Chapter 47: Two Years Later

Two Years Later

"Mama. Mama. Mama."

"What? What? What?" Elaine laughed as she lifted her daughter off the floor and onto her lap. She kissed the tip of Anne's nose and held her close. "Mama is busy." Hugging her two year old daughter.

"Hungry." She giggled and hugged Elaine tightly. "Mama."

Elaine laughed again and stood up with Anne in her arms. "Let's go to the kitchens then." She placed Anne on her hip and walked out of her study. "Oh Mary." Elaine smiled at the sight of her maid walking towards her with a tray.

"I was bringing you some food, your Majesty." She curtseyed slightly.

"Hungry still?" Elaine looked down at her daughter, who was clutching the back of Elaine's dress and sucking her other thumb. Anne nodded silently and rested her head on Elaine's shoulder. "Come on, darling." She turned and returned to her study. She sat at her desk with Anne on her lap as Mary placed the tray on the table. "Could you see if Prince Galahad has had food?"

"Yes, my Lady." Mary curtseyed and left the room.

"Now, Princess Anne." Elaine reached forward and lifted the lid. "What have we here?" She picked up a slice of ham and tore it up into small pieces, giving one piece to Anne, who ate it happily. The Queen chuckled as she lifted her quill, dipping it in the ink pot, and scribbled a few words on a piece of parchment. "I wonder where Papa is."

"Papa!" Anne squealed when Elaine mentioned Papa.

She laughed and gave her another piece of ham. "We'll find him later." She picked up a piece of ham and ate it herself. "I think Papa is with Galahad."

"Papa!" Anne giggled again as she reached for a grape, and ate it slowly.

Elaine lifted a piece of parchment and read it. It was a report about the attacks on her borders. Lot had escaped the year before and was now building up his army again. Her knights were on high alert. She was constantly being followed around by at least four guards. It was the same with the children. They were never left alone. She picked up a piece of ham, tore it in two, gave a piece to Anne and then ate the rest herself. "Hmmm... Mama is stuck." She spoke to herself and her daughter, who was just happy eating her piece of ham. Lot was stressful. He needed to be stopped.

"Well done, Galahad!" Gwaine praised his stepson. Elaine had finally given permission for Galahad to start his training. "I think you will be a knight very soon."

"Will Mama let me?" He looked up at the older man with glee.

Gwaine sat on the grass and Galahad sat next to him, legs crossed. "When you are about 16. I think. I think you will be ready by then."

"Really?" He grinned widely, resting his sword on the ground next to him. "Do you think Mama will let me before then?"

"No. She would rather you become a knight at 18. So, 16 might be a long shot. But you never know. Your Mama might let you." He grinned as he lay back, letting the sun warm his skin. He loved these days with Galahad. Galahad was like a son to him. He would love a son but if he and Elaine were not blessed with one, he would always consider Galahad as his son. Even if he had a son.

"Gwaine?"

He smiled a little bit. "Yes?"

"When does Papa arrive?"

Lancelot was coming to visit for two weeks. He was determined to spend time with his son. It hurt Elaine to have Lancelot stay for too long. But it was necessary for Galahad. "Tomorrow morning." Gwaine answered him. "You can show him all your fighting skills. He will be so proud of you."

Galahad sprang to his feet and picked up his sword. "Let me get practising more. I want to show him that I will be a great knight like him."

Gwaine laughed as he sat up and watched his step-son swing his sword through the air. Fighting imaginary foes. "You will be the greatest knight of them all." He stood up, picking up his own blunt sword. "Are you ready?" Galahad spun around to face his stepfather, who was ready to fight him.

Lot could not help but smirk when his patrols brought him news about Corbenic. His forces were attacking the borders continuously. He was determined to have the Kingdom. He would kill the Queen's husband and take her as his own. "When will we be ready to attack the castle?"

"Next week, sir." His general announced to him. He had lost very few men during the attacks. Lot's army was very powerful and could crush Corbenic's army within hours. "Your men are ready to leave on your command."

"Good. Get them trained and ready." Lot stood up and left the council room. "Good." He smirked as he thought about crushing the Kingdom of Corbenic and making it his own.

Elaine had put Anne to bed and was waiting for Gwaine and Galahad to return from Galahad's training. She waited in her son's chambers, which were slightly a mess. She did not mind that. It showed that he was a normal child. She was always an untidy child but she cared for her belongings. She bent down and picked up a toy knight. She looked down at the knight, and smiled. It was her son's favourite toy. He wanted to pretend that he was a commander of his own knights. He would have that one day. Not just yet. But one day.

