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Guinevere ran out the doors of Elizabeth's chamber, calling out for one the servants to fetch Gaius. She ran back inside and gingerly picked up Elizabeth, wincing at how cold her skin was. She despaired at the sight of her frosted over face, but before she picked up Elizabeth, she had checked for a pulse, and was grateful to God that Elizabeth still had one.

Elizabeth's eyes cracked open slightly, and she immediately began moaning in pain. Gwen did her best to make her feel comfortable as she got her into bed, tucking the sheets and blankets tightly over Elizabeth. She ran to the cupboard where Lizzie kept extra blankets (Lizzie was notorious for always complaining about being cold, and Gwen was thankful that she had started storing extra blankets in her bedchambers) and began putting layers upon layers of blankets over Elizabeth.

"The-the-" Elizabeth mumbled as she shivered.

"Shh," Gwen said. "It's best if you try not to talk."

"Bu-but-" Elizabeth gasped. "The-b-baby..."

"Baby?" Gwen repeated, and her eyebrows shot up to her hairline as she watched Elizabeth put her hand to her stomach.

"I-is the b-baby-al-alright?" She shivered. Elizabeth seemed more concerned for the apparent unborn child in her stomach than concerned for herself.

"Oh my God!" Gwen whispered to herself as she put her own hand on top of Elizabeth's stomach. Was...was Elizabeth with child?

Gwen was brought out of her thoughts as Gaius came bursting into the room. When Gwen looked back at Elizabeth, she had fallen unconscious again.

"Gwen, what happened?" Gaius asked as he came to a stop next to Elizabeth.

"I think it was a Dorocha," Gwen answered as Gaius immediately began checking Elizabeth's vital signs. "Only...only there weren't any Dorocha around."

Gaius's mind flashed back to when Elizabeth had confessed that she had accidentally merged hers and Merlin's body, and since Elizabeth wasn't the one to be hit by the Dorocha, it had to have been Merlin. Gaius's heart was hit with worry, but if Elizabeth wasn't dead, it had to have meant that Merlin wasn't, correct?

Gaius snapped out of his thoughts as he turned to Gwen. "Gwen, grab more blankets, a bucket of hot water, and a towel. We need to bring her body temperature back up."

Gwen nodded and grabbed everything that Gaius required, and as Gaius soaked the towel and laid it across Elizabeth's forehead and Gwen was putting more blankets around Elizabeth, Gwen braved her question. "Gaius?"

"Yes?" He prompted as he checked Elizabeth's pulse once more.

"Elizabeth had asked if the baby was all right," Gwen said, and Gaius froze. "Why was she asking if the baby was all right?"

Gaius sighed deeply. "She wanted Merlin to be the first person to know after me." He dipped the towel back into the hot water bucket when it got cold and laid it back across Elizabeth's forehead. "A few weeks prior, Elizabeth had come to me complaining of nausea, vomiting, and swollen ankles. She had assumed that it was due to the stress and the walking around she had to do when she became Arthur's confidant, but after I performed a few tests because I had a suspicion, the tests came back saying she was with child. She was going to tell Merlin, but then the business with the Dorocha occurred and she couldn't find the time. She had sworn me to secrecy; no one other than the two of us know."

Gwen bit her lip as she thought back to Elizabeth's behaviour in the past few weeks. "It would certainly explain why she has been throwing up so much, why she suddenly switched from wine to water, and I can't remember the last time she had her monthly bleeding, because she always asks me to fetch a tonic from you for the pain." Gwen shook her head in disbelief, but she grinned. "A baby! Merlin and Elizabeth are going to have a baby!"

"I ask you to keep this information to yourself," Gaius told her. "You may tell Elizabeth that you know when she wakes, but I had advised her not to tell anyone else other than Merlin for fear that something might happen to the child during the early stages of pregnancy."

Gwen nodded quickly. "Of course, of course." She looked over at Elizabeth. "It is strange, though, how she has been affected by the Dorocha without its touch, and how she isn't dead from it."

Gaius purposefully ignored the thought as he turned to Gwen, "Will you sit with her? Tell me if anything changes, or if she wakes up?"

Gwen nodded. "Yes, of course." She walked over to where Gaius was and took over taking care of her. Gwen dipped the towel in hot water again before laying it across Elizabeth's forehead. Gwen's eyes wandered down to look at her still-flat stomach without thinking, and she grinned again at the thought of what was to come.

