Anne's POV
Southrons chase them through the woods. Gwen and Merlin each hold onto Anne as they run. Tristan supports Isolde as they go, and Arthur leads the way.
They are approaching the mouth of the Cave tunnels when Merlin turns to Anne and Gwen. "I'll cover our tracks, you keep going!" He insists. He turns to Gwen. "Help Anne, Gwen."
"Of course." Gwen nods, and she braces herself as Anne leans her entire weight on her shoulders.
Anne gives Merlin a quick peck and she and Gwen continue after Arthur, Tristan, and Isolde. They head into the Caves but then Anne holds her stomach as another contraction hits, and this one nearly brings her to her knees.
"Anne!" Gwen exclaims, grabbing Anne's arms and pulling her back up last second. "Are you alright?"
Anne sucks in deep and slow breaths. "I'm okay. I'll be fine."
"Your gown is wet." Gwen frowns, and Anne looks over at her slowly. Anne watches as the realisation hits Gwen, but Anne just lifts her chin and keeps going. Gwen struggles to catch up with her. "The baby's coming!" Gwen exclaims. "You must tell Merlin!"
"I can't." Anne insists. She checks to make sure that Arthur nor Tristan nor Isolde have heard them, but they are a fair distance away from them. "We've already got enough on our plates. Besides, Gauis says that first time mothers can be in labour for a long long time." Anne nods quickly and wipes the sweat from her brows. "That's what I'm counting on. A long long time."
"But Anne!" Gwen protests. "What if the baby were to come right now?! We must stop—"
"No!" Anne cuts in. "No stopping. We can't stop."
Gwen opens her mouth to protest, but she cuts herself off when they hear footsteps behind them. They turn their heads, but it is just Merlin carrying a lit torch.
"Why are you running so slow?" He asks. He doesn't wait for a reply and simply wraps his arm around Anne's back and practically lifts her as they run the rest of the way. Anne shoots Gwen a pleading look, pleading for her to keep her mouth shut, and thankfully she does.
"Did you lose them?" Arthur asks when they got close enough to him.
"It's safe." Merlin replies, letting go of Anne, who takes this chance to lean against the Cave wall and take a breather.
"You sure?"
"Do I look like an idiot?" Merlin remarks as he walks to the front of the group.
"Yes." Arthur automatically replies causing Anne to smile slightly.
"Doesn't change, does it?"
Arthur comes up to stand next to Merlin. "Which way now?" Merlin looks around uncertainly. Arthur sighs exasperatedly. "I thought you said you grew up in these tunnels."
"I did!" Merlin insists, but he bites his lip as he scans the area around him. "Just– it could be that way." He gestures to the left with his torch.
"Or it could be that way." Arthur says, gesturing the other way.
"Yes." Merlin acknowledges.
"That's very reassuring." Arthur rolls his eyes.
"Oi, you two." Anne interrupts, trying not to huff and puff because Merlin will know right away that she is in even more pain than before. "Make a decision. Today."
"Fine!" Merlin says, and they end up going left.
—
Arthur and Merlin lead their party through the Caves. Gwen holds onto Anne and, as a result, they trail behind in the group and end up walking beside Tristan.
"So, you know Arthur?" He asks Gwen as they come to a stop in front of large rocks they'll have to climb. Anne feels her already aching back screech in protest.
Gwen, noticing her discomfort, rubs Anne's lower back before offering her a hand to help her climb. "I was a servant in Camelot." Gwen answers Tristan's question.
Anne puts one foot on top of the rock, and Tristan is kind enough to take her other hand and help her up.
"To Arthur?" He goes on once Anne is safely on top of the rock.
"No."
"So, why are you here?" Tristan asks.
"He is my King." Gwen replies.
"I can't say I've detected many kingly qualities so far." Tristan remarks. Anne sends him a glare.
"Well, maybe you don't know him." Gwen sniffs at him.
Despite the immense pain she is in, Anne also finds it in herself to retort. "I've had my fair share of problems in the past with Arthur Pendragon but he's a good man, and a good king. And that is the one thing that I've never doubted."
