Hello again. It has been a while, yes I admit it. Hope you enjoy anyway :) xx

Chapter 9: Arguments

The shadow lord's anger could be felt all throughout the Shadowlands, as the shocking news of what happened to Arkus reached him.

"SEND IN NICHOLAS!" The Shadow Lord's voice thundered.

Seconds later, a figure emerged from the shadows.

"Yes master?" Nicholas replied.

"As you may know Arkus has failed to eliminate King Lief, his Queen and heir. Now it is up to you. If you fail to eliminate the royal family all of my plans will become useless and an utter waste of time. Do not disappoint me." The Shadow Lord replied.

"It shall be done master." Nicholas responded, and with that he vanished.

"He better not fail me, otherwise my plans cannot be put into action."

*********************BACK AT THE FORGE**************************

"Jasmine!" Lief said as he searched around the room franticly for his wife.

"Jasmine, where are you?" He shouted as he walked towards the bathroom. His worries eased as he saw the familiar sight of his beautiful wife Jasmine.

"Jasmine! Are you alright?" Lief asked as he ran to her side, she was pale and beads of sweat covered her delicate face.

"I-I think so." Jasmine replied, as she tried to stand on wobbly legs.

She fell instantly into Lief's arms, he picked her up bridal style and carried her back into the bedroom.

"Just like our wedding night don't you think?" Lief asked Jasmine, referring to the way he was holding her, in an attempt to put a smile on her face. She laughed softly with a small smile slowly spread across her face.

He placed her in the bed and stroked her cheek softly; it pained him to see her like this. Lief ran into the other room to fetch a bucket of some cool water that he could use to cool Jasmine's burning forehead. Jasmine's eyes reluctantly fluttered closed, as the cool sensation accompanied by Lief's soothing voice eased her pain.

Soon Jasmine was sound asleep. After the events that happened last night Lief was very hesitant on leaving Jasmine alone, but he was needed up at the palace. He decided to send a message to his mother up at the palace. He quickly scribbled down the message and handed it to Kree, who had been sitting on bed beside Jasmine. He took it in his beak and flew towards the palace.

Sharn was running around the palace searching for her son, she headed out towards the gardens where she thought Lief would be; accompanied by Jasmine. As she neared the tree that the two were usually seen under she heard a familiar cry, to her surprise she saw Kree perched on a nearby branch, carrying a note in his beak. She took the note from Kree and began to read she could tell by the familiar hand-writing it was from Lief.

Dear Mother,

Jasmine has taken ill. I have decided to stay here with her to make sure she is okay. I need you and Doom to head down to the forge as soon as you are no longer needed at the palace, there are urgent matters that need to be discussed.

Lief

Sharn ran back towards the palace in search of Doom. She burst through the door of his office and found him reading over his notes on dragons; he looked up at her astonished.

"Sharn what is the matter?" he asked realising she was panting.

Unable to say anything Sharn handed the note Lief sent over to Doom who read it silently. Once he finished he placed the note on his desk, he looked up at Sharn.

"What do you think he needs to talk about?" Doom asked with a concerned look.

"I'm not sure." Sharn replied. "I will be ready to leave after the next meeting; we shall meet at once down at the stables." After they both agreed Sharn left to her meeting leaving Doom with his thoughts.

After the meeting Sharn half ran half walked towards the stables. She saw Doom who was tending to the two saddled horses Bella and Swift, who Lief, Barda and Jasmine used on their many travels. As they neared the forge they saw the familiar sight of Lief who was waiting to meet them, Sharn jumped off Bella whom she was riding and ran to embrace her son. Lief, Sharn and Doom entered the forge and took a seat at the table.

"So Lief what is it you needed to talk to us about?" Sharn asked.

Lief remained silent, he did not know how to explain the situation to Sharn and Doom. "Lief just tell them." His head turned towards the soft voice, it was Jasmine. Lief ran up to his wife and helped her to the table as she still hadn't regained her strength.