When I woke up, I was still cold, but not as cold as before. Gwen was sitting in a chair next to me, and I smiled at her as I struggled to sit up. "Guinevere-"

"Don't sit up!" Gwen said as she pushed me back down. "Don't strain yourself, it's not good for the baby."

Baby? How did she- "How do you know?" I demanded. I was so good with keeping it secret! I knew I was going to eventually have to tell Gwen, because Gwen would have to start making me maternity dresses, but I was going to tell Merlin first before I told anyone else.

When I first went to Gaius, I thought it was just a illness that was going around joined with the stress that I was under while helping Arthur rebuild Camelot. When I went to Gaius for a tonic, he didn't give one, instead asking to perform some tests on me. He didn't tell me why, but when the tests came back saying I was pregnant, I was shocked to the core.

A baby. A real, actual baby.

I had initially freaked out, but Gaius had managed to calm me down. I couldn't believe that I was going to give birth. It freaked me out a little, especially since I wouldn't be hosting this showdown in a regular hospital, but Gaius had assured me that everything would be fine (I had told him that I was from a different world as well).

But how did Guinevere know?

"After I got you into bed, you asked if something was wrong with the baby," Gwen asked. "When I asked Gaius about it, he confirmed it."

"Oh," I said in a small voice. "Well, then..."

Gwen squealed a little. "I can't believe you're going to have a baby!"

I giggled. "Me either!" I pointed a finger at her. "But not a word of this to Merlin! Or to Arthur! I want to tell them both myself."

Gwen nodded eagerly. "Of course, of course." She reached over and hugged me. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you," I said happily. "But right now, we have bigger worries."

The next night, disaster struck. I watched out a castle window as some of the peasants desperately tried to push through the city gate as guards closed it on them.

"We need more stretchers. And sheets, as many sheets as we can find," Gaius said to a guard.

Gwen came running up to me. "Lizzie! The guards were under orders to shut the city gates at dusk."

"Who's orders?" I demanded.

"Lord Agravaine's," Gwen responded.

I was going to give that lil' shit a piece of my mind.

Gaius and I burst through the chamber doors of the council chamber. Gwen followed us in, and I saw red as I saw Agravaine sitting with the councilmen.

"Elizabeth, Gaius! Have you come to join us?" Agravaine asked, as if nothing was wrong.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Why have you closed the city gates?" I demanded.

"We have limited resources, Elizabeth," Agravaine said patronizingly. "As much as I would like to, we simply cannot feed and water the entire kingdom."

"The people have a right to be protected," I retorted. "They're looking to their Kingdom for help and safety."

"I would be putting Camelot in danger," Agravaine responded. "Starvation, disease. You of all people must understand, Elizabeth. The gates will remain shut until we are free of the evil that plagues us."

I gritted my teeth, and then reached into the front of my shirt and held out the Pendragon seal that I was wearing on a chain. Since Arthur had given it to me, I always had it on me. The last thing I wanted was to lose the royal seal. "Do you see this, Lord Agravaine?"

His face darkened at the sight of the royal seal, so I continued. "This seal, given to me by Prince Arthur himself, decrees that while he is gone and while the King is unable to do so, responsibility for the Kingdom falls to me. Arthur trusted me with this because we both think alike. Arthur and I have known each other for a very long time, and I know that he would never stand by and let the citizens of his Kingdom suffer. He would help them in any way possible, and we must do the same."

"I feel the pain as much as you, but we don't have a choice. If we keep letting people in, our food will run out within days," Agravaine tried to explain.

"You're wrong," Gwen said quietly, and I looked over my shoulder at her. She immediately looked horrified that she had spoken those words out loud.

I held my hand out to her. "Speak your mind, Guinevere."

She started shaking her head, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the front. "Speak your mind," I repeated.

Gwen cleared her throat and awkwardly looked at the rest of the councilmen. "Those outside the gates are landowners, farmers. For days the refugees have been bartering their wares with the townsfolk in return for the safety of their hearths. They bring with them far more than they take."

"But how long before these wares run out?" Agravaine asked.

"Three days ago, Prince Arthur embarked on a quest to rid us of these creatures. At worst, we have another three before he reaches his goal. Or do you think he will fail?" Gwen challenged.

