Chapter 30 - Emilia

I can't stop crying when I wake up, somehow having to say goodbye to Bel and Kor was worse this time than when I physically saw them leave Hadlau. Maybe it's the knowing that I'm pregnant with their child and that they won't be here.

"Emmy, it's okay. We'll see them again and next time it'll be in person." Lilas whispers holding me close as I cry trying to calm me down. Eventually it works and my tears stop although I'm content to stay quietly wrapped up in his arms for a while longer.

"What was that?" I ask not entirely sure how we'd been able to meet each other like that when we'd been asleep.

"Dream-walking a powerful magic. So powerful that only the Gods have ever been able to hold it overnight, the most that anyone else can do is an hour or two depending on the number of magic users working together."

"I'm happy they know. We can tell everyone now." I mutter managing a small smile as I look up at Lilas who returns it giving me a nod.

"Yes, we'll invite my uncle and Sliske over for dinner tonight and tell them. After that I'll have to inform the Council and then they'll likely make an announcement of it to the whole city. You'll get to tell all your ladies-in-waiting and I'm sure when you do they'll be very happy for you and will give you plenty of advice." The idea makes me laugh as several of my ladies have children of their own, some even grandchildren, so will have lots of advice to give me.

Secretly I'm most looking forward to telling my ladies, at least now that Kor and Bel know, because of the knowledge that they have. I've never spent any time around babies so I have very little idea about how to take care of one so I'll take whatever help I can get. Plus in the time I've spent with my ladies some have become almost mother-figures while the other younger ladies are like sisters all of whom I can't wait to share this news with.

Now that I'm feeling better we climb out of bed and get ready for the day. Lilas has a Council meeting this morning but I don't have anything planned for the day so I'll probably keep myself busy helping Nuela plan tonight's dinner. I want it to be something special since we'll be telling family important news.

A quiet breakfast later Lilas leaves for his meeting while I sit down with Nuela in the drawing room. I still have to tell her about the pregnancy before we can even start planning tonight's dinner, hopefully with her help we can get everything organised despite the late notice.

"There was something you wanted to tell me your Majesty?" She says taking a seat next to me.

"Yes." I can't help the smile that grows on my face as I get to speak with someone other than my mates or the Healer about my baby, "I'm pregnant." I blurt out. Silence follows for a brief time before she pulls me into a hug.

"Congratulations." She whispers into my ear, "That is wonderful news your Majesty." Releasing me from the hug she sits back a large smile matching mine on her face.

"Thank you, we're very happy. So far we haven't told anyone, we sent a letter telling Kor and Bel, so you're the first person other than them that know. Lilas and I are hoping to have Lords Magor and Sliske over for dinner tonight to tell them. I need your help to make it special?"

"Of course, did you have any ideas?" Together we spend a few hours planning out tonight's dinner. We start with the meal its self to give the kitchen enough time to prepare it, there ends up being an almost constant stream of servants delivering our plans to the kitchen as we came to an agreement on the number of courses and what each one will be. Luckily Nuela knows them both really well so we're able to get Sliske's favourite type of blood and give the kitchen time to prepare Magor's favourite meal for dinner.

"I think that's everything." Nuela states as we finally finish discussing decorations for tonight.

"Thank you Nuela." I say standing up needing a walk after sitting down for so long. I'll probably go out into the garden at least until Lilas gets back and we can go over to the glass houses as we'd discussed yesterday.

"Anytime your Majesty. And congratulations again and if there is anything I can do to help please let me know." I nod happily walking out of the room and heading upstairs. Since it's been getting colder I'd promised Lilas to wear a cloak while I'm outside especially on particularly cold days like today.

Despite only coming out to the garden recently there seem to be less flowers than the last time I'd been on a walk out here. Already I miss the presence of the flowers in the garden even though I know that they'll be back in the spring and I can watch them grow. Although at that point I'll be heavily pregnant and chances are Lilas won't let me spend much time outside, at least not without him or some of my guards.

"There you are. Tehlmar said that you were out here." Lilas suddenly calls out making me jump slightly. Spinning round I find him making his way through the garden to where I'm standing.

"You're back. How was the meeting with the Council?"

"Rather boring, nothing new at the moment. Just more refining of plans for defence of the border I think they're running out of things to keep talking about. Just wait until I tell them about the baby tomorrow they'll likely keep me there discussing it all day. So do you think you'll be able to spend the day with your ladies tomorrow?" We both grin knowing that it won't be a problem.

"I'm sure that when you finally escape the Council you'll return here to find me and my ladies still talking about the baby." Sharing a laugh we walk out of the garden heading into the dining room for lunch without needing to discuss where we're going. Ever since I've met my mates they've made sure that I've never missed a meal and that isn't likely to change anytime soon especially with the baby.

Luckily lunch is a delicious warm soup that quickly drives away the lingering chill from my time in the garden. Not that the cold will stop me from going out again once we've finished eating. I've spent many years in colder weather, somehow making it through every winter before meeting my mates with little food and clothing so this is much easier.

"So would you still like to take a walk in the glass houses today?" Lilas asks a small smile on his face knowing that I never turn down the chance for a walk in the gardens. I give a nod in reply already looking forward to it, the glass houses are still new for me. Being able to see so many exotic flowers and be somewhere warm in the middle of winter is still like magic for me even though I've seen Lilas do true magic. "I was thinking since we've got all afternoon we could go to the biggest one. It's large enough that it should take us several hours at least to see all of it."

