Chapter 52: Dangerous Times Ahead

Gwaine sat in the courtyard, looking up at the starry sky. The castle was silent. Too silent. This didn't sit right with Gwaine. It was nearly dawn and he would return inside to be with his wife and children. He ran a hand over his chin and sighed heavily. It had been a long night.

The warning bell sounded. "No!" He cried, stood up and sprinted into the castle. Pushing past guards and his fellow knights. He knew what had happened. Elaine was hurt. That was what his gut was telling him. Guards were everywhere. He caught snippets of conversations. Lot's army was attacking. Everyone was on high alert.

Percival had rounded the corner. "Gwaine? We need you down in the courtyard. It's Lot's army. They're trying to storm the castle. Lot has been spotted in the castle but no one knows where he is now."

"He's gone after Elaine." He pushed past Percival, but the large knight followed his friend. They both ran to Elaine's chambers. They were too late. Her guards, who had stood on guard outside her door, lay dead in the corridor. Gwaine ignored them. He passed them and ran into his and Elaine's chambers. He could not see her. "Elaine!" He screamed. Lot's dead body lay in view on the floor. Elaine had killed him.

"Ugh." A moan came from behind the bed.

He spotted blood on the floor. He rushed around, following the blood trail and saw his wife face down on the floor. "Elaine!" He rushed forward and rolled her over. A dagger was embedded in her side. "No! No no no!" His hand hovered over the hilt of the dagger and then pulled it out. He quickly pressed his hand against the wound, stopping the bleeding. "Love? Elaine?"

Her eyes fluttered open. "Gwaine..." She fell unconscious again.

"Send for Gaius!" Gwaine shouted at a guard, who had been helping with the bodies of the other guards, and he ran out of the room. "Hold on, love. Hold on." His hand pressed against her bleeding side. "Elaine, don't go. I need you."

"Get her on the bed." Gaius had arrived and ordered Merlin to put his things on the bedside table. Gwaine lifted her up and carried her to the bed. "I'll need your help, Gwaine. You cannot panic and you need to do everything I say."

Gwaine nodded nervously. "Yes. Yes. Just save them both." He looked around the room in panic. "Where are the children? Galahad? Anne?!"

There was banging on the antechamber door. "In here!" Percival pulled the piece of furniture away, which was blocking the door. "Get away from the door." He waited a moment and kicked the door down. He moved inside to find Mary huddled in a corner with Galahad and Anne in her arms. "They're safe." He called back into the room.

Gwaine rushed in and saw the two children were safe. He fell to his knees and held his arms open to them. Both Galahad and Anne ran straight to him and hugged him tightly. "You're safe now. Papa is here." He kissed them both on their foreheads. "I'm here."

"Gwaine, I need you in here." Gaius called from the main bed chambers.

He pulled away from his children and smiled a little. "Stay here with Percival and Mary. You'll be safe here." He kissed them both again.

"Yes Papa." Anne nodded slowly, her lower lip trembled. She hugged him once more before Mary pulled her away from him. "Papa." She whimpered as she held onto him tightly.

Gwaine left the room, closing the door behind him. He looked to the bed and saw Elaine was awake. "My love." He rushed to her side and held her hand. "He's dead. You killed Lot."

"Good." She said weakly, squeezing his hand back. "The children?" She mumbled.

"They're safe with Percival and Mary." He stroked her forehead which was covered in sweat. "Now, let's get you better." He looked up at Gaius. "Is everything going to be all right?"

Gaius nodded. "The only problem is; the queen is in labour."

"What?" He looked down at his wife, who nodded slowly. "It's too soon. The baby won't survive."

"The baby can survive. The queen is further along in her pregnancy than previously believed." Gaius said. "There will be a risk but there is a strong chance the baby will survive." He looked between to the two of them. "The baby will be small and may have problems as it gets older."

"I don't care." Elaine groaned as she gripped Gwaine's hand. "Argh!" She cried out. Her other hand gripped onto Merlin's hand. "It hurts too much!" She was crying, tears running down her cheeks. "Save the baby! Please! Save it more than me. Please Gaius!"

"I will try my best, my lady." He nodded. "Merlin, try to find a midwife and wet-nurse."

Merlin let go of Elaine's hand and walked to the door. "Gaius?"

The physician walked up to Merlin. "What?"

"She's not going to survive, is she?" He asked softly.

"No." Gaius shook his head, not looking back at the queen, who was crying out in pain. "I might need your help. I'm going to deliver the child and then try to save them both." Merlin nodded and then quickly left the room as Gaius returned to Elaine. "Right, my lady. Let's get you ready." He urged Elaine to part her legs.

Elaine gave a cry as pain struck her. Her hand gripped Gwaine's tightly. "Save the baby! Please!"