Agravaine tried his best to hide his disdain. "Of course not."

Geoffrey nodded. "Sire, she's right."

I smirked. "Then I guess all that's left to say is reopen the gates." I gave Agravaine a glare as I turned around and walked out the room with Gwen on my heels.

The next day, I went to Uther's chambers and started tending to him, like I always did. I woke up in the early hours of the morning throwing up, so I didn't get there till mid-morning.

I set down Uther's breakfast tray as I began tending to him.

"Where's Arthur?" He asked.

"I do not know, Sire," I responded. It was easier to lie to Uther than to tell him the truth.

"Where is he?" He asked again.

"Arthur is on a hunting trip," I lied again.

"When will he be back?" Uther wondered.

"In a few days. Is there something you needed from him?" I wondered, hopefully trying to change the subject.

Uther shook his head in his dreamy state, and I simply put his breakfast in front of him as I gestured to it, "Eat, please, Sire."

I began to leave the room to see if there was anything I was needed for with the Kingdom when I screeched to a stop in front of Agravaine.

"Your devotion to the king is most impressive," Agravaine stated.

I cleared my throat. "He is my legal guardian," I stated. "He practically raised me."

"Of course," Agravaine nodded. "There is something I would like to discuss. I wish to apologize. Yesterday I feel I let the prince down. I am grateful that you spoke out."

"It was mainly Guinevere," I said. "She has a brilliant mind."

Agravaine smiled. "Nonetheless, if you would permit, I would be grateful to seek your advice."

I looked at him suspiciously. "My advice?" I repeated.

"Guinevere certainly tells you things about the people," Agravaine stated. "If nothing else, I know that you will be honest with me."

I bit my lip. There was something strange going on, but I nodded. "All right, Agravaine. If we are going to protect the people, we must...work together." The mere thought sent a shiver down my back.

Agravaine nodded in agreement. "It's not appropriate to talk now. Perhaps...this evening. You could come to my chambers."

"Very well," I responded.

Agravaine smiled. "Thank you," He said, and he took his leave just as Gaius entered.

"Is everything all right?" Gaius asked.

"Agravaine asked to speak with me later," I told Gaius, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around my middle, where my baby was. "He means to seek my council, but I think there's more to it. Agravaine is a prideful man, there is no way he'd just let go what I said to him yesterday. I mean, I embarrassed him in front of the rest of the council."

"What shall you do?" Gaius asked.

I smirked as an idea came to my mind. "I think I have a plan."

"Lord Agravaine," I greeted with a bright smile when the door to his chambers opened later that night. "I do hope you do not mind that I brought Guinevere with me," I said, looking over to my friend. "She, after all, has a brilliant mind."

Agravaine had a tight smile on his face, but he stepped aside. "Not at all," He said. "The more, the merrier."

Gwen and I took a seat at the table in Agravaine's room. Agravaine poured two glasses of wine, and I discreetly shoved mine at Gwen. Gwen, being the best friend that she was, downed the entire thing when Agravaine turned his back.

Agravaine cleared his throat and asked, "Do the people feel safe?"

"Of course not," I shot down.

Gwen nodded in agreement. "They're frightened. Night after night, they've seen their friends, their parents, their children all snatched cruelly from them and they don't know who will be next."

"What can I do to reassure them?" Agravaine asked.

"Show courage," Gwen suggested.

I nodded. "Shutting the gates last night told them you were as terrified as they were. It's like a horse and its rider. If the people sense your fear, they will not trust you."

Agravaine nodded thoughtfully, and I was done with this conversation. "Will that be all, my Lord?"

Agravaine nodded again. "I am grateful for your advice."

I stood up, and Gwen stood up as well. "Then we best be on our way. Goodnight, Lord Agravaine." I bowed, and Agravaine did the same to me. I grabbed Gwen's hand, and we ran out as fast as we could.

"That was very odd," Gwen commented as the guards started following us to escort me safely back to my room.

"It's nothing," I said, eyeing the guards. "Agravaine is simply under a lot of pressure."

Gwen looked at me in confusion, but when I looked at the guards, Gwen nodded in understanding and we were quiet when we came to a stop in front of my room. I turned to the guards. "Please escort Guinevere safely back to her home."

The guards bowed. "Yes, my Lady."

