Queen Of The Free (BBC Merlin)

The First Heir Of Pendragon

*Eight months later*

I was now nine months pregnant and larger than ever. Peter had been knighted and spent a lot of his free time training in the gardens. I sat by my desk and wrote a letter to one of the dukes, we had finally made a deal with our neighbours and friends, allowing us to exchange trade with one another, therefore our economic problems were as good as solved, though there was still a lot of work to be done. My belly was larger than ever and I could no longer fit into my own dresses, therefore I had some maternity dresses made especially for me. At the moment I was wearing a blue, loosely fitted gown with long sleeves. I heard a slight knock on the door and laid down my pen.

"Enter!", said I with a clear voice. The door opened and Peter stepped in with his armour on, I smiled at him as I once again took a grasp of my goose feather pen.

"How was training?", he walked over to me as I continued with my letter. He hugged me from behind.

"Well, it was okay, except for the fact that Gwein almost dunked me in the head with his helmet", I couldn't help but chuckle.

"How about you? You should get some rest you know, we don't want any harm coming to any of you", I inhaled sharply.

"I am quite alright thank you, and I am also not a porsline doll, Peter. If you have forgotten, I am a Queen", I placed my hand on the table and heaved myself up. Peter wanted to help me but I told him not to and walked with my hand on my lower back towards the window seat. I looked down at the town below and saw my knights training.

"I think that it is a fitting day for a stroll in the park, don't you? I should probably go and great our new knights as well", I placed my hands on my stomach and looked over at him.

"Olivia, it is dangerous when you are so close to conceiving", I scoffed.

"Well, I am not going to sit in this room for a minute longer, I am not a child to be diminished just because I am of a precious bloodline, and nor is my child going to be", I turned around and walked towards the door. Before I had time to open it, Peter's hand landed on the door handle and he smiled at me. He leaned forward and kissed my temple.

"You are so stubborn, Viv", I smiled at him as we opened the door and walked out into the castle halls.

Once we reached the training grounds I saw my knights fighting one another on the field. Most of them were quite good, but some of the new recruits made some poor attempts at attacking my most trusted men. I could not help but smile at the determined faces of our new knights. They were nowhere near as close to me as Gwein, Percival, Leon and Peter, but they seemed both trustworthy and driven to do well.

"I see that training is going well?", all eyes turned to Peter and me as I spoke. The eyes of the young knights seemed to pop as they landed on me, they immediately bowed deeply.

"Your majesty", they said in unison. I smiled welcoming down at them.

"There is no need for formalities, I believe that you have been training very hard for these last few months and that you deserve to be aware of my feeling of gratitude", they arose and the tallest one smiled at me. He had blonde hair and brown eyes.

"Thank you, your majesty", I smiled at them.

"Please, call me Olivia". Gwein shooed away the boys and told them to go and clean their armour, they did so willingly. The eyes of my knights turned to me, they were filled with concern as well as excitement.

"Olive, are you sure that it is wise to be outdoors when you are so close to conceiving?", said Gwein. I almost rolled my eyes at him.

"Gwein, I will be fine. Besides, I believe that it is healthy for the baby and me to get some fresh air once in a while instead of sitting inside those chambers for twenty-four hours a day", he smirked a bit at me.

"So what are you going to name the baby?", said Percival with glee, I smiled happily at him.

"I don't know, though I have a feeling that she will be brave, so I have some examples up my sleeve", I said with a slight smirk as I placed my right hand on my belly.

"She?", said Gwein.

"What if it's a boy?", he raised an eyebrow playfully. I couldn't help but smirk.

"I don't know, I just have this feeling in my gut that it is a girl", Gwein rolled his eyes playfully.

"Girls and their romantical thoughts about everything. I bet you 50 chillings that it is a boy", I smirked playfully as i exchanged my hand towards him.

"You got yourself a deal, old man", he took my hand and looked straight at me.

"Is that how it is, eh?", I gave him a playfull, yet serious look.

"Oh yeah, that's how it is", he cracked a smile at me, one which I returned.

*****

We all sat gathered around the dinnertable, Peter was seated right next to me and my closest friends were also seated around the round table where we usually shared our meals. I never wanted to exclude anyone, especially my family and friends.

"And you should have seen that skinny boy, Gerard, I think his name was. It was as if he and the large guy had switched abilities! I have never been so chocked by a pupil before", said Gwein.

"Well, it isn't really that hard to suprise you, just hide behind a bush for half a minute, jump out and scream 'YOU OWE ME MONEY!' and it is as good as done", said Leon with a smirk on his lips, eventually the entire table joined in and we were all laughing hysterically, well, everyone except Gwein.

We were all laughing and smiling as we ate together when I suddently felt an immense pain in my lower stomach. I gasped as I dropped my fork, all attention turned to me, you could practically hear a pin drop. I felt Peter take my hand in his.

"Love, what is the matter?", I looked at him when I suddently felt the pang of pain once more, I groaned loudly as I clutched Peter's hand.

"She's going into labor...", said Merlin with a shocked expression, and then the entire process was in motion.

I felt Peter carry me in his arms with the sound of rushed footsteps behind him.

"Leon, get the midwife. Gweneviere, I think she wants you to come with me", said Peter. The pain was like no other, my breathing got heavier.

"Peter, hurry up!!", he ran down the corridoors and soon I was in my bed once more. After that, everything was a big blurr of pain, tears, blood and sweat.

I remember screaming in pain, I remember Peter and mother on each side of me as they reassured me that it was going to be okay. Then, all I remember is the small cries of a child. I remember the happy expression on Peter's face and him saying.

"It's a girl", I saw him hold the child in his arms as he looked at her with great admiration. Then and there, I knew that he would treat the child like it was of his own flesh and blood. I got to see her for only a few seconds, but I knew that she would be strong, I knew that she was going to be a fighter.

Weakly I said,"She's beautiful".

I saw Peter's eyes turn to me and the happiness that clouded them dissapeared in that exact moment, for that was when my eyes closed and I was sure that I was going to die.

*****

I was stood in a white room. There were nothing around me except light, yet I could feel the ground beneath my feet. I had noticed that I was wearing a beautiful, plain, white gown. My eyes landed on a large shadow a few feet away.

"Hello? Is there anyone there?", I saw as the shadow got larger and larger, clearer and clearer. It was a man, he wore armour. Every single one of his feutures got clearer to me the closer he came. I knew who he was, I could never mistake those blue orbs for anyone else.

"Father?".