Tristan turns his head away from them and it looks like that is the last bit of conversation he is willing to give. Anne is thankful as she, firstly, cannot stand Tristan right now and secondly, it's because it is becoming more and more difficult to talk with each passing contraction.
—
The sound of movement coming from behind them stops them all in their tracks, and they all turn their heads to look behind them at the same time.
"I thought you said we'd lost them." Arthur barely breathes.
"I thought I had." Merlin responds just as quietly.
"It won't take long for them to catch us." Tristan states.
Merlin is immediately moving along the line to the back, heading to go back through the tunnel. "I'll go back." He offers.
"What are you gonna do?" Arthur demands.
"Create a diversion."
Arthur reaches out and grabs Merlin's arm before Anne has the chance to. "It's too risky."
"I know these tunnels and Agravaine doesn't." Merlin points out. He hands Arthur his torch. "You keep going."
Anne opens her mouth to protest, but little noises come out instead of words. Merlin turns to her and reaches out to caress her face. He startles a bit when he touches her, probably feeling how much Anne is actually sweating, but brushes it off.
"You have to go, Anne." Merlin insists. His eyes flicker down to her stomach. Anne panics at the thought that he has figured out that she is in labour, but he just looks back up at her and says, "Protect yourself and the baby."
With that, he turns to leave, but Arthur stops him again. "Merlin..." he starts, and he has a look on his face that says that he is worried about him, but he hesitates to say that out loud. "Don't do anything stupid." He settles on.
Merlin glances back the way they came before looking back to Arthur. "Me?" He jokes, but then his expression turns a bit more serious as he says, "Take care of Anne" to Arthur before turning and running.
Anne takes a step forward, but Arthur wraps his arm around her shoulders and pushes her back. "We've got to go." He speaks.
Anne feels another wave of pain wash over her stomach and back, so she lets him lead her away despite the strong urge to follow her husband.
—
Arthur eventually insists on going back for Merlin. Anne tries to follow him but Gwen, Isolde and Tristan push her on. Anne can't wait for this pregnancy to be over and for her to be able to do things without everyone being overprotective of her.
After a few minutes of walking, they hear footsteps again, and behind them, Merlin and Arthur emerge. Anne's chest loosens, and she hobbles over to Merlin.
"You're okay!" She breathes as she cups his face, but the look in his eyes tells Anne that he actually isn't. Something had happened.
"I'll tell you later." He communicates telepathically. Anne nods, taking her hands from his cheeks to his hands and gives them a tight squeeze. He turns her around and supports her back once more as they continue on.
Finally, they make it to the other side of the mountain. They eventually decide to hold up in the Forest of Essetir where they'll be safe for now and where they might find other survivors. Anne experienced another squeeze in her abdomen while they had talked.
Arthur had tried to lead them, insisting they keep going for now, but it was obvious that thinking of plans and enforcing them, like he is so used to doing, was becoming difficult for him. Merlin had been particularly firm about stopping to rest, saying that Anne needs to rest, worried all the stress will bring on an early labour. Anne and Gwen had shared a look, both knowing it is too late for that.
—
Amelia's POV
After one night, Amelia is already beginning to feel some of the effects of hunger but she pushes it down to focus on those around her, her friends who have been starving and are only receiving small morsels of bread, but in truth, she can't do that for long, she has someone else to care for.
Gwaine is slumped in a corner, manacles on his wrists like Amelia's though non-spelled ones. He has some cuts and bruises that Amelia has tried to clean the best she can with a bit of torn fabric from her clothes.
Elyan tends to Gaius who is lying on the bed, pale and weak. "Come on, Gaius, hold fast." He pleads.
Amelia watches with tears in her eyes.
Suddenly, some Southron Guards open the Cell. One restrains Elyan while the other picks up Gwaine. Amelia panics
"Gwaine!" She cries frantically, running towards them but a third Guard pushes her back.
"Don't worry, at least we get to eat." Gwaine reassures them, trying to give them a soothing smile as he's escorted out.
Amelia grabs the bars as the Southron locks the Cell door, her heart in her stomach.
—
Anne's POV
"Are you alright?" Merlin whispers in Anne's ear once he laid out his jacket onto the ground and helped her settle on top of it. They had found a spot to camp for the night and Merlin had insisted Anne rest while the others make camp.
