Melwas watched Gawain's hands catch Guinevere as she swayed from the force of the snowball. Large tears formed in her eyes; daintily she wiped the tears from her swollen eye. A large bruise began to form around her left eye and upper cheekbone. Unlike most women, Guinevere did not attempt to draw attention to herself. Arthur rushed over to wrap his arms around his young wife. His deep voice ordered a Knight to locate Gauis. Arthur's fingers tipped Gwen's face up to examine her bruises. Gwen pushed his hand away claiming that she had been hit with a snow ball before as a child. Arthur's most trusted Knights hovered around Gwen asking about her well-being.
A plan formed in Melwas' mind; Guinevere was a wonderful wife. She was sweet and kind unlike most women that he encountered. He hid a small smile; Morgana could have Camelot. Guinevere would be his reward for helping Morgana. She would rule at his side. Melwas' boots sunk in the snow as he slowly marched to Arthur and Guinevere.
Bowing to Gwen, Melwas stared into her bruise face.
"Queen Guinevere, my humblest apology, my careless actions have bruised your face. We wanted a bit of sport, and it has caused you hurt. . would you like the knight whipped for his action?"
A look of horror covered Gwen's face. Fat tears slipped from her face as she shook her head. "No… no, it was accident. Please, I am, fine. Don't…,"Gwen wailed.
"As you wish," Melwas replied. His eyes never left Gwen's bruised face.
Gawain's eyes connected with Percy's confused look. King Melwas seemed fascinated by Gwen, too fascinated for their liking.
Arthur hustled Gwen away rudely. "It's cold; she needs to go inside the castle."
Melwas decided Guinevere would be his queen, one way or another. He watched Arthur carefully ushering her up the stairs. Merlin walked behind them with his hands ready in case Guinevere stumbled. Arthur swung her into his arms when they reached the castle's entrance.
Hunith fussed over Gwen as she helped her remove her clothing. Gwen cried as a flock of maids poured a steaming bath for her. Arthur was angry; she knew it. Her hand gently touched her face causing pain to explode in her head.
I just wanted a few minutes outside. It's very lonely in the castle. I don't have any friends any longer. My servant friends ignore me. I have Hunith… she has a full day as my lady-in-waiting. Sometimes, I miss my old life or I wish Tristan's keep. Being Queen is hard… overwhelming…lonely… isolating.
Gwen allowed Hunith to help her into her bath. Gently, Hunith washed her body. Gwen felt like a naughty child. She should have been able to deflect that stupid snowball. She had training in the art of defense. She was taken off guard. She had to pay attention to her surroundings. Her soapy hands rested on Artie. She had to protect her baby from Morgana. Sooner or Later, she would find out about Artie. Her child would prevent Morgana's demented dream. No more tears, Gwen. Time to figure things out.
Maybe, I need to give her space. Perhaps, I want to protect her too much. I lost her once. My life was dark and bleak with Guinevere. That snowball… I couldn't think; she was helpless. I couldn't protect her again… just like I didn't protect her from Morgana. Melwas stomped over, and claimed to be concerned about her health. He wants my wife. How can I do this, and prevent a war? How can I politely warn him away from Guinevere?
Arthur sat with his head in his hands. Gauis reassured him that it was simple bruise. Gwen and the baby were fine. Yet, nothing seemed to be fine since Melwas arrived in Camelot. Everything was perfect until Melwas arrived. Arthur hated himself for thought.
Melwas resembles Lancelot. I'm paranoid that Gwen might form an attachment to him. I am past this… it wasn't her fault. They were victims… of me and Morgana. I can't lose her.
Gauis ordered Gwen to bed; Arthur founded her resting against an array of white pillows. His heart cracked as tears dropped from his eyes. It reminded him of that awful time in her house when she lay dying.
Her dark curls turned in his direction. "Why are you crying," Gwen whispered.
"I don't know… I feel silly… stupid… guilty… your face." Gwen lifted a small brown hand to Arthur. Arthur rushed into her embrace. Gently; he stroked her back.
"I'm sorry for sneaking out…"
"I'm sorry for leaving you alone."
Sighing, Gwen wiped her tear stained face on Arthur's tunic. Arthur rained kisses on the right side of her face.
"Have you eaten?"
"Chicken broth," Gwen spat. "More chicken broth."
"Poor Guinevere, maybe, a few bits of mashed potatoes with gravy." Arthur's heart flounced when he was rewarded with a smile.
"That sounds good."
"I'll send one of the guards."
"A big bowl."
"Are you going to share?"
"No."
Merlin watched Guinevere eating a large bowl of oatmeal with chopped apples. He didn't realize that someone so little could consume so much food. He was almost afraid to touch a slice of cheese.
