Chapter 15

3 DAYS LATER

Gwen had spent her days at the hospital in Arthur's room, waiting for him to wake up.

She had refused to move.

Plain and simple.

He needed her right now and she would be there for him.

She was his wife,

For better and for worst,

In sickness or in health.

Forever.

Nicholas had come home with Morgana and was visiting his father every day for an hour, Gwen didn't want him more upset and traumatized that he already was.

She had also signed him up with a child psychiatrist here at the hospital and it was helping with his nightmares,

Her poor son.

Gwen then turned back to her husbans,

"You're gonna be alright, my love." she whispered, brushing some hair away from his forehead. "I promise."

She then took his hand and kissed it tenderly, before laying it on her cheek.

"How is he feeling?" a voice cut her thoughts and she jumped from where she was.

"Still nothing." then she turned the head and looked at her friend. "Why isn't he waking up, Merlin? I need him to wake up." her voice broke.

Merlin sighed sadly and walked to her, squeezing her shoulder tenderly.

"I miss him too, you know." he breathed and she looked up, found him teary.

And he did,

It was awful not being able to speak with him when he felt like Arthur had been there all of his life.

"I know." whispered Gwen.

Then, he took a deep breath, seeing the despair of his friend.

Gwen needed the doctor in him, not Arthur's best friend.

He could do that.

For her,

For Arthur,

For Nicholas.

So he took a deep breath,

"These things can take some time." he said softly. "But there is no reason for him not to wake up. Have patience, Gwen."

A tear rolled down the woman's cheek.

"He is the love of my life, Merlin. My soulmate. If anything were to happen to him..." she couldn't even finish her sentence.

"I know."

Merlin got out of the room, more shaken up that what he would have liked to admit.

Seeing Gwen in such a state was complicated Arthur not wking up was torture for all of them.

"Merlin?"

He froze and turned around slowly, meeting wih the smile which both stopped and accelereated the beating of his heart at the same time.

3 DAYS BEFORE

Merlin felt like he could breathe again after telling everyone the news that Artthur would live.

Gwen had been so relieved she had almost fainted and she was now glued to Arthur's side in his room and Merlin doubted they would be able to get her to leave it, even if they wanted to.

Good.

He was about to go lie down for a bit when something stopped him in his tracks.

Sobs.

He walked in and his heart broke when he saw her, hugging herself and crying like it was something to be ashamed of.

"Morgana?" he called softly and she jumped, her eyes widened and she hurried to wipe her tears and tried to flee.

But he caught her arm.

"Please don't be ashamed to cry." he breathed. "Not in front of me. Never in front of me."

She scoffed and tried to escape from his hold.

"Let me go, Merlin. I'm fine. We're not even supposed to talk to each other."

This time, he was the one to scoff.

And then he brought her into his arms, hugging her tightly against him.

"I've almost lost my best friend in the whole world." he breathed, voice breaking suddenly. "I can't bear to be apart from you today."

And after a few seconds...

She hugged him back.

BACK TO PRESENT.

She smiled shyly, put a strand of hair back behind her ear.

"How are you?" he asked, taking a step closer to her.

"I've been better." she admitted, "You?"

"Same."

They got lost on each other for a few seconds and he took another step to her, like hypnotized.

"He will wake up, you know."

Morgana looked down,

God he needed to comfort her.

He needed to see her smile again.

He'd give anything for that.

"I..." her voice broke. "I'm scared. I can't imagine a life without my brother... I can't Merlin. It would kill me."

Merlin took the last step separating them and cupped her chin, making her look at him.

"He will wake up. Trust me."

She smiled and it lit something in his heart.

But then...

"Uncle Merlin!"

They receded, the charm broken and Merlin smiled, hugging his nephew.

"How are you, champ?"

"Fine but I miss my Daddy."

Merlin ruffled his hair,

"Your daddy is strong, he will wake up soon." His eyes met Morgana's, "Trust me."

Guinevere was still in the room when she heard footsteps and knew who was coming before she even saw him.

"Mama!" screamed the boy and he ran to her, hugging her tightly. "I miss you so much!"

"I know, my love." she breathed, "I am sorry, I can't leave Daddy alone."

Nicholas nodded, and then he receded and went hugging his father.

"Hello Daddy, I miss you too. A lot." and then he took something from his bag pack and Gwen's heart broke. "It's a drawing for you. Please wake up, Daddy."

Her heart broke for their son.

He deserved better than that.

Better than a father unconscious on a hospital bed,

And better than a mother always away at the hospital.

She got up and hugged him tightly against her.

"You're so brave, Nick. Dad and I are so proud of you."

The boy beamed and for the first time in days she had a feeling she did something right.

Hours later, Guinevere was asleep by Arthur's side when her phone rang.

She frowned, opened her eyes and took the call but not before she checked on Arthur first.

Still nothing.

"Yes?" she said, voice hoarse.

Gwen looked at the clock and saw it was 11pm.

"So, do you believe me now?"

Her heart stopped in her chest.

"Lancelot?"

He chuckled.

"You didn't answer. Do you believe me, now?"

And then she felt like she was about to throw up, her legs shook and she had to sit down while her vision was blurry.

"Wait..."

"There she goes."

"No."

"I did warn you."

"It's not possible..."

"But it is."

"What did you do?!" she shouted and he chuckled again.

"Only a warning for this time, Gwen. But now you know I have the means to meet my words."

"You're crazy!" she screamed, voice shaking. "We are talking murder, Lancelot! You could go to jail for a very, very long time!" he chuckled, "We have a son! How can you do that to another human being?! Arthur did nothing to you!"

"HE STOLE MY GIRL!" he shouted and she jumped.

"Five years ago!" she ran a desperate hand through her hair. "You can't be serious right now, I will go to the police immediately."

He laughed.

"Accidents happen, my dear. You have no proof."

"You're mad!" and she had no words left, this couldn't be happening. "My son was in the car! He is nothing but an innocent child! Lancelot, he is 5 for God's sake!"

A silence.

She thought she finally had him.

"There are casualties in war."

"Are you listening to yourself right now? There is no war, Lancelot!"

He cleared his throat.

"I'll call you later. Now that you know I am not joking."

"I'll go to the police!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Are you threatening me?"

A silence.

"I did, that's why your husband in in a hospital. That was me threatening you, don't push me Gwen."

"You're insane! I won't listen to you, ever! "

Another silence.

"I'll call you. We'll talk then."

And then he hang up.

She couldn't breathe.

She couldn't.

Could it be?

Could it really be?

She was starting to hyperventilating.

And then..

"Guinevere?" a soft and hoarse voice whispered and her heart started beating so fast she felt dizzy.

And she turned around softly,

To find the blue eyes of the love of her life staring at her.