PART 7
Being Queen was such an overwhelming thing. Those that were opposed to the marriage were even more opposed to her being Queen. She was the only one left to do it no matter how much she hated it.
Today it had been one of those marathon Council meetings where they spoke to her like she was an idiot. She just wanted to go lie down. She dismissed the Council and went to stand. A sudden wave of dizziness hit her and she wavered for just a moment. Merlin, always at her side nowadays, jumped to help her.
"Gwen, let me take you to my chambers. If the headache is that bad, you need treatment." Merlin said with a concerned tone,
"Thank you, Merlin. I think I should. I just don't feel well at all." Gwen let him steady her as she stood. She took his arm that he offered.
Merlin helped her to the old physician's chambers that were now his, and sat her down in a chair. "Tell me your symptoms other than the headache of course."
"I feel light headed and nauseous at the strangest times. I'm tired and this headache will not go away. I've had all of it for weeks. At first I thought it was because I was grieving for Arthur but now I'm not sure." Gwen said wearily.
Merlin took her pulse and looked at her eyes. "Gwen this is no ordinary headache. You are with child." Merlin said finally.
"I can't be. I can't have his child when I don't have him." Gwen started to cry.
"I'm sorry Gwen but at least you will have a piece of him and Camelot will have an heir." Merlin knew that was little consolation for the newly widowed Queen.
"I don't care about giving Camelot a heir." Gwen brushed away her tears and took a deep breath. "I just want Arthur back and if his child is all I can have then I must be glad for it. This must stay a secret for as long as we can keep it."
"That's a good idea. We don't want to give anyone a reason to cause trouble." He caught himself. "Which, of course, won't happen. You go rest now and I'll tell them you have my orders as physician to rest."
"Thank you Merlin", Gwen says. She got up and walked slowly to the chambers she once shared with Arthur and laid across the bed. She hugged his pillow and tried to keep from crying again.
O~X~O~X~O~X~
They had just moved in to the new house and some things were still in boxes in the garage. As far as Gwen was concerned, some things were staying in boxes. Arthur's football trophies were definitely staying in the garage.
"Arthur, where is the tinsel for the tree? I can't see it in the box." Gwen pushed around the Christmas decorations in the box one more time to make sure.
"It's in the bag on the stairs." Arthur called from the kitchen where he went to fix them tea. I miss Merlin, especially when I'm the one making tea.
Gwen went over to the stairs and there in the shopping bag was the tinsel and a few new ornaments they had just bought. "I found it. Are you making tea or supper?" Please say tea.
"I'm not allowed to make supper. You said so after the chicken incident." Arthur grimaced. I really didn't mean to set it afire. He walked into the lounge holding two mugs of tea and set them on the tray next to a plate of biscuits on the side table.
Gwen looked up at him and bit her lip to keep from laughing. At least he was trying. "Do you think the tree is large enough?"
"If it was any bigger we would have to cut a hole in the ceiling. Really Guinevere did we need to get the biggest one on the lot?" Arthur looked at the tree and frowned. I nearly pulled a muscle getting the thing inside.
"It wasn't the biggest." Gwen went to stand next to him. He is right. It was the biggest. "We are going to need the step ladder for the top."
"Merlin can float them up." Arthur joked. I have no idea where the step ladder is.
Gwen gave him a playful slap on the arm. They both laughed.
Just then the bell rang and Arthur went to answer the door. It was Merlin and Freya. They were staying for the holidays. Arthur looked at Gwen and they started laughing again.
"What's going on?" Merlin said curiously.
"Nothing, come in. Do you want some tea?" Arthur said.
Freya nodded. "Please, it's really cold out tonight."
Arthur smiled and headed back to the kitchen.
"I'll help." Merlin followed Arthur into the kitchen. When they were in the kitchen, Merlin looked at Arthur seriously. "Did you find one?"
"No I had to have one made. The woman looked at me like I was insane. I took the lavender dress to take measurements off of. You know the one that hugs her in all the right places." Arthur took a moment to think about Gwen's 'right places' before turning to Merlin. He handed Merlin a mug of tea and another for Freya. "What did you decide on for Freya?"
