Amelia's Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 46: The Darkest Hour Part Two

Amelia's POV

Amelia pulls Anne over to the fireplace in her Chambers where she wraps multiple blankets around her and begins to make a fire to keep the maid warm. Amelia shakes with panic as she hurriedly sets about doing her tasks, worrying about the well-being of Anne, her baby and Anne's premonition.

Anne soon calms and eventually stops shaking. Amelia crouches by her and grips her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see the beginning of sunrise touching the hills and trees through her window.

"Anne..." Amelia calls hesitantly, "we mustn't worry." Amelia feels guilty as unlike Gwen and Anne, she doesn't have to worry about Percival as, other than the Dorocha going for him, he's not going to be sacrificing himself.

"But something terrible has happened to Merlin." Anne murmurs, forehead furrowed as she gazes into the fire.

"Does it feel like he's died?" Amelia asks. "You must know, just like I did with Morgause, if you've lost him."

"N-no, I-I do not feel that," Anne stutters, finally tearing her eyes away from the fire to Amelia, "but what if it will happen, what if it's soon?"

"You mean his intention to sacrifice himself for Arthur?" Amelia states rather than asks but Anne nods anyway. "Let's focus on the now, Merlin is alive and we need to have you checked over with Gaius just in case."

Anne nods. When they go to Gaius, the Physician is obviously concerned but reassures them that Anne and the baby are well.

——

Anne's POV

To distract herself from the worry about Merlin, Anne throws herself into caring for the victims of the Dorocha that litter Camelot's streets.

She covers the face of another victim on a litter a couple of Guards carry. She waves them off as Gwen approaches her.

"Is there really nothing to be done?" She asks.

Anne sighs and shakes her head. "There is no cure, Gwen. The Dorocha's touch spells death." The two of them walk up the street of the Lower Town.

"It's pointless." Gwen utters.

"You mustn't lose hope. We must trust Arthur and Merlin, they won't let us down." Anne declares strongly despite not feeling it.

"Arthur's not going to return, is he?" Gwen says. "The way he said goodbye, I knew..." She bites her lip as if to contain any tears threatening to spill.

Anne pauses in her walking and looks at her sorrowfully. "I felt that way with Merlin. The way he kissed me when he said his goodbyes..."

"How do you keep yourself sane?" Gwen wonders.

Anne smiles sadly and reaches forward to grip the maid's hand. "I don't, I just pray they'll find another way and if that doesn't work, distract myself."

Gwen nods understandingly as they begin to walk again before a small but weak teasing smile appears on her face. "Merlin must return so that you can tell him about the baby."

Anne's head whips around. "How do you know?!"

"It's your behaviour during the past few weeks." Gwen explains. "You have been throwing up so much, suddenly switching from wine to water, and I can't remember the last time you complained about the pain of your monthly."

Anne groans. "Gaius was only meant to know because he checked. Merlin was meant to be the first to find after, but no, you and Amelia had to work it out yourselves!"

Gwen giggles and Anne is glad they've found a light hearted moment among the gloom.

——