Elowen looked down at the letter. Her eyes flickered to Theros as they sat and ate breakfast.

He had been...strange these last few months. Still at a distance, but Elowen felt confused at the odd efforts he made in going out of his way to talk to her, have meals with her, and continue to sleep in the same bed night after night.

She had thought that first night together would have been the only time, but he had been adamant of the both of them sharing a room.

"You are my wife, I am your husband. There will be no separate room."

"I won't...you know I won't...stray..."

Elowen had felt uncomfortable saying it out loud. She knew it of herself but didn't have the heart to question his own conviction.

"I know."

Her shock had been doubled when he had leaned over and given her a swift chaste kiss in response.

Sometimes Elowen wondered if maybe this effort was present, because of the news.

That first night had been enough for her to be with child. It was both a relief and disappointment to her.

If I give birth...and when that is over...if it is a boy...then I'm no longer needed...

Her purpose was being completed so soon. She felt sorrow that she would not have more time to spend with him. Despite her best efforts, Elowen could maintain her icy exterior all that she wanted, but her heart seemed to stray from what her mind told her to do.

Now, two months later, and he still had yet to ask her the contents of her letters. He knew whom they were from.

Elowen smiled as she read it. Theros did not even spare a glance at the reaction.

Strange.

"They've decided on a name."

He looked up at her voice.

"What?"

"The Galexious King and Queen- they're having a boy and have decided on a name."

"Oh?"

His tone implied that he was only mildly interested as he read the document that was in his hand. Elowen tilted her head. He was good at hiding his true feelings. Didn't he want to know?

Her long pause in silence made him look up. She felt like grinning when he impatiently said, "and?"

She looked back at the letter, "They picked the name Kestrel."

Theros suddenly choked on the drink he had been consuming. Elowen lightly patted him on the back, annoyed that he had spilled on the table cloth.

"W-," he coughed before regaining his bearings, "Kestrel?"

"I think it's very unique."

His face showed otherwise as he reached for his document again and shook his head, "I bet she was the one who picked that. Josiah doesn't strike me as a man who would name his son Kestrel."

Elowen rolled her eyes when Theros looked down.

"Should we start looking at names?"

Theros started to cough again.

Elowen sighed, patting his back once more, "Theros, please. I don't know why you keep reacting this way."

He glared at her, wiping his mouth with the napkin that was given to him.

"We don't know the gender yet."

"No," Elowen agreed, "but Queen Lumikki has been kind enough to send a list of possible- don't make that face."

Theros shook his head, "no. Do not do anything that woman suggests."

"Some of them are actually very good," Elowen raised an eyebrow, trying to fight back the smile that was hiding behind her disapproval.

Theros only shuddered, "God no."

"Fine. What should we do then?"

"How about I name the boys and you name the girls?" He was back to looking at this document. The comment had been so offhand, that Elowen nearly missed the implications.

"The...do you want...more?"

Theros looked up in confusion, "don't you?"

There was a silence between the two of them. Theros slowly set down his cup, his gaze not leaving Elowen. "If...that is okay with you..."

"I..." there was an uncomfortable tension in the room that made Elowen look away, "I didn't know you...would want...with me?" Her voice trailed off at the end, rising slightly at the doubt that was presented.

Theros' gaze never wavered as his eyes took in her face. Elowen pulled her head back, her spine straight. She had all the stance of regality- except for the fact that her own eyes never met his.

"Elowen."

She turned slightly towards him. The feeling of his hand taking hers was what caused her gaze to flicker hesitantly up.

"I'm trying," his voice sounded weak to her ears. She frowned at what the meaning behind those two words could be. But he raised her hand, kissing the back of it with a softness that made heat crawl up Elowen's neck. His gaze was heavy, filled with something foreign as they continued to look at each other, not breaking contact.

"Thank you," she whispered.

A flash of a grin was seen on his face before it was gone. So swift, she thought it had been an illusion.

"One step at a time."

