Elinor paced about her chambers one evening, muttering nervously under her breath and running her hands through her free-flowing hair.

How was she going to tell him? Oh Gods, how could this have happened? She was always so vigilant! When did they…

Oh.

It was the night after she turned back into a woman all those weeks ago. Fergus didn't wish to leave his beloved queen's side—she certainly did not blame him, considering she desperately wanted his warm embrace after the ordeal. Gradually, just holding one another turned to a passionate exchange that ended with the two royals tangled in their sheets and gasping for breath.

In the back of her mind she knew there was always a possibility of this happening…

"M-me…pregnant?! Oh, whot am Ah goin' to tell him?" Elinor lamented in her one-sided conversation. She walked quickly to her vanity and stared in the mirror with narrowed eyes. "You are an idiot, Elinor. You have four children as it is an' ye aren't gettin' any younger! Whot were you thinkin'?!"

In a huff she shuffled over to she and her husbands bed and proceeded to flop down onto the covers. She ran her hands down her face and sighed deeply. "Ah can't believe this…" The queen folded her arms over her stomach, freezing as her fingers brushed gently over her abdomen. She could only just feel the growing roundness of her belly that she was all-too familiar with, although hadn't experienced the sensation since finding out she was expecting the boys years ago.

Slowly she closed her eyes and unfurled her fingers, letting her palms lay gently against her midsection. She breathed in through the nose and released it through the mouth as she let herself relax after hours of worrying. Her features softened as she thought more about the situation at hand: she was harboring a tiny life inside her. She was going to be the mother of a prince or princess in only a few short months—a part of herself that would depend solely on her.

Eyes still closed, a tiny smile gradually turned a corner of her lip upwards.

This moment of peace was short lived as the door to the room swung open. Quickly she removed her hands and sat up, her eyes widening as she saw who stood in the doorway. "Fergus!"

The king grinned and placed his hands to his hips. "There ya are! Ah've been lookin' everywhere fer ya, lass!" He chuckled and used his peg leg to close the door behind him before eyeing her curiously. "Heh, were ye—dare Ah say—relaxin' b'fore Ah came in 'ere, hmm?"

Elinor blinked. "Whot? Oh—aye! Relaxin'!" She nodded rapidly and swung her legs over the side of the bed before hopping to her feet and making for the door. "Yes, but Ah'm done now an' Ah'm goin' to get back to work right this instant."

He reached out and gently set a giant hand to her shoulder before she could open the door. "Elinor, don't wear yerself so thin! It's late an' time fer bed, m'love."

"N-no, Fergus. Ah'm certain there's somethin' Ah need to do." she insisted as she brushed his hand away and opened the door. "Tuck the boys in, say goodnight to Merida, an' finish writin' thank you letters to the Lords. Not to mention Ah need to—"

"Elinor? I-is somethin' the matter?"

Before she could step too far from the doorway, she paused and turned back towards her husband. She saw his thoroughly concerned face staring back at her, making her breath catch in her throat. "No. Don't be silly."

At this he raised an eyebrow. "Don't lie to me, Eli. Ah know when somethin's troublin' ya."

She was caught. Slowly she released a soft sigh and walked back into their room, making sure to shut the door tightly behind her. She moved past him and to the window, glancing out onto the loch that glittered gently with moonlight. "As a matter of fact, somethin' is troublin' me, Fergus." she murmured. "Ah jus'… Ah'm not sure how to go about tellin' you, is the thing…"

Instantly Fergus came up behind her and placed his hands to her shoulders, turning her around slowly. "That's alright, Elinor." His words were gentle and sincere as a reassuring smile crossed his face. "Whotever it is, Ah promise Ah'll do m' best to help ye…"

Elinor steadily turned to faced him. Their gazes briefly met before she squeezed her eyes shut and scrunched her face up. There was no turning back now.

"Ah'm pregnant."

…

…Did he say anythin' yet? Why didn't he say anythin'? Oh Gods, he's upset! Why did Ah think he wouldn't be?! Ah knew this was a bad—

Slowly his voice broke her flurry of inner thoughts. "…Really?"