"You requested my presences, Gwen. What's the plan?"
Gwen was starved… mashed potatoes and chicken broth didn't fill her belly. Her injury occurred over a week ago. Finally, she was able to chew food without throbbing pain. Her baby was hungry as a mother … she had to nourish her little one. Besides, Arthur was in a meeting. He would take away the food… with "a slowdown… it's not going anywhere." Gwen wanted to slap him when he munched on herb encrusted Capon when she had mashed potatoes and broth for a week. It was on the tip of her tongue to remind him that her belly should grow, not his.
"I'm going to eat a few slices of cheese, and a huge chunk of bread. Then, we are going to see King Melwas."
Merlin moved his fingers from his desired cheese. Why does she want to see King Melwas? What goes on in her mind?
"Why, Melwas?"
Gwen popped a bit of cheese into her mouth. Merlin watched her chew it slowly.
"To make sure … he didn't whip that Knight from last week."
Merlin couldn't find a good lie to dissuade her. "I'm sure that he didn't. You shouldn't go there."
""I'll sleep better. Besides, I'll have my husband's best friend with me. What could happen?"
Merlin shook his head. "I have a bad feeling."
Gwen smiled sweetly at him. "Would you like some cheese?"
Melwas smoothed his hair when it was announced that Guinevere came to speak with him. He was relieved to see her bruises starting to fade. His fingers itched to touch those luminous curls. He wanted to wrap a strand around his fingers as she waited for his lips to descend upon hers.
"Guinevere, what brings you here?"
Smiling, Gwen tugged Merlin closer to her. "Milord, I came for your reassurances that the Knight from the snowball fight was not punished for my accident."
Melwas' affection for Gwen doubled from her gentleness and sweetness. He was touched by her kind heart. The nobility could learn about humility from the serving class. He wondered how he missed her during his visits to Camelot. It didn't matter… soon.
"I followed your wishes, Queen Guinevere. He was not punished."
Melwas enjoyed a gleam of happiness in her eyes. He caused it. He could make her forget Arthur.
"Thank you."
Melwas waved his hand to a neatly set table. "Would you care for tea?"
"No, it's time for my nap. I must sleep to stay awake for our nightly meal."
"Does Arthur give you too many duties?"
Gwen shook her head. "No, milord... just one… I carry Arthur's heir."
Melwas 'gut ached. She's having Arthur's brat. This is awful… no… it will be easier. I'll double cross Morgana. Arthur will have an heir. He might trade Guinevere for his kingdom and heir. Perfect.
"Congratulations, milady. Until later..."
Merlin tugged Gwen from Melwas' chamber. "We must leave."
Gwen linked arms with Merlin as they strolled down the corridor. Merlin slapped his head suddenly. "I forget a parchment. Stay here." Giggling, Gwen sat on a window sill as Merlin jogged away. Gwen hummed as she waited for Merlin to return from his apartment. Her hand rubbed Artie's swell.
Gwen jumped from her seat to hug Arthur as he approached. "What are you doing here," Arthur asked harshly. Gwen took a step backward as she read a blazing anger in Arthur' eyes. She hadn't seen such venom since that horrible day with Lancelot.
"I went to see King Melwas with Me-"
Arthur's nostrils flared as he stepped closer to Gwen. "Why," he roared. "Why did you go to his chamber?"
Why is he yelling at me? I did nothing wrong.
"Answer me!"
"I wanted to see about the Knight to... make sure that he was unharmed," Gwen screamed.
"You can't stay away from Lancelot."
"Lancelot is dead. What are you are talking about?"
Arthur's anger, fear, and jealously controlled his mind. "I saw the way he looked at you. You can't stay away from him. You're supposed to be resting."
"You shouldn't yell at your pregnant wife."
"Why are you here? Guinevere… why do you prefer him over me? Why does everyone leave… why am I never good enough? What are you going to do take- my baby away, and leave me ….with nothing? If you hadn't been dying you would have never returned to me. You're back by accident…. You don't want to be here… that's why you didn't tell for weeks …about the baby.' Arthur rambled.
Merlin hurried around the corner. He couldn't believe his eyes when he found Arthur yelling at Guinevere in the corridor. Her hands rested on her mound. He flinched from Arthur's hateful words. His mouth dropped when Gwen's hand connected with Arthur's face. Arthur shook his head; he took a step towards Gwen.
What did I just say to her? What's wrong with me? I'm losing my mind. He's driving me mad. I can't do this. Why did I stay those things to Guinevere? I know that she loves me...
"Forgive me," Arthur begged as his hand rose to touch her face to brush hot streaming tears from Gwen's eyes.
"What did Uther do to you, Arthur… why do you think you are so unworthy of love… unworthy of happiness? Why can't you trust your heart?"