I said goodnight to Gwen, and I stepped inside my own room. I sighed as I caught sight of my empty bedroom, which would be the home of just me and my unborn baby tonight.

God, I missed Merlin.

Later that night, while Merlin and Lancelot were asleep in the Hunter's Lodge that they had taken refuge in, the candles and fire that were burning blowed up. Merlin, sensing a Dorocha, woke up with a start. The Dorocha charged, and Merlin called out, "Lancelot!"

Merlin threw the last of his alcohol into the dying grate fire and it burst into flames in front of the Dorocha, allowing Merlin and a now awake Lancelot to run outside into the pitch dark.

Merlin, knowing that he had only course of action, called out in the dragon's tongue, "O drakon, e male so ftengometta tesd 'hup' anankes!"

The Dorocha continued chased them through the dark woods until a fireball shot out of the sky and got rid of them, and a quick glance to the sky confirmed that Kilgharrah had come to the rescue.

After Kilgharrah had flamed another Dorocha, Lancelot drew his sword and moved to strike him. Merlin stepped in last minute and prevented the Knight from attacking their saviour. "It's alright. It's alright," Merlin insisted. He looked up at the dragon. "Thank you."

Kilgharrah eyed Lancelot. "Who is your friend?"

"I'm Lancelot," Lancelot responded.

Kilgharrah nodded in understanding. "Of course. Sir Lancelot, the bravest and most noble of them all."

Lancelot furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "I'm not sure that's true."

Kilgharrah merely shrugged, the best a dragon could. "We shall see. For now, there are more pressing things at hand. The Dorocha cannot be allowed to remain in this world. The sundered veil must be restored."

"We're on our way to the Isle of the Blessed to help Arthur heal it," Lancelot told him.

"Indeed. But at what price?" Kilgharrah asked.

"I know that the spirit world demands a sacrifice," Merlin explained.

"It demands nothing," The Great Dragon revealed. "It is the Cailleach, the gatekeeper to the spirit world who asks such a price."

"And there is no other way?" Merlin had to know.

Kilgharrah shook his head. "There is not."

Merlin sighed. "Arthur intends to sacrifice himself to heal the veil. It is my destiny to protect him; you taught me that."

"Merlin, you must not do this," Kilgharrah insisted.

"Then I have no choice. I must take his place," Merlin stated.

"You would leave your wife? Your child?" Kilgharrah asked.

"Elizabeth would understand-" Merlin started, but his mind took a second to register the second thing that Kilgharrah had said. "Child? I do not have a child."

Kilgharrah raised a scaly eyebrow. "That will change in nine months time."

Merlin's stomach dropped at his implication. "Are-are you saying that...Elizabeth...is-is with child?"

Kilgharrah nodded. "It would seem so."

Merlin began shaking his head. "No. No, there's no way. She would have told me if she was with child."

But as soon as Merlin said those words, his mind flashed back to the conversation that he had had with Elizabeth before he had left.

"Fine. But you have to come back because I have something very important to tell you."

"What is it?" He had asked.

She had leaned forward. "You'll only find that out by coming back."

Merlin felt like someone had punched the living daylights out of him. "My wife is with child."

Lancelot's eyes widened at the information. Merlin was going to be a father? And he was still going to sacrifice himself?

"I am sorry for telling you," Kilgharrah said. "I had thought that she had told you."

Merlin sucked in a deep breath. He felt pained at the thought of never seeing his child, but he was grateful that Elizabeth would have a piece of him after he was gone. "I still have to do this. Elizabeth will understand," He said firmly, though not for a single second did he believe that Elizabeth would understand.

Kilgharrah looked down at the boy he had watched grow into a man. "From the moment I met you, I saw something that was invisible. Now it is there for all to see."

Merlin managed a smile. "A lot of what you see, old friend, is what you taught me."

Kilgharrah looked solemnly at Merlin. "It will be an empty world without you, young warlock."

"Will you look after Elizabeth and-and my child for me?" Merlin asked.

Kilgharrah nodded. "Of course. The child, after all, will be a Dragonlord like yourself. I will have to obey the child as I have to obey you."

Merlin nodded his thanks, and Kilgharrah flew off.

Another day passed, and I was getting restless. I always accompanied Merlin and Arthur on their journeys. Always. It was killing me that I was just sitting at home like the useless housewife.

