AN: If you haven't seen it, let me tell you the finale is absolutely a-ma-zing! Lots of drama, twists and emotions and I know you will love it. Anyway with this story I'm trying to update as best I can given that it's the holiday season. Happy New Year guys, hope 2013 is good for you all.
Merlin looked at Gaius before his gaze yet again fell on the page in front of him. Pregnant, Gwen was pregnant. Merlin's mind began working overtime as he attempted to work it out in his head. How could this have happened? Actually, Merlin wasn't going to answer that instead he wondered about what he was to do. What could he do? Even as he thought that Merlin knew what he would do. Gwen was his friend and he would stick by her; he and the knights had all made a promise that they would protect Gwen even before she had been named regent and this was now a test for them to prove it.
"Merlin," Gaius repeated as he reached over and shut the book, causing Merlin to look at him.
"How long have you known?" Merlin asked, if Gwen hadn't told them yet, she must have just found out.
"I found out yesterday as did Gwen. Naturally she's shocked and scared therefore I suggest you let her tell you all in her own time." Gaius replied and Merlin nodded slightly before he hit upon an epiphany.
"That's what Kilgharragh meant." Merlin said and Gaius looked at him confused. "When Arthur died, I confronted the dragon about how our destinies could be achieved with Arthur gone. He said that fate was still to play a hand and the future of Albion would soon reveal itself. He must have meant the baby; it wasn't going to be Arthur who united the kingdoms; it would be the baby, inspired and determined to continue his father's legacy."
"How can you be sure?" Gaius asked and Merlin managed a small smile.
"Because we'll be there to protect them both at all costs." Merlin said and as soon as he said that, Merlin knew that he would have to reveal himself very soon. There was no way he was going to risk either Gwen or the baby's life for anything.
Gwen walked calmly and briskly through the castle. Her mind was still reeling from the news about the pregnancy yet somehow she had been able to accept the situation. It wasn't ideal but at the same time she was pregnant and they couldn't do anything to change it. Well, of course she could have. If one knows what to do then the unexpected pregnancy can 'go away' so to speak. However for Gwen it wasn't an option. She knew she was in big trouble but at the same time, this was her baby. It was her and Arthur's baby who had been created out of their love for each other. He or she would be a part of Arthur that lives on even though he's gone. This baby meant so much; they symbolised hope, new beginnings and he or she was just so pure, so innocent and that was beautiful.
"You're really getting too emotional." Gwen scolded herself but she didn't bother denying those thoughts. This baby was going to be so much more than a prince or princess. She could just feel it in her bones.
"Uh," Gwen's hand flew to her mouth again as she willed the meagre breakfast she'd had to stay down. Ok so maybe she needed to sort out the difference between gut instinct and nausea before she did any more deep introspective thoughts. The feeling soon passed and Gwen returned in her chambers and sat down on her bed as she pulled the vial from her pocket and studied it. She was lucky that Gaius was able to brew some up so quickly for her to collect and she recalled that Merlin had arrived just as she was leaving.
"Wait," Gwen muttered to herself. Merlin arrived just as she had left and Gwen had arrived at Gaius' just as he finished brewing the potion. Gwen knew that Merlin wasn't daft; if he seen the ingredients or the book then he would be able to work it out. Despite her unwillingness to tell anyone about the baby, she had to admit she was curious about Merlin's reaction. He had been Arthur's best friend as well as hers and Gwen was reliant on Merlin, out of everyone, offering some acceptance of the current situation so to speak.
Gwen knew she had to tell the knights soon, not all of them obviously, Round Table only but still she was nervous about the idea. Yet given that Merlin and Gaius already knew, if nothing else it would be fair to the knights if they all knew. Before she could stop herself, Gwen had opened the door, collared a nearby guard and asked for the knights, Merlin and Gaius to be brought to her private chambers immediately. Just as she did that, Gwen thought for a moment before asking the second guard outside her door to fetch Lord Agravaine also, as Arthur's uncle, Gwen reasoned that he ought to know about his future great-nephew or great-niece too. Any problems he had, she would deal with now rather than later.
Leon and the knights were just coming from a training session when one of the guards approached them and explained that Gwen wished to see them. The knights all exchanged a look as they wondered what exactly Gwen needed to tell them before turning and heading in the direction of her private quarters. As they entered the room, the knights found that Gaius, Merlin as well as Lord Agravaine were already there and waiting on their arrival. Gwen was sitting on her bed, the twisting of her hands being the only indication that this wasn't a social summoning. Something had happened.
"What's wrong?" Elyan asked as he walked over and sat beside Gwen who stopped twisting her hands and instead clenched them into fists, steeling herself.
"Nothing's wrong. Well not exactly. It could be seen as a good thing but there are some real problems and difficulties and I needed to tell you all first." Gwen replied, looking up at the men; all of whom bar Gaius and Merlin (so she was right in her assumption that Merlin knew) were looking completely baffled.
