And Home in Ostgrenze

You stay three more days in the capital city of Linberburg in order to familiarize yourself the local populace who will soon become your people, the local landmarks and places and the people in charge of the Linberburg composing of minor nobility, learned men and the dying Duke's on trusted advisers. It was three days with your time maximized and well spent. The people of the city receive you well enough and the bureaucracy of the Linberburg are willing to swear loyalty to you. Though apparently you will have to choose one of the major Lords to be the new Duke of Linberburg, You will have to ask Benjamin back in Ostgrenze if any of these men can be trusted or not.

With Linberburg as part of Ostgrenze, that is a direct link to Silasie. Another territory to add to a growing Ostgrenze. In any case, you can’t stay any longer but they make you promise to return as soon as possible to over see the transition from independent Duchy to a Duchy in Ostgrenze.

You don’t ride on your horse on the journey back. You ride in a wagon together with Helga, Eliza and Simone. “Well that was easy,” you have Helga and Eliza close to you, an arm wrapped behind them, their heads resting on your shoulder and little Simone sleeping soundly in his mother’s arms, “I never thought I’d ever get to simply inherit nation.”

“Don’t count your blessings, my love,” Eliza keeps her eyes at her baby, “the Almighty above might just decide to make things difficult for you to even it out.” You can’t tell if she is joking or not.

At long last, you and your traveling party arrive back at Ostgrenze and it feels good to be home. You can't help but quickly remember that there is a war that needs doing soon. Your travelling party disperses and Eliza and Helga walk off together. The first person you look for is Camilla. It doesn't take long to find her however. You embrace your beloved wife and kiss her. "You have come just in time." Camilla says after the kiss. "Dorothye will give birth soon." She whispers straight into your ear. You and Camilla walk hand-in-hand to the chamber where Dorothye stayed.

You find Dorothye on her bed with her hands stroking her belly. The dress she wore seems tight on her and hugs her belly and breasts, emphasizing just how much they've grown. Her mid-rift, once flat and empty, is not round, large and heavy with your child growing within. Her breasts have grown large too, engorged with the milk meant to nurse your newborn with her nipples poking through the fabric.

"My King, welcome home." Dorothye sends you a bright smile, clearly happy to see you.

Before you could respond to her, Camilla cups your face and brings you in for a kiss. The kiss is long and tender. Camilla pulls away after. "I shall leave you and her alone for the moment. I shall come back soon." Your Queen walks out, careful to lock the door after her.

Now alone with the mother of your heir, you move to Dorothye and land your hand gently on her belly, caressing it dearly. You seat next to her in bed and notice that her belly is bigger than that of Eliza and Sophie during their last month. "Have you been well?" You ask her.

Dorothye looks into your eyes with peace and gratitude in her own, "I am fine, Sire." Suddenly, the baby in her womb kick, startling you both slightly. You quickly get over being startled and smile at the feeling of another one of your unborn children kicking. Dorothye giggles, "Your child is excited. He knows he will come into the world soon." She looks down at her distended tummy and lands her hand over yours.

"Dorothye...," You look away for a bit before looking back straight into her eyes, "Are you indeed sure about this? You maybe part of this child's life but you will never be called its mother. You'll always be the adored nanny and the dutiful wet nurse. But never the mother."

Dorothye removes her hand atop yours and moves it to cup your cheek. "Why do you ask this again now of all times, my King? I am a few days from giving birth. It's too late for regrets at this point."

"I just want to be sure. You will be giving up your baby."

"It doesn't matter. I'll still be a part of this child's life. It doesn't matter if I'm never called mother by him. As long as I can see him smile, see him laugh, see him crawl and walk, see him grow, it doesn't matter. I'll play the role of a dutiful nanny and wet nurse. To have him suckle on my breast will be my pleasure. No, this child is yours and Camilla's." Her other hand reaches up and cups your other cheek, "But if I maybe honest, I feel a little proud."

"Proud?"

"I know I said this child is yours and Camilla's but... nothing will change the fact that this child is my blood. My lowly, peasant blood mixed with your royal blood. This child was conceived from MY body and grew within MY womb. Camilla may raise it and be called its mother but nothing will change that this child was born from me! My commoner's blood flows through this child and he will seat upon your throne after your reign ends." You remain silent as Dorothye pours her innermost feelings. This is something that not even Camilla would have been told by her.

