PART 8

The alarm bell sounded as soon as young Jacob found the King. The guards were questioned and they swore they saw nothing. The room was undisturbed except for a word written on the wall in the King's own blood. "REVENGE". Arthur looked from the bed to where the word was written. He knew that his father hadn't put it there so it must have been the murderer. Merlin looked at the dagger still plunged in the kings chest.

"Arthur, I know who did this." Merlin looked at Arthur seriously.

"Who is it then, Merlin?" Arthur looked at his father's cold lifeless body and sighed.

"Look at the dagger, Arthur. Where have you seen it before?" Merlin pointed to the King.

Arthur walks over to the bed and pulls the dagger from the King's chest "Morgana, but how did she get in here."

"She used magic to get in and out and I'd say she used it to write that on the wall too. It's too perfect to have not been done with magic." Merlin turned to stare at the wall.

Arthur grimaces. "Call the Knights. We will ride out to search for her."

"She won't be found and she will expect you to search for her in anger. Stay here and wait for her to come to you." Merlin shook his head.

"So she can catch me alone." Arthur ran his hand thru his hair.

"Better to meet her here on your own terms than to be ambushed somewhere unfamiliar by surprise."

Arthur looked at Merlin. Merlin was having one of those wise moments. "Come on Merlin I need to inform the council."
O~X~O~X~O~X~

"Father, what do you mean make sure to get a paternity test? The child is mine. I have no doubt." Arthur stared at the older man in disbelief.

"I'm just saying Arthur that she may not have been completely truthful with you. She may have taken a lover when you were on one of your business trips."

"You think that my wife would betray me? Did mother betray you? Maybe I should ask for a paternity test for myself."

"ARTHUR!"

Arthur sighed. "She has never given me any reason to believe it's not mine and I am sure that she would never betray me. I know you don't trust her but I do." Arthur paused but his voice was still angry as he threatened his father. "If you want to be a part of your grandchild's life I suggest you learn to respect its mother." Arthur threw the files he had in his hand in his case and stormed out the door.

Luther Penn stood watching his son stride angrily to the lift through the glass doors. He threw the files he was holding across the room. He rubbed his left arm and grimaced. Luther sighed and then went to retrieve the files from the floor. He took three steps and then he clutched at his chest and collapsed.

It was several hours before the cleaning crew came into the conference room and found him there. Luther was unconscious and pale. The young man that found him was so afraid that he could barely speak to the 999 operator. He was taken to casualty immediately after the ambulance came for him.
~X~

Mike, an orderly from the casualty, came to the nurses' station on the geriatric floor. "Hey girls do any one of you know a 'Guinevere Penn.' She supposed to be a nurse at this hospital."

Carol looks up from the chart she was reading. "I don't know any one by that name. Wendy do you know a nurse named 'Guinevere Penn'?"

Wendy shook her head as she came out of the drug cupboard.

"Did someone mention my name?" Gwen asked as she was coming down the hall towards the nurses' station.

"You are 'Guinevere Penn'?"

"Yes that me. Why?" Gwen smiled.

"There's an old man downstairs that says that his son Arthur is married to Guinevere and she works at this hospital as a nurse." Mike looked at her.

"Is his name Luther Penn?"

"Yes that's the bloke."

"Has anyone called Arthur?"

"We thought he was mental but they wanted me to check just to make sure." Mike looked apologetic. "We tried the number he gave us but it went to voice mail."

Gwen picked up the phone and dialed Arthur's mobile. It went to voicemail. Then she called the house land line and waited.

"Hello?" Freya's voice answered.

"Freya, its Gwen. Is Arthur there?" Gwen started to rub the baby bump. She heard a thump.

"Guinevere, are you alright?" Arthur's voice finally.

"Yes, but your father is in casualty." She looked at Mike and he made a gesture to his heart. "Arthur you need to get here strait away."

"I'm on my way." She heard the receiver hang up.

"Carol, I need to get down there."

"Go on and we will say a prayer for the poor man." Carol patted her on the shoulder and Gwen smiled thanks then followed Mike to the lift.

