AN: Ok I initially wasn't going to follow this up but since I got so much feedback and requests for this to be continued, I figured I would.

Gwen still couldn't get her head around the situation. She was pregnant. She was going to have a baby. There was an actual person growing inside her body. Those two words kept running around her head over and over again as she left Arthur's chambers and slowly returned to her own. Barely paying attention to where she was going, the only thing Gwen could focus on where those two words confirming the truth.

I'm pregnant.

Pregnant. Expecting. With child. No matter what term was used to describe it, the fact remained. She, Lady Guinevere, lady regent and future Queen of Camelot was pregnant with the illegitimate child of the deceased Prince Arthur Pendragon. As Gwen sat on the windowsill of her private chambers, face pressed against the glass and alone with her thoughts, she realised something. She wasn't just pregnant.

She was in big trouble.

Aside from the fact she was unmarried and the father of her child was dead; Gwen knew that it was unlikely that people were going to be thrilled by this news. The knights and Merlin were going to be furious but hopefully support her, the council weren't going to accept this, they were barely accepting her as future queen as it was; Agravaine would lose his mind, the other kingdoms would never accept an illegitimate heir, look at Morgana. Oh god, Morgana! What would she do when she found out? Gwen already knew that Morgana wanted her dead because she would be queen after Uther died, now that she was carrying an heir to the Pendragon name and title…

"What am I going to do?" Gwen asked as she slumped forward and grabbed her hair, twisting it tightly in her hands. She was completely out of her depth, everything else that was happening, she could handle. Just about. Adding a baby into the mix was asking for a disaster. She felt so scared, so alone. How on earth was she supposed to run and kingdom and raise a child? That was supposing she even survived pregnancy and childbirth too.

Gwen knew she was overthinking the situation and panicking. She just wanted it all to stop. No, she wanted things to go back to how they were before Samhain. Back when she was just Gwen and not heir to a throne. Back when she had control over her life and yes, back before she got pregnant (and after her first time too, what luck!) Back when Arthur was alive.

"I need you Arthur, now more than ever." Gwen whispered, her breath fogging up the windowpane as she tried to imagine how Arthur would have reacted to the news of her pregnancy.

Gwen sat nervously in Arthur's chambers, her hands clenched over her stomach as she thought about what Gaius had just confirmed for her. She was pregnant with Arthur's child. His baby, her baby, their baby was currently growing inside her. Gwen was ecstatic but at the same time completely terrified. How would Arthur react? Was he ready to be a father? Would he be happy? Scared? How would their relationship change now that in around seven months' time or so, they would become parents?

"Guinevere," Arthur smiled as he and Merlin walked into the room, fresh off the training field. Gwen hared across the room and flung her arms around Arthur's neck, squeezing him tightly. Not caring that he was still sweaty from training, she hugged him with all her might and stepped back, smiling at him.

"What was that for?" Arthur asked, it wasn't like Guinevere to be like this when others were around, even if it was just Merlin.

"I have something important to tell you." Gwen replied, feeling slightly nervous. Behind them, Merlin muttered something about helping Gaius and slipped out the door as Arthur looked at Gwen with a now worried expression as he took her hand.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Arthur asked. Gwen took a deep breath and looked him right in the eyes. It was now or never.

"I'm pregnant." Gwen confessed and for a moment Arthur stared at her blankly and without moving a muscle. "I'm having a baby Arthur."

"A baby?" Arthur repeated and Gwen nodded as she moved their joined hands to her still flat stomach.

"Our baby." Gwen confirmed as she looked at Arthur who's gaze managed to follow their hands to her stomach and for a moment he was still frozen before he looked at Gwen and the biggest, happiest grin she had ever seen spread across Arthur's face as he picked her up by the waist and spun her around. Gwen burst out laughing as Arthur set her down again only to kiss her and place his hand over her abdomen.

"I love you so much Guinevere."

"My lady,"

Gwen looked up as there was a knock at the door and her maid Rowan entered the room with a tray of food. Gwen smiled at Rowan as she set the tray down onto the table and obediently waited on any orders. Gwen got up and swallowed down the wave of nausea as she regarded the cooked breakfast set before her. Gwen managed a small smile at Rowan as she sat down and slowly picked at the bread.

"That will be all Rowan." Gwen said and as soon as Rowan left the room, Gwen picked up the plate of cooked food, held it at arm's length and crossed the room. She opened the door and smiled at the guard who was assigned to stand outside her door that morning.

