Chapter 43: Hope Is Restored

The days dragged out for the four prisoners. "Don't fight any more." Elaine whispered to Gwaine as she sat slumped against the damp wall. "Please. For me." She was exhausted.

Gwaine couldn't even put his arms around his wife to comfort her as he was too weak from the fighting. "We need the food. You and Gaius are weakening too quickly." Morgana had revealed to Gwaine, during a fight, that she had no intention to have Elaine's unborn child. Galahad was more important.

"I don't think I will last long." Elaine whispered.

"You will be fine." Gwaine reassured her.

"Come on, Gaius, hold fast." Elyan said to Gaius, tending to him. The cell door opens, a guard restrains Elyan and the other picks up Gwaine, leading him out.

"No..." Elaine said feebly. She had barely any strength to lift her head, let alone stop the guards from taking her husband.

"Don't worry, at least we get to eat." Gwaine tried to lighten the mood as the guards drag him out. Elyan grabs the bars as the Southron locks the cell door.

"I'll kill him if he dies." Elaine says from her spot. She and Elyan chuckle weakly.

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"Your majesty, please eat." Elyan urged her but Elaine shook her head. "Please."

"No. Not until I know Gwaine is safe." She whispers. Her strength disappearing quickly.

They hear scuffling coming towards the cell. Gwaine was thrust into the cell. Morgana appears in the doorway with a half loaf of bread. "Enjoy your supper." She throws the bread into the cell. "I fear it will be your last." She walks away and the door is locked.

Elaine moved closer to Gwaine and the two of them share their bread. "You're okay." She whispers, leaning against his side.

"You're not." He gave her large portions of bread. "You look really tired."

"You need to eat." Elyan urged Gaius, who was the worst of them all.

"Whether I eat of not. I'm not long for this world." Gaius spoke weakly.

"Come on, Gaius." Elyan continued to urge the old physician.

"I'm a physician, Elyan. I've spent my days watching the circle of life. If there's one thing I'm not afraid of, it's death." He looked up at the knight, who was staring at him in concern. "If Gwaine has to fight again, he'll need all the strength he can get."

Elyan left the bread on Gaius' chest, with the old man's hand on it. He walked to Gwaine and checks his injuries. "How do you feel?"

"Tired. But I could take on an entire army." He laughed wearily.

"Gwaine..." Elaine whispered as she moved to lie her head on his lap. "I need to sleep."

"No..." Gwaine shook her. "Elaine, stay awake. You need to stay awake and eat more."

Elyan pulled her up. "Come on, your Majesty." Giving her some water. "Think of your child. Think of Galahad."

Elaine took the water in small sips. "I know. But I'm scared."

"I know." Gwaine tried to reassure her but he was too weak to hold her.

"Lancelot kissed me." She admitted to him so suddenly. Lack of food was making her delirious. "I kissed him back for a moment." It was her ill state that was making her speak like this. Her eyes were closed as she spoke, her hand wrapped around a chunk of bread and her breathing slow.

"What?" Gwaine asked weakly. "Why?"

Elaine sighed heavily, opening her eyes for a moment and leant against the wall, taking deep breaths. "He said he loved me." She closed her eyes again. "I'm so tired."

Her husband looked at her in shock. "Elaine, was it before or after we were married?"

"Both." She said sleepily. "I'm sorry." She fell asleep. Gwaine stared at her in shock. She had kissed Lancelot? It was not right. She chose him, not Lancelot. Lancelot had abandoned her. Both of them had betrayed him. How was he ever going to forgive them?

In the early morning at the Forest of Essetir, Merlin awoke Arthur. "What?"

"There's something I need to show you." Merlin walks off.

Arthur gets up, grabs his sword and follows after his servant. "This had better be good because this really isn't the time for one of your ridiculous games." He says following Merlin.

Merlin ignored him and continued walking ahead. "I was thinking about last night and how you were saying how you'd given up all hope, how you were a poor leader and a shoddy King."

"Shoddy?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

"All right, 'shabby'."

"Thanks." He said unsure.

"Well, it reminded me of a tale Gaius once told me." Merlin spoke as he walked ahead of Arthur.

"Merlin, I'm really not interested in your favourite bedtime stories."

"For once in your life, just... listen." Merlin urges him when they stop. Arthur holds his hands up in defeat. Merlin carries on walking and telling his tale. "Many years ago, before the birth of the five kingdoms, this land was in an endless cycle of bloodshed and war, but one man was determined to end all that. He gathered together the elders of each tribe and drew up plans for the lands to be divided. Each would respect the others' boundaries, and drew it over the land as they saw fit. That man was Camelot's first king, ancestor to all that followed, including you, Arthur."

"Bruta." Arthur nods, obviously remembering the tale from his childhood.

"You know the story."

"Yes, every child in Camelot does." He says in a bored tone. "Can I go back to bed now?"

"No. Because there's another part of the story that you haven't heard." Merlin carries on walking and telling his tale.

"Really?" He asked in disbelief. He knew the story off by heart and it was unlikely that he had forgotten or never heard of another part.

"When Bruta was on his deathbed, he asked to be taken deep into the forest. There, with the last of his strength, he thrust his sword into a rock. If his lineage was ever questioned, this would form a test. Only a true king of Camelot could pull the weapon free."

Arthur spots and raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you making this up?"

"Of course not." Merlin continued on walking.

Arthur is still unsure but still, he followed his manservant. "All right. If it's true, why haven't I heard this story?" They walk down the steps, which led into a clearing.

