Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin! I only own my OC, and any other characters or plotlines I make up along the way!

AN: So sorry for the mini hiatus but finale time!

Enjoy!

That night, things were going so well. We were having a feast, music played, and everyone was having a good time.

That is, until Gwaine came bursting into the room. "Sire! We're under attack!" he declared. "They're within the city walls!"

We all immediately stood up. Arthur sheded his cloak and turned to Merlin. "Merlin, get everyone to the inner chamber!"

"Yes, sire," Merlin nodded. He grabbed my arm, and I went willingly with him as he shouted, "Everyone follow me!"

As Arthur jumped over the table and grabbed a sword to jump into action, Merlin turned to me. "Are you alright?"

"I think so," I told him. I rubbed a hand across my extremely rounded and swollen belly. "Gaius said that the baby isn't due to come for another two weeks."

"Gaius also said that extreme stress can bring on early labour," he pointed out as we got to the inner chamber.

"Well, I'll just have to remain stress free, won't I?" I retorted.

Merlin pushed me all the way to the back of the inner chamber, but when injured knights and civilians began to flood the inner chamber, it was clear that they needed more hands.

I had just finished wrapping up a knight's arm and jumped to the next person when Merlin caught up with me. "The lower town is lost. It's only a matter of time before they reach the citadel," he reported.

I shook my head in disbelief as I worked. I unrolled a strip of gauze. "How did this happen? How did they get in without being detected by anyone?"

Merlin gave me a look. "I think we both know."

I growled, and we both said at the same time, "Agravaine."

"We knew he was planning something," Merlin added.

I shook my head again. "When I get my hands on that lying, betraying-"

"Language," Merlin slightly scolded. He pecked me on the cheek and then ran off.

"Where are you going?!" I demanded.

"I've got to find Arthur!" he called back as he ran.

Even though I knew he wouldn't hear me, I still called back, "Be safe!" Just as I returned back to work on the injured man in front of me, I felt a sharp pang in my side. It hurt enough for me to drop everything in my hands and put my hands to my side. I breathed through the pain for a few seconds before shaking it off.

Merlin returned with an injured Arthur a little later, and he immediately deposited him next to Gaius. The court physician quickly examined him and informed the king that his ribs were indeed broken. When Arthur asked for Gaius to do something, he replied, "I can bind the ribcage, but even that would run the risk of puncturing a lung."

"Do whatever it takes, Gaius, just so long as I can swing a sword!" Arthur bit through the pain.

The doors opened again, and Gwaine and Percival ran inside. Merlin and I ran over to where they were. "Where do we stand?" I asked.

"The citadel is overrun," Percival answered. "We can't hold out much longer."

"How long before they reach us?" Gaius, having just joined us, asked.

"Minutes at best," Percival said.

"They're coming for Arthur," I concluded, crossing my arms over my chest. "If I know Morgana, she'll stop at nothing until his head is on a spike."

"We must get him to safety while we still can," Percival agreed.

Gwaine shook his head. "Arthur would never abandon his people." He glanced over to the king in question, and we all followed his gaze. "He'd rather die."

Merlin, who had been mostly quiet, finally spoke up. "Barricade the doors. Give us as much time as you can."

The two knights nodded, and Merlin, Gaius, and I stepped aside. "We need to get Arthur out of here whether he likes it or not," Merlin insisted. He turned to Gaius. "Give him some kind of potion, something to knock him out?"

Gaius shook his head. "I don't have anything strong enough. In my chambers, perhaps, but the Southrons control the palace."

"There has to be something, Gaius," I said.

"I'm sorry," Gaius apologized. He turned his attention to Merlin. "Maybe there's something you can do. Arthur won't go willingly. What if he was to lose his will?"

Merlin and I exchanged a worried expression before looking back over at Gaius. "Are you suggesting magic?" Merlin said.

"You'll do it?" Gaius wondered.

Merlin looked over at me. I shrugged helplessly. "If it's the only way to get Arthur out of the kingdom..."

He finally nodded. "I can try."

We all went back over to Arthur. Merlin stepped behind Arthur, while Gaius and I stood in front of him. Arthur leaned back against the table, bracing himself.

"I'm sorry, sire, this is going to hurt," Gaius warned.

"Just get on with it!" Arthur barked.

Gaius and I pressed our hands into Arthur's wound. He howled in pain, and his scream was loud enough to mask the whisper of a spell by Merlin.

Arthur stirred. He lifted his head a little weirdly. Not with the same air of arrogant confidence that he usually had, but something... off.

Gwaine and Percival returned to us. Merlin turned to Arthur. "We need to leave now, sire!" His gaze flickered over to me and Gaius.

After a beat, Arthur nodded. "Of course." He stood up, slightly unsteady. We all exchanged surprised looks, but we had to brush it off. "Then let's go," Percival said. He slung Arthur's arm around his neck and began to run. "We'll use the postern gate."

Merlin began to gather Arthur's things. I helped him shove some things into his bag. "Gather your things, Gaius!" He said when he noticed the old man just standing there.

"You two go on," Gaius insisted. "I'll just slow you down."

Merlin and I stopped and looked over to Gaius. "Gaius, no," Merlin said.