You know what? I was not the useless housewife.

I ran to the cupboard that Merlin kept his magic book. He had taught me the spell that unlocks it, and I did so, grabbing the book and slamming it on the dining table. I made sure my bedchamber doors were locked before running back to the magic book. I flipped through the pages and found a transportation spell. I was never really good with anything but healing spells, but I missed my husband, and if what happened last night was any indicator, Merlin was in some sort of trouble.

I said the words, and a huge gust of wind surrounded me, and I was no longer looking at the walls of my chambers, but I was instead looking at the trees of the forest.

The spell took a lot out of me, and I collapsed to my knees as I gasped for breath. I wasn't used to doing magic so strong, and it had weakened me. My arm wrapped around my middle, and I poured some magic into my uterus so that my child would be more protected against the strength of the magic.

"Lizzie!" I heard, and I looked up to see Merlin and Lancelot running towards me. It was straight up luck that I had managed to land in the exact same spot as the two of them, but I was grateful as I got to my feet and ran the rest of the way to meet Merlin.

We collided, and I hugged him tightly as I buried my face in his shoulder. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I had to see you," I responded as I pulled away. "I just had to."

Merlin's gaze flickered down to my stomach, and then he looked back up at me. "Elizabeth...are you with child?"

My stomach dropped.

"Oh my God..." I whispered. "Who told you?"

"'Who told me'?" He repeated. "It's true? Why didn't you tell me?!"

I wasn't expecting this reaction. A kiss, a hug, maybe even picking me up and swirling me around in the air. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry about it! Plus, when you said you were going on the quest, I wanted to make sure that you came back by teasing you with this information!"

"Elizabeth, I was planning on sacrificing myself in Arthur's place!" Merlin protested. "I would never have known had Kilgharrah not told me!"

"Kilgharrah told you?" I repeated. I growled as I stomped my foot. "That dirty, rotten dragon!"

"Lizzie!" Merlin said, regaining my attention.

"Right, sorry," I apologized. "But what happened to you? A few days ago I got hit with the coldness of the Dorocha but I wasn't hit by one."

"I was," Merlin said, and my hands went up to his face in concern. "No, I'm fine, obviously. But how are you? And-and the baby? I knew you had to have been affected by it too, what with your accidental merging spell."

I innocently lifted a shoulder. "I was fine too. I guess when you healed, I healed. And the baby's fine, too." I burst into a smile. "We're going to have a baby!" I said, and at the look in Merlin's eye, I knew. "And you're not planning on being here to watch him grow up, are you?"

Merlin's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry, Lizzie. But I have to do this. For Arthur, for Camelot..." He reached down and put his hand to my stomach. "For our child. Our child deserves to grow up in a place where she will be safe. Where she can live her life, not in fear, but in joy."

I had lost it when he put his hand where our baby was. I burst into tears as I looked up at him through watery eyes, and one look at Merlin's face, and I knew I lost this battle. I cried even harder as I said, "I'm going to miss you." I pushed myself forward and hugged him, hard. "So much."

"I love you," Merlin whispered into my hair.

I put my hand on Merlin's head, letting my fingers go through his hair. "I love you too." I sniffled deeply. "I will always love you."

When I pulled away, Merlin wiped at my tears. "I'm coming with you," I choked out.

Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. "No! If you're going to do this, then I need to be there. I'm not letting you do this alone."

Merlin pulled me in for another hug, but he took me by the hand and we started walking back to where Lancelot and the horses were. I stopped in front of Lancelot, who managed to smile at me despite how awful I must have looked. "Congratulations, Elizabeth," Lancelot said, eyes flickering down to my stomach.

"Thank you," I said, and I smiled as I gave him a hug. "I'm going to really need you, Lancelot. You're a good friend, and I'm going to need a good friend."

I felt Lancelot nod against my shoulder, and when I pulled back, I turned back to my husband, who helped me on to his horse.

We were riding for a while. I couldn't think of anything to say, but it seemed like Lancelot could, because he asked Merlin, "When we get to the Isle of the Blessed, do you really intend to sacrifice yourself?"

Merlin sighed. "What do you want me to say?"

"I look at you and I wonder about myself. Would I knowingly give up my life for something?" Lancelot responded.

