Alyss looked uneasily at the injured chipmunk. Little did she know that it would change her life forever. Of course, she was in Will's living room, shortly after their marriage. She was convinced Will could help the little thing, if anyone could.
She could hear an argument from the other room, between Will and Gilan, one of his best friends. She knew she shouldn't interfere, but when the bickers reached shouting level, she stood and walked to the door. Without bothering to knock, she strode in. Will started and stared at the chipmunk in her hands. Alyss had forgotten it was there, but she kept a straight face.
"Alyss! We were… uhh… just finishing up?" Will said, but it was posed as a question.
Alyss inwardly rolled her eyes. Men could be so clueless to how intelligent women are. "Sure you were. So, what were you two school boys bickering about?"
"Your not-so-lovely husband here was trying to refuse to go on a mission Halt and the king assigned him," Gilan started. Alyss waited to hear why. "Something about personal matters."
She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Will had kept his side of the promise, just as she'd kept her's.
"Well, Will, if there is something personal I'm sure someone else will go with Gilan," everyone spun to face the door at the familiar gruff voice, except Will, who already was.
"Halt," Alyss acknowledged with a nod, which Halt returned.
"Alyss,"
There were so few people who knew the news, it was easy to keep track; Pauline, Baron Arald, Halt, Will, and, of course, Alyss, who still shuddered at the thought that someone else was living inside of her. It was a big thing.
She pulled herself back to the present as Gilan swung on Halt with his anger. "Do you know what these personal matters are? You do, don't you?"
"Yes, I do, and I do not intend to share them unless these two tell me to," he gestured towards Alyss and Will. When he finally caught sight of the little chipmunk in Alyss's hands, he freaked. "Bring that little thing over here! It's injured!"
Alyss did as she was told, and soon the little creature was wrapped and fully checked over. Halt turned to Alyss on his way out the door with Gilan. "If you want to keep the little critter, decide quickly. It's a girl." with that, Halt was on his way back to the castle.