A/N: Update time! Thank you for all your fab reviews! AND a HUGE thank you to those who have favourited/followed this story! :)
Enjoy this chapter!
Arwen4eva xxx
Arthur and Merlin stop outside the Royal chambers. Arthur makes no movement to open the door. Instead he just stares at the very uninteresting wood beginning to find it fascinating.
"Arthur? What's the matter?" Merlin asks placing his spare hand on Arthur's shoulder as the other is holding the King's chain mail.
"I...I cannot go in Merlin." Arthur says, a lump catching in his throat and tears beginning to sting his eyes. He begins to frantically blink the stinging away from his eyes with little success.
"Why not? Your wife and unborn child are in there Arthur, not a griffin or wild boar." Merlin says removing his hand from his best friend's shoulder and moving so it rests on the slightly rusted iron handle.
"Guinevere looks so peaceful just like she is sleeping but it is horrible and pains me greatly to know that she and the baby could..." Angrily, Arthur wipes the salty tears that had fallen from his cheeks.
'No I cannot think of that outcome. She will get better.'
"Listen to me you clotpole. We will not lose them. I promise you that they will both be ok."
Arthur nods and Merlin quietly opens the door. Slowly, Arthur walks in.
He stops next to the table and stares at Gwen's unconscious form laying on the silky sheets and her head resting on the feathery pillows on top of the bed.
'Oh my dear, sweet, beautiful Guinevere. Why has this happened to you? To both of you? Whoever has done this had better hope that I do not find them, because I will kill them. Painfully and slowly kill them.'
"Arthur?" Merlin's voice breaks Arthur out of his thoughts. The King then walks to the bed and sits in the chair that Merlin had occupied before going to search for him.
"Gaius," Arthur asks staring at his wife. "Is there any change with them?"
"If there is Arthur, I am not aware. Gwen is the same as before. Merlin can you check the baby please?"
Merlin nods and walks around to the opposite side of the bed. He leans over and gently places his palm over the small bump on Gwen's stomach.
"The heartbeat seems the same." he comments.
"Is it still too fast then?" Arthur asks. Merlin's eye brows furrow.
'That's weird. I could have sworn...' Merlin thinks.
"Arthur, speak again." he says.
"Why?" he asks curiously.
"Just do it."
"Merlin, really, I am not in the mood for games."
'Wow. There it is again. The baby...'
"Trust me Arthur, this is no game. Whilst you were speaking, the baby's heartbeat became normal."
"What?" Arthur and Gaius say in unison.
"Upon hearing your voice Arthur, the baby's heartbeat calmed down. Gwen and the baby must be able to hear you. You managed to calm Gwen down which calmed the baby down."
"Merlin." Gaius says an idea popping into his head. "Swap places with Arthur. Sit here and Arthur on the bed." Arthur stands, walks to where Merlin is and gently climbs onto the bed next to Gwen. Merlin sits in the chair Gaius had been in as the old physician is now in the chair Arthur had occupied.
Arthur scoots up to his wife and carefully brings her limp body to him so her head is resting on his shoulder, her warm breath tickling his skin.
"Merlin see how the baby's heartbeat is now." Gaius says.
Merlin places his palm on the bump again.
"It's calmer." he informs.
"It is calm enough to extract the magic?" Gaius asks.
"No, not yet." Merlin says. "Plus I haven't learnt the spell to remove the magic yet. I need my book."
"Well go and get it then!" Gaius exclaims.
Merlin then rushes off to get his book - if he can find it amongst all the others.
"Hold on for me my love." Arthur quietly mumbles into Gwen's ear. "I love you. Both of you, and I will not lose either of you."
End note: Please review! :)