Chapter 7
Gwen saw their faces. She knew they expected a wedding as soon as they reached Camelot. She just wasn't ready for that and she didn't think that Arthur was either.

"Arthur, I'm sure we will work through our issues in time but I am touched that you will be so generous with us." Gwen said.

"You are the mother of my son I am only doing what I should." Arthur said.

"Sire, where is my present?" Duran said.

"I almost forgot." Arthur put the cloth in Gwen's hands and picked up the saddlebag again. He pulled a wooden sword out and handed it to him. "I had one very similar to this one when I was your age. I will show you how to use it. When you are a bit older I will give you a real one."

"A real one?" Gwen asked.

"A Malay blade of course." Arthur said. "He will train with that until he is ready to become a knight. That is if you will agree."

"Of course I will agree." Gwen said. "I am going back to work, Duran. Stay here with Hunith."

"I thought we could play for a while." Arthur said.

"Fine but bring him back for before supper." Gwen said.

"You will come to supper. Arthur brought rabbits for stew." Hunith said.

"I will come." Gwen said. "Send Merlin to fetch me when it is ready." Gwen left them.

"Its progress at least. Duran, why don't we play outside until supper." Arthur said as he held out his hand to Duran. Duran took it and they went outside.

"I never thought that she would refuse to marry him." Merlin said.

"None of us did. She wants to speak to you about something it seems." Hunith said.

"I wonder what." Merlin said.

"Peel the potatoes while you wonder." Hunith handed him a basket with a few potatoes and carrots. "Wash the carrots too. You need to get some fresh water."

"Yes Mother." Merlin went to fetch some water.

"Gaius, what do you think about all this? Will the council accept her and the boy?" Hunith asked.

"If they marry the council has no say in anything. Arthur has already drawn up the documents naming Duran his heir. I was present at his birth so I can swear he is Arthur's son." Gaius said.

"She didn't say anything about that." Hunith said.

"He didn't tell her. Arthur was prepared to let the boy stay with his mother but if Arthur should die then Duran would have to be found and put on the throne. No one knows this but me and maybe, Merlin." Gaius told her.

"Arthur loves the boy. I understand him wanting everything for him. There will be those that will still question if Arthur is truly the father of the boy." Hunith said. "After that incident there are sure to be questions."

"You and I are witness to it. We both know they shared a bed and the boy came from that night. If there is a need I will swear it on my honor." Gaius said.

"I know there have been no other men sharing her bed." Hunith said. "Duran is all she has thought about until Arthur showed up. That should be enough to prove his paternity, wouldn't it Gaius?"

"It would help if she was Queen and they had another child." Gaius said.

"How would that help?" Hunith was confused.

"If both children favor their father then there will be no more doubt." Gaius said. "I wish Arthur's daughter would have survived that would have been enough. The child favored him."

"When Gwen heard what happened to Mithian she wept. As did I." Hunith said. "That was a cruel twist of fate."

"Fate has done nothing but twist for these two." Gaius said. "I wish it would stop. I wish they could just be happy. I remember how happy Uther and Ygraine were before Arthur's birth. It seems the Pendragons are all cursed in love."

"Maybe Gwen and Arthur will break the curse and start to know happiness." Hunith said.

"That is all our hope." Merlin said from the door. "Stay there, Mother. I will cook the supper. I know you and Gaius haven't visited in a while."

"No. you are tired from the journey. I can talk and cook at the same time." Hunith took the peeled and cleaned vegetables from him. "How long were you listening at the door, Merlin?"

"Long enough." Merlin kissed her on the cheek and sat down.

"Where are Arthur and the boy?" Gaius asked.

"Arthur and Duran are looking at a toad." Merlin grinned. "They laugh the same way. I can't wait to see them in Camelot. Duran will be fascinated with everything."

"I'm worried about Elyan's reaction myself. He should have been told." Gaius said. "He will be angry at us all for this."

"He will just be glad to have her back." Merlin said. "I think that is all that will matter to him."

