AN: Hello everyone! I hope that you're enjoying this story as much as I am enjoying writing it. Anyway, I am not revealing what the child is in this chapter, seeing as I only got one suggestion (thank you maskedpainter), so I'm going to stretch it out a little more just to build the suspense :). Again I own none of the rights to King Arthur but I do own the rights to my created characters. RnR is much appreciated and is VITAL at this point in the story! Enjoy!!
P.S. - and for those of you who think that reading this story is difficult because I did not space out my dialogue, I only did it because when I wrote the original draft I didn't think to do so, so I have decided not to change gears since I am so close to completion. Hope that clears everything up for you! -FWA
As the next few months passed, Tristan was as well as ever. Arthur had provided all of his Knights with their own houses just outside of the wall, and I was more than content with living in such close range to my cousin. I stood in the doorway of our home, watching as the Roman carriages made way for their departure. "It's about time those annoying Romans left, don't you think?" my husband's voice came from behind me, the soft crunch of an apple soon following. I smiled, "I do, but for some reason I can't help thinking that they're running. Out of fear," Tristan's strong arms enveloped me, his hands coming to rest on my now rounded belly, "Or shame, perhaps." I sighed, resting my head against his shoulder, "Tristan," he kissed my neck, his hands running along my hips, "Mmm?" I smiled as he ran his tongue along the crook of my ear, nipping at my ear lobe. "Tristaaan," I whimpered as his ministrations on my ear became more fervent, his hands now turning me to face him.
"How much longer?" he sighed, getting down on his knees to rest his forehead against my stomach, a wide smile spreading across my face. "Mother says four and a half months," he ran his hands along my shins, "You should wear dresses more often." I chuckled, my mother had talked me into wearing them because she had said that it was more becoming of a pregnant woman, Knight or otherwise, "Well as soon as our child is born I'll be back in a tunic and breeches so don't hold your breath love....Tristan!" he looked up at me, worry across his face, "What's wrong?!" I smiled, what I was feeling at that moment was incredible, "Give me your hand," I could see that he was confused, but he gave me his hand, which I placed on my lower abdomen. His smile was wonderous, "Going to be a strong little one," I kissed him, his dark eyes gazed at me lovingly, "Like his father," I finished. Tristan's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "We're sure it's a boy now, is that it?" I shrugged, placing my hand over his, "It feels like a boy."
He smiled, "Really," I laughed as he knelt back down, putting both his hands on my stomach, "I'm gonna have a son, then? Well you'd better come out fighting little boy," I couldn't stop laughing, "Uncle Bors has a lot of little boys for you to fight with don't worry, darling." Tristan smiled up at me, "I love you, Aeliana," I took his face in my hands, placing a kiss in his unruly hair, "And I you, my warrior," he stood, taking my hands, "I'm your warrior?" His voice at that moment seemed to break, as if he were hiding tears, but I just smiled, "Yes, you have always been my warrior."We had been so entranced that we didn't notice Lancelot standing in the doorway, "Well if your child has Tristan's arrogance and your strength I'm going to have to stay clear of my own godchild," I was surprised, "And, who said you were to be our child's godfather?" he chuckled, "Well I assumed that it would be an obvious choice," Tristan smirked, and I could tell he was ready to start antagonizing the younger Knight, "If it were that obvious, Lancelot, then I know for sure that we wouldn't choose you...far too obvious." I covered my mouth to surpress a laugh, Lancelot's face at the comment my lover had given him was hilarious, "That's right, have your fun, but when your child is keeping you up into the wee hours of the morning do not come asking for my help." I decided to join in on my husband's teasing, "And what makes you so sure that we would ask for you? I would just go to Vanora, she does have eleven children after all."
