Tending the Hearth

Lady Rienne Hothemer was, to the surprise of the servants bustling around her, happily humming to herself while she stirred a large pot of gravy. The surprise lay both in the fact that she had wanted to help them prepare dinner, that the exarch had allowed it, and that she seemed to be enjoying it.

What none of them noticed was that she would, occasionally, run a hand over her abdomen, her smile widening whenever she did so. That morning she had been woken up by a familiar sensation, but one she had not felt in almost two decades.

Junea had kicked. Her son’s child was quickening inside her, and it left her overflowing with joy, and with an inexplicable need to do housework.

Thanks to her curvaceous figure she wasn’t showing much yet. But, if one looked and knew her body, a gentle outward swell was becoming visible. Luckily her prodigious bust made it easy to hide while clothed.

-

Upstairs in her own quarters a naked Adeline examined herself in her full-length mirror, her hands resting lightly on her abdomen. The curve undeniably there, just enough to hint at the life growing inside her, yet already enough to make hiding it a challenge. She studied the gentle swell with a mix of awe, concern, and delight.

That was Velas’ child growing inside her, the fulfillment of her most treasured hopes and dreams. And yet, the world was not ready for this. She’d have to try and conceal it as best she could. Enlisting the help of both her mother and Lynn would be of paramount importance.

Yes, between her mother’s experience with pregnancy and Lynn’s almost frightening expertise in the realm of clothing, they should be able to manage for a little while. Hopefully until Vel got back, he’d know what to do.

And with that came the thought of Vel seeing her like this, seeing her carrying their daughter, and all her worries and concerns fled like mist before the dawn.

-

For the first time in a long time, Jeane was missing sword drills. That wasn’t quite accurate. It was the first time she was missing sword drills for a reason other than her duty to Lady Amordina. Having to travel with her as her shield of course took precedence over the daily drills, but besides that she had almost never been absent.

Now of course she was no longer anyone’s sworn shield, but she was still missing practice, and the reason was much less impressive.

The beautiful soldier was bent over a, thankfully previously unused, chamber pot and retching her guts out. This wasn’t her first brush with morning sickness, but by far the worst one. She loved Velas with all her heart and was beyond grateful to be carrying his child, but right now as her throat burned and eyes watered, she hated him for doing this to her.

-

Chielynn and Rose were doing some embroidery, silently enjoying each other’s company, when there came a tentative knock at their door.

Rose looked at her inquisitively, and Lynn nodded, after which the beautiful maid immediately got up.

“Coming!”

Equals they may be as Vel’s wives now, but if the gorgeous servant insisted on serving, far be it from Lynn to refuse her. And she appreciated the glimpse of the smooth, tan legs she was afforded when Rose got up.

She blushed a bit as she thought about how, just hours earlier, her face had been buried between those legs, making the sexy ardalian moan so sweetly.

All those thoughts were banished from her mind though when the door swung open to reveal her youngest sister, looking more than a bit nervous, and with two prominent stains on the front of her dress.

“Lynnie, I need help. I’m uh… leaking.”

-

Nerea was surrounded by songs, songs in her honor. While her shoal and others continued to track the ships her love was hunting, she had been convinced to retire to a safe place. One where she could be looked after, to ensure the safety of herself and her unborn child.

It was still surreal to her, the hero of prophecy choosing her, granting her this incredible gift. Just thinking about him made her weak in the tailfin. The way he had felt inside her body and mind.

Thanks to his gift, the other shoals were flocking to hers, word spread swiftly underwater. At least the telepathic kind.

Part of her wished to continue to take part in his mission, to follow the pirates he chased and earn his approval, but she knew her elders were right. Nothing was more important than the child growing in her womb. Nothing apart from the Promised One himself, of course

-

She rode faster than the wind, urging her steed on with **** pleas. The others did likewise, the whole group riding like the hells itself chased them. In a way they did. At least the fate that would befall them if they were caught would be a torment worthy of the hells.

Lethiliie wished there had been more time, so many things could have been done to ease their escape. But alas, her slender form was too ill suited to hiding her growing pregnancy, and her morning sickness had been brutal.

And as soon as it was noticed, there would be questions, even examinations. The nature of her child would be revealed, and that would spell her doom and the doom of the life she carried. There’d been ****, her and the handful of allies she’d been able to gather had to make their break now and do the best they could.

An arrow whizzed past, narrowly missing her and embedding itself into the trunk of a gnarled old tree. In her mind she saw again the scene of Velas and her daughter running through a field, the latter shrieking with delighted laughter.

For the first time in her life, Princess Lethiliie of the elven royal line offered a prayer to her people’s greatest foe.

“Let me reach your scion, let me see my love again, and let me carry our daughter safely to his side.”