You'll Never Walk Alone

Chapter 10

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you...
And the way you look tonight.

(C) Frank Sinatra

"Something's not right with her," Larkin muttered to Mal as they stood to the side of the weeks training. Moira dueled Gawain, but she wasn't aggressive, she wasn't leaping about as she usually did. "She's not well." It had been five weeks since the ball and Moira had been wearing out much too easily. Not herself, Larkin had called it, but there was much more to it.

"She was sick this morning," Mal replied. "And yesterday and the day before that." He shrugged. "She might have caught something; Guinevere is having the same issues." Even as he said it he saw the king and woman in deep discussion. Guinevere pulled away from Arthur nodding her head. His gaze fluttered down to where the round table had begun, to where Leontes plank was still stained. He walked away. "You don't think…"

"Leontes hasn't been dead for more than a month," Larkin replied, wishing now more than ever the God fearing man was with them. "She wouldn't." Larkin whipped his head around at the yelp from Moira. Gawain stood over her, sword poised. Gawain helped her up, green eyes confused, he hadn't even jabbed her stomach that hard. "Are you all right?" He asked softly. She nodded. "Moira, you haven't been the same…has Merlin done something? Said something?"

"I—I…" Moira stumbled for words, and knew in an instant Merlin stood above them, watching. "I have to go." She pressed a hand to her mouth and ran from the room, sharp wave of nausea washed over her. She had barely made it to her chambers, barely made it to her cleaned chamber pot. She lay in a curled ball, the chamber pot huddled to her stomach. Merlin found her this way. He knelt beside her, running a hand over her hair. She pushed weakly at him. "Go away," her voice echoed from the pot. "I don't need ye."

"Moira, I did have some part in this."

"Curse ye and yer devil spawn! Of course t'would be ye who gets me in this state the very first time!" She broke off when another wave hit. Merlin sighed softly, and laid a hand on her stomach, easing the nausea. He searched for the life inside and found it, barely even there. "Aye it was ye genius," She snapped at him.

He lowered himself onto the ground, staring at her. He loved her. He had to leave. She was pregnant. It was his. His head was spinning. "You said that you wouldn't marry me."

"Aye."

"And what exactly will a baby from a sorcerer and Druid descendant make?" He brushed a sweaty strand of hair from her face. "Moira?" He nudged verbally.

"A more powerful witch than anyone can imagine," She replied. She wasn't about to let him know that mother's usually died in childbirth. "If it's a girl mind ye," She shrugged her shoulders. "Tis a fairytale as well. The last time something like this happened was many years ago."

"And what happened?" He asked.

"The Druids killed her." Moira rose from the cold floor, lowered her shaking body onto the bed. "She was too powerful; the second she was born she was killed. But my great-grandmother had a second child in secret. She bound her powers. Her daughter did the same for hers, fer she married a sorcerer. My mother married an ordinary man, I was lucky. Mother hadn't a clue." Merlin sat down beside her, laid an arm across her shoulders and drew her into a hug.

Moira squeezed her eyes shut feeling a fist of love squeeze her heart and not let go. Merlin buried his face into the mane of oak colored hair and breathed in the clean scent. He would miss this, oh Gods above, would he miss this. "You should stop training." He murmured softly. "It isn't good for the baby."

"It'll be fine for a few more weeks Merlin." She rose from the bed, straightened her tunic and went to the water basin to rinse her mouth out. The man watched her, eyes soft. She didn't need him; it was a realization that hurt beyond compare. She had her moment's weakness and now she was strong again. Now she was the knight he had brought with him so long ago. She met his eyes in the mirror. "What?"

"Nothing, love," He offered a smile; though it was forced and nowhere near true it comforted her. "Are you sure you won't marry me?"

She turned toward him, grey eyes contemplative. "I don't know Merlin."

"What do you want?"

"I don't know what I want and what I don't want, I don't know anything," Moira cried out, tears stinging her eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut against the on slot of tears, if there was one thing she already hated about being pregnant it was all the damn mood swings that went with them. She didn't jump when Merlin laid his hands on her shoulders. "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know." She whispered over and over.

"Hush love," Merlin wrapped his arms around her front. "Open your eyes, there's a good girl," He gazed at their images in the mirror. "Would you be happy with me?"

"I—"

"No, no, you do know, so look," he whispered softly. With the tips of his fingers he touched the clear water in the basin. "Look at it Moira—"

There was a stone cottage buried deep in the woods, a ray of sun blessed the little cottage with warmth and light. A foal raced beside his parents through the field behind the home and whinnied high and clear. An answering laugh came from a child running along the fence. From the kitchen Moira smiled and watched her son cling to the foals neck, the dreams of youth circling between them.

"He'll be a fine knight someday." Merlin said softly as he came up behind her.

"Arthur will be blessed to have him." She replied. She glanced up at the small explosion from above their heads. "She's at it again?"

"Bound and determined to turn the frog into a prince." Her husband replied with a laugh. "As stubborn as you."

"I always wanted a prince," She teased, lifting his hand to her face, the glint of their wedding rings caught a beam of sun. "Instead I got a sorcerer." Their lips met and held.

Tears streamed down her face, her breath near to non-existent. The yearn she had to have that life was much too strong. Merlin fought to get a hold of his emotions, to back the love for her into its cage. "So, you've seen it now—"

She clenched the side of the table until her knuckles turned white. When she spoke her voice was soft and laden with pain. "A vision isn't always true Merlin."

He pushed on. "But was it enough? Is the love you have for me enough?"

"I never said anything—" She turned in his arms and broke off as his lips met hers, his strong hands on either side of her face. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes by Christ it is Merlin."

"I love you Moira," He kissed her forehead. "I love you, Gods only know why, but I do." He brushed his lips over hers again. "Looks like you have to plan a wedding before the little one comes along."

"Looks like I do," she smiled up at him. He smiled back then laughed and lifted her into a spin.

"We're betrothed."

"Yes, we are!" Moira threw her head back and laughed long and loud.

Oh happy ending...NOT! More to come :D