A/N: Hello there! Guess who got a shiny new laptop and can't yet type properly on it! That's right, it's me. Enjoy, review, you all know the drill. Although I have noticed a lot of are you reading the chapters and not reviewing and not to sound needy but feedback would really be appreciated.
After
"What is the common tongue word for this?" Sookie asked as Aelthi spoke to her. He paused and glanced up from the giant brown book.
"Elf saliva," he muttered. She nodded and continued down her own list before pausing again. "Dwarf semen," he smirked.
"You liar," she laughed. He shook his head before thumbing more pages and sighing heavily. "I am fairly certain it was in a brown leather bound book," she told him rubbing her forehead. "Maybe 85% certain."
"You are certain this is the gift you want for your Cousin?" he asked once more. He had raised several eyebrows as she had explained her plan.
"Yes," Sookie nodded. "I remember Grandpa making it for me as a child and I remember it being the most wonderful thing in the world."
"An essence stone though," her aide muttered slamming his book closed. "Not only will it take very strong magic but the stone itself will be hard to come by."
"I already have the stone," Sookie smirked at him. "All we need is the spell, then you and a few of the guards can cast it for me."
"Which reminds me," he muttered climbing the ladders to retrieve yet another book. "We could continue your magical advancement lessons as soon as we can. I can fit them into our schedule whenever you would like," with a groan Sookie returned to her book and leafed a few more pages. "Being the Queen without magic isn't the brightest idea you have ever had," Aelthi commented. Sookie allowed herself a little laugh at that statement and nodded her head in agreement after a while.
"During the night time would be easier," she yawned. "Maybe on a Tuesday and Thursday," he nodded and quickly removed his planner so make a note.
"Here it is," Sookie yelled suddenly. "Essence stone," she grinned widely. "Cerreg Hanfod," she whispered.
"That would be the one," he grinned. "Also we start with the 5 common tongue languages on mornings as well. I'll have you speaking dragonish and elfish before you know it," he laughed.
"Oh joy," she whispered. "What do we require?" she asked.
"The stone obviously, blood of a royal, 3 hairs of a birthing lady and the spell," he shrugged.
"A birthing lady?" Sookie snorted. He nodded and read over the words making a face to him before turning the book towards the shimmering figure of the guards.
"Easy," they all spoke.
"Good," Sookie nodded. "She isn't due for another 3 weeks but I want it done pretty quickly," she stretched back in her chair and smiled at them all. "We did well today gentlemen, Aelthi call the maid to clean up and you can treat me to walk around the gardens before Eric rises."
"Yes Majesty," he smiled extending his arm for her. "How is the house coming along then?" Aelthi asked as she paused to dip her fingers into the bird bath.
"Slow," she muttered. "It's practically perfect but with the requirements we need its taking so much longer than I had hoped," she huffed slightly as they continued. Both had bare feet as they trailed over the grass.
"Ah," he nodded. "I imagine blacking out the whole house is no easy feat," it was her turn to nod now as she gathered some flowers. "May I be blunt?" Aelthi asked as the maze appeared in front of them. It had been constructed after Sookie's first visit to the Fey and still to this day she got lost inside it.
"Always," she muttered taking a left. He went right and chuckled to himself as she swore at finding a dead end.
"Why is the stone so important?" he called. "The one the Prince made for you was beautifully constructed I'll give him that but it has no real use."
"It'll be something the child can keep forever," Sookie responded swearing again. "Something they can look at and think, wow my cousin made me that."
"And her guards," he laughed.
"Yes well," she sighed. "Come find me, I'm bloody lost again." He appeared beside her in less than a second and transported them out and into the house.
"I wasn't done with my walk," she snapped.
"The sun has set in the human world," he explained. "I shall gather our things and join you shortly."
"Not too shortly," she blushed. "After last time," she laughed. Aelthi blushed red before she disappeared and found Eric in his kitchen talking.
