Epilogue

There had been several years of peace in the land of Albion. The five kingdoms had banned together to keep the Saxon threat at bay. The Knights of the Round Table were infamous throughout the lands as the fiercest and noblest of all the knights.

It was a Friday evening when Gaius was called to Sir Gwaine's chambers. He and Merlin rushed around the physician's chambers gathering herbs and various remedies. The day had been an ordinary day in the court of Camelot until now.

Sir Gwaine had been sent on an errand to meet with one of Queen Annis's advisors. The knight wasn't far from the city when Sir Percival rode out to fetch him and bring him back. When he approached his chambers, Gwaine heard a scream come from within. Panicked, he rushed to the door, only for Arthur to hold him back.

"Let them work, Gwaine," he tried to soothe his friend.

Gaius opened the door and quickly stepped out, shutting it behind him.

"They're in with her now, Gwaine," he told the agitated knight. "The queen has gone to her to offer her assistance, and Merlin is standing by just in case things take a turn. She's in good hands."

Percival laid a hand on Gwaine's shoulder and squeezed in comfort. He had stayed with his friend, fearful of the outcome on this day. He cared for Marian as much as the next knight. The shy man had confided in her many times and had grown to see her as a sister. He hoped that she would survive the night as these things tended to be risky.

Elyan, having just returned from Nemeth, ran up to the king and Gwaine, grasping each man's arm in greeting. He turned to Percival, touching his arm and giving him a secret smile. They had spent too much time denying their feelings for each other. With the encouragement of their family and friends, the knights had finally admitted their love for one another.

"Leon sent word," Elyan said. "He's not able to make it to Camelot for Samhain as Princess Mithian has already entered her time in confinement."

"He should be there for the birth of their child," Arthur agreed.

Elyan gave Gwaine a cautious look. "How is she?" he asked.

Before Gwaine could answer, they heard small giggles and little feet run up behind them. A very young girl with brown hair was chased down the passage by a young boy. Gwaine bent down and caught the girl, scooping her up into his arms.

"Dada!" she called. "Borre has said that I shall turn into a frog if he kisses me. Tell him not to kiss me!"

Arthur turned and bent down to his son. "Borre, is this true?"

The small child looked ashamed. "Yes, father," he admitted.

"Why would you do this? Is Rosie not your friend?" Arthur asked the young prince.

Borre pouted at his father. "She is, but she whacked me with her wooden sword. All I said to her was that girls can't be knights!" he complained.

Rosie turned in her father's arms and looked down at Borre.

"They can too!" she protested. "My dada said so! He said mummy was the bravest girl he knew, even braver than the Round Knights! I am going to be a knight when I grow up, and you can't do anything about it!"

Arthur and Gwaine chuckled at their children. Rosie may look like her father, but she had her mother's temperament. The small girl jumped as another scream echoed from the chambers.

"Dada, was that mummy?"

Gwaine kissed the side of his daughter's head. "She'll be alright, petal," he replied softly. He certainly hoped he was right. Nothing scared him more than losing his family.

Borre moved closer to his father and his Uncles Elyan and Percival. He was a prince of Camelot, so he needed to be brave, but the sounds coming from the chambers frightened him.

It was only another couple of minutes before the door to the chambers opened, and Merlin popped his head out.

"She's ready," he said somberly.

Gwaine set his daughter to the ground and held her tiny hand in his. They walked in behind Merlin and over to the bed where Marian lay, hair sticking to her face with sweat. Gwaine reached over and stroked her head fondly.

Marian held a small bundle to her bosom and looked up to smile at him. She hadn't expected him to still be in Camelot but was pleased nonetheless.

"Sir Gwaine, meet your son," she said to him.

Gwaine let go of Rosie's hand and reached out to take the bundle from his wife. The newborn baby cooed at him, and Gwaine's voice broke as he greeted his son.

"Hello there, little one," he said as tears fell from his eyes.

