A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! I really appreciate every single of them! This chapter, like I've said before, is the one in which Gwen goes into labour. I have been thinking really hard about the baby and what it will be but I hope you won't be disappointed! Arthur will, of course, be back very soon and I cannot wait to write it. I hope you enjoy this chapter! I don't OWN Merlin!
Morgana turned out to be just how I had thought her to be. She seemed to be not only caring and compassionate but also very intelligent. After we had tea together, our friendship went from strength to strength. At first I had asked her to come to tea because I had wanted to comfort her but as we talked more, I realised that I really did like her.
More to the point, she seemed to think the same about me. Very quickly, we had developed a habit of speaking nearly every day and I couldn't but feel relieved that I had some to talk to who understood how I felt.
I had told Morgana about Arthur and my hope for him to return to me and to my amazement, she didn't look at me like I was insane. If anything, she seemed to understand that I couldn't give up. When she had answered me after I had told her, she had simply told me: "I'm glad, Gwen."
The more I talked to her, the more I liked her. It was a couple of weeks after I had first started being friends with Morgana, when I introduced Freya to her. At first, I was a little apprehensive about introducing them to each other but once I explained who Morgana was and everything, Freya was so warm and affectionate to her.
So much so, that I felt a little foolish to have feel apprehensive. In the weeks that followed, Freya had knitted me even more pieces of clothing for the baby and when Morgana had marvelled at the intricate details on it, Freya had offered to teach her. The smile of delight Morgana gave her made Freya's day.
Throughout my conversations with both Morgana and Freya, I couldn't keep my mind away from Arthur. Even though, throughout the days, I was edging closer to having the baby I couldn't help but hope that I would have him next to me, holding my hand. The thought of him being dead I couldn't even contemplate. I knew that if I pondered it I would end up sobbing and crying my heart out!
Today had gone extra fast and as I clambered into bed, I couldn't help but wince. Not only were my feet aching and sore but my back was becoming to hurt as well. Today Morgana had come around to give me her latest attempt at a jumper which, although, looked a little distorted and deformed, I thought it was beautiful!
Throughout the day, I had been in discomfort and I couldn't help but feel tired. Whenever the baby wasn't kicking, I felt achy and uncomfortable. Luckily, I did have Morgana on hand to help me do things I couldn't do like tie my shoelaces.
My bump was, by now, so dominating and big that I couldn't see my feet and whenever I try to look at them, I would always end up losing balance. When I had asked Morgana about it, she had simply told me it was normal for women who are eight months pregnant.
With that thought, I slowly drifted off to sleep, taking comfort in the warmth of my bed.
THE NEXT DAY
My sleep hadn't been as peaceful as I wanted or needed. Every time I closed my eyes, I seemed to dream of Arthur and even though, my heart soared at the sight of him, I would always end up waking up feeling heart sore and unhappy.
If that wasn't bad enough, my back pain was increasing rapidly. So much so, that I couldn't get back to sleep. In the end, I had resorted to walking up and down my bedroom to not only ease my back pain but also to tire myself out.
I had only been doing it for about 10 minutes when a shark kick to my stomach stopped me momentarily. The kicks had been frequent when I had been in bed and I couldn't help but worry something was wrong.
As morning had finally broken, I made my way downstairs (after I had dressed) and I tried to focus on anything else other than the pain I was feeling. The pain wasn't unbearable, just uncomfortable. The thought that Morgana was coming to see as she had told me so, cheered me….
It was about 2 hours after I come down stairs before there was a knock on the door. The sound was such a relief. Even though, it could be anyone, I couldn't help it. Morgana, at times, reminded me of Arthur and I would give anything for that.
I shuffled to the door and opened it abruptly. I couldn't help but feel slightly unhappy at who was before me. Standing before me, looking sheepish and uncertain was Uther Pendragon. As he noticed me looking at him, his hard expression once again returned.
"Hello, Guinevere." He greeted me, stiffly.
The sound of my full name coming out of his mouth made me immediately think of Arthur. I think it must have been my hormones and the pain but I couldn't do anything about the tears gathering in my eyes.
I was aware that Mr Pendragon was looking at me appraisingly, his eyes lingering on my stomach before looking at me in the face.
It was this which reminded me that I hadn't yet asked him in. Blinking back my tears, that's exactly what I tried to do. Even though, I knew Arthur would hate me for asking him in, I wanted to know why he was at my door.
