"Eikko and I have some very important news for you all" I swallowed thinking about their reactions when I would tell them "Eikko are going to have a baby!" everybody cheered and Eikko and I couldn't hide our smiles. Mom came to me first and hugged me while whispering "I knew it congratulations!" my dad went over to Eikko and hugged him like as if he was his son but I could tell he was worried but I don't know why shouldn't he be happy for me? I tried not to dwell on it but I did why was daddy upset?
Later that day I pulled Eikko aside and asked him,
"what did my dad say to you?"
"huh not-nothing"
"no tell me what did he say"
He looked away and when he turned back look of concern, worry and fear stretched across his face " he said that if I ever hurt you or our child he'll kill me"
"understandable"
"what?"
"well his father hurt him. He caned him when he was a child and an adult."
"what about hurting you"
"oh that"
"what?" he stretched out those words to try and persuade me to talk and it worked
"well . . . and I know you would never do this but my grandfather cheated on his wife and had a child with his mistress"
"who?"
"all of what I had just said cannot be repeated cannot do you understand" he nodded I knew he was sincere
"well she's . . . she's lady Brice" a gasp escaped from his mouth. Someone was walking down the hall. I didn't recognize him until I could faintly make out his face it was Kile! Eikko looked happy to see him but there was still a faint trace of what had happened before he came.
"Eadlyn Eikko! I'm so glad to see you!"
"same here"
"how's the building for the homeless going?" I asked even though Miss Marlee talks about it all the time.
"good very good. And how's your life now that you don't have to run the country and all"
"I'd say it's great"
"more than great" I blushed Kile didn't know I was pregnant yet.
"oh really what happened that it's more than great?"
Still blushing I said, "well we're expecting!" Kile looked stoned at first not knowing how to respond but ended up saying
"congratulations!"
"thanks" I whispered
"speaking of relationships and all I have a girlfriend"
"oh, really is she here?"
"no sadly she doesn't have the money to get here and plus I'm only staying for a day after all I'm banished, right?" I giggled and Eikko and Kile joined me.
"that's right but you might be here more often now"
"oh, really why?"
"well Eikko and I've been thinking and we want you to build a house for his family here in Angeles" Kile looked absolutely stars struck but after a second Eikko and I saw the gears turning in his head.
"so?" Eikko said getting Kile's attention
"are you going to take the job or what?"
"are you kidding me of course!" we were all happy and I was glad to see that Eikko had temporarily forgotten about what I had told him.
That night there was a big party celebrating Eikko's and I's news. It was kind of a surprise but not really my mom had distracted me all day with stories of her pregnancy and not just with me all of my siblings it was awful. And I'm not sure what Eikko was doing but he seemed happy just talking to Kile. But when I finally had the courage to ask my mom if she could go riding with me she said no because she had to do some planning so I said good bye to her and went off to see Butterscotch. She was waiting pasently as I got on her bare back but when Eikko saw me trotting around he rushed up to me and I stopped Butterscotch so she wouldn't spook.
"what are you doing?" Eikko was panting like a dog
"riding Butterscotch why?"
"well when I saw you bouncing around like that I got worried about the baby"
"oh please haven't we bounced around earlier remember"
"I know but now we know you're pregnant and I don't want the baby getting hurt wait do you have a saddle on?"
I looked down at the ground like I was in trouble or something when I wasn't
"you don't to you?"
"no I don't but you can't keep me from doing everything"
"yeah I know but just try to be more careful please"
"okay I will but only if you trust me to take care of myself"
"I do"
"good"
I reached for his hand and squeezed it once and walked off.
The party was amazing there were drinks – some of which I couldn't drink – and amazing food but one thing my mom didn't tell me was that your taste buds change. And there was music and there was even a slow song dedicated to Eikko and I so we started dancing and Eikko spoke to me when we got to the dance floor
"sorry about earlier I guess I'm just paranoid"
"it's fine I get it. It actually turns out my dad was the same way when my mom was pregnant"
"really it never seemed that way when he was on TV"
"on TV is one thing in real life is another"
Eikko pulled me closer when I said that. My head was pressed against his chest and when I closed my eyes I was like we were the only people in the room.
"Eikko?"
"yes"
"I love you"
"I love you too Eadlyn"
I looked up to see his face and when I did he looked down at me and as if it were planned we kissed right in front of everybody in the room but it wasn't embarrassing it was prideful. We danced for what seemed to be hours and when the party was over we were still there tired as heck but happy.
"Eikko"
"yes, my love"
"can you carry me up please"
"of course"
When I looked over his shoulder I saw mom and dad still dancing even though there was no music and everyone had left they were still there madly in love. I wonder if your love for someone never stops growing and when my mom saw me staring she winked at me and that made me smile.
