Pregnesia [Arthur & Guinevère Pendragon]

[Guinevère]

His words--the later ones--where a surprise to her. His earlier ones filled her with both comfort and confusion. What had happened to her? What was so frightening that she had forgotten it? Guinevère could not even begin to imagine. "May I?" Were the words however that made her gasp slightly and silently. He wished to touch her? To feel the child?

No man had ever touched her so, at least not in her mind. Her father would have been so angry had she even let a boy kiss her! Yet in her mind she was younger, by more then five years. Now she was wife, and she imagine she did allot more then kissing. She didn't know how to tell him no, but not because he was a prince and she was a servant--but because of the want to see his face.

Odd how she knew it would be something besides blank. Reaching for his hand, she hesitantly took it and pressed it to where the child moved. Helping him find the best place to feel the bab---their baby. To help him find the best place to feel their child moving with in her.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur felt nervous waiting for her reaction, knowing that he could not push her if she said no. But that didn't mean he wasn't holding his breath in anticipation, praying that she said yes. He just waited for some sort of answer, mentally preparing for either a yes or a no. When she took his hand and guided it to her stomach. He was surprised by this action, but only in the best of ways. She didn't seem overly uncomfortable with his hand there . . . though he knew there had to be some discomfort. It wasn't enough to abruptly pull his hand away. Instead, she had led it to her womb where their child grew more and more every day. There were no words to accurately describe the joy and excitement he felt in feeling their child move. He had feared the worst, for both his wife and their unborn baby . . . often wondering if he would ever get the opportunity to hold either of them in his arms. But now, seeing her safe and their baby active . . . was overwhelming.

Arthur closed his eyes, knowing they were growing moist with tears. If there was one thing he had never been good at, it was hiding his true feelings from Guinevère. Which was ironic because with everyone else it was the exact opposite; he had trouble expressing his feelings. But he knew he could be his full self in front of her. Even in the frame of mind she was currently in. And it was why no one knew him better than her. And it was also why he was not ashamed or embarrassed that a tear ran down his cheek. He was not going to even bother trying to hold it back, because this moment . . . seeing her again and feeling their baby, was what he had prayed for every second of every day. "Thank you," he breathed, thanking her for giving him this opportunity to feel their child. It was as close as he could be to it right now . . . until a few months when she would bring it into this world.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched his face as he touched her belly, and was distracted by the feeling. His hand was warm, and strong. Feeling it on her belly was different then she expected, and the feeling took a moment for her to become adjusted too--though oddly, it was much easier then she thought it should have been. Looking back at his face, she once again became distracted.

At the emotions she saw there. The once bully prince looked nothing like he should have. Everything on his face was there and open for her to see and read, and her own emotions took on similar to his. The sheer and powerful feelings he was clearly feeling left her in awe and in wonder. This man loved her? This man whom was unafraid to show his emotions like this to her? Whom was so unlike nobles actually wanted to feel his child growing.

When the tear fell over his cheek, her hand automatically reached to wipe it away, as if she had done so before, and then reached up to brush his hair back. The feeling of familiarity hit her so strongly, for just a moment and then it was gone--all gone.

Her hand jerked back and she rested them both on the sides of her legs. She wasn't sure what to say, but in the end she knew she had to say something. "I think you would make a good father." It was something she just knew, for if he could so this much love and emotion to her over the unborn babe, then surely he would love and protect the child all the more.

[Arthur Pendragon]

With Arthur's eyes closed, he wondered if he was imagining the sensation of her touch. Of how she brushed away his tear, something she had done so many times in the past. As she did stroke his hair back. It felt so real, that he opened his eyes and saw that she was actually doing it. He wondered if it was out of instinct . . . or because she felt she had to. No. She was far too sincere to do something that she felt she had to out of obligation. He couldn't help but just gaze her though, and wished she didn't feel the need to pull her hand away. He had missed her so much, and didn't know how to express that now. Nor would he demand that she let him. He gave a small smile when she spoke of how she thought he would make a good father.

Words that she had spoken to him countless times before . . . and every time he heard them, he appreciated them and it filled him with the greatest honor. "And you will make a wonderful mother." With or without him. He had no doubt about what a caring and loving mother she would be. He just prayed that her memory returned to her before their child was born . . . so that they could enjoy the moment as a true husband and wife. Knowing he had darker things to tell her, and that he had already overwhelmed her with so much information, he decided to keep the conversation light for a little bit longer. "We had talked about names," he began to tell her.