Gradually she pried a single brown eye open and studied his face. His eyes were wide as dinner plates and his jaw hung slack. "Y-yes?" She grit her teeth and shrunk down the slightest bit. "…Are you…uhm…are you upset?"

"Are ye daft, Elinor?! N-no! Ah'm not upset! Ah'm jus'… Oh Gods! Ah' could never be upset with news like this!" He exploded into a hearty chuckle and before Elinor had the chance to react, he grabbed her by the sides and twirled her around up in the air.

Elinor could only stare at him as she was lifted off the ground and spun about. She was going to speak but could only let out a surprised squeak as she was pulled into his chest.

"Another babby after all these years…" he breathed in a shaking voice as he held her gently to him. "This is nothin' short of a blessin', m' darlin'…"

"…Fergus?" came the muffled mutter.

It took him a moment to realize her face was squished against him. "Oh! Right!" he gasped as he carefully set her down in front of him. He brought his hands together and wrung them apprehensively. "Elinor?"

Instantly her worries came forward. "Ah jus'…feel like a fool for lettin' this happen…" the queen started breathlessly as she looked up at him and searched desperately for the proper words. Slowly her eyes grew moist with tears and she was unable to keep herself from slumping to the floor on her knees. "Honestly—me?! How am Ah goin' to be a mother to a new baby? How c-could Ah allow this? How could I do this to our children an' you?"

Slowly Fergus knelt down and watched as his wife covered her face and shook with sobs. He hesitated and chewed his lower lip as he fought for for what to speak next. What could he possibly say to ease her? Wordlessly he wrapped his arms around her shaking form and held her close to his chest. "Shhhh, m'love… Don't cry, lass. Yer goin' t' be fine, Ah promise."

"H-how can you say that?" she gasped as she worked her trembling hands through her hair. "Fer-Fergus, this is a baby we're talkin' about! Oh, how am Ah goin' to do this?!"

Gently he burrowed his face into her cheek. "Darlin'… Ah know this isnae easy at all, but Ah swear t' ye…" Slowly he took her tiny hands from her hair and into his grip. "…Ah will be with ye every single step of the way, jus' like with our lassie an' lads. No force in all the land could stop me."

Elinor sniffed away a sob and looked up at Fergus' face. She smiled ever so slightly as her husband wiped her moistened eyes with his thumbs. "…Ah'm sorry, Fergus…" she whispered under her breath. "It's jus'… Och, we're goin' to have another baby. Ah still can't believe it…"

Fergus relaxed his shoulders and smiled tenderly. "Aye, we are…" Gently he placed a hand to her belly. He recalled the first time ever feeling the growing bump of a child within Elinor and the total awe it instilled him with, and that awe was still there to this day. He smirked as he thought of how in only a few short months their baby would be kicking and truly making their presence known. "She's goin' to be so beautiful, Elinor, jus' like you…"

She let out a teary laugh at his statement. He was always correct about the genders of their children. "Oh, she? So certain it's a lass already, are we?"

"Of course! Our last three were lads. We're due fer a wee lassie, wouldn't ya say?" He placed his forehead affectionately to her own. "Like Ah said, she'll be jus' like her mum. Smart, gorgeous, compassionate… Ah'll bet anythin' she'll get yer hair an' eyes, too. She'll be a little you."

Wordlessly, Elinor set her hands atop Fergus' that lay on her midsection. Silent tears flowed down her cheeks as she bent her head and kissed his lips softly. "Ah love you, Fergus." she breathed through a small sob as their lips parted ever so slightly, "A-and our little baby girl…"

He smiled tenderly into the kiss before bringing his hands to cup her tear-stained cheeks. "Ah love ye too, Elinor," he whispered, kissing her once more with the utmost gentleness. "There's no better mother this bonnie wee lass could have…"

Eyes shut and in her husband's loving embrace, Elinor breathed a sigh of relief. She was so utterly terrified and guilty just minutes ago, and now her heart soared with the prospect of having a new child. It wasn't going to be easy—nothing about this was—but so long as Fergus was to be at her side, she was certain everything would be fine. Nine months from now she would welcome her darling girl into the world with open arms and a warm heart.

This baby was a blessing, and Elinor could not be happier.