Elowen let out a deep breath. His words matched her own thoughts as he let go of her hand and continued their peaceful and quiet breakfast.

She felt the heat still there on her skin. From under the table, she saw him flex his own fingers, and at the action, Elowen smiled.

* * *

Ramus was going to have to talk to his King about the woes of looking after his Queen.

Sure, the bandage to her shoulder was off. Sure, she was perfectly fine now according to the physician.

But she was also six months with child, heavily showing, and still trying to move around the castle as if she had not a care in the world.

"I'm fine Ramus," she shooed away his hovering. Ramus only winced as he watched her descend the stairs.

"My Queen, perhaps you should stay in-,"

"I am not staying in my room. There is nothing wrong with me. I am capable of doing the same things before I was with child."

Ramus winced again as she bent to pick up the paper she had dropped from the floor.

"My Queen, let me-,"

"Ramus!" she turned on him and he saw the flare of anger and annoyance there. "I understand that you are trying to protect me but I am not at a disadvantage."

His shoulders slumped in defeat as she continued to make her way down the hall. He followed glumly behind her.

"Maybe we can hunt!"

A sound of exasperation left him. Hunt? She had just had the bandages taken off!

"Something light," she turned to him- as if her words would soothe rather than press him, "a hare? Or fox?"

"I don't think that's the best plan, Queen Lumikki," Ramus could hear the dread in his voice. He should stand up to her and say with conviction that no she obviously couldn't hunt. Didn't she have any bearing about the future she was carrying now?

"What do you think Kestrel?" She rubbed her stomach, laughing as she continued down the hall.

Ramus at this point gave up. He felt deep pity for his King. There was no stopping Queen Lumikki. Everyone knew that to be true just from the sight of their King's wince and flustered movements that came over him at the mention of the chosen name for his son.

"Oh Josiaaahhhh!" She knocked on his study. Ramus looked pleadingly at the guards that were stationed at the entrance. They only smiled back at him, shaking their heads.

She entered at the permission given and Ramus slumped against the wall.

Ten minutes later, an angry King Josiah emerged, the doors flung open from the force of his outburst.

"For the last time, I said no! Stop trying to-," he looked at the guards that were present and then turned on his wife, "I need to get away from you. I said no. That's final. No hunting. You can't convince me."

"I thought you liked being convinced?"

A strangled noise left their King's throat as he literally turned his back to them and ran down the hall.

"Damn." Ramus watched his Queen glare at her husband's retreating back, "that usually works."

Ramus pushed off the wall, going to stand by his Queen, "he is only looking after your safety, my Queen. We all are. We wish nothing to happen to you and the revolts are only increasing. It is unsafe to go out."

"I know..." her soft acceptance took Ramus by surprise. Suddenly she sighed and looked up. Ramus had an uneasy feeling come to him at the mischief that was there in her gaze.

"You people don't seem to be doing much in stopping these revolts."

"There are many protests, My Queen. You've read the reports..." Ramus uneasily looked at the other guards, but they seemed just as lost as him.

"Mmmhhh yes, I have," she looked into the King's study and sighed, "I swear Ramus. The moment Kestrel is out, I'm taking charge of this parade and putting my foot down. I'm tired of these people thinking they have a say in defying me."

There was a tone Ramus had never heard before in her words. An edge of something violent and destructive. He took a step back to better look at his Queen, but she was already walking away.

Ramus stared at her form, before going and following.

He felt a shiver run through him at what her words could mean.

Knowing her, he had a fear that what she said was actually true.

This is a short chapter compared to my other ones (I'm sorry) but I have to explain, that if anyone keeps up with my other updating stories, I completly lost track of time and wrote several chapters for my story 'Red Glory' only to realize that tody is Thursday (*dun dun dduunnnn*) and so with a groan and heavy sigh, I updated not only that story but also this one XD

You would think at this point I would have it together when it comes to updating and how to manage them but I am still over here going "what? I thought today was Monday?" As always thank you for reading ♥