A/N: Over 300 reviews! I never thought I would get that many, so it is all down to you! Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter, I definitely enjoyed writing it. This chapter will give you some answers about Uther as to why he disliked Gwen and it will also be the chapter where Gwen will find out about Arthur being alive. I DON'T own Merlin! : )
Morgana had, about an hour so, left us alone to get something for Arya leaving Mr Pendragon and I alone. Despite the fact we were in a companionable silence, I felt no urge to break it. Uther still had baby Arya in his arms which meant I could have a sleep. I had a faint suspicion that he just didn't want to give her back! I started smiling at the thought.
Even though, I not only felt absolutely exhausted and drained, I also didn't want to take my attention away from Arya. She was, of course, sleeping soundly in Mr Pendragon's arms but I still felt apprehensive. I knew that I was feeling was due to Arthur as Arya was a link to him and even more so than before, I didn't want anything to happen to her and that link.
As Uther gazed at Arya in his arms, I remembered that he hadn't talked to me about Arthur as he wanted. Given that we were alone and I was a lucid I was going to get for the next couple of days, I decided it was as good a time as any.
However, before I talked to Uther, he seemed to have the exact same idea and start talking to me. When he did start, I couldn't help notice that his voice was full of an emotion I had yet to see from him. Guilt and hurt….
"I bet you're wondering why I am here." He stated, softly, as he looked at me.
I nodded my head, at his words, but I didn't say thing. I had a faint suspicion that he was going to tell me something that was either important to him or something painful. Even though, he hasn't taken to me or my marriage, I knew I needed to show him compassion. He was, after all, Arthur's father and Arya's grandfather.
As soon as Mr Pendragon saw my nod, he continued his story slowly. What he was going to tell me, I didn't have a clue what it was but I was glad he was telling me something and opening up to me.
"My wife, Ygraine, was such a lovely woman, Gwen. She was everything you'd ever need or want in a woman. She was intelligent, beautiful and loving. My wife had never been in perfect health but as soon as she became pregnant with Arthur, she seemed to get even worse. Her health deteriorated so fast and I couldn't do anything…." As he said this, he trailed off, and closed his eyes.
For a moment, I could see he was deep in his thoughts and it made me realise that he hadn't told this to someone before. The fact he was saying it to me meant a lot.
"….A couple of months of her being pregnant, she found out she had cancer. We got told the treatment for her cancer but each one of them involved potentially damaging the baby. Ygraine was adamant she wouldn't have any treatment which would affect the baby, especially, as she thought they couldn't help her. At that time, I didn't try and persuade her since I wanted an heir. So, you see, Gwen, her death was my fault!"
By the tone of his voice I knew he felt guilty about his part in his wife's death, but as I turned my attention to Arya, I realised something.
I'd willingly die if it would mean that Arya would never feel even an ounce of pain and I couldn't help point that out to Uther. Ygraine would have known what the consequences of her decision were.
"You can't blame yourself, Mr Pendragon. Your wife must have known what she was doing. She must have loved Arthur a great deal!" I told him, trying to ignore the pang in my chest as I mentioned Arthur.
At my words, Uther looked at me with piercing eyes. As he did so, he looked even guiltier. My attempts to comfort him weren't exactly working very well at all.
"She did love Arthur a great deal. She fought for a year before she couldn't go anymore. After that, I had to bring up Arthur." Uther sounded so heartbroken something which I couldn't help but sympathise with.
I must have looked at him with pity because before I knew it, he had changed the subject. The reason why he had come to talk to me- Arthur!
"I actually wanted to talk to you about Arthur. You see, Gwen, what had happened with my wife was one of the worst things to ever happen to the both of us and I didn't want my son to get hurt. When Arthur told me that he was in love, I was worried you didn't love him or something would happen to one of you. That was one of the main reasons why I couldn't accept your marriage." Mr Pendragon told me, simply.
Even though, I had a faint suspicion that he had kind of accepted me, I couldn't help but feel hurt by him saying that he was worried that I didn't love Arthur. It almost made me want to yell out how much I love his son and how much I die the every time I think about him hurt or dead!
Before I could so, he seemed to realise I was going to speak again as he opened his mouth to continue.
"I see now that you do really love him, Gwen." He told me, before looking at Arya again.
At his words, my eyes filled with tears as I thought of Arthur. In the last few days, I had racked my brain trying to remember the last time I had told Arthur that I had loved him and I couldn't. Every time I tried, I would simply not be able to.
Had I told him on the day of his mission that I loved him? The day before? I can't remember and I couldn't help but feel guilty about it.
The sound of the door opening announced Morgana's arrival and I looked immediately at Arya, who seemed to wake up at the arrival of her aunt before giving an almighty scream. Morgana, seeing this, gave me an apologetic look.