When she arrived, she went straight to the cubicle where Luther was. The doctor looked up at her and frowned. "Gwen, what are you doing down here?"

"Guinevere?" Luther said weakly

"Yes sir, I'm here and Arthur is on the way."

"They couldn't reach him. He turned off the stupid mobile."

"He forgets to charge it that's all. Is there anything you need?"

"Arthur and Vivianna. I want to see my granddaughter. Guinevere, I'm sorry for what I said."

"Now's not the time, sir. I'll go call the nanny to bring Vivianna here. I'll just be outside there." Gwen patted his hand and looked at the doctor.

They went into the hall to speak. "He had a massive heart attack. I don't know how he survived this long. The cleaners found him in a conference room. He won't survive till morning. I'm sorry." The doctor said shaking his head.

Gwen nodded and went to call Vivvie's nanny to bring her here.

Arthur was there before she hung up the phone. Gwen looked up at him and Merlin in surprise. Arthur came towards her.

"How did you get here so quickly?" Gwen asked.

Arthur looked at Merlin who gave a sheepish grin.

"Oh, alright then. He's in that cubicle. Arthur they found him in a conference room. He had been there for hours. There is a great deal of damage to his heart. The doctor says he will not survive. I called Vivvie's nanny to bring her. "

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Merlin asked. "She was here when her mother died. She had nightmares for months."

"He wants to see her." Gwen sighed. "Maybe if you explain to her what's happening. She may react better this time."

Merlin nodded. I hope that helps.

"Merlin, does Vivvie know who you are to her?" Gwen asked.

"Yes she does. Morgana told her but told her never to tell anyone. She called me 'Daddy' when we were alone after the funeral." It was the most wonderful moment of my life.

"It's good that you came then." Gwen looked at Arthur who was hesitating at the door. "What's wrong?"

"We fought about you and the baby this afternoon. I left him in the conference room. That was at half past six. He was there all that time." Arthur was near tears. I shouldn't have left him.

"That's what he meant by 'I'm sorry'." Gwen sighed. "Just go see him, Arthur. This may be the only chance you get to say that you love him."

Arthur nods and opens the door and goes in. "Father, I'm here."

Gwen sighs and goes to the waiting area to wait for the nanny and Vivvie. Merlin comes with her.

"I had Freya call everyone so they can help if there is a need." Merlin looked at the floor.

"Thank you, Merlin for getting him here so quickly and being there for us." Gwen hugged her friend.

"It's my pleasure Gwen. You know I would do anything for the two of you." Merlin blushed. "I'm just worried for Vivvie and how she will get through another death so close after her mother."

"Merlin, why didn't you get her after Morgana died?

"There were no records stating I was the father. Morgana did it that way to protect me, so she said. All I wanted was my daughter but I had no claim." Merlin knitted his brow. "She was afraid of what her father would do. He cut her off and refused to speak to her because she wouldn't tell him I was the father."

"Why didn't you tell him?" Gwen asked.

"I tried. He laughed and said that his daughter would never touch anyone like me. He said that I was covering for her because I was smitten with her." Merlin put his head in his hand. "He had no idea how much we loved each other. That was when I left for a while. When I came back Morgana was gone, moved out. The next time anyone heard anything was the night of the accident."

"I'm sorry Merlin." Gwen put her arm around his shoulders.

Merlin patted her hand. "Maybe you and Arthur will let me spend time with Vivvie." He tried to smile.

A woman with a dark uniform and a dark haired little girl came into the waiting area. Gwen stood and waved her over.

"Aunt Gwen! Nanny says Grandfather is dying." Vivvie looked at Merlin. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Daddy, I'm frightened. Is he going to die like Mummy?"

The nanny stood frozen in surprise at what her charge had just said to the man who had pulled his child into his lap.

Merlin held her close and told her not to worry that he was here for her.

Gwen seeing the woman's shock, said quietly to her. "Nanny Benson, if you want to go she will be alright with me."

"Yes ma'am", she said. Then she remembered something. Nanny Benson pulled a large thick envelope out of her bag and handed it to Gwen. "This came with the child when she came to live with Mr. Penn. I held on to it for her. It was in her mother's personal papers."