"I'm fine." Anne insists. She stretches her legs out in front of her, not caring how unladylike it is. Anne braces her hands behind her and tips her head back. She breathes in heavily through gritted teeth. "I just need a little breather."
"Okay." Merlin says, sitting down next to her.
"No, you need to help the others."
Merlin frowns. "But—"
"I'll be fine." Anne argues. Her husband finally nods and stands. He gives her a kiss on the head, drapes his jacket on top of her and leaves her be.
Anne rolls over and tries to sleep. But it's difficult as the sharp pangs are slowly moving closer together, which is a worry. From what she remembers of what Gaius and Midwives in Camelot told her about childbirth that she remembers is that when contractions get closer together, then it is almost time to start pushing. Her only relief is that they are not too frequent yet and she has no urge to push.
—
Amelia's POV
Gwaine stumbles into the Cell. Amelia rushes forward to catch him and ease him to the ground as best she can. She frantically looks over him for new wounds. She frowns as she discovers new ones and gets out her bit of fabric, spitting on it and dabbling. Gwaine smiles thankfully.
"I see you're receiving high quality care Sir Knight." Comes the sarcastic voice of her older half sister. Amelia turns and shoots a glare at Morgana who stands in the doorway, smirking, with a half loaf of bread in her hand. Morgana ignores her and says, "Enjoy your supper." She tosses the bread into the Cell. "I fear it'll be your last." Morgana exits and the Southrons lock the Cell door.
Elyan moves to where Gaius lies and tries to give some bread to him. "You need to eat."
"Whether I eat or not, I'm not long for this world." Gaius croaks tiredly.
Amelia goes to them in alarm. "No, Gaius! You can't say such things!"
"I'm a Physician, Amelia. I've spent my days watching the cycle of life. If there's one thing I'm not afraid of, it's death." Gaius replies. "Don't waste your food, Elyan. If Gwaine has to fight again, he'll need all the strength he can get, and Amelia needs the strength for her child."
Elyan sighs, leaving the bread with Gaius.
—
Anne's POV
Anne eventually falls asleep. She doesn't know how long it's been by the time she gets shaken awake again.
Anne peeks her eyes open and turns her head to look at Merlin. "What?" She asks dreamily. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm going to go call for Kilgharrah." Merlin answers. "I just thought I should let you know."
Anne frowns in confusion. "Why? What's happening?" She questions.
"It's Arthur. He's beginning to lose faith in himself. I need to do something." Merlin explains.
"Alright." Anne says, sitting up and pushing his jacket off her. "I'll come with you."
"No." Merlin insists, pushing her back down. "We might be leaving camp tomorrow, and I want you to be as rested as possible."
Before Anne can protest, a pang of pain punches her stomach. She scrunches up her face in pain and nods. "Okay. You're right."
"Anne, are you okay?" Merlin asks, cupping her face. "Is the pain getting worse?"
"Nothing that I can't handle." Anne is quick to assure him.
His eyes suddenly widen as he looks down to her stomach. "Is it the baby? Are they coming?" Merlin moves his hand to touch her stomach.
Anne grips his hand before he can, worried that it'll alert him to the truth. "No!" She whispers. "It's not the baby." She hates lying to him, but she knows how much this Arthur problem is bothering him, and she doesn't want to cause him any more trouble. "Go, talk to Kilgharrah. Hopefully he'll have some helpful advice."
With a worried look, Merlin ultimately kisses her softly before getting up and running through the forest. Anne lays back down on the ground and wraps Merlin's jacket around her front. She closes her eyes and tries to get some more sleep, hoping that when she wakes, they'd have a plan.
—
Merlin had returned and told Anne that Kilgharrah had said that all Merlin needed to do was make Arthur believe in himself again. He tells her of the plan that he has come up with before directing Anne to where everyone has gathered while he goes to wake Arthur up. Knights, Courtiers, and peasants. Kilgharrah had helped find them. The first people she sees are Percival and Leon.
"Percival! Leon!" She cries happily as she waddles over to them. Anne can't wait for the time when she'll be able to run normally.