Eikko was the best at carrying me places he held me so comfortably that I could practically sleep in his arms. He was so gentle with me I swear it was like he thought I was going to break other wise. And as he carried me up the stairs he tried to be as smooth as possible.
When we got to our room he let me down outside our door so he could open it. I tiredly walked in and when he closed the doors I took off my heels as fast as I could and then un zipped my dress and hung it up in the closet. Without putting my night gown on I climbed into bed and waited for Eikko. When he finally got into bed I snuggled up next to him and used his chest as a pillow and before I knew it I was asleep.
The next morning, I didn't have morning sickness as bad as days before but, there was another thing. my stomach looked the slightest bit bigger! OH. MY. GOD. I was not ready for this. No no no no no!
"Eikko wake up" I shook him with my half-asleep arms
"I am awake now stop shaking me" I quickly pulled my hands away from his body
"look" I pointed to my tummy and Eikko looked at it
"yeah it's your stomach what about it"
"it's bigger!"
"no, it isn't you're just hallucinating" I gave him a devil stare and that made the expression on his face change completely
"I am not!"
"okay maybe it's a bit bigger but it's probably from last night's dinner" I softened my face realizing it probably was last night's dinner.
"you're right it probably is. Sorry I shook you so hard"
"it's fine I'm sure you'll do worse" Eikko whispered something unintelligible
"what?"
"huh?"
"what did you whisper"
"oh, that when you're in labor you'll probably dislocate my shoulder" I playfully punched him in the arm
"actually, you're right I might even break your arm" He chuckled at the comment and I joined him. It was these little moments that would be special to us.
When we got down stairs people in the hall looked alarmed or uneasy. When I made a comment to Eikko asking him what he thought of the guard's expressions he said that something must have happened to make them do this but he didn't know what. When we walked into the dining room everyone else looked alarmed as well.
"Brice what's going on?" I whispered in her ear
"I'll tell you later"
When I took my seat lady Brice stood up and announced,
"in the newspapers, many people have been fighting in poor town areas" she swallowed knowing that what was coming next would not be the best conversation "the People of Illea are coming together to attack the palace" there was chatting going on and people were gasping "therefore there is going to be another draft" she paused and looked at my mom then me and spoke again, "this will be a draft for all the people of Illea that qualify even women"
"what?" Eikko looked at me confused and I replied in a whisper
"apparently my mom said that one of the selected girls suggested that when it was my father's selection" I looked back at my mom and she winked at me confirming my statement
"why are they trying to attack the palace? Is it because of the election?" Lady Brice nodded and I suddenly realized why. The people that run for the election should host rallies to get supporters and that cost money.
Later, in the day Eikko and I were walking in the gardens.
"what do you think about the draft?" Eikko stopped dead in his tracks
"I think that It being open to women is very modern and quite a big step for Illea" right then out of the corner of my eye I saw my parents sitting on the same stone bench that they always sat on. I wonder what in the world made that bench so special.
"Eadlyn are you okay" Eikko had snapped me back into the moment and I replied as fast as I could
"yup! just perfect!" once I had said that my dad looked over at Eikko and I and I quickly adverted my eye and grabbed onto Eikko's hand and pulled him forward around a corner and found a bench and sat.
"what was that?"
"my dad was watching" I buried my face into my hands and shook my head "why did I do that I'm so stupid"
"no you're not Eadlyn. You're wonderful and smart" I looked up at his face and he was completely sincere. Embracing him I whispered, "you're the best husband ever"
"and you're the best wife ever" I looked up to see his face and I kissed him. And when I opened my eyes from the kiss I saw my parents looking at me, at us. I quickly sat up straight and blinked away tears.
"hello mom, dad" Eikko looked at me for a second with a shocked expression on his face then turned around to see them.
"hello Mr. and Miss., Schreave"
"hello Eadlyn and Eikko. What brings you out to the gardens?"
"oh just chatting" Eikko looked at me when I replied and I glanced at him and back to my parents.
"well it sure seems more than just chatting" I bushed a lot when my mom said that but I was also angry
"MOM!"
"what just stating the obvious" my dad looked at her and then at me
"America why don't we leave Eikko and Eadlyn alone"
"okay. See you two at lunch"
"bye mom, dad"
"good bye" Once my parents turned the corner I looked at Eikko and he was blushing like crazy
"oh my gosh my parents are so nosy"
"I agree"
"agh why do they have to do that to me"
"because they're your parents" I looked at the palace thinking that this place has seen it all my parents fall in love, me growing up with my siblings, when I fell in love.
"Eadlyn are you okay?" I turned back to him quickly
"yes, I'm fine, why?"
"well you were silent for a moment and you were staring at the palace"
"that doesn't mean I'm not okay. Come on let's keep walking"
"okay"