"Thank you, I'll see that my husband gets it." Gwen held it and looked at it.

"It's not for your husband. It's for him." She nodded at Merlin. The woman left without another word.

Gwen looked up and watched the woman walk off. She turned to see Vivvie nestled in Merlin's arms, quietly crying.

She turned back around to see Arthur coming towards them. Gwen held out her arms to him and he gladly accepted the embrace.

"Merlin, my father wants to see Vivvie." Arthur held out his hand to his little niece.

Merlin set her down and smiled encouragingly at her. Vivvie gave him a kiss on the cheek and went to take Arthur's hand. Arthur led her to the cubicle.

"Merlin, the nanny said that this is from Morgana. It came with Vivvie to Mr. Penn's after her death." She handed him the envelope.

He took it and put it in his coat pocket. "I'll look at it when things calm down."

"Aren't you curious as to what it is?" Gwen asked.

"Yes, but now I need to focus on Vivvie." Merlin said.

The outside door opened and the Knights came in. They saw Gwen and Merlin in the waiting area and came over and sat down.

Carol and Wendy were coming off their shift and they brought down Gwen's bag and coat. "How bad is it?" Carol asked.

"He's not going to survive long. My husband and our niece are in there now. Thank you for bringing my things."

"Nonsense child, we will keep you all in our prayers." Carol said.

"Gwen, who are all these men?" Wendy eyed the good looking Knights wistfully.

"They are our friends. Arthur calls them 'the Knights'. They are here for support." Gwen smiled at the group of good looking men. Her brother sat at the end looking bored. Leon and Gwaine looked like they had just come from the pub. Percival was half asleep. It didn't matter because they were there.

"Come on Wendy. This isn't a good time to meet men." Carol tugged on her coat sleeve. "Good night Gwen."

"Alright," Wendy sighed. "Good night Gwen."

Gwen smiled. Just then Vivvie ran past her straight for Merlin. Gwen looked in the direction she came from and Arthur was standing there. He waved her over. "Excuse me," Gwen said. She went to Arthur.

"Gah and that's her husband?" Wendy whispered to Carol. "He's gorgeous. How did she get so lucky?"

"She doesn't drool." Carol grabbed her arm and pulled her outside.

"He wants to see us together. He says he has something to say to us both." Arthur ran his hand through his hair.

Gwen nodded and went with him.

Once inside they came close to the bed. Luther looked up at them both. "I … I'm sorry for everything I did to you both. I didn't mean to make things difficult or hurt your feelings." He looked at Gwen. "I can see that you make him happy. Take care of him and your child. See that Vivvie gets everything that I had hoped her to have. She needs a woman in her life. Please forgive me."

Gwen patted his hand. "It's alright, sir. You were just saying how you felt. There's no fault in that. I will take care of them all. I promise."

"Father, it's all right. You should rest." Arthur looked at his father so pale and weak. It was almost too much for him to bear.

Gwen glanced at the monitors. They had been put on silent. It was most likely done for Vivvie's benefit, so she wouldn't be frightened. The oxygen level was flashing. She stepped around Arthur and peeked at his chart. It had a 'do not revive' order on top. She stepped out to find the doctor just as he was coming to check his patient.

"His oxygen level is down and I saw the do not revive order." Gwen said quietly

"Yes, he insisted on signing it first thing." The doctor said as he started into the room.

Everything was flashing now on the monitors.

"Can't you do something?" Arthur looked at the doctor.

"He signed a 'do not revive' order so there is little I can do."

The monitor showed straight lines now. The doctor checked for signs of life and there was none. "I'm sorry, he's gone," he said then he left.

Arthur felt like he was in a nightmare. Gwen took his hand and led him out. "Arthur, we must tell Vivvie."

"I can't. Guinevere, I need air." Arthur rushed out the door and stood outside the cubicle for a moment then he went through the outside door and just let the night air wash over him.

Gwen saw him go and walked to the waiting area. Merlin looked up. Vivvie has fallen asleep in his arms. Gwen bit her lip and shook her head. Merlin nodded and tightened his arms around his daughter.