Dorothye grits her teeth, "Sire, I love Camilla to **** and I would never do anything to hurt her but... but... but am I in the wrong," she removes her hands from her cheeks and places them on her swollen belly, "for feeling proud my child will be your heir, that out of all the highborn women out there who are either pregnant or has given birth to your child, it is my child that will become King of Ostgrenze. Am I wrong?" She looks up to you and you see remorse plainly in her eyes.

"No, you're not. You're just human. Sometimes we can't help but feel a certain way. But I do believe we should not mention this ever to Camilla."

"Are you sure you want to keep secrets from Camilla?" Dorothye asks curiously.

"It's your secret, not mine. Feel free to tell her if that is what you truly wish." You give her a warm smile.

Dorothye shifts her eyes away in guilt, "I don't like keeping secrets from Camilla. Ever. But I don't want to burden her with this. It might just bring up the pain she's always carried of being denied the gift of motherhood. All I want is her happiness even at the expense of my own."

"I want you to be happy too, Dorothye." This time, you cup her cheeks. "If you so desire it, we can make another child. You can raise it as your own and maybe even along side this one." His eyes dart briefly at her bulging stomach.

"Thank you, Sire, but..." she trails off, not ready to tell her of the merchant's son who is still pinning for her back in her hometown, "but for now, let's focus on this one." She patted her belly. But if she could be honest with herself, she is starting to doubt her feelings towards that merchant son. "Are you excited, Sire? I know this isn't your first child by any means but still, it is your child."

"I'm always excited for the birth of any of my children and grateful to the mothers who bear them." Feeling touched by your words, Dorothye grabs the back of your head and pulls you in for a kiss. You pinch her nipples through her thin dress making them grow hard and poking even more.

While still kissing, you both get up on your knees. With no intentions of breaking the kiss, you tear up Dorothye's dress at the middle and rip it off her. It has no sleeves so that helped. She was completely naked underneath and your hands run across her body. You remove your outer clothes and push your trousers down. Mirroring your actions, Dorothye tears up what remains and pulls it off you, leaving you just as naked as she is.

When Dorothye ended the kiss, she has something to ask of you, "Sire, tonight... be mine and all mine. Our time together here will be the only time we'll ever have to closest as a proper family as we ever can. For tonight and all the days between the birth, please pretend that this is indeed our child. Please pretend that I am the woman you're making a family with."

"You will have it." You whisper to her before starting the kiss again. Your hand cups her womanhood, her hairless womanhood. It arouses you and you don’t bother asking her about it.

You and Dorothye make love. But with her having grown so large, the only position ideal for her is with her on top. After getting your releases, Dorothye lays next to you.

"I hope it is a boy, Dorothye." You whisper to her with her head on your shoulder. "It will be a boy, my King."

Not truly meaning to doubt her, you ask, "How can you be so sure?"

"Call it a woman's intuition." She replies with a yawn. You wrap your arms around her and she makes herself comfortable within them. Sleep takes you both.

Four days later, Dorothye's water breaks. The child is coming. What luck it is that both you and Camilla are already there when Dorothye starts being in labor. Strange though, you think to yourself. Camilla had ripped off Dorothye's tight dress before guiding her to her bed. You head for the door and call for a midwife but you quickly remember after just taking one step that this is a big secret.

"Camilla, can you deliver this baby?"

"My family's healer had taught me and I've seen some of my farmers do it for their flocks. I am no experienced midwife but I believe I am capable enough. Come here, my love. Hold Dorothye's hand and help her through this. I shall deliver this child." You seat next to Dorothye again and hold her hand. Camilla gets into position between Dorothye's open thighs.

"Okay, Dorothye. You have to push." Camilla instructs. Dorothye's fertility rings true for the labor takes no longer than fifteen minutes. One minute Dorothye is crying out in pain and hard effort and another the room is filled with the cries of a newborn baby which Camilla quickly wraps around in a white blanket. Camilla doesn't bother cutting the umbilical cord. Not yet anyway. She is new to this and her hands are shaking and doesn't want to risk harming the baby in any way.

You, Camilla and Dorothye look at the baby with awe and love. Your eyes all tearing up.