Gwyndolyn paced to the window in slow deliberate steps, exactly the way that her mother had shown her was proper for a lady. At the window, she stared out for several heartbeats but saw nothing. Full of nervous energy she turned again and forced herself to take measured steps toward the door.

She would go visit with the children. Their energy and joy were always a balm to her sour moods and frazzled nerves.

But there was no longer a need to be strong against such trying circumstances as: being hunted, spying on a traitor, fighting for her life, bartering peace with a powerful king, and awaiting the outcome of her husband's participation in a trial by combat.

It SHOULD all be over by now, the worrying, the waiting...but nay!

Her husband had to lose his temper to the king! The king whom everyone knew HATED him. And then...! And then!

And then the fool excused himself from a royal summons!

She was calm enough this morn when he was called away to a private audience in the king's chambers. But with each passing minute, her nerves—which were already frayed worse than Robin's shirt cuffs—well...

Her nerves were ready to snap like a dried twig, is what they were!

She did not need this worry. She should be relaxing instead of pacing this damnedably small room! She should be sitting with Lady Alexandi in one of the sitting rooms, enjoying a quiet morning working on needlework and...

She spun on her heel, walking toward the window again far too quickly. Half way there, she checked herself and forced calmer steps.

And!

And she what was she doing instead?

She was pacing this room and worrying that the king was going to lop off her husband's head!

It would serve him right.

He was such a—

The door opened and Gwyndolyn spun around.

"You are alive!" Joy washed over her, erasing the rest of her words.

Forgetting decorum, she ran to her husband who welcomed her with open arms. She heard him grunt softly when she slipped her arms about his waist and hugged him tightly. Remembering his bruises, she relaxed her hold.

"You are alive." She whispered, more to herself.

"Of course, I am alive, wife." Erec chuckled, stooping to drop a kiss on her crown and wincing from the movement.

"Of course, you are alive?" Gwyn stepped back and looked at him in completed disbelief. "OF COURSE, YOU ARE ALIVE?"

"That is what I said." Erec wished for a moment that someone else were in the room to tell him what had just occurred...because he sure as hell's fires had no idea.

"Why OF COURSE? There was every reason to think that ...OH!" Gwyn growled in frustration as tears began to blur her vision.

This really was too much! First, he deliberately provoked the king, who HATES him, and then...

And then!

"What is wrong with you?" Erec asked, growing concerned by her erratic behavior.

"Me? What is wrong with me? are what is wrong with me!"

Erec stepped back and grabbed her wrists as she tried to pound on his chest. He did not think she meant to hurt him so badly as allowing her to strike his bruises.

It was obvious that she was angry. He bit his cheek to keep from laughing at the colorful descriptions she gave of his person, his mother, and even his dog!

"Gwyndolyn." He said softly. "Gwyndolyn, love. What is it?"

Suddenly, her anger vanished and, in its place, he saw frustration and regret. She was crying, but no longer hysterical.

"Oh Gwyn." He whispered pulling her to him.

She stepped into his embrace and seemed pleased to accept his comfort. He had absolutely no idea what had just happened, or why she had flown at him. Her colorful expletives did nothing to convey the cause of her frustrations.

As he held her, she wept softly and murmured to herself. He could not understand the words, and decided that it was useless to try. She would tell him what was wrong when she was ready to. Until then, he decided it best to just hold her.

...and his tongue, lest he upset her again.

A knock sounded at the door and Gwyndolyn stiffened. She started to pull away, but he held her, and she let him, burrowing her face into his chest. He hissed at the pressure on his bruises, but held her fast when she tried to pull away again. This time she settled quietly and he called out: "Enter."

"Good Morn!" Gil said cheerfully as he entered, followed by the rest of them. "We came to see if you were feeling better."

Gwyndolyn sniffled and stepped away. This time, Erec let her go. She turned with a teary smile and sniffled as she swiped at her cheeks.

"I am much improved."

"You have been crying!" Gil moved forward and took both of her hands in his. "Who do I have to kill for you?"

Gwyndolyn chuckled and sniffled again as she pulled her hands free to swipe at her cheeks.

"I am well, really. I just...I was just..."

"Are you certain that you are well? I have noticed that you have not seemed yourself of late."

"Yes, Gwyn." Drew caught her eye and winked. "You have seemed rather out of sorts lately. Do tell us who has hurt you. We will--all of us--kill the bastard this very morn!"

Drew looked around at the confirming nods and affirmations from the others, noting that Erec added his pledge with the rest of them.

Drew's smile grew.

"Tell us Erec," Drew prodded, "What shall we do this monster that has hurt our dear Gwyndolyn and made her cry? Death is too simple a punishment!"

"We should torture him first. Cut out the tongue that said vile words. Gouge out the eyes that looked at her lecherously..."

Drew listened as the others began to add their rather creative tortures. Gwyndolyn was laughing at it, which was fine, as she needed some cheer after these many weeks of worry.

Erec suddenly noticed that Drew was smiling, but it was not the same as the others. And Drew was standing separate, rocking on his heels and looking for all the world like the fox in the henhouse.

"Drew?" Erec's question hushed the others and all eyes turned to Drew. "Is there something you wish to tell us?"

"Not I." Drew laughed. "It is not my secret to tell...my lord."

There it was, that mocking again. Erec growled and stepped forward, but he stopped when Gwyn placed a hand upon his arm and looked up at him.

She was smiling and her eyes glistened with tears and amusement...nay, it was joy.

