HEIR OF THE DRAGON

CHAPTER 10

"Your Grace, you need to take a break."

Though Roseanne was loath to admit it, Lady Melia had a point. It had been more than two days since Lalisa fell ill, more than two days since the omega had left her side. She'd taken her meals in the princess' sick room, sleeping fitfully in a chair by her bedside whenever she absolutely had to. The rest of the time she would talk to her wife, or read to her, or just hold her hand... anything to keep Lalisa here with her.

And after all of it, the most that could be said was that her wife was still alive. Unfortunately, her condition hadn't improved either and all Maester Tylin could tell Roseanne was, "Time will tell." It was enough to leave her exhausted, heartsick, and probably in a frightful state. And yet, she still protested.

"I can't leave. What if she wakes and I'm not there?" Or if her condition takes a turn for the worst. Roseanne wasn't willing to give voice to that possibility, but if it did happen, she had to at least be able to hold her mate one last time.

Melia came over to her chair, patting her on the shoulder. "Then someone will come find you and you'll be here a few minutes later. But you will not be able to do any good if you collapse. Not for her or your child."

It was the reminder of their baby that got through to Roseanne. When Lalisa woke up, she would need to know their child was all right. And if she doesn't, this child is all of her that will remain.

"What would you recommend?" she asked with a resigned sigh.

"Change your clothes. Sleep for a few hours in an actual bed. Clear your head. I'll keep watch while you're gone and if anything happens, I'll get word to you immediately."

"I'll do my best." Roseanne touched her stomach. For you, little one. Before she left, she leaned over Lalisa's bed and kissed her wife gently on the forehead. "Hold on, my love. I won't be gone for long."

****

Exhausted as Roseanne was, she managed a few hours of sleep easily enough, and changing into fresh clothes was a simple matter, but actually relaxing was a problem. This wasn't her home and the chambers she shared with Lalisa were too full of memories for her to linger there after she awoke. In the end, there was only one place she could think of that might give her peace.

At that late hour the sept was empty, for which Roseanne was grateful. She had always been most comfortable praying in solitude. The Gods might see all but she preferred not to feel as if everyone else did too.

Especially tonight. As she fell to her knees in prayer, all of the fears and doubts that had been nagging at her since Lalisa's collapse were already boiling to the surface. Did I do this? she asked silently. Is this the price of my sins? Of the few months of stolen happiness I enjoyed?

If there was a price that had to be paid, Roseanne should've been the one to pay it. She was the one who had first lusted after the princess, who had tempted her into sinning right after her presentation. She was the one who had broken her betrothal to the king, who had agreed to be married by foreign rites before foreign gods. Lalisa was a Manoban; those were her ways. Roseanne was the one who had broken faith and she was the one who should've been punished.

Not Lalisa. And not our child.

The baby she carried would need their sire. To teach them how to be a Manoban, how to ride a dragon, and someday, how to rule the Seven Kingdoms. Roseanne didn't know how to do any of those things and the thought of trying to teach them to their child without Lalisa by her side was heartbreaking. Once, she'd believed she might go her whole life without real love. That thought had been bad enough but now that she'd found it, the prospect of its loss was unbearable.