Gaius looked up at Gwaine, who was staring at his wife in fear. He knew he was going to lose her. "The next pain you get, you need to push." He looked up at Gwaine once again. "We need towels, plenty of blankets and anything you can tear into strips."

Gwaine nodded quickly and began rushing around the room, bringing blankets to Gaius and towels. He moved into the antechamber. "Mary, I need your help." The maid nodded and the two left the antechamber and gathered things for Gaius. Tears ran down Gwaine's cheeks as he listened to his wife's cries. Everything was gathered and he returned to her side. "I'm here, my love." He kissed her hand as she pushed their child from her body.

The midwife, nurses and a wet-nurse entered the room just as Elaine gave birth to a boy. The baby gave a weak cry as he was born. But he cried. "What is it?" Elaine asked as the midwife took the child away, once the cord was cut. "The baby? Please!"

The baby was still crying as it was taken from the room by the wet-nurse. "A boy, my lady." The midwife gave her a small smile. "The wet-nurse has taken him away from the room. You are bleeding and Gaius needs to make you better."

Elaine nodded slowly. "Can I see him after? Please? Before anything bad happens?"

Gaius nodded. "Of course, my lady. Let us concentrate on making you better." He nodded to the midwife. She left with the nurses, who took away bloody sheets and brought back clean ones. They all left again. "It's not working." Gaius was trying his best to stop Elaine's bleeding. He looked up at Merlin, who nodded slightly. "My lady, Sir Gwaine. We are about to do something that is forbidden in this Kingdom..."

"Do it!" Gwaine shouted at the old physician. "Save her!" Looking down at his wife, who was trying to stay awake. "What are you going to do?" He asked Gaius.

"Magic." Merlin murmured as he stepped forward. "I want to know that I can trust you will not tell Arthur."

Gwaine nodded. "Yes. You have my word." He held Elaine's hand tightly and kissed her knuckles. "You'll be fine, Elaine. You'll get through this."

"You need to let go of her hand." Merlin explained as he stood next to Elaine. "Gaius, make sure no one comes in." Gaius nods and quickly left the room. He looks up at Gwaine. "I want you to see this. You are my friend and deserve to know my secret." He placed his hand on Elaine's forehead and whispered softly. He whispered in a language, Gwaine could not understand.

"What's going on?" He asked as Elaine began to breathe normally. He gasped in shock when she opened her eyes and looked over at him. "Elaine?"

"Gwaine?" She smiled broadly and looked up Merlin, who still had his hand on her forehead. "What has happened?" Merlin stepped back silently and let them reunite properly.

Gwaine laughed and kissed her. "You're alive!" He kissed her again. "You're alive."

Elaine laughed softly. "I can see that." She reached up and stroked her husband's cheek, wiping away his tears. "How? It felt like I was dying."

Gaius had returned. "You were dying, my lady." He stepped forward and pressed his hand on her forehead, touching her wrist. "You were saved."

"By Merlin." Gwaine finished Gaius' sentence.

"Wh... What? How?" She looked at her cousin's manservant.

Merlin stepped forward and looked at Gaius nervously. "I used magic, my lady. I have magic."

She stared at him in shock. "You have magic?" She looked at Gwaine and Gaius before looking back at Merlin. "And Arthur does not know?"

"No." He shook his head. "He doesn't."

Elaine lay there in silence for a moment. Just staring at Merlin. "Oh. Oh right." She nodded slowly. "I believe you want me to keep your secret from him."

Merlin nodded. "Yes please. But if you feel that you have to tell the King, do it." He turned his back and moved to leave the room.

"Stop!" She spoke softly. "Merlin, I'll keep your secret. Just as long as you don't use magic again. That I know of." She smiled a little. "Can you make sure my son is well?"

"I will." Merlin smiled a little and nodded. He quickly left the room.

Gwaine looked at his wife and smiled. "Are you all right?"

"I'm exhausted." She smiled a little. "The baby?"

"You'll see him soon." Gwaine smiled and kissed her softly. "I'll fetch Mary and she can help dress you. Then I'll bring the children in." He kissed her again and stood up. "I love you."

"I love you too." She smiled, watching him leave her with Gaius. Once he was gone, she turned to Gaius. "Thank you, Gaius."

"You are welcome, my lady. I do recommend you to stay in bed for at least a week. Your body has had some trauma and you need time to build up your strength again." She nodded and let Mary help her out of bed, groaning from her injury and from giving birth.


A/N: Sorry for taking a while to get this chapter out. My memory stick deleted EVERYTHING including the timeline for this story. So had to try to remember what will happen. :) So fingers crossed this will happen.

Responses from chapter 51:

Moon Fox: Thank you for not giving up. :) I'll try to get chapters out quicker. Hopefully.

ForeverTeamEdward13: Sorry I've taken a while to get this chapter out. Trying to get the chapters out quicker.