THE ROYAL CHAMBER

Arthur sat as he had done before, lost in the flickering flames and his thoughts.

Outside he could hear the clean-up process having started, as well as murmurings regarding his magical servant…

His jaw flexed and his hands tightened around the wooden arms of his throne like chair.

The fire blazed in the fire place.

Arthur sat facing it in a hard backed wooden chair, staring and distant, his jaw locking once more.

Gwen sighed and entered the room.

She let the door close softly behind her with a gently click of the lock, as she walked towards her husband.

"Arthur…" She whispered.

He said nothing.

She sighed and walked towards him as she had done earlier that day, with her skirts swirling around her with her movement, her hands folded just in front of her tiny bellys.

She walked slowly to him.

"Arthur…" She murmured.

He looked up at her with a caught expression, holding his arms immediately open.

"I…" His voice failed him, his eyes guarded, "I…"

"I know…" She soothed and hushed him, sinking to sit in his lap.

One of her arms wrapped around his shoulders, on the back of his neck, the other over his one hand on her belly, where it had reached around her back to hold her too him with a gentle sigh.

She leant her head against his shoulder for a moment, just letting him know that she was there.

He held her tight, but not crushing her, and she knew that for a few moments at least, she should just let him feel that she was near, that he was not alone in all of this.

He did not smile

He wasn't sure he could.

"I feel so confused… so unsure…" He confessed quietly, looking down at his hand on her knee.

"About?" She asked, although she could guess.

Arthur shifted.

"Outlawing magic…" He looked down, and it seemed to be painful for him even to speak the words.

She nodded slowly.

He sighed heavily and leant his head against the back of the chair as her fingers ran through his hair.

"I fear that those with magic will still seek vengeance, and I can't overlook that risk… I can't endanger my people…" He swallowed to stop his voice being so rough, "And I cannot overlook that risk… Morgana is a perfect example; how can I allow those such as her to use their sorcery freely?"

"By showing that you trust them… that they are not above the law…" She said softly, ever his wise council, "That it is the acts they do with their magic rather than the gifts they possess that defines right and wrong."

He stared at her, his hand stroking her belly.

"What my father did to those people was unforgivable…" He said quietly, "That is certain… and they could revenge on me for being his heir… and you and this little one because of it… what if it is all too little too late?"

"You don't know that." She soothed him firmly.

He sighed and looked away from her ever understanding eyes.

She watched him careful, moving her hand to rest over his on her abdomen.

"Not everyone is like Morgana," She breathed, "we know that now, more than ever…"

Merlin.

Arthur said nothing.

She stroked his hair, "We know hardly anything of sorcery outside its impacts on us… but we have those around us to learn from, and those who's very destiny it is to Gaius and protect us… all of us…"

His hand tightened around hers on her belly protectively.

"Arthur my love…" She whispered, "You cannot change what your father did, but being seen not to be the same, as you have been, cannot have gone un-noticed… the druids are peaceful y and large…"

"I just cannot risk you or anyone else getting hurt as a way of something trying to get to me…" He confessed, "I fear it more than ever from those with magic because I know so little…"

She smiled slightly, an encouraging smile, and stroked his hair gently.

"Then it is a good thing you have a friend who can stand at your side and help… the place he should have been all along…." She murmured.

Merlin.

Arthur swallowed and looked at her, desperately searching her eyes for an answer.

"Arthur…" she sighed softly, "This is not my decision… it is not my destiny…"

"You are my council and my future." He told her passionately.

"I know that." She hushed him, "but forget my words, forget your father and his ideals, think only for yourself."

He stared at her before at the fire as her words hung in the air.

She watched him carefully.

"Change."

The single word he spoke made her heart flutter.

He was the king she knew he could be.

She had always known it, even before she truly loved him as she did now.

"Change…" He repeated quietly, "Change to build a kingdom of peace and beautify… for everyone… a safe place for our child and others… for those we love…"

He lifted his eyes to stare at her deeply.

"And all of it with you at my side…" He breathed.

She smiled and moved her hand from her belly, where his remained, to cup his cheek gently.

His eyes bore into hers.

"I built my entire world around you… and I will continue to do so…" He vowed.

She flushed and kissed him softly.

His lips moved against hers and she leant against his shoulder and chest, remaining in his lap.

His hand tightened around her knee as one of her arms remained around his shoulders, her hand on the back of his neck, fingers tangling in the base of his hair.

When they pulled apart to stare at one another she felt his hand slide over her knee to her hip and the side of her belly.

He knew what he wanted from his kingdom, and what decisions that would mean…

It would not be easy.

And yet his Guinevere was looking at him with hope and pride, and he never wanted to disappoint her again.