First Morning Together (Non-V/Gentle)

Marcus and Kozzala wake up in each other's arms.

The dark of the cave city makes it hard to tell how long they've slept but it didn't matter. They had nowhere to be that morning.

"Last night was amazing. Thank you for being so gentle. Took me a while to get used to that monster you're carrying." Kozzala says, idly drawing invisible patterns on his chest with her finger.

"It was. Hopefully the first of many even better nights ahead." He replies, holding her close.

"So what you said about the blessing... I'm pregnant now, right?" She asks.

It was strange to be able to give a certain answer the morning after.

"If Angel was telling the truth, yes." He says. "You're the first beside her I'm trying it with and she disappeared without confirming anything. Any regrets?"

"None." She replies, giving him a tender kiss. "Well, maybe my size." She adds with a laugh. "I still feel loose down there."

He laughs. "I'd say sorry but you can blame the gods for that. I was content with my size before."

"Oh aye, I'm sure its awful for you." She says smirking and rolling her eyes. "I've heard you men, everything is a dick measuring contest and you'll be winning a lot of them."

He laughs along with her again. "I'm not even going to argue that."

She stretches and leans into him. "You know, this is only the fourth day we've known each other and we're already married and I'm knocked up."

"Welcome to life as a noble." He replies.

"Yeah, its weird but I think I lucked out. I've got a good feeling about you. If we were both dirt poor nobodies, I think I'd still want to give you a chance, well I think it'd take us a few years to end up here but... There's something about you that draws me in."

He smiles at her admission although he couldn't help but wonder if that was simply his blessing attracting her and not him. He could say how it felt from his end.

"This feels right." He says.

They snuggle together in bed for a while. Eventually a servant brings in a tray of food for them and some kind of tea he'd never had before. The servant blushed when she saw the naked newly weds together in bed and kept her head low, apart from a couple of times when she stole a glance at Marcus when she thought he wasn't looking. The food was... dwarven. Strange meats and grey eggs with mushrooms. Still, he was hungry and it was filling, regardless of the flavor.

Kozzala watches him eat with amusement.

"Our food sucks to you, doesn't it?" She asks.

He gives a wry smirk. "The first thing I'm doing once things are calm is finding a spice merchant."

She laughs.

"Don't go spoiling my people." She teases. "We can work on fixing our food once we have an empire again."

"Oh, you can't stop me. Your soldiers will be eating like kings and queens up there."

"We just ate like a queen." She reminds him.

"Ha! Good point. Like imperials then."

After some more playful banter, Marcus asks.

"So what's next? We need to make sure you're secure before I leave with an army."

"My agents are preparing now. Tonight, anyone who might be a problem will be taken for 'safekeeping' in these times of war. From there I can monitor their communications and stop any who're plotting. Don't worry about them, these are people who have replaced our kings and queens on a whim and shaken our society simply for their own convenience. No one will be upset to see them removed. When you return we'll work out a more permanent arrangement for them."

"A cold approach but I understand. Given the circumstances, we can't afford anything sidetracking or threatening us."

"Exactly. Once we've confirmed they're all secured, you'll be free to head out tomorrow."

"Perfect. With luck I can arrive before its too late." He says. "Hopefully Amelia, my second, has found out who or what is leading them."

"Aye, take out the leader and an orc horde should crumble. Just make sure they don't escape into your lands."

"I might, just so they can burn down the castles of the lazy assholes who refused to help." He jokingly suggests.

"If you're itching for ****, have my men do it. They could use some real siege experience."

He smirks.

"You're the perfect wife." He says.

"Aye. Don't you forget it." She playfully replies.