"Mama!" Galahad cried in delight when he saw her in his room. "I am going to be the greatest knight in all the Kingdoms!"

"I hope so." Elaine grinned as she watched him put his sword away and then wrapped her arms around him, when he rushed to her and hugged her. "Did you do as your told today?" She raised an eyebrow at her son.

"Yes Mama." He smiled broadly.

Elaine looked up at Gwaine, who nodded silently as he stood in the doorway. "Good boy." She knelt in front of him and kissed his forehead. "Now, Mary is waiting for you in the antechamber. You are to have a bath. Be nice and clean for Papa tomorrow."

"Yes Mama." He smiled and hugged her once more.

"Good night darling. Go to bed when Mary tells you to." She ran her hand over his curls. "Yes?"

Galahad nodded and smiled broadly. "Yes Mama. I want to be up early to meet Papa tomorrow morning."

"Good boy." She smiled and kissed his forehead once again. "I shall see you tomorrow morning."

"Good night Mama." He smiled before rushing into his antechamber, to bathe before bed.

Elaine stood up and walked towards Gwaine, who was grinning at her. "What?"

"Nothing." He grinned. "Do I get my bath tonight?" He winked at her. "Will you be helping me wash?"

"Gwaine!" She laughed and nudged his stomach. He held his arm out and she looped her arm into his. "I'll be joining you tonight." She chuckled as they walked to their chambers.

"Oh?" He grinned still as he opened the door for her. "Elaine? Are you all right?" He watched her as she sat at her dressing table, began taking off her jewellery and taking her hair down.

"I am fine." She smiled at him through the mirror.

He shook his head and sat on the bed, pulling off his boots. "You are not. I know you are not all right. You've barely slept. I wake in the middle of the night and find you out of bed." He had both his boots off and he stood up, walked to her. "What's wrong, my love?" He rested his hands on her shoulders. He could see tears falling down her cheeks. "Elaine?" He moved and knelt on her right hand side.

"It's just going all wrong." She buried her face in her arms, leaning on the dressing table.

Gwaine rubbed her back slowly and gently. "Elaine? What is wrong? Please tell me. I can help you."

She raised her head and looked to face him. "I'm going to lose. Lot is too strong. I fear for my people, my children and you." Tears fell faster.

"Elaine..."

She cut him off. "I'm pregnant again."

"What?" He gasped in shock. "How long have you known?" He ran his hand over her hair.

"A few weeks. I just did not know how to tell you." She tried smiling but she couldn't. "I have been so busy with the problem of Lot, I didn't think to tell you."

He smiled a little and kissed her softly. "Well, this is amazing news. Especially with all the troubles around us." He reached up and placed his hand on her stomach, there was a slight bump there. "How far along are you?"

She sighed heavily. "Declan believes I am 4 months pregnant." She chuckled nervously as he wiped the tears away from his cheeks. "I did not even notice. No morning sickness. I only just noticed my cycles had stopped." She laughed nervously once more. "No one except Declan knows."

Gwaine was still staring at her stomach. Their daughter was now two years old. He never expected them to have another child so soon. He didn't care. It was amazing. "This is great news, in such dark times."

Elaine smiled down at him as he shifted forward and gently kissed her stomach. "Come on. We have a bath waiting for us."

"When is Papa arriving?" Galahad asked for the fifth time the next morning.

Elaine had Anne perched on her hip as she walked down the long corridor with Galahad walking alongside her. "Now. Which is why we are going to greet him now."

"Is it just Papa or are there other knights of Camelot coming?"

Elaine looked down at her son and smiled. "Just Papa." She chuckled when she noticed he was happier at that sentence. She was extremely nervous about seeing Lancelot. Whenever they met, she would find herself thinking about the time they kissed. She could not understand why she was continuously remembering that memory. Whenever they met, they would usually argue. Mostly over Galahad, but once they argued about that kiss. She and Lancelot had insisted on a private meeting about Galahad. They started the argument about whether of not Galahad should be allowed to stay with Lancelot in Camelot.

"Papa!" Galahad said excitedly when he saw Lancelot enter the main castle. He ran straight to his father. "I've missed you!" He hugged him tightly as Lancelot lifted him up.

"I've missed you too." He held him closely. He chuckled as he tried to put Galahad down but his son's legs were too tight around him. He carried him towards Elaine. "Your majesty." He bowed to her slightly.

"Sir Lancelot." She smiled to him. "I hope your journey was easy."

