A Gypsy Lost

Summary: All was going well on the surface. Danric was never home, but I had accepted that when he became King. But a strange girl has appeared, and tipped the teetering balance into peril.

Disclaimer: I own a well-read and falling apart copy of Crown Duel if that counts for anything…

Hello, HR here. I am nauseous, at home, and bored, after reading Crown Duel. The perfect time for fic writing, don't you agree? The story may be overly clichéd, but the story line has been bugging me for a long time, so you'll have to deal with it. And the chapters from here on out probably won't be this long, but I am bored, so long chappies it is!

Chapter 1—Return of the King

I was six months pregnant. The country was doing well, and Tlanth was richer than had seemed possible just two years ago. A barefoot countess, a count who doesn't want to rule, and a crumbling castle. Now, that same horse blanketed countess was married to the King of the Land. Making her, therefore, Queen. Antheral was doing just as well as before Danric was coroneted, and definitely better than when Galdran ruled. No one had to lose at cards; the young folk did whatever pleased them. Now it was no longer deplorable for a young woman to walk around in trousers and a tunic outside of sword practice, which more ladies were coming to nowadays. Dresses still floated like flowers around the gardens, of course, but we wouldn't hold rules on fashion. We had too much work to do.

Especially Danric. Being King, it was to be expected. But still, I found my bed gets very cold at night if he doesn't have his arms around me. Which was happening increasingly. He was more often in the saddle and less often at home. He would be gone for weeks at a time, and then come home, only to be gone the next day. Something was up, and he wouldn't tell me what it was. He always kept me informed on what was happening in the kingdom. I was ruling it to, wasn't I? I would not be like my ancestor Thirev. I would not sit at home and govern the laws of fashion, leaving him to deal with the nastier work. I had considered several times just following him on horseback when he left. I still had my old mocs and hat, I could find a sword and armor easily enough. But then I would look down at my expanding belly. Pregnant is not the way to go to war.

I sighed as I looked out the large window in our apartment. Bran and Nee were teaching their baby to clap. The look of pure joy on Nee's face was simply heartbreaking and breathtaking. For me, anyway. She could look at her baby, look at her husband, and know that she had a family. A family that would stay with her forever. I knew Danric loved me, but that didn't change the fact that he was always gone. I stood up, feeling slightly dizzy and moody. I wanted an apple. Mora was busy with some thing or another, maybe making a gown for the baby to wear. She did these things occasionally. Besides. The rooms were too small, to confining. They reminded me too much of Danric.

I wanted to run, but of course the unborn baby prevented that, so I contented myself with walking to the kitchens. They had the apple I had wanted, but as soon as I got there, I found I didn't want one anymore. I was already out and about, and I didn't want to return to the rooms Danric would soon (hopefully) occupy. I meandered aimlessly around the gardens, getting a surprised squeal when Tamara came by.

"Oh, life! Your highness, the baby! Oh, I cannot wait to see it!" she said, all friendliness and love on the outside. The smile she gave didn't reach her eyes, which were subtly glaring at me. I knew she still hated me for having the King's child. She was always impeccably polite to me, after the Affair Tamara, but that didn't make us closer. If anything it drove us apart, because she would always think of my as 'your highness' while I knew I could never forget what she tried to do. Forgive, yes. But never forget. Tamara babbled on, words sailing past my ears as I stared out to the road. As she broke for air, I asked, "How are you and Savona doing?" not really expecting much. They might have had a little tiff presently, which would be no surprise to anyone. What would be a surprise was what actually happened.

"Look at my ring!" she said, sticking out her hand. I resisted the urge to titter, as she had done when I said the same exact thing. On her longest finger, the finger symbolizing love forever, was a beautiful ring. It was silver, with a pale purple gem set in the middle. Around the edge was a curving rose, the symbol of passion. "Russav and I are to be married!"

I did a double take. "Married!" She nodded happily. "He promised me his eternal love, despite any quarrels we may ever have in the future! We decided we liked making up too much to be with any other person! He said that he would allow me to have flirts, as long as it doesn't get too serious, just so that we could have fun all the time! Oh, look!"

She pointed to the road. I had been too distracted by her uncharacteristic perkiness to notice that indeed, there were Nesseran, Gerel, Derek, and Savona riding on tired mounts back home. More importantly, there was a pale yellow top in front of them. "Danric!" I shouted, starting to run. Bran, who I hadn't notice come up behind me while talking with Tamara, grabbed the collar of my dress, holding me back. He gave a pointed look to my rather large stomach. I laughed as I stood there, bubbling with excitement at having my husband back to me. Savona was off his horse first, running towards the exquisite Tamara, who met him half way. He picked her up, swung her around, and then held her in a kiss. Nesseran didn't get off her horse at all, just rode it back to the gym for some afternoon practice with the other members of her militia. Derek and Gerel dismounted, laughing and joking as they guided their mounts to the stables. Danric walked toward me, with his steady and long-stride pace. He was to me in a matter of seconds, holding me like glass. Wonderful and understanding (not to mention handsome) as he was, he was still far out of his league when it came to handling a soon-to-be mother.

"What's toward?" I asked him immediately. He gave a wide, happy grin with no trace of a court mask behind it. "Nothing anymore! There was an uprising against the gypsies, but mostly it was just that a lot of people decided to get the King down the Antrauil-su-fur River for a few days. They wanted glowglobes."

"Why didn't they come to Petitioner's Court?" I asked, my brow furrowed at the strange situation.

"They claimed they didn't have transport. Now. I have been in the saddle all day. I am going to go rest. Would you like to join me?" he offered his arm, and I took it. Looking every bit the royal couple, except that the Queen was too short and scrawny, the King had dark bags under his eyes and his hair was matted, and that they both had dirt on their noses. Well, almost looking every bit the royal couple, we gracefully exited ourselves from the crowd outside and departed for our chambers.

There, Danric plopped down on a cushion and closed his eyes. "Petitioner's Court starts in a quarter of a candle. You might want to get ready." I scolded him. He grunted, standing up and headed for the basin of water in the back room to wash the dirt away.

Something was bothering him, and I couldn't tell what. He was so infuriating sometimes, with the court drawl and the court mask and the court standard of never showing weakness. I had promised him once before, on his birthday, never to try and judge his feelings if I don't know what is wrong. But it was still hard not to, and there were times when I wasn't sure if I wanted to know what was wrong. I mulled over this as I brushed my hair out for Court and waited for Danric in perfect silence.

Still in silence we walked down the path to the Hall where Court was held. I stayed silent throughout the time, letting Danric settle all the problems, unless I was asked specifically. Even then I remained vague.

Halfway through an ambassador's appeal, a loud voice from outside interrupted everyone's train of thought. The voice said this: "BASTARD! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF ME!"