Title: It's Like Magic
Author: Kiki1770
Rating: T for Language
Setting: Season 5
Summary: "I-I couldn't protect you. And now…you can never have children again." (Long Drabble)
A/N: Look below.
Warning: Please hold onto your box of tissues.
Freylin 10: Miscarried
"Arthur, calm down. Please." Gwen pleaded with her raging husband.
"How can I calm down? We were going for a simple patrol around the kingdom, we weren't even that far from the citadel, and those bandits had the nerve to attack the King and his Queen!" Arthur bellowed, banging his fist against the work table. He sighed and stared out the courtyard bellow them. He saw his innocent citizen ignorantly bustling away unaware of the increased bandit attacks. Arthur intended to keep it that way. "I just…I wanted us to get away. Even if it was only for a few hours. I'm sorry Guinevere…I had no intention of endangering you."
"I'm perfectly fine Arthur. I had the best knights in the realm protecting me, remember?" She said soothingly and wrapped her arms around her husband, pressing her cheek against his back. Arthur let out a soft chuckle.
"You had the best knight protecting you," Arthur teased back. He expected a giggle or something in response, but Gwen went completely silent. "What is it?"
"I…I shouldn't have brought Freya along," She whispered softly. "She hasn't been feeling well lately…I thought some fresh air would do her some good. I didn't mean to put her life in danger,"
Arthur pulled Gwen into soft embrace, trying to wish away her guilt. "You couldn't have known, Guinevere. It was an unexpected attack. Besides, she had Merlin and Gwaine to protect her,"
"Still," Gwen finally lifted her head. "We should apologize, Arthur."
Arthur smiled; he'd never grow tired of those compassionate eyes. He nodded, and took her hand. They walked towards the Physician's chambers.
"Princess," Gwaine's all too familiar voice shattered Arthur's temporary tranquility. Gwaine grinned brightly when he saw Arthur's mirthful annoyance. Leon stood beside Gwaine, rolling his eyes.
"Sir Gwaine, Sir Leon," Arthur nodded.
"You were heading to see Merlin and Freya?" He asked almost mischievously. Arthur raised an eyebrow at him. "Excellent, I'll definitely catch them off guard this time."
"Gwaine has this theory that they're secretly courting each other," Leon chuckled, informing the king.
"So I'm not the only who believes so," Gwen mused next to Arthur.
"Wait…are you serious? This is Merlin we're talking about."
"Oh Arthur, Merlin is man too. And Freya is a beautiful girl. It's only natural," Gwen soothed her bewildered husband.
"I won't believe it till I see it," Arthur shook his head. Gwaine shrugged in response, and rambled about his theory. The party began moving towards the Physician's chambers once more, with the company of Gwaine and Leon.
"I'm telling you Arthur, Merlin was absolutely livid during the attack. He wouldn't let Freya stray from his sight."
"Maybe he just wanted to protect the damsel," Arthur argued back.
"What about when we returned to Camelot? He was absolutely paranoid about getting her to Gaius," This shut Arthur up. He glared at Gwaine, and was about to reprimand him for spreading rumors when they heard a loud screech. **
"NOOO!" It was Freya's voice. Her voice shattered their mirthful banter. She screamed loud and shrilly. Her heart wrenching sobs echoed into the halls. Arthur and Gwaine exchanged a look, and ran towards the Physician's chamber. Gwen and Leon followed closely behind.
Arthur shoved the door open with a loud thud and the four into the chambers. Freya was sobbing hysterically, while Merlin tried to push her back into the cot. She struggled in his arms, and thrashed against his body. Gaius, the old physician, had a grim countenance and watched the pair with crestfallen eyes.
"Gaius what's going on?" Arthur asked. Freya was hysterical, so much so that Merlin was restraining her. Her eyes were red with tears; the bulge of thick bandages around her midsection was stained with blood and bled through her dress. What in heaven's name was going on? Guinevere tried to rush to Freya's side, but Gaius stopped her. **
"Please your highness, we must stay out of this." Gaius pleaded over the sound of Freya's desperate cries.
"I'm sorry Freya…I'm so sorry," They heard Merlin whisper in her ears. She screeched and banged her arms against his body, clawing her nails into his back.
"Let me go, Merlin. LET. ME. GO." She shrieked and pushed him away roughly. Merlin grabbed her and pulled her back into his arms. She cried and sobbed, relentlessly struggling against Merlin. She nearly managed to escape his grasp too.
"Damn it, Freya!" Merlin's sudden shout startled Freya into silence. Arthur had never seen Merlin so angry in his life. His manservant –who always held those cheery mischievous eyes– looked like a battle worn solider; his eyes were haunted like he'd seen a thousand battles in his young twenty-seven summers."I've lost too many people I love! I'm not going to lose you as well."
Merlin pulled Freya into his arms, and held her tightly until his knuckles stretched thin and turned an angry red. Freya was stunned; silent tears rolled down her face but the woman had lost all will to fight back.
"I'm sorry Merlin…I-I lost the baby," She whispered. Gwen gasped and latched her arms around Arthur's. Tears rolled down Gwen's face. Arthur, Gwaine, and Leon could only watch Merlin and Freya fall apart.
"No," Merlin choked. "This is my fault." Silent tears rolled down his face. Desolate and broken, the couple crumbled under the burden of their loss. Merlin's features grew solemn, in a matter of moments he'd aged a hundred years. The old Merlin was gone. "I-I couldn't protect you. And now...you can never have children again."
"I'm sorry," Freya whispered, cupping Merlin's cheek. Her red eyes stared into his and only his as she chanted the words like a mantra: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
She whispered those words until her throat went dry. She whispered those words until they could no longer shed tears. She whispered those words until they collapsed; their hope was no longer in this world. She whispered those words until they haunted the walls of Camelot.
"I'm sorry Merlin."
A/N: Sniffle, sniffle. I nearly cried writing this. Though I have to say, I'm not quite satisfied with the ending. But I was so happy with the responses from the last chapter I just HAD to put this one up! Ahhh, I just love the dynamics of the Merlin-Freya pairing. Don't worry, this one wont be the last of them. I'll have a really fluffly Freylin one up tomorrow to counter this :)
**** Although it's not explicitly stated, I was trying to imply that she'd taken a blow to the womb while Merlin and Gwaine had been fighting off bandits. Gwaine didn't know about the blow because he'd been to busy fighting. Merlin was the only one who saw it and nearly blew his cover when he did. (Sorry about leaving this stuff out but this is a drabble, techically I'm breaking the rules by making them so long)
Review, review, review.
Kiki1770 (Lol have you ever accidently almost put your real name?)