"Tell us what?" Leon asked as he tried to work out what Gwen was saying. She had something to tell them which could either be good or bad, was that it?
"Firstly I need your word that whatever is said in this room will stay in this room until I say otherwise. If anyone finds out before I let this become public knowledge we could all be in danger." Gwen advised, they suspected there could possibly be a traitor in their midst and right now she needed to be sure that all of the men in the room could be trusted with this secret.
"We promise, just tell us what's wrong, you're scaring me." Elyan insisted as he stared his sister out.
"I-I'm pregnant." Gwen confessed and as soon as she said those words, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. A weight that soon came crashing back down as the men looked at her in total silence. "I'm going to have a baby."
"We know what it means but how?" Gwaine asked.
"Well when a man and a woman love each other very much." Merlin quipped in an attempt to light the atmosphere and instead got several now-is-not-the-time looks in return. Merlin therefore walked over to Gwen and squeezed her hand. "It'll be all right, we'll get through this."
"When did this happen?" Elyan asked still trying to get his head around the fact that Gwen was pregnant.
"Before Samhain, before…" Gwen replied, lowering her head and the knights knew what she was telling them.
"Arthur's the father isn't he?" Lancelot asked and Gwen nodded and pressed a hand to her eyes.
"I only found out yesterday but I knew beforehand, I mean I could almost feel it. I just don't know what I'm going to do. It's hard enough trying to run a kingdom when I know that none of the council will accept me as a future queen and Morgana's still out there trying to kill us and with the baby I just don't know how I'm going to cope. I just want Arthur back." Gwen confessed as tears began running down her face and Elyan hugged her tightly.
"We know you want him back and we're here for you. You and the baby. This won't be easy and I won't lie about that but Merlin's right. We are going to help you get through this. I promise." Elyan said as they pulled apart and Gwen wiped her eyes.
"Thanks Elyan," Gwen smiled and Elyan shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't thank me, that's my nephew or niece we're talking about." Elyan replied and the words felt strange to say. Nephew or niece. He was going to be an uncle; he had to admit the prospect excited him. Obviously the situation wasn't ideal, Gwen wasn't married and Arthur was dead but they had gotten through worse situations and Elyan was already considering all that he could teach his nephew or niece.
"When did you find out?" Percival asked curiously, wondering if they had possibly missed any vital hints to the pregnancy.
"I sort of suspected but Gaius was able to confirm it yesterday. The baby ought to be due at the end of July." Gwen replied.
"This is unbelievable," Agravaine commented and Gwen looked at him.
"I know but the fact remains I am with child. Arthur's child and your great-nephew or niece." Gwen replied, staring him out. Out of everyone, Agravaine had had the most problem accepting Gwen as heir to the throne and she knew that if anyone would be angry at the prospect of another illegitimate heir to the Camelot throne, it would be Agravaine. Aside from him being Arthur's only other blood relative aside from Uther and Morgana, it was why Gwen had made the decision to inform him now rather than at a later date.
"This is unacceptable; Arthur could not have lain with someone like you!" Agravaine exclaimed and in an instant, Elyan had leapt to his feet and drawn his sword. Leon and Gwaine quickly restrained him before Elyan could act rashly.
"Lord Agravaine, Elyan both of you should calm down. While we are all agreed that the situation isn't the most ideal, the fact remains that Gwen is carrying Arthur's heir and therefore we need to ensure that we do whatever we can to ensure the child is healthy and safe. This arguing and fighting shall get us absolutely nowhere." Gaius said loudly and Elyan re-sheathed his sword as Leon and Gwaine let go of their hold on him.
"I apologise my lord but I did not appreciate you speaking to my sister that way." Elyan said. The apology was faked but the rest of his statement was true. Nobody spoke to his sister that way and got away with it.
"I apologise my lady, it's just that it's quite a lot to take in. of course the needs of the child ought to come first. I just didn't expect this to happen." Agravaine lied smoothly.
"Believe me none of us did." Gwen replied and she offered her hand to Agravaine to shake. The lord shook it briefly before looking around the room.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to be going." Agravaine replied and swept from the room. As the door shut behind him, Gwen let out a sigh of relief.
"That could have gone better," Merlin quipped and Gwen smiled at him before looking at the others. If she had been honest, she would have expected more of a response from the knights as well.
"What do you honestly think about this?" Gwen asked, she didn't want them to feel like they couldn't be honest with her. This affected all of them and she needed to know just where the knights all stood on the prospect of another illegitimate heir to the throne.
"When you said it, initially I was sort of two minds about it and if Arthur was here I probably would have done something rash but it's your child and if I said I wasn't looking forward to being an uncle then I'd be lying." Elyan said truthfully as he hugged Gwen.
"Thanks Elyan," Gwen smiled.
"Father would have gone mad though, you know that." Elyan replied and Gwen nodded. They both knew that if Tom were still here as well as Arthur then both men probably would have had the same conversation with Arthur.