"Gwyn?"

"It is my secret and I am sorry to have kept it from you for so long. It is only that there was so much to worry over that I did not wish to—"

Erec grabbed her arms and looked at her face, worried that she was taken ill.

It must be something terrible if she had kept it from him for fear of ...of what exactly?

"Be easy, husband." Gwyndolyn smiled softly and he relaxed as he watched her face color. "It is only that I am with child."

Erec froze. It was as though he were suddenly turned to stone. He neither breathed, nor blinked. Even his heart stopped. And then, suddenly, his heart thundered.

"Only?" he smiled and swept her into his arms, twirling her about. "Only?"

"Only." She whispered as she looked into his eyes and kissed him.

He kissed her back until he heard a throat clear. She stepped back and looked up at him sheepishly.

"I knew that you would be pleased by the news, but I though that you would be angry with me for keeping the secret from you."

"Well, erm..." Erec nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

The joyful felicitations stopped as the men all turned to look at Erec.

"Erec?" Gwyn was suddenly very somber.

"It is nothing...bad...not exactly. It is...well, it might be good news. You know that I found my family. That the Bishop was my grandfather."

"Aye." She frowned, failing to see why this was making Erec so nervous.

"Well, when he died, he...that is..." Erec rubbed at his neck again and Gwyn thought he would rub the skin raw, "before he died, he told me something...and well..."

"Erec?" Gwyndolyn's eyes were tearing up again and her hand went to her stomach.

"Erec," Drew said in all seriousness, "If you have hurt Gwyndolyn, I will personally carry out every torture mentioned this morn...and gladly. Now out with it, you bloody fool. Can you not see that you are upsetting her?"

"I am a crown prince." He blurted.

Gwyn blinked. Then she laughed. She laughed until she cried, but she realized Erec was still as a stone and her breath caught in her throat.

"You are in earnest."

"I am. The bishop's real name was Cleve Joseph Duplechain. He was a wealthy Lord from an ancient family in Vilamout. When he entered the church, he severed all ties with the outside world. They thought him dead, though he kept track of his family by various means."

"But—" Gwyn's brow wrinkled in confusion. "How—"

"He did not say how, or why, but at some point, shortly after he took orders, he learned that his father was crowned king. Bishop Anouk is first born and was the crown-prince. But at his father's death, since all thought the bishop to be dead, his brother became king. His brother has no living heirs. The kingdom is in peril as his brother is aged and having military troubles."

"You...you can prove this?"

"I can. My grandfather left documents. But there is more."

"More?" Gwyn's hand went to her lips as she swayed.

Drew was standing closest and scooped her up, carrying her to a chair and setting her down. Giving Erec a meaningful look, Drew crossed over to pour Gwyndolyn a cup of water.

"I am sorry to upset you, my love." Erec came over to kneel before her and take her hands in his.

Drew growled and Erec released one of her hands so that she could accept the glass of water.

"I am not upset." Gwyn smiled at Drew as she sipped the water. "My thanks."

"You are most welcome." Drew nodded at Gwyn before he glowered at Erec.

"Then...never mind." Erec shook his head. "I need to tell you the rest."

She nodded and sipped her water again. Drew crossed his arms and looked down in challenge, daring Erec to upset her again.

Erec drew a breath and the rest of his news out in one breath.

"We are rich as Croesus. King Hugh and I have called a truce. I can keep Greenwood for Robin and I am released from my vow of fealty so that we can go to Vilamout and I can claim my crown."

He scarcely paused between sentences and half expected her to ask him to repeat himself.

She merely sat there, blinking as she processed all that he had said. Behind him someone whistled long and low in disbelief.

"Well, ..." Gwyndolyn smiled and handed her cup up to Drew before turning back to Erec. "I guess that means I should learn to call you my prince instead of my husband."

A wide toothy grin split Erec's face as she reached forward and scooped her from the chair onto his lap. He kissed her long and well. He ignored the hoots and whistles and the jesting, releasing her only when she gently pushed at his chest.

"I suppose we should tell the children. And we shall have to stay here until after the babe is born..."

"As long as I do not return to Kingstown, it will be well. I have promised Hugh that I shall never again set foot there unless by his personal invitation. If the family rejects me, despite the proofs, we shall return and restore Greenwood to its former glory. We have funds enough to live quite comfortably even without the royal coffers. Sooth, probably we have more."

"Well, let us go tell the children then, and mayhap we should tell the Baron and Baroness."

"There is no need to tell Brecken or Lady Alexandi. They were there with me when the bishop passed. They heard everything. It seems he is also of royal blood, descended from the ancient line by a bastard brother of King Marek. But he will not make his claim to the throne."

"Your highness." Drew gave an exaggerated bow, "How may I serve thee."

"You are an ars—erm—fool." Erec grinned at Gwyn as he helped her to her feet and accepted a hand from Drew. He was still very stiff, although moving about was helping.

"Then let us find the children." Gwyndolyn smiled.

"What do you suppose they shall say?"

"Sofi will be delighted to learn that she is a real princess after all and she will demand that Gil be her knight and slay a dragon for her, just like his story."

"And Robin?" Erec asked, wondering at what the boy might think of the situation.

"I think he will be excited to learn that he is rich. But I think he will be sad to leave here. This is all he has known, so saving Greenwood for him might help to ease his sorrow."

---

"Does this mean I get to wear a crown?" Robin asked as soon as he heard.

Gwyn and Erec exchanged glances and burst into laughter.