"Anne!" Leon cries back happily as he and Percival move to meet her halfway.
Anne wraps each of them up in their own hug. "I am so pleased to see you both safe."
"Not all of us." Percival remarks almost darkly.
Anne takes a moment to observe the bags under his eyes and how drained he looks overall. She doubts Percival has had any sleep, worrying about what might be happening to his wife.
She places her hands on his upper arms to comfort him. "We will save her, Percival. As well as the others." Percival nods, his face full of determination.
Another wave of pain wash over her stomach and back. The labour pains are definitely getting closer and stronger. She bites back the pain but both Leon and Percival have already noticed.
"Anne?" Leon questions confused before it dawns on him. "The baby's coming!"
"Ssh! I'd rather you don't tell Merlin, not yet." Anne quips casually as she can as she breathes through the last bit of the pain.
Percival and Leon look at her in alarm. "He doesn't know?!" The former quietly exclaims.
"Not yet and I would prefer it to stay that way for now."
Before they can say anymore, Arthur and Merlin emerge from the trees. As Arthur walks closer, they all emerge themselves. Arthur looks at them all, stunned.
Merlin is smiling, proud. Arthur glances back at him, furiously muttering at him. Anne would guess that Arthur is panicked about this.
Merlin and Arthur mutter amongst themselves. Arthur glances back at the crowd of people surrounding the sword in the stone before turning to talk to Merlin again. Anne watches on anxiously.
Arthur then draws his sword and sticks it to the ground. With one last comment directed at Merlin, he approaches the stone slowly. Arthur looks up at the crowd hesitantly, then places both hands on the hilt. He tries to pull it up, but the sword doesn't budge. Arthur shakes with effort, but the sword doesn't move. Anne doesn't dare look at anyone else, only Arthur.
Arthur lets go of the sword and turns to Merlin. Merlin says something that seems to work as Arthur repositions himself. He places one hand on the sword hilt and closes his eyes. He lifts his chin, willing himself to believe.
Everyone is so focused on Arthur, that they don't see Merlin's eyes glow as the sword is released. Arthur pulls it out and into the air, staring at it, amazed. The people watch in awe.
"Long live the King!" Leon shouts.
The entire crowd takes up the chant before rushing in to honour their king. "Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King!"
—
Anne keeps her distance as Arthur strategises with Percival, Leon, and Merlin. She sees how tense and aggravated Percival is and Anne doesn't blame him. His wife is being imprisoned by the enemy, her own sister, and God knows what's happened.
Later, night has fallen, and Anne sees that Arthur is in deep thought, frowning, as he walks past where she leans against a tree.
"Arthur?" Anne calls. "You all right?"
"Yes." Doesn't sound like it.
"Do you think there are too many of them?" She questions.
"Southrons are people like you and me. Men we can fight. But Morgana..." Arthur shakes his head. "Her power is so great, and we've got nothing to answer it with."
I wouldn't be so sure about that…
Anne thinks for a moment before speaking, "I doubt Merlin finished Gaius' story."
"Not now, Anne, please."
"Will you just listen?"
Anne puts her hands on her hips, giving him a pointed look, and Arthur lowers his head in acquiescence.
"When the sword was thrust into the stone, the ancient King foretold that one day it would be freed again at a time when Camelot needed it most. The man who freed it would unite the land of Albion and rule over the greatest Kingdom the world has ever known. That man is you, Arthur." Arthur's brow furrows and Anne smiles.
"You're making this up." He accuses.
"Why would I do that? Your head's already as big as your waist." Anne remarks with a wide grin.
Arthur scoffs. "Of course, he told you."
"I believe it, though. And I believe in you. So, does Merlin. We always have." Anne declares.
Arthur looks at Excalibur and considers what Anne said before walking off, leaving Anne on her own.
"Nice work." Anne turns to see Merlin coming to stand next to her. He must've overheard them.
Anne smiles. "Learnt from the best." He returns it. They stand quietly for a few seconds, just watching the crowd, before Anne speaks up, "Something's been bothering me."
"What? Is it the baby?" Merlin immediately panics, looking down at her stomach.
