When Quinlan returns from the goldsmith Sahari is still on his heels, following him up the stairs to his room. He thanked her when they arrived at the goldsmith, but for some reason she'd stayed the whole time the work was being done. Now they were back and she was still behind him. When he reaches his door he turns to Sahari and then looks around to make sure no one sees them and he pulls her into his room. Sahari is delighted, even though they were only together his first two nights in the palace, Sahari had been infatuated with him ever since. He'd blown her off since then, but she still held out hope. "So are you going to tell me who the ring is for" she asked wrapping her arms around his neck.
Quinlan knew that he could have this effect on some women, he'd have them for one night and then after that they were like leeches, and he has found that the best way to handle situations like these were to be blunt and straightforward. He removes her hands from his neck, "the ring is for the woman I love, Princess Tatia" he said gruffly and then he stared at Sahari emotionless, basically saying 'your move'. Sahari was shocked to hear Quinlan express any type of desire for the little boring princess. She'd never even seen or heard about them being together, and the servants usually knew everything about the royal family. Sahari laughed and placed her hand on his chest, "really…little Princess Tatia, who reads books all day and stares at the paintings on the wall. Be serious…besides, gladiator or not, do you think the king is just going to let you marry his sister or something" Quinlan removed her hand and opened the door for her. "Yes" he simply said as he escorted her out and closed the door behind her.
Sahiri saw red, she thought Quinlan would eventually want to be with her. Take her away from servitude, she wanted him, she would still have flash backs of their first night together, him deep inside of her, his lips on her breasts, she thought he felt the same way. Sahari was angry, and she wanted someone to feel this pain just like her.
Quinlan was relived to be rid of Sahari, but soon he would have to deal with Cessarian and his reaction to do this. No doubt Sahari was telling every servant about the encounter. With the ring in his pocket, Quinlan was walking towards the throne room to find Cessarian and ask for Tatia's hand in marriage when he heard a scream and muffled voices from down the hallway, near Tatia's room. He sped to her room and swung the door open to reveal Sahari on top of Tatia attempting to strangle her. "You little stupid spoiled child…you have everything…leave him be…" Tatia was attempting to remove Sahari's hands from her throat, but she'd caught her off guard, she'd been asleep when suddenly she felt hands wrap around her throat. Quinlan sped over and picked Sahari off of Tatia holding her by the throat, he was about to break her neck but the guards arrived saving her, for now. Sahari was arrested and she had tears in her eyes as she screamed over and over again "why don't you love me?"
When the guards had left with Sahari, Quinlan rushed over to Tatia who was drinking some water. "Are you alright?" He asks concern all in his voice. Tatia had no response that would equal the fear, and rage she felt. Fearful for her life and the baby, and rage that the rumors had been true, Quinlan had been sleeping with the servant girl. He attempts to touch her face but she swats his hand away. "I'm fine, please leave my room" she says tightly.
"I'm sorry Tatia, I slept with Sahari the first two nights I was in Cairo and she just developed feelings for me…I swear to you after the night I had your blood I never touched her again…only you Tatia…I swear it" Quinlan said softly. She'd never seen him this vulnerable before, it was almost amusing that she could make him, this strong deadly predator, this weak." Tatia is about to ask him if he really was out of the palace all night with her when Quinlan suddenly lowers his eyes and stares at her belly, he then drops to his knees and places his head on her stomach, like he hears something.
Quinlan apologizes to Tatia, he wants her happy and when she rejected his touch it felt like he'd touched silver. When he saw Tatia about to respond to his apology he became distracted by the sound of a second heartbeat, at first he thought someone else had entered the room, but then he realized it was the child's heartbeat. Suddenly every thought or hesitation he'd had about everything between him and Tatia and pending fatherhood became solidified. It was real…she really did carry his child. Quinlan pressed Tatia closer to him as he listened. "I can hear his heart beat" Quinlan said softly. Tatia quietly gasped, the baby was ok, she was worried that perhaps she had starved it or something, and then when Sahari was suffocating her, her only thought had been the baby. Tears welled in Tatia's eyes, her baby was ok, was all she could think.