"Yes," he growled. "No," he turned towards her and grinned before capturing her mouth. "No," he snapped again pulling her closer. "Yes," he sighed. "Goodbye," he finished.
"Such eloquence," she teased kissing his chin.
"I do try," he smiled, resting his forehead against hers "How did the Royal search go?" he inquired.
"Excellent," she clapped. "We found the correct spell, Aelthi and the guards will conduct it and I shall be the best Godmother ever." He nodded and touched her face before rising.
"I have vampire shit to deal with," he said walking towards the wardrobe. "You may not see me for several hours."
With a pout Sookie followed him and watched him dress, her sigh making him smirk every time she caught his eye.
"I might start my dragonish lessons tonight then," she told him. "Aelthi is determined to make me learn all the common tongues," Eric lifted his head. "Of Fey," she explained. With that he nodded and grabbed a leather jacket.
"Till tonight," he smiled.
…...
"And breathe," Sookie smiled as Claudine practised her birthing technique in her office.
"I am well aware of what to do," Claudine snapped.
"Oh I'm sure," Sookie shrugged sitting on the floor beside her. "How excited are you?"
"On a scale of 1-not?" Claudine asked smiling. "Birthing in our world isn't easy, hopefully I'll birth in Fey on a night when the moon is full. Supposedly it makes it easier," Sookie raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"Would you like your gift now or once the baby is born?" she asked excitedly.
"I assumed that's why you invited me over here with only 3 days left till I pop," Claudine smiled.
"Yes," the Queen nodded. "Of course I'm not allowed to be at the birth but I can't even come see you afterwards till all of his family have seen his first born. It's seems ridiculous even though I am the Queen," she snapped.
"I know Sookie," she smiled extending her hands for the box. "Respect the rules…."
"Respect tradition," Sookie finished pouting. "Open it and tell me what you think," she clapped.
Claudine opened the cream box and gasped at the giant blue diamond ring; Sookie grinned as Claudine lifted it from the box and teared up.
"It has your face in," she cried. With a nod they women embraced making Sookie's eyes also fill up with water. "Impressive," Claudine finally whispered returning it to the box.
"I hope the baby likes it," she shrugged. "If you've been wrong about the sex and it's a boy am sure he'll grow to love it."
"Another Claude," Claudine laughed. With a laugh Sookie rose to go grab some nibbles and refreshments for the pair. When she arrived back Claudine was gone. Following her cousins trail she found her in Fey.
"Why did you leave?" she demanded.
"My labour has started," Claudine explained hobbling towards the bed. "Please get everyone," Sookie barely had to say a word and Aelthi was doing her bidding.
Claudine's labour lasted for over 34 hours with Sookie sitting outside the door for most of it. She had sent messages to Eric explaining the situation and his replies had been full of promises. Claude was pacing now as the final push was given and just like that the birthing was over.
As according to custom, the fathers family met the baby first before Sookie and Claude were allowed in. The pair practically bouncing as they finally entered the room.
"Hey," Claudine smiled. "Come meet your newest subject," she teased.
"Oh hello," Sookie whispered looking down at the beautiful little girl in Claudine's arms. Her head was full of thick dark hair and her face blotchy with pink blush.
"Meet Brielle," Claudine whispered.
"Brielle," they said at once nodding. "So beautiful," Claude said perching.
"I know right," Claudine smiled.
Sookie stared at the baby for the longest time and smiled sadly to herself before making her excuses. She popped herself into Eric's office and smiled at him.
"Hello my love," he said without looking up.
"When we get married," she said. "I understand that I will be giving a lot up Eric," she told him. He looked up now. "I understand and I don't mind but," she paused. "I want you to promise to consider something for me," she whispered.
"Anything," he said rising.
"I would like to have an heir," she blushed. "I would like to be a mother."
A/N: So, I'm going to be good and leave the decision to you my dear readers. Should Eric say yes and let her or should he say no? Any potential fathers? Also, I have this awful feeling I spelt Sookie wrong somewhere and for the life of me I can't find it. 5 house points to the person who does!
