"Go," Draco whispered.
"Nothing. Just, looking outside."
I turned back to everyone. Their cheeks rosy and their eyes twinkling. They were so happy and cheerful, rightfully so. This was a happy time.
"Your father and I are going to participate in the jousting tournament."
I shook my head and sighed heavily.
"What?" James asked.
"I hate jousting. It's so unnecessarily violent."
"This coming from you?"
"I am only violent when I need to be. Not because I want to be. Just be careful. Don't leave me a widow just yet."
James laughed and winked. He thought I was being silly, I wasn't. I was being serious.
Dead serious.
Chapter 40
The pregnancy progressed as expected. My nerves were on edge as each day passed and my belly grew with the wonderful life inside. The Guild had been quiet for some time. There were no more attempts on either of our castles.
I knew they were planning something. Perhaps for when I was much to round to be a threat. Or worse, maybe they planned to kidnap the child.
"Hold still, Evelyn."
"I am, Charlene. The dress is simply too small."
"It's new!" She exclaimed breathlessly.
"Look at this thing!" I shouted pointing to the protrusion beneath the too tight cloth. "It won't stop growing."
"That's what pregnant bellies do. They grow."
"I can barely move."
"You move around just fine. You just need more gowns with looser material."
I threw my hands in the air and stormed off with my unlaced gown still hanging on.
"Where are you going?" She called after me.
"The only place I ever am anymore. The kitchen to aid in the expanding protrusion!"
I heard her clicking heels scurry behind me.
"You need clothing on."
"I have some on."
"A proper dress, Evelyn. That one isn't even laced all the way."
"It'll be fine for now."
I pushed open the kitchen door and my stomach flopped. The smell of roasting meat caused ever fiber in my body to fight against me. Grabbing the nearest pot deep enough to get my head in, I threw everything up that I'd had since the prior day.
"Are you alright, Princess?" a short, older woman asked running from a bubbling cauldron.
Charlene stood at my side holding my hair out of my face as I wretched once more.
I handed the filled pot to the old woman. "Sorry about your pot."
"Uhm, quite alright, dear." she gave the disgusting thing to another, younger woman who scurried away with it. "Let me make you something to ease that stomach of yours. Pregnancy will do horrible things to a woman, it will."
"I've been noticing."
"That dress is looking awfully tight as well."
"Yes, it feels rather tight."
"That's because it is. We can't even lace it up."
The old woman stifled a laugh as she ladled a dark broth into a bowl. "Until you get more made, I believe we still have your mothers gowns from when she was pregnant with you."
"Old gowns?" I asked in horror.
"Old, but they'll fit."
"Comfort over fashion this one time, Evelyn." Charlene urged.
"Fine, fine," I mumbled, accepting the bowl and hard bread from the woman. "Thank you."
"No thoughts of it. Now off to your chambers with you. You can't be seen running about the castle in a gown that doesn't fit."
I nodded and left the kitchen with my broth, bread, and friend in tow.
"I'm going to die," I moaned, placing the bowl on a table once we entered my chambers again.
"You're going to be fine. Women have been having children for centuries."
"It feels like my body is going to burst at the seams."
Charlene laughed as she unlaced the bottom half of the gown. The only half she could get up.
"Stand. You can sit in your undergarments until they find a gown for you. I'm going to the seamstress to order more."
"I don't want to sit around."
"You need rest."
"What I need is for this child to hurry up."
Charlene shook her head and left me to drink my broth. I sat in a wing backed chair nearest the window, watching a cardinal fly about the trees right outside. The city way lively with bustling people who went about their day. Horses pulling large carts ambled down the cobbled streets with their owners holding lightly to their reigns. A daily chore both so used to. The women of ill-repute hung about the corners, leering to men as they walked past. One woman in particular stood near the door to a local tavern daily. She had long red hair and seemed to have only two dresses. One was a long, tattered green dress that hung loosely from the shoulders. The second a nicer red with black lace. Her boots crept higher up her slender legs then most I'd seen. I couldn't help but watch her wondering what in her life led her to such a position in the kingdom. The flower peddler pushed her little cart up and down the streets before stopping in front of the castle. Day after day as the sun set she would stop her cart in front of the castle gates, asking all the men who walked past if they wanted a flower. They were beautiful and different everyday. Today's appeared to be long stemmed and purple.
A light knock at the door drew me from my people watching. "Enter."
"Madame, I found some dresses for you."
I turned to see the old lady from the kitchen approach with an arm full of gowns.
"Oh wonderful!" I pushed myself out of the chair and ambled toward her with just a slightest bit of a toddle about my walk.
The dresses were dated, but seemed like they would be much more comfortable than the laced and buttoned gowns the seamstress had been making for me.
"They have no ties?"
The old woman laughed as she placed them on the bed. "Heavens no. You silly girls today and your fashions. You are pregnant. Be comfortable."