"If you wish to change them, you can of course," he added. Just in case her memory did not return in time. He didn't want her to feel pressured to follow everything that they had talked about when she had no recollection on it. "We had liked Amaren if it was a boy, and . . . Anna, if it was a girl." Anna. After her mother. He had asked her if she had wanted to name it after her father, Tom or Thomas, but she couldn't . . . for the same reason he could not name a child after his father. Still. If she wanted to name a son after her father -- especially once she heard that he was no longer in this world -- then he would of course respect and gladly accept that.

[Guinevère]

He thought she would be a good mother? She hoped he was right, but somehow knowing that he had the faith in her made the pressure she thought she might feel somehow almost like air. She knew it was there, and she could almost feel it but it was enjoyable rather then something that burdened her. Was it really because he was here? Could just a few days with him effect her so much?

"We had liked Amaren if it was a boy, and . . . " The name meant nothing to her, she knew no one with it. How had they chosen it? Her mind repeated it a few times and she found she rather enjoyed how it sounded and formed. She liked it. Her son, Amaren. Her baby boy. " . . . Anna, if it was a girl." she gasped aloud this time, her eyes widening in surprise. "My mother." She whispered in surprise.

That was her mother's name. Did he know? Had that been how they chosen it? "Anna." She whispered, loving the idea of a child named for her mother. "Thank you," For the naming of her mother for their daughter. "I like the name Amaren too." She admitted softly, "I have not heard it before. It's different. Special."

[Arthur Pendragon]

He gave a small smile at her reaction to what he revealed their chosen names for their child to be. Well, her reaction to Anna's. "Yes. We wanted to name her after your mother." He wanted her to know that it was not coincidence that they would name their daughter after her mother. And he wanted her to know that it was a decision they had made. While suggested by her, Arthur loved the name, and furthermore, loved the sentiment it held. Besides, it was indeed a beautiful name and Arthur felt honored that she would wish to name a child they created together after such a significant person in her life. "There is nothing you need thank me for Guinevère," he assured her, not wanting her to feel that he had done a favor for her, because in actuality, she was doing something for him.

"You honor me, but wishing to name our child after your mother." Words he'd spoken to her in the past, and in his mind . . . and felt the need to say them now to her. He felt a bit relieved when she said that she liked the name Amaren. Though he wasn't sure if she was saying that to be polite or -- no. She liked it. While she may not have her memory, she was still Guinevère. His Guinevère. And Guinevère had liked that name. "It is indeed unique, and if it does not appeal to you, or grow on you these next few days, then we can change it." Even though he knew she liked it, he didn't want her to feel pressured to do anything that they had previously decided. Besides, she was still coming to terms with a great deal . . . mainly being his wife and being pregnant with a child.

[Guinevère]

"No!" She hurried to assure him, in a soft tone. "I like the name." Amaren or Anna. "Amaren." A son . . . and heir to a kingdom apparently. It was hard to imagine such a thing! She had always thought of a simple life, and to see here . . . . She still wondered if this was a dream. They said she had forgotten, but had she really?

How could one really forget so much about their life? To so from the daughter of a blacksmith to finding out she was married with a child to come soon. "Did you not wish to name the child for your mother?" She asked, wondering if she was being horrid and not sharing names. Neither seemed to honor the Pendragon name but create something new for it. She hoped that she had at least given him a chance to used his mothers--or even his father's names.

[Arthur Pendragon]

She seemed to genuinely like the name, and Arthur felt relieved at that. While she was still Guinevère, in her mind they had not grown together. They had no relationship, apart from that of a servant and prince. But that was only what was surfacing in her mind. In her heart, he knew she loved him, and he would do all it took to bring back her memory of that. "I'm glad you do," he said softly. She then mentioned not wanting to name the child after his own mother. Arthur just lightly shook his head in response. "I think it time the kingdom honored your family, not just mine." To name a son after his father, and a daughter after his mother. No. He of course loved his mother and would honor her in different ways. But he truly liked the name Anna, and he knew how much it meant to Guinevère to name their daughter after her mother.


"I am sorry Guinevère," he said, once more apologizing for the overwhelming information he was throwing at her. "I know that this can't be easy for you." To know that she is carrying a child with a man that she believed she hardly knew. After having her safe once more, and just having felt the baby, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her and hold her all through the night . . . but he couldn't. Not without being utterly selfish and making her uncomfortable. "Perhaps you should rest for a little while. I fear I have overwhelmed you." His words would have been a slight tease . . . if they weren't so true. If he didn't mean them. She had found out she was pregnant and married to the king. He slowly rose to his feet and offered his hand for her to take to lead her to the bed. He didn't want to leave her tonight. Even if it meant sitting right outside the tent . . . he didn't want to leave her.