I wrapped my arms tighter around Merlin's waist as he said, "You have to have a reason. Something you care about. Something that's more important than anything."

Merlin nudged his horse into a gallop, and eventually, we came to a stop at the top of a hill. Smoke was rising from another abandoned fortress ahead.

"Looks like someone beat us to it," Lancelot stated.

"Bandits?" Merlin thought.

Lancelot tilted his head as a "maybe". Merlin looked back over. "Think we'll make it before nightfall?"

"There's only one way to find out. Ya!" Lancelot said, kicking his horse into a gallop as we went after him.

When we got to the fortress, we heard Arthur and the others talking. We got off our horses, and Lancelot approached the group first.

"Lancelot? How's Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"Bad news. He's still alive," Lancelot said, and he grinned as he stepped aside so Merlin could walk in.

Arthur chuckled in relief as the other knights gave him hugs. I took that as my chance to step out of the shadows. "Hey..." I said, lifting my hand in a wave.

"Elizabeth!" Arthur said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I...I couldn't rest thinking that you guys were out here alone," I lied. "I met Lancelot and Merlin halfway."

"But if you're here, then who's looking after Camelot?" Arthur asked.

Uh oh. "I didn't really consider that, but I'm sure Agravaine is looking after the Kingdom."

Thank God that Arthur wasn't all that bright, because he accepted the answer. The boys prepared dinner, and Merlin discreetly slipped me more than my fair share. I gave him a look, but he responded with a look of his own telling me not to question it. Of course; my last moments with my husband and I was irritated at him.

I ate though, and I sat around the fire with Arthur and Merlin while the others went to bed. I looped my arm through Merlin's and kept my head on his shoulder, not wanting to waste a single second.

I was going to be a widow. I was going to have to raise my son by myself. My husband wouldn't be around to watch him grow. I certainly wouldn't be able to help him with his magic since I was so crap at it, and our son would obviously be born with magic if both Merlin and I were.

"It's going to be fine. Everything will be alright," Merlin assured Arthur after seeing the look on the latter's face.

"I'm just tired," Arthur insisted.

"You don't have to sacrifice yourself," Merlin told him.

"To save my people," Arthur argued.

"I will take your place," Merlin announced.

"Merlin..." Arthur started.

"What is the life of a servant compared to that of a prince?" Merlin asked.

Arthur looked at Merlin. "Well, you're a married servant. I'm not going to let Elizabeth be sad by letting you sacrifice yourself." He sighed. "One thing. Look after Guinevere, I want her to be happy in her life. She deserves that."

Merlin's grip on my hand tightened, assuring me that he wasn't going to change his mind, and I let a single tear escape. "Don't worry. I'll make sure," He assured Arthur.

The next morning, I instructed myself to feel nothing. I stayed glued to Merlin's side the entire time, and he kept whispering things to our baby in my stomach. Apologies, assurances that he loved him, that I was going to do my best to take care of him without Merlin and to not give me a hard time over it.

We stopped at the docks at the Seas of Meredor.

"The Isle of the Blessed," Arthur declared.

We all took the ferryman's bloat to the isle and heard some screeching along the way. I just held on to Merlin's hand tighter.

We stepped on to the isle as the screeching got louder.

"What is that?" Leon asked, and all the men drew their swords. Me, in my idiotic rush, forgot to prepare, so I didn't bring a sword.

"I really hope I'm wrong," Gwaine said.

Since Gwaine was the person who introduced Merlin and I to the wyvern, I wasn't all that shocked when one flew down at us.

"Wyvern!" Arthur called out.

More wyverns attacked, and Percival fell to the ground as he got slashed. "You're right!" He called out.

Merlin crouched down to hide his face and whispered, "S'enthend' apakhorein nun epello!" He stood up as his eyes flowed, and the wyverns flew off.

Gwaine grinned proudly. "See? That's how you deal with them."

"We need to keep moving," Arthur insisted.

We entered another passage, and more wyverns flew overhead. "Sire, you must go on! We'll fend them off!" Leon called out, and he, Percival, and Elyan remained outside to handle the wyverns.

"Good luck," Gwaine said to them, and we all ran to the altar of the Isle of the Blessed.

Arthur led Merlin, Gwaine, Lancelot, and I toward the altar stone. The old woman that Merlin and I had seen on Samhain's eve. "It is not often we have visitors," the Cailleach declared.