"You must know it's for the best," Gaius told him. "You have Arthur to look after, and your expecting wife." He looked over to me. "Lizzie, if you stay here, you will not be able to handle the stress. It could force you into early labour, and there is no telling what Morgana would do to you."

"Gaius-if you stay here-" Merlin started, but Gwaine cut him off.

"No time to argue!" he declared. He looked over his shoulder at Gaius. "I'm sorry." He then looked over at me, shoving Merlin toward the exit at the same time. "Let's go, Beth."

"Look after our king, you two," Gaius said, and we nodded before locking hands and running out of the chamber.

I wrapped an arm under my swollen belly to support myself better as we ran through the woods. Merlin asked a few times if I wanted to take a break, but we couldn't risk it, so I told him no. When we were far enough from the castle, we came to a brief stop.

Arthur, who was still totally out of it from Merlin's spell, turned to Percival, who had been supporting him throughout the entire run. "Thank you, Percival," he said.

"Can you walk on your own?" Merlin asked.

Arthur nodded. "Oh, yes! Just point me in the right direction."

Merlin turned to Percival. "Do you mind helping Lizzie? All this running is taking a toll on her."

I wanted to say that I was just fine, but the way that I leaned heavily on my husband told me otherwise so I kept my mouth shut. I had a huge stitch in my side, and sharp pangs running from my back to my stomach. Gaius told me that this was what labour pains felt like, but I really didn't want it to be labour pains. That would be the absolute worst. Either way, my water hadn't broken yet, so I knew I was still safe. For now.

"Shh!" Percival suddenly said. He turned around and grabbed someone from behind him and whirled him around. My stomach sank but then rose when we recognized it to be...

"Elyan," Percival breathed in relief.

"Don't hold back on my account," Elyan joked, holding his hands up.

Percival smirked and let him go. "Is the way out of Camelot clear?" he asked.

"As far as I can tell," Elyan nodded.

The two of them walked ahead, and I was about to follow them when I noticed that Merlin wasn't following me. I turned around to see that Merlin was staring at Arthur, who had lingered back to watch Camelot burn. The flames rose higher and higher as he watched his home erupt.

I walked over to Arthur. I grabbed his hand and gave it a tug. "Come, Arthur," I said. He lazily looked over to me. He had that same dreamy expression, but there was still a look of immense pain on his face. I tried to ignore the pit of sadness in my stomach. "We need to go."

"They'll come after us," Percival pointed out later that night as we ran. He and Elyan had their arms around Arthur, supporting him as we ran. Merlin held tightly onto me to make sure that I didn't fall over. "They know Arthur's still alive."

"Then we have to make it across the border, find sanctuary anywhere we can," Elyan suggested.

"I know a place!" Merlin called from behind them. I stumbled over a rock, but Merlin quickly caught me before I could fall over. "Ealdor. It's beyond the White Mountain." All of a sudden, Merlin staggered to a stop, and as a result I had to stop with him. "Wait!"

They came to a stop, and I felt the back of my dress stick to my cold skin. I shivered at the wetness. I kept quiet while I watched Merlin turn his head to look behind us. "Listen," he whispered.

We waited a beat until the sound of hooves became louder and louder. Panic bubbled up within me as I turned to face Merlin, who had the same look on his face.

"Run!" Percival hissed.

We didn't need to be told twice. I lifted the skirts of my dress and ran, Merlin holding me tightly. I swallowed my screams at the agony in my legs that had slowly started to creep up my legs.

Just as it seemed like we were in the clear, a huge gust of magic suddenly threw us all forward. I bit back my screams and turned on my side so that I wouldn't land on my stomach. Instead I landed hard on my back, the wind knocked out of me.

I laid on the floor for only a second when I felt an arm going under my shouldes and pulling me up. "Are you alright?" Merlin asked in a hushed whisper.

I really wasn't, but we had more pressing matters to deal with. I ignored the shooting pain in my lower back and nodded. It took me a second to get to my feet, but by the time I was, Elyan had gotten Arthur back up and we started running again.

"Where's Percival?" Merlin asked as he tossed my arm over his neck. We stopped once again, but when it was clear that Percival wasn't going to be joining us, Elyan cried, "We have to go!"

Turning our backs, we continued. When we reached a rock trench, Elyan pushed Arthur ahead of us. "Go!" he shouted. He handed Merlin his extra sword.

"What about you?" I huffed as Merlin continued to pull me backwards.

"Don't worry about me!" he ordered. "Go!"

One more person short, Merlin and I ran after Arthur.

After a bit more running, we finally slowed to a stop. Merlin held up a hand to Arthur, who was running behind us, but he ran right into us, shoving us both to the side a bit.

"Sorry!" Arthur said, holding up his hand. "My fault."

I furrowed my brows. That was odd. Arthur never apologized for bumping into Merlin. Merlin looked equally as confused, but said instead, "Well, I think we're safe for now." He walked me over to a tree stump and sat me down. "Are you okay?" he wondered.

I nodded. I was slicked with sweat and my stomach kept clenching, but I would be okay. "I'm fine."

"You're in pain," he corrected. "You think I don't know when you're in pain?"