He shook his head slightly and finally placed Galahad on the floor. "Galahad. I need to talk to your Mama in private. I've heard that you are practising your swordsmanship." He smiled down at his son. "Go and dress into your fighting clothes. Come and meet me in Mama's office."

"Yes Papa!" He said excitedly and sped away from them.

Lancelot chuckled slightly as he watched Galahad disappear at the top of the stairs. He turned to Elaine, who was watching him intently. "Hello Anne." He tickled the young girl's chin, who giggled. "We need to talk."

"Of course." She handed Anne to Mary. "Could you make sure Prince Galahad is dressed properly?"

"Yes, ma'am." She curtseyed and left them with Anne in her arms.

"And also send Sir Gwaine to my office." Elaine said to a guard, who bowed and left them. "Let's talk." She led Lancelot towards her office. Once inside, she poured them both a goblet of wine. "What is it, Lancelot?"

He sat down in front of her desk and she sat down behind her desk. "As I was travelling here, there were a lot of villages destroyed."

"What?" She gasped. "Any survivors?"

He shook his head. "Not many. Those who have survived are hiding in the forest."

Elaine placed her goblet on the desk. "Oh no!" She gasped and stood up. "Why did they not come here? We would have helped them. Was it Lot?"

Lancelot nodded. "Yes. I followed the trail for a few hours and found a few of his men camping. About 2 days journey from here. I was nearly caught."

"I'm glad you weren't." She sat back down. "Galahad would have been so disappointed. He has been looking forward to your arrival for days." She smiled a little at him.

"Have you?" He asked her curiously.

Elaine sighed heavily. "Lancelot. Stop it." She looked away from him. "Don't do this."

"Fine." He sipped his drink. "You're pregnant."

"How am I the only one that did not notice?" She chuckled.

"None of us noticed." Gwaine smiled as he entered the office. "I have a little knight here, who is desperate to beat his father in a sword fight."

"I'm ready, Papa!" Galahad ran into the room, wearing breeches and an old shirt, with boots. Lancelot stood up and smiled at his young son.

Mary walked into the office with Anne in her arms. She curtseyed briefly and walked to Elaine, handing her Anne. "I shall be in the kitchens if you need me." She curtseyed deeply and left the room.

"Well?" Elaine looked at her son. "Are you going to take Papa to the training fields?"

"Yes. Come Papa. Let me show you." He grabbed Lancelot's hand and pulled him out of the office.

Gwaine moved and closed the door. "Well?"

She sighed heavily and walked to his open arms. He wrapped his arms around his wife and daughter. "He asked me if I had been looking forward to his arrival." She rested her head against his shoulder. "I'm only glad he is here for Galahad. He misses his father so much." She stood up straight, reaching up her free hand and cupping his cheek. "I need you by my side. You are my strength."

He kissed her softly. "I will not leave your side." He kissed the top of Anne's head. She had inherited his hair; dark, curly and occasionally unruly. "Now, my little Princess." He took Anne from Elaine. The young girl giggled when Gwaine kissed her cheek. "Have you been a good girl for your Mama this morning?"

"Nope. She's just like her Papa. Very cheeky." Elaine chuckled as she ran her hand over Anne's curls. "Eating like her Papa too. As soon as she was awake and dressed, she was demanding food." She scrunched her face up, making Anne giggle.

"No!" The little girl protested and then giggled when Gwaine tickled her.

Gwaine noticed his wife, she seemed sad and looked stressed. "What's wrong? Is it the baby?"

"No. The baby is fine." She smiled a little bit, rubbing her stomach. "Lancelot brought news with him. He encounter some of Lot's soldiers. They've been attacking the outlying villages. Some are completely destroyed. None of the villagers have come for help. It's why I did not know." Tears were running down her cheeks. "He is getting more and more dangerous. Closer to the castle. My people will not survive. I should be there to help them"

He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault." He stepped back, cupping her cheek. "Shall I ask Pellinore to go with a few knights and see what is happening?"

"No." She shook her head. "I will ask him." She kissed Anne's cheek. "Stay with Papa."

"Yes." She nodded and smiled at her mother.

Elaine chuckled. "She's had us wrapped around her finger for a long time." She kissed Anne's cheek again and then kissed Gwaine softly on the lips. "Keep her busy. I'll be back soon."

A/N: Slowly but surely getting to the threat of Lot. It does not get pleasant in the next chapter. Another pregnancy? Like that? Come on guys! What happened to all my reviewers? :( I need more feedback.

Responses from chapter 46:

ForeverTeamEdward13: Oooooh. I like that!