It had been five months since the marriage of Queen Guinevere and the current Grand Duke, and the royal couple couldn't have been happier. They were in love, and now the announcement was made that they were expecting a child.
"The child I bear will be behind Sara in the line of secession." Gwen added after she made her announcement, "No matter the gender, as I have said numerous times before."
"Half-year." Sara thought after she had taken in the news, "This is why J.M. wanted me to wait before giving her the potion. We could give Mother more than a drop a day, but that might be too risky. I wonder if we could've given her the potion sooner? Or if the potion is only meant for my sibling? I must find out who this J.M. is and ask them."
"We better finish that potion." Gaius, Merlin, Genny, the twins, Sara and Vona all thought.
"I hope that potion is finished." Thought Jacob. "I wonder if I was too vague?"
Genny and Gauis were hard at work in her room. It had taken a while, but they finally had acquired all of the ingredients they needed. The potion took all morning to brew, but it was worth it.
"Finally done!" Genny exclaimed, full of happy relief.
"Indeed." Gauis stated, "Now all's that's left is to give it to Gwen. Although I think we'll have to wait until this evening."
"Are you sure the kitchens are too busy to slip it in during dinner?"
"Yes. Trust me. Besides, there's too many people. Supper is better, unless you want to wait until tomorrow."
Genny sighed in defeat. "Fine. But it's staying in here until this evening."
Gauis couldn't help but smile. "Good."
"This tastes funny." Gwen said after she took a sip of cider during supper when she was six months pregnant. Sara hid her nervousness by digging her nails into her skin.
"Funny how?" Guy asked.
"It doesn't taste like cider." Gwen answered, "Well, it does sort of, I suppose, but it tastes different. It's hard to describe."
"Mind if I have a sip?" Guy asked.
"No." Gwen answered and handed him her cup. Sara carefully took a sip of her own cider as her step-father studied the Queen's drink and took a sip.
"It dose taste strange." Guy stated, "Maybe the apples went bad? Or something went wrong with the process?"
"But why would it only affect mine?" Gwen asked.
"Bad magic?" Guy answered with a shrug.
Gwen put a hand to her stomach, "Hope not." Then she turned to her maid who was standing at attendance, "Sue?"
"Yes, Milady?"
"Where did you get this cider?" Gwen inquired.
"From the kitchens as always." Sue answered.
"Hmmm..." Gwen mused. Then she took another sip, "It doesn't taste as funny." Sara relaxed. Then Gwen took another sip, and looked at the cup confused, "Guess it was just my imagination."
"And mine too." Guy said quietly with a suspicious tone. Sara noticed how her step-father's face looked suspicious, but he hid it well.
Gwen, at 7 months pregnant, noticed something odd as she woke up one morning. The man lying next to her seemed like a stranger. He was still asleep, with his back was turned towards her.
"He's still Guy Smith." Gwen thought, "He's still the man I married seven months ago. So why do I feel like he's a stranger? I know him, I would never have married him if I didn't. Is my pregnancy changing my views? I never felt like this with Sara. Then again Arthur..." Gwen shook away that last thought. It didn't do her well to dwell on lost loved ones, she had learned that the hard way. Her mother, her father, her best female friends Morgana and Sefa, her flirtatious friend Lancelot, her brother and her first husband Arthur. Not to mention those 18 months Merlin was missing and the loss of Gwain, whom she considered a dear friend.
Guy woke up. For a moment, he forgot that he wasn't supposed to be his true self. He felt confused as to why he was in the Queen's room, sleeping in her bed. But he soon remembered when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned around and smiled at his wife. "Good morning."
"Good morning."
"Did you sleep well?" Guy asked, noticing the uneasiness in her.
"Yes. I'm sure it's just pregnancy, or the execution, or both." Later on that day, a unreformable thief/murderer was to be hung. No matter what Gwen did, the man wouldn't change.
"We've dealt with executions before."
"I know, I just... nevermind."
"You sure?"
Gwen shot him a look. Guy shut up and left the matter alone.
OOO
Executions had become rare in Camelot, well in the capital at least. Arthur didn't really like sentencing people to death, and Gwen liked it even less. In Camelot, the law had become that only those who couldn't be reformed would be executed, as well as those who committed high treason. And one of those people was a man named Eacker Butcher. He was a sorcerer who had used his magic for bad: stealing valuables from innocent people going about their lives, whether they were rich or poor, and for killing those he didn't like or would report him to the authorities.
As Eacker was lead to the gallows, the royal family watched from a balcony. After the man had been strung up, Gwen made a speech:
"As you know, I have tried my best to be a fair and just ruler. But I cannot allow those who are a clear threat to the well-being of the people I have sworn to protect run lose, or use up our resources. It is therefore with a heavy heart, I have condemned this man to death. Let this be a lesson to all of you, those who cannot resist from harming the innocent for selfish reasons, do not belong in Camelot. And to all of you who have magic, be warned that it is only to be used for good, not to be used to rob people of their possessions and life." Gwen paused for a moment, to let her speech sink in. Then she gave the signal, and Eacker Butcher was hung.
"What a shame." The Grand Duke thought, "He would've made a great addition to my army. Too bad he wouldn't join. He's an idiot."
"Ah, Gwen." Gaius said when the Queen entered his chambers, "Good to see you."
"And you." Gwen greeted as she neared his work bench. "Where's Merlin?"
"He's out with his children."
"Oh."
"Is something wrong?"
"Well, for the past few weeks, I've been feeling... off." Then she explained her situation.
"I see." Gaius replied when Gwen finished. "Well, in my opinion, it seems that you are just missing Arthur." "And the potion is working."
"It seems to be more than that." Gwen replied.
"You'd be surprised what grief can do." Gaius didn't like lying to Gwen, he had come to view her as a daughter. But, he didn't feel like she would believe him if he told the truth, and it could ruin everything.
"I know." Gwen sighed, "But I just can't shake the feeling that something's wrong with my 2nd marriage and it's not just grief, or guilt."
Before Gaius could say anything, the door opened. Soon Merlin and his children entered the chambers.
"You're back early." Gaius greeted.
"We never said we'd be gone all day." Merlin replied, then he noticed the Queen, "Hi Gwen."
"Hello." Gwen replied, "Were you at the tavern again?"
Merlin rolled his eyes at the joke. He never fully understood why the tavern excuse was Gaius's favorite. Even after Gwen and the others learned the truth, it was hard to shake. Especially when Merlin was late or absent for something.
"We were just out for a stroll in the woods." Merlin replied.
"Yeah." Genny added, "Oh, and Gaius, I noticed that we were running low on heathpeas." Then she pulled out a small bag.
"Thanks." Gaius said after retrieving the bag.
"Your welcome." Then she turned to Gwen, "So Aunt Gwen, what brings you here?"
"I just needed to talk to Gaius." the Queen answered, "I've been feeling very off lately."
"Oh."
"The potion's working." Genny said in the minds of her family.
"Yeah." Gwen answered, "Hopefully it's nothing."
"I'm sure it is." Merlin lied. Then Kilgharrah's words echoed in his and Anglicus's minds, "Guinevere is fated to die due to the actions of the J.M. you were warned about, and nothing you do will change that."