"I know, what about the rest of you? What do you think?" Gwen asked the knights, as long as she had their support then she felt confident that she could get through pregnancy and motherhood even if Arthur wasn't there.
"If it's a boy will you name it after me? Prince, no, King Gwaine has a nice ring to it." Gwaine joked before he looked at Gwen seriously. "Really though we are happy for you. This news could just be what the kingdom needs after the past few months."
"I agree, we all need something to look forward to and what could be better than a new life coming into the world." Percival said.
"Percival and Gwaine are right. It's a new life we're talking about here, a new start and I think I can safely say Arthur would have been ecstatic to hear the news." Lancelot replied honestly. The whole situation felt weird but he supposed he had best get used to it. Gwen smiled at the men, reassured by their supportive words.
"I never thought I'd say it but Gwaine's right. And the child will be named after me I suppose. I mean we have been friends for a long time." Leon replied and Elyan snorted.
"You're both wrong, the child will be named after their brave, handsome, perfect uncle Elyan. Right Gwen?" Elyan joked and Gwen shrugged her shoulders.
"I honestly haven't even considered that yet. It's all going to change now isn't it?" Gwen stated. Obviously things had been changing but now they were going to start changing all over again.
"Well, whatever happens we'll be here for you." Merlin promised as he hugged Gwen who smiled and wiped her eyes. Those damned mood swings were as unpredictable as anything but she felt comforted by their words of support. Obviously the next seven months would be difficult but with the others at her side, she knew that she could get through whatever was next flung into her path.
Agravaine sped through the woods on horseback as quickly as he could. His mind was racing and fury was bubbling in his veins as he ran what he had been told over and over again in his head. The servant girl was pregnant. The fate of Camelot's future under Morgana's hand was at risk all because Arthur could not keep his trousers up. This was an absolute disgrace on the kingdom and everyone in it. A commoner queen was bad enough but a commoner queen carrying an illegitimate heir like a wanton whore was despicable. The sooner that Morgana took control of the kingdom and disposed of the wench and her spawn, the better.
Agravaine stopped just at the slope that led down to Morgana's hidden hovel, dismounted and stepped down the slope towards the door. Casting a cursory look around him, Agravaine knocked on the door and waited for Morgana to let him in. a moment or so passed before the door unlocked and Morgana's frowning face appeared.
"Agravaine, I believed we wouldn't be meeting until Friday nightfall." Morgana stated as a form of 'hello'. Agravaine ignored that comment and stepped inside.
"I have urgent news from Camelot." Agravaine replied and Morgana looked at him raptly.
"What is it?" Morgana insisted, urgent news wasn't necessarily good news and she needed to be ready for whatever Agravaine had to inform her about her kingdom.
"It involves Guinevere," Agravaine replied and Morgana scoffed. Gwen may have thought she had stolen Morgana's rightful throne but she would soon be put back into her rightful place, snivelling at Morgana's feet. Besides, despite being named Arthur's so-called heir, Gwen was no real threat to her or her plans whatsoever.
"What pray tell has she done?" Morgana asked, hoping that her former friend had contracted some sort of awful fatal illness or unknowingly started a war or something awful like that.
"She's pregnant with Arthur's child." Agravaine replied and Morgana's jaw fell open.
"What?" Morgana shouted and slammed her fist off the table, causing the few jars to rattle slightly as the wood trembled. Morgana ran a hand through her dark hair as she began pacing, thinking and muttering angrily under her breath. This unexpected problem would serve to be a real foil in her plans. Unless…
Agravaine watched Morgana pace around and mutter to herself, knowing better than to intervene and instead chose to wait for her to address him instead. Finally after a few minutes, Morgana stopped pacing and looked at Agravaine.
"This little oversight could put a flaw into our plans. However it's not too late for us to remedy this situation if we act quickly. Return to Camelot and wait for me to summon you again. Don't worry Agravaine, it won't be long until Gwen and her brat will be nothing more than mere memories for the people of Camelot." Morgana said and Agravaine nodded at her before leaving.
As the door shut behind him, Morgana picked up a jar and gave a loud yell before she flung it at the wall, causing it to shatter into a hundred pieces. In another lifetime she probably would have been overjoyed to hear the news she had just been told. Now however she needed to find a suitable way to dispose of Gwen and take control before it was too late. Morgana continued pacing around before grabbing one of her books and began flicking through the pages. There had to be some way of dealing with this problem before it got out of hand. It wasn't just the fact that Gwen was pregnant, it was the fact she was carrying Arthur's child which meant that although illegitimate with its father having been prince of Camelot and its mother named heir to the throne, the child would therefore be Gwen's natural blood heir. That meant that unlike Morgana, the brat would never have to fight for their claim to the throne and that was an injustice Morgana could not stomach one little bit.
Morgana stopped at a potentially helpful page in her book and smirked to herself. She needn't worry herself too much. Before long, Gwen would be dead and Camelot would be in the hands of the rightful heir to the throne, her.