"Gaius said that my body has fake contractions," I told him. "To prepare myself for the real ones. These are just the fake-" I cut myself off with a low scream as I clutched at my stomach. I leaned forward a bit to try and relieve the pressure on my back, but it just worsened the pressure on my stomach. I clenched my jaw shut and straightened my back.

"Maybe we should make camp here," Merlin suggested, running his hand through my sweat soaked hair.

"No," I shook my head. "We're still too close to Camelot. We-we have to get to Ealdor," I insisted. "Once we get there, we can rest. I'm sure Mother will have something that will be able to help me. She'll know what to do. We just have to get there."

"If you're sure," Merlin said uneasily.

I knew that he'd rather we wait, but I'd rather we'd put some more distance between us and any of Morgana's men before we put our guards down. I quickly glanced over at Arthur before leaning closer to Merlin. "Think about it," I whispered. "With me in pain and Arthur...incapacitated, you're the only person that can defend the two of us."

Merlin looked over at Arthur. He was picking at something on his chainmail, absently flicking it away before moving onto another piece. He turned to face me again. "Good point." He held out his hands, and I took them so I could pull myself up. He looked back over at Arthur as he said, "First things first, we need to find you some kind of disguise. You're too conspicuous in those clothes."

Arthur looked down at his armour and red cape. "Well, whatever you say. I'm entirely in your hands."

Merlin and I both stared oddly at Arthur for a moment, but I grabbed Merlin's hand and gave it a tug. "We need to go."

After resting for a few hours (despite my insistence Merlin hadn't slept at all), we began walking again. We managed to find a hut with laundry hanging on the clothesline outside. The three of us huddled hunched over together behind a cluster of trees.

"Perfect!" Merlin said.

We all struggled to squeeze away from each other, but we managed it and went over to the clothes. Merlin helped me sit down on the ground while Arthur went behind the wall to change into some of the clothes.

"Just breathe," Merlin advised. He rubbed at my back, massaging at the places with the worst pain. "We'll get to Ealdor soon."

I nodded as I breathed in and out through gritted teeth. Some time had passed since Arthur went back there, more time than was strictly needed. Merlin rolled his eyes and tossed out, "In your own time. Obviously."

"Agh. Sorry, Merlin!" Arthur apologized again. "Some of these things are a little on the tight side."

"Beggars can't be choosers, sire," Merlin reminded him.

"No, you're right," Arthur agreed. "Probably should learn to think before I speak, shouldn't I?"

Merlin tried and failed to hide his smirk. "It'd be a start."

Despite the pain I was in, I smacked him in the chest. Merlin made a face at my action. "What?"

"This isn't the time for jokes," I hissed at him. I jabbed a finger in Arthur's direction. "Just look at him!"

Before Merlin could say anything back, Arthur called out, "Agh. All done."

He stepped out from behind the wall, and I couldn't stop the snort of laughter that came out of me. His trousers were so small they just reached below the knee, the sleeves of his shirt barely reached past his elbows, and the shirt showed a large section of his midriff.

My snort turned into a full blown giggle, and when I looked over at Merlin, he was also laughing. "Well, Arthur, what can I say? You look like a total turnip head," he said.

Arthur frowned and looked back over at the selection. "Well, should I try something else? There's-there's plenty more here."

"No. No. That- that will do absolutely fine," Merlin insisted. He grabbed my hand and put an arm around my back as he helped me stand up. Once I was on my own two feet, he reached over and took the money pouch from Arthur's belt. "Although, maybe I'll take that."

"My gooold," Arthur drawled, and I had to keep in another laugh.

"Probably safer with me," Merlin pointed out.

"Of course," Arthur nodded, and this time when Merlin and I shared a look, it was a smile.

Later that day, Merlin suddenly came to a stop. "Stop," he said, and Arthur and I both slowed to a stop. He listened for a second and then turned to Arthur and I. "Wait...here...with Lizzie," Merlin said slowly to Arthur. He turned to me and nodded. I nodded back, and he patted my arm as he walked past me and in the direction of whatever he had heard.

When I turned back to face Arthur, he had disappeared. "Crap!" I muttered under my breath. I spotted the top of his blond head not too far away, so I lifted my skirts and ran after him.

Just as I reached him, a man wearing a large hood stepped out from behind the trees and held out his sword in front of us. "Going somewhere?" he wondered.

Arthur and I were taken over to a blonde woman, who also had Merlin with her. I wanted to run over to him, but the blonde woman made us follow her. They horses, a carriage, and a large group of people. They appeared to be packing up their camp.

"I found them lurking in the woods," the blonde woman declared to a man who was leaning against a tree and carving something out of wood with a very scary looking blade.

The man slowly looked up at us. "See anything interesting?" he drawled.

Merlin shook his head. "No."

All of a sudden, the man hurled his knife at us. Arthur ducked out of the way while Merlin grabbed me and pulled me down. I turned my head to see that the knife had landed in the tree, but it just as easily could've killed us.

"You want to watch where you stick your beak, boy," the man declared.