"Well, history isn't really your strong point, is it?"

"And where is this rock?" Arthur asked in annoyance.

"Oh, it was lost many years ago during the Great Purge but... I've managed to find it."

Arthur scoffed in annoyance and not being able to believe Merlin. "I've never heard so much rubbish in my entire life."

"Are you calling Gaius a liar?" Merlin asked as they stopped.

"No, I'm calling you an idiot." Arthur was annoyed at the story and also having been woken for this story.

Merlin looks in a certain direction where a large stone stood in a clearing with a sword stuck in the middle of it. "What's that then?"

Arthur looked in the same direction as Merlin. His eyes widening at the sight of the sword in the stone. He is stunned at the sight of the unique sight. The two of them walk closer, when a surprising sight appears; a crowd of remaining knights and peasants appear out of the forest. Sir Leon, Sir Percival and Sir Lancelot were among the knights and peasants. Arthur turns back to Merlin. "What the hell are you playing at?"

"I'm proving that you are their leader and their king."

"That sword is stuck fast in solid stone." He pointed to the stone, where the magnificent sword was stuck inside.

"And you're going to pull it out."

"Merlin, it's impossible."

"Arthur, you're the true king of Camelot."

Arthur looks back at the crowd of people, his gaze scanning the different sorts there. "Do you want me to look like a fool?"

"No, I'm going to make you see that Tristan's wrong; you aren't just anyone, you are special. You and you alone can draw out that sword."

The young King draws his own sword and sticks it into the ground. "You better be right about this." He slowly approaches the sword. He looks up at his people hesitantly, then places both hands on the hilt. He applies all his strength and tries to pull the sword out, but it does not move.

"You have to believe, Arthur." Merlin spoke gently as Arthur begins to shake with effort. But it does not move. Merlin looks up at the people as the King continues to struggle. "You're destined to be Albion's greatest king." He watches as Arthur lets go of the sword, breathing heavily. "Nothing," Merlin continued, "not even this stone can stand in your way."

Arthur looks at the stone and repositions himself. With confidence, he places one hand on the sword and closes his eyes.

Merlin does not look away from him. "Have faith."

Arthur wills himself to believe, and the sword is released from the sword. He holds the sword in shock and in front of him.

"Long live the King!" Sir Leon shouted. Every single person there, except Arthur, repeats Sir Leon. "Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live with king! Long live the King! Long live the King!"

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"Stay awake." Gwaine urged Elaine, who was drifting in and out of sleep. He was still angry with her but he was scared for her and their unborn baby. She was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. Gwaine was still weak from his recent fight.

"I'm awake." She chuckled softly and weakly. "What's that?" She asked at the sound of fighting, which was nearby.

"I don't know." He mumbled as he moved towards the bars. Sir Percival has fought his way into the dungeons. "Come on, boys. What's taking you so long?"

Sir Leon throws Percival the keys and he unlocks the cell. "You all right?" Percival asks Elyan, as they grasp arms.

"I've been locked up with Gwaine for a week." Elyan complained in a joking manner.

Leon and Lancelot walks into the cell. Leon helps Gwaine out of the cell and Lancelot lifts Elaine from the floor. "Lancelot..." She whispers when she notices him.

"It's all right. You are all safe now." He whispers in her ear.

Percival moves to Gaius' side. "Gaius." He whispers softly to the old physician. "Come on." He and Elyan help the old man to his feet.

Morgana and Helios were defeated. Camelot was rebuilding its life once again. Gaius was recovering in his chambers. As were Elaine and Gwaine. Lancelot left Camelot to fetch his son from Ealdor. She had begged him to get their son home. She wanted to know that he was safe, and she wanted him to be with her.

She and Gwaine lay in bed together. They had not spoken about her revelation of kissing Lancelot. They were making the most of being together again. "I'm so glad you're safe." He whispered in her ear. The couple lay on their sides with Elaine's back against his chest. "I was scared I was going to lose you."

"I'd never leave you." She whispered, holding his hand, which was resting on his stomach. "I was fighting to stay with you. To be able to see Galahad again." Her thumb rubbed his hand. "To make you a father."

He chuckled softly. "When will we be parents?"

"Gaius thinks in 7 months time." She chuckled also. "So, you get to experience my morning sickness, my strange food cravings, and my complaining."

"That will be new?" He laughed softly.

"Oi." She gently elbowed him in his stomach. "Behave." They lay in silence for a few moments when they heard shouting from outside the room. "What's that?"

"Mama!" A small voice called, and the door opened. "Mama!"

"Galahad!" She gasped and sat up. "Oh my darling!" She cried in shock as he kicked off his boots and jumped onto the bed. She wrapped her arms tight around him. "Oh, look at you!" She laughed and held him tightly. Lancelot and Hunith entered the room soon after Galahad ran inside the room. She pulled away from her son, kissing his forehead, nose, and cheeks. "Oh my darling!" She cupped his cheeks and kissed his forehead again. She looked up at Lancelot and Hunith. "Oh, thank you both so much."

"It's nothing, your Majesty." Hunith smiled. "He was a very good boy."

"I hope so." She smiled. "I am forever in your debt. You protected my son without a second thought."

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A/N: Sorry for taking a while to get this chapter out. Got a new job, left that job, and start another new job on Monday! :D So here's Chapter 43.

Responses from chapter 42:

ForeverTeamEdward13: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry for it being so late. Morgana always has another reason for what she does. :)

LaLucy: Thank you very much. I hope you liked this chapter and the reappearance of Lancelot.