"What? No." Anne shakes her head, though who knows? In a few hours, it could be the baby. "Agravaine was chasing us in the tunnels. And then he wasn't." She looks over to Merlin, who has gone quiet and sullen. "What did you do to stop him?"
When Merlin doesn't look at her, she knows instantly. Anne's chest softens, and she cups her hand over her mouth. Anne has never liked Agravaine in the slightest and is actually glad that he is dead, but her husband doesn't deserve his death on his conscience.
Anne reaches forward and puts her hands on Merlin's cheeks, forcing him to look at her. He has a stony look on his face, but Anne can see the guilt in his blue eyes. "You had to do it." Anne tells him sternly, and he nods solemnly at her words. "You had no choice. Agravaine's choices led him to that tunnel, and you did what you had to do to protect us." Anne shakes her head. "Don't think for one second that this makes you a bad person."
Merlin nods again, and Anne steps forward and wraps her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. He snakes his arms around her waist. Anne feels a few wet drops on her shoulders.
"I have an idea about what we can do to weaken Morgana." Anne says softly.
Merlin pulls back and looks at her questioningly. "What?"
Anne smirks.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia is sitting slumped in the Cell in Camelot. She feels hungry but she knows she's not feeling it as badly as the others because they all keep insisting on giving her most of the food because of her pregnancy.
It's night, the others are sleeping while Amelia finds herself unable to. It is then she suddenly senses a strong burst of magic. She sits up quickly. She can't explain it, but she knows that the magic feels like Merlin. She feels it happen again.
The warning bells begin to sound, waking the others. Elyan and Gwaine pull themselves up from their sleeping positions, mumbling in confusion but Amelia ignores them.
She grins to herself. It's finally happening.
—
Anne's POV
The pains are getting worse and closer now. Anne finds herself sitting on a log, bent over in pain with Gwen and some of the Villagers surrounding her. She knows that it's getting too close to the time she will actually give birth, she can't keep this on hold any longer.
"You need to tell him, Anne." Gwen pleads.
Anne nods. "Fine."
Gwen looks to where Merlin stands further away and calls, "Merlin…"
He turns and heads over to them, looking panicked. Anne isn't trying to hide anymore, she can't so she must look in a right state.
"Anne..." Merlin begins, "I..." he jolts forward as Anne hunches over, Gwen grabbing her arm for support, another woman rushing to rub her back, as Anne's hand flies to her stomach. "What is it? What's wrong?!"
His cries drew the attention of the others, which is not something Anne wants at the moment, but there is little else she can do as her pains are too unbearable to hide now and far too frequent. She bites her lip hard, taking as deep of breaths as she can manage till the pain passes. She has to be quick; she knows she has mere seconds left before another will come.
"I'm sorry." She murmurs. "I should have told you before."
"Told me what?" Merlin steps closer, putting a hand on her stomach, feeling how firm it is. "Is something wrong with the baby?"
"Quite the opposite." Anne breathes. "It's coming."
He blinks. "What?"
"The baby is coming sooooon…" Anne creases over in pain again. She tries to breathe through it.
"Anne how could you not tell me this before!?" He nearly shouts at her. Arthur, who seems to have wandered over without Anne realising, stands behind him, wide eyed and panicked.
"I didn't want to distract you." She knows it's a silly excuse now.
"And this won't?!"
Anne reaches out and grabs his hand. "No," she speaks, "this will focus you. You go in there, and you fight harder. You fight to give our child a home to return to. And you fight with everything you have to get back to us."
Merlin swallows hard and nods.
"Percival," Arthur begins to say, Anne looks up to see the Knight standing nearby, watching her in concern as she experiences another wave of pain, "I am trusting you to get her to the Physician's Chambers, safely."
"On my life." The man bows his head.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia gets awoken when the warning bells sound a second time. She can hear fighting in the distance and this can only mean one thing. Time to reclaim Camelot. The others wake too.
It's not long before they hear commotion heading towards the Dungeons. Amelia, Gwaine and Elyan go to the bars. Amelia feels relief flood her Percival arrives around the corner with Leon following him.
"Percival!" Amelia cries happily.