"Mr Pendragon, will you come in?" I asked, my voice sounded more timid than I would have liked.
Mr Pendragon looked a little concerned but nevertheless, acquiesced to my request and quickly stepped inside of the door.
"Of course." He murmured to me, as he looked around my living room.
Even though, Mr Pendragon didn't look as antagonistic as he normally is, I didn't want to be near him. My curiosity was beginning to diminish and I had no idea why he was he here. After a moment or two, I began to wish I had never asked him in.
"May I ask why you're here, Mr Pendragon?" I asked after I had become slightly exasperated.
Mr Pendragon, at my words, looked at me sight in the eye and I knew whatever he was going to tell me would pertain to Morgana. When he did start to speak, I was glad I had asked.
"I'm here to talk about my son." He admitted to me.
I could tell by his tone of voice that Arthur's disappearance had affected him greatly and despite how uncomfortable, I'm feeling I couldn't help but feel for him even if he did cause Arthur to hate him.
Before I got to speak to him or ask him anything, a sharp almost disabling pain ripped through my body. The abruptness of it made me grit my teeth in order to stop myself from crying out. The look of horror on Mr Pendragon's face would have perhaps been quite funny but as I felt a cold liquid running down my legs, I felt no inclination to laugh.
"What's wrong, Gwen?" He asked me, as he came forward to where I was standing near the sofa.
I looked down to floor and as I saw the clear liquid, I knew exactly what was happening to me. The pain in the night, the aching, everything made sense now.
"I'm having my baby." I breathed out, in pain as a contraction hit.
At my words, Uther looked not only absolutely horrified but also ridiculously worried. He inched forward to me with frantic steps.
I had never seen him so worried about anyone before and it was deeply unsettling. Normally, from what Arthur had led me to believe, he doesn't show his emotion. At the thought, panic and fear rose in me and as I looked at Arthur's father, I wanted him to know what to do.
"What…what can I do?" He asked me, evenly.
From his tone and despite his words, I knew he had recollected his emotions and as another contraction hit me again, I couldn't help but cry out in pain.
"Mhm!" I moaned, as I clutched my stomach.
Another knock at the door broke into my pain and I was vaguely aware of Uther going to open to door. The sight of Morgana before me was such a relief; I desperately wanted to cry out in relief.
Morgana rushed to my side and seeing my face, seemed to realise what was going on. Much to my relief, she immediately took control.
"I need blankets, hot water and towels." She told Uther, hurriedly.
As she did so, I couldn't help but wonder if she had done this before. As I thought about it, she gently told me to lie down which confused me greatly. Shouldn't I be going to Gaius?
As I was just about to ask her, she noticed my face and immediately began to explain why I wasn't going to see Gaius.
"We can't afford you get any more dilated if we move to you Gaius'. You may deliver before and given the bombs, I don't think we can risk it." She told me, apologetically.
Her words hadn't reassured me at all and I managed to gasp out the question: "Have you done this before?"
She gave me a smile and I hoped she was going to tell me that she had. When she did begin to speak, I felt rather sick.
"Yes. I've accompanied Gaius on a couple of births." She told me.
At her words, I nodded to her and I didn't want to ponder her words as I knew I would worry myself.
As soon as we stopped talking, Mr Pendragon came bounding up to Morgana before giving the things to her. He looked at me on the floor with worried eyes but I could sense that he felt uncomfortable.
Even more so, as Morgana draped a towel over my lower half to protect my modesty.
"You don't have to stay, Mr Pendragon." I told him, in between my deep breaths.
The pain wasn't constant but as I felt a contraction coming on and this time a stronger one, I had to clench my hands tightly in order to stop myself from groaning.
Morgana seeing this didn't look too worried and I felt a little better but as the contraction passed, I felt absolutely terrified.
This wasn't how I wanted to go into labour. I want Arthur, not his Father. I want to feel his hand in between mine; I want to hear his soothing words in my ear. For a moment or two, I felt a sudden desire to sob but Morgana soon commandeered my attention.
"Gwen, in a bit you will have a desire to push. Your contractions are getting close now. Don't fight that desire, Gwen." She told me, firmly.
I nodded to her but I was astounded, everything's happening so fast and I was beginning to think that I couldn't do this. Even more so, when I noticed Mr Pendragon looking at me.
