purple potion that was vitamins for the baby. Gaius took the empty vial from the woman, and she laid deeper into the pillows.
Natalie ushered Gaius from the room to check over Hermione. She bent Hermione's legs and checked for any type of bleeding or if her had water broke. She looked up at the woman and smiled.
"Every is just fine. They baby is fine along with the mother." said Natalie.
Gwen sighed in relief at the news. "Thank heavens you're all right. I don't know what I'd do without you Hermione. You're like my sister."
Hermione looked at the Queen with tears in her eyes. "And you're mine Gwen."
"Get some rest. I'll visit you later." said Gwen and women left Hermione to sleep off her exhaustion.
Merlin stopped pacing when the bedchamber door opened and asked, "How are they?"
Gwen smiled. "They're just fine Merlin. She's resting. You can go in and spend time with her. Just don't wake her."
He nodded and walked into the room and closed the door behind him with a soft click. Gear laid down in front of the door to stay guard. He had grown fond of the young witch.
"Come along we many to treat with injuries." said Gaius and he made his way down the corridor.
"Arthur!" said Gwen and he quickly pulled his wife into his arms.
"I'm fine." he whispered in her ear. "Morgana is no more. The kingdom is safe."
Gwen nodded against his chest. She pulled back and looked down at her gown and saw it covered in blood. She knew it didn't belong to husband. "We must see to the injured," and they made their way to the entrance hall.
"That's the end of the chapter." said Harry looking up from the book. "It's late. We'll read more tomorrow." He marked the page and closed the book.
The order said their farewells leaving the book in the center of the table. Harry turned out the lights with one last look at the book. He followed his wife up the stairs for a goodnights rest.
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