AN: Hooray! I finally finished this chapter!

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Chapter 35

He was willing to admit it. He had panicked at first. Morgana was supposed to be right there, but she wasn't. He had already felt bad for not being there for her when all the leaders arrived, but there were several reasons he hadn't been. Now, she had been left with him and she was gone!

He had already gotten out of bed and shakily put on his boots and jacket when he saw the note on his table. Knowing she was with Percival and Gwaine was a relief, but he still wanted to see that she was safe with his own eye. Besides, he was dressed already and Percival's room was only a short distance down the hall. Well, it might have seemed a shorter walk when he was at full strength, but he was sore and tired by time he got to the chamber door.

He barely lifted his hand to knock when the door opened. Gwaine pulled back just in time to keep from colliding with his superior. The startlement on the rogue's face was quickly replaced with concern.

"You are supposed to be in bed Leon. Why are you up? You almost died." Leon hadn't heard that much worry in the man's voice since Merlin had thrown himself in front of the Dorocha.

"I was just making sure Morgana was still with you and Percival." The head night inwardly cringed at the weakness in his tone.

"That's it. You are going to back to bed. She is fine, but you aren't." As the brunette started to pull the blonde down the hall, he hissed a curse in pain and stopped to press a hand to the side of his neck.

Leon didn't know what to do. He had thought Gwaine had finally gotten over damage the nathair venom had done to him, but the obvious pain his friend was in clearly showed otherwise. Not knowing what else to do, he called out to Percival, hoping the large knight was still in the room with Morgana.

"Leon?" Percival poked his head out of his chamber to see a shaky blonde and a pained brunette.

Dizziness hit the older knight as he was pulled towards the threshold. By the time his head stopped spinning, both he and Gwaine were seated on the edge of Percy's large bed. Across the room, Morgana and the large man were talking too quietly for him to make out any words.

"I thought your neck was better." Leon didn't care that he sounded worried.

"I know. It hasn't done this since the day after the wedding." Gwaine's voice had a broken feel to it.

"I thought it had gone away when you gave up drinking." Leon really was worried. Not just about Gwaine, but Camelot as well.

"I did." Leon turned to look at his friend. There was a lot of regret in the ranger's eyes.

"Then wh- Oh." Dawning hit him then.

The day after the wedding would have been when everyone but himself and Merlin were getting better. That was before they knew there was a cure. Gwaine had thought he was going to lose both of them.

"Yeah." Gwaine's tone was flat.

"And this time?" Gwaine responded to him with the smallest of headshakes that seemed to have caused a good bit of pain.

"Alright! That is enough of that! Both of you! Under the covers, now!" Both men jerked their heads to look at Morgana and they both instantly regretted it.

Leon's vision went dark and his head swam. Beside him, he heard Gwaine whimper softly in pain.

Leon felt Percival's large hands guide him to one side of the bed, help remove his boots and jacket, and then was gently pushed onto the mattress and covered. His head slowly stopped spinning and sleep started to claim him. Before unconsciousness claimed him, the head knight heard Morgana muttering comforting words to Gwaine. He fell asleep smiling at the thought of the mighty Lady Morgana, High Priestess of the Triple Goddess, mothering not only Gwaine, but her and Merlin's unborn child.

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Morgana had been floored by Gwaine's casual reference to her pregnancy. As the rogue headed for the door, she turned the large man sitting across from her. He gave her a small, sheepish smile similar to the one he had given her back in Leon's chamber.

Before either of them decided to speak, voices at the door caused them to stiffen. After a moment, they heard a muffled curse and the then Percival's name. The voice wasn't Gwaine's and that worried the lady.

The knight got up from his seat and turned to her. He nodded and the sword she had brought with her from Leon's and then at the small alcove on the side wall. Nodding in understanding, she grabbed the weapon and hid as he moved to the door.

An urgent whisper of her name from the man caused Morgana to peak into the main area. She felt a sad flutter in her chest at the sight of a dazed Leon leaning heavily on Percival's arm and a hurting Gwaine being gently pulled into the room by the large knight's other arm. She didn't hesitate to leave the sword and rush out to help the pained man to the bed.