"Come on, boys. What's taking you so long?" Gwaine jokes despite his weakened state as while Amelia and Elyan are standing at the bars, he had to pull himself to it on the ground.
Leon tosses Percival the keys and he opens the Cell. Amelia wastes no time launching herself at her husband.
They pull back and Percival cradles her face. "You all right?"
Amelia leans forward and kisses him. "Been better."
He frowns when he notices the shackles on her wrists. He immediately unlocks them with the keys he's holding, convenient. Amelia feels her magic return to her and she feels able to breathe properly for the first time in days.
Percival turns to Elyan and they grasp arms. "You all right?" He asks him.
"I've been locked up with Gwaine for a week." Elyan jokes. Amelia laughs, almost feeling giddy.
Leon enters and supports Gwaine out of the Cell while Percival goes to Gaius, who's lying weakly on the bed.
"Gaius. Come on." He urges. Percival and Elyan help Gaius up. Amelia follows them out.
"Where's Anne?" Amelia questions, immediately thinking of her heavily pregnant friend who's been on the run.
"Gaius' Chambers." Percival tells her as they move through the Dungeons.
Amelia looks at him in alarm. "Is she?"
"She's in labour."
Amelia's eyes widen in shock. "I need to see her!" She turns to leave but Percival stops her.
"Wait, Amelia, Anne can wait, she's safe. Arthur is heading to the Council Chambers to confront Morgana. Go join him." He tells her.
To deal with Morgana. She needs to be there. Percival and Elyan turn to leave with Gaius.
"Wait I—"
They stop and turn to her, and Percival asks, "What?"
"Nothing, it can wait. I'll go find Arthur." She turns, grabs a sword from a Southron on the ground and runs off.
She knows she needs to tell him but now is not the right time.
—
Amelia is not as strong as she could be, but she pushes through it as she fights the Southrons, making her way to the Council Chambers. She reaches the Council Chambers and hears fighting just around the corner. She comes round it and sees Arthur, Merlin, Gwen (!) and a man and a woman Amelia doesn't know defeating the Southrons guarding the door.
Merlin spots her first. "Amelia!"
She gives them a weak smile. "Long time no see."
"Gwen!" Amelia cries, wrapping her friend in a tight hug. "I've missed you!" She pulls back.
Gwen smiles. "I've missed you too."
"It's good to see you." Arthur says, giving her a nod before focusing on the Council Chamber doors. Right, reunions can happen later, time to deal with Morgana.
The unknown man and woman give her polite nods as they get ready to storm the room.
"Ready?" Arthur asks them. They all nod, raising their swords. Arthur raises his own sword, which Amelia recognises as Excalibur?!
"For the love of Camelot!" They cry as they charge into the Council Chambers, but stop short when they find only Morgana lounging on the throne, Helios standing near it. Amelia can see the scratches she has caused have begun to scab over.
"Welcome, dear brother." Morgana greets. "It's been far too long. I see you've found my sister. I would watch myself around her, she can be vicious." Morgana gets up and walks toward them. "I apologise if you had a difficult reception. It's hard to know who to trust these days."
Morgana stops in the middle and Arthur approaches her slowly. He raises Excalibur with an open hand to show he's not attacking her, and she watches him warily until he places the sword in his belt. He meets her in the middle. Amelia stays back, knowing this needs to be a conversation between the two of them.
"What happened to you Morgana?" Arthur asks softly. Morgana looks him in the eye almost regretfully, the hurt plain on both their faces and in their voices. "I thought we were friends."
"As did I," Morgana replies softly but then her voice hardens, "but alas, we were both wrong."
"You can't blame me for my father's sins."
"It's a little late for that. You've made it perfectly clear how you feel about me and my kind. You're not as different from Uther as you'd like to think." Morgana retorts harshly.
"Nor are you." Arthur counters.
Morgana becomes angry and backs away. "I'm going to enjoy killing you, Arthur Pendragon. Not even Emrys can save you now."
"Please tell me you can." Amelia calls to Merlin.
"Don't worry. I've got something."
Arthur draws Excalibur, the others raise their swords. Amelia knows she needs to be ready for anything.
Morgana smirks amusedly. "Your blades cannot stop me."