As if Morgana could see the future, it wasn't too much longer before I did feel the desire push. The contractions were becoming stronger and stronger and as the pain increased, I couldn't help but feel absolutely terrified.
As I began to push, nothing seemed to happen and after a few attempts, it seemed absolutely fruitless. Morgana and Uther exchanged a worried glance and pure terror went through me. What if I couldn't this? I started to sob in earnest at the thought.
"I can't do this," I sobbed to Morgana and Uther, "I want Arthur. I really do!"
Morgana gave me such a sympathetic look that I wanted to close my eyes to it but it was the expression on Uther's face which gave me strength. For the first time, he looked at me as if he didn't despise me. Almost as if he doesn't mind me giving birth to his grandchild.
As another contraction hit me and I began to push, I was vaguely aware of Uther's voice talking to me.
"I know you miss my son, Gwen, we all do! He once told me how strong you are, so show me that you are!" He commanded to me, softly.
His words reminded me of how Arthur saw me and I couldn't help but feel determined. I didn't want to let Arthur down, especially, after all that's happening.
It seemed that the push was more successful than the last one as Morgana told me: "I can see the head, Gwen, one more push now!"
Those words were the one thing I wanted to hear at this moment. It showed me that I could do it. After all, I had come this far and the thought of letting Arthur down is absolutely heart-breaking.
Morgana was right as the night push which had been fuelled by thoughts of Arthur that had signalled the arrival of my baby. As Morgana exclaimed that I had done it, I didn't feel elated or excited- yet! I knew I wouldn't until I hear the baby cry.
I raised my head from the pillow Morgana had placed under my head to look at the baby in Morgana's arms. For a couple of excruciating moments, the silence hung thickly in the air and all I could focus on was the baby in Morgana's arms.
As the baby began to scream as if it was being murdered, a smile of absolute, utter glee was on my face. Morgana wrapped the baby softly, with a blanket and handed the baby to me.
"It's a girl, Gwen." She smiled, tearfully.
I smiled at her words and as I gazed at the baby in my arms, I couldn't stop the tears that came to my eyes. The tears began to flow slowly and steadily down my cheeks and as I blinked at the baby in my arms, I marvelled at the sight.
The baby was absolutely beautiful. The thick, luscious looks of hair on the baby, although, was mattered with blood, reminded me of Arthur. When the baby opened her eyes to gaze at me, I felt a lump in my throat.
Her baby blue eyes gazed at me and they resembled Arthur's so strongly, that I couldn't help but start crying.
The feeling of the baby in my arms was wondrous and if it wasn't for Arthur not being here, the moment would have been perfect. More than ever, I wanted and needed him here with me. Our baby gazing at me with his eyes and I couldn't help but smile, despite the ach in my chest.
I was aware that Morgana had uttered something along the lines of "After-birth" but I was absorbed with our baby.
I turned to look at Uther as he was looking at the baby in wonder and I couldn't help but wonder if he had been present at Arthur's birth. The look of wonder and adoration on his face seemed an almost strange expression on his face.
"Do you want to hold her?" I asked him, softly.
Uther removed his gaze from the baby and looked up to my flushed, sweaty face. The look he gave me I knew I would remember forever.
It was pure shock but he had done his bit for me when I was in labour and he had a right to hold her.
"Of course." He uttered, his gaze following on the bundle in my arms again.
I softly handed the baby to him and I watched with curiosity as he cradled the baby tenderly. So tenderly that I had a sudden urge to cry. He seemed to be besotted with the baby and I couldn't help the feeling of wanting Arthur being the one holding his daughter, not his father.
"Do you have a name ready?" He asked me, as the baby looked up to him.
I hadn't thought about names but a name I had seen in a book about baby names seemed to come to me. With a slightly watery smile, I answered him.
"Yes. I want to name her Arya." I answered him, smiling.
He smiled at my words but his smile widened as he looked at the baby, who lay peacefully in his arms.
"Arya Pendragon. I think it suits her." He told me, smiling.
Although, I answered him with a smile, I couldn't help but wish Arthur was here. With me and our baby.
A/N: There you go! This is the longest ever update and I really enjoyed writing this even if it's been slightly stressful. I hope have enjoyed this because I have really put my heart and soul into this! I did want twins but as I thought about it, I wanted a girl for Arthur and Gwen. It just seemed to fit! Well, I hope it's not too awful as this is my first birth I've ever written!
Please review!