I growled as I stood up. "That's my husband, you bastard!" I stepped forward so that I could give him a piece of my mind. "If that had hurt him-"

Merlin grabbed both my arms and pulled me back. "I didn't see anything, I promise," he said, pulling my arms down to my sides. He gave me a look, and I forced myself to calm my anger. When he saw that I was okay, he let go of me. He turned back to the man and woman. "We were just passing through."

"They've no horses, no supplies, nothing," the woman reported.

The man turned his head to look at us. "Like to travel light, do you?"

Merlin considered his answer and said, "Something like that."

"So where're you headed?" the man wondered.

"North over the border," I answered, trying to keep my anger in check.

"Lot's kingdom," the man nodded. "He doesn't take kindly to strangers, I can tell you." He walked over to Merlin and got all up in his face. "Likes to decorate his fortress with their heads."

"So why are you heading there?" Merlin asked.

"I have my reasons," the man retorted.

"Right," Merlin nodded uneasily.

Thinking he was helping, Arthur leaned over and whispered, "I agree with him." He nodded his head at Merlin.

The man eyed Arthur funnily before looking back over at us. "What's wrong with your friend?"

Merlin and I glanced at each other before Merlin answered, "He's a simpleton, he can't help it."

"Look after him, do you?" the man wondered.

"Without us, he wouldn't last a day," I confirmed.

Arthur nodded dreamily. The man narrowed his eyes at us suspiciously, then looked back at his wagon. "Very well, I suppose you can be on your way." He pulled his knife from the tree and began to walk back over to the wagon.

Merlin looked over at me. Let's go with them.

I looked warily back at the man and woman as they retreated, and as much as I didn't want to, we'd probably be better off with them. Fine, I relented.

Merlin grinned and quickly kissed my tree before running after them. "Could we not come with you?" He asked. "I mean, we would be grateful for the company, to be honest."

Arthur stepped forward a little. "I'm very annoying."

The man scoffed and shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"Please?" Merlin tried again.

"Don't push it, boy. You're lucky I let you go with your lives," the man warned.

"If not for us, for my wife." Merlin put his hand on my arm. "She's due to give birth any day. She can't handle the stress of travelling on foot."

The blonde woman took a step forward and put her hand on the man's arm. "She does seem rather winded, Tristan. She looks like she's going to give birth right here."

Just as it seemed like the man, Tristan, was going to cave, Merlin sweetened the deal. "I could pay you." He patted his pocket with Arthur's coin pouch. "With gold."

Tristan's eyes flickered. He smirked. "Well, why didn't you say so before?"

Tristan and the woman (whose name I had learned was Isolde) were nice enough to let me sit in the wagon so I could rest my feet. I rubbed at my extremely swollen ankles, grimacing at the pain that I felt. Arthur sat inside with me, while Merlin walked outside.

The wagon came to a sudden stop. "We make camp here!" Tristan's voice boomed from outside of the wagon.

Merlin came over to the the back of the wagon. Another one of the men opened the doors, and Merlin held his arms out for me. The man man who opened the door was nice enough to grab my other arm and held me down, and I nodded my head at him. "Thank you," I said sincerely.

I turned my attention back to Merlin, who looked around at the trees. "Why don't you go sit over there?" he pointed to a large tree that I could lean against. "I'll help them unload and make camp."

"I can help," I insisted, and just as I said it, another sharp pang of pain erupted in my lower back, and I bit down on my yelp. "Maybe I should sit," I said instead.

Merlin nodded and patted my arm. "Take Arthur with you," he said, and just as he said that, Arthur jumped out from the back of the wagon. However, he misjudged how tall he actually was, and he stumbled on his landing. He pitched forward and ended up with a mouthful of dirt. I looked back up at Merlin and nodded. "Right."

I helped Arthur stand up, and I took him over to the tree. I leaned my back against the tree and tried to think of how I could sit down without losing my footing and falling over when Isolde strolled over to me. "Need a hand?" she asked.

I eyed her warily, but honestly, I needed the help. "Only if you don't mind," I answered.

She waved it off. "Nonsense." She grabbed one of my hands and put her other hand on my back. She helped me ease down onto the ground, and I breathed a sigh at the relief of pressure on my feet.

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome," she answered as she stood up. She looked like she was about to walk away, when she suddenly stopped and turned to face me. "How does it feel? Being with child?"

The question was so surprising my first instinct was to answer. "It hasn't been the easiest thing," I told her truthfully. "The cravings and the nausea and the swollen ankles and the mood swings... though the mood swings affect my husband more than they affect me."

Isolde chuckled at my comment, and I did as well. "But..." I rubbed at my stomach, and a flurry of kicks occurred as a response. "It's all worth it. We're very excited." I looked up at her. "Why? Are you considering it?"

She hesitated, then lifted a shoulder. "Sometime soon, is what we're thinking."

"Well," I nodded. "I wish you luck."

"You as well," she said as well, and she finally turned around to walk away.

I tilted my head to the side, slightly weirded out by the whole encounter, but I was distracted by the sound of knocking on the tree. At first I thought it was a woodpecker, but when I looked up I saw Arthur leaning his ear against the tree rapping his knuckles aganist the bark.

I made a face but shook my head and faced forward again. I ran my hands along my stomach, sending down reassurances to my son that everything was going to be okay. I also begged him to stay in there just a bit longer until we could figure out what to do.