"I bought her a bracelet with frogs on it." Merlin admitted.
"Merlin, you're lucky she likes you." Arthur laughed as he picked up a plate of sandwiches and headed to the lounge.
"Arthur, we need the step ladder. It's in the garage behind the door." Gwen told him.
"Alright." Arthur sets the plate on the tray and heads for the garage. So that's where we keep it.
As soon as he was out of sight Merlin looked at Gwen and asked, "Did you find them?"
"Yes and I can't believe how hard it was to find them." Gwen grinned. "I found a man who makes them for films."
"It's not like they sell chainmail and armor at the local shop." Merlin handed Freya her tea and sat down.
"Quiet, Merlin, he will hear you." Gwen giggled. "I had to leave them in the boot of my car. They were just too big to bring in without him asking questions."
Merlin grinned. He couldn't wait to see the reaction when they gave each other presents from the medieval time. They had no idea that the other had the same idea. He was a little worried about the bracelet for Freya. It had been a quick decision. Maybe Arthur was right.
Gwen leaned over and started to pull decorations out of the box. Arthur came in with the step ladder. "I still don't see why Merlin can't just float them up there." Arthur looked at Merlin and grinned.
"How would he do that?" Freya said as she took a sip of tea. Merlin looked at her and shook his head in disbelief.
Gwen went to straighten up and started to wobble on her feet. Arthur put down the step ladder and grabbed her before she could fall. "Guinevere, are you alright?"
"I just got a little dizzy. It's nothing. Maybe I should sit down and have a sandwich or something." Gwen pushed Arthur's hands off as she sat down.
"Has that happened before?" Merlin looked at her concerned.
"Yes and I've been nauseous." Gwen looked up at Arthur. "I think it's time to take a test." They had agreed not to take a pregnancy test until there was a good chance that it was positive.
"Do you want me to go the druggist to get one?" Arthur kneeled in front of her. He was trying not to get too excited. They had been disappointed before.
"There is one in the drawer in our bathroom." Gwen caressed his cheek. "I'll take it in the morning."
Arthur nodded. He took her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm. "You're the nurse so I yield to your decision."
She leaned in for a kiss and he obliged with a soft lingering kiss. "Thank you. Now let's eat and then we can decorate the tree. She picked up a sandwich." Please, let it be positive. I want this so much.
Arthur sat on the floor and took a sandwich then looked up at Gwen. Please, let it be positive. She was so disappointed last time.
~X~
Gwen gave Merlin the keys to get the boxes out of the boot of the car for her when she and Arthur finally went to bed. Arthur snuck back down and placed her gift under the tree and another under the sofa. He looked curiously at the three boxes with his name on them. He went back to snuggle with Gwen.
They sleep restlessly waking early. Gwen got up and went into the bathroom to take the test. She sighed as Arthur met her at the door on her way out. He's impatient.
"What did it say?" Arthur said tentatively. I'm impatient.
"We have to wait Arthur. The test takes a few minutes." Gwen looked at him nervously.
"Sorry, I forgot. Why don't we go down and open gifts?" Arthur smile mischievously .
"That sounds like an excellent idea." Gwen grabbed her robe and put it on.
They walk down stairs. Gwen carried the test with her, so that they will know what it says right away.
Even though they woke early Merlin and Freya were already downstairs. The smell of bacon and eggs was wafting from the kitchen.
"Merlin is cooking." Arthur was gratefully amused.
"Yes, I can smell it." Gwen wrinkled up her nose
"Are you all right?" He worried the smell may cause her to be ill.
"Yes, I'm actually hungry. I haven't been nauseous until the afternoon." Gwen smiled.
"That's strange. I thought it was supposed to happen in the morning." Arthur frowned.
"Not always. If I am pregnant, it can happen at any time of the day." Gwen looked at him and sighed.
"Come here and sit with me." Arthur went over to the tree and sat down in front of it.