Amelia watches as Merlin braces himself as Morgana chants, "Hleap on bæc."
Nothing happens except the sound of what sounds like whispers. Morgana is confused and Arthur watches her reaction, still waiting for her attack. Morgana tries the spell again, raising her hand for strength, sounding frightened, "Hleap on bæc!"
Amelia looks at Merlin and realises that he seems to be absorbing Morgana's magic with the effigy's whispers. Morgana is unable to use magic.
"Not so powerful now, my lady." Arthur remarks.
Helios pulls Morgana behind him as she panics. Morgana takes this chance to run off.
"After her!" Arthur calls.
Amelia doesn't hesitate and floods into the corridors with Gwen and Merlin behind her, splitting up in the hopes of finding her.
Amelia takes on some of the Southrons with her sword as she makes her way through the corridors in search of her sister.
She turns a corner and stares down the corridor. Amelia charges down it when suddenly she feels a piercing pain in her left side. She cries in pain before spinning around and slashing her attacker, one of the Southron men, across the front causing him to fall down. Amelia winces as she grasps her wound with her right hand.
Oh, god. Oh no, no, no.
But she can't stop now, she can't think about it, so she continues on, holding her sword in her left hand and charges forward.
—
Amelia turns a corner, stumbling, as she hears in the distance. She sees Gwen and Morgana locked in battle. But as she is superior in her sword fighting skills, Morgana disarms Gwen. She steps forward to kill Gwen, but Amelia leaps forward despite her injuries and bars Morgana's sword with her own.
Morgana's eyes widen in surprise. "Amelia..." Then her eyes harden. "What are you doing here?!" She spits.
"I can't let you kill her Morgana!" Amelia cries.
Amelia begins fighting her sister with their swords, however, Amelia begins to lose because of her injury. Morgana is able to disarm her.
Morgana smirks. "Not so strong now sister."
But then suddenly both of them are knocked to the ground by an unnatural force. Parts of the ceiling collapses and Amelia loses consciousness due to the force and the dizziness she had begun to feel due to her blood loss.
Gwen's POV
The corridor is filled with rubble smoke meaning Gwen loses sight of both Morgana and Amelia. She tries to squint through the smoke when a hand touches her arm causing her to jump before relaxing when she sees its Merlin.
"You all right?" He asks her.
Gwen shakily nods. "Yes."
Merlin steps forward towards the rubble smoke.
"What happened?" Gwen asks. She's confused about what had just happened. When the smoke clears, Gwen leans forward, expecting to see the two sisters but instead, there is nothing there.
"I don't know." Merlin murmurs in reply to her earlier question.
Both of them quickly leave.
—
Merlin's POV
Merlin runs to Gaius' Chambers. His hands are shaking from watching Tristan cradle Isolde as she died. Seeing the devastation on Tristan's face had reminded Merlin that he had not seen Anne since that morning when they began to retake Camelot.
The door is opened by Jean, one of the maids, and he skids around her and then comes to a complete stop when he sees what's inside.
His heart warms and he cautiously steps inside. His heart pounds as he looks over to where Anne sits upright in one of the cots.
He can see that her skin is clammy and there are bruises under her eyes, but that doesn't dim her smile as she gazes upon the small bundle that lays in her arms, cooing at it. She's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Merlin can see dark hair sticking out of its confines.
Anne's smile widens when she looks up and her eyes land on him as he stands in the doorway. "Merlin..." He sees the tears in her eyes.
Merlin finds himself able to move and he strides over to his wife. "Anne..." He sits tentatively on the edge of the cot, not quite able to see what lies in the bundle.
Anne tilts her arms, and he gets the first glimpse of his child. Merlin stares at them a moment, just... utterly stunned by the sight of it, his baby, his and Anne's baby. He looks quickly at their hands and feet, 10 fingers, 10 toes, breathing and moving and alive.
"What do you think of our daughter?"
"She's—" Merlin cuts himself off as he lets out a gasp when his daughter opens her eyes. Eyes that match his. He reaches out a finger towards his daughter and strokes her tiny fist. It unclasps and grips his finger with surprising strength. "Are you– are you well? What happened? Is she—"
"We're fine." She reassures him.