"What's going on?" Doom said no longer sitting in silence.

Lief looked into Doom's stern face then into his mothers soft face. He felt Jasmine hand tighten on his own, with Jasmine by his side he felt the courage to go on.

"Last night we were attacked by an assassin of the Shadowlord, his name was Arkus, he also attacked us on our wedding night. He was sent to kill Jasmine and me as well as..."

"As well as who?" Doom asked curiously.

"As well as the heir to the throne." Lief said as he looked down into Jasmine's eyes lovingly.

Doom and Sharn were in shock at what they had just heard. They both stared, eyes wide, at Jasmine as she put her hand to her stomach and rubbed it softly.

"We need to make sure the royal bloodline continues." Doom said breaking the silence. "We will escort you back to the palace and make sure you are under the best protection available."

"NO!" Jasmine yelled unexpectedly.

"Why, what is the matter?" Doom asked.

"I want to stay at the forge, I feel more free down here without the walls of the palace around me, more relaxed, more at home. I want to raise this child in the forge just as Lief was." Jasmine explained looking lovingly at Lief, who smiled.

"I think we should stay here as well. It will be obvious if we stay in the palace, but if we stay in the forge no one will suspect it." Lief said trying to persuade Sharn and Doom.

"No, not a chance we need to keep all of you safe, the palace is the safest option." Doom replied.

"Hold on a second Doom." Sharn said. "Maybe they have a point."

"WHAT! Sharn think about the situation, the Shadowlord is trying to kill them, we need to keep them in the palace where they can be protected. If they are down here they have no protection." Doom explained.

Lief and Jasmine watched as their parents argued, yelling back and forth at each other. Jasmine had begun to feel sick and ran to the bathroom, Lief saw this and ran after her, Doom and Sharn who were still locked in their argument had not noticed the absence of the young couple.

Lief found Jasmine in the bathroom vomiting, he ran to his wife's side and pulled her luscious long dark hair out of the way. He had his hand on her back trying to sooth her, it pained him to know that he couldn't help her further, that the best he could do was be her support.

"Jasmine, are you alright?" Lief said once her sickness had died down.

"I am now, I just wish it would end." She said as she leant on Lief's chest.

"It's okay my love, I will be here for you, whenever you need me, I will be there." He said as he soothed her, softly rubbing her back.

After a while Lief and Jasmine walked back to the table to find that Doom and Sharn were still arguing on their living arrangements. They didn't seem to notice the two had ever left the table. Finally getting sick of the argument, Lief slammed his fists on the table startling everyone.

"THAT IS ENOUGH! We need to think about what is best for Jasmine and the baby. Since she is more comfortable here, I believe it would be best for us to stay here." Lief explained.

"That is a valid point Doom." Sharn added

Doom looked at them in surprise, they were right of course but he just wanted his daughter to be safe, somewhere where he could get to her. Finally he gave in to it.

"Alright then you can stay down here in the forge, but as a safety precaution there will be guards stationed around the forge night and day."

Sharn and Lief nodded in agreement, Jasmine let out a sigh as she preferred her privacy, but she understood where Doom was coming from and agreed to his idea. The four then sat at the table and celebrated the news of the new heir.

After a while Sharn and Doom decided that it was time to go back to the palace, they said goodbye to Lief and Jasmine and headed off into the night towards the palace. Lief and Jasmine retreated back to the bedroom and laid in the bed.

"Hey Jasmine." Lief asked

"Yes Lief."

"Do you think our child is going to be a boy or a girl?" He asked as he rubbed her stomach.

Jasmine chuckled. "I don't know Lief, but I hope it's a girl." She said as she smiled at him.

Lief mirrored her smile and kissed her, she wrapped her hands around her neck bringing them closer together. "I love you Lief." Jasmine whispered into his ear.

"I love you too Jasmine." Lief replied smiling. With that said they slowly drifted off into sleep in each others arms.

Well there you have it another chapter down :) hope you like it for all those still reading!
3 O and C xx