Gwen sat on the floor beside him. The alarm on her watch went off and she looked at Arthur. "Its time." She looked at the test strip and gasped. "I'm pregnant!" She threw her arms around Arthur and they fell back on the floor.
Arthur pulled her close and sighed. Finally, we will have a family.
Merlin came out of the kitchen with Gwen's frilly lavender apron on. "Did you take it? What did it say?" Oh please be positive.
"We're pregnant!" Arthur said laughing as he held Gwen tight. Gwen smiled through her tears. "My best present this Christmas well so far."
"I am so pleased." Merlin couldn't grin any wider if he tried. "Breakfast is ready, if you're hungry."
Gwen laughed. "I'm starved. Thank you, Merlin."
They ate the large breakfast that Merlin had made. Gwen actually ate quite a lot. Arthur couldn't stop smiling.
~X~
After clearing up the breakfast mess, and Merlin really made a mess, they came into the lounge and sat on the floor to open gifts.
"Arthur, why don't you go first?" Gwen smiled.
"Don't have to ask me twice." Arthur pulled the largest of the boxes from the tree. He tore the paper and opened the box. "Armor and a helmet! I love it." He pulled the next over and opened it. Arthur picked up the chainmail and held it up in front of him and laughed.
"Open the last one Arthur." Gwen was thrilled at his reaction so far.
Arthur pulled over the last one and opened it. The last box was padding, a tunic and cloak. All of which were Camelot red. The Pendragon crest was embroidered on a patch on the cloak and on the front of the tunic. "Guinevere, it's perfect. I can't wait to try it all." He leaned down and kissed her.
"Merlin you're next," Gwen said. Arthur takes a box from the back of the tree and hands it to him.
"What did you get me?" Merlin looked at the box in wonder.
"Merlin, you idiot, open it." Arthur laughed.
Merlin opened the box and pulled a silver dragon out of the box. Merlin laughed.
"What else do you give a Dragon Lord?" Gwen giggled.
"Freya is next," Arthur said. He pulls a box out from under the tree and passes it to Freya.
"Thank you," Freya looked at the box with anticipation. She opens the box to find a silk scarf the color of cool water. She gasped. "It's beautiful!"
Gwen looked at Arthur like 'told you' and giggled.
"Arthur, I have something for you." Merlin reached under the chair and handed a box to Arthur.
Arthur opened the box and found a golden crown. "Merlin I know this crown. It was my favorite. It's light. Where did it come from?"
"I hid it away." Merlin pulled another box out from under the chair and handed it to Gwen.
Gwen looked at the box and then back at Merlin. She opened it and gasped. "The tiara that belonged to Ygraine? Did you hide it too? But I thought we were buried …"
"No, not with those but the heavy formal ones." Merlin explained.
"Guinevere, you should open yours next." Arthur handed the large box to her.
Gwen tore the paper, opened it and looked at the beautiful gown of lavender silk. "I can't believe we did this. I love it. We can dress as we were and have a portrait done." Gwen giggled.
"Well then you will want this." Arthur pulled a box from under the sofa and handed to her.
Gwen opened the jewelry case and inside was a diamond and amethyst necklace. She threw her arms around Arthur and kissed him.
Merlin just watched in wonder with a large grin. He looked at Freya and handed her the bracelet box.
Freya smiled at him and opened it. "It's frogs, I love frogs. Thank you, Merlin." She kissed Merlin. "Here is yours." She hands him a neatly wrapped package.
Merlin blushes as he opens the package and finds a book on herbal medicine. Merlin smiles and kisses her.
Freya handed Gwen a box. "This is for both of you."
"Thank you, Freya." Gwen opened the box and inside was a silver wine set. "It's beautiful"
"That would look perfect in our room, don't you think. Maybe water not wine." Arthur looked at the gift and smiled at Freya.
"Merlin and I saw it at a shop when we were antiquing last month." Freya was glad they were pleased.
Gwen and Arthur looked at each other and said in unison "antiquing" then burst out in laughter.
Arthur was the first to recover."Merlin, you are such a girl."
"Thanks," Merlin said. Yeah, but I'm not a clotpole.