Nine long months of waiting, who knows how many days more in the late month of November. Grant waits eagerly for the arrival of his child. He shows his excitement by ravishing his wife with love and attention, not that she minds, having been bedridden for the rest of the pregnancy. Every morning, he greet his Elise with a breakfast tray and spending the rest of the day with her, rubbing her stomach to make the baby react with a kick.
This morning didn't seem too different. Grant didn't notice his brother's absents as he prepares breakfast for his wife. On the way back to his chamber, a maid stops him, calling out for his attention.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Wait!"
The Prince stops and turns to look towards the serving female. "Yes? Please be brief. I mustn't keep Princess Elise waiting."
The Maid looks to him. "His Majesty, the King is ill and wishes to see you."
Grant looks at her with wide eyes. A sick Adam usually means he's the king's substitute until he is well again. "He's ill? With what?"
"A cold. The queen refuses to let him leave his bed."
"Gosh, darn it, Belle!" The prince sigh then looks back to the maid. "Inform him that I shall be right with him, I just have to make sure Elise has her breakfast." He turns and walks back to his chamber when the maid bows to him and leaves to the West Wing.
He carefully opens the door and looks at his sleeping wife. Quietly, he place the tray of morning food on the bedside table then looks to Elise. He smiles and kisses her forehead, feeling bad he can't stay for the moment with her. He looks at her huge swollen belly and gently lays a hand on it. He smiles when a small soft bump meets the palm of his hand.
Standing up and walking out of the bedroom he heads to the West Wing where his brother shares a chamber with the queen. Once inside, he spots his twin laying in bed with a hand over his mouth, coughing up a storm. Entering, he walks over to the bed. "How are you feeling, brother?"
Adam coughs and looks to his twin brother with tired eyes. "Pretty lousy, Grant." He sits up in his bed and gets straight to the point with a croaky voice. "Grant, I need you to go to the harbor and pick up the supplies that I've ordered for the castle."
Grant interrupts, finding the flaw in what his brother has just told him to do. "What!? That's not your job! Why are you sending me?"
Adam lets out another cough as Belle looks to Grant, patting the king's back and continues for her husband. "We think you should go, you need some fresh air. You've stuck to Elise's side since she put to bed rest."
Her brother-in-law looks to her husband, thinking about the moment when his beloved Elise will announce the baby's arrival. "That is another matter! Elise can go into labor any second now! You can't make me miss that!"
Between coughs, Adam gives him the final word. Even though he would just love to roll his eyes if every part of his head didn't hurt him. "Don't argue, Grant! It will do you good to get out of the castle for a while, and you won't miss your baby being born! You won't have anything to worry about."
Grant knows not to anger his brother and with Adam being sick, he doesn't need any more stress. "Fine, but Elise isn't going to like this either, and I do want someone to keep an eye on her while I'm away."
Adam nods, acknowledging his brother's concern for his wife's well-being. He wouldn't leave his alone sister-in-law without the proper care."Of course. I'll have a maid look after her." The king lays back into bed, trying to get comfortable again. "You need to get going soon. Be sure to dress warmly, brother."
Grant looks to his brother. "Get well soon." He turns and walks back to his chamber. He knows that a group of guards and servants will join him to make the journey a safe one, especially through the village. When he opens his bedroom door, his gaze meets his wife's grass green can tell that she's enjoying her breakfast, by the smile on her face.
"There you are!" She sets down her spoon and wipes her lips of crumbs. She watches as Grant enters the room with a slight frown that she quickly took notice. "Are you alright?"
Grant walks over to his wardrobe and opens it. He clothes aside, looking for his winter clothes. "Adam is sick in bed. He called me to his room to tell me he's sending me to the harbor." He pulls out clothes that are proper to travel in cold weather. "He and Belle thinks I'm spending too much time inside."
Elise lays her head back into her pillow, tousling her hair. "Well, they do have a point. Even though I'd rather have you here to keep me company, but I like it if you to go out for fresh air as well." She smirks and lay a hand on her swelled stomach, the very reason that bound her to their room. "One of us is able."
Grant quickly changes and takes out a long, dark gray cloak and hangs it on his arm. He turns and looks at her, pouting that she agrees with his brother and sister-in-law. "But it takes a whole day to arrive at the Harbor and to return by horse, and that doesn't include stops."
She gives him a playful pout. "I'm sure that you'll be back sooner than expected." She then giggles and smirks. "Then you may rub my stomach as much as you want."
He returns her side and gently puts a hand on her belly, caressing it affectionately. He mutters to himself in a disappointment. "I didn't know I needed permission." Both look to her stomach, as the baby inside her starts to kick a couple of times.
She looks at him as her face losing all expressions. "This baby is abusing my stomach."
Grant laughs puts on his cloak and stands up after kissing her. He glances to the balcony door and lets a mischievous smirk reach his lips. "I'm sure my brother is sending a maid soon to keep you company. He walks over to the doors of the balcony, grabbing the handles. "So."
Elise glares at her husband, knowing what he is going to do. Sure it is a harmless prank, but she can't protect herself from it. She reaches over her side, snatching the pillow next to her. "Grant, don't you do it!"
He smirks and opens the door dodging the pillow that Elise threw at him. "Have fun!" He rushes out of the room ignoring Elise's shouts of protest.
"GRANT, COME BACK HERE! IT'S TOO COLD OUTSIDE FOR THE DOOR TO BE OPENED!" When she is sure that he is not coming back, she grabs the blankets and wrap them around herself. She puts a hand on her stomach to settle the bumping. "Daddy is mean, isn't he?" The baby kicks her hand to agree with her. "Thought so. We'll just have to get him back for this."
The prince walks outside to the stables, to find the group of guards and servants, ready to leave with a two-wheeled wagon. He looks to see his horse was already saddled and set to go, waiting patiently for his rider. Grant sigh, walks over to the beast, and mounts it.
One of the guards looks up at him and hands him some parchments, a map and the list of supplies. "Sir. Your brother wanted to give you these to let you know where we're going and what we'll be getting at the harbor." Grant takes the parchments and looks over them. He then looks up to his bedroom windows after hearing a maid close the balcony doors.
"Maybe I should get something for Elise and the baby while I'm there." He looks at the castle gates and sigh in dismay. His shoulders slump at the thought of the length of the journey. "Let's just get this done He starts to lead the groups away from the castle.
Back into his chamber, the maid looks to Elise, picking up the neglected pillow from the floor. "What were you doing with the door opened? Do you want to try to catch a cold? The king is already sick." She continues to scold the pregnant princess.
"Don't look at me. I'm bed-ridden, remember? Grant has open it before he left." She rubs her arms, warming them up. "Beside, Adam caught a cold because he was helping collect leaves before the winter snow starts to come." She lays back down into the bed and looks at the maid. "You wouldn't mind getting another log for the fireplace? It feels as it is about to snow in here."
The maid bows. "Of course, your majesty." She takes the tray of empty dishes from the bedside table. "I'll take these to the kitchen as well. Anything else you need?"
Elise looks away thinking then glances back to the maid. "Can you bring me a book from the library, please? I would like to read something, it doesn't matter what it is."
The maid bows yet again. "Of course." She turns and walks out of the room.
Elise closes her eyes. "I didn't even tell him to be careful out there." She slips her bottom lip out in a pout out of disappointment.