Hime: Hi! Sorry for the late update, I've been really really busy!

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"Well...the queen does need a new maidservant." Leon says, voicing out his thoughts.

Beth's eyes practically beamed with excitement, "Really?"

Leon nods, he knew Gwen missed having a lady friend but as much trouble as Mordred would claim Beth to be; she seemed to be a good person and Merlin speaks fondly of her so it'll be fine wouldn't it?

"She would need to meet you though. If you aren't too busy, could you come over with us now?"

"Yes of course!"

Percival couldn't help but smile, she looked genuinely enthusiastic to be a servant of the royal household. He watched as Beth excused herself and hurried away to put on a clean dress, she had to look presentable for the queen didn't she?

Hunith frowned, reading the letter Layla's dove brought to her. She could not hide her confusion as she read the contents. Myriddin foresaw that Guinevere is pregnant?

Hunith's frown deepened, she gave Gwen a physical not too long ago and there were no signs of pregnancy that she found. All she found was that Gwen is a very healthy young woman and perfectly capable of carrying children. The peasant woman sighed, then this means that her grandson's vision won't happen until much later. This realization made Hunith a little sad. It would have been nice to tell the couple that Gwen was with a child. Unfortunately, visions of Seers are not specific. Merlin's mother sighed again. False hope really was the worst.

"Mum!"

Hunith turned to see her son coming toward her, "Yes dear?"

"We're all packed, we should be leaving as soon as-what's the matter?" Merlin asks seeing the look on his mother's face.

Hunith told Merlin everything; the letter, the physical and her feelings about the situation. When she finished, she was surprised to see him smiling.

"Merlin?"

"Turn around."

Frowning, Hunith turned to see Arthur amd Gwen holding hands and smiling widely as they walked toward the pathway leading to her home.

"I can sense that Gwen finally conceived but only just recently though."

Hunith turned back to her son, shocked, "How-?"

"I don't know how or why but I can see when a woman is a pregnant with my magic which is pretty helpful for a physician's assistant."

Hunith laughed, "I can imagine! But then, when it comes to Layla-?"

"I think this power won't allow me to see another magical being's pregnant state that's why I was so shocked when Layla told me about being pregnant with Myriddin." Merlin answers, looking thoughtful.

Hunith nodded, digesting this new information, "So what does Gwen look like to you now?"

"Now, I see Gwen with a small center of her stomach sparkling gold. Luckily for me, I had practice over the years ignoring sparkling stomachs."

Hunith laughed again.

"Mum, I think you need to continue with your original parting medical advice. Best to leave it as a surprise yeah?"

"Yes I agree, I'll swap the herb medicines I was going to give her with some other ones I have to ensure her healthy pregnancy."

Merlin nodded and his mother felt very glad that Layla was pregnant too if not she wouldn't have those herbs.

Speaking of Layla, Hunith was certain that the brunette had yet to tell her husband about her latest pregnancy but that wasn't her business to pry. She suspected she hasn't told Merlin because she was wary of how eventful things had been for Camelot this year.

Layla was probably worried that her pregnancy would distract him for his duties. After all, during Layla's pregnancy with Myriddin, Merlin was restless; he could barely keep away & dropped by as often as he could. As much as it amused the two ladies, his behaviour still worried them because Merlin would stay over just to be with Layla when he should have been in Camelot sleeping. After Myriddin was born, he would write letters everyday asking anything and everything, making sure his family was alright.

Hunith wondered whether Balinor, bless his soul would have been the same if he stayed in Ealdor and had known about Merlin from the beginning.

"We're back!"

Merlin and Hunith smiled when Gwaine and Mordred returned, "How was it?"

"We got enough food to last us the journey back. We got meat, apples-"

"-a whole basket full!" Gwaine finished with glee.

Merlin chuckled until the door opened and the royal couple entered.

"How was the walk?" Hunith asked the two.

"It was lovely Hunith. I never knew Ealdor had such a beautiful forest."

Merlin couldn't help but smile. Ealdor had been prospering since Layla came to the village. The witch's strong affiliation with nature was very helpful with that. Even Myriddin's birth had brought about a very good harvest season.

The door opened again and everyone turned to see a Leon, Percival and a very familiar milkmaid.

Gwen's eyes widened in recognition, "Annabeth?"

