The Blood Of Three Kings

Serenity rounded the corner of the hall to find her husband pacing impatiently. He smiled widely when he saw her. He was at her side in a moments passing. He wrapped his arms around her and held her gently to him. That was very hard for him to wait all those hours alone, without her. There was hardly a moment where he wasn’t with her.

“I was worried. I did not expect that visit to take so long.”

“I was not used to the healers magic that he used. It lulled me into a deep sleep.” Serenity looked up at him. “So where is everyone?”

“They are just sitting down to dinner. Are you hungry at all?” Silvan shifted so he was walking beside her. “Sometimes its hard to eat after a visit to the healers.”


“I think I could eat a little something.” She chuckled. In a way, Serenity was relieved that he was not pelting her with curious questions of what exactly was said. She wasn’t sure how to feel about the whole thing in truth. She had feelings about both situations. If she was and if she was not.

“This way love.”

Silvan smiled and pulled her gently along. He was burning from the inside out with curiosity actually. He didn’t want to press the issue with her though. It took almost forcing her to go there in the first place. He hoped the others wouldn’t start in on her either. It was obvious that she was stressed out over this whole thing. Stress wasn’t good for anyone, pregnant or otherwise.

An entire room went silent when Silvan entered with Serenity on his arm. Her mothers eyes, her fathers eyes, Tamin’s eyes, the Servant’s eyes and just every ones eyes fell upon her. This was a little awkward. She cleared her throat and adjusted the collar lacing around her neck. Serenity quickly cast her eyes down and suddenly found the specks on the floor very interesting.

“Dinner is ready?”

Silvan’s voice broke through the uncomfortable silence. She could kiss him for being so sweet to her right now. He was saving her for a little while from the inevitable. She knew the questions would come. Serenity knew that someone would burst with curiosity and blurt out the question that was on the entire castle’s mind. Was she pregnant? Serenity had a plan and answer for this however. Until she knew how she felt then no, she was not going to say 'yes' or 'no' to anything. It wasn’t fair that they made her feel so obligated and uncomfortable.

“ Yes it is. They are just bringing it out now.” Sarai looked at the couple. “Ho...”

Silvan’s quick clearing of his throat quieted the woman. Kristian shifted in his seat and smiled.

“Come and eat Serenity. You look terribly pale. You need some color on your cheeks.”

“Yes I think I quite agree.” Tamin smiled. “The bread is freshly baked and delicious. They added a touch of honey to it for flavor.”

At least the men seemed to get the picture. Sarai settled into her seat gruffly. She wanted to know damn it! This was highly unfair. Serenity chuckled and nodded. Silvan pulled a chair out for her and even helped to scoot it back in.

“As I recall. You like honey hmm love?”

Serenity blushed at his question. Oh he was being a naughty one for that one.

“Y... Yes well of course I do.”

“Have some juice dear. I don’t think you drink wine do you?” Kristian slid a silver goblet towards her.”I am not sure if you acquired such a taste.”

“Oh juice is fine. I do not drink. Alcohol is very bad for you.” Serenity smiled. “I have never wanted to taste it really.”

“I will have juice as well.” Silvan held his goblet up for a passing servant. “ Thank you.” He was not impolite to his people. “So I trust everyone had a quiet evening?”

Sarai looked up at him and the expression on her face seemed as if she might explode. He knew damned good and well what everyone wanted to know and he was making idle chit chat! She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Kristian merely chuckled and gave him a quiet nod. Tamin smirked at his sons little dance around the big , burning question. Although he was very sure Silvan wanted to know just as badly, if he didn’t already know.

Serenity watched the evenings dinner drone on into pointless conversation. She nibbled on lemon pepper chicken as she looked up occasionally. Silvan, Tamin and Kristian had gotten into another heated debate of just who was going to look for the staff that the Chaosian’s stole. Kristian volunteered himself to go but Sarai quickly ended that with a dangerous ‘better not’ look. Tamin offered but Silvan glanced that off with a ‘I don’t think so’ chuckle.

The debate soon changed to horses and which color was best. Sarai was getting very frustrated at the three men at the table. None of them was going to do it! Not a single one was going to bring up that single little question. Serenity sighed and shook her head at it all. She might have found this all very amusing had she known how she wanted to feel. That was the main thing for her though. She didn’t know how she should feel or handle expressing the answer to them all.

“So.” Serenity pushed her plate away. “I think I am full now.”

“Oh?” Silvan looked to her. “You do not want desert?”

Their little ‘lovers’ chat was even more annoying then the horse topic. Sarai finally stood and with a flourish of her hands she brought them to the table.

“Yes well! Don’t you have an announcement you would like to make dear?” She looked pointedly at Serenity. “A little something you would like to say to us?”

Her cheeks paled again. Serenity could have bet even money that her mother would be the first to explode like that. Maybe she should have. She would have won something. She mulled over the now silent people in her head. Finally Serenity stood slowly and smiled to them all.

“I must apologize. I know you all have been waiting for me to say something. That was terribly impolite of me.” She looked at Silvan.”Do you forgive me love?”

“Of course I do. Don’t be so silly.”

“Well.” Serenity chuckled and looked to every one. She had the entire rooms attention.”This was a very good dinner wasn’t it?”

She trailed off topic for a moment. The agitated 'ahem' of her mother made her look back to them. Everyone, including Silvan was now sitting at the edge of their seats. Even the passing servants ad paused in their duties to listen.

“Sorry.” Serenity nodded. “I do in fact have a very important announcement to make to you all.” She stepped away from the table and all eyes were glued to her as they followed her steps. Serenity smiled sweetly. “I would like to make that now if you all will afford me the opportunity to say it.”

“Yes dear!” Sarai smiled. “We have been waiting for you to say it.”

“I would like to announce that.” Serenity blinked as she paused. Everyone was practically scooting off their chairs. “I would like to make it known that my husband and myself are...” She hesitated. Serenity knew what this was doing to them. It was her small way of getting back at them for putting such pressure on her. Her mother was edging very close to the tables edge and pushing up with her hands.

“ That my husband and I are...” Serenity cast a quick glance to a very anxious looking Silvan. She smiled to him. “That we are both going to the middle lands of chaos to retrieve the staff ourselves. As rulers it is our duty and I feel that Lord Tamin and my father and mother are capable of running things in our absence.” She spoke this part very quickly before anyone could argue. “Now I am going to go take a long bath. Its been a stress full day. Night all.”

She turned and quickly started to walk to the door. Her mother literally fell over in her chair to the floor beside her. That was not the announcement she wanted to hear! Silvan burst out into sudden laughter and followed his wife. That was priceless. Kristian and Tamin joined him in his laugh. She got them good on that one. The only one who didn’t find it funny was the now floored Sarai.

Her daughter was being a royal pain in the you know what. She trembled and pushed herself up and to her feet in time to see Silvan and Serenity exit the room together. She was seeing red right now. Her face was turning a very bright crimson matter-of-fact.

“Come on love.” Kristian stood and pulled her aside. “She will tell us when she is ready. I do not think there is any changing her mind either so no motherly fits.” He turned and looked to Tamin. "Sleep well and thank you for the conversation at dinner.”

Tamin smirked and watched Kristian pull his angry wife from the room. This was certainly a night to remember. He leaned back in his chair with hands behind his head. Tamin let a long, loud sigh escape as he closed his eyes. He guessed he would just have to wait for Serenity to be ready to announce her answer. Besides, he had a certain avatar to occupy his mind. He had to figure out a way to catch her interests.


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A/N: Still need Reviews and ideas here. (Guess what? This is Beta-d! Thanks Killisandra!)

Starfyre