Uther looked a little startled by the sound of Arya's wails and I motioned for him to pass her over to me. He readily complied and started standing.
"Shh, Arya, honey." I cooed, softly, gently cradling her.
Uther came up to my side and I could tell he was going to go. He had after all been with me for quite a while now and I couldn't help but thank him for that.
"Can I come and visit Arya next week?" He asked, simply.
I nodded to him, at his words, as I couldn't bring myself to tell him he couldn't. He was, after all, her grandfather and I could he was going to be a beloved one at that.
As soon as he saw my nod and after giving Morgana a hug, he made his way out of the house. Arya seemed to realise that my attention was sorely focused on her and stopped crying abruptly. So abruptly, I couldn't help wonder whether it'd be always like it.
It couldn't have a minute later, before Morgana came up to Arya and me and as she did so, I saw what Morgana had gone to collect. In Morgana's hands was the most beautiful teddy bear I had ever seen.
It wasn't fluffy in the slightest but rather it was knitted. Nevertheless, the bear looked not only intricately made but also absolutely pink. Morgana noticed me looking and as she extended it out to me to give to Arya, I noticed Morgana was blushing profusely. With a smile, I knew she had knitted it herself.
"It's absolutely gorgeous, Morgana. Did you knit it yourself?" I asked her, as I took the bear from her.
Morgana, at my words, nodded sheepishly and I couldn't help the smile which was breaking out in my face. I felt so full of gratitude to her that I wanted to hug her. I gingerly stood up wincing slightly as I did so, and that's exactly what I did.
I could tell Morgana was caught unawares by my hug but nevertheless, she welcomed it.
"Thank you for being here, Morgana." I told her, emotionally.
She shrugged at my words smiling and in that moment, I couldn't help notice how much she looked like Arthur. Her eyes were alight with the adoration she felt for Arya and I had seen that look in Arthur.
I had to stifle a sob as I thought about Arya and as Arya began to cry, yet again, in my arms, I couldn't think about him again.
LATER THAT DAY
I had just put Arya in her Moses basket as Gaius had just come to check us both over. Not only did I feel absolutely shattered but also relieved. Gaius had given her a clean bill of health and as I gazed at her as she dozed off, I couldn't help but smile slightly.
When I had fallen for Arthur, I had been so adamant that I would never love anything or anyone as much yet even more Arya was born, I loved her with all my heart. However, I couldn't ponder the thought as the door went.
I immediately frowned at the sound as it was getting late. The watch on my left hand had told me so. The sound wasn't very loud and for that I was absolutely thankful. Not only did I not want Arya to be awakened as she had already slept and been woken up twice but also I didn't want to Morgana to be disturbed.
Morgana had insisted that she didn't mind waiting for Gaius to come but when he had left, she had seemed to be reluctant to leave us. To be honest, I didn't want her to go.
If she had went, I would have to cope on my own and the thought of it is terrifying enough.
As quickly as I could (and yet again wincing from time to time), I made my way down the stairs hoping that the person at the door wouldn't be too loud.
I quickly opened to door and as soon as I saw who it was, I felt my heart stop abruptly. In front of me, was Arthur. His pale blue eyes looked dull and tired and his hair had grown but in that moment, he had never looked more handsome.
"Hello, Guinevere." He told me, smiling.
As soon as my brain could process who was in front of me, I couldn't stop myself from flinging myself into Arthur's more than willing arms. Arthur, with a smile on his face, gladly wrapped his arms around me. I looked into Arthur's eyes and in that moment, I felt my resolve finally slipping.
In the months which followed Arthur's disappearance, I had tried to be strong and not even contemplate the idea of Arthur being dead but with warmth of Arthur's arms around me, I realised just how much he means to me.
As I started to sob, Arthur tightened his hold on me before he wiped a tear from my face with his thumb. How loving and tender the movement was made me want to cry again but I desperately wanted to talk to him.
We were still entwined in each other's arms, the feeling comforting us both, when I realised that we were standing outside.
Without letting go of each other, we slowly made our way into the house. The feeling of Arthur's hands on my waist, his breath against my neck, the feeling of his wedding band on my hand was making me want to whoop for joy!
The man who had commandeered my heart and soul had returned to me and it seemed almost too good to be true.
"Guinevere. I've missed you! Oh, God, I've missed you!" He exclaimed as we gazed at each other.
Those three simple words made my heart leap in my chest for one simple reason. It meant what was happening is real!
Arthur's gaze was, now, at my bump and his eyes widened and in that moment, I knew I would have to tell him he'd missed his daughter's birth!
A/N: There you go! I wanted Uther to actually have a reason as to why he didn't like Guinevere rather than simply being a bigot! So, Arthur's back! I didn't really plan for him to be back in this chapter but I felt it was soon enough even if a bit sad since he's missed the birth by a few hours!
I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have!
Please review!