The pretty peasant girl gasped in surprise before letting out a small squeal and running towards her friend for a hug, "Oh my gosh Gwen!"

Arthur stared as the two women hugged each other, "You two know one another?"

"Yes!" Beth answers as she pulls away from Gwen. "Gwen came here to hide away here years ago and she was such fun!"

Gwen let out a girlish giggle, remembering all those days she spent with Annabeth when she wasn't helping Hunith with her herb medicine practice. Arthur had completely forgotten that his wife had stayed in Ealdor after he exiled her. He never asked her much about it. He made a mental note to ask her later.

"How is your family doing Beth?" Gwen asks kindly but Beth's expression changed to a melancholic one, startling the queen consort.

"My father and sister died during Morgana's raid on Ealdor."

Hunith and Merlin gave sympathetic looks to their neighbour's direction but Annabeth wasn't looking at them; her eyes were downcast. Gwen squeezed the younger girl's hand tightly in hers, seeing this "I am so sorry..."

"It wasn't your fault Gwen."

Beth smiled best she could but her friend could see that she was still upset, "So it's just you and your stepmother now right?"

Gwen smiled seeing Beth roll her eyes in response.

"Still not getting along with her I see."

Beth waved her hand dismissively and wasted no time changing the topic; she told Gwen how she wished that Gwen had kept in touch and went on telling her friend how familiar Gwen's voice seemed when she had spied on the house, she could never confirm her identity because Beth could never catch a look at her face till now. But before Beth could go on to tell her friend on the village's current happenings, Mordred interrupted her.

"Why did Leon and Percival bring you here?" the youngest knight asks, his irritation evident in his voice.

The young milkmaid gave him glare but answered his question.

"I wish to apply for the position of the Queen's maidservant."

Gwen couldn't help herself, she let out a girlish squeal and hugged her friend , obviously elated while Merlin, Hunith and Mordred were all shocked. Merlin especially.

"Anna, why do you want to leave Ealdor? You love this place!"

The peasant girl's eyes softened as she met eyes with Merlin and answered softly but loud enough for all to hear her.

"I have to."

"Why?" Mordred asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"My stepmother arranged to have me married to Jeremiah."

Hunith was appalled, "That brute?!"

Surprised by her loud outburst, the Camelot group excluding Merlin all looked at her. Embarrassed, Hunith went on to explain that Jeremiah, a man just few years older than Merlin, Arthur's age actually was a lad known throughout the village in different ways. He is known to be a charming and polite men to most of the naive adults whereas for the rest, they knew his true nature; he was a bully.

"Why Merlin, Will and Anna dear were all terrorized by that mean fellow when they were all children!"

"Surely he's changed?" Arthur asks. "After all it has been years."

Merlin snorted loudly causing everyone to turn and look at him, they were surprised to see a look of disdain on the young servant's face.

Merlin frowned deeply, remembering his last encounter with Jeremiah. The nerve of that bastard to try anything with Layla. Merlin had never been so grateful of his telepathic connection till that time. Layla cried to him for help because Jeremiah had blindfolded, gagged and bound her up in his bedroom. Luckily, Merlin was on his usual monthly weekend visit at the time and managed to save her before anything could happen. He warned Jeremiah harshly to never touch Layla again before taking away the brunette witch with him to the forest. That day, at the forest, Layla confessed to him and Merlin kissed her for the first time. They were inseparable since then.

Hunith moved her hand to clasp her son's and he turned to look at her who cast him a soft gaze. Relaxing a little, Merlin turned back to see his friends' worried expressions.

"Bad memories."

Gwaine's eyes narrowed, knowing fully well that it was more than that but decided to press about it later.

"So Gwen, do I have the job?"

The Queen of Camelot laughs and tells her friend yes she did. Gwen instructs Annabeth to hurry home and pack because everyone was leaving in an hour. The new maidservant smiles widely and nods, curtsying to her new employer with an added effect before making her leave.

Hunith shakes her head in amusement watching the girl take off excitedly.

Camelot is about to become a much more livelier kingdom with Annabeth around.

Hopefully, that mischievous girl won't bring out Merlin's old playful ways or the city will suffer the wrath of their prank wars.

Well...either way, Camelot is going to have her hands full.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! :)