That is, if we could figure out what to do.

Later that night, after Merlin had prepared some soup, we all sat and ate in silence around a small campfire separate from Tristan and Isolde's group. Merlin made me eat two bowls, and then turned to Arthur. "More soup?" he asked him.

"Yes, please," Arthur nodded, holding his bowl out.

Merlin ladled some more soup into Arthur's bowl, and he gave him a smile. "Thank you," he said, lifting his bowl to his lips.

"A please and a thank you all the same time?" Merlin shook his head. "That's amazing."

Arthur frowned. "Is it?"

I spooned the last bit of my soup into my mouth as Merlin said, "Well, let's just say manners are not your strong point."

"Really?" Arthur wondered.

Merlin and I both nodded. Arthur tilted his head to the side. "In what way?" he asked.

"Rude. Thoughtless. Insensitive," Merlin listed.

"And that's on a good day," I added.

Arthur frowned. "Sorry to hear that."

"I don't think you realise how hard I work for you," Merlin said. "I know you're the king, but it would be nice if you could do one small think for yourself as a, erm...gesture. Mark of respect."

"Sorry to have been a disappointment, Merlin," Arthur said sincerely. "I'll try harder in future."

"Oh, I look forward to that," Merlin said, and just as he was about to stand up to do the dishes, he paused. "On the other hand, why wait?" He took my soup bowl and put it on top of his own before dropping them both into the bowl that Arthur was holding. He pointed to the pot. "That pot will need rinsing out as well."

"Of course," Arthur nodded.

"And when you're done with that, the horses need a rubdown, too," Merlin added as he leaned back.

"My pleasure," Arthur said as he stood up. He grabbed the stewpot.

"Over there," Merlin told him, pointing over to the small stream by the bushes.

Arthur walked over the bushes, and all of a sudden a loud clatter filled the air. I winced at the sound of Arthur and the dishes hitting the ground.

"Are you okay?" I called out.

"Yeah," Arthur answered as he stood up.

I looked over at Merlin, who was settling into a sleeping position. I smacked him again on the shoulder. "Shouldn't you go help him?" I suggested.

Merlin looked over his shoulder to see Arthur walking over to the stream. "No. I think he's got it." He put his arms behind his head and crossed his foot over his ankle.

I shook my head at him. "You are so enjoying this, aren't you?"

He shrugged. "Why shouldn't I? This is probably the nicest I will ever get Arthur to act towards me. Don't ruin it."

I rolled my eyes at him. I was about to lecture him about how bad this was when I felt a kick and a clench at my stomach at the same time. I scrunched up my face as both hands went to my stomach.

Merlin immediately sat up and put his hands on my stomach. "Are you alright? Is the baby coming?"

I held my breath for about ten seconds, and when the pain finally faded, I shook my head. "I'm fine. I'll be okay." I looked back over at Merlin. "We should rest. We've got a long day ahead."

Merlin nodded, and he made enough room for me to lie down and rest my head on his chest. "We'll be fine, Lizzie," he assured me, holding me close to his chest. "We'll be okay."

I believed him.

I was awoken by the sound of foot meeting flesh, and I opened my eyes to see Arthur looming over Merlin. Arthur's kicks had obviously woken up Merlin as well.

"You better have a damn good explanation for this, Merlin," Arthur hissed.

Merlin stared up at Arthur blankly. Arthur rolled his eyes and said, "Fine. Then I'll just carry on kicking you."

He kicked his servant some more until Merlin finally came to his senses and scrambled to his feet. "Arthur!" he exclaimed. He bent down to help me up, and once I was standing, he peered at Arthur's face. "You're back!"

Arthur flashed him a look of annoyance. "What do you mean 'I'm back'?" He shook his head at him. "You're talking gibberish."

Before Arthur could walk off, Merlin grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Listen to me, please. Camelot is lost. You were injured in an attack, you passed out. We had to get you out of there."

Arthur stood in stunned silence as the memory returned to him. After a beat, he asked, "Where are we now?"

"We're heading north to Ealdor," I answered. "We're hoping the knights will meet us there."

Arthur glanced around at the camp. "Who are these people?"

Merlin and I exchanged worried glances, and Arthur eyed us. "You two are doing that thing when you know something bad that I don't," he said. "Come on. Tell me."

Merlin hesitated, then answered, "They're, er...smugglers."

Arthur's eyes bugged out of his head. "Smugglers?!"

"Shhh!" Merlin and I both hissed, bringing our fingers to our lips.

Arthur tried to reign in his anger. "All right, let's assume, for one moment, you know what you're doing," he began. "It doesn't explain why I look like a village idiot." He glanced down at his horrid outfit.

"It's the perfect disguise," Merlin stated. "No one would ever suspect you of being, you know...who you are."

Arthur shook his head in disbelief. "I'm sorry. I am not going around looking like this."

"You have to!" I answered. "You have to keep in character. If the smugglers find out the truth they'll kill us. Or worse, kick us to the curb." At the confused look on both Merlin and Arthur's faces, I rephrased my sentence. "They won't let us continue to travel with them."