Merlin nods, calming. He wiggles a finger that the baby holds in her tiny fist. "What are we going to call her?"
"Well, Amelia had a few good suggestions." Anne pauses. "Wait, where is she? Have you found her?"
Merlin internally winces, how does he explain this? "I don't know."
Anne frowns. "What do you mean you don't know? Where is she?" She's sounding increasingly frantic.
"Morgana, Amelia, they've disappeared." Merlin admits.
"No, no. She can't. We were meant to find her; she was meant to tell Percival about the baby—" Anne cuts herself off, wide eyed as she realises what she's just confessed.
Merlin stares at her shocked. "Amelia is pregnant."
Anne chews her lip and nods. "Yes, she is."
Merlin frowns as he thinks of how wounded Amelia had seemed to be before she vanished. He wonders if she still is but thinks it's best not to tell Anne at the moment as she's already distressed about Amelia disappearing.
It's quiet for a moment before Anne speaks, "Faye."
"What?" Merlin asks.
"Faye. That was Amelia's pick." Anne explains. "I want to call her Faye."
"Faye it is."
They smile softly at each other and share a soft kiss.
—
Anne's POV
As everything begins to calm and they begin to rebuild after what had happened, everyone is sent into a frenzy over the disappearance of Amelia. Arthur sends out patrols and leads some of them himself but there is no sign.
The King, while desperate to find his cousin, is reluctant to leave his new Queen and wife's side. Yes, Arthur and Gwen had finally gotten married, and Gwen had been crowned Queen.
Anne had stood next to her husband, with her daughter in her arms, beaming as it happened. The whole scene played out just as Amelia had told her, but Anne now realises that Amelia never mentioned anything about her being there and that thought, as well as Amelia actually not being there, brought a dampener to the whole event.
—
Amelia's POV
Amelia wakes to find she's in the middle of a forest and she is still injured and bleeding despite a crude attempt to bandage her injuries. She also notices Morgana is with her, who wastes no time in pulling Amelia along the best she can, but they continue to stumble along the way. Amelia wants to be anywhere but with her sister and tries to fight her off but, considering her weakened state, Amelia isn't too successful.
"Get off!" Amelia is finally successful in shoving Morgana away. Now she no longer has someone holding her up, she collapses to the floor, leaning on her left arm while she holds the wound on her left side. She grunts in pain.
"But Amelia you're injured." Morgana pleads.
"Oh really?" Amelia remarks sarcastically. "I hadn't noticed." She's feeling somewhat dizzy and is finding it hard to focus.
"I tried to wrap up the wound, but we need to get somewhere better to heal you."
Amelia narrows her eyes at her sister. "Are you sure you are not up to something? One of your schemes?"
Morgana growls and tries to pull Amelia up. "No!" She snaps. She fails in pulling Amelia up so let's go and Amelia flops back on the floor. "Why is it so hard for you to think I have a heart?!"
Amelia blearily looks up to her half sister. "For one, what you did to Gwen. You have tried to get her killed multiple times."
"I had to!" Morgana insists. "She was taking my throne."
"No, you did not. She never wanted be queen nor did she mean to fall in love with Arthur." Amelia argues, gasping as she's short of breath. "She only ever wanted is for Arthur to be happy. But now Arthur will marry her as he's found her again and there's nothing you can do about it."
There are black dots in her vision. She tries to blink them away, but it doesn't work, and she fully collapses to the ground, barely keeping her eyes open.
"Amelia? Amelia!" Amelia faintly hears Morgana cry and then begins shaking Amelia, but Amelia is too tired to respond.
That is until she feels a small fluttering of wind across her face and what feels like someone is breathing on her. Amelia feels a whole new burst of energy and is able to open her eyes and pull herself up slightly. She gasps when her eyes land on small Aithusa sitting on a rock, watching her. Where is Kiligharrah?
Aithusa watches her for a moment but doesn't linger and flies away.
"Who was that?" Morgana asks as Aithusa flies away. Amelia had forgotten she is there.
"Aithusa." Amelia murmurs in wonder.
—
A/N: I'm in disbelief about the fact that I've actually made it to the end of season 4?!