She knew why his neck acted up like this. How could she not? She had watched as her mouth had formed the words and felt her hand press the small serpent to the very area he had his hand placed now. It may not have been her fault, but she planned on being the one to make it right.

He hadn't had an incident in nearly a year when the last one had happened the day she had thought she was going to lose Merlin. She had nearly panicked at the sight of Gwaine on the floor with his arms wrapped around his head in pain with a tankard of hard cider spilt on the floor beside him. She had run off to find Audrey, knowing that Gaius, Hunith, Gwen, and Branwen had their hands full trying to save her husband and Leon.

She had been with him for the past couple of hours and he hadn't been drinking. This shouldn't have happened and she wanted to know why it had. But that would have to wait since Percival was gesturing for her to follow him to other side of the room.

"What is it?" She didn't mean to be short with the man, but she wasn't exactly in the best state of mind right then.

"Gwaine's neck. It only does this when he drinks and I have been with him all day. Unless someone spiked his goat milk, he hasn't had any alcohol. Also, Leon shouldn't be moving. Gaius didn't even like that he was part of the greeting party earlier." Percival looked as worried as she felt.

"I know. If it is alright with you, I think Leon should sleep here and I will try to help Gwaine." Percival nodded and then locked eyes with her.

"Don't strain yourself. I know how much you care about Merlin and your baby. We care too. Don't push yourself too far." Morgana's chest tightened as the protectiveness and pleading in his eyes.

"How did the two of you find out?" She didn't need to explain what she was talking about.

"We pieced it together while Gwaine was recovering from the cider he shouldn't have been drinking. You were sick those few weeks before the wedding, the way you seemed to become overly protective of us, and them there was how you would hold Merlin's hand to your stomach instead of your face or chest like Gwen did with Arthur." Morgana felt a slight blush form on her cheeks.

"I am glad you both know, but please don't tell Merlin. You saw how badly he reacted to Gwen's pregnancy. We didn't tell you sooner because we were afraid Gwaine would let it slip to him." As she said this she turned to watch the two on the bed talk.

"We already decided not to tell him. Gwaine was too worried about the two of you to say anything. He has been wound tight since you disappeared. That was why he was so solemn when we showed up in Leon's room." Morgana nodded her understanding.

She was about to say something when she saw Gwaine nod only to freeze in pain. She couldn't stand to see them both like that, so she decided to act. Walking back towards them, she motioned for Percival to help Leon while she tended Gwaine.

"Alright! That is enough of that! Both of you! Under the covers, now!" She berated herself as she saw them both whip their heads towards her.

Both men slammed their eyes shut. She heard Gwaine's whimper and it tore at her heart, more so that watching Leon sway in obvious dizziness. She practically ran to his side. She carefully had him lay back and then turn to lay on his stomach while whispering comforting words that she barely even noticed she was saying.

Examining his back and neck, Morgana found a great number of knotted muscles and stiffness. She tried not to feel bad when Gwaine made a pained noise as her fingers and a small amount of magic righted the twisted masses back to their proper position. The stiffness in the knight's body seemed to dissipate as she dwindled the number of knots. Soon, the whimpers turned to relieved sighs. She continued until his back was free of the twisted muscles before moving to his mostly rigid neck.

She could sense to nathair damage and nearly cried. Using the knowledge her cursed sister had taught her about healing and the viper, she began unweaving the traces of magic the venom had left in Gwaine's nerves. If you didn't know to look for it, the magic was easily mistaken for failed healing spells.

She didn't know how long she had been working on helping the knight, but when she finally straightened up, she realized she was stiff herself. Turning from the bed, she saw that Percival had used part of the time she was working to fetch some food. She sank gratefully into a chair and started to eat.

She hadn't realized how hungry she was until picked a small bit of fish off the bones and took a small bite. Percival had brought food for four, but by the time she was done, there little more than a single serving left of what was meant to be for Gwaine and Leon. She raised to eyes to look at Percival and saw the amused look on his face.

"Hunith said you were barely eating. I am guessing your appetite is back?" His voice sounded like he was holding back a laugh.

Her blush seemed to set him off. He tried to keep it quiet for the two men asleep on his bed, but failed. Luckily, both men were deep enough asleep that his mirth didn't rouse them.