"I hope you are right, Merlin, for all our sakes." Gaius said.
X

Gwen walked to her house and put the silk cloth on the table. She looked around and sighed, in a day or two she would leave this place and go back to Camelot.

Gwen missed her brother and it didn't matter how angry he was with her, she would be glad to see him. He would be angry that she kept herself and her son from him. She knew he would not have kept her secret. Elyan would have gone to Arthur straight away.

Duran would love having another man in his life too. It was good that he would have his father but he also needed his uncle. Both men would teach him many things.

Gwen took a deep breath and went back to the forge to finish the tools she was making for the harvest time. When she arrived Micah was there sharpening the spades and shovels.

"I finished my other work and I thought I'd give you a hand. I saw the King ride into the village." Micah said.

"I'm going back with him this time. I was going to tell you tomorrow." Gwen said. "I know you can handle the work here or else I wouldn't go."

"I thought…. Never mind what I thought." Micah said. "Do you love him?"

"Yes but there is much we must work through before we can be married." Gwen said.

"You are going to marry the King? Micah looked at the shovel in his hands and put it to the wheel.

"He is Duran's father and we were going to get married before I came to live in Ealdor." Gwen said.

"You never speak of what your life was before you came here. I haven't been here but a few years myself." Micah said. "I thought you and I … maybe."

Gwen looked at him in shock. She had never even considered him that way. She thought he was a nice man who worked well with his hands. She had no romantic feelings for him at all.

"If I gave you the impression that I was anything more than your friend, I am sorry. I love Arthur and I always have." Gwen told him.

"You didn't. I was just being silly." Micah changed the subject. "What is left to do?"

"There are a few more spades and a scythe that needs repaired. Those over there are done they need handles." Gwen pointed to a shovel and two spades on the work bench.

"I'll get to those after I sharpen this." Micah said as he put his head down and focused on his task.

Gwen looked over at him and frowned. She never noticed that he had feelings for her. She sighed and reheated the spade she was working on.

A short time later, Merlin came to fetch Gwen from the forge. He smiled hello at Micah. "Gwen, it's time for supper."

"That didn't seem long at all." Gwen said. "I am stopping for the night. I will see you in the morning, Micah."

"Good night, Gwen. I will work a little while longer. Enjoy your evening with your friends." Micah said as he picked up another spade to sharpen.

Merlin offered Gwen his arm and they walked slowly to Hunith's house.

"What was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Merlin said with a grin.

"You know us both well, Merlin. Do you think we will ever find a way back to each other?" Gwen asked.

"You and Arthur?" Merlin grinned. "Of course. You two are meant to be together. It does bother me that you will not be marrying him when you go back to Camelot. I think it is well past due for the two of you."

"I believe that Arthur feels as you do." Gwen said. "I want to be sure there is no more distrust between us. That is what made me stay away for so long."

"Well, he did marry Mithian." Merlin said. "It really was all about duty, you know. He didn't really have any love for her. He respected her but he didn't love her. He was more upset about the baby than her. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

Gwen shook her head. "No you are right to tell me. It was a little girl wasn't it?"

"Yes." Merlin said. "She never drew breath."

Gwen sighed. "I would have never thought that Arthur would ever care for children but when I see him with Duran, I am amazed."

"They were playing until Mother made them come in and wash up. They are both filthy." Merlin said. "They got into a puddle of mud and I think the toad they were looking at splashed them. I just washed those breeches too."

"Was Duran afraid? He usually doesn't like toads and things like that." Gwen said.

"They were laughing. They laugh the same. It was fun to watch Arthur playing with him." Merlin said.

"I hope he continues to play with him when we get back to Camelot." Gwen said.

"Oh so that is the thing that is worrying you." Merlin gave her arm a squeeze. "Don't worry, Gwen. I will make sure that Arthur has time to play. We can take him on hunting trips."

"Hunting trips?" Gwen made a face.

"We don't always hunt on hunting trips. You should remember that." Merlin laughed.

"Oh those kinds of hunting trips." Gwen laughed. "Duran has my permission to go on those."

Merlin laughed.