Arthur's POV

Everyone is smiling, laughing, chatting celebrating my return. I want to stand up and announce my thanks to everyone but there doesn't seem to be an opportunity. As well as this, my thoughts are still whirling around Merlin's request. I did say he could ask for anything and I should have seen his answer coming. I should have spoken to him about it afterwards instead of brushing off his words like they meant nothing to me, but to be fair there was a lot to prepare for the feast and also I'm scared. I don't want to have that conversation with him because I already know what my decision is. As much as it pains me to do so, but my mind is made up and I don't think anything can change it. Therefore I'd rather overlook Merlin's magic as if it never existed rather than acknowledging it and changing the whole kingdom just for his sake. Speaking of Merlin I look up trying to discover his whereabouts. He is sitting on one of the long tables, frowning and fidgeting with his mug. I told him to have the night off and enjoy the feast with the rest of the guests but he seems distant and upset.

He glances in my direction and before I even open my mouth he obediently walks up to me "Yes sire" he says apathetically, his whole body seems to be rigid and distant, as if he wishes to be anywhere else apart from here.

"Merlin?"

"Yes sire,"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing… Sire."

I don't like it when he calls me sire, it's so unlike Merlin. I need to hear him say something other than 'Sire' even Dollophead would be accepted! "Merlin I don't usually care what people do at feasts. But if there's one thing I don't tolerate is ungratefulness. Can you at least look like you are enjoying it." I mutter through gritted teeth, I thought that pretending to be cross with him would make me feel better, make him act more normal but if anything he just looks more stiff than before.

"Yes sire." he replies once again before standing straighter and widening his mouth into a broad smile. It's completely fake but at least I now know there's nothing wrong with his face muscles.

"That's better."

"Yes sire." he turns around and almost immediately after, he slouches and I can tell that he's frowning again. This is my moment to make a speech- hopefully that'll cheer him up- I grunt as I rise from my chair, but just as I raise my glass and am about to silence the court, Gwen hurriedly pushes her own chair backwards and scampers from the room, her hand over her mouth. I watch her go, Gaius swifly following. The crowd is luckily too busy chatting and drinking to notice the kerfuffle and I make the quick decision that they won't miss me for a few minutes whilst I investigate the matter.

As soon as I'm outside I notice that Merlin has remained on the bench and is aimlessly circling his finger around the rim of the empty mug in front of him. I want to summon him to come with me, but I can't risk drawing attention to myself otherwise the guests will notice that Gwen and I have gone and become worried. Whilst I'm thinking about this, it suddenly occurs to me that I'm wasting time and Gwen might be seriously ill. So I choose to leave Merlin and find Gwen myself. I look in our bedroom first but it's empty, after checking other rooms with no success, I'm on the verge of panicking because there seems to be no sign of life anywhere in the castle except for the banquet hall. I rack my brains searching for places I haven't checked yet, there are only two possibilities that I can think of. So I head for Gaius' room bypassing the banquet hall on the way. Merlin is still there and fortunately so is the noise, meaning that people are hopefully enjoying themselves too much to be aware of my absence.

I take the steps to the chamber two at a time and feel that my heart is beating very fast. I'm out of breath and need to lean on a wall to stop the dizziness that is slowly overcoming me. I didn't think I was that injured, I didn't think that being injured would make me this unfit. I comprehend this and conclude that I need to start training again with immediate effect.

I'm so lost in thought that I forget why I was coming up here in the first place until I hear voices coming from within and remember that I needed to find Gwen.

I knock on the door, there is a short silence before the door is opened by Gaius. Gwen is sitting on a chair and is dabbing her eyes with a silk handkerchief. I bustle past Gaius and embrace Gwen.

"Gwen, what is wrong!"

"Nothing I'm just being silly." she mutters.

"It's clearly something. Are you ill? is it serious?"

She shakes her head "No I'm not ill, I'm sorry I don't really understand why I'm crying."

"It is an emotional occurrence. That is normal under the circumstances." Gaius remarks. He sounds calm, sturdy. I like that about Gaius, it may be the end of the world but he'll be your rock. It's a thing I admire about him, I think he may just be a braver man than me.

"What is it, tell me Gwen?" I stroke her hand.

She sniffs and takes a deep breath "Arthur… I'm with child."

Gaius begins to launch into an explanation of her symptoms and his concerns but I'm not listening,

She's…

I'm…

This…

But no words fill the space in my mind. I'm in disbelief. Gwen and I… Well we'd never discussed… But I'm ecstatic. I think… I don't know… I'm overwhelmed.

"I need some air." I finally reply.

I turn round and walk out the door, retracing my steps until I'm standing outside the banquet hall. I stride to the front and clear my throat. The chatter halts and I feel everyone turn to look at me.

"People of Camelot I thank you for coming tonight to celebrate peace and prosperity." people clap appreciatively "I actually came here with a different speech but none of that seems to matter now, so I'm just going to hope for the best. I want to raise a toast to Merlin because without him I would not be here." That's got his attention he looks up confused especially because he helped me prepare the speech I was originally going to say "But I also have news, an announcement I wasn't expecting to make tonight, or perhaps ever…" I look at him and see that his ears are strained intently, he's smiling and so with his blessing I continue "I am so glad that I am here tonight to say in front of everyone, that the queen and I, we're with child!" Everyone gasps and then a joyous sound erupts as people begin to clap and cheer, some knights come up and shake my hand in congratulations. Everyone except for one person is celebrating. That one person is the one I wanted to please the most, and he is wearing a battered leather jacket, a blue neckerchief and a red shirt.