The warm sun streamed through the stain glass windows of my chambers, but it wasn't the light that woke me. Hushed voices reached my ears and I slowly opened my eyes to see Arthur with his head stuck out of the heavy drapes surrounding the bed.
"Ssh!" Arthur hissed.
"What are you doing?" The voice I recognised as Merlin's asked.
"I'm gonna surprise her. Breakfast in bed." Arthur replied quickly and then disappeared further out of the drapes. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"You don't need me, do you?" Merlin asked indignantly.
"I can't very will get the breakfast, can I? What if she wakes up and…panics?" Arthur whispered and I only just managed to catch myself before I snorted with laughter.
"Panics!?" Merlin asked.
"Look, just, go and get it, alright?...Merlin, flowers. Don't forget the flowers." Arthur added.
"Of course, the personal touch. Nice." I heard Merlin whisper and then there was silence.
Arthur suddenly ducked back in from the drapes and I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep.
A few moments later, I felt the bed sink to the side as someone sat on the edge. Fingers brushed across my face and I slowly opened my eyes to see Arthur smiling down at me.
"Good morning, my Queen." He said.
"Arthur." I smiled. "Oh, that is so sweet." I added as he pulled out a silver platter with an elaborate breakfast piled on top of it.
"It's nothing." Arthur shrugged smugly as there was a loud crash from behind the drapes. "Who's there?" He demanded heroically as Merlin's head appeared between the drapes. "Merlin! What are you doing in the…royal chambers?"
"I thought I heard voices." Merlin blundered and I popped a small tomato in my mouth, wondering how this was about to unfold.
"Well, maybe next time you'll be good enough to knock." Arthur said and Merlin disappeared.
After breakfast, I got out of bed and wandered over to my dresser, glancing at myself in the mirror as I went.
"I must say…I won't miss looking like a small pumpkin." I said, looking at myself side on in the mirror.
"You will never look more beautiful than you do now, my dear." Arthur said, walking up to me and placing a hand on my growing stomach.
When I came out from behind the patrician, I had changed out of my nightgown and into a blue gown with thick straps and sleeves starting in line with the neckline, leaving my shoulders bare. It had a white floral pattern over the blue and my corset was done up loosely. My hair was pulled back in twists at the sides of my head and the rest hung down my back in curls.
"Merlin!" I heard Arthur shout as I stepped out.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I can't find my comb." He groaned, chucking something over his shoulder from the draw he was searching through.
"You've looked everywhere?" I asked, walking over to the drawer.
"Everywhere." He nodded, flopping down on the bed.
"What about under your nose?" I asked, picked up the comb from the top of the drawer.
"It must have been under something." Arthur said sourly as I stood in front of him, waving the comb.
"Really." I nodded.
"You just have this way of seeing things…" he began.
"They're called eyes." I said.
"Very beautiful they are too." He added, taking my waist and pulling me towards him.
"Don't try and change the subject." I said, putting one hand on his shoulder as the other pushed the comb through his hair.
"What subject?" Arthur asked.
"The subject of how hopeless you are at…" I began, but now it was his turn to interrupt.
"I am. I'm hopelessly in love." He grinned and pulled me against him, but before our lips could meet I pressed my fingertips against his lips. Arthur frowned and looked down disapprovingly.
"You need to prepare for this morning." I replied and pushed him backwards so he flopped onto the bed. He groaned in frustration as I dropped the comb on his chest.
Today, there would be a meeting in Camelot with all the rulers of the surrounding kingdoms. Hopefully, we would be ale to join together as one land to finally put a stop to Morgana's evil.
Somehow we managed to get our act together, and ten minutes later, I stood beside Arthur on the steps of the citadel, looking down into the courtyard as the long processions arrived.
First came King Odin with his beautiful daughter Mithian, then Queen Annis, and the King Cheltcroft in his abundance of tartans.
"My dear, Queen." He greeted with his thick accent as he bowed deeply. "A small gift for the young royal and their mother." He smiled, and pulled a small, square box out of his cape.
"It's very kind of you." I smiled and lifted the lid of the velvet box. Inside was a simple silver bangle, with Celtic patterns engraved around it. An identical bangle, about half the size sat in the middle of it's brother, just small enough to fit a tiny wrist. "It's beautiful. Thank you."
As he disappeared inside, there was a high-pitched shriek from down in the courtyard.
That could only be one person.
"Circa!" My sister squealed as she abandoned all etiquette and ran up the steps towards me. "Oh, I've missed you." She sighed, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I've missed you too." I grinned, looking back at my little sister. "Come, we have much to discuss, and I don't just mean about the kingdoms."
