While no one could say he skipped off to his meetings in the mornings happily, Felix usually had no problem leaving the royal quarters to do so. This morning was different. This morning he had to leave his sleeping wife and child in a bed he had been allowed to share with them. It shouldn't have been as momentous of an occasion as it was, but he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something had changed in his and Shae's relationship last night. Hopefully for the better.

She had kissed him. A slight smile touched his lips. Without her wits addled by poison. This was a momentous occasion indeed. With a last look at the two sleeping bodies in the bed, he crept out of the room and closed the door behind him as quietly as he could, wanting to allow them to sleep in for as long as possible. Shae was doing a lot better, but definitely not fully recovered and still fatigued easily, and Mio must be tired after his night terrors.

A King's Guard nodded in greeting as Felix crossed the sitting room to enter his own bedchambers. Normally they stayed in the hallway but after the attack on Shae, they kept additional guards everywhere, including the shared sitting room when no one was in it. After quickly washing up and changing his clothes, he returned to the sitting room to deal with the correspondence he had failed to finish last night. At first, he had struggled to concentrate while he could hear the sounds of Shae bathing. Knowing that she was wet and naked behind that screen had been maddening, and he had reread most sentences two or three times. Then there had been the kiss...

The memory alone stirred his body, and he forced himself to focus on the letters. If he kept thinking about the feeling of Shae in his arms, he would get nothing done. The council members were already complaining that he had been distracted the last few days. Certainly, they were concerned about the open attack on their queen, but they were equally determined to get their own kingdoms' errands heard. Then there were the imminent Championship Games that were now a mere week away from starting. Most of the preparations were completed, but even so, there was a lot of logistics—not to mention politics—involved in hosting competitors and ambassadors from each kingdom. Some of the kingdoms' rulers were even planning to attend.

This Championship was a big deal. It was the first one in over a decade, and he was determined to see it succeed. They all needed to feel some unity after the ordeals of the past years. Something some friendly competition and evenings of feasting and celebrations would hopefully promote.

With so much to do, he really should join the council early, but he didn't want to waste the progress he'd had with his wife. Having an idea, he gave the King's Guard some orders to relay before settling back into an upholstered chair with his letters. He was usually awake early, and today was no exception. The first rays of the sun were only just hinting at the horizon. The royal chambers had the best view of the castle, with its windows facing the ocean. As the castle sat on the top of a hill, the sounds of the waking city below were muted, but one could see the fishermen and sailors in the harbour getting ready for the day. Like Felix, their days were simply too busy to linger in bed. Not that he didn't sometimes dream of lingering in bed with his wife. He groaned. This wasn't going well. Focus!

He picked up a letter from the Envoy stationed in the Kingdom of Breoch and forced himself to focus on the words. The more he read, the easier it was to concentrate, and he continued even as servants came in to prepare the room. The sun was properly over the horizon when the door to Shae's bedchamber opened and his wife and son entered the sitting room.

Shae stopped short as she caught sight of him, a puzzled look on her face. It didn't surprise him. This might be the first time he was still here when she woke up. He had not been the best husband. But he also had not believed she wanted him to be a good husband. All this time, he had assumed she wanted as little to do with him as possible, and he still somewhat believed that. However, she had kissed him... and he would be damned if he didn't at least try to salvage this travesty of a marriage.

"Daddy!" Mio whooped as he noticed his presence, making Felix grin widely.

"Little tyke!" Setting the papers aside, he stood as the boy bounded towards him. Catching him in his arms, he hoisted him up in the air, making Mio giggle.

He should spend more time with his son, too. His duties were important, but so was his son. While he made an effort to see him every day, they never had long, and he wanted to change that. He wanted to change a lot of things. After being crowned the High King of Erya, he had thrown himself into his duties as the protector of the lands, but in the process, he had forgotten to be a man as well as a king. A good husband. A present father. He would do better from now on. Starting today.

