~ Chapter 18: Fear and Reassurance ~

- Merlin -

When Gwen went back into their chambers, I didn't move. I knew it wouldn't be long before Arthur came out, and Gwen really gave me a lot to think about. I was trying to think about how to bring up the changes in Gwen to Arthur without Arthur wanting to take off my head.

I rested my head against the wall. I wasn't going to sleep; I was resting my eyelids.

I jerked awake when I heard the door to Arthur's chambers close.

"Ah. I was wondering when you would come out," I told him amused.

"You say that like you knew I would be here," Arthur accused.

"Someone doesn't bother Gaius night and day while I'm unconscious if he doesn't need something," I pointed out. Seriously, sometimes he really underestimated my intelligence.

"How do you know I wasn't just worried? Good manservants are hard to come by," he argued.

"Since when am I a good manservant?" He sighed and sat down across from me. When he didn't even offer up a retort, I continued. "What's going on? I know you're not oblivious. You were so excited to see Gwen. When we got back you almost forgot about me when you saw her. What's changed?"

Arthur looked at me nervously and sighed. "Gwen is pregnant," he told me. Well that confirmed my suspicions.

"And?" I asked him.

"You knew?" Arthur asked me surprised

"I'm not blind. Gwen has clearly gained weight, but not like you have. She looks pregnant, not fat. And she's also a little on the hormonal side," I told him, remembering how emotional she was. I suspected it a little after she sat down to talk to me.

"I have not gained weight," Arthur protested.

I ignored his comment. I didn't even know how many times I'd had to get his belt replaced because it ran out of room for extra notches. "What's wrong with Gwen being pregnant? You still have what? Five or six months to prepare for a baby," I reminded him. "Don't tell me you don't think you're ready. If you can protect all of the people of Camelot you can take care of a child. And it can't be your fears over being a father because you have proven to be kind, merciful, and compassionate. So, what is your problem?" I was harsher than I meant to be, but I knew from experience he tended to respond better to hostility than hand-holding.

He looked at me with an indescribable emotion in his eyes. "What if Gwen doesn't make it?" He asked me quietly. I could see how much this was bothering him and, knowing his love for Gwen, it was probably the thing he was scared about the most.

I stared at Arthur for a moment, carefully considering his question. "Arthur, just because your mother didn't make it, doesn't mean Gwen won't. And judging by the fact that one, magic is not allowed in Camelot and two that you weren't expecting her to be pregnant, I'm going to say that Gwen is in a very different situation than your own mother. Gwen is young, so she's strong. She will be fine," I told him.

"How can you know that?" He asked me desperately.

"I can't for sure. But I know that I will do everything within my power to make sure she's okay," I told him.

Arthur looked a little relieved. "Thank you, Merlin," he told me.

I smiled down at the floor. I'd been unprepared for the gratitude. It was embarrassing, yet made me feel really proud of myself. It was an odd mix of feelings, but a welcome one. "Any time," I told him.

"So you stayed out here in a cold, hard corridor just so you could talk to me?" Arthur asked me.

"I figured I would save you the trouble of having to walk to Gaius's chambers," I told him with a shrug.

"You do a lot more than I give you credit for," Arthur told me. "Thank you."

"Two thank you's in one night. This must be my lucky night," I told him jokingly.

Arthur rolled his eyes at me. "Don't get used to it. I'm simply too tired to think straight right now," he told me.

I chuckled slightly.

We sat in the corridor in silence for a while. "You know Merlin," Arthur said, breaking the silence. "I was thinking of having a public audience tomorrow to announce Guinevere's pregnancy. I think that might be the perfect time for another announcement."

I looked at Arthur, my eyes widening. We had talked about magic being legalized, but I wasn't expecting it so soon. Talking about it and it actually happening are two very different things. "Are… are you sure?" I asked. I could hear a tremble in my voice.

"Absolutely. I think you've proven yourself enough these past few days. Before we make that announcement to the public, I would like to tell all of my men. That way if the people do not react well, my knights can protect you," Arthur told me.

"And if they don't react well?" I asked him. "Some of them have been in your service for a long, long time. They fought to end the reign of magic. I doubt they'll welcome it back with open arms."

Arthur looked at me as if he hadn't considered that. "They will be fine with it; they trust my judgement," Arthur assured me.

Arthur looked away from me for a moment. "It's almost time for them to wake. In a few minutes, I want you to send word that I'm requesting an audience with every knight of Camelot," he told me.

I nodded nervously. I had been looking forward to this moment for as long as I could remember, but now that it was here, I was terrified. "Okay then." My voice sounded squeaky, and I coughed to clear it. It didn't help. "I can do that."

"Don't be such a girl Merlin," Arthur told me, rolling his eyes. "Everything will be fine."

I groaned as I stood up. It was time.