Suddenly Selenne and Cessarian come into her room to check on her after seeing Sahari being taken away by the guards and screaming for Quinlan's love and death to Tatia. "What is going on" Cessarian says loudly. Tatia is startled to see Cessarian and Selenne there and Quinlan slowly gets up keeping his eyes however on Tatia's belly. "Tatia are you alright?" Cessarian says urgently. Tatia is trying to formulate a sentence in her head but she can only respond by nodding. "Quinlan?" Cessarian said questioningly. Quinlan finally looks up and at Cessarian and Selenne, "I am in love with your sister, and I intend to ask for her hand in marriage?" Quinlan said simply pulling the golden band out of his pocket, it was covered in innate designs, that Tatia recognized as her ancestors writing for love. "Quinlan?" Tatia questioned softly. "It took the goldsmith all night and most of the day…that's where I've been this whole time" Quinlan said looking to Tatia. His declaration was definitely surprising to everyone but Selenne, she knew he'd do the honorable thing.
Cessarian was in shock. Quinlan…in love with his sister…wanting to marry her. "I think I need a little bit of a back story before I process this" Cessarian said. "Mother and father promised Quinlan my blood, if he came to help fight…Quinlan and I became friends…then closer than friends…I'm pregnant…the Master wants the baby…that is basically it" Tatia said tiredly as she sat down on her bed. Selenne came to sit next to her holding her hand. Quinlan stood in front of Cessarian waiting for his reaction. Cessarian sighed and placed his hands on his face. "Your pregnant? I thought that was impossible…you're in danger against the Master? So that night he was here for you?" Cessarian questioned looking at Quinlan. "I believe so" Quinlan answered softly. "That makes you responsible for the deaths of my parents…why should I then just hand my little sister over to you?" Cessarian questioned, trying to understand all of this.
"Because the longer we stay here, the more danger we put you all in, the Master wants the child, I don't know exactly why, but he is always searching for an apprentice, someone to help him with his bidding. I have a safe place to hide Tatia." Quinlan said. "But what about physicians to check on her and the baby" Selenne questioned. "I've made arrangements for everything" Quinlan simply answered.
This was news to Tatia. She had no idea that Quinlan had made plans for them to hide somewhere and that he would make sure a physician was available.
Cessarian was torn, but then he suddenly remembered his mother's last words 'Quinlan protect Tatia'. "Did mother know about this?" He asked. "Not the baby, but she knew Quinlan and I had been…together" Tatia said nervously. Cessarian had always trusted his mother's advice and judgment. If she had trusted Quinlan with Tatia, then he could as well. "Well…if you wish to ask for my sister's hand then lets do it properly. Someone get Alexander, lets fill him in."
Alexander of all the siblings was the most light-hearted. Cessarian stressed about being a good ruler, Selenne stressed on being a good wife and hopefully mother, Tatia stressed on always wanting more than palace life, and Alexander just lived. Of course he was surprised to discover that Tatia and Quinlan had had a whole secret relationship during the war, but he was also happy because he finally had some good gossip before his wife. Thinking about the look on her face when she found out would sustain his smile for weeks to come.
Because of her pregnancy, Cessarian wanted Tatia and Quinlan married quickly. In case while they were still in the palace, she began to show signs of pregnancy. The ceremony would be private just for the family and a few invited guests, including the Priestess to perform the wedding ceremony. Selenne had planned everything and even helped the dress maker with Tatia's dress.
Quinlan and Tatia however had barely seen each other for the past several days. Quinlan finished the weapon that could be used to fight strigio. It was an aerial launcher that shot silver spears. Quinlan then went to work on making sure everything was in order for their journey. Quinlan had written to the abbott explaining to him the situation and requesting a safe place to stay, the abbott had of course agreed and had promised to find Quinlan a physician that could be trusted. Quinlan planned on bringing Tatia to the monastery first and then when the baby was born he would have them sail to his home in Mesopotamia, he made sure arrangements had been made to open the home again. Quinlan was surprised to hear a knock at his door this late as he was finishing his letter to Froily the man he'd paid to keep up his home until he returned one day, hopefully having rid this world of the Master. Quinlan answers the door and he is surprised to see Tatia there standing in her night gown and robe.