Looking over at Shae, he smiled. "I hoped we might eat breakfast together. The three of us." His voice sounded a little more uncertain than he had hoped for. Would she decline? This was not anything they had ever done before, and she had never indicated she wanted it, but he had said he wanted a better marriage, and he meant it.

She stared at him as if she couldn't quite figure out what was happening. He motioned to a table cleared of its usual contents to make space for a spread of breakfast foods. The smell of freshly baked bread made his mouth water, and he realised how hungry he was.

"I hope you don't mind?" he said when she still said nothing.

Finally, she nodded, and relief flooded him. He'd not realised how nervous he'd been that she might say no. Setting Mio down, the boy scampered over to the table and climbed up on a chair.

"Are you sure you have time for this?" Shae asked. "I mean, with everything going on?"

"I'm taking the time. Especially with everything going on." He had hated leaving her to go to the council meetings these last couple of days, but with her recovering, the council had decided there was no longer a need to hold the meetings in the sitting room. Even with guards constantly around her and Mio, he would have preferred having them near so he could protect them himself if needed.

Shae watched him thoughtfully. He wished he knew what she was thinking. Joining Mio at the table, she sat down and prepared the boy a plate of food before making one for herself. Felix sat down opposite them. It felt strange, yet oddly right, to have them all together. Mio obviously loved having both of his parents in the same room, sharing their breakfast with him, as was clear by his big smile and continuous excited chatter. Shae listened patiently to the stream of words coming out of the young boy's mouth, and Felix simply enjoyed watching them. He hoped this could be something they might do more.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked Shae during a brief break in Mio's babble as the boy stuffed his mouth with scrambled eggs.

"Better, thank you." She flashed him a brief smile. "Though tired, and my arm still aches."

"Maybe we should have someone look at it. We don't want to risk it getting infected." He frowned as he skewered a kipper with his fork. "When I catch whoever is responsible..."

Shae glanced at the pierced fish on his fork. "You'll eat them?"

The comment caught him by surprise, and he let out a bark of laughter. "No," he said, sobering. "But I will see them punished."

He wanted to toss them from the tallest tower in Messina, but he realised that might be a tad excessive. Incredibly satisfying, however.

Mio had finished his food and Shae gave him permission to go play with a few toys on the floor. Remembering that she had not been awake to hear the developments since the council meeting she had attended, Felix cleared his throat. "We have made some decisions regarding our next steps regarding the potential threat of the Son of Deva."

He could see her shoulders tensing at the mention of the name. It wasn't an unusual reaction, but he knew she had suffered more than most at the hands of Deva's followers.

"Castel will command the forces we send to the mountain pass by the Dreadlands. After the Championship Games, he will leave with a first small battalion to set up before the remaining forces arrive. Tamcred will take over as commander of the King's Guard while Cas is away."

A line appeared between Shae's brows. "That sounds dangerous. Is there no one else?"

Jealousy niggled at the back of his neck even as he knew he had no right to be. They had agreed on this marriage of convenience. And she had told him she had not been with anyone. That didn't mean he didn't feel slightly jealous about her obvious concern for Castel's safety. Nothing would happen between the two, as Cas was a good man. An honourable man. He would never flirt with another man's wife. But did he want to?

"Cas asked for the assignment," he said slowly. "And he has the experience. If he wishes to do this, I would be a fool to deny him."

Mio chose that moment to return to the table to grab another mouthful of eggs and look at his parents. Could he sense the strain between them?

"I don't know why he would want to leave," Shae muttered.

"You'd have to ask him." His response came out a little sharper than intended, and Shae's head whipped up, her eyes narrowing.

"Felix?" Her voice was softer than usual. "Are you jealous?"

The tips of his ears heated as he busied himself with showing Mio how to fold one of the letters he'd been reading into a boat. Once the boy had run off with his new paper ship, Felix finally met her gaze.

"Maybe," he admitted wryly. "You and Cas are very close."

She pushed an egg around on her plate as she stared at it, but said nothing. He supposed there was nothing to say, as he hadn't actually asked a question. And yet he wished she had told him she had no feelings for the King's Guard. Even if only to allay his fears. Deciding to switch to another topic, he forced a smile.