"Put an end to this," Arthur demanded. "I demand you heal the tear between the two worlds."

"It was not I who created this horror. Why should it be I that stops it?" the Cailleach wondered.

"Because innocent people are dying!" Merlin shouted.

"Indeed," the Cailleach laughed maniacally.

Gwaine screamed and charged at her with his sword raised. She threw him back with magic, knocking him out.

"Is this the best you can do?" the Cailleach demanded.

"I know what you want," Arthur said solemnly.

"Do you?" the Cailleach wondered. "And are you willing to let me have it?"

"I'm prepared to pay whatever price is necessary," Arthur declared.

The Cailleach motioned for Arthur to come to her. Arthur walked determinedly towards her.

Merlin turned around and grasped my hand, giving it a squeeze. I wanted to cry, but I kept the tears in, because I knew if I cried, it would only make this harder for Merlin.

Giving my hand another squeeze and whispering, "I love you," to me, he turned back to face Arthur and whispered, "Forb fleoghe."

The spell stopped Arthur and threw him backwards, knocking him unconscious. The Cailleach looked at Merlin and I felt my heart crumble into a million pieces as they both approached the altar stone.

"So, Emrys, you choose to challenge me after all. Will you give yourself to the spirits to save your prince?" the Cailleach asked.

"It is my destiny," Merlin said simply.

"Perhaps. But your time among men is not yet over, Emrys, even if you want it to be," the Cailleach said.

I looked at her in confusion, and it didn't hit me until I followed the Cailleach's gaze, who had looked over to where the veil was.

What I saw made my heart stomach and made me stomach drop all the way to the pits of the Earth.

Lancelot was standing at the brink of the veil. He looked back at Merlin and I with a smile, and then looked at the veil and bravely smiled. Then, he walked straight into the shrieking veil and dissipates.

"NO!" I screamed as I finally let myself cry. "NO!" I shrieked as I ran after the veil. Maybe I could pull Lancelot back out, I thought feebly. I'll sacrifice myself.

Merlin grabbed me before I could make it to the veil, and I kept screaming "No!" and crying as I began sinking to the ground. The veil closed, and a horror stricken Merlin and I both sunk to the ground as we stared after the spot where the veil was.

"No," we both whispered.

When we got back to Camelot, I told Arthur that I would tell Gwen. He wanted to do it, but I refused. Gwen was my best friend, and I would tell her that the man she once loved and the man she held so much respect for had died saving us all.

As I suspected, Gwen fell to the ground in her grief. She sobbed deeply, but I held her as she cried. And the next day, when it was time for Lancelot's funeral, I held on to her as we waited in the full courtyard.

Arthur placed a Camelot cape and sword on a pyre in the courtyard, because we didn't have a body to physically burn. Merlin brought a torch for the pyre. Then, he came back over to me and wrapped his arm around me, hugging me tightly to his chest. I kept one hand on Gwen's arm as I buried my face into Merlin's chest. Arthur tossed the torch on the pyre.

"I want to pay tribute to Sir Lancelot," Arthur started. "We owe him a great debt. It is not just his deed that we'll never forget. It's his courage. His compassion. His unselfish heart. He was the most noble knight I'll ever know. He gave his life for all of us."

Gwen burst into sobs as she watched the pyre burning. The sword began to steam in the flames, and I felt as if my heart was being pierced.

As much as I loved the rest of the knights, Lancelot had always been my favourite. He was the first of them all, the one who had really made his way into mine and Merlin's hearts. He was always there when you needed him, he was brave, noble, and the best person I knew. My heart couldn't handle him not being in our world anymore, and the fact that he did this willingly, with a brave smile on his face, hurt even more.

I would never forget Lancelot.

Merlin and I sat on the bed in his old room in Gauis's chambers. Gaius wanted to do a check up on me to make sure that the baby was okay, because what happened had caused so much grief it could have caused a hormonal imbalance and effect the baby.

Merlin's hand was on my stomach, where the baby was, and my hand was on top of his. Merlin managed a small smile. "I can't believe there is a baby in there."

I managed a tiny smile too. "Me too." I sighed deeply. "It feels...terrible, almost. Celebrating something good so soon after we lost Lancelot." My voice cracked when I said his name.