"What do you mean?" Arthur demanded. "What character?"

"You," Tristan's voice called, and we all turned around to face him. "We leave as soon as the horses are watered." He waved his hand half heartedly at Arthur. "Explain it to the simpleton, would you?"

Arthur looked over at us, bloody murder on his face. Merlin smiled sheepishly while I pointed a finger at him and said, "He was the one that brought up the whole 'simpleton' thing!"

Arthur simply shook his head at us as we turned to go follow Tristan. Merlin carried our sword as we walked toward the wagon. With a glare at Merlin, Arthur snatched the sword back.

Just as we did, Tristan and Isolde turned their attention to us. "Simpleton," he called for Arthur.

"He's talking to you," I whispered as we got closer.

"I don't answer to that name," Arthur retorted.

"In character, remember?" Merlin reminded him as we got there.

Tristan looked down at the sword in Arthur's hand. "Impressive piece," he nodded.

In a voice that I could only describe as a pirate's, Arthur said, "Thank you, sir."

Tristan looked weirded out, but he held out his hand. "May I?"

With no other choice, Arthur let Tristan take the sword from him. He held up the sword and examined the blade. "Magnificent," he scoffed in disbelief. His expression immediately changed as he said, "The only place you find workmanship of this quality is the royal forge of Camelot." He suddenly put the tip of the sword to Arthur's throat. "Tell me, how did you come by it?"

Thinking on his feet, Merlin answered, "I won it in a card game. Gave it to him as a present. Won't be parted from it. Makes him feel safe."

Tristan narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but Arthur stayed in character as he nodded stupidly. Tristan handed the sword back to him. "I hope for your sake that's true."

Arthur took the sword back, but held it in a way that would suggest that he didn't know how to hold it.

"I'd hate to think that I was riding with a knight of Camelot," Tristan continued.

Arthur hugged the sword protectively to his chest. "Aye," he said again in that stupid pirate voice.

Isolde giggled. "Knight of Camelot?" She shook her head. "Look at him."

Merlin and I chuckled while Arthur pretended not to know how to put the sword in his belt.

"You're right," Tristan agreed. "Their knights may be stupid, but they're not that stupid."

Arthur plastered on a big fake smile and chuckled with us like a simpleton would. Merlin reached over and tussled his hair. "Pack your things, simpleton!" he said.

Arthur grabbed Merlin's arm and gave it a hard squeeze. "Call me that again and I'll run you through," he whispered, the smile not leaving his face.

"Don't worry, sire, I'm sure you won't have to keep it up for too much longer," Merlin assured him.

"How long?!" Arthur demanded.

Almost as if on cue, the man that was walking past us was suddenly struck with an arrow. He crashed to the ground with a loud cry. We all turned to see Southrons charging the camp all from different angles. Arthur grabbed Merlin to duck out of the way, and Merlin grabbed me. The arrow landed in the tree next to Arthur's head. Arthur pulled on Merlin, who in turn pulled on me, and we ran to take cover behind the wagon with Tristan and Isolde.

"Head for those trees, we'll cover you," Arthur said, taking charge. He reached forward and grabbed one of the crossbows from the wagon.

When Tristan and Isolde exchanged confused looks, Arthur lost his temper. "Do you want to live or not?" he demanded as he knocked his bow.

Tristan stepped forward as if to question Arthur, but Isolde grabbed his arm. With one look at her, they ran off.

Arthur turned to me. "You as well, Elizabeth. We'll cover you."

"What? But-" I protested.

"There's no time!" Arthur declared. He grabbed my arm and pushed me forward. "Go!"

Praying that I would be alright, I cradled my fat stomach and ran for the cover of the trees. When I got there, Tristan and Isolde were already hiding. "Are you alright?" Isolde asked me, putting a hand on my arm.

I nodded. "I'll be okay." I turned my attention back to my boys. After a few minutes, they both ran for the tree that we were all hiding behind.

"They haven't found the cargo," Isolde breathed, peeking over the fallen tree.

"They will," Tristan said. "Besides, they weren't after the cargo." He turned his head to Arthur. "They were after you. Who the hell are you?"

Arthur paused, but then answered, "My name is Arthur Pendragon."

Tristan sucked in a breath. "The king of Camelot!"

"At least I was," Arthur corrected.

"I've lost everything I've worked for for some good for nothing king!" Tristan growled.

"That's quite something coming from a smuggler," Arthur retorted.

"Well, I wouldn't have to be a smuggler if it wasn't for your damn taxes, would I?"

"Those taxes help protect the people of this land."

"My people are dead," Tristan pointed out. "You call that protection?"

"Excuse me," Merlin cut in. "Sorry to interrupt, but..."

We all turned in the direction that Merlin was gesturing to. Another group of Southrons charged us from behind.

Arthur and Tristan charged the Southrons. Isolde pushed me back into Merlin's arms and then joined them.

Merlin helped me up and brought me over to more trees to hide me. "Be ready to run," he said.

The Southron that Isolde was fighting elbowed her in the head and slashed her sword arm, kicking her to the ground. The Southron poised for the final blow, but suddenly crumpled forward when Arthur stabbed him in the back.