"My lady," the guard nodded at her.

"Good morning, I wonder if you would like this," Gwen offered as she handed him the plate. The guard looked at her confused and Gwen pressed on, wanting the food out of her hands before she was sick. "I'm not very hungry. Please take it."

Gwen pressed the plate into his hands and quickly shut the door again before hurrying across the room and throwing open the window to allow the brisk late-December wind to clear the stench and settle her stomach again. Once she was sure the feeling of nausea had passed, Gwen turned away from the window and walked over to her wardrobe and picked out of the dresses. As she stood behind the screen and pulled off her nightgown, Gwen placed her hands over her stomach. It was still quite flat but she knew it wouldn't be for long. Gwen wondered how long she would be able to get away with not telling anyone she was pregnant before dismissing the idea. She hated to admit it but she would need to tell the others as soon as she could.

"Gwen, you ready for the council meeting yet?" Merlin asked as he walked into Gwen's chambers and looked around the empty room. Gwen stepped out behind the screen and nodded at Merlin.

"Ready," Gwen replied and the two friends walked out of the room and towards the council chambers. As they walked in silence, Merlin looked at Gwen.

"Are you all right Gwen?" Merlin asked and Gwen nodded as they pushed open the council doors and stepped into the room. The council had already gathered and Merlin smiled reassuringly at Gwen as she sat in her chair and the meeting began. A variant of topics were discussed but it didn't take long for Gwen's attention to wander and for her to imagine various little boys and girls. Some had tanned skin, others were a bit darker or paler in complexion. Some had blonde hair, others had dark, they were tall, short, straight haired, curly haired, wavy haired yet the one thing the make-believe children did have in common were the bright blue eyes identical to that of their father…

"My lady, my lady!" Agravaine snapped and Gwen jumped slightly before looking at the men and running a hand through her hair.

"I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere. What were we discussing?" Gwen asked the room. Lord Henry cleared his throat and resumed what he had been saying about communications between Camelot and Nemeth and this time Gwen listened. Not long after Arthur's death, King Rodor of Nemeth visited Camelot with his wife Isabelle and daughter Mithian to offer their kingdom's condolences and support however now there was discussions over some land that had been the cause of debate and argument between the two kingdoms for some time and they were looking to sort some sort of agreement between them.

"Send a letter to Nemeth and tell them we shall meet within a matter of weeks to discuss possible treaty agreements." Gwen said and Lord Henry nodded obediently. "Is there anything else we need to discuss? Any word or sign of Morgana?"

"None which we are aware of." Lord Agravaine lied and Gwen nodded. She wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing. On the one hand it meant Morgana wasn't hurting or attacking them. On the other hand it most likely meant she was planning something. In a more naive time, no news of Morgana would have been seen as good news. These days it was a whole other story.

"Very well, in that case meeting adjourned." Gwen dismissed as she watched the councilmen leave. As soon as the door closed behind Geoffrey of Monmouth, Gwen slumped back in her chair and exhaled deeply before burying her head in her hands. She hated council meetings and todays had not been a good one at all.

"Are you sure that you're all right Gwen?" Merlin asked and Gwen raised her head to nod at Merlin.

"I'm fine Merlin, I just have a lot to think about." Gwen replied. Now wasn't the time to tell him. Gwen had spent the meeting up weighing up when to share her 'good' news before deciding that while the knights ought to know as soon as possible, she would wait before telling the council for another week or so.

"I understand," Merlin said with a smile. Ever since Arthur had died, Merlin had been wondering whether or not he should reveal himself to his friends. He was still yet to do it however he was wondering whether or not to do so sooner rather than later. Then again he had hidden his secret from everyone in Camelot for the past three or four years; he could wait a little while longer. "Just so you know, if you need someone to talk to then I'm here."

"Thanks Merlin." Gwen smiled as she stood up and they walked out of the hall.

Merlin left to fetch Uther his lunch; after Arthur's death and Gwen becoming Lady Regent, Merlin had been the one assigned to tend to Uther's needs. The irony of the situation was not lost on him. The very man who persecuted Merlin's fellow magic users and Druids, who inspired so much fear and hurt so many was the same man who was all but at Merlin's mercy. The phrase Morgause had taunted Uther with back when she and Morgana first took power in Camelot seemed extremely apt for the situation. How the mighty had fallen indeed. The leader of the Great Purge who hunted, despised and feared those with magic was now being cared for by the most powerful sorcerer in the world.