Tristan chuckled as Lancelot stormed off, I could see Bors and Vanora across the grass, watching their children run around. Tristan smiled, "You know, I always love it when you get that look on your face," I looked at him, "What look?" he walked over and kissed me, "That look that says you're so happy you can even contain it. It's almost like your face just starts to glow," I sighed, nuzzling my head against his neck, "Oh Tristan, when did you become such a romantic?" his breath warmed my ear, "The day I met you." My eyes met his gaze, warm and inviting, "I don't think I could have asked for a better husband," he brought his lips to mine, gently caressing his tongue against my lower lip, "I know I could never have a better wife," he contradicted lovingly. "Aeliana!" my mother's voice came from across the field, "Aeliana come here, please!" I sighed, resting my head on Tristan's shoulder, "What could she possibly want?" he smiled, "To check on her grandchild, possibly?" I nodded, "Possibly...oh, I'll be back." He captured my lips with his one last time before I started across the field, catching one of Nira's newborn pups in the process. "What are you doing so far away from your mother, huh?" The small wolf batted its paw at me playfully, I picked it up, eliciting a yelp from his wriggling form. "Oh stop fidgeting, you!" I laughed, as Nira came running, 'You found him!' I smiled down at my dear pet, "He's a wild one, keep an eye on him," she huffed at me, and I placed her pup down on the ground, allowing the two of them to run off into the woods.
"Aeliana, I want to check on your child," my mother smiled, taking my hands in hers. I sighed, "Mother, I have been more than careful these past few months, I don't have that much longer before I'm due, so you say." She nodded, "Just to make sure everything is sound, come." She led me inside, where my father sat at a table looking over some letters from other Sarmatian elders, "Father," I kissed his cheek, he smiled, "How's my grandchild?" I smiled, rubbing my belly, "Your grandchild moved today," my mother's eyes shot up in woder, "Really?!" I nodded, "Going to be strong like its father." My father kissed my hand, "And mother," I smiled, following my mother to the usual cot that I would lay in for her examination. She pulled the hem of my dress up so my bare stomach was open to her. She poured the same black liquid as she always did and ran her finger through it. For as many times as she did this I had gotten use to it, now it felt almost relaxing. "You think it's a boy?" she looked at me, her eyes meeting their exact twin, "Yes I do," I replied, feeling my child move again caused me to jump. My mother chuckled, "You're right, strong child it shall be," I looked at her, "And is it a boy?" she smirked, "The element of surprise is what makes this experience worth the wait."
I sighed, "Mother!" she shook her head, "I will not tell you, if you think it's a boy then consider it a boy, but be prepared for any outcome." I smiled, "Tristan says he'll be happy with either," she sat next to me, taking my hand, "And you?" I wiped the liquid off of my stomach, pulling my dress back down, "I'd love either a boy or a girl, mother, I don't care the gender, I'll love it all the same no matter what." She smiled, "You were supposed to be a boy, but your father and I were overjoyed when you turned out to be a girl," I laughed, "Really?! You thought I was a boy!" my mother joined in on my laughter, "Yes I did, but I have to tell you, I was secretly wishing for you to be a girl so you didn't have to become a Knight, yet you did so anyway." I smiled, "That must be the boy in me," she chuckled, "Oh my darling, you are your father's daughter," I nodded, "I know. And I have a feeling that if I have a daughter she'll be the same way, just like Tristan." My mother smiled, "But with your spirit, there's no doubt about that." I nodded, getting up and saying goodbye to my mother and father, I wanderd aimlessly through the field back towards my home, my thoughts were stuck on what my mother had said, she hadn't wanted me to become a Knight, but if I hadn't I would have never met Tristan, even though we'd grown up together we'd grown apart as my father traveled across the lands to speak with other Sarmatian lords and elders. I was happy I had chosen to become a Knight, and when I saw Tristan sitting in the grass outside of the house, his hawk perched on his arm, I knew that the choice I had made had decided my future, and I was positive it was going to be a bright one.
AN: So I just wanted to through this in for you all even though it's referring to the last chapter. The names I'd listed are Celtic names and each have meanings (except Keelin, I just found it and thought it sounded pretty):
*Eira - snow
*Essyllt - beautiful
*Castan - beloved
*Uaine - young warrior
*Iestyn - archer
Sensing a pattern with the boys names? Again RnR to let me know whether you want a boy or a girl, and if you have a suggestion on choosing a name that'd be great too! Updates will be as soon as I get a final decision! -FWA