Seeing Isolde on the ground, Tristan ran over to her. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her onto his lap. "Isolde," he whispered in her ear. "We had a deal. Partners for life, remember?"

Isolde cautiously opened her eyes. "When have I not kept my promises?"

"We need to keep moving," Arthur interrupted. "There'll be more coming soon."

"Then go," Tristan spat. "There's nothing stopping you."

Arthur rolled his eyes, and I stepped in to help. "Join us. Come to Ealdor. You'll be safe there."

"I'm choosy about the company I keep," Tristan retorted.

"He saved my life, Tristan," Isolde pointed out. She rolled her head so that she looked Arthur in the eyes. "Thank you."

"None of this would've happened if it wasn't for them," Tristan said stubbornly, while Isolde just sighed.

"She's injured," Arthur reminded him. "She needs shelter and rest."

Tristan sighed, looking over at Arthur, then back at Isolde. She nodded slowly. "Very well," he relented. "But know this, Arthur Pendragon, I do this for her. You and your kind bring nothing but misery to this land."

A little while later, we finally reached the border stream. "This marks the border between Camelot and Lot's kingdom," Arthur declared, gesturing to the stream with his sword.

"Ealdor lies at the far side of that valley," Merlin pointed out. "Maybe half a day on foot."

"We'll rest here for the night," Arthur decided. "There's no way Agravaine could've tracked us through those mountains."

"I'll make a fire, we must keep Isolde warm," Merlin offered. Tristan let go of Isolde as Merlin put her arm around his neck and helped her over to the campsite.

"But your wife," Isolde looked over at me. "You're the one that needs the help."

"You're the one that's injured," I pointed out. I nodded at Merlin when I saw him hesitate. "Help her. I can manage."

Isolde finally nodded and let Merlin take her away. Arthur, in the meantime, held out a water flash to Tristan. For some reason, my mind flashed back to when Merlin poisoned me with the flask of water, back when I had unknowingly become the vessel for the sleeping curse on Camelot. I shivered at the thought.

I was brought out of my thougths when Arthur said, "Here, you should drink up."

Tristan ignored him and walked on. "I'll get my own."

Arthur lowered his arm defeatedly. He then held the flask out to me. "You need it," he simply said.

I looked over to where the future campsite would be. "Help me down and I'll be happy to drink."

Tristan and Isolde slept in each other's arms later that night, propped up against a tree trunk. Merlin, Arthur and I sat by the fire. Merlin had shed his coat and put it around my shoulders. He then wrapped his arm around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder.

We sat in silence for a bit, just staring into the fire, until Arthur spoke up. "You knew," he said, looking up at me. "You knew Agravaine was betraying me. This whole year...you've tried to warn me. And all I did was call you a liar."

Merlin rubbed his hand on my arm while I answered, "You believed what you wanted to believe, Arthur. You wanted to believe that you weren't being betrayed by yet another person that you called family." I lifted a shoulder. "It happens to the best of us."

"I feel like such a fool," Arthur sighed. He clenched his fists. "I put such trust in him. All this time I was blind to his treachery as I was to Morgana's."

"You were deceived, Arthur," Merlin corrected. "That could happen to anyone."

"Yet it keeps happening to me," Arthur pointed out, and Merlin went silent. "I cared about these people." He shook his head sadly. "I...don't understand. What have I don't wrong? Why do they hate me?"

"They don't hate you," I told him.

Merlin nodded in agreement. "They just...crave your power for themselves."

Arthur shrugged. "Perhaps." He sighed again. "Would they still want that power if I was the king my people deserve? Maybe Tristan's right-"

"Tristan was angry and..." Merlin cut in, looking over at our sleeping travelling companions. "...afraid. He needed to blame someone, but it's not you that's to blame."

"You seem very sure about all this," Arthur said with a skeptical look on his face.

"All I know is that, for your many faults, you are honest and brave and truehearted, and one day you will be the greatest king this land has ever known," Merlin said with a tone of determination and certainty.

It managed to make Arthur smile. "Well...good to know I have the support of my servant-and my sister-at least."

"We're not alone," I said with a smile. "Believe me."

We reached Ealdor close to sundown the next day. When we walked into the village, I caught sight of Hunith walking with a basket in her arms. Once she saw us, she grinned and ran over to us. "Merlin! Elizabeth!"

"Mother!" we both said. Hunith set down her basket and hugged her son tightly first before hugging me. She was mindful of my bump when she pulled back. "My, look at you!" She smiled and put a hand on each of our faces. "Welcome home, you two."

Hunith led us to the house, and Tristan, Isolde, Arthur and Merlin all went inside. Hunith was about to as well, but I grabbed her arm to stop her. "Mother," I started.

"Yes, my dear girl?" she said.

I hesitated but managed to ask, "Is she here?"

She was helping one of the other villagers with their crops. When I got to her, I almost couldn't believe it was her. Her hair was longer, and she seemed taller. I hadn't gone so long without seeing her. Her back was to me, so she didn't see me coming.

"Guinevere?" I called in a shaky voice.

She froze, her hands wrapped around the handle of the broom. She immediately dropped it and spun around. "Elizabeth?" she breathed.

