The Wolf'sRose

átján

The next few days were relatively peaceful for the clan. Despite have a larger than usual number of guests staying at the Keep. It was almost like time itself was holding it's breath, waiting for the 'big' something to happen. 

Of Lady Midnight, they had seen very little. When she had appeared, she was always accompanied by Moorwyn and she always walked gingerly, as if too sore to move quickly. Several in the keep had heard of the dragon's appetites and snickered quietly behind their hands. Midnight was bound by her own magic. Moorwyn had known exactly what he was doing when he had claimed her as a concubine. He had rendered her unable to use or produce magic. Something in the old tales about a girl falling in love with a dragon who just wanted her magic. Never mind that dragon's were magic themselves. Because of the old dragon's greed, it is said that no witch may lie with a dragon and be able to use her magic. If also said that if he gets her with child, she will lose her magic entirely. 

That means that one witch was taken care of. Now to take care of the other two. Including the one who is the would be assasin. The vampiric delegation had cornered one and fed from her. The pleasure in the act was addicting to the donor, always leaving them wanting more. It was like a drug and many witches have been known to surrender to their vampire lovers as mates, just to have that pleasure fulfilled.

However, Circe wasn't about to fall into that trap. She was here on a mission. It didn't matter to her that it was known who and what she was. She was a strong willed female. She had survived much in her relatively short life. Because of that, there was no softness in her, no compassion, no gentleness. No. The Dark King had made sure of that. She had been broken at a young age to be shown that she would only prosper through obedience. She killed because it was all she knew. She had been given her first assassination assignment at the age of fouteen. It had been a former lover of the Unseelie Queen. She had grown tired of him and his constant demands for her favor at court. Circe had been given very specific instructions on what to do and how the Queen wanted him slowly killed. Circe had not batted an eye, nor had she cried a single tear over her actions. In her broken and beaten mind, it was her duty. 

Circe crept through the dark halls of the keep to meet her contact. Leaning against the wall, she waited for him to arrive. Shortly, she heard his quiet and stealthy gait. Her ears were very sensitive and she could hear things that even the wolves and cheetah would not hear.

"The Lady Luna is in her second moon time and still has not conceived." The shadow whispered.

"Start a rumor that she is unable to conceive and should be set aside. That should stir things up a bit. She needs to be made an easy target." Before the male could respond, Circe blended back into the shadows and disappeared.

The next morning, Rose was bent over the chamber pot. After her stomach finished emptying itself of its contents, she sat on her knees in the floor leaning back on Mikkel. 

"I'm sorry, love. But your training in over. You carry the heir to the two worlds. You cannot afford to be careless or be harmed." Mikkel helped her stand and wiped her face with the water in a washstand close by.

"I know. I'm far enough along in my training that Ashanti is beyond pleased with my progress. However, I will need to talk to...." Rose was cut off by the pounding on the door. "Now who could that be?"

Mikkel opened the door to discover a trio of men, Moorwyn, Gilgamesh and Rose's father Artur.

"Good morning. Can I help you?" Mikkel stepped back and allowed the three men to enter their chamber. Thankfully as the Alpha couple they had a suite of rooms. The men gathered in the sitting room. Well, two of them did. Artur went into his daughter's bed chamber and checked on her. 

"How is my girl this morning? Feeling a bit under the weather are we? Don't worry. It will pass soon. Your mom was sick for about a month. The rest of the time, she was hale and hearty." Artur gathered his daughter close and led her into the sitting room. She immediately made her way to her mate, who pulled her down into his lap, regardless of the present company.

Morrwyn was the first to speak. "Rose, you are pregnant. You will stop your training and have round the day guards. There will never be a time that you are without a guard. You will even have someone taste your food for you until Circe tips her hand. I know she is the assassin. But she has someone on the inside. 

Rose, seated in MIkkel's lap, looked at the three men gathered in their chambers and said, "Gilgamesh, I understand my dad and Moorwyn, but why are you here?"

"That's simple. I do not require sleep, so I will be with you always, and I will be your food taster. You are very precious to us and the people of this keep. Your life is too valuable to be careless with. After all, you carry the heir or heirs to another kingdom entirely. One thought long extinct. Many will seek your demise and many will seek you out simply for who you are. Be ready, milady. Your life is about to change drastically. And, if I remember correctly, your Fae powers will only increase as your pregnancy progresses. They increase to protect the life you are carrying." Everyone stood in wonder of Gilgamesh's revelation. He approached her and laid one large hand gently on her lower abdomen over her womb.

Rose watched as the large vampire closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. As he listened, he could hear more than the two expected heartbeats. There was a third. The first was strong and a little rapid, signifying anxiety. Meaning it belonged to Rose. The second was strong and very fast. A male child. Then if he listened closer, a third heartbeat. This one almost completely in tune with the second, but it didn't beat quite as fast. Gilgamesh smiled. A girl. A connection to his beloved. He would definitely protect this human now. For inside her body, she carried the hope for more than one future. 

His. A nation. A pack. A world. So many people would be affected by the two tiny babes that Rose carried inside her body. The witch and Dark King would stop at nothing to kill her once it was discovered that she was not just pregnant, but carrying twins.

Gilgamesh raised his head and looked directly into Rose's eyes and did something she never expected. He smiled. And bowed. 

"My Lady Luna, Princess, you are more than pregnant. You are carrying twins. One boy and one girl. Not to frighten you, but the girl child will be connected to my Beloved when she is born." He could see the concern blossom on Rose's face. "Not to worry. She will be allowed her childhood. But, make not mistake, she will be the most protected princess in all of the world. The young prince will help to rebuild your grandparents kingdom. Even now, there are many fae throughout the world. They seek to rebuild, but have no foundation. The prince will provide that and more." Gilgamesh finished and smiled gently at Rose and took a step back to allow her to process all of the information that he had just given her.

"Should we announce this to the clan and the Keep inhabitants?" Artur asked. His fear for his daughter was palpable in his question.

"Nay. Let us keep this among ourselves only. Only your personal guards need know Rose. I ask that you not tell Fiona just yet. I have a feeling that Circe has something in the works and she will show her hand soon. However, I have my suspicions about the insider. I hope I am wrong, but I am deeply afraid that I am not. However, I will keep my own counsel on this subject for the time being." Moorwyn walked over to Rose and kissed her cheek lightly before the trio turned and exited the room.

"This means that we must act like nothing is amiss, my love. What about my training? How do we explain that?" Rose asked her mate, worriedly.

"We will say that you are injured and must stop your training while you heal. I will carry you to  emphasize the idea. This should buy us at least a week." Mikkel looked at Rose in a speculative manner. "I have an idea. You probably won't like it, though."