"That sounds perfect." Soon after we finish our food and get ready to leave. Since we'll be inside the glass houses we won't need heavy cloaks but we'll still need to prepared for the cold on the walk there. Letting Nuela and Tehlmar know where we're going the two of us walk arm in arm out of the palace.

"It's beautiful." I gasp as we walk into the giant glass house. Just walking into the entrance we're greeted by beautiful plants like nothing I've ever seen, all elegantly arranged along a water feature with surrounding statues.

"Yes, it's the most popular glass house in Hadlau. There are plants from every corner of the kingdom here so it reminds people of home. Not to mention all the available space which makes it perfect for parties and balls."

"Really?" I'd never imagined having a party at a place like this but now that he's said it I can picture it easily.

"It's a favourite venue for winter balls. Generally one a year depending on if whoever wants to host can get permission to use it, typically by a large donation." As we walk further into the gardens, now fully surrounded by gorgeous flowers, an idea starts developing.

"Perhaps… If the Council are going to insist on announcing and celebrating the baby… we could host a ball here?" I ask hesitantly hoping that he'll agree. At least if we agree on this then we'll retain some control over the celebration and can plan it on our terms.

"That sounds like a lovely idea." Lilas grins at me holding me close, "I think I know the perfect place to host a ball in, follow me." Walking through the garden with more purpose Lilas guides me to another section of the garden.

There are fewer flowers in this area but there is plenty of space to add some for the ball while still leaving enough room for dancing. The amount of room available in this section of the place is surprising even with how large the glass house is.

"What do you think?" It's a question I'm not sure how to answer as I'm struggling to find the right words.

"It's perfect." I breathe out not being able to find a better way to describe it. Already I can imagine where the dance floor might be, where the musicians will be set up and where the refreshment table could be. This is where I want to throw a ball celebrating our baby. "Can we really do this?"

"You're the Queen now Emmy, you can do anything you want. And if throwing a large ball here to celebrate our baby is what you want then no one is going to say anything against it, in fact they'll love you for it. At the moment they'll welcome the distraction from the war especially for such wonderful news." Excited already I wrap my arms around Lilas holding on tight. The only thing that could make this better was if Kor and Bel were here with us.

Together we walk around the area as I start making plans for the ball already. Tomorrow I'll get my ladies involved in the planning, they'll likely be more helpful than Lilas who just watches and listens to me fondly. As overjoyed about the baby as I am balls aren't his thing so I'm not expecting too much help with the planning from him although I'm hopeful that he'll at least give an opinion on the food.

Eventually Lilas manages to coax me out of that section of the gardens in favour of exploring more of the gardens. I don't mention anything else about the ball but in my head I'm taking note of what flowers are here that could be part of the decorations. I'm not sure what other flowers I'll have access to at this time of year but no doubt my ladies will when I speak with them.

The walk around the gardens is not just enjoyable but it's also informative as Lilas is able to tell me so much about where each flower comes from. It reminds me of what I've been meaning to ask for a while and if anyone has answers it'll be Lilas.

"Lilas can I ask you something?" I blurt out not sure how else to approach this.

"You can ask me anything. Is there something wrong?" He stops walking turning towards me checking to see if there is anything physically wrong.

"No nothing's wrong." I reassure him, "It's just while I was growing up part of the reason they hated me was my hair. I'd always hoped that when I left that I'd see other people with hair like mine but even here I seem to be the only one. I was just wondering if you've ever seen anyone else with red hair?" I'm hopeful as I look at him and see understanding in his eyes. He leads me over to a nearby bench where we can sit and talk.

"I'm not surprised that you've never seen anyone else with red hair around. Before the Gods departed there was a kingdom to the north of Nerkise, whose name has been erased, where hair like yours was very common. Even now I'm not sure what happened as it was so far away from Rialria but the kingdom was attacked and conquered. Their people scattered and since then red hair has been rare as the people of that kingdom married people of other kingdoms. Chances are someone in your ancestry was from this forgotten kingdom and the red hair emerged in you for reasons we don't yet know." Lilas explains and it makes so much sense. Much more sense than it being because I'm a demon child cursed with this hair. "Your hair is beautiful regardless of what anyone says. Kor, Bel and I all love your hair."

"Thank you." I sigh leaning over giving him a kiss. It means a lot having a reason why my hair is this colour and knowing that my mates think it's beautiful gives me a sense of relief. After all there is a chance that this baby, or any future children, could inherit my hair and I wouldn't want them to go through what I did while growing up. "Do many people know about this kingdom?"

"Yes, many nobles study history and although the name of the kingdom may have been forgotten what happened is still taught. That's why the nobles here don't react the same way to your hair as the people of Stowu who'd likely never even heard of red hair before you. Chances are most noble families have had someone with red hair in their ancestry." We sit for a while longer as I think over what I've learnt before we continue on our walk.

By the time we finally leave the glass house to return home the sun is starting to set. Even though Lilas had said it would take us several hours to finish touring the gardens I hadn't thought it would take so long that it's nearly time for dinner. It's been a lovely way to spend the afternoon though, walking together with Lilas admiring the flowers is something that I could do every day without getting bored. If only we weren't missing Kor and Bel then it would truly be perfect.