Merlin couldn't hear their whispers, from where he stood he was not privy to Arthur and Gwen finding solace in each other, he could only see Arthur's lips mumbling something. He froze when he thought he saw Arthur reaching...
Is it her face? I can't tell…His eyes glowed amber. Arthur would never forgive himself, if he hurt Gwen in a rage. Merlin flung Arthur across the corridor. Arthur's back landed against a stone wall. Merlin rushed to Gwen, and pushed her behind his back.
Arthur rose slowly.
"Arthur, stay away from her. Calm down."
"Guards….I am calm… someone used magic in the castle… who was it?'
Merlin exhaled. "I did."
In a daze, Gwen eyes lied to her; Arthur allowed Camelot's guards to haul Merlin to the dungeons. Screaming in horror, her tiny fists pounded on Arthur's chest as she struggle to herself from his iron tight clasp. Silently, she followed him to the Council room, tears marring her face. She couldn't look at him. Wordlessly, she watched the senior members of his council hurry into the chamber…Gwaine, Leon... Percy… Gauis and Elyan arrived with looks of shock on their faces.
Gwen sat listening to them describe Merlin like a common traitor. Arthur was frozen to his seat. They offered possible punishments: banishment, burning... death. Gwen used her fingers to push her body from her chair.
She eyed Arthur with cool disdain. "Is this how you discussed me… without the truth… without a word from my lips… what about Merlin's voice," she spat. "A rush to judgment with your emotions! Merlin is a loyal…friend… you know nothing of his pain… this is what you did to me… I will not join this… I will not do what was… done to me to … Merlin." Gwen's soul ached as her heart broke.
Gwen swung around pointing at the Knights… "Did you say nothing that day like today? None of you have learned from my pain. None of you have learned anything from what you did to me," she spat.
She ignored her name as stormed away from them.
Camelot's dungeons' guard was shock to see the Queen in a state of distress. Her face dampened from her tears; strands of hair sticking to her face...
"Leave us…"
"Queen Guin-"
'"Leave us!"
Gwen stumbled to Merlin's dungeon. She slipped her hand between the metal bars. Tear dripped from her eyes when Merlin grabbed her hand.
"This how we began, Merlin… just need tomatoes…"
Merlin cried as he traced Gwen's little fingers. "Nothing has really changed."
"No…"
"It always seems like we spend a lot time in dungeons."
"It was a matter of time before you went. I did my time already, Merlin."
Merlin whipped his face with the back of his hand.
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know Merlin."
Arthur didn't know what to say when he found Gwen sleeping on a patch of hay outside of Merlin's cell as Merlin snored on his side. They fingers locked. Arthur's conscience ate at his soul. He couldn't lose them.
"Pendragon… make a careful choice,' Laurent warned.
Arthur turned his head to stare at Laurent.
"Go away…"
"No… one wrong word. I'll take them away… both of them…no... all three of them."
Arthur lowered his head. "I've earned that fate today. You have every right to take away family… Guinevere, Artie, and Merlin, they are my family."
Laurent folded his arms. "Your decision."
"I rescinded the law banning magic. Morgana is demented over magic… lost my father, lost my mother to hating magic. I can't lose any more of my family. You showed me… magic can be good. Merlin showed me that magic can be good."
Laurent t clapped a firmly on Arthur's back. "I'm proud of you."
"I just need to speak with them."
Gwen woke up to blazing sunshine. Why is it hot like summer in the midst of a winter? Her eyes scanned the area. I am not in Camelot. She touched her belly. Artie is still with me. Where is Arthur? Where is Merlin?
"I released him… I overturned the law banning magic. I'm so sorry for being a fool. "Arthur's face scrunched in pain.
"Arthur Pendragon, I love you. I wanted to come home… didn't know how… I didn't want to be a whore… I'm not… everyone is nice… You showed them how to forgive, and move on."
Gwen cupped his pained face. "I forget that you weren't nurtured as a boy. Uther loved you… so much. I'm staying… nothing can rip us apart… not Melwas… Not Morgana. Because I love you..."
"I'm jealous and afraid…"
"I'm here forever… you and me… and my big belly…"
Gwen slapped Arthur' face. "That's for yelling at me. Don't do it again."
Arthur rubbed his stinging cheek. "I don't think I'll be able to chew."
"Well, you need to lay off herb encrusted Capon…
"Why?'
"I'm having the baby… watch the belly."
"Are you calling me … fat…?"
"I didn't say fat."
"I love you..."
"I love you too…"
"What place is this?"
"I told Laurent that we needed a place to talk. He sent us here."
How do we get home?
"I don't know."
A/n: excuse the typos… if any… I think I got all of them… Melwas is a PITA!