Uther watched from out of the throne room window, he wasn't particularly focusing on something, just letting his thoughts wander about. He still couldn't believe what has happened the previous day.
His mind went back to the room in the fortress.
~oOoOo~
He didn't know who to go to first; his son, his daughter or his wife. He looked around for a short moment and saw knight Alric sitting by his son, Arthur had in the meantime gathered the key of the cuffs and was busy with breaking Morgana free from the shackle that still remained. That left him to settle on his wife that lied far too still for his liking.
"Here father,"
Uther blinked and looked at the keyring that his son held out to him.
"Free mother." Arthur said and moved immediately back to Morgana who he embraced dearly before picking her up behind her knees and shoulders.
Uther in the meantime did just that and began to remove the irons on Hunith's wrists. Hunith hadn't been saying much, just blinking heavily with fatigue. She still managing a small smile when she put up a shaking hand to brush against Uther's cheek. "You're here." she whispered with a raspy voice.
Uther had caught both of her hands into his own and kissed them tenderly, "I am love, I am." Uther answered and did what his son had done just moments ago with Morgana. He picked his wife up under knees and shoulders and moved into the larger room once more, he tried with all his might to stop thinking about his wife's bulging stomach.
He stopped briefly to watch his youngest son. Merlin laid still on the ground with his breathing shallow. He didn't like it. He looked up to his most loyal knight. "Alric, can you escort the Prince outside?"
Alric gave a curt nod. "Of course, Sire."
~oOoOo~
Uther thought about the journey back. His wife and daughter had been somewhat conscious, but his son was out of it. Even when they were at the castle again and the people taking sight of who the party had been carrying, his son remained unconscious.
Gaius had been treating the royal family with all the knowledge he possessed and his initial enquiry taught him that it was more exhaustion for the Queen and Princess, for the Prince though... he did not know. He would wait till morning before reinstating his examinations.
And here Uther now was, waiting anxiously for those results. He blinked when he heard the door of the throne room open and turned around to see his eldest walking towards him. "Any news from Gaius?" He asked Arthur.
Arthur gave a soft sigh and Uther didn't know what that meant. He sat down at the table and Uther sat down next to him. "Are they alright?"
A flash of worry went over Arthur's face, but he soon schooled them. "Morgana is doing better, Gaius told me just now. She's sitting upright in bed and eating and drinking again. She has been telling us some things here and there and she said that she's been fed little bits these past –" Arthur took a gulp, still feeling guilty for what had happened even though it was none of his fault.
Uther stretched his hand out of give his son's hand a soft squeeze. "It's okay, son."
Arthur inhaled deeply and Uther could see his son's eyes glazing over. "We still don't know how Merlin is." Arthur said, his voice slightly cracking. "Gaius thinks he was overzealous and exhausted himself to the bone with the spells and fighting, especially considering he wasn't completely healed from the fever. He hasn't been reacting to anything. Even Kilgharrah has been seen flying nervously over Camelot."
Uther casted his eyes down. He couldn't lose his son, not now he has found the other half of his family again. Tears pricked at the sides of his eyes and he stubbornly wiped them away. It was futile though and he began to softly sob. Just all the things that had happened the past months, one thing after another building up came out now.
He felt his son's hand on his shoulder, "It's alright, father." Arthur whispered.
Uther held back a sob and brushed his hand over his face, trying to gain some self-control. "And Hunith?"
Arthur moved his head to the door. "Gaius should be with her right now. Maybe we should go to your chambers and see for ourselves."
Uther only bobbed his head. He was worried for his wife. He didn't know what that bump meant and he didn't want to particularly want to think about it.
They took the stairs up and soon enough they found themselves in front of Uther's bedroom door. Uther didn't know if he should knock of just enter. In the end he did both at the same time and walked in and Arthur followed suit. His breath caught in the back of his throat when he saw his wife sitting upright and turning her head towards them when she heard the door open. She still looked exhausted but a bit better then when he first saw her yesterday. More present.
Gaius had been sitting at the edge of the bed and stood up once he saw the King enter. He bowed and then cleared his throat. "My lord, the Queen has something to tell you."
Uther frowned. "Gaius what's going on?"
"It's better if –" Gaius began, but was cut off by Hunith.
"Love," Hunith said, although her voice was still timed. She smiled though and held her hand out. Uther moved quickly to the bed and caught her hand. Arthur had moved to the post of the bed.
With her free hand she shuffled the blanket more down, revealing once more that bump and placed her hand softly on the bulge. "We're expecting again, love."
Uther didn't even realize he had been shaking his head. When he saw it for the first time yesterday, that thought had flashed through his head, but he didn't want to think about it. He couldn't think about the fact that his wife had been taken by another man.
It was like Hunith sensed his troubled mind and moved her hand from her belly to the side of Uther's face, softly stroking his cheek. "It's yours, Uther." She looked over to Arthur. "You'll be getting another sibling."
Arthur only stared at her. His eyes briefly looking down to her stomach before flicking up again.
"But," Uther began but stopped himself when he saw his wife's eyes droop. He picked up both hands in his own and kissed them. "Sleep love, we'll talk later." He tucked her in and stood up in a daze.
"Sire," Gaius said and moved in Uther's line of sight. "If I could speak to you for a moment?"
Uther absentmindedly nodded and followed Gaius out of the room.
When the door was closed by Arthur, Gaius began talking. "I suspect you're being quite caught off-guard by this. I do think the Lady is right from the information she has been giving me. She told me she had noticed the symptoms about a week before – before the raid."
Uther flinched.
"And she told me neither of the bandits have been…" Gaius struggled to find the words, but one look at Uther told him that Uther understood what he was trying to say. "But, even so. The Lady would be over 8 months pregnant now, but her stomach shows other signs."
It brought Uther's immediate attention. "What do you mean?"
"What I am trying to say is that the Lady's stomach is fairly small for what is considered normal for that period. Granted, the Lady did not have the same circumstances that she would have otherwise."
"Are you telling me that the baby is –"
"No," Gaius said, interrupting the King. "I have felt the babe myself and it does feel right. I'm just saying that the child might be small and maybe always will be. We can only be sure when it will be born. And Sire, that could be any moment."
Uther shook his head. "Have you seen Hunith?! She can't bear a child, not when she's feeling like this. Gaius, there must be something else."
Gaius lowered his eyes. "I will look into it, Sire." He bowed and moved away, leaving King and son behind.
For the longest time neither of them said anything.
Arthur cleared his throat and opened his mouth, but soon closed it again. He couldn't believe it himself that his mother was with child again, and was almost ready to bear it.
"Sire!"
Both Arthur and Uther looked up to see Knight Alric move to them. He stopped a few feet in front of them and gave a curt bow with his head. "Kilgharrah has spoken. He feels the life of the Prince draining. We need to bring to Prince to him as soon as possible!"