"I was hoping we could have dinner together tonight," he said. "Here. Just us two."

Only a couple of weeks ago, his request would have met with a blank no. Now, she looked up from her lonely abused egg and smiled. "That would be lovely."

He tried not to look shocked. Whether he succeeded was anyone's guess. Feeling foolish for being so happy about her acceptance, he gathered his papers before giving her an apologetic look. "I'm afraid I have to leave. A realm to rule... Meetings to attend..."

"Of course." Her smile didn't waver. "I will see you tonight."

Standing, he waved to Mio, who waved back from the floor where he was sitting, meticulously tearing the paper ship into little pieces. Hopefully, it had been a piece of correspondence that didn't need a response. Stopping next to Shae, he put a hand on her shoulder. She visibly winced.

"Shae?"

"I'm sorry. My arm is still quite sore."

He frowned. "I can't imagine it should be this sore after so many days. Can I see it?"

His heart beat steadily in his chest in dull thumps as she nodded and pulled her dressing gown and nightdress down enough that he could see her upper arm. The gash on her skin was no longer greyish, instead having taken on an angry red. He cursed under his breath.

"It looks infected. I will have a medic sent up straight away."

"Thank you," she mumbled.

Without thinking, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Her auburn hair tickled his nose. Orc's ass. They should have taken better care of her wound. Infection was not to be trifled with. Reluctantly, he left the royal quarters to meet with the High Council. But not before he could tell the King's Guards on duty to make sure a medic came to see Shae.

Once downstairs, his mind was so occupied by worry for her that he almost walked into a tall figure coming around the corner.

"Beg your pardon!" he said as he halted. Seeing who it was, he bowed his head. "Emissary T'chol. Good morning. Please excuse me, I was lost in thought."

The tall woman with hair the shade of red autumn leaves smiled at him. "Not to worry, High King. We can all be a little distracted at times. Is everything all right?"

They fell into step next to each other as the elven emissary was due to attend the same meeting. Felix sighed. "I'm worried about my wife. I fear her wound has not healed."

"I heard of the attack." T'chol nodded thoughtfully. "Did I hear correctly that it was Orc's Blood poison?"

"Yes. We were lucky that Grand Sorcerer Arawn had the ingredients to make an antidote." An icy chill travelled down his spine at the thought of what might have happened had the sorcerers not had a well-stocked store of herbs and whatever else they needed. "But now it appears to be infected."

"I am quite well-versed in healing salves and treatments. Would you like me to take a look at your wife?"

Felix stopped to stare at the elven woman. Everyone knew the elves were some of the best healers Erya had seen, their knowledge of herbalism rivalled by none. It was also something they rarely shared with outsiders. Especially since Deva's betrayal, which they blamed on human corruption.

"Would you?" he croaked. Clearing his voice, he tried a more dignified tone. "I would most appreciate it. I worry about her."

A small smile touched the elf's lips. "I can tell," she said softly. "You are a good man, High King. Not all men are, but I like you. So I will see your wife after this meeting."

Unsure of whether she meant not all humans were good or not all men, he nodded. "Thank you. I don't think you can fully comprehend my appreciation of this offer."

"Are you questioning my intelligence, High King?"

His eyes widened. "No! Of course not, I—"

The fervent denial was interrupted by T'chol's quiet laughter. His excuses melted into a smile. They had definitely been lucky with the elves' choice of emissary. She was not nearly as severe and forbidding as the other elves he'd met. There were still plenty of tensions between her and the members of the council—some who did not believe they should repair their relationship with the elves—but at least she got along well with him. Which was a good start.

"Come," he said. "Let's join this meeting before they send a search party. Or do you wish to spend more time ridiculing me?"

"It is tempting," the elf said. "But let us join your fellow men."

As they continued down the hallway, Felix hoped seeking medical advice from her would not cause contention among the medics or the sorcerers. Sometimes politics were downright exhausting, but he would weather any storm as long as Shae got the best care available.

~~~~~~