He allows her to enter the room, and she walks over to his balcony overlooking the west side of the garden. "You've got a better view than me" she says quietly as she leans over, letting the night breeze flow through her hair. This is the first time she's been inside his room, in this guest room at all. "Well…honored guest and all" he responds. Tatia laughs a little, and the sound eases Quinlan's spirits. He can't remember the last time he'd heard her laugh or saw her smile. Quinlan comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and resting one side of his face on the top of her head, taking in her scent. "I couldn't sleep…I hope I didn't wake you" Quinlan responded by picking Taitia up bridal style and saying "no…but you need rest…big day and stuff tomorrow" Tatia laughed as Quinlan gently placed her in his bed, then got in beside her and pulled the blanket over them. He wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes, this was nice…being here with her like this, he couldn't describe the feeling, it just felt…complete.
In the early hours of the morning, Tatia wakes up in Quinlan's arms. Today is their wedding day, but Tatia can only think about the obstacles to come. She wants to remember this moment, the calm before the storm. Tatia looks at Quinlan's face, he looks as serious asleep as he does awake. The thought makes her smile. "Stop staring at me and go back to sleep" he says softly, with his eyes still closed. Tatia's smile widens, Quinlan was such a beautiful specimen, and now he was all hers. Tatia leans over and kisses his lips and then moves over to kiss his jaw. Quinlan smirks as his hand travels from her waist and now up to her breast. He softly massages one breast causing Tatia to softly moan. Hearing her moan, gets Quinlan hard quickly. He gently pulls Tatia on top of him to where she is straddling him and eases her onto his hardness. Tatia is uncomfortable for a moment adjusting to the new angle and sensations. At first she isn't sure what to do but Quinlan takes her by the waist gently easing her up and down his hardness until Tatia catches the rhythm and moves with him. This is a whole new sensation for her, being on top of him, she felt so full and in control of their love making. When Tatia felt the familiar tightening sensation inside of her, Quinlan reached down and began to use his thumb to tease her clit. The feeling brings Tatia over the edge and she's tumbling over with her release. Quinlan still hard inside of her holds her waist as he sits himself up to where they are face to face while she still rides him. Tatia moves her hands from Quinlan's chest to around his neck and they kiss. Quinlan's stinger elongates by habit, he isn't sure if he should take her blood, with the baby and all, but she nods her head. Quinlan lifts her wrist with his free hand while the other is still around her waist managing his strokes, he takes a small amount from her wrist. While he does so he feels Tatia tighten around his member again and she's toppling over the edge once again, and Quinlan follows her this time. With him still inside her Tatia lowers her forehead to meet his "I love you" she whispers, "and I you Tatia" Quinlan responds.
A few hours later when Tatia leaves Quinlan's room she is bombarded by her sister with food and her dress fitting. "Your waist is fine…but your breasts have gotten bigger…maybe from the pregnancy…or all that immortal sex" Selenne teased her. Tatia rolled her eyes. "No I'm serious I've heard good sex makes your breast grow…I swear it" Selenne said defending herself, causing both of them to erupt in laughter.
The ceremony was in the evening, afterwards the family had a small reception. The night was filled with soft laughter and wine. The party didn't go all night because they knew the next evening Quinlan and Tatia would have to leave, outside the city gates they had found several strigio. The guards had been able to kill them with no casualties but the Master was rearing up for another attack.
Their wedding night was much less active than the morning of their wedding. Tatia sat on Quinlan's balcony staring down at the ring on her finger, and she smiled. Tatia had never thought being a wife and now a pending mother would make her happy, but even with the Master after them, she felt a fullness she never thought possible. Quinlan was inside packing; they'd decided to leave the next night.
After he had finished packing, Quinlan came and sat next to Tatia. He placed his arm around her shoulders and the two stared at the stars together. "I don't know if I'm going to be a good husband or father, but I give you my word that I will protect you and the baby with everything I have" Tatia's eyed brimmed with tears…she'd become so emotional since the pregnancy. Quinlan reached his hand over and wiped a tear from her eye, and kissed her softly. Tatia then laid her head on Quinlan's shoulder, the day had been exhausting.
Meanwhile…
The Master sits in Rome contemplating his next move. He'd set up a nice nest for himself and his newly created strigio brethren in Rome. He knew eventually Quintus would leave Cairo taking the woman carrying his child with him. The Master would need to send some foot soldiers to follow and observe while the Master contemplated his next move.