I burst into tears and ran to her. She met me halfway, and we threw our arms around each other. "I am so sorry!" I wept into her shoulder. "I wanted to say goodbye, I really did! But Arthur-he wouldn't-And then Merlin said that he saw you but he wouldn't let me go with him-" I couldn't even finish my sentence. "Oh, how I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too," Gwen cried. She pulled away from our hug and looked down to my stomach. "Oh, look at you! You're so much bigger from when I last saw you."

I wiped at my tears. "It's been a while. How are you? How have you been?"

"As good as I can be," Gwen answered. She hesitated, but asked, "Who else is here? What's happened?"

"I think you're going to need to sit down for this."

Merlin let his wife catch up with her best friend while he caught up with his mother. He walked alongside her outside of their home. "It's good to have you home, Merlin," Hunith said. "You haven't been since right after the wedding."

"I'm so sorry it's been so long," Merlin apologized.

"I understand how it is, your life in Camelot, especially with your child on the way," Hunith replied. She sighed happily and put a hand on her face. "I still cannot believe that you are going to be a father, and I a grandmother." She put her hand on her son's arm. "Are you and Elizabeth ready? Do you have everything? I would not mind coming to the castle to help-"

"Mother, we'll be fine," Merlin assured her. "While I appreciate the offer, I don't think anyone will be able to pull Elizabeth away from her daughter."

"'Daughter'?" Hunith repeated. "You're having a girl?"

Merlin lifted a shoulder. "I believe so, yes. We've actually got a bet going on right now. She thinks it will be a boy, I think it will be a girl."

Hunith stared blankly at her son. "You're betting against your wife on whether you're having a son or a daughter?"

Well, when she put it like that... "It does sound a bit silly, doesn't it?" He scratched the back of his head. "It's just how we've always been, I suppose."

Hunith nodded. "I know that the two of you take care of each other. I just... I worry about you sometimes. The dangers you must face..."

"Mother, I don't want you to worry," Merlin drawled as he wrapped his arm around her.

"I can't help it. It's what mothers do," Hunith argued. "You will feel it too, once your child is running around and you can't do anything to stop her."

"She will be the most well behaved child to ever live," Merlin insisted. He paused, then said, "Actually, she'll be Lizzie's daughter, so that might not be true..." Merlin shook his head. "Well, we are safe here. All of us. And it doesn't seem like Lizzie's going to be having the baby for another two weeks, so hopefully this will all be over by then."

When Gwen and I returned to the house, arm in arm, I let her go and see Arthur by herself. Instead, I went over to where Merlin and Hunith were. Hunith gave me a quick examination-obviously not as good as Gaius', but to the best of her own ability and knowledge from being pregnant herself. She said that unless I felt water coming down my legs, then the baby would stay safely in my uterus.

We were only taking for about ten minutes when we heard screams. We all stood up. Merlin took a few steps forward, as did I, and my stomach sank when I recognized the Southrons' torches that were surrounding the village.

"Agravaine. He's found us," Merlin declared, turning around to face us. "We must warn the others."

Merlin grabbed my hand, and we ran back inside. Once Arthur was dressed in his chainmail, we all peeked outside so we could watch as Agravaine and the Southrons harassed the villagers.

"Any suggestions?" Tristan asked.

"Round the back," Merlin offered, nodding his head at the back door.

We all nodded and turned to leave. I waited for Merlin, but the look in his eyes told me he was planning something, so I let Gwen put her arm around me and help lead me out of the house.

When we got outside, smoke hit my eyes, causing them to water and burn. I blinked a couple of times and finally managed to see the cart that was behind the Southrons and Agravaine was up in flames, courtesy of Merlin.

I tightened my grip on Gwen's hand as we ran. My stomach churned when I heard Agravaine's voice call out, "There! Get them!"

In fact, my stomach did more than just churn. There was a sudden, sharp, long pain that erupted in my lower stomach, and I felt a faint pop of pressure near my legs. And then a warm liquid spread down my legs.

No. No, no, no, no, no, no. This could not be happening. Not here. Not right now.

As another deep pain spread through my back and over to my stomach, I knew there was no denying it.

I was officially in labour.

The baby was coming.

TBC...

AHHHHHHHHH!

THE BABY'S COMING! THEY STILL HAVE TO TAKE BACK CAMELOT! WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

REVIEW! FOLLOW! FAVOURITE! THANKS! STAY TUNED!

THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH MALINOR CONTINUE...

Kilgharrah soares through the sky, coming to Merlin's aid.

Agravaine and his men run through the tunnels.

Arthur raises his sword.

"You have magic!" Agravaine exclaims.

"The baby's coming!" Gwen says. "You must tell Merlin!"

"I can't," Elizabeth refuses. "Besides, Gaius said that first time mothers can be in labour for a long long time." She nods quickly and wipes the sweat from her brow. "That's what I'm counting on. A long long time."

Merlin as Emrys enchants the little doll.

Morgana cuts through the knights of Camelot as she runs through the tunnel.

Gwen and Morgana clash swords.

Arthur gets punched in the face.

Merlin blasts Agravaine back with his magic.

Arthur wraps his hand around the hilt of the sword in the stone...

Till next time!