The midwives had quickly replaced the sheets on the bed before Gwaine was let in, and were walking to the door with the bundle of soiled linens, faces in a tight smile. Gwen and Merlin stood to the side, watching as the family became acquainted with each other. Marian's pregnancy had been a difficult one, so Merlin's magic came in handy as she gave birth. Both warlock and queen were relieved that the ordeal was over.

Gwaine knelt down to Rosie's level and showed her the babe in his arms.

"This is your baby brother, petal," he said to her.

Rosie peered over the blankets to look at her brother. He didn't look like the fat babies she had seen in the city. He was tiny and a bit wrinkly. He opened his eyes and looked at her curiously. The baby cooed, grinning up at his sister. When Marian looked up at Rosie, she saw the young girl grin back. Her heart swelled with love as she noticed that both of her children had their father's smirk.

"I like him. Can we keep him?" Rosie asked.

Marian and Gwaine chuckled.

"Of course, dearheart," Marian replied as she reached out and tucked a strand of Rosie's dark, wavy hair behind her ear.

Arthur, Borre, and the rest entered the chambers to gaze at the tiny baby. Gwaine stood and handing his son over to Merlin, he bent down to kiss his wife.

"You did well, beautiful," he said to her as he caressed her face.

Arthur walked over to Merlin and cooed at the baby.

"Marian, he's lovely," he appraised.

Elyan clapped Gwaine on the back, congratulating him. "Well done, mate!"

Percival, however, went over to where Merlin was holding the tiny baby. He reached over to touch the baby's face when a tiny hand grasped his finger. The tall knight smiled softly, smitten with the newborn already. He dreamed of the many things that Uncle Percy would get to teach the children of his best friends.

Rosie left her parents' side and ran over to Gaius.

"Yes, you both make beautiful children," Gaius stated as he hugged Rosie. Gaius was the closest thing she had to a grandfather. He picked her up and smiled at her.

"He'll make a fine knight one day," Arthur declared. When Rosie turned and gave Arthur a sour look, the king cleared his throat. "Er… they both will."

Rosie stuck her tongue out at Borre and then smiled sweetly at the king. Arthur chuckled to himself. She was definitely her mother's child.

Marian reached up and grasped Gwaine's hand. "I thought you had left already?" she questioned him.

Gwaine cupped her cheek with his other hand and rubbed her face with his thumb. "I had, but Percival fetched me. I wouldn't have missed this for all of the gold in Camelot," he said as he smiled down to her.

She smiled back at her husband. "Neither would I," she said as she reached over and kissed the palm of his hand.

The babe in Merlin's arms suddenly cried out. The warlock brought him back over to his parents and handed him over to Marian.

"Tell us a story, Uncle Merlin!" Borre called out.

"Yes! Tell us of how mummy and dada met!" Rosie requested, jumping down from Gaius's arms.

"No! I want to know more about the Great Dragon!"

"We've already heard loads about him! Tell us about how Auntie Gwen saved you from the Lamia!"

"No! Great Dragon!"

"Lamia!"

"Dragon!"

Merlin was reminded of Gwaine and Marian when they'd first met. He chuckled and interrupted the children's bickering. "Why don't I tell you of the time a goblin got loose in the castle?"

"YAY!" the children screamed in unison.

Merlin began the story of the goblin, using his magic to make shapes with the flames of the candles and the shadows to illustrate the funnier parts. Arthur walked behind Gwen and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her softly as they watched Merlin tell the story.

As the children settled in to listen, Gwaine climbed onto the bed behind Marian and tucked her against his chest. She folded down a flap in her nightdress and pulled their tiny son close to her bosom, allowing him to latch to her nipple. Gwaine kissed the side of her head as he watched his beautiful wife feed their precious newborn baby.

"I love you, Sir Gwaine of Camelot," she said softly as she looked up at him.

"I love you, Lady Marian of Camelot," he replied, smiling brightly.

The End

Author's Note: If you enjoyed this, please check out parts 2 and 3 of The Wanderer Series. And be on the lookout for more to come! Thank you for reading!