"Our daughter will know who he was," Merlin assured me firmly. "She will know who he was, what he did, and how he saved us all."

I nodded. "Yes, sh-" I caught myself, and looked over at Merlin. "Did you just say 'daughter'?"

He nodded. "Yes."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "We're having a boy," I insisted.

"How do you know that?" Merlin asked.

"I think I know what's going on inside of my own body, Merlin," I retorted.

"You can't know the gender of the baby until it's born," Merlin pointed out. "But it's definitely a girl. She is a beautiful, smart girl just like her mother."

I gave him a pointed look. "No, he is a handsome, intelligent boy just like his father."

"Girl."

"Boy."

"Girl."

"Boy."

"Girl!"

"Fine, you want to make a bet?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. "If the baby is born a girl, you get to name her. If the baby is born a boy, I get to name him."

Merlin nodded as he held out his hand. "Deal."

I reached out and took his hand, giving it a firm shake. Just as Merlin opened his mouth to say something, the sound of the chamber door opening interrupted him.

"Gaius," Agravaine's voice said, and at the sound of Agravaine's voice, I was on my feet and in front of the door, listening in. Merlin was behind me as we eavesdropped.

"How can I be of assistance?" Gaius asked.

"You're a man of great knowledge and wisdom," Agravaine started, obviously trying to butter Gaius up.

Gaius scoffed. "Knowledge, perhaps."

"Have you ever come across a sorcerer called Emrys? Or a sorceress called Maeve?" Agravaine asked.

At the mention of our Druids names, Merlin and I gave each other a look that showed that we were both having a mini-heart attack.

Gaius paused. "No. Doesn't sound familiar," he lied loyally.

"Hm. Well, if you do hear mention of the name," Agravaine said, and the sound of footsteps made me think that he was going towards the door to leave.

"I'll be sure to tell you," Gaius said.

"It will not go unrewarded," Agravaine chuckled on the way out, and as soon as we heard the door shut, Merlin and I came out of his old bed chamber.

Gaius turned to us worriedly. "There's only one person who could've heard those names," Gaius told us. "Morgana. We know her powers are growing. She, too, must have seen the Cailleach."

Merlin shook his head. "But Agravaine..."

"I suspect he's not as virtuous as he seems. And, don't forget, he has every reason to despise Uther," Gaius pointed out. After all, Ygraine was Agravaine's sister, and because Uther wanted a child so badly, Ygraine died.

"You're not kidding," I mumbled, and when Gaius and Merlin looked at me, I elaborated. "Right before you guys left for the quest, I scried to check on Agravaine because I'm not entirely trustful of him. I didn't want to say anything in case I ended up accusing him of nothing, but when I saw him, he was in a hut, with Morgana. He was telling her our secrets."

Gaius and Merlin seemed shocked at my information, but nonetheless, Gaius said, "We must beware. Morgana can never know the truth. She must never know who you two really are."

TBC...

Whoo! Let's go season 4!

Merlin and Lizzie are having a baby! YAY!

I know a lot of you suspected it, but I didn't want to say anything!

Also, what's it going to be? Are you on Lizzie's side, and think it's a boy? Or are you on Merlin's side, and think it's a girl?

Let me know in the reviews!

Two more seasons to go! We can do this!

REVIEW! FOLLOW! FAVOURITE! THANKS! STAY TUNED!

THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH MALINOR CONTINUE...

Celebrations for Arthur's birthday commence.

"We must make sure this is a celebration the young prince will never forget," a man says.

The mysterious man draws a sword.

Uther fights to protect his son, but he gets struck by the sword.

"You can't die," Arthur begs his father.

"If you were me, would you use magic to save his life?" Arthur asks Merlin.

"Yes, I would. I would do whatever it took," Merlin responds.

"You can't risk exposing yourself like this," Gaius tells Merlin. "It's too dangerous."

"Do you really think Uther is going to thank you for healing him with magic?" Elizabeth asks Merlin.

"If it works, we won't have to hide anymore," Merlin insists.

Arthur and Elizabeth turn around in the little hut to see Dragoon the Great, who Elizabeth knows is secretly Merlin.

Dragoon scoffs at Arthur's presence.

TILL THE NEXT EPISODE! WITH THE CONTENTS OF IT, IT'S SURE TO BE A DEPRESSING ONE!