As Merlin entered Uther's chambers, he noted how much more the king's wellbeing and health had declined since Arthur's death. It was clear that the death of his son on top of Morgana's betrayal meant that Uther had all but given up on life. His apathy was worse than ever, Uther had barely uttered two words since the initial aftermath of Arthur's death and will-reading. While his physical health was strong; he wasn't physically ill or injured, it was clear that his mental state was the cause of his weakness and Merlin couldn't help but wonder whether the king would still be here next December.

"Good afternoon Sire," Merlin said as he placed the food in front of Uther who continued staring out the window at nothing. In his heart Merlin knew that Uther was still holding on to a minute trace of hope that Arthur would return home to them. Indeed if he hadn't watched Arthur walk into the Veil, Merlin probably would have been the same.

'Stop that. Arthur's dead and he's not coming back.' Merlin scolded himself as he tried to not think about the fact that his destiny had clearly died with Arthur. However the words Kilgharragh had told him after Arthur died were still a cause for much puzzling for Merlin. If Arthur was dead, how could he unite the kingdoms? How could his destiny survive Arthur's death. As Merlin finished helping Uther eat and he walked back down to the kitchens, he couldn't help but contemplate whether or not he should reveal himself to Gwen and the knights.

Merlin shook his head, there was only one thing he could do in this circumstance. He would speak to Gaius and consider all of his options and then make his decision. As Merlin deposited the leftovers in the kitchen, swiped a dumpling and dodged the cook's wooden spoon, he wandered back towards Gaius' quarters to seek out his mentor's advice. Merlin walked through the door and stopped at the sight of Gaius handing Gwen a tonic.

"Take it anytime you feel sick and the symptoms will pass. When will you tell the others?" Gaius asked as Gwen slipped the bottle into her pocket and sat down.

"I don't know," Gwen admitted as she spotted Merlin's boots and looked up. "Merlin,"

Merlin frowned at Gwen and Gaius. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Gwen and Gaius both answered but Merlin wasn't convinced. Something wasn't right here.

"What's that tonic?" Merlin asked and watched as Gwen's hand clenched in her pocket, clearly around the bottle and was clearly doing some quick thinking. Gaius however was fairly quick off the bat.

"It's just something Gwen needs for an, ahem, personal issue." Gaius said shooting Merlin a don't-question-it look and Merlin looked at Gwen and took in how tired she looked as well as her strange behaviour and the fact she had been hugging her stomach during the council meeting. Oh. Oh! Merlin felt his face redden slightly as he figured out what must have been wrong with Gwen and nodded quickly to cover his embarrassment.

"Thank you Gaius, I'll come and see you later." Gwen said as she managed to smile at the two men before leaving the room. Merlin sat and watched Gaius clear away some of the ingredients of the tonic he had been brewing and it seemed his silence spoke for him as Gaius looked around the room before looking back at Merlin.

"I know that look. What's wrong?" Gaius asked Merlin who looked at Gaius wearily.

"I'm just thinking." Merlin replied. "Maybe I should tell them the truth."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Gaius replied in a tone which clearly proved that he thought the idea was anything but wise.

"I don't know. On one hand I want to tell the truth but on the other hand I quite like having my head." Merlin attempted to joke but the smile didn't last on his face. "I mean, ever since Arthur died I've thought about telling the truth but at the same time, I don't know how the others will react."

"You can't really predict how they will react so I'll advise you to be careful. However Merlin, it is your choice to make and if you do tell the truth, you will need to be prepared to face the consequences of telling the truth." Gaius advised and Merlin shrugged before helping him clear up the mess. As Merlin reached for the book Gaius had been using, he glanced at the open page and then he stared at it.

This tonic serves to combat morning nausea as well as regulating and calming the woman's stomach. One dose should be taken at the first signs of nausea to settle and calm the stomach and prevent sickness. The morning nausea will most likely ease off during the first three months however it is not unheard of for women to experience this sickness throughout the course of their pregnancy.

Merlin stared at the last word without blinking. Pregnancy. Pregnancy! As Merlin stared transfixed at the nine letters inked onto the page, the pieces began falling into place. Gwen's weird behaviour, her distracted state, the tiredness, her strange eating habits and the tonic Gaius had just given her for 'personal' reasons. Gaius looked at Merlin who was staring at the book and knew in that instant that Merlin knew.

"Merlin," Gaius said and Merlin ignored him as the truth hit him like a smack in the face.

Gwen was pregnant.