"These fabrics are so light. They're not nearly as heavy as the curtains I've been wearing."
"Try one."
A deep blue one drew my eye. The fabric was soft, a bit heavier than the others, but beautiful. I held my arms up as the woman dropped it over my head. The only lacing was at the bosom. The gown fell to the ground, right over my expansive belly.
"It fits!"
"I suspected it would. Wonderful, you have some clothing to get you through till the new ones are ready."
The sleeves were tight all the way down. I could handle tight arms if it wasn't a tight middle. Satisfied with the way I looked despite being in a very-out-of-style gown, I left the room.
"Where are you going?" the old woman asked.
"To purchase something from an old peddler."
I took my time walking down the long drive, enjoying the light breeze the blew up towards me. Guards stood on either side of the gate, blocking us from the rest of the world.
"Good morrow, Princess."
"Good morrow, sir."
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere. I just need to see that old peddler there."
"Is she bothering you? I've been trying to get rid of her for weeks."
"You shall do no such thing. She's simply selling her flowers."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Flower for the beautiful princess?" she asked, holding her goods to me.
"I'll take the rest," I said, handing over a small leather purse.
"Absolutely!" She handed me the entire basket while taking my purse. "Majesty, this is entirely too much."
"No, I think that is about right. Your flowers are positively superb. Do you grow them yourself?"
She nodded her head, her eyes locked on the coins.
"Would you like to be my personal florist?"
"Beg pardon?"
"My chambers and privy room are quite stark and barren without flowers. I love flowers. I would like you to provide my ro
oms with fresh flowers daily."
"Yes, madame."
"You will be allotted a yearly pay. Do you have quite a large yard?"
"Not too large, madame, no."
I furrowed my brow and tapped a finger on my lip. "That simply will not do. I need loads of flowers. I shall move you and your entire family to a larger estate with a much larger yard."
"Madame?"
"You're wondering why?" I asked.
She simply nodded her head.
"I've watched you everyday for the past three months pushing your cart and baskets about. You always leave every night with those remarkable flowers in tow. I don't want to see such beauty go to waste. I want them."
"Of course, majesty."
"Expect someone from the royal court at your door tomorrow. I expect a room full of flowers when I wake. Tell the guard where you live as you leave."
"Thank you. Thank you!" she called as I walked away.
"Why did you do that?" James asked, standing a few feet away from me.
"Her flowers are marvelous." I handed him the basket, taking a handful of the fragrant bouquet.
"Yes. They are nice, but their are men who take care of the grounds which have loads of marvelous flowers."
"Not as nice as hers. Stop arguing with your pregnant wife. I want her flowers in our chambers daily. I like her flowers."
"Of course, dear." He kissed my cheek and offered his arm for me to take.
"That's a lovely gown."
I smiled and rubbed the soft material on my protruding belly as the small life in me continued to grow.
Chapter 41
"There is to be a celebration," James said rather suddenly.
"Celebration? For what?"
"The birth of our son."
"Daughter."
"Whatever it is. All in our kingdoms shall celebrate," he said, reaching out to rub my roundness.
"Yes, celebrations would be lovely." I lay back on the bed, my hands resting on the only place they could, feeling the small life inside. "Oh! James feel!"
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, yes. Just put your hands here."
He cupped the small life in his hands and waited. A smile crossed his face as I felt our child kick out to him.
"The baby!"
"Yes, it moves about now!"
He placed his head, gently, on my stomach and smiled as the baby pushed against his cheeks. "It feels so strong!"
"Of course. That is a prince or a princess. The little one will be so very strong."
We lay there as the baby continued to move and wriggle within. She never seemed to stop, moving from side to side and up and down. I closed my eyes, hoping for sleep to come upon me quickly as it seemed as of late I could never get quite enough sleep. Or prawns. I loved sleeping and eating prawns.
"I cannot believe that I'm going to be a father!"
"Yes well I hope it's sooner rather than later," I muttered turning to my side in an attempt to get some relief from the child growing within.
"What is wrong, my love?"
I patted his hand and kissed his cheek as he laid near me. "Nothing, sweet. I am simply uncomfortable and quite large."
His smile spread from ear to ear. "Large with a nice, strong baby. Our baby."
"Yes, yes. I just wish they wouldn't cause me such distress all the time."
His brows furrowed as he released the grip on my protruding stomach and stroked my cheek. "You are coming upon full term shortly. Then you will be able to find comfort again."
"I want to name her Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth?"
I nodded rubbing where her tiny foot pushed against the barrier of my womb.
"It's perfect."
"I hope so." My eyes slid close as they did so often anymore.
I awoke some time later to a mighty crash from within my chambers. I sat up as quickly as I could, which really wasn't all that fast at all. Sitting on the edge of the bed, my chest heaved as the child pushed up as hard as she could laboring my breath.
I scanned the room for the source of the crash and noticed the drapes billowing in the now open window. I gave myself a shove off the bed and waddled my way toward the blustering wind. Attempting to stoop down and pick up the overturned standing candelabra. I got about halfway down before I realized I would never be able to stand back up.
"Oh never mind!"
Grasping the window, a flash of shimmering scale skittered past the window.
"Draco?" I called out.
"Evelyn..." a bloodied claw gripped the stone in front of me.
Gasping, I reached out for him. "What happened?"
"It's not mine."
Relief flooded my body. "Oh thank goodness! Who's is it?"
"I do need to eat."
I looked at him quizzically before it dawned on me. "Oh. I see."
"It was but a deer. No fretting, my lady."
I nodded. "Of course."
"How is the child?"
"Growing. A lot faster than I thought she would."
"You are coming upon your lying in?"
"It should be within the month."
He nodded his massive head before nosing my stomach with his cold, scaly nose. "The child will be in danger once she's born."
"I understand."
"More danger than you ever were."
"I know, Draco. The child is in danger even now while protected in my belly."
"The Guild will be after her."
"Yes. I'm sure they will be."
"Not to kill her."
"No?" I looked up at him.
"No. She would be an incredible asset to them alive."
I pursed my lips and stared past him at the moon waning in the sky. Streaks of pink, blue, and purple crept across the blackness.
"I won't let them take her. She's mine."
"She's a special child, Evelyn."
"I know, Draco. She's a princess."
"She's not just a princess, she's the daughter of a dragon rider. Her mother and father both have the dragon's heart."
"So? You said a dragon rider is only born every few centuries or so."
"Yes, but there has never been a child born to parents whose hearts are of a dragon."
"What does that mean?"
He shrugged his mighty shoulders. "I don't know. This is quite unprecedented. I'm not sure what to expect, Evelyn."
"Will she even be human?"
He let out a mighty laugh, shaking the very floor I stood on. James stirred only slightly in the bed across the room.
"Yes, she will be human, but she will have extraordinary powers."
"She'll be born to humans though."
"With a dragon heart."
"What should I expect?"
"Anything, I suppose."
"That doesn't help much, Draco."
I placed my hand upon my stomach as the child woke and proceeded with her daily tumbles.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine. She just loves to move, a lot."
"I'm sure she does."
I'm afraid, Draco."
"Things will be fine."
"You don't know that. You can't even be sure she'll be alright when she's born. She has an entire group off awful people who want to take her away from me."
"We'll protect her. She will be safe."
I nodded and closed the window as he let himself fall from the side of the castle. His massive wings unfurled, catching the wind as it blew about the building. My eyes remained trained on the shimmering scales until they vanished beyond the trees.
Chapter 42
Things in our kingdoms were quiet as the weeks went carried on. My already burgeoning belly grew even more. My feet didn't fit into any of the shoes I already owned. James found a cobbler to make more. My grew tighter and tighter till I felt like I would just burst. Towards the time of my lying in even moving became quite laborsome
. The midwife stayed with me at all times of day and night in case the child were to come before its time. Most of the day was spent flopping from one side to the other in an attempt to find a comfortable position to lay.
"Be still, madam."
"Be still? How can I possibly be still when this child continues moving at every moment of the day? I cannot be still." I pushed away the midwifes hands as she tried to position the pillows around me. "Do be useful and fetch me some tea. Or biscuits. Or both."
She huffed, curtsied, and fled the room.
"That wasn't very nice," Charlotte muttered from across the room.
"She's not very helpful."
"She's doing what she's supposed to do."
"Yes, yes. I know. I'm just so very uncomfortable and miserable."
"I know."
"I wish this child would be finished."
"Soon enough, Ellie."
"It is most certainly not soon enough." I struggled to push myself up.
"Evelyn, stop it. Just lay back."
"I need to get up, Charlotte."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I just don't feel alright. I need to get up. I need to walk."
She dropped her fabric and needle and rushed to the bedside. Grasping my hand, she helped me to the edge of the bed, which was quite burdensome. Pains pulsated through my stomach and back. A tremendous pressure pushed down on my nether region. Something I'd never felt before in my life.
"Oh dear," Charlotte exclaimed, stepping back?
"Wha..." I stopped mid sentence as the rush of wetness ran over the blankets and onto the floor.
"I do believe it is time."
"Time? It can't be. I still have at least another month before this child should make its presence known."
"It seems that the little one has other plans. I'll fetch the midwife."
I groaned at the thought of that wretched woman laying hands on me, fluffing and poking.
"What do I do?"
"Lay back, lady."
"I don't want to lay back. It hurts."
"It is childbirth, dear one. It's not going to feel good."
"Where's James? I want James!" I cried out as more pain seized my body.
Charlotte opened the chamber door and spoke briefly to the guard outside.
"Right away, ma'am!" the guard shouted before the sound of him running down the hall echoed into the room.
The Defender's Daughter: The Defender's Book 2 Page 23