As Percival's laughter quieted, a massive yawn escaped Morgana. At the warning look from the knight, the lady blushed again. She hadn't slept well since several days before her wedding and today had been the first time she had had a nap during the day since before the triplets had been born. She really wasn't used to having a choice about sleeping for years, so she just slept when someone would tell her to.

"Gwen sent word that it is safe for you to go back to your room. And Hunith says that she could use your help keeping Merlin from escaping again? She said you would understand." Percival seemed to be trying to mimic Gaius's questioning eyebrow, but he failed.

"I have probably worried him half to death..." Another yawn interrupted her.

"Shall I escort you back to you your chambers, Milady?" Perceval had a smile on his face as he stood before her with his hand offered to help her out of her seat.

"I would be honoured, sir knight." Her voice was playful as she took his hand.

"The honour in mine Milady." There was a hint of laughter in his words as he helped her to her feet.

"Don't get any ideas. I may have spent the day in your chambers, but I am a married woman." This had both of them laughing as they set off for Merlin and her chambers, leaving the two men to sleep in peace.

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When Arthur came into the royal nursery after leaving Annis and Rodor alone to discuss the day's events, he had not been expecting to find his wife standing protectively in front of their son's crib with a sword. Almost as soon as she saw it was him, she put down the weapon and ran to him. He barely had time to lift his arms before she crashed into his chest and wrapped her arms around him.

Smiling a confused smile, he returned her hug. That was when she started rambling like she used to do back when she worked as Morgana's maid. She was talking much too fast for him to understand her, so he pulled away from her just enough to interrupt her with a chaste kiss that quickly turned to anything but.

"What were you saying my lovely Guinevere?"

She smiled softly back at him and shook her head. "Nothing. I was rambling like love stuck maid."

"So all those times you got all flustered and rambled all those years ago, you already loved me?" He had a playful smile to go with his words.

"You, Merlin, Gwaine…" Despite her playful smile, Arthur's chest tightened.

"Merlin?" The tightness loosened as she rolled her eyes.

"Every maid in the castle was in love with him for the first year he was in Camelot. Maybe if he hadn't still been mourning Bridget... But then again, he never seemed to notice us. Morgana was the only woman he ever seemed to care for as anything more than a sister." The tightness returned with the feelings Aithusa had shared with him the night after Mordred had nearly killed him.

"As glad as I am that he didn't notice your feelings towards him, it makes me sad to think of how lonely he felt all those years while he fought Morgana, not know she was trapped inside her own mind." He could feel his wife's agreement as she hugged him a bit tighter.

"At least they have each other now." A smile formed on his face as his mind returned to the scene he had walked into not but a few minutes before.

"Very true my lovely Guinevere, very true. Now, I would like to know why I was greeted with a sword." His smile widened as his wife blushed.

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"Get back in that bed right now." Hunith knew her son was worried about Morgana, but he was going to over tax himself at this rate.

"I need to make sure she is alright. Something didn't feel right before she ran off. Even before Mithian arrived. I need to see her." Hunith saw his fear and realized Merlin could sense his future child, but didn't know that he was and that mixed with Morgana's disappearance had him pushing his exhausted body too far.

"She is fine. Remember?" She knew that it wasn't enough, but it was all she had to work with.

"Annis and Rodor knows she is here. I need to see she is alright… my magic isn't strong enough to reach out to her… I…" Hunith understood how helpless he felt, but she also trusted Arthur, Gwaine, and Percival to protect Morgana while Merlin could not.

As she opened her mouth to try once again to sooth his fear and get him back into the bed, when the chamber door opened and the pregnant sorceress and the large knight strode in.

"Merlin Wledig! Get back in that bed this instant!" The carefree look that had been on Morgana's face as she entered the room faded and was replaced with stern worry.

"Where have you been?! No one would tell me what was going on!" Seeing his wife seemed to dissipate the what little energy he had left and he nearly crumpled to the floor.

Percival caught him before he hit the floor. "You idiot! You are still healing! I swear! You are worse than Arthur, Leon, and Gwaine put together!"

As Hunith watched to two bickered worriedly at each other, she beckoned the now empty-handed Percival to follow her out of the room. Both were smiling knowingly at the couple as they left the room.

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AN: The